Hong Kong: Scholarship boosts HK talent pool To strengthen education collaboration with Belt & Road countries and regions, scholarships have been offered to outstanding students coming from countries along the Belt & Road since the 2016-17 academic year. Exploring opportunities One of them is Chia Xynn Yen from Malaysia, a second-year quantitative finance undergraduate at the University of Hong Kong who was awarded full funding for her studies through the Belt & Road Scholarship. Miss Chia said she was attracted to Hong Kong through the scholarship as well as the citys reputation as an international financial hub. Last summer, she took up an investment analysis internship in Hong Kong and gained valuable knowledge and experience in her chosen field. Hong Kong is a place where a lot of hedge funds and quantitative finance trading firms set up their office and it might be their only office in Asia as a whole. So I feel like this definitely provides a lot of jobs and opportunities for me and also a great career trajectory ahead. Hong Kong is where people come in and invest in China, at the same time, it is also how China invests in other countries and we all do that through Hong Kong, so I think that it is definitely a good connector between China and the rest of the world. Embracing diversity Aybala Nisa Kesici from Turkiye is in her third year of studying molecular biology and biotechnology at the University of Hong Kong, and is keen to pursue an academic career in the hopes of eventually becoming a university professor. She credits the scholarship with not only providing her with academic opportunities but enabling her to connect with students from diverse countries and backgrounds. You start to see different backgrounds, peoples life struggles, and this is actually highly important for science because science is universal, so you cannot only focus on your own background or on the place that you are living in right now, you actually have to consider everyone's needs and everyone's perspective and everyone's challenges so that you can provide solutions to those people. Impressed by the Governments strong commitment to developing innovative technologies, Miss Kesici said she plans to establish her career in Hong Kong as she believes it will join other rapidly advancing Asian cities in shaping the future of scientific development. Talent acquisition The admission quota for the 2024-25 academic year has been increased to 150. Since its launch, more than 430 students from 39 countries have benefited from the scholarship. Under Secretary for Education Jeff Sze explained that the selection committee evaluates applicants based on four key criteria: academic performance, communication and leadership skills, contributions to institutions and societies, and commitment to Hong Kong society. Mr Sze also pointed out that it was equally important to nurture local talent whilst attracting international students. In addition to attracting talent from different places who have already completed their university studies elsewhere, I think it is important for Hong Kong to nurture our local talent. It is ideal if we can attract students to study in our universities, so that while they are studying as a student they can explore around Hong Kong, they can learn more about this city and they can have internships during their study in Hong Kong. After graduation, there is a higher chance that they will stay in Hong Kong and continue to be part of our talent pool. This story has been published on: 2024-02-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Traffic between mainland, SARs surges 09:37, February 18, 2024 By Zhao Lei ( China Daily Passenger traffic between the mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions reached a record high during the ongoing Spring Festival holiday, according to official statistics. More than 144,000 passenger trips were made on the mainland section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on Tuesday, marking the busiest day for the section since the massive bridge opened in late 2018, said the border inspection station on the mainland side. The travelers were carried by more than 18,000 buses and cars, which was a record for the most vehicles handled by any Chinese border port in one day, said the inspection station, which is located in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, in a news release on Wednesday. On Monday, the station recorded more than 130,000 trips - higher than any single previous day. The travel peaks represented ever-increasing enthusiasm about intercity travel in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the Chinese Lunar New Year period. Most people in the Greater Bay Area speak Cantonese and share the same social customs, consumption preferences and culinary habits. In recent years, thanks to the rapid growth of the service sector on the mainland, many Hong Kong and Macao residents have become used to spending their holidays or shopping in mainland cities. Moreover, all restrictions on cross-border travel have been gradually abolished since the beginning of 2023, leading to the resumption of large-scale commuting between the mainland and the two special administrative regions. All of these factors have contributed to the record-high travel between the two sides during the holiday period. From Saturday to Tuesday, nearly 60,000 buses and cars went through the Zhuhai inspection station, with most of them owned by Hong Kong or Macao residents, according to Zhou Wei, an officer at the station. He told China Central Television that a lot of people from Hong Kong "are fond of driving to mainland cities" for the Spring Festival holiday. For many mainland holiday travelers, crossing via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has also become an attraction. Li Jianquan, a resident of Zhengzhou, Henan province, told CCTV that he drove his family from Zhengzhou to Zhuhai, and from there the family joined a local tour group and visited Hong Kong and Macao. "The bridge makes it easier for traveling to Hong Kong and Macao. Besides, seeing the bridge itself from the tour bus is indeed a nice experience for us," he said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Arlington Animal Services last week captured a coyote believed to have bitten three children at the park earlier this month. Arlington, TX Facebook page. The Arlington coyote believed to have bitten three children had its violence spree cut short Thursday when authorities captured it. Arlington Animal Services captured the coyote last week after they said it attacked three children in separate incidents at a local park. The animal was euthanized and transferred to Texas Health and Human Services in Austin, where it tested negative for rabies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The children were bitten on the playground or in the parking lot of Parkway Central Park between Saturday, Feb 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 13. They were all treated for their injuries and have been released from the hospital, but they will continue to receive post-exposure rabies treatment. ALSO READ: Runaway teens arrested in Colorado after allegedly threatening to shoot up Texas preschool Animal services set a trap at the park after being notified of the first attack, but it was unsuccessful in capturing the coyote. On Feb. 13, after two more incidents, the city closed the park, set additional traps and conducted patrols for the animal. The city also warned surrounding properties and the Arlington Independent School District of the threat after receiving a 911 call about a coyote following pedestrians near the northern Arlington park. Because of the aggressive activity, an animal control officer and a police officer were at the nearby Jones Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language for pedestrian safety. On Thursday morning, during school drop-off, the officers saw the coyote on a road near the park and said it charged at them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They were able to capture and secure the animal, which was euthanized. Out of an abundance of caution, the park at 600 Van Buren Dr. will remain closed until Tuesday. While coyotes are wild animals and can be territorial or protective, they are generally wary of humans and avoid people, making attacks rare. Sightings are common in Arlington, but the recent events mark the first attacks in the citys history, according to Brian Daugherty, code compliance director. Coyotes and other wildlife are now part of our urban environment, and we need to find the best way to coexist, Daugherty said in a statement. If you encounter wildlife, Daugherty said not to engage or feed the animals and, if you feel threatened, make yourself as large as possible to appear intimidating. Whistles, air horns and walking sticks can also be used as a deterrent, he said. Following the reports of the bites, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services surveyed the park overnight. They observed two coyotes in the surrounding area that did not display any concerning behavior and were not considered a threat. Advertisement Article continues below this ad USDA staff noticed multiple overflowing trash containers in the area, which can attract coyotes to inhabited areas, and said residents should ensure all trash is contained within containers with lids closed. Residents are also encouraged to make online reports of coyote sightings in Arlington by visiting the citys action center website and scrolling down to Wildlife Sighting. In the time it typically takes to fly from Los Angeles to New York, travelers on this side of the Atlantic could be touching down in London instead, this summer just 5 hours or so after departing North American soil. But, theres a catch to climb aboard the shortest transatlantic flight on the 2024 schedule, youll have to fly all the way to St. Johns, Newfoundland, a journey likely to last longer for most American travelers than the final leg to London. The 5 hour, 15 minute flight, offered by Canadian airline Westjet from May 1 to October 15 for the first time since 2019, is one in a handful of obscure, extremely short hops across the pond that managed to find an audience among long-haul phobes, pre-pandemic. For travelers willing to take the extra steps, St. Johns, Newfoundland offers the shortest flight to a major European city from North America. pabradyphoto Not only do they minimize the amount of time youre stuck on one airplane, they also shorten the flight to the point where someone who might feel compelled to spend more on a premium ticket can feel at ease in economy saving hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in the process. And while these quirky flight hacks were few and far between in recent years, a good chunk of them are back, at least for the summer, and sometimes at bargain prices, to boot. Check out the handful of other magnificently brief flights leaving from eastern Canada, expanding service to one of Europes most magical archipelagos just two hours or so from wildly popular Lisbon and much more. Heres everything you need to know about the shortest transatlantic flights from North America to Europe in 2024. Remember, as you read the New York-London slog can last up to a painful 7 or 8 hours, without even factoring in tarmac delays at either end. Halifax, Nova Scotia to Reykjavik, Iceland on Icelandair Stop in Reykjavik and experience Icelands natural beauty for a layover to remember. powerofforever Time 4 hr 15 min outbound, 4 hr 55 min return Fastest connection 2 hr 15 min to Edinburgh, Scotland Dates May to October http://www.icelandair.com Boston to Ponta Delgada, Portugal on Azores Airlines Portugals gorgeous Azores Islands are significantly closer to Boston than many West Coast cities and just 2 hours or so from Lisbon. Mumemories Time 4 hr 55 min outbound, 5 hr 40 min return Fastest connection 2 hr 15 min to Lisbon or Porto Dates Year-round http://www.azoresairlines.pt St. Johns, Newfoundland to London on Westjet Time 5 hr 15 min outbound, 5 hr 40 min return Fastest connection 4 hr to Boston via Halifax Dates May to October http://www.westjet.com Halifax, Nova Scotia to Dublin on Westjet Less fly, more fun on Westjets quick trip from Halifax to Dublin. powerofforever Time 5 hr 27 min outbound, 6 hr 8 min on return Fastest connection 2 hr to Boston Dates April to October http://www.westjet.com Halifax, Nova Scotia to Edinburgh, Scotland on Westjet Time 5 hr 35 min outbound, 6 hr, 6 min on return Fastest connection 2 hr to Boston Dates May to October http://www.westjet.com James Guerra, 39, has been charged in connection with the shooting death of Albert Solis, 31. Bexar County Sheriff's Office Matthew Fitzgerald Williams, 18, has been charged in connection to with the shooting death of Albert Solis, 31. Bexar County Sheriff's Office A man found shot to death on a road in southeastern Bexar County was killed by his partners in crime, according to Sheriff Javier Salazar. James Guerra, 39, and Matthew Fitzgerald Williams, 18, have both been charged in the death of Albert Solis, 31, on Jan. 26 in the 9500 block of W.W. White Road. Both Guerra and Williams were wanted on robbery charges by San Antonio police. Salazar said Solis, Guerra and Williams had been involved in a robbery before his death. The vehicle used in the robbery matched the vehicle described by witnesses at the scene. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two days after the shooting, Guerra was seen by deputies leaving his residence in the vehicle connected to the robbery and shooting death of Solis. A chase ensued, and Guerra was charged with evading arrest. On Thursday, deputies arrested Williams at a home in eastern Bexar County. Salazar said there isnt a clear motive for the shooting. He said Solis, Guerra and Williams were driving on W.W. White Road after shoplifting when Guerra, who was driving, told Solis to get out of the car and check on the tires. When Solis got out of the car, Guerra is accused of shooting him several times and fled the scene with Williams, Salazar said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad WASHINGTON, Mo. First responders in and around Washington, Missouri, are patrolling the Missouri River on Sunday after learning a man may have entered the river that morning. According to Detective Lt. Steven Sitzes, a spokesman for the Washington Police Department, a concerned family member contacted police just before 10:30 a.m. to report that their loved one may have entered the water along the Washington riverfront. Police and firefighters went to the river and immediately began searching for the missing man. Police located some of the mans personal belongings on the wing dike just west of the Missouri River Bridge. Firefighters from another department found additional pieces of the mans property in the water east of the bridge. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Sitzes said drones and boats are being used to locate the missing man. The Metro West Fire Protection District, Boles Fire Protection District, Monarch Fire Protection District, and Missouri Water Patrol are assisting local police and firefighters in the search. Police would only identify the missing man as a 28-year-old former Franklin County resident with a current address in Kansas City. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. True, it is not especially gentlemanly. And it certainly wont win it any awards for fair play. But contrary to the old saying, you should always kick a man when he is down. For almost half a century, Airbus and Boeing have been fighting each other for control of the civil aerospace market, with the European consortium typically the plucky underdog in that contest. And yet, there are now signs that Airbus is pulling ahead. The trouble is, when it released its results last week, Airbus was far too forgiving of its arch rival. In reality, this is the moment for it to go in for the kill. It should finish off Boeing for good and its shareholders should get behind that. For a company that has often been written off as a vanity project of the French state, and one that was hooked on subsidies and handouts, Airbus reported very robust results last week. Its revenues climbed by 11pc to 65bn (46bn), while operating profits rose by 4pc to 5.8bn. Its chief executive Guillaume Faury confirmed that it would be stepping up production of its best-selling A320 model to 75 planes a month by 2026, and that in total it planned to deliver 800 aircraft this year, 65 more than in 2023. Along the way, shareholders would be rewarded with a special dividend. The company, which still has a major presence in the UK with the wings for its planes made at its factory in Broughton near Bristol, is finally coming into its own. It has a clear lead over Boeing, and has turned itself into the worlds dominant planemaker. The contrast with Boeing could hardly be more painful. The companys 737 has been dogged by safety issues. Only last month the door blew off an Alaska Airlines 737- 9 Max jet, the latest in a long line of issues with the plane. Regulators have started putting its manufacturing facilities under greater scrutiny, while much of the Max fleet was grounded for almost two years after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. In an industry where safety is paramount, it has squandered a reputation for both innovation and excellence that it took a century to create. The divergence in the fortunes of the two companies can be clearly seen in their respective share prices. Airbuss shares are up by 30pc over the last five years, while Boeings are down by 50pc, and that is starting to accelerate. And yet, the important point is surely this: there will never be a better moment for Airbus to take off the gloves and finish Boeing off for good. In reality, the opportunity is there for the taking. Airbus only needs to get three things right to make itself the global leader for a generation or more. First, the company should scrap pointless special dividends. Shareholders should not be worrying about cash payouts in 2024 and 2025. There are far better things for Airbus to be doing with its money right now than handing it back to its owners. Instead, it should be trimming prices where necessary to win over key customers, and it should be investing in production so that it can step up deliveries for all the airlines that no longer trust Boeing to meet the required manufacturing standards, or even to get the planes out of the factory at all. All of that is going to cost a lot of money, but once airlines are locked into a plane supplier it is very hard to change, so there has never been a better time to increase its market share. Ryanairs pugnacious leader, Michael OLeary, said he was concerned about production quality at Boeing - TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images Next, it should throw all its energy into cracking key customers. There are some major airlines that are holding out against Airbus. Ryanair, perhaps most noticeable, has stuck loyally to the Seattle manufacturer, with an all-Boeing fleet. So far, its pugnacious leader, Michael OLeary, has backed Boeing, but early this month he said he was concerned about production quality at the company. Lets be honest here: OLeary is not a man to let sentiment interfere with what works for his company, and if customers start to choose other budget airlines because they are worried about the safety of 737s he will be quick to switch allegiance. Even a handful of orders from Ryanair, or other major Boeing customers such as Southwest Airlines, would transform Airbuss long-term prospects. Finally, it should accelerate new models. The A321XLR is planned for later this year, with a longer range than existing A320 models. And there are sketches for hydrogen-fuelled planes. And yet, with Boeing in the doldrums, this is the moment to launch something completely fresh that can lock up a whole new segment of the market. Sure, it will cost money. Developing a new plane is not cheap. But the company needs to keep innovating, especially at a time when Boeing is too preoccupied with fixing its quality issues to risk a major new model launch. The recent launch of the first civil airliner from Chinas Comac is set to transform the industry - Lam Yik/Bloomberg The aerospace industry is in a state of rapid flux. The launch last year of the first civil airliner from Chinas Comac is going to transform the industry. The C-919 may not be a ground-breaking piece of engineering it looks suspiciously like an A320 but so long as it is good enough it will still rack up huge orders. The Chinese airlines will be lent on by the government to buy the domestically manufactured plane, and so will airlines in many of the developing countries where China is the major creditor. It should not be underestimated. In reality, over the next decade a duopoly is going to emerge, with one major Chinese plane manufacturer, and one major Western rival. Airbus needs to seize its moment, kill off Boeing, and make itself the Wests champion. And so long as they dont focus on short-term dividends, shareholders who have written it off as a subsidised white elephant for years will finally see the investment come good. 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. Tesla Cybertruck owners have voiced concerns with corrosion issues on the exterior panels of their new vehicles. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Some Tesla Cybertruck owners voiced their concerns after discovering orange rust marks on their new cars. In a Cybertruck Owners Club forum, one man claimed he picked up his new Cybertruck in Dublin, California, and drove it to Sacramento in the pouring rain on Feb. 1. During the drive, he noticed tiny orange specks on his truck. The man said an adviser with Tesla told him that Cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain that need to be buffed out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ALSO READ: Runaway teens arrested in Colorado after allegedly threatening to shoot up Texas preschool A Los Angeles resident also posted in the forum that he received his new truck on Feb.1 and had it parked in front of his house for 11 days when the vehicle started to form some corrosion because of the rain. The owner said he brought the vehicle to a service facility to fix the issue, and workers found out that it wasnt specks of dirt on the vehicle but actual corrosion. A worker at the facility told the owners that they had a procedure to fix the issue, but they didnt have the tools on hand, nor had they done repairs for corrosion before. The man said an advisor with Tesla told him that Cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain and that it requires the vehicle to be buffed out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a report by Gizmodo, the Tesla Cybertruck manual confirmed the trucks exterior panels are susceptible to such corrosive substances as grease, oil, tree resin, dead insects, etc., which should be washed off quickly to prevent corrosion. Justice John Devine, center, and Justices Debra Lehmann and Jimmy Blacklock listen to arguments at a 2018 hearing at the Texas Supreme Court. Spencer Selvidge for the San Antonio Express News Justices John Devine, left, and Jimmy Blacklock listen to opening statements in a 2018 case before the Texas Supreme Court. Spencer Selvidge for the San Antonio Express News In 2022, the Texas Supreme Court declined to kill a high-profile sex abuse lawsuit against former Southern Baptist Convention leader Paul Pressler and his longtime law partner, Jared Woodfill. For Justice John Devine, the case involved some familiar names: Years before taking the bench, he had worked at Woodfill and Presslers small Houston law firm. In fact, Devines tenure at the firm overlapped with the time that the plaintiff, a former employee of the firm, was allegedly molested by Pressler. Two other justices, who previously worked for the law firm representing the plaintiff, recused themselves. Devine didnt and instead dissented from the courts 5-2 decision that allowed the suit to go forward after a challenge to its statute of limitations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lawsuit eventually would make public numerous other abuse allegations against Pressler. It also prompted a deposition last year in which Woodfill testified that he had for years used the firms funds to pay young men to work out of Presslers home despite repeated warnings of his predations. Woodfill was not accused of sexual abuse in the lawsuit. Devines campaign website, Supreme Court biography and profile on WestLaw, a major legal repository, do not mention his work at the firm, Woodfill & Pressler LLP, which had about 10 employees during Devines time there. But the Texas Tribune reviewed thousands of pages of court records in lawsuits handled by Woodfill & Pressler LLP, and found that Devine was listed as an attorney or guardian ad litem with the firm at least 27 times between 2002 and 2008, including nine suits that were filed while the plaintiff in the sex abuse lawsuit worked for the firm as Presslers personal aide. Asked about his involvement with the firm, Devine downplayed his work there and said he had no reason to recuse himself because he had no personal knowledge of the facts in the lawsuit or a financial stake in the firm or the cases outcome. There was no basis for me to recuse from the case, Devine wrote in an email. I had no financial interest in the case; never participated in it; and had no personal knowledge of the facts. Two decades ago, I jointly tried some cases with Jared Woodfill. But we were never law partners; I had no financial interest in his firm; and I had no knowledge of the firms inner workings. I never worked with Pressler. My understanding was that he was just a name on the door. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He continued: Every judge working on a court knows other lawyers. In the practice of law, sometimes you are on the same side of the table, and sometimes its the other side. That is not a basis for recusal in a completely unrelated case decades later. Devine did not respond to two follow-up emails in which the Tribune detailed its findings, including that he was listed multiple times as co-counsel on cases with Pressler. Revelations of Devines involvement with the firm come barely a month after the sex abuse lawsuit was settled by Pressler, the Southern Baptist Convention and other defendants. Now, Woodfill is running for a Texas House seat with the backing of Attorney General Ken Paxton. Devine, a Republican who joined the Supreme Court in 2012, is up for reelection this year, and is the only justice facing a challenger in the March 5 statewide primary. His opponent, Second District Court of Appeals Judge Brian Walker, has centered his campaign on questions about Devines ethics, including in the Pressler case and in other instances in which he ruled on lawsuits brought by Woodfill. I have a hard time believing that Judge Devine didnt know about the allegations, Walker said in an interview. Its clear to me that he was still trying to help Woodfill and Pressler out when he essentially voted to keep the lawsuit from moving forward. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two other justices, who previously worked for the law firm representing the plaintiff, recused themselves when the suit was considered by the Supreme Court, though they did not provide reasons. Legal experts acknowledged there are often gray areas when it comes to judicial recusals particularly in Texas, where justices are elected and can find themselves presiding over legal disputes that involve political allies and supporters. But they cited the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires judges to preserve the integrity and independence of the judiciary and avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. I dont think that this is a close call, said Heather Zirke, director of the Miller Becker Center for Professional Responsibility at the University of Akron School of Law. Judges have a duty to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Woodfill, who did not respond to requests for comment, is a former Harris County Republican Party chair and prominent opponent of gay and transgender rights. He is challenging Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, for a Texas House seat. He recently appeared at a Houston fundraiser with Paxton, who briefly and without prompting praised Devine and blasted what he said were smear attacks against Devine by Walker. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pressler is a former Texas appeals court judge and political activist who co-led the Southern Baptist Conventions conservative resurgence in the 1980s and 1990s, during which the nations second-largest faith group adopted literal interpretations of the Bible, strongly condemned homosexuality and more closely aligned with the Republican Party. Pressler, now 93, has been accused by at least seven men of sexual abuse or misconduct. He has not been criminally charged. Asked about Devines time at the firm, Presslers attorney in the sex abuse lawsuit said he knew nothing about this. Longtime colleagues Devines ties to Woodfill and Pressler date back nearly three decades. While serving as a Harris County district judge in 1996, Devine was reportedly chastised for mixing his judicial and political work after presiding over a legal dispute over political advertisements between a major labor union and then-U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, a Houston-area Republican who was represented by Woodfill. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Devine was the judge in that case, and acknowledged that its outcome could affect him because he was running for Congress at the time. Nonetheless, Devine initially rebuffed concerns about potential conflicts of interest, instead using the hearing to publicly blast the union. Devine recused himself before another hearing on the case the next day. After losing his congressional race, Devine launched a bid for reelection to Harris County district court. Pressler was thrilled. You know that you have my enthusiastic support, and I will be glad to do anything in the world that you want me to do to be of assistance to you, Pressler wrote to Devine in a 1998 letter obtained by the Tribune. We are looking forward to seeing a lot of you, and I am looking forward to participating in your reelection. Devine won that race and remained a Harris County judge until 2001, when he resigned to run for Harris County attorney. He lost in the 2002 Republican primary and began working at Woodfill & Pressler LLP not long after. From 2002 to late 2004, Devine was listed in court filings as an attorney or guardian ad litem with the firm on more than 20 different lawsuits, sometimes with one or both of the firms two namesakes. The Tribune did not find any court documents that listed Devine at the firm in 2005 and 2006, though he remained close to Woodfill, who was then the chairman of the Harris County GOP and floated Devine as a potential replacement after U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, resigned amid a scandal in 2006. In 2007 and 2008, Devine was listed as an attorney with Woodfill and Presslers firm in at least seven lawsuits, including one in which he and Woodfill represented plaintiffs suing a major rail company that included a six-week jury trial. In another lawsuit, Woodfill, Devine and Pressler represented the Republican Party of Texas in an appeals court. Sometime around 2009, court records show that Devine began working as an attorney with a separate firm. That year, he also ran for a Montgomery County judgeship again with support from Pressler and, after losing that race, Devine announced in a letter to his supporters that he was starting a private law practice serving the cities of Magnolia and Tomball. In 2011 and after more than a decade of unsuccessful campaigns for elected office Devine launched a bid for Texas Supreme Court, winning in a landslide. In Devines first term, the Supreme Court considered a lawsuit in which Woodfill and others challenged the city of Houstons decision to extend benefits to married, same-sex couples. Devine dissented, siding with his former colleague as he has since done in at least two other lawsuits brought by Woodfill. In September 2021, an apparently dissatisfied former client left an angry online review of Woodfills law firm, which he said had been recommended to him by a powerful judge. Justice John Devine recommended him to me, he wrote. Sex abuse lawsuit By the time the sex abuse lawsuit was before the Supreme Court in 2022, multiple allegations against Pressler had been made public as had an assault lawsuit from 2004, when Devine worked at the firm, and an affidavit alleging Woodfill knew of Presslers behavior. At issue in the suit were claims made by Duane Rollins, a former member of Presslers youth group in the 1980s, who took a job with Woodfill & Pressler LLP in 2003. Rollins worked mostly out of Presslers home during that time, though he would sometimes come into the firm, Woodfill later testified. In 2004, Rollins filed the first of what would be multiple suits against Pressler, alleging that the religious leader had physically assaulted him in a Dallas hotel room months earlier. As part of the suit, another former Woodfill & Pressler LLP employee also filed a sworn affidavit in which he said Pressler had forcibly undressed and groped him. Pressler was represented by Woodfill in that 2004 suit, which was settled for $450,000 in a one-day mediation, and also included future liability protections for Woodfill & Pressler LLP. Rollins spent much of the next 12 years in prison for drug- and alcohol-related charges. Then, in 2015, court records show that he had an outcry statement to a prison psychiatrist, and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from childhood sexual abuse. It was a clarifying moment for Rollins, who later said that he had developed lifelong drug and alcohol addictions to block out the memories of the abuses. In 2017, Rollins filed a new lawsuit in which he alleged that Pressler had sexually abused him for decades, beginning when Rollins was 14 and continuing through his employment at Woodfill & Pressler LLP. Rollins also sued Woodfill, the firm, the Southern Baptist Convention and other defendants who he claimed had enabled or concealed Presslers behavior. Rollins abuse claims were soon substantiated by other court documents that were extensively covered by news outlets in 2018 four years before the Supreme Court ruled on the lawsuit. In one sworn affidavit, a man alleged that he was molested by Pressler in 1978. In another affidavit, an attorney from Woodfills firm alleged that Presslers behavior was common knowledge at Woodfills firm, and provided emails from 2016 in which he alerted Woodfill that Pressler had asked him to hot-tub naked together and bragged about being nude with men. The 2004 lawsuit settlement was also made public. But Rollins new lawsuit always faced an uphill battle: By the time he filed it in 2017, the statute of limitations on his claims had long elapsed, and it was eventually dismissed in Harris County district court. Rollins then enlisted the help of Baker Botts, a powerful Houston firm that appealed the dismissal. They argued that Rollins was so traumatized by the abuse that he developed a sort of Stockholm syndrome that, coupled with his drug and alcohol addictions, prevented him from recognizing himself as an abuse victim until years after the statute of limitations had passed. Thus, Baker Botts argued, Rollins window for filing claims should have begun when he realized he was abused, rather than from the date of the last abuse. A poster with the map of Lynchburg City Schools 11 elementary school attendance zones has been a regular fixture outside school board meetings for months now, since the start of conversations about the LCS facilities master plan and school closures. Its a colorful, intricate, jigsaw puzzle, with most of the single elementary school zones divided into pieces positioned at opposite ends of the Hill City so some students must travel past other schools and through multiple attendance zones to reach the elementaries theyre zoned for. At upcoming school board meetings, perhaps as early as this week, LCS administration will be premiering new draft attendance zones, prepared using demographic information and factoring in the upcoming closure of T.C. Miller Elementary School for Innovation and Sandusky Elementary School in 2025. The current map is the product of a 1971 desegregation order, and efforts to create racially balanced schools in areas of the city where simply drawing a circle around a school building could create a homogenous student body. Division Supervisor of Communications Austin Journey said the school division doesnt have attendance zone maps from as far back as pre- and post-desegregation, and similar inquiries to other city resources also were unsuccessful. The News & Advance published images of revised attendance maps in 1976, after Lynchburg completed its last annexation of what was then portions of Amherst, Bedford and Campbell counties. That map deals with 16 elementary schools but is fairly similar to todays, with downtown broken up into a grid of smaller sub-attendance areas corresponding to larger more suburban school zones across the city. In an October interview, Journey and LCS Deputy Superintendent Reid Wodicka explained there were smaller attendance zone adjustments when elementary schools closed over the last half-century, but to their knowledge, theres been no massive citywide rezoning like what administration is now undertaking. Computing and 21st century data make it a very different task than what officials must have grappled with in the 1960s and 70s. We have the ability to really do incredible work incredibly nuanced and detailed work that tells us everything we need to know about the demographics of the school zones well be creating, and I think thats a really huge value for us going forward, Wodicka said. And of course, theres a lot more to demographics and diversity than simply race and socioeconomic status, but those are some of the primary drivers that were looking at right now. Rezoning for close-to-home attendance was popular among city councilors, and community members who participated in engagement opportunities for the divisions facilities master plan. Wodicka said administration has heard concerns from parents about engaging in their childrens education when they live across the city from the school theyre zoned for. The move also could cut down on transportation costs. He said in October the division still was dealing with a shortage of bus drivers, and while its not a primary motivation behind rezoning, having a less complex transportation system could make it so the division needs fewer bus drivers and can eliminate some unfilled positions. There will be an engagement process with the new maps for community members to offer input, Wodicka added. Brenda Farmer, president of the Lynchburg Chapter of the NAACP, is hoping that process will be an open conversation with parents, she said in a recent phone interview. Farmer added the Lynchburg NAACPs mission is to support equal justice for all, and we stand behind our children. One of the few Owen Cardwell was 13 years old in January 1962, when he and Lynda Woodruff became the first Black students to attend the formerly all-white E.C. Glass High School the start of a decade-long struggle to fully desegregate Lynchburgs public schools. Two other Black students, Cecelia Jackson and Brenda Hughes, would follow later that year. The current pastor of Diamond Hill Baptist Church, a professor at the University of Lynchburg and a 2023 appointee to the Governors Virginia African American Advisory Board, Cardwell said in a recent phone interview the experience, without question, shaped the course of his life. I was asked by someone maybe about a month ago if I thought that I had gone through trauma while I was at E.C. Glass, and I told them that I had not made that association until very recently, the last couple of years. Upon graduating from Glass, Cardwell attended the historically Black Hampton University, rather than take one of the full-ride scholarships hed been offered by multiple northeastern liberal arts colleges. I wanted to go to an HBCU because I was tired of being one of a few and I ended up at the end of my sophomore year, just inexplicably I couldnt figure it out then I just stopped going to classes, Cardwell said. He would later drop out and volunteer for service in the Vietnam War. But for a long time that pattern continued. I had a hard time completing anything. Cardwell said he achieved his doctorate degree later in life, but it took three bites at the apple. In 1962, he transferred from the All-Black Dunbar High School in his second semester freshman year, after hard fought legal battles with the Lynchburg City School Board. Cardwell recalled going from the top of his class at Dunbar to failing to achieve honor roll until his senior year at Glass. It wasnt because I was not academically capable ... it was because of the social and emotional things that I was going through. And I say to people that Dunbar did not have an inferior education opportunity; it was just that there were resources at Glass that were not available at Dunbar. Eight years after the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional, Lynchburgs two high schools were separate but decidedly unequal. Where Dunbar offered 48 courses; Glass had 121. Glass had a cafeteria, gymnasium and auditorium; Dunbar did not. Glass athletes and band members were given uniforms while Dunbar students had to raise money for their own. The Supreme Courts ruling had told lower federal courts to implement integration with all deliberate speed, ambiguous language that let many southern school boards drag their feet on implementation. Cardwell, Woodruff, Jackson and Hughes, with their parents support, applied for admission to Glass in 1961. When their request to enroll was denied, the families filed suit against the school board, then-Superintendent M. Lester Carper and the three-member state Pupil Placement Board. On Nov. 15, 1961, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas J. Michie ruled in favor of Cardwell and Woodruff but ordered Jackson and Hughes to remain at Dunbar. They appealed that decision and later were admitted for the start of the 1962-63 school year. That year the Lynchburg School Board submitted its first plan for desegregation to Michie, which he would approve, calling for the desegregation of one grade-a-year for twelve years. In 1964, the Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond remanded Lynchburgs desegregation case back to Michie to make adjustments and in the spring of that year, the school board voluntarily announced a revised plan to integrate every grade by the fall of 1966. With back-and-forth between the federal district court and the school board, it would take until the 1970-71 school year for the citys junior and senior high schools to be integrated. By September 1971, the school board had begun busing where there was no school bus system before 3,500 elementary and middle school students to comply with the federal order. Orders affects unclear Lynchburg City Schools is one of 17 districts in Virginia including the cities of Roanoke, Danville and Charlottesville with open desegregation orders, according to the most recent data available from ProPublica. Initially and until such time as additional elementary schools are put into service or removed from service, the City will be divided into thirteen basic attendance areas for elementary school pupils the 1971 order reads. It establishes new school attendance areas and directs the school board to operate a busing system free for all elementary pupils attending school outside the immediate geographic area of their homes, but allows the school board leeway if unforeseen difficulties or hardships arise as school populations increase or decrease, as racial compositions in attendance areas change, or as schools are added or taken out of the system. In any such case, the School Board reserve[s] the right, from time to time, as necessary, to make such charges by amending Schedule A and/or the attendance area maps Push for unitary status In August 2023, Lynchburg City Council approved the transfer of $261,000 from a contingency reserve fund held for the school division to the administration category of the schools budget, partly to pay for legal fees for the schools to petition for unitary or desegregated status. Journey confirmed this week the school board hasnt petitioned yet, but after a joint meeting between the school board and city council in August, division Superintendent Crystal Edwards said LCS feels pretty clear to do some of the work that we want to do even if we dont petition this year for unitary status. Of division-wide rezoning, Wodicka said in October: really this will be the impact that our generation has on the city. The school boards next scheduled meeting is a work session on Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. in the School Administration Building, 915 Court St. LOS ANGELES, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - Director Takashi Yamazaki, whose film "Godzilla Minus One" has been nominated for an Academy Award in Visual Effects, has shared insights into the production process in Los Angeles. This marks the first time a Japanese film has been nominated in this category. Over 100 film industry professionals and visual creators were invited to the talk show where Yamazaki discussed the making of Godzilla-1.0. The film is competing for the Visual Effects Oscar, a category historically dominated by groundbreaking works like Star Wars and Avatar, known for expanding the boundaries of expression through CG technology. Yamazaki revealed that the production team utilized special effects techniques and checked the creators' visuals on the spot to streamline the process, including cost efficiency. "Normally, in a VFX studio, everyone would watch the tests together, but we didn't do that. Instead, if someone spotted an issue, we would immediately discuss how to improve it. There was a lot of interaction among us," Yamazaki explained. When asked about the use of generative AI in filmmaking, Yamazaki expressed skepticism, stating, "Instinctively, I reject it because it produces something that feels like it's been seen before." Regarding the nomination, Yamazaki said, "It's an honor to be nominated among such incredible works. I'll be thrilled if we win, but even if we don't, I'm happy to have come this far. I'd say our chances are 50% if I'm being greedy." The Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 10th. Source: NEWS Most of those fluids were swept into stormwater drains by the water that firefighters used to put out the blaze, said Logan Oliphant, an environmental specialist for the DNR who investigated the creek for contamination. Those drains empty into Keg Creek. Vast areas of the creek are covered in an oily sheen between the southwest Iowa town and the Missouri River, where the creek ends more than six miles away. Some of the contamination has gone into the river. It is a significant incident, said Alison Manz, one of Oliphants colleagues at the DNR who is assisting with the investigation. No dead fish or other harms to wildlife were immediately apparent. Absorbent tubes have been placed across the creek surface to help contain the oil in several locations, and they might remain for a week. It wasnt immediately clear what other remediations might be required to clean the creek and shore. Rescue organizations are asking for donations to help 18 cats saved from an abandoned trailer home in Carter Lake. Isaiah Langworthy of Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue said the cats were left for about a month in the locked structure before they were discovered last week by a worker at the trailer park. The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, gave the cats some food and water and reached out to Muddy Paws. What we found was absolutely horrific, Langworthy said. Several inches of feces covered the floor, and the smell of ammonia was overpowering. They also found five dead cats, one a newborn kitten. One cat had been eaten. The former residents also had left on the gas on the stove. Langworthy said the cats were so filthy that the rescue crew couldnt tell their color. They all appeared to be gray because they werent able to clean themselves due to dehydration. He said he cried as he walked through the trailer and observed the conditions. He and Roberta Cisar, Paul Cisar and Terri Larson of Muddy Paws spent more than three hours removing cats. The fact that any survived is a miracle, Langworthy said. The volunteers within Muddy Paws that all responded, we combined have about 60 years of rescue experience. None of us had seen anything like this. The cats were at first taken to the Carter Lake Animal Control Shelter before a few other rescues stepped in to help. Five cats went to the Jeanette Hunt Blair Animal Rescue and six others to SOLAS. Muddy Paws is caring for seven. All the cats have health issues, and none are spayed or neutered. All are suffering from malnutrition. Langworthy said rescues are already overwhelmed with animals, so donations are crucial for veterinarian, medicine and food bills. Langworthy is caring for two of the cats at his home. Xavier, a male, has begun taking antibiotics for ringworm and a urinary infection and could be ready to adopt in a week or so. The cats arent feral as you might expect, Langworthy said. These cats are loving. They were purring. They were letting us hold them, he said. The male Ive had since Wednesday. He will curl up on my lap and give me all sorts of love. A person walks along Houston Street with the Albritton Bell Tower in the background at Texas A&M University in College Station in this 2020 photo. Professors and students from A&Ms Doha campus are devastated by the board of regents sudden decision to shutter the school by 2028. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Students at Texas A&M students in Doha, Qatar. The Texas A&M University System board of regents voted earlier this month to close the Qatar campus. Emre Rende/For the Texas Tribune Students and faculty at Texas A&M Universitys Qatar branch are slamming the Texas A&M University System board of regents abrupt decision to wind down the Doha campus after more than two decades. At a Texas A&M faculty senate meeting last week, several professors from Qatar called for more answers and a clear transition plan for staff and students there, many of whom they say are devastated by the decision. Our students cant understand how local Texan politics can unilaterally determine a weighty decision about a very successful campus that excels in education without any discussion or negotiation, Brittany Bounds, a history professor at the Qatar campus, said at the meeting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She noted the move is especially confusing to the campus community since the school renewed its contract with the state-run Qatar Foundation in 2021, extending the teaching agreement for another 10 years. Regents voted 7-1 Feb. 8 to cut the contract without any public discussion. Board Chair Bill Mahomes declined an interview request and the board member who introduced the resolution, Mike Hernandez, did not respond to a request for comment. The university system pledged to continue teaching current students at the school until the campus officially closes in 2028. Khalid Al-Sada, student government president and a senior majoring in chemical engineering at the Qatar campus, said students initial shock and disappointment in the decision has turned to fear, panic and anger as reality sets in. They are worried about how the decision will affect graduate students who were expecting to graduate after 2028, how it will deteriorate the college experience for freshmen as the campus winds down during their four-year programs and whether the value of their degrees will remain after the school closes its doors. We were all just left wondering what is going to happen to the dreams, the hopes we had, our hopes, what we wanted to achieve with all the different studying and all of that, Al-Sada said. We still have so many questions and we dont have many answers to any of them, to be honest. Al-Sada said he was playing video games with friends when he got a call from a friend alerting him the board had voted to cancel the contract. He was planning to apply for graduate school at the Qatar campus next year. The university is one of the only options for graduate engineering degrees in Qatar, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Overnight our future has been placed in such a volatile position, he said. In a news release sent after the vote, the system said the board decided to reevaluate the universitys presence in Qatar this fall due to the heightened instability in the Middle East. The Board has decided that the core mission of Texas A&M should be advanced primarily within Texas and the United States, board Chair Mahomes said. By the middle of the 21st century, the university will not necessarily need a campus infrastructure 8,000 miles away to support education and research collaborations. The university opened the Qatar campus in 2003 to boost engineering education and research in the Middle East, a major oil and gas region. Qatar is also a major American ally and home to a U.S. Air Force base in Doha. More than 1,500 students have graduated from the program, and it currently enrolls 730 students, according to the university. All campus operations are paid for by the Qatar Foundation, which is controlled by the countrys government. A&M is a public institution, and no state funding or tuition revenue can be used to pay for the campus operations. Texas A&M is one of six American universities that has a location in Dohas Education City, including Virginia Commonwealth University, Georgetown University and Northwestern University. The University of London ended its contract with the Qatar Foundation in 2020 as part of changes it made to its academic priorities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Administrators told faculty last week that they alerted the Qatar Foundation a month prior that regents would discuss the contract at their Feb. 8 meeting. But faculty told the Texas Tribune they did not expect the board to cancel the contract and were caught off guard by the decision. We assumed that it was a conversation that needed to be seen publicly, but we had no idea that the regents would actually vote to close this campus, Bounds said. Waking up to a flurry of messages and emails on Friday morning was disorienting; I felt kicked in the gut. Texas A&M President Mark Welsh III held a town hall meeting Feb. 11 to answer pre-submitted questions from faculty and students about the boards decision. He said A&M officials would be visiting the Doha campus to discuss a transition plan. A transcript of the meeting provided by Texas A&M shows university leaders had few details to share about the transition plan, saying they were still determining what the decision means for ongoing research projects and faculty appointments. Professor Mohammed Al-Hashimi described the town hall as a one-way broadcast rather than a real dialogue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Attendees found themselves unable to voice their concerns or provide feedback, effectively resulting in a sense of this continued disconnection and frustration, he told A&M faculty during the faculty senate meeting that was held after the town hall. Al-Sada said the town hall exacerbated frustrations among the student body, too. The lack of clear answers and limited details about a transition plan only emphasized to students that the decision to end the contract appeared to be rushed. Faculty members who spoke to the Tribune said communication from Texas and Qatar administrators has been sparse since the board vote, and that some faculty were reprimanded for attempting to hold group listening sessions for the town hall. One faculty member in Qatar who spoke to the Tribune on the condition of anonymity because of fears of retaliation said faculty watching the town hall in Qatar were laughing at the lack of specifics by the end of the meeting. N.K. Anand, vice provost of faculty affairs, told faculty that administrators met with the president of the Qatar Foundation on Monday. Anand said he will travel to Qatar in early March to meet with faculty, staff and students there to hear their concerns. A full transition team will travel to the campus in May, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Anand confirmed the school will not admit freshmen in the fall, stating the Qatar Foundation will decide where freshman applicants will attend school instead. Bounds and other faculty said they also are not convinced by the regents reasoning to close the campus because of heightened instability in the Middle East amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The professors said instability in the region was never an issue before. Similar skepticism also was expressed by the Qatar Foundation, which recently accused the university in a statement of falling victim to a disinformation campaign aimed at harming the interests of the foundation. A think tank called The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, which describes itself on its website as a center dedicated to the academic study of antisemitism, sent a letter to U.S. officials in January alleging that Qatar had substantial ownership of weapons development rights and nuclear engineering research being developed at the Texas A&M campus, which they claim is a threat to national security. The letter came a few months after ISGAP released a 17-page report in which it alleged it had discovered a disturbing relationship between Qatar and Texas A&M University. Texas A&M firmly denied the accusations about its research and also insisted the report from ISGAP was not a factor in the regents decision-making process. During the town hall, Welsh referred to the report as a disinformation campaign and said it had no influence whatsoever on their decision. Yet many faculty say they want more answers from the regents about why they made this decision now, and so quickly. One has the feeling that (Welsh) is being given a job to enforce a decision he never would have made, the faculty member in Qatar who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. Thats the general feeling. That the regents were on a very different agenda from everyone else in the university system. Al-Sada said students are waiting for more answers, too. But, mainly, they want to know why they were treated as disposable. U.S. REP. ADRIAN SMITH speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., with a large photo of Jim Black, the oldest living World War II veteran at the Norfolk Veterans Home next to him. Smith recognized Black on Thursday on the House floor for his service to his country, as well as to his community. Spain took over from Morocco the rotating presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) for a one-year term. The transition of the PA-UfM presidency to Spain took place at the conclusion of the Assemblys 17th plenary session, held in Rabat with the participation of parliamentarians from over 42 member countries of the UfM. During the handover, Francina Armengol, President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain and Vice-President of the PA-UfM, commended Moroccos efforts during its presidency and for hosting the 17th session. She also addressed several challenges confronting the Euro-Mediterranean region, and emphasized the imperative of fostering peace, narrowing economic disparities between the North and South, combating climate change, and improving migration management. Armengol highlighted Spains commitment to continuing collaboration with Morocco on ensuring regular, orderly, and safe migration. She noted that Spain, like Morocco, would share its expertise in this area with all Euro-Mediterranean countries, to promote justice, economic prosperity, and social cohesion in the region. The sessions agenda included the presentation and adoption of recommendations and proposals from the Assemblys Committees and Working Group on Procedures and Finances, along with the adoption of the committees reports and recommendations. The meeting also offered an opportunity to assess the Mediterranean regions situation and discuss the Assemblys role in 21st-century Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, with participants highlighting the urgency and significance of working together more closely, mainly to address the issues of youth, employment, investment, training, higher education, climate and energy matters, and the digitalization of the economy. Participants acknowledged that the Assemblys meeting is taking place in a challenging context due to the crisis in Gaza, and underscored in this connection the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire to protect innocent lives. The events of 2023 had brought peace and stability issues back to the forefront of the agenda, they pointed out. Participants who stressed the importance of preserving the achievements of the Euro-Mediterranean region pointed out that the landscape of a new Mediterranean is taking shape and requires that all stakeholders mobilize more to take advantage of the benefits of cooperation and ensure a better future for the Euro-Mediterranean area. The stability and security agenda remains a priority, so as not to relegate the many expectations of the Mediterranean to second place, and so that the path to a better Mediterranean drives collective efforts and joint actions to ensure a better future for future generations. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is a platform that promotes Mediterranean dialogue and cooperation. It provides an opportunity for multilateral cooperation among elected representatives of the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partner countries. At least once a year the 280 equally distributed members hold a plenary session. Permanent observers to the Assembly include the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, Libya, the European Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee. The assembly consists of five permanent committees, namely the Committee on Political and Security Affairs and Human Rights; the Committee on Improving Quality of Life and Exchanges Between Civil Societies and Cultures; the Committee on Womens Rights in the Euro-Mediterranean Countries; the Committee on Economic, Financial, Social, and Educational Affairs; and the Committee on Energy, Environment, and Water. The Irish diplomacy has affirmed that it does NOT recognize the self-proclaimed SADR, dealing another hard blow to the Algerian regime and its Polisario puppet, becoming a liability and persona non-grata worldwide. Both the Algerian junta and the Polisario have been ridiculed for falsely labeling a private visit paid lately by Polisario chief to Dublin as an official visit to the Republic of Ireland for geopolitical gains. But, all their plans and propaganda campaigns have failed when the embassy of Ireland in Rabat exposed the lies of the Algeria-backed Polisario armed militias. Ireland does NOT recognize SADR. The visit of Polisario representatives to Ireland last week was a private visit, not on foot of an official visit, affirmed the Irish embassy in a statement posted on its twitter account this weekend. Irelands longstanding position on the Sahara is one of full support of the UN-led process and the Secretary Generals efforts to bring about a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement on this issue, said the European diplomatic representation, knocking out the Algerian regime which has spent millions of U.S. petrodollars on a lost cause. In a brief statement, the Irish presidency also said: President Michael D. Higgins receives Brahim Ghali, secretary-general of Polisario, on a courtesy call. It was just a courtesy visit with some souvenir photos no more no less. Yet, the Algerian regime and Polisario media outlets tried to deceive their public opinion, reporting a diplomatic achievement in a bid to divert attention from worsening socioeconomic crises in Tindouf camps and Algeria. Furthermore, neither the Presidency of Ireland nor the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs have issued a press release on the visit of Polisario representatives, reflecting the failure of the agenda of separatism and division supported by the Algerian regime which has lost all credibility. Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, praised the role played by King Mohammed VI in supporting Al-Quds and the Palestinian cause. This came during a visit he paid on Saturday to the headquarters of the Rabat-based Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency. Fattouh highlighted the Kingdoms honorable positions towards the Palestinian cause and the Sovereigns solicitude towards Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, that are, he said, highly appreciated by the Palestinian leaders and people. He expressed confidence in Moroccos contribution to support Gaza and lift the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people who remain attached to their land. Palestinian ambassador to Morocco, Jamal Al-Shobaki, who was accompanying the National Councils Speaker, for his part, recalled the emergency humanitarian aid sent by Morocco to Al-Quds and Gaza, on the instructions of the King, and welcomed the royal initiative to immediately allocate a hundred additional scholarships to students in Gaza, an operation that is taking place in coordination with the Palestinian Authority. Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, managing director of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, stressed that the institution continues its work in the Holy City, under the direct supervision of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, providing all possible assistance to brotherly Palestinians and their institutions, in all circumstances. Mauritanias accession to the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) is a well-deserved recognition of its role as a player of stability in the region, said Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. This is a well-deserved recognition in view of Mauritanias role, under the leadership of president Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, as an actor for stability in the region and its positive role on a range of issues on the African continent, Bourita told the Mauritanian news website Sahara Media, on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Pursuant to the high instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, Morocco supported Mauritanias bid, in view of the neighborly ties and solid bilateral relations between Morocco and Mauritania, Bourita said. He noted that the Mauritanian president knows that he can rely on Moroccos support to make this presidency a success. Taking over the rotating presidency of the African Union from the President of the Comoros Azali Assoumani on Saturday, President Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani said I am deeply grateful and honored by this distinction, but I am fully aware of the magnitude of the responsibilities that ensue, particularly in a pervasively fragmented and increasingly challenging context, not only facing our beloved continent but also the entire world. Moroccos commitment to achieving development goals in Africa is part of the strategic vision of King Mohammed VI, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, who is representing the Sovereign at the 37th African Union Summit being held Saturday and Sunday in Addis Ababa. Bourita recalled in this regard that the King stressed in his speech to the African Union, on January 31, 2017, the importance of fostering the emergence of a new Africa, which can transform its challenges into genuine potential for development and stability. Based on this conviction, Morocco has consistently sought to make its contribution to the process of implementing the programs and activities of Agenda 2063, as well as to the debates on the evaluation of the first ten-year plan and the strategic orientation of the development and implementation of the 2nd ten-year plan of this agenda, reaffirmed the Minister during the examination of item II.b on the evaluation report of the first ten-year implementation plan and adoption of the second ten-year plan by Alassane Ouattara, president of Cote dIvoire, leader of the follow-up to the implementation of the African Unions Agenda 2063. For the Kingdom, it is fundamental to develop a resource mobilization strategy, Bourita said, adding that Morocco reiterates its proposal to create a Development Fund similar to the Peace Fund, in order to provide the necessary financial support for the implementation of the 2nd ten-year plan. The Marrakech Declaration issued from the high-level African ministerial meeting on accelerating the financing of Africas emergence, organized on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, held on October 1, 2023 in Marrakech, decided to set up a working group to enable African countries to exchange best practices in development financing, recalled the Minister. The realization of the vision of Africa we want can only be achieved through a strong involvement of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in the development process, working within the framework of operational synergies with the AU in general and AUDA-NEPAD in particular, insisted Bourita. In addition to the RECs, the Kingdom is also advocating the strengthening of continental structures dedicated to African youth, who today represent 41% of the African population, the Minister underlined. Bourita also stressed the need to establish regular monitoring mechanisms, in particular by setting up a dashboard enabling us to identify delays and obstacles in good time. The Kingdom of Morocco supports president Alassane Ouattaras proposals, particularly the one calling for an Extraordinary Summit to be held in Abidjan to deepen the commitment of African leaders, and increase ownership, awareness and visibility of the 2nd ten-year plan of Agenda 2063, said the Minister. At this meeting, Morocco paid a vibrant tribute to Alassane Ouattara, Champion of the African Union for the implementation of Agenda 2063, for his tireless efforts, involvement, and leadership in achieving the aspirations and strategic objectives of Agenda 2063. During the examination of point 2c1 on the report of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on its activities and on the state of peace and security in Africa (January-December 2023), Bourita pointed out that peace, security and development go hand in hand, hence the importance of a holistic, integrated and multidimensional approach, based on a close overlap between these three dimensions. Bourita stressed the need to recognize the value of discussion platforms on this overlap, emphasizing in this regard that the processes of Tangier, Aswan, Dakar, Luanda and Lome form a hub of ideas, and fruition of such an approach where development stands as the first bulwark against instability and insecurity, aligned with the ten-year plan of Agenda 2063. While we are halfway to implementing the 2030 Silencing the Guns in Africa strategy, the continued emergence of areas of tension raises pressing questions. In 2030, our assessment must be positive, but this momentum for success will undoubtedly depend on our ability to weave a resilient network of peace within the continent, stressed the Moroccan official during the examination of point 2c1 on the report of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on its activities and on the state of peace and security in Africa (January-December 2023). Photo: Gavriil Grigorov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images How Russian dissident and would-be opposition leader Alexey Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony last week will likely never be known to the world. But regardless of the precise cause of his death, its no mystery who killed him. President Joe Biden was right to place the blame for Navalnys demise squarely on Russian president Vladimir Putin. Whether Navalny was assassinated outright or merely worn down from months and years of brutal treatment in prison, this was an act of murder by Putins regime. A more important question is: Why now? Navalny, 47, had been in state custody for more than three years, since he bravely returned to Russia after Putins first attempt to assassinate him with the Novichok nerve agent in 2020. He was unlikely to ever be released from prison, even if he had survived his 30-year sentence. In December, he was moved from a prison outside Moscow to the notorious IK-3 Polar Wolf penal colony, far above the Arctic Circle, where Russia keeps its very worst criminals in horrifying conditions. Navalny on a video link from the IK-3 penal colony above the Arctic Circle during a hearing on January 11. Photo: VERA SAVINA/AFP via Getty Images Putin could have gotten rid of him at any time. That it has finally happened speaks to the position of strength Putin clearly now believes he has. While some in Russia have braved arrest to mourn Navalny in public, there hasnt been and likely wont be a major uprising in response to his death. If Putin was worried about political or diplomatic repercussions before, he clearly isnt anymore. And why should he be? Everything seems to be going pretty well for him these days. Consider the latest news from Putins special military operation in Ukraine: On Saturday, Ukrainian forces, worn down by a relentless Russian assault, withdrew from the strategically important frontline city of Avdiivka. It was Russias most significant victory on the battlefield since the capture of Bakhmut in May and is an indication that the long stalemate is slowly turning in Moscows favor. Since October, Russia has been throwing wave after wave of soldiers into the meat grinder of the war, using its numerical advantages in manpower and munitions to chip away at the front line while Ukraines generals struggled with troop and ammunition shortages. And help isnt exactly on the way from Ukraines allies. In Washington, House Republicans continue to block efforts to pass a critical $60 billion Ukrainian aid package that Kyiv desperately needs to keep up the fight. Though Biden, in his response to Navalnys death, slammed the lawmakers stonewalling the aid package and urged them to get their act together, House Speaker Mike Johnson remains in thrall to the small but influential band of radical right-wing isolationists who oppose sending any further aid to Ukraine, and he has so far been unwilling to even allow the bill to come to a vote. Its not clear if Senate Republicans, who mostly support the aid, will be able to convince him otherwise. European countries could theoretically fill this aid gap, but to do so they would need to double their current level and pace of arms assistance, and they have already been falling short of their existing commitments. Putin is also getting an assist from former president Donald Trump, who raised eyebrows a week ago when he bragged that he once told another head of state not only that he would he refuse to come to the assistance of NATO countries that were not meeting their defense-spending targets but also that he would encourage Putin to attack them. If Trump takes back the White House, the odds of which are now about 50-50 at worst, it would spell the end of NATO as an effective counter to Russias irredentist ambitions and effectively give Putin free rein to terrorize Eastern Europe. Even if Trump loses in November, by that point NATO members will have spent most of the year wondering whether or not they will be able to count on the U.S. in the future. This uncertainty is in itself a weakness Putin can exploit to erode Ukraines resolve and discourage European countries from doubling down on their support for its defense. Russian troll farms have been working to undermine Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy through propaganda and disinformation, sowing discord among leaders in Kyiv and attempting (so far unsuccessfully) to divide and destabilize Ukrainian society. Zelenskyys firing of General Valery Zaluzhny, his top military commander, last month, was one goal of this psyops campaign, and even if Zelenskyy took that decision independently of the influence of Russian disinformation, officials in Moscow still took it as a victory. Also, the State Department recently warned that Russia will likely conduct disinformation operations to turn European public opinion against Ukraine and influence the outcomes of elections across the Continent this year. Here in the U.S., Russian disinformation ops contributed to Trumps victory in 2016 and have amplified his lies about the outcome of the 2020 election. And it remains to be seen how, not if, Putin will attempt to influence the outcome of the election this fall, both with disinformation efforts and by taking advantage of the assistance of useful idiots on the American right like Tucker Carlson. Another of Putins recent flexes is the revelation that Russia may be developing a nuclear-powered anti-satellite space weapon that could knock out large numbers of satellites with a single electromagnetic pulse. Mike Turner, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, helped Putin advertise this potential capability last week when he put out a cryptic statement expressing dire concern over a serious national security threat, forcing the White House to both acknowledge that U.S. intelligence knows about the project and tamp down panic about its implications. Turner may have hoped that by publicizing this intelligence, he could encourage his colleagues in the House GOP to reconsider their implacable opposition to aiding Ukraine; if so, it doesnt look like hes succeeded. Meanwhile, western sanctions meant to tank Russias economy and weaken its ability to prosecute the war in Ukraine have decidedly failed to do that. The Russian economy is growing, and it has found willing trade partners outside the western world, especially China and to a lesser extent India. Any hope that Putin would overextend himself in Ukraine, run out of materiel, and be blamed by Russians for inviting an economic catastrophe in the meantime has been lost. The war is taking a huge toll on Russia with tens of thousands of soldiers dead and hundreds of thousands wounded, but these losses have not weakened Putins grip on power, and he will cruise to victory in elections next month, securing another six-year term. With so many things going right for him, Putin has good reason to believe he is unstoppable. Navalny was one of the only serious rivals offering Russians a hopeful alternative to Putins rule, and his death comes at a moment when opposition in the country has been almost entirely silenced and potential challenges to Putins authority have been neutralized. The irony of this situation is that Russia is, in fundamental ways, a weak state. It is almost entirely dependent on a senior power (China) to prop up its economy. It continues to pour unfathomable amounts of blood and treasure into a needless, potentially unwinnable war and public support for that war is not as robust as Putins propaganda machine makes it out to be. Like all tyrants, Putin rules through fear and confusion, and such power bases are inevitably fragile. Killing Navalny may be a power move, but it is also a reminder that Putin still viewed this charismatic dissident as a threat, even while locked away. Putins triumph is not inevitable. But stopping it depends on the unified resolve of democratic countries to stand up for their core values against a tyrant who seeks to undermine them everywhere. Not since before the Second World War has Americas commitment to these principles been as uncertain as it is today. This post has been updated. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The United Way of Lee County supported 20 organizations throughout the community with donations from its 2024 campaign. The UWLC announced on Friday that the money it allocated for its community partners in the 2024 fiscal year, with over $400,000 approved to be distributed to 20 partner agencies and affiliates across Lee County. It is our honor to be able to assist these organizations in carrying out their missions in the community, said Tipi Miller, executive director of the United Way of Lee County. The group credited the generous 2024 campaign season for helping support the organizations, which impact every facet of the Lee County community from child care to eldercare services and address numerous crisis areas such as child abuse and domestic violence. The news release also said that the funding raised allowed the UWLC to fund all 20 agencies at 100% of their requested amount, a major milestone for the UWLC and its efforts. For the first time in many years, each agency will receive the full amount requested from United Way to be used for their programs and operating expenses, Miller said. A special thanks to every individual and business that donated to this fundraising campaign. Your donations made this possible. The UWLC kicked off its 2024 campaign in August, setting a goal of raising $925,000. According to the UWLC, they have raised just over $813,000 so far, and donations for the 2024 campaign are accepted through the end of the year. All monetary decisions regarding the funding are made through the UWLCs annual grant writing process known as Allocations. According to the news release, the Allocations process requires all agencies to submit an application and provide appropriate supporting documentation to explain their mission, goals, fiscal health, and achieved yearly outcomes. In addition to that, the process requires each agency to have a representative give an in-person presentation to the Allocations committee. The Allocations committee is a panel of diverse volunteers representing multiple facets in Lee County. The Allocations Committee is an integral part of this process, said Gabby Thabes, Community Initiatives Specialist for the United Way of Lee County. The differing perspectives of the many committee members ensures that the Allocations process is fair, thorough, and representative of shared community interests. Miller said that the community partners can make funding requests that can help set their budget or be used for matching grants and the UWLC tries to be consistent year-to-year, often basing the goal on historical figures and how much is requested. While their annual goal is often based on the needs of the community partners, Miller said that they factor in various yearly events such as the coat drive and Bundle Up Boutique or the Day of Caring. We can really see where theres a need and then meet it, Miller said. The following are the 20 organizations receiving funding through the Allocations: Joyland Child Development Center Inc. Lee County Literacy Coalition Sheriffs Girls Ranch Special Deliveries of East Alabama Mental Health Center Keeping Family Connections of Twin Cedars United Way Student Health Fund Dolly Partons Imagination Library Lee County CASA of Twin Cedars Project Uplift of Lee County Youth Development Center United Way Community Fund Alabama Head Injury Foundation East Alabama Services for the Elderly Lee County Chapter of Easter Seals Achievement Center Unity Wellness Center of East Alabama Mental Health Services American Red Cross Food Bank of East Alabama The Community Market of the Food Bank of East Alabama Domestic Violence Intervention Center Child Advocacy Center of Twin Cedars 2-1-1 Community Connections For more information on the community partners and their respective missions, you can visit unitedwayofleecounty.com/agenciesandpartners. The United Way of Lee County is a nonprofit organization based in Opelika, Ala. For more information on UWLC, visit their website. See United Way volunteers pack meals at the 2024 Campaign Kickoff Ethiopia has been gradually developing its renewable energy potential in recent years, adding wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric capacity. In the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is home to abundant renewable energy sources, with the potential for massive green energy generation if supported by greater investment in the sector. However, the Ethiopian government has come under fire in recent years for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which could hinder neighbouring countries water sources. Ethiopia has the potential to generate more than 60,000 MW of electric power from hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal sources. It also has seven trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves in its Ogaden Basin. Despite this strong potential, Ethiopia has struggled to tap into its natural energy sources due to a lack of investment. At present, it has 5,200 MW of installed generation capacity, which supplies electricity to less than 60 percent of the Ethiopian population. The government aims to increase this capacity to 17,000 MW within the next decade, but there are fears that demand may still outpace supply as both the economy and population continue to grow. Around 90 percent of Ethiopias electricity generation comes from hydropower, with wind and thermal sources providing 8 percent and 2 percent respectively. To significantly enhance its hydropower capacity, the government has been constructing the $4-billion GERD for more than a decade, with a projected installed capacity of 5,150 MW. The enormous dam is expected to support not only energy security but also economic and industrial growth. In October, the government said it had finished the fourth and final phase of filling a reservoir for its GERD hydroelectric power plant, following years of delays after initial approval. In addition to the GERD, the government is also developing the Koysha Hydro Power dam by the Omo River. This will be the second-largest dam in Ethiopia, with an anticipated capacity of 2,170 MW. The development of the GERD has been widely criticised by Egypt and Sudan, who are worried that it might reduce the flow of vital Nile River water supplies. Both countries are downstream from Ethiopia and are concerned the dam may prevent enough water from flowing towards them. Egypt suffers from severe water scarcity, relying heavily on the Nile, which provides around 97 percent of its supply. The Egyptian government deems the construction of GERD as an illegal and unilateral measure. In December, Egypt said that talks over GERD had failed after Ethiopia refused to come to an agreement to ensure the protection of Egypt and Sudans water supplies. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government has repeatedly emphasised the need for GERD to support the countrys economic development and energy security. In addition to its hydropower resources, Ethiopia is also developing its solar, wind, and geothermal capacity. The government aims to create a climate-resilient power network. In December, Ethiopia signed an agreement with the UAEs AMEA Power to build a 300 MW, $600-million wind farm. The Aysha Wind Farm will be located on 18,000 acres of land and is expected to support the creation of 2,000 jobs during the construction and operational phases. This forms part of AMEAs strategy to expand its renewable energy projects in Africa, the Middle East and other emerging markets. It adds to Ethiopias existing two wind farms in the Oromiya and Tigray regions and will be the countrys biggest. There are also high hopes for Ethiopias geothermal potential, supporting aims for Africas geothermal capacity to overtake that of Europe by the end of the decade. There is a projected $35 billion in investment headed to Kenya and Ethiopia to develop the two countries geothermal resources in the East African Rift. At present, Africa produces just 1 GW of geothermal energy, which is half that of Europe. However, the project pipeline suggests that this figure will double or triple by 2030. Together, Kenya and Ethiopia are expected to contribute around 90 percent of a projected 13 GW in geothermal energy generation in Africa by 2050. In contrast, Europe is expected to produce around 5.5 GW by this time. At present, geothermal energy is used to power Aluto Langano, just one of Ethiopias 22 power plants, producing around 7.3 MW of power. The government is aiming to develop 17 new geothermal projects to achieve 35,000 MW of installed capacity, to meet the national demand as well as for export. Although Ethiopia does not currently produce enough electricity to meet the needs of its growing population, the governments climate aims and several planned investments in a range of renewable energy sources are expected to help the country rapidly and significantly develop its green energy capacity. While the government of Ethiopia has attracted criticism from countries located downstream for the development of its mega-dam, it is not putting all its eggs in one basket, as it pursues several major wind, solar and geothermal projects, to help ensure its energy security and support economic development. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The crash in lithium prices over the past year is holding back reinvestment in new supply, the world's largest producer of the key battery metal, Albemarle, says. Slowing growth in electric vehicle sales, including in the top EV market, China, and a market oversupply in battery metals sent lithium prices crashing by 80% in the past year, prompting lithium miners to pause and scale back expansion projects. The deferral of new supply developments amid the low prices is setting the stage for the next lithium supply crunch later this decade, executives and analysts say. As miners accelerated lithium production in 2022, the market swung from a supply deficit in 2022 to a surplus in 2023. Add to this slower Chinese EV sales than in previous years, and the perfect storm on the lithium market was createdtoo much supply, faltering demand. While major lithium suppliers continue to see a surge in long-term demand as the energy transition gathers momentum, the current low price environment is "unstainable," Kent Masters, Albemarle's chairman, president, and chief executive officer, said on the company's earnings call this week. "For us to kind of reaccelerate, if you will, we'll need to get a better view of what pricing is and the long-term view of that as well. So, we think that the prices today are unsustainable. They're below operating cash levels of some assets that are currently operating. And they're definitely below reinvestment levels," Masters told analysts after Albemarle reported better-than-expected revenues and earnings for 2023. Related: Iraqi Kurdistan Oil Export Restart Still A Way Off Cost cuts and re-phasing of some spending on projects helped Albemarle book the second-highest income in its history despite the slump in prices. The lithium producer said in January that it was rephasing larger projects, reducing capital expenditures, deferring some spending, and planning job cuts to "optimize its cost structure in response to changing end-market conditions, particularly in the lithium value chain." "The company is also pursuing actions to optimize its cost structure, reducing costs by approximately $95 million annually, primarily related to sales, general, and administrative expenses, including a reduction in headcount and lower spending on contracted services," Albemarle said last month. The current lithium prices are not in a range allowing projects, especially in the West, to get off the ground, Albemarle's Masters said on the earnings call. The price crash has led to a slew of profit warnings and project halts from the world's biggest miners of the battery metal. After warnings of project reviews and moves to preserve cash from U.S. and Australian lithium mining firms, some of China's biggest miners also warned last month of a plunge in profits and potential asset write-downs. Albemarle sees a glut of inventory in the downstream sector, which is driving spot prices lower, Eric Norris, President of lithium, at Albemarle, told analysts on the call this week. "Inventory that we're seeing is further downstream. It's in the battery and EV level of supply chain. And that is affecting apparent demand to the lithium industry, albeit EVs are growing quite healthily, about 30% we see for the year going forward," Norris said. Lithium demand is expected to grow in the long term, but there will be a period of glut and low oil prices, which some analysts see persisting through 2025-2026. Despite the current gloom on the lithium market and the financial struggles it is bringing to the top miners, industry executives are confident in the long-term prospects and expect the current low oil prices and a lack of investment to create the next big lithium crunch. ADVERTISEMENT Keith Phillips, chief executive at North Carolina-based Piedmont Lithium, told Yahoo Finance Live this week that lithium mining, as a cyclical business, will have its ups and downs. "With lithium prices down by 90% from a peak 16 months ago, just about every new development project is slowing down," which will lead to another supply crunch, Phillips said. It's a matter of time before prices will rebound and could go to very high levels, the executive told Yahoo Finance, summing up his view with the saying, "low prices are the cure for low prices." By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russian President Vladimir Putin favors Joe Biden as the next U.S. president over Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate. Trump faced intense scrutiny for his dealings with the Kremlin during his term. As reported by CNBC and according to Russian state-controlled news outlet Tass, Putin told journalist Pavel Zarubin, Biden is more experienced and more predictable. He is an 'old school' politician. But we will work with any U.S. leader elected by the people of America." Putin's comments follow a week of international contentiousness over Trump's recent NATO remarks, as well as the mounting tensions between U.S. Democrats and Republicans over a $95 billion aid package that includes military aid to Ukraine. Putin also appeared to dismiss recently mediatized concerns over Biden's mental acuity after he "willfully retained and disclosed classified materials" and exhibited poor memory in front of the nation, reported Department of Justice special counsel Robert Hur. Recalling a previous meeting in Geneva in 2021, Putin revealed he had caught no sign of incapacity from Biden. "Yes, he was peeking at his notes from time to time, but, frankly speaking, I was peeking at mine as well," Putin said, adding that there were "reports of Biden banging his head on the helicopter while leaving it, but who didn't?" Despite his endorsement, Putin emphasized the ongoing disagreement with Biden's politics."The incumbent administration's approach is most harmful and erroneous." he said. His favorable remarks come as a surprise as the Biden administration has strongly opposed Russia's war in Ukraine. According to Business Insider, under the Biden administration, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $44 billion in military assistance since the war began in February 2022. Biden has also spurred allies to lend their support to Ukraine. What's Trump's Take On The Russian President? On the flip side, Trump has spoken highly of Putin even as his administration faced allegations of Russian interference in the election. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Trump encouraged Putin's move, saying it was "genius" and "wonderful." The former president also flaunted his relationship with Putin during a rally in South Carolina. "As Putin said, 'You're the most vicious president ever. There's never been a president that did this to me.' And yet, I got along with him. Isn't that nice," Trump told rally attendees. While Joe Biden and Donald Trump still have to campaign for the 2024 presidential election, Vladimir Putin is most certain of his own reelection. Putin has held power since 2000 and will seek his fifth term in office when Russia heads to the polls in March. () While stationed in Japan, one easily accessible travel destination is Okinawa. Whether you fly commercially into Naha or take the Patriot Express to Kadena Air Base, getting there is relatively quick, easy and inexpensive. Okinawa has a similar relaxed vibe to Hawaii, and the main island has many fun activities everyone in your travel group will enjoy. I recommend renting a car as it will make getting around the island much simpler. Naha has a monorail, but if you want to see other parts of the island, youll have to take public buses, which can take time away from enjoying the attractions. Another plus is that driving around does not cost much and the ETC tolls are much cheaper than those on the mainland. During a recent visit, me and my fiance found our way to Onna Villages Cape Maeda, known for its crystal blue water caves. Onna Village is a short 45-minute toll-free drive away from Kadena. For about 4,500 to 6,500 yen per person, you can try a snorkeling and diving trip with any of the nearby tour operators. Before our group set off swimming toward the cave, we received a safety briefing at the tour operator office. Then, we geared up with wetsuits, life vests and our snorkeling equipment. For new or weak swimmers, the company offered a floatation device to assist. After about 15 minutes of attempting to swim but mostly floating to the cave, I remember looking into the very clear blue water and seeing the lead diver swimming under and us taking photos of our experience while a plethora of fish of all shapes and sizes surrounded us. There were other diving and snorkeling groups in the water too, but we had enough space to spread out. Though I was disappointed that the tour takes you to only one of the many caves at Cape Maeda, the experience was totally worth it. Before floating back to the dock, we got to feed the fish and take photos with the dozens that surrounded us trying to get a bite. The full experience was about 2.5 hours long and they provided the pictures using LINE app for free, which was the best souvenir I got, minus some seashells. The experience for me was an excellent way to experience the beautiful waters off the coast of Okinawa. Shoutout to the Honorable Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee for teaching me the basics of floating back in Washington. Things to Know: Emmi Full Resort: Located near Kadena AB, this condo-style hotel is a 15-minute walk from American Village. Prices there are some of best in the area. Its best to book hotels in advance. Website Car Rental: Kadena AB, Fuji Rent-a-Car DSN: 672-7445, prices vary. Information: You can find/make reservations with diving/snorkeling tour guides on Trip Advisor and AirBnB experiences. How they do it Lauren and Lucas Corbett have some traveling tips: When looking at accommodations, use Google Street View to get a feel for the area. Only travel with carry-on bags. There are laundromats everywhere. When looking at reviews, if you see a repeated issue, it is probably an ongoing problem. When looking at Airbnbs, check out the monthly discount. You can save between 20% and 60%. Get a fee-free ATM card and put a few hundred dollars in the account. You can withdraw money worldwide and not have to worry about paying fees or carrying around large amounts of cash. Charles Schwab or Betterment are two companies that offer this. Make sure you have a credit card with built-in trip protection and no foreign transaction fees. The Corbetts' go-to credit card for all things travel is Chase Sapphire Reserve. Don't be dead set on traveling certain days. Being flexible can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Getting status with one airline or hotel chain goes a long way. Book the ticket and check your calendar later. There is free cancellation for 24 hours on most flights going to and from the United States (seven days advance purchase required). You'll get a full refund. Your kids will remember the trips. Fraser Stryker PC LLO Fraser Stryker PC LLO adds Mary M. Carnazzo to the Firm's business and corporate team. Mary is a corporate transactional attorney who assists business clients in corporate governance, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and compliance matters. "It's rewarding to have the opportunity to work with such a dedicated and talented group of professionals while serving the firm's diverse and unique client base," said Mary when asked about why she joined the Firm. "I'm excited to begin working with the team and its clients to find efficient and effective solutions for new and emerging legal challenges." Mary's past experience as in-house counsel for a leading North American construction and engineering company and general counsel for a software company has given her valuable insights into corporate nuances for day-to-day and long-term projects, as well as international expansion from a legal perspective. About Fraser Stryker PC LLO Founded 125 years ago, Fraser Stryker provides results-driven legal solutions for our clients in the areas of business and corporate law, estate planning, litigation, employment law, technology, intellectual property law, and more. For more information, visit: www.fraserstryker.com. O'Hara Lindsay Government Relations O'Hara Lindsay Government Relations is proud to announce the promotions of Don Wesely to Senior Vice President and Blair MacDonald and Randi Scott to Vice Presidents. Don Wesely served 20 years in the Nebraska Legislature. He was the Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee for 14 years. Don also chaired the Rules, Retirement, and Economic Development Committees. He served on Banking, Commerce & Insurance, Transportation, Public Works, and Business & Labor Committees. He was elected Mayor of Lincoln in 1999 and served until 2003. In 2008, Don joined O'Hara Lindsay Government Relations. Blair MacDonald joined O'Hara Lindsay in 2015 as the Director of Client Relations and was promoted to lobbyist in 2018. Before joining the firm, Blair worked on several political campaigns, as well as working as the campaign coordinator at the Archdiocese of Omaha, for the nonprofit's successful $52 million "Ignite the Faith" capital campaign. Originally from Fremont, Nebraska, Blair attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. She graduated cum laude with her B.A. in Political Science, minoring in Italian language in 2012. Blair's campaign background and development experience has been a great complement to O'Hara Lindsay's strategic work and clientele. Randi Scott joined the firm in 2018 after working as a legislative aide to former State Senator Brett Lindstrom. She graduated from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2010 after completing a master's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2007 and a bachelor's degree from Peru State College in 2002. Scott has run congressional, legislative and city council campaigns. She works with a wide range of clients from the energy industry to financial institutions, and advises professional associations and state agencies on complex public policy matters. Founded in 1978, O'Hara Lindsay Government Relations is one of Nebraska's oldest and largest government relations firms and has earned a reputation for effectively advocating for its clients. The firm is committed to a high level of client services and adherence to ethical principles. A 35-year-old Carter Lake man was arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle homicide due to drunken driving Sunday following a two-vehicle crash in northwest Douglas County. Joshua E. Kuhl, who is being held in the Douglas County Jail, was also arrested on two counts of suspicion of causing serious injuries while driving under the influence of alcohol. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said Sunday that Kuhl has two previous convictions for driving while intoxicated. One person died and three others were injured in the crash that occurred about 1 a.m. at the intersection of 168th Street and Nebraska Highway 36, according to a spokesman for Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The names of the dead and injured are being withheld pending notification of families. Investigators determined that a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Kuhl was northbound on 168th Street when it went through a stop sign. The pickup truck collided with a Subaru Outback with three occupants that was westbound on Highway 36. Kuhl, the lone occupant of the pickup, was taken to the Creighton University Medical Center-University Campus at 24th and Cuming Streets for minor injuries. All four occupants of the Subaru were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, including one person who was in extremely critical condition and later died. The report from the Sheriff's Office said Kuhl's blood-alcohol level was at least 0.15. Under state law, anyone with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 is considered too impaired to drive. Medical personnel from Bennington, Irvington and Omaha responded to the scene. The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. New roadblocks last week at the Saddle Creek Road/Leavenworth Street intersection open the next chapter in the citys efforts to smooth out one of its craziest crossroads. Engineers have closed left-turn lanes at the intersection to allow for utility work. Traffic on Leavenworth will be head-to-head, according to the University of Nebraska Medical Centers website, SaddleCreekCampus.com. This is a prelude to the main event, which will start in April. Thats when contractors will begin full-on construction, including: New dual left-turn lanes on Leavenworth Street. Longer left- and right-turn lanes on Leavenworth and Saddle Creek. A new traffic signal, sidewalks on the northwest and southeast corners, and new driveways to several adjacent businesses. In addition, the direct access from 48th Street to Leavenworth from the north, about 100 feet west of Saddle Creek, is being eliminated. 48th Street traffic will instead be diverted to Saddle Creek at Jones Street, north of the QuikTrip gas station. The plans were laid during a public forum at UNMC in January. Engineers there said the project is expected to be complete by the end of the year. These are the final phases of a multiyear project to transform the once-blighted Saddle Creek corridor, from Leavenworth to Dodge Street, and pave the way literally for the construction of UNMCs new Saddle Creek campus. Last year, Farnam Street was closed for eight months between Saddle Creek and 48th Street to allow for road improvements and installation of a traffic signal at 46th Street, which was extended south of Farnam through the future medical campus. The extension of Emile Street west of Saddle Creek to 46th Street also is ongoing. Traffic has always been a hassle along Saddle Creek, residents say particularly the odd five-legged intersection of Saddle Creek, Leavenworth and 48th Street. Cars back up for long distances in the single left-turn lanes. UNMC officials have said fixing it is a key to the success of their new campus, and many who live in the nearby neighborhoods of Dundee, Happy Hollow, Elmwood Park and Morton Meadows look forward to seeing traffic move more smoothly through this critical crossroads. First, though, there will be pain. For now, the City and UNMC are advising motorists to find alternate routes while construction is underway. Tell us your stories The column took a one-week hiatus last week (traffic writers need vacations, too). But, as promised, we're getting ready to publish our look at metro Omaha's 10 busiest intersections. Before we do, we'd like to hear about your experiences on the area's surface streets. What are the intersections that drive you nuts or the ones where, against all odds, traffic moves without a hitch? Email your stories to: Steve.Liewer@owh.com, along with your name and what part of the city you live in. Whats New South 192nd Street between Pacific Street and Woolworth Avenue will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Saturday. will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Saturday. Cottner Street between South 132nd Avenue and South 133rd Street will be closed to through traffic for sewer repair until Feb. 25. will be closed to through traffic for sewer repair until Feb. 25. Miracle Hills Drive for approximately 300 feet to the east of Nicholas Street will be restricted to one lane in each direction for street repair in the eastbound lanes until Thursday. The intersection of Dodge Street and West Dodge Road (near 78th Street) will have various lane restrictions for curb and sidewalk improvements until March 4. Cass Street between North 75th and North 76th Streets is restricted to one lane in each direction in the inside lane because of utility work until Monday. is restricted to one lane in each direction in the inside lane because of utility work until Monday. North 72nd Street between Bedford Avenue and Pratt Street will have various lane restrictions for utility work because of a water-main break until May 8. will have various lane restrictions for utility work because of a water-main break until May 8. The L Street exit ramp between South 70th Plaza and South 72nd Street will be restricted to one lane westbound for sewer repair in the inside lane until Thursday. will be restricted to one lane westbound for sewer repair in the inside lane until Thursday. The intersection of North 63rd and Hamilton Streets is closed for a sewer repair project until Friday. is closed for a sewer repair project until Friday. Pacific Street between South 59th and South 60th Streets will be restricted westbound for utility work until Feb. 26. will be restricted westbound for utility work until Feb. 26. The intersection of South 56th and T Streets will be closed to through traffic for street panel replacement until Monday. will be closed to through traffic for street panel replacement until Monday. South 50th Street Terrace between M Street and O Streets will have various lane closures for street panel replacement until Monday. The intersection of South 50th and T Streets will be closed to through traffic for street panel replacement until Monday. The intersection of South 42nd and Castelar Streets is closed because of a water-main break until Monday. is closed because of a water-main break until Monday. North 30th Street between Larimore and Fowler Avenues will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the inside lane until Thursday. The Bristol Street bridge spanning the North Freeway between 27th and 28th Streets will be closed for bridge repairs until June 16. will be closed for bridge repairs until June 16. North 24th Street between Ames Avenue and Taylor Street will be restricted to one lane in each direction for sewer installation in the southbound lane until Monday. Q Street between South 61st and South 69th Streets will have various lane restrictions in front of 6402 Q St. for utility work until Feb. 26. South 20th Street between Douglas and Farnam Streets will be restricted southbound for sewer repair until Saturday. South 20th Street will be restricted southbound at Howard Street for utility improvements until Thursday. Farnam Street between South 17th and South 18th Streets will be restricted to two lanes westbound for utility relocation related to construction of the new streetcar line until March 25. N Street between South 16th and South 17th Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility work/water-main break until Feb. 26. will be closed to through traffic for utility work/water-main break until Feb. 26. South 25th Avenue at South 11th Street in Council Bluffs is closed for a sewer rehabilitation project until March 5. Around Omaha Northwest (north of West Dodge Road and west of I-680) The outside lane is closed eastbound on West Maple Road between 177th and 180th Streets for roadwork related to the construction of a Costco warehouse store. No completion date is listed. for roadwork related to the construction of a Costco warehouse store. No completion date is listed. State Street is closed from 168th Street to HWS Cleveland Boulevard for grading, paving and reconstruction of the 168th and State intersection until November 2024. for grading, paving and reconstruction of the 168th and State intersection until November 2024. North 108th Street between Burt Circle and Decatur Street will be closed with local access only for street widening until July 31. will be closed with local access only for street widening until July 31. Fort Street between 183rd and 186th Streets is closed because of grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until spring. Northeast (north of Dodge Street and east of I-680 Westbound Dodge Street between North 38th and North 40th Avenues will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Thursday. will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Thursday. The bridges on Binney and Sprague Streets over the North Freeway are closed for repair and painting. Traffic is detoured to Lake Street. The Binney Street bridge is expected to reopen in late February and the Sprague Street bridge soon after. are closed for repair and painting. Traffic is detoured to Lake Street. The Binney Street bridge is expected to reopen in late February and the Sprague Street bridge soon after. North 16th Street will be closed at various points between Pinkney and Clark Streets for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31. will be closed at various points for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31. North 16th Street between Corby and Locust Streets will be closed for utility improvements until April 16. will be closed for utility improvements until April 16. Because of construction at the Kiewit corporate campus, North 15th Street between Mike Fahey and California Streets will be restricted southbound, and Mike Fahey between North 16th and North 15th Streets will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15. will be restricted southbound, and will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15. Florence Boulevard between Read Street and Sharon Drive will be restricted northbound because of a sewer separation project until March 15. will be restricted northbound because of a sewer separation project until March 15. Abbott Drive between Pratt Court and East Carter Boulevard will be restricted to one lane northbound for Eppley Airfield improvements in the outside curb lane until April 20. Southwest (south of West Dodge Road and west of I-680/80) South 168th Street between Q Street and West Center Road will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. South 147th Street between Drexel and Polk Streets is closed to through traffic for street panel replacement until Friday. is closed to through traffic for street panel replacement until Friday. South 120th Street is restricted to one lane northbound at West Center Road because of utility work until Thursday. is restricted to one lane because of utility work until Thursday. Southbound traffic will be shifted to the center lane on South 108th Street at Valley Street for utility work until Monday. Southeast (south of West Dodge Road and east of I-680/80) The West Dodge Frontage Road South between 84th and 86th Streets is closed for building construction until Feb. 29. is closed for building construction until Feb. 29. Northbound traffic in the outside lane of South 72nd Street between Mercy Road and Cedar Street will be restricted for utility work until March 1. will be restricted for utility work until March 1. South 71st Street for about 200 feet north of Hascall Street is closed because of building construction until Thursday. is closed because of building construction until Thursday. South 62nd Street between Shirley and Frances Streets will be closed to through traffic for street panel replacement until Wednesday. will be closed to through traffic for street panel replacement until Wednesday. South 44th Street between Douglas and Farnam Streets is restricted to one lane in each direction due to construction on an adjacent property until Wednesday. is restricted to one lane in each direction due to construction on an adjacent property until Wednesday. The eastbound curb lane on Douglas Street will be closed between 44th Street and Saddle Creek Road for construction until March 31. will be closed between for construction until March 31. Harney Street between South 38th and South 37th Streets is restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction until Wednesday. South 37th Street between Farnam and Harney is closed as part of the same project. is restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction until Wednesday. is closed as part of the same project. Farnam Street between South 37th and South 38th Streets will be restricted to one lane each direction for road construction until April 1. will be restricted to one lane each direction for road construction until April 1. L Street between South 26th and South 24th Streets will be restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction in the outside curb lane until June 23. will be restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction in the outside curb lane until June 23. Traffic in the east curb lane is restricted on South 24th Street between Landon Court and Howard Street due to building construction until Wednesday. due to building construction until Wednesday. The northbound lanes of South 18th Street between Farnam and Douglas Streets will be closed to through traffic for relocation of utilities due to the future Omaha streetcar line until March 25. will be closed to through traffic for relocation of utilities due to the future Omaha streetcar line until March 25. 14th Street is closed between Farnam and Douglas Streets, and curbside lanes are closed on Farnam, Douglas and 15th Street until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. is closed and curbside lanes are closed on until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. South 15th Street between Farnam and Douglas Streets will be closed for utility work until Feb. 26. will be closed for utility work until Feb. 26. Park Avenue between Jackson Street and Dewey Avenue will be restricted to one lane northbound for utility work until Tuesday. Sarpy/Cass Counties 180th Street is closed for a half-mile south of Highway 370 near Vala's Pumpkin Patch for replacement of a culvert and reconstruction into a three-lane road until summer 2024. is closed for near Vala's Pumpkin Patch for replacement of a culvert and reconstruction into a three-lane road until summer 2024. Platteview Road from Highway 31 to 210th Street is closed through March to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. is closed through March to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. Lane restrictions can be expected on U.S. 34/75 from Nebraska Highway 1 to Oak Hill Road in Plattsmouth through November 2024 to allow for road construction. Around Nebraska Head-to-head traffic is limited to 55 mph only on U.S. Highway 30 between North Ridge and North Luther Roads northwest of Fremont until fall 2024. northwest of Fremont until fall 2024. Varying and intermittent lane closures can be expected on U.S. Highway 275 eastbound between B Road (5 miles east of West Point) and Pebble Street (1 mile west of Scribner), using flaggers because of road and bridge construction through summer 2024. using flaggers because of road and bridge construction through summer 2024. Intermittent lane closures will occur on U.S. Highway 77 between Interstate 80 and Bluff Road in Lincoln because of road construction until April. Council Bluffs/Iowa Occasional nighttime lane and ramp closures may occur on I-80 at the Madison Avenue interchange through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. Both shoulders on I-80 are closed until March 15. through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. Both shoulders on I-80 are closed until March 15. An eastbound lane on Franklin Avenue between Valley View Drive and Kingsridge Drive in Council Bluffs is closed for contractor repairs until Friday. Photos: UNMC Catalyst project to rise out of Omaha Steel Castings site Omahas aging water mains are breaking more often than ever before, even as the Metropolitan Utilities District steps up its efforts to replace them. In 2023, MUDs 3,200-mile water-main network suffered 641 breaks up 7% from 597 the year before, and 23% from 497 just six years ago. The effect seems to be snowballing. Across the system we are seeing more and more breaks, said Masa Niiya, vice president of MUDs engineering department. Once pipes start breaking, the frequency of breaks increases. That was visible this past year on South 42nd Street, which suffered through a series of breaks between Farnam Street and Woolworth Avenue causing extended closures along a key road serving the Nebraska Medical Center and the Omaha VA hospital. A cluster of breaks along West Center Road and Pacific Street on either side of Interstate 680 also caused lane closures, including one near 105th Street and West Center last May that closed the westbound lanes for a month. Water-main breaks arent just inconvenient. Theyre costly and wasteful. Across the nations 2.2 million miles of underground pipes, a water main breaks every two minutes, according to a 2021 report by the American Society of Civil Engineering. As a result, the report said, an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water is lost every day in the United States enough to fill more than 9,000 swimming pools. The report described the nations drinking water infrastructure as aging and underfunded. But it also noted that both the federal government and local utilities had boosted their spending on capital improvements, including the replacement of an estimated 12,000 miles of water pipes in 2020. Nebraskas climate is especially rough on underground pipes. The winter cycle of freeze and thaw causes water in the soil to expand and contract like a slow-motion earthquake. Even cast-iron water mains can, and do, break under the stress. In northern climates, pipes are often buried deeper to help insulate them from the freeze/thaw cycle, said Greg Kail, a spokesman for the American Water Works Association, a water-utilities trade group. Most pipes in Omaha are buried about 5 feet underground, Niiya said. Some types of soil are more corrosive than others, Niiya said which is why a pipe on one street may deteriorate faster than another pipe even a block or two away. Some Omaha pipes are more than a century old The risk grows as water pipes age. And some of Omahas pipes are old. Some predate MUD itself, which was created by state lawmakers in 1921 to take over water and natural gas service from a patchwork of private companies. Much of its network was installed during the middle years of the last century. They are very large systems that date back to the late 1800s, Niiya said. American cities experienced three surges in water-main installation during the last century: in the early 1900s, when many communities were first installing water systems; and during postwar construction booms in the 1920s, and after World War II in the late 1940s and 1950s. These werent just old pipes, but different cohorts of pipes that went in at different times, Kail said. All of the materials are approaching the end of their lives at the same time. Thats led to what the American Water Works Association calls The Dawn of Replacement. In a 2012 report, the association estimated that water utilities nationwide would need to spend $1 trillion over 25 years to replace old water mains and build new ones. Like most utilities, MUD didnt place a lot of emphasis on retiring old pipes until the 2000s. It replaced just two or three miles per year. That changed in 2008, when MUD introduced a new infrastructure replacement program. The utility laid out a multiyear plan to replace all 561 miles of its cast-iron gas mains, and replace 1% of its water mains annually, funded primarily by a surcharge on ratepayers. The water surcharge was originally $2 a month per customer and the gas surcharge $3 a month. Now it is $4.75 a month ($57 per year) for water customers and $3.75 a month ($45 per year) for gas customers. Replacing the old gas mains with new ones made of medium-density polyethylene plastic pipe was the easy part, because they are buried relatively close to the surface. MUD replaced 420 miles of gas mains between 2008 and 2022. The heavier lift is replacing the water mains of yesteryear, which require deeper excavation and larger pipes, adding to the cost. The new pipes are made of ductile iron and coated with zinc oxide, which is less brittle and more durable than cast iron. The pipe we use today is drastically better than it was then, Niiya said. MUD also works to lay new pipe when Omaha streets are open for other reasons, such as the citys ongoing project to build separate stormwater and raw sewage systems, or when a broken water main must be replaced. If a water main is exposed, well replace it, Niiya said. We ask ourselves, How can we do this with the least amount of disruption? How MUD knows which pipes need help MUD has boosted its water-main replacement from fewer than five miles of pipe in 2014 to 18.5 miles last year. The utility plans to replace 17 miles each in 2024-26, and 18 miles in 2027. The budget for assessing and replacing old pipe over the next five years is $159.6 million. Thats a huge increase from the levels before 2008, though its still well short of the goal of replacing 1% of the water network each year. Niiya said MUD plans to greatly boost its replacement rate in later years to meet that goal. Were going slower now to go faster later, Niiya said. MUD targets the riskiest pipes for replacement first, but they arent necessarily the oldest ones, Niiya said. Some of Omahas Victorian-era water mains typically, those nearest the Missouri River are quite thick and sturdy, more so than those built in the mid-20th century, when iron was diverted for weaponry during the two world wars. Since the 1950s, MUD has kept meticulous records of every water-main break. Niiya said a cluster of breaks in one area, not surprisingly, indicates more breaks are coming. MUD uses software that analyzes these breaks and determines both the likelihood and consequences of future breaks, with an eye on moving high-risk mains up the priority list. Its really helped us to make decisions about what mains to replace and not just the oldest ones, Niiya said. MUD also has some tools that can scan inside the pipes to find out how they are holding up. One type, called p-CAT, generates pressure waves that can sense weak spots in pipes or the joints that hold them together. We can basically go in and create a CAT scan of the pipe itself, Niiya said. Another tool, called PICA (Pipeline Inspection and Condition Analysis), can detect weaknesses in the pipe by sending out electromagnetic waves while floating inside the water main. A pipe is currently being replaced on South 72nd Street just north of Pacific because of faults detected using PICA, Niiya said. Since 2019, the utility has used this remote-sensing technology to survey sections of the network. They have detected an average of one leak for each three miles of pipe, MUD said in a statement. These leak loggers have allowed repairs to be scheduled before a major break damages property and roads, while reducing water loss in the system, the utility said. Tracey Christensen, an MUD spokeswoman, released a list of several neighborhoods where work has already begun or is planned for 2024. Current projects may be tracked on MUDs website, MUDOmaha.com/infrastructure-replacement-projects. In southwest Omaha, between Prairie Hills Drive and Valley Street, from South 108th Street to South 111th Street. Near the University of Nebraska Medical Centers new Saddle Creek campus, Leavenworth Street from South 46th Avenue to South 49th and South 48th Streets, and Saddle Creek Road from Marcy Street to north of Jones Street. Near Aksarben and Elmwood Park, Walnut, Hickory and Pine Streets between South 48th and South 60th Streets. Just west of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, from Dodge Street to Leavenworth Street, between South 67th and South 69th Streets. Photos: Omaha water main breaks of 2023 Liberal organizations in Washington are backing President Joe Biden and say they expect Trump to lose. But they're quietly trying to install roadblocks just in case. A collection of activists, advocates and legal experts is promoting new federal rules to limit presidential power while urging Bidens White House to do more to protect his accomplishments and limit Trump in a possible second term. All of that is happening with far less fanfare than plans by Trump supporters to create a conservative government-in-waiting via an effort known as Project 2025. The Office of Personnel Management, the federal governments chief human resources agency, proposed a rule against reclassifying tens of thousands of workers so they can be more easily fired. According to spokesperson Viet Tran, the office will finalize the rule in April. That means that a future administration would likely have to spend months or even years unwinding it if they want to try to do so. Those supporting the effort are open about its limits. My impression is the Biden administration is taking very seriously that potential threat and is trying to do things now," said Michael Linden, a former executive associate director of the White House Office of Management and Budget under Biden. But he added, "Nobody should be under any illusion that theres anything that this president can do in advance to prevent the next president from doing things that are very damaging, potentially catastrophically. There isn't any magic bullet, Linden said. The White House is reluctant to talk about a second Trump term before Election Day, as that would imply it has plans for if Biden loses. Trump "is already telegraphing plays straight out of the authoritarian playbook gutting the civil service of people he deems disloyal and plotting revenge on his political enemies," said Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Biden's campaign. "Theres one way of stopping Trumps dangerous and un-American plans: reelecting President Biden. Still, Norm Eisen, who was chief ethics counselor to President Barack Obama, wants Biden to issue executive orders that could limit the use of the military domestically. Trump has talked about sending troops to the southern border or to Democrat-run cities dealing with rising crime rates. I understand the potential reluctance to signal any risk here as a political matter and thats not an illegitimate consideration, said Eisen, a senior fellow in governance studies at the left-leaning Brookings Institution. But there are countervailing considerations given the threat that we face. Central both to Trump's plans and the Democratic efforts to impede him is deciding how many government workers can be removed by a new administration, potentially to be replaced with loyalists. Trump at the end of his term sought to reclassify thousands of the more than 2 million federal employees, stripping them of job protections and making them at-will employees under a new classification known as Schedule F. Around 4,000 federal employees are now considered political appointees who typically change with each administration. Creating Schedule F could have increased that more than tenfold. Biden revoked that order but Trump says he'll revive it should he win. And conservatives preparing thick policy books are strategizing on how to fire employees to make more room for Trump appointees. A spokesman for Trump's campaign did not answer a message seeking comment and the Heritage Foundation, which is running Project 2025, declined to answer written questions. But Heritage's president, Kevin Roberts, told The New York Times Magazine that he wants to see destruction" in the government. People will lose their jobs. Hopefully their lives are able to flourish in spite of that, Roberts said. Buildings will be shut down. Hopefully they can be repurposed for private industry. The OPM in September proposed the rule making it more difficult to reclassify employees and allowing anyone moved into a potential Schedule F to retain their protections against being fired. It's been endorsed by 27 advocacy organizations whose policy interests dont always align. I think youve seen the federal agencies, and the president himself, talk about the importance of a functioning government, the importance of a democracy and the importance of a government that works for all people, said Skye Perryman, president of the advocacy group Democracy Forward, which has been a leading proponent of the proposed rule. James Sherk, a former Trump administration official now working at the America First Policy Institute, another group strategizing for a second Trump term, opposed the rule in a letter sent to OPM. Sherk argued worker protections against termination enable what are typically very liberal career staff to stymie conservative policies. The federal workforce has ideologically polarized, and this rulemaking would impede the ability of presidents whose views differ from the bureaucracys to implement their agendas, Sherk wrote. Whos running for president? See the latest rundown of major 2024 candidates Donald Trump Joe Biden Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Jill Stein Cornel West Whos dropped out? Alexei Navalny's spokesperson confirmed Saturday that the Russian opposition leader died at a remote Arctic penal colony, saying he was "murdered," but it was unclear where his body was as his family and friends searched for answers. Navalny's death at age 47 deprived the Russian opposition of its most well-known and inspiring politician less than a month before an election that will give President Vladimir Putin another six years in power. Though neither the imprisoned anti-corruption crusader nor other Kremlin critics were in a position to challenge Putin for the presidency, the loss of Navalny was a crushing blow to Russians who pinned their future hopes on Putin's seemingly indefatigable foe. It also prompted questions about what killed him. A note handed to Navalny's mother stated that he died at 2:17 p.m. Friday, Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at the penal colony Saturday that her son perished from "sudden death syndrome," Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. A prison colony employee said the body was taken to the nearby city of Salekhard as part of a post-mortem investigation, Yarmysh said. When Navalny's mother and one of the late politician's lawyers visited the morgue in Salekhard, it was closed, Navalny's team wrote on its Telegram channel. The lawyer called the morgue and was told the body was not there, his team said. Another of Navalny's lawyers went to Salekhard's Investigative Committee and was told that the cause of Navalny's death had not yet been established and new investigations were being done with the results to be released next week, Yarmysh said. Russia's Investigative Committee informed Navalny's team that the body would not be handed over to his relatives until those investigations were complete, she said. The decision prompted speculation that the Russian authorities may be keen to hold on to the body in an attempt to cover up potential foul play. They're driving us around in circles and covering their tracks, Yarmysh said. "It's obvious that they are lying and doing everything they can to avoid handing over the body," Yarmysh wrote on X, adding that his team demanded that Navalny's body "be handed over to his family immediately." Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Navalny felt sick after a walk Friday and fell unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he couldn't be revived, the service said, adding that the cause of death is still "being established." Maria Pevchikh, head of the board of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said the opposition leader would "live on forever in millions of hearts." Meanwhile, arrests continued Saturday as Russians came to lay flowers in memory of Navalny at memorials to the victims of Soviet-era purges. OVD-Info, a group that monitors political repression in Russia, said Saturday that more than 273 people were detained at memorial events since Navalny's death. Memorial items laid Friday were removed overnight, but people continued trickling in with flowers Saturday. In Moscow, a large group of people chanted "shame" as police dragged a screaming woman from the crowd, video shared on social media showed. More than 10 people were detained at a memorial in St. Petersburg, including a priest who came to conduct a service for Navalny there. In other cities across the country, police cordoned off some of the memorials and officers were taking pictures of those who came and writing down their personal data in a clear intimidation attempt. "After the murder of Alexei Navalny, it's absurd to perceive Putin as the supposedly legitimate head of the Russian state," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. "He is a thug who maintains power through corruption and violence." Speaking to broadcasters in Munich, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Saturday that Britain "will be taking action" against the Russians responsible for Navalny's death. U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday that Washington doesn't know exactly what happened, "but there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was a consequence of something Putin and his thugs did." The Kremlin bristled Friday at the outpouring of anger from world leaders, with Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, calling the statements issued before medics released the cause of Navalny's death "unacceptable" and "outrageous." Navalny was jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He later was convicted three times, saying each case was politically motivated, and received a sentence of 19 years for extremism. After the last verdict, Navalny said he understood he was "serving a life sentence, which is measured by the length of my life or the length of life of this regime." Hours after Navalny's death was reported, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, made a dramatic appearance at the Munich conference. She said she was unsure if she could believe the news from official Russian sources, "but if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband." US President Joe Biden expressed his strong belief that the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was a direct result of actions taken by Putin and his associates. Russian officials stated that Navalny felt unwell after a walk at the penal colony in Siberia, eventually losing awareness and passing away, as per to Fox News. Biden Condemns Alexei Navalny's Death Navalny, 47, who had previously survived poisoning, is said to have passed away in an Arctic Circle maximum-security prison, according to Russian state media. Biden shared his lack of surprise and outrage regarding Navalny's death, emphasizing that it is a direct result of Putin and his associates' actions. "We're looking at a whole number of options," Biden declared regarding the US response, emphasizing the need for Congress to approve security funding for Ukraine in the face of what he termed Putin's "vicious onslaught and war crimes." The Kremlin, however, denied any involvement in Navalny's demise, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding situation. As President Biden mourns Navalny's death, he is concurrently grappling with resistance from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to approve $60 billion in security funding for Ukraine. This impasse comes amid Putin's ongoing invasion and war in Ukraine, which Biden characterizes as a critical moment with high stakes. House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, have balked at the foreign aid bill, insisting it include measures related to securing the US-Mexico border. Biden, visibly frustrated, criticized House Republicans for adjourning for a two-week recess without approving the foreign aid bill, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and its historical consequences. He warned that failure to support Ukraine at this juncture "will never be forgotten," according to USA Today. Read Also: World Leaders React to Alexei Navalny Death: Outrage, Concern, Skepticism Among International Tone Alexei Navalny's Sudden Death Navalny's death prompted Biden to commend the late opposition leader for bravely standing up to corruption and violence, even in the face of persecution. The President hailed Navalny's commitment to truth and his unwavering belief in his country, Russia. Speaker Mike Johnson recognized Navalny's death as an example of Putin's propensity to silence critics but did not promise to schedule a vote on the Ukraine funding package. He identified the worth of using all possible methods to limit Putin's funding of the ongoing conflict. Former President Donald Trump, who has long admired Putin, chose not to make a direct statement about Navalny's death. Still, he used his social media platform to critique Biden's leadership, linking global suffering and devastation to the current administration. Meanwhile, Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, issued a stern warning to Putin and his associates, asserting that they would not go unpunished for their actions against her husband and their country. UK security minister Tom Tugendhat echoed accusations against the Kremlin, alleging that Navalny was murdered to silence him. The circumstances surrounding Navalny's death remain under investigation, as prison authorities state the reason is yet to be established, Independent reported. Related Article: Controversial US Funding: $1 Million for Risky Bird Flu Research with Chinese Collaboration NILIN, West Bank Count the rings of the gnarled olive trees dotting Mohammed Mousas land in the West Bank village of Nilin: They've been here centuries, far before the Palestinian family's livelihood came to depend on the whims of Israeli occupation. When Israel established a checkpoint near the Mousas' land a decade ago, the family converted their ancestral farm into a parking lot for Palestinian workers entering Israel. But the lot has been empty since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip, and Israel, fearing more attacks, barred Palestinian workers from the West Bank from entering Israel. In the fifth month of the war, the family is out of savings, running up debt at supermarkets and selling heirlooms to put food on the table. I've sold my mother's gold, my phone, my bicycle, Mousa said. There's nothing more to sell. Israels campaign in Gaza has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, unleashed an unimaginable humanitarian crisis and decimated the strips economy. But Israel's near-complete severance of economic ties with the West Bank also has had serious repercussions for Palestinians there. Economists and Palestinian officials say the territory faces a dire economic crisis that also weakens the Palestinian Authority, which administers autonomous pockets in the West Bank. Under interim peace deals from a generation ago, the self-rule government was meant to expand and eventually run a future Palestinian state. The fallout from Israel's decision is felt keenly in Nilin. Before October, over 10,000 Palestinian workers crossed the checkpoint there daily, heading to Israeli construction sites and farms. Israeli shoppers used the crossing to enter the West Bank. An estimated 200,000 Palestinians worked in Israel and Israeli settlements before the war, according to the Israeli workers' hotline Kav LaOved. The jobs pay much higher wages than what is available in the West Bank. The checkpoint gate is now bolted shut, eyed by armed Israeli guards in a watchtower nearby. A third of the village's 6,400 residents used to work in Israel, and all lost their jobs after Oct. 7, according to municipality official Nidal Khawaja. A fifth of the villages university students have delayed their semesters, unable to pay tuition. The towns commercial revenue has dropped 40%. Whats true in Nilin is true across the West Bank, where a third of workers are now unemployed, up from 13% before the war, according to the World Bank. Salaries for government employees have been slashed, and intermittent closures of military checkpoints have stifled commerce. Israel operates 400 checkpoints in the territory, the Palestinian Economic Ministry said, turning what should be short supply trips into hourslong journeys. When the checkpoints are closed, they can also prevent the passage of trucks. Israel says the restrictions are meant as a security measure. The Palestinian economy in the West Bank contracted by over a fifth in the last quarter of 2023, according to the Palestinian economic ministry. A third of businesses in the territory either closed or reduced production and a third of jobs were lost. Daily losses run to $25 million. The question isnt if there is a crisis, said Khawaja, the official from Nilin. The crisis is already here. The crisis is compounded by the inability of the territorys largest employer, the Palestinian Authority, to pay full salaries. Under interim peace accords in the 1990s, Israel collects tax revenues on behalf of the Palestinians, transferring them to the Palestinian Authority, which uses them in part to pay wages. Since October, Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has held up transfers to Gaza, prompting the Palestinian Authority to refuse to accept any of the money. The U.S. has repeatedly urged Israel to release funds, to no avail. Last week, the PA said it would transfer 60% of December salaries to workers over a month late. If the crisis in the Palestinian Authoritys finances continues, it will lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian Economic Minister Khalid Al-Esseily said. If paying salaries is the essential remaining raison detre of the Palestinian Authority, then it may as well collapse, as the situation calls for far more than that from it," said Khalidi. The crisis comes as the U.S. doubles down on calls for a revitalized PA to govern a post-war Palestinian state, starting with the West Bank and Gaza. Though Israeli officials have said workers from Gaza will never again enter Israel, Israeli media reported last week that officials are considering a program to allow workers over the age of 45 from the West Bank to return to Israel. The government also has allowed some 8,000 Palestinians to return to work in Israeli settlements. But the future of the labor arrangement remains uncertain. The lack of Palestinian workers also has hit Israel. Israel's Finance Ministry said in December that the economy was losing $830 million a month as a result. As of December, half the construction sites in Israel had shut down. The industry is at a complete freeze," Raul Sargo, head of the Israeli Builders Association, told Israel's parliament in December. There is no immediate alternative. The state accustomed us to Palestinian workers. Israel-Hamas war at 100 days If the role of political parties is to get and keep people of their respective ilk elected, then it might be easy to believe that: 1) the Nebraska Republican Party is doing a great job; and 2) the Nebraska Democratic Party is a failure. Its partly true; the Democrats are uncomfortably weak. But whats happening is that the state Democrats weakness allows Nebraskas Republicans to be dysfunctional with very little consequence on Election Day. In the same way that competition in free markets brings about options, and produces more value to the consumers, so too would having two truly competitive political parties. Nebraska leans right, ideologically. It always has and yet historically there have been times of relative balance between Republican and Democratic elected officials. Over a 28-year span in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Democrats occupied the governors mansion for 20 of those years; for a six-year stretch starting in 1989, Nebraskas congressional delegation had a Democratic majority. But for nearly the past quarter century, weve elected exactly two Democrats to statewide or federal office Ben Nelson to the U.S. Senate in 2000 and 2006, and Brad Ashford to the 2nd District House seat in 2014. Neither party has a healthy pragmatism nowadays. Both are for government involvement where it suits them and the rest of their supposed substance is a goofy war between the lefts social justice warriors with their excessive woke-ism and the rights social protection warriors with their reflexive contrarianism. I remain a registered Republican, but Im worried about the radicalized party it has become. I think both the Republicans and the Democrats have drifted away from reflecting the true interests of most Nebraskans, and that makes democracy weaker. Unfortunately for Democrats, the Nebraska GOP literally doesnt have to do anything for most Republican candidates to continue to win. GOP candidates win because of Nebraskas right-leaning culture. And Republican elected officials, whose jobs are supposed to be defended by their political party, find the state party markedly irrelevant. Rep. Don Bacon, for one, has said Ive moved on without after his party greased their way into endorsing primary candidates to run against incumbents like him. The only people that seemingly might benefit from the Nebraska Republican Party are the members who get an adrenaline rush from conspiracy conversations and consume free doughnuts at the monthly meetings. As if we need more evidence of desuetude, the partys fundraising is substantially down, and theyve even been outraised by Nebraska Democrats recently. In other words, Nebraska Democrats have more faith in a party that rarely has a viable candidate for higher office than Republicans have in the usefulness of the Nebraska GOP. The frustrations of dealing with the state Republican Party was once explained to me by a party member: Its like playing chess with a chicken. They knock over the pieces, crap on the board and walk around bobbing their heads up and down. That, my Democratic friends, is the competition you face and yet youre losing to it. Even with all the money in the world, the Democrats are in no position to be able to get people elected to higher offices. They are weak and consistently demonstrate an inability to hurdle the generally rightward inclination of the electorate. Theyre not connecting in a meaningful way with enough Nebraskans to reasonably expect to win important elections. To be fair, the hill that Nebraska Democratic leaders have to climb is steep. Thats because of the aforementioned Sen. Nelson, who obliterated the trust of moderate and independent-thinking Nebraskans with that Cornhusker Kickback during the debate over whats known as Obamacare. That vote, probably more than anything, made it very hard for voters to trust, when push came to shove, that a moderate Democrat wouldnt betray our confidence again. But I say to Nebraska Democrats: Ya gotta figure something out, if for no other reason than so you dont feel so hopeless on election days and that Democrats dont have to re-register as Republicans so they can have a meaningful say during the primaries. Also, selfishly, so that the Republican Party Ive been affiliated with since my 18th birthday has some real competition and stops sucking. We need at least two functional parties for a healthy democracy. Right now we have none. If I could be so bold as to make a humble suggestion; deal with it by being more like Nebraskans, not by asking Nebraskans to be more like your coastal counterparts. Theres no question that smoking has a devastating impact in Nebraska. Each year, smoking accounts for more than 2,500 deaths, and nearly 30% of cancer deaths, in the state. The annual health care expenditures in Nebraska directly caused by tobacco use are $924 million, including over $174 million in Medicaid costs. Its clear Gov. Jim Pillens initially proposed $2 tax increase per pack of cigarettes would be a win for Nebraskas public health and its pocketbook. But the tobacco industry is fighting this common-sense measure. Lets examine some of its arguments: The industry overestimates how much Nebraskans would travel to other states for cigarettes. After Minnesotas $1.60-per-pack cigarette tax increase in 2013, cigarette tax revenue in North Dakota and South Dakota increased by only $2 million between both states, and cigarette tax revenue and sales in Iowa and Wisconsin decreased. In contrast, Minnesota generated more than $204 million in new cigarette tax revenue, and pack sales declined by 24%. The tobacco industry used similar scare tactics in the 2000s, when it argued a statewide smoking ban would devastate the Nebraska hospitality industry. Those fears proved unfounded after then-Gov. Dave Heinemann signed the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act in 2009. Nebraska thrived after that historic public health step forward and will thrive again with the current proposed increase. The industry also claims the tax increase would be regressive, disproportionally burdening those who earn a lower income. But it is the harms from smoking that are regressive, as people in lower income brackets experience a disproportionate rate of smoking-caused disease, disability, death and costs. Studies show that smokers with lower incomes are more responsive to price changes, and thus a substantial cigarette tax increase would prompt these smokers to quit or cut back and help prevent kids from ever starting. Nebraska can help further support this by allocating some of the new revenue to programs that prevent children from smoking and help smokers quit, such as the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Furthermore, the tobacco industry for decades has targeted people who earn lower incomes, particularly in Black and other minority communities, with products like menthol cigarettes designed to keep people addicted to nicotine. Nationally, nearly 70% of current smokers want to quit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who smoke but want to quit need support, guidance and policies that help them do so. Tobacco tax increases are among the most effective ways to reduce smoking and other tobacco use, especially among kids. Study after study has shown that every 10% increase in cigarette prices reduces youth smoking by about 7% and total cigarette consumption by about 4%. In Nebraska, the $2 increase would result in: A 15% decrease in youth smoking (under age 18) 2,800 youths kept from becoming adults who smoke 8,000 current adult smokers quitting 2,700 premature smoking-caused deaths prevented 900 fewer smoking-affected pregnancies and births over the first five years The increase would be a win for the state budget. Every state that has significantly increased its cigarette tax has enjoyed substantial revenue increases, even while reducing smoking. Higher tobacco taxes also save money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs, including Medicaid expenses. Nebraskas cigarette tax is far behind other states. The current tax is $0.64 per pack (42nd among all states and Washington, D.C.), while the national average is $1.93 per pack. A $2-per-pack tax increase would not even put Nebraska in the top 12 states with the highest tobacco taxes. The last increase in Nebraska occurred in 2002, when then-Gov. Mike Johanns signed an increase from 30 cents to 64 cents. Since 2000, 48 states and Washington, D.C., have passed 149 state cigarette tax increases. It is time for Nebraska to follow suit to prevent tobacco-related deaths, ease the burden of tobacco use on the state budget and provide needed property tax relief. The Metro Omaha Tobacco Action Coalition urges Gov. Pillen and the Nebraska Legislature to take a stand against the tobacco industry and advance this cigarette tax increase. We also advocate for a corresponding tax increase on other tobacco products because it is crucial that the tax increase applies to all tobacco products at an equivalent rate to encourage people to quit, rather than simply switch to a cheaper product. Taking these steps will lower smoking rates, generate new revenue and save Nebraska lives. Members of the Northern Forum of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, announced their endorsement of the Buhari presidential ticket for Saturdays Presidential Polls. This endorsement was announced by the leadership of the forum at a Presidential Villa meeting last night where President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Osinbajo said, We see the election as an opportunity for Nigerians to endorse and validate all we have done. We are very confident that the Almighty God has seen the honesty and integrity that Mr. President has brought to bear on the task, and that would be rewarded. In his remarks, Mohammed Ali, Chairman of ALGON Northern Forum, who led the delegation, disclosed that the association is impressed by the Buhari Administrations commitment to the rule of law and the Federal Governments support for Local governments in the country. He said the endorsement of the group is borne out of the successful performance of the administration in the last three years. We will mobilize to support the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket, and you are going to win the election by the grace of God, Ali told the Vice President. Also speaking at the meeting, Hon Mohammed Abubakar, the Kaduna State ALGON Chairman reaffirmed the groups support, saying your administration has recorded tremendous achievements in the areas of security, economic diversification among others. He recalled how the FG helped in settling backlogs of workers salary in several States and Local Government Areas of the country. He also cited the reduction in the price of Fertilizers and its ready availability to farmers. The ALGON delegation then urged the Buhari Administration to continue to press for Local Government autonomy after it has won the second term elections. Welcoming the delegation earlier, the Vice President expressed sincere gratitude to the ALGON group. According to him, let me express our sincere gratitude for your commitment to the Federal Government and also to the Presidents candidacy. Leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress have started reaching out to senators and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in a bid to stop the PDP members in the Senate from either contesting or supporting other senators to occupy leadership positions in the 9th National Assembly. Specifically, the APC chiefs are lobbying the PDP leaders and lawmakers to support their move to make Ahmed Lawan the next Senate President. APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had said the party did not need the opposition partys votes to clinch the presiding and principal offices of the 9th Assembly. However, sources within the APC told The Punch that the APC leaders who had earlier called the PDP senators bluff, over the leadership of the Senate changed their tactics when they discovered that the division among their party members in the Senate was real. Apart from Lawan, two other APC senators, namely Danjuma Goje and Ali Ndume, have indicated their interest in becoming the President of the Senate in the 9th Assembly. Subsequently, the senators have been moving round to gain the support of the opposition senators for their ambition. An APC senator-elect told The Punch on condition of anonymity in Abuja that the party leaders had tried to convince Goje and Ndume to drop their ambitions without success. The source said the party leaders decision to anoint Lawan as Senate President without wide consultations had caused a great division within the party and among the senators-elect. It was learnt that both Goje, who was a two-term governor of Gombe State, and Ndume had been working behind the scenes to outsmart Lawan by secretly forming alliances with the PDP. A source close to Goje confided that the senator was playing his cards close to his chest. The APC senator-elect, said, Goje is a very experienced and tactical politician. He understands the politics of the chamber better and he knows that making noises on the pages of the newspapers would not help any of the aspirants. He is not disobeying the leadership of the party by making up his mind to contest against Lawan. He is only exercising his rights as a ranking senator whose geopolitical zone has been asked to produce the Senate President. Asked if Goje was targeting the 41 bulk votes of the PDP, the source said, Anything is a possibility. He, however, ruled out the possibility of the Gombe senator picking a PDP senator as his deputy. Efforts made by The Punch to speak with Goje to confirm or deny his interest in the Senate presidency and his alleged pact with the PDP failed as of the time of filing this report. He did not answer calls to his mobile line or respond to the text message sent to him. However, Ndume, who has already constituted various committees to realise his dream, confirmed to one of our correspondents on Thursday that he was still in the race. The Borno State-born lawmaker also said nobody had so far discouraged him from exercising his rights. However, Ndume, who said he had the backing of many people within his party, said he would congratulate Lawan if he defeats him. He said, It is within my constitutional rights to contest the election. It is not as if Im disrespecting the party, but people should be allowed to elect their leaders. Im in the race till the end. If Lawan wins this election, I will be the first person to congratulate him. The Punch learnt that some of the APC senators-elect who were loyal to Lawan held separate meetings with the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Oshiomhole on the tension in the upper chamber. They were said to have told both leaders that the best way to ensure victory for Lawan was to reach out to influential members of the PDP within the upper and lower chambers. One of the sources said, I can confirm to you that all of us are involved in the lobbying. We know that Goje and Ndume will contest against Lawan but we are not taking chances. We need PDP senators to win and we are already talking to them. Lawan told journalists during the week that he needed PDP votes and that he had started reaching out to them. It was on the strength of this, one of our correspondents learnt, that APC leaders began holding meetings with their friends in the PDP. A senator-elect from Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, however, told one of our correspondents in an interview that it would be against global parliamentary norms and practices if any PDP senator decides to contest the Senate presidency on inauguration day. He said, Nigerians have given the APC the majority of the seats in the Senate and they expect the party to control the Senate. Nobody should therefore try to subvert the will of the people by trying to play any game or create a division, even among the majority party, such that the will of the people, freely expressed at the polls, could be subverted. I do not expect any PDP member to contest the leadership positions meant for the party with the majority seats during the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly. PDP senators weigh offers from Goje, Ndume, Lawan Following intense politicking, consultations and meetings, PDP senators have started weighing the offers from the camps of Lawan, Goje and Ndume. It was learnt that the PDP leaders and senators had yet to conclude on whether they would endorse one of the three APC candidates or field their own candidates for the Senate presidency and other presiding offices. Indications are that some PDP leaders and senators, especially those from the North, favoured Goje. A PDP ranking senator told The Punch that his colleagues were studying the offers. He said no definite decision had been taken on who the opposition members would support. He said, We have four options at the moment. We have three offers to support one of the three aspirants. The fourth offer is to bring out a candidate among the PDP ranking senators. We are still studying them. We had yet to anoint any of them. Invest In Social Force & Get 50% Click HERE >> To Buy Cheap MTN & GLO Data Click HERE >> A 55-year-old New Yorker has been arrested and charged with threatening to assault and murder Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, a Muslim U.S. Congress member from Minnesota. Patrick Carlineo Jr. of Addison, New York, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Friday in a statement. According to prosecutors, Carlineo spoke by telephone with one of Omars staff members on March 21 and asked the employee: Do you work for the Muslim Brotherhood? Why are you working for her, shes a (expletive) terrorist. Ill put a bullet in her (expletive) skull. The threat was referred to the U.S. Capitol Police, which launched a probe in coordination with the FBI, the Justice Department said. Carlineo sounded angry during the phone call but also spelled his name for the staff member and provided contact details, according to an affidavit by an FBI special agent. Interviewed at his home by investigators, Carlineo stated that he was a patriot, that he loves the President, and that he hates radical Muslims in our government, the affidavit said. Carlineo made an initial court appearance on Friday and is being held pending a detention hearing on April 10. Representatives of Omar, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who was elected in November as one of the two first Muslim women to win seats in Congress, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In February, Omar apologized unequivocally after Republicans and Democrats condemned comments she made about the pro-Israel lobby in the United States as using anti-Semitic stereotypes. President Donald Trump said her apology was inadequate and she should be ashamed of herself. Post Views: 71 Adamu Maina Waziri is one politician most people misunderstand. He is one man who does not suffer fools and, unlike the typical politician, he shoots from the hip, the reason some saw him as crude. His word is his bond; and if you asked him for a favour that he can grant, he would tell you, and if he promised, he would deliver. But if he wouldnt, he would not bat an eyelid in telling you no. This is not the kind of leader Nigerians want. Nigerians prefer the man who will tell them, Ah, we did it for others, why not you? Come tomorrow and they will make you waste a year on come today, come tomorrow. Opponents capitalised on Waziris perceived naivety to inject his fear into the hearts of their followers. Nonetheless, I gave him (Bukar) what I believed was an honest answer. I said, I believe anybody who comes out to aspire to be a governor has good intentions and therefore would be good. Though I still believe so for Yobe, I doubt if it applies to the national level, considering the catastrophe Nigeria saw between 2015 and 2023. Meanwhile, I will leave Bukars response to my answer between the two of us with God as a witness where it has been all this while. Apart from the irony of Bukar having a son who used to be a Waziri die-hard, they cracked jokes and taunted each other whenever they met. Waziri told me the hilarious story of how they once met on a plane and Bukar pointed at his leg and said, Adamu, if you want to be governor, come and hold on to this leg, to which Adamu retorted, That leg is like the leg of a grasshopper; the grasshopper flies off, leaving its leg with the person who holds it. And he could be practical. In 2007, knowing I laid my neck on the political guillotine having played an active role in the bid of Tumsah (who was his Commissioner for Agriculture when he first governed Yobe) to be governor on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Bukar, knowing the politics of Yobe, thought the new governor may not be friendly to me. So he called me to his home in Maitama and said something like: Forget politics and think of survival; follow (your brother) Adamu Waziri. Waziri was a minister as his party was in government at the centre. Even though as a journalist covering the state I interacted with Bukar Abba, my first one-on-one encounter with him was during the campaigns for the 1993 presidential elections in which Chief MKO Abiola stood as a candidate in his party, the SDP. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yobe branch, had set up a political commission of five, with Comrade Bashir Abubakar Sadik (Barry White) as chairman and me from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as secretary. Our job was to go around the state and sensitise NLC-affiliate unions on the need for peaceful, free and fair elections, but most importantly on the need to mobilise for the SDP candidate because the party, being a little to the left, was more in tune with labour. Comrade Baba Usman Sambo, then NLC state secretary, facilitated our meeting with Bukar. He easily welcomed us, told us a lot of political stories and then gave us an SUV from the Government House carpool and some other necessary logistics. When General Abacha struck, he had a last encounter with us, the press. I recall telling him, It is not the people of Yobe that rejected you. Whenever you come back, we will vote for you again. And so it happened. Never a man of vanity, the glitters of the world hardly take his attention. Baba Baaba, who was his long-running secretary to the state government and his permanent secretary when he was a commissioner, told me the story of how he went to Sherrifson, a trendy supermarket in Maiduguri, to buy modern furniture to replace those in Bukars sitting room while he was away on a trip. He said the moment Bukar entered the sitting room and saw the change, he just smiled and said, Baba kenan! He said, Bukar dan kawye ne, not derogatorily but in admiration and awe. Explaining further, he said Bukar would come and meet people sitting under a tree and he would just remove his gown and sit on the ground with them. He was indeed an embodiment of humility. And he kept those he knew around him. When he was in the Senate and I was an editor with Leadership newspaper, he would call me to arrange the press for him if he had anything to say. Likewise, when his late daughter got married, he gave all the adverts to me. Earlier when he was governor, I was given an appointment with the Yobe Broadcasting Corporation after coming first in a rigorous examination and interview conducted for 53 of us, but the appointment was rescinded, because of local politics, on the excuse that it was given in error. When I told him about it after some months, Bukar told me he would instruct them to absorb me if I wanted. I thanked him but declined. Even though he had never shed tears in his life, he was full of empathy and generosity. In one of the weekly briefings he held with the press every Wednesday before Executive Council meetings, he confessed to having never shed tears in his life, no matter what he did. He thought, or was told, that there was a problem with his tear glands! He loved the press. His time was a golden age for the local press because he encouraged them to blossom. During his time, there were about five local newspapers the highest number among the northeastern states. There was Yobe News, later changed to The Mark, published by Sanusi Oladipo, who came as a Youth Corps member but found a home in Yobe and went on to marry another corper, Imabong. Three children they gave birth to in Yobe are now university graduates. We also had Newsray of the late Campbel Ori, who later started a Hausa version called Hakika; Pioneer Administrator, later became City News, and finally, Sky News, of Yusuf Mammai, Rural Front of December Gboru, The Nest of Martin, The Finder of late Akpan and I published The Informant, combined with its Hausa version, Mafadi. Under my leadership, the Yobe State Newspaper Publishers Association from time to time interacted with him and he made sure all adverts we published were paid. We lapped on his benevolence and always did adverts for local governments and MDAs without even their asking, which were always paid from the SSGs office. The way we were treated made some local publishers from other Northeastern states join us and in 2006 we formed the North East Publishers Forum (NEPF) with me as pioneer chairman and Mr Freedom Haslon, publisher of News Now, from Adamawa State, as pioneer secretary. In 2005, my late wife, Lami Fatima Babare, came home from work looking sad. She was an English language lecturer at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum. The reason for her mood was that her colleagues were going to Hajj that year and she was the odd one out. They were either married to big guns or had fewer demands on their salaries and so could afford to pay for the pilgrimage. I had no one to go to, to make her dream come true except Bukar. And so I wrote a letter to him, requesting a Hajj slot and went to Damaturu on a Wednesday (it was much easier to see him as a journalist). I waited until he had finished discussing with the press in the chamber and then I went to him and dropped the letter in front of him and, without a word, turned and left. Not quite five minutes later, his police orderly, ASP Kingimi, rushed out with the letter and handed it over to me with his signature of approval. And so my wife went to Makkah, I became a hero in her eyes, and our marriage hit a new purple patch. And all of that courtesy of Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the man who touched my life and those of many others in Yobe and across Nigeria. May Allah accept his soul into al-Jannat fid daus. Related The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Barnawa-Kaduna says it is partnering with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to promote mental health issues in the state. The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Aishatu Yushau- Armiyau, said this on Friday when the Kaduna Zonal Manager of the agency, Malam Bashir Rabe-Mani paid a courtesy visit to the hospital. Yushau-Armiyau said the hospital had achieved a lot, adding, we want it to be of global standard. We are glad to have you here in our hospital and I am assuring that you will never regret coming here. Going back to a year and half ago, our public relations unit had not been too functional as we had only one staff and the office is directly under the Medical Directors Office. We went on a mission with my team and we are able to add eight more staff while we acquired all the gadgets needed and we were able to open a studio and museum. She said that the studio was for advocacy and would continue to focus on training, research and the provision of quality services. Speaking earlier, Rabe-Mani commended the medical director on her tangible achievements and enjoined her to maintain the positive tempo. He said the agency was concerned about the menace of drug abuse which has been affecting the country. The zonal manager assured her of the agencys willingness to partner the hospital in promoting mental health issues and other activities. Rabe-Mani said, NAN is the leading content provider in the country and we will ensure the proper coverage of the hospitals activities. When you speak to NAN, you speak to all. We have different varieties of services, hundreds of clients, bureaus across Nigeria and other parts of the world. Rabe-Mani added that the relationship between the agency and the hospital would continue to wax stronger and sustainably too. Related Former Senate Leader and ex-Board Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has said that shifting from presidential to parliamentary system of government will be a difficult task to achieve. Ndoma-Egba, a cerebral lawyer and astute politician, made the submission while reacting to the call for a change to parliamentary system from the present presidential method of government in Nigeria by some lawmakers via a bill. The bill seeking for a return to the parliamentary system captioned: The Bills Proposing Constitutional Alterations For a Transition To Parliamentary System of Government, was sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Hon Kingsley Chinda and 59 others. Expressing his view on the issue, the erstwhile Senate Leader, said: That is a call for a fundamental restructuring of the country from a presidential system of government back to a parliamentary system that we had practised up to the first military coup of January 15, 1966. To achieve this you will need at the very least, a constitutional amendment that will come with many accompanying consequential amendments that will amount to almost a new constitution. The major arguments against the presidential system have been the concentration of executive powers in chief executives, that is the president or governors to the point of making them constitutional dictators, and the cost of the system. Recall however that the country started off with the parliamentary system. Why was it ditched? What were the arguments against it? We need to as at today compare the comparative economics and advantages of both systems. But certainly, it will be a change that will not be easy to come by. The ex-parliamentarian further noted that Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages but the attraction of the presidential system in our situation is the stability it gives and the authority it confers on the elected chief executives who are elected directly by the people and for fixed terms unlike the parliamentary system that is controlled by parliament. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to promptly account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues. SERAP said the allegations are documented in the latest annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation. SERAP urged Mr Kyari to name and shame those responsible for the disappeared oil money, surcharge them for the full amount involved, and hand them over to appropriate anticorruption agencies, as provided for under paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009, and recommended by the Auditor-General. SERAP also urged him to ensure the full recovery and remittance of the missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion into the Federation Account without further delay. In the letter dated 17 February 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: The missing oil revenues have further damaged the already precarious economy in the country and contributed to very high levels of deficit spending by the government. SERAP said, Without the full recovery and remittance of the missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues, the dire economic situation may worsen and Nigerians will continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services. According to SERAP, the Auditor-General has for many years documented reports of disappearance of public funds from the NNPC. Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing oil revenues. The letter, read in part: The alleged missing oil revenues reflect a failure of NNPCL accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institutions continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability. We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel the NNPCL to comply with our requests in the public interest. Had the NNPCL and its subsidiaries accounted for and remitted the disappeared public funds into the Federation Account, it is likely that more funds would have been allocated to the fulfillment of economic and social rights, such as increased spending on public goods and services. The missing oil revenues have also impeded Nigerians ability to enjoy their economic and social rights, and denied them access to essential public goods and services, especially at the time of cost of living crisis in the country. Explaining the whereabouts of the missing public funds, naming and shaming those suspected to be responsible and ensuring that suspected perpetrators are brought to justice and the full recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators. Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the disappeared oil money. Ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of oil revenues would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition. According to the recently published 2020 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit over USD$2 billion and N164 billion oil revenues into the Federation Account. The Auditor-General fears that the money may have been diverted into private pockets, denying the government the funding needed to carry out its activities. The NNPCL reportedly failed and/or refused to remit N151,121,999,966. The NNPCL without any justification deducted the money from the oil royalties assessed for 2020 by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) now Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The NNPCL has failed to account for the missing public funds. The Auditor-General wants the money recovered and remitted into the Federation Account. The NNPCL also failed to remit USD$19,774,488.15 collected as government revenue into the Federation Account. The Auditor-General wants the NNPCL to account for the money, recover and remit it into the Federation Account, and to hand over those suspected to be involved to the ICPC and the EFCC. The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Ltd also reportedly failed to account for USD$2,021,411,877.47 and N13,313,565,786.49 of royalties collected from crude oil and gas sales and gas flare. The Auditor-General wants the public funds fully recovered and remitted into the Federation Account and for those suspected to be responsible for the missing public funds to be handed over to the ICPC and the EFCC. These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], national anticorruption laws, and the countrys obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption. The allegations have undermined the economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprived them of opportunities. SERAP is concerned that despite the countrys enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators. Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations. SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 16(2) of the Nigerian Constitution further provides that, the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good. Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] imposes clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. Paragraph 3112(ii) of the he Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the full amount involved and such officer shall be handled over to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected. Related Ukrainian commanders ordered a withdrawal from the eastern city of Avdiivka on Saturday (Feb. 17) in order to cut back its losses and prevent an encirclement similar to what happened in Bakhmut last year. Russia said that its forces were able to capture the city after months of combat operations, a development that the Kremlin could use to boost morale on the second anniversary of its war with Ukraine, according to the Associated Press. Both the Russian Defense Ministry and Ukrainian military officials reported the significant development of their respective operations in what could now be known in recent history as the "Fall of Avdiivka." Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Kremlin that Russian forces were clearing out the final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, officials said in a statement. There were also videos on social media showing troops raising the Russian flag over one of the plant's buildings. Russian state news agency TASS reported that Vladimir Putin sent a personal message of congratulations to Russian troops in Avdiivka, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that the city's capture was an "important victory." However, the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said earlier this week that taking Avdiivka would be more of a symbolic win for the Kremlin and would not bring any significant changes to the 1,500-kilometer front line that remained virtually static in recent months. Read Also: Ukraine Refuses Elon Musk's Claim as Military Spy Chief Explains Why Russia Can Use Thousands of Starlink Terminals Ukraine Warns the West Aside from Avdiivka, Russia was also being focused after opposition figure Alexei Navalny died in prison on Friday (Feb. 16) while most world leaders were convening at the Munich Security Conference. The developments happened as Russia was preparing for a presidential election that would guarantee another six-year term for Putin. Low ammunition supplies and personnel shortage forced Ukraine back on the defensive, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned his nation's allies in Munich that an "artificial deficit" of arms for Ukraine risked giving Russia breathing space and allowed Putin "to adapt to the current intensity of the war." "Our actions are limited only by ... our strength," he said, pointing to the situation in Avdiivka after Ukrainian military chief Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi ordered the withdrawal of troops to "more favorable lines" to prevent their encirclement and further depletion of combat effectiveness. "Our soldiers performed their military duty with dignity, did everything possible to destroy the best Russian military units, inflicted significant losses on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment," he said. "We are taking measures to stabilize the situation and maintain our positions." Syrskyi was earlier criticized for the nine-month-long dogged defense of Bakhmut before the Russians took it. White House Blames 'Congressional Inaction' Meanwhile, Zelenskiy and US President Joe Biden discussed Avdiivka over the phone, with the latter remaining confident that Congress would ultimately approve additional funding for Ukraine. However, when Biden was asked if he was confident that more US funding would come through before Ukraine lost more territory, he responded with a negative. "I'm not," he told reporters. "Look, Ukrainians have fought so bravely. There is so much on the line. The idea now when they are running out of ammunition [is] that we're going to walk away ... I find it absurd." White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson also called the withdrawal "the cost of Congressional inaction." Related Article: Russia Conducts New Assault on Eastern Ukrainian Town of Avdiivka According to the statement, areas where the suspects were arrested from includes Ketu, Mile 12 Underbridge, OldToll Gate and Motorways adding that the suspects are to be charged to court. Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos Police Command have apprehended 28 suspects from various black spots across the state. This was disclosed via the RRS X handle on Sunday, February 18. According to the statement, areas where the suspects were arrested from includes Ketu, Mile 12 Underbridge, OldToll Gate and Motorways adding that the suspects are to be charged to court. It reads: In continuation of the drive to reduce crime in Lagos metropolis through sustained monitoring of black spots, RRS operatives at about 11:25pm on Thursday, arrested 28 suspects. Some of the notorious areas where the suspects were arrested include Ketu, Mile 12 Underbridge, OldToll Gate and Motorways. The 28 suspects were those screened from 46 others earlier arrested during an overnight operation. 18 of the suspects were released after thorough screening. The 28 suspects are to be charged to court in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade. By Izunna Okafor, Awka It was a fruitful session and outing in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, as the Anambra State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, joined other stakeholders in the water sector at the 30th Regular Meeting of National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation. Themed People, Planet, and Prosperity: Promoting Water Governance for National Food Security, the 4-day event, which held at the National Center for Women Development, Abuja, drew participants from different the states of the federation and the FCT, including the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike (represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, FCT, Dr. Udoh Samuel Attang) who played host to the guests. Among the various deliberations and outcomes of the meeting, the well-attended event also marked a significant progress in the Anambra States water sector, as Commissioner Chukwuemeka, through the state government, attracted solar motorised boreholes for tertiary institutions in the State. The Commissioner, who made the projects approval notification letter available to this reporter, revealed that one of the motorized solar boreholes would be sited at the Nwafor-Orizu College of Education, Umunze; while the other one will be sited at the College of Health Technology, Obosi (both to be executed by the Apex Grade Nig. Ltd.). The letter further revealed that the two projects were approved and awarded in response to a letter earlier written to that effect by the Commissioner. Addressing newsmen shortly after the event, Commissioner Chukwuemeka, who describes the projects as a significant boost to what the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led Administration is currently doing in the water and power sectors of the State, adding that the States power and water sectors are on a progressive and transformative move. The Commissioner who attended the event alongside the Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Uzoka, gave an analytical overview of what the current administration in the state is already doing in the water and power sectors of the State, citing the conversion of many hitherto diesel-powered boreholes and streetlights to solar; the ongoing resuscitation of hitherto moribund water schemes and facilities across the urban, semi-urban, and rural areas of the State, among others giant strides, all aimed at improving the general living condition of the masses and cutting down the cost of governance. While appreciating the Federal Government for the approval of the projects, he further assured adequate co-operation with the contracting firm and other stakeholders, to ensure smooth, timely and successful competition delivery of the projects. Earlier speaking at the event, the Federal Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev urged states, local governments, and Water and Sanitation Stakeholders to utilize the Federal Governments water resources infrastructure to bolster food production in their respective states. He highlighted Water Resources Managements pivotal role in achieving food security, economic growth, and poverty alleviation in the country, underscoring the importance of robust water governance frameworks to tackle challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, and climate change impacts. The Federal Minister also reiterated Federal Governments commitment and unrelenting efforts to ensure provision of potable water for Nigerians, as well as promoting irrigation as a means to transform the countrys food production landscape, create employment, and ensure food security for all. Related Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said that the northern part of Nigeria would have still remained a barren desert, but its not because of the resources, kindness and generosity they enjoy from the southern part of the country. The minister was responding to a recent comment allegedly made by the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai that northern Nigeria still feeds the nation. The comment was part of what the governor was alleged to have said when he spoke at the Northern Youth summit organized by Northern Hibiscus Initiative in Kaduna last Saturday. But responding in a post on his Twitter handle on Tuesday, Fani-Kayode refuted El-Rufais claims and said that the North has at no time been the ones feeding the nation. He wrote: The North has never fed the nation but has always lived off her. It has depended on the south for everything for 105 years. Were it not for southern resources, kindness and generosity the North would still be a barren desert. Northern Nigeria still feeds the nation- @elrufai The north has NEVER fed the nation but has ALWAYS lived off her. It has depended on the south for EVERYTHING for 105 yrs. Were it not for southern resources, kindness and generosity the north would be still be a barren desert. Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 9, 2019 The former minister also reacted to another alleged statement by El-Rufai, where he was said to have told his audience at the Saturday event, that, The richest businessman in Nigeria is still Dangote not someone from Southern Nigeria, thank God for that. In his reaction to that Fani-Kayode wrote, Any southern businessman that received the kind of support that Dangote received from FGs over the last 40 yrs would be the richest man in the world today. The richest businessman in Nigeria is still Dangote not someone from Southern Nigeria,thank God for that- @elrufai. Any southern businessman that received the kind of support that Dangote received from FGs over the last 40 yrs would be the richest man in the WORLD today. Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 9, 2019 He went further to add, It is clear to me that there is as much difference between a Fulani and a non-Fulani as there is between a pygmy and a Viking. Force us in the same space and bad things will happen. Keep us in the same cage and nothing good will come out of it. May God deliver us from each other! The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, to immediately release the Convener of RevolusionNow, Omoyele Sowore. Sowore has remained in detention more than 24 hours after meeting his bail condition as set by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday in a ruling. In a notice of disobedience to order of court issued by the court on Thursday, September 26, 2019, the court directed the DSS boss to comply with its directive or face grave consequences, which includes commitment to prison. File photo According to a report by Punch Metro, the Industrial Director of Lafarge Plc, Mr Segun Soyoye, has said the Italian who brought coronavirus to Nigeria came to inspect some installations of machines bought from a Swedish firm. He said this during an on-the-spot-assessment by Ogun State Government, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and World Health Organisation teams to Lafarge facility at Ewekoro on Saturday. Soyoye added that the Italian didnt go behind Lafarge the guest house at Ishofin Estate before he was evacuated, having developed abnormal temperatures that suggested he had been infected with Covid-19. He added, The Italian came for a business visit. He was in Lagos on Monday and slept at Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Our driver took him there. When we observed abrnomal temperatures and symptoms, we quickly instituted an Emergency Response Team which is led by the Company CEO. We have to find a way of analysing and identifying not only the Italian but also the other contacts. The contacts are now 39 and we have quarantined them, the house and clinic as well as the vehicles. We dont take chances that is why they are put there. They will be there for 14 days. We will continue to observe them, we have their database, showing their biodata and other information. The doctor is here and what he is doing is to check them on a regular basis. So far, everybody is stable. They are not symptomatic, we are providing everything for them over there. The other thing that I have not said is that the clinic that was used for the infected person is closed, disinfected and we moved everybody out. All the guys on duty that day, they were also quarantined, so they will be there for 14 days as well. He also said its production lines were not shut as the guest house where the Italian was lodged is 5km to the manufacturing plants in Ewekoro. The Team Leader of World Health Organisation in Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim Mamadu, commended the internal processes undertaken so far by Lafarge Africa to contain the deadly disease. He however advised the company and others to acquire digital thermometers to check body temperatures instead of infrared thermometers for accurate body temperature readings. NORMAL Aondover Tarhule, a former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Illinois State University who took over as the school's interim president one year ago, is seeking to keep his new job in the long term. A statement from ISU announced Tarhule will be the first of four finalists to attend open forums this month. He is scheduled to attend an open forum 1:30-2:45 p.m. Monday in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center, 200 N. University St., Normal. Tarhule took over the job in February 2023 following the abrupt resignation of Terri Goss Kinzy, who said she planned to "pursue other opportunities" after having served as ISU's president for under two years. Additional information about the reason for Kinzy's departure was not released, part of her separation agreement with the university. The interim president, who has a doctorate in geography from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, was also named as a finalist in a search for a vice president and chancellor job at Indianapolis University, but was not selected for that role. In candidate background information listed online by ISU, Tarhule's listed accomplishments included securing approval for the new College of Engineering, developing an enrollment management plan, leading the development of the university's next strategic plan, improving enrollment and simulation capacity in the Mennonite College of Nursing, and more. His previous leadership roles include serving as vice provost and dean of the graduate school at Binghamton University in New York; and executive associate dean and department chair at the University of Oklahoma. Outside of academia, Tarhule has worked in shaping environment and education policy at both the national and international levels, his online candidate description continued. He's served on the Innovate Illinois Task Force, the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding, committees of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, the Association of American Geographers, and several editorial boards. Three other candidate forums are scheduled for the same time and location on Feb. 22, Feb. 26 and Feb. 29. Identities of those finalists are expected to be disclosed 24 hours before their respective forums. Photos: University of Illinois-Chicago basketball at Illinois State University 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. 18, 1924: The total number of persons registered and eligible to vote in this city at the Feb. 26 primary election is 12,621, which includes 7,084 men and 5,557 women. Included in the total of registered voters is 1,130 who were registered during December and January, and of that number 592 were men and 438 were women. 75 years ago Feb. 18, 1949: Cuneo Press, a Chicago printing firm that considered establishing a branch here which would have employed about 700 persons, has decided not to choose Bloomington, Mayor Mark B. Hayes told councilmen in an informal session following the regular meeting. 50 years ago Feb. 18, 1974: Unemployment averaged 2.5% of the 53,400 work force in the Bloomington-Normal (McLean County) metropolitan area in 1973. The year before, 1972, unemployment averaged 3.3%. The Twin City area workforce was 51,250, 2,150 below the 1973 workforce. 25 years ago Feb. 18, 1999: A seven-member local medical team recently returned to Bloomington-Normal from Surat, India. The doctors performed the first coronary artery bypass surgeries in the city of 2 million people. 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 CHICAGO Four people were stabbed in Chicagos United Center neighborhood in the early morning hours Sunday, police said. Police responded to the report of a person stabbed on the 2200 block of West Walnut Street at around 1:48 a.m. Officers found four people who sustained stab wounds. The victims were unable to provide details, according to police. Two men and two women were taken to area hospitals in good condition, officials said. No arrests have been made. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 A person can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, the value of companionship and the importance of turning around three times before lying down. OK, maybe not that last one. But also being undaunted and confident while carrying a big stick? Meet Eva, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois who has become an icon in her neighborhood in Normal, a daily sight each morning and a definition perhaps, for all the rest of us, of a better life. Eva, says Peggy Trainor, of the Pleasant Hill subdivision neighborhood, is a daily reminder of what (U.S. President) Teddy Roosevelt once said ... that we can go far if we speak softly and carry a big stick. Especially the stick. Its the same every day. So routine, repetitive and yet amusing to watch, motorists now are known to wave, honk and smile at Eva (pronounced Ava) and her prime keeper, chief feeder and daily walker, Rob Ward. Some people just stop and stare, says Rob. If around East Vernon Avenue at 7:45 each morn, you may have already caught scene and seen. As traffic in all four lanes is moving along, and there are those tooling nearby on Constitution Trail, and life in B-N is awakening to another day, theres Eva on the sidewalk, rather dignified, in a steady prance, head up, majestic, eyes scanning with a 5-foot-long stick in her mouth. Not just any stick. HER stick. The SAME stick. Every day, for FIVE years now. She goes out of the house every day and looks for 'her stick,' says Rob. Then we head out. She knows the route. She could walk it herself, if needed. With her stick. The EXACT same stick for five years, you ask? The center part of it is now worn down from her carrying it, says Rob. She will drop it to sniff around somewhere, but when done, she then picks it back up and continues on. Dogs, of course, have always enjoyed a good stick, an instinctual thing that, according to canine experts, is similar to finding a bone, is a perfect texture to gnaw on, has an earthy smell that is attractive to a dog, and especially to a Rottweiler, or Labrador, or Spaniel. And Eva ... Watching her is just a good way to start my day, says Peggy Trainor. She looks so proud carrying that stick, says Chuck Blystone, also of the neighborhood. For years, I have passed them as I hurry off to work. Makes me laugh every time I see it. Our grandchildren run to the front window when Eva walks past, offers another neighbor, John Lutes. Through the eyes of a child, they have seen the fascination. They look and love that dog and her l-o-n-g stick. One morning, as Rob Ward tells it, a mom and two young girls even pulled over on Vernon and handed them a card. It read, hand-scrawled in elementary crayon: To Stick Dog: You are so funny. We watch you every day. Sophia (the baby) cries when you dont show up. We need you! It continued, You are a great thing to look forward to on the way to school. Every day we look for you. Yup. So cute. Doggone, cute. And meant. The Eva daily routine is always the same. A Belgian malinois that's the one that is highly intelligent, bred for personal protection and/or police work, is high energy, the one that smells your luggage at an airport for drugs or contraband theyre also highly routine and disciplined in their rituals, too. Five years ago, as a puppy, Eva picked up a stick one day and the habit started, says Rob. She demands the same stick for morning walks, but interestingly would rather walk without it on the evening walk. With the stick in her mouth, she can work out the perfect center-balance-point so that the stick is even to the ground as she walks. She even, says Rob, maneuvers through narrow spaces by turning her stick diagonally. Its when people began to stop us and comment how it makes their day ... he adds, thats when we knew it was special. Walk with a quiet confidence? An ability to balance things, even mired with a cumbersome stick? A good life of loyalty, being a great companion, to the delight of others, and at the same time, with an ability to put it all down occasionally to explore new things? Teddy Roosevelt, live on! Eva, too. And potentially, maybe even a bit of inspiration for all the rest of us as well. Who was there? Dobski Big Game Party Cindy Segobiano, Interim ISU President Aondover Tarhule, Rose Tarhule, Mary Ann Louderback, Julie Dobski, Carla Wheeler Guests enjoying some pre-game refreshment Bob Dobski, John Burns Michael and Carla Wheeler Chuck Erickson, Cat Woods Debi and Jim Grossman (seated), Debra and Tim Leighton (standing) Don Everhart, Jr., Chuck Erickson Mary Jo Fowler chats with host Julie Dobski Mary Jo Fowler, Julie Dobski Sonja Reece, Drs. Mark and Holly Houska Melissa Isenburg Tremper, Mark Tremper Donna and Bob Day The kitchen table was a great gathering place for those guests more interested in socializing that game watching. Paula Weiland, Bob Dobski, Molly Hartrup Paula Weiland and Molly Hartrup were rooting for Taylor Swift (and her boyfriend) Fred Basolo, Julie Dobski, Marcia Basolo Julie Dobski, Nancy Brady, Aimee and Brock Spack Andrea Arduini, Leann Seal The serious football fans post up in the basement in front of the projection TV Laura and John Pritts Bernie Wright, Mike OGrady, Kevin Killian, John Burns, Jim Fruin Dan and Terri Brady, Don Everhart, Jr. Vicki and Robert Varney Cindy Myers, Paula Weiland, Jan Francois Cindy Segobiano, Jay Groves, Karen DeAngelis Cheryl Magnuson, Sherri Chinski Harlan and Brenda Geiser, Mary Jo and Mike Fowler Mary Burns, Mary Ann Louderback Rose Tarhule and ISU Interim President Aondover Tarhule enjoy a few laughs with host Bob Dobski. Micah Quinn, Annie Knapp, Jennifer Deighan, Charlie Knapp, Carla Wheeler, Don Knapp, Michael Wheeler Laura Pritts, Cat Woods, Chuck Erickson Fred and Jan Render Ed Voegele, Cheryl Magnuson, Cindy Segobiano, Judy Buchanan, Karen DeAngelis Julie Dobski, Steve Lyczak, Jodi Hallsten Lyczak The Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC) has imposed a 65 percent quota on all imports of machetes for the next two years, beginning March 30, this year. The move by the commission is part of safeguarding measures to protect the local machete industry from unfair trading practices such as dumping, subsidisation and counterfeiting by foreign entities. Latex Foam Valentines Day Promo Consequently, up to 1534.4 tonnes of machetes can be imported as against the current 2,365.9 tonnes of machetes that are imported annually. The remaining shortfall of 831.5 tonnes of machetes is expected to be compensated by Crocodile Machetes Ghana Ltd, a local company, to make it competitive and restore its market share. The Chairman of the GITC board, Nana Dr Adu Gyamfi, who made the declaration in Accra on Tuesday (February 13), said the decision was arrived at after the commission established evidence of imported machetes flooding the domestic market and causing injury to the local industry. In September 2021, Crocodile Machetes Ghana Ltd petitioned the GITC for remedial measures for unfair trade practices relating to dumping, subsidisation and increasing quantities of imported machetes which were counterfeit and substandard. La Palm Valentines Day Buffet In line with Section 42 of the GITC Act, 2016 (Act 926), the commission commenced investigations into the claims made by the petitioner. After over two years of independent investigations conducted by the GITC, the commission gave its verdict leading to the recommendations for the safeguard measures. Verdict Dr Gyamfi explained that the commission could not establish prima facie evidence on dumping and subsidisation allegations. "On the other hand, there was evidence of increasing imports of machetes flooding the domestic market and in effect, causing serious injury to the domestic industry; evidence which we found to have necessitated the application of safeguard measures to protect the industry's demise from such unfair trade practices," he stated. Throwing more light on the investigations, he said the commission found out that within the period of the investigation, the average import level of machetes originating from China was 1,766.8 tonnes, Constituting 74.7 per cent of the total imports. He added that 424.2 tonnes (17.9 per cent) of the imported machetes originated from Colombia while 26.02 tonnes (1.1 per cent) were imported from Brazil. The GITC board chairman added that under the safeguard measure, the commission had determined that imports from China be limited to 114.9 tonnes and Colombia, to 275.2 tonnes per annum. In terms of Brazil, the GITC said the import constituted 1.1 per cent of the market and that percentage was negligible because it fell below the three per cent mark to attract any remedial measure as per the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations. Trademark Regarding the allegations of counterfeiting and sub-standards, he said those issues were referred to the Intellectual Property Office and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) respectively for redress since they fell beyond the mandate of the commission. He explained that the Intellectual Property Office confirmed that both Ralph Martindale Co. UK and Chillington Tool Company Limited UK had duly registered their trademark, although both had expired and were yet to be renewed. "The commission agrees with the view by the Intellectual Property Office that Crocodile Machetes Ghana Ltd has exclusive rights to the crocodile trademark and therefore would be illegal for any other competitor to use its trademark," he added. Dr Gyamfi also said the GSA tested samples of the imported machetes against the established parameters such as dimensional, hardness, tensile strength and marking requirements and the quality evaluation report established that the samples failed to meet the full requirements of a national standard. Commitment The Executive Secretary of the GITC, Frank Agyekum, said the thorough investigation by the commission and the outcome of the petition demonstrated the commitment to safeguarding the domestic industry against unfair trade practices. He said the GITC would continue to collaborate with other state agencies and relevant stakeholders for the effective discharge of its mandate. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 Former US President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to Philadelphia over the weekend to announce the launch of his signature shoe line as a stopover before his scheduled trip to Michigan for a campaign rally. His visit on Saturday (Feb.17) to what could be considered "the greatest sneaker show on earth" has been greeted with mixed and emotional reactions from those in the audience, Fox News Digital reported. The crowd's reaction ranged from cheers for Trump to booing him during his speech. He spoke for roughly 10 minutes, appearing alongside a pair of gold custom Trump-branded shoes now being sold in limited supply for $399 a pair. "There's a lot of emotion in this room," he quipped during his speech. They have lines going all around the block. They've never seen anything like this one." Trump's Shoe Line Trump confessed that he wanted to create a shoe line "for a long time"specifically, 13 yearsand he had a team of designers who worked on the project. He also noted that the "influencers" have been "very positive" about the new shoes, which were available for pre-order and were being created by CIC Ventures, the same firm making the Trump trading cards. "They love it, and they love what we've done," he added as he flashed the shoes to the audience. "That's the real deal." Trump told those in the audience that the most important thing they can do is vote and vowed to "turn this country around fast." Trump's appearance in purple-state Pennsylvania came a day after he was barred from operating his business in New York for three years and was found liable for over $350 million in damages in the civil fraud case brought against him, his family, and the Trump Organization by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Read Also: Suspended Pennsylvania Magistrate Judge Charged After Shooting Ex-Boyfriend in Head Mixed Reception Prior to Trump's appearance at the annual event, Sneaker Con faced backlash from Trump critics for allowing him a venue to offer remarks. The organizers later said that the criticism came from a statement shared on social media, but they have turned off the comments for the post on social media. "Sneaker Con's mission is to support and promote sneaker culture through our worldwide live events and digital platforms," the statement read. "We are thankful and appreciative of the sneaker community, and recognize individuals who generate awareness and authentic sneaker related engagement towards our community." Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden's campaign team mocked Trump's Sneaker Con appearance. "Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg Off-Whites is the closest he'll get to any Air Force Ones ever again for the rest of his life," said Biden-Harris 2024 communication director Michael Tyler. Related Article: Landmark Verdict Delivered: Donald Trump's Civil Fraud Trial Concludes Busy Week in Court The chair of the African Union Commission (AUC) has called on leaders to tackle conflicts in the continent, and condemned a series of coups in some African countries. Moussa Faki Mahamat made the call on the first day of the two-day AU summit. Wars in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo are at the top of the African bloc's agenda. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, poverty, climate change and education are other key topics to be discussed. In his remarks to delegates at the summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Mr Faki - who heads the AU's secretariat which manages the day-to-day activities of the bloc - said he was extremely worried about a "litany of difficulties" facing the region. He said Sudan was "bruised, torn, sinking into chaos" from a war that has been raging since 2023, Libya was divided and exposed to foreign interference, and the Sahel region was facing a dangerous power vacuum. He expressed concern over the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying the conflict in the east of the country was leading to a worsening of its "eternal crises". "Africa cannot remain arms folded and not work to promote genuine peace in the region," he said. Mr Faki also criticised "unconstitutional changes of government" following a string of coups in West Africa, and expressed concern that terrorism was destabilising some countries in the continent. He said the rise in jihadist insurgencies was resulting in "exorbitant military spending, at the expense of vital social sectors, while opening the way to misleading populist speeches". His comment comes after three junta-led countries - Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso - announced they would leave the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) after refusing calls to return to democratic rule. Military leaders have argued that they want to restore security before organising elections as they struggle to contain insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Mr Faki also voiced concerns about the political crisis in Senegal, after the country's President Macky Sall tried to postpone the election, due to be held this month, until December On Thursday, Senegal's top court blocked Mr Sall's attempt to delay the polls, with the president vowing to hold elections "as soon as possible". Commenting on developments in the country, Mr Faki said: "The situation in Senegal, a model country in terms of democracy, worries us to a great degree." However, the AUC chair welcomed the Senegalese government's decision to follow the Constitutional Council's ruling, and said he hoped "free and transparent" elections would be held there soon. Ecowas is also expected to hold a meeting on the sidelines about Senegal's decision to postpone presidential polls. 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 Prof. Smart Sarpong has lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his ministerial reshuffle. The reshuffle occurred on Valentine's Day, with Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu kicked out of their respective ministries. Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam replaced Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has been reassigned to the Health Ministry. Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah goes to the Works and Housing Ministry, and the Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, is to replace the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attta. Former Tema East lawmaker, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover has been appointed as Greater Accra Regional Minister, and the Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, is being sent to the Interior Ministry. Deputy Information Minister, Fatimatu Abubakar takes her boss's position as Minister, and new entrant Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Member for Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, becomes Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources. The President further appointed and reassigned other officials of his government to various ministries. Nonetheless, to some critics, this reshuffle is too late since this year's marks the last term of President Nana Addo. Speaking on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Prof. Smart Sarpong dissented to the criticism that the reshuffle is late and also that the new ministers will have no significant impact. Going by "the old adage that it is better late than never," he believed the minister-designate would do a fantastic job within the short period. Mentioning some names that he noted cannot be underestimated when it comes to their effectiveness in executing their duties, the senior research fellow at Kumasi Technical University was of a strong view that this crop of ministers won't disappoint. Singling out the NHIA boss among other names like Titus-Glover, Prof. Smart Sarpong asserted; "Nobody can say on any good debating platform that Okoe-Boye moving to health won't have any impact unless you are not in tune with the basics of the discussion." He, however, advised them, quoting Philippians 4:8, that they should leave a good name and legacy in their offices. Watch video below 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 Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister for Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament for Bantama, has declared that former President John Mahama is ill-prepared for the presidency following his recent remarks about needing a "honeymoon period" if elected in 2025, interpreting it as a sign of unpreparedness and a reluctance to immediately address the nation's challenges. Speaking at a New Patriotic Party (NPP) gathering during the acclamation of Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor as parliamentary candidate for the Damongo in the Savanna region, Asenso-Boakye emphasized the need for Ghanaians to elect Vice President Dr. Bawumia, the NPP's presidential candidate for the December election, citing his readiness and active engagement in governance. "Former President John Mahama's statement regarding needing a honeymoon period indicates his lack of preparedness for the job," Asenso-Boakye asserted. "We cannot entrust our nation to someone who seeks to delay action while leadership is urgently needed." In contrast, Asenso-Boakye praised Dr. Bawumia's readiness, stating, "Dr. Bawumia will hit the ground running from day one, addressing the challenges facing our nation with his bold solutions." Expressing optimism in the NPP's track record of development, Asenso-Boakye urged Ghanaians to reward the party's hard work by supporting its candidates. He also commended Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Damongo MP, as a diligent young leader dedicated to the progress of his constituents, urging voters to rally behind him in the 2024 elections for continued development in the region. The event featured speeches from prominent NPP officials including Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture; Fatimatu Abubakar, Information Minister designate; General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Koduah, and various dignitaries. 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 Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, has jabbed the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and its Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, about their 24-hour economy, describing it as a mere slogan. He said the NDC and Mr. Mahama, when entrusted with the economy for four years, plunged the country into dumsor, and could not even provide a 12-hour economy. According to the Minister, this record of the NDC shows that they cannot be trusted with their supposed 24-hour economy. Speaking at a ceremony in Damongo to acclaim him as the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Damongo Constituency, on Saturday, 17th February 2024, Mr. Jinapor said the NDC has failed to explain the so-called 24-hour economy to the ordinary Ghanaian, and their record in Government, which was marked by dumsor, is evident that they cannot provide a 24-hour economy. The NPP, last month, held parliamentary primaries to elect their parliamentary candidates for Constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament. In the Damongo Constituency, no person contested Mr Jinapor, who is the incumbent Member of Parliament. According to the Partys Constitution, where only a person is nominated at the close of nominations, the person is acclaimed as the Parliamentary Candidate. This is the second time in succession that Mr. Jinapor has gone unopposed in the Damongo Constituency. The ceremony to acclaim the Minister as the Parliamentary Candidate drew several dignitaries to the Constituency, including the General Secretary of the Party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, the Minister for Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament for Bantama, Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, and the Minister-designate for Information, Hon. Fatima Abubakar. In his address at the ceremony, Mr. Jinapor called on Ghanaians to vote massively for the NPP presidential candidate, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He said in just two months after his election, Dr. Bawumia has laid down his policies and strategies to take Ghana to the next level when elected as the President of the Republic. He said Mr. Mahama, on the contrary, has not been able to make any substantive policy proposition to Ghanaians but has rather asked for a period of honeymoon when elected. According to Mr. Jinapor, even though the NDC has been touting a supposed 24-hour economy, they have failed to explain what this means to Ghanaians. When you ask them what 24-hour economy means, they either say Jack Toronto, or something else. The Minister said Mr. Mahama, when he became President, plunged the economy into dumsor, and collapsed small and medium-scale businesses. He asked how someone who could not provide a day economy could provide a night economy. For four years in the day, tailors could not work, in the day, there was no economy for welders, carpenters, fitters, and thousands and millions of Ghanaians, how then are you going to provide a 24-hour economy, Mr Jinapor asked. The Minister said contemporary development, across the world, revolves around technology, digitisation and digitalisation. He said, that even as Vice President, Dr. Bawumia has championed policies that will bring the much-needed development to Ghanaians, and has proven that when elected as President, he can take Ghana to the next level. He called on Ghanaians to rally behind the NPP and Dr Bawumia to continue the progressive policies the Government is implementing. 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 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 At the end of January, a 31-year-old woman and her daughters suffered horrifying injuries after being assaulted with an alkaline corrosive substance in London. Sadly, acid attacks like this are not isolated incidents. Over the last 15 years, they have been on the rise across the world, including in the UK. These attacks involve splashing sulfuric or nitric acid onto a victim's face or body. Corrosive substances melt the skin tissue, often exposing or dissolving the bones underneath. They can lead to permanent disfigurement, scarring, a narrowing of the nostrils, eyelids and ears, and permanent damage to sight and hearing. Those who target a victim's face in particular aim to maim and disfigure, but not necessarily kill, their target. This can cause devastating social and psychological difficulties for the victims, including ongoing health problems, social isolation, a loss of social and economic status, poverty and destitution. Acid attacks as gendered violence Corrosive substance violence is horrific in any case. But what is often left out of the discussion is that it is a form of gendered violence that mainly targets women. While acid attacks are perpetrated against both men and women, the vast majority of victims80% globallyare women, and the majority of perpetrators are male. As a researcher of gender-based violence, particularly in minority ethnic communities, I have seen the devastating physical, psychological and social impact these crimes have on victims. As a specialist in criminal justice responses to violence against women and girls, I have provided expert evidence in UK courts on the cultural contexts at play in cases of gender-based violence, including acid attacks. The Crown Prosecution Service drew on my expertise in a 2012 acid attack case. My research and experience suggests the motivations for launching acid attacks on women lie in patriarchal notions of shame, loss of "face", and honor. They are often retribution for women's rejection of men's sexual advances, and are related to domestic violence, abuse and other "honor"-based violence. Acid attacks remain common in India and the rest of South Asia, despite bans on the sale of acid over the counter. In the Indian sub-continent, where acid is widely available and relatively inexpensive, there remain traditional, patriarchal perceptions of women as subordinate to men. Attacks are increasing as women in India enjoy increasing access to education and economic independence. Within a patriarchal society, women are often told that they embody their family's respect and honor. Their behavior, thoughts and actions must never bring shame on the family. Divorced or separated women are particularly pressured to meet these expectations. As a result, men often believe they have power and control over women's beauty and sexuality. When women make their own marriage choices or exit violent relationships to protect their own and their children's safety, men interpret these actions through a patriarchal lens and may respond with coercion or physical violence. While details are still emerging about the Clapham case, it has been reported that the suspect and victim had been in a relationship before the attack. How the law ignores violence against women In the UK, alleged perpetrators of acid attacks tend to be charged under the Offensive Weapons Act (2019). If convicted, they may receive a sentence of life imprisonment. Someone carrying acid can also be charged with possession of an offensive weapon under the Prevention of Crime Act (1953), which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison. If a victim dies as a result of an acid attack, individuals can also be charged with murder or manslaughter. Although few acid attacks result in death, the intention to disfigure the victim permanently can still lead to a murder charge. The problem with the current approach is that it largely punishes people for obtaining the corrosive substance, while ignoring the impact on the victimand the gendered aspect of the crime. Acid attacks where police are able to identify a gendered motivation should be treated like a racial or religious hate crime, where sentences are increased if a hate crime is identified. This would encourage the issue to be taken more seriously, and recognize victims as being affected by domestic abuse or gender-based discrimination. A number of UK women have reported not being taken seriously by police when they report threats of acid attacks. Acid violence against women usually does not happen out of the blue. Survivors of acid attacks have called for better understanding of the motives behind acid attacks and how they intersect with other serious crimes. As women's rights are eroded in favor of patriarchal narratives that preserve male "honor" around the world, gender-based acid attacks risk becoming legitimized. The criminal justice system must do more to support those whose lives have been affected. This starts by acknowledging that these are not just horrific, random attacksthey are very often targeted violence against women. 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: Great apes make great japes: Young orangutans like to tease their elders by pulling their hair, a new study found. A boisterous young chimpanzee slaps an adult in his family on the back, then scampers away and looks back to see the response to his cheekiness. Nothing yet, so the young chimp Azibo rolls back and dishes out another slap, this time provoking a reaction: the distracted adult waves a half-hearted swipe in his direction, shooing the troublesome youth awaythough not for long. This scene recorded at Leipzig Zoo in Germany is just one of many analyzed by scientists to show that great apes engage in playful teasing in a similar way to young human children. Because all four species of great ape were recorded teasing each other, the "cognitive prerequisites for joking" probably evolved in a shared ancestor millions of years ago, the scientists said in a new study on Wednesday. The researchers catalogued a wide range of classic japery. One ape would offer another an object, only to withdraw it at the last second. Or they would prevent their mark from grabbing something they want. Other tricksters simply did the opposite of what they were told. Some just liked to poke. Much of this behavior is common in human children, starting from around eight months for the most precocious. Somewhere between normal play and aggression, playful teasing involves anticipating the response of others as well as enjoying going against their expectations, according to the study in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Lead author Isabelle Laumer told AFP that the researchers were surprised this rambunctious teasing "rarely resulted in any aggressive behavior". The great primatologist Jane Goodall had previously observed that young chimpanzees "sometimes disturbed older animals when they were sleeping by jumping on them or playfully biting them, or pulling their hair," Laumer said. "The adults also reacted to this quite calmly," added Laumer, a cognitive biologist and primatologist at Germany's Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. Planning trouble: Young chimpanzees like to playfully tease similar to human kids, a new study says. Aping around The team, which included researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, analyzed 75 hours of video of chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans getting up to hijinks in zoos. Focusing on one youth of each species, the researchers identified 18 different teasing behaviors. Unsurprisingly, chimpanzees were up to the most funny business. They liked slapping a dozing adult or just generally getting in the way. Orangutans showed a proficiency at hair pulling. Gorillas were fans of that most traditional of provocations: the shove. As demonstrated by Azibo, most of the interactions involved a youth starting to tease an adult, then repeating the gesture until they got a reaction. In one quarter of the interactions, the initial target turned the tables on the prankster, teasing them right back. That could devolve into more traditional play, in which the apes wrestled, chased, mock-bit or tickled each other. Such play takes two, but playful teasing has to be asymmetricalone has to target another, the researchers emphasized. The cognitive ability to engage in such joking must have been present in the common ancestor of humans and all modern primates at least 13 million years ago, they said. But beyond the laughs, what is the purpose of this incessant teasing among apes? Laumer declined to speculate. But she said that for human children, such teasing helps "test social boundaries," creating mutual enjoyment and therefore potentially strengthening the relationship between the prankster and the butt of their joke. 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: Research led by Dr George Olah identified characteristics of birds that increase their vulnerability to extinction. Credit: Dejan Stojanovic/ANU Australian birds that live on islands are among the species most at risk of extinction, a first-of-its-kind study from The Australian National University (ANU) has shown. The study is published in the journal EmuAustral Ornithology. Australia has more than 750 native bird species. But lead-author Dr. George Olah said many of them are facing an uncertain future. "The numbers are quite sad. By 2020 eight species were already considered extinct, and 10% were threatened with extinction," he said. "But if we understand more about the factors that increase extinction risk, we can better prioritize conservation efforts. Some species are more prone to extinction than otherswe wanted to find out why." Dr. Olah and his team found three factors that were particularly significant. "Firstly, species living only on islands were much more likely to be at risk of extinction. Think of the emblematic swift parrot and orange-bellied parrot of Tasmania, both considered critically endangered," Dr. Olah said. "This may be because they are less well prepared for the threats posed by introduced species like rats, cats and other mammals." The second factor was the species' ability to adapt to survive in agricultural areas. "The more able they were to find food in agricultural areas, the less endangered they were predicted to be," Dr. Olah said. "If they can adapt to take advantage of new agricultural lands, perhaps after some of their habitat has been destroyed to make way for it, it's probably a big benefit for the species." The third important factor was the evolutionary distinctiveness or "uniqueness" of the species. The researchers came up with a score based on things like how many other species there were within the larger bird family. "The burden of extinction risk seems to disproportionately impact species that have high uniqueness," Dr. Olah said. "Some of these shared traits are also connected to form a larger pattern. For example, we know slow breeders that have a larger body size and maybe live longer generally find it harder to cope with environmental changes." The study also found that assessments of conservation status at just the species level can mask higher extinction risk at the more granular subspecies level. "For instance, the ground parrot as a species is considered of least concern today based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. However, its western subspecies, found in coastal Western Australia, is considered critically endangered in Australia," Dr. Olah said. "Similarly, the morepork, a small owl species, is least concerned globally due to its large range size in New Zealand, but its subspecies in Norfolk Island is critically endangered in Australia, while its other subspecies from Lord Howe Island has already gone extinct." The study forms part of the Emu special issue on threats to Australian birds. Dr. Olah was also a co-author on another study published in the issue, led by Alex Berryman from Birdlife International, which looked at trends and patterns in the extinction risk of Australia's birds over the past three decades. The study calculated the Red List Index for all Australian birdsa measure of extinction rates based on the IUCN Red List. "More than 50% of the increase in extinction risk between 2010 and 2020 was caused by the 20192020 bushfires," Mr. Berryman said. "The greatest increases overall were in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales, where drought and wildfire effects were pronounced. Australia is currently failing its international commitments to reducing extinction risk made in 2022 under the Global Biodiversity Framework." More information: George Olah et al, Biological characteristics of Australian threatened birds, EmuAustral Ornithology (2024). DOI: 10.1080/01584197.2023.2285821 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: Various microplastic particles from biosolid samples can be as seen under the microscope. Credit: Shima Ziajahromi Australian wastewater treatment plants produce thousands of tons of treated sewage sludge every year. This nutrient-rich material is then dried to make "biosolids," which are used to fertilize agricultural soil. Unfortunately every kilogram of biosolids also contains thousands of tiny pieces of plastic. These pieces are so small they can only be seen under a microscope, so they're called microplastics. In our new research, we sampled biosolids from three states and calculated the average contribution of microplastics per person: 3g in New South Wales and 4.5g in Queensland. But the average in South Australia was 11.5gthat's about the same amount of plastic as a plastic bag. Roughly 80% of this microplastic comes from washing clothes. We need to protect agricultural soil from contamination by making simple changes at home, mandating filters on washing machines and introducing more effective wastewater treatment. Biosolids as fertilizer Most domestic wastewater comes from household kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. Wastewater treatment separates most of the water and leaves sewage sludge behind. This mixture of water and organic material can then be sent to landfill for disposal or dried to form a material called "biosolids." In Australia, two-thirds of the 340,000 metric tons produced annually are used on farms to improve soil quality and stimulate plant growth. This not only boosts agricultural productivity but also allows for more sustainable disposal of treated sewage sludge. The waste becomes a resource, a useful and economically viable fertilizer, rather than ending up in landfill. Microplastics in Australian biosolids Wastewater treatment plants can capture anywhere from 60% to more than 90% of the microplastics in sewage before the wastewater is discharged. But plastic is durable and does not degrade during treatment. So the microplastic particles removed from the wastewater are simply transferred to the sludge. We assessed the abundance, characteristics and size ranges of microplastics in biosolids collected from 13 wastewater treatment plants across three states. We found every kilogram of biosolid contains between 11,000 and 150,000 microplastic particles. Most of the microplastics found were invisible to the naked eye, ranging from 20 to 200 micrometers in size. The most common type of microplastic was microfibers from fabric. We found more microplastic fibers during cold seasons. We suspect this corresponds to people washing more synthetic fleece clothing and blankets. Microbeads are tiny balls of microplastic sometimes added to personal care products and detergents. We did not find any microbeads in samples from South Australia and New South Wales. These states were among the first to support a voluntary industry phase-out of plastic microbeads. In contrast, we found a small amount of microbeads in samples from Queensland, which only banned microbeads in September last year. That was more than a year after samples were collected for this study. We estimate Australians release between 0.7g and 21g of microplastics per person into wastewater every year. This wide range is based on our results, which varied from state to state: 0.7g to 5.9g in NSW, 1g to 7.2g in Queensland and 1.9g to 21g in SA. We don't know why it varies so much between states. This contributes to the amount of microplastics in biosolids. Our biosolid samples contained anywhere from 1kg to 17kg of microplastics per metric ton. Remember this is being transported into our farmlands. What's the problem? Microplastics are steadily accumulating in agricultural soils, where they will remain for hundreds of years. While natural weathering processes such as sunshine and rain will slowly break down microplastics into smaller and smaller particles, that only makes matters worse. Smaller particles cause more harmful effects to soil organisms. Eating small pieces of plastic can cause internal abrasions and blockages in the digestive tract. In very small aquatic animals such as zooplankton, microplastics can reduce absorption of nutrients from food, decrease reproduction rates, and cause death. These tiny particles also contain a cocktail of toxic chemicals, either added during manufacturing to improve the product or soaked up from the environment. This makes them even more dangerous. Smaller microplastics (less than 100 micrometers in size) are even more harmful for soil organisms. Microplastics in soil can be ingested by soil organisms such as earthworms and cause harmful effects on these vital organisms. Microplastic exposure has also been shown to adversely affect soil health and plant growth. Australian regulations govern the amounts of heavy metals, nutrients, pathogens and some emerging contaminants allowed in biosolids, but there is no guideline for microplastics concentrations. We think that has to change. Here's what we can do Our research shows biosolids are a significant source of microplastics in agricultural systems. More research is needed to better understand the risks. We need to put effective control measures in place to minimize the accumulation of microplastic in productive agricultural soils. The most effective way to do this is to reduce the level of microplastics in biosolids at the source. We know most microplastics in biosolids come from washing clothes. While it may not be possible to eliminate the use of synthetic fabrics, there are some measures we can all take to reduce the amount of microplastic washing off our clothes into the wastewater stream. Properly installed filters in washing machines have been shown to significantly reduce microplastic levels in wastewater. Australia's National Plastics Plan recommends the Australian government work with industry to "phase-in" microfiber filters on all washing machines by 2030. But why wait until 2030? Several jurisdictions, including France, Ontario and California, have already made microfiber filters on washing machines mandatory. It's time Australia did the same. In the meantime, there are simple things everyone can do at home. Wash clothes in cold water, avoid running the machine for light loads if you can wait to do a full load, and wash synthetic fabrics less frequently. These steps will also save energy and money. It's far better to stop microplastics entering the wastewater stream than trying to remove them at the wastewater treatment plant. Prevention is always better than a cure. 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 Leading Australian economists Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims this week sought to shake up the carbon policy debate in Australia, by proposing a tax on the nation's fossil fuel production. They claim it could raise A$100 billion in its first year and position Australia at the forefront of the low-carbon revolution. The proposal has been rejected by the federal government and the Nationals, as well as business groups and the fossil fuel industry. The Greens have thrown their support behind the idea. Garnaut and Sims have characterized their proposal as a "levy." But it's essentially a tax, applied to one sector of the economy: exporters of fossil fuels such as coal and gas, as well as importers of oil and diesel. Australia's recent political history tells us the road to a carbon tax is not smooth. However, as other nations race to restructure their economies in line with a low-carbon future, Australia risks being left behind. Whether to introduce a major, economy-shaping tax on fossil fuels is a conversation Australia must have. How would the plan work? The respected economists presented the plan to the National Press Club this week. It involves a "carbon solutions levy" applied to all fossil fuel extraction sites in Australia (around 105 sites), and on all fossil fuel imports to Australia. The tax would presumably be calculated according to the emissions generated when the fuels are burned. Garnaut and Sims say proceeds in the first year of the levy would be well over A$100 billion. They say the money should be spent on a rapid acceleration of Australia's renewable energy expansion, as well as subsidizing the development of low-carbon manufacturing for products such as steel and aluminum. The proceeds would also be spent on cost-of-living relief for consumers, such as energy bill relief and scrapping the current excise on petrol and diesel fuel. Garnaut told the National Press Club the global transition to net-zero represents a huge opportunity Australia must seize, "We can use it to raise productivity and living standards after the decade of stagnation. Other countries do not share our natural endowments of wind and solar energy resources, land to deploy them, as well as land to grow biomass sustainably as an alternative to petroleum and coal for chemical manufacture." "In the zero-carbon economy, Australia is the economically natural location to produce a substantial proportion of the products currently made with large carbon emissions in Northeast Asia and Europe." And as Garnaut also outlined in his speech, climate change threatens Australia's economy, which remains heavily dependent on exporting fossil fuels. Is the levy a good idea? Carbon dioxide emissions cause global warming, which damages the planet and its people. The purpose of a carbon tax, or levy, is to ensure polluting companies pay for the damage they cause. In theory, the taxes make polluting production processes more expensive than the alternatives, reducing demand for those products. The world, including Australia, has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. It's a big task and we need to act fast. Economists broadly agree carbon taxes are the most efficient, lowest-cost way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So the proposal makes good policy sense. Australia had a carbon price, or tax, from 2012 until 2014. It was introduced by Labor but repealed by the Abbott Coalition government. The policy was working: analysis showed emissions in Australia's national electricity market would have been 11 million to 17 million metric tons higher without the measure. Of course, sound policy ideas do not always come to fruition. After more than a decade of the so-called "climate wars" in Australia, the term "carbon tax" remains politically unpalatable. Unsurprisingly, the plan proposed this week was immediately rejected by Labor and the Nationals. Even less surprising was the strong rebuff from business groups such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the fossil fuel lobby. The rest of the world got the memo Putting a price on carbon is not groundbreaking policy. Many countries do iteither as direct taxes or emissions trading schemes. Notably, from 2026 a European Union tariff on carbon-intensive imports will come into effect. Known as the "carbon border adjustment mechanism," it means importers will have to report onand pay forthe emissions created when producing goods such as iron and steel. The policy is designed to level the playing field for EU manufacturers that must pay a penalty for their own pollution. Imports from countries where a carbon price applies would be exempt from the tariff. In coming years, we can expect other jurisdictions to implement similar policies to guard their domestic industries. Australia must protect its export revenue by expanding its production of low-carbon goods, or else find itself stuck with expensive, emissions-intensive products that no-one wants to buy. It's also important to remember Australia is a relatively small economy with little clout in global trade. To remain serious trading partners, we must come to the table with adequate climate policies. And finally, imposing a carbon levy in Australia would ensure we get to keep the revenue for ourselves. The potential proceeds are enormous, and could be spent raising the living standard for all Australians. My only real quibble with the plan is the proposal to set the levy at the level of the EU's five-year average carbon price, currently around $90 a metric ton. This puts Australia at the mercy of economic conditions in Europe. We'd be far wiser to determine the price ourselves. Will such a levy ever happen? Garnaut and Sims know their policy is a bold oneand will have its detractors. But as the world comes to terms with the economic reality of climate change, Australia risks being left behind. As Garnaut told the ABC, everyone is a winner under the plan, except fossil fuel companies which, he conceded, "will hate it." That may be true. But climate change is wreaking havoc on human communities, on natural systems, and on the global economy. It's only fair that those responsible pay for the damage. The political hurdles are high, but not insurmountable. Australia already penalizes polluting companies via the safeguard mechanism, which imposes a hard cap on industrial emissions. Ten years ago, such a policy seemed highly unlikely, but we got there. A carbon levy of the type proposed is an eminently sensible approach to get to net zero. This is a policy debate whose time has come. Let's bring it on. 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 When approaching how to support the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, there is a tendency in favor of strengthening and empowering mothers, rather than fathers. While this emphasis on maternal support is undoubtedly justified (in fact, there probably needs to be more supports that are culturally appropriate), it raises the question of why specialist assistance is not similarly prioritized for fathers. For instance, within what is arguably the core Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy in Australia, Closing the Gap, there is no mention of initiatives specifically for Indigenous fathers or men more broadly. We analyzed data from around 150 First Nations fathers about the support they needed. Here's what they had to say. Doing away with negative stereotypes Western society can portray some groups of fathers in a less favorable light and offer limited support. In Australia, there has been a particularly cruel characterization of Indigenous fathers as deviant, distant, and/or drunkards. These harmful characterisations were reflected in a 2016 cartoon by Bill Leak of an Aboriginal man unable to recall the name of his son. These representations are not true of many Indigenous fathers. They are often disciplined, devoted and sober, and want to be positive role models for their children. A great example of this is in the social media movement that sprung up in the wake of the cartoon, called #IndigenousDads. In light of this social climate, we wanted to know what Indigenous fathers need in order to enhance their experience of fatherhood. We drew the responses from data of 149 Indigenous fathers from the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC), a large Australian dataset administered by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services. That study asked them "if you could have something to make it easier to raise your child, what would it be?". We analyzed the results. More support needed Our research found more than 60% of Indigenous dads surveyed indicated needing further support. There were several areas that came up most frequently. These were finances, social services, housing, and the ability to spend more time with their children. Of the 10 themes we observed across the comments from Indigenous fathers in response to this question, nearly all were related to socioeconomic and cultural factors. One of the fathers expressed frustration at the lack of available social services, wanting more support in general. Another father shared how finances affected his role, saying, "I would like to have a decent paying job; I had to stop working to help and care for my children and partner." Other fathers mentioned wanting housing that was appropriately sized to accommodate a family, and not wanting to rent. Additionally, fathers wished they had the ability to invest more time in engaging in activities with their children. Collectively, these desires are reflective of men striving to be involved and nurturing fathers, not deviant or distant, as illustrated in harsh stereotypes. This is highlighted in their courage in openly asking for help. What needs to be done? Our research shows policies about and for Indigenous men and fathers need to directly address the areas in which they've expressed the most need. This includes looking at their social determinants of health. This means examining the social and economic circumstances that can affect a person's life, from their housing situation through to feeling included in society. As we mentioned earlier, the Closing the Gap strategy does not presently do this. It is important for this policy, and other relevant government strategies, to target these areas and concerns specifically. Further, urgent attention is needed for greater research funding to support Indigenous dads and men more broadly. One study shows the minimal amount of Indigenous-specific research funding awarded by Australia's two central funding bodies. The Australian Research Council (ARC) has provided 1.46%, and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has given a concerning 0.29%. There is a pressing need for additional investigation into how best to support Indigenous fathers and Indigenous men. Giving Indigenous fathers the support they need is crucial in reducing the well-documented challenges experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. There are also positive flow-on effects to others, as found by researchers Lyndon Reilly and Susan Rees: "If you have strong Indigenous fathers, you will have strong Indigenous families. By having strong Indigenous families, you will have strong Indigenous communities." As of 2021, Indigenous children are more than 10 times more likely to be on a care or protection order than non-Indigenous children. Strengthening the role of Indigenous fathers not only makes financial sense for governments, but also contributes to Indigenous family and community well-being, reducing care and protection orders for Indigenous children. We need to listen to First Nations fathers. If we do, we can deliver services that play to their strengths, rather than seeking to address perceived deficiencies. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was imprisoned last year immediately after he returned from a 15-year self-imposed exile, was released on parole on Sunday, local time, Feb. 18. Thaksin's lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri, told Reuters that his client completed parole proceedings and had formally been released. The 74-year-old former prime minister was seen leaving the hospital in a black Mercedes van early Sunday, wearing a green shirt and with his arm in a sling, sitting beside his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn, who currently leads the ruling Pheu Thai Party. "Thaksin has arrived home, hope he will have good health," she wrote in an Instagram post, showing an image of her in the vehicle with her father. Read Also: Peace Between Thai Government and Muslim Separatists in Reach After Decades of Fighting Thaksin Seeks Retirement Thaksin, an influential billionaire toppled from power by a royalist military coup in 2006, was freed from the hospital detention six months into a sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest, which was commuted from eight years to a single one by the country's monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Previously, it was reported that Thaksin was eligible for parole due to his age, health condition, and time served, and had been detained in the hospital for health reasons. He insists that he has retired from politics. Related Article: Thailand: Ex-PM Thaksin to be Freed After Being Granted Parole Request 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 complex project aimed at retrieving rock and dirt samples from Mars has long been a top priority for NASA, with proponents arguing the mission could answer the age-old question of whether life once existed on the red planet. The Perseverance rover, manufactured by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., is collecting the samples. But lawmakers are fighting over whether getting them back to Earth for study is viable in a tight budget environment. The battle lines are regional, not partisan: California lawmakers backing work being done on the Mars Sample Return program at the Pasadena complex pitted against Maryland and Virginia supporters of the agency's sprawling Goddard Space Flight Center, among others. The Mars mission is also facing serious questions about its viability following an internal NASA review that determined the program would take longer, and cost far more, than originally forecast. The GOP-controlled House has taken the Biden administration's side, proposing full funding for the Mars program, while the Democratic-controlled Senate has sought to divert money to other projects. "The mission is way over budget," Senate Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Chair Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said. "It's not at all clear what kind of science that will produce for us, so I think given the constraints within the budget, we have to look at putting the money where it's going to have the most impact." Not taking any chances, NASA is preparing for the worst. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced large-scale layoffs last week8 percent of its workforce. The move follows NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's direction that the agency should prepare for a $300 million fiscal 2024 Mars project appropriation, as proposed in the Senate's Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill. The Mars program's future is among the big decisions facing appropriators as they negotiate the final Commerce-Justice-Science bill. That measure has a March 8 deadline in the current stopgap law, part of roughly four-fifths of total fiscal 2024 discretionary funding due on that date. The Senate wants to slash the account by 63 percent, buttressed by NASA's review, which found the program would cost at least $3 billion more than expected. Moreover, the report accompanying the Senate bill directs NASAif the agency reports that it can't find a way to live within an earlier $5.3 billion projectionto "either provide options to de-scope or rework MSR or face mission cancellation." By contrast, House appropriators included the full $949.3 million Mars program amount President Joe Biden requested in their Commerce-Justice-Science bill. "It'll be the most exciting series of samples that we will have in our possession when it does come back," said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif, whose district includes the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology, which operates the facility. "But all of this is being undermined by cuts that will stop all of the tremendous progress we have made." The mission Congress to-date has appropriated $1.74 billion for the Mars program, which the most recent once-every-decade survey of planetary scientists called NASA's highest robotic exploration priority. But the effort to retrieve the samples is challenging, to put it mildly. It involves the Perseverance rover delivering the materials to a garage-sized, bug-shaped "sample retrieval lander" equipped with a rocket to blast the materials back into orbit. The samples would be collected by an orbiting spacecraft and brought back to Earth, with a target re-entry date in 2033if everything goes right. The program is "one of the most complex missions ever attempted by NASA, requiring the first ever launch from another planet and rendezvous with a spacecraft in orbit around another planet," NASA spokesman Dewayne Washington said in a statement. NASA's independent review board released its report in September, finding that the program will ultimately cost between $8 billion and $11 billion with a "near zero probability" of meeting interim launch deadlines. "As a result, there is currently no credible schedule, cost and technical baseline that can be accomplished with the likely available funding," the board said. The agency is now "evaluating future options for the program" due to the current budget environment, Washington said. An internal assessment is underway, with recommendations due at the end of March. Regional fights The Mars program and NASA in general already faced budget pressures. Due to spending caps in last year's debt limit suspension law, the fiscal 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science bill overall is nearly certain to face cuts from the previous year's version. Both chambers' bills came in under the fiscal 2023 enacted level of $84.2 billion, with the Senate bill totaling $83.5 billion and the House including $81.5 billion. The White House sought a big boost for NASA, to $27.2 billion. But the agency would receive just $25.4 billion in the House bill, essentially flat from fiscal 2023. The Senate, seeking to protect other funding priorities, would trim NASA further, to $25 billion. With less money to go around, lawmakers are pushing to steer available dollars to their states. Even before NASA released its review board's findings, Senate appropriators charged in the report accompanying their fiscal 2024 bill that the agency is delaying work on other important projects due to the financial and staffing demands of the Mars mission. Maryland and Virginia lawmakers are backing the Senate's lower figure because they want more money freed up for projects benefiting Greenbelt, Md.-based Goddard, which manages the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee member, signed a Jan. 8 letter from Maryland and Virginia lawmakers to committee leaders urging them to stick with the Senate's proposed cut. Shaheen isn't an impartial observer. The University of New Hampshire's Space Science Center, a major NASA research institution, is involved in the agency's Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon as well as its study of heliophysics, or how the sun affects its surroundings. After the death of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein in September, California no longer has a senator on the Appropriations panel. But the powerful California delegation is trying to flex its muscles. The state's senators and most of its House delegation sent a Feb. 1 letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young expressing concern over the administration's decision to "prematurely move forward with budget cuts" to the Mars program. Letter signers run the gamut from GOP lawmakers in tough races like Mike Garcia and Ken Calvert, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee chairman, to three Democratic candidates vying to take Feinstein's former seat: Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam B. Schiff. Garcia, a Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee member, said NASA's pre-emptive cuts are circumventing lawmakers' wishes. "NASA has sort of unilaterally decided to assume the worst-case scenario with the Senate number, and has also decided to effectively reprogram budgets and effectively cut MSR to the point where it's not executable in the near term," Garcia said. Senate preferences Initially, Senate appropriators in their Commerce-Justice-Science bill directed NASA to scrap the program if it finds it won't be able to hit the $5.3 billion target. At the panel's July markup, a little more than two months before she died, Feinstein amended the initial draft committee report to give NASA the option to downsize or rework the program instead of simply canceling it outright. If NASA does choose to kill the Mars mission, Senate appropriators would direct most of the funding to the agency's top overall priority, the Artemis mission. The measure would divert $235 million of the canceled Mars appropriationif it comes to thatto Artemis, enough to meet the White House's budget request. Shaheen said Artemis, which could put the first woman on the moon, is "at the top" of Senate appropriators' list of NASA priorities. Of the remaining Mars funds, $30 million each would go to the Dragonfly mission to study Saturn's moon Titan, and to what's known as the Geospace Constellation Dynamics mission. The latter, a study of Earth's upper atmosphere, would be put on hiatus under Biden's budget, with funding redirected to the Mars program. The Senate bill would already fully fund the administration's Dragonfly request. And it would add $35 million on top of the request to keep the atmospheric study going, part of a broader push to support NASA's Heliophysics budget, which would receive more than the White House request. Both programs were cited in the Maryland and Virginia delegations' letter, which sought more for Dragonfly than the Senate bill would provide. Goddard is a partner in the Saturn mission along with Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., and NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The Virginia and Maryland lawmakers, while agreeing with the Senate's proposed Mars cut, oppose any diversion of funding to Artemis, however, arguing the money should be reallocated within NASA's science programs. Next steps California lawmakers argued in their letter to Young that NASA should develop a reworked Mars program that is simpler and cheaper instead of scrapping it. Chu said she thinks the program could continue with $650 million in the current fiscal year and again next year, in line with what was appropriated two years ago. A compromise along those lines, she said, would allow the program "to go forth, perhaps with less money, but would enable this project to be able to survive." Meanwhile, NASA needs to start briefing Congress on its plans to restructure the program, Garcia said, as appropriators prepare to cut deals on fiscal 2024 spending. "The Senate, their concerns aren't invalid," he said. "But the mission priority is still there, so when things get harder, or things change, you don't just give up on it." 2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. 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: Northern and Central Europe in the Late Upper Palaeolithic (white areas = ice-covered). Credit: Centre for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology (ZBSA), CC BY Archaeologists have identified what may be Europe's oldest human-made megastructure, submerged 21 meters below the Baltic Sea in the Bay of Mecklenburg, Germany. This structurewhich has been named the Blinkerwallis a continuous low wall made from over 1,500 granite stones that runs for almost a kilometer. The evidence suggests it was constructed by Paleolithic people between 11,700 and 9,900 years ago, probably as an aid for hunting reindeer. The archaeologists investigating the Bay of Mecklenburg used a range of submarine equipment, sampling methods and modeling techniques to reconstruct the ancient lake bed and its surrounding landscape. This revealed that the Blinkerwall stands on a ridge running east to west, with a 5km-wide lake basin a few meters below the ridge to the south. The human, rather than natural, origin for the Blinkerwall was confirmed by an archaeological diving team who photographed sections of the wall. These show that it is made up of 288 very large boulders, which were probably dropped in that location by the retreating glacier, connected by 1,673 smaller stones. These smaller stones appear to have been collected from the immediate vicinity, as the area just to the north of the wall has many fewer stones than the areas even further north. The resulting structure stands a little under a meter in height and up to two meters wide, with remarkable regularity over its 971-meter length. A different landscape At the time of its construction, the landscapes and seascapes of northwest Europe were very different from today. The climate was beginning to warm as the colder Pleistocene era ended and the warmer Holocene era began. Sea levels were much lower, and large glaciers sat over much of Fennoscandia. The land around the Baltic Sea basin was rising rapidly, released from the weight of the retreating glaciers and transforming a brackish body of water known as the Yoldia sea into the freshwater Ancylus lake. Great Britain was a peninsula of the European continental landmass, with a vast lowland plain known as Doggerland stretching from Norfolk to the Netherlands. Herds of reindeer, European bison and wild horse migrated across its sparsely forested landscape. In cultural terms, this period, known as the Late Upper Paleolithic, is marked by significant hallmarks in technological innovation by the people who lived at this time. Dogs had been recently domesticated; there are regionally distinct forms of stone projectile points; and there is frequent use of decorated bone and antler harpoons, as well as specialist hunting strategies employed to target migrating prey. The identification of the Blinkerwall now demonstrates that Paleolithic hunters were managing their landscape to aid their hunting activities more deliberately than was previously thought. Construction of walls and other features in the landscape is familiar to us, particularly in the context of land enclosure for farming. Both contemporary and ancient societies that have traditionally subsisted by hunting and gathering wild resources are also known to alter their environments by constructing features such as stone walls. These are used for a variety of purposes including fishing, shell-fishing and hunting. The researchers compared the Blinkerwall to other archaeologically documented structures of a similar length and construction type that have been identified in the Middle East, North America, Canada and Greenland. These structures are interpreted as having been built for the purpose of game drive hunting. In this strategy, hunters use landscape and built features to gain an advantage over their prey by directing its movements to a location where they are more vulnerable to attack by other hunters. The similarity of the Blinkerwall to these other structures, and its construction adjacent to a body of water, led to the suggestion that the wall had been created for the same purpose. The lake itself may also have been used in this strategy. Supporting evidence One archaeological site from Germany that supports this interpretation is Stellmoor, located just north of Hamburg and which dates to the latest time that the Blinkerwall could have been constructed. The site is located at the end of a narrow valley where thousands of reindeer bonessome bearing hunting impact traces, flint points and even pinewood arrow shaftswere found preserved in the ancient lake sediments. The hunting evidence at Stellmoor shows the reindeer were shot by arrows as they were driven down the valley into the lake. While there is no archaeological evidence at Stellmoor to suggest people had deliberately created or changed the landscape to enhance their hunting success, it shows how the topography of the landscape was used to the hunters' advantage. The Blinkerwall construction provides evidence that Paleolithic people took this level of planning and coordination a step further. It shows they recognized and understood the instincts of their prey so well that they were able to predict their movementsand how they would react when faced with an artificially created obstacle like the Blinkerwall. The discovery of this monumental piece of hunting architecture is unique in Europe. At a maximum of 11,700 years old, it is one of the oldest examples in the world, potentially predating a desert hunting "kite" at Jibal al-Gadiwiyt in Jordan by over a thousand years. The Blinkerwall adds a new element to our understanding of the highly skilled and specialized hunting strategies engineered by people at the end of the last glacial periodstrategies that have continued to be used in different landscapes for millennia. And the discoveries are unlikely to stop here. The Bay of Mecklenburg has the potential to reveal further archaeological evidence of equal significance. The researchers do not rule out the possibility that another wall or other associated features could be found, buried under later sedimentation of the ancient lake. If weapons, tools or animal remains were to be recovered at the site, this would reveal information about the nature and duration of its useand far greater insights into the sophisticated subsistence strategies of the Paleolithic hunters of the Baltic. 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 Amid the escalating threats of a warming world, and with the latest annual United Nations global climate conference (COP28) behind us, there is one critical message that's often left out of the climate change discourse. Halting overfishing is itself effective climate action. This argument is the logical conclusion of a plethora of studies that unequivocally assert that stopping overfishing isn't just a necessity, it's a win-win for ocean vitality, climate robustness and the livelihoods reliant on sustainable fisheries. The intricate relationship between climate change and ocean ecosystems was the subject of recent collaborative researchled by researchers at the University of British Columbiathat highlighted the crucial links between overfishing and climate change. Finding the connections Our collaborative team of international researchers applied a host of methodologies ranging from literature reviews to quantitative and quality analysis. The findings of this research illuminate eight key multifaceted impacts. 1. Ending overfishing isn't merely an ecological imperative but a vital climate action. Doing so would bolster marine life resilience in the face of climate shifts and reduce associate carbon emissions. 2. Large subsidized fishing boat fleets can actually be a burden on small-scale fisheries, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to shocks. In turn, overfishing not only depletes resources but also escalates carbon emissions, intensifying climate impacts on these fisheries and their communities, particularly women. Additionally, the vulnerability of shellfish fisheries to climate stressors further underscores the importance of adaptive strategies tailored to local conditions. 3. Success stories, like the recovery of European hake stocks, reveal a direct tie between stock recuperation and reduced emissions intensity from fisheries. We must champion and also learn from these successes. 4. Ecosystem-based fisheries management reverses the "order of priorities so that management starts with ecosystem considerations rather than the maximum exploitation of several target species." Ecosystem-based fisheries management has considerable potential to enhance sustainable catches while fostering carbon sequestration. This is perhaps best exemplified by the successful implimentation of ecosystem-based fisheries management in the western Baltic Sea. 5. Heavy metal pollution in the oceansuch as mercury or lead wasteintensifies the negative impacts of warming and overfishing. This pollution reinforces the need for developing multifaceted regulations based around ecosystem and ocean sustainability solutions. 6. Overfishing exacerbates climate and biodiversity threats. Climate change contributes to less defined and predictable seasons and is causing reproductive challenges and the propagation of diseases in fish populationsamong other issues. Adding to these problems, overfishing itself is altering ecological dynamics, modifying habitats and opening new pathways for invasive species. These compounding crises further exacerbate the impacts of overfishing on marine ecosystems while at the same time making fish populations more vulnerable to climate change. The above factors all combine to reduce the catch potential in any given ecosystem. In turn, fishers are forced to venture farther and deeper in the ocean to fishincreasing carbon emissions, personal risk factors to fishers and bycatch concerns. 7. International fisheries management must play a central role in promoting biodiversity and retaining the ocean's carbon sequestration potential. While 87 nations have signed the UN's Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty (also known as the High Seas Treaty), only one has ratified it. This treaty must be fully ratified and its effective implementation should be contingent upon the creation of marine protected areas that cover at least 30 percent of the high seas. 8. The ocean has huge carbon sequestration potential. Shifting from the generally accepted maximum of sustainable yield management to maximizing carbon sequestration in fisheries management could further advance climate goals. Future regulations should allocate a percentage of the annual fish quota to maintain the carbon sequestration function of marine animals. Simply put, beyond just being food, fish stocks serve vital carbon sequestration and biodiversity services that directly benefit humanity. Future regulations should reflect this reality. A simple goal This joint collaborative research underscores the urgency of this issue. Ending overfishing isn't just an ecological imperative but a linchpin for climate action. Furthermore, fisheries aren't mere victims in these dynamics, but have real agency to play a pivotal role in either exacerbating or mitigating climate change. An ideal governance framework would focus on managing ecosystems with considerations for their diverse benefits, based on the best evidence available. Regulation of fisheries, while controversial, is essential to not overly exploit such a valuable public resource. As we gear up to the next COP, we would do well to remember these conclusions. Without nurturing ocean life, addressing climate change becomes an uphill battle. Sustainable fisheries management is not just an ecological necessity. It is also the cornerstone of a resilient, sustainable future. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. By Abdul Tejan-Cole In the past few weeks the Gambias Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has churned out startling revelations that sent the entire nation into a state of shock. Although many of what was revealed had been rumoured for years, it was still chilling to hear the confessions. It started when Lt. Malick Jatta took the stand. Sgt. Omar Jallow alias Oya and Staff Sgt. Amadou Badjie who followed, corroborated and augmented the thrust of his accounts. The three former soldiers, together with many others, were part of the Junglers the elite hit-squad that executed the reign of terror and extrajudicial political killings during the 22-year reign of Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh. The three henchmen who testified before the TRRC, confessed to shooting, decapitating and strangling their victims. They gave distressing accounts of how they tortured detainees and prisoners mainly at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Banjul and Jammehs hometown, Kanilai. Their most famous victim was Deyda Hydara, the editor of the Point Newspaper and former president of the Gambia Press Union, a vocal critic of Jammeh who was murdered in December 2004 in an operation dubbed magic pen. In their evidence to the TRRC, one of the henchmen, Malik Jatta, described how as Hydaras vehicle, arrived Tumbul Tamba, the Junglers leader, told us this is the idiotI shot, Sanna Manjang fired and Alieu Jeng also fired. I shot one. For my colleagues, I cant tell how many shots they fired. Our commander, Captain Tumbul Tamba, was communicating to the former president, Yahya Jammeh, on the phone during the operation. He was saying to him, 'Yes Sir, Your Excellency Jatta testified. He continued En route to Kanilai, nobody spoke. The following day, Tumbul came with some envelope containing some dollars and said: Gentlemen, this is a token of appreciation from the Big Man [president Jammeh]. When I changed mine, it was over 50,000 dalasi, about $1,800 at the time. Just as shocking and ghastly was the widely reported 2005 killings of 56 West African migrants, including 44 Ghanaians and others from Senegal, Nigeria, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire. In July 2005, the migrants, who were on their way to Europe, were arrested by the NIA who handed them over to the Junglers. According to Sgt Omar Jallow who testified before the TRRC, Lt. Col. Solo Bojang, the operations leader, told the men that the order from Jammeh is that they are all to be executed. He explained further: we picked them from near Coconut Residence and put them in two vehicles. We were briefed that there was also another group in the same operation. Sanna Manjang was the one giving that briefingWe collected them and headed for Casamance. When we got there, Solo Bojang said that these people were mercenaries and the orders from Yahya Jammeh were that these people were to be executed. Me and Alieu Jeng were collecting them one by one and taking them to the well and Malick Jatta and Solo Bojang were firing at them and they would fall into a well. The witness claimed that they were not told what they were to do with the migrants until they got to the bush. Jallow recalled how the last migrant they executed pulled a $100 bill and handed it to him. The unidentified migrant told him to take the money because it would not be of use to him after he died. Jallow said he took the money and agreed to a request of the migrant to say his last prayer. However, Sanna Manjang disagreed and, as the migrant knelt for prayers, Sannas shot came from behind, sending his victim into the well. Asked what he did with the money, I ate it, Jallow replied. Despite several protests, Gambian officials failed to investigate the murders. Following pressure from Ghana, a joint United Nations (UN) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) investigation was conducted in 2009. Although the report was never made public it concluded that the Gambian government was not involved in the deaths. It blamed rogue elements in the Gambian security services acting on their own. The recent account of the Junglers before the TRRC has made complete nonsense of the conclusion of this report. Based on the testimony of the Junglers, Gambians have also learnt the truth about the gruesome 2013 murder of two Gambian-American businessmen, Alhajie Mamut Ceesay, an infrastructure systems analyst for Chevron and Texaco in Houston, and Ebou Jobe, operations manager at Walmart. According to the testimony of Jallow and Badjie, Jammeh ordered that they be chopped into pieces. They have also learned of the death of Haruna Jammeh, Jammehs cousin, who according to Jallow was strangled in the bush near Kanilai, the torture of the outspoken cleric Imam Baba Leigh. According to Jallow, we were ordered by Nuha Badjie to torture him. We beat him using sticks, elastic pipes and I saw blood and bruises on him. The torture lasted for about half an hour. The 2012 execution of nine inmates at the Mile Two Prison and the dumping of their remains in a bush near Foni; the killing of Ex- Director General of The Gambia National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Daba Marenah and former Army Chief of Defense Staff military chief Colonel Ndure Cham who were implicated in a failed coup and former lawmaker Ma Hawa Cham and dozens others who have disappeared under mysterious circumstances during dictatorship of the Butcher of Kanilai. Controversially, following their testimony the three Junglers were released from custody. It is not clear whether they have been granted amnesty under the TRRC Act. As expected, many of the victims are displeased by this decision. The victims see the decision to release them as premature. Although they have been in detention since 2017, they believe they should remain there until the TRRC determines their fate. Releasing them at a time when the public and victims are still coming to terms with the horrific details of the crimes they committed is ill-advised. But their testimony has been instrumental in unearthing the details of atrocities committed on the orders of Jammeh. Without their insider testimony, it would have been challenging to get this evidence. It would have been impossible to understand the command structure of the Junglers. Thanks to them, we now know that the Junglers had at least three teams of executioners controlled at the strategic level by General Sulayman Saul Badgie, head of state guards, and Tumbul Tamba, head of the patrol team who was based in Kanilai. The teams operations were led at different times by Solo Bojang, Sanna Manjang and Musa Jammeh, who was nicknamed Maliamungu, after Isaac Maliyamungu, a former hit-man of the Butcher of Uganda, Idi Amin Dada. They were all trained by an Italian, Francisco Cacaso, and received direct instructions and command from the person who bears the greatest responsibility - Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh. Although Jammeh may not have pulled the trigger, his instructions and command led to the murders. He must, therefore, be tried for them. This will not be an easy task. Following his uprooting by ECOWAS in January 2017, Jammeh sought refuge in Equatorial Guinea. His staunch loyalist General Saul Badgie has also joined him there. Equatorial Guinea is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. Although Equatorial Guinea is a party to the United Nations Convention against Torture, which requires that states extradite or prosecute alleged torturers found on their territory, it is unlikely to extradite Jammeh as it is itself plagued with decades of human rights abuse including torture. Like Souleymane Guengueng and the other Chadian survivors who pursued Habre for 25 years until he was tried and convicted by the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC), an ad hoc hybrid trial set up by the African Union within the existing Senegalese justice system, Jammehs victims are persistent. No matter how long it takes, they will not rest until he is brought to justice. The African Union should consider a path to accountability, similar to the one in the Habre case. It must exert pressure on Equatorial Guinea to either prosecute him domestically, through a hybrid court or hand Jammeh over to a country that is willing to prosecute him. Article 4 (o) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union affirms the principle of respect for the sanctity of human life, condemnation and rejection of impunity and political assassination, acts of terrorism and subversive activities. Jammehs atrocities were not only inflicted on Gambians. Other ECOWAS citizens were killed as well. It is therefore imperative that the quest to bring Jammeh to justice should not be left to Gambians alone. ECOWAS member states should collectively pursue avenues that will ensure that Jammeh is held accountable for his atrocities. Jammehs many victims deserve justice. 2019 Politico Online , Cookies . cookies. Editors Note: The Post-Star will not have a Monday e-Edition, given the Presidents Day holiday. Our Monday Briefs are coming out a day early. Oscars named to historic registryNew York State Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) honored Oscars Adirondack Smokehouse by presenting its owner Jerry Quintal and his son, manager Joq Quintal, with a certificate inducting the long-running Warrensburg establishment into the state Historic Business Preservation Registry. Since its founding in 1943 as Oscars Hickory House, the deli and market has been a vital part of the Warrensburg community and is world-renowned for its smoked meats, cheeses, and specialty mustard. Stec nominated the Smokehouse and was glad he could acknowledge it for its history and importance to our region. Oscars Adirondack Smokehouse is a classic American success story, said Stec. Started by Canadian immigrants in 1943, its developed into one of the most beloved businesses in the 45th Senate District. Even a catastrophic fire in 2009 hasnt stopped Oscars from continuing to succeed, and now the deli is stronger than ever. Ive known Jerry Quintal for years and Im glad that I can call him a friend and mentor. It was a privilege to nominate and induct Oscars to the state Historic Business Preservation Registry and celebrate the key role his business continues to play in our local economy and history, he continued. This is a well-deserved honor and I know that Oscars will continue to thrive for decades to come. Hospital offers med school scholarships GLENS FALLS, N.Y., February 16, 2024 The Medical Staff at Glens Falls Hospital is offering scholarships to local residents who are enrolled in medical school to become doctors. The scholarship program is supported by donations from the medical staff and a substantial endowment from the estate of the late Lillian D. Kappes. Scholarship amounts are based upon student need. Interested medical students can contact Kate Erwin, Manager, Health Sciences Resource Center, at 926-1850. The deadline for returning completed scholarship applications is May 30, 2024. Warren County Board of Supervisors Update The Warren County Board of Supervisors held its monthly meeting for February on Friday. Here are some of the highlights from the media department of the county: Jessica Burnham was appointed Warren County Self-Insurance Administrator, replacing Amy Clute, who retired recently. Burnham served as Deputy Administrator before the promotion. The board passed a resolution supporting a request for grant funding to complete a master plan for Warren County Airport. County Attorney Lawrence Elmen updated supervisors about changes to NY State laws regarding foreclosure on tax-delinquent properties and juvenile crime, which have resulted in larger caseloads for his staff. Family Court cases involving juvenile offenders have greatly increased because of statutes that changed the age for when an offender is prosecuted as an adult. County Administrator John Taflan advised supervisors about a new effort to cut back on workplace accidents, with more details to be released as a plan is formulated. Dont put the noisemakers and party hats away yet. One New Year may be over but Chinese New Year is about to begin. And its a celebration where food plays an important role, from good luck to long life and a healthy, financially productive future. Food in Chinese traditional culture is very important, says Andrew Leung, who with his brother, Chef Michael Leung, operate Dim Sum and Then Some, a well-known Chinese eatery that does a lot more than serve dim sum in the Smithville section of Galloway Township. Food is meant to be eaten family style, where the family gathers around and they prepare several specialty dishes. You essentially have a feast bringing in the new year. And the significance of which foods are eaten, and why, is very important. Lobster is considered the dragon in Chinese culture and since this is the Year of the Dragon, plays a special role. Chicken, notably with the head and feet still on, brings good fortune and good luck, and long noodles, longevity noodles, will bring you long life. The list of which food represents which good luck charm is seemingly endless. The Year of the Dragon, specifically Wood Dragon, starts on Feb. 10 and lasts until Jan. 28, 2025, according to China Highlights, a website focusing on travel in China. But most people recognize the public holiday for the Lunar New Year, of Spring Festival, which is eight days. The date is decided by the Chinese Lunar Calendar which is based on the cycles of the moon and sun and is generally 21 to 51 days behind the Gregorian (internationally-used) calendar. The date of the holiday changes every year, but it always falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. The day of Chinese New Year is a new moon day, usually the second after the winter solstice. So is a holiday thats been around for over 3,500 years still celebrated with the same gusto? Its very, very big, says Min Jiang, owner and chef at Jiangs Chinese Restaurant, in the Pomona section of Galloway Township, where hes been serving some of the finest Cantonese dishes around for 30 years. Its a big event. Its like Christmas. I remember when I was growing up we prayed that every day would be like New Year because theres going to be a lot of food. Thats what it is. Of all the holidays in China, New Year is number one. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation in September last year declaring Asian Lunar New Year a public school holiday across New York state. The new law would ensure schools are not in session on Lunar New Year and those children that do celebrate it can do so with their family, according to a release from the New York Senate. There is some commonality to how the New Year is traditionally celebrated. As mentioned, lobster, chicken and long noodles are a staple. Fish, served steamed with the head on, will probably be on the table, along with dumplings (dim sum). At Asian City Restaurant in Pleasantville, they also believe in going a bit exotic, according to Manager Tim Liao, also a native of Guangdong, formerly Canton. Theyll be offering a dried oyster dish with black seaweed. The oysters are sauteed and served in a brown sauce with broccoli, surrounded by Shanghai bok choy The black seaweed and bok choy represent money and good fortune in the coming year. Choy literally translates to mean wealth. Liao said his family would celebrate the New Year for 15 days and on the last day they would top it all off with tangyuan, a traditional Chinese dessert made of glutinous rice shaped into balls served in a hot broth or syrup and sometimes stuffed with filling, in a warming ginger and osmanthus flower sweet soup with silky swirls of egg. He says it represents unity and family. At Dim Sum and Then Some, Leung says they are planning on working with a Chinese benevolent society to have a traditional lion dance troupe at the restaurant as they did last year on Feb. 10. They will also offer a special prix fixe menu that day for a traditional Chinese New Year dinner, including lobster, clams, a steamed whole fish like abalone, roast duck and roast pig. Jiang says hell have items on his menu to commemorate the holiday for his customers, but many of them shy away from chicken with the head and feet intact, and fish served with the head on. But he will be celebrating with his family at home a few days after New Years Day, since Saturday is a difficult day to close a restaurant. Every year, it has to be lobster at the Jiang household, along with steamed fish, clams, like geoducks (pronounced gooey duck) which are large saltwater clams, considered a delicacy in Asian cuisine, and are known for their sweet and slightly briny flavor. There will be a cake for the kids (for prosperity in the coming year), and a sweet rice called Eight Treasure Rice that should contain eight items like raisins, pineapple, dates and peanuts. And the highlight of the celebration, especially for the children, are the red envelopes. The tradition of giving a beautiful red envelope, known as hongbao, also dates back thousands of years. And these are not just any old envelope, they are filled with money and symbolize good wishes and luck for the new year. Liao says his favorite part of new year is still the red envelope he would receive when he was a child. The envelopes come in different designs, some with dragons embossed in the red, shiny money cards that they have at the restaurant. Jiang agreed: When I was a kid we always wanted that red envelope of money. He says his children may be Americanized and are not that keen on following tradition, but this is one custom they look forward to. The Leung brothers were born in the United States, but still hold on to their cultural roots. I consider myself an American, and I grew up with American traditions in that you celebrate New Year when the clock strikes midnight going into January first, explains Leung. Because we are Chinese we get to celebrate a second new year. For us Chinese New Year is bigger because we have more to do. For American New Year, its not a must to have a big family dinner with your extended family, he says. In Chinese culture, it is. The older generation still celebrates so we follow the tradition, adds Liao. I would teach my kids that this is our culture. Pass it on. Gong hei fat choy, Liao said, which translates to wishing you great happiness and prosperity. SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker will propose new funding to deal with the migrant crisis in Chicago and seek to continue ramping up investments in education in his proposed budget, set to be unveiled Wednesday. The governors budget address is the unofficial kickoff to months of negotiations that will take place under the Capitol dome in Springfield to craft a spending plan for the 2025 fiscal year that begins July 1. All indications point to a difficult budget-making process as lawmakers grapple with funding the response to the arrival of more than 35,000 asylum-seeking migrants bused to Chicago from Texas, an endeavor that has already proven costly and exposed fissures within the Democratic Partys governing coalition. At the same time, tax revenues are coming down from post-pandemic highs, offering lawmakers less flexibility than they had in the past three years. The governors budget office projected in November that the state will close the current fiscal year with a budget surplus around $1.4 billion. However, Illinois faces a $891 million deficit for the coming year. Amid less rosy budget projections on the horizon, Pritzker will have to navigate the tricky politics of the migrant crisis. So far, the state has expended more than $640 million this fiscal year toward the effort, including $160 million in November to speed up the intake process, stand up temporary shelters and move new arrivals into housing. On Thursday, Pritzker announced that he will include an additional $182 million in his budget proposal, which is more than half of the $321 million that state, Cook County and city of Chicago leaders estimate will be needed to maintain shelter services through the rest of this calendar year. An additional $70 million in county resources were pledged by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Where the rest will come from is unclear after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reportedly reneged on an agreement to ask the Chicago City Council to plug in the rest. State funding beyond this calendar year the budget year continues six months into 2025 was not immediately clear. With thousands of asylum seekers continuing to come to Chicago in desperate need of support and with Congress continuing to refuse to act it is clear the state, county, and city will have to do more to keep people safe, Pritzker said in a statement. 'Infinite needs,' including migrant crisis, but 'finite resources' Additional funding for the migrant crisis will not be an easy ask. Legislative Republicans have ruled out supporting more state resources for migrants while even some supermajority Democrats, especially those who represent low-income communities with longstanding needs, have been wary of more funding for new arrivals. We have to take care of what is here today, but we do not have the services that can accommodate this influx of folks coming here, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savana, said at a Capitol news conference earlier this month. We are all seeing, especially Chicago, services taken away from the residents in Chicago and around our state to pay for these services, and that is just not appropriate." Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, has ruled out a standalone appropriations bill for migrants, telling the Chicago Tribune last month that were going to have to provide funding for crises that have existed in our communities for generations. It appears likely that funding for migrants both accounting for whats been earmarked for this fiscal year and the debate over what to spend starting in July will be wrapped into broader budget talks this spring. House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, has formed a working group charged with finding legislative solutions to the crisis. One group member, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, is also the lead budget negotiator for House Democrats. This issue is going to be a really important part of budget negotiations, Gordon-Booth of Peoria said in an interview last week. She noted, however, that there is only so much that can be done at the state level to address what is truly a federal issue. There are no delusions of grandeur, Gordon-Booth said. It's unrealistic that our state or any state is going to fix this issue. We're not. We have to address the crisis that literally has been dropped on our heads. "And what we're going to do is, we're going to continue to have conversations about what we can do (and) what's possible. Gordon-Booth added that Pritzker next week would deliver a very, very important budget address because we clearly have, like any state, infinite needs but finite resources. Early childhood education prioritized despite 'tightening of revenues' The Pritzker Administration declined to provide interviews with budget-making officials ahead of the governors address. And so far, state leaders have been mum on the specific details of the proposed budget. But some are already known. For instance, Pritzkers proposal will include an additional $75 million in early childhood block grant funding as part of his multi-year Smart Start universal pre-k initiative, which was the centerpiece of his budget proposal last year. The goal is to ramp up funding levels by 2027 to eliminate early childhood education deserts across the state. In the programs first year, more than 5,800 new pre-k seats were created for children from low-income families. The eventual goal is to create 20,000 seats. Pritzker is also likely to include an additional $350 million in K-12 spending called for under the state's evidence-based funding formula law, which seeks to narrow the disparity in funding between low- and high-income school districts. And if the past is prologue, Pritzker will include the full pension payment called for under state statute. According to estimates from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, that will take up nearly $10.2 billion of the general fund budget, about a $350 million increase from the current fiscal year. Those three items add up to more than $775 million in spending increases and thats before the spending asks of legislators and various interest groups are even considered. In the Capitol earlier this month, for example, progressive lawmakers unveiled a proposal for a $300-per-child tax credit for families earning less than the median income. A recent study found that such a proposal could cost the state about $470 million annually. The administration is expected to include updated projections Wednesday on the status of the surplus in this fiscal year and revenue projections for the next budget year. All signs indicate a tighter budget than in years past and the need to hold the line on new spending. We are seeing the receipts come back and they indicate that we're going to have that slowdown that tightening of revenues, said state Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, the lead budget negotiator for the Senate Democrats. And one of the things that we have been very disciplined about is not building in permanent expenditures into our budget. You prepare for the tighter years in the years of prosperity, Sims added. And I think we've done that. State's fiscal position has improved, but balance remains key This will be Pritzkers sixth state budget proposal since taking office in 2019. Illinois, aided by robust post-pandemic revenue growth in income and sales taxes along with federal stimulus funds, has experienced a series of credit rating upgrades and a run of budget surpluses the past few years. This has given Pritzker a level of budget flexibility that no governor has had in more than two decades. But the administration remained deliberately conservative in its revenue projections over the years, seeking to under-promise and over-deliver instead of the other way around. The strategy was partially influenced by the singular nature of recent revenue spikes and forecasts of a recession that never came. Amanda Kass, an associate professor at DePaul University who researches public finance, said the states finances were in much better shape than they were a decade ago. A standoff between former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled legislature led to a budget impasse that lasted from July 2015 to August 2017. However, Kass said lawmakers will have to continue to show restraint in this budget and subsequent budgets, given built-in cost pressures like pension obligations and funding for human services and schools. It's improved. It's like we dug ourselves out of a horrible, giant hole, Kass said. But (we've) got a lot more progress to make. "And so that's why it's kind of important and challenging for the governor Pritzker or whoever's in that position (to have) that balance of maintaining the positive momentum in stabilizing the state's finances without dramatically expanding new initiatives that gets us right back in that fiscal hole. Gordon-Booth said Pritzker's proposal would provide "a baseline to then engage our members around their priorities. Lawmakers and advocates have laid out various requests for new spending, such as a $300 child tax credit and additional funds for cities via the Local Government Distributive Fund. Asked about those proposals, Sims said "there's always room for conversation." "Now, does that mean that we will ultimately be able to get there?" he continued. "I don't know." McCombie said her caucus will seek "to hold the majority party accountable" on spending and oppose any tax increases, though none have been proposed to this point. She also said she would support an increase in evidence-based funding for K-12 schools. Senate Republicans will be announcing their budget priorities in the coming days but want to see a budget that prioritizes making the state a safer and more affordable place for Illinoisans to work and live. Illinois budget priorities must shift away from supporting Gov. Pritzkers efforts to make Illinois a non-citizen welfare state to supporting Illinois families, said Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove. The governor will deliver his address from the House chamber of the Illinois Capitol at noon Wednesday. Lee Enterprises' Kellie Foy contributed to this report. Chinese embassy rebukes British official's wrongful remarks on Taiwan Strait Xinhua) 09:39, February 18, 2024 LONDON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Britain on Thursday expressed firm opposition to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron's remarks comparing the Red Sea to the Taiwan Strait. Responding to Cameron's remarks that he would urge China to support "freedom of navigation" in relevant areas, an embassy spokesperson said: "It is completely wrong for the British side to compare the Red Sea to the Taiwan Strait. We firmly oppose it." "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. According to UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and Chinese laws, the waters of the Taiwan Strait, extending from both shores towards the middle of the Strait, are divided into several zones including internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, and the Exclusive Economic Zone. China has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait," the spokesperson said. "At the same time, we respect the lawful rights of other countries in relevant waters. We firmly oppose any country stirring trouble in the Taiwan Strait and undermining our sovereignty and security in the name of 'freedom of navigation'," said the spokesperson. The Red Sea is an important international trade route for goods and energy. It is important to ensure the security of international sea lanes, said the spokesperson. "We do not want to see tensions escalate in the Red Sea. We hope that all relevant parties will play a constructive and responsible role in safeguarding the security of the Red Sea region." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Magnolia Fund is planning to convert former industrial warehouses into a food maker campus in the East Ends Magnolia Park neighborhood. Pictured is a conceptual rendering the seller, Immaginare Facendo, used for marketing purposes. Magnolia Funds project would also add air-conditioned shipping containers converted into commercial kitchens. Immaginare Magnolia Fund is under contract to buy this East End site from Immaginare Facendo. Immaginare A Houston real estate firm plans to turn a trio of old industrial warehouse in Magnolia Park area into a 1-acre "food-maker" campus with restaurants and kitchen space for food entrepreneurs, adding to the ongoing transformation of Houstons East End. Magnolia Fund, a real estate firm co-founded by East End native and serial entrepreneur Erik Ibarra, has agreed to buy 6600 and 6614 Harrisburg Blvd. from Houston investor Paolo Fronza. The sale is expected to close by this summer, Ibarra said. The site is about 4 miles east of downtown Houston. The three buildings date to the 1920s and 1940s. A 4,500-square-foot warehouse would be converted into two restaurants, a bar and coffee shop. A 9,100-square-foot building would house a cafe, a meeting/event venue and coworking space. The firm hasnt decided what to do with the silo-shaped structure at the site. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Between those buildings, Magnolia Fund would add two to four shipping containers converted into commercial kitchen space that could be rented out on a flexible and short-term basis to food entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, bakers and caterers. (The containers would be air-conditioned and have access to utilities.) Ibarra said Magnolia Fund developed the idea for flexible kitchen space after interviewing dozens of local food vendors and small business owners who said they needed short-term access to commercial kitchens. Not everybodys on the same path when it comes to their journey as a restaurateur, and these are folks that are in the earlier stages, Ibarra said. The restaurant and indoor kitchen spaces would likely be longer-term leases, he said. Magnolia Fund has commitments from a cafe owner and from an owner who makes preparadas, a Mexican drink loaded with fruit, cucumbers or shrimp. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ibarra said the redeveloped campus could open sometime in 2025, depending on permitting times. The property had sat vacant for at least two years as the owner attempted to rent it, said Bill Burgee, a broker who had marketed the site for Fronza. Fronza said he had several offers for the property, but he didnt like that the potential buyers wanted to tear down the buildings. I always wanted to preserve those buildings since Houston doesnt have a lot of older, historic building and they looked cool to me. When I talked to Erik, they had the same idea. I thought, Maybe we can work on this together on this, Fronza said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When Tina Turner died in May 2023, pretty much anyone who is anyone had something to say. President Joe Biden called her a "once-in-a-generation talent that changed American music forever." Beyonce said she was "the epitome of power and passion." Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger tweeted, "She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her." Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, Barack Obama and Diana Ross all shared eulogies, too. There's no way around it: Tina Turner is one of the greatest American rockstars to ever live. The Quad-Cities were lucky enough to be graced with her presence multiple times. She came through as a solo act in 1997, with Cindi Lauper. And in the '60s, Turner played Davenport a few times with her then-husband, record producer Ike Turner. One of those times came on June 12, 1966, at Davenport's Masonic Temple. Like the grand Sonny & Cher show from '65, Ike and Tina were a husband-wife duo with a knack for hitmaking. By the summer of '66, they'd already charted on the Billboard Hot 100 eight times. Just a month before their Davenport "Ike & Tina Turner Revue," the Turners released "River Deep - Mountain High," a song produced by Phil Spector that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named one of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll." Rolling Stone later called it one of the 40 greatest songs of all-time, and fans in Davenport got to hear it in one of Ike and Tina's first shows after its release. Ike and Tina were flanked at their Davenport concert by Jimmy Thomas, the Kings of Rhythm Orchestra, Bobby John and the Ike-ettes. Like Ike and Tina, Thomas also got his start just down the Mississippi River, as part of the St. Louis music scene. That week, the Quad-Cities also prepared for a June 10 appearance from Stan Kenton at the RKO Orpheum Theatre. Kenton was a few years removed from his two Grammy Award wins for his work on "West Side Story" and "Adventures in Jazz." Ike and Tina's dance show was a 4-hour affair, starting at 8 p.m. on a Sunday night. Entry cost between $2 and $4, depending on when and where you grabbed a ticket. The front page story in the Times-Democrat that day involved a bleacher collapse at a stock car race in Cedar Rapids. As many as 1,000 people were seated on the section of bleachers that fell, with 96 of them injured, but no deaths. There were also various national stories about the Vietnam War, including a bit about anti-war protesters in New York, who were shut down by President Lyndon B. Johnson. They were hoping to hand a "letter of protest" regarding a 24-year-old New Orleans man who was sentenced to a year of hard labor for refusing participation in the war, but were stopped by Johnson's security. From start to finish, 1966 was a year of protest in America. The same day of the Ike and Tina Turner show in Davenport, the Division Street riots unfolded in Chicago, a response to the police shooting of Arcelis Cruz, a Puerto Rican man. The week earlier, Air Force veteran and civil rights leader James Meredith was shot while marching in Mississippi. Also that summer: the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision that led to the establishment of Miranda rights, The Beatles performed for the last time as a touring band and Disneyland debuted a new ride, "It's A Small World." As for Ike and Tina, they continued performing together until the late-70s. The duo appeared locally for the last time at the Masonic Temple in 1975. They divorced in 1978, and Tina later alleged that Ike was verbally and physically abusive, which she said led her to a suicide attempt in 1968. When Ike died in 2007, Tina shared via a spokesperson that the two hadn't talked in more than 30 years. After their June 1966 show in Davenport, Ike and Tina hit the road. Well, more accurately, they took to the sky, heading overseas to open for The Rolling Stones on their British tour dates. Also opening on that Stones tour was a Brit-rock band called The Yardbirds, a year removed from the departure of Eric Clapton but helmed in '66 by guitarists Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Just a month before their British tour, The Yardbirds played Davenport's Col. Ballroom, on August 5, 1966. The show cost $2, and The Yardbirds returned to Davenport once again in Nov. 1966, as an opening act with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars. It was another five years until Ike and Tina Turner had their highest-charting single as a duo: "Proud Mary," which hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971 and won a Grammy Award in 1972. That track was a cover, initially written and performed by John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. CCR came to play in the Quad-Cities for the first time in 1969. This story is part of a series called "Timeless Tickets," where we're aiming to find the most notable concert in the Quad-Cities, every year from 1960 to today. Do you have a story or photo to share from an iconic local show? Send it to entertainment reporter Gannon Hanevold at ghanevold@qctimes.com. To read more "Timeless Tickets" stories, click here. An empty insurance building complex is slated to become dozens of new apartments in downtown DeWitt. Home to Iowa Mutual Insurance for about a century, the multi-building facility will be remodeled into 53 market-rate apartment units in a $16 million project aided by state, federal and local financing. Officials hope the new market-rate apartments offer a greater diversity of housing options for the town of 5,500. The goal is to attract more people to the city's downtown, and provide more housing for the region in a building that otherwise would sit vacant. That project is planned to include 12 studio, 27 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units with rent ranging from about $800 to about $1,600 a month. Construction is expected to be completed by spring of 2025, according to Bush Construction, which is leading the design and construction for the project. The project to remodel the building has been in the works since 2019, when insurance company Encova announced it would discontinue operations in DeWitt and the building went up for sale. But the pandemic and delays in securing a Housing and Urban Development loan pushed back the timeline for the project. Although DeWitt grew slightly between 2010 and 2020 censuses, Clinton County as a whole shrank by about 2,000 people and 200 housing units in the last decade. About 79% of residences in DeWitt are owner occupied, a higher share than in the larger, nearby cities of Davenport, Bettendorf and Clinton. Iowa Mutual, an insurance company headquartered in DeWitt, got its start at the turn of the century in its founder's home to insure rural residents from fires. The oldest part of the building was built in 1924 and the newest and largest addition was built in the 1970s, according to county land records. In 2017-2018 Iowa Mutual sold its business to Encova, and business leaders in DeWitt began to worry. "This building used to employ 300 people or so in its heyday," said Greg Gannon, the board chair of the DeWitt Chamber and Development Company and chairperson of Crossroads Unlimited, a private development group in DeWitt started in the 1980s after the farm crisis. "It was a great economic engine, but business was declining and it was getting relocated elsewhere. So we were nervous about that as economic developers...Then we learned that Encova was discontinuing their operations in DeWitt," Gannon said. "First, we were very concerned about the loss of jobs of course, but secondly, this building it's right in the heart of our downtown." So, Crossroads Unlimited started brainstorming, but it didn't have the financing to complete a renovation project on its own, Gannon said. Bush Construction approached Crossroads Unlimited with the idea to turn the structure into housing. The group decided it would invest in the project, and raised capital from 12 more community investors. IA Mutual Lofts LLC bought the property in 2021 for $850,000 from Iowa Mutual Insurance Company. The State of Iowa, too, awarded millions to the project in tax credits, including $1 million in workforce housing and $3.2 million in state historic preservation tax credits. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing the project a $5.4 million loan for the project. Bush Construction CEO AJ Loss said the HUD loan application was initially denied, but the group appealed the decision and won the loan. The City of DeWitt chipped in too, with tax increment financing for the project. It all culminated Friday in a "wall-smashing ceremony" in which investors, construction officials, and elected leaders took turns with a sledgehammer to swing at an interior wall slated for demolition to commemorate the upcoming start of construction. With the building's historic status, Bush Construction is charged with changing as little of the exterior's historic nature as possible. In an effort to repurpose vacant, historic buildings, several projects across the state have been awarded similar tax credits to turn properties into housing. For example the state awarded tax credits in the same round as the Iowa Mutual Lofts to a project in Newton, Iowa, to turn a former Maytag Company plant into 70 apartment units and 50 hotel rooms, and another, in Waterloo, to turn a fire station into conversion into commercial space and upper story apartments. In Davenport, a recent high-profile project renovated the downtown Kahl Building into apartments. It requires a lot of reconfiguring to refit an office building to residential space, Loss said. "The layout of an office building is very different than the layout of apartments," Loss said. "Every single apartment has a toilet and a shower and a sink there's a lot of plumbing work that's got to happen. So, we start by basically demolishing anything inside the building that isn't historic and then we start laying out new walls, to establish the apartments, then running the plumbing and the HVC, and the electrical, and all the walls, and after a year or so we'll be done with construction and people will live here." This story was originally published February, 18, 2024. Zack and Mona Hardy huddled on the bench next to the entrance of court No. 1 on the first-floor of the Scott County Courthouse. The other end of the hall was crowded Thursday morning with people slated for pre-trial hearings. Their feet made a shuffling sound against the stone floor. Zack and Mona remained silent, waiting for 11 a.m. and the courtroom's door to open, waiting to see if they could catch a glimpse of the man accused of killing their son. Caleb Hardy was 25 years old on the night of Dec. 23, 2023, when he was hit and killed while walking his dog in the 600 block of Waverly Road in Davenport. Zack, 52, and Mona, 48, smiled when they talked about their son. He was a kid who, even when he grew up, didn't put stuff away. "He always left a trail of crumbs and whatnot behind him," Zack recalled as he sat surrounded by the stone. Mona nodded in agreement with her husband of 25 years. "He was a giving boy and man," she said. "But he never put anything away. He would come and visit and eat and leave his wrappers behind him." Caleb worked hard. He was a mail carrier for the United States Post Office in Davenport and attended Scott Community College, where he was working on a second associate's degree. He was smart. And he stuck closely to his Crossfit training regime. For Caleb, life was worth the effort. "My son was a special man. He became one," Zack said outside courtroom No. 1. "He followed through on the things I told him when he was little. You tell your children to work hard and follow their dreams. "He did that, more than I did that. He had this willingness to work hard and never give up. He was always looking for ways to find his better self. We had to clean out his apartment and we found programs and self-help books. He was working hard." Caleb's journey ended on the grassy portion of the side of Waverly Road not far from a 655 address. It's near a curve. Investigators from the Davenport Police Department said Caleb was in the grass, off the road, at close to 10:20 p.m. that night. He was walking Foxy Chick, his beloved dog, not long after he got off work for the day. It was a Saturday, but it was close to Christmas and Caleb was pulling 70-hour weeks on the regular. Foxy Chick also died from the crash. Police said Justin James Clemons was driving a 2010 Ford F150 pick-up truck 52 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone when he left the road and hit Caleb. Investigators said Clemons refused a standard field sobriety test and his blood alcohol concentration was later measured at .253. The legal BAC limit in Iowa is .08. Clemons was charged with the Class B felony of homicide by vehicle - operating under the influence; and a serious misdemeanor charge of operating under the influence - first offense. Clemons did not appear in court Thursday. The court clerk told Zack and Mona they would have to return in late April for the next hearing. Zack and Mona said they are filled with memories of their son. Sometimes they visit a cross on the side of Waverly Road that marks the spot he was taken from them. It's engraved with names Caleb and Foxy. Caleb left more than that behind. He was a registered organ donor in the state of Iowa and doctors were able to harvest his heart, both lungs, one kidney and his liver after he spent four days on life support in Genesis East Hospital. Mona said her son's organs saved "four or five lives." "He gave of himself so others could have a chance at life," she said. "We are proud of our son." Zack's next smile didn't light his eyes the way smiles are supposed to. For just a moment, in the almost-quiet of that stone hallway, he and his wife showed a hint of a grief so specific it defies our ability to describe it. "Caleb would come to visit me," Mona said. "He would wash his clothes and we'd sit on the couch and he'd hold my hand and he would tell me all the things he was doing. He did not talk often, but it was when he talked. "He did that when he was my little boy, too. Caleb didn't talk much. He was often silent, but he was strong." Zack nodded as his wife spoke. Then he exhaled. "Caleb was my son, and he was one of my closest friends," he said. "I loved him so. I loved his presence. I even loved his stank." "Don't write that," Mona said with a soft laugh. "You can write it," Zack said. "I love all of him. Even his stank. He was very different than me. He was silent and strong. He tried so hard at the things he did." Zack and Mona stayed close on the bench. "We just miss him very much," Mona said. Here are the safestand most deadlydays for drunk-driving fatalities Here are the safestand most deadlydays for drunk-driving fatalities DUI fatalities by season Most dangerous holidays for DUI Most dangerous days of the week for DUI Most dangerous weeks of the year Ways to stay safe on the road during the holidays Consequences of getting a DUI DUIs leave a lasting financial impact An end to drunk driving Methodology So far, our 2024 wish for more transparency in Davenport City Hall is not going so well. Decisions to give the public less opportunity to speak during public meetings and to no longer livestream the public comment portion of meetings continue to move the city in the wrong direction. And while these issues need to be addressed, a larger issue has emerged. Now the city is suing a member of the public who requested a document just so it can see if the document is public or private. The document, according to the petition filed Wednesday, is a Sept. 15 letter from then City Administrator Corri Spiegel to the mayor and the council documenting allegations of harassment and retaliation against Spiegel. The letter apparently includes Spiegels demands for money to cover her damages in exchange for not suing the city. The Quad-City Times filed Freedom of Information requests for all documents and emails involving Spiegel's departure months ago. The Sept. 15 letter was not included in the citys response, nor was there any recognition that such a letter existed until this week. What a shame. This is the letter that started the process that ended in early October (prior to the Nov. 7 election) with a separation agreement that paid Spiegel $1.6 million. We think theres little doubt that this is a public record and should have been made available to all who requested it. But, according to its petition, the city believes it will be sued under open records laws for not making the letter public, and it could be sued by Spiegel for making the document public. So, the city has sued David Ezra Sidran who requested the letter asking the court to determine whether the city must make the letter public. On Saturday, the city sent a release saying it is not looking to recover anything from Sidran or prohibit him from "engaging in any activity related to the city." Yet, Sidran must now defend himself for requesting documents. Instead of Sidran getting the document he requested, he will have to spend likely thousands of dollars in legal expenses just to defend his request. He has no recourse to have the legal expenses reimbursed by the city even if he wins. Thats not how a city should treat its people. Keep in mind that the council agreed to the separation agreement with Spiegel in private. Originally, former City Attorney Tom Warner said the city didn't need to vote on separation agreements in public. He said the city only needed private consent by the council, which flies in the face of open meetings laws and good governance. Outside counsel thought better of it and advised an open vote, which occurred in December 2023. The city then voted to ratify on all three separation agreements, including those with administrative employees, Tiffany Thorndike and Samantha Torres, also for claims of harassment. The total payout to the three employees was $1,897,000. Warner, who retired in January, had signed all three agreements. Scott County resident Allen Diercks is suing the city, claiming it failed to follow open meetings laws in the handling of separation agreements. Back to today's topic of the Spiegel letter, however, which has us wondering why this letter was kept from the public. Iowa Freedom of Information Council Executive Director Randy Evans said the public interest in the letter outweighs Spiegels privacy interests. We agree with Evans that the letter should be made public, and suing the person who requested the document is a misstep. Our wish for more transparency in 2024 was not in jest. The relations between Davenport City Hall and the public are tenuous. From the handling of the building collapse, the separation agreements, not announcing the agreements until after the election, limiting public comments and now suing a member of the public for requesting a document, the city needs to begin to rebuild the public's trust and confidence. Doing so will require a new direction. We urge Davenport Mayor Mike Matson and council members to change the status quo and push for openness. Criticism can be uncomfortable, but it comes with a healthy democratic process. Let the sunshine in. BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, his lawyer said, starting a first day of freedom in his homeland, 15 years after fleeing in the wake of his overthrow by the royalist military. The influential billionaire, whose family's party is now in power in Thailand, was freed from hospital detention six months into a sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest, that was commuted from eight years to one by the country's king. Reuters journalists saw Thaksin, 74, leaving the hospital in a black Mercedes van early on Sunday, wearing a green shirt and with his arm in a sling, sitting beside his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the ruling Pheu Thai party. Thaksin was eligible for parole due his age, health condition and time served and had been detained in hospital on health grounds. The vehicle was seen arriving at the family's Bangkok residence about 25 minutes later. Paetongtarn shared a post by one of her followers on Instagram alongside an image of her in the vehicle with her father, which carried the message: "Thaksin has arrived home, hope he will have good health." His lawyer Winyat Chartmontri told Reuters Thaksin had completed parole proceedings and had formally been released. Thailand's best-known and most polarising premier, Thaksin has loomed large over politics for two decades, despite 15 years in self-imposed exile to avoid jail, charges he long insisted were cooked up by his enemies to keep him at bay. Thaksin made a dramatic return from exile in August to serve his jail time and was met by cheering crowds and a media frenzy. He was transferred to hospital suffering with high blood pressure and chest pains on his first night in jail, and had been detained there ever since. Thaksin has been at the heart of a long running power struggle in Thailand between warring elites, an on-off battle characterised by bouts of at times violent street protests by rival movements and the toppling of three Shinawatra-backed governments by court rulings and military coups. Joy Bogese prepared to leave Richmond Community Hospital in Church Hill in 2015, days after she had entered for drug rehabilitation. But detectives waiting at the door cuffed and arrested her. Later, she pleaded guilty to a number of crimes and went to jail for more than four years. The arrest saved her life, Bogese said Saturday. It helped end a 20-year spiral of addiction to pills and heroin. While serving time in the Chesterfield County Jail, she joined an addiction recovery program, developed positive relationships and came to terms with her mental health. Before her release, she became certified as a peer counselor. On Saturday night, Bogese, 47, shared her story with a crowd of more than 300 people at the seventh annual A Night For Scott event at the John Marshall Ballrooms in Richmond. The event is held to honor Scott Zebrowski of Richmond, who died of an overdose, and is put on by awareness group 2 End The Stigma started by his twin sister. Drug overdose deaths in Virginia more than doubled between 2015 and 2021, when there were more than 2,600, according to the state health department. And the situation isnt getting better. Drug deaths have plateaued the past two years. Deaths caused by drugs have proliferated in both urban and rural corners of the state. The cities of Hopewell and Petersburg had two of the highest drug death rates in Virginia in 2022. Overdoses are now the leading cause of unnatural death in the state, having surpassed guns and motor vehicle wrecks. Fentanyl is the largest killer. Often, pills are designed to look like prescription opioids such as oxycodone, said Jon DeLena, an administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration who also spoke Saturday night. But in actuality, they are pure fentanyl and can't be distinguished by the naked eye. Thats why the DEA often refers to deaths as drug poisonings instead of overdoses. The problem isnt that the person took too much. It was that the drug was something different and unexpected. To highlight the dangers of fentanyl, the DEA created a campaign called one pill can kill. It was just one pill that killed Zebrowski. His story resonated with Bogese, and it helped change her life. On the inside, she felt shame Throughout her childhood, Bogese suffered physical abuse and sexual trauma. For many drug addicts, trauma is a contributing factor. She began consuming alcohol at age 12 and marijuana at 13. On the outside, things looked normal. She was a cheerleader. She ran track and field and attended college. She got a graduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She worked for a hedge fund of funds a firm that invests in other hedge funds. She was promoted to senior associate and earned a good paycheck. She was married with three daughters. It looked like the American dream, she said. On the inside, she felt anger, shame and guilt. She felt unlovable and unwanted. For 20 years, she consumed prescription stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin. In 2013, she was arrested for public intoxication but refused to believe the drugs were the problem. After her arrest, her friends suggested she stop drinking. But no one mentioned the pills, so she kept swallowing them. To satisfy her friends, she started attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Thats where she met a man trying to break his own heroin addiction. But the man relapsed and, in 2015, Bogese tried heroin for the first time. She started shooting up to 4 grams a day, a significant amount. She could no longer maintain the veneer of a functioning addict. She lost her job and turned to stealing to support her addiction. Later that year, she was shooting heroin in a motel room. It was in that moment that she realized how much damage she had done through her drug addiction. That night, she felt hopeless and wanted to die. But she believes God intervened. She found the energy to check herself into Richmond Community Hospital and report herself to the police. I had a plan that night, but God had another plan, Bogese said. After she was arrested, she pleaded guilty to burglary, grand larceny and credit card fraud. She served two years at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County. Program offered connection Then, she was transferred to the Chesterfield County Jail, where she served 2 more years. She entered the Helping Addicts Recover Progressively, or HARP, program started by Chesterfield Sheriff Karl Leonard. Many addicts do not recover in jail because they do not address the root causes of their addictions. Inside the walls of the Chesterfield jail, Bogese came to terms with her trauma and participated in counseling and group sessions. And thats where she met Jill Cichowicz. Realizing how similar they were, Bogese and Cichowicz clicked instantly. Cichowicz told the story of her twin brother, Richmond native Zebrowski, who ruptured a disc in his back and was prescribed OxyContin to ease the pain. Over the next two years, he became dependent on pills, even though he lived what appeared to be a normal, functional life. One day in 2017, he went to Starbucks, where he purchased a coffee and a cake pop. He also obtained a pill laced with fentanyl. Zebrowski placed the coffee on the roof of his car, collapsed in the parking lot and later died. He was 38. Zebrowskis story as told by his sister resonated with Bogese; Zebrowski and Bogese both tried to live normal lives to mask their addictions. She was telling my story, Bogese said. My entire life, I believed there was something fundamentally and intrinsically wrong with me. Bogese felt a connection with Cichowicz, which was key to her recovery. In the HARP program, Bogese began to heal. She was released in early 2020 and repaired her relationship with her daughters, who attended Saturday night. Two weeks ago, she was hired by the Chesterfield Sheriffs Office as a peer recovery specialist, working with HARP participants, police and other first responders. Her relationship with God motivates her and gives her a sense of self-worth, as do the supportive people in her life. She no longer feels the need to create an illusion that life is perfect, she said. Its OK for her to say she struggles with depression and anxiety. She feels safe enough to be transparent about her life. On Saturday night, she wanted everyone to see what her story represents that recovery is possible, and that its not too late. From the archives: A look back at Richmond-area firefighters Last year, Scripps Clinical Medical Group paid $6.875 million to settle an age and disability charge of discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by a class of physicians who claimed that the companys policy on mandatory retirement at a certain age for physician employees regardless of the persons ability to the do the job. Just this month the Equal Employment Opportunity filed another for age discrimination case and announced the settlement of two others. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits employment discrimination or harassment against anyone at least 40 years of age working for an employer with 20 or more employees. The EEOC sued Atlanta-based Covenant Woods Senior Living, LLC, which operates a retirement community, for violation of the ADEA and the Americans with Disabilities Act when it fired a 78-year-old employee from her position as receptionist. According to the lawsuit, she had been employed by the company for 14 years, and consistently excelled at her job, until she was terminated without prior warning in January 2022 after she had been briefly hospitalized. Upon her release from the hospital, the EEOC alleges that she was asked by the general manager of the company how long she planned to continue to work, whether she needed to work and whether she would like to spend her time traveling and seeing family instead of working. She told the general manager that she intended to continue working, the general manager told her Covenant Woods no longer had confidence in her ability to work, citing her recent hospitalization. According to the EEOCs announcement of the lawsuit, The company fired her the next day and replaced her with significantly younger employees. The EEOC alleged her termination violated the ADEA and the Americans with Disabilities Act due to perceived disability. The EEOCs district director stated in the announcement: The right to decide a retirement age lies with an employee, not their employer. Moreover, an employer may not use an actual or perceived disability as license to deem an employee unqualified for their position. The EEOC also announced this month that it settled a lawsuit filed against a Louisiana-based J&M Industries, a manufacturing and distribution company, for $105,000 after the company fired an employee who refused to retire at age 65. The EEOC alleged that the employee was repeatedly asked about retirement as she approached her 65th birthday. Although the company told her that her position was being eliminated, the company hired a man in his thirties in her same position less than a month after she was fired. The EEOC also announced this month that Texas-based Petes Car Smart will pay $145,000 to settle an age and disability lawsuit after it was alleged that an 18-year employee was told she needed to retire after she underwent bypass heart surgery, requiring a brief medical leave of absence. According to the EEOCs announcement of the settlement, the manager also made comments about her gray hair and old-timers disease and told her in a disparaging tone that she was old enough to be his mother. The EEOC in its announcement of the settlement said: Effective messaging to staff that promotes a non-discriminatory work environment should start at the top. Acknowledging the value of an employee who has given almost 20 years of service to the job is the proper approach to a genuine assessment as opposed to engaging in unlawful provocations and putting pressure on the employee to retire because of negative stereotypes about age or health. It is admittedly quite difficult to prevail on age discrimination lawsuits, as evidenced by the case decided by the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia which held that age-related remarks such as asking when an employee was going to retire or making statements about making way for younger workers are stray remarks and not actionable unless there is a direct link from those comments to the actions taken against an employee. While it might be difficult to prove an age case, employers need to be mindful of the rights of employees to work free from discrimination, including based on age and disability. While it may seem harmless to engage an employee about retirement, making comments about hiring younger workers or that people are getting older in the workplace, such conversations can lead to claims of discrimination where the employer demonstrates animosity through its words and actions. Making disparaging comments about an employees age should not occur in the workplace, including self-deprecating comments about ones own age. Injecting these conversations in the workplace contributes to age-based stereotypes and, if connected to some actionable conduct by the employer, can lead to liability. FINANCIAL Jaime Clark has joined Freedom First Credit Union as vice president of public relations. Clark previously served as the vice president of marketing and communications with Downtown Roanoke Inc. Her knowledge of the Roanoke community, local government, small businesses, and economic environment will help her contribute to the impact Freedom First makes in the communities it serves. HEALTH Nancy Bell, population health manager for the West Piedmont Health District, has been named president of the Virginia Rural Health Association. Rural health has been the focus of Bells work since she joined the Virginia Department of Health in 2016 serving Franklin, Henry and Patrick counties and the city of Martinsville. She has been responsible for leading community health assessments and improvement planning aimed at the needs of rural citizens and for implementing grant-funded programs to address those needs. Bell is a graduate of Radford University and Duke Universitys nonprofit management program. LAW The Virginia law firm Gentry Locke has announced the election of the following individuals to its executive board leadership team for 2024: Chair Monica T. Monday (Roanoke) Managing partner K. Brett Marston (Roanoke) Partner Matthew W. Broughton (Roanoke) Partner Herschel V. Keller (Lynchburg) Partner Jonathan D. Puvak (Roanoke) A lawsuit seeks to restore gun owners ability to picnic while bearing firearms in Roanoke parks. And this month, Roanokes city council altered part of its firearm prohibitions that were enacted in 2021. Roanoke and some other localities in Virginia generally prohibit firearms at certain public places, enabled by a 2020 state law. It is the law that open and concealed carry of firearms are prohibited on property owned, leased or controlled by the city of Roanoke, except for law enforcement, security and military carrying out their duties, reads a red sign posted outside the municipal building. Code changes approved Feb. 5 were solely a matter of housekeeping, not prompted by any legal matters, said City Attorney Tim Spencer. We do not believe these amendments are necessary in order to make our current ordinance comply with the law, Spencer said. We believe that we could legally defend the ability of the city to prohibit firearms in public spaces. The citys code was changed to remove some language about gun prohibitions on public property adjacent to and being used for permitted and unpermitted events. For example, city streets during road races, Spencer said. In warmer weather, there are five to six 5k races every week, Spencer said. Currently, we just arent able to put up the signage necessary to enforce this. The city council voted 6-1 to approve the changes, with Councilwoman Stephanie Moon Reynolds casting the lone opposing vote. Spencer said the changes more closely align city code with the enabling state law. Were only asking it be removed for more logistical reasons, Spencer said. We simply dont have the resources to post the necessary signage. But a lawsuit filed in circuit court in January aims to do away with even more of the code. Prohibiting firearms on city property is unconstitutional, said Roanoke resident Maynard Keller in the lawsuit. Keller was an unsuccessful candidate for a city council seat in 2022, running as a Republican. Given that I carry my firearm to protect myself and my loved ones, I am at risk of being arrested and prosecuted due to Roanokes Ordinance, Keller said in an affidavit document. Which seeks to make illegal what is otherwise constitutionally protected. Bringing forth the lawsuit as plaintiffs are three groups: Virginia Citizens Defense League, Gun Owners of America, and Gun Owners Foundation; plus, three Virginia citizens: Keller and Mark Smith of Roanoke, and Kameron Hamlin of Franklin. Previously, plaintiffs have held picnics and gatherings in local parks in Virginia, the lawsuit reads. Where members of the respective organizations have gathered for fellowship and activism while carrying firearms, not only for self-defense but also as a form of political speech. The groups said they intend to host another public gathering in Roanoke this year, where attendees would peacefully carry firearms, if not for the city gun prohibitions. Violation of the citys gun code is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine. Local parks are an effective meeting place for members, the lawsuit reads. These meetings are also important sources of fundraising for the organizations and provide opportunities to connect with current and potential new members. The 82-page lawsuit asks the court to declare Roanokes code on gun prohibitions as unconstitutional, and to grant relief for the plaintiffs legal costs. In addition to violating our members right to bear arms, these Ordinance provisions also impair VCDLs fundraising and recruitment mission by preventing pro-Second Amendment public gatherings where attendees bear arms, said a Virginia Citizens Defense League affidavit. Aside from Roanoke, gun restrictions have also been implemented in Alexandria, Arlington County, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Fairfax County and city, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Newport News, Petersburg, Richmond and Winchester, the lawsuit states. The city must file a response by Feb. 23, according to court documents. The man on the TV screen took cover behind a military vehicle, holding a trigger device connected to a wire. Clad in camouflage and a protective vest, wearing hearing protection, the man shouted, Three, two, one then there was a loud boom along with an explosion with a plume of black debris and smoke. The chaos played out on screen like a scene from an action movie. But it was real. Thats the explosive I detonated right before I got shot, Sarbaz said, watching the shaky cellphone footage of himself from his wheelchair in a Roanoke duplex where he now lives with his wife and son. Moments after that video was recorded during a mission in northern Afghanistan, a Taliban sniper shot Sarbaz in the back as he worked to defuse another improvised explosive device. The bullet shattered a lower vertebrae, paralyzing him from the waist down. Sarbaz, means soldier in Dari, a nickname his friends and former U.S. officers bestowed upon him. He requests that The Roanoke Times not use his real name to maintain the safety of his Afghan colleagues who worked with the U.S. Special Forces and also of his family members who are stuck in Afghanistan and fear reprisals from the Taliban. For eight years, Sarbaz was an Afghan leader of a Counter-IED Team that worked directly with the U.S. Special Forces to identify and disarm explosives hidden in the ground by members of the Taliban and terrorists. He was also a member of the Afghan National Mine Removal Group. Sarbaz often led convoys of American tanks and trucks along dirt roads, looking for humps or other imperfections that might indicate an IED was in the ground. He wore a U.S. military uniform equipped with a vest holding duct tape, electrical tape and scissors that he would use to carefully connect wiring to disarm a bomb that could injure or kill military personnel or civilians. I knew one day something could go wrong and I could lose my life, any slight mistake and we could explode, Sarbaz said through a Dari interpreter. Sarbaz speaks English but feels more confident speaking through an interpreter. After I returned home from work, I would have a sense of relief and I would be very happy to be with my family, Sarbaz said. Sarbaz came to Roanoke in the fall of 2022 with his wife and their 5-year-old son about a year after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American forces. Because Sarbaz worked directly with the U.S. Special Forces, he was able to come to Roanoke on a Special Immigrant Visa, giving him permanent residency in the U.S. In the United States, Sarbaz navigates a path strewn with different kinds of obstacles and problems, as he seeks medical and financial assistance from a country he risked his own life to help. He struggles in a new country with a health care system he doesnt understand. He hoped an American doctor could repair his spine. His lost dreams make it hard to figure out whats next. One of Sarbazs former U.S. captains, who said he cannot be identified because of policy in his U.S. military unit, said that he trusted his Afghan colleague and that Sarbaz and his team saved the lives of many U.S. military members. Sarbaz said he cleared more than 1,000 IEDs in his 10-year service with the U.S. military that could have killed thousands of people. His captain said Sarbaz deserves help from the U.S. government because of the lives he saved in Afghanistan, including those of American military personnel. He was one of those that I would say we owe that man something, the captain said. He was working for us. He was getting his paycheck from the U.S. government and protecting U.S. Special Forces. He was putting himself on the line without question on just a matter of faith. Fighting terror Sarbaz envisioned a prosperous Afghanistan and hoped to return to his job as a carpenter, building homes. Throughout 10 years defusing bombs, he lost many comrades and he knew his job was risky, but he despised the Taliban and loved what U.S. soldiers were doing for his country. Following the 9/11 attacks, when the U.S. military overthrew the Taliban, Sarbaz began to see changes for the better just a few years after the U.S. involvement. He noticed improved roads and access to electricity, schooling for women and children and internet service for Afghan people. I wanted to work with the Americans very wholeheartedly to help them be successful and achieve the goal of eliminating the Taliban or at least weakening the Taliban, Sarbaz said through the interpreter. His childhood under Taliban rule was rife with fear and loss. My childhood memories were not like that of the children that I see in this country, Sarbaz said. And it was fraught with bad memories. Sarbaz spoke of the brutality and restrictions he experienced from the Taliban as a young boy growing up in a remote village in Afghanistan. The Taliban came to interrogate his family and his fellow villagers asking if they were a part of a resistance. He said the Taliban placed hidden landmines all around the village and it was common for people who were going to work or to get food to be blown up or lose their limbs. Sarbaz and his family wanted to see a prosperous Afghanistan with the freedom for women and girls to get an education. They wanted parks and playgrounds and hoped for a more modern civilization. The Talibans harsh rule forbids girls from going to school or college. He recalled one horrific day in the late 1990s when several of his young friends died in a landmine explosion right outside his house. It was during the day where we were sitting down and having lunch and suddenly we heard a big explosion, Sarbaz said. And then we noticed amidst the smoke, the destruction, we saw that there were five or six little children who were just outside playing together and because the Taliban had installed all of these mines, the mines hit the children, all of them had perished. They were my playmates and it was devastating. Sarbaz, now 37, was thankful when the U.S. military occupied Afghanistan in 2001, when he was a teenager. The Americans gave up their comfortable life here in the U.S. to come to our aid, Sarbaz said. I wanted to put all of my attention and energy in doing the best job possible to assist them. The Americans had been in Afghanistan nearly a decade when he began training with the U.S. Special Forces at age 23. Sarbaz said he averaged six or more missions each month, and was always on call if another team needed more help. The U.S. captain recalled his first mission with Sarbaz in Afghanistan. Sarbaz and his team worked to disarm an IED when Taliban machine-gun fire poured in from a nearby apple orchard. Sarbaz and his team did not flee, they remained on task while hiding from incoming fire in the hedgerows of unplowed fields, determined to disarm the explosive device. They went right for it. And from then on, I just knew he was going to take care of us, his captain said. Sarbaz said the risks were worth it because of the sorrow the Taliban had caused him. He led the convoy of U.S. tanks and military trucks driving a Toyota Land Cruiser and looking for any slight imperfections in the road that could be an IED. He said it was gratifying to build a brighter future for Afghanistan alongside the U.S. I am very proud of the job I did and proud of the fact that during those years I saved so many lives, Sarbaz said. Sarbaz never imagined the Taliban would regain control of his country. The country got pushed back to 30 years ago. And this turn of events became very disappointing for me, Sarbaz said. Navigating medical needs During the past year, Sarbaz struggled to recover from illness related to his paralysis, while trying to learn more about his condition and how to navigate the health care system in the U.S. Since his injury in 2019, Sarbaz has had other health problems than just the inability to use his legs. In Afghanistan, he was given a temporary catheter, to help him urinate. He did not know it needed to be changed, which caused major problems later, such as infections. Faith Dowdy, the program supervisor and refugee program coordinator with Friendship House in Roanoke, has worked closely with Sarbaz and his family since their arrival to Roanoke in the fall of 2022. Friendship House is a religious-based nonprofit community-outreach organization that helps refugees get acclimated to their new community, while providing affordable housing and supplies to set up a new home. She and her husband, Aaron Dowdy, Friendship Housess executive director, saw a need when the Afghan refugee crisis began, and they stepped up to help with housing for newly arrived Afghans by adding three additional units to the one they already had. After helping Sarbaz and his family move into a house on Elm Avenue and providing furniture and household items, Faith Dowdy visited Sarbaz on a regular basis and became aware that he needed medical care, assistance making medical appointments and information about his condition. When youre extracted from your social network, and placed in a foreign country, theres so many things that kind of fall between the cracks and make life really hard, Dowdy said. And so we try to befriend them and help them figure out what life is like in America and how to get their needs met. On Dec. 31, 2022, just a couple of months after he arrived in Roanoke, Sarbaz fell ill with a high fever that left him disoriented. Dowdy took him to the emergency room at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and stayed with him. From then on, she became Sarbazs health care advocate and went to medical appointments with him. Sarbaz developed two stones in his bladder and was dealing with severe urinary tract infections. In August, he had surgery to remove large kidney stones that developed as a result of his bladder not emptying properly. Without Dowdys help in finding treatment, Sarbaz might not have received the medical care he needed. Mrs. Faith was very helpful and she assisted us in many ways, Sarbaz said. We [refugees] dont know how to explain our problem and where we should go, how to do paperwork, and transportation. Because Sarbaz is a U.S. resident on a Special Immigrant Visa, he qualifies for assistance form Medicaid, but had difficulty getting to and making doctor appointments. At the doctors office, he had trouble explaining his problems, and he said an interpreter he worked with, provided by the hospital, did not accurately describe his medical condition and needs. Understanding referrals that were required to see specialists and filling out forms to transfer medical records were challenges. Sarbaz did not have reliable transportation. Rides that Medicaid covers often arrived hours late or not at all, so he often took a Valley Metro bus or his electric wheelchair to his important primary-care provider appointments on Melrose Avenue almost 4 miles from his home. Getting to doctors located outside city limits that were not on a bus route was nearly impossible. One time, determined not to miss an appointment, Sarbaz went in his electric wheelchair to his urologist in south Roanoke County, traffic speeding by him as he rolled along streets without sidewalks. Sarbaz had high hopes that if he came to the U.S., American doctors, who have esteemed reputations in Afghanistan, could repair his spine, allowing him to walk. After almost five years of being paralyzed, the reality has only recently begun to sink in for Sarbaz that he will never walk again. When Sarbaz and Dowdy met with an orthopedic surgeon and saw images that one of his vertebrae was missing, Sarbaz was devastated. He has yet to come to terms with his inability to walk. It was so hard for me, Sarbaz said in English, his voice shaking while on the verge of crying. After a year of dealing with kidney stones and other health issues, Sarbaz is making plans for the future. He is thankful for everything Friendship House has provided for him, but would like to be able to afford to buy his own furniture and have a better quality of life. But without a job or further financial assistance, his future seems bleak. The only occupation Sarbaz has known other than the military is manual labor. He loved building houses before joining the U.S. Special Forces, but with his disability he does not think he can do that work again. Sarbaz feels his service with the U.S. Special Forces makes him eligible for more government assistance than what he has received through Medicaid, which is available for any qualifying low-income U.S. citizens, resident, or foreign national, such as a refugee, permitted to be in the country. Sarbaz would like to receive the benefits of a U.S. military veteran. I consider myself like I am a U.S. soldier because I served the U.S. flag and I did it with pride, Sarbaz said. He is concerned for his peers who are in the same position as him, hindered by a physical disability as a result of their service with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. We have risked our lives when they [the U.S. government] needed help, Sarbaz said. This has been my duty and my obligation. I served so other people dont have to sit in a wheelchair. I did it with such pride and satisfaction. The Defense Base Act, which provides workers compensation to employees and contractors who worked with the U.S. government on national defense, could be a resource for Sarbaz. The law allows medical benefits and disability compensation for employees who worked overseas, regardless of nationality. Sarbaz said he needs help filling out the paperwork to see if he is eligible for benefits. Dowdy said the process of filling out the government forms is challenging even for someone who speaks English. I have a college degree and I have a really hard time understanding the forms, Dowdy said. If English was not my first language, I would feel like it would be impossible. Dowdy sat with Sarbaz and his wife in their living room on a weekday morning in February. Sarbaz gripped a stack of documents confirming his service with the U.S. Special Forces and a stack of laminated certificates of appreciation given to him for completing missions. Dowdy read a question from the two-page form out loud. Did injury cause loss of time beyond day or shift of accident? What, I dont understand, Sarbaz said in English. Dowdy reworded the question to make it clearer. Sarbaz still had trouble following her. They decided it was appropriate to check the yes box on the form. Sarbaz wants to get a job, but is not sure what he can do. He thinks his only option is to get a job that involves computers, because he is wheelchair bound, but he doesnt even know how to use a computer. He plans to take a computer class this spring through the English and Digital Literacy program at Blue Ridge Literacy, a local nonprofit that helps adults strengthen reading and English skills in Western Virginia. He and his wife are also taking English classes throughout the week both with BRL and Friendship House. His wife also has a personal English tutor through Friendship House, and hopes to become a kindergarten teacher. She does not want to be identified for cultural reasons. When they were in Afghanistan she stayed home with their son. Limbo and escape When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021 after its 20-year occupation, Sarbaz and his family were among approximately 80,000 other Afghan allies and their family members who sought refuge in the U.S. Trying to make the escape in a wheelchair was even more terrifying. When Sarbaz went to the Kabul International Airport attempting to leave with his wife and son, they were stopped when a can of tear gas was thrown to keep the crowds back and got stuck under his wheelchair. Sarbaz said he held his crying son, then 2 years old, as tight as he could with his wife by his side screaming. My wife was not aware of tear gas and she thought it was maybe a suicide bomb, Sarbaz said. She was very shocked and screaming and I had to hold my son very tight because there were so many crowds. And I didnt have the strength to actually move because there is metal in my spine. Sarbaz and his family decided to return home and go back the following day but then a suicide bomber struck the airport and they decided it was not safe. For months, Sarbaz, his wife and son moved from various locations in Afghanistan so they would not be found by the Taliban, which had regained control of the country. Even before the American withdrawal, Sarbazs former supervisors and captains had connected him with an immigration lawyer in 2020, the year after his injury, to help him properly fill out the paperwork for an Special Immigrant Visa to the U.S. His lawyer was Jennifer Patota, senior supervising attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project, a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance to people seeking safety around the world. Patota said because Sarbaz was employed on behalf of the U.S. government for over a year, he was eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa which would provide him and his immediate family permanent residence in the U.S. The process to obtain an SIV is long and complicated with bureaucracy. That program is notoriously beset by red tape and beleaguered by delays, Patota said. And so he had been denied his first application for not having proper letters documenting his employment. Sarbaz was waiting for an interview for his SIV application when the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. After his failed attempt to escape Afghanistan during the U.S. evacuation, Sarbaz and his family made their way to Pakistan where they remained for three months before completing the visa application process and coming to the U.S. Sarbaz said he had to sell his family land and all his belongings to afford the endeavor. While completing his paperwork in Pakistan, Sarbaz learned that a friend who was an interpreter in Afghanistan and who had escaped to the U.S. had found his way to Roanoke. The friend told Sarbaz he should try to go there, too, because of the help he received from Friendship House. He started telling me a story about Mrs. Faith and he said that she is a very helpful and kind person, and if I arrived in the United States, she would be able to help me a lot and give me a lot of assistance, Sarbaz said. With the American attorneys help, Sarbaz successfully obtained an SIV. Friendship House and refugees When the Afghan crisis hit, Faith Dowdy and her husband, Aaron, said they were looking for ways to reach out and help incoming Afghan refugees. They learned from the areas resettlement agency, Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) that there was a need for available and affordable housing. Refugees come to the U.S. not only overwhelmed with a need for shelter but also require help with things like understanding a new culture, language, getting a job and making medical appointments. Many refugees come with the thought that this is the American dream, Dowdy said. Then they get hit with the reality that there really are a lot of things that arent what theyre told it would be like here. The Dowdys said they secured funds through community donations to purchase and renovate two duplex houses, expanding Friendship Houses offerings from one unit to four units available for arriving refugees, who need time to get acclimated to the area and who need a safe affordable place to live. They can use this kind of a launching pad, a place where its safe and secure for them to be, Aaron Dowdy said. One of the problems that refugees have when they get to the country is stepping off the plane and you need a place to live, Faith Dowdy said. But you have to sign a yearlong lease with most places and you also need credit history. For decades, Friendship House had provided a food pantry and after-school program for underserved people in the community, but the organization did not specifically seek to serve refugees until the Dowdys took the reins about four years ago from the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association. Faith, who had worked for the organization for about 10 years prior to taking ownership with her husband, said she noticed that many of the Friendship House clients were refugees, so the Dowdys established services to help them, in addition to their ongoing programs. They began English classes and provided temporary housing for incoming refugees, as well as basic home furnishings and linens and appliances to get them started. Volunteers also help with transportation, especially to and from English classes, and deliver food to their doors. Friendship House needs more volunteers, Dowdy said. Thirteen years, ago many of the families they helped were from Nepal, she said, but now the demographic has changed. When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, the number of refugees Friendship House helped went from a handful at a time to hundreds. That ability to be kind of a bridge for resources for these families has grown exponentially, Faith Dowdy said. The first year it was like 60 families, and now its over 100. And Ive lost count. Roanoke is home to an office of Commonwealth Catholic Charities, one of the largest resettlement agencies in the state, which is a big reason why more than 400 Afghans have resettled in the Roanoke and New River valleys since August 2021 when the the humanitarian crisis began. Hope with a new generation On an overcast afternoon in September, Sarbaz sat in his wheelchair in the bike lane as rush hour traffic zoomed by him on Elm Avenue. His wheelchair couldnt quite make it up to the aging sidewalk which had a steep entry point flecked with cracks and weeds. A school bus pulled up and the door opened, and his son made his way down the steps carrying a blue and gray camouflage-printed backpack, and he climbed onto his dads lap. The two watched as traffic continued and they waited for an opening to cross. Sarbaz wheeled his son across the double yellow lines to the other side of the street where they live. Sarbaz was not able to stop the Taliban from gaining control of his country, nor will he be able to walk again, but now that he is in the U.S. he has high hopes for his young son. Im hoping everything for my son will happen that I was not able to achieve, Sarbaz said. So he grows and he achieves more in life. Im glad that my wife is here. Shes happy shes in a better place. Khyler Reed, of Victoria County 4-H, pulls on a calf as he tries to bring it across the finish line during the calf scramble at RodeoHouston Sunday, March 13, 2022 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Justin Tankersley takes his daughter, Georgia, to a RodeoHouston function. Family photo/Courtesy Aileen Loera receiving the 2017 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Opportunity Scholarship. Courtesy of Sidney Fuchs as a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo intern. Courtesy of Aileen Loera receiving the 2017 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Opportunity Scholarship. Courtesy of Justin Tankersley after receiving an opportunity scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Courtesy of A participant falls amid the mad scramble to take down a calf. The nightly scramble is fan favorite event at the rodeo. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Joshua White, of Cypress Springs FFA, grabs a calf by the tail as he tries to catch it during the calf scramble at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The annual scholarship banquet is not like any other Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo event. Hundreds of high school juniors and seniors pour into NRG Center, months after the concerts, cook-offs and auctions have ended. Students arrive with their parents, aunts, uncles and siblings. On average, 20% of the scholarship recipients are the first in their families to graduate from college. That was the case for Aileen Loera, who attended Manvel High School in north Brazoria County. Growing up, her family always made a point to visit the rodeo at least once each year. She remembers hearing of scholars talk about their scholarships and wondering how they were able to secure one. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The goal was always to start at a four-year college, but with our finances, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do that," she said. "Senior year, I looked into it and applied." After four years at the University of Houston, Loera graduated with a degree in accounting from the C.T. Bauer College of Business and promptly joined not one but two rodeo committees: Hideout, as well as Events and Functions. In 2023, she dropped the Hideout committee but joined the rodeo as a full-time employee. Today, she works as a staff accountant. "The reason I wanted to be on staff is that we are very true to our mission," Loera said. "I know how much the scholarship helped me, and made me and my family's dream come true. It's really good to see when our accounts payable team cuts the scholarship checks. That used to be me it's a full-circle moment, for sure." This year, the rodeo's total scholarship commitment is more than $27 million. There are currently 2,300 students on rodeo scholarships across 80 Texas colleges and universities. As a then-high school senior back in 2017, Loera received an Opportunity Scholarship, which has since been renamed Houston Area Scholarships. In 2024, 350 students will receive the four-year, $200,000 award. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Back in 2001, Justin Tankersley was one of them. He grew up in Liberty County and attended Dayton High School. "I was exposed to the (rodeo's) volunteer side through my dad, he served on the Liberty County Go Texan Committee," Tankersley said. "I lost my dad in December of 2000, right before I was going to graduate high school. So the scholarship was extremely meaningful; it allowed me to go to college as I had planned." He went on to Texas A&M University and earned a degree in industrial distribution. Promptly after moving to Houston in 2005, Tankersley followed in his father's footsteps and joined a rodeo committee. This year, following 18 years of service, he begins the 2024 rodeo season as a vice president. "I started volunteering with the rodeo as a way to give back," he said. "I was in a bad spot, financially, when I got my scholarship. I want to give other people the same opportunity." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sidney Fuchs attended what she describes as a "small, little 1A or 2A school" in Groveton, where she was elected president of her local Future Farmers of America chapter. "Where I'm from, that's just what you do," she said. "I was a pig person. I raised pigs and I did a lot speaking and leadership type contests." Fuchs says that although her parents worked hard and wanted the best for their daughter, scholarships were necessary to make college a reality. "I applied to hundreds," she recalls. "I needed to get good grades, so I busted my butt to make sure I was in a position to get scholarships. My involvement (with animals) led me to get the one from the Houston rodeo, which was one of the bigger awards. I was very excited when I found out that was huge for my family." Because Fuchs completed her undergraduate studies at Texas A&M in three years, and her Area Go Texan scholarship was a four-year award, she was able earn a master's degree during her last two semesters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Thanks to God, my parents and the livestock show and rodeo, I graduated with two degrees and zero debt," Fuchs said. "There are truly no words to describe that feeling. The older I get, the more I realize that's not the norm, and I will forever be grateful for that." She's worked for the rodeo ever since, as a manager in contracts and legal administration. The 2024 season marks her 10th anniversary with the nonprofit organization. Iowa Republican lawmakers are advancing bills that would give unborn children stronger legal protections, allow health care providers to refuse care on the basis of religious beliefs and moral convictions and make it easier to fund pregnancy resource centers that counsel against abortion. Abortion rights advocates on Friday decried those legislative efforts, asserting the legislation will create additional barriers to care at a time when the state faces worsening health care outcomes for mothers and babies and a shortage of health care workers. Supporters contend the legislation provides additional support for pregnant women and their babies and further protects unborn life. Iowa faces multiple health crises, yet Republican lawmakers are focused on medically unnecessary and harmful legislation that only further sends the state down a dangerous path that has already deeply cracked the foundation of Iowas health care system, Mazie Stilwell, public affairs director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, told reporters during a news conference. The week marked the first legislative funnel deadline, where most bills must pass out of a committee in either the House or Senate to remain eligible for consideration going forward, though there are exceptions. Among the bills lawmakers advanced: 'PERSONHOOD AND WRONGFUL DEATH OF UNBORN CHILD House File 2518 would allow a civil wrong death action for the wrongful death of an embryo or fetus at any point in pregnancy. House Study Bill 621 makes the nonconsensual causing of death or serious injury to an unborn person a class A felony. It also assigns personhood to embryos and fetuses from the moment of fertilization. Critics called the bills an attempt by conservatives to enshrine the concept of personhood the belief that life starts at fertilization into state law, while ignoring already existing medical malpractice laws. They also expressed concerns with how such a law might impact access to contraception and affect embryos created through in vitro fertilization, causing spillover effects into other areas of reproductive care. MEDICAL PROVIDERS COULD REFUSE SERVICES THAT VIOLATE BELIEFS Senate File 2286 would allow any health care provider, facility, or insurer to refuse care on the basis of religious beliefs and moral convictions without fear of retaliation. Providers could deny procedures they deem violate their religious values, and insurance companies could deny claims post-service on the same basis. Health care facilities would still be required to provide emergency medical services to all individuals, as required by federal law. Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, said the legislation is meant to protect medical providers from discrimination and punishment for exercising their fundamental right of conscience. Groups representing Iowa nurses and physicians said there are already legal protections for doctors to exercise their conscience while balancing the rights of patients to receive proper care. REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO SHOW FETAL DEVELOPMENT House File 2031 would require schools provide instruction on the development of a pregnancy. Students in grades 7-12 would be required to be shown a computer-generated rendering or animation that shows every stage of an embryo and fetus development, using an anti-abortion rights video as a model. Republicans and anti-abortion rights activists say the video provides a medically accurate animated representation of fetal development, which Planned Parenthood and others dispute. They note the information and views contained in the Meet Baby Olivia video referenced in the bill runs contrary to those accepted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Rep. Anne Osmundson, R-Volga, said many of the facts in the video come from the Endowment for Human Development, citing the organizations stated commitment to neutrality on all controversial bioethical issues. I dont see that is one-sided, Osmundson said. This bill is about teaching children the basic facts about human development in an approachable way. POSTPARTUM MEDICAID EXPANSION House Study Bill 643, Senate File 643 and Senate File 2251 would extend postpartum Medicaid from the current 60 days to 12 months, but significantly lower the income cap so the law remains budget neutral meaning fewer pregnant Iowans would be eligible for Medicaid coverage during and after a pregnancy, though eligible ones would receive help for a longer time. MAKING IT EASIER TO FUND CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS House File 2267 and Senate File 2252 would make it easier for the state to funnel $2 million to pregnancy resource centers that promote childbirth and discourage abortion. The state has failed twice to find a third-party administrator with at least three years of experience managing a statewide network of providers of pregnancy support services. It would allow the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to administer the program directly. The state still could opt to contract with an administrator, but the bill removes the requirement it have three years of experience managing a similar program. Abortion rights advocates oppose state funding for the pregnancy resource centers, saying they mislead women about their options and misrepresent themselves as legitimate medical providers. Supporters, including the Iowa Catholic Conference and The Family Leader, said the bill provides needed adjustments to the original law to allow the stalled More Options for Maternal Support MOMS program to move forward and provide more meaningful assistance and support to new and expecting mothers. Representatives for the Family Planning Council of Iowa and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa said the bill reduces transparency for the public by removing the requirement for program administrator and subcontractor criteria to be published on the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services website. BEHIND-THE-COUNTER BIRTH CONTROL Lawmakers also advanced legislation to the House floor allowing access to birth control without a prescription. House Study Bill 642 would allow pharmacists to distribute self-administered hormonal contraceptives without a prescription to those age 18 and older. The order would cover oral birth control, vaginal rings and patches but would not include drugs intended to induce abortion. Pharmacists would only be allowed to dispense an initial three-month supply at a time. They would undergo training and have the patient take a self-screening risk assessment and perform a blood pressure screening before giving out birth control. Following that initial visit, Iowans could receive up to a years worth of birth control, but after 27 months, they would need to see a doctor. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood, say the measure would provide better access to contraception for women, thus leading to fewer unplanned pregnancies and reliance on government assistance programs. PP: BILLS WILL EXACERBATE IOWAS HEALTH CARE DESERTS Iowa is one of four states in the nation to have significant increases in infant mortality rates from 2021 to 2022. At least 34 maternity units have closed since 2000, leaving rural Iowans less likely to access care. A 2023 report from the March of Dimes found a third of Iowa's counties are "maternity care deserts" that they have no hospital birthing centers or OB-GYN providers. Pat Magle Jones, a retired rural family practice doctor in Iowa, said new bills pushed by Iowas Republican-led Legislature havent fixed that problem but have made the medical landscape scary for doctors and dangerous for patients. Doctors in Iowa increasingly are facing medically unnecessary restrictions that tie their hands, putting them in the position of either choosing their medical license or violating their code of ethics, even facing criminal charges for providing necessary care, she said. Tori Cunningham, a fourth-year OB-GYN medical student at the University of Iowa, said if Iowa keeps pursuing anti-abortion policies, the state will continue having trouble attracting and retaining doctors. The politicians proposing these dangerous bills do not have medical expertise, Cunningham said. The last place that they belong is in an exam room. Records turned over to Congress this month reveal how top officials at the U.S. Coast Guard engaged in a calculated plan to conceal the damning findings of an investigation into decades of sexual assault cases at the agencys academy, going so far as to create a list of the pros and cons of being transparent. Coast Guard officials only told Congress about the explosive probe last year after CNN started making inquiries. Dubbed Operation Fouled Anchor, the multi-year internal investigation found that rapes and other sexual abuse at the prestigious Coast Guard Academy had been ignored and often covered up by high-ranking officials. But telling Congress and the public about this scandal, leaders worried, could risk the initiation of comprehensive Congressional investigations, hearings, and media interest, according to 2018 internal records supplied to the Senate Homeland Security Committees Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in February. The records, which do not carry the letterhead or signature of any identifiable author, carefully laid out multiple possible courses of action, and the option to proactively brief Congress was NOT RECOMMENDED. Among the concerns listed were intense scrutiny of all past to present CGA leadership, a potential demand for all sexual assault cases to be reviewed and extensive media coverage and investigative journalismand suggested malfeasance. Public scrutiny could raise questions about why actions taken over the past decade to change the academys culture had not improved sexual assault reporting rates, the records stated. And in a handwritten list of pros and cons, which the Coast Guard confirmed to CNN was written by then-Vice Commandant Admiral Charles Ray, the cons of disclosing the investigation included re-victimizing and investigations w/o end. The pros were rip bandaid off, proactive vs reactive and cultural guilt purged. If things are bad, they get worse with non-disclo[sure], Ray wrote in a separate note, which appeared to list viewpoints of different Coast Guard officials. Ultimately, officials recommended in the records that information be provided to Congress or other parties only if asked. The Coast Guard did not tell CNN who authored the recommendations and noted that they were made before the investigation was officially closed. The agency emphasized that current Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan has acknowledged it was a mistake not to disclose the investigation to Congress and said it is fully cooperating with the Senate investigation sifting through more than a million pages of documents and only making legally necessary redactions. CNN previously reported that the investigations concealing had gone to the top of the agency. The Commandant at the time, Admiral Karl Schultz, along with his second in command, Ray, had made the decision to keep Fouled Anchor secret after taking the helm in 2018. Ray resigned from a Coast Guard Academy leadership institute following CNNs report on his role in withholding the information. Ray and Schultz did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Since the scandal came to light in June, Fagan has issued a series of unprecedented apologies to members of Congress, current and former academy cadets, and the entire Coast Guard workforce and has directed a host of reforms to how sexual assault cases are handled across the agency. These documents are troubling and raise new questions, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, where the academy is based, and Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, wrote in a letter to Fagan on Wednesday about the new records they received. The senators are spearheading an investigation into the Coast Guard, which was launched in September in reaction to CNNs reporting. Both senators have lambasted the Coast Guard for its lack of transparency and cooperation with the investigation, saying at a December hearing that subpoenas would be issued if necessary and that current leaders of both the academy and the agency may be called to answer for the decisions they have made. The Coast Guard said earlier this month in a news bulletin that it has already provided more than 36,000 pages of material in response to various ongoing investigations, including multiple congressional inquiries and a probe launched by the Department of Homeland Securitys Inspector General. A House Oversight inquiry is looking beyond sexual assault, examining the Coast Guards handling of a variety of misconduct after CNN reported that agency leaders also suppressed a Culture of Respect review from April 2015 that documented racial and gender discrimination, hazing and assault across the service. So far, records provided to Congressional investigators have been missing attachments and have included redactions that prevent the subcommittee from understanding the full scope of the Coast Guards decisions, the senators wrote in Wednesdays letter. They also requested that officials provide a list of names of anyone involved with the recently released records about the decision not to brief Congress. Blumenthal and Johnson, along with several other senators, proposed new bipartisan legislation this week that would make it safe for Coast Guard Academy cadets to report sexual assault and harassment without getting in trouble for minor infractions such as drinking or violating curfew. The Coast Guard announced a similar safe to report policy earlier this month, as part of yet another round of reforms enacted in the wake of CNNs reporting. Other changes included increasing the legal experience required to become a Special Victims Counsel and decreasing the barriers to accessing benefits for victims of sexual assault. A brief history of America's oldest seagoing military branchand it may not be the one you think A brief history of America's oldest military branchand it may not be the one you think Late 1700s: The Revenue Marine Late 1800s: Official founding and the modern duties of the Coast Guard Early 1900s: World War I and Prohibition Mid-1900s: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War Late 1900s: The 200-mile Fishing Zone and Drug Wars Early 2000s: Transfer to the Department of Homeland Security WASHINGTON When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with congressional leaders in Washington late last year he told them privately what is now public: With U.S. weapons, they could win the war against Russia, but without them Russian President Vladimir Putin would be victorious. Now, with U.S. aid for Ukraine teetering in Congress, it's up to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to decide what happens next. President Joe Biden, in a call Saturday with Zelenskyy after Ukraine announced it would withdraw troops from the eastern city of Avdiivka, stressed the need for urgent congressional action to resupply Ukrainian forces, according to a White House summary of the conversation. Biden also reaffirmed the "strong bipartisan support" in the U.S. government and among Americans for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the White House said. The call came the same day Russia said its forces took complete control of Avdiivka, the focus of intense combat for months a development that Moscow could use to boost morale ahead of Russia's March presidential election and as the second anniversary of its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine approaches with the war largely at a stalemate. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Kremlin that Russian forces were working to clear final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, officials said. Videos on social media appeared to show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one of the plants buildings. Putin sent a personal message of congratulating to his troops in Avdiivka, state news agency Tass reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the city's capture as an important victory. Zelenskyy said at a news conference with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday in Germany that Ukraine was counting on a "positive decision" from Congress for the "vital" aid from its "strategic partner." Earlier at a security conference in Munich, he warned of an "artificial deficit" of arms for his country. The political and policy decisions ahead in Congress are uncertain. Johnson insisted he won't be "rushed" into approving the $95.3 billion foreign aid package from the Senate, despite overwhelming support from most Democrats and almost half the Republicans. But he has yet to chart a path forward in his chamber. A bipartisan group of House lawmakers released a $66.3 billion foreign aid and border package Friday that backers hope will be an alternative to the Senate-passed national security supplemental. The House proposal includes military-only assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan a departure from the Senate bill that also designated money for humanitarian and economic support. It excludes the Senates $10 billion designation for humanitarian aid and lops off about $13 billion in nondefense funding for Ukraine. Israel aid, which was set at more than $14 billion in the Senate plan, also would be reduced under the House proposal. Those omissions mean that topline aid for Kyiv is $47.7 billion under the House legislation, while Israel would see $10.4 billion, the Indo-Pacific region would get $4.9 billion and an additional $2.4 billion would be designated for supporting U.S. Central Command operations, including funding to offset efforts to deter Houthi militant attacks in the Red Sea. The House measure would, for one year, reinstate the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy, requiring migrants seeking asylum to wait in Mexico while their claims are adjudicated. It also, for one year, would allow the secretary of Homeland Security to suspend the entry of migrants if necessary to achieve operational control of the U.S.-Mexico border. The measure would require immigration officers to either detain or expel migrants deemed inadmissible without hearing or review, with certain exceptions. While many in Congress view Putin as a global threat, particularly after Russia intervened in the 2016 election in favor of Donald Trump, Johnson's colleagues on the far right are increasingly ambivalent about Putin's aggression and authoritarian leadership. Even the sudden death of Alexei Navalny, the most famous political prisoner in Russia and Putin's biggest rival, did not appear to move the House speaker Friday to commit to support for Ukraine. "As Congress debates the best path forward to support Ukraine, the United States, and our partners, must be using every means available to cut off Putin's ability to fund his unprovoked war in Ukraine and aggression against the Baltic states," Johnson, R-La., said in a statement. Johnson's deeply fractured but paper-thin House GOP majority is filled with up-and-coming figures challenging his leadership and, at times, threatening his ouster. His bottom-up leadership style, in which he tries to hear out all comers, created a leadership vacuum on Ukraine aid that others are increasingly willing and able to fill. Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a Trump ally who opposes more aid to Ukraine, said he hopes to lead a new generation of Republican lawmakers eager to turn away from traditional GOP interventionism around the world. Gaetz said he believes additional U.S. military aid for Ukraine risks escalating the conflict in ways potentially harmful to Americans. "And I think that is a lot more significant to my constituents than which dude gets to run Crimea," Gaetz said, referring to the region Russia claimed from Ukraine. 8 political cartoons debate aid to Ukraine Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is used to prosecuting high-profile, challenging cases. But as she parried questions about her own personal conduct from the witness stand against the legal teams for defendants her office accused of election interference, many Black women recognized a dispiriting scene. "It absolutely feels familiar. There is no secret that the common sentiment among Black women in positions of power (is that they) must over-perform to be seen as equals to their counterparts," said Jessica T. Ornsby, a family litigation attorney in the Washington, D.C., area. "Here, Ms. Willis is being scrutinized for things that are not directly related to her job performance, in ways we see other Black women regularly picked apart," Ornsby said. Willis testified during an extraordinary hearing that could result in her office being removed from the state's election interference case against former President Donald Trump. She was questioned Thursday about her relationship with the attorney leading her office's prosecution, Nathan Wade. Willis and Wade acknowledged they had a " personal relationship " but denied any improper conduct. Regardless of the legal merits of the claim by Trump and his co-defendants that Willis' conduct was improper, relationships between co-workers are often prohibited or must be disclosed in many workplaces, including at major private law firms. Willis faced criticism from many legal experts otherwise supportive of the case due to her relationship with Wade. Still, few people who find themselves in such circumstances have the most intimate details of their lives aired so publicly. In interviews with The Associated Press, many Black women leaders expressed frustration and disappointment that public attention turned from the merits of the criminal case to the personal conduct of the Black woman overseeing the prosecution. For them, the court challenge to Willis echoes familiar experiences of tests of their authority, competence and character. "I love that she stood up for herself, but I hate the fact that she had to," said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. She said that when she saw video of the testimony she felt: "Why are you all treating her like SHE'S on trial?" "Black women feel like we're under attack. And that's a fact," Campbell said. Willis, who has a reputation as an incisive trial attorney, was visibly upset when she took the stand Thursday to reject allegations that she improperly profited from the prosecution because of the relationship. "It is a lie," the district attorney said of allegations in court filings. "You've been intrusive into people's personal lives. You're confused. You think I'm on trial," Willis testified. "These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I'm not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial." For many Black women, the inquiries into Willis' romantic and financial life were rife with tropes and accusations often unfairly leveled at Black women. Keir Bradford-Grey, a partner at the law firm Montgomery McCracken in Philadelphia, found the questions about Willis' personal life "disgusting." She also said the episode had disturbing implications for Black women in leadership roles: "I can't imagine a world where we have to continue to be treated like this as we seek leadership roles, and we do them well." LaTosha Brown, co-founder of voting rights group Black Voters Matter, despaired of the fact that Willis was having to answer questions about "whether she has money, whether she has cash or not and why she has cash, who she sleeps with, who is she flying on an airplane with." "So, what is this really about?" Brown added. "When white power, particularly white men, are being held to account the first thing to do is to disqualify the people that are holding them accountable," especially when those people are Black women. Scrutiny of Willis' personal life diverted attention away from the allegations against Trump. He was indicted four times in the last year, accused in Georgia and Washington, D.C., of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, in Florida of hoarding classified documents, and in Manhattan of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels on his behalf. Trump railed against individual prosecutors, judges and the legal system as a whole. But he reserves special, often coded rhetoric for his attacks on women and people of color. "Donald Trump knows that he can make an easy target for his base out of a Black woman," said Brittany Packnett Cunningham, a racial equality activist and podcast host. "What we should recognize is that across many indictments, this particular attack to disqualify through her personal activities is uniquely pointed. Of all the prosecutions that he has endured, this is not the approach he has taken. But he took that in particular with a Black woman." The testimony from Willis also reminded many of similar public questioning of Black women's leadership, including the recent ouster of former Harvard University President Claudine Gay and the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. "Images from the court proceedings also reflect many of our day-to-day experiences: defending ourselves against a sea of individuals who do not share our background and harbor biases both implicit and explicit," Ornsby said. While the court weighs whether she will be disqualified from the criminal case, it remains largely in limbo. "The standards by which they are judged, with their actions scrutinized at every turn, just seem to be a little different, not a little, a lot different than what I see of our male counterparts," Bradford-Grey said. "I wish there would be a day that women stand together and say we want the same bar of treatment that men get." The 25 best cities for Black women to flourish financially The 25 best cities for Black women to flourish financially The best cities for Black women The worst cities for Black women The economic realities Black women face Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slates Political Gabfest podcast. Recently, David Plotz talked with Kiley Reid about her new novel, Come & Get It, and discussed how Reid gets her dialogue to sound so real. This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. David Plotz: I do think what makes your writing so singular and so distinctive is that you have an incredible ear. And Im envious of it, as someone whos been a writer for some of my life and never had an ear like that. How do you listen? How do you create these voices in your head? Kiley Reid: Its a bit of a game. Because as Im sure that youve done, if youve transcribed anything because youve recorded something, you very quickly realize that we do not speak chronologically. We go off on tangents, we say, um, and like, and oh my gosh. And theres a lot of things that were doing in between the things that were actually trying to say. So, while Im writing, getting hyper-realistic dialogue is really important to me, but it becomes a game of doing [two] things: One, its showing characters, for the majority of the book, at the top of their intelligence, showing their best selveswhat they think is their best self. And number two, its making sure that their best self still isnt grating to a reader. When Im doing interviews with students and getting inspiration, they may say like or um in the thousands. And so, I want to include some of those likes or ums, but I also dont want to make fun of those students. This wasnt a satire this time around, but I want to make it true. So, theres a lot of give and take there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also think just being a writer, you need to put yourself in the position of being a listener and writing down something exactly the way you heard it. Thats the kind of things that I like to read. Why do they have to be at the top of their game? Why is that important? I think its important to be a democratic and generous writer. Otherwise, you look like youre making fun of your characters. And I think every character can be interesting depending on the different light that theyre in. And Im just not really super interested in fiction that says, look at these dumb kids. Especially because theyre not dumb. I want to see them at their best. And then later when they make mistakes, those mistakes hit a little bit harder. Advertisement I also feel like theres a conjuring act here. Because as you said, I guess you wrote it in Iowa; you have lived in Philly; youve lived in Ann Arbor since you were in Fayetteville. But youre conjuring up people who are just mostly Southern, and certainly are the kind of students who would be at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. How do you get back to them when youre not with them? Advertisement I do a lot of interviews when Im writing. And this time around I had a research assistant, and that was incredibly useful. I probably formally interviewed about 30 people and then maybe 20 others on top of that, just making sure I was getting things absolutely right. So, I interviewed some old students, some of my friends students, people who went to Arkansas, people from Chicago, baton twirlers. I interviewed a number of people. And people always ask me, How do you get people to tell you things? Im sure you know people just like talking about themselves. And people were very gracious to me, and Im really thankful for that. Small business owners and their stakeholders are often comfortable with the status quo. After all, why rock the boat if things are working right? However, you need to mix things up and embrace change if you want your small business to grow and thrive. Otherwise, you may be left behind, as plenty of retail store owners, travel agents, and newspaper publishers can attest. To discover opportunities for change and growth, consider appointing a specific team member as your disrupter in chief. This guide, complemented by expert insights, provides strategies to identify and empower such a leader. It ensures your business adapts and leads in innovation within your industry. What is a Disrupter in Chief? A Disrupter in Chief (DC) for small businesses is a stakeholder within that organization who plays a pivotal role in driving positive change and innovation. This individual is responsible for challenging the existing norms and processes within an organization to foster growth and adaptability. By questioning the status quo, the Disrupter in Chief encourages the business to explore new ideas, strategies, and methodologies that can lead to significant advancements and competitive advantages. Michael Haddon, CEO of the business software company Kradle, provides further insight into this role. In an email interview with Small Business Trends, Haddon described a DC as a stakeholder in a business who inspires and supports positive change by challenging the status quo. This definition underscores the importance of having someone within the organization who is dedicated to steering the business toward continual improvement and innovation, ensuring it remains dynamic and responsive to the ever-changing business landscape. Why You Might Need a Disruptor in Chief Haddon also shared some insights on why this position can be so beneficial for small businesses. Here are the top reasons why you should consider adding a DC to your team. You Need to Change But Are Afraid to Do So Change is essential for any growing business. But it also represents a significant amount of risk. So many entrepreneurs simply hope to grow without taking that necessary risk that goes along with it. Haddon says, As businesses evolve, often the biggest hurdle to future success is an unwillingness to change or the desire to keep doing things the same way as they have always been done. As an example, based on research we commissioned in 2018 (a comprehensive survey of 700 small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across USA, UK and Australia), we found that 76% of businesses in the US would like to grow. However, only 27% of those same businesses anticipated change in the next 12 months. A DinC embodies the 27% of businesses that recognize that in order to grow, change must occur. You Need Someone to be Proactive in Making Change Happen Even if youre open to change, you might not be able to put enough focus on looking out for those opportunities while youre busy running all of the other aspects of your business. A disruptor in chief can be a decision maker within your organization or an influencer or advisor whose sole focus is on finding those opportunities proactively so that you and the other members of your team can focus on your specific duties while still being able to take advantage of growth opportunities as they come up. Haddon says, They recognize gaps and opportunities, and they use that knowledge to take it upon themselves to improve the business. This could be by creating and driving a new growth strategy based on market changes, identifying inefficiencies within the operations of a business, inspiring staff to be more productive and loyal to the business, or identifying innovative technologies that can improve the business. In a nutshell, a DC is proactive and always looking for new ways to continuously improve any aspect of a business. You Need Someone to Inspire Others In addition to being proactive, a DC also needs to be knowledgeable, driven and able to inspire others. That final quality can really help businesses shape their culture into one where change and innovation are embraced, fostering even more growth opportunities than one person can lead you to. Haddon adds, These traits as a complete package can be hard to come by as reflected in our research which rated finding top talent as the third greatest challenge for SMEs as they do not always come naturally. These traits can also be taught to the right people and further nurtured by the right mentors/leaders. Businesses need to invest in their staff to bring out the best in them, not simply seek to hire perfection. An irreplaceable quality is attitude. If they lead by example, others will follow. After all, diamonds dont start out shining. Challenges in Small Business Role of a Disruptor in Chief (DC) Fear of Change Overcoming fear of change Proactive Change Management Identifying opportunities proactively Inspiration and Leadership Fostering a culture of innovation Bridging the Talent Gap Nurturing valuable traits Investing in Staff Development Building a skilled workforce Leading by Example Setting a positive example Embracing Change with a Disrupter in Chief In todays rapidly evolving business landscape, embracing change is crucial for small businesses to thrive and grow. To navigate these shifts effectively, consider appointing a Disrupter in Chief within your organization. Heres why this role can be a game-changer for your small business: Overcoming the Fear of Change: Change often involves risks, and many entrepreneurs hesitate to embrace it. However, stagnant processes can hinder growth. A Disrupter in Chief embodies the courage to challenge the status quo and recognizes that change is essential for future success. Change often involves risks, and many entrepreneurs hesitate to embrace it. However, stagnant processes can hinder growth. A Disrupter in Chief embodies the courage to challenge the status quo and recognizes that change is essential for future success. Proactive Change Management: Small business owners have numerous responsibilities, making it challenging to proactively seek growth opportunities. A DC can focus solely on identifying gaps and opportunities, driving growth strategies, improving operations, and inspiring productivity, ensuring that change happens efficiently. Small business owners have numerous responsibilities, making it challenging to proactively seek growth opportunities. A DC can focus solely on identifying gaps and opportunities, driving growth strategies, improving operations, and inspiring productivity, ensuring that change happens efficiently. Inspiring Innovation: A successful Disrupter in Chief is not only proactive but also inspiring. They possess the knowledge and drive to inspire others within the organization. This quality can foster a culture of innovation and change acceptance, paving the way for more growth opportunities. A successful Disrupter in Chief is not only proactive but also inspiring. They possess the knowledge and drive to inspire others within the organization. This quality can foster a culture of innovation and change acceptance, paving the way for more growth opportunities. Facilitating Strategic Decision-Making: With a DC in place, businesses can better navigate the complexities of the modern market. This role aids in making informed, strategic decisions by analyzing trends, data, and opportunities, thus steering the company toward long-term success. With a DC in place, businesses can better navigate the complexities of the modern market. This role aids in making informed, strategic decisions by analyzing trends, data, and opportunities, thus steering the company toward long-term success. Enhancing Competitive Edge: By continuously seeking and implementing innovative solutions, a Disrupter in Chief helps maintain and enhance the companys competitive edge. This ensures the business remains relevant and ahead of industry shifts, securing its position in the market. Implementing a Disrupter in Chief Effectively Once youve recognized the need for a disrupter in chief in your organization, its essential to ensure a smooth integration of this role. Heres a guide to implementing yours effectively: Clear Role Definition: Define the DCs responsibilities, authority, and scope within your organization. Ensure that their role aligns with your businesss growth objectives and challenges. Define the DCs responsibilities, authority, and scope within your organization. Ensure that their role aligns with your businesss growth objectives and challenges. Recruitment or Selection: Identify individuals within your organization who exhibit the qualities of a disruptor or consider external candidates who bring fresh perspectives. Look for individuals who are proactive, innovative, and capable of inspiring change. Identify individuals within your organization who exhibit the qualities of a disruptor or consider external candidates who bring fresh perspectives. Look for individuals who are proactive, innovative, and capable of inspiring change. Training and Development: If necessary, provide training and development opportunities to nurture the DCs skills. This may include leadership, innovation, and change management training. If necessary, provide training and development opportunities to nurture the DCs skills. This may include leadership, innovation, and change management training. Integration into Teams: Integrate the DC into your existing teams, ensuring they have access to relevant information and stakeholders. Encourage collaboration and open communication. Integrate the DC into your existing teams, ensuring they have access to relevant information and stakeholders. Encourage collaboration and open communication. Regular Reporting: Establish a reporting structure that allows the DC to regularly update leadership on potential opportunities, challenges, and progress toward implementing changes. Establish a reporting structure that allows the DC to regularly update leadership on potential opportunities, challenges, and progress toward implementing changes. Measuring Success: Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the DCs impact on your organizations growth and adaptability. Regularly review and assess their contributions. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the DCs impact on your organizations growth and adaptability. Regularly review and assess their contributions. Cultivate a Culture of Change: Encourage a culture where employees at all levels are open to change and innovation. The DC can play a vital role in fostering this culture. Encourage a culture where employees at all levels are open to change and innovation. The DC can play a vital role in fostering this culture. Support and Resources: Provide the necessary resources, including budgets and tools, to empower the DC in driving positive change. Provide the necessary resources, including budgets and tools, to empower the DC in driving positive change. Continuous Improvement: Recognize that the role of a DC evolves over time. Encourage ongoing learning and adaptation to stay ahead in a dynamic business environment. Empowering Your Disrupter in Chief To maximize the effectiveness of your Disrupter in Chief and ensure they drive positive change within your small business, consider the following strategies: Clear Communication: Establish open and transparent channels of communication with your DC. Encourage them to share their insights, ideas, and findings with the entire team. Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts on potential changes. Continuous Learning: Invest in the professional development of your DC. Support them in acquiring new skills, staying updated on industry trends, and attending relevant workshops or training programs. A well-informed DC is better equipped to identify opportunities for improvement. Collaborative Approach: Foster collaboration between your DC and other team members. Encourage cross-functional teams to work together on projects related to innovation and change. This collaborative effort can lead to holistic solutions and more successful implementations. Resource Allocation: Provide your DC with the necessary resources and tools to explore and implement changes. Whether its budgetary support, access to research materials, or technology solutions, ensure they have what they need to drive innovation. Metrics and Accountability: Define clear metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of changes proposed and executed by your DC. Hold them accountable for achieving specific goals related to business growth, efficiency, or customer satisfaction. Feedback Loop: Establish a feedback mechanism where employees and customers can provide input on proposed changes. Your DC can use this valuable feedback to refine strategies and make data-driven decisions. Recognition and Reward: Recognize and reward the efforts and successes of your DC and their team. Celebrate milestones, innovations, and positive outcomes resulting from their disruptive initiatives. This recognition can boost morale and motivation. Adaptability Training: Offer adaptability training to your entire workforce. Help employees embrace change, adapt to new processes, and understand the benefits of innovation. This will create a more change-ready environment. Long-Term Vision: Work with your DC to develop a long-term vision for your small business. Align this vision with your core values and mission, ensuring that all changes contribute to your overall strategic goals. Regular Reviews: Conduct regular reviews and assessments of the disruptive initiatives undertaken by your DC. Evaluate the impact on the business, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement. Adjust strategies as needed based on these assessments. Key Insight Actionable Strategy Clear Communication Establish transparent channels for sharing insights. Encourage team-wide idea expression. Create an open environment for discussing potential changes. Continuous Learning Invest in the DC's professional development. Support skill acquisition and industry awareness. Encourage attendance at relevant workshops and training. Collaborative Approach Foster cross-functional teamwork on innovation projects. Promote synergy for holistic solutions. Drive successful implementation through collaboration. Resource Allocation Provide budgetary support for innovation endeavors. Ensure access to essential research materials. Equip the DC with necessary tools and technologies. Metrics and Accountability Define measurable KPIs for assessing change impact. Hold the DC accountable for achieving goals. Evaluate their contribution to business growth. Feedback Loop Establish mechanisms for employee and customer input. Utilize valuable feedback to refine strategies. Make data-driven decisions to improve changes. Recognition and Reward Celebrate DC-led milestones and innovations. Boost team morale and motivation. Reinforce a culture of innovation and positive outcomes. Adaptability Training Offer adaptability training for the entire workforce. Prepare employees to embrace change. Foster understanding of the benefits of innovation. Long-Term Vision Develop a strategic, mission-aligned vision for the business. Ensure changes align with core values. Keep long-term goals in mind when implementing changes. Regular Reviews Conduct ongoing assessments of DC-led initiatives. Adjust strategies based on evaluations. Ensure alignment with business, customer, and employee needs. Conclusion In conclusion, embracing change and innovation is paramount for the growth and success of any small business. The role of a Disrupter in Chief (DC) can be a game-changer in this pursuit. A DC brings a unique blend of proactivity, innovation, and inspiration to the organization, making them instrumental in identifying opportunities, driving positive change, and fostering a culture of adaptability. Small businesses often face the challenge of resisting change due to risk aversion or resource constraints. However, as demonstrated by the research, the willingness to embrace change is a critical factor in achieving growth. A DC embodies this willingness and actively seeks out ways to improve various aspects of the business, from operational efficiency to market strategies. Moreover, a DCs role extends beyond merely spotting opportunities; they inspire and lead by example, motivating others to join in the pursuit of innovation. By nurturing these qualities in your organization and investing in your staffs growth, you can create an environment where positive change is not only welcomed but embraced. As you consider integrating a Disrupter in Chief into your small business, remember that their success relies on clear role definition, continuous development, and seamless integration into your teams. Regular assessment of their impact and the cultivation of a culture of change are equally essential. In a rapidly evolving business landscape, staying stagnant is not an option. Small businesses that harness the power of a DC and champion change will be better equipped to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and thrive in the ever-changing marketplace. Embracing change today can secure a prosperous tomorrow for your small business. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/did-nazi-that-coming-ukraine-adopts-tactic-used-by-german-nazis-in-wwii-1116850863.html Ukraine Adopts Tactic Used by German Nazis in WWII - Report Ukraine Adopts Tactic Used by German Nazis in WWII - Report Sputnik International As the Kiev regime is forced onto a defensive footing, observers note the similarities between the current conflict and Russias Great Patriotic War. 2024-02-17T23:31+0000 2024-02-17T23:31+0000 2024-02-18T01:11+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine crisis ukrainian conflict ukraine russia nazi nazis nazi germany avdeyevka ukrainian crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/11/1116851923_0:43:3072:1771_1920x0_80_0_0_143d47b73af6d188790aeaddd6be5841.jpg History doesnt repeat itself, but it often rhymes, claimed American author Mark Twain, riffing on an observation made by Marx, Hegel, and others. The statement seems apt in recent weeks as the besieged Ukrainian military increasingly adopts defensive strategies pioneered by its Nazi forebears as its position in the Donbass becomes increasingly untenable.A story in US media Saturday, unique in its willingness to observe the similarities between the Kiev regime and German Nazis, noted Ukraine's armed forces are shifting to a defensive strategy that failed Nazi Germany'' in World War II. In an instance of striking historical rhyme, Kievs strategy is likely to fail for much the same reason the Nazis did.Active defense was understood to be generally applicable to divisions, corps and field armies, said retired US Army colonel Douglas Nash, describing a military tactic pioneered by Nazi Field Marshal Erich von Manstein. Von Manstein developed the tactic late in World War II, when the Soviet Red Army went on the offensive after repelling German troops in Stalingrad. Outnumbered by the Soviets, the Nazis were forced to devise new tactical maneuvers accounting for shortages in soldiers and equipment.But although the ranks of the German army were rapidly diminishing, the Nazis were still able to gather enough men to execute von Mansteins complex counterattacks. Nash claims the Ukrainian squads, platoons, companies and battalions amassed for the regimes mobile defense operations have been far too small to succeed.New technology has further undermined Ukraines desperate strategy. Russian drones have made battlefield maneuvers difficult for Ukrainian forces which has been under constant surveillance and relentless attacks from the sky by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Guided missiles are also able to strike troops from dozens of miles away. These realities have forced Ukraine to adopt a more static trench warfare strategy.Politics have also limited the set of tactics Ukrainian commanders are willing to use. The Nazis active mobile defense strategy required a willingness to cede ground at least temporarily to set a trap for advancing Soviet troops. Thats an unappealing prospect for Ukrainian leaders as the countrys military has lost thousands of soldiers in attempts to capture and hold significant cities.Like the Nazis driven back towards Berlin after 1943, the Ukrainian military is increasingly forced to defend a large area of land with a small number of troops. Once again Russias thoughtful strategy is playing a key role in its favor, with Moscows troops able to outperform their opponent even after two years of fighting. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231224/ukrainian-armed-forces-unable-to-mobilize-another-500000-people---reports-1115785623.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231219/ukraine-lost-383000-soldiers-since-start-of-the-special-op--shoigu--1115677303.html ukraine russia nazi germany avdeyevka Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg nazi germany, nazis in ukraine, nazi ukraine, fascist ukraine, fascist germany, avdeevka liberated, avdiivka liberated, avdeyevka liberated, russia liberate avdiivka, russia liberates avdeevka, russia liberates avdeyevka, ukrainian troops, ukrainian losses, russian forces, russian troops, russia wins, ukraine loses, ukrainian crisis, failed counteroffensive, ukrainian counteroffensive, foiled counteroffensive, counteroffensive attempt, thwarted counteroffensive, counteroffensive effort https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/admitting-ukraine-to-nato-risks-world-war-iii--italian-foreign-minister-1116863432.html Admitting Ukraine Into NATO Risks World War III Italian Foreign Minister Admitting Ukraine Into NATO Risks World War III Italian Foreign Minister Sputnik International The European Union (EU) has flirted with the idea of Kiev becoming its member for over a decade, ignoring Russia's proposal to keep Ukraine as a neutral buffer state and doubling down on the bloc's "open door" policy. 2024-02-18T18:48+0000 2024-02-18T18:48+0000 2024-02-19T07:04+0000 world nato ukraine russia kiev tucker carlson vladimir putin antonio tajani https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105195/56/1051955610_0:578:3256:2410_1920x0_80_0_0_cd754043ee91f59eb50d411715fd107e.jpg Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has warned that admitting Ukraine into NATO amid its ongoing conflict with Russia poses a danger to everyone.Tajani made this remark during a session at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He stressed the efforts of the military alliance to grant Ukraine membership but advised that it needs to exercise caution rather than acting impulsively to pave the way for achieving these goals.Tajani acknowledged the desire of the blocs members to support Ukraine but stressed the clarity of the alliance's Article Five: an attack against a NATO ally would trigger a response, hence the need for caution. But he also claimed the present status of cooperation between the alliance and Kiev sends a clear message to Russia.NATO initially mooed Ukraine's membership in 2008. After the second Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014, Ukraine increased its involvement with the alliance, officially establishing membership as a strategic objective in its constitution in 2017.In the fall of 2022, Kiev formally submitted its application to join NATO after four predominantly ethnic Russian regions voted decisively to be part of the Russian Federation.At a summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius last year, NATO foreign ministers highlighted the necessity for Ukraine to fulfill additional democratic and security sector reforms before joining the military alliance. They stated that the invitation would be granted when member countries reach a consensus and conditions are satisfied.Although the issue is set to be deliberated at a summit in Washington, DC, in July this year, recent media reports suggest opposition from the US and Germany due to the risk of a full-blown conflict with Moscow.Russia repeatedly lambasted the alliance for ditching previous agreements and expanding into Easten Europe, stressing that NATO enlargement towards its borders is security threat. President Vladimir Putin has noted that Western powers used Ukraine a proxy to provoke Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.During a recent interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson, Putin criticized the West's approach to Ukraine as a monumental political misstep, recalling NATO's promise in 2008 to bring the country into the alliance as well as the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 as major escalations which led to the current crisis. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240208/how-natos-obsession-with-ukraine-transformed-into-existential-threat-to-russian-heartland-1116674539.html ukraine russia kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.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 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg italian foreign minister antonio tajani, ukraine nato membership, russia, world war iii, munich security conference, western-backed coup in kiev, nato alliance, vilnius summit 2023, washington dc summit 2024, president vladimir putin, nato enlargement, security threat, dissolution of the soviet union, tucker carlson interview with putin. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/alexander-the-greats-father-discovered-in-tomb-study-claims-1116850959.html Alexander the Greats Father Discovered in Tomb, Study Claims Alexander the Greats Father Discovered in Tomb, Study Claims Sputnik International Archaeologists first made the discovery of three royal tombs containing the remains of the family of Alexander the Great in the 1970s. 2024-02-18T04:15+0000 2024-02-18T04:15+0000 2024-02-18T04:15+0000 archeology beyond politics greece ancient greece history alexander the great https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/11/1116851421_0:208:2902:1840_1920x0_80_0_0_50b5133c8e7f86c4fed9b9e7d4b2055b.jpg Archaeologists first made the discovery of three royal tombs containing the remains of the family of Alexander the Great in the 1970s. But since its discovery, researchers have debated which members of the royal family were buried in which tombs. A controversial new study claims a previous study incorrectly identified the remains.The burial site where the members of the Macedonian royal family are believed to rest is known as the Great Tumulus. The site is located in the archaeological site of Aega and was the first capital of Macedonia. It can be found next to the modern town of Vergina in Northern Greece, and 65 km (40 miles) west of Thessaloniki.At the site are three tombs that were built sometime during the fourth century BC, and upon their initial discover it was assumed that the remains included King Philip II (Alexander the Greats father, Alexander IV (the posthumous son of Alexander IV), and King Philip III Arrhidaeus (the elder half-brother of Alexander the Great).In the new study, led by Antonios Bartsiokas, a professor of anthropology at the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece, the researchers believe King Philip II and King Philip III Arrhidaeus were misidentified as each-other.While most scholars agree that the third tombTomb IIIbelongs to Alexander IV, the identities of the first two tombs have remained unresolved. The new study claims that Tomb I belongs to Alexander the Greats father, and Tomb II belongs to the historical figures half-brother.The first tomb also contains the remains of a young adult female and her baby. Researchers believe these remains belong to King Philip IIs wife, Cleopatra, and their newborn child. Bartsiokas reasons that this is the identity of the young female and not Euridice as was previously believedthe wife of King Philip IIIas Cleopatra was assassinated along with her newborn child, Bartsiokas explains.Philip II also suffered a severe injury to his left knee, which skeletal evidence shows, the study adds."His skeletal evidence and the pattern of his cremated bones have been shown to be consistent with the circumstances of the death of King Arrhidaeus and his wife," Bartsiokas said. We have provided compelling evidence from multiple sources that shows conclusively that Philip II was buried in Tomb I, the study argues. Our hypothesis of Philip II in Tomb I remains unchallenged in peer-reviewed literature and we believe the available evidence is conclusive.Alexander the Great was born in 356 BCE at Pella in Macedonia to Philip II and Olympias. He was tutored by Aristotle from the age of 13 to 16. When he was older, he fled with his mother to Epirus following his parents divorce. After reconciling with his father, King Philip II was assassinated and Alexander became king. Alexander died at the age of 32, but the cause of his death has been widely debated. His tomb is also considered to be lost to history. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240106/palace-of-aigai-where-alexander-the-great-was-crowned-reopened-to-public--1116008312.html greece Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg archaeology, history, ancient greece, alexander the great, king philip ii of macedonia, tomb, burial, ancient tomb Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen speaks at a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A woman prays during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Police Chief Troy Finner join Lakewood Church pastors during a special service on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People pray during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Police Chief Troy Finner join Lakewood Church pastors during a special service on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Lakewood Church hosts a special service on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Vidal Fernandez leads a group of people through prayer ahead of the Spanish speaking service at Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People pray during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A woman prays during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People pray during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the Spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Thousands attended special services at Lakewood Church Sunday to find support and comfort in one another after last weeks deadly shooting. At the 11 a.m. service, Lakewoods pastor Joel Osteen said he wanted Sunday to be a time of healing and restoration from the trauma and the drama of the previous weekend. That lady came to do a lot of harm, but by the grace of God, were all here It was a shooting, but it didnt have the word M-A-S-S before it, and thats the grace of God, Osteen said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Right before the Spanish service on Feb. 11, a woman allegedly entered Lakewood Church with her 7-year-old son and started firing an AR-15-style rifle. She allegedly exchanged gunfire with two off-duty officers who shot and killed her. Her son was critically shot in the head, and a 47-year-old man was shot in the hip; it is unclear who shot them. Previously, police officers had incorrectly identified the man as 57 years old. Osteen led the congregation in prayer for the 7-year-old boy, even though the medical reports dont look good. He also prayed for the family of the troubled woman shooter and started crying midway through. These are not tears of sadness but tears of Your goodness overwhelming, Your grace and Your mercy protecting us all, for Lord we know what it could have been, Osteen said. Osteen shared some details of his experience during the shooting with the audience. He had just finished his meet-and-greet with attendees and was changing in his office downstairs. As he was headed to the media room to edit the program, some technicians came running out pretty alarmed, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Osteen said he went back to his office, where he remained holed up for 20 to 30 minutes. Soon after, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner texted Osteen, asking him You okay?, Osteen said. He told the Chronicle that his family had already left the church by the time the shooting started. For Lakewood attendees who were physically present and affected by last weekend's shooting, the church is offering counseling services and a prayer team. Officials give update Finner and Houston Mayor John Whitmire both attended the service and were invited onto the stage to speak. Finner said the department would release video footage of the shooting in a few days. I'm going to tell you, youre going to be proud of it. You're not going to be able to understand everything because it's just a snippet of what happened. But when God put men and women in place to protect people, that's what happened last Sunday, Finner said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a news conference following the service, Finner told reporters the video footage would show live gunfire inside of (the Lakewood Church) building. He declined to answer who shot the child and the bystander. That's what the investigation will determine that really, really shortly here, and that's going to be part of that video release, Finner said. MORE ON LAKEWOOD SHOOTING: Groups spread misinformation on Lakewood suspect despite flimsy info Finner said he met the 47-year-old man who was shot at Sundays service. During the service, he commended the first responders at the scene, specifically hailing the two off-duty officers who shot and killed the shooter. If that person would have gotten into the sanctuary, it wouldve been a mass (shooting), Finner told the audience. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Also in attendance were Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Oggs office is conducting a parallel investigation into the shooting, as the office does whenever a police officer shoots at a civilian. She also declined to answer whether authorities had determined who shot the 7-year-old child and the 47-year-old man. Its all under investigation, and yes, there's a lot of evidence in that regard. But nothing's been released, and they won't release it until the investigation's completely done, Ogg told the Chronicle. Ogg said she personally supports common-sense gun laws related to mental health, red flags (and) accessibility during and following periods of confinement for domestic violence perpetrators. Increased security Osteen said there were hundreds of children in the building during the shooting last Sunday. During the service, Monica Morgan, senior director of childrens ministry, led the audience in giving a standing ovation to other childrens workers and Lakewoods head of security. Other security guards were also given a standing ovation and flanked the stage for most of the service. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Currently, the church prohibits open carry but allows concealed carry. Osteen told the Chronicle he didnt know whether Lakewood would change this policy. Were always reviewing, he said. Churchgoers said they noticed throughout the church an increased security presence, which included more contracted security guards and on-duty officers from the Houston Police Department. Bags were checked before entry as usual and tagged with a blue wristband following review. Regular attendees noticed that Osteen didnt conduct his usual meet-and-greets after each service. Denise Linder, who attended the 8:30 a.m. service, found it comforting and emotional. I'm a crybaby just like my pastor, so I was crying through it all, she said. When Linder tried to come through a side entrance, as she typically does, she was directed to the main entrance. She said she was grateful for the extra security and not deterred by last weeks shooting. It's not going to run me away. I love it here, Linder said. To Stacia Hershberger, Lakewood Church means everything as a newcomer to the Houston area. It's uplifting. It gives us hope And coming here, we found home, she said. Hershberger and her husband attended last weeks 8:30 a.m. service and went to a class after. They had just gotten back home to Conroe and turned on the TV when they saw news of the shooting. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/avdeyevkas-liberation-shows-ukrainian-front-has-begun-to-crack-1116862066.html Avdeyevkas Liberation Shows Ukrainian Front Has Begun to Crack Avdeyevkas Liberation Shows Ukrainian Front Has Begun to Crack Sputnik International Russian forces entered the heart of the hardened, heavily fortified Donetsk suburb of Avdeyevka on Friday, with the Defense Ministry announcing Sunday that Russian troops had advanced over 8.5 kilometers deep into Ukrainian positions behind the front. What are the strategic implications of Avdeyevkas liberation? 2024-02-18T16:39+0000 2024-02-18T16:39+0000 2024-02-18T18:45+0000 analysis volodymyr zelensky karen kwiatkowski ivan konovalov ukraine russia donetsk nato russian army federal agency for the procurement of military and special equipment https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/12/1116861906_0:146:3124:1903_1920x0_80_0_0_0e6a2943bc75cbd852115175370f2002.jpg The Russian military breached seemingly uncrackable defensive lines in Avdeyevka this week, breaking through kilometers-worth of fortifications and hardened structures built up by Ukraines NATO-backed forces from 2015 onward. The collapse of Ukraines defensive positions in the settlement, situated just 5 km from the city of Donetsk proper, should help the 600,000+ residents of that embattled Donbass city sleep better at night and make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to shell them using artillery.Avdeyevka is the latest Donetsk city-adjacent settlement to be freed, with Russian forces previously advancing into Maryinka to the citys west, and through Veseloye to its north, over the past month and a half.Ukrainian forces began a hasty retreat from Avdeyevka a day before newly-appointed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky gave the order to do so, with White House national security spokesman John Kirby warning before that that the situation in the city was critical for Ukrainian forces and that they were suffering unbearable shortages of ammunition.The news of Avdeyevkas loss immediately gave rise to a blame game in Kiev, with Oleg Soskin, an ex-advisor to former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, associating the defeat with Syrskys appointment, which he blasted as a crime against Ukraine.The timing of Avdeyevkas fall to Russia could not have come at a worse time for Zelensky, coming right in the middle of his latest fundraising trip abroad, to the Munich Security Conference, where efforts to get Western countries to continue to funnel billions of dollars more into the Ukrainian black hole was the front and center of discussions.First Major Settlement to Be Freed Since ArtemovskAvdeyevkas liberation has significance for Russia for a number of reasons, says political and military analyst Sergey Poletaev, cofounder of the Vatfor media project.This is the first city that weve taken since Artemovsk, that is, since May of last year. The city itself is not very large, but it is essentially the last fortified area remaining in the suburbs of Donetsk, which the Ukrainian side has been fortifying since 2014, Poletaev explained to Sputnik.From here on out, everything will depend on how big the hole in the front Russia manages to puncture, with advances threatening to snowball and push Ukrainian forces back rapidly if Kiev proves unable to set up new defensive lines.A fairly rapid collapse of defenses has taken place before our eyes, Poletaev said. It began on February 10 or so. This was the result of the efforts of the Russian Army and the DPRs First Army Corps, which joined it and bore the brunt of the fighting in this direction. The operation [around Donetsk] began on October 10, and required a very long time to get going, with Russian forces looking for an approach, pressing Ukrainian forces from all sides, and in the end Ukrainian defenses began to crack, with the collapse occurring literally within a few days.Harbinger of Things to Come?Because the Russian Army prevailed here, a place where Ukrainian forces had constructed trench lines and significant defensive operation, Avdeyevka, for all of its destruction, shows that the best Ukrainian defenses can and will fall, Karen Kwiatkowski, a former US Air Force officer and DoD senior analyst, told Sputnik.Politically, Kwiatkowski says, Avdeyevkas loss may prove a disaster for the Kiev regime, either pushing it into negotiations (which Zelensky had previously sworn off), or sparking unpredictable violence of a Zelensky in extremis, with his loyal commander [Syrsky] executing this violence against anyone thats deemed disloyal.Kwiatkowski doesnt believe that the disaster in the Donbass will nullify Western "support" for Kiev, with Blackrock and other mega corporations perhaps even preferring a more compact Ukrainian territory to work with to carry out their plans of turning the Eastern European country into a modern-day EU colony of cheap resources, labor, land and lots of rebuilding and WEF-style redesign on the books.Race to Final Ukrainian Defensive Line in the DonbassIf were talking about the strategic significance [of Avdeyevkas liberation, ed.], of course, this greatly weakens the position of Ukraines Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction, veteran Russian military expert Ivan Konovalov told Sputnik. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/what-is-known-about-liberation-of-avdeyevka-by-russian-forces-1116855534.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/battle-for-avdeyevka-the-view-from-donetsk-1116832006.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/watch-ukrainian-armed-forces-retreat-from-avdeyevka-1116858746.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/russias-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-and-how-it-is-progressing-1105665248.html ukraine russia donetsk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov why is avdeyevka important, where is avdeyevka, how did russian forces take avdeyevka, what is avdeyevka, who is winning in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/chinas-first-locally-made-airliner-shines-internationally-in-singapore-airshow-1116861730.html China's First Locally Made Airliner Shines Internationally in Singapore Airshow China's First Locally Made Airliner Shines Internationally in Singapore Airshow Sputnik International Beijing's substantial financial backing in the development of its aviation industry has spurred the rise of COMAC's C919, heralding the onset of a hopeful era, as it gears up to give Airbus and Boeing a run for their money. 2024-02-18T18:08+0000 2024-02-18T18:08+0000 2024-02-18T18:08+0000 world newsfeed china singapore beijing commercial aircraft corporation of china (comac) european aviation safety agency (easa) airbus boeing 737 max c919 https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/09/1103948498_0:99:3291:1950_1920x0_80_0_0_a142a18af0ac0a1b05ce075b7a2067ea.jpg China's domestically-produced C919 aircraft has made its first flight beyond Chinese borders, showcasing a fly-by at the Singapore Airshow on Sunday.The narrow-body, short-to-medium haul airliner, produced by China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), seeks to rival the global dominance of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 in the passenger aircraft market.Industry insiders highlight that four C919s are currently operating in China. Though certified by Chinese regulators, it is dependent on international supply chains for a variety of foreign-made parts unlike the latest all-Russian version of the Sukhoi Superjet 100. The airliner entered service with China Eastern Airlines in 2023.According to a company official, the next three to five years will see COMAC channeling tens of billions of yuan into expanding plane's production capacity. The firm began the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) validation process for the C919 in 2018 to meet international standards and boost foreign partnerships.COMAC's passenger aircraft portfolio includes the ARJ21 regional jet and the bigger C919 twin-engine narrow-body plane, designed for 158-192 passengers, competing with Airbus A320neo and troubled Boeing 737 MAX 8 models. In December 2023, the C919 made its inaugural flight outside mainland China to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Indonesia's TransNusa Air operates ARJ21s.Despite the aviation industry's supply constraints and challenging expectations for the return and growth of civil capacity in Asia, the Chinese aerospace firm is attracting increasing attention.Amidst Airbus and Boeing's efforts to boost production and address a large order backlog, Boeing contends with manufacturing quality control problems stemming from an incident in January, where an emergency door panel detached from a 737 Max 9 passenger aircraft. Observers in the aviation industry are keenly monitoring COMAC's efforts to establish itself as a competitive alternative. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230528/new-chinese-made-passenger-plane-c919-makes-first-commercial-flight---state-media-1110654111.html china singapore beijing Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.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 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg c919 aircraft, commercial aircraft corporation of china, comac, china, passenger aircraft market, airbus, boeing, aviation sector. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/eu-lacks-funding-to-produce-ammunition-supply-for-ukraine---borrell-1116860631.html EU Lacks Funding to Produce Ammunition Supply for Ukraine - Borrell EU Lacks Funding to Produce Ammunition Supply for Ukraine - Borrell Sputnik International The European Union has sufficient production capacities to supply Ukraine with ammunition, but the bloc is lacking funding 2024-02-18T15:37+0000 2024-02-18T15:37+0000 2024-02-18T15:37+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine josep borrell sergey lavrov ukraine russia european union (eu) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103396/27/1033962705_0:254:4928:3026_1920x0_80_0_0_da647d4bfecbfe12f2ea46d714b6ae4b.jpg "It is clear that classical gun ammunition is something that is very much important. [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy talked about it. And we have to do more and quicker on that. And that is not because we lack capacity, what we lack is funding," Borell said on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. EU foreign policy head said that defense manufacturers needed new production orders, adding that the Ukraine conflict's future would depend on unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence technologies. At the same time, Borrell noted that the EU "too often hesitated" to supply new types of weapons to Kiev and the situation on the battlefield might have been developing differently if the bloc's actions were "more decisive." Western countries have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240216/poland-asks-eu-to-increase-financial-aid-amid-ukrainian-grain-influx-1116824791.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International eu aid to ukraine, how much does eu spend on ukraine, europe money in ukraine, who pays to kiev https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/everything-happening-in-ukrainian-direction-matter-of-life-death-for-russia---putin-1116854990.html Everything Happening in Ukrainian Direction Matter of Life, Death for Russia - Putin Everything Happening in Ukrainian Direction Matter of Life, Death for Russia - Putin Sputnik International Everything that is happening in the Ukrainian direction is a matter of life and death for Russia, it is the fate of the country, whereas for the West it is only a matter of their tactical position, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. 2024-02-18T07:39+0000 2024-02-18T07:39+0000 2024-02-18T07:39+0000 russia ukraine russia west tucker carlson vladimir putin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/09/1116686254_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_e0bb2cbaf0104cebcffb226c22c7169f.jpg "I think that for ourselves, and even more so for listeners and viewers abroad, it is important to understand the course of our thoughts, to understand our condition, to understand how sensitive and important this is for our country everything that is happening in the Ukrainian direction. For them [the West], this is an improvement in their tactical position. While for us it is fate, it is a matter of life and death," Putin said, commenting on the historical part of his recent interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson.Last week, Putin sat down for an interview with Carlson, discussing the Ukraine conflict, the Nord Stream sabotage, Russia-NATO relations, artificial intelligence, and other topics.The interview has attracted huge interest around the world. The video has been viewed 202 million times on X. On YouTube, the video has been viewed over 17.4 million times. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240214/good-that-they-listen-to-what-i-have-to-say---putin-on-wests-reaction-to-carlson-interview-1116787080.html ukraine russia west Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian direction, russian president vladimir putin, life and death for russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/kremlin-reports-on-progress-of-avdeyevka-liberation-operation-1116856241.html Kremlin Reports on Progress of Avdeyevka Liberation Operation Kremlin Reports on Progress of Avdeyevka Liberation Operation Sputnik International Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov briefed President Vladimir Putin on the progress of the operation to liberate Avdeyevka three times on February 17, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 2024-02-18T11:55+0000 2024-02-18T11:55+0000 2024-02-18T11:55+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine donetsk vladimir putin dmitry peskov sergei shoigu russian defense ministry russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/16/1116311713_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_64293995ca518c53f680185295f65151.jpg Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov briefed President Vladimir Putin three times on the progress of the operation to liberate Avdeyevka on February 17, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.Putin heard the first report that the operation was nearing completion at 4 am Moscow time (1 am GMT), and at 11 am Moscow time (8 am GMT) the military commanders reported that it had been fully completed, Peskov said.It took Russian soldiers a few more hours to start clearing the city, the spokesman added.By the afternoon, he noted, Shoigu and Gerasimov had reported that the operation had been fully completed and that "our troops have taken full control of the city."Putin then congratulated the Russian military on its success and important victory. Avdeyevka is a northern suburb of Donetsk that has been contested since the beginning of the special operation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/russian-defense-minister-reports-to-putin-on-complete-liberation-of-avdeyevka-1116850374.html donetsk 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 defense minister sergei shoigu, dmitry peskov, avdeyevka liberation https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/new-york-governor-forced-to-apologize-after-defending-israels-destruction-of-gaza-1116852226.html New York Governor Forced to Apologize After Defending Israels Destruction of Gaza New York Governor Forced to Apologize After Defending Israels Destruction of Gaza Sputnik International A US governor defended Israels assault on the Gaza Strip while speaking in front of a group of wealthy donors. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement expressing regret over remarks made at a fundraiser for the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, a Zionist organization. 2024-02-18T02:32+0000 2024-02-18T02:32+0000 2024-02-18T02:32+0000 analysis israel israel-gaza conflict palestine-israel conflict american-israel public affairs committee (aipac) us kathy hochul theodor herzl gaza strip democratic party https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/08/09/1083560845_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c6d935ba501462dc841b468db2f39f73.jpg A controversial US governor was forced to apologize Friday after justifying Israels mass killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip, which has been described as genocidal by international experts.New York State Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement expressing regret over remarks made at a fundraiser for the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, a Zionist organization.If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo [New York], I'm sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, said Hochul at the event, justifying the Israeli regimes largescale destruction of Gaza. That is a natural reaction.The comment quickly spread on social media where users denounced Hochuls insensitivity towards the massive loss of Palestinian life. Nearly 29,000 people have been killed in Israels military operation in Gaza, with around 70% of the dead estimated to be women and children. Relief organizations have warned the population of the besieged enclave faces mass famine as Israel strictly limits the amount of aid allowed to enter, with some residents already reportedly dying of starvation.Hochul also faced local opposition to her comments; New York is home to a significant Arab-American population as well as a large Jewish population. Hochul made a visit to Israel in October at the behest of the parent group of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, which funds trips by political leaders to the country. Hochul opted to pay for the junket with state taxpayer funds.The incident demonstrates the tightrope Democratic Party politicians walk in their attempts to navigate the contentious issue. Jewish Americans are generally considered a reliable Democratic Party constituency, and Zionist organizations such as AIPAC play a significant role in funding political campaigns in the United States. But Democrats face growing opposition to their support for Israel from Arab-Americans, who make up a large voting bloc in key swing states such as Michigan.New York is home to hundreds of thousands of people of Arab ancestry, including populations from Syria, Lebanon, and other Middle East countries. Cities across the state and the country have been rocked by large protests in recent months demanding an Israeli ceasefire.Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an October 7 attack by the group Hamas, which targeted military installations tasked with policing the occupied Palestinian enclave.Israel has controlled Gaza and the West Bank, which are considered Palestinian territory under international law, since 1967, and has occupied greater Palestine since the establishment of the state in 1948. The countrys establishment followed the Nakba, the Arabic term for the campaign of mass killing and ethnic cleansing that removed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their ancestral lands.Although Zionists sometimes attempt to defend Israel as a project of indigenous decolonization, the movements founders explicitly understood it as a colonial endeavor. Theodor Herzl, the father of Zionism, envisioned the project in explicitly racist terms, describing his desired Israeli state as an outpost of European civilization in the Arab world.Herzl once sought advice for his imperialist project from Cecil Rhodes, writing an admiring letter to the infamous British businessman and namesake of the white supremacist state Rhodesia. Decades later, Israel still finds its primary source of financial and military support in former colonial powers in Western Europe and the United States. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240215/israel-rejects-hamas-ceasefire-offer-calls-movements-demands-delusional-1116787485.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/diplomatic-cables-bidens-support-for-israel-has-poisoned-allies-attitudes-toward-us-1116849441.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/us-prepares-to-supply-weapons-to-israel-despite-calls-for-ceasefire---report-1116841340.html israel gaza strip new york Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg hochul defends genocide, hochul apologizes, hochul forced to apologize, new york governor apology, hochul defends gaza genocide, kathy hocul defends israel's genocide, new york governor defends israel genocide, ny gov defends genocide, new york governor zionist fundraiser, israel history, zionism history, israel colonialism, theodor herzl zionism, theodor herzl colonialism, democrats defend israel, democratic party racism, nakba colonialism, israel-palestine conflict, israel-hamas conflict, israel is colonialism, is israel colonialism, zionism colonialism https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/putin-says-current-german-policies-cause-enormous-damage-to-german-economy-1116856473.html Putin Says Current German Policies Cause 'Enormous' Damage to German Economy Putin Says Current German Policies Cause 'Enormous' Damage to German Economy Sputnik International The current policies of the German authorities are causing enormous damage to the future of the German economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday. 2024-02-18T10:56+0000 2024-02-18T10:56+0000 2024-02-18T10:56+0000 world russia vladimir putin european union (eu) nord stream 2 gas germany https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1a/1116416215_0:0:1404:790_1920x0_80_0_0_9fd46795c3db4f124ad709210b632bbd.jpg "It is abundantly clear that today's policies of the current [German] authorities are doing enormous damage to the future of the German economy," Putin said.At the same time, the Russian president believes the German economy is capable of surviving without Russian energy. Russia is effectively coping with Europe's rejection of Russian gas by using other foreign routes and is working on its own domestic gas supply, RPutin said.At the same time, Russia does not deny energy sales to anyone, Putin said, proceeding to praise Turkey as the "most reliable partner," who continues to pump gas via the Turk Stream pipeline.Despite the attack on the Nord Stream 2 pipelines, one leg remains functional, Putin noted.European countries expected that if they did not buy Russian gas, Russia would collapse, but irreversible processes are beginning to occur in the European Union and European industry is moving to other countries, Putin said. It is true that when European countries were buying Russian gas, Russia got more money, but the less Russia depends on energy, the better, because other sectors of the economy are developing more actively, Putin said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231101/global-provocations-similar-to-nord-stream-blasts-not-ruled-out---putin-1114649572.html russia germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International german economy, russian president vladimir putin, german authorities https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/russophobic-us-elite-sought-to-weaken-russia-with-euromaidan-but-failed---ex-mep-1116842866.html 'Russophobic US Elite' Sought to Weaken Russia with Euromaidan, 'But Failed' - Ex-MEP 'Russophobic US Elite' Sought to Weaken Russia with Euromaidan, 'But Failed' - Ex-MEP Sputnik International After the foreign-sponsored coup in Kiev in 2014, the openly Russophobic elite of the West sought to weaken Russia, but failed, former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Spain Javier Couso told Sputnik. 2024-02-18T09:00+0000 2024-02-18T09:00+0000 2024-02-25T13:44+0000 analysis 10th anniversary of euromaidan coup in ukraine javier couso ukraine european union (eu) viktor yanukovych volodymyr zelensky nato russia maidan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/11/1116843020_0:149:3109:1898_1920x0_80_0_0_4000e873f79711ec2831478a040daafa.jpg After the foreign-sponsored coup in Kiev in 2014, the openly Russophobic elite of the West sought to weaken Russia, but failed, former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Spain Javier Couso Permuy told Sputnik.Furthermore, the EU undermined its own authority because of Ukraine, he pointed out.Weighing in on what prompted the EU to push for an association agreement between Ukraine and European countries, and whether a different scenario could have unfolded if the agreement had been signed immediately, he underscored:At the time, thousands of protesters filled the streets of the Ukrainian capital, demanding the resumption of talks on the EU Association Agreement. Many of the protests were marshaled by US and EU-funded non-governmental organizations, who boasted experience in staging the color revolution in the country during the so-called Orange Revolution of 2004-2005.In reality, this EU Association Agreement to assure Ukraines "European future," like all association agreements that the European Union enters into, involved significant interference in internal affairs, Javier Couso pointed out. In other words, it always forces political reforms, the pundit said, adding that the agreement simply served as a tool to destroy good relations between Ukraine and Russia."This was done throughout the post-Soviet space, with the help of association agreements or through interference in internal affairs and coups, which were called 'color revolutions', Couso said."Later, we clearly saw the governments that arose as a result of this coup d'etat, first led by Poroshenko, and then by Zelensky, with laws that could not have been adopted within the European Union under any circumstances, the former MEP continued.Looking back at why the West failed to achieve its goal with the help of that bloody coup 10 years ago, Couso suggested the answer was obvious. The plan was concocted by a certain part of the US elite, openly Russophobic, and the European elites subordinate to it, who have been trying to construct a reality based on their ideology, he emphasized, adding:As for what went wrong, those behind the Euromaidan plans "failed to take into account that Ukraine is a diverse country, home to various cultural and linguistic minorities, including Romanian, Hungarian, and those who love Russia Yet there was the desire to impose pro-Western Ukrainian nationalism, which is based on neo-fascist or neo-Nazi elements that justify the terrible legacy of Ukrainian war criminals, such as Stepan Bandera.It is obvious that the Wests plan was a complete failure, according to Couso. It was not possible to achieve ethnic, linguistic, and cultural unification of the country except through military action something that we observed before the start of the Russian special military operation, the former MEP pointed out.Furthermore, events of recent years have clearly shown that agreements with European politicians are worthless, with the Minsk accords, for example, used as a smokescreen to avoid Ukraine's imminent defeat in 2014. Successive Ukrainian governments refused to implement the peace deal signed in the Belarusian capital in February of 2015 and designed to resolve the crisis in Donbass. Western powers also sabotaged Russian-Ukrainian peace talks in the spring of 2022 held in the first weeks after Russia kicked off its special military operation.The European Union, and above all the large countries that simply abandoned part of their history, such as Germany and France, have inflicted enormous damage on the authority of diplomacy and in the field of international politics," Javier Couso said.Acting in bad faith, and undermining the credibility of us as citizens of the European Union, their goal was to deceive Russia for the opportunity to continue rearming the Ukrainian Army."In reality, countries that are members of the EU have lost monetary, macroeconomic, and defense sovereignty, [...] strictly following the foreign relations policies and instructions coming from Washington. The population of the European Union is daily forced to pay out of their own pockets for the geopolitical mistakes of their leaders who shot themselves in the foot by continuing unlimited support for a failing Ukraine," Couso underscored. He recalled that the rounds of Western sanctions have failed to "cripple" Russia, while boomeranging on the European population. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/euromaidan-color-revolution-that-brought-ukraine-to-ruin-1115104905.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/how-it-all-began-10-years-of-euromaidan-in-ukraine-1115091951.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240215/europe-in-for-very-rocky-times-after-failed-sanctions-on-russia---expert-1116791959.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko ukraine, color revolution, united states, european union, demands, outcome, hopes, realities, politics, geopolitics https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/uk-behind-attack-on-russian-il-76-with-ukrainian-pows---source-1116854726.html UK Behind Attack on Russian IL-76 With Ukrainian POWs - Source UK Behind Attack on Russian IL-76 With Ukrainian POWs - Source Sputnik International Kiev's British advisers are responsible for the deaths of the POWs and the crew of the Il-76 transport plane, which was shot down by a Ukrainian missile, an informed source familiar with the situation told Sputnik. 2024-02-18T05:56+0000 2024-02-18T05:56+0000 2024-02-18T05:56+0000 russia kiev united kingdom (uk) belgorod ukrainian armed forces russian investigative committee il-76 russia il-76 aircraft crash in belgorod https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/18/1116366640_0:37:1186:704_1920x0_80_0_0_f7fd40ab071e6ca28cf4f4e751764aea.png Kiev's British advisers are responsible for the deaths of the POWs and the crew of the Il-76 transport plane, which was shot down by a Ukrainian missile, an informed source familiar with the situation has told Sputnik.Six Russian crew members, three Russian servicemen, and 65 Ukrainian POWs on board the airplane were killed after a missile hit the Il-76 over the Belgorod Region on January 24. The aircraft was en route for a planned prisoner exchange that was subsequently canceled.The Russian Investigative Committee said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces used a MIM-104A guided missile fired from a Patriot system to shoot down the plane.Vladimir Putin called the attack a crime by the Kiev regime against its own citizens. According to him, the Ukrainian side knew there were POWs from the Ukrainian Armed Forces on board, but still attacked it. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the plane crash raises a big question about the possibility of any agreements with Kiev. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-state-dept-fails-to-answer-questions-on-involvement-of-ukraine-in-terrorist-attack-against-il-76-1116608874.html kiev united kingdom (uk) belgorod 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 british advisers, il-76 transport plane, ukrainian missile https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/ukrainian-justice-minister-proposes-giving-weapons-shovels-to-mobilized-prisoners-1116856630.html Ukrainian Justice Minister Proposes Giving Weapons, Shovels to Mobilized Prisoners Ukrainian Justice Minister Proposes Giving Weapons, Shovels to Mobilized Prisoners Sputnik International Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska on Sunday proposed giving prisoners weapons and shovels when they are mobilized to the Ukrainian armed forces. 2024-02-18T10:59+0000 2024-02-18T10:59+0000 2024-02-18T10:59+0000 world ukraine weapons mobilization https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102196/06/1021960684_0:183:2994:1867_1920x0_80_0_0_cb666aa0f13e843a717377c4d1d74aa5.jpg Maliuska previously said that at least 50,000 men of military age with criminal records are hiding from Ukrainian draft boards and are not registered with the military. Maliuska also said that service in the Ukrainian army at the moment was not only about actual fighting but also all sorts of other works such as building the infrastructure. In Ukraine, two categories of citizens currently are not involved in the mobilization, namely "those who are behind bars and those who are not," but perhaps once received a sentence, the justice minister said, adding that these people continue their normal activities and are not conscripted into army for no apparent reason. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko said earlier this month that work was underway on a draft law on tightening mobilization in Ukraine, which would provide for the conscription of prisoners. The mobilization bill prepared by the Ukrainian government was submitted to parliament on January 30. Ukrainian media reported that the document obligates people liable for military service to report to military commissariats to clarify their information within 60 days, and they may be restricted from traveling abroad, deprived of the right to drive a vehicle or have their accounts seized if they fail to do so. However, it does not imply a call-up of people with disabilities and clearly defines the service life of those mobilized during martial law, according to the reports. Several Rada lawmakers slammed the bill as unacceptable and unconstitutional and said that its adoption would be a crime against Ukraine. Martial law was introduced in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The next day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Under martial law, men aged from 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240207/ukrainian-parliament-adopts-bill-on-toughening-mobilization-in-first-reading---lawmaker-1116641599.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian justice minister, weapons, shovels to mobilized prisoners A grand jury will decide the case of a bystander who shot and killed another man who robbed multiple people at a gas station in northwest Houston Saturday, Jan. 27. Houston Chronicle Don Steven McDougal, who was named Saturday by authorities as one of multiple people of interest in the disappearance of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, was arrested Friday in connection with a separate charge. The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested McDougal on suspicion of an unrelated aggravated assault. Additional details about the unrelated case were not immediately available. Earlier Saturday, authorities announced a dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban as a vehicle of interest in the case. The car later was confirmed as belonging to McDougal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cunningham, who lives near Lake Livingston in Polk County, has been missing since 7 a.m. Thursday. She was reported missing around 5:30 p.m. Thursday after she didn't come home from the bus. A backpack believed to be belonging to a child was found Friday near Lake Livingston Dam. Authorities are offering a $7,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and prosecution. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/un-security-council-gears-up-for-gaza-ceasefire-vote-as-us-threatens-veto-1116858194.html UN Security Council Gears Up for Gaza Ceasefire Vote as US Threatens Veto UN Security Council Gears Up for Gaza Ceasefire Vote as US Threatens Veto Sputnik International The diplomatic friction among member countries of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in settling for a lasting ceasefire in the current conflict in Gaza hasn't led to any constructive end. However, the efforts of Russia, the UAE, and a few Arab countries to ensure a humanitarian ceasefire are sabotaged by the US. 2024-02-18T14:36+0000 2024-02-18T14:36+0000 2024-02-18T14:36+0000 world newsfeed palestinians linda thomas-greenfield antonio guterres algeria russia israel the united nations (un) security council https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116442955_0:44:3072:1772_1920x0_80_0_0_420bc1a7d4e3222f6b47769a2b03f948.jpg Algeria has called for a UNSC vote on Tuesday on an immediate ceasefire in the the Gaza strip, diplomats say.The motion by the North African nation was first tabled two weeks ago, but provoked a hostile response from US envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield.Greenfield claimed Algeria's draft endangered "sensitive negotiations" focused on achieving cessation of hostilities. "The United States does not support action on this draft resolution. Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted," she warned.The resolution requires a minimum of nine votes to pass, with no vetoes by the five permanent council members the US, UK, China, France or Russia. Washington has repeatedly used its veto to shield Israel from UN censure.Moscow's draft resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire on October 16 last year after only winning five votes from China, Gabon, Mozambique, Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with France, Japan the UK and voting against and others abstaining.A similar motion moved by the UAE on December won the support of 13 members, but was prevented from passing by the US veto.On December 12 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israeli assault on Gaza, with the overwhelming support of 153 countries. The US, Israel and eight others voted against and 23 countries abstained.The latest fighting in Gaza erupted on October 7 when the militant wings of Hamas and other Palestinian organisations broke out of the besieged enclave and attack Israeli army outposts and settlements. According to Israeli reports, the fighting resulted in the loss of roughly 1,200 lives, with 253 individuals being taken hostage.Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza which has resulted in the deaths of over 28,000 Palestinians, with numerous more casualties believed buried under the debris. Thousands more Palestinians have been wounded and up to a million driven from homes by the Israeli offensive.The looming UN Security Council vote comes as Israeli prime Minister Benjamon Netanyahu vowed to launch an assult on Rafah in southern Gaza, the city where most Palestinians have sought sanctuary. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240210/biden-aide-secretly-admits-missteps-in-response-to-war-in-gaza-1116711688.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231221/us-vetoes-unsc-gaza-peace-bids-as-resolutions-would-give-legitimacy-to-actions-against-israel-1115734939.html algeria russia israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.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 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg algeria, united nations security council, unsc vote, ceasefire, palestinian-israeli conflict, us ambassador linda thomas-greenfield, algeria's draft resolution, north african nation, un general assembly vote on ceasefire in gaza, secretary-general, antonio guterres, munich security conference, gaza war, hamas militant group, israeli military assault, palestinians, rafah, humanitarian ceasefire in gaza, plaestinian-israeli conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/what-is-known-about-liberation-of-avdeyevka-by-russian-forces-1116855534.html What is Known About Liberation of Avdeyevka by Russian Forces What is Known About Liberation of Avdeyevka by Russian Forces Sputnik International Russias Defense Ministry on Saturday announced that Russian forces had taken "full control" of the Ukrainian stronghold of Avdeyevka, long used by the Kiev... 18.02.2024, Sputnik International 2024-02-18T10:44+0000 2024-02-18T10:44+0000 2024-02-18T10:44+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine avdeyevka russian defense ministry donetsk sergei shoigu vladimir putin volodymyr zelensky https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/12/1116855328_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7a5d9cc49c1caa568f9f4ae9ea341ced.jpg Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin about the complete liberation of the city of Avdeyevka from Ukrainian nationalists on February 17.Avdeyevka is now under the control of troops of Battlegroup Tsentr under the command of Colonel-General Andrey Mordvichev, the Russian Defense Ministry said.Here is a look at how events unfolded around the Ukrainian stronghold of Avdeyevka in Donbass.During the last few weeks, Ukrainian nationalist forces have been desperately trying to hold their positions in Avdeyevka in the face of advancing Russian troops. Kievs forces, which had been fortifying Avdeyevka since they seized control of it in 2014 at the onset of the Ukraine conflict, used the city to shell residential areas of the nearby city of Donetsk. Russian troops made considerable gains near the city in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, threatening to cut off and wipe out the Ukrainian forces entrenched there. Despite attempts by Kievs new Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky to try and rally his troops, reports surfaced of some Ukrainian units fleeing the beleaguered city.The Ukrainian military said a partial withdrawal from Avdeyevka had begun, believing that the city's liberation by Russian forces was a matter of time, The Washington Post reported on February 15. Washington also admitted that the situation in Avdeyevka was critical. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the city could come under the control of Russia due to Ukrainian forces' "lack of ammunition."Russian troops pushed relentlessly toward Avdeyevka, seeking to drive Ukrainian forces out of the city and thus prevent further terrorist attacks by Ukrainian troops against Russian cities. Finally, the Ukrainian command on February 16 confirmed that troops were being withdrawn from the Zenit fortified area in southern Avdeyevka. Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky announced the decision to withdraw units from the city of Avdeyevka based on the operational situation on February 17. On the same day, Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, citing the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Tavria group, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, reported that Ukrainian troops had already left Avdeyevka.An official report from the Russian Defense Ministry on the complete liberation of Avdeyevka was made on February 17. Key points of the Russian Defense Ministry statement were as follows:Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Syrsky's order to abandon Avdeyevka was issued only 24 hours after the uncontrolled flight of Ukrainian troops had begun, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.After Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday commented that the withdrawal from Avdeyevka was made ostensibly to save the lives of soldiers, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to the remarks on Telegram.Zakharova also reposted the Russian Defense Ministry's message about Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's report to President Vladimir Putin on the liberation of Avdeyevka. She then added, That's why all the foes are floundering. God give all OUR people strength!President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Russian military on its success in Avdeyevka, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said."Putin in the Kremlin listened to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's report on the liberation of Avdeyevka. The president congratulated our military and fighters on such an important victory, on such a success," Peskov stated.Putin, in a telegram to Battlegroup Tsentr commander Colonel-General Andrey Mordvichev, expressed his gratitude for the bravery of the troops he led in the liberation of Avdeyevka, the Russian Defense Ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/russian-defense-minister-reports-to-putin-on-complete-liberation-of-avdeyevka-1116850374.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/ukrainian-forces-chaotically-fleeing-from-avdeyevka---dpr-official-1116841915.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240216/ukraine-confirms-withdrawal-from-south-of-operationally-significant-donbass-city-of-avdeyevka-1116828978.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/battle-for-avdeyevka-the-view-from-donetsk-1116832006.html russia ukraine avdeyevka donetsk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko avdeevka liberated, avdiivka liberated, avdeyevka liberated, russia liberate avdiivka, russia liberates avdeevka, russia liberates avdeyevka, ukrainian troops, ukrainian losses, russian forces, russian troops, russia wins, ukraine loses, ukrainian crisis, failed counteroffensive, ukrainian counteroffensive, foiled counteroffensive, counteroffensive attempt, thwarted counteroffensive, counteroffensive effort Longtime Standardbred owner and breeder Leonard Kordy passed away peacefully at the Bayshore Transitional Care Centre at the Windsor Retirement Home in Amherstview, Ont. on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 at the age of 92. Beloved husband of the late Mary Kordy. Much loved father of Debra Gilbert (Ron). Cherished grandfather of Matthew and Jennifer (Sammer). Great grandfather of Noah, Lana Rose and Wil. Leonard will be lovingly remembered by his special companion Betty Turcotte. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. Len, as he was known to his many friends, owned and bred a number of horses over the past 50 years. Two of his favourites were J R Freda and Come Back, who won two divisions of The Count B Series at Woodbine Racetrack. Len also won multiple Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots races with Pilgrims Joy, a trotter he owned and bred. He enjoyed travelling in general and throughout Ontario to watch his horses race. Len, who was living in Kingston, Ont. at the time of his passing, enjoyed spending time talking about his family, the many horses he had owned and his many travels. When he wasnt attending yearling sales, he could often be found at the casino in Atlantic City or Gananoque (Ontario) with his partner of many years, Betty. Burial has taken place at the St. Johns Catholic cemetery. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Len Kordy. Air Liquide Global EC Germany GMBH Vs ACIT (ITAT Delhi) In a landmark decision, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Delhi bench adjudicated the appeal filed by Air Liquide Global EC Germany GMBH against the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax (ACIT) concerning the taxability of amounts received from offshore supplies. The case, pertaining to the assessment year 2020-21, highlights critical aspects of international taxation, Permanent Establishment (PE), and the applicability of specific sections of the Income-tax Act, 1961, in the context of cross-border transactions. Background and Core Dispute Air Liquide Global EC Germany GMBH, a non-resident entity incorporated in Germany, engaged in supplying plants and equipment to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in India. The crux of the dispute revolved around the taxability of 89,73,88,390 received from these supplies. The assessee argued that these transactions, executed on a Freight On Board (FOB) basis outside India, did not constitute a taxable event within the Indian jurisdiction. Contrarily, the tax authorities contended that the transactions were part of a composite contract, encompassing services that culminated in a taxable presence in India, warranting taxation under Section 44BB of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Legal Framework and Arguments The legal debate centered on several pivotal sections of the Income-tax Act, 1961, and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Germany. The assessees primary defense rested on the assertion that the sale and transfer of goods occurred outside India, negating any tax liability under Indian law. They also contested the application of Section 44BB, arguing it was inapplicable as the transactions did not involve leasing equipment but outright sales. The tax authorities, on the other hand, argued that the nature of the contracts and the integrated services provided in conjunction with the sales established a Permanent Establishment in India, thereby attracting tax liability. They emphasized that the contracts, though separately executed, were essentially part of a comprehensive turnkey project, making the income derived therefrom taxable in India. Tribunals Examination and Rationale The ITAT meticulously analyzed the contractual agreements, the nature of transactions, and the applicability of relevant tax provisions. The tribunal referenced the Supreme Courts decision in Ishikawajma-Harima Heavy Industries Ltd. vs. Director of Income Tax, which emphasized the importance of the situs of sale and the transfer of title in determining tax liability. Upon examining the evidence, including purchase orders, bills of lading, and invoices, the ITAT concluded that the sale of plant and machinery indeed occurred outside India. It was established that the terms of delivery and payment corroborated the assessees claim that the transfer of property in goods happened outside Indian territory, thereby exempting the transactions from Indian tax liability. Moreover, the tribunal critically evaluated the application of Section 44BB, clarifying that it pertains exclusively to non-residents engaged in specific activities related to the oil and gas sector, which was not the case for Air Liquide Global EC Germany GMBH. The tribunal also scrutinized the argument regarding the establishment of a Permanent Establishment in India, concluding that the tax authorities had not substantiated their claim sufficiently. Implications and Conclusions The ITATs decision in favor of Air Liquide Global EC Germany GMBH sets a significant precedent for international taxation and cross-border transactions. It underscores the necessity of dissecting contractual arrangements and the actual conduct of transactions to ascertain tax liabilities accurately. The ruling reaffirms the principle that the situs of sale and the transfer of title are paramount in determining the tax jurisdiction for international sales. This judgment also sheds light on the nuanced interpretation of DTAA provisions and the Income-tax Act, 1961, particularly concerning the definition and implications of a Permanent Establishment. For multinational corporations and tax practitioners, this case emphasizes the importance of meticulous contract structuring and clarity in defining the nature of transactions to mitigate unforeseen tax liabilities. In essence, the ITAT Delhis ruling in Air Liquide Global EC Germany GMBH vs. ACIT not only resolves a complex tax dispute but also contributes to the evolving landscape of international tax law, providing clarity and direction for future cases involving cross-border transactions and tax treaty interpretations. FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT DELHI Captioned appeal has been filed by the assessee challenging the final assessment order dated 29.06.2023 passed under section 143(3) read with section 144C(13) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 pertaining to assessment year 2020-21, in pursuance to directions of learned Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP). 2. The core issue arising in the appeal relates to taxability of the amount received by the assessee from offshore supplies of plants and equipments. 3. Briefly the facts are, the assessee, a non-resident corporate entity, is incorporated in Federal Republic of Germany and is a tax resident of Germany. As stated, the assessee is engaged in the business of building air gas separate and renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production units and supplies external customers with efficient, sustainable, customized technology and process solutions. In the year under consideration, the assessee earned Revenue from entities in India from the provision of services as well as sale of plants and equipment. The details are as under: 4. In the return of income filed for the assessment year under dispute, the assessee declared total income of Rs.44, 16,18,330/-. Undisputedly, except the amount of Rs.89,73,88,390/- received by the assessee from sale/supply of plant and equipments to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), all other receipts were offered to tax in India. Insofar as the receipts from sale and supply of equipment to BPCL, the assessee claimed before the Assessing Officer that such sale/supply of goods having been made from offshore on Freight On Board (FOB) basis and the sale transaction having been completed outside India, there is no taxable event in India so as to bring to tax the receipts in India. The Assessing Officer, however, was not convinced with the submissions of the assessee. He observed that the assessee as per the scope of work under the contract between the assessee and BPCL, it includes licence fee, basic design engineering fee, mandatory service as per agreements, Additional Services based on the requirements & Training Fees in addition to the cost of plants and equipments sold. He observed, one of the group entities of the assessee, i.e., namely Lurgi India International Services Pvt. Ltd. has entered into a separate contract with BPCL, in terms of which, the said entity is required to provide Catalyst Loading Supervision, mandatory service as per agreements or additional services based on the requirement. He submitted, as per scope of work, the assessee is required to provide foreign training of plant officials and technical advisory services in India. Whereas, assessees group entity in India is required to provide technical services to the officials in the plant in India. Therefore, there cannot be any difference between the officials of which entity are providing training, maintenance and repairs with respect to sale/supply of equipment to BPCL. He observed, the contracts are composite in nature, however, they have been artificially split into separate contracts, though, essentially, the contract involve a turnkey project. He observed, the services rendered by the assessee are covered under the provisions of section 44BB of the Act. He further observed that the assessee has a Permanent Establishment (PE) in India. Accordingly, invoking the provisions of section 44BB of the Act, he treated 10% of the receipts from sale of equipment as deemed profit and gains of the PE and brought an amount of Rs. 8,97,38,839/- to tax. Accordingly, he framed the draft assessment order. Against the draft assessment order so framed, the assessee raised objections before learned DRP. While deciding the issue, learned DRP held that the assessee is involved in building production unit in relation to air gas separation and renewable and low-carbon hydrogen process solutions. Therefore, it would be covered under section 44BB of the Act. Accordingly, DRP upheld the decision of the Assessing Officer. While doing so, learned DRP also held that the assessee had a PE in India. In terms with the directions of learned DRP, the final assessment order was passed. 5. Before us, learned counsel appearing for the assessee submitted that in course of assessment proceedings, the assessee has furnished documentary evidences to demonstrate that supply of plant and machinery was made on FOB basis from outside India and the transfer of property in goods happened outside India. Drawing our attention to copies of purchase orders, bill of lading and the invoices issued to BPCL placed in the paper-book, learned counsel submitted, the terms of delivery as per purchase order issued by BPCL clearly mentions the terms of the delivery should be FOB Seaport. The freight charges are paid at the destination only i.e. Moji Port, Japan. The value of the invoice is on FOB basis. Thus, he submitted, when the documentary evidences clearly establish that the sale event was completed outside the territory of India, the receipts from supply of plant and machinery cannot be taxed in India. 6. Proceeding further, he submitted, BPCL has entered into five separate contracts with the assessee. He submitted, the scope of work under each contract is distinct and separate. He submitted, the Indian entity has also entered into a separate contract with BPCL, wherein, the scope of work is totally different. Thus, he submitted, when there are independent contract for specific work to be performed, the Departmental Authorities cannot conclude that the work executed is under a composite contract. In support of such contention, he relied upon the decision of Ishikawajma Harima Heavy Industries Ltd. Vs. Director of Income Tax [2007] 158 Taxman 259 (SC). 7. Without prejudice, he submitted, application of section 44BB of the Act is totally misplaced as the said provision can be invoked only in case of a non-resident engaged in the business of providing services or facilities or supplying plant and machinery on hire for use or to be used in prospecting for, or extraction or production of, mineral oil. He submitted, the assessee has not supplied plants and equipments on hire, but has sold them on outright basis. Thus, he submitted, under no circumstances section 44BB can be made applicable. In support of such contention, he relied upon decisions of the Coordinate Bench in case of Baker Hughes Asia Pacific Ltd. [2014] 47 taxmann.com 1 and Bombardier Transportation GmbH Vs. DCIT [2023] 154 taxmann.com 18 (Delhi Trib.). 8. Per contra, strongly relying upon the observations of the Assessing Officer and learned DRP, learned Departmental Representative submitted that the Catalyst and Proprietary Equipment Supply Agreement stipulates that 10% of the receipts will be paid upon successful completion of test run which, in other words, means that assessees liability does not end with supply of plant and machinery, but end with successful completion of test Thus, he submitted, this indicates the composite nature of contract. 9. We have considered rival submissions in the light of the decisions relied upon and perused the materials on record. As discussed elsewhere in the order, in the year under consideration, the assessee has earned various receipts from number of entities in India, including two public sector undertakings, viz., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and BPCL. Undisputedly, except the receipt amounting to Rs. 89,73,88,390/- from BPCL towards sale/supply of equipment, all other receipts have been offered to tax by the assessee in India as Fees for Technical Services (FTS) under the treaty provisions. Insofar as the receipt from sale/supply of equipment, the assessee has claimed exemption from taxation in India pleading that the sale event completed outside India and transfer of title over the goods completed outside India. Apparently, the departmental authorities have not accepted the aforesaid contention of the assessee and proceeded to tax the receipts from sale/supply of equipment under section 44BB of the Act. Keeping in perspective the aforesaid factual position, following two issues arise for our consideration: (i) Situs of sale event. (ii) Applicability of section 44BB of the Act 10. Insofar as situs of sale is concerned, it is observed, the assessee has entered into the following contracts with BPCL: Contract dated 8 July 2015 Nature of Agreement License and Guarantee Agreement 8 July 2015 Technical Advisory Service Agreement 8 July 2015 BDEP and Engineering Agreement 22 March 2016 Reactor Package Unit Service Agreement 10 June 2016 Catalyst and Proprietary Equipment Supply Agreement 11. As could be seen from the above, the assessee entered into five independent agreements with BPCL, wherein, scope of work has been specifically identified and demarcated. Insofar as agreement for supply of Catalyst and Proprietary Equipment, the purchase order clearly stipulates that the terms of delivery is FOB/FCA Japanese Seaport/Airport/Warehouse. Article 7.02 of the Agreement reads as under: 7.02 Supplier shall procure all the Catalyst and Proprietary Equipment on FOB/ FCA Japanese Seaport/Airport/Warehouse basis as per INCOTERMS 2010. 12. The terms of payment as per Article 5 of the agreement says that 10% of the price has to be paid as advance and 80% of the price has to be paid upon delivery FOB/FCA Japanese Seaport/Airport/Warehouse out of an unconditional irrevocable and documentary Letter of Credit which shall be opened within 30 days of the issuance of companys purchase order. Whereas, balance 10% will be paid upon successful completion of test run. Clause 5.02 stipulates that the payment has to be paid to suppliers account number and the bank specified in suppliers invoice. The bill of lading indicates that freight and charges are payable at the destination only. The invoice for supply of plant and machinery shows that place of delivery is Moji Port, Japan and the value of invoice is on FOB basis. 13. Thus, the aforesaid facts clearly establish that the situs of sale of plant and equipment was in Japan and not within the territory of India. Therefore, in our view, the ratio laid down by the Honble Supreme Court in case of Ishikawajma-Harima Heavy Industries Ltd. (supra) clearly applies to the facts of assessees case and no part of the receipts in dispute is taxable in India as the sale event and transfer of title over the goods have taken place outside the territory of India. 14. Having held so, there is one other aspect to the issue. The departmental authorities have invoked section 44BB of the Act to tax the receipts on presumptive basis. On a reading of the said provision, it is very much clear that it applies to a non-resident, who is either engaged in the business of providing services or facilities in connection with prospecting for, or extraction or production of mineral oils or has supplied plant and machinery on hire, which is used or to be used in prospecting for, or extraction or production of mineral oils. In the facts of the present appeal, admittedly, the assessee is not engaged in the business of providing services or facilities in connection with prospecting for, or extraction or production of mineral oils in India. Neither the assessee has supplied plant and machinery on hire for use or to be used in prospecting for, or extraction or production of mineral oils. The assessee has sold the plant and equipment to BPCL for setting up a plant in its facilities at Kochi. Therefore, in our opinion, the conditions of section 44BB of the Act do not apply. 15. Further, in course of hearing, a specific query was put to learned counsel for the assessee as to how the other receipts were offered to tax in India. In reply, learned counsel has specifically submitted before us that the receipts have been offered as FTS in terms with the provisions contained under India Germany DTAA. The aforesaid contention of learned counsel for the assessee could not be controverted by the Department. If that is so, we are unable to comprehend how the department can mete out different treatments to the receipts of the assessee. In case, the Department was convinced that the assessee had a PE in India all the receipts should have been brought to tax under domestic law, either under section 44BB or section 44DA or section 9(1)(vii) of Act, as the case may be. Further, though, the departmental authorities have concluded that the assessee had a PE in India, however, they have not established how the conditions of Article 5(1) of the tax treaty are satisfied and what is the nature of PE in India. On careful scrutiny of the assessment order and directions of learned DRP, we find that except general observations, no valid reasoning has been provided by the departmental authorities to establish existence of PE. 16. Thus, considering the totality of facts and circumstances of the case, in final analysis, we hold that the receipts from sale/supply of plant and equipment are not taxable in India. Accordingly, ground no. 1 is allowed. 17. Ground no. 2, being premature at this stage and ground no. 3 being a general ground, are dismissed. 18. In view of our decision in the main appeal, the stay application has become infructuous. 19. In the result, the appeal is allowed and the stay application is dismissed. Order pronounced in the open court on 07th February, 2024 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 Internet usersalmost all of usare growing used to seeing requests for consent to gather our information: "Do you accept cookies from this website?" Most of us just click "yes" and continue browsing, rather than bothering with convoluted settings and choices we don't quite understand. Consumers are not too happy with these requests and some even look for ways to avoid them. These pop-ups are in response to recent data protection and privacy regulations, such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation and California's Consumer Privacy Act. Other jurisdictions are looking to implement their own sets of regulations, including Canada, which is in the process of reviewing and modernizing the Privacy Act. Such regulations are intended to limit the collection of data on users and users' exposure to third parties, but our analysis suggests these regulations may not be as effective as intended. Our research has found they actually increase the use of third parties that access user data and decrease competition to the detriment of consumers. Commodification of user data Almost every websiteboth for-profit and not-for-profitcommodifies user data. Within the first three seconds of opening a web page, over 80 third parties on average have accessed your information. The usage of user data by third parties can be helpful, as it is an easy way for companies to earn money and it can easily connect consumers to any resources they are looking for. But third parties can also pose serious privacy threats to consumers, which is why privacy legislation is needed. Privacy threats can result in financial harm to users and society at large. For example, discrimination can be based on any detectable characteristic, including psychographic profiles, age, race, gender, religious affiliation and others. Society at large can be harmed by coordinated attempts to manipulate voters, as was the case with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Moreover, the strategic reaction of the websites to regulation is often overlooked. There is a cat and mouse game in reaction to regulationthey are not a matter of simple compliance. If a regulation says a website has to do X, then a website will react to that limitation and do Y while also doing X. Strategic reactions are not necessarily to avoid compliance, but rather to maximize profit in response to new regulatory requirements. The impact of privacy policies Our research group, consisting of scholars including Ram Gopal from the University of Warwick, Niam Yaraghi from the University of Miami, and Hooman Hidaji, Sule Kutlu and Ray Patterson from the University of Calgary, have spent years studying website privacy and revenue management. Previously, we analyzed the privacy implications of website monetization strategies and the prediction of website trustworthiness by observing their third-party usage. Recently, our focus has shifted to studying the impact of data regulation on consumers and websites to understand the impact of new privacy policies. In our recent study, published in Information Systems Research, we studied the effects of government intervention to protect consumer privacy online. We collected third-party utilization of the most popular 100,000 websites globally when California's Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into effect. Comparing jurisdictions with and without opt-in policies, we found that the implementation of opt-in policies had an unintended effect on the use of third parties: there was a significant increase in the number of third parties when accessing websites from California after CCPA went into effect. We also found that, in markets where some users had relatively low privacy concerns, opt-in laws had the unintended consequence of increasing the number of third parties, thereby increasing the privacy exposure of users. Learning from past mistakes Our findings have important implications for policymakers involved in data protection and privacy regulation. In Canada, where privacy regulation is not yet finalized, there is an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other regulators. As our research has found, opt-in policies are counterproductive in addressing third-party data-sharing concerns and can harm competition. Instead, we recommend using a mix of policies that are used in a more precise manner, rather than the currently preferred one-size-fits-all policies. More precisely targeted mechanisms, such as limited consent requirements and subsidizing websites in particular sectors or industries, motivate competing websites to improve their third-party data sharing. Website subsidization acts like a precise tool, allowing policymakers to impact specific target markets. Opt-in policies, on the other hand, are more comparable to a sledgehammer that uniformly affects all market segments. Rather than globally implementing legislation, we advocate for a combination of policies and local subsidies that are better suited to an industry's specific needs. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Hold from the eleven brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have given a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $80.36. A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on AFL shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $74.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $82.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $61.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Get Aflac alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on AFL Aflac Trading Down 1.0 % Shares of AFL stock opened at $79.38 on Friday. Aflac has a 1 year low of $60.20 and a 1 year high of $86.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $81.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $79.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.93. Aflac (NYSE:AFL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by ($0.22). Aflac had a return on equity of 17.59% and a net margin of 24.92%. The business had revenue of $3.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.29 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Aflac will post 6.43 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity at Aflac In related news, CFO Steven Kent Beaver sold 3,114 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.71, for a total value of $257,558.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 20,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,729,796.94. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Aflac by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 54,208,007 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,160,465,000 after purchasing an additional 605,210 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Aflac by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,645,876 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,929,682,000 after purchasing an additional 366,344 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in Aflac by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 16,415,385 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,145,794,000 after purchasing an additional 107,554 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Aflac by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,918,930 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $829,752,000 after purchasing an additional 30,665 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in Aflac by 9.0% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 9,643,531 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $740,141,000 after purchasing an additional 794,784 shares during the last quarter. 66.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Aflac Company Profile (Get Free Report Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. It operates in two segments, Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aigen Investment Management LP increased its position in shares of BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE:BRBR Free Report) by 513.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 52,703 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 44,107 shares during the period. BellRing Brands accounts for approximately 0.4% of Aigen Investment Management LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position. Aigen Investment Management LPs holdings in BellRing Brands were worth $2,173,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its position in BellRing Brands by 0.8% during the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 37,813 shares of the companys stock worth $1,559,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC boosted its position in BellRing Brands by 1.9% during the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 17,583 shares of the companys stock worth $644,000 after purchasing an additional 323 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in BellRing Brands by 59.2% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,008 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in BellRing Brands by 0.7% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 68,764 shares of the companys stock worth $2,835,000 after purchasing an additional 494 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in BellRing Brands by 4.5% during the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 12,562 shares of the companys stock worth $460,000 after purchasing an additional 538 shares during the period. 94.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get BellRing Brands alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of BellRing Brands from $56.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Truist Financial cut shares of BellRing Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the company from $55.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of BellRing Brands from $47.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of BellRing Brands from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of BellRing Brands from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, BellRing Brands presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $56.08. Insiders Place Their Bets In other BellRing Brands news, Director Elliot Stein, Jr. sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.81, for a total transaction of $57,810.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 24,646 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,424,785.26. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock. BellRing Brands Stock Performance Shares of BellRing Brands stock traded down $1.67 on Friday, hitting $56.34. The stock had a trading volume of 1,667,385 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,393,221. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $55.44 and a 200 day moving average of $47.48. BellRing Brands, Inc. has a twelve month low of $29.13 and a twelve month high of $60.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.44, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.84. BellRing Brands (NYSE:BRBR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 21st. The company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.01. BellRing Brands had a negative return on equity of 56.67% and a net margin of 9.52%. The business had revenue of $472.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $462.65 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.31 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 24.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that BellRing Brands, Inc. will post 1.66 earnings per share for the current year. BellRing Brands Profile (Free Report) BellRing Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various nutrition products in the United States. The company offers ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and other products primarily under the Premier Protein and Dymatize brands. It distributes its products through club, food, drug, mass, eCommerce, specialty, and convenience channels. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BellRing Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BellRing Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich reduced its stake in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Free Report) by 90.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 809 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 7,918 shares during the quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $66,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc increased its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 77.3% during the third quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 328 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 810.8% during the third quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 337 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, West Branch Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 83.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Morgan Stanley alerts: Morgan Stanley Stock Performance MS stock opened at $86.50 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $141.97 billion, a PE ratio of 16.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.44. Morgan Stanley has a 12-month low of $69.42 and a 12-month high of $100.02. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.70. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $88.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $83.72. Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $12.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.77 billion. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 10.33% and a net margin of 9.49%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 6.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st were paid a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 30th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.93%. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio is presently 65.76%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $106.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a market perform rating and set a $91.00 price objective (down previously from $102.00) on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating and set a $87.00 price target (down previously from $94.00) on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Morgan Stanley has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $94.56. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Morgan Stanley Insider Buying and Selling at Morgan Stanley In other Morgan Stanley news, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total transaction of $584,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 97,634 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,158,297.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Morgan Stanley news, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total transaction of $584,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 97,634 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,158,297.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Andrew M. Saperstein sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.13, for a total value of $841,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 323,490 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,215,213.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 208,155 shares of company stock worth $18,149,314. Insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. About Morgan Stanley (Free Report) Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Free Report) had its price objective raised by Citigroup from $60.00 to $65.00 in a research note published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Citigroup currently has a buy rating on the banks stock. Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on BK. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $54.50 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Bank of New York Mellon from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price objective for the company from $52.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $54.75. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on BK Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance Shares of NYSE BK opened at $55.15 on Wednesday. Bank of New York Mellon has a twelve month low of $39.65 and a twelve month high of $56.42. The firm has a market cap of $42.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.89, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a 50 day moving average of $53.51 and a 200 day moving average of $47.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The bank reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $4.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.30 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 10.01% and a return on equity of 11.62%. The firms revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.30 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Bank of New York Mellon will post 5.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 22nd were paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 19th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.05%. Bank of New York Mellons payout ratio is currently 42.32%. Insider Transactions at Bank of New York Mellon In other news, VP Hanneke Smits sold 15,425 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.16, for a total value of $850,843.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 119,656 shares in the company, valued at $6,600,224.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, VP Catherine Keating sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total transaction of $246,535.38. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 123,490 shares in the company, valued at $6,768,486.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Hanneke Smits sold 15,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.16, for a total transaction of $850,843.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 119,656 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,600,224.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Bank of New York Mellon Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 14.5% during the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 5,808 shares of the banks stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 736 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 22.2% in the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 2,557,750 shares of the banks stock valued at $109,088,000 after purchasing an additional 465,229 shares during the period. Czech National Bank grew its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 60.1% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 136,115 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,805,000 after purchasing an additional 51,104 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter valued at about $6,681,000. Finally, Ascent Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 4.9% in the second quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 24,486 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,090,000 after purchasing an additional 1,154 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.29% of the companys stock. About Bank of New York Mellon (Get Free Report) The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shawn Thierry is a candidate for the Harris County 507th Family District Court shown Monday August 1, 2016. Jeremy Carter / Houston Chroni An insensitive statement made by State Rep. Shawn Thierry during her meeting with the Houston Chronicle editorial board has led to backlash about her record on LGBTQ issues. In an editorial in which the board endorsed Lauren Ashley Simmons, the editorial team wrote the following about an exchange at the end of the meeting between the three parties: "After a combative and petty performance that was beyond the debating showmanship we typically see, Thierry again interrupted Simmons during what was supposed to be her closing statement. Simmons, 36, was noting that she had earned the support of three of Thierrys colleagues. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'The gay ones,' Thierry interjected sharply." Those three colleagues Thierry's referring to are state representatives Jessica Gonzalez, Julie Johnson and Ana-Maria Ramos. The statement comes with Thierry facing scrutiny from Democrats since last year after breaking with the party on multiple LGBTQ issues. Thierry last year voted for Senate Bill 14, which banned gender transition care for Texans under 18 years old, and aligned with Republicans on two other bills She gave a 10-minute-or-so speech on the House floor before Senate Bill 14 passed announcing her support for it despite Republicans already having the vote for the bill to pass. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This also isn't the first time Thierry has spoken about people's sexual orientation to the media like this. In a story from Texas Monthly last June about former staffers criticizing Thierry's office as a hostile workplace, Thierry said former staffers were coming forward because she supported measures such as Senate Bill 14. I mean, [redacted] is gay. Yisel was bisexual. I think [redacted] may have been bisexual. I think [redacted] told a consultant that came into the office that she was bisexual," Thierry said. Texas Monthly redacted the names to protect their privacy. The publishing of the editorial led to renewed criticism from some on social media about her record on LGBTQ issues. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Simmons, who uses she/they pronouns, is using the comments to the Houston Chronicle to help raise campaign funds. "My opponent (Thierry) told the Chronicle my 3 state rep endorsers were 'the gay ones.' Donate $3 to our campaign and youll receive a custom #TheGayOnes original digital artwork!" Simmons said on X, formerly known as Twitter, Friday afternoon, Maria Ramos posted Friday she is "honored and proud to be one of #TheGayOnes." Gonzalez reposted the message and said she was proud as well. Johnson also posted her support for Simmons in the aftermath of the editorial. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Lauren is the real deal and will make an excellent State Rep. She also will not discriminate against anyone. Our party and our country need people to unite us not divide us. #thegayones," Johnson posted. Ashton Woods, who is also running in the Democratic primary for House District 146 against Simmons and Thierry, didn't meet with the Houston Chronicle editorial board. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: 2024 Texas Primary Voter Guide Simmons, who entered the Chronicle meeting having already secured some key endorsements from progressive organizations, has received at least two endorsements since the Chronicle decision was announced in Friday's newspaper from Mother Against Greg Abbott PAC and Annie's List. Before the Chronicle endorsement, Simmons had picked up an endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign PAC. The Human Rights Campaign PAC is the country's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The organization said in its endorsement Thierry has "one of the worst records on equality in the Texas legislature." Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI Free Report) had its price target increased by UBS Group from $44.00 to $46.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the stock. BBWI has been the topic of several other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Bath & Body Works from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $41.00 to $27.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of Bath & Body Works from $40.00 to $30.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 17th. Telsey Advisory Group reduced their target price on shares of Bath & Body Works from $52.00 to $42.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Bath & Body Works in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Bath & Body Works from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $45.00 to $30.00 in a report on Thursday, October 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.85. Get Bath & Body Works alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on BBWI Bath & Body Works Price Performance Bath & Body Works stock opened at $45.40 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $42.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $36.93. Bath & Body Works has a 1-year low of $27.30 and a 1-year high of $46.00. The stock has a market cap of $10.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.85. Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 16th. The company reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.13. Bath & Body Works had a net margin of 9.90% and a negative return on equity of 32.64%. The business had revenue of $1.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.56 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.40 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Bath & Body Works will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bath & Body Works Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. Bath & Body Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.08%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. General American Investors Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of Bath & Body Works by 23.3% in the 2nd quarter. General American Investors Co. Inc. now owns 264,592 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,922,000 after buying an additional 50,000 shares during the last quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. grew its position in Bath & Body Works by 180.0% during the 3rd quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. now owns 56,344 shares of the companys stock worth $1,904,000 after purchasing an additional 36,222 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp grew its position in Bath & Body Works by 374.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 195,621 shares of the companys stock worth $7,336,000 after purchasing an additional 154,427 shares during the last quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new position in Bath & Body Works during the 2nd quarter worth $356,000. Finally, Bridger Management LLC purchased a new position in Bath & Body Works during the 2nd quarter worth $13,954,000. 94.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Bath & Body Works (Get Free Report) Bath & Body Works, Inc operates a specialty retailer of home fragrance, body care, and soaps and sanitizer products. It sells its products under the Bath & Body Works, White Barn, and other brand names through retail stores and e-commerce sites located in the United States and Canada, as well as through international stores operated by partners under franchise, license, and wholesale arrangements. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bath & Body Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bath & Body Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 151,860 shares of the network equipment providers stock, valued at approximately $4,220,000. Juniper Networks makes up 2.3% of Cambridge Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of JNPR. Halpern Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Juniper Networks during the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Juniper Networks by 74.1% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,071 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 456 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Juniper Networks by 92.1% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 974 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 467 shares during the period. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in Juniper Networks during the 2nd quarter worth $57,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Juniper Networks by 2,224.7% in the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,976 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 1,891 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.79% of the companys stock. Get Juniper Networks alerts: Juniper Networks Price Performance NYSE:JNPR traded down $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $36.92. 2,049,297 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,064,181. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.80. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $33.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.77. Juniper Networks, Inc. has a 1 year low of $24.87 and a 1 year high of $38.04. The company has a market cap of $11.88 billion, a PE ratio of 38.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.34 and a beta of 0.99. Juniper Networks Dividend Announcement Juniper Networks ( NYSE:JNPR Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The network equipment provider reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.44 by ($0.01). Juniper Networks had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 11.72%. The business had revenue of $1.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.41 billion. Sell-side analysts expect that Juniper Networks, Inc. will post 1.41 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.38%. Juniper Networkss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 92.63%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Juniper Networks news, SVP Robert Mobassaly sold 5,496 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.35, for a total transaction of $199,779.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 30,888 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,122,778.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Anne Delsanto sold 900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.37, for a total value of $25,533.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 25,643 shares of the companys stock, valued at $727,491.91. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Robert Mobassaly sold 5,496 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.35, for a total transaction of $199,779.60. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 30,888 shares in the company, valued at $1,122,778.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 138,262 shares of company stock valued at $4,931,785 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes JNPR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Rosenblatt Securities raised their target price on shares of Juniper Networks from $31.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and issued a $40.00 target price (up previously from $35.00) on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Barclays restated an equal weight rating on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $34.58. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Juniper Networks Juniper Networks Profile (Free Report) Juniper Networks, Inc designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNPR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Juniper Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Juniper Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 34,320 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,116,000. AbbVie accounts for 2.8% of Cambridge Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. raised its position in shares of AbbVie by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 372,189 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,154,000 after purchasing an additional 17,879 shares in the last quarter. DDD Partners LLC raised its position in shares of AbbVie by 9,979.7% in the 2nd quarter. DDD Partners LLC now owns 135,673 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,279,000 after purchasing an additional 134,327 shares in the last quarter. Polar Capital Holdings Plc raised its position in shares of AbbVie by 11.6% in the 2nd quarter. Polar Capital Holdings Plc now owns 358,872 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,351,000 after purchasing an additional 37,368 shares in the last quarter. Altfest L J & Co. Inc. raised its position in shares of AbbVie by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Altfest L J & Co. Inc. now owns 23,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,480,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Torray Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of AbbVie by 13.0% in the 3rd quarter. Torray Investment Partners LLC now owns 21,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,159,000 after purchasing an additional 2,446 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.86% of the companys stock. Get AbbVie alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other AbbVie news, EVP Nicholas Donoghoe sold 2,912 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.72, for a total transaction of $450,544.64. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,903 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,649,312.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. AbbVie Price Performance NYSE:ABBV traded up $0.90 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $177.49. 6,689,902 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,287,807. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $162.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $152.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $319.48 billion, a PE ratio of 65.01, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.57. AbbVie Inc. has a 1-year low of $130.96 and a 1-year high of $178.92. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.59. AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $14.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.02 billion. AbbVie had a return on equity of 154.73% and a net margin of 8.95%. AbbVies revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.60 EPS. Research analysts expect that AbbVie Inc. will post 11.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. AbbVie Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 15th will be given a dividend of $1.55 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 12th. This represents a $6.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.49%. AbbVies payout ratio is presently 227.11%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays raised their price objective on AbbVie from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded AbbVie from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $173.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 11th. HSBC cut AbbVie from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $167.00 to $156.00 in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Raymond James raised their price objective on AbbVie from $181.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on AbbVie from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $175.36. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on AbbVie About AbbVie (Free Report) AbbVie Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Humira, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune, intestinal Behcet's diseases, and pyoderma gangrenosum; Skyrizi to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic disease, and Crohn's disease; Rinvoq, a JAK inhibitor to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, axial spondyloarthropathy, and ulcerative colitis; Imbruvica for the treatment of adult patients with blood cancers; and Venclexta/Venclyxto to treat hematological malignancies. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABBV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AbbVie Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AbbVie and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Channing Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 5.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 182,708 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 10,613 shares during the period. Channing Capital Management LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $7,465,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Studio Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 53.0% during the 3rd quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 803 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Central Bank & Trust Co. increased its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 444.8% during the 3rd quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co. now owns 899 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.47% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have commented on WFC shares. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a $51.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Robert W. Baird restated a neutral rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target 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. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $51.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.43. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:WFC traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $51.91. The company had a trading volume of 24,359,733 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,672,132. The companys 50 day moving average price is $49.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $44.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market cap of $188.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.18. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52-week low of $35.25 and a 52-week high of $52.45. 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 for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.30). The company had revenue of $20.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.30 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.40% and a net margin of 16.60%. Wells Fargo & Companys quarterly revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.67 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.05%. Wells Fargo & Company 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. Read More 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. CI Investments Inc. decreased its holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG Free Report) by 7.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,639,663 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 137,259 shares during the quarter. Cheniere Energy accounts for about 1.5% of CI Investments Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 12th largest holding. CI Investments Inc. owned 0.69% of Cheniere Energy worth $272,118,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Glenview Trust co raised its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 14.1% in the 3rd quarter. Glenview Trust co now owns 2,925 shares of the energy companys stock worth $485,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the period. Mirabella Financial Services LLP acquired a new position in Cheniere Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $13,446,000. Loews Corp raised its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Loews Corp now owns 100,000 shares of the energy companys stock worth $16,596,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 4.7% during the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 16,622 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $2,758,000 after acquiring an additional 746 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 46.6% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 149,501 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $24,811,000 after acquiring an additional 47,519 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.86% of the companys stock. Get Cheniere Energy alerts: Cheniere Energy Price Performance Shares of NYSEAMERICAN LNG traded up $1.41 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $160.37. The company had a trading volume of 1,731,801 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,801,115. The stock has a market cap of $38.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.17, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.02. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 1-year low of $135.30 and a 1-year high of $183.46. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $162.80. Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 6th will be paid a $0.435 dividend. This represents a $1.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 5th. Cheniere Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 3.44%. A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Barclays increased their target price on Cheniere Energy from $192.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Mizuho increased their target price on Cheniere Energy from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Cheniere Energy from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $198.70. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on LNG About Cheniere Energy (Free Report) Cheniere Energy, Inc, an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile pipeline interconnecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with various interstate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LNG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cheniere Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cheniere Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lessened its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report) by 79.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,049 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 15,637 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $150,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of DAL. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 495.7% in the 3rd quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 685 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 570 shares during the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 55.2% in the 3rd quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 874 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.29% of the companys stock. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Insider Activity at Delta Air Lines In related news, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 71,840 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.20, for a total value of $2,816,128.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 428,768 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,807,705.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock. Delta Air Lines Trading Down 2.1 % NYSE DAL opened at $40.12 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The firms fifty day moving average price is $40.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.69. The company has a market capitalization of $25.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.42. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 12 month low of $30.60 and a 12 month high of $49.81. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The transportation company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $14.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.55 billion. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 7.94% and a return on equity of 46.35%. The companys revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th will be given a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 23rd. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.59%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have recently commented on DAL. TheStreet upgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $55.54. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on DAL Delta Air Lines Company Profile (Free Report) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of HSBC Holdings plc (LON:HSBA Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 787.60 ($9.95). A number of research firms recently commented on HSBA. Royal Bank of Canada cut HSBC to a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 820 ($10.36) price objective on shares of HSBC in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Get HSBC alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on HSBA HSBC Price Performance HSBC Company Profile Shares of LON:HSBA opened at GBX 638.80 ($8.07) on Friday. The company has a market cap of 122.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 586.06, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.59. HSBC has a 1 year low of GBX 512.30 ($6.47) and a 1 year high of GBX 665.60 ($8.41). The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 617.66 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 616.24. (Get Free Report HSBC Holdings plc provides banking and financial services worldwide. The company operates through Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets segments. The Wealth and Personal Banking segment offers retail banking and wealth products, including current and savings accounts, mortgages and personal loans, credit and debit cards, and local and international payment services; and wealth management services comprising insurance and investment products, global asset management services, investment management, and private wealth solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for HSBC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HSBC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CI Investments Inc. cut its position in Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report) by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 475,077 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 5,588 shares during the quarter. Humana accounts for 1.3% of CI Investments Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. CI Investments Inc. owned 0.39% of Humana worth $231,134,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HUM. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in Humana during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Humana during the second quarter worth $29,000. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Humana by 81.0% during the second quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 76 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the period. Baystate Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Humana by 84.1% during the second quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 81 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Humana during the third quarter worth $39,000. 91.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Humana alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have weighed in on HUM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Humana from $593.00 to $575.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 17th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Humana from $507.00 to $415.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Humana from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $595.00 to $360.00 in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Humana from $550.00 to $400.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded shares of Humana from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $597.00 to $391.00 in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $506.72. Humana Price Performance Shares of HUM stock traded up $2.94 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $366.92. 954,781 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,642,619. Humana Inc. has a 12 month low of $342.69 and a 12 month high of $541.21. The company has a market cap of $45.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.51, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.46. The companys 50 day moving average price is $422.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $468.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.59. Humana (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The insurance provider reported ($0.11) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.76 by ($0.87). The business had revenue of $26.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.47 billion. Humana had a return on equity of 19.44% and a net margin of 2.34%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.62 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Humana Inc. will post 16.03 earnings per share for the current year. Humana Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a $0.885 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.96%. Humanas dividend payout ratio is currently 17.86%. About Humana (Free Report) Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Humana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Hold from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have assigned a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $2,700.00. IHG has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Berenberg Bank cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 14th. StockNews.com cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, Societe Generale cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Get InterContinental Hotels Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on IHG Hedge Funds Weigh In On InterContinental Hotels Group InterContinental Hotels Group Stock Up 0.2 % A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Morgan Stanley grew its position in InterContinental Hotels Group by 23.3% in the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 829,220 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,984,000 after buying an additional 156,778 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its position in InterContinental Hotels Group by 41.3% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 632,644 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,546,000 after buying an additional 185,045 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its position in InterContinental Hotels Group by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 617,076 shares of the companys stock valued at $56,265,000 after buying an additional 40,358 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in InterContinental Hotels Group by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 617,029 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,123,000 after buying an additional 12,902 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in InterContinental Hotels Group by 17.8% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 615,685 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,375,000 after buying an additional 92,907 shares during the last quarter. 5.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Shares of NYSE:IHG opened at $97.76 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $93.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $81.93. InterContinental Hotels Group has a fifty-two week low of $63.12 and a fifty-two week high of $98.40. About InterContinental Hotels Group (Get Free Report InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, avid, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites brand names. See Also Receive News & Ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pearl River Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Otis Worldwide Co. (NYSE:OTIS Free Report) by 87.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 31,669 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 14,817 shares during the quarter. Pearl River Capital LLCs holdings in Otis Worldwide were worth $2,543,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Qtron Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Otis Worldwide by 13.5% in the 3rd quarter. Qtron Investments LLC now owns 11,200 shares of the companys stock worth $899,000 after buying an additional 1,336 shares during the last quarter. Prospector Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Otis Worldwide by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Prospector Partners LLC now owns 121,415 shares of the companys stock worth $9,751,000 after buying an additional 350 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its position in shares of Otis Worldwide by 30.5% in the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 370,525 shares of the companys stock worth $29,938,000 after buying an additional 86,596 shares during the last quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC increased its holdings in shares of Otis Worldwide by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 3,448,272 shares of the companys stock worth $276,931,000 after acquiring an additional 59,211 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Otis Worldwide by 28.9% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 483,820 shares of the companys stock worth $38,856,000 after acquiring an additional 108,578 shares during the period. 85.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Otis Worldwide alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Judith Fran Marks sold 37,312 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.83, for a total transaction of $3,426,360.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 192,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,660,653.77. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades OTIS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Vertical Research cut shares of Otis Worldwide from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Otis Worldwide from $97.00 to $95.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Otis Worldwide in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Otis Worldwide from $87.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $90.67. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on OTIS Otis Worldwide Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:OTIS traded down $0.98 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $91.24. 1,967,582 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,091,532. Otis Worldwide Co. has a 52 week low of $73.32 and a 52 week high of $92.79. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $89.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $84.90. The company has a market cap of $36.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.91 and a beta of 1.00. Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.02. Otis Worldwide had a net margin of 9.90% and a negative return on equity of 30.75%. The company had revenue of $3.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.57 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.75 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Otis Worldwide Co. will post 3.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Otis Worldwide Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. Otis Worldwides dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.12%. Otis Worldwide Company Profile (Free Report) Otis Worldwide Corporation engages in manufacturing, installation, and servicing of elevators and escalators in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, New Equipment and Service. The New Equipment segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs a range of passenger and freight elevators, as well as escalators and moving walkways for residential and commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OTIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Otis Worldwide Co. (NYSE:OTIS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Otis Worldwide Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Otis Worldwide and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. District Attorney race Houston Chronicle It took nearly three years for Alfred Washington to finally walk free after sitting in a Harris County Jail cell awaiting trial for a murder he insisted he didnt commit. It took only one day of trial for a judge to conclude prosecutors didnt have the evidence to bring the case in the first place. Few in the media took notice. But the dismissal of Washingtons case wasnt the only failure for the Harris County District Attorneys Office in December 2021. In a seven-day span, prosecutors lost five total cases, including three involving murder and two involving sexual assault charges. It wasnt simply a bad week. It appears to be part of a troubling pattern of poor judgment. When we endorsed Harris Countys top prosecutor, District Attorney Kim Ogg, for a second term in 2020, we credited the Democrat with prioritizing a fair criminal justice process that engenders trust in the system. We have applauded her bold reforms and brave calls, such as diverting low-level marijuana cases, ending prosecutions of people found with trace amounts of drugs, tossing wrongful convictions, supporting unpopular exonerations of innocent men, and instituting a cultural sea change that prioritizes justice above winning. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and her challenger for the Democratic primary, Sean Teare talk with the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and her challenger for the Democratic primary, Sean Teare talk with the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and her challenger for the Democratic primary, Sean Teare talk with the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer The exoneration of innocent individuals is as important as the conviction of guilty ones, Ogg said after the exoneration of Lydell Grant in 2021, flipping the script of some of her predecessors. The highest responsibility of a prosecutor is to see that justice is done. Nearly four years later, with a string of high-profile case losses on her record, a stubbornly high backlog of criminal cases dating back to Hurricane Harvey, a reputation for mercurial management, frayed relationships with the commissioners who fund her office, and a perception that she lets personal grudges and politics cloud her judgment, she has lost some of that trust. Even among once-ardent supporters. That includes Sean Teare, the former prosecutor now vying for her job in the Democratic primary. He says he returned in 2017 to the DAs office from private practice specifically to work for Ogg, who immediately promoted him to lead the vehicular crimes division. Over time, he says he observed how Oggs decisions and shortcomings as a manager affected the agencys mission to protect public safety: Im running to restore the integrity, to restore the competence in that office, Teare told this editorial board in a side-by-side interview with Ogg. He added: What you havent heard in seven and a half years is the elected DA admit that shes part of the problem and in some cases, the problem. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To be clear, the DAs office isnt an island. Its part of an intricate system in which stakeholders such as prosecutors, police, judges, forensic lab staff and politicians weighing budget requests must depend on each other to keep the gears of justice turning. No matter what. No matter if a hurricane floods the courthouse, as happened in 2017, or a global pandemic sends crime surging, as happened from 2020 through 2022. In her own office, which processes tens of thousands of criminal cases each year, Ogg, 64, often must delegate life-altering decisions to her subordinates. VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know for the 2024 Texas Primary We cant micromanage every case, Ogg told us. So, we rely upon the training weve provided them and the supervision that we try to provide them to make the best decision based on their judgment at the time. Even so, Ogg is responsible for overarching decisions that influence everything from employee morale to public trust in the criminal justice system to outcomes in the courtroom. Incidentally, our concerns with endorsing her for a third term are not necessarily the same that led county Democratic precinct chairs to vote 129-61 to admonish Ogg for not adequately representing Democratic values. Their complaints included Oggs investigation of fellow Democratic officeholders. In our view, Ogg was justified if not duty-bound to investigate elected officials regardless of party. We make no bones about Ogg doing her job; were concerned shes not doing it effectively enough. Alfred Washingtons charge in the 2017 murder of Angelique Stafford, a mother of five shot to death in a Houston supermarket parking lot, is an example of poor judgment by Oggs prosecutors: a case with dubious evidence built off shoddy police work that should have been flagged well before trial and was ultimately dismissed in embarrassing fashion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An eyewitness identified Washington as a suspect. His attorney, Beth Exley, said he had a solid alibi that Houston police didnt investigate, and that police were also aware of a possible alternate suspect, Washingtons son, who bore a striking resemblance to his father. At trial, the states eyewitness took the stand and confidently pointed to Washington as the shooter. But the case fell apart when Exley showed the witness a photo of Washingtons son and asked him who it was. The witness again pointed at the elder Washington. The case was dismissed due to identification issues. Exley previously worked for the DAs office and was one of 37 veteran prosecutors Ogg fired as part of a changing of the guard when she took office in January 2017, an exodus that Ogg critics believe robbed the office of crucial institutional knowledge. She acknowledged that Ogg likely knew little of the details in the Washington case, considering her offices massive volume of cases. Still, Exley was baffled that nobody in the chain of command questioned whether prosecutors had the goods to even try the murder case, let alone get a conviction. Youve got prosecutors and division chiefs underneath (Ogg) who are not bringing it to her attention, Exley told us. Whether its because they dont know what theyre doing or theyre so afraid to go up and say, Hey, weve got this bad guy thats been sitting in jail for 18 months and now we think maybe hes not guilty, can we dismiss it? But I know that I made them aware of all these issues in relation to this case. A DA spokesman said prosecutors knew the case would be tough, but they believed they could poke a hole in Washingtons alibi and prove that he was the shooter. The number of times judges have found that a prosecutors case didnt meet the lowest burden of proof have doubled since Ogg took office. In 2022, the period examined in a Houston Chronicle investigation, more than 4,500 criminal cases were found to have no probable cause. Advertisement Article continues below this ad FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Voting in Houston's March 5 primary election That issue may stem in part from oft-criticized changes Ogg made early on to the intake division, a team of prosecutors who take calls from police in the field to assess whether evidence is strong enough to accept criminal charges. Its an extra level of screening that doesnt exist in many counties, where law enforcement officers can file charges without consulting with a DA gatekeeper. Before Ogg, intake was a rotating shift open only to experienced prosecutors with felony or misdemeanor trial experience. They earned overtime pay by working nights and weekend shifts. Ogg got rid of overtime pay, citing budget constraints, and assigned more than two dozen prosecutors on a permanent basis. Ogg has also asked senior prosecutors to oversee intake shifts on weekends without overtime pay. Ogg said she made the change to bring consistency to the process but more than a dozen people we spoke to in the legal and law enforcement communities argue its done the opposite, weakening a critical safeguard against dubious prosecutions that waste time and resources and alter the lives of those wrongly accused. Ogg showed us a list of intake prosecutors, indicating some have decades of experience, but critics say longevity doesnt always mean relevant experience or quality. An outside consulting firm hired by county commissioners seemed to agree, concluding in 2022 that intake was staffed by too many unseasoned or unqualified attorneys, many lacking trial experience. Its not just a political attack, Teare told us. Intake is broken. He said hed promptly reverse Oggs changes. Teare says Washingtons case isnt an outlier and that his opponents administration has been rife with mismanagement, leading to low morale and a culture of fear among rank-and-file prosecutors wary of running afoul of her and her leadership team. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We had these cases that should have never been indicted, but you had people terrified of even going to the administration and asking for murders to be dismissed, Teare told us. A real DAs office does not lose three murders in a week, period, full stop. Teare, 44, worked as a Harris County prosecutor for 11 years, trying both misdemeanor and felony cases. Hes tried two capital murders to verdict and personally handled 10 others. He also served on the DAs Capital Committee for six years, a group of senior prosecutors who sign off on every capital plea bargain and decide whether to pursue the death penalty. He resigned last year to run for her job. Teare has a reputation as a diligent prosecutor, and he notes that losing his mother to heroin overdose exposed him to flaws in the criminal justice system and the need for holistic approaches to crimes related to drug addiction and mental health. Those we talked to who have worked with Teare describe him as bright, affable and fair-minded, albeit with a knack for self-promotion, especially when TV cameras are present. Some suspect that he jumped at the vehicular crimes post because it comes with relatively high visibility. Teare often made crime scene coverage on the nightly news, but at least one law enforcement source insisted he made lower-profile scenes, too. We see bright potential in Teare as a leader. One exchange that stood out in our screening came after Teare described an example of leadership hed like to emulate to build morale and employee loyalty. He said former U.S. Attorney Ken Magidson, who was appointed to oversee the DAs office for a time after Chuck Rosenthals resignation, would stop by for brief, casual visits with junior prosecutors just to check how they were doing. Ogg seemed oddly dismissive, arguing that pay raises are the key motivator. Both, of course, would be ideal. Teare seems to be running as the more progressive Democrat in the race, but rejects any notion that he might be lenient on those who threaten public safety; he says hed be smart on crime instead. We hope hed be just as diligent in rooting out corruption, regardless of party affiliation. Frankly, we dont see much ideological daylight in their policy views, with one exception: bail practices. While both candidates maintain that they dont believe in jailing non-violent, low-level defendants merely because theyre too poor to afford bail, Ogg has waffled on the issue. After initially expressing support for misdemeanor bail reform as a candidate in 2016, she ended up opposing a settlement to end Harris Countys unconstitutional system of poverty jailing. Ogg says her opposition was specific to the settlement and not its overall goal. But later, as crime surged during the pandemic, Ogg claimed that the implementation of bail reform was a driving factor in the crime crisis gripping our community. In an October 2021 editorial, we took Ogg to task for seemingly scapegoating misdemeanor bail reform, in part with a flawed report that didnt account for a long-festering courthouse backlog and mischaracterized data to skew how many defendants were re-offending or missing court dates. Her rhetoric seemed to mirror that of partisan Republican objections to bail reform and even those of bondsmen, who have a financial incentive to oppose bail reform. Incidentally, were troubled by Oggs financial support from the bail bond industry, including more than $56,000 in a recent reporting period. READ MORE: Houston Chronicle Politcal coverage Teare, who vowed to refuse contributions from the bail bond industry, supports misdemeanor bail reform, and actually said he would push the Legislature to phase out cash bail. He wants, as we do, to see Texas move closer to the federal system in which judges' decisions on whether to detain someone without bond are based on assessments of flight risk or danger to the community. My only vehicle right now, in the vast majority of cases, is a cash number to hold people that I can prove to a magistrate are a danger, so I will use that, Teare said. But I dont believe we should be tying it to money. This position, we should note, is one shared by many Republican criminal justice experts, including Nathan Hecht, the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Teare says his transition from an Ogg supporter to a rival was spurred, in part, by her actions after county commissioners in 2019 rebuffed her request for a 31 percent budget increase to hire 102 additional assistant DAs and more than 40 support staff, a request we supported in part because it would help her clear the growing case backlog. Commissioners increased her budget by only 7 percent. What followed was a succession of investigations against county politicians namely County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and aides for County Judge Lina Hidalgo, both fellow Democrats and public statements critical of bail reform and accused commissioners of defunding her office by not giving her the exact dollar figure she asked for in budget requests. In Ellis case, Ogg investigated whether he was illegally storing hundreds of pieces of African art in a government warehouse on the taxpayers dime. While a grand jury declined to charge Ellis, Ogg issued a statement saying that while Ellis actions were not illegal, taxpayers deserved to have their dollars spent wisely and in a transparent manner. In Hidalgos case, Ogg has already indicted three of her former aides on felony charges, accusing them of giving inside information to a political consulting firm with Democratic ties to help them win an $11 million COVID-19 vaccine outreach contract in June 2021. Whats troubling about that case, however, is Oggs decision to hire an outside lawyer, Rachel Palmer Hooper, a former Harris County prosecutor who is now general counsel to the Texas Republican Party, to investigate Hidalgos aides. As the Houston Landing reported, Hoopers husband is a conservative blogger who has blasted Hidalgo, Ellis and other local Democrats as Marxists. Meanwhile, Ogg has been criticized for closing a case against Houston attorney and GOP activist Jared Woodfill, who was accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from his clients trust accounts. Earlier this month, a former client of Woodfills asked state and federal investigators to re-examine the case, alleging that Ogg mishandled it and that she was improperly influenced by Rachel Hooper. Ogg disputed any improper influence and said she allowed the time clock to run out on the case because she wasnt convinced of its merit and remained concerned about the ham-fisted way DA investigators had raided Woodfills office. Even if thats true, theres no excuse for Ogg appointing Hooper, a highly partisan Republican to probe Hidalgo, a liberal lightning rod. Ogg, a savvy politician, should have known bad optics dont inspire trust. Ogg contends that Teares acceptance of Hidalgos endorsement in the primary qualifies as a conflict of interest. Teare currently works for the law firm of defense attorney Dan Cogdell, who is representing Hidalgos aides in their criminal case. Teare says that he has been walled off from any involvement. The case files, he said, are password protected and he claimed he has never seen a shred of evidence uncovered in the investigation, either as a prosecutor or as a defense attorney. Even so, Teare vowed if elected to recuse himself from the Hidalgo investigation on day one a move that would seem to signal his commitment to integrity and awareness of optics. Its the way it should be, you have to remove politics from the actual job of the DA, Teare said. Teare is neither an activist nor a soft on crime reformer. His critiques of Oggs leadership are not gratuitous, but substantive and specific. Even Ogg acknowledged his reputation for being an aggressive prosecutor whom she took an interest in promoting to lead an important division. We believe he is sincere in his desire to boost morale through effective leadership and restore integrity among the rank-and-file prosecutors, to recruit and retain qualified staff, and ensure that defendants have honest brokers evaluating their cases. Pearl River Capital LLC increased its stake in Ford Motor (NYSE:F Free Report) by 174.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 332,161 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after purchasing an additional 211,037 shares during the quarter. Ford Motor accounts for 0.6% of Pearl River Capital LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Pearl River Capital LLCs holdings in Ford Motor were worth $4,125,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in F. Meridian Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Ford Motor by 86.4% during the third quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 657,842 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $8,170,000 after buying an additional 304,923 shares during the period. TIAA Trust National Association bought a new stake in Ford Motor during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,104,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its position in Ford Motor by 110.5% during the third quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 700,928 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $8,460,000 after buying an additional 367,977 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in Ford Motor by 44.1% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 777,055 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $9,651,000 after buying an additional 237,763 shares during the period. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems purchased a new stake in Ford Motor in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,776,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 52.73% of the companys stock. Get Ford Motor alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on F shares. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Ford Motor from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. BNP Paribas lowered shares of Ford Motor from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $12.00 target price for the company. in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $12.00 target price on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Monday, December 4th. They issued a hold rating and a $11.30 target price for the company. Finally, UBS Group downgraded Ford Motor from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $12.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $13.81. Ford Motor Price Performance F stock traded down $0.22 during trading on Friday, hitting $12.30. 43,228,567 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 66,005,908. Ford Motor has a 52 week low of $9.63 and a 52 week high of $15.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.20. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.62. Ford Motor (NYSE:F Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.17. Ford Motor had a net margin of 2.47% and a return on equity of 18.95%. The business had revenue of $43.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $43.06 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.51 earnings per share. Ford Motors quarterly revenue was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Ford Motor will post 1.88 EPS for the current fiscal year. Ford Motor Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a yield of 4.7%. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.56%. Insider Buying and Selling at Ford Motor In other news, insider John Douglas Field acquired 182,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $11.05 per share, with a total value of $2,011,100.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 720,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,957,944.80. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Ford Motor (Free Report) Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding F? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ford Motor (NYSE:F Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ford Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ford Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Princeton Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 47.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,052 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 8,312 shares during the period. Visa makes up approximately 1.0% of Princeton Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Princeton Capital Management LLCs holdings in Visa were worth $2,082,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Glenview Trust co raised its holdings in Visa by 12.3% in the 3rd quarter. Glenview Trust co now owns 95,702 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $22,012,000 after buying an additional 10,494 shares during the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP raised its holdings in Visa by 64.5% in the 3rd quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 3,951 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $909,000 after buying an additional 1,549 shares during the last quarter. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Visa by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 1,368 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $315,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Pearl River Capital LLC bought a new position in Visa in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $6,158,000. Finally, Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Visa by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 34,912 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $8,030,000 after buying an additional 531 shares during the last quarter. 81.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Visa alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Visa In other Visa news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of Visa stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total transaction of $729,271.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,365,954.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Visa news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total value of $729,271.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,365,954.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Rajat Taneja sold 7,811 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $253.17, for a total value of $1,977,510.87. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 232,112 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $58,763,795.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 88,272 shares of company stock valued at $23,395,328 in the last quarter. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have issued reports on V. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Visa in a report on Tuesday, December 5th. They set an outperform rating and a $280.00 price target for the company. Monness Crespi & Hardt initiated coverage on shares of Visa in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. They set a neutral rating for the company. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Visa from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of Visa from $300.00 to $326.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Visa in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $290.55. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on V Visa Stock Performance Shares of NYSE V traded down $2.42 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $278.56. 6,630,744 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,676,690. Visa Inc. has a 52 week low of $208.76 and a 52 week high of $281.12. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $266.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $250.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $511.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.45. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.07. Visa had a return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 53.92%. The business had revenue of $8.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.55 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.18 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Visa Inc. will post 9.91 EPS for the current year. Visa Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 8th. Visas payout ratio is presently 23.94%. Visa Company Profile (Free Report) Visa Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding V? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 54,059 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock, valued at approximately $5,119,000. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Finally, Steward Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 77.1% during the 2nd quarter. Steward Financial Group LLC now owns 317 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the period. 91.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get LyondellBasell Industries alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded LyondellBasell Industries from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $95.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $107.00 target price on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a report on Monday, February 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut LyondellBasell Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $105.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Vertical Research upgraded LyondellBasell Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Citigroup cut LyondellBasell Industries from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $105.00 to $98.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $100.92. LyondellBasell Industries Stock Performance Shares of LyondellBasell Industries stock opened at $97.70 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $31.69 billion, a PE ratio of 15.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.18. LyondellBasell Industries has a 12 month low of $81.24 and a 12 month high of $102.04. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $95.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $95.19. LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.33 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $9.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.85 billion. LyondellBasell Industries had a net margin of 5.16% and a return on equity of 21.89%. LyondellBasell Industriess revenue for the quarter was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.29 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that LyondellBasell Industries will post 8.86 EPS for the current fiscal year. LyondellBasell Industries Company Profile (Free Report) LyondellBasell Industries N.V. operates as a chemical company in the United States, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Poland, France, Japan, China, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company operates in six segments: Olefins and PolyolefinsAmericas; Olefins and PolyolefinsEurope, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LYB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for LyondellBasell Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LyondellBasell Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. QRG Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 89,809 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $4,930,000. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 54.2% in the 2nd quarter. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC now owns 135,940 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,705,000 after purchasing an additional 47,792 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 21.4% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 3,839 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $218,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 43.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 551,682 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,287,000 after purchasing an additional 166,316 shares in the last quarter. Act Two Investors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $13,488,000. Finally, 180 Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 32,214 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,769,000 after purchasing an additional 1,843 shares in the last quarter. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Performance NYSE:SCHW opened at $64.40 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $65.62 and a 200-day moving average of $60.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $114.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.35, a P/E/G ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The Charles Schwab Co. has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $81.32. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.49 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 22.07%. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.07 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.33 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.55%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.37%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, December 1st. They set a sell rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the stock from $75.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $69.69. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on SCHW Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab In other Charles Schwab news, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 12,208 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.28, for a total transaction of $748,106.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,722,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $105,548,672. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Charles Schwab news, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 12,208 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.28, for a total transaction of $748,106.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,722,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $105,548,672. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total transaction of $257,960.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 37,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,425,533.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 43,760 shares of company stock worth $2,731,159. 6.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). 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. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 5.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,364 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 357 shares during the quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $3,209,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Robbins Farley purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 340.0% in the third quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 66 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter worth approximately $35,000. Annapolis Financial Services LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 38.6% in the third quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 79 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the period. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.69% of the companys stock. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance Shares of UNH stock traded up $0.67 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $521.55. 2,135,586 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,441,625. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $522.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $518.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $482.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.54. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $445.68 and a 12-month high of $554.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.79. Insider Buying and Selling UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.98 by $0.18. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.39% and a net margin of 6.02%. The firm had revenue of $94.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $92.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.34 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.84 EPS for the current year. In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total value of $36,370,321.59. Following the sale, the director now owns 635,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $349,788,255.92. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNH. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $587.00 to $579.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $605.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Oppenheimer restated an outperform rating and set a $610.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $575.79. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on UNH UnitedHealth Group Company Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stokes Family Office LLC cut its stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJJ Free Report) by 0.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 21,010 shares of the companys stock after selling 145 shares during the quarter. Stokes Family Office LLCs holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF were worth $2,121,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the third quarter worth $61,000. Lido Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 4.3% during the second quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 282,946 shares of the companys stock worth $30,312,000 after purchasing an additional 11,647 shares during the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc lifted its position in shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 34.6% during the second quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 16,176 shares of the companys stock worth $1,734,000 after purchasing an additional 4,161 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 16.9% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,702 shares of the companys stock worth $504,000 after purchasing an additional 679 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF during the second quarter worth $22,863,000. Get iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF alerts: iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:IJJ traded down $0.76 on Friday, hitting $111.86. 114,076 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 224,717. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.54 and a beta of 1.17. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF has a 12 month low of $92.79 and a 12 month high of $115.39. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $111.89 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $105.83. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Company Profile iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF, formerly iShares S&P MidCap 400 Value Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index (the Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Terex Co. (NYSE:TEX Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $63.58. TEX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Bank of America reissued an underperform rating and set a $57.00 price target on shares of Terex in a research report on Friday, January 19th. UBS Group cut shares of Terex from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $61.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Terex from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. StockNews.com cut shares of Terex from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Terex from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the company from $73.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Get Terex alerts: View Our Latest Report on Terex Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other Terex news, Director David A. Sachs purchased 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $51.16 per share, with a total value of $1,279,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 62,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,197,500. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other news, CEO John L. Garrison, Jr. sold 45,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.00, for a total transaction of $2,655,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 492,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,035,139. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, Director David A. Sachs acquired 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $51.16 per share, for a total transaction of $1,279,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 62,500 shares in the company, valued at $3,197,500. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of Terex by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 71,909 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,133,000 after purchasing an additional 2,128 shares during the last quarter. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB acquired a new position in Terex in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,300,000. Legal & General Group Plc grew its stake in Terex by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 108,021 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $6,207,000 after buying an additional 1,102 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its stake in Terex by 64.2% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 216,239 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $12,426,000 after buying an additional 84,540 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Terex by 17.8% in the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 266,491 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $15,313,000 after buying an additional 40,257 shares during the last quarter. 93.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Terex Price Performance TEX opened at $55.31 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $58.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $55.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 2.01. Terex has a 52 week low of $41.89 and a 52 week high of $65.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.71 billion, a PE ratio of 7.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.67. Terex (NYSE:TEX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The industrial products company reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.41. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.23 billion. Terex had a net margin of 10.06% and a return on equity of 32.89%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Terex will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current year. Terex Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.23%. Terexs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.96%. Terex Company Profile (Get Free Report Terex Corporation manufactures and sells aerial work platforms and materials processing machinery worldwide. It operates in two segments, Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) and Materials Processing (MP). The AWP segment designs, manufactures, services, and markets aerial work platform equipment, utility equipment, and telehandlers under the Terex and Genie brands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Terex Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Terex and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office employee placed on paid administrative leave this month was charged after a womans complaint about an altercation. Davonte Dominique Taylor, 31, of Rocky Mount, was charged Jan. 6 with misdemeanor assault and battery, according to an executed arrest warrant filed in Franklin County General District Court. Taylor is a deputy with the county sheriffs office, according to sources familiar with the incident. Taylors executed warrant identifies Koryne Destiny Elaine Austin as the victim of the assault incident, which occurred Jan. 4. She submitted a written criminal complaint Jan. 5. According to the warrant, on Jan. 4 Austin and Taylor were engaged in an altercation when he grabbed her left bicep, bruising her arm. He was screaming with his face very close to my face and pointing his finger at me, she wrote in her complaint. I told him to get out of my face and he pushed me down on his bed. In his hallway a few minutes later he pushed my head into the wall. I fell down immediately, Austin continued. I have a bruise on my right elbow and on my front right leg below knee as a result of the fall. Austin said Taylor stepped on her hair and threw her belongings, including makeup products, at her. He was continuing to follow me around screaming at me during the entirety of the altercation, Austins complaint concluded. I have told him multiple times to stop contacting me. Roanoke-area lawyer John Lichtenstein confirmed Tuesday that he had been retained as Taylors counsel, but he said he was not able to make any other comments. A General District Court hearing in Taylors case is scheduled for Feb. 14, according to Virginias online court case information system. The sheriffs office said Friday that the Virginia State Police is investigating Austins criminal complaint while the county office conducts its own internal investigation into the allegations. Staff writer Jason Dunovant contributed to this report. A hidden gem that suits everyone's taste By Le Huong/Vietnam News Sun, February 18, 2024 | 2:00 pm GMT+7 Coffee and Vietnam go hand in hand. And for the millions of foreign visitors coming here each year, a real taste of Vietnam can be found on pavements in cities nationwide. There are thousands of cafes serving endless cups of coffee each day. And forget about your instant brew, if you want to really experience Vietnamese coffee culture, you must delve into its history. One establishment in the capital city may not be on the tourist trial, but foreign visitors should certainly seek it out because here, unlike most other shops, coffee is really brewed the old fashioned way - with beans roasted on a wood fire. The cafe has been a popular destination to many Hanoians. Photo courtesy of Cafe Thai. Local coffee lovers are all too aware of Trieu Viet Vuong street. Cafe Thai roasts beans on a wood fire just as they did when they first opened in 1926. The cafe is run by the fourth generation of the original owner. According to Nguyen Van Thuan, grandson of the cafe's founder, said: The quality of coffee has been maintained in the traditional way of Hanoians and has been increasingly enhanced from stages of selecting materials, processing, roasting, grinding, and serving. Although the type of coffee bean has changed over the years the method remains the same. To this Cafe Thai brand name, we still keep the traditional way of roasting and grinding coffee beans like that since the first days we opened, he said. In the beginning, my parents roasted coffee beans in a saucepan on a wood fire. Then they roasted coffee beans in a cylindrical metal coffee roaster. Now we use a coffee roaster machine that can automatically change the spinning speed on a wood fire. Nguyen uc Hieu enthuses with his special coffee bean roasting on a firewood oven. Photo by Vietnam News/Le Huong. Thuan said the shop now has secured stable material sources from Buon Me Thuot, Nghe An and Son La provinces. We select the best coffee strains from these regions to process into this drink, he said. He also said the shop uses pure coffee beans with a certain proportion of Robusta and Arabica to offer the best-balanced flavour. Coffee beans are roasted on wood fire and they absorb the woods scent to create an unforgettable taste. Coffee aficionados are loyal to this shop. Le Van Hung, in his late 70s, said: I drink coffee here every day since the owners great-grandfather ran the shop. He said though he lives far away, he is addicted to coffee here. I have many friends here, more than 10 of them have passed away, he said. The shop has been keeping us with its long-history coffee strain. The owners even know what kind of coffee I like to drink and bring here for me. Architect Nguyen Tran Bac, another regular, said he often takes hot black coffee as it tastes strong. I feel more excited, and happy and have good energy for a working day, he said. Bac said the strong coffee taste here reminds him of the coffee he tasted when he was a teenager. It tastes something a long time ago, he said. Nguyen Thanh Cong, also a regular, said the coffee here tastes suitable to him. I like the atmosphere of this shop and I have many friends here. I meet them every morning, he revealed. Cong said sometimes he drinks coffee with my friends in other shops. Each shop has its special taste, he said. But I think roasted coffee on a wood fire here is something pure with its true material. As this coffee is a success theres no real need to make many changes. Instead, tweaks have been made to the growing process to ensure the best brew. The first initiator of the cafe was Nguyen Van Den in 1926. But till when his son Nguyen Van Thai took over the shop, he designed a sign for the cafe and expanded the business into neighboring houses in Trieu Viet Vuong street. Then came Thais son Nguyen Van Tinh, who continued to develop the family heritage. The present cafe owner Nguyen Duc Hieu, the fourth generation owner, has his own way of maintaining sustainable business. The first thing I did when I took over the shop was to go to Son La to buy land and grow coffee, he said. After he had all the experiences to understand the coffee plants, he knew what he should affect. All of these stemmed from my thinking that I should do things better, I should have the responsibility to keep this cultural heritage, Hieu said. Its a small family heritage but its priceless to frequent customers. Not only four generations in my family have been selling coffee, but many of our regulars have enjoyed coffee here for four generations. If you visit Hanoi, come to savour coffee at Cafe Thai once. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) talks to the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board with her primary challenger Amanda Edwards on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Candidates on the Democratic ballot of U.S. Representatives TX-18 district, incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee, right, and challenger Amanda Edwards discuss their differences in front of the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards poses for a portrait at The Houston Chronicle in Houston, TX on May 10, 2023. She is running against U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Sharon Steinmann/Staff Photographer Cesar Espinosa bought his plane ticket in the morning, not knowing if hed be able to make the 7 p.m. flight from Houston to Mexico City. His grandmother had passed away, and he wanted to take his mother and other family members home to the funeral. But first, Espinosa needed special emergency permission to leave the country, because hes here as a Dreamer, an immigrant awarded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status. Getting that permission required physically showing up to a federal office and, hopefully, securing the support of his U.S. congressional representative, Sheila Jackson Lee. He got more than that. Jackson Lee, 74, wasnt in her office. She happened to be sitting in a conference room with this editorial board and one of her primary challengers, former Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards. All through the endorsement interview, she kept one eye on her buzzing phone. As soon as the interview ended, she set up office on a couch in the Chronicles lobby and began working that phone, calling everyone she could on Espinosas behalf. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The moment was pure Sheila Jackson Lee. It was theatrical: It could not have escaped her notice that the unfolding drama showed her in action, and might impress the editorial board before we made this endorsement. And everything hinged on her web of connections, both in the federal government and here on the ground in Houston. Espinosa is director of FIEL Houston, an immigration advocacy group, and a leader in progressive circles. And now hes one more person who owes Jackson Lee a favor: Because of her, he made the flight. But shes been known for helping individuals in similar situations for years. Jackson Lee, Espinosa told us, has a track record of really stepping in for families. That record rarely shows up in the Congressional record, where the congresswoman is consistently ranked one of the most effective lawmakers. But what really makes her effective is her seniority, her institutional know-how, and her ability to get the right person on the phone when her constituents need it whether its opening an emergency warming shelter in northeast Houston during a hard freeze or making sure a grieving grandson can make his evening flight. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats why we are sticking with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and encourage voters to do the same. We did not meet with Robert Slater, whose fundraising numbers suggest hes not a viable candidate in this competitive race. But the other competitor in this primary cannot be written off. The impressive Amanda Edwards, 42, is the first real threat to Jackson Lee since she took office since 1994. Edwards' policy chops and savvy (shes a municipal finance attorney) made her a standout on Houston City Council. She was also out in the community fixing up homes after Hurricane Harvey. Edwards was hailed as a rising star in 2019, when she stepped down from City Council. But since then, shes struggled in elections: First she got buried in a crowded primary race for U.S. senator in 2020. Then, after she entered the Houston mayors race, Jackson Lee jumped into it at the last minute, undermining Edwards' likely sources of support. Edwards dropped out of the mayors race, and ran for what appeared to be Jackson Lees open congressional seat. VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know for the 2024 Texas Primary Advertisement Article continues below this ad If Jackson Lee had won the mayors race, Edwards would have been a shoo-in for this seat. But of course, Jackson Lee didnt win. And now she wants to keep her old seat. Theres a chance that Jackson Lees mayoral loss has hurt her enough to leave the door open for Edwards. In this race, Edwards has raised far more money than Jackson Lee. The younger candidate has, it seems, used that money in part for glossy campaign videos that present her as the candidate with a fresh perspective with deep Houston roots, ready to take the torch. On policy issues, theres little difference between the two candidates. And in a few areas, including technology, we even believe Edwards would be the better policymaker. She wants to think about systems whether immigration or disaster recovery or health care to get things done more efficiently. In our meeting, she recalled her fathers battle with cancer: I happen to be someone who, at a very early age, witnessed systemic breakdowns, she said. We hope that shell run for public office again. But in this race, we urge voters to back Jackson Lee. Though we think Edwards would be a great first-term representative, shed be just that: a newbie. She wouldnt have Jackson Lees seniority or the web of influence that the congresswoman doggedly, tirelessly deploys on her constituents' behalf. When someone in Jackson Lees district needs help with the federal government, they know who to call. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Im not over the hill, Jackson Lee told us. Im on the Hill. Build corporate culture into soft power: consultant By Thang Quang, Minh Hue Sun, February 18, 2024 | 3:00 pm GMT+7 Vietnamese businesses should re-evaluate their culture in a systematic way, turning it into "soft power" and a solid support to overcome difficulties, said Le Quang Vu, CEO of Blue C, a consultant agency in corporate culture, employee experience and internal communication. How do you assess the current status of building corporate culture in Vietnam? At present, Vietnamese businesses are starting to pay more attention to corporate culture, maybe because they have better awareness and understanding of it, realizing its importance after the recent difficult period theyve been through. However, there are many wrong approaches in building it, and these are adopted even by large companies. Firstly, most businesses try to do it with a herd mentality. In addition, some have practiced in a non-continuous fashion. Le Quang Vu, CEO of Blue C. Photo courtesy of the company. Secondly, although enterprises have paid more attention to corporate culture, they have not yet devoted enough resources, including leaders time, budget and full-time personnel. Leaders support for and example-setting in practicing corporate culture remain limited. It has been reported that several Vietnamese businesses have faced the headwinds and done a good job of building culture to retain employees amidst a wave of job-quitting. Can you explain the role of corporate culture in increasing employee engagement? There is a theory about the level of employee engagement with an organization, which is the 3S (Say, Stay, Strive). "Say" means employees with high engagement will say good things about their business. "Stay" means they will stay with that organization for a long time. And "Strive" means they will strive to contribute to the development of the company. Based on this, the first thing corporate culture does is to help create content and stories for employees to talk about the company, thereby increasing pride in the organization. That's "Say" part. Second, corporate culture will create a good working environment, close relationships, cohesion and love among members, making them want to work for the organization for a long time. That's "Stay". When a business develops a good culture, it will help employees be themselves, offer opportunities to develop themselves and acknowledge their efforts appropriately and promptly. As a result, they will work with greater efficiency, bringing more value to the company. Thats the "Strive" aspect. Thus, corporate culture helps increase employee engagement with the organization. It also helps the company find suitable personnel. When a business does a good job of building and spreading corporate culture, it will attract employees with values, life views and working style consistent with its culture. Given two equivalent options in terms of job position and salary, culture becomes an advantage in attracting talent. On the other hand, culture is also "soft power" that helps retain talented people amidst more attractive salary offers. On the other hand, the "soft power" of culture (especially in businesses with tens of thousands of employees) clearly facilitates governance, because for large organizations, just rules are not enough. Corporate culture is a necessary supplement for businesses to create more proactive, self-disciplined and effective employees. Experts have also emphasized the role of corporate culture in promoting digital transformation of Vietnamese businesses. Would you agree? Yes. A study by Capgemini, a global consulting company on digital transformation, found that among thousands of businesses around the world, 62% of leaders believe that culture-related issues are the biggest barriers to digital transformation. Vietnam is no exception. If we implement digital transformation without paying attention to digital culture, the possibility of failure is very high. Digital culture has its own characteristics: always putting customers at the center; upholding the role of data and making data-based decisions; promoting innovation and creativity; flexibly adapting to market changes; and paying due importance to both internal and external cooperation. Meanwhile, the nature of digital transformation is to change thinking and ways of organizing, operating and working to create new values on digital technology platforms. When we connect digital culture and its characteristics with digital transformation (changing thinking on technology platforms), it is easy to see the benefits that digital culture delivers. First, it makes digital transformation faster with rapid adaptation, helping the organization become more flexible and make faster, more accurate decisions (thanks to upholding the role of data and making data-based decisions). Second, digital culture, by putting customers at the center, will help businesses create new values that suit customer needs, providing a better experience for both customers and employees. When the employee experience is better, internal collaboration gets better, too. Similarly, when a business flexibly adapts to external requirements, effectively exploits data, and utilizes internal resources well, these factors will interact and support each other. That is the role of digital culture. It supports the organization in transforming more quickly, flexibly and effectively. For successful digital transformation, businesses need to invest seriously in digital culture. Forecasts show that 2024 will be a difficult year economically. How will this affect the level of investment in digital culture and corporate culture in general? To talk about the impact of economic difficulties on the level of investment in corporate culture, we must first consider how leaders perceive it. If leaders see corporate culture as the foundation for sustainable development of the organization, an effective governance tool or a long-term competitive advantage, it will be like an investment. If leaders consider corporate culture merely as an internal activity or a campaign response to a request or a short-term problem, it becomes an expense. Whether we consider corporate culture an investment or an expense will determine the resources we devote to culture. Then, in my opinion, difficulties are a driving force for development. A business without difficulties is easily stuck in one place and satisfied with what it has. When difficulties appear, we have pressure and motivation to move forward. And then, corporate culture will support solving the enterprises problems, helping it develop more sustainably. I think we should look and act on these lines. What advice will you give to businesses on developing culture in 2024? As I just said, difficulties are the best test for corporate culture. When everything is fine, it will be difficult for us to recognize the core value of corporate culture. When difficulties come, we will have the opportunity to assess what are really the core aspects to preserve, what cannot be eliminated, and what needs to be adjusted or supplemented to fit the next stage. At this time, difficulties are opportunities to realize core values. In tough times, businesses should first re-evaluate their culture in a systematic way to see what are the core values and foundations of its corporate culture, thus turning it into soft power and a solid support to overcome difficulties. I believe most Vietnamese businesses have great internal resources and potential. If we can unlock the key to corporate culture, build employees love for the company and unleash the potential of each person, the organization they love and their proud of it will grow. Orangeburg County is highly blessed with an abundance of Black History. Since the formation of our county, it has been shown that many Blacks have made great contributions to this area of South Carolina from that time to the present. One of our first politicians after the years of slavery in Orangeburg County was Marshall Jones. He was born in 1837 between St. Matthews and Fort Motte. Jones was the son of Charles and Phoebe Jones, who were slaves at that time. Marshall served as a commissioner for Orangeburg County starting in 1880 and was re-elected again in 1882. He then took on another political position serving in the House of Representatives with the South Carolina state legislature from 1886-88. He was married to Margaret Frederick and in the 1880 census, they had a total of nine children. They were Julia, Major, Mariah, Charles, Rachel, Marshall, Christian, Fred and Margaret. In the early years of the Reconstruction era, Jones was a farmer in the Limestone community. He gradually became interested in the politics of our county by becoming involved with the Radical Republican Party in Orangeburg. The Orangeburg News reported on July 25, 1874, Mass Meeting Mr. Editor: Under the call published a few days since quite a number of gentlemen from various parts of the County assembled at Saint Stephens Camp ground Orange Township on Saturday 11th inst., and organized, after considerable skirmishing by electing Mr. V.D. Bowman as chairman and G.V. Cullar as Secretary. Marshall Jones Marshall Jones and wife Margaret. "Upon motion of Mr. J.J. Mitchell, the chairman appointed a Committee of five speakers for the occasion. The following gentlemen were appointed upon that committee: Messrs. James J. Mitchell, J.C. Moore, W.N. Mount, Marshall Jones and Alex Dantzler." This was Jones' first known appointment as to him becoming involved in the political process of Orangeburg County. It is not known what inspired his interest in serving the people. Then, on Oct. 8, 1874, the Orangeburg Times reported, Radical Confusion The Orangeburg precinct Republican meeting for the purpose of electing delegates to the County Convention, took place here on Tuesday; but did not prove very harmonious in its operation. McKinlay was made temporary chairman, and upon the election for a permanent chairman, Byas was declared elected. "To this a large proportion if not half of these present, dissented, and claiming the gag law was practiced upon them; withdrew and organized another meeting in the School house by the election of John Thompson chairman, and Wm. Brown and John Dixon secretaries. "The other meeting elected J.C. Moss, T.K. Sasportas, Marshall Jones, Benj. Byas, F.R. McKinlay, R. Turner, Isaac Jones, George Boliver, Sandy McMichael and R. Adams. The Orangeburg News and Times then printed on April 1, 1876, Precinct Meeting The Republicans of this Precinct met on Thursday last for the purpose of electing ten delegates to the County Convention which meets today. "The meeting was harmonious throughout and elected the following delegates. Marshall Jones, J.P. Mays, D.A. Straker, T.K. Sasportas, W.M. Mount, A.S. Hibbler, H.H. Haynes, Lucius Bellinger, Peter Walker and Jas. Adams. Then, on July 1, 1876, the Orangeburg News and Times reported that Marshall Jones also served on 'the Barbecue and Fourth of July Celebration Committee as an Assistant Marshal.' At that point, he became more involved into the political dealings of the County. On Aug. 26, 1876, the Orangeburg News and Times printed, A meeting of the Citizens of Caw Caw, Orange Precinct, was held on Thursday 24th inst. A club was organized to be known as the Hayes and Wheeler Campaign Club, of Mill Branch, with the election of the following officers: Marshall Jones, President and T. K. Sasportas, Vice-President. The Orangeburg Times then reported on Oct. 26, 1878, Notwithstanding the small number present there was considerable satisfaction with the cut and dried proceedings. "The representatives of a large constituency withdrew even after being elected delegates. "Marshall Jones, who is regarded as the strongest man on Caw Caw Swamp, declined to serve, and the most intelligent among the colored men refused to give countenance to such proceedings. "Radicalism in Orangeburg is on its last legs and a united Democracy will finish the business on the 4th November next. Special Note: The fall of Reconstruction in 1876 turned the South Carolina government back over to the whites. It ended the rule of the state by the Black majority. Here in Orangeburg, many of the Blacks realigned themselves with the Democratic Party so as to take part in the decision-making in our county and state. Marshall Jones was a former Radical Republican. By 1878, he aligned with the Democratic Party that had taken South Carolina under its control. Then, on Sept.r 3, 1880, the Orangeburg Times reported, Marshall Jones is a colored man living near Caw-Caw Swamp. He is not untried in office. He has for many years held the position of School Trustee, and has discharged the duties of the office with ability, fairness and satisfaction to all. He has the sense to see the blind folly of the followers of the Radical ring masters, and the independence to think and act for himself. In the election of 1880, Jones placed his name on the ballot of Orangeburg to become a county commissioner. In that election, he won the opportunity to serve the people by earning a total of 3,599 votes. Then, on Sept. 28, 1882, The T&D printed, The Difference The Orangeburg Democratic Convention last Thursday adhered to be accustomed practice of nominating two colored men on the County ticket. Marshall Jones has been re-nominated for County Commissioner, and B.G. Frederick for the Legislature. On Oct. 5, 1882, The T&D printed, Marshall Jones, the colored nominee for the County Commissioner, has been tried and found equal to the occasion in every emergency. "He is a true and faithful colored man and his re-nomination is the result of his faithful discharge of his duties. "He was re-elected in 1882 as a County Commissioner for Orangeburg and was described as, 'one of the best colored men in the State.'" On Oct. 7, 1886, The T&D printed, The Second Primary -- The Democratic Executive Committee met last Thursday and declared the results of the second primary election in this County. "The result shows that Marshall Jones, colored, was nominated for the Legislature, and the old board of County Commissioners, viz. Messrs. A.D. Fair, J.F. North and London Dickson, colored, had been re-elected. BLACK HISTORY MONTH: 'All For One and One For All Motorcycle Club' Today we acknowledge the organizing of a club known as the, All For One and One For All Motorcycle Club. The group was formed in 2022 so as to help the people within our community who are in need of all kinds of support. "Marshall Jones, the colored nominee for the Legislature, is a most-worthy colored man, and there are few of his race who enjoy so much of the confidence and respect of both races. He has been prominently identified with the Democratic party from the beginning, and has served one term as a member of the board of County Commissioners of this County with satisfaction to all classes. "By his industry and attention to business he has accumulated considerable property, and enjoys the confidence and respect of his neighbors. The T&D then printed on Dec. 2, 1886, Representative Marshall Jones, the colored Representative on the ticket, is well and favorably known in this county. He is a man far above the average of race in intelligence and general information. "In 1882, he was elected one of the County Commissioners on the regular Democratic ticket and discharged the duties of his office with fidelity and entire satisfaction to all classes. "He has been a staunch Democrat from the beginning and has never wavered in his politics. "He has never depended upon politics for a living, as unfortunately most of his race are inclined to do, but has been an industrious and thrifty farmer. He has labored faithfully among his race for the cause of Democracy, and has accomplished much good. "By industry and economy, he has accumulated considerable property, including much valuable real estate and is independent. He is very respectful and polite in his intercourse with all classes, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of both races in this county. His popularity may best be judged from the fact that he received the nomination in the recent primary over five opponents. "He will undoubtedly win the respect of all with whom he comes in contact in the next House of Representatives, and will discharge with honesty and all the ability he possesses every duty committed to him. In November 1887, Jones was selected to be a member of the Committee on Public Buildings. The T&D reported on Aug. 15, 1888, that, Marshall Jones Representative Jones, the present colored incumbent, promised to do the best in his power. He wished his past record to bear testimony to his work. Dr. J.C. Holman challenged his work, by asking him if he did not vote on a certain bill against the majority of his delegation. "By reference to the journal of the House, Jones proved that he did vote with the whites of his delegation on the occasion. After losing his re-election to the House of Representatives in the 1888 election, Jones returned to a life of farming in our community. He continued this process until he gradually became ill and was not able to work as he normally did. Jones was always a person who cared about the community in which he lived. In the year of 1896, he decided to donate some land for the building of a church for the community. That year, under the leadership of the Rev. S.J. Murph and the Rev. M. Thompson, a small group of faithful worshippers wanting the sanctity of the baptism met to form the beginning of a church. Not long after it was organized, the first wooden structure was built on the property. For his contributions, the organization decided to name the church, the Jones Chapel Baptist Church. Then, on Aug. 28, 1915, The T&D printed an article on the death of Marshall Jones. Death of Marshall Jones -- Prominent Colored Farmer Died After Long Illness -- Marshall Jones, Sr., of the Limestone section of this county died at his home last week at the age of seventy-six years. He was well known throughout the county and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. "Marshall was quite prominent during 'Reconstruction.' Early after the war he allied himself with the Democratic party and remained a member until the time of his death. He served four years as county commissioner of Orangeburg County and was two years a member of the legislature of this state. He was faithful in every relation of life and trusted by both races. "By honesty and industry, he had accumulated considerable property and at the time of his death owned more than eight hundred acres of land in the Limestone section. He had been in feeble health for several years before his death and was unable to do much active work, but he was frequently on our streets. "He was a good man and citizen and his death is regretted by many of all classes. "The death certificate listed his age as 78 and being born in 1837. He was a retired farmer. "The certificate also stated that, 'No Doctor lately.' "He was buried at the Mt. Calvary Church cemetery on the North Road. The Undertaker was A.E. Blythewood. On Dec. 23, 1915, The T&D printed a notice on the property of Marshall Jones. Executors Sale of Personal Property Notice is hereby given that pursuant to an order of the Probate Court, in and for the County of Orangeburg, in said State, the undersigned, as executors, will sell on Thursday, the 6th day of January 1916, at the residence of the late Marshall Jones, in Limestone Township, Orangeburg County, at public auction, to the highest bidder, for cash, all the personal property belonging to the estate of the said Marshall Jones, deceased, consisting in part of one single buggy, one one-horse wagon, one two-horse wagon, hog, corn, fodder, peas, and all household and kitchen furniture belonging to his estate, and also all farming implements. "Sale will begin at 11 oclock a.m. of that day. Marshall Jones, Julia Paulling Executors of the Will of Marshall Jones, deceased. The life of Marshall Jones was considered to be one of the great stories of Black accomplishments of Orangeburg County during the early years after slavery. He started in politics as a Republican and then became a Democrat as life changed for Blacks in our county and state. During his time as a politician for our county and state, Jones proved greatly that his works as a commissioner and a state legislator were conducted for the people that he represented. Marshall Jones was an outstanding servant and citizen for our County of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and all of the records surrounding his life reflect the kind of person that he was. And for that, we give him thanks. 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. Brian Walker Courtesy Randy Sarosdy Courtesy Bonnie Lee Goldstein Courtesy Republican voters have a choice to make in one contested primary for the Texas Supreme Court while Democrats have two. Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4, Republican Brian Walker In 2022, a sex abuse case against former Southern Baptist Convention leader Paul Pressler came before the Texas Supreme Court. The justices had to decide whether to allow the lawsuit to move forward even though the statute of limitations had passed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The details of the case appeared to implicate others around Pressler. Jared Woodfill, who was a law partner with Pressler, testified in a deposition that he paid young men to work out of Presslers home despite warnings of predation. The courts 5-2 ruling allowed the suit to move forward in a victory for sexual assault survivors who, because of the profound effects of trauma, may not come forward for decades. This week we learned, thanks to the Texas Tribune, that one of the dissenting justices, John Devine worked at Woodfill & Pressler LLP at the time of the alleged abuse but failed to recuse himself. Thats a big deal: Judges are supposed to recuse themselves if there might be even the appearance of a conflict of interest. By comparison, two other justices recused themselves from the case simply because they had once worked for the firm representing the plaintiff, the former employee who Pressler allegedly molested which is to say, theyd once worked for a law firm that was just arguing the case, not at the very center of it. Devine, 65, did not respond to our requests for an interview but has said elsewhere that he was not a partner at Woodfill & Pressler. The Tribune, though, found that he served as an attorney or guardian ad litem on nine cases while the plaintiff was working as Presslers personal aide. Devine was even listed as co-counsel on cases with Pressler. Its not as if this is Devines first brush with controversy. Those who have followed his career since his time as a district court judge in Harris County wont be surprised by the results of the 2022 Houston Bar Association judicial evaluation. When it came to determining legal issues impartially and based on thorough and proper application of the law to the record, nearly half of the responding bar members rated him needs improvement, the lowest rating. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Challenger Brian Walker, 46, has served on the 2nd Court of Appeals in Fort Worth for three years. A lifelong Republican and follower of Jesus Christ, as his website states, he worked as a civil and criminal lawyer and served nine years as a judicial advocate with the U.S. Air Force Reserves before becoming a judge. To be a conservative jurist, he told the editorial board, means that were supposed to follow the law and follow it narrowly, and do everything we can to be authentic and faithful to the Constitution and to the laws. Republicans should vote Walker onto the ballot for the general election. Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2, Democrat Randy Sarosdy Born in Dallas and a graduate of the University of Texas law school, Randy Sarosdy worked for 24 years in Washington D.C. with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, often defending corporate clients in labor, environmental and intellectual property cases. Those are the sorts of complex civil cases that go before the Texas Supreme Court. He relocated to Austin and, after six more years with Akin Gump, joined the Texas Justice Court Training Center and became a teacher for new judges, including justices of the peace, who are not required to have a law degree. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sarosdy, 71, also served as the executive director of the Texas Center for the Judiciary. One of the important but underappreciated aspects of the job on the Supreme Court is leading statewide initiatives that improve the judicial system or increase access to justice. Sarosdy is particularly well suited for that work. His motivation to run, he told us, is to protect fundamental rights under the Texas Constitution. He notes, correctly, that in the wake of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, state courts now play a greater role than before around abortion and voting rights. One concern Democrats may have is that hell have to retire after four years, two years before the end of his term, and his successor will be appointed by the governor, unless voters pass a new attempt to amend the states age limit for judges set in the constitution. The other candidate in the Democratic primary, DaSean Jones, has served as a judge in a Harris County felony district court since 2019. That experience doesnt translate directly to the Texas Supreme Court, which considers only civil cases. Moreover, when Jones ran for reelection in 2022, this editorial board did not endorse him because he exercised poor judgment in granting personal bonds to defendants charged with violent crimes, including murder. He didnt meet with us in either 2022 or this year, so we couldnt get his side of the story. The best choice for Democrats is clearly Sarosdy. VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know for the 2024 Texas Primary Advertisement Article continues below this ad Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6 Bonnie Lee Goldstein Voters have the choice between a deeply qualified justice serving on an intermediate appellate court and a district judge who appears to be drawn to quixotic quests to effect change. Bonnie Lee Goldstein, 62, has a breadth of experience thats well suited to serving on the Texas Supreme Court. She has 20 years in the judiciary including 11 as a municipal judge, six as a civil district judge and three on the 5th District Court of Appeals in Dallas. If she wins in the primary, she would face Jane Bland, a well-respected justice. Goldstein told us she believes voters should always have a choice, and shes certainly the most qualified one. The other primary candidate is Joe Pool, a district judge in Hays County who has run for Supreme Court three times before in Republican primaries, though he seems to be more of a crusader than a partisan. He didnt meet with us, but in a response to a Dallas Morning News questionnaire, he writes that he sued to stop the Trump administration from funding the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the grounds that it violated the First Amendment ban on the establishment of a state religion. His main priority, though, is less odd: He wants to restore Texans' right to a civil jury trial. He writes that judges elected with political contributions from well funded jury-averse organizations have diminished the ability of plaintiffs to get jury trials. He is right that adding Democrats to the mix on the Supreme Court could change outcomes, even in complex civil cases that dont seem political. One study has shown that the waves of Democrats elected to intermediate courts in recent years have led to fewer reversals of jury verdicts and judgments favoring plaintiffs. If thats the goal, we believe Goldsteins experience would give her a better chance at bringing balance. United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona conferred three awards in education Thursday. The two Literacy Champions announced were Bonita Stembridge, a third-grade teacher at Holladay Magnet School, and Carolina Rojas, a Head Start teacher with Child Parent Centers. The Business Champion for Early Education Award went to Steve Lynn of Lynn Consulting Group and NuPoint Marketing, LLC. School administrators, principals, parents and other community members nominated 32 teachers for this years awards, which were presented at the 19th Annual Business Leaders for Early Education Breakfast hosted by Women United, a United Way affinity group. Stembridge has taught at Holladay for 21 years. I have a passion for teaching and watching students learn, she said. I encourage them daily to reach their full potential, to do their personal best, and never give up. I strive to teach reading strategies and skills in a way that will create a lifelong love of reading in my students and I firmly believe that great readers are great leaders. Rojas has taught for 14 years for Head Start at Child Parent Centers. Being a bilingual early childhood teacher at Prince Head Start has allowed me to work with diverse children and families, Rojas said, and to learn about their unique characteristics and needs, provide support for them through various aspects of their lives, create a community of learners. Reading stories to the children in my classroom brings back memories of my high school years and reminds me of why I chose my career. Lynn was a founding board member of First Things First and serves as vice chair/former chair. He was instrumental in advocating a bill in the Arizona Legislature that allows library district funds to be used for early literacy and school readiness programs. In Pima County, Lynn was on the founding Preschool Promise committee. which became the PEEPS (Pima Early Education Program Scholarships) program and resulted in nearly 1,000 low-income children gaining access to early childhood education. The program aims to break the cycle of poverty. Last years breakfast raised more than $125,000 for early childhood literacy. Systems Change The Cradle to Career Partnership (C2C), anchored at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, was recognized with a Systems Change designation from StriveTogether. The announcement was made Wednesday in an event at the University of Arizonas College of Education. StriveTogether, a national network of community partnerships, recognized C2Cs commitment to fostering systemic change that benefits youth, particularly those from marginalized communities. C2C has impacted the lives of over 36,286 individuals in Pima County since its inception in 2016, the partnership said in a news release. Districts win PR awards The Arizona School Public Relations Association honored Pima County school communication departments with 22 awards of excellence and merit at a ceremony Feb. 8 in Phoenix. Tucson Unified School District received nine awards; Sunnyside Unified School District six; Amphitheater Public Schools five; Flowing Wells Unified School District one; and Pima County School Superintendents Office one. Just over 30 miles north of Tucson, the small town of Oracle sits among a tangle of prickly Joshua trees, an abundance of cactus and under the shadow of Biosphere 2. There is plenty going on in the area dude ranches to visit, zip lines to ride, jeep tours to traverse the landscape and aromatic lavender fields to explore. There is also a rich history of early Hohokam and Salado societies that farmed and lived in the area centuries ago. These early people left behind a wealth of artifacts that archaeologists have been studying for years, although one of the most prevalent individuals to collect and preserve these early objects had no formal training and earned no degree for her lifes work. Alice Hubbard Carpenter was an avocational archaeologist, the custodian of ancient materials she collected and preserved throughout the region. Professional archaeologists sought her expertise and were amazed at the collection she amassed during the 50 years she cared for the artifacts she documented and treasured. Born in Detroit on June 18, 1898, Alice moved with her parents to Florida while she was still a child. At age 19, she married Jesse Fairfield Carpenter, who owned a nearby orange grove. The couple had a son who was named after his father but nicknamed Kippy. Twenty-eight-year-old Jesse Sr. died in 1920, a victim of the Spanish flu epidemic that spread around the world. Alice left Florida with young Kippy and settled in California. Kippy was diagnosed with asthma and doctors recommended a drier climate. Alice and Kippy moved to Arizona in 1924. Three years later, on a brief trip back to California, Kippy contracted polio and died. About the same time, Alice discovered she had tuberculosis. She returned to Arizona to recover, settling in Oracle. Initially, Alice lived in a tent to which she added a bear grass, hand-thatched garage. She built a three-bedroom adobe house in 1937 and a second home 10 years later with saguaro-ribbed ceiling and brick floor that she laid herself. She made a great deal of her own furniture and eventually added a swimming pool. She fished in the San Pedro River and protected abandoned animals that came across her path. She argued with Arizona Game and Fish for favoring hunters by allowing the trapping and skinning of bobcats and coyotes to appease the apparel industry. She was also a frugal woman who let nothing go to waste. When a quail slammed into her window and broke its neck, she mourned its death and then cooked it for dinner. She played an active role in the town and worked in the local post office for 10 years. She helped preserve the historical Arcadia Ranch that became home to the Oracle Historical Society. Apaches and Tohono Oodhams came to Oracle annually to gather acorns and bear grass and were welcome to stay on Alices property. Alice was immediately drawn to the culture of ancient tribes and the artifacts they left behind. Im a scavenger, she proclaimed. I dig in the ruins of ruins. But it was the story of the people behind the broken pots and shards that interested her even more than the artifacts themselves. She was as keen on knowing about the people who created these objects as she was in collecting and documenting what remained of their societies. She was particularly attracted to the Hohokam people. Pots, arrowheads, figurines, animal bones carved into awls, shells, baskets and turquoise beads all made their way into Alices home to be recorded and labeled. Her collection amounted to around 10,000 shards of ceramics, 350 projectiles or Clovis points, and 100 pieces of shell jewelry. Alice identified three districts in which she primarily collected: The Oracle District, which included the town of Oracle; the Willow Springs District, consisting of the area west of Oracle and north of Oracle Junction; and the San Pedro District, a narrow passageway that ran from Redington Pass north to Winkelman. A good portion of the sites within these districts retain the names she initially gave them. Many of her neighbors were delighted to ride with her as she chugged along in the battered Jeep she christened The Spoiler to see what interesting items she would haul home. One neighbor uncovered a large object that he thought was nothing but a copper float from a toilet tank, but Alice recognized the piece as similar to old bells she had seen in archaeological reports. She persuaded the man to give the bell to Emil Haury, then head of the Archaeology Department at the University of Arizona. The bell is considered the largest known prehistoric copper bell found in the Southwest to date. Archaeologists from around the country came to explore the excavations Alice uncovered. She corresponded frequently with eminent professors and professionals who often asked and valued her opinion on particular items. In the early 1970s, Alice started writing a journal about her discoveries, documenting every small artifact she uncovered. She listed 17 sites she had explored and drew sketches of the sites and her findings. After her death on April 5, 1982, at the age of 83, the journal that held her lifes work and adventures was named after an ancient figurine she had found, The Feather Prince: A Personal Narrative of Southeastern Arizona Prehistory. At the conclusion of her report, she noted she had come to the end of the San Pedro River and about the end of my line and the pursuit of my beloved Hohokams. It has been a happy quest, and I hope some of the culture has rubbed off on me. She ended her narrative with a quote from Shakespeare: I have been at a great feast, and stolen the scraps. Alice donated the majority of her collection to the Arizona State Museum, but many items remain in Oracle and can be viewed at the Oracle Historical Society and Museum as well as the Oracle Public Library. PHOENIX If a GOP lawmaker gets his way, Arizonans wont have to wait until January 2026 to find out who Gov. Katie Hobbs has been hitting up for money and how much is in her war chest for her reelection and bid to put Democrats in charge of the Legislature. Legislation awaiting House action would fix what Phoenix Republican Rep. Matt Gress says is a loophole in state campaign finance law. It allows anyone who serves a four-year term to file the required annual reports once after they get elected and then not until January of the year they are on the ballot again. The issue arose after it was revealed that Hobbs, first elected governor in 2022, did not file reports this January on who gave her money and how she spent it, as was required of the Legislatures members. Thats not illegal. It was part of a series of changes enacted by lawmakers in 2022. That law spells out that the governors next report and that of anyone in the middle of a four-year term is due in January 2026, Gress said. But Hobbs, in running for governor, promised to bring transparency and accountability to the office. Actively raising money Hobbs has been actively raising money since her last report was filed in January 2023, not just for her own reelection but in a bid to get more Democrats elected to the Legislature later this year. Just Thursday, for example, the governors campaign committee, Elect Katie Hobbs, sent out a request for donations, citing what she said are efforts by Glendale Republican Sen. Anthony Kern to override Democracy as we know it. Can you pitch in before tonights mid-quarter fundraising deadline to help Katie fight back? the campaign email states. Its clear that the fight for our democracy starts in Arizona. Election deniers like Anthony Kern pose a real threat to our future, and we need to do everything we can to defend our democracy. And two weeks ago there was a request for $2 donations to help support Katies work to flip the Arizona state legislature blue. Gress said the way the law is worded, who is aiding that effort and by how much wont be available to the public for nearly two years. By contrast, state lawmakers, who are elected every two years, must file not just annual but quarterly campaign finance reports. House Bill 2403, crafted by Gress, would require all four-year officeholders to file quarterly reports beginning two years before the next election. In the case of Hobbs and others, the public would get a look at her donors and expenditures this coming January and every three months after that until just after the 2026 election. I do believe that every elected official should be disclosing at some point in their tenure of whos donated to them, Gress told Capitol Media Services. Gress, who was chief financial adviser to Republican former Gov. Doug Ducey, said this information is important to voters and not just in the year someone is seeking reelection. I think its relevant to not only running but governing, he said. People should know if someones influencing your decisions. Gress said he has not reached out to Hobbs, who would have to sign the legislation if it reaches her desk. Theyre more than happy to reach out to me and explain why disclosing campaign contributors sooner than 12 months before running for reelection would be problematic, he said. Laws wording created an issue It hasnt been a problem for the other statewide officials who were elected, like Hobbs, in 2022. Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes filed a report in January saying he collected $97,536 during all of 2023. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes reported she took in $119,957, and Republican state Treasurer Kimberly Yee disclosed $1,905 in 2023 donations. Republican Tom Horne, the state schools chief, said he got no contributions in 2023. All four, like Hobbs, are eligible to run for reelection in 2026. Nicole DeMont, the chief political strategist for the governors campaign, said this wasnt a question of Hobbs not wanting to provide the information. She said that by this January, Hobbs already had closed the campaign account she used for the 2022 race and set up a new one for the 2026 cycle. That made it impossible for her to file a report in January as Arizona law allows a candidate to have only one committee at a time. There is no mechanism to file when youre a candidate for 2026, she said, citing an email the governors committee received from the Secretary of States Office. A spokesman for Fontes agreed that the wording of the law created a vacuum in that particular situation. As we always have and always will, we follow the laws in place that dictate our deadlines for campaign finance reports to ensure we file every report on time and with all the necessary information, DeMont said in a prepared statement. Gov. Hobbs reelection is during the 2026 election cycle, so her next campaign financial report is due in January 2026. As to Fontes, Mayes and Horne filing last month, the Secretary of States Office says that is because they had not yet created a 2026 campaign account. That is perfectly legal for the time being, the office said. All that would change, however, if Gress gets his measure through the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by the Democratic governor. Hobbs press aide Christian Slater said he had no comment on the proposal. Voters want disclosure Tom Collins, executive director of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, agreed that what Hobbs is doing is technically legal. But he said keeping that information from the public until January 2026 is contrary to the spirit of the law and what voters have said, repeatedly, they want. That starts, he said, with the 1998 voter-approved law that created the commission. Much of that law is designed to provide public funds for candidates for statewide and legislative office who dont take private donations. But it also empowers the commission to enforce other campaign finance laws and disclosure requirements, with fines for delays. Collins said the publics desire for transparency was reinforced in 2022 when voters, by a 3-1 margin, approved Proposition 211. It expanded reporting requirements to force disclosure of not just the name of the group that made the donation but which other companies, organizations and individuals had contributed to that group. The Prop. 211 vote results show that, given the choice, voters would prefer to know more about who is in a position to potentially influence a candidates action, he said. Collins also agreed with Gress that its not just in an election year that the public needs to know about campaign contributions. He said that information is valuable in evaluating whether the decisions a public official is making while in office are being influenced by donations. There was nothing partisan about the 2022 change in law that created the vacuum in campaign filing. While it was proposed by Rep. David Livingston, R- Peoria, it was approved unanimously by the House and Senate. Federal energy officials took the unusual step of denying permits last week to several pumped hydropower projects proposed on the Navajo Nation, citing a new policy that gives tribes a greater voice in projects on their lands. The tribe and environmental groups had urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny applications for several of the pumped storage projects, saying they worried about the impact of the projects but had not been consulted by developers. In the past, the FERC said, it would have given a preliminary OK to the projects while the debate continued, but that under a new policy, it will no longer issue preliminary permits for projects to use Tribal land if the Tribe on whose land the project is to be located opposes the project. Indigenous advocates and conservation groups hailed the move as a win for tribes. It is encouraging to see federal decision-makers honoring the trust responsibilities to Native American Tribes, said a statement from Nicole Horseherder, executive director of the Navajo nonprofit To Nizhoni Ani, or Sacred Water Speaks. Historically, that has not been the case. These projects would have damaged vital groundwater sources that have already been harmed by 50 years of industrial overuse from coal mining, Horseherders statement said. The pumped storage hydropower projects under review use water stored at higher-elevation reservoirs that flows downhill through a turbine, generating electricity, before ending up in a lower reservoir. Then, when electricity demand is lower, that water is pumped back up to the upper reservoir to start the process over again. Developers were seeking preliminary permits that would have allowed planning to proceed, but not construction, on seven projects. The FERC rejected them all: Three Black Mesa projects proposed near Kayenta by the hydropower company Nature and People First; one by the same company near Lukachukai; one by a New Mexico arm of that company, near Two Grey Hills, New Mexico; and two near Page by a company called Western Navajo Pumped Storage. All are on Navajo land. People who live near the project sites worried that the project could damage underground water supplies and sacred lands and said developers had not done enough to involve nearby residents. Theres been an increase in hydropower projects across the U.S., including on different tribal reservations. But some advocates say tribes like the Navajo Nation are not being consulted enough about their development. Heather Tanana, an attorney specializing in water policy and a member of the Navajo Nation, said the new FERC policy is consistent with the way the Biden administration has been interacting with Tribes but still represents an improvement. I think its a huge testament to the work of local community efforts, Tanana said. Theyre not representing the Navajo Nation as a governmental capacity. To have the communities be empowered in that way is new. Tribes have long been excluded from negotiations about access to water from the Colorado River. Thirty federally recognized tribes use water from the river, and many are still calling for more inclusion in talks about how to divide its shrinking supply. In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the Navajo Nation in a case surrounding the tribes rights to the river. The tribe claimed it was the federal governments legal duty to help figure out their future water needs and aid them in accessing that water. But the justices said an 1868 treaty did not require the government to do so. The recent decision to deny the hydropower projects comes on the heels of widespread opposition from nearby communities. In July 2023, environmental groups filed resolutions with FERC from 18 Navajo communities and agencies that opposed the Black Mesa projects. I think that was able to really help strengthen that argument from the Navajo Nation Department of Justice regarding the lack of community consultation and consent, said Adrian Herder, a community organizer with To Nizhoni Ani. Tanana said the FERC ruling does not mean the end of development proposals including hydropower projects on Navajo Nation, but it does represent a shift in how regulators decide whether they should go forward. The recent AP article highlighting the exploitation of prison labor is a glaring reminder of the systemic issues plaguing our correctional facilities. As a for-profit company working with incarcerated women for nearly three decades, we at Televerde take these revelations seriously. Such practices not only harm individuals but also perpetuate a damaging stigma around prison labor, making it challenging for companies that want to engage in ethical practices to do so without fear of being wrongly associated with exploitative behaviors. The key to transforming prison labor is shifting our perspective from exploitation to empowerment. A prison job should not be an end but a steppingstone to greater opportunities upon release. It should empower individuals to reclaim their independence and rebuild their lives from the inside out. This philosophy guides our company and is crucial for any organization seeking to work with the incarcerated community. To create a successful partnership within prisons, companies must focus on several core principles: Skill Development and Education: Programs should provide meaningful skill development aligned with current market demands. Education and training should not be limited to job-specific skills but should also include personal development and life skills. Fair Compensation and Treatment: Incarcerated workers should receive fair compensation for their labor. This includes wages that respect their work and contributions and working conditions that uphold their dignity and safety. Post-Release Opportunities: The ultimate goal of prison labor programs should be to prepare individuals for successful reentry into society. This means providing pathways to employment post-release and support in transitioning back into the community. Choice and Agency: Incarcerated individuals must have a say in their work and future. This includes having choices in the type of work they do and being part of a program that ignites their passion and interest. Collaboration with Correctional Facilities: Effective programs require a collaborative approach with correctional facilities. This collaboration should create an environment that supports learning, growth, and positive outcomes for incarcerated individuals. Transparency and Accountability: Companies must operate transparently and be accountable for their practices. This includes being open about their operations and actively engaging with stakeholders to address concerns and improve practices. Community and Societal Impact: The impact of these programs should extend beyond the individual. They should contribute positively to the community and society, reducing recidivism and aiding rehabilitation and reentry. Understanding the why behind these changes is crucial. The United States faces a national crisis with more than 2.3 million men and women in jails and prisons. More than 650,000 individuals are released each year, and alarmingly, studies indicate that approximately two-thirds are likely to be rearrested within three years of release. The primary predictor of recidivism? Joblessness! This cycle of incarceration and re-incarceration not only devastates individual lives but also imposes significant social and economic burdens on our communities and the nation as a whole. We want to make clear that it is morally reprehensible for any company to exploit prison labor for financial gain or to be complicit in benefiting from products and services resulting from such abuse. This exploitation is a failure of ethics and a missed opportunity to contribute positively to the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals eager to turn their lives around. To right this ship, a concerted effort is needed from all sectors of society government, non-profits, and for-profit organizations. Working together, we can create a more just and effective system that reduces recidivism and fosters rehabilitation, reintegration, and actual societal change. Redefining prison labor is necessary. We must move beyond the exploitative practices that have marred this sector and create opportunities that genuinely benefit those involved. By focusing on empowerment, skill development, and sustainable post-release opportunities, we can transform prison labor into a force for positive change. "Here lies a man." That's the epitaph that should go on Frank Canton's headstone, Oklahoma Adjutant General C.F. Barrett said when the 78-year-old Canton died in 1927. It was a tribute to Canton's years as a sheriff, a deputy U.S. marshal and as the state's first adjutant general. But that epitaph hadn't always been appropriate for Canton. If Barrett had known of Canton's early life, he might have suggested something different. Born in 1849 as Joe Horner in Virginia, Canton moved to Texas with his family as a teenager, became a cowboy and then a drover, moving cattle from Texas to Abilene, Kan. He turned to bank robbing and cattle rustling after killing a soldier and wounding another in a barroom brawl in 1874 in Jacksboro, Texas. Arrested in 1877, he was sentenced to prison for bank robbery but escaped from prison and his past two years later. Canton emerged a short time later in Wyoming, where he was hired to capture cattle rustlers by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. For the next few years, Canton served variously as a sheriff, a deputy U.S. marshal in Wyoming, Alaska and Oklahoma Territory, as undersheriff in Pawnee County and as an agent of the Oklahoma and Texas Cattle Raisers Association. He first came to Oklahoma soon after the opening of the Cherokee Strip and became a deputy sheriff at Pawnee, where he lived from 1894 until 1897, when he went to Alaska to become a U.S. marshal during the Alaska gold rush. It was in Pawnee where Canton had his closest shave, he related years later. He was searching for two brothers who were suspected of stealing cattle, committing robberies and killing a family they feared would testify against them in a trial for robbery. He recalled meeting one of the brothers on a Pawnee street and said he walked up to him, looking him in the eyes. Neither Canton nor the man he wanted to arrest said a word for several minutes. Suddenly, the fugitive grabbed for his gun but it caught in his clothes. Canton drew his gun, fired, and the fugitive dropped dead with a bullet between his eyes. Canton returned to Oklahoma in 1901 and became a deputy marshal at Perry. During Charles N. Haskell's campaign to become Oklahoma's first governor, Canton worked as Haskell's bodyguard. After Haskell was elected, the first appointment he made was to name Canton as the state's first adjutant general, a position the former bank robber retained under Govs. Lee Cruce and Robert Williams. As adjutant general, Canton was head of the Oklahoma National Guard with the rank of brigadier general, although he had no military experience, and in the absence of a state police force was in charge of enforcing the civil law, too. He became so well-known and respected that he helped organize President William Howard Taft's inaugural parade in 1909, according to "Alias Frank Canton," a biography by Robert K. Dearment. "No braver man ever lived than Frank Canton and no man done more than he to establish law and order," U.S. Marshal C.F. Colcord of Oklahoma City was quoted in Canton's obituary. "In my opinion, Frank Canton brought more criminals and outlaws to justice than any other peace officer in the southwest." Canton related many of his exploits in an autobiography, "Frontier Trails," first published in 1930 and republished in 1966. The information for that book was contained in five thick, hand-written notebooks that Edward Everett Dale organized and put together in 1930. The autobiography didn't mention Joe Horner. That part of Canton's life was detailed in Dearment's book in 1996. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. Cherokees building 15 new cell phone towers TAHLEQUAH The Cherokee Nation is constructing 15 new cell towers in 16 rural Cherokee communities and creating a broadband Internet network to help bridge the digital divide where cell service and broadband infrastructure are lacking or nonexistent. Cherokee Nation expects to invest more than $80 million into the effort over the next three years. Construction of the 15 cell towers and broadband network is part of Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warners commitment to ensuring rural Cherokee communities have access to improved connectivity. In the 21st Century, cell service and broadband Internet are crucial for Cherokee families seeking employment and educational opportunities, healthcare services, and a better quality of life, Hoskin said. A few years ago, COVID-19 highlighted the critical connectivity needs for Cherokee communities across portions of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, particularly those where high numbers of Cherokee speakers reside. "Installation of a cell tower in the Cherokee community of Kenwood in 2023 has proven to be a model for overcoming these barriers, and it is a model worthy of repeating. These 15 new towers and the growth of the first Cherokee Nation-owned broadband network are major milestones in our efforts to connect these 16 rural Cherokee communities with permanent solutions. The 15 new cell towers will tentatively be spread throughout Adair, Delaware, Cherokee, and Sequoyah County communities: Belfonte, Bell/CC Camp, Brent, Brushy, Chewey, Christie, Dry Creek, Eucha, Greasy, Marble City, Oakhill/Piney, Oaks, Proctor, Tailholt, and Vian, with parts of the broadband network also crossing into Mayes County. The network also includes the Kenwood cell tower constructed by the Cherokee Nation and AT&T through a historic partnership in 2023. Tech startup from Netherlands makes Tulsa its U.S. headquarters A tech company founded in the Netherlands has established its U.S. headquarters in Tulsa. Givt, a digital giving app, has moved into 36 Degrees Norths state-certified incubator on the fifth floor at One Technology Center, 175 E. 2nd St. Givt founder Sjoerd (Joe) van Oort rolled out the app in 2017 in The Netherlands, where 40% of the churches use it. But he has been seeking a place to enlarge his footprint. We built a healthy business there (in The Netherlands), van Oort said. We learned a lot. We expanded to the U.K. (United Kingdom). But we always knew that the U.S. is where we should be because 75% of giving by individuals happens here. Tulsa was the most attractive from the combination of the opportunities and cost. We want to build in one city what were going to do worldwide. Tulsa feels like a place that wants us to do that. It wants to be known for being a generous city. Givt organizes, prioritizes and maximizes charitable efforts, even showing members how to join impact groups. People like Bill Gates or George Kaiser, they have real people helping them understand what they want to impact and advising them and finding those opportunities and putting that money into action, van Oort said. Its taking that thing that the big philanthropists have, and we democratize that, allowing people who only give 10 bucks a year to have the same service and same help. We believe that if you have these elements, the willingness to give increases. Givt also has an app for children. It drives conversation with my kiddos about generosity in a way thats totally unique, said Kenny Osborn, Givts director of business development, said. In that way, we are able to create a world where our kids are more generous. They think about the world through the lens of what they can give and not just what they can get. Givt has about 130,000 users globally. TU's Collins College of Business marks 75 years of accreditation The University of Tulsas Collins College of Business is celebrating 75 years of continuous accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The AACSB is the largest, most widely recognized nonprofit organization that independently reviews business colleges. TUs College of Business is among the 6% of colleges in the world to earn AACSB accreditation. This underscores the universitys "unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest standards of academic rigor, faculty expertise and student engagement," according to a news release. This reaccreditation is not just a testament to our facultys dedication to excellence in business education; it's a reaffirmation of our commitment to fulfilling our mission of empowering the next generation of business leaders, said Kathy Taylor, dean of the college. For 75 years, the Collins College of Business has been a beacon of quality and distinction in the realm of business education, and this reaccreditation only solidifies our standing as a leader in the field. QuikTrip opens first OKC area store in Moore QuikTrip announced the opening of a new travel center in Moore located just west of Interstate 35 at 300 NW 27th St., marking the companys long-awaited expansion to the Oklahoma City metro area. QuikTrip customers for years have asked us when we would come to the Oklahoma City area, and we are excited to now be bringing QuikTrips signature brand of quality and efficient service to the west side of our home state with the opening of our newest location in Moore, said QuikTrip corporate communications manager Aisha Jefferson. Our travel center will offer a safe, clean, and friendly stop for the many travelers driving on I-35 as well as local residents in the area. The location features larger lots with room to service 20 cars for gas and five diesel bays for trucks in addition to a more spacious store design than a traditional QT. This location will create approximately two dozen new jobs, and all interested applicants should apply online at www.quiktrip.com/store-jobs/. Over the last 66 years, QT has grown its footprint to more than 1,000 stores across 17 states and employs over 31,000 people. The Moore travel center is the 85th QT location in Oklahoma, with an additional Oklahoma City location at I-35 and Hefner Road under construction and expected to open later this year. From Staff Reports The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Forecasters may expect the economy to slow this year, but that doesnt mean the growth of your business has to follow the trend. Companies that think creatively and are willing to try new approaches to communicating their message are more likely to see gains in 2024. Work smarter, not harder Not every PR or marketing tactic is a good fit for your audience, and sometimes the juice isnt worth the squeeze. Todays companies have access to a wealth of data through digital marketing so they can monitor the effectiveness of their efforts. Utilize tools like Google Analytics, newsletter open rates, click-throughs, and social media engagement trends to identify where you are moving the needle. If something is taking a lot of effort with little results, it may be time to pivot to something more effective. Target your approach While advertising to the masses still has its place, most businesses do not fit into this category. Rather than trying to market to everyone, look critically at who your customers are so you can be more targeted. It may feel like youre spending more to reach fewer people, but you are actually reaching people with a high intent to engage with your product or service. This means youll have to spend less in the long run to move them to act. Invest in short form videos All of todays major social media platforms offer a video component, which is a clue into how users consume information. Not only is this an alternative way to communicate your message, it combines a variety of powerful elements, from auditory to visual to emotional. The even better part about short form video is it doesnt need to be highly produced to be effective. Create a long-range strategy that ensures you are frequently in front of your audience with content that is interesting, unique and authentic. Be a thought leader What is your unique area of expertise? What do you deliver that nobody else can? Now, go where your audience is. Share your knowledge through blogs, videos, industry publications and podcasts. With the rise in public skepticism, media and trusted sources need experts like you to contribute fresh, valuable information. Lead through community partnerships The recent news that Bank of America donated $480,000 to local nonprofits is just one example of how the spirit of philanthropy is alive in Tulsa. Take the time to identify the causes that best align with your organization to maximize your giving strategy. If you want to prevent homelessness, talk to Lindsey House or Restore Hope Ministries about their lifechanging programs. If you want to support the arts, talk to Tulsa Ballet about what makes their company one of the most sought-after in the world. Allow employees company time to volunteer through Reading Partners or the Adopt a Precinct program. Aligning with area nonprofits not only fills a vital community role, but it also elevates your visibility in an impactful way. Another bonus is that studies show Gen Z employees are highly motivated by giving and feel more connected to companies that give back. Empower employee ambassadors Speaking of employees, did you know they can be your loudest advocates? Create a workplace culture that they are excited to talk about. Report frequently on company updates and messaging so they are empowered to help share your story. Invest in your employees and their growth to send a message of trust, respect and appreciation. It also increases employee retention, which provides consistency in customer service. As we navigate the year ahead, those who adapt and create bold initiatives will be positioned for success. Monitor your data to make sure your PR and marketing strategies are achieving their purpose, and dont be afraid to make changes if necessary. Nicole Morgan is CEO of Tulsa-based Resolute PR. Michael Dekker Tulsa World Business Writer Follow Michael Dekker 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 deadline for Tulsa tech partners to submit a voluminous grant application for millions of dollars in federal funding to enshrine the area as a tech hub is fast approaching. The federal government in October named Tulsa a Tech Hub a designation that opens the door to up to $75 million in federal funding for a local consortium thats working to establish the region as a global leader in advanced autonomous technologies. Tulsa has the ingredients to be a globally competitive tech hub. Tulsa has assets. We just need to get them out there, said Jennifer Hankins, managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs. Hankins was named one of the Tulsa Worlds people to watch in 2023. She made the comments last week during an update on Tulsa Innovation Labs and other partners work on securing federal funding. Several dozen people involved in tech innovation hubs, economic development and helping startups, attended the meeting at Tulsa Community College downtown. Tulsa was one of 31 tech hubs selected by the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration as part of a $500 million investment in strengthening the countrys economic and national security. The Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy, or THETA, will focus its work on such technologies as unmanned aerial systems, drones, cybersecurity and generative artificial intelligence. Tulsa Innovation Labs and other local partners are leading the THETA initiative. Tulsa is competing with other designated tech hub cities to obtain federal funding. The grant deadline is Feb. 29 and principals may know by sometime this summer if any funding is approved, officials said. U.S. Department of Commerce officials will determine where the funding will go based on grant applications. Weve declared that Tulsa is the tech hub of Oklahoma and one of the leading tech hubs in the country, and what do you know? Its catching on and people are buying into that vision, said Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which led the effort to establish Tulsa Innovation Labs. Its exciting, and its also necessary. We identify this concept of encouraging Tulsas economic transformation, he said at the meeting. It will be valuable for those who are putting together this application to have your input, he said. Were really competing at the very highest level, and its because the folks running this process in Washington and the judges who are looking at this see a spark in Tulsa, he said. They see a dynamic set of people. They see an aspirational group of people. They see a community thats dedicated not just to improve economic prospects but to a shared prosperity, to an inclusive prosperity, to an equitable prosperity, and those values are ringing very strongly in this effort. If approved for Tulsa, the federal funding could result in an additional 55,000 relatively high-paying jobs and an economic impact of $1.4 billion, officials said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. The University of Oklahoma College of Law is honoring five alumni including a Tulsa federal judge at a ceremony to be held Thursday on campus. U.S. Senior District Judge Terence Kern of the Northern District of Oklahoma will be among those honored at the Colleges annual Order of the Owl Hall of Fame ceremony to be held at the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom at the Oklahoma Memorial Union. The order recognizes OU Law graduates who demonstrate leadership and service through outstanding accomplishments in their legal careers, according to a university media release. This year continues the law schools tradition of honoring several of its most respected alumni, said Katheleen Guzman, dean of the OU College of Law, in a release. After receiving a bachelors degree from Oklahoma State University, Kern, 79, received a juris doctorate from OU in 1969 and his master of laws degree from the University of Virginia in 2004. Kern was nominated to the federal bench in 1994 by then-President Bill Clinton. He served as chief judge from 1996 to 2003. Kern has been in senior status since 2010. He announced in 2023 that he planned to retire after two new federal judges were named to the Tulsa court. Both Sara Hill and John Russell were confirmed in late December by the U.S. Senate to fill vacancies on the Tulsa federal court. Others being inducted are former Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, now serving as administrative director of the courts in Oklahoma; Melvin Hall, executive director of the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission; Clark Musser, an oil and gas attorney; and Natalie Shirley, chair of the OU Board of Regents. Since its inception in 2011, the Order of the Owl has inducted 37 OU Law alumni. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Tesla Cybertruck owners have voiced concerns with corrosion issues on the exterior panels of their new vehicles. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Some Tesla Cybertruck owners voiced their concerns after discovering orange rust marks on their new cars. In a Cybertruck Owners Club forum, one man claimed he picked up his new Cybertruck in Dublin, California, and drove it to Sacramento in the pouring rain on Feb. 1. During the drive, he noticed tiny orange specks on his truck. The man said an adviser with Tesla told him that Cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain that need to be buffed out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Los Angeles resident also posted in the forum that he received his new truck on Feb.1 and had it parked in front of his house for 11 days when the vehicle started to form some corrosion because of the rain. The owner said he brought the vehicle to a service facility to fix the issue, and workers found out that it wasnt specks of dirt on the vehicle but actual corrosion. A worker at the facility told the owners that they had a procedure to fix the issue, but they didnt have the tools on hand, nor had they done repairs for corrosion before. ALSO READ: Elon Musk moves SpaceX incorporation to Texas in ongoing fight with Delaware Advertisement Article continues below this ad The man said an advisor with Tesla told him that Cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain and that it requires the vehicle to be buffed out. In a report by Gizmodo, the Tesla Cybertruck manual confirmed the trucks exterior panels are susceptible to such corrosive substances as grease, oil, tree resin, dead insects, etc., which should be washed off quickly to prevent corrosion. Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The woman charged with reorganizing and then leading the citys new economic development apparatus is leaving City Hall to pursue other opportunities. Kian Kamas, executive director of the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity, commonly known as PartnerTulsa, made the announcement Friday. This is an opportunity for me to really be deliberative in thinking about what the next stage of my career looks like, Kamas said. I am incredibly proud of the work that I have had the opportunity to do to build PartnerTulsas organization to really reshape how the city does its economic development work. I am really, really proud of the team that I have built. And I want to work with them to manage through this transition. But ultimately, I am excited to see whats next for me. No date has been set for Kamas departure. Kamas, 38, went to work at City Hall in 2017 as Mayor G.T. Bynums deputy chief of economic development. She was named chief of economic development when former Mayor Kathy Taylor stepped down from that position in 2018. When Bynum announced in 2021 that the city was consolidating its numerous economic development authorities, boards and commissions into one entity focused on advancing policies and projects that ensure shared prosperity and reduce racial disparities, Kamas led the long and complicated effort. During her time leading Tulsas economic development efforts, I think Kian Kamas has been the best economic development leader in any city in America, Bynum said in a press release. When she joined our team at the City of Tulsa, we had a skeletal economic development staff and a streak of missed opportunities. Since then, Tulsa has enjoyed one of the strongest economic development runs in its history securing the single largest economic development investment (American Airlines) and recruiting the two largest new employers (Greenheck and Amazon) in city history. Today, thanks to Kians tireless efforts, we are a globally competitive city when it comes to economic development. Other major economic development successes under Kamas leadership include securing $700 million in announced investments at Tulsa International Airport; creating a community-led effort to redevelop 56 acres of the historic Greenwood District through the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan; and attracting national retailers such as Costco and Scheels. Kamas was also instrumental in capturing $39 million in federal funding and $50 million in state funding for wastewater infrastructure improvements and development of nearly 10,000 acres in east Tulsa. Kian Kamas has provided extraordinary leadership for the city of Tulsa and did an amazing job getting PartnerTulsa up and running, said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. We have appreciated her collaboration in working with Tulsas Future, the Chamber-led regional economic development partnership, on many projects. The Tulsa Regional Chamber knows she will excel in any new role she decides to pursue. Before joining the city, Kamas worked six years in various roles at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. She obtained her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma, where she also graduated from the schools Economic Development Institute. She went on to earn a master of science degree in comparative public policy from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A Tulsa city councilor and mayoral candidate is proposing to prohibit the use of city funds, either directly or indirectly, to house, accommodate, or benefit illegal immigrants. The proposed ordinance from Jayme Fowler defines city funds as any money under the city treasurers control, including but not limited to tax revenues, grants and subsidies. The proposed prohibition would apply to all city departments, city contractors, city employers and nonprofits. Nonprofits and programs found to be in violation of the proposed ordinance could have their funding withheld. The ordinance defines an illegal immigrant as any person residing in the United States who does not possess legal documentation or authorization to reside in the United States. Fowler listed three reasons he proposed the ordinance. No. 1 is that were barely able to address our unhoused citizens here in the city of Tulsa, Fowler said. And then No. 2 is that, literally, one or two busloads of illegal immigrants would max out our low-barrier shelter. We just dont have the capacity and scale of major cities like New York and Denver and Chicago. We really dont have those resources. The third reason, Fowler said, is to staunch any misinformation or misperceptions that Tulsa is a sanctuary city. Fowler noted that a conservative news outlet portrayed efforts by city leaders to create a more welcoming city as making the city a more desirable destination for illegal migrants. You can tell people so many times that thats not true, Fowler said. But if you just simply lay down in an ordinance and let people know that we are not a sanctuary, that would help. A sanctuary city is generally defined as a municipality that does not cooperate with or limits its cooperation with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws. Tulsa has never been designated as such a city. Mayor G.T. Bynum said he has not discussed the proposal with Fowler but agrees with the sentiment behind it. He added that the city complies with federal immigration laws and has strongly supported opportunities for lawful immigrants in Tulsa. I do not want us doing anything that rewards those who cheat the system, Bynum said. We honor the sacrifices made by lawful immigrants who seek opportunity in Tulsa and are doing so much to be a city that lives up to their hopes and aspirations. This proposed ordinance isnt going to change that. Bynum said his main concern is how the ordinance is drafted. From a practical standpoint, everyone in Tulsa benefits from basic infrastructure and services funded by the city government, Bynum said. I cant imagine that Councilor Fowler plans to check the immigration status of every person before they flush the toilet or drive down a street. If a person calls 911 because someone is trying to murder them, the Tulsa Police Department isnt going to check their immigration status before stopping the murderer. If a person has a heart attack, the Tulsa Fire Department isnt going to check their immigration status before saving their life. Bynum said those are just a few examples of why the current wording of the ordinance is not enforceable. And I would not want us setting a legal expectation that we have no means of enforcing, he said. The city relies heavily on nonprofits to provide food, shelter and other social services to the homeless and immigrants making their way into the country. Asked whether his proposed ordinance would mean shelters and feeding programs would have to check an individuals immigration status before assisting them, Fowler said he did not know the mechanics of how that would work. But he added that there are nonprofit service providers locally that are not funded by city dollars that could provide housing to immigrants without proper documentation. Nearly all of the money the city provides to nonprofits working on homelessness comes in the form of federal pass-through dollars. Becky Gligo, outgoing executive director of the nonprofit Housing Solutions, said federal funding for housing and shelter are subject to anti-discrimination provisions and the federal Fair Housing Act. Homeless services are designed to meet the immediate needs of all and ultimately permanently house all Tulsans, Gligo said. We will continue to focus on these goals. Fowler said he plans to discuss whether those funds would be prohibited and other questions surrounding the proposal when councilors discuss it on Wednesday. The finished product could be far different than what you looked at (Friday) afternoon, Fowler said. 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 Food for thought: Third District Congressman Frank Lucas tangled with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a lengthy Ag Committee hearing last week. Members of both parties complained to Vilsack about everything from a lack of support for walking horses to food prices. He got into it with Lucas over the Emergency Relief Program, which provides financial assistance for losses to such things as floods, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes and winter storms. Lucas said farmers and ranchers in his district are telling him they arent getting the support they need, and he asked Vilsack what can be done to remedy the situation. One change would be for Congress to give us the resources we ask for, Vilsack replied. When you give us 30% of what we ask for, we tell you the damages are $10-$12 billion, and you basically give us $3 billion, you put us in a tough spot. But Mr. Secretary, when you change the program so that you screw up the delivery, and screw up the 30%, it makes it difficult to come back for the other 70, Lucas fired back. It didnt screw up at all, said Vilsack. In fact, 82% of producers received more help than they would have based on what you (suggested). My producers back home tell me the resources are not going to production where the losses were, insisted Lucas, who suggested a preferred category in the rules received preferential treatment. Thats not true, said Vilsack. And so it went. IRS: First District Congressman Kevin Hern joined other Ways and Means Republicans complaining to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel about various things, including a decision not to enforce lower reporting limits for certain types of income and a pilot program that allows some people to file their tax returns online at no cost to them. Hern first accused the IRS of blatantly not enforcing the law because of pressure from Democrats whove had second thoughts about a 2021 law that required income paid through third-party apps such as Venmo of $600 to be reported to the IRS via a 1099-K form. After much outcry, the limit was set at $20,000. It will be $5,000 for tax year 2024 and $600 for 2025 one year after the next presidential election. Hern was also displeased about the tax-filing program, which he said is not free because taxpayers pay for it. The program has encountered strong opposition from professional tax preparers and software companies. For years, the IRS had an agreement with a group of those companies not to offer direct free online filing, which is the case in some countries, if those companies would not charge for some of the simpler filings. In recent years, though, it was found that some of the companies were using the offer of free filing to lure customers into paying for services and software they may not have needed. Hern argued that people who didnt qualify for the IRS pilot program are subsidizing those who do. It ought to be described as not free, Hern said. Its funded by other taxpayers and (the users) as well, if they qualified. I dont know the criteria, but my guess is if they qualified for that program is that theyre not paying taxes and its a refundable credit that theyre getting. The IRS website indicates households with incomes of $125,000 or more may qualify for the service, but that it can also be used to claim child care and a few other refundable tax credits even if you dont owe taxes. The service is available in only a handful of states. Oklahoma is not one of them. On the job: After three GOP chairs announced they would not seek re-election, Lucas chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and former Agriculture chairman told the Associated Press he has no plans to retire soon. Lucas said the cost of living in Washington, combined with the fact members of Congress have not had a raise in 15 years, and a fear the GOP losing its narrow House majority may be factors in the rash of House retirements. Its also a frustration with the difficulty of legislating at this time because of issues within factions and the balanced nature of the House membership, he said. Lucas, a member of Congress since 1994, said the late Rep. Don Young of Alaska, the Houses longest serving Republican member before his death in 2022, once pulled him aside for a pep talk. He looks me in the eye and says Lucas, people like you and I were here when this place still worked. We cant leave because if you leave before we get back to that point, some of these underclassmen dont have a clue about how things are supposed to happen, how to do anything Lucas said. Oddballs: OK, Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole did not refer to his colleagues as odd, but he did say the current congress sets the standard for most unusual. You have to remember this started with something that we had not done in 100 years multiple speaker ballot votes, Cole told the Ripon Society. And if you look at the length of time and number of votes, you have to go back to 1856 pre-Civil War to find anything remotely comparable. And then less than a year into it, we do something that we have never done in the history of the United States House of Representatives. We vacate the chair. We were without a Speaker for three weeks. You look at our membership, and we have a pretty new majority 50 percent of our members had never served in the majority until this Congress, Cole continued. So Im not surprised were seeing unusual things, for that reason alone. Were also operating looking at the Senate and the House with the most narrow majority that anybodys had since 1884. All of that has added up to some unmet, and probably unrealistic, expectations. Part of our problem is our ambition is greater than our numbers in this Congress, Cole said. When you have a majority this small and the other party controls the Senate and the presidency, your accomplishments are mostly going to be negative that is, youre going to deny the other side and serve as, lets say, a blocking majority. Gassing up: Oklahomas House delegation eagerly voted for legislation to block the Biden administrations moratorium on new liquified petroleum gas export facilities. The moratorium is not expected to make much of a difference in the near- or intermediate-term, but there is concern that it could cause Europe and Asia to use more coal or look elsewhere, including Russia, for natural gas. Cole said the moratorium is nothing more than a political move to placate environmentalists at the expense of the American people and our economic and national security. Hern and Texas Republican August Pfluger, in a joint statement, called the moratorium a monumental mistake that benefits our adversaries and dirty global polluters. Others familiar with natural gas markets, though, note the nations LNG export capacity not subject to the order is in the process of than tripling since 2018 and is more than adequate for current demand. Bidens order includes exceptions for national security emergencies. Dots and dashes: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin told Fox News that former President Donald Trump puts the Fear of God in world leaders. Second District Congressman Josh Brecheen called President Joe Bidens challenge to Congress to pass the Senates border bill laughable. Watching Speaker (Mike) Johnson, who I have great respect for, grow up has been really fascinating. I just hope he has the time to finish growing up, Lucas told Punchbowl News. U.S. Sen. James Lankford threw the words House Republicans used to torpedo his border security deal back at them following Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas impeachment, telling CBS If I could use the House term, itll be dead on arrival when it comes over. Fifth District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice repeated the debunked claim that contributions by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg to election boards across the country were intended to help Democrats in 2020 swing states. Lucas continued to butt heads with administration officials over its choice of outside vendors to monitor carbon emissions. Olivia Porcaro is Coles new communications director. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World 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 Poultry producers liability for water pollution apparently would be drastically reduced including for past incidents under legislation scheduled for a vote in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday. House Bill 4118, by Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, has alarmed northeastern Oklahoma water conservationists and officials with the city of Tulsa, which pipes much of its drinking water from watersheds shared with intensive poultry feeding operations. I believe, if passed, this would increase pollution in all of the waters of Oklahoma, said Lou Reynolds, a long-time member of the Tulsa Metropolitan Utilities Authority, whose responsibilities include the citys water and sewer systems. Hardin did not respond to calls to his office. A committee substitute that was passed in committee on Feb. 6, the second day of the session, includes several revisions but retains the basic elements of the original version. As now written, HB 4118 would transform an absolute prohibition against polluting state waters to what is described as a best-practices effort with relatively few consequences for failure. Specifically, the current language turns there shall be no discharge of poultry waste to waters of the state into when developing Nutrient Management Plans Each Nutrient Management Plan shall contain measures designed to prevent the discharge of poultry waste to waters of the state. The bill then minimizes the penalties if the plan doesnt work. Nutrient management plans are essentially pollution control agreements that describe waste disposal actions. Federal regulators oversaw waste disposal until 2022, when a bill carried by Hardin switched responsibility to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. HB 4118 goes on to apparently eliminate interim equitable damages and punitive damages from consideration for violations of state law regarding poultry litter. Finally, the bill essentially absolves producers from responsibility for poultry-related pollution as long as theyve followed their nutrient management plan and says: This provision shall apply retroactively to any pending civil or criminal actions. It is unclear whether liability would be shifted to the state or eliminated altogether. Also unclear is how the law might affect Oklahomas long-running lawsuit against poultry interests. After a federal judge ruled in Oklahomas favor last year, the defendants asked to have the case dismissed because of what they called outdated evidence. HB 4118 was scheduled to become one of the first measures of this session to get a floor vote but was pulled back Wednesday. Late Friday it was added to Mondays agenda. Those with some knowledge of HB 4118 were reluctant to speak about it on the record, but the argument in favor is that it protects producers operating in good faith under a state-approved plan to dispose of nutrient-rich poultry waste. Those not in compliance with their nutrient maintenance plans would still be liable for any resulting pollution. Opponents of HB 4118, and even some fairly neutral observers, are skeptical. They perceive the state Department of Agriculture as too close to influential agriculture interests, including the poultry industry. One said the bill would take the teeth out of the states water protection laws. Tulsa gets about 40% of its water from the citys Eucha and Spavinaw reservoirs on Spavinaw Creek, which empties into Lake Hudson. When built in the 1920s, the original Spavinaw dam and 90-mile connecting pipeline made up one of the largest municipal public works projects in the nations history. In the 1990s, Tulsa filed and ultimately won a lawsuit against poultry interests for pollution of the Spavinaw watershed. That led to a state lawsuit claiming damage to a wider area, including the Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller. The suit languished in federal court for 18 years until District Judge Gregory Frizzell ruled in favor of the state a little over a year ago. In October, the two sides said theyd been unable to reach a resolution through mediation, leaving it to Frizzell to decide on a remedy. A few days later the defendants asked that the case be dismissed. Attorney General Gentner Drummonds office declined to comment on HB 4118s possible effect on the lawsuit. 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 Under the dome: The House is expected to return to its full complement of 101 members this week following the election of Republican Erick Harris to fill the vacancy in House District 39. The Edmond district has always been solidly Republican, but Harris received barely half the vote 50.37%. That may be somewhat misleading because Libertarian Richard Prawdzienski, a familiar name to Edmond voters, took 4.5%. Still, Democrat Regan Raffs 45.13% was notable considering the party had previously fielded only one candidate in HD 39 since 2008. That candidate, Devyn Denton in 2018., received 35% of the vote. That year Republican incumbent Ryan Martinez drew more than 60% and Prawdzienski got 3.5%. Whether Raff or another Democrat can post something close to that in the November general election with a presidential election on the ballot is another matter. Among legislation advancing from committee last week: Senate Bill 1854, by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, creates a misdemeanor for establishing an unauthorized camp on public property. The first offense is waived if the person accepts assistance. House Bill 3694, by Rep. Chris Kannady, R-Oklahoma City, returns the threshold for grand larceny to $500 from the $1,000 set by voters in 2016 as part of State Question 780. Oklahomans may have forsaken the states dry heritage as it pertains to alcohol, but apparently the Legislature is still not so sure. HB 2090, whose intention is to allow independent Amazon delivery drivers to handle alcoholic beverages on their routes, made it through the House of Representatives with the bare minimum of 51 yes votes. Delivery is already legal in Oklahoma, but only by regular employees. Looking up: Gov. Kevin Stitt and Treasurer Todd Russ said the rating agency Fitch revised the states financial outlook from stable to positive. The Long-Term Issuer Default rating remains AA, although some recently issued bonds were rated AA- because they depend on annual appropriations for payment, the Fitch report said. Other states Fitch ratings range from A- for Illinois and New Jersey to AAA for several states, including Missouri and Texas. Ethics: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission, which oversees political campaign finances, said it has reached a global settlement on six investigations involving four political action committees connected to Democratic campaigns. Under the settlement, the PACs agree to pay penalties totaling $11,800, dissolve and file corrected reports. The allegations against Oklahoma House PAC, Noble PAC, Empower PAC, and Oklahoma Oak PAC included failure to include proper disclaimers on solicitations, improper reporting of contributions to candidate committees and improper expenditures on behalf of House Democrats. The agreement does not detail those expenditures. Meetings and events: Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb headlines the Oklahoma Federation of Democratic Womens Annual Heart of the Party Champagne Reception, 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel, 616 W. 7th St. See okdemocrats.org for tickets. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear at 6:30 p.m. April 11 at Sheridan Church, 7901 E. 41st St. RSVP at sheridan.church/events. Application deadline is April 30 for for the Republican Womens Club of Tulsa Countys two $2000 scholarships. The scholarships got to girls graduating high school this spring, and who are registered Tulsa County Republicans or who have have a registered Republican parent or guardian living in Tulsa County. Campaigns and elections: While 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern has been relatively quiet about aid to Ukraine, his 2024 Democratic opponent has not. Democracy and global stability are at stake, said Dennis Baker, a retired FBI agent. Every day we wait is another day that Russia advances, China gets emboldened, and Iran- backed terrorist groups shoot more rockets at American troops. ... We need Oklahomas Republican Congressional Delegation to place their nations security above party politics. Darren Hamilton, a satellite technology worker from Fort Supply, said he will challenge 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas in this years Republican primary. Kody Macauley, a Moore Democrat, is a candidate in southwest Oklahomas CD 4. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. U.S. tech giant Apple will utilize 20 Hyundai Tucson cars to collect data in Vietnam to improve the Look Around feature. Look Around is a technology featured in Apple Maps, enabling users to view 360 street-level imagery, with smooth transitions as the scene is navigated. Apple has selected the Subaru Impreza, a compact car manufactured by Japanese automaker Subaru, for its mapping plans in many countries, while using the Hyundai Tucson, a compact crossover SUV produced by South Korean manufacturer Hyundai, in Vietnam. According to several car groups on Facebook, Apple seemed to prepare for its plan to deploy a fleet of cars for the Look Around enhancements in Vietnam in July 2023. Hyundai Truong Chinh in July last year held a car handover ceremony to deliver 20 Hyundai Tucson autos to Hertz Vietnam and Apple. Hertz, a world-renowned American car rental company, entered the Vietnamese market in 2018. In February, Apple unveiled detailed information about the vehicles that would be used to collect data in Vietnam on the Apple Maps website. Hyundai Truong Chinh handed over 20 Hyundai Tucson cars to Hertz and Apple in July 2023. Photo: Hyundai Truong Chinh As scheduled, Apple will start its image collection in Vietnams southeast region this month. It will continue the mapping plan in the north-central region on March 5 and the Red River Delta on March 8. Its data collection is set to last for over seven months. Apart from the presence of these cars, Apple will send many visitors carrying a backpack equipped with modern sensors to the Southeast Asian nation to gather data to support the Look Around feature, which functions similarly to Google Street View. Google Street View, featured in Google Maps, has been available in Vietnam for several years. Apples determination to improve and update Apple Maps in Vietnam is expected to bring advantages to the users of Apple devices in the nation. Since 2012, Apple Maps has become a default map app on each iPhone or iPad. The app underwent an upgrade in 2018 in response to many user complaints about its fidelity issues. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 30-year-old man killed 12 relatives, including his father and brother in Iran, official media reported on Saturday, in a rare mass shooting in the country. They said the man, who was not identified, used a Kalashnikov assault rifle and was later shot and killed by security forces in the south-central province of Kerman. They said the cause of the shooting, in a remote rural village, was a family dispute. They did not elaborate. Mass killings are rare in Iran, where hunting rifles are the only weapons people are allowed to possess. Two years ago, a dismissed employee of a state institution in western Iran shot and killed three people and injured five before killing himself. The Phu Tho circus and multi-purpose performing center complex project, which carries a price tag of nearly VND1.4 trillion (US$57.1 million), in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City has taken shape after nearly a year since its commencement. During a project inspection on Saturday, the municipal chairman, Phan Van Mai, set the deadline for the inauguration of the project on April 30, 2025. He also assigned relevant units to offer free tickets to certain spectators, including children and underprivileged people, from the inauguration time to the end of 2025. The city will fund performances during the period. Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City kick-started the construction of the Phu Tho circus and multi-purpose performing center complex project in late April last year. The project has a gross floor area of over 31,600 square meters. Photo: Cam Nuong / Tuoi Tre The project was envisaged to have two basements, a 12-story circus and multi-purpose performing zone, and a two-story administrative, service, and restaurant block. Upon completion, the 12-story circus and multi-purpose performing zone will consist of training and practice rooms, a 2,000-seat theater, and an area for circus animal raising and training, among others. It is among the citys 50 key projects to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnams reunification on April 30, 1975. In 2023, the city allocated VND290 billion ($11.8 million) to the project, with nearly VND180 billion ($7.3 million) being disbursed. This year, an additional budget of over VND558 billion ($22.8 million) will be funneled into the project. The Phu Tho circus and multi-purpose performing center complex was designed to have two basements, a 12-story circus and multi-purpose performing zone, and a two-story administrative, service, and restaurant block. Photo: Cam Nuong / Tuoi Tre Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai inspected the construction site of the project on February 17, 2024. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre The project will be allocated VND558 billion this year. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre An aerial view of the 12-story circus and multi-purpose performing zone. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre The 12-story circus and multi-purpose performing zone is expected to be completed in February 2025 and put into operation on April 30, 2025. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre The contractor of the project has ordered equipment for the 2,000-seat theater from foreign manufacturers. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre The Phu Tho circus and multi-purpose performing center complex is located on Lu Gia Street in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City. It is next to Phu Tho Stadium. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) on Saturday commenced work on the city's second metro line, which links Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Tham Luong Depot in District 12. The 11.2-kilometer route carries a price tag of over VND47.9 trillion (US$1.95 million). -- The authorities and residents in a commune in Ha Tinh Province, located in north-central Vietnam, have completed collecting oil clumps that washed up along 500 meters of coastline in the commune, a local official said on Saturday. -- Traffic police in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam fined a driver VND5 million ($204) and revoked his drivers license for three months after he was caught driving a passenger bus in the wrong direction on a National Highway 1 section in the province on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Security's Traffic Police Department said on Saturday. -- Vietnam welcomed 1.5 million international tourist arrivals last month, surging 73.6 percent year on year, according to the General Statistics Office. -- Taiwan-based Era Travel, the operator of We Love Tour, which is involved in a case in which nearly 300 Taiwanese tourists were left stranded on Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, said it could neither compensate the tourists nor fulfill related obligations, Taiwanese news site NOWnews cited Taiwans tourism association as saying on Saturday. Business -- A total of VND2,750 trillion ($41 billion) went into the Vietnamese property market in 2023, an increase of 6.75 percent in comparison to 2022, the Vietnam News Agency reported, citing the State Bank of Vietnam. Lifestyle -- Thousands of residents and tourists gathered along the Dinh River in Khanh Hoa Province on Saturday to enjoy a flower boat festival and boat race with the participation of 28 flower boats. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The number of Vietnamese users hit by offline cyberattacks plummeted 57 percent from 2020 to 2023, according to statistics from the Kaspersky Security Network. Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky detected over 114.8 million offline threats in Vietnam in 2023, down six percent compared to 2022. The firm also protected 53.3 percent of Vietnamese users from offline attacks last year. Offline attacks occur when malicious codes are spread via flash drives, CDs, DVDs, and other physical data storage devices. Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager at Kaspersky for Southeast Asia, credited the decline in offline cyber threats in Vietnam from 2020 to 2023 to the proactive measures taken by the Vietnamese government to enhance cybersecurity. Tiong acknowledged the government's initiatives in raising awareness among users about the risks associated with network attacks. He also urged users to remain vigilant against potential cyber threats to safeguard their assets, underscoring the importance of maintaining a high level of alertness despite the significant decrease in such incidents. Kaspersky found more than 234.7 million offline threats in Southeast Asia last year, nearly half of which were detected in Vietnam, making the country the most vulnerable to these attacks. Indonesia ranked second, registering over 51.2 million offline attacks detected last year. In contrast, Singapore reported the lowest number of offline threats in the region in 2023, with a mere 1.6 million attacks identified. How to defend against cyber threats To achieve more effective protection against offline cyberattacks, users should replace their devices, software, and apps with new versions equipped with the most recent security patches. Users are advised to employ distinct strong and unique passwords for each of their online accounts. It is recommended to consider using a password manager to enhance security and convenience. In addition, users should be cautious to open any email and message, or receive a suspicious call that they are asked to provide their personal information. Furthermore, users are encouraged to implement two-factor authentication, a security measure that involves entering a password and then providing a code or security key to access their accounts. This adds an extra layer of protection to elevate account security. Lastly, it is essential for users to utilize reputable cybersecurity software to fortify the overall safety of their data. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Rioting broke out between two rival groups of Eritreans in the Netherlands on Saturday night, police said. Officers used tear gas in an attempt to quell the unrest in The Hague as rioters torched police cars and a bus.Images from the scene showed vehicles in flames and dozens of men in the street, some throwing rocks. It got seriously out of hand, The Hague Municipality spokesman Robin Middel said. Middel said a group loyal to Eritrea's government was holding a meeting when the venue was attacked by Eritreans who oppose the African nation's government. Police spokeswoman Kristianne van Blanken said she could not immediately say if anybody was injured or if any rioters were arrested. The fighting is the latest outbreak of violence at Eritrean events in Europe. Dozens of people, including at least 26 police officers, were injured during unrest surrounding an Eritrean cultural festival in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart in September 2023. A fight the same month between Eritrean government supporters and opponents in Tel Aviv led to violent street confrontations among African asylum-seekers and migrants. Months earlier, a clash at an Eritrean festival in the western German city of Giessen left 22 police officers injured. Tens of thousands of people have fled Eritrea for Europe, many alleging they were mistreated by the repressive government of President Isaias Afwerki. The conflicts underscore deep divisions among members of the Eritrean diaspora between those who remain close to the government and those who have fled to live in exile and strongly oppose Isaias. With the possible exception of The Twilight Zone, television hasnt explored too many space psychological dramas, content to let the big screen lead the way with Gravity, Solaris, Interstellar and The Astronauts Wife. Apple TV+ series Constellation has a premise not too dissimilar to the latter with an astronaut returning to Earth to find things have changed. The series by Peter Harness (Wallander, The War of the Worlds, Doctor Who) stars Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, You Wont Be Alone) as Swedish astronaut Jo, working on an international space station, apparently in the near-present. Working alongside a small team of other international astronauts, she is thousands of kilometres from husband and teacher Magnus (James DArcy), with whom she has been having some difficulties, and young daughter Alice (Rosie Coleman). But an accident in space throws everything into peril, prompts an abandon ship and runs the risk of Jo not making it back to Earth. Meanwhile former astronaut turned senior NASA man Henry (Jonathan Banks), who liaises with mission control bases in Europe and Kazhakstan, is less concerned with the personnel in jeopardy than in bringing home precious cargo. Just what is he up to.? But Jo has undergone inexplicable experiences during her final hours in space which sees her hallucinating -perhaps- or living in alternate states. These play upon her emotions and longing for daughter Alice. Back on Earth she is still shook from the incidents in space, trying to rationalise ghostly experiences in her daily life and restore missing pieces of her life. There are also clearly government secrets being suppressed, particularly by the Russians under a wily mission control leader Irena (Barbara Sukowa). All the space station sets look very authentic with their gravity-defying tech, and Noomi Rapace is suitably moody and calm which lures you into her fragmented and unsettling world. I have no idea if Jonathan Banks Henry is seeking some miracle of longevity from beyond, but the series does seem to highlight his mortality. With his brooding presence and richly, resonant voice he surely makes for an ideal antagonist. Yet the storytelling is uneven and sluggish. So while the visuals and cast are present, it remains to be seen if the story will be worth the destination. Maybe thats why film is a tighter, big screen forum for this genre after all? Im hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Constellation three episodes Wednesday February 20 then weekly on Apple TV+. Survivor USA, hosted by Jeff Probst, returns for Season 46 next week on 9GO! This marks the fourteenth consecutive season to be filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, again screening as 90 minute episodes. The action kicks off with 18 contestants starting in three tribes. 7:30pm Thursday February 29 on 9GO! A Palestinian man is treated in Nasser hospital in December before the army takeover (Getty) The last major hospital in southern Gaza has ceased to function, the UN has said, in the wake of a raid by Israeli forces on Thursday. Medics inside Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis, have previously told The Independent about the intense fighting around the complex. The latest blow to Gazas devastated healthcare sector came as Israel prepares for an assault of the southernmost city of Rafah, home now to more than a million Palestinians, many of them having fled other areas of the strip. It is a move that the international community, including Israels biggest ally the United States, has warned would create enormous human suffering. The head of the UNs World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: Nasser hospital in Gaza is not functional anymore, after a week-long siege followed by the ongoing raid. Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners, he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. There are still about 200 patients in the hospital. At least 20 need to be urgently referred to other hospitals to receive healthcare; medical referral is every patients right. The Israeli military said its special forces were operating in and around Nasser hospital, and had killed dozens of Palestinian militants and seized a large amount of weapons in fighting across Gaza over the past day. It has consistently accused Hamas of hiding in hospitals and using civilians as shields. accusations denied by hospital staff The military claimed in a statement that hundreds of militants were hiding in Nasser hospital and some had posed as medical staff. It released images of weapons it said were found along with medications that were transferred from Israel and intended for the more than 100 hostages abducted from Israel and being held by Hamas. Story continues The packages of medicine that were found were sealed and had not been transferred to the hostages, the military said. Hamas dismissed the allegations. Nasser hospital was still sheltering scores of patients suffering from war wounds and from the worsening health crisis in Gaza, but there was no power and not enough staff to treat them all, the spokesperson for the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, Ashraf al-Qidra, said. Its gone completely out of service. There are only four medical teams 25 staff currently caring for patients inside the facility, he told Reuters. The Israeli military said the raid occurred without harming patients and medical staff, and in accordance with international law. Mr Qidra said water supply to the hospital had halted because generators had been out of action for three days, sewage was flooding emergency rooms and the remaining staff had no way of treating intensive care patients. A lack of oxygen supplies also a result of having no power had caused the deaths of at least seven patients, he said. The Israeli offensive inside Gaza started in response to a bloody Hamas attack inside Israel during which around 1,100 people were killed and 240 others taken hostage shows no sign of abating. Palestinian health authorities say around 29,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in an aerial bombardment and ground campaign, backed by a blockade. Israels assault on Gaza began in the north and has moved south, with many know ending up in Rafah, the Gaza-Egypt border town which is the only crossing not controlled by Israel. Israeli planes carried out attacks on two areas in Rafah on Sunday, including an empty building near the border with Egypt, local residents and Hamas media officials said. The second of the two strikes hit an open space where displaced people were sheltering, killing six people, local medics said. Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure to get the remaining hostages released, on Saturday pledged to push on with the military campaign. Mr Netanyahu has rejected internationally-backed attempts to negotiate a ceasefire as Arab and Western countries call for a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the creation of a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel. The US, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release, but theres a wide gap between Israel and Hamas demands. Qatar said over the weekend that the talks have not been progressing as expected. Mr Netanyahus war cabinet on Sunday formalised its opposition to what it called the unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report Feel the Sting of Jason Statham Pollinating 4K UHD and Blu-ray with 'The Beekeeper' on April 23 Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Views & Analysis Why Civil Society Should Raise Voice Against 'Bulldozer Injustice' The need of the hour is also that the government announces an immediate judicial enquiry into the Madrasa and Mosque demolition in Haldwani, so that all these facts related to the case come to the fore. Read More Sunday February 18, 2024 3:38 PM , Subhash Gatade [File Photo] The sounds surrounding the bulldozers demolishing the illegal Mosque and Madarasa in Haldwani, on February 08, 2024 , which have resulted in five deaths and injuries to several people, which includes policepersons as well, are now over. Peace seems to be returning and life seems to coming back to normal and the talk of rioters being arrested or mastermind of the violence getting nabbed or a police post being opened up at the demolition site receiving much media coverage. No doubt violence of any kind cannot be justified and peoples opposition to governments steps should always remain in the bounds of constitution and if anybody is found instigating violence, then s/he should be dealt under the relevant law only. One even learns that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami has reportedly said after the violence in Banphulpurwa area that no type of anarchy will be tolerated in Dev Bhumi and miscreants will have to compensate for damage to the government properties'. Question arises, whether a judicial enquiry preferably under a retired judge of the Supreme Court will be ordered so that a clear picture of the whole incident emerges and one may better comprehend, how an area which was the site of a peaceful mass movement merely a year back, a movement which was joined by civil society activists, writers etc, suddenly changed colour. Looking at the executive itself donning the role of the judiciary in many cases - as evident in the recent judgement of Madhya Pradesh High Court it is expected that cases against the accused here would not be similarly short-circuited and summary punishment will not be implemented but they would be dealt as per the provisions of law and will be able to defend themselves before courts of law. People cannot be uprooted using force These were the words of the Supreme Court which had stayed Uttarakhand HCs Haldwani demolition order last year when residents of Banphoolpurwa, Haldwani had approached it. What must have impressed the Supreme Courts that thousands of these people a large section of them belonging to the minority communities had been living besides the railway lines for decades together, had proofs of residence as well in the form of ration cards etc, and as per the Article 14 of the Constitution it would be transgressing their fundamental rights if they be uprooted without making any alternate arrangements. Remember the two judge bench of the Apex Court which stayed the High Court's order (4 th January 2023) was following the precedents in the case. In a historic case in 1985, the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice V V Chandrachud, had ruled in favour of those marginalised sections who were without any hope living on government pavements and ordered that they should not be removed with force, without giving them chance to explain'. In this Olga Tellis judgement, it had thus expanded the the scope of Article 21 of the Constitution which is for protection of life and liberty of the individual and emphasised that right to livelihood should be an integral part of it. Conceding that the pavement dwellers (in that particular case) occupy places unauthorised but it had simultaneously said that it would be unconstitutional to remove them without listening to them. Today the same area is being stigmatised for rioting after a demolition operation undertaken by the district administration of an illegally built madarsa mosque in the area, which has resulted in violence leading to deaths of five people and injuries to many which includes few policepersons as well. Deaths of anyone need to be mourned but if the police personnel in this case were also wounded, then it is really a dispiriting situation and these police personnel should be provided with the best medical support. As per newspaper reports, many rioters involved in the violent incidents of the day have been apprehended and the mastermind of the whole operation has also been arrested and has been asked to pay compensation for the damage to public property on the day of demolition. As far as common citizens are concerned the report filed by The Wire titled Violence, Arrests and Unanswered Questions is an eye-opener. As it puts it: ... The residents of Gafoor Basti continue to live under conditions of a curfew, with homes barricaded and people relocating to safer areas. Basic necessities such as ration supplies have been scarce for the past four days." "It is being said that it is for the first time that such a strict action is being taken against miscreants. The notice issued by the City Commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay has asked that the mastermind Abdul Malik will have to deposit the amount within three days. The cost includes damage to bulldozer, helmets, government vehicles etc. All these actions resonate with what Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami had reportedly said after the violence in Banphulpurwa area. He had said that no type of anarchy will be tolerated in DevBhumi and miscreants will have to compensate for damage to government property.' Nobody can condone violence of any kind and everyone has to ensure that every type of resistance should always remain in the bounds of law and constitution, and justice needs to be done to the lawbreakers. Still the rapidity with which everything is being executed raises doubts about the whole operation. Civil liberty activists, writers had questioned the big hurry to demolish these two illegal structures on Feb 08, 2024, when both these structures were already in the possession of the police and the matter was before the High Court, which was to deliberate over it on February 14, 2024. A section of the media had also said that the administration allegedly lacked any order by the court to demolish these structures. Concerns have already been raised that the Police and Administration involved in the demolition allegedly did not even take into consideration intelligence inputs before going ahead. A magistrate enquiry has been ordered in the whole incident. But, looking at the fact that none of the senior officers executing the operation have been either suspended or at least sent on leave and the enquiry would be conducted by the Area Commissioner, who must have been part of this decision making exercise, it is doubtful whether one will ever know the truth. The question of land ownership seems a bit complicated when it comes to Uttarakhand. In fact, as per an interview given by the local Congress MLA, Sumati Hridayesh: "Seventy percent of the land in Haldwani is Nazool land and government has miserably failed in protecting the rights of the poor". The claim by the District Administration that these two illegal structures were based on Nazul land and the demolition operation was part of its anti-encroachment drive, has also raised lot of questions as per a memorandum submitted by writers, journalists, civil society activists to the Governor and issued to the press, which similarly underlined that even a large population of Haldwani itself which includes people from all religions, is based on Nazul land and it has been a long time demand that people living on Nazul land be given the ownership of the land. According to them, the State Government has even sent proposal to the Central Government in this connection. In this background, there was a very valid question to ask why this specific targeting of a particular people? Perhaps the need of the hour is that the government announces an immediate judicial enquiry, so that all these facts related to the case come to the fore. Such an enquiry under a retired Supreme Court judge would also be able to see the veracity of all these claimsand counterclaims, and also see for itself whether there was an error of judgement or not or whether Pushkar Dhami led government was kept in the loop by the District Administration or not? If such an enquiry does take place, then it will also examine whether higher authorities had advised the local authorities to observe diligence before ordering the action when as per their own intelligence reports the passing of UCC had already caused enough anxieties among the minorities. No doubt not only the District Administration but the state machinery also, especially the government led by Pushkar Dhami, is required a lot of explaination because without its green signal such an action would not have been undertaken by the District Administration. Inadvertently or so the demolition operation in Banphoolpurwa has brought into short focus not only the workings of the state government but also the way it has fared since last few years when it comes to defending minority rights is concerned. The picture which emerges is not a very encouraging one. Merely three months back, Scroll had done a story titled, "How state-backed Hindutva rhetoric is fuelling the ethnic cleansing of Uttarakhand" penned by retired IAS officer Harsh Mander. The article tells us about the unprecedent turmoil through which the hill state is passing through where [a]n influential and popular campaign for ethnic cleansing has gathered ominous momentum: a battle for the expulsion of all Muslims from the state. This crusade is tacitly supported by the state government. Anyone who is familiar with how things are unfolding in India under the BJP dispensation would reveal that the demolitions in Haldwani are no exception. It is part of the pattern in various BJP ruled states since last five years or so. Not many days before, Mira Bhayandar area in Mumbai also witnessed similar targetting of Muslim owned properties when there was some conflict on the streets between fanatic elements on either sides. Similarly, Ujjain witnessed the demolition of a Muslim owned house the very evening when their son was arrested by the police on fabricated charges that he allegedly spat on a religious procession . Last month he was released by the High Court when the complainant and witness in the case denied police claims. The demolition in Haldwani has come on the heels of Amnesty Internationals releasing two damning reports which have once again brought into sharp focus the punitive demolitions in BJP ruled states and its demand that authorities must immediately stop unjust targeted demolition of Muslim properties. Titled India: If you speak up, your house will be demolished: Bulldozer injustice in India", the first report by Amnesty International has analysed the punitive demolitions of 128 properties in the states of Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh following episodes of communal violence and protests between April and June 2022. It describes how The targeted demolitions were instigated by senior political leaders and government officials, and impacted at least 617 people and how Almost two years later, Muslim families and business owners in the five states await compensation for losing their homes, businesses and places of worship. The Indian governments de-facto policy of punitively demolishing Muslim properties for protesting discriminatory laws and practices, is an ongoing phenomenon. This amounts to forced eviction and collective and arbitrary punishment under international law and must be immediately investigated. Whether there will be a let up in the situation, it is difficult to give the answer in the affirmative. The fact that this colonial era method of collective punishment made a comeback when India was preparing to celebrate its 75 th Year of its independence or it continues unabated when preparations are on when Indias ushering into Republic similarly completes 75 years is definitely a cause of concern. As things stand today, with a triumphant BJP which is looking for making a hat-trick of its victory in elections to Parliament few months hence (2024), it would be height of political innocence to imagine that it will make course correction and revisit its policy of indiscriminate use of bulldozers in demolitions of houses and business establishments, despite growing national-international criticism of its arbitrary actions. The only possible answer to stop such illegal and unjust actions is unity of the people who are ready to say such actions not in our name. It is the time that Peace and Justice loving people of this country especially its young generation who dream of living in a more equitable, harmonious world take inspiration from the likes of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist. It was the year 2003 when a 23-year-old Rachel Corrie , was crushed under the Israeli bulldozer when she was protesting the demolition of Palestinian Homes in Southern Gaza. Her sacrifice on a land which was foreign to her for the defence of the vulnerable should inspire all of us who are living. We should raise our voice in unison and should be able to roar NOT IN OUR NAME [The writer, Subhash Gatade, is a Left Activist associated with New Socialist Initiative. Views are Personal.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. 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.. US senators to condemn Hungary for delaying Sweden's accession to NATO - Reports Washington, Feb 18 (UNI) Two US senators from a delegation that will be visiting Hungary on Sunday, will introduce a resolution in the US Congress condemning Budapest for delaying Sweden's admission to NATO and stepping back from democracy, The Associated Press reported, citing the resolution. On Friday, the US Embassy in Budapest announced that a US congressional delegation would arrive in Hungary on Sunday to discuss strategic issues of NATO-Hungary interaction. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto advised the senators not to try to put pressure on Budapest to admit Sweden to NATO because Hungary is a sovereign country and its lawmakers do not make important decisions under the influence of foreign delegations. The resolution noted "the important role Hungary can have in European and trans-Atlantic security," but at the same time criticized Budapest for not joining other NATO countries in approving Sweden's accession to the bloc, thus threatening Euro-Atlantic security, the report read. The document also condemned Hungary for maintaining ties with Russia and China, and for not joining sanctions against Russia, as well as for extending the state of emergency several times due to the coronacrisis and the conflict in Ukraine, the report added. Traditional Chinese lanterns illuminate festivities globally Xinhua) 09:50, February 18, 2024 A photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) CHENGDU, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Li Yuanming, an experienced artisan with 30 years of expertise in crafting lanterns, is consistently occupied during the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, as well as during international festivities. The custom of attending lantern fairs during the Spring Festival is a time-honored tradition in Chinese culture, with a history spanning over 1,800 years. Colored lanterns, mainly handcrafted, require artisans to set up lantern sets on site, tailored to local conditions. Li, 58, is a native of Zigong, a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province renowned for its lantern-making culture. Li has not only extensively traveled across China to create colored lanterns, but also journeyed to the United States, Britain, and France. A lantern fair, celebrating its 30th edition, opened in Zigong a few days before this year's Spring Festival on Feb. 10. Li was involved in the creation of several lantern sets for this fair. The fair features a diverse array of lantern designs, including traditional elements such as flowers and birds, dragons and phoenixes, legendary figures, and landscapes, as well as contemporary influences stemming from cartoon characters, trend culture, and online games, which have gained immense popularity among youngsters. In June 2023, the organizing committee of the lantern fair initiated a global call for themes, attracting submissions from children and adolescents worldwide. Over 3,000 paintings, contributed by young artists from 14 countries and regions were received. Select pieces were crafted into lantern sets by artisans and are being showcased during the ongoing event. "The fair is stunning, with a strong New Year atmosphere and abundant elements of the Year of the Dragon. I took a lot of nice, festive photos," said Liu Jiamin, a tourist from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan. During this year's Spring Festival holiday, Zigong lanterns are illuminating 80 cities across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Chengdu. According to data from the Zigong municipal bureau of commerce, there are around 50,000 workers engaged in the production of colored lanterns in Zigong all year round. The city boasts 1,091 lantern enterprises, with an annual output value of more than 6 billion yuan (about 844.64 million U.S. dollars), accounting for 85 percent of the domestic market and 92 percent of the international market. Currently, a significant proportion of colored lanterns utilized during Christmas holidays, art festivals and light shows globally are crafted by skilled artisans from Zigong, such as Li. Since 1990, when Zigong lanterns debuted internationally in Singapore, artisans from Zigong have spread their footprints across more than 90 countries and regions. "Although lantern-making is hard work, I am very proud and excited to see Zigong lanterns light up the night sky of a foreign land," said Li, who is in charge of setting up circuits inside lanterns. Zigong lanterns enjoy widespread popularity across the globe, primarily due to the integration of traditional craft and modern technology, in addition to their novel themes. According to Li Zhongwen, vice president of Lantern Group, the company has held lantern fairs in several countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Ireland, using the latest technologies, such as holographic projection and laser water-screen film. When abroad, craftsmen incorporate local cultural elements into the design and display of Zigong lanterns. "For instance, in Italy we crafted illuminations that emulate the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was highly appreciated by the visitors," said Wei Peng, design director of Haitian Lantern, a lantern culture operator based in Zigong. "Last year, Zigong lanterns lit 71 cities in 19 countries and regions, attracting more than 20 million visitors. It allows people around the world to perceive, understand and appreciate Chinese culture in the beauty of light and shadow," said Tang Yusha, deputy director of the Zigong municipal bureau of commerce. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Lee Yeon-woo The real estate market in Seoul and provincial school districts is buzzing with anticipation following the government's announcement of an increase in medical school admission quotas. According to the Korea Real Estate Board (REB), Sunday, the jeonse price of Seoul apartments in 2024 as of the first week of February rose 0.43 percent compared to the same period last year. The jeonse system in Korea allows tenants to provide landlords with a significant deposit instead of monthly rent. "The upward trend continued as demand for housing in preferred regions, such as school districts, increased, while the availability of real estate that can be newly contracted decreased," the REB said. This surge was primarily driven by the popular school districts in Seoul, such as Nowon, Gangnam, Yangcheon and Seocho districts, known for their schools' impressive track records in sending students to prestigious universities. For instance, a 161 square-meter apartment on the 38th floor in Mok-dong, Yangcheon District, was recently leased for a jeonse of 2 billion won ($1.49 million). This set a new record, surpassing the previous high of 1.48 billion won for an apartment of the same size on the 37th floor in October 2016. These areas also draw students who plan to retake the national college entrance exam since they have a high density of test preps and college consulting agencies. The excitement isn't confined to Seoul alone. With the government's goal to address regional disparities in medical services by favoring students from local areas, an interest in relocating to outside Seoul is growing. A member of a real estate community with more than 2 million users said, "The government has announced plans to allocate 60 percent of admissions to regional applicants. To qualify, students must have completed both middle and high schools in the [qualifying regions]. For those aspiring to secure a spot in medical school, relocating to Gangwon Province could be a strategic move. The region has a low population of school-age children." Another area expected to benefit from the quota hike is the Chungcheong region, given its proximity to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and cities that host numerous academic institutions. Despite the anticipation surrounding the medical school quota adjustments, analysts are skeptical about a significant uptick in families relocating to specific regions solely for admissions purposes. "Some families might relocate, but we don't foresee a major immediate impact on the market," Song Seung-hyun, head of the real estate consulting firm Urban and Economy, said. "However, rental prices in [major city] areas, seen as advantageous for gaining medical school admission, could be the first to see price adjustments. The concentration of younger generations in school districts within these regions may influence the pricing dynamics." CAO BANG The 1979 northern border defence war ended a long time ago but the memory of this event has never faded in the minds of locals and veterans who fought to protect the northern border in Cao Bang province. During the war, Cao Bang's economic infrastructure was severely damaged. However, the officers, soldiers and people of Cao Bang have overcome difficulties and united to build a province of peace and prosperity. Thanks to the attention and investment of the Party and the State, Cao Bang has got a facelift. The provincial authorities have made efforts to promote socio-economic development and improve peoples living standards. The locality has effectively implemented national target programmes, focusing on agro-forestry development, promoting economic restructuring and poverty reduction. Cao Bang aims for the development of the border economy and the tourism economy as spearheads. The province's foreign trade reached nearly US$700 million in 2023, up 10 per cent year-on-year. The number of tourists coming to Cao Bang was estimated at 1.9 million, 12% higher than its annual plan and an increase of 23 per cent from pre-COVID-19 period in 2019. Among them, 34,000 were foreign tourists. According to Hoang Xuan Anh, chairman of the provincial People's Committee, Cao Bang has focused on improving its transport infrastructure to accelerate its socio-economic development and facilitate its exchanges with other localities in the region. He said that attention has also been paid to the development of the border economy. Since 2021, it has granted licences to nine projects in the border economic zone with a total registered capital of more than VN437 billion ($1.78 million). Now the province has 64 domestic and foreign investment projects capitalised at VN9.6 trillion, of which 43 are operational. VNS HCM CITY The trial of Truong My Lan, chairwoman of property developer Van Thinh Phat accused of bribery, violating bank regulations and embezzlement at the Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB) will begin on March 5 at HCM City Peoples Court. The 68-year-old faces allegations with 85 co-defendants who have been charged with similar crimes, in addition to abuse of power and position while performing official duties and lack of responsibility causing serious consequences. They include 45 former leaders of SCB, 15 former officials of the central bank, three officials from the Government Inspectorate, and one former official from the State Audit Office. The list also includes five fugitive former SCB leaders who are currently in hiding abroad. The trial is expected to last two months. Nearly 200 lawyers are expected to be involved with the trial, with five of them defending Lan. Most of the accused have been transferred from Ha Noi to a detention facility in HCM Citys Cu Chi District over the past two months. HCM City authorities have stored six tonnes of documents related to the case for lawyers to examine. According to prosecutors, beginning in 2011, Lan acquired three private banks to merge into SCB, of which she used to fund her own company Van Thinh Phat and its ecosystem. Although Lan did not hold any position at SCB, she owned a 91.5 per cent stake in the bank. Between 2012 and 2022, she received over 2,500 loans worth over VN1 quadrillion ($44 billion) from the bank, or 93 per cent of all the loans it gave, using a network of over 1,000 companies affiliated with Van Thinh Phat. The remaining 7 per cent was lent to regular customers. This sum is equivalent to 10.7 per cent of Viet Nams GDP in 2022. As of 2022, Lan was responsible for 1,300 outstanding unpaid loans at the bank, totalling VN677 trillion and labelled as unable to collect. Prosecutors have accused Lan of paying bribes to conceal the banks financial situation, including $5.2 million to the head of the central banks department of inspection and supervision. Police are seeking an estimated 42,000 victims of a massive bond fraud by Van Thinh Phat. According to the police, Lans company made 25 bond issuances worth VN30 trillion ($1.24 billion), all through fake companies, and sold to buyers through SCB. Depositors at SCB were the primary victims in the case. Authorities have seized millions of US dollars in cash and frozen millions in assets linked to the chairwoman. In addition, they have recorded over 1,200 property developments owned by her company in prime locations in HCM City and other provinces. These funds and assets will be used to repay the victims as ordered by the court. Van Thinh Phat Co., Ltd. operates in commerce, hospitality, and real estate and owns major projects and buildings in prime locations in HCM City. Lan is suspected of laundering the money obtained from SCB by purchasing large properties and transferring it overseas. Experts said it will take the government three to five years to address all problems related to the Van Thinh Phat-SCB scandal. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has blamed the Ministry of Finance, the State Securities Commission, and the central bank for their lack of oversight. He said the government will aggressively pursue criminal proceedings against those involved in the scam. VNS HA NOI President Vo Van Thuong on February 18 offered incense and attended the Lunar New Year pen-brush opening ceremony at a memorial area dedicated to national hero and world cultural eminent personality Nguyen Trai in Nhi Khe commune in Ha Nois outlying district of Thuong Tin. Nguyen Trai, whose pen name was Uc Trai, was born in Chi Ngai commune in Chi Linh district in the northern province of Hai Duong in 1380. He followed Le Loi in the resistance war against the Ming invaders and made great contributions to the nations glorious victories. Beyond his military prowess, Nguyen Trai was a prolific literary figure, producing a vast array of literary works, including 110 poems and the monumental "Binh Ngo ai Cao" (Great Proclamation upon the Pacification of the Wu), which stood as one of the earliest declarations of independence in the nation's history. In recognition of his invaluable contributions, UNESCO honoured Nguyen Trai on his 600th birth anniversary in 1980, acknowledging him as a world cultural eminent personality, an eminent military strategist and a talented politician. Commencing on November 14, 2022, the construction of his memorial site saw significant progress, with nearly all major components nearing completion. Meanwhile, the pen-brush ceremony embodies a longstanding cultural tradition of Thuong Tin. It encourages all local officials, Party members, and citizens to prioritise education, strive in labour and boost production. The first strokes of writing in the Lunar New Year often carry wishes for goodness, luck and happiness. In the morning the same day, President Thuong visited workers who are building Ring Road No. 4 in the Hanoi Capital Region. VNA/VNS LONDON The Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland (VIS) will contribute to the building of Vietnam's strategic policies while actively strengthening bilateral relations, and attracting the UK Government-funded projects in the fields of research and science-technology, said its Chairman Prof. Nguyen Xuan Huan. At the VISs Annual General Meeting (AGM) convened at the Judge Business School under the University of Cambridge on February 17, Huan emphasised that with its members being professors, doctors, and scientists working in various fields in the UK and Ireland, VIS stands ready to provide counselling to the Vietnamese Government in formulating policies tailored to the country's context. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of aligning with global technological trends. Last year, VIS significantly facilitated educational collaboration between Vietnam and the UK through a mentoring programme sponsored by the British Council. Through this initiative, VIS professors directly mentored and advised nearly 100 young lecturers from 50 Vietnamese universities, aiding in their skill development, including publishing studies and international scientific articles, forming research groups, and building internationally accredited laboratories. A outstanding initiative of VIS in fostering member connection is the Coffee Talk event, an online themed discussion platform where members across the UK share insights and experiences on scientific research activities, professional expertise and soft skills. In 2023, VIS held 13 Coffee Talk sessions featuring speakers from various fields. Also last year, VIS admitted over 60 new members, increasing the total membership to 154. These members include professors, associate professors, senior lecturers and Vietnamese researchers studying or working at over 60 universities in the UK and Ireland. VIS's initiatives also extended to the launch of the Mentorship and Talent Development (MTD) programme at the National Economics University in Hanoi in 2022, aimed at supporting talented students. It also collaborated with the British Council to connect researchers from both countries. The AGM, an annual event, serves as a platform for VIS to review its past activities and chart its course for the future. Following the meeting, VIS partnered with the Vietnamese Student Association in Cambridge to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Westminster College, University of Cambridge. VNA/VNS By Alex Reeves @afreeves23 Like many others at this time of year, I have a hometown to visit, family to attend to, and memories to share and be made. The main difference is that my home is 12,800km away from Ha Noi and while I might stop and think for a moment, theres so much delicious food to be written about. Contemplating the end of this Lunar New Year, reflecting on the culinary delights Ive had the pleasure of indulging in, I consider which dish I enjoyed most that I didnt share with our readers. It doesnt take me long to settle on a clear winner. The standout meal of the year that Im yet to cover was found in Ho Chi Minh City. Having just visited the much celebrated and Michelin-starred monolith AnAn only the previous evening, I needed something different, unusual and vibrant to contend with last nights most welcome assault on the taste buds. Step forward Di Nam Sa ec. Sa ec is the provincial capital of ong Thap in the Mekong Delta that hasnt quite made the must-visit section of The Lonely Planet guide. It would be fair to say that most of our non-national readers arent familiar with it, and even our local readers are somewhat unlikely to have visited. However, as the well-travelled know, that by no means diminishes its potential as a rare jewel in Viet Nams humble yet glittering cultural crown. I am reliably informed its a culturally rich city with an almost nostalgic, agricultural feel. A renowned flower village, an accompanying annual festival and many surrounding areas of great natural beauty while also serving as the setting of 1992s The Lover and the true story which inspired the film. Yet, its the food that has spread furthest, with restaurants across the south adorned with the citys name as a badge of pride. Opened in 1988, Di Nam Sa ec is a testament to the culinary heritage of Sa ec. For over three decades, this family-owned gem has been serving up the citys distinctive flavours, offering a taste of the Mekong Delta in the heart of southern Viet Nam. The aesthetic is simple yet endearing, with a wood-heavy interior, some uneven table legs and faded photos of a bygone era left to instil further the feeling of nostalgia and the food as a priority. Style over substance is not a concern here and the food is left to do the talking. The menu centres around two main dishes, both strong favourites of their city of origin and regularly mentioned within the names of fellow eateries across the city, all keen to showcase the comfort foods of Sa ec. The first is hu tieu Sa ec, a local dish served dry with broth on the side or as a classic noodle soup. The bowl, dry or otherwise, sets itself aside from more common Vietnamese takes with egg noodles at its heart. They sit alongside succulent shrimp, tender pork slices and a careful balance of herbs that need minimal additional seasoning. Its simple but out of the ordinary, textured and light, the menu offers various toppings to satisfy all cravings and curiosities. The second dish, the focus of my curiosity when I first sought out this spot and dragged my confused friends along was my newfound Vietnamese dish of the year, banh tam bi. Again, the noodles are a main player here, thick, soft rice noodles are entirely different to anything Im used to anywhere else in my travels across the country. The literal translation of 'tam' is silkworm, but there are none in sight, and this refers only to the aforementioned noodles. Bi is the crunchy pork skin that, along with crushed peanuts and bean sprouts, both contrasts and complements the softness of the noodles. Mint and basil offer a burst of herbal freshness which feels like the essence of the Mekong. The best, however, is yet to come. Generously ladled upon this assortment is the presence of thick and creamy coconut milk and chilli paste alongside. Sweet, spicy, herbal. These are the flavour combinations not so often found in and around Ha Noi, Im truly happy as I toss the noodles and dive into another bite. Meatballs are often on hand to provide a protein punch to the already-balanced dish. As I retraced my steps to find Di Nam Sa ec during that memorable afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City, I felt as I do today. Reflective on the pride we take in the food of our hometowns and the joy we find in sharing them with others. I hope the people of Sa ec who have migrated to HCM City and brought their food with them know the happiness it brings to others, and I sincerely hope banh tam bi eventually migrates north so I can enjoy it more frequently. One thing is for sure, I will be seeing Sa ec in this new year. VNS ------- Di Nam Sa ec Tel: +84 902 664 448 Address: 166 Bui Thi Xuan Road, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, HCM City Price: Banh tam bi VN49,000, Hu tieu ac biet VN55,000 (US$2-2.50) Dining companions: Those looking for something new in their Vietnamese food odyssey. Top tip: Take a friend to enjoy both signature dishes, or turn up with an appetite! By Ho Anh Thai What is it about so many people falling from high-rises these days? Its the kind of question you might find posed in the Opinions forum of a newspaper. Instead it had been raised inside his own kitchen. First his wife slipped. A plate of sizzling octopus, stir-fried with mung bean sprouts being borne from the stove to the dining table flew from her hands and smashed into pieces on that slippery wooden floor. She fell hard, rolled, struggled up onto her hands and knees. Luckily no bones were broken. He rushed over and helped her up. As their daughter picked up the broken pieces of plate and swept the floor, she felt compelled to tell her mother a story about somebody having a stroke after slipping in a bathroom. The husband chimed in: hey, thats nothing. There was this guy just walking next to a railing, slipped and fell from the 13th floor. Died instantly. "Shut up! I have a little spill in the kitchen and you guys out-do each other with tales of strokes and death," said the wife. She sighed. Really, what was it with so many people falling off high buildings these days? *** That was the question that had triggered a family round-table discussion. With the loss of the stir-fried octopus and mung bean sprouts, the couple and their daughter rolled up their sleeves, cooked up some stir-fried beef with leaf mustard, and served up countless anecdotes to each other about slipping accidents. One man had suddenly fallen from the 7th floor of a convention center. Slipped. Another woman fell from the window of her office, situated on the 9th floor. She had also slipped. A Vietnamese executive meeting with a colleague from a neighbouring country fell from the 11th floor. He was reported to have slipped. It was inexplicable. The guard railings in those buildings are as strong as the ramparts of a citadel, as the saying goes; they ranged in height from 1.2 to 1.5 meters. One couldnt just fall over them, even if one accidentally slipped. The only way would be to climb onto a chair and step over them. But none of the fallers had any reason to commit suicide. One was being groomed to replace his boss, who was approaching retirement. The aforesaid woman had just been promoted to head a management board after a spate of in-fighting with two other rivals in the same company. The third man was embroiled in a copyright dispute over charges of plagiarism levelled by several colleagues in the same research department. And another woman was fleeing from room to room to avoid a scene with the jealous wife of her boyfriend who had stormed into the office. Every death had occured on a clear day, absent any rain or high winds. Subsequent investigations yielded the same verdict, time and again: the subjects fell to their deaths from high floors after they slipped. All of this left in their wakes many questions and rumours, or; to use a trendy phrase, conspiracy theories. It isnt that easy to accidentally slip. But even if one does, one wont simply fall from a height. Several people would have to get together and toss one over the guardrailing. Back at the kitchen round-table conference, the wife, washing the leaf mustard, theorized that those people were killed because they knew too much. The husband, slicing beef, countered that root of the problem lay in harbouring too many ambitions. The daughter, smiling over her iPad, glanced up when she heard her mothers suggestion that too much knowledge was the primary cause. She reported to her parents that her little brother had a terrible habit of not sitting still in the living room when visiting somebodys home; instead he would run directly into their bedrooms. It was what he did as well whenever he visited his friends house; head straight into the bedroom. The girl scolded her brother: "You shouldnt do that, even if you only want to go inside and play with your friend." The mother picked up the thread: "You cant just run into somebodys bedroom; nobody wants family secrets revealed." The father warned: "It isnt a matter of what you like or dislike. I forbid you from now on to run into anyones bedroom. What of they were counting stacks of dollar bills they got as bribe or arranging packets of drugs, and some kid suddenly runs in on them. Even if that boy is their nephew or their childs best friend, theyll still grab him by the neck, sweep him off the ground and throw him over the guardrail. Then theyd swear that he had slipped." According to the father, this wasn't any conspiracy theory. It was reality. *** Nevertheless, his wife maintained, there may be another reason why so many people slip. No, not because of ambition, lust or knowledge. They slip, perhaps, because they have yet to assume a high-rise culture. In the past, when apartment buildings had five floors at most and guardrails were low, hardly anybody slipped and fell. It WAS only when high-rise apartment and multi-floor office buildings mushroomed up all over the place that people started dropping like falling figs. They were suffering what was being called the high-rise complex. A proper high-rise culture had yet to develop. How can one cultivate a high-rise culture when human culture itself hasnt been perfected? Building too many high-rises with no planning wasnt any different than building monumental theatres without training artists to perform in them. Or audiences who knew how to watch and listen. If one possessed a proper high-rise culture, one certainly wouldnt walk their pets without muzzles, or let them run wild, or cuddle them on elevators without caring a bit whether they smelled terrible or were a nuisance to people who dont love them all that much. In a proper high-rise culture, one wont spit in elevators, litter the hallways, or toss diapers over their neighbours hand-rails. One wont tap lit cigar embers into a trash bag, then put the bag into the trash room, and nearly burn down the whole building. One wont leave an apartment without turning off electrical devices, running the risk of burning the whole place down. In a proper high-rise culture, one wont see guests off to the elevator, talking loudly in the hallway, while ones 5-year-old girl climbs up on a chair next to the guard railing and reaches over to catch a mantis on a bougainvillea branch, and fall to her death from the 9th floor. Which really happened. The girl had fallen to the ground from the 9th floor. According to one conspiracy theory, that girl had flown to heaven. Thanks to her parents hospitality and talkativeness. *** All the while his parents and older sister were talking, the little boys eyes were glued to his iPhone, but his ears didnt miss a word from the family seminar about slipping and falling. Upon hearing about the 5-year-old girl falling from the 9th floor, he shouted, "I know her, I know her. She fell into a spongy container on the back of a shippers motorbike. She didnt die." The little boys interruption made his sister remember something else. Their old uncle, who lived in a house in town, faulted apartment residents for being nosy and resolutely refused to sell his house to move to some high-rise. "Theres nothing so special about living in an apartment," he said. I used to live in an old-style apartment building, just five stories high. In the summer, I had to go down to the ground floor to pump water, or else carry buckets of water up the stairs. Theres nothing luxurious about apartment-living." "Even if you live in a fancy high-rise apartment building, your electricity and water supply will absolutely break down someday. If the situation drags on, youll have to call a water company to deliver water. Then youll have to carry it up all these stairs. Imagine that. Theres nothing luxurious about apartment-living. "In theory, fire engine ladders can reach as high as the 8th floor, but in reality, you cant be sure. I left my first apartment to buy a private house, which is a sign of upward mobility. Now you tell me to sell my private house to move to an apartment. Which is backward mobility. No, I wont. I wont. I wont. For his own house, the uncle hired a maid who happened to be talkative. She had a way of embellishing the story of the 5-year-old girl who fell from the 9th floor. She said that from what shed heard, that little girl was cruel at heart. She used to torment a cat by tying a rag to its tail and setting the cloth on fire. The cat would shriek and run all over the building, almost setting it on fire. Luckily, it only managed to set off the alarm and send the whole building into chaos. People recalled how on that day, the girl had seen a praying mantis crawling along a branch of bougainvillea on the balcony. She climbed up, intending to catch the mantis in order to torture it, break off its claws and tear off its wings. She waited until her parents had taken their guests to the elevator, then took a chair to the balcony and climbed onto it. When she stretched out her arm to seize the mantis, she fell. Or so people said. All of this the maid had heard from others. Of course, she hadnt seen the accident with her own eyes. It was just another conspiracy theory, to repeat that trendy phrase again. Of course, the maid didnt just stick to the bare details; she sprinkled them with additional commentary. That little chit had a hell of a lot of luck. She dropped right into a container filled with foam. Shell grow up in some extraordinary gangsterly way. According to the newspaper, at 5 years old and 40 kg, by the time she reached the ground from the 9th floor, that girl would have the impact equivalent of 200 kg. Imagine if she had landed on somebodys head. Afterward, the maid herself experienced an epilogue that the whole family, husband and wife and their two children, would never forget. It was as if her tale of the little girls fall-induced weight impact was a prophecy. On the 23rd day of lunar December, or Kitchen Guardians Day, when the kitchen gods are supposed to ride a fish to fly to heaven to report on human affairs over the past year, the uncle walked out onto the pavement in front of his house and saw a golden-carp vendor passing by. Little yellow-reddish carps were swimming inside cellophane bags.The uncle asked to buy a few of the goldfish to release in honour of the holy day, even though he knew all too well that a goldfish released at one end of the sewer would be re-caught at the other end, and sold all over again. A school of fish released into a lake would be immediately caught in somebodys net and sold once more. Several times over. It was similar to human trafficking, with 18-year-old girls being sold and re-sold repeatedly. Everybody knows the formula. Buying fish and birds to release is thus just cruelty disguised as mercy. The mouth sings prayers, but the heart is filled with daggers. The old uncle who hated modern high-rise apartment buildings still loved this depraved tradition of fish releasing. At that moment, the maid was watering a few flower pots on the balcony, which was on the first floor, right above the uncles head. Being nosy by nature, she pricked her ears up to hear the conversation below. She leaned over the railing and called down to her boss not to buy that kind of fish, which was a fake Chinese fish painted over to resemble a golden carp. That paint would peel off on its way to heaven with the kitchen gods, like the make-up running off a girls face when she sweated. In a short while, she, the maid, would run out to the street market and buy a better fish for him. No sooner did she utter these words than she lost her balance, wobbled, flailed, and fell over the hand-rail. Everybody knew the ending of this story. Just like the 5-year-old girl who fell from the 9th floor, the maid didnt die nor suffer any serious injuries. She had only fallen from the first floor. The only problem was that she fell right onto her bosss head. That old uncle lost his Lunar New Year holiday, as he had to lie in bed nursing his neck in a plaster cast, but he still thanked his lucky stars. He was fortunate his neck didnt break. If his fate was to slip, he couldnt escape it. He would slip, if not from a high-rise apartment, then from the first floor of a street-front house. If it wasnt he who slipped, then his maid would. Even luckier, the girl only weighed 70 kilograms, and fell only a distance of four meters from the first floor before she landed on his head with a mass of 100 kilograms. 100 kg. Straight down on his head. At the moment the family seminar reached this point, the little boy clutched his iPhone and ran over to the balcony, and there looked down and around, as if to estimate how high from the ground his 15th floor was, and how many kilograms he would weigh if he fell with his current mass. His parents shrieked loudly in unison as if to chase away bad spirits. "Get inside. Right now." The stir-fried beef with leaf mustard was done. The wife carried this dish over with another plate filled with steaming fried banana cakes. It suddenly dawned on her what had earlier caused her to slip. Perhaps when she was slicing the bananas, a small piece had fallen down onto the floor. The little boy picked up a banana cake with his bare hands, intending to eat it first. His sister immediately shouted: "You have to eat rice before eating cakes." His mother also shouted: "You cant eat banana cakes. Your final semester exams are coming! Do you want to slip on a banana skin?"(*) His father chimed in, remarking that the exam room was quite high up, on the 6th floor. Translated by o Linh Adated by Wayne Karlin (*) Vietnamese people believe that students should not eat bananas before an exam, because they will fail, just like slipping on a banana peel. VinFast is a Vietnamese automobile manufacturer headquartered in Hanoi, Vietnam. The company manufactures and sells a range of passenger cars and electric buses/trucks. One of VinFast's electric passenger car models is the VF e34 electric SUV. This article provides an overview and analysis of the sticker prices and estimated registration fees (including value-added tax) for the different variants of the VinFast VF e34 electric SUV in February 2024. All figures are in Vietnamese Dong (VND). The VinFast VF e34 was officially launched in March 2021 and the first units were delivered to customers in December 2021. It is positioned as a mid-size electric SUV to compete with gasoline rivals like the Kia Seltos, Honda HR-V, and Toyota Corolla Cross. Some key specs of the VF e34 include a 42kWh lithium-ion battery providing an estimated range of 300km on a single charge. It is powered by an electric motor producing 110kW of power and 242Nm of torque. The interior offers features like a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. Advanced driver assistance systems provide safety & convenience. Registration fees (including 10% VAT) for electric vehicles like the VF e34 are 0% for the first 3 years from purchase and then half the normal rate of equivalent gasoline vehicles for the next 2 years. This presents significant savings for buyers versus gasoline rivals. The manufacturer also offers a 10-year warranty program for the VF e34, longer than industry standards. The estimated sticker and registration prices (including 0% VAT) for the VinFast VF e34 in different variants for February 2024 are: Variant - VinFast VF e34 (without battery) Sticker Price: VND 710 million Estimated Registration Price: Hanoi: VND 732 million Ho Chi Minh City: VND 732 million Other provinces: VND 713 million Incentives: ADAS & smart services package worth VND 60 million, use Vinhomes voucher (non-name) up to VND 100 million for payment Variant - VinFast VF e34 (with battery) Sticker Price: VND 830 million Estimated Registration Price: Hanoi: VND 852 million Ho Chi Minh City: VND 852 million Other provinces: VND 833 million The VF e34 has received positive reviews for its attractive pricing, modern design & features, and low running costs compared to gasoline rivals. However, range limitation of around 300km per charge and unproven long-term quality are key disadvantages. Overall, it presents a good electric mobility option with competitive pricing and manufacturer incentives for Vietnamese buyers. MUNICH (AP) A Republican opponent of new U.S. funding for Ukraine argued at an international security conference Sunday that the package stuck in Congress wouldn't fundamentally change the reality on the ground and that Russia has an incentive to negotiate peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and others have advocated passage of the $60 billion in aid at the Munich Security Conference, which coincided with Ukraine withdrawing troops from the eastern city of Avdiivka after months of intense combat. But Sen. JD Vance, an Ohio Republican and ally of Donald Trump, said the problem in Ukraine is that theres no clear end point" and that the U.S. doesn't make enough weapons to support wars in eastern Europe, the Middle East and potentially a contingency in East Asia." House Speaker Mike Johnson insists he wont be rushed into approving the $95.3 billion foreign aid package from the Senate that includes the help for Ukraine, despite overwhelming support from most Democrats and almost half the Republicans. If the package goes through, "that is not going to fundamentally change the reality on the battlefield, Vance argued, pointing to limited American manufacturing capacity. Can we send the level of weaponry weve sent for the last 18 months?" he asked. "We simply cannot. No matter how many checks the U.S. Congress writes, we are limited there. I think whats reasonable to accomplish is some negotiated peace, he said, arguing that Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. all have an incentive to come to the table now and that the two-year-old war will at some point end in a negotiated peace. Ricarda Lang, a co-leader of one of Germany's governing parties, the Greens, responded that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown repeatedly that he has no interest in peace at the moment. Halting weapons supplies to Ukraine now would mean that "either you are prolonging the war or you give up Ukraine and Putin wins, she said. If Putin wins, "he, but also other forces like China, are going to learn that its possible to just change borders and that NATO is not going to hold it against us," Lang added. That would lead to a world with less security, and a world with less freedom for the EU but also for the U.S. Vance was part of a large group of U.S. lawmakers who attended the Munich conference. Several of his Senate colleagues met Zelenskyy on Saturday, but Vance did not join them. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, posted on social network X after the meeting that Zelenskyy came to the conference laser focused with a strong message for America: Ukraine needs your support & well use it well. Republican senators have been deeply divided on Ukraine. To live in this Tudor castle in Omahas Dundee neighborhood will take a princely sum both to purchase and reconstruct. The price tag is $785,000, and it will require a significant investment to finish the interior of the 6,000-square-foot duplex, which has been taken down to the studs. Take it to the shell and start from scratch, is what David Chan, owner of Mint Omaha, has done to the 16 homes he owns in the Dundee area. He leaves the shell intact, renovates the inside and then rents the houses to professionals expecting all the modern conveniences. The shell of the residence at 5203-05 Chicago St. has attracted many viewers since it went on the market in early February. The building is one of five castle duplexes built in the neighborhood in the 1930s by architect Birger J. Kvenild, who immigrated to the United States from Norway and designed many homes in the area. It is a blank canvas for builders, said Realtor Michael Shekhtman, who has listed the property with Rusty Johnson of the Insight Group for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Ambassador Real Estate. Chans approach can bring up sore feelings, he said, with some of the more conservation-minded people living in Dundee, famous for its older homes filled with historic charm. But its been a very successful business plan for Chan, who arrived here from Hong Kong nearly 14 years ago after tossing a dart at a map. Omaha was the closest city. Warren Buffett is here. How bad can it be? he remembers thinking at the time and telling himself to give the city six months. I guess Ive been renewing that commitment for the past 14 years. The feedback from the professionals who rent his homes the price for some reaches $3,500 a month, and none are empty is that they want modern finishes with a contemporary feel. We are not shy about revamping the layout for a specific need or want some of our clients are looking for, he said. Chan had actually planned to live in this duplex himself until his banker suggested he needed some time to retrench after the frenetic pace of the past decade. Unless I can give it 100% effort, I dont want to renovate if I cant commit to that, Chan said. I need a little break. The house had been a rental for years. When Chan bought what he calls the castle in 2022, college students were living there. He planned a large main suite on the third floor, three bedrooms on the second and an open kitchen off the living area for the main floor. After taking it down to the studs, he replaced many of the windows, although he kept the leaded glass versions on the back of the house. Chan said he doesnt blink if the houses he purchases require a six-figure investment in mechanical improvements things like windows, insulation, water heaters and HVAC. Shekhtman said thats one of the bonuses in starting new. There is no outdated electrical, deteriorating sewer lines or lead water pipes hiding behind the vintage finishes. David comes in and strips everything down, makes everything modern and finishes them to his taste, Shekhtman said. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It could be refinished with a classic look that was intended for this place in 1937. Chan said he wishes he didnt have to sell it, but hes gratified by all the interest. Although it would cost even more, he said the wall down the center could be removed to make a massive single-family dwelling that would include a four-car garage. Shekhtman said it also has a million-dollar view, with many of the other homes on the block approaching that price point. It is in such a beautiful location and surrounded by other beautiful homes, he said. Hopefully, well find the right buyer who will turn it into something memorable for a long time. Photos: A blank canvas, a new start and other "castles" By Lee Kyung-min Heads of Koreas financial groups and commercial lenders are rushing to attend global IT events to digitalize and innovate their financial services, market watchers said Sunday. Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong will attend MWC Barcelona 2024, formerly the Mobile World Congress. The annual mobile communications industry trade show is taking place from Feb. 26 to 29. Similarly, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo and Shinhan Bank CEO Jung Sang-hyuk visited CES 2024, formerly named the International Consumer Electronics Show, from Jan. 9 to 12. Ham was the first Hana group chair to attend the CES for two years in a row. Working-level officials of KB Financial Group and Woori Financial Group plan to attend MWC. Shinhan Financial said Jin will visit MWC where Samsung Electronics and Microsoft booths will be set up among many global tech powerhouses. MWC offers those in attendance the chance to experience cutting-edge technology first-hand, including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, cloud computing and big data. The experience will help the finance leaders with the innovation-oriented ideation referred to as Invisible Bank, one of the growth initiatives of the group emphasized under Jin. Ham, who previously served as Hana Bank CEO, attended CES in Las Vegas last month to facilitate digital innovation, a key task for Hana Financial. KB Financial and Woori Financial will send working-level employees in charge of digitalization departments to MWC. Digital transformation is among the key growth strategies outlined by KB Financial Group Chairman Yang Jong-hee and Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-yong. Departments overseeing the groups digitization drive are closely following technological developments at CES and MWC, a move to better integrate the most advanced technologies with financial services, an industry official said. CEDAR FALLS The City Council will consider a proposed budget and property tax rate increase Monday. Jennifer Rodenbeck, finance and business operations director, will give a rundown of her departments proposal during a committee meeting at 5:50 p.m. in City Hall, 220 Clay St. The fiscal year 2025 budget, outlining expenditures and revenues from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, must be approved by April 30. Documents show a proposed 6.49% property tax increase for residents on average after factoring in the county revaluation and state rollback. Its the first time the councilmembers are seeing the numbers. They will have a few opportunities to make suggestions for revisions to line items. Also during committee, at 5:25 p.m., the council will learn about a potential application for millions of dollars in federal grant funding, requiring a local match, allowing the city to remove thousands of feet of unused railroad track through town in partnership with Iowa Northern Railway and Cedar Falls Utilities. The city applied last year but was denied. Its Community Development Department is recommending a regional application with Butler County and the city of Shell Rock to improve its chances for the competitive grant. At its 7 p.m. meeting, the council will consider: Holding a hearing and declaring 109 E. Second St., The Space 109 downtown art gallery building, to be a nuisance, further requiring the issues be immediately abated or a viable plan be submitted to the city by March 18. The city may take abatement into its own hands if nothing is done, but demolition is seen as a last resort. According to meeting documents, officials deemed it not safe for occupancy and placarded the building. Owner John Jacobs passed away last month at the age of 77. Approving a revised development agreement with Brent Dahlstroms CV Commercial for construction beginning this year on an L-shaped, 31,200-square-foot apartment and commercial building at 2119 College, 1003 W. 22nd and 922 W. 22nd streets. The city would provide up to $717,087 in tax rebates over five years, versus the previously approved $593,937. Approving plans for reconstructing Timber Drive from Grand Avenue to Greenwood Avenue; East Ridgewood Drive from Greenwood Avenue to Cherry Lane; and Woodland Drive to East Ridgewood Avenue as part of the multi-phased project for the area known as North Cedar Heights. The estimated construction cost is $4.52 million. At a later date, the construction contract would be awarded. Designating July 5 and July 6, between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., as additional days of use for consumer fireworks on private property within the city limits. Per code, theyre already allowed between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. July 4. Appointing Gordon Sorensen, Maureen Henderson and Brent Johnson to the Planning & Zoning Commission as recommended by Mayor Danny Laudick. Accepting the resignation of Gina Weekley from the Human Rights Commission due to other commitments taking up time. Conspiracy theories Just when you think youve heard it all, the hapless right-wing deep-staters come up with yet another idiot conspiracy: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are really psy-ops agents for the Biden administration, and the Super Bowl is rigged for Kansas City. While most people with the mental acuity above that of a seven-week-old tomato plant know this is all bunk, there are clueless losers who glom onto every deep state conspiracy the grifters put on the internet. Add this to such lunacy as: the lunar landing was created in Hollywood, aliens control the Earth, Barney the dinosaur, Disney, and Budweiser are gay plots, green M&Ms are an aphrodisiac, climate change is a myth, and Trump won the 2020 election. PT Barnum once said: A sucker is born every minute. I am reminded of a cartoon where a man is standing next to a vending machine and the caption reads: Stupidity Test. The lettering below says: If you think the 2020 election was rigged insert $100. Dont be a sucker, cheer for whatever team you want, and dont give money to grifters like Trump and his enablers. Russell Broadway, Waterloo Demand clean water I am writing this letter in support of House File 2029 which has been introduced to the Iowa House Environmental Protection Committee. This bill is critical to the improvement of Iowas water quality by the establishment of riparian protection and funding. Iowas rivers, creeks and lakes are degraded. One of the best measures for the prevention of soil, farm chemicals and animal waste runoff into our streams and lakes is the establishment of buffer strips 30 to 50 feet wide between the farm fields and bodies of water. When living on the Wapsipinicon River, I was amazed at the abundance of wildlife in and around the water. The river was a source of recreation with boating, children playing in the water, kayaking and fishing popular pastimes. The University of Minnesota and University of Iowa are collaborating on a womens study evaluating nitrate intake from drinking water and cancer risk (https://dceg.cancer.gov/research/what-we-study/drinking-water-contaminants#nitrate). They found women with higher average nitrate levels in their water supplies had an increased risk for several types of cancers. Your support is needed for the advancement of this bill. Please contact members of the Environmental Protection Committee and legislators. Elaine Hughes, Independence Lets get growing We are writing to let metro residents know about two neighborhood services for the coming growing season organized by UNIs Center for Energy and Environmental Education: A Garden in Every Lot strives to break down barriers to starting a vegetable garden by offering free services to first-time gardeners. We want to renew our culture of vegetable gardening. We offer garden site assessment and preparation, tilling, seeds, plant starts, and more. Applications for the 2024 season are currently open, and we encourage those interested in home gardening to apply. Apply online at www.agardenineverylot.org, or email agardenineverylot@gmail.com for more information! Another service offered is Neighborhood Trees; the goal is to make your neighborhood more pleasant and walkable by planting shade trees near sidewalks. Urban trees help reduce energy bills, increase property values, and increase the beauty of your community. We work with individual homeowners planting trees on their property, as well as neighborhood associations developing a tree planting plan, where we will help with every step of the process, and all of these services are entirely free. If you would like assistance with a tree planting project, please reach out to us at neighborhoodtrees@uni.edu or (319) 273-7599! Allie Greethurst, Cedar Falls Demand accountability For more than 200 years, the U.S. government has served our country quite well. It maintained the military, participated actively in international relations, built major highways and other infrastructure, and passed economic and societal measures of benefit to everyone. Our elections were unfailingly regarded by all as free, honest, and fair. One person, Donald Trump, has managed, with the help of social media and a steep decline in basic civics education, to convince huge numbers of people that there is massive cheating in elections, ludicrous conspiracy theories are true, authoritarian dictators are to be admired and emulated, and the U.S. has no responsibility to other countries or to the will of the majority. He continues to undermine national and international security by disrupting needed congressional decisionmaking, most recently poisoning the carefully devised immigration/foreign aid bill so he can scream about border security during the 2024 presidential election. Those who are distressed by this should contact their legislators and demand accountability! Dorothea Jurgenson, Denver Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (12.00 18 February 2024) On 17 February, during offensive operations, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have completely liberated Avdeevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and advanced to a depth of 8.6 kilometres. The total area of the liberated territory was 31.75 square kilometres. The enemy losses were more than 1,500 troops. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have actively defeated 14th and 66th mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, and Ivanovka (Kharkov region). The enemy losses were up to 40 servicemen, one tank, three armoured personnel carriers, and three pickup trucks. In addition, during counter-battery warfare, one Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery system, two D-20 howitzers, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one D-30 howitzer. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have defeated 63rd mechanised and 25th airborne brigades of the AFU near Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were up to 100 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved Russian positions along the front line and defeated manpower and hardware of 42nd, 93rd mechanised, and 81st airmobile brigades of the AFU close to Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Krasnoye, and Kleshcheevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were up to 400 troops, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, Msta-B, D-20 and D-30 howitzers, as well as one Strela-10 surface-to-air missile system. In South Donetsk direction, as a result of active operations by units of the Vostok Group of Forces, units of the AFU 58th Infantry Brigade and the 127th Brigade of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine have been defeated near Urozhaynoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were more than 190 troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery system, two British-manufactured FH-70 howitzers, two Msta-B howitzers, and one Rapira anti-tank gun have been hit. In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have taken more favourable positions and defeated enemy manpower and hardware close to Rabotino, Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region), Lvovo, and Tyaginka (Kherson region). The enemy losses were up to 70 servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle, and three motor vehicles. One U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-48 counter-battery radar station have been destroyed. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have hit the control point of the 31st Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Zhelannoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), fuel and ammunition depots, as well as manpower and military hardware in 128 areas. Air defence facilities have shot down four projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS. In addition, 105 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been hit close to Ivanovka (Kharkov region), Kremennaya, Kalinovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Styla, Semigorye, and Verkhnetoretskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Lyubimovka, Chervonogorka, and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region). In total, 571 airplanes and 266 helicopters, 12,723 unmanned aerial vehicles, 470 air defence missile systems, 15,098 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,222 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,091 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,801 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. In this photo provide by protest group Pussy Riot on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, Nadya Tolokonnikova, right, member of Pussy Riot and former prisoner in Russia attends a demonstration outside of the Russian Embassy in relation to the death of Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in Berlin. The sudden death of Navalny, 47, was a crushing blow to many Russians, who had pinned their hopes for the future on President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe. Navalny remained vocal in his unrelenting criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. (Pussy Riot/Nadya Tolokonnikova via AP) SS-1H IP30 flow test and operational update webcast Sydney, Feb 19, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Tamboran Resources Limited ( ASX:TBN ) ( TBNNY:OTCMKTS ) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joel Riddle, will host a webcast to update the market on the Company's Shenandoah South 1H (SS-1H) 30-day initial production (IP30) well test and ongoing operations in the Beetaloo Basin. Time: 9:30am AEDT (Sydney, Melbourne) Date: Monday, 26 February 2024 Webcast link (pre-register): https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/F7124346 A recording of the webcast will be available on the Tamboran Resources website following completion of the presentation. About Tamboran Resources Corporation Tamboran Resources Corporation (ASX:TBN) is a natural gas company that intends to play a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future by developing low CO2 unconventional natural gas resources in the Beetaloo Sub-basin within the Greater McArthur Basin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Tamboran's key assets are a 25% working interest in EP 161 and a 100% working interest in EP 136, EP 143 and EP(A) 197 which are located in the Beetaloo Sub-basin. 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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 The top diplomats of the Group of Seven (G7) countries have condemned North Korea's arms transfers to Russia, calling it a direct violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan and the High Representative of the European Union issued the statement amid persistent speculation that the Sept. 13 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russian spaceport might have led to an arms deal. The foreign ministers "also expressed their deep concern about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea or any Russian transfers to North Korea of conventional weapons or other dual-use items," according to the statement issued after the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. 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. In January, the White House said the North had provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were used against Ukraine on Dec. 30, Jan. 2 and Jan. 6. (Yonhap) A Delhi court on Saturday granted exemption to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from personal appearance for the day in connection with a complaint filed by the ED against him over non-compliance with its summonses in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra granted relief to Kejriwal after the AAP leader appeared before the court via videoconferencing and urged for exemption from physical appearance for the day. Kejriwal told the court that he was unable to appear before it due to the ongoing Budget session of the Delhi Assembly. Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta told the court that the Delhi chief minister will appear before it in person on the next date of hearing. The court has adjourned the matter to March 16. In its complaint, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that the Delhi chief minister intentionally did not want to obey the summonses and kept on giving lame excuses. If a high-ranking public functionary like him disobeyed the law, it would set a wrong example for the common man ie the Aam Aadmi, the agency said. From the contents of the complaint and the material placed on record, prima facie offence under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is made out and there are sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused Arvind Kejriwal, the judge had earlier said. Accordingly, issue summons to accused Arvind Kejriwal for the offence under Section 174 of the IPC for February 17, 2024, the judge had added. Section 174 of the IPC relates to non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant. The ED on February 3 filed a fresh complaint case against Kejriwal for non-compliance of its summonses. The AAP convenor had earlier written to the ED, describing the summonses issued to him as illegal and politically motivated. He had alleged that the summonses were aimed at preventing him from campaigning in elections. Jailed former prime minister Imran Khans party has decided to sit in the Opposition in Parliament while launching a countrywide protest against alleged rigging in the elections after its efforts to form the next government failed. The major political parties in Pakistan have stepped up efforts to form a federal government after the February 8 elections delivered a split verdict. While Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party-backed independent candidates dominated the election results, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) claimed to have enough numbers to form the government as some independents joined the Nawaz Sharif-led party post-polls. PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif announced on Friday that following the instructions of PTI founder Khan, the party has decided to sit in the Opposition both at the Centre and in the key province of Punjab. The decision came a day after the party had named Umar Ayub Khan as its candidate for the prime minister and Aslam Iqbal as chief minister for Punjab. Talking to the media on Friday night after visiting the Qaumi Watan Party in Islamabad, Saif said that the party decided to sit in the Opposition in the Centre and Punjab under the instructions of party founder Khan. We decided to sit in Opposition despite the reality that if we received seats according to our votes and the results were not changed then maybe today we might have been in the Centre with 180 seats. We have the evidence that our candidates won, he said. The party, which also issued a white paper against alleged rigging on Friday, has decided to kick off its demonstrations from Saturday. A PTI source said that the partys incarcerated founder has tasked former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser with engaging political parties to muster support for the protest drive. A PTI delegation led by Qaisar met the leader of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) on Friday, while a meeting with Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Partys Mehmood Khan Achakzai is scheduled to take place on Saturday. Qaiser-led delegation also met Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Mian Muhammad Aslam and discussed the post-election scenario. The delegation sought JIs support for joint protests against the alleged rigging. It was not clear if the party would participate in the election of the prime minister and Punjab chief minister after the decision to join the opposition ranks. Khans party claimed that at least 85 seats won by it in Parliament were snatched in the biggest voter fraud in the countrys history and announced plans to hold peaceful nationwide protests on Saturday against alleged rigging. PTIs core committee met on Friday and finalised the plans for the nationwide protest campaign on the call of the partys founder Khan. The meeting urged the whole nation to come out of their houses against the massive rigging. The meeting also sought the resignation of the chief election commissioner. Independent candidates a majority backed by Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 93 of the 265 National Assembly seats that were contested in the February 8 election. However, PTIs two main rivals appear on course to form a coalition government after former prime minister Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formed a post-poll alliance on Tuesday. The PML-N won 75 seats while the PPP came third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has also agreed to support them with their 17 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. Khan declared on Friday will not seek political vengeance upon returning to power. We will not take any political revenge, but we will take the country and the nation forward for the sake of the development of the country and the nation, he stated, as conveyed by PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan following a 30-minute long meeting with Imran Khan at Rawalpindis Adiala Jail. PTIs Information Secretary Raoof Hasan and other leaders including Sher Afzal Marwat, Rehana Dar, Shoaib Shaheen and Salman Akram Raja, who challenged their election results before various forums, addressed a press conference here. Hasan said that 2024 would be remembered due to the biggest voter fraud in Pakistans history against the party and its candidates. According to our estimates, out of 177 [National Assembly] seats which were supposed to be ours, only 92 have been given to us. And 85 seats have been taken away from us fraudulently, he said. He said that the party was taking constitutional and legal steps to counter the rigging and get its right. We have verified data about 46 seats and it is being compiled for 39 seats, he said. Hasan also highlighted the discrepancies between Form 45 and Form 47, which respectively deal with counting in each polling station in a constituency and the overall count of all polling stations. Hasan claimed there was a huge difference in the numbers of votes polled for National Assembly and provincial assembly seats. He said that the number of rejected votes, in certain cases, exceeded the margin of victory. Separately, Hasan affirmed the partys readiness for dialogue with the establishment, emphasising that the purpose of contacting political parties is not to form an electoral alliance but to bring all political forces together on a unified platform. Speaking on the Express Tribune newspaper, Hasan highlighted that PTIs founder has consistently advocated for engaging with all political parties. He emphasised that if political parties engage in positive politics, there is no harm in holding meetings and fostering collaboration. The purpose of contacting political parties is not at all an electoral alliance; our aim is that all political parties come together on one platform, stated Hasan during the programme. The Biden administration is preparing to send bombs and other weapons to Israel that would add to its military arsenal even as the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing current and former U.S. officials. The proposed arms delivery includes MK-82 bombs and KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions that add precision guidance to bombs, and FMU-139 bomb fuses, the Journal reported, adding that the value of is estimated to be tens of millions of dollars. The proposed delivery is still being internally reviewed by the administration, the report added, citing a U.S. official, who said the details of the proposal could change before the administration notifies congressional committee leaders who would need to approve the transfer. The U.S. State Department and Defense Department, Israel Defense Forces and Israel Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report. As of December 2023, the Biden administration had skipped congressional review of weapons sale to Israel twice. 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. The war in Gaza began when Iran-backed Hamas sent fighters into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israels air and ground offensive has since devastated much of Gaza, killing 28,775 people, also mostly civilians according to Palestinian health authorities, and forcing nearly all of its more than 2 million inhabitants from their homes. The Church of the Highlands moved out of a Huntsville movie theater and into a newly completed building at 3301 Whitesburg Drive Southeast. The first services in the new 1,400-seat building were held Sunday morning, Feb. 18, at 8 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Pastor Chris Hodges preached on livestream from the main Grants Mill campus in Irondale to all the branch campuses, including the new one in Huntsville. Worship services had been held since Sept. 10 at AMC Movie Theater, 1485 Four Mile Post Road Southeast, which was the second Huntsville location for the church. Construction for a permanent home for the new branch campus began last year. Its incredible to see what God is doing in Huntsville, and were thrilled to be a part of it, said Senior Pastor Chris Hodges, who founded the Church of the Highlands in the Birmingham area in 2001, meeting at Mountain Brook High School until the completion of the main campus on Grants Mill Road in Irondale in 2007. The Church of the Highlands opened its first campus in Huntsville at Columbia High School on Feb. 2, 2014. That congregation grew rapidly, so the church purchased land and built a 1,400-seat building few miles away in Madison. That permanent location, now called the Madison Campus, opened July 21, 2019. Huntsville has become the second-largest branch of the Church of the Highlands, with 4,500 in total Sunday attendance. Our second location provides additional opportunities for people to worship and serve their friends and neighbors, Hodges said. Were thankful for the amazing partnership with the community. The main campus at Grants Mill Road in Birmingham is the only branch with larger attendance than Huntsville. The Grants Mill campus hosts four services each Sunday, with attendance of more than 6,000. The Madison campus pastor is Jason Morgan, and the new Huntsville campus pastor is Allen Pedram, who had led Madison since it opened in 2014 at Columbia High School. Although each branch campus has its own pastor and praise band, the sermons are livestreamed to the branch locations from the main campus at Grants Mill Road. The Church of the Highlands meets weekly in 23 locations throughout Alabama and two in Georgia, and its Grandview campus in Birmingham hosts a Spanish-language service, plus a service in the adjacent Chapel. For more stories about the Church of the Highlands, click here. Jimone Griffin had just taken her son lunch and walked back across the street when she heard the gunfire. Shot after shot after shot rang out, at least 39 in all, in broad daylight on Birminghams Center Street in the Smithfield community. The gunfire took the life of her son, Talton TJ Tait, 36, and the lives of three others. I heard the gunshots and kind of ran, Griffin said. I turned around and they were still shooting. There were four of them out there and when I turned around and looked, I saw two pair of shoes, but I didnt see my sons shoes, she said. I was just pacing. I didnt want to come back over here because I knew. The shooting happened about 2:45 p.m. Friday outside Taits family home where he ran a neighborhood car wash. Investigators believe at least one person in a vehicle carried out the deadly, targeted drive-by. The three others killed were identified as Cortez Ray, 32, Terrell Edwards, 38, and Kevin McGhee, 38. A drive-by shooting in Birmingham's Smithfield community left four men dead on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.(Carol Robinson) Edwards and Ray, one of whom was there getting a car wash, fell in front of the home near the cars. Tait, a father of four, ran a short distance before collapsing on the side of a neighbors house. All three were pronounced dead on the scene. McGhee was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The four victims had known each other since childhood. They all leave behind children. They all grew up together right here, Griffin said. From elementary school through high school. The house where they were shot was a neighborhood gathering spot, Griffin said. It was everyones safe place, she said. Two of the victims, McGhee and Edwards, were cousins. Their cousin, Leelee Thomas, said both were great men, amazing fathers, and went to work and spent time with their children and families. They were popular and very much loved,' Thomas said. They will be missed. Tait ran the neighborhood car wash, but also did so much more. He painted the store on the corner. He cut all the grass on this block, even abandoned houses, Griffin said. He even went to the store for his elderly neighbors and gave them free car washes on Sunday. They called him Black Jesus,' Griffin said. Talton Tai(Contributed) The grieving mother said Tait was the rock of the family. He fed me in the morning, he fed me in the evening. He took care of me, and his sister and his brother, Griffin said. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Everybody who met my child was touched by him and loved him, Griffin said. There was something special about him. Griffins mother helped raise Tait. She said she takes some solace in knowing theyre together in Heaven. He loved my mama, she said. I feel like hes probably OK with being where hes at. Griffin wants answers, and justice. He did not deserve to be gunned down in the street, she said. Fridays shooting stunned the Smithfield community. The four were killed less than two hours before two more homicide victims a Birmingham couple missing since Valentines Day were found in a Wylam alley. Our city has been rocked to its core by todays events, Birmingham police Chief Scott Thurmond said at the crime scene Friday afternoon. Our city and communities are hurting beyond belief. This has been a heartbreaking afternoon for our city. A half dozen families are in mourning, Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a Facebook post. That includes the family of one of our city employees. That also includes my own family. The mayor said one of his cousins was among Fridays victims. I refuse to sit by and watch these tragedies unfold, devastating families -- our friends, and our neighbors. Failure to address the killings in our city is not an option, Birmingham City Council Public Safety Chair LaTonya Tate said. Birmingham pastors The Rev. Cedric Hatcher and Apostle Wanda Woldridge, leader of Mothers Against Violence, visited Smithfield on Saturday to address the violence. We have a crisis going on in this city, Hatcher said. Anytime six individuals lose their life to gun violence, thats a crisis. Weve got clergy all over this neighborhood. Weve got to do better, he said. We want to lift these family members up. A lot of families are hurting. Were calling for prayer, but prayer is no good without works. A drive-by shooting in Birmingham's Smithfield community left four men dead on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.(Carol Robinson) Black lives could matter, should matter, would matter if we stop killing each other, Hatcher said. Weve got to stop the madness. Woldridge lost her son to gun violence 18 years ago. I promised myself and I promised God I would always be in the streets, she said. When I saw six individuals had gotten killed, it really touched my heart. This hurt me, she said. Stop the violence and increase the peace. As of Saturday afternoon, no arrests had been made in any of Fridays six homicides. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. The deaths of four men in a Friday afternoon drive-by shooting in Birminghams Smithfield neighborhood, followed by the discovery of two more homicide victims hours later, shocked the city. Although Birmingham has long struggled with violent crime, reaching record highs for homicide in 2022, the fatal shootings of four people in the city at one time is an extremely rare occurrence. In the past 10 years across Alabama, there have only been a few mass shootings -- defined by many researchers as one shooting in which four or more people are injured -- that resulted in four or more deaths. In the most recent case, Terrell Edwards, 38, Kevin McGhee, 38, Cortez Ray, 32, and Talton TJ Tait, 36 were gunned down outside a home about 2:45 p.m. in the 900 block of Center Street North in Birmingham. No suspects are yet in custody. Here are other Alabama mass shootings that killed four or more in the last 10 years: April 15, 2023: When a music speaker fell with a bang at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville, gunfire erupted killing four and wounding more than 30. The shooting began after an announcement telling those with guns to leave. Those killed on the dance hall floor were Phil Dowdell, 18, Shaunkivia Nicole Keke Smith, 17, Marsiah Emmanuel Siah Collins, 19, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23. Three of the five shooting suspects were teens. June 4, 2020: A dispute between members of a Morgan County motorcycle club, the 7 Deadly Sins, ended with seven people shot to death at a Valhermoso Springs home. Tammy England Muzzey, 45 of Valhermoso Springs; Emily Brooke Payne, 21 of Valhermoso Springs; Roger Lee Jones Jr., 19 of Decatur; Jeremy Wade Roberts, 31 of Athens; William Zane Hodgin, 18 of Somerville; James Wayne Benford, 22 of Decatur; Dakota Green, 17 of Valhermoso Springs, were killed. The suspects, Frederic Allen Rogers, 26, and John Michael Legg, 23, both of Hartselle, have yet to stand trial of capital murder charges. Sept. 2, 2019: In the tiny Limestone County town of Elkmont, parents Mary Sisk, 35, father John Sisk, 38, and three of their children -- Kane, 6, Rorrie, 4, and Colson, 6 months -- were shot and killed. Their adopted son, Mason Sisk, who was 14 at the time of the crime, was sentenced to life in prison. Aug. 20, 2016: In an isolated home on a dirt road west of Citronelle in Mobile County, Robert Lee Brown, 26; Chelsea Marie Reed, 22; Justin Kaleb Reed, 23; Joseph Adam Turner, 26; Shannon Melissa Randall, 35, were killed with an axe and at least one firearm as they slept. Derrick Dearman was charged with six counts of capital murder, one of those because Chelsea Reed was five months pregnant, and was sentenced to death. Alabamas deadliest mass shooting was 15 years ago Going back 30 years, there are only a few other occasions of four or more people being shot to death at one time in the Birmingham area. On Jan. 29, 2012, five people were shot to death in Birminghams Ensley Highlands neighborhood -- Charles C.J. Render, 21; Ronnie Render, 42; Jonathan Sanchez, 23; Jeffery Davis Jr. 23; and Demetrius Sanders, 19. At least four of the five were shot execution-style in the head, and were found in one bedroom stripped of their clothes. Three teenagers were charged and all pleaded guilty or were convicted. Five people were found dead inside the Changing Times Lounge in north Birminghams Druid Hills neighborhood on Oct. 16, 1994. All five were found face-down, shot execution-style in the back of the head. Two men convicted in the slayings died while on Death Row. And although they were not committed with a firearm, two other mass murders -- defined as four or more victims killed in one place at one time -- occurred in the Birmingham area in the past 15 years. On Aug. 20, 2008, five men were found inside a north Shelby County apartment complex, bound and their throats cut. They had been shocked and beat. The slayings were murders for hire tied to missing drug money. Those killed were: Angel Horacio Vega-Gonzalez, 23; his brother, Gustavo Vega-Gonzalez, 24, also known as Armando Lopez; Ezequiel Rebollar-Terevan, 23; Jaime Echeverra, 30; and Armando Ibarra Mendoza, 31. Six men pleaded guilty to murder. In Hueytown on March 7, 2009, Nika Sandlin, Jeri Lynn Cole, Josh Gilleo and Chad Gilbert were brutally stabbed to death. Scott Lamar Abbott was sentenced to life in prison. The deadliest mass shooting in Alabama history was nearly 15 years ago. On March 10, 2009, 10 people were killed, including the gunman, and six wounded, in Coffee and Geneva Counties by a lone gunman. The killer had a list of employers who had done him wrong, including the nearby sausage plant he quit days before spree and a metal factory where he fatally shot himself. Korea and the United States will kick off a research campaign to uncover the cause of air pollution across Asia during the winter season as part of efforts to better address air quality challenges and come up with policies designed to improve air quality. The ASIA-AQ, a joint effort by Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), aims to collect detailed air quality data over several locations in Asia using aircraft, satellites, and ground sites. It has already completed four flights in the Philippines and Taiwan over the past few weeks. "This campaign seeks to find the causes behind air quality deteriorating in the Korean Peninsula during wintertime," said Yoo Myung-soo, the NIER director general of the climate and air quality research department, during a media briefing at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, on Friday. "The results of the joint investigation will also be used to enhance the effectiveness and reliability of domestic policies concerning the atmospheric environment," he added. The joint research, tentatively set for Feb. 19-26, comes eight years after Korea led the KORUS-AQ campaign with NASA in 2016, which found that 52 percent of ultrafine particles examined in Seoul were picked up from within Korea and 48 percent from overseas, including 34 percent coming in from China. The main differences between the KORUS-AQ and the new initiative is the time of the year the research is conducted, which changed from spring to winter, and the mobilization of the newly launched GEMS satellite, Barry Lefer of NASA said. In 2020, Korea launched the world's first geostationary environment satellite, or GEMS, to monitor air pollutants across Asia from 36,000 kilometers above ground. The research team will also utilize detailed ground measurements from 11 air quality research sites, including in Seoul and on the islands of Baengnyeong and Jeju, and collect aircraft sampling of the lower atmosphere using NASA's DC-8, an in-situ aircraft flying within the altitude of 2,000 feet. "This means that from the ground we can measure what you breathe but from space we can measure the accumulation of total pollutants," said Jim Crawford from NASA leading the ASIA-AQ project. The campaign is also designed to cross-check the measurements of the GEMS, which monitors the air quality in Asia eight times a day, as the data requires verification through comparison with ground-based observations. "It will take time to calibrate the raw data and turn it into data that is useful for science," said Crawford, adding the interpretation and findings from the data will be open to the public the following year. (Yonhap) This is a rockin opinion toon caption contest. Based on her campaign ads, we knew Kay Ivey was a sharp shootin gunslinger. But who knew Alabamas governor was also a rockin music icon? Look at her, jammin and wailin away on lead guitar. But what song is she playing? You tell me. Its a caption contest. I started this Kay Ivey caption contest this past Wednesday on my Crowe Jam newsletter, so my Jammers got a head start. Theyve been having so much fun with this theme, Im spreading the love to you all. If you havent subscribed, give it a shot. Its free and drops in your email box every Wednesday morning. The caption contests are primarily for Crowe Jam subscribers, so youll always be among the first to get in on the action. Youll also get some behind-the-scenes stories, nasty rumors about your neighbors, secret classified documents, nuclear codes and other just-for-fun stuff. You can find my Crowe Jam newsletter and all the other fabulous AL.com newsletters right here. Send your clever What song is she playing? responses to my email - jdcrowe@al.com - with the subject line Kay Ivey guitar. If your caption is a winner, you could score a signed print - but only if youre a Crowe Jam subscriber. Send your captions to my email and let me know if you want to subscribe. Ill send you a link. Rock on, yall. And lets get Jammin. Recent JD Crowe cartoons Latest Alabama star in transfer portal hits Nick Saban hard - al.com Tommy Tuberville is just another Putin propaganda parrot - al.com JD Crowe: I was a Mardi Gras virgin: Fat Tuesday toons - al.com Nick Saban joining ESPN is a College GameDay name changer - al.com True stories and stuff by JD Crowe The mysterious Bubble Guy of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen - al.com How I met Dr. Seuss Robert Plant head-butted me. Thanks, David Coverdale I was ZZ Tops drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @jdcrowe@al.com. An Alabama man has been charged with murder after the body of a missing Demopolis woman was found floating in water. Demopolis police said Michael Moses Brown of Eutaw has been charged with murder in connection to the death of Sabrina Danielle Harbin, 35. On Feb. 13, officers in Demopolis responded to a call related to a missing person from West Jackson Streets MySpace Apartments. Officers were told Harbin walked away from the apartments and did not return. An investigation into Harbins disappearance resulted in a search using boats, drones and other equipment leading to the discovery of her body floating in the water on Friday. The exact location where the body was found has not been announced. Her body was recovered by the Demopolis Fire Department and taken to the Department of Forensic Sciences for further examination. Brown was taken back to the Marengo County Detention Center where he is awaiting a bond hearing. A 20-year-old was killed and two teenagers have been injured in a shooting that occurred in a northwest Mobile neighborhood, police confirmed Saturday. Cpl. Katrina Frazier said officers working Mardi Gras duty responded to shots fired in the 1500 block of Next Street at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, where they discovered the three gunshot victims. Police discovered a 20-year-old male in the roadway with life-threatening gunshot wounds. He died at the hospital, according to Frazier. Authorities also found an 18-year-old male with life-threatening injuries, and a 16-year-old male with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information to call 251-208-7211. Jasper radio station WJLX is back on the air nearly two weeks after thieves stole one of its towers. Earlier this month, landscapers discovered the 200-foot radio tower for the stations AM site was gone when they went to clean the area near the station. The small transmitter building had also been vandalized. Station general manager Brett Elmore said the estimated cost for the new tower is about $200,000. He didnt have any insurance on the property and was out of money. Without the tower, WJLKs AM station was off the air. WJLX petitioned for the FCC to give it a waiver to continue to broadcast on the FM station, which was still on the air, Elmore told CNN, but the agency denied the request, saying FM translators are prohibited from operating when the primary AM station is off the air. The community here they depend on us, Elmore told CNN. The main part of broadcasting is to serve your community and our community has had its radio voice silenced. READ MORE: Alabama radio station owner says speculation he stole 200-foot tower is completely bogus Someone stole a Jasper radio stations 200-foot tower, owner says The story of WJLXs stolen tower has garnered national attention. And last week, fellow broadcasters reached out to Elmore to offer some temporary relief. Now WJLXs signal is up and running again thanks to the help of media executives out of New York. Early last week, Elmore got a call from John Zellner, the president of programming operations and digital music at iHeartMedia. Hed heard the story and read about it. And seen it on TV and he wanted to do anything he could to help, Elmore told ABC 33/40. Zellner and iHeartMedia executive vice president Jeff Littlejohn worked with Elmore to set up an HD signal package for WJLX on channel 102.5 HD 3. Now, iHeart Media will share their HD3 signal out of Birmingham so the station can broadcast on 102.5 and 101.5 out of Jasper. Customers who have an HD radio in North and North Central Alabama will be able to hear WJLX on 102.5 HD 3. Elmore says hes still working to get funding to replace the the radio tower. But in the interim, hes glad the signal is back on, even temporarily. Its been a long two weeks. I just wanted to get back on the air at some point. Weve had so many people reach out all over the country and all over the world. Its been mindblowing, Elmore said. I made a lot of really good friends out of this. Thats one positive thing. Colleagues from all over the country. But were back on the air and were planning to get that A.M. back on as soon as we possibly can. The Christian faith has been under attack for centuries. In the time of many still living, the war against Christianity has intensified to the level of bringing about the post-Christian times. Who and what Christians today need to follow is at a peak of confusion, especially since even the pope has cast doubt on the mission of the Church in the world and sided with new world order globalist moguls who have no use for any authority above theirs. Authentic Christianity -- and authentic Judaism -- stand in the way of total control over every human being - the grandiose goal of many a past dictator to conquer the world. The campaign of globalists to rule over everybody accelerated after 1970, with leftist activists assuming roles of influence in the Protestant churches and started updating the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with input from Marxist Liberation Theology. The changes were injected into the mainstream churches in small doses over many decades. (I was a hired Catholic church organist since the early 1980s and witnessed this corrupting process.) The intended transformation of Christianity was gradual at first, so as not to alarm anyone, as pulpits were used to deconstruct the faith and prepare its followers for life in a new world order. The once-potent Catholic arm of Christianity had already been enfeebled in the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), a move that scattered many away from the Church and eventually made many wonder, 'why go to church'? After all, if everyone is going to heaven - God dont make junk, remember? - and sin isnt even mentioned, why bother? The truth, of course, is that authentic Christianity prescribes conformity to the moral precepts preached by Christ, teachings that encompass not just his love for humanity but the love of each of us for one another, that message for men and women of good that dawned with his birth. Divisive, political conformity is not what is asked of us by God. Todays so-called Christian church leaders have forgotten their mission, which is to lead people to God, not to Caesar. Theirs is the job to make the Church steer the times, not make the times steer the Church. To act as a rubber stamp for change, according to the latest political environment, is to desert ones post as a servant of God and humanity. The overused word change - bandied about without clarification - always makes me ask, change to what? Is it 'change' to follow Christ or is it change to follow the politics of the day? I am reminded of the changes made by masters of the art like Stalin, Hitler, Mao, and other dictators who have led people to great misery and tragedy. And I think of the so-called elites in Davos and Washington, D.C., busy at changes to the world far more destructive than any of the past. After Marxist change, values stepped out of the closet during the social and cultural upheavals of the 1960s, Christian worship started to get warped by Liberation Theology. This Marxist carrot-on-a-stick for prelates aiming at social justice made many fall for the big lie that Marxism and Christianity are compatible with each other and mutually supportive. The subsequent action to update the Christian faith that is, reject it - helped create the sinless, no-fault, Christian-flavored religion of Americas mainline churches. To highlight the mockery made of Christian doctrine since 1970, imagine Jesus Christ saying, Follow yourself and do what is right for you. Or, Your sins are forgiven go, and keep sinning, for it cant be helped. Or (referring to the Ten Commandments), imagine this change to Number 6: Thou shalt not kill, unless it be a medical procedure. Faithful Christians have seen enough of the destructive influence of so-called Christian leaders, acting in the name of progress and justice. Explain their claim to all who have lost jobs, money, property, and loved ones for being in the wrong minority. You are in the wrong minority if you: Obey the Ten Commandments Disobey the Political Commandments Believe that democracy doesnt work in a moral-free society Believe that science must not collude with politics Believe that natural law holds priority over human law The total rejection of true Christians and Jews came swiftly in the last decades of the 20th century. It will surprise many not born before the 1960s, that in the presidential election campaign of 1952, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the chosen (but reluctant) candidate, Adlai Stevenson, said in his acceptance speech: I have asked the merciful Father, the Father to us all, to let this cup pass from me. But from such dread responsibility one does not shrink in fear, in self-interest or in false humility... Compare that presidential candidate with any today and with the current occupant of the White House, who pushes to allow women to kill babies not yet born, after the Supreme Court at last corrected its 1973 mistake in Roe v. Wade. Can men and women who love children, who love life, who love truth - whether they are religious or not - allow killing children in or out of the womb? That unthinkable act can come only from someone without a heart or a sound mind. In 1988 my brother Salvatore, a World War II veteran, made a prophetic statement regarding these post-Christian times. Referring to the division between true Catholics, Protestants, and Jews and those who claim to be Christians and Jews but in reality reject their professed religion, he wrote the following in a letter to me: When the two sides are chosen for the final battle, it wont be the Catholics on one side and the non-Catholics on the other side; no, it will be genuine (or orthodox) Catholics, Protestants and Jews on one side, and counterfeit Catholics, Protestants and Jews on the other side. This is an accurate assessment of the division between true Christians and enemies of the faith who call themselves Christian but arent. It is also a call to Christians and Jews to resist to their face those religious leaders who have corrupted the Word of God and forsaken their mission to serve God and humanity. Anthony J. DeBlasi is a veteran and lifelong culture warrior. Image: The most important thing you will see this week is this interview of Mike Benz by Tucker Carlson: Benz is with the Foundation for Freedom, which tracks government censorship. In this interview he explains how our government rigged elections abroad and has now, through DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), censored online communications, noting that its most substantial censorship involved blocking and limiting any critiques online respecting the governments responses to COVID-19 and the security of the 2020 election. It's a well-detailed account that I urge you in the strongest terms to view. In short form, heres a summary, but it cannot do this chilling interview complete justice: THREAD: @MikeBenzCyber speaks with @TuckerCarlson Mike Benz outlines how the government established a permanent domestic censorship office under the pretext of countering misinformation. and disinformation. Initially considered for the State Department, CIA, and FBI, the censorship office found its home in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), utilizing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). DHS classified elections as critical infrastructure and online misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation as cybersecurity attacks. The original goal of countering Russian disinformation shifted to suppressing domestic dissent and the populist movement led by President Trump. Examining the 2020 election's censorship strategy, Benz details CISA's collaboration with Stanford University, University of Washington, Graphika, and the Atlantic Council through the Election Integrity Partnership. The censorship consortium employed coercive tactics, leveraging its deputized status to pressure tech companies through government threats. A critical element was the seven-month pre-censorship campaign before the 2020 election. The consortium compelled social media companies to introduce a new "delegitimization" violation, targeting content challenging faith in mail-in ballots, early voting, and ballot drop boxes. The overarching goal was narrative control, preventing doubts about a Biden victory and avoiding a crisis akin to the 2000 Bush-Gore election. Anticipating Biden's victory hinging on mail-in ballots, early voting, and ballot dropboxes, the consortium precensored any questioning of the election's legitimacy, particularly if Trump appeared to win on election night but later lost due to late-arriving mail-in ballots. The so-called "Red Mirage-Blue Shift event." The DHS outsourced censorship to the Election Integrity Partnership (EIP), comprised of four organizations: Stanford Internet Observatory, the University of Washingtons Center for an Informed Public, Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, and Graphika. During the 2020 election: 120 analysts monitored 15 tech platforms 22 Million tweets labeled misinformation Entire misinformation narratives targeted for platform-wide throttling The EIP claimed every "repeat spreader of election misinformation" was a supporter of President Trump. Benz explains that in about 2016 the government could no longer count on its backdoor to the legacy media -- favor for favor and access -- to control communications across a broad spectrum, something that had served it well as a censorship tool for decades. The internet had far wider reach and allowed independent voices to outcompete the legacy media, which had been the governments reliable megaphones. The growth of huge social media platforms disrupted the governments usual speech-control techniques and it scrambled to find new ways to control what we learned as legacy media was shrinking in reach and respect. Using the fraudulent Russiagate as a justification for their conduct, they were forced to seek new, less plausible justifications when the Mueller investigation established that pretext would be unavailing. The extent of the government's meddling was revealed when Elon Musk took over and released internal files revealing much of the government censorship of what was then Twitter. The election of a Republican House willing to examine this overreach also exposed the scheme. While the government relies in large part on technology Musk has developed so it has less leverage over him than it has on other platforms, through a combination of lawsuits against him and the aid of the EU it enlisted to fine noncompliance with its censorship it still is trying to restrict free speech on X, presently the largest free speech platform in the world. There are several cases now pending in the Supreme Court questioning whether the government can censor internet communications through proxies what it cannot do directly. The most significant is Murthy v. Missouri. In July 2023 the District Court issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, State Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FBI from contacting social media services in order to urge, encourage, pressure or induce the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech. These same agencies were enjoined from communicating with three academic programs at Stanford University and the University of Washington which were engaged in censorship activities on behalf of the federal government which funded them. On appeal the Fifth Circuit upheld the district court ruling, but placed the injunction on hold pending Supreme Court action. (Subsequently, the Fifth Circuit expanded the injunction to include CISA. finding that agency interacted with social media platforms to push them to adopt more restrictive policies on election-related speech.) With Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissenting, the Court lifted the injunction while the case proceeds. Alito wrote, Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government, and therefore todays decision is highly disturbing. Murthy is not the only government censorship case pending decision in the Supreme Court. Theres NRA v. Vullo questioning whether the threats by New Yorks Department of Financial Services against regulated banks and insurance companied to sever ties with the NRA violates the First Amendment. And there are two companion cases, Net Choice v Paxton and Moody v Net Choice, involving formal legislation regulating social media content. Two other free speech cases are pending in the Supreme Court -- Lindke v. Freed and OConnor-Ratcliff v. Garnier, both of which concern when and whether a government officials use of a social media platform becomes state action. New technologies offer promise and challenges to the Deep State. Benz has made a persuasive historically accurate case demonstrating how techniques developed by government agencies to meddle with elections abroad have now metastasized online to interfere with domestic elections and policies. He has also persuasively shown how these agencies fear popular control, justifying their actions by confusing the concept of democracy with the preservation of existing institutions like NATO and the IMF. And, of course, their own power to continue to control public perceptions of government policies and elections. What happens when generations of children are reared to view others as less than human, unworthy of basic human rights? It creates a dysfunctional society, which has lost any sense of morality. Its a society in which rape, torture, kidnapping, and the wanton murder of innocents is met not with moral outrage, but with celebration. Its a society incapable of coexisting with others, because its values have diverged from anything considered civilized. When such a society is created, it must either subdue others around it or be subdued itself. There can be no negotiated peace when one side of a conflict refuses to acknowledge the inherent humanity of the other side. There can be only a winner, a loser, or perpetual conflict. The Palestinians are the sad story of an entire people condemned to lifetimes of violence and misery because they accepted the sentence of victimhood. They have bought in to the notion that their lot in life isnt driven by their own decisions, but is the result of evil visited on them by others. In embracing victimhood, the Palestinians have accepted hatred in lieu of empowerment. They have mentally placed their future in the hands of others and sacrificed the foundation necessary for self-improvement a commitment to improve their community themselves. The Palestinians have traded self-determination for the false nobility of victimhood. Were making the same trade for America. In the last century, we made great strides in resolving our racial tensions. Tragically, we seem to have reached a summit with the civil rights movement. We peaked before we solved the problems. After the successes of the 60s, the diversity industry (in its various forms) triggered a fundamental change in our approach to the resolution of racial issues. We stopped seeking a colorblind society in which all are judged equally and began demanding special treatment for perceived victims. We started down the path of manufacturing racial tensions by teaching that there are the privileged and the oppressed, the latter of which require protection from a system that victimizes them. The 1619 Project teaches our youth that America was founded on slavery and is therefore permanently flawed. There is no acknowledgement that America is also a country that lifted itself out of such barbarity at great sacrifice. It is a lesson that Americas successes were achieved on the backs of slaves for which all privileged whites should feel shame. Critical Race Theory (CRT) teaches our children that regardless of actions, some of their classmates are oppressors. Those of inadequate dermal melanin are forever marked with the sins which their ancestors may or may not have committed. It is designed to teach resentment and shame both of which brew hatred. Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DIE) demands that descendants of past oppressors provide benefits to descendants of past victims. Such benefits are to include preferential treatment in admissions, hiring, and advancement and even monetary reparations to be collected and distributed by the government. To make it easy, the oppressor/victim determination is to be done based on skin tone rather than actual ancestry. Hence, a white taxpayer whose great-great-grandfather died to free the slaves is expected to pay reparations to a black woman, like Sunny Hostin, whose great-great-grandfather owned slaves. Is any of this designed to create harmony rather than resentment? In fact, we are creating a society in which ones value is not his inherent humanity, but rather his skin tone and those of lighter tones are worthy of scorn. We are teaching our children to hate one another, apparently oblivious to where that leads. It leads to Gaza, a society that rejects peaceful coexistence. Is that what we want for America a society in which hatred and distrust prevent us from working together toward solutions to problems? Do we want what the Palestinians are demanding a river to the sea clear master-race winner? After forty years on focusing on superficial differences rather than colorblindness, is there any evidence that DIE is moving us towards racial harmony? Are we coexisting better now than we did forty years ago, or has the industry been dehumanizing one race and elevating others at the expense of progress? Andrea Widburg recently described Tiffany Henyard, the mayor of Dolton, Illinois. Mayor Henyard is in trouble with the city council for misusing city funds for her personal benefit. Shes outraged at the city council not because shes innocent of the charges, but because the black members of the city council arent sticking up for the black mayor. Her argument is that the color of her skin takes priority over the content of her character. Shes incensed that the council is more concerned about her behavior than her color. She has been brainwashed to see society as a racial contest rather than a civilized cooperative. We accept as a given that black lives matter. But saying all lives matter is considered hateful, because it fails to acknowledge the unique value of the oppressed. The advocates of DIE fail to understand that creating a value ranking of races inevitably devalues some. Where does devaluing a race lead? It leads to non-white youths murdering a white bicyclist with a stolen car for the fun of it. It led them to shamelessly post their deed on social media and then boast that they would suffer no consequences. The teens were trained to believe that their victims life had no value. They believed that society would excuse the minor offense of murdering a privileged white man. Where did they get such an idea? Soros-backed prosecutors routinely decline to prosecute non-white people because theyre overrepresented in prison. They are therefore victims of an oppressive system and deserving of special treatment. Does such prosecutorial discretion increase racial harmony and social order? Or does it release a class of citizens from accountability, teaching them that the rules of society dont apply to them? In protest of a black mans death (George Floyd), rioters burned cities and looted businesses. Their antisocial behavior was excused as a legitimate exercise of free expression because the rules are different for certain protected classes. Have the living conditions in our cities improved due to the new rules for the oppressed? Is Gaza our future? There is a tipping point at which peaceful coexistence will become untenable. Its the point at which hatreds become so ingrained that reasonable discussion of issues is replaced by open attempts to crush each other. How long can we assert that skin tone justifies the targeting of some and empowers others to collect the booty? When will DIE destroy our ability to have a dialogue about issues? We havent reached the Gaza level of dysfunction yet or I couldnt write this article. But of course, the Palestinians have been brainwashing their children for four generations, and weve been at it for only two. I dont know how far over the horizon that Rubicon lies, but we seem to be trying awfully hard to get there. John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He is a staff writer for the American Free News Network and can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com. Image: stevepb via Pixabay, Pixabay license. As someone whos lived in both Russia and Ukraine, who speaks Russian and Ukrainian, and is versed in their histories, Ive been bombarded with questions about Putins recent interview with Tucker Carlson. It prompted me to compile my answers into this article, hoping to clarify for my American friends the real backdrop and fallout of Putins remarks. For a more complete breakdown, see a take by Andrei Illarionov, senior analyst for Russian and European affairs of the Center for Security Policy, who used to be Putins economic adviser and knows him personally. Illarionov lists 12 main messages and 30 basic fakes in Vladimir Putins interview with Tucker Carlson, adding that a detailed analysis of Putins fakes, errors, absurdities, distortions, manipulations, and falsifications requires considerable space and time and, hopefully, will be done in the near future. Indeed, Putin packed his interview with so many tall tales that youd need an academic thesis to tackle them all. But lets face it: whos got the time for that? So Im serving up a condensed version, sprinkled with my own observations and takeaways for flavor. First off, I tip my hat to Tucker Carlson for cozying Putin up enough to chatter away for two whole hours, revealing things about himself in ways wed only speculated about. It appears that 24 long years in an echo chamber of yes men has dulled Putins knack for crisp arguments. With real opponents jailed and a tame opposition in check, Putins debate skills are as rusty as a Soviet-era Lada. Throw him into an actual debate, and hed fold faster than an empty suit. Confronted with a question about igniting Europes bloodiest conflict since WWII, he unspooled an hour-long Viking saga, more tangled than a bowl of medieval spaghetti, dates flung every which way but right. Forget NATO fears; its all about the Kievan Rus princes now. But how good is Putin as a historian? Lets just say hes about as reliable as tales of Conan the Barbarian from Robert E. Howards imagination. Had Tucker brought up Conan, Putin might well have anointed him a Russian hero who hailed from Cimmeria, which sounds like the Crimea and overlaps with modern Ukraine. And since in Putins fantasy atlas Ukraine equals Russia, it makes Conan a local legend. His entire historical discourse, replete with anachronisms, was equally imaginative. After the flurry of memes and online jokes that followed, I thought wed all have a good laugh and leave it at that. Yet, despite the chuckles, some of my conservative friends still saw Putin as a kind of intellectual, a history enthusiast with odd fixations, granting him an unearned gloss of wisdom. Taking Putins historical musings seriously implies viewing Ukraine home to 44 million people and thousands of years of history as merely an illusion, a historical glitch, a cartographic mistake in need of fixing by Putin. But then wed not be different from those who turned a blind eye to the Holocaust, dismissing it as a distant issue or even a regrettable means to peace. Its deeply troubling that Russias nuclear-armed leader places greater weight on a historical soap opera than on the pressing concerns of the living, breathing present. Before we dive into historical rebuttals, lets make one thing clear: in this scenario, history isnt even the main concern. Whats paramount here is international law and the inviolability of national borders. Yes, borders have done the hokey-pokey throughout history, but the advent of nuclear arms cemented the principle of national sovereignty. The concept of territorial integrity has been the glue holding the world together for nearly eight decades, stopping us from reducing Earth to a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Toss that rule out, and were signing up for a doomsday party, a global free-for-all that might just end humanitys run. After all, historys roller coaster aside, Ukraine has been an independent nation for 33 years, forging its modern identity. A generation has come of age in freedom, now raising their own free-spirited kids. Each jab from Putin only tempers the Ukrainian resolve stronger, bonding them like iron in a fire. Ukraines newfound solidarity against challenges overrules any ancient drama in its storied past. Now, back to Putins lecture on history. The gist of his tale is this: Russia begins when a Viking named Rurik rides in on a high horse and whips up a state called Rus. Then the Poles, never ones to miss a party, slice off a piece of Russia and label it Ukraine. Russia, ever the benevolent overlord, takes back the land and showers it with gifts. But instead of thank you notes, they get a bunch of Banderites stirring up trouble. Cue the Austro-Hungarian masterminds, who persuade the locals that Ukraine has its own language and culture. Then Lenin comes along and conjures up Ukraine from thin air, planting a ticking time bomb thats now Putins headache to dismantle. Well, the actual story is quite different. The medieval Rus state, also known as Kievan Rus, thrived in present-day Ukraine, predating the concept of Russia. Russia later emerged from Muscovy, initially a minor entity at the Slavic worlds fringes. Thirsty for power, Muscovy rulers aligned with the invading Mongol forces to expand their territory, annexing neighboring Slavic lands in the process. The tide turned only centuries later, with Ivan the Terribles conquering of Golden Horde lands, claiming their throne, and adopting their Mongol-Tatar governance model for his entire domain. Thus, rather than being the successor of Rus, Muscovy was more like the Golden Hordes heir apparent. And that is the twist that makes Russia the odd one out in the European family portrait. Muscovy kept expanding its borders by absorbing surrounding Slavic, Finno-Ugric, and Tatar lands. The term Russians wasnt in their lexicon yet; they identified as Muscovites. It wasnt until the 18th century that Tsar Peter the Great, in a move to elevate Muscovy to imperial status, decreed the adoption of Russians as their new identity, complete with a sophisticated rebranding. To imbue his empire with a sense of historic depth, Peter harked back to the esteemed Kievan Rus, adopting Rossiya a Greek-inflected rendition of Rus because nothing says legit like a classic throwback. Little did Ukrainians know that their land would become a cornerstone of the Russian imperial narrative. History books were rewritten to cast Russia as the legitimate heir of Rus a script Putin happily sold to Tucker. To those not well versed, it might even sound plausible if not for the minor detail of millions of Ukrainian-speaking souls who dont feel the slightest bit Russian. This raises the question from anyone paying attention: when did this Ukrainian crowd move in, if there werent any grand migrations on record? Putins claim that Ukraine translates to the fringe is an outdated and debunked idea, rooted in false etymology. The term dates back to the 12th century, predating Russia itself so how could it be the fringe of something nonexistent? In reality, Ukraine signifies the country, the homeland. Initially a colloquial stand-in for Rus, the term lingered after Rus declined, with its people continuing their lives, tending their farms, and keeping their culture as Ukrainians. The Netherlands is also sometimes called Holland or the Dutch Republic different names, same place. Putins spin on more recent history is equally dubious. He recycled his threadbare story of an alleged CIA coup in Ukraine, a chapter Ukrainians honor as the Revolution of Dignity. This narrative is as flimsy as the notorious Russian collusion tale from the 2016 U.S. election. Its a head-scratcher how some in America, quick to scoff at the Russian collusion fiction, readily accept Putins CIA coup account, even though both scripts likely originate from the same web in Moscows Lubyanka Square. Likewise, those who rightly dismiss claims of America teeming with racist neo-Nazis appear surprisingly receptive to Putins parallel claims about neo-Nazis in Ukraine. The tactic of tarnishing with the Nazi brush is similar, probably crafted by the same political puppeteers. In this light, theres little difference between Putin and some Antifa radical in Portland, both eager to stir up Nazi narratives to justify their own violence and seize the moral high ground. Theres a global gaslighting effort that is pitting people worldwide against one another. Wonder who stands to gain from such discord? A Twitter user suggested that Putins historical narrative mirrors an argument for Israel. Id say its the other way around: Putins line is closer to the Palestinian narrative. Their claim to Israel hinges on Mohameds legendary flight to Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque on a winged horse, and they are willing to die for this spiritual legacy. Similarly, Putin aims to annex Ukraines hallowed grounds, asserting theyre part of Russias legacy a stance just as implausible. Strikingly, Putin even found ways to justify Hitlers invasion of Poland, thus aligning with another despot known for spinning historical myths and phantom grievances to validate widespread slaughter, displacements, destruction, and territorial grabs. Thats why weve got to keep an eagle eye on the Kremlins history buff-in-chief. His sit-down with Tucker Carlson revealed a concerning image of Putin: not just a leader disconnected from current realities, but a full-blown historical fantasist, playing fast and loose with the fates of millions, guided not by present-day truths, but by some dusty, fictional version of yesteryear. Image: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. South Korea, the United States and Japan urged North Korea on Saturday to take "immediate" steps to end "all" human rights violations as they marked the 10th anniversary of the release of a landmark U.N. report on the reclusive state's rights abuses. The three countries' missions to the United Nations released a joint statement commemorating the anniversary of the 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) report that accused the North Korean regime of "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations and made related recommendations. "We urge the DPRK to abide by its obligations under international law, take immediate steps to end all human rights violations and abuses including the immediate resolution of issues involving abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war and engage with the U.N.'s human rights experts for that purpose," they said in the statement. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The three countries pointed out that the report asserted the North has committed human rights violations that amount to "crimes against humanity," and indicated "the gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world." "Unfortunately, a decade later, this is still the case. The DPRK remains one of the world's most repressive regimes, imposing severe restrictions on freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, religion or belief, and movement," they said. The countries also noted the "inextricable link" between the North's rights abuses and its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. "The DPRK's use of forced and exploited labor both domestically and overseas support its unlawful and threatening programs, as do food distribution policies that favor the military, leading to chronic malnourishment among its citizens," they said. Separately, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, reiterated calls for the North to begin a reform process to improve human rights. "We call on the DPRK to initiate a reform process to implement the recommendations of the 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry and to respect human rights," Miller said. "We also urge the international community to take immediate action to address the egregious human rights situation in the DPRK and for Member States to respect the principle of non-refoulement." The COI report included recommendations that Pyongyang undertake "profound and institutional reforms without delay" to introduce checks and balances on the powers of the nation's leader and the ruling Workers' Party, including the introduction of an independent and impartial judiciary and a multiparty political system. The spokesperson stressed that promoting respect for human rights and human dignity in the North remains a "top priority" for the U.S. government. "We remain committed to shining a spotlight on human rights abuses and violations, promoting accountability for those responsible for them, and increasing access to independent information inside the DPRK," he said. (Yonhap) Seemingly every day, a new scenario is revealed how the left might remove Joe Biden and insert another candidate for the presidential election. Heather Higgins, writing for RealClearPolitics, and covered by Thomas Lifson on AT, believes that the DNC will unleash a September Surprise after the Democrat National Convention (August 1922), in which Joe Biden steps down say, for some new health reason and is replaced by Michelle Obama, who at this point will not even have to campaign against or vie with other potential Democrat candidates, including Kamala Harris. Higgins cites precedents for late-candidate switcheroos as well as DNC rules requiring merely a vote of the 483 DNC members. Regarding how long the Democrats can wait before making a switch, Higgins suggests it may be October 1. Here is another possible scenario. Based on overwhelming evidence proving Joe Bidens corruption, the House, possibly with unanimous Republican support, impeaches Slow Joe. In the middle of the Senate vote on conviction and removal from office, Democrats, claiming they want no part of this purely political witch hunt so close to an election a narrative that will be supported by a compliant MSMcollectively storm out of the chamber. All thats needed for removal from office is two thirds of those senators present, and the stunned Republicans succeed in removing Joe Biden from office, doing the Democrats dirty work for them and, as a bonus, sparing individual Democrats from Dr. Jills ire. Alternatively, a sufficient number of Democrats surprisingly join the Republicans in voting to remove Biden from office. The Democratic National Convention is then left open for Michelle Obama to defeat Kamala Harris, avoiding the race card issue. Or perhaps lame-duck President Harris, in exchange for not running (shed likely lose to Donald Trump anyway), is given a secret incentive to pardon (after the elections but before January 20) Joe & Family. If the Senate vote succeeding in Bidens removal does not occur until shortly after the Democratic convention, as in Higginss scenario, DNC members get to select a preferable alternative. Article 3, Sec 1(c) of the Charter in the The Charter & The Bylaws of the Democrat Party of the U.S. states that between National Conventions, the DNC has the responsibility of filling vacancies in the nominations for the office of President and Vice President. Essentially identical language appears in the bylaws, Article 2, Sec. 1(c), as cited by Higgins. That language suggests that the vice president slot cannot be changed if only the president slot is vacated, which comports with the language in the 2024 Call for the Democratic National Convention: Filling a Vacancy on the National Ticket: In the event of death, resignation or disability of a nominee of the Party for President or Vice President after the adjournment of the National Convention, the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee shall confer with the Democratic leadership of the United States Congress and the Democratic Governors Association and shall report to the Democratic National Committee, which is authorized to fill the vacancy or vacancies. So it seems that if Biden is removed shortly after the convention, in both Higginss September Surprise and the Senate removal vote scenarios, Michelle would be stuck with Kamala as a running mate. ABC News lays out the sometimes thorny ramifications of a national ticket vacancy depending on the date when a nominated candidate withdraws. Bidens removal in the period between Election Day and the Electoral College vote (December 17) likely would result in electors casting votes. Regarding after December 17, ABC says the following: If the president-elect dies or is incapacitated after the Electoral College votes [Dec. 17] but before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025, the law is clear: the vice president-elect would be inaugurated instead. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution says, in part, "If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President." So if the Biden-Harris ticket wins the general election and the Senate vote occurring in this time interval results in Bidens removal from office, the country would be stuck at the outset with Kamala as president. Presumably, even the Democrats dont want that. A contributing factor to the 49ers loss to the Chiefs in the latest Super Bowl is that they were not familiar with the new overtime rules, and after winning the overtime coin toss, they chose unwisely to receive the ball first. I sure hope the Republicans study the vacancy issue carefully to get the timing of the impeachment process just right so they dont get burned once again by the Democrats and the Deep State. W.A. Eliot is a pseudonym. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The reason Fani Willis is being questioned in the case against Trump and his associates has nothing to do with race or sex. It has to do with whether there is an appearance of a conflict of interest period. Fani Willis testimony evokes long-standing frustrations for Black women leaders Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is used to prosecuting high-profile, challenging cases. But as she parried questions about her own personal conduct from the witness stand against the legal teams for defendants her office has accused of election interference, many Black women recognized a dispiriting scene. Here are some paragraphs from the article and an analysis: It absolutely feels familiar. There is no secret that the common sentiment among Black women in positions of power (is that they) must over-perform to be seen as equals to their counterparts, said Jessica T. Ornsby, a family litigation attorney in the Washington, D.C., area. This hearing has nothing to do with making a black woman over-perform. It is trying to find out if Fani, as D.A., hired a lawyer, who had no experience prosecuting a big case, because she had a personal relationship with him and whether she got any benefit from the money. These people, who are being charged with serious crimes, would have the same questions of a white man who hired a female or male that he had a personal relationship with. It has nothing to do with her being a woman or being black. Here, Ms. Willis is being scrutinized for things that are not directly related to her job performance, in ways we see other Black women regularly picked apart, Ornsby said. This questioning is absolutely about her job performance. Does she have the proper sense not to hire a person she is involved with? Anybody with an ounce of common sense knows what that looks like. In interviews with The Associated Press, many Black women leaders expressed frustration and disappointment that public attention had turned from the merits of the criminal case to the personal conduct of the Black woman overseeing the prosecution. For them, the court challenge to Willis echoes familiar experiences of tests of their authority, competence and character. Her personal conduct has a great deal to do with this case. As a D.A., you are not supposed to transfer a bunch of taxpayer money to someone you go on trips with, whether you are black, white, brown, or any other color. I love that she stood up for herself, but I hate the fact that she had to, said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. She said that when she saw video of the testimony she felt: Why are you all treating her like SHES on trial? Anyone who did this would have to stand up for herself. It is essentially a trial to determine if she and Wade should prosecute this case or if they have a conflict of interest, or the appearance of one. Again, it has absolutely nothing to do with whether she is a woman or black. LaTosha Brown, co-founder of voting rights group Black Voters Matter, despaired of the fact that Willis was having to answer questions about whether she has money, whether she has cash or not and why she has cash, who she sleeps with, who is she flying on an airplane with. It is Willis and Wade who had no receipts to show she paid Wade back and who said she paid with cash to show she didnt receive a direct benefit from the taxpayer money she paid to Wade. Therefore, it is legitimate and necessary to ask where the cash came from and where it went. Wades answer was troubling, to say the least. He said he paid for the trips with a business credit card, and when he got the cash from Willis for reimbursement, he did not deposit that cash in his business account, which would be a logical way to go. A lawyer should know better than to mingle personal and business expenses. So, what is this really about? Brown added. When white power, particularly white men, are being held to account ... the first thing to do is to disqualify the people that are holding them accountable, especially when those people are Black women. It would be nice someday if women in power, like Fani, Kamala, and Hillary, just answered questions like adults instead of routinely playing the race and sex cards when they are asked questions they dont like or when anyone disagrees with their policies or opinions. It is pathetic that most of the media also play the race card and the sex card, but usually only in the case of Democrat women. Image via Picryl. Theres an old aphorism in foreign policy to the effect that there is nothing more dangerous than being an ally of America. The Mummified Meat Puppet Administration (MMPA) seems determined that no one ever forget it. Normal Americans have been appalled at the MMPAs constant attempts to undermine Israels response to the greatest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. They must work hard to find examples, yet there are so many, at least a few of the most egregious have leaked through the medias narrative filters. Now, at Substack, Benjamin Weingarten has provided The Ultimate Guide to the Biden Administrationss Betrayal of Israel. It is the most complete, and horrifying, collection of anti-Semitism and political double-dealing available. Horrifying because Hamas and its puppet master Iran are not only enemies of Israel, but of Western Civilization. The MMPA is staffed with Marxists and Chinese compromised internationalists, epitomized by Antony Blinken, who, immediately after October 7, dropped this jewel: Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot via Weingarten The day after the attack, when Israelis were still finding and trying to identify their burned, raped and mutilated people, Blinken was already trying to keep them from harming Hamas. The MMPA has never stopped: 10/13/23: Six days after Oct. 7, State Dept. Spokesman Matthew Miller tweets that Sec. Blinken reiterated that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples legitimate rights setting the stage for bolstering the PA to lead a future Palestinian state. 10/14/23: A week after Oct. 7, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stresses that Israel must act within rules of war and protect civilians. No nation in history has taken more and more intensive steps to prevent civilian casualties, but as honest reporting has revealed, there is little or no distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people. Those people engaged in the slaughter, hostage taking and looting in Israel on 10-07, support Hamas by huge margins, and have helped Hamas hold hostages. While the MMPA continues to supply Israel, it also supplies Hamas: Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot via Weingarten The billions nations, including America, have poured into Gaza have largely gone to building terror tunnels, buying weapons, and making Hamas leaders billionaires. Since 10-07, Hamas has diverted almost all American aid to itself. 10/20/23: When asked why Israel permitted aid before Hamas released all hostages, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says, The Americans insisted and we are not in a place where we can refuse them. We rely on them for planes and military equipment. What are we supposed to do? Tell them no? And of course the MMPA cannot give up on the fabled two-state solution. Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot via Weingarten This despite Hamas leaders constantly rejecting it because they exist to murder every Jew in the world, and conquer the world for Islam. One of the reasons Hamas was able to murder so many Israelis on 10-07 was few Israeli civilians were armed. Post 10-07 theyve gained a new appreciation for that necessity, but the MMPA, which works tirelessly to disarm Americans, has not: 11/6/23: Report suggests U.S. conditions assault rifle delivery on weapons not being distributed to Jewish militias in Judea and Samaria under purported fear of uptick in settler violence that will prove a false and utterly fraudulent narrative. This is at the same time Palestinian Arabs are engaged in rampant terrorism against Jews in Judea and Samaria. The MMPAs intransigence has cost additional Israeli lives: 11/27/23: Caroline Glick reports that three weeks prior, the Biden admin began demanding that Israel limit (or cancel entirely) its pre-ground battle aerial bombings. Consequently, in the week that preceded this weeks humanitarian pause, the IDFs battle losses were overwhelmingly the consequence of sniper fire from Hamas terrorists hiding in buildings that the air force did not destroy before the battles, due to U.S. pressure. And still, the MMPA is stuck on stupid: Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot via Weingarten There is no limit to the MMPAs delusions: 1/10/24: Following meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas currently serving in the 20th year of a four-year term Sec. Blinken declares Abbas committed to reforming the PA. And this: 2/7/24: Sec. Blinken says Israelis were dehumanized in the most horrific way on October 7th. The hostages have been dehumanized every day since. But that cannot be a license to dehumanize others. Of course. Dehumanizing barbarous terrorists bent on genocide would be bad. It never ends: 2/14/24: WaPo reports Biden admin is rushing to complete a detailed, comprehensive plan for long-term peace between Israel and Palestinians, including a firm timeline for the establishment of a Palestinian state, which would include the withdrawal of many, if not all, settler communities on the West Bank; [and] a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem. The farce is strong with Joe Biden. The MMPA is determined no one ever forget there is no more dangerous, duplicitous ally than America, particularly when it is led by Democrats. 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. It is beyond ironic that, of all the current wannabes, Donald J. Trump fills the presidential shoes better than any of the others. He was never before a politician, and he has managed to turn the whole process upside-down. Why? How? Simply because theres a palpable lack of talent for actually all positions of importance. Hence the absurd miasma of the Biden presidency. Mr. Trump has already made his billions, so he could afford to take the pay cut that comes with public service. Unlike career politicians, Trump had to spend many years actually solving problems rather than just bloviating about how important they are, especially for women and minorities. Back when our government was originally put together in Philadelphia, our economy was mostly agrarian. Todays economy has much greater opportunity for entrepreneurs of all fields, so public service is now more inclined to attract only corrupt careerists rather than generous citizens seeking temporary and benevolent involvement in the affairs of their community. This process has been accumulating hack functionaries for years, with the obvious decline in public-sector maintenance to show for it. How else, in this modern age of technological advancement, scientific and medical marvels, and agricultural harvests of unparalleled abundance, can there be vast hordes of useless, drug-addled vagrants squatting all over our landscape? Then something happened. A media celebrity, real estate tycoon, got elected president. The status quo was plundered. Trump did not come from central casting. For all intents and purposes, he might as well have been from Mars. He was never supposed to get elected in the first place and thus, he blindsided the entrenched careerists. The best theyve been able to do, thus far, has been to persecute Trump with their courts (not our courts) all at taxpayer expense. Being a billionaire, Trump has been able to adequately defend himself but there still must be a serious wound. Perhaps because of Trump but more likely also as a result of American cultural ethos much of the citizenry has become especially rebellious against stupid authority. But Trump remains the catalyst. This phenomenon is not just limited to the presidency. In California, there is a hotly contested drive for the Senate seat vacated by Dianne Feinsteins assumption of room temperature. Former L.A. Dodger star Steve Garvey is the most visible Republican challenger. There is some kind of ad blitz, on TV and radio, pointing against Garvey for being a Trump-supporter. There is such a thing as reverse psychology, but Ive never before seen it applied to a political campaign. From the beginning, the ads made me like Garvey even more. Now the ads are running on the right-wing radio station KSFO sponsored not by any candidate, but rather by a committee while the TV ads are officially on behalf of Adam Schiff. This may be pure genius. It brings to mind Brer Rabbits plea not to be thrown into the briar patch. Lurking below the surface of all this fuss and bother is a lingering suspicion that having a president at the top of the public-sector hierarchy is an obsolete concept. Private-sector corporations have CEOs, CFOs, and sometimes COOs in addition to boards of directors. Since theyre not allowed to print their own money, they have to earn it. They are subject to Darwinian forces such as competition and environmental limits. Governments act as if they were immune to such forces, but they are not. They just get to more easily hide the consequences. Up until the Civil War, the bulk of executive authority in the U.S. was in the hands of the governors of the several states. Only in the wars aftermath did the District of Columbia start to become the power nexus it is today. Franklin Roosevelt pushed things a lot further with the New Deals invention of all the alphabet soup agencies, commissions, and whatnot. Helping this along was the establishment of broadcast networks that brought the nations focus onto New York and D.C. Back during the Civil War, Philadelphia was still the largest city in the nation. Nowadays, the obvious failure of the Biden presidency has to cause at least some doubts about the future of the office. Trump is one of a kind. Theres really no one else in line to fully take his place. Some are better than others but, other than Trump, does any of them have the personal deep pockets necessary to withstand the unrelenting legal assault that the swamp rats will reflexively throw? This in addition to handling verbal assaults with effective bombast rather than sniveling worminess. Yeah, hes a tough act to follow. It is often said that each president is the antithesis of the one who came before. Trumps following after Obama can only support this theory, as does Bidens coming after Trump. Are we that dissatisfied with our chief executives? Then maybe we need a better answer. Image: Public domain. The Republican Party and its members are constantly accused by Democrats and their sycophants of being a threat to democracy. To the contrary, I would argue Democrats should take a long and introspective look in the mirror and see where the real threat to our form of government existsthe political party that has made a conscious effort to manipulate and circumvent existing laws to ensure future one-party rule. Nowhere is the threat to Democracy more evident than in the Biden Administrations Open Borders policy, which is nothing more than a blatant attempt to flood the United States with voters to ensure the continued permanence of one-party rule. The magnitude and scope of the problem is almost beyond comprehension. President Biden has all the authority he needs to close the border today - his refusal speaks volumes. His inaction is driving a national security disaster, an opioid epidemic, and a humanitarian crisis through our open southern border. Facts, not rhetoric, define the scope of the problem. Image: Illegal aliens heading for America. YouTube screen grab. And the list goes on and on As Ronald Reagan stated, A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation. So, is the Republican Party a threat to democracy? I think not. Among the horrors of the modern age is the ongoing Trans Genocide. Its not like the ongoing genocide of the Jews Hamas and its Iran-backed allies are doing their best to impose. This one is indigenous to America, and is far, far worse, because trans people and their, at last count, 57 or so genders are intellectually, spiritually and above all, morally superior to any form of life that has yet existed. One of the defining characteristics of the Trans Genocide is no actual deaths, a principle most recently demonstrated in Florida: On Friday, transgender activists across the state of Florida targeted multiple Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices after Gov. DeSantis announced a new policy change to state driver's licenses. This includes removing the option for an individual to choose their own gender. Residents will only be able to list their birth sex on state driver's licenses, which reverts back to the state's initial policy. Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot Drivers licenses are a primary form of government-issued identification. Police officers rely on them to positively identify people, as do other Americans. There is no good, legitimate reason to try to confuse that process. The policy update failed to sit well with transgender activists and they were seen protesting the decision outside of multiple DMVs across Florida. Video footage and images showed the group of protesters holding up makeshift tombstones with words written on them that insinuate the policy change will "kill" transgender people. They laid on the ground with the tombstones acting as if they were dead as they draped themselves in trans flags. The horror of the depth and evil of the Trans Genocide should be obvious to anyonewere it actually occurring. Last month, Robert Kynoch, deputy executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, sent a memo detailing the policy change which stated that allowing an individual to change their own gender on licenses and ID cards goes against state law explaining that gender "has historically been understood as a synonym for sex, which is determined by innate and immutable biological and genetic characteristics." Kynoch explained that a drivers license "is an identification document and, as such, serves a critical role in assisting public and private entities in correctly establishing the identity of a person presenting the license." "Permitting an individual to alter his or her license to reflect an internal sense of gender role or identity, which is neither immutable nor objectively verifiable, undermines the purpose of an identification record and can frustrate the states ability to enforce its laws," he added. Imagine that. Most Americans would find Kynochs explanation unremarkable and inherently rational, but not the victims of trans genocide. One kills trans everywhere, it seems, by a variety of innocuous means: *Failing to use preferred pronouns. *Failing to praise every trans as brave and stunning. *Insisting there are males and females, and nothing else. *Daring to think Trans and trans ideology are silly and destructive to individuals and society. *Being willing to let Trans alone. *Refusing to grant every trans demand. *Refusing to allow Trans to pee and shower wherever they please *Refusing to allow gender affirming care and particularly, describing it as what it is: the surgical mutilation of children. The ultimate, and most insidious expression of Trans Genocide, however, is the sure knowledge among Trans that Normal Americans might be silently disapproving of them. Is there any crime more insidious than Thought Crime? How can anyone who silently disapproves intend anything but the wholesale slaughter of Trans? The silence is violence principle can lead to no other paranoid conclusion. And so innumerable innocent Trans must prostrate themselves at DMV offices, their cardboard tombstones solemnly announcing their horrible deaths at the hands of uncaring bureaucrats and politicians whose murderous demand they identify themselves by their gender assigned at birth forever define them. The horror. 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. One week into a two-week volunteer work mission with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) into wartime Israel, my heart breaks a thousand times. What is it really like in Israel now? Shattered perceptions, troubled children, self-doubt, America friend or foe, a two-state solution, no solution, whom does one trust, will the North become a full-fledged war with Hezbollah, will Israel attack Rafah -- are some of the topics bruited about, for those who can talk. Others mutely internalise the incomprehensible fact of Hamas bestiality and that over 130 days later, half of the hostages are still in captivity. Actually, it hits you as soon as you deplane. Walking towards customs, the escalators, which used to be festooned with beautiful pictures of indigenous birds, have been replaced with faces of the hostages. Israelis continue their daily routines, but one cannot escape the reality of their collective punctured sense of invincibility. In Tel Aviv, on famed Dizengoff Street, huge teddy bears -- splattered with red paint and black neckties -- sit askance on benches, with pictures of dead or missing Israelis affixed next to them. Storefronts are plastered with signs exhorting: bring them home NOW. A city plaza has been converted into Hostage Square. There, tents have been erected for each of the Kibbutzes raided. These are inhabited round the clock by rotating members of each, to answer questions, to pray, and to mourn. Around the tents, the Square is dotted with a piano -- with a sign proclaiming: you are not alone, posters, artistic recreations of the hostages and the famously long table, fully set for a meal, straddled by rows of empty chairs. One of the posters at the square reads: There is no medication for rape. Image: Lynne Lechter Others show pictures of the missing including that of the red-haired Bibas baby. Civilized people throughout Israel and America cannot comprehend celebration and affirmation of such barbaric acts. And it is true, there is no medicine that can cure victims of rape, and all afflicted by such evil. Israel has responded with its largest call up of military reservists -- approximately 300,000. Citizens in the north and south of the tiny country have been temporarily relocated for safety. Most are in hotels, for which the government is currently paying for through July. Impromptu schools have sprung up in the hotels -- the biggest issue being a dearth of laundry facilities. The result of this monumental war preparation has created huge gaps in the workforce and obviously, Israels economy. Many Christians as well as Jews have dropped their own daily lives, and have flown to Israel to fill the gaps, purely on a volunteer basis. Doctors, dentists and nurses were amongst the first wave. The Israelis' need cannot be overstated. The Saroka Hospital in Beersheba for example, treated immediately after the attacks a trauma patient every 39 seconds! Citizens donated blood in one day equivalent to that of an ordinary year. Two organizations combined, the IDF and the JNF, have provided almost 30,000 volunteers who are tackling meaningful work jobs in Israel. My JNF groups efforts, during our first week, have included picking seven tons of lemons, painting entire buildings in an evacuated kibbutz, packing snack boxes for soldiers, cleaning out and repainting bumpers on flatbed trucks re-entering Gaza, and planting trees in memory of the fallen. Image: Lynne Lechter Nobody knows how long the displacements, the stress and the war will continue. Talks of a day after are seen as grossly premature. An 18-month visa extension scheme has been announced for Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the UK in the aftermath of Russias illegal invasion. From early 2025 those in the UK under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will be able to apply to stay for another 18 months, the Home Office said. The first visas which granted three years leave in the UK under programmes such as Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme are set to expire in March 2025. The move comes as the two-year anniversary approaches of the invasion which Legal Migration and the Border minister Tom Pursglove described as Russian President Vladimir Putins unprovoked, premeditated and illegal war against Ukraine. The extension means those who came on the first visas under one of the Ukraine visa schemes could now stay in the UK until September 2026 and have the same rights to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education. People take part in a blue and yellow themed vigil of prayer, reflection and action for the people of Ukraine at Winchester Cathedral (Steve Parsons/PA) Mr Pursglove said: Almost two years on from the start of this brutal war, over 200,000 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in Britain. Families across the country have opened their homes and their hearts to the people of Ukraine, showing extraordinary generosity, including offering shelter to those fleeing from the horrors of war. This new visa extension scheme provides certainty and reassurance for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as this war continues, and we will continue to provide a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict. Those who have come to the UK holding, or having held, permission to remain under the Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be eligible to apply when the project opens online from early 2025. Those who were granted Leave Outside the Rules because they required sanctuary in the UK from Ukraine will also be eligible, the Home Office added. Individuals will be able to make their applications within the last three months of an existing visa. Since the launch of the Ukraine schemes, the UK has offered or extended sanctuary to more than 283,000 Ukrainians, in part thanks to the immense generosity of the British public. The Ukraine flag (Peter Byrne/PA) Housing and Communities minister Felicity Buchan said: I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity shown by sponsors across the country. The Government continues to provide them with thank-you payments in recognition of their support. As more families arrive, we will need more sponsors to come forward. I encourage anyone interested in hosting to check their eligibility and apply as soon as they can. Eduard Fesko, the charge daffaires at the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK, described the extension scheme as a clear signal of the continuous support by the Government. He added: We appreciate all the help and assistance that our UK friends so generously provide for the temporarily displaced Ukrainians. A 11.8 billion UK package of military, humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine is also in place. Korea and Japan plan to hold their first meeting of transport officials in eight years this week, Seoul's land ministry said Sunday, amid a recent thaw in bilateral relations. The two countries plan to hold high-level talks of transport officials in Seoul on Tuesday to share related policies and seek cooperation, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Seoul and Japan launched the talks in 2000 but suspended them after 2016. The resumption came after the two countries held a summit in March last year, which paved the way for the improvement of bilateral ties. The two nations aim to exchange their perspectives on a wide array of issues, including rural transportation systems and eco-friendly mobility. "The meeting, marking the first of its kind in eight years, will reconfirm the importance of the bilateral cooperation between Korea and Japan," an official from the transport ministry said. "We hope to continue exchanges to build grounds for the future of ties." (Yonhap) Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands in a high-profile demonstration they are a valued part of the British family amid renewed Argentinian calls for talks on their future. Lord Camerons visit will be the first by a Cabinet minister since 2016 and he stressed that the issue of the archipelagos sovereignty is not up for discussion while the islanders wish to be British. Argentinian President Javier Milei, who met Lord Cameron last month, has called for the South Atlantic islands to be handed over to Buenos Aires. After their meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Foreign Office said the pair had a warm and cordial meeting and on the issue of the Falklands they would agree to disagree, and do so politely. Ahead of his trip to the South Atlantic, Lord Cameron said: The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion. The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built. The islands are a thriving economy, where as well as farming and fishing, there is a priority given to conservation and sustainability. Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falklands and Mr Milei has previously suggested the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. The Falklands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, around 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina, were the subject of a bloody conflict in 1982. Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield was sunk during the 1982 war (PA) The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel. In a 2013 referendum, the islanders voted overwhelmingly to retain their status as a UK overseas territory. On his visit, Lord Cameron will pay his respects to the British forces who served and those who lost their lives during the conflict in 1982 and thank the UK personnel based on the islands today. He will also meet leaders of the Falkland Islands government during a visit to the capital Stanley and other sites around the overseas territory. Lord Cameron will also visit environmental projects and see some of the penguins that depend on the vital island habitats. He is expected to travel to the Falklands before visiting Paraguay, the first time a British foreign secretary has travelled to the South American nation. The Foreign Secretary is then due to attend a meeting of G20 counterparts including Russias Sergei Lavrov in Brazil on Wednesday. Russias actions in Ukraine will also be the subject of a United Nations session in New York later in the week which Lord Cameron will attend. Cillian Murphy, Claire Foy and Barry Keoghan are among the Bafta nominees who will attend the star-studded film awards in London on Sunday. Irish stars Murphy and Keoghan are both nominated in the best actor category for their turns in Oppenheimer and Saltburn respectively. Barry Keoghan is nominated in the best actor category (Ian West/PA) 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. Claire Foy is nominated for the best supporting actress prize (Ian West/PA) Her 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. It was confirmed on Friday that the Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, is attending the event his first high-profile royal engagement since his wifes operation. At the prestigious film event in 2023, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who had her surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children. Oppenheimer filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who was presented with the British Film Institute (BFI Fellowship) on Wednesday, will also attend the ceremony, where he is considered a frontrunner to win the best director prize. Christopher Nolan, left, is considered a frontrunner to win the best director prize (Ian West/PA) The ceremony will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. It was previously announced that Ellis-Bextor would perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn. Sophie Ellis-Bextor will perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor (Yui Mok/PA) Ted Lasso star Waddingham will also give a live musical performance, the details of which 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 Color Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be in attendance. Margot Robbie is nominated for Barbie (Ian West/PA) 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. Other famous faces due to present include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett and Daisy Edgar Jones. Dua Lipa will act as a presenter (Ian West/PA) It was previously announced that the Bafta Fellowship, the film academys highest honour, would be presented to actress Samantha Morton. 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. David Tennant led first arrivals to the EE Bafta film awards in a non-traditional take on menswear. Taking on hosting duties for the event at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Tennant opted against a predictable black tuxedo. Instead, he walked the red carpet in a green and gold suit which appeared to feature an intricate horoscope-inspired pattern. David Tennant is hosting the Baftas (Ian West/PA) Other first arrivals included Emily In Paris star Lily Collins, wearing a dramatic black column gown with floral detailing around the neckline, 80s-inspired puff sleeves and a gothic berry-coloured lip. Emily In Paris star Lily Collins (Ian West/PA) Irish model and presenter Vogue Williams leaned into the trend for disco-inspired dressing in her outfit, wearing a lilac sparkling dress from London-based brand Self-Portrait with a high neck and feather accented cuffs. Vogue Williams leaned into the disco-inspired trend (Ian West/PA) The Woman King star Sheila Atim who was nominated for the EE Rising Star Award at last years event continued the growing trend for sequins on the runway. Her elegant silver dress had a drop waist, boat neckline and dramatic skirt. Sheila Atims silver dress had a drop waist and boat neckline (Ian West/PA) Star of How To Have Sex, Mia McKenna-Bruce, is one of the nominees for this years Rising Star Award, and for the occasion she chose a classic black sequinned strapless gown with silver floral accents from American brand Carolina Herrera, paired with a statement Cartier necklace. Mia McKenna-Bruce is nominated for this years Rising Star Award (Ian West/PA) Taking on red carpet presenting duties, Clara Amfo was sleek in an all-black dress with a sheer top with a draped skirt. Foreign Secretary David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands this week. Here we look at some of the key questions around his visit: Why is it significant? The last Cabinet minister to visit the Falkland Islands was then defence secretary Michael Fallon in 2016. Lord Cameron is thought to be the first foreign secretary to visit the archipelago since Douglas Hurd in 1994. What will he do there? He will pay his respects to those who lost their lives in the 1982 war which followed Argentinas invasion of the islands and he will also visit key environmental projects. Lord Cameron is also expected to see some of the islands most famous residents: its penguins. King Penguins at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands (Cathal McNaughton/PA) Why is he going now? Part of the reason is that Lord Cameron is heading to South America for a meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in Brazil. He is also honouring a promise made by his predecessor James Cleverly, who said he would visit the islands. Ahead of his visit, Lord Cameron said the Falklands are a valued part of the British family and while the islanders want that to continue the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion. What about Argentina? President Javier Milei, like his predecessors, believes his country has non-negotiable sovereignty over the Islas Malvinas, as the islands are known in Argentina. But he has favoured a diplomatic approach, previously suggesting that a handover similar to way Hong Kong was ceded to the Chinese. Lord Cameron and Mr Milei had a warm and cordial meeting in January and the Foreign Office said they agree to disagree, and do so politely over the Falklands. There is much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together. I met President @JMilei to discuss building cooperation on trade and combatting global threats. I wished him well in his attempts to bring Argentina back to economic growth. pic.twitter.com/oSmLb48sru David Cameron (@David_Cameron) January 17, 2024 So there is no prospect of another war? In 1982 Argentina believed the UKs political interest in the Falklands was waning and they would not resist the invasion of the islands, which lie around 300 miles from Argentina and 8,000 from Britain. Now there is an enhanced British military presence on the islands, including RAF Typhoon jets, and frequent statements of support for the islanders right to self-determination. And Mr Milei has made clear that the war option is not a solution. But the potential for future exploitation of oil fields around the islands could increase the value of the Falklands as a prize for Argentina. So what do the islanders think? In a 2013 referendum, of 1,517 votes cast, a turnout of more than 90%, 1,513 were in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory while just three votes were against. Canadian-American actor Michael J Fox received a standing ovation after making a surprise appearance at the EE Bafta film awards. The Back To The Future film series star was described as a true legend of cinema by David Tennant, who introduced Fox on to the stage at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Fox presented the best film award which was won by Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer. He was greeted with a standing ovation and cheers from the audience as he came on stage in a wheelchair but stood at the podium. Michael J Fox arriving at the 89th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA (Ian West/PA) The 62-year-old activist and former Hollywood actor who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinsons disease a year after Back To The Future Part III was released in 1990 described films as magic which can change your life. Presenting the prize, he said: Five films were nominated in this category tonight and all five have something in common. They are the best of what we do. No matter who you are or where youre from, these films can bring us together. Theres a reason why they say movies are magic because movies can change your day. It can change your outlook. Sometimes it can change your life. Fox founded the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research in 2000, which has raised more than two billion dollars (1.58 billion), CBS News reported in November. He was honoured at the Governors Awards in 2022 with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar recognising outstanding philanthropic efforts. Saltburn actor Richard E Grant asked whether he will ever grow up after he filmed himself running through the Ritz to his large suite ahead of his appearance at the Baftas. The actor, who plays Sir James Catton in the film Saltburn, which is nominated for Outstanding British Film at the Baftas, shouted bombs away as he jumped onto his hotel room bed. Grant posted a video of himself on X, formerly Twitter, smiling and laughing whilst running through a hallway before reaching his hotel room, sharing a clip of where he will be staying for the night. In the video, he said: I dont think youre supposed to run in the Ritz, but theyre very generously putting up me for the night in a suite. I dont think youre supposed to run in @theritzlondon but its the @BAFTA Awards this evening & am in the @Saltburnfilm cast pic.twitter.com/5IeRRiRRnf Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) February 18, 2024 Grant proceeds to pan the camera to show two cream tub chairs and a lamp and said: Into this living room first. Yeah, baby! With a large grin on his face, the 66-year-old actor runs away from his living area before jumping, back first, onto his bed. Now, my favourite. Bombs away onto the bed, he said. The actor pauses briefly to appreciate the moment and joked whether he will ever grow up. I do wonder whether I will ever grow up and not just take any of this for granted, he said. Up, up and away, baby. Richard E Grant attended the Bafta red carpet where his film, Saltburn, is nominated for the Outstanding British Film award (Victoria Jones/PA) The Saltburn actor attended the red carpet at the Royal Festival Hall in London donning a black tuxedo and black bow tie. He told PA that a number of grandmothers had written to complain about the film, which contains explicit and sexual imagery. The Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, will be attending the event his first high-profile royal engagement since his wifes operation. At the prestigious film event last year, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who will not be attending this time as she continues her recovery. The Bafta film awards is hosted by Scottish actor David Tennant and will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said his party needs to build on a Labour general election victory to help it return to power at Holyrood. With Labour widely expected to form the next UK government after the election due to take place later this year Mr Sarwar said this would be an opportunity for Scotland. Labour has been out of power at Holyrood since 2007, with Mr Sarwar saying they had been battling through those 17 years when the SNP have been in charge. Speaking on the final day of the Scottish Labour Party conference in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar said: We have been through a lot of pain in the Scottish Labour Party, I dont think it is any exaggeration to say that. Its been 17 years where people have questioned what we believe in, have questioned our values, even questioned our identity and the love of our country. We have continued battling through those 17 years because we always believed that our values, Labour Party values, were central to delivering a fairer, more equal Scotland. Speaking about his partys desire to serve the Scottish people and to change their lives, Mr Sarwar said there was now an opportunity to transform our country and get Labour back in government in Downing Street. But he added: Lets also see that as our chance to build on, to elect a Scottish Labour government here in 2026 as well. Serial rapist David Carrick has been stripped of his state-funded Metropolitan Police pension. Carrick, who was unmasked as one of the UKs worst sex offenders and convicted of crimes against 12 women over 17 years, will lose 65% of his pension, estimated to be more than 10,000 a year, which was contributed by the force. If the former officer is released from prison he can still receive 35%, his personal financial contribution. The London Mayors Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) made a pension forfeiture application to the Home Office after Carrick was jailed for at least 30 years in February last year, a move backed by Scotland Yard. Sadiq Khan said: David Carrick blatantly abused his position of trust as a police officer to carry out his appalling crimes. I have been very clear that steps should be taken to remove the employer contributions of his Met Police pension and it has now been decided that David Carrick will lose all these employer contributions. Sadiq Khan sought the forfeiture (Victoria Jones/PA) Home Office guidance states pension forfeiture can only be applied for when an officer has a conviction committed in connection with their service as a member of a police force. The offence must be certified by the Home Secretary as liable to lead to a serious loss of confidence in the public service or gravely injurious to the interests of the state. Such applications are usually made after a police officer has committed a crime while on duty. Mr Khan had the final say on the forfeiture. A Home Office spokesperson said: Officers who commit serious crimes should not be entitled to their full police pension. David Carricks crimes led to a serious loss of confidence in the police, and that is why he will forfeit the employers contribution to his pension. Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy said: We know that David Carrick used the fact he was a police officer as part of his offending, in particular to exercise even greater control and coercion over his victims and to instil fear in them about what might happen if they came forward to report his terrible crimes. We reiterate our apology to them that he was able to do so for so long. We have worked closely with the Mayors Office for Policing and Crime so that an application could be made to the Home Secretary for pension forfeiture in this case. Offending of such an appalling nature must have wide reaching consequences and it is right that the decision has been taken to subject Carrick to the maximum pension forfeiture allowed in law. Carrick was formally dismissed from the Met in January last year after pleading guilty to a total of 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, against 12 women between 2003 and 2020. He joined the force in 2001 before becoming an armed officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit in 2009. The Tories can still win the next general election, Sir Keir Starmer has warned, as he said his Labour Party cant stop fighting for every vote, not even for a second. While polls across the UK have Labour on course to form the next government, placing Sir Keir in Downing Street, he said the volatile world of politics, meant it would be ridiculous to suggest that the Tories could not win. He made the point as he addressed the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, attacking the SNP for wanting to use the upcoming election to send a message to Westminster. Sir Keir told supporters there: No matter what the SNP say, the Tories can win the next election. Of course they can, politics is volatile. Its ridiculous to say otherwise. Adding Labour has a mountain to climb to return to power, despite its poll lead, he said: We cant get carried away. Cant stop fighting for every vote, not even for a second. Sir Keir Starmer warned his party that it needs to fight for every vote (Jane Barlow/PA) Insisting that another term of the Tories in power at Westminster would not be in Scotlands national interest, Sir Keir added: The easiest way to stop it, the only way to be sure of stopping it is to choose Labour to fight for Scotland in Westminster. His comments came as he warned that Tory stagnation is a threat to Britain itself, arguing that the war on economic stability under the Conservatives had led to working people across Scotland turning their back on Britain. Speaking just days after it was confirmed the UK had gone into recession, he told the conference that this isnt just a line on a graph. Instead, Sir Keir said it was confirmation that a key ideal in Britain, the notion that if you work hard you can achieve anything, was on life support. To counter this he said Labour must offer people a better future. Sir Keir said: Hope is the fuel of change, the oxygen of a better future. And that is what we must offer Scotland. Because after 14 years of Tory failure at Westminster, 17 years of SNP failure in Holyrood, only Labour can provide the change that Scotland needs. Sir Keir Starmer with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (Jane Barlow/PA) Attacking SNP leader Humza Yousaf, Sir Keir said drug deaths in Scotland are now off the scale, schools are going backwards and the NHS is in a terrible crisis. Telling supporters that the Scottish First Minister wants to send a message to Westminster in the general election, Sir Keir hit out: Send a message. With all the problems this nation faces, that is the level of his ambition for Scotland. Send a message. He added: Im afraid this is the story of the SNP now, theyre not interested in fixing Scotlands problems, they want to exploit them. The mask has slipped. The pretence that they were ever interested in improving the lives of working people rather than using their problems as fuel for their grand cause, that has been exposed. He told voters Labour had a plan for national renewal that would get the country back on our feet and would build a bond of respect between people and politics again. The Labour leader said: You cant tell me that Scotland does not deserve better. Because it does. And we will deliver it. A new Scotland. A new Britain. Bound together again by an old partnership, the solidarity of working people across four nations. WATCH: Leader of the Labour Party @Keir_Starmer gives a speech to conference. Watch on YouTube or here on X! #ScotLab24 https://t.co/yeDA4VJCSq pic.twitter.com/KzPnbLuY3i Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) February 18, 2024 While he accepted there would always be a debate about Scotlands constitutional future he vowed that Labour would put Scotland at the heart of the Westminster debate promising this along with more money for Scottish public services. Sir Keir said: Thats change we can deliver for Scotland. But SNP MP David Linden said Sir Keirs speech showed only the SNP is offering people across Scotland the right to choose a stronger, fairer and more prosperous future as an independent country. Mr Linden, his partys social justice spokesman at Westminster, added: Starmer has made the values of his Labour Party clear they will cap child benefits but not bankers bonuses, they will support a hard Brexit, they will keep the rape clause. Those are not Scotlands values. Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy hit out Labours destructive oil and gas policies, saying plans for a windfall tax on energy firms have been roundly criticised by Scottish businesses He added: Labour are betraying North Sea workers and abandoning a crucial Scottish industry. Ryan Crighton, policy director at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, also condemned Labours windfall tax, exploration ban and removal of investment allowances, saying: The outcome of these proposed policies could be anywhere between 20,000 and 100,000 job losses. Even trade unions are drawing comparisons with the closure of the UKs coal pits in the 1980s. A clutch of awards celebrating achievement behind the camera saw the UK enjoy one of its strongest performances at the Baftas for several years and helped make up for no wins in any of the main acting categories. The dark fantasy comedy Poor Things came away with five awards in total, four of which involved British talent. Veteran make-up artist Mark Coulier was part of the team who won best make-up and hair for the film, along with fellow UK colleagues Nadia Stacey and Josh Weston. Josh Weston, Nadia Stacey and Mark Coulier with their Bafta for best make-up and hair, for the film Poor Things (Ian West/PA) It was Couliers second Bafta in as many years, having been among the winners in 2023 for best make-up on the film Elvis. Poor Things also saw UK success for Simon Hughes, who picked up the award for best visual effects; Shona Heath and James Price, who were on the team that won best production design, and Holly Waddington, who took best costume design. (PA Graphics) British-born filmmaker Christopher Nolan enjoyed his first ever Bafta win, being named best director for his blockbuster biographical drama Oppenheimer. The movie, a US-UK co-production, also picked up the award for best film. Polish historical drama The Zone Of Interest bagged three awards: best film not in the English language (the first time since 2004 that this award has been won by a UK production); best British film; and best sound, going to British audio designers Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers. Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers with their Bafta for best sound design, for the film The Zone Of Interest (Ian West/PA) None of the big four acting categories was won by British talent: the second year in a row this has happened, and only the seventh such outcome since the current format of the Baftas was established in 1969. The gongs instead went to three Americans (Emma Stone, best actress for Poor Things; Robert Downey Jr, best supporting actor for Oppenheimer; and DaVine Joy Randolph, best supporting actress for The Holdovers) plus Cillian Murphy, the first ever Irish winner of best actor (Oppenheimer). It was already guaranteed that there would be no wins for the UK in the categories of best actor or best supporting actor, as no British performers had been nominated for these awards: the first time since 1976 this has happened in the same year. Better news for the UK came with the rising star award, which is voted for by the public and was won by Mia McKenna-Bruce, who appeared most recently in the coming-of-age film How To Have Sex. Mia McKenna-Bruce with her rising star award at the 2024 Baftas (Ian West/PA) In the other British-only categories, Jellyfish & Lobster took the prize for best British short film; Crab Day was named best British short animation; Savanah Leaf picked up the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer, for her film Earth Mama; and June Givanni won the award for outstanding British contribution to cinema. Overall there were UK wins in 14 Bafta categories, the highest number since 2021 (also 14) and up from nine wins in 2023. The most UK wins so far this century was 15 in 2009, when Slumdog Millionaire picked up six separate awards. Police said Sunday they were chasing two suspects who were believed to have jumped off the city's highest building without prior consent. According to Haeundae Police Station, the two men, who are believed to be foreign nationals, are suspected of trespassing the 101-story LCT residential building and leaping from the 99th-floor observation deck with parachutes on Thursday morning. The police were dispatched to the scene upon receiving a report about the incident but could not identify the suspects. In 2019, two Russian nationals were fined 5 million won ($3,743) each for similar acts in the city. (Yonhap) Rishi Sunak has been warned against playing footsie with Reform UK following two bruising by-election defeats. The Prime Minister has been urged by some in his party to shift further to the right to see off the threat of the Nigel Farage-linked party. It comes after the losses to Labour in Wellingborough and Kingswood alongside signs of growing support for Reform UK, which some Tory MPs see as a challenger at the next general election. The Conservatives highlighted the low turnout in both contests (Dan Kitwood/PA) Former Tory chairman Chris Patten said: I was chairman of the Conservative Party when there was a Conservative Party. And I think that one of the problems at the moment is that the Conservative Party is all over the place and there are bits of it that I dont really identify with traditional conservatism. The assault on institutions, the refusal to accept that attacking courts, lefty lawyers, or the rule of law, is not the way a Conservative Party should behave. Lord Patten added: I think the Conservative Party is deluding itself if it thinks it can behave like this and still go on and win an election. The Oxford University chancellor and peer warned his party against chasing would-be Reform voters in the wake of the by-election defeats. He said: When you look at the fall in the Conservative vote in those by-elections, it was awful. And the real danger of those results for the Conservative Party is because of the Reform Party getting 10% people will start saying, oh well if we appeal to the Reform Party, we can just add their 10% to ours. That is complete drivel. If the Conservative Party starts playing footsie with the Reform Party it wont stand a prayer of winning the next election. (PA Graphics) Earlier, Tory illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to defend his party leader following the heavy losses. Theres no doubt that these by-elections were set against a very difficult backdrop. I was in Kingswood myself a few weeks ago, I saw the excellent candidate in the campaign on the ground. But actually if you look at it, if you look at for example, Reforms vote, which people have been talking about this week, what comes across to me is its very clear that a vote for Reform is actually a vote to let Labour in, he told the BBC. The Prime Minister, who had sought to play down the losses as difficult mid-term elections, has called on right-wing and Conservative voters to unite to keep Sir Keir Starmer out of Number 10. Newly elected Labour MP Gen Kitchen surrounded by Labour party supporters after being declared winner in the Wellingborough by-election (Joe Giddens/PA) The Wellingborough by-election was triggered by the six-week Commons suspension of former Tory MP Peter Bone after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct. Meanwhile, the Kingswood vote came after former Conservative MP Chris Skidmore resigned in protest against Government legislation to boost North Sea oil and gas drilling. The Conservatives highlighted the low turnout in both contests, which stood at just 37% in Kingswood and 38% in Wellingborough. But Labour overturned majorities of 11,220 and 18,540 respectively, delivering the Governments ninth and 10th by-election defeats of the current Parliament and securing its second-largest swing from the Tories ever. Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock earlier said he was confident the party would win the next general election. Im convinced now that were not going to lose, Lord Kinnock told Sky News. Two people have been charged and will appear in court after a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London. In total, 12 people were arrested for a string of alleged offences, including inciting racial hatred, suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation in relation to a placard and assaulting emergency workers. Lucia Whittaker De Abrew, 34, of Arthur Street, Derby has been charged with failing to remove a face covering when required, while 48-year-old Martin Prady, of Birch Road, Martock, Somerset, is accused of obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty. De Abrew will appear at Croydon Magistrates Court on March 5 and Prady is due to attend Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on March 4. Five of the arrested have been bailed, while the others face no further action, the Metropolitan Police said. Tens of thousands are thought to have been at Saturdays demonstration, with Scotland Yard saying the overwhelming majority were peaceful and acted lawfully. Protesters met at the south of Park Lane, holding banners calling for a ceasefire now and chanting free, free Palestine, before congregating outside the Israeli embassy where speeches were made. Lord Cameron signalled that there could be fresh sanctions against Russia officials, following the death of Alexei Navalny. The Foreign Secretary joined other G7 ministers at the Munich Security Conference in calling on Russia to fully clarify how the jailed opposition leader died, amid pressure on Western leaders to respond. According to the Times, Lord Cameron used the German gathering to repeat the UKs call for countries to seize Russian central bank assets currently held in the West as one way of financing the reconstruction of Ukraine. Labour has said it would back any Government response in the wake of Mr Navalnys death. It comes as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches, marked by confirmation that Vladimir Putins forces have taken complete control of the frontline city of Avdiivka. Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron met fellow ministers at the Munich Security Conference (Stoyan Nenov/PA) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined Western leaders in putting the blame on Moscow for the death of Mr Navalny, as he pointed to the demise of the Putin critic as another reminder of the importance of defeating Russia. There should be consequences, the Foreign Secretary told broadcasters on Saturday. When appalling human rights outrages like this take place, what we do is we look at whether there are individual people that are responsible and whether there are individual measures and actions we can take. We dont announce them in advance, so I cant say anymore than that. But that is what we will be looking at. It comes as Mr Navalnys spokesperson confirmed that the Russian opposition leader died at a remote Arctic penal colony and said he was murdered. But it remains unclear where his body is. Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Mr Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Mr Navalnys mother had been told by prison officials that her son had perished due to sudden death syndrome when she arrived at his former penal colony on Saturday with one of the politicians lawyers. When a lawyer and Mr Navalnys mother visited the mortuary in Salekhard, it was closed, Mr Navalnys team wrote on its Telegram channel. The lawyer called the mortuary and was told that Mr Navalnys body is not there, his team said. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told the BBC on Sunday Labour would try to plug gaps in the current sanctions regime if it wins power. The UK has led on sanctions, the issue now is the enforcement of those sanctions and if we do have the privilege to serve, that is the area in which I will look more closely to ensure that there is the proper co-ordination across both the Foreign Office and the Treasury. I remain concerned about the dirty money that continues to flow through London, I remain concerned that the full implementation of the Russia report following the interference in our elections and the work of our select committee have not been fully implemented. So yes, I think there are gaps and if we are successful, when the general election is held, I intend to plug those gaps, he told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, with the death of Mr Navalny raised in the conversation alongside aid for Ukraine. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: Ahead of the second anniversary of Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they underscored the importance of providing continuing support to the Ukrainian people. The Prime Minister welcomed the recent announcement that the EU will provide 50 billion euro support to Ukraine, and outlined the work the UK is doing through our security cooperation agreement. The Prime Minister and President Von der Leyen expressed their outrage at the death of Alexei Navalny, and underscored the utmost importance of holding those responsible within the Russian system to account. Mr Zelensky, who is struggling to convince Republican lawmakers in Washington to facilitate a major funding package for Kyiv, said Putin kills whoever he wants. After the murder of Alexei Navalny, its absurd to perceive Putin as a supposedly legitimate head of a Russian state and he is a thug who maintains power through corruption and violence, he said. He explicitly warned attendees in Munich that a lack of long-range weapons is limiting the countrys fightback. The Prince of Wales has announced plans to build homes on Duchy of Cornwall land to tackle homelessness in the South West of England. Working with Cornish homelessness charity St Petrocs, the project will provide 24 homes in Nansledan, Newquay, with wrap around support for local people experiencing homelessness to create a path to a permanent home. The development of high quality temporary accommodation that feels like home is due to begin in September with the first homes expected to be completed in the autumn of next year, according to a statement from the estate. The Prince of Wales, left, during a visit to the Duchy of Cornwall nursery last year (Hugh Hastings/PA) The Duchy of Cornwall is a portfolio of land, property and investments valued at more than 1 billion, which provide an income for the heir to the throne. In a newspaper interview last year, William, who is also the Duke of Cornwall a title inherited from his father after Queen Elizabeth IIs death was asked if there were plans for affordable housing on his Duchy of Cornwall land and replied: There is. Absolutely. Social housing. Youll see that when its ready. Estate director Ben Murphy said: As one of his key priorities for the Duchy of Cornwall, Prince William asked us to address the homelessness challenge within Cornwall and other areas where the estate resides. Today, we are excited to reveal plans for this innovative housing project to help break the cycle of homelessness in the Newquay area. Mr Murphy continued: We will be helping people rebuild their lives, with training and employment opportunities alongside the provision of more permanent housing that we are building in Nansledan. The Duchy is well-known for integrating high quality affordable housing into the new communities built on its land, and Prince William is determined to ensure that we continue to be part of the solution when it comes to the housing crisis. The shortage of social rent and private rented properties are widely considered to be the main causes of increasing homelessness across the country, which is why we are proud to launch this project alongside ambitious plans to unlock more affordable and attainable homes across our estate. St Petrocs will help residents access training and employment to provide a route out of homelessness for good. The charitys chief executive, Henry Meacock, said: Everybody at St Petrocs is delighted to be part of this collaboration with the Duchy of Cornwall. Our charity has been working in Cornwall for over 30 years and has supported many hundreds of people in this time. With the Duchy of Cornwall, we believe we can deliver a truly exemplary project embedded in the local community which will provide a route for many more people out of homelessness for good. This partnership is an important step in achieving our shared goal of ending homelessness in Cornwall and across the UK, Mr Meacock added. However, anti-monarchy campaign group Republic have criticised the very limited scope of the scheme which it points out will earn profit for William who receives funds from the public purse. Graham Smith, of Republic, said today: The country will spend at least 3.4 billion on the monarchy over the next decade. Thats money that could be invested in homes for those who most need them, instead of two dozen palatial homes for one family. The public are well aware of the housing crisis because, unlike William, we are all dealing with the consequences of it. For William to trumpet this very limited scheme as a response to that crisis is nonsense. Rather than be thankful for a few homes built on Duchy land, which William will profit from, we all need to be demanding the return of the Duchy to full public ownership and an end to the monarchy. The Duchy of Cornwall confirmed its future housing projects in Nansledan will aim to increase affordable housing from 30% to 40%, which means up to 200 more affordable homes will be built on top of the existing 1,020. The Duchy also said it plans to create a Private Rented Scheme for Nansledan, which removes barriers to entry for those on lower incomes, provides longer term tenancies and transparent rent increases. The estate further committed to building more than 400 social rented homes and a further 475 affordable dwellings on its new development of South East Faversham in Kent. First Minister Humza Yousaf has been urged to commit to housing more asylum seekers in Scotland by Home Secretary James Cleverly who suggested refugees could stay on a cruise ship in Edinburgh. In a letter dated February 16, Mr Cleverly said Scotland had taken proportionately half the number of asylum seekers given accommodation in England, and asked that efforts were made to rapidly increase asylum accommodation north of the border. Mr Cleverly said greater parity needed to be achieved across the UK regions to provide fair and equitable asylum accommodation, and asked to revisit options in Scotland, such as our plans last summer to use MS Victoria in Edinburgh, which unfortunately we could not obtain agreement on. The cruise ship was used by the Scottish Government to temporarily house Ukrainian refugees, from July 2022 until July 2023. Home Secretary James Cleverly (Jeff Moore/PA) The Home Secretary cited a speech made by Mr Yousaf, which pledged the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Party will always say we are proud of the benefits migrants bring to this country. Mr Cleverly wrote that Scotland currently houses eight asylum seekers for every 10,000 people less than Wales, and half the 16 in England, and urged Mr Yousaf to continue to work together to help address the challenges we collectively face. He also cited speeches by other SNP politicians, including Alison Thewliss MP- who said recently that Scotland will take our responsibilities seriously while criticising the UK Government. The letter said: The Home Office has made a commitment to exiting asylum hotels which are both unsustainable and costly to the taxpayer. In October 2023, we announced the first 50 hotel closures across the UK by the end of January which was the first step towards this. However, there is much more to do, and the only way to exit hotels is to continue to grow our asylum accommodation estate. This issue extends right across Great Britain, and it is essential that each part of the country plays its part. For dispersal and initial accommodation alone, Scotland currently house eight asylum seekers for every 10,000 people. This is in comparison to nine in Wales and 16 in England. I know that you and your colleagues take this issue seriously and there are many instances where you have signalled that the Scottish Government is willing to house more people. Providing safe and appropriate accommodation to those that claim asylum will help you deliver that aim and so I look forward to your support in going further in Scotland. In Scotland, there are currently 4,251 occupied bedspaces against a Full Dispersal occupancy target of 7,133 for 2023. In addition, since the launch of Full Dispersal in April 2022, the number of occupied bedspaces in Scotland has reduced by 857. Therefore, I am writing to ask for your support in rapidly increasing the asylum accommodation estate in Scotland. I believe that in order to achieve this, the use of large sites in Scotland, of which there are currently none, may need to be factored in. We should revisit options in Scotland, such as our plans last summer to use MS Victoria in Edinburgh, which unfortunately we could not obtain agreement on. This was despite the fact the Scottish Government had used it to house Ukrainian refugees. Reaching parity between different parts of the country on the number of asylum seekers per capita is the only way to deliver fair and equitable asylum accommodation. It is therefore paramount we work together to provide asylum accommodation that is equitable across Great Britain. The MS Victoria ferry berthed in the Port of Leith, Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA) A Scottish Government spokesperson said: The Home Office is responsible for provision of asylum accommodation, including hotels procured as contingency initial asylum accommodation. Ministers have been clear that the UK Government needs to respect the important role of local authorities in asylum dispersal and should provide more financial support for them as it presses ahead with plans to close asylum hotels. Scotland has consistently played its part in supporting asylum dispersal since it was introduced over two decades ago. We are committed to supporting people to integrate into our communities and to providing the safety and security they need as they begin to rebuild their lives. Scotland is offering sanctuary to more than double the displaced Ukrainians per head of population than any other part of the UK, with more than 39,000 people with a Scottish sponsor being granted a visa, and more than 26,000 of those having arrived in the UK via a Scottish sponsor, with over 20,000 as a direct result of the Scottish Government acting as a super sponsor. As we did with the Syrian and Ukrainian Resettlement programmes, which saw all 32 local authorities in Scotland participate and welcome displaced people into their communities, Scotland stands ready to offer refuge and sanctuary for those who are displaced. From the outset of the conflict in Gaza, the Scottish Government has called on the UK Government to use its existing UK Resettlement Scheme, and ensure it is aligned with UNHCR to provide those who want to leave with the support they require. We have received the Home Secretarys letter and will respond in due course. Editor's Note: For the latest news on the Burnsville, Minnesota, shootings, please see our file for Monday, Feb. 19. Two police officers and a paramedic were fatally shot early Sunday while responding to a domestic abuse call in the Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville, and the shooter has also died, authorities said. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the victims were responding to a call of a "family in danger." Police were called at about 1:50 a.m. to a residence on a report of a domestic situation where a man was reportedly armed and barricaded with family members. Seven children ranging in age from 2 to 15 were among those in the home when police arrived, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said during a news conference Sunday afternoon. Responding officers spent "quite a bit of time" negotiating with the suspect before the suspect opened fire, Evans added. Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, as well as firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, were killed, the city said in a statement. One other officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was injured and transported to a hospital with whar are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. Finseth, part of a SWAT team that had been called to the scene, was providing aid to an injured officer when he was shot, authorities said. Police swarmed the snow-covered, tree-shrouded neighborhood and "at approximately 8 a.m., the suspect was reported to be dead," the city said in a statement. No information was immediately available on a possible motive or how the suspect died. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was investigating the shooting and said more details would be released upon completion of a preliminary investigation. Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, said the law enforcement community was "heartbroken." "Were just devastated at the horrific loss," he said in a statement. "These heroes leave behind loved ones and a community who will forever remember their bravery and dedication to keeping Minnesotans safe." A police vehicle with what appears to be bullet pockmarks on its windshield is parked near the scene where two police officers and a first responder were shot and killed Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Burnsville, Minn. Developments: The children and other family members were able to leave the home later in the morning and were safe, according to Evans. Residents were asked to avoid the scene as authorities continued to investigate. A shelter-in-place order sent to residents in the area shortly before 6 a.m. was lifted several hours later, KSTP.com reported. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said its agents responded to the scene. Suspect had several guns Evans said authorities were still investigating the exchange of gunfire that occurred and noted that several officers had returned fire. Authorities will review officers' body-camera footage and conduct interviews as part of the investigation, according to Evans. During the barricade situation, Evans said the suspect shot at officers from multiple positions within the home. The suspect had several guns and large amounts of ammunition. At least one of the officers killed was shot inside the home and investigators are "still piecing together" where the other two victims were shot, Evans said. Two officers, paramedic identified Elmstrand, 27, joined the Burnsville Police Department in 2017 as a community service officer, according to the city. He was promoted to officer in 2019 and was part of the departments mobile command staff, peer team, Honor Guard and field training unit. Ruge, 27, joined the police department in 2020, the city said. He was part of the departments crisis negotiations team and was a physical evidence officer. Finseth, 40, had been a firefighter-paramedic in Burnsville since 2019, according to the city. The three victims were transported to the medical examiner's office in procession. Local television stations showed community members and first responders lining up on streets to honor the victims. "It's a really hard day for our public safety family. We're hurting," Burnsville police Chief Tanya Schwartz said during the news conference. "Three members of our teams made the ultimate sacrifice for this community. They are heroes." Dozens of people gathered in front of Burnsville City Hall on Sunday night for a candlelit vigil to remember the victims, the Associated Press reported. Several uniformed officers from other departments also attended, including many from St. Paul. A fire truck and police vehicle were in front of the building. The police vehicle had bouquets of flowers on the hood and handwritten signs tucked under the windshield. Those gathered joined together in prayer and sang Amazing Grace. Its an important community, area resident Kris Martin told the Associated Press, and we feel very saddened by what happened. Retired firefighter struggles with news Pat Knaeble, a retired fire captain and paramedic with the Burnsville Fire Department, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he awoke Sunday to a chaotic scene outside his home. Knaeble, 68, said he watched SWAT team members bring three victims to the front of his house and into waiting ambulances. Having a fellow firefighter shot was hard to comprehend, he said. "Firefighters never get shot," Knaeble said. "For that to happen is a huge fluke and just very, very sad. Its like losing a family member. 'The war on cops rages on' Joe Gamaldi, national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, called the shootings "horrific" and said shootings of officers have risen 60%. "The war on cops rages on. When have we had enough, America?" he said. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said in a social media post that three officers were shot while "doing their jobs. They were protecting our community." She said she and her husband were praying for the victims, their families "and the Burnsville P.D. this morning." Minneapolis police Chief Brian O'Hara, in a social media post, asked that people "keep Burnsville Police in your prayers." Burnsville is a Dakota County city of 65,000 people less than 20 miles south of downtown Minneapolis. The city boasts on its website of being the ninth-largest suburb in the metro area and a "commuters dream" because of easy access to Minneapolis and St. Paul. "Burnsville is a community where residents feel safe and welcome to be themselves," the city's website says. "Visitors find a place they want to come back to again and again, businesses are positioned for success, and city staff and team members find meaningful work and opportunities to grow and evolve." Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Burnsville, Minnesota shooting: 2 police officers, first responder die No Minnesota natural resource has received more attention in recent months than the northeast's deer herd. Beginning in mid-November, at 18 separate meetings held from St. Cloud in the south to International Falls in the north, and from Detroit Lakes in the west to Carlton in the east, about 8,000 hunters have attended gatherings hosted by the new group Hunters For Hunters to air grievances about too few deer in the Arrowhead. The hunters' primary complaint, based on their experiences in the field, is that wolves have reduced the region's deer population and are keeping deer numbers low. Whether they are correct about wolves or not, the hunters, in a broader sense, are worried that their traditions and even lifestyles are being threatened. And in fact they are, because deer hunter participation has dropped markedly in the northeast, and the whitetail harvest there last fall was only about half what it was 11 years ago. In a November column, I wrote that because deer populations are so depressed in parts of the northeast, wolves are their greatest threat to recovery. My reasoning was that in those areas, wolves appear to be sustaining themselves on food sources other than deer, and therefore at least for the time being their numbers are not tracking downward in concert with deer populations, as is usually the case in predator-prey cycles. Perhaps a deer-wolf population imbalance exists in those areas, and perhaps as researchers from the Voyageurs Wolf Project, an adjunct of the University of Minnesota, say it doesn't. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Rob Eldridge doesn't think so. In 2020, he and his wife, Amra, moved with their four kids from the Twin Cities to a home in Deer Permit Area (DPA) 119, bordering Voyageurs National Park, where wolf numbers have been stable, according to the Voyageurs Wolf Project. Off the grid, the Eldridges' home can be reached only by snowmobile or ATV. "The first years we were here, I hunted deer because I wanted to feed my family," Eldridge said. "We have cameras in our woods and initially we saw deer. Now all we see are wolves and no deer. Last year I didn't even buy a hunting license." He wasn't alone. In 2022, only 145,000 deer hunters went afield in the northeast, about 36,000 fewer than in 2012. Hunter success in that decade fell from 31% to 22%. Eric Michel is the DNR researcher who compiles deer harvest and other data to assess the size of the state's whitetail populations. According to his estimates, deer numbers in Eldridge's hunting area fell from .80 bucks and .11 does per square mile in 2012, to .29 bucks and zero does per square mile in 2022. Hunters' deer harvests in DPA 119 also declined, from 859 to 227. Deer numbers are so low in DPA 119, Michel said, that hunters are allowed to kill only bucks. Deer herds require a certain percentage of adult females, he said, to sustain or increase their size. "The number of adult females in a population has the most impact on its reproductive capacity," he said. "That's why we protect them by restricting the number of antlerless permits we issue to hunters." Michel also inputs data from the DNR's Winter Severity Index (WSI) into his deer population estimates. The index scores winter temperatures and snow depths to determine a cold-weather season's impact on deer. The winter of 2013 was a deer killer across northern Minnesota. As a result, as the accompanying graphic shows, the northeast's (Zone 100) whitetail harvest the following year was less than half what it was two years earlier in 2012. The most recent two winters were severe as well, contributing to a harvest of 29,000 deer last fall in the northeast, lower even than the 2014 kill of 32,000. So, yes, as deer and wolf researchers and hunters have long attested: winter weather in the north is a primary determinant of whitetail populations. The problem is, weather is what it is we can't do anything about it. Forest habitat, however, is another issue. Could northeast woodlands be managed in ways that increase deer and, yes, wolf populations, and stabilize them at higher levels? Mike Schrage, a wildlife biologist with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and overseer of wolf and moose studies, thinks so. The primary driver of deer and moose populations in the northeast, he believes, isn't wolves which, he acknowledges, some Fond du Lac members would hunt and trap if the band allowed it but the availability of quality habitat. More burning on the landscape would help, he said, and more wildlife-friendly logging. "I wish deer hunters would see habitat and its effect on deer the same way they see wolf tracks," he said. "I wish they held county and state foresters to the same standards they hold wildlife managers." Schrage's sentiments echo those of Stephen Thomforde, a Duluth ecologist who has hunted for decades near Ely. They and others say that increasing the breadth and quality of northeast habitat is the best chance hunters have to boost the region's deer numbers. State, tribal, federal and other landowners could do this by preserving and regenerating white cedar and other winter cover, and by replanting logged areas with trees that benefit deer and other wildlife. "As always with wildlife, it's not the number of predators on the landscape or the number of game animals we shoot, it's the habitat," Thomforde said, adding that improving the region's winter deer cover would disperse whitetails more evenly across the landscape. The habitat idea has merit, if only because, for the indefinite future, Minnesota wolves are protected by the Endangered Species Act. Even if their management is returned to the state a big if any wolf hunting and trapping seasons Minnesota enacts likely will be intended to benefit moose in specific areas and to minimize livestock depredation, not reduce the state's overall wolf numbers. So why not work toward improving the state's North Woods forest habitat? "If we had a combination of logging and burning regenerating more of the northeast, as the region has been regenerated throughout history," Thomforde said, "deer would say 'amen, brother,' and so would wolves. But deer numbers would be higher than they are now." Whether that pitch has enough zing to attract 8,000 deer hunters to gather in 18 Minnesota towns in just a few months is, of course, another question. But the DNR as I also suggested in my November column would do well to call the meetings and see what happens. Everyone could benefit, including deer. Marieme and Ndeye were not expected to survive for more than a few days when they were born. Now aged seven, they are thought to be the only growing conjoined twins in Europe. While both girls have their own unique personalities and moods, they rely on each other to survive. "When you are told from the beginning there is no future, you just live for the present," said their dad, Ibrahima. Conjoined twins are rare, representing about one in every 500,000 live births in the UK. Around half are stillborn, with another third dying within 24 hours of birth. So seeing Marieme and Ndeye celebrate their seventh birthday with a classful of friends doesn't just give Ibrahima joy, but also to the doctors who have cared for them. Ibrahima kept his daughters Marieme and Ndeye in the UK to stay under the medical supervision of Great Ormond Street Hospital Marieme and Ndeye share one pair of legs and one pelvis but each has a spinal cord and a heart. They have round-the-clock care but go to a mainstream school in south Wales with their friends. "They are fighters and proving everyone wrong," said Ibrahima. "My daughters are very different. Marieme is very quiet, an introverted personality, but it's completely different with Ndeye, she's very independent. "I would not pretend it's easy but it's a huge privilege. You feel lucky to witness this constant battle for life." When the twins were born in Senegal in 2016, their parents had been expecting one baby. Doctors didn't expect them to live much longer than a few days. "I was preparing myself to lose them very quickly," Ibrahima told the BBC's Inseparable Sisters documentary. "The only thing we could do is be beside them and not allow them to walk alone through this journey. We saw very clearly early on that we were dealing with warriors, who hang on to life." Marieme and Ndeye enjoy trying on clothes at the University of South Wales fashion department Their best chance of survival was believed to be separation, according to doctors in Senegal After calling hospitals around the world "begging" for help, the family arrived in the UK for treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London in 2017. Ibrahima hoped that the renowned children's hospital, which had separated more conjoined twins than anywhere in the world, would be able to separate them and that they could go back home to their brothers and sisters in Dakar - but it didn't work out that way. Tests found that Marieme's heart was too weak for the complex surgery, and she would not survive the operation. Ibrahima and a huge team of medical experts discussed at length the complex decision of whether or not to separate the girls. It was eventually decided their best option would be not to separate them. "It was killing one of my children for another, it's something I can't do," Ibrahima said at the time. "I can't allow myself to choose who will live and who will die now." As their mum returned to Africa to look after their other children, Marieme, Ndeye and Ibrahima remained in the UK for medical care and the three moved to Cardiff. BBC iPlayer An uplifting insight into the lives of seven-year-old conjoined twins, who weren't expected to live more than a few days. Marieme and Ndeye remained in the UK for the medical care that was not available to them at home in Senegal Inseparable Sisters will be available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday and on BBC One on Wednesday at 22:40 GMT. For viewers in Wales, it will be on BBC One Wales on Wednesday at 20:00 GMT. BBC iPlayer "Not being able to go back home was very difficult because you had the rest of your family and your job back home," said Ibrahima, who is the former managing director of a travel organisation in Senegal. "It's into the unknown but I didn't think too much, I just followed my heart. It is my parental responsibility to make sure they will have somebody who will be here for them, that will be my life purpose." The twins need regular hospital check ups as they are at serious risk from infection and heart failure. "At first it was a bit of a novel excitement and then a realisation that this is something I've only ever read about in text books," said Dr Gillian Body, a consultant paediatrician at the University Hospital of Wales. Marieme and Ndeye share some major organs and they also have their own separate organs "They've got one pair of legs between them and one pelvis. Moving up through their abdomen we've got a lot of different organs. We don't know exactly, but we know some bits are shared and they have some individual bits. "They've two separate spinal cords with all their nerves yet somehow they completely coordinate and they don't have to tell each other how to move an arm or how to move a leg, it just works." Clothing the twins is challenging. "You have to buy two identical tops and take them to the alterations shop to join them together," said Ibrahima. "They have two legs, so they can have regular trousers, but their hip is very wide so you have to take that to the alternations shop too." The family have now integrated into their community in Cardiff and the twins are looked after night and day as carers help dad with respite support. They are in year three at their local mainstream primary school, where the sisters are helped by two classroom support workers. Marieme and Ndeye weren't expected to last a few days but have defied medical expectations and grown stronger "I want them to have a normal life, play and laugh with kids and make friends and develop as individuals," said Ibrahima. "They don't have to hide from anybody and being in mainstream school shows they're part of society and they are lucky to be part of this community." The next challenge for Marieme and Ndeye is to try to stand and walk. They are currently managing about 20 minutes each day with the help of a standing frame. "They have achieved things that nobody thought they would," said Ibrahima. Ibrahima is grateful for the "dedicated" surgeons, doctors, school staff, classroom support workers and carers that help him look after Marieme and Ndeye "When you're told from the beginning there is no future, you live for the present," he added. "I know that any time, I can receive a call to say that something bad has happened. "How long? I don't want to know. We're going to make every day a surprise and celebrate life. "It can be conflicting but you feel lucky despite whatever the difficulties you're having. They are bringing me such joy. It is a huge blessing to be their dad." Listen on Sounds banner Former Obama administration speechwriter Jon Favreau said Saturday that Democrats will likely never know whether keeping President Biden on the top of the ticket is the wisest decision, but he warned of the huge risk to democracy that could ensue if Biden decided to step aside. In a series of posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Favreau responded to a piece from The New York Times columnist and podcaster Ezra Klein, who argued Democrats should convince the president not to run again and then pick a new candidate at the party convention in August a practice, Klein noted, that used to be far more common in presidential elections. Klein offered several up-and-coming stars in the Democratic party whom delegates could select at the convention: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Raphael Warnock (Ga.), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.), Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.), Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.), Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The list goes on, Klein added. Favreau urged Democrats to read the piece, but he expressed skepticism about the main argument. The challenge is, we just dont know and will likely never know if nominating Biden is riskier than letting Democratic activists and insiders pick a lesser-known and potentially weaker general election candidate at the convention with three months to go, Favreau wrote on X. Favreau noted Democrats have some real stars whove won races in the toughest states, but he added that its not at all clear that theyd a) be the choice of the delegates, or b) end up stronger than Biden against Trump, pointing to some limited polling that shows Biden outperforming other Democratic candidates in a head-to-head match-up against former President Trump. So even if you think Bidens decision to stay in the race is driven by ego or short-sightedness, a last-minute (and highly unlikely) decision to step aside would also represent a huge risk to democracy which also has to be weighing on his mind. Would it be as risky as the campaign were most likely about to face? Again, its just too hard to know for sure. Ultimately, however, Favreau agreed with Klein about the importance of Biden recognizing voters concerns, rather than simply pointing to Trumps similar fallibility or dismissing the concerns as a media construct. What Biden can do is take concerns about his age seriously, acknowledge that fears about his performance arent media creations or Democratic bedwetting, and focus single-mindedly on crisp, strong, energetic appearances, which weve seen hes absolutely capable of (2023 [State of the Union], Jan 6th speeches, etc.), Favreau said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. During a speech at the Munich Security Conference, Vice President Kamala Harris vowed that the United States would help Ukraine in its war against Russia for as long as it takes as fighting in the region continues and nears its second anniversary. So, as we move forward, the President and I [] will continue to work to secure the resources and weapons that you need to succeed. We will also continue to support your efforts to secure a just and lasting peace, Harris said, addressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. We will work to make sure Russia pays damages to Ukraine and ultimately, we want to see Ukraine emerge from this war as a nation that is free, democratic and independent, she continued. President Zelensky, as President Joe Biden and I have made clear, we will be with you for as long as it takes. Harriss comments reaffirm the United States support of Zelensky and Ukraine in its war against Russia. The Ukrainian leader also spoke at the conference, where he repeated his plea for additional international aid to continue the war. He emphasized that the strength of Ukraines troops is hindered by low ammunition supplies and a shortage of personnel. Ukraine withdrew troops from the eastern city of Avdiivka this week because the military was concerned about the lives and safety of its soldiers. Zelensky said his troops needed help with artillery and long-range capabilities. Were just waiting for weapons that were short of, he said. His requests for support continue as a $60 billion aid package thats been in the works in Congress for months remains stalled. The Senate passed a foreign aid package this week after a series of hiccups but remains stuck in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said he does not approve of the aid package because it lacks the tougher security measures for the U.S.-Mexico border that House Republicans demand. The combined border and foreign aid package failed in the Senate after GOP members tanked the bill after insisting for months that any aid to Ukraine must also be tied with border funding. The House is in recess and Johnson received criticism from the White House for leaving town without bringing the Ukraine aid to the floor for a vote. The White House announced Saturday that President Biden called Zelensky to reaffirm the countrys commitment to supporting him in the war ahead of the second anniversary. President Biden emphasized the need for Congress to urgently pass the national security supplemental funding bill to resupply Ukrainian forces, the White House said in a statement. Updated at 3:38 pm EST. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Cybercrimes involving teachers' photos make them reluctant to appear in graduation albums By Lee Hyo-jin It is a longstanding school tradition spanning from elementary to high school that yearbooks featuring pictures of students, teachers and other school staff members are made for graduating students. However, an increasing number of teachers are choosing not to participate in the annual photo albums, citing concerns that their published pictures could be used for criminal activities. A teacher in her 30s surnamed Lee, working at an elementary school in Seoul, shared that she chose not to appear in a graduation photo last year when she served as a homeroom teacher for sixth-grade students. "The school wanted us to pose for photos, but several teachers, including me, strongly protested. It's not because I didn't like my students, but I felt uncomfortable with my face being displayed in the album, which could potentially be circulated online and lead to humiliating incidents," she said. Lee also said that while students were asked to sign a form consenting to the use of their personal information before posing for graduation photos, the teachers were not provided with such an option. "Many schools still don't seek teachers' opinions, so my teacher friends are often forced to participate in graduation albums against their will. It's frustrating that teachers' information is made public without their approval," she said. "In the past, having teachers' photos in yearbooks carried a special meaning as students rarely had the chance to take photos with their teachers," said a middle school teacher in Gyeonggi Province in her 50s. "But now, we frequently take selfies with students, especially on occasions like Teacher's Day. I find little reason to showcase our photos in graduation albums." A 2020 survey conducted by a teachers' union in Seoul among approximately 8,000 teachers revealed that 70 percent expressed concerns about the potentially criminal misuse of their images appearing in graduation albums. In the survey, over half of the teachers answered they would like to see the graduation albums discontinued to prevent such incidents, while another popular suggestion was to give teachers the freedom to be excluded from the albums. Such demands were particularly high among young women teachers. Concerns about cybercrimes victimizing teachers have escalated, particularly after the revelation that some female school teachers were included in the list of victims of the so-called "Nth Room" case, a high-profile internet sex crime case that unfolded in 2020 involving Telegram chatrooms distributing explicit content featuring young girls and women. The concerns appear valid, given instances where teachers' photos circulated in group chats and online communities are commented on by parents or students regarding their appearance. In worse cases, there have been incidents where teachers' photos were exploited in cybercrimes. In December 2023, sixth-grade elementary school students in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, were caught distributing photos of their male teacher's face superimposed on a woman wearing a bikini. Four women teachers at a middle school in South Gyeongsang Province were involved in a similar incident in January 2022, where students posted their photos from a yearbook on a delivery app along with defamatory comments. Former Rep. George Santos, left, and Rep. Mike Lawler. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File; AP Photo/Evan Vucci Several GOP lawmakers who voted to expel George Santos told Politico they stand by their votes. "He was unfit to serve," New York Rep. Mike Lawler said of Santos. Last week, Democrat Tom Suozzi flipped Santos' former seat in a House special election. After Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip in last week's special election for New York's 3rd congressional district, the razor-thin GOP margin in the House became even narrower. The special election was triggered by the expulsion of onetime GOP Rep. George Santos, who in December was booted from Congress in a 311-114 vote, with 105 Republicans joining nearly every House Democrat to remove the controversial figure from the lower chamber. And even though Suozzi flipped the seat blue, the Republicans who backed Santos' ouster said they continue to stand behind their votes. Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican who represents a swing district anchored in the suburbs north of New York City, told Politico that Santos himself is to blame for the GOP losing a critical seat. "I didn't shrink the Republican majority George Santos shrunk it by his actions," Lawler told the outlet. "I'm sorry, you have to have standards in the halls of Congress. And so I don't regret voting to expel George Santos." "He was unfit to serve Sometimes these decisions are bigger than politics," the congressman added. Santos faces 23 criminal charges tied to alleged wire fraud, identity theft, and money laundering. Republicans in New York and Washington sought to defeat Suozzi by tying him to the nation's escalating immigration crisis, but his personal brand on Long Island and his ability to distance himself from President Joe Biden's sagging approval ratings helped him defeat Pilip. Pilip, a member of the Nassau County Legislature, was a lesser-known figure in the district, but some Republicans including former President Donald Trump criticized her for not motivating his MAGA base to vote for her. Rep. John Curtis of Utah, who's running for the state's open Senate seat this year, told Politico that he stood by his vote to remove Santos from the chamber. "My vote was not contingent on the outcome of the election. It was based on what I thought was the right thing to do," he told the outlet. "If it was the right thing to do, then the seat doesn't matter." Republicans like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins of Georgia, who both opposed Santos' ouster, disagree. "Don't expel a Republican member of Congress that hasn't been convicted of a crime and is a good vote," Greene told Politico. Following Suozzi's victory last week, Collins wrote on X: "So who still thinks Republicans helping Democrats kick out Santos was a good idea?" Santos has criticized the New York Republicans who voted to remove him from Congress. After Suozzi who represented the 3rd district from 2017 to 2023 is sworn back into the House later this month, Republicans will have a 219-213 majority. Read the original article on Business Insider Tala, pictured with Yazeed, says the guilt she feels about escaping Gaza is "one of the hardest feelings to talk about" They cried all the way. Tala Abu Nahla, her mum, and little sister. Tala's brother Yazeed, aged 17, could feel their emotion. He is disabled and has epileptic seizures. She calmed him in the way she knew how. Tala spoke softly and caressed his hands and pushed him across the border in his wheelchair. "It was really hard because it felt like we were leaving part of us in Gaza," she says. All she could do was keep looking at the sky. And listening. It was the same sky but here in Egypt all the dread was gone, and they'd left behind the possibility of sudden and brutal death. "When we went to the other side I couldn't hear drones anymore. And I knew I wouldn't be hearing bombing anymore or airstrikes." It was late at night and Tala remembers being amazed by the electric light. Back in Rafah there was no power supply to light their house. They had tried to get into Egypt three times before. We first spoke with Tala in November, when the Israeli offensive was only a few weeks old, but the death toll was already in the thousands and desperate crowds were gathered at the border. "We're trying to survive," Tala said then. "We're not sure we're going to make it, but I simply don't want to die aged 24." Tala's mother was the only foreign passport holder - she is a Jordanian citizen and could have crossed. But the authorities would not allow her children to go with her. So the entire family stayed in Rafah. But last week the border guards relented and allowed them to enter Egypt. "It felt really surreal that I was safe," Tala says. Tala is articulate and thoughtful. She was awarded a grant to study in America and lived for a year in Colorado "with an amazing American host family." She also won a scholarship under the state department's Tomorrow's Leaders programme, and holds an honours degree in Business Studies from the American University in Beirut. Back in Gaza she had been contemplating career possibilities when Hamas launched its attack on Israel on 7 October. Her Instagram account tracks the progress of a life upended by war - from the photo of a smiling young woman sitting outside a Beirut cafe captioned "when you let the light in, shattered glass will glitter", to the image of the home now left behind in Rafah and the caption "we bleed the same stories no matter how far we are from you Gaza. We leave you, but you never leave us." Tala during happier times as a student in Beirut After each rejection at the Egypt border, Tala took Yazeed home, knowing that supplies of the medicine he needs to suppress his seizures were running lower. The war has exacerbated an already difficult situation for disabled people in Gaza, where an estimated 21% of households have at least one member living with a disability. That amounts to approximately 58,000 people according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics run by the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians' governing body based in the occupied West Bank There was no running water and food was getting harder to find as the Israel Defense Forces advanced and tens of thousands of frightened refugees crammed into Rafah from further north in the Gaza Strip. In December, as the Gaza death toll passed 20,000, Tala told the BBC of her relief at surviving each airstrike in the area. "Every time I hear a rocket or bomb that's going to drop on people it's horrible to say this, but it sort of it gives me this relief that it's not us." The air strikes could not be explained to Yazeed. They were something he experienced as a malign, elemental force. Tala explains: "He would have a seizure every time he heard bombing. And it got really scary like his body and his mind is not able to understand everything that's going on, and then having to deal with the seizures without even medication. I think it was really heart-breaking for all of us." Now she lives in a bustling city where food and medicine are close at hand. But Tala cannot stop thinking of the people left behind in Gaza. "I don't think I've felt this guilty before," she says. "I think this is one of the hardest feelings to talk about. I think every time I see a plane or hear a plane, and I know I'm going to be safe after hearing it, I feel guilty. "Every time I have food to eat, or I don't have to go running for water or oil, knowing that everything is available it makes me feel guilty. I think about everyone in Gaza, the 1.2 million people who are displaced and who right now are not even sure where to go if the military invasion happens in Rafah." In the sitting room of their rented apartment in Cairo, the rest of her family is watching the news from Gaza on television. But Yazeed looks like a different young man. The acute strain is gone from his face. Tala and Yazeed on an earlier attempt to cross into Egypt. His seizures were getting "worse and worse", she told the BBC at the time After months wondering if they would survive, the family must now plan for the immediate future. "Back then it was not about future plans or anything, it was 'we want to stay alive? How are we going to do it?'" For now, the imperative is to find a doctor for Yazeed and education for Tala's younger sister. Tala is determined that she will go back to Gaza. "I don't know how long it's going to take. But I definitely want to go back, and I want to rebuild. I'm not sure if it's going to be the same, but I guess with the history that each one of us has, going through what we never wanted and surviving it, I think we'd be able to rebuild it with all that strength." Tala goes to the window and looks out at the blue of the Cairo sky. It is a sky without menace, but she can never forget that it is not the sky of home. Additional reporting by Haneen Abdeen, Wael Hussein and Alice Doyard. RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday brushed off growing calls to halt the military offensive in Gaza, vowing to finish the job as a member of his War Cabinet threatened to invade the southern city of Rafah if remaining Israeli hostages are not freed by the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israels government has not publicly discussed a timeline for a ground offensive on Rafah, where more than half the enclaves 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Retired general Benny Gantz, part of Netanyahus three-member War Cabinet, represents an influential voice but not the final word on what might lie ahead. If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area, Gantz told a conference of Jewish American leaders. Ramadan, expected to begin March 10, is historically a tense time in the region. As cease-fire negotiations struggle after signs of progress in recent weeks, Netanyahu has called demands by Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group delusional. The United States, Israel's top ally, says it still hopes to broker a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement, and envisions a wider resolution of the war sparked by Hamas' deadly Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel. The U.S. also says it will veto another draft U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire, with its U.N. ambassador warning against measures that could jeopardize the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities. But Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood, which the U.S. calls a key element in a broader vision for normalization of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. His Cabinet adopted a declaration Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. The international community overwhelmingly supports an independent Palestinian state as part of a future peace agreement. Netanyahu's government is filled with hard-liners who oppose Palestinian independence. Netanyahu wants Israel to achieve total victory over Hamas. In response to international concern over a Rafah offensive, he has said Palestinian civilians will be evacuated. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. The suggested timing for the offensive came as the World Health Organization chief said southern Gaza's main medical center, Nasser Hospital, is not functional anymore after Israeli forces raided it in Khan Younis last week. Israeli strikes across Gaza continued, killing at least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses. A strike in Rafah killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another killed five in Khan Younis, the main target of the southern Gaza offensive in recent weeks. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies. All those who were martyred were those whom the Jews asked to move to safe places, said a bystander after the Rafah strike, Ahmad Abu Rezeq. In Gaza City, which suffered widespread destruction early in the war, an airstrike flattened a home, killing seven people, including three women, according to relative Sayed al-Afifi. Israels military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. UN SAYS RAIDED HOSPITAL NO LONGER FUNCTIONS WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday. In a post on X, he said about 200 patients remain, including 20 who need urgent referrals elsewhere. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said at least 200 militants surrendered at the hospital. He also claimed that Hamas in Khan Younis is defeated, and that Hamas is largely leaderless in Gaza. He gave no evidence to support the claims. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel were among those arrested, along with patients, leaving 150 patients without medical care. It said Israel refused to allow patients, including newborns, to be evacuated to other hospitals. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside Nasser Hospital and does not target doctors or patients. The Oct. 7 attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of them believed to be dead. Most of the others were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. On Sunday it said 127 bodies were brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours. Around 80% of Gaza's population have been displaced, and a quarter face starvation. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 123 aid trucks entered Gaza through Israel's Kerem Shalom border crossing Sunday and four trucks of cooking gas entered through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. That's well below the 500 trucks entering daily before the war. In the occupied West Bank, a shootout erupted when Israeli forces went to arrest an armed suspect in the town of Tulkarem. The military said the suspect was killed, and a member of Israels paramilitary Border Police was severely wounded. It described the target of the raid as a senior militant. The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed. The war in Gaza has threatened to ignite wider conflict in the region. The U.S. Central Command said it conducted five self-defense strikes Saturday against cruise missiles and drones in area of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group. US OPPOSES A NEW CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION Algeria, the Arab representative on the U.N. Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, and rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the draft will not be adopted" and runs counter to Washingtons efforts to end the fighting. The U.S. vetoed previous resolutions that had wide international support. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release, but Qatar said Saturday the talks have not been progressing as expected. Hamas has said it will not release all remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It also demands the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top militants. ___ Lidman reported from Jerusalem and Chehayeb from Beirut. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war A Kansas City woman's simple idea has snowballed into a big windfall that is helping pay off student lunch debt in her area. Annie Stowe created a mug in honor of football's favorite mom, Donna Kelce, back in October. It had a simple saying: "It's Mama Kelce's world and we're all just living in it." Later she created another mug showing the mother of Travis and Jason Kelce in the form of an emoticon and the recipe to her famous chocolate chip cookies. Stowe experienced modest sales up until last week, when a local news station caught wind of Mama Kelce's Cookies Mug and wrote the story behind the unique product. The story then blew up across the country, with national outlets like People and The New York Post writing about the mug. The frenzy came with hundreds of new customers, eager to snatch up the $19.99 mug for themselves. Stowe was able to pull in $14,365, which she is using to pay off the lunch debt of students in her area, all with Mama Kelce's own blessing (and an exciting email exchange). For a little company like mine to be able to give back over $10,000 to student lunches here in Kansas City thats a big deal, Stowe recently told USA TODAY. Now, she has sold out of the cookie mugs. It's been a crazy ride," she said. The 'super cool' moment with football's favorite mom Not long after Stowe created the first mug, she got a surprising email on Oct. 4 from none other than Donna Kelce. Im like, what? I thought somebody was spoofing her account," she said. "This is not Donna Kelce reaching out to Annie in Overland Park, Kansas. And sure enough, (she) says, I saw this mug that you sell on your website, and you are so funny. Kelce placed an order for 20 Mama Kelce mugs, telling Stowe she wanted them in time for Christmas. Stowe said the moment was super cool." Stowe decided to shoot her shot, telling Kelce about an idea she had for over a year. She told Kelce that she wanted to put her cookie recipe on a mug, saying she was inspired by how the proud mother gave the treats to her sons at last year's Super Bowl. I could give $5 from every mug sold to help pay off school lunches. And she just wrote back, Yes, lets do it, Stowe said. Stowe designed and released the mugs that same month, making $2,000 during the mug's two-week run. How Annie Stowe began tackling student lunch debt A memoji of Donna Kelce placed on the original "Mama Kelce" mug sold by Annie's Barn in October of 2023. Stowe first began paying off student lunch debt by selling yard signs celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs making the playoffs last year. What I was thinking at the time was, What is a cause close to my heart? Stowe said, thinking of her hard-working mother who packed chips at Frito Lay to put food on the table. And what month is hardest month for parents? January," she said. "You come off of Christmas and you have credit card debt, at least thats how I grew up. Groceries are higher than they have ever been before." She decided to call Pawnee Elementary school in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, to find out how to pay off lunch debt owed by parents. In 2022, lunch debt in the state soared to an all-time high of $23 million, six times the amount reported just a few years earlier, according to reporting by NPR affiliate KCUR. Districts usually cover shortfalls out of their general fund or through donations but about 40% of districts turn unpaid debt over to collection agencies or courts, the station reported. When Stowe found out how much debt there was at Pawnee, she realized she could only pay a quarter of it. So she decided to enlist a little help from family and friends, calling out for donations on Facebook and her website. Between selling the rest of the signs and donations, we raised $4,000," she said, adding that it was special to give the good news to a school official. She started talking about how meaningful this was going to be for the kids, and then Im crying, my daughters crying," Stowe recalled. "It was this big deal. It just meant so much to me." Stowe ended up paying the debt of four elementary schools that year, including Pawnee, and now it's officially a favorite pastime. Donna Kelce mugs could return to Annie Stowe's store Annie Stowe doesn't have any immediate plans to release a new batch of "Mama Kelce's" Cookies Mug. She is currently working on fulfilling a 2,000-mug order. Although demand remains high, Stowe said she had no immediate plans to bring the sold-out mug back to her shop, Annie's Barn, which has been selling snarky stuff online since 2012. But she's still looking for other ways to get the product produced and sold through her business. She wants to find a solution that allows Annies Barn to continue to make donations to pay off school lunch debt, but sitting here today I don't have that solution. It's been a little bit overwhelming, and I dont want it to get away from me," she continued. "I have a great business model and I have seen a lot of companies get by something like this But I think it's a testament to how really amazing she (Donna Kelce) is. People love Donna Kelce." Stowe has reached out to Kelce to catch her up, telling her about the number of publications picking up the story and the $10,000 donation. She said that Kelce told her the recent development was exciting. Perhaps the most rewarding part, she said, has been getting emails from people saying they've been inspired by Stowes charitable efforts and want to do something similar with their small businesses. If we have got other people doing it, then we are done. Our job is done," she said. "Im very excited about that." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donna Kelce mug sales go wild, help Kansas City woman's special cause Courtesy of Laura Merritt Walker/Instagram Lifestyle blogger Laura Merritt Walker and husband David Walker are humbled by the support theyve received since the death of their 3-year-old son, Callahan. Merritt Walker who runs the popular Instagram account Merritt & Style with sister Cristie Merritt Taylor shared her and Davids message of gratitude in an Instagram Story on Sunday, February 18. The message was accompanied by a link to a Spotify playlist titled Cal Bear, a nickname for Callahan. Merritt Walker said the playlist had been a blessing in the days since her youngest sons accidental death. Hi family, the statement began. We wanted to share a playlist we have put together. It has been on repeat in our home. The truth of these songs is blessing us every day. These are songs that we have loved in our family for years and each hold a special place to us. We hope they can bless you and meet you wherever you are at God is good. We are learning to praise Him in the valley and the mountaintop all the same. Former NFL Star Tony Hutson Dead at 49 The playlist consists of 10 songs, starting with Lauren Daigles Rescue, along with tracks from Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, Bethel Music, Maverick City Music and more. Courtesy of Laura Merritt Walker/Instagram We are humbled by the love and support of this community, Merritt Walkers statement continued. Thank you for your love, messages and prayers for our whole family. We cannot tell how grateful we are and how they are helping carry us through the impossible. The post concluded, With all our love and appreciation, Laura & David. The Merritt & Style blogger and her husband released a joint statement via Instagram on Monday, February 12 announcing that Callahan died in a tragic accident the week before. The couple also share sons Beckham, 10, and Chamberlain, 7. We are completely broken-hearted to share that we lost our precious Callahan in a tragic accident last week, Laura and David wrote. He was such a blessing and brought so much joy to our whole family. Cal-Bear was absolutely adored by his big brothers and loved them beyond measure. As parents we are completely shattered at the loss of our baby boy. Big Moments! Celebrity Parents Share Their Kids' 1st Words Alongside the statement, the couple included photos and video of Callahan, including a black-and-white image of the three holding hands in what appears to be a hospital bed. The Merritt Walker family did not share any further details regarding their sons accident. In the statement, the couple shared that they had taken comfort knowing [Callahan] is being held in the arms of Jesus and asked for prayers for peace and strength over our family during this impossible time. The Frisco Texas Fire Department confirmed to E! News and People that they recently responded to a call from the Walker family regarding a drowning but declined to provide further details. Russian prison officials say Alexei Navalny died on Friday after falling ill during a short walk at IK-3 prison in the Russian Arctic - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP The bruised body of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, has been found in a hospital morgue in the Arctic, two days after he died in a nearby prison. A paramedic told Russian opposition media that there were bruises on Navalnys head and chest when his body was brought into the Salekhard District Clinical Hospital. Such injuries, described by those that saw them, appear from seizures, the unnamed paramedic told the exiled Novaya Gazeta newspaper. The person convulses, they try to restrain him, and bruises appear. They also said that he also had a bruise on his chest. That is, they still tried to resuscitate him, and he died, most likely, from cardiac arrest. Russian prison officials said that Navalny died on Friday after falling ill during a short walk at IK-3, a notoriously brutal prison in the Russian Arctic. Navalnys mother failed to find his body at the morgue in Salekhard on Saturday and his colleagues at the Anti-Corruption Foundation accused the Russian authorities of a cover-up. Western leaders have accused Putin of murdering Navalny - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Reporters said no autopsy had yet been performed. They also said that two unscheduled flights from Moscow had landed on Saturday at Salekhard, possibly with autopsy specialists. The first jet landed at about six in the evening. It was met by cars of the Investigative Committee. And the second one arrived an hour and a half later, Novaya Gazeta quoted an unnamed source as saying. Russia observers said that state autopsy specialists may have been flown in from Moscow so that they can deliver a death certificate that pleases the Kremlin. They also said that it was unusual to send the body of a dead prisoner from IK-3 to the hospital morgue, as Navalnys had been, rather than the municipal one. Navalny was Vladimir Putins most serious opponent. Western leaders have accused the Kremlin of murdering him. He was facing three decades in prison on various charges and had been transferred to IK-3 shortly before Christmas. David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, said on Sunday that Putin should face war crimes charges for the death of Navalny. Id like to see Putin in front of that special tribunal, held to account for all of his crimes, not just in Ukraine, but as we are seeing just in the last 48 hours in Russia as well, he told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg programme on Sunday. The sudden death of Navalny shocked liberal-minded Russians and triggered rare protests in Russia where demonstrations against the Kremlin are banned. OVD-Info, a Russian activist group that monitors the Russian police, said that 400 people had been detained across Russia, mainly for laying flowers for Navalny at memorials to Soviet repression. Reports from across Russia said that the plain-clothes security services, often wearing surgical masks, were following people who had laid flowers. Different police forces appeared to respond differently, with some blocking access to memorial sites and others tearing them down. These were the biggest nationwide protests in Russia against the authorities since September 2022, when Putin ordered a mobilisation to recruit soldiers for his war in Ukraine. Analysts said that the timing of Navalnys death is important for the Kremlin which wants to use a presidential election next month to showcase support for Putins invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Ben Noble and Nikolai Petrov, both Fellows on the Russia Programme at Chatham House, said that the death of Navalny had undermined Russias beleaguered, fragmented and exiled opposition. There is no obvious figure to take up the role that Navalny crafted for himself, of Vladimir Putins main opponent. There will be no Navalny 2.0 in the short-term, at least, they said. On Sunday Navalnys wife, Yulia, posted a new picture of the two of them together on social media, writing I love you. The post on Instagram showed a picture of the two together, their heads touching as they watched a performance of some kind. Yulia Navalny posted this picture of the couple on Instagram Navalnys death has had deep reverberations. Donald Trump, who has been accused of withholding funding and weapons from Ukraine via Congress, came under fire on Sunday for his continued silence over Navalnys death. The fact that he wont acknowledge anything with Navalny either he sides with Putin and thinks its cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents, or he just doesnt think its that big of a deal, Nikki Haley, his only Republican rival for the presidential nomination, said on ABCs This Week. Either one of those is concerning. Either one of those is a problem, added the Republican candidate, who is trailing far behind Mr Trump in the race for their partys nomination. Navalnys still-unexplained death at 47 in a prison in Russias Arctic has drawn powerful condemnations from leaders around the world, starting with Joe Biden, the US president, who has squarely blamed Putin. But Mr Trump, Mr Bidens likely opponent in November, has yet to say a word about it at any of several public appearances since Navalnys death was reported on Friday. The Trump campaign, asked for comment, has directed reporters to a post on Mr Trumps Truth Social platform that says: America is no longer respected because we have an incompetent president who is weak and doesnt understand what the world is thinking. The post does not mention Navalny, Russia or Putin. The lack of comment comes days after Mr Trump stunned Western allies by saying he would encourage Russia to attack members of the Nato military alliance who had not met their financial obligations. The suggestion cast a pall over a major global security conference in Munich, drawing a warning from Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of Nato, that Mr Trump should not undermine the alliances 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. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has repeatedly criticised Israel over its campaign in Gaza Israel has condemned Brazil's president after he accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, comparing its actions to the Holocaust. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Israel's military campaign was between a "highly prepared army and women and children". Israel's foreign minister described Lula's comments as antisemitic and said he was "persona non grata" in the country until he retracted them. The main Jewish organisation in Brazil has also criticised Lula's comments. Speaking from an African Union summit in Ethiopia, Lula said: "What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments. In fact, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews. "It's not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It's a war between a highly prepared army and women and children." The veteran left-wing politician condemned Hamas after its gunmen killed at least 1,200 people and seized 253 hostages in a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October. But he has since been vocally critical of Israel's retaliatory military campaign, which the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says has killed more than 28,800 people, mainly women and children. His latest comments come after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with an offensive in Rafah - the southernmost Gazan city, where some 1.5 million people have fled - in the face of increasing international pressure. "We will not forget nor forgive," Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in response. "It is a serious antisemitic attack. In my name and the name of the citizens of Israel - tell President Lula that he is persona non grata in Israel until he takes it back." Mr Netanyahu earlier said Lula's remarks amounted to "Holocaust trivialisation and an attempt to harm the Jewish people and the right of Israel to defend itself". "The comparison between Israel and the Holocaust of the Nazis and Hitler is crossing a red line," he said in a statement. Six million Jewish people were systematically murdered by Hitler's Nazi regime during the 1930s and 1940s. Israel summoned the Brazilian ambassador for a meeting on Monday. The Brazilian Israelite Confederation - the country's main Jewish organisation - said Lula's remarks were a "perverse distortion of reality" which "offend the memory of Holocaust victims and their descendants". Lula endorsed South Africa's case of genocide brought against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year. Judges at the ICJ ruled in January that South Africa's case against Israel could proceed. The court instructed Israel to prevent its military from committing acts which might be considered genocidal, to prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and to enable humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. But the court stopped short of calling on Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Gaza. Brazil and South Africa are members of the Brics group of countries - an alliance of some of the world's most important developing economies brought together to challenge wealthier Western nations. On the ground in Gaza, the World Health Organization has said the territory's Nasser hospital has ceased to function following an Israeli raid. The IDF said its operation was "precise and limited" and accused Hamas of "cynically using hospitals for terror". Meanwhile, efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have been taking place in Cairo, though Qatar mediators said recent progress was "not very promising". The 19-year-old son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki was found dead at the University of California, Berkeley, on Tuesday, his grandmother said on Facebook. A student who lived at the Clark Kerr Campus a student housing complex was found unresponsive Tuesday at about 4:23 p.m. local time, UC Berkeley spokesperson Janet Gilmore said. The victims grandmother, Esther Wojcicki, confirmed his death and his identity in a Wednesday Facebook post. My beloved grandson Marco Troper, age 19 passed away yesterday. Our family is devastated beyond comprehension, Esther Wojcicki said. She said Troper was the most kind, loving, smart, fun and beautiful human being. The Berkeley Fire Department responded to the complex and notified the University of California Police Department that it was attempting life-saving measures on the student, Gilmore said. By the time campus police arrived, the BFD had pronounced him dead. Gilmore said there were no signs of foul play and that an investigation into the death was underway. According to his grandmother, Troper was just getting started in his second semester of freshman year at UC Berkeley, where he was majoring in math and was truly loving it. Aside from thriving academically, Esther Wojcicki said, Troper had a strong community of friends, both from his dorm and his fraternity. At home, he would tell us endless stories of his life and friends at Berkeley, she wrote. Marcos life was cut too short. And we are all devastated, thinking about all the opportunities and life experiences that he will miss and we will miss together, Esther Wojcicki said. Marco, we all love you and miss you more than you will ever know. Esther Wojcicki did not immediately reply to a request for comment from NBC News. Although a cause of death for Troper has not been determined, Esther Wojcicki told SF Gate that she believes her grandson died from a drug overdose. She said the family is waiting on the results of a toxicology report. He ingested a drug, and we dont know what was in it, she told SF Gate, adding: One thing we do know, it was a drug. We want to prevent this from happening to any other family, Esther Wojcicki told SF Gate. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ari Rabinovitch CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Fighting, fuel shortages and Israeli raids put the Gaza Strip's second-largest hospital completely out of service on Sunday, local and U.N. health officials said, as Israel battled Hamas militants in the devastated Palestinian enclave. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis still sheltered scores of patients suffering from war wounds and Gaza's worsening health crisis, but there was no power and not enough staff to treat them all, health officials said. "It's gone completely out of service," Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Reuters. "There are only four medical teams - 25 staff - currently caring for patients inside the facility," he said. Qidra said water supply to the hospital had halted because generators had been out of action for three days, sewage was flooding emergency rooms and the remaining staff had no way of treating intensive care patients. Lack of oxygen supplies - also a result of having no power - had caused the deaths of at least seven patients, he said. Gaza's hospitals have been a focal point of the four-month-old war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the besieged territory. Most have been put out of action by fighting and lack of fuel, leaving a population of 2.3 million without proper healthcare. Israel has raided medical facilities alleging that Hamas keeps weapons and hostages in hospitals. Hamas operates across densely-populated Gaza but denies it uses hospitals for cover. The international community says hospitals, which are protected under international law, must be protected. The World Health Organization (WHO) urged Israel to grant its staff access to the hospital, where it said a week-long siege and raids by Israeli forces searching for Hamas militants had stopped them from helping patients. "Both yesterday and the day before, the @WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel," WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X. The Israeli military said its special forces were operating in and around Nasser Hospital, and had killed dozens of Palestinian militants and seized a large amount of weapons in fighting across Gaza over the past day. The military said this week it was hunting for militants in Nasser and had arrested at least 100 suspects on the premises, killed gunmen near the hospital and found weapons inside it. STRIKES KILL DISPLACED IN RAFAH Israel's air and ground offensive has devastated much of Gaza and forced nearly all of its inhabitants from their homes. Palestinian health authorities say 28,985 people, mostly civilians, have been killed. The war began when Hamas sent fighters into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's assault on Gaza began in the north and has moved south as Palestinians have fled, many crammed into tents around southern cities including Khan Younis and Rafah, the Gaza-Egypt border town which is the only crossing not controlled by Israel. More than half Gaza's population has been pushed into Rafah and Israeli plans to storm the city have prompted international concern. Israeli planes carried out attacks on two areas in Rafah on Sunday, including an empty building near the border with Egypt, local residents and Hamas media officials said. The second of the two strikes hit an open space where displaced people were sheltering, killing six people, local medics said. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, embattled at home over the government's failure to stop the Oct. 7 attack and under pressure to get the remaining hostages released, on Saturday pledged to push on with the military campaign. The Gaza war has destabilised the entire Middle East as Hamas's military allies - all Iran-backed paramilitary groups - have targeted Israeli and U.S. interests with missiles and drones. Israel has also bombed southern Lebanon in a battle with Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants, and the Yemeni Houthi rebels have choked global trade passing through the Suez Canal and Red Sea. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Writing by John Davison; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Christina Fincher) Two police officers and a first responder were killed in Burnsville, Minnesota, responding to a call of a family in danger Sunday morning, according Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The city of Burnsville released a statement identifying those killed as officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, as well as Adam Finseth, 40, who worked as a firefighter and paramedic. Another officer, Adam Medlicott, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day, Walz said. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville. Medlicott was shot at the scene and is expected to survive, said Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz. "Our folks come to work every day and are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life, but no one expects it to happen," Burnsville Fire Department Chief BJ Jungmann said at the Sunday press conference. He added that it was a "tragic day" and that "we are all grieving." Schwartz echoed that sentiment, calling the fallen officers "heroes." "Our police officers and our fire paramedics, they come to work every day. They do it willingly. They know that they might have to give up their life for their partners, for someone else. They know they have to give up their life sometimes, and they do it anyways," Schwartz said. "And you cannot understand it unless youre in the profession." According to a statement from the city, police were called to a residence at 1:50 a.m. local time Sunday over a report that an armed man was barricaded inside with family members. Evans called it a "domestic violence situation" and said there were seven children, aged 2-15, found inside the home with the suspect. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said earlier on social media that it responded to a scene where there have been reports of officers involved in a domestic-related shooting. Evans said officers negotiated with the suspect while additional officers responded to the scene. During those negotiations, the man opened fired, killing Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth, and injuring Medlicott. Police gathered in a Burnsville, Minn., neighborhood on Feb. 18, 2024. (KARE 11) Evans said investigators were unsure of the "exact exchange of gunfire that occurred" between the suspect and "several officers" who returned fire. He added that the suspect had "several guns and large amounts of ammunitions and shot at the police officers from multiple positions within the home," including the "upper portion" and main floor of the residence. Officers also took fire from outside the home, Evans said. At least one of the officers was shot inside the home, he said, adding that officials were still "piecing together" whether the two other officers were shot inside or outside. The alleged shooter was reported dead around 8 a.m., and the other family members safely left the home later in the morning, the city statement said. There had been no prior calls for service at the home or regarding the suspected shooter, Evans said. He asked for patience while the department investigates the incident and noted the investigation was at its initial stages. Were hurting as a team and as a family, particularly for those individuals who have chosen our police and our fire departments as a career to serve this community and to live out day to day what is one of the most important things here in Burnsville, and that's keeping our community safe," Burnsville City Manager Gregg Lindberg said at the press conference. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement that she was "devastated" by the news that two police officers and a first responder were "killed in the line of duty." She added in a post on social media site X that she attended a vigil Sunday night in their honor. "Our police officers and first responders put their lives on the line to keep all of us safe. We will never forget their sacrifice. My heart goes out to the loved ones of the victims and to the Burnsville community," Klobuchar said. Both the city of Golden Valley, located 20 miles north of Burnsville, and the West St. Paul police departments offered condolences on social media. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara released a statement calling Sunday a "tragic and heartbreaking day" and offering his condolences "to the loved ones of the police officers and paramedic who were killed, and to the families of every Burnsville first responder." "The two officers and the paramedic paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said. "On a day like today, I ask that we remember that our first responders are the real heroes among us." Jim Nash, a Minnesota state representative, also posted to social media about the shooting. My heart is heavy for the families of these officers, the community of Burnsville, and for our country because this headline is not unique, Nash wrote. A group of state legislators including state Sen. Jim Carlson, state Sen. Lindsey Port, state Rep. Kaela Berg, state Rep. Jessica Hanson and state Rep. Liz Reyer released a statement Sunday afternoon, saying, Our hearts ache for the first responders who died in the line of duty this morning, and calling the deceased beloved community members, neighbors, and friends. We stand in support of the children and family of those involved in the domestic abuse call and this traumatic incident, the statement continued. The state lawmakers noted that these are some of the most dangerous calls that our officers respond to and that they plan to work with law enforcement and survivors to make them safer for everyone. Burnsville is a place where we take care of each other, lean on our neighbors in times of need, and act together to make our city the best it can be, the lawmakers said. Incorporated in 1964, Burnsville is a suburb located south of both Minneapolis and St. Paul. According to the citys website, its the ninth largest suburb in the metro area, with more than 64,000 residents. Gov't shows tough stance toward doctors' mass resignation plan By Jung Da-hyun Tensions are high as trainee doctors have been planning mass resignations until Monday over the government's plan to increase the quota for medical students. In response, the government is prepared to stand its ground, vowing to take any measures available under the law, including revoking doctors' licenses, in order to achieve its medical reform. Trainee doctors from the so-called big five hospitals in Seoul Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital and Seoul St. Marys Hospital were set to submit their resignation letters by Monday. They also plan to walk off the job the following day. According to the health ministry, Sunday, 715 trainee doctors from 23 hospitals had submitted resignation letters, although none have been accepted so far as of Friday. Under the local medical law, the government possesses the authority to potentially revoke doctors' licenses should they receive criminal punishments after failing to adhere to an order to return to work. However, amid the escalating backlash against the government plan to increase the medical student quota by 2,000 next year, a surge in resignations is anticipated on Monday, the deadline set by the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), an association of interns and resident doctors. The Korean Medical Association (KMA) also threatened, Saturday, to take "unbearable" action if any single one of the doctors is put at a disadvantage over the collective actions. The committee stated they could pursue legal action and go on an indefinite strike if the government persists in threatening interns. Medical students are also joining the protest, with representatives from 35 out of 40 medical schools nationwide announcing their decisions, Saturday, to take a leave of absence together on Tuesday. The Korea Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC) stated that during an emergency committee's extraordinary general meeting on Friday, student representatives from all 40 medical schools unanimously approved the mass leave of absence. According to the Ministry of Education, Sunday, 160 medical students from Wonkwang University in North Jeolla Province have submitted applications for a leave of absence. While medical students nationwide had declared their intention to take a collective leave of absence, this is the first case of students actually initiating the leave. Earlier on Thursday, Hallym University students announced their intention for fourth-year students to collectively take a leave of absence, but none of the students have followed through so far. In response to the planned strike, the government asked them to refrain from collective action, while restating its resolve to complete its medical reform by expanding the medical school quota. "Actions that jeopardize the lives and health of the people through collective measures should not occur. Any real consequences stemming from a shortage in medical services will undoubtedly harm the well-being of people," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in his public statement at the Government Complex Seoul, Sunday. "The government will prepare thoroughly and respond promptly to protect the precious lives of the people in any case." He emphasized the need to secure a higher number of doctors in alignment with the aging population and the increasing demand for medical care. Han also pledged to push ahead with the government's comprehensive policy package consisting of four core components according to the plan. The package encompasses increasing medical personnel, strengthening local medical services, establishing a safety net for medical accidents and enhancing compensation fairness. In response to doctors' concerns that expanding the number of placements could adversely affect the quality of education and training, the prime minister explained that increasing the quota by 2,000 was not determined arbitrarily by the government but resulted from discussions with domestic experts and universities. However, the KMAs emergency response committee strongly criticized the government, saying it is "demonizing" and doctors and causing a "witch hunt." "If the government tries to punish medical students and residents for their actions based on their free will by framing it in an unconstitutional manner, there will be a medical catastrophe," the committee said in a statement released right after Han's statement. It added that the prime minister's statement did nothing more than build a case for suppressing and punishing doctors' autonomous actions. In a separate statement, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said the government is open to talks with doctors, urging them to refrain from taking collective action. "It is deeply regrettable that the Korean Medical Association is taking the path of protest," Cho said. "We urge medical workers to stand by patients, and the government will continue to leave the door open for dialogue." Hours before the prime minister released his public statement, the health ministry said it had ordered major training hospitals to submit trainee doctors' daily work logs to monitor if they resign, join the mass resignations or stage a walkout. A ministry official explained that the directive aims to prevent trainee doctors from departing their workplaces and staging collective actions even after they return to duty upon receiving an official work commencement order. According to the health ministry, the impact of the return-to-work order persists even after the subject complies and resumes duties. Consequently, any subsequent departure from the workplace following the return is deemed a violation of the existing order, without the need for an additional directive to resume work. Amid trainee doctors' looming walkout, hospitals are discussing measures to prevent any possible disruptions. Certain hospitals are prioritizing patients based on the urgency of their medical needs and compiling lists of individuals for whom surgery can be postponed. However, with trainee doctors constituting 30 percent to 40 percent of staffs at general hospitals, any prolonged collective strike will pose inevitable disruptions to medical services. My mother was 14 years old when she started sneaking out of the house to protest for civil rights in the mid-1960s. As a longtime civil rights activist and pastor, she instilled many values in me. But one of the most significant was her sense of justice. I grew up watching my mother fight back against pervasive, generations-old racism and prejudice against African Americans, standing up for what was right. And I know well the stories of how the Jewish community stood with the Black community to demand justice and civil rights together. In so many cases, like the Freedom Summer of 1965, the Jewish community was on the front lines of the fight for equal rights for all people. Many of those activists were survivors or children of survivors of the Holocaust. Together, our communities changed our country for the better. Today, we are in a moment that demands the same moral clarity. As the chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, as an American and as an advocate for justice, I strongly denounce and unequivocally stand against antisemitism in our country, which is surging at alarming rates. The Anti-Defamation League reported that in 2022 alone, antisemitic incidents rose 36%. This number has only increased following the events of Oct. 7, with the ADL reporting an increase of antisemitic incidents of more than 300% in just the first three weeks after Hamas terror attack on Israel. This trend has not abated in the ensuing months. Right here in our local communities, the Jewish Community Relations Bureau | AJC has tracked a 500% increase in reports of antisemitic incidents. At a time when division is easy, it is more important than ever that we speak up and stand strong against Jewish hatred. At a time when misinformation runs rampant, its more important than ever that we recognize how our words and actions directly impact the safety of our Jewish neighbors. At a time when the loudest voices often encourage outrage and polarization, we must take care to use loaded terms only with accuracy and intention; to truly educate ourselves on deeply complex issues; to hold multiple truths in our hearts at the same time. Its not enough to disagree quietly with the escalating antisemitic hate. Pushing back against forces of hate is paramount in building a better state, country and world. Hatred against any group of people is truly hatred against us all. Our hearts go out to all Israelis and Palestinians suffering abroad, and we call for peace and safety for our Jewish and Muslim neighbors here in our state. Its now my turn to use my voice to advocate for our fellow Jewish Americans. I encourage everyone who strives for justice, peace and equality to love our neighbors as ourselves regardless of our diversity of backgrounds, and to use our voices to speak out against hate and antisemitism. One simple thing we can all do is reach out to the Jewish friends and neighbors in our lives. We can also reach out to our elected leaders and ensure they are keeping this issue top of mind. And we can connect with the Jewish Community Relations Bureau | AJC in Kansas City to provide education, training and support to our workplaces, schools and community groups. For more information, reach out to jcrbajc@jewishkc.org or visit jcrbajc.org I will always use my voice for justice. I hope youll join me. Jeanna Repass is chair of the Kansas Democratic Party. Larry Vickers, a popular creator of YouTube gun videos, may get a prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in October to two federal crimes including a conspiracy to import illegal machine guns. But his admissions of guilt have done relatively little to dent his profile on YouTube, Facebook or any of the other internet platforms that helped make Vickers famous within the online gun community. Hes still posting updates to his fan base of 415,000 followers on Facebook while he awaits sentencing, and the hundreds of videos featuring him using various machine guns are still available on YouTube. The criminal case is intertwined with what Vickers has posted on YouTube, where he has over 1 million subscribers. In several YouTube videos, Vickers showed off machine guns that match the descriptions of weapons mentioned in court documents as illegally imported before he made the videos, according to a review by NBC News. Its not known if they were the same weapons. If they were, Vickers was in effect exhibiting evidence of the conspiracy on YouTube. Other videos that he posted to YouTube and Instagram showcase the Russian firearms company Kalashnikov, maker of the infamous AK-47. Those videos are connected to the second criminal count against Vickers: that he violated U.S. sanctions on Russia by providing Kalashnikov with promotional videography and other services. Vickers has 179,000 followers on Instagram. As of a few days ago, YouTube was still running pre-roll advertisements on his videos, according to a review by NBC News. On Friday, after questions from NBC News, YouTube said in a statement that it had suspended Vickers YouTube channel from its paid-partner program, meaning the channel could no longer make money on the platform. YouTube cited a policy requiring paid creators to remain responsible online and offline and avoid behavior that harms others. The company said such behavior by paid creators is rare. If we see that a creators on- and/or off-platform behavior harms our users, community, employees or ecosystem, we may take action to protect the community, the policy says, pointing to fraudulent or deceptive behavior as one example. YouTube is the most-used social media app in the U.S. and has a large gun culture featuring people sometimes known as gunfluencers: social media stars and would-be stars who promote firearms and gun accessories, often in partnership with gun manufacturers. YouTube has faced criticism for years over its handling of gun videos. In 2022, five Democratic senators sent a letter to YouTube demanding to know why it wasnt fully enforcing its ban on instructional videos for making firearms, after an NBC News investigation found videos explaining how to assemble ghost guns. YouTube said at the time that it removed thousands of harmful or dangerous videos per month, including ghost-gun instructional videos, but that the work was ongoing. A second YouTube gun influencer, Matthew Hoover, was sentenced to five years in prison last year after he was found guilty of conspiring to sell illegal devices that convert semi-automatic rifles into automatic rifles or machine guns. He had advertised the devices on his YouTube channel, according to prosecutors. YouTube said Friday it had demonetized Hoovers channel, citing the same policy it invoked against Vickers channel. YouTube had been running ads against his videos a few days earlier. The situation around Vickers highlights an unresolved tension at major tech companies: how to enforce their content moderation rules while allowing for discussions about firearms. Some companies such as YouTube have rules requiring popular influencers to remain responsible offline or else face consequences, but enforcement is uneven and its rarely clear what qualifies as a rule violation. Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group that opposes gun violence, called on YouTube to enforce its own policies against Vickers and other creators of gun content. YouTube is a cesspool of violent and irresponsible gun content, Justin Wagner, senior director of investigations at Everytown, said in a statement to NBC News. Videos that teach civilians military shooting tactics or whose sole purpose is to glamorize fully automatic weapons of war go far beyond educational content for responsible civilian gun owners and shouldnt be permitted on YouTubes platform, he said. A representative for Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said Thursday that Vickers is not a paid creator on the companys platforms, meaning hes not subject to the higher standards the company sets for paid creators. Meta had no immediate comment on whether Vickers violated other community standards. Vickers, who lives in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, did not respond to interview requests sent by email and text. His lawyer, Gerry Ruter, said in an email Wednesday that he had no immediate comment. Some of Vickers fans are now rallying to his defense, calling the prosecution of Vickers unjustified despite his guilty plea and admission of wrongdoing. Vickers, a veteran of the Armys Delta Force special operations unit, has been released ahead of his sentencing. As a condition of his release, hes barred from possessing firearms other than airsoft guns which usually shoot plastic pellets used for active shooter training programs. A date for Vickers sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. The maximum prison terms for his two counts are five years and 20 years, respectively. There is no minimum sentence for either count, according to his plea agreement. Vickers is a firearms instructor and a consultant to gunmakers who rose to become a minor celebrity among Americas gun enthusiasts through YouTube and other platforms. He has amassed more than 228 million views on his 639 YouTube videos since he began posting there in 2009. The New York Times Magazine wrote about Vickers in 2018 because he had posted fondly about Rhodesia, a former white minority-controlled African nation thats been romanticized by white supremacists. Vickers said on Facebook that he had been oblivious and that racist comments by his fans were unwelcome. Vickers videos are usually about 5 minutes long and show him testing out rare or classic automatic rifles, including from France, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Other videos feature grenade launchers or military drills. He has also published a series of coffee-table books about various firearms. As part of an agreement with federal prosecutors in Maryland, Vickers, 60, pleaded guilty in October to a charge of conspiring to import illegal machine guns into the U.S. from countries such as Germany and Switzerland. Prosecutors said Vickers was part of a long-running shadow market to bring the guns into the U.S. by getting the help of small-town police chiefs in North Carolina and North Dakota. Machine guns or automatic weapons are restricted under a series of federal laws dating to 1934, with major updates by Congress in 1968 and 1986. Vickers has sometimes worked with law enforcement officials as a trainer on subjects such as marksmanship, according to his websites. Some officials also watched his videos. Machine guns generally cant be imported to the U.S., but local police departments can sometimes get an exception if they need a restricted firearm for a demonstration. Vickers and his alleged co-conspirators told federal authorities thats why they needed the machine guns, according to an indictment. But prosecutors said those statements were a ruse to hide plans to sell the machine guns or keep them for personal use. Together, the alleged co-conspirators imported 70 firearms over eight years, prosecutors said. semi-automatic rifle (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland) Separate from that conspiracy, Vickers pleaded guilty to a second charge: that he violated U.S. sanctions against Russia when he did business with the company that makes Kalashnikov rifles. The company, JSC Kalashnikov Concern, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2014, dating to Russias invasion of the Crimea region of Ukraine. At the time, the Treasury Department called Kalashnikov the largest firearms producer in Russia. Vickers not only provided Kalashnikov with promotional videos but also acquired firearms and firearms parts from the company and received funding and reimbursements, according to prosecutors. swiss army military lightweight assault rifle (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland) Prosecutors charged four others along with Vickers last year in a 26-count indictment alleging conspiracy to violate federal firearms laws and false statements in firearms licensing records, among other counts. Two co-defendants have pleaded not guilty. Two are awaiting arraignment. In posts on Facebook and Instagram after his guilty plea, Vickers thanked people who had stood by him and said he accepted responsibility. I own my actions and understand the consequences- big boy rules as many of us, myself included, have said in the past, he wrote. Some of Vickers fans reacted to his posts by criticizing federal law enforcement or the existence of the laws restricting machine guns in the first place. A website dedicated to firearms, AmmoLand, has denounced the prosecution, saying the government wants to imprison a decorated American soldier for a series of victimless crimes. Rep. Jim Clyburn said Sunday that President Joe Biden feels about the way I feel that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus leadership is not good for Israel. Ive talked to the president about this. And, of course, he is not going to be public with everything he says to Netanyahu, Clyburn, D-S.C., told CBS Face the Nation. But I know this. He feels about the way I feel when it comes to Netanyahu. He is his leadership has not been good for Israel. We stand firmly with the people of Israel, but Ive always had a real problem with Netanyahu, and that continues to be today, Clyburn added. Moments after he indicated that Biden feels the same way he does about Netanyahu, Clyburn sought to walk back the comments, saying he hadnt asked the president whether he agreed with him. Hes accepted my assessment [of Netanyahu]. I have not asked him whether or not he agrees with me. In fact, I just let them know, This is the way I feel. Im not running the country. You do what you feel is in the best interest of the country, Clyburn said Sunday. The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News request for comment. Netanyahu speaks during the weekly cabinet meeting. (Ronen Zvulub / AFP - Getty Images pool file) His comments come on the heels of widespread reporting that Biden is growing increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu and his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas. Biden has gone as far as to call Netanyahu an asshole in private, according to three people directly familiar with his comments. The president has also called Netanyahu a bad f---ing guy, Politico reported. Publicly, Biden has not condemned the Israeli prime minister as firmly as he has in private. But at a press conference at the White House earlier this month, he called Israelis military operations in Gaza over the top. A lot of innocent people are starving. A lot of innocent people are in trouble and theyre dying. And its got to stop, Biden added at that press conference. Netanyahu said he was unsure how to interpret that criticism. I dont know exactly what he meant by that, Netanyahu said, before going on to stress that Israel experienced an unprovoked, murderous terror attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas. Those comments were widely seen as the presidents strongest rebuke of Israel and Netanyahu yet. Clyburn has publicly condemned Netanyahu before. In January, he told The Washington Post, I have never been a fan of Netanyahu and I dont think hes good for Israel. I dont think hes good for the world, but he didnt link the presidents thinking with his own. PHILADELPHIA (AP) As he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump made a highly unusual stop Saturday, hawking new Trump-branded sneakers at Sneaker Con, a gathering that bills itself as the The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth. Trump was met with loud boos as well as cheers at the Philadelphia Convention Center as he introduced what he called the first official Trump footwear. The shoes, shiny gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold as Never Surrender High-Tops for $399 on a new website that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and Victory47 cologne and perfume for $99 a bottle. He'd be the 47th president if elected again. The website says it has no connection to Trump's campaign, though Trump campaign officials promoted the appearance in online posts. The unannounced launch came a day after a judge in New York ordered Trump and his company to pay a whopping $355 million in penalties, finding that the former president lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements. That penalty came after Trump was ordered to pay an additional $83.3 million to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. With interest payments, Trumps legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars an amount it is unclear he can afford to pay. Trump's appearance was met with clashing boos from his detractors and chants of USA! from supporters who arrived at the sneaker event decked out in Trump gear. The dueling chants made it difficult, at times, to hear Trump speak. Some had been given signs that read SNEAKERHEADS LOVE TRUMP. Theres a lot of emotion in this room," Trump said of the reaction, after holding up and showing off a pair of gold shoes, then placing one on each side of his podium. This is something that Ive been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. And I think it's going to be a big success," he said. As he spoke, the smell of weed occasionally wafted through the room. Some of those who attended said they were unaware Trump would be there, and continued to shop as a crowd gathered around the stage. Many in the audience said they were not from the city and instead hailed from nearby states and Washington, D.C. The attendees skewed younger and more diverse than Trump's usual rally crowds. Trumps campaign is hoping he will be able to win over more young and minority voters, particularly young Black men, in a likely rematch against President Joe Biden in November. This isnt the first money-making venture Trump has announced since launching his third campaign for the White House in 2022. Trump last year reported making between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards that portrayed him, through photo editing, in a series of cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero. He has also released books featuring photos of his time in office and letters written to him through the years. Before he ran for office, Trump hawked everything from steaks to vodka to a venture he called "Trump University." The new sneaker website says it is run by CIC Ventures LLC, a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure. The website states the new venture is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign." Still, it describes the sneakers as a limited-edition, numbered true collectors item that is Bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump. The Never Surrender sneakers are your rally cry in shoe form," the description reads. Lace-up and step out ready to conquer. A Trump spokesman did not respond to questions about the event, including whether Trump was paid to attend. Among those in the crowd were Jonathen Santiago, 21, and Danea Mitchell, 20, Trump supporters who drove from Monroe County in the northeastern part of the state for the sneaker event. They said they were excited to see the former president and praised how he interacted with the crowd. They also had kind words for the sneakers. The red bottoms were a really nice touch, Mitchell said. She shrugged when asked about Trump's legal troubles. I think itll be an interesting four years if hes found guilty, but I have no doubt hell be president, she said. Also in attendance was a group of cheer moms from New Jersey who said they were in town for a cheerleading event and decided to stop by for a chance to see Trump. Karla Burke, 48, said she heard some people booing and making noise, but that most people around her had been supporters. At the front was a different vibe, she said. As for Fridays penalty in Trumps civil fraud trial, Burke said it doesnt change her support. I think it was unfair, she said. Theyre just going after him so hes not the Republican candidate. Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler slammed the appearance, saying: Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg Off-Whites is the closest hell get to any Air Force Ones ever again for the rest of his life. Trump flew from Philadelphia to Michigan, where he held a rally in the suburbs of Detroit and railed against Friday's judgment, which he has vowed to appeal. Both Pennsylvania and Michigan are expected to be critical battleground states. ___ Colvin reported from New York. (Reuters) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday he had discussed the prospects for peace in Kyiv's nearly two-year-old war against Russia with his Chinese counterpart, part of a long-running bid to bolster relations with Beijing. "I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," Kuleba wrote on X, formerly Twitter, of their talks at the Munich Security Conference. Kuleba said he had discussed Ukraine's plans to hold a global peace summit, which Switzerland has agreed to help stage. The two men, he said, "agreed on the need to maintain Ukraine-China contacts at all levels and continue our dialogue". China has attended at least one of the preparatory meetings that have taken place in anticipation of such a summit. The Chinese foreign ministry has yet to release details on Wang's talks with Kuleba. But, in his public remarks to the conference, Wang said China had persisted in promoting peace talks and in playing a positive role in restoring peace, according to a statement from the ministry released on Sunday. Ukraine has sought to enhance ties with Beijing and bring China onside for Kyiv's 10-point peace plan which focuses on a withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territory, the restoration of 1991 post-Soviet borders and a framework to bring Moscow to account for its actions. China, which has been pursing a "strategic partnership" with Russia, proposed a peace plan of its own last year calling for a ceasefire, negotiations and an end to sanctions against Russia. But the plan made little headway. Ukraine has also made efforts to enlist the support for its diplomatic campaign from nations in Africa and elsewhere in the Global South, where Russia benefits from longstanding ties dating back to the Soviet era. "China is not the creator of the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party, but we have not merely watched the 'fire' on the other side, nor have we taken advantage of the opportunity to benefit (from the situation)," Wang said at the conference, according to the ministry's statement. China has insisted on keeping to its longstanding policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. But at the same time, it has tried to portray itself as a responsible major nation, pushing for dialogue to resolve global issues. The Ukraine negotiations should restart as soon as possible to reduce losses on both sides, Wang told the conference. "As long as there is still a glimmer of hope for peace, we will not give up," he said. (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Alistair Bell and Christian Schmollinger) A Pennsylvania judge who allegedly shot her ex-boyfriend in the head and then tried to convince him that he shot himself was charged with first-degree attempted murder and aggravated assault. The shooting happened Feb. 10 at a home in Harrisburg after the victim, Michael McCoy, attempted to end his one-year relationship with Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight, according to a probable cause affidavit. Susquehanna Township Police said McKnight called 911 to report that her boyfriend could not see and requested an ambulance come to the home. McKnight told the dispatcher that she did not know what happened because she was sleeping and woke up to him screaming, the affidavit states. During an investigation, police say they learned that McCoy had tried numerous times to break up with McKnight. The affidavit states that at one point he took his key from McKnight but she used a spare to enter his home while he was at work. On the evening of Feb. 9, McCoy told detectives that he came home from work and found McKnight sitting on his couch in pajamas. McCoy left the home to go to a local bar, the affidavit states. Things were tense when McCoy returned home, according to the affidavit, and McKnight asked if they could talk but McCoy did not want to. McCoy told McKnight that he would enlist the help of her mother to get her out of his home. At this point Sonya McKnight responds, Oh, Youre serious? Michael McCoy stated that it was like she finally understood that it was over, the affidavit says. McCoy then went to bed. He told detectives that he was asleep for about an hour or two when he woke up with massive head pain and could not see. He begins screaming and he hears Sonya McKnight say, Mike what did you do to yourself, the affidavit says. Authorities said that McKnight allegedly tried to convince her ex-boyfriend that he had shot himself. McCoy repeatedly stated to police that he did not shoot himself, according to the document. Detectives determined that McKnights interview with them was found to be deceptive and the gun used was registered to her, the affidavit alleges. A test conducted within an hour after the shooting also found gun residue on her hands, according to the affidavit. McCoy, 54, suffered a single gunshot wound that entered near his right temple and exited near the left temple. Authorities said McCoy is now blind in his right eye, The Associated Press reported. McKnight, 57, an elected judge in Dauphin County since 2016, was suspended without pay in mid-November by the Court of Judicial Discipline after she allegedly violated judicial probation from a previous misconduct case stemming from her alleged interference with the 2020 arrest of her son following a traffic stop, the AP reported. She was acquitted of criminal charges in that incident. McKnight was also previously charged with shooting her estranged husband in 2019 after she allegedly invited him over to her home to help her move furniture, according to Pennlive.com. She was not charged in the case after it was ruled to be self-defense. The Oscar winner, who stars in the new action thriller 'Land of Bad', only found out years later how severe his injury had been Riccardo Ghilardi/Contour by Getty Images Russell Crowe 2022 Rome, Italy Russell Crowe has always been game to do a lot of his own stunts. But there was one "small mishap" on the set of his 2010 Robin Hood that later became a much bigger deal. "I jumped off a castle portcullis onto rock-hard uneven ground," the Oscar winner, 59, tells PEOPLE for One Last Thing in this week's issue. "We should have prepped the ground and buried a pad but we were in a rush to get the shot done in the fading light." Crowe, who is currently starring in the new action thriller Land of Bad, didn't realize the precarious situation until he was about to jump. "With hundreds of extras around, arrows flying and burn pots setting the castle on fire, there was no pulling out," he recalls. "As I jumped, I remember thinking, 'This is going to hurt.' " Related: Anthony Anderson Jokes He's 'Not as Young as I Used to Be' After Movie Stunt 'Gone Wrong' Sent Him to ER Pool Insabato Rovaris/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Russell Crowe Aiming to land on the balls of his feet to help with the impact, the actor felt his heels hit the uneven ground first. "It was like an electric shock bursting up through my body," he says. "We were shooting a big movie, so you just struggle through, but the last month of that job was very tricky. There was a number of weeks where even walking was a challenge." Crowe "never discussed the injury with production, never took a day off because of it, I just kept going to work," he adds. Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock Russell Crowe in "Robin Hood" (2010) A decade later, Crowe began having what he calls "very strange pains" in his lower legs so he went to a doctor for an MRI and X-rays. "I thought it was nothing serious," he says. "After working through a long New York winter, my body was just missing exercise and sunshine." The star was shocked when the doctor looked at the X-rays and asked him, "When did you break your legs?" "Apparently he could see the remnants of fractures in both shin bones," says Crowe. "To jog my memory he said, 'Would have been maybe 10 years ago?'" 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. Crowe immediately remembered jumping off the portcullis on the Robin Hood set. "Apparently I finished that movie with two broken legs," he adds. "All for art. No cast, no splints, no painkillers, just kept going to work and over time they healed themselves." Looking back, the actor realized after the shoot wrapped in 2009, he took a year off and didn't work until signing on for 2013's Man of Steel. "In retrospect I obviously knew something was wrong," he says. "To be the Kryptonian father of Superman was six months of incredibly intense physical training. Between the time off and that training, things fixed themselves." Land of Bad in now in theaters. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. On Cape Cod, water is recognized as a precious resource, and many organizations, institutions and businesses have spent a lot of time working toward its protection. So, it should come as no wonder that one of them Horsley Witten Group is now lending all of that expertise toward protecting public water resources for the entire nation. The Sandwich-based environmental consulting firm, which specializes in sustainable and resilient design solutions, was just awarded a five-year contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency valued at up to $10 million. It's the fourth time the federal government has reached out to the Cape Cod company for its know-how with handling issues related to ensuring the integrity of public water resources a high honor for a very competitive contract, according to Thomas Noble, Horsley Witten senior project manager and principal. "It's awesome that this small business from Cape Cod is helping the country," said Horsley Witten Group Senior Project Manager and Principal Thomas Noble. The company secured a $10 million contract with the Environmental Protection Agency to help ensure the integrity of the country's public water and wastewater systems. Noble was photographed Feb. 9 next to a public spring on Route 130 in Sandwich. "Water resources are a hugely important topic on Cape Cod. From environmental water quality to drinking water quality, the Cape is really attuned," Noble said. "I think it's awesome that this small business from Cape Cod is helping the country." Cape Cod, specifically, faces challenges that include surface water quality in ponds significantly degraded by surrounding development and also widespread use of on-site septic systems that release nitrogen to groundwater, which can eventually degrade water quality, according to the 2019 Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan. Due to climate change, also, the Cape's 586 miles of vulnerable, tidal shoreline is at risk due to flooding and erosion, according to the plan. What is the new contract? The new contract, Noble explained, "is really aimed at supporting drinking water and wastewater utilities, preparing for disasters and emergencies such that they can prepare and recover better." Working with the EPAs Water Infrastructure and Cyber Resilience Division, Horsley Witten will develop, implement and support programs to protect national water resources in the event of natural disasters and man-made incidents, as well as the effects of climate change. The specifics of the work, Noble said, is "fairly technical," and includes conducting risk assessments and leading "a host" of other activities like emergency response training workshops and webinars on resiliency topics. "We'll find guest speakers for those. We will also find some utilities that have been through, say, a hurricane and get them to speak about their experience and what they learned," he said. The work will involve designing and running exercises of disaster or emergency scenarios with utilities, "for example, we'd say a category 5hurricane is going to land in two days, what do we do?" "A lot of times those exercises provide a lot of information for people to update their emergency response plans," Noble said. Cybersecurity is connected to the nation's water resources One of the top concerns Horsley Witten will address is "the cybersecurity end of things" when it comes to national water resources. "Because so much is controlled by computers now in utility operations, the thought would be they (cyber terrorists) would get into the system, and maybe change different points like how much treatment might go in," he said. An important aspect of the work will be coming up with ways to protect information and identifying ideas on cleaning up contamination of community drinking water systems. Beyond that type of "manmade" hazard, Noble said the work also addresses escalating climate change outcomes that can affect water resources, such as flooding, extreme storms or hot weather causing damage to systems, and sea-level rise. Additionally, the company will continue guiding utilities through creation of emergency response plans, which are required to be updated every five years. "We produce a lot of the guidance materials EPA puts out, like what should go into a plan, and how to do risk assessment," Noble said. What is Horsley Witten's background? Horsley Witten, incorporated in 1988, has more than 70 staff members in engineering, science, design, planning, remediation, training, and customer support, according to the website. Headquartered in Sandwich, there are also offices in Boston, Exeter, New Hampshire and Providence, Rhode Island. Previously, Horsley Witten worked with the EPA in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, when the federal agency mandated activity to protect the nations drinking water supplies against terrorists. In 2022, Horsley Witten received an EPA award for "Outstanding Accomplishments by a Small Business Contractor" for its customer support, technical adaptiveness, and responsiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff, Noble said, "had to learn Teams and Zoom overnight." "Because we could pivot, we were still able to continue to support (the EPA) in that resiliency mission, which was really important during COVID," he said. In order to offer its expertise to the security of water resources, Noble said, the company recognizes "we need to be resilient ourselves." We look forward to continuing our longstanding and productive partnership with the U.S. EPA to help safeguard the nations drinking water supplies and wastewater treatment facilities, he said. Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world, in addition to news and features in Barnstable and Brewster. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: In $10M contract, Horsley Witten to help utilities prep for disasters The upcoming South Carolina GOP presidential primary will likely be the focus of this weeks Sunday news shows. The South Carolina GOP presidential primary will happen next Saturday, with former President Trump and former Palmetto State governor Nikki Haley facing off in a race on Haleys home turf. Despite Haleys home-field advantage in the primary, a poll average from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill finds her at 32.5 percent, over 30 points behind her former boss at 62.5 percent. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), a former GOP presidential primary candidate turned Trump campaign surrogate, is set to make an appearance on CBS Face the Nation, Fox News Sunday, and CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. Scott, who has faced speculation that Trump might choose him as his running mate, appeared with the former president at a rally in North Charleston, S.C., earlier this week. Haley recently cautioned that the former president is using the Republican National Committee (RNC) to pay for his legal fees amid his multiple legal woes, and would carry on with doing so if he makes a return to the presidency. My biggest issue is, I dont want the RNC to become, you know, his legal defense fund, Haley said to CNNs Kaitlan Collins Friday. I dont want the RNC to become his piggy bank for his personal court cases. Haleys comments also followed Trump being ordered to pay nearly $355 million in penalties in a civil fraud case in New York Friday for inflating and deflating his business assets for tax and insurance benefits. Haleys own surrogate, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R), will also make an appearance on Fox News Sunday, while Haley herself will make an appearance on ABCs This Week. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who released a statement on a national security threat Wednesday that caused a stir in Washington, will make an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday. Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat, Turner said. I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat. The threat was later revealed to be the development of an anti-satellite weapon by Russia, which Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Thursday was known about by Congress for weeks. This is a matter that weve known about for a few weeks. We requested a meeting with the president. I did we did, in writing in January, Johnson said at a press conference. Congress has also been battling it out over aid to Ukraine amid its own threats faced by Russia, with the Senate having already passed a $95 billion emergency defense spending bill on Tuesday that features $60 billion for Ukraine. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), has indicated that it wont make it to the House floor for a vote. Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows: ABCs This Week Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate; Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) NBCs Meet the Press Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.); Rep. Mike Turner, (R-Ohio.). CBS Face the Nation Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.). CNNs State of the Union Scott; Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.); former Rep. Liz Cheney, (R-Wyo.). Fox News Sunday Scott; Sen. Michael Bennet, (D-Colo.); Gov. Chris Sununu, (R-N.H.) Fox News Sunday Morning Futures Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas); George Papadopoulos, Former Trump campaign aide; Lara Trump, The Right View Podcast host; Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The US on Saturday conducted strikes against Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and vessels, including on the first unmanned underwater vessel the Iranian-backed rebel group has used since the attacks in the Red Sea began, according to US Central Command. The US conducted five strikes against three anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel and one unmanned surface vessel between 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday local time, CENTCOM said. CENTCOM identified the anti-ship cruise missiles, unmanned underwater vessel, and the unmanned surface vessel in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region, Central Command said in a statement Sunday. The unmanned underwater vessel attack marks a new strategy for the Houthis and comes in spite of continued US airstrikes against the rebel group. Earlier this month, the US and UK struck at least 30 Houthi targets across at least 10 locations in Yemen with the aim to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea. The Houthis have been attacking US targets and commercial shipping in the Red Sea since Israel launched its invasion of Gaza following Hamas October 7 attack. There are fears that the attacks could escalate Israels war against Hamas into a wider regional conflict. The Houthi attacks have forced some of the worlds biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the most important maritime trade routes, which could potentially cause a shock to the global economy. CNN last week was on board two vessels spearheading the US response to Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea as the Navy works at a frenetic pace deploying jets and firing missiles at a moments notice to try to destroy the Houthis weapons and infrastructure. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Jack Forrest, Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann, Haley Britzky and Christian Edwards. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Yoon Suk Yeol held a luncheon meeting with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and "Squid Game" star Lee Jung-jae earlier this week, his spokesperson said Sunday. At the meeting held Saturday at his presidential residence, Yoon expressed his appreciation to Sarandos for Netflix's investment in South Korea and called for increased investment in "K-contents." Yoon and Sarandos also discussed the development of the two countries' "cultural alliance" through the collaboration of Korean contents and U.S. global platforms, according to spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung. During Yoon's state visit to Washington last year, Sarandos said Netflix will invest US$2.5 billion in South Korea over the next four years to produce Korean TV series, movies and scripted shows. Lee is set to return to Season 2 of the megahit Netflix series. (Yonhap) Three Union ministers will meet on Sunday for the fourth round of talks in Chandigarh NEW DELHI:Ahead of the meeting with the Centre on Sunday, farmer leaders on Saturday asserted that the government should bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, while protests and tractor rallies were held in support of farmers who continued their stir at the two Punjab Haryana borders Three Union ministers will meet on Sunday for the fourth round of talks in Chandigarh. Speaking from the protest site, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, If the Centre wants resolution, then it should bring an ordinance with an immediate effect that it will enact a law on MSP, then discussion can proceed further. On the fifth day of their march, protesters remained stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. There were no new clashes between the farmers and security personnel, as farmer leaders had urged protesters to maintain peace at the borders. Meanwhile, farmers owing allegiance to different factions held demonstrations at several places in Punjab and Haryana and even held dharnas outside residences of three senior BJP leaders including former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait however announced that farmers will stage dharnas on February 21 and also said that SKM was asked to launch a tractor march to Delhi in the last week of February if the stalemate between the farmers and Centre continues. Urges party cadre to reach out to get BJPs third term Prime Minister Narendra Modi being garlanded by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP National President JP Nadda and others during the BJP National Council Meeting on its second day, at the Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (PTI Photo) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi rallied BJP workers, urging them to embark on a mission for the next 100 days. Addressing the party's national council meeting ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Modi emphasised the importance of reaching out to the masses to secure the BJP-led NDA's third term in power. He highlighted that this term would further benefit various segments of society, including the middle class, youth, farmers, women, and the poor. Stressing the need to "win everyones trust," Modi articulated the goal of achieving a developed India by 2047, termed 'Viksit Bharat'. In his valedictory address at the national council meeting of the party, Modi urged BJP leaders to extend his pranam (greetings) to beneficiaries of Central government schemes and to engage with every newly eligible voter, emphasising their pivotal role in the upcoming elections. He had set targets for the BJP, aiming for 370 seats in tribute to BJP ideologue Shyama Prasad Mookherjee, and envisioning "400 paar" for the NDA. Modi asserted that the BJP-led NDA is committed to elevating India to the rank of the world's third-largest economic power, projecting exponential growth in economic, military, and cultural spheres. In his address, Modi criticised the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for lacking the courage to challenge the BJP ideologically. He accused them of inciting division over language and regional issues, devoid of a coherent development agenda. The national council also passed a resolution on the Ram Mandir, affirming its role in fostering national consciousness and promoting the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. BJP president J.P. Naddas second term till 2024 was also ratified during the meet. Moreover, Modi expressed confidence in the BJP-led NDA securing a third consecutive term, citing growing international interest in India. He underscored India's diplomatic achievements and emphasised his commitment to "rashtraniti" (national interest) over "rajneeti" (politics). In the last 10 years, India has achieved unprecedented momentum and gained the courage to achieve significant goals. India has reached new heights in every sector today connecting every citizen with a sense of great determination. And this determination is a developed India, said Modi as the BJP-led NDA seeks a third term. A considerable part of Mr Modis nearly 65-minute speech was about youth, women, farmers, and the poor, the key support base for the ruling BJP. He called for bold aspirations to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, urging BJP workers to mobilise support for the party's vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. Elections are yet to take place, but I already have invitations from different countries for July, August and September. This means that several countries across the world are also completely confident about the return of the BJP government, the PM said. Modi said that every country across the world knows "aayega toh..." as the gathering shouted "...Modi hi. Aayega toh Modi hi." The address also highlighted Modi's dedication to governance, citing initiatives like 'Mission Shakti' for women's empowerment and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya as symbols of national pride and progress. "I am not someone who lives for his own happiness. I am advocating for a third term for the BJP not for political gains but for the benefit of India. My efforts are dedicated to the people of India. The dreams of Indians are my commitments," Modi said. In the times to come, there will be plenty of opportunities for "our mothers, sisters and daughters", the prime minister said. He said the spirit of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (One India-Glorious India)" is visible in governance. "The Northeast was completely ignored by earlier governments. But we do not work for votes and seats. For us, every corner of the country should be prosperous and developed, this is our belief," Modi said. Amidst ongoing farmer protests, Modi reassured the nation of his commitment to inclusive development and unity, underscoring his government's achievements and future aspirations. This year marks the second time the award is conferred for Sanskrit literature and the fifth time for Urdu literature New Delhi: Renowned Urdu poet Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya have been named the recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award, the Jnanpith selection committee announced on Saturday. Sampooran Singh Kalra, widely known as Gulzar, aged 89, is celebrated for his significant contributions to Hindi cinema and his esteemed status as one of the finest Urdu poets of contemporary times. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, aged 74, is the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot. He is revered as a Hindu spiritual leader, educator, and prolific writer, having authored over 240 books and texts, including four epics. The Jnanpith selection committee issued a statement, stating, It has been decided to confer the award (for 2023) upon eminent writers from two languages: Sanskrit litterateur Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and renowned Urdu litterateur Shri Gulzar. Gulzar has been honoured with numerous accolades throughout his illustrious career, including the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu in 2002, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013, and the Padma Bhushan in 2004. He has received at least five National Film Awards for his outstanding contributions to cinema. Among his notable works are the song Jai Ho for the film Slumdog Millionaire, which won an Oscar award in 2009 and a Grammy Award in 2010, as well as compositions for critically acclaimed films such as Maachhis (1996), Omkara (2006), Dil Se... (1998), and Guru (2007), among others. Gulzar has also directed several timeless award-winning classics, including Koshish (1972), Parichay (1972), Mausam (1975), Ijaazat (1977), and the television serial Mirza Ghalib (1988). Bharatiya Jnanpith, in a statement, praised Gulzar's remarkable achievements in literature and poetry, highlighting his invention of the 'Triveni' genre and his dedication to children's poetry. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, one of the present four Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas of the Ramananda sect, has held this esteemed position since 1982. He is a multilingual poet and writer proficient in 22 languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili. In 2015, he was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan award for his significant contributions. Born Giridhara Misra, Rambhadracharya overcame blindness at a young age and displayed extraordinary intellectual prowess, memorising texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas at a tender age. Established in 1944, the Jnanpith Award recognises outstanding contributions to Indian literature and is considered the highest literary honor in the country. This year marks the second time the award is conferred for Sanskrit literature and the fifth time for Urdu literature. The award includes a prize money of Rs 21 lakh, a statue of Vagdevi, and a citation. The recipients were selected by a committee chaired by Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Rai, with members including Madhav Kaushik, Damodar Mauzo, Prof. Suranjan Das, Prof. Purushottam Bilmale, Praful Shiledar, Prof. Harish Trivedi, Prabha Verma, Dr. Janaki Prasad Sharma, A. Krishna Rao, and Jnanpith director Madhusudan Anand. Notably, Goan writer Damodar Mauzo was the recipient of the prestigious award for 2022. Political maneuvers unfold: Sonia Gandhi's Rajya Sabha move, factional battles in Congress, BJP's strategies, & MP CM's visibility drive. Indira Gandhi began her parliamentary career in the Rajya Sabha but her daughter-in-law, Sonia Gandhi, is entering the Upper House towards the end of her political career. Before it was finally decided that Sonia Gandhi would file her nomination papers from Rajasthan, there had been some chatter that she could pick Himachal Pradesh instead. But, it was felt it would be politically more prudent for Sonia Gandhi to represent a big state from northern India though Abhishek Singhvi would have been a better fit for Rajasthan as he hails from there. There was also a fear that the Bharatiya Janata Party could create problems for Sonia Gandhi, which is what happened. Mr Singhvis nomination from Himachal Pradesh and Ajay Makens candidature from Karnataka has angered the state units in both states. Himachal Pradesh Congress leaders are upset as it is the first time a non-Himachali has been nominated to the Upper House. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had apparently proposed Anand Sharmas name but to no avail. The partys Karnataka unit is furious that an outsider was picked instead of a local leader. The Bharatiya Janata Partys ruthless use of investigative agencies against Opposition leaders is paying rich dividends. While a host of leaders have been forced to switch sides after being pursued by the agencies, the INDIA bloc is also unravelling after they stepped up their activities. It is no coincidence that, two days after the Enforcement Directorate issued summons to him, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah announced that his party would go solo in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has not been arrested even though he has not appeared before the ED despite getting his sixth summons from the agency. This laxity could well be connected to Mr Kejriwals recent announcement that the Aam Aadmi Party will not ally with the Congress in Punjab and give only one seat to it in Delhi. He has also upped the ante in Goa and Gujarat. The ED cases against Mr Abdullah and Kejriwal could well be buried now. Of the seven Union ministers who have been denied another term in the Rajya Sabha by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Dharmendra Pradhan will face the toughest challenge in contesting the coming Lok Sabha election from his home state Odisha. Though the BJP wishes to project Mr Pradhan as its chief ministerial face in the eastern state, the partys Odisha unit has been fighting with its hands tied to the back as its Central leadership has stopped short of going all out against the ruling Biju Janata Dal. The reason: Not only does Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik share cordial relations with the BJP at the Centre, he has also refrained from joining hands with other opposition parties. Mr Patnaik has always bailed out the BJP in Parliament and supported it on key issues. Last week, the BJD endorsed Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaws candidature in the Rajya Sabha election. Mr Pradhan will be hoping for the same. There is no end to the factional battles in Haryanas Congress unit. With former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son, Deepender Hooda, riding high, his detractors have banded together to put up a united fight against them. Congress office bearers Selja and Randeep Surjewala along with former Haryana minister Kiran Choudhary, popularly called SRK, who were not known to be too fond of each other, have decided to sink their differences to take on a common political rival. The SRK trio has been holding public meetings and rallies independent of the state units political programmes. However, Mr Hooda appears oblivious to the pressure hes facing from within the party and from investigative agencies. His annual lunch saw a huge turnout of senior journalists and politicians including former ministers P. Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor and Karnatakas deputy chief minister D.K. Shiv Kumar along with Shiv Senas Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi. While former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is no longer grabbing headlines, people are still adjusting to the fact that their home state is now headed by a new person. As a result, there is a huge push by the Bharatiya Janata Partys state unit to make the new chief minister Mohan Yadav a household name like his predecessor Mr Chouhan. These days, the Madhya Pradesh countryside is dotted with huge hoardings with Mr Yadavs photographs, who until last month, was a little-known political figure despite being a third term legislator. A supporter has also come up with a special song dedicated to Mohan Yadav in which he extols his virtues, describing him as a strong and powerful leader who is capable of bettering Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanaths record in crushing indiscipline. Mr Yadav himself is also going all-out to be more visible. He is seen at almost any event from pujas and bhandaras to inauguration of gyms, parks or even unveiling of lamp posts. In a bid to assert himself, Mr Yadavs office has issued instructions to organisers of public events that the chief minister be provided a bigger chair than those of other guests and it should be placed ahead of their chairs. The India in which I grew up was in a constant churn of democratic protests. Dharna, gherao, michil, juloos, chakka jam these were everyday words for us, across a spread of Indian languages. Cries of Inquilab Zindabad rent the air regularly. People made demands of their governments money, jobs, rights, equality, justice. And we also had the great Bharat Bandh. When someone tried to bring India to a standstill. Those were tough times, if successful. Or, if you were a child, enormously appreciated since school got cancelled for the day. The curse of the apathetic middle classes was a slow poison into Indian society. Let us not forget that our freedom movement Im going with accepted history right now, not the Nagpur version was full of people from all classes of Indian life and society. On February 1 this year I visited Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi. This was the house of the industrialist G.D. Birla, where Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. Gandhi stayed here for 144 days before he was killed by Godse. The grounds still carried remnants of the prayer meeting held two days earlier, where politicians who belong to the ideology which assassinated Gandhi attended Gandhis memorial. At least the place where the Father of the Nation as named by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose fell to Godses bullets has not been removed and replaced. I want to write yet because of the rate at which history is being replaced by right-wing fantasy propaganda in India Visitors to the Gandhi Smriti on that day appeared to be mainly foreign tourists, but soon Indians trickled in. Gandhiji was a great believer in public street protests and the pioneer of civil disobedience. If you have studied history in a non-Nagpur-run school, you would know these, from the Dandi March to Swadeshi to Quit India. The diorama museum in Gandhi Smriti tells the story of many of his protests. Somewhere, the other middle class, the one that did not accompany Gandhi on his many protests or have some of their own, took over. That middle class was very worried about traffic jams, about loss of business and earnings. Some of this sounds reasonable. After all, if India is shut down, what happens to daily wage earners, to less privileged people who may suffer if they cannot make it to work and so on? Or is it reasonable? To protest is a democratic right. It is a way to make your voice heard in a sea of indifference. It is a way to make governments realise that they draw power from you, us, the people, not from systems which they can manipulate. It is a way to put pressure, to get your demands heard. Those days are seemingly gone. We just about vote and thats it. The rest of the time we obey government and political instructions. And call anyone who opposes the elected anti-national, shout go back to xyz and so on. The last big peoples movement was India Against Corruption and what a fraud that turned out to be. Propped up by the television media, its leaders pushed as saviours, all it did was create one more political party. And the corruption turned out to be not so much. And the answer provided to stop corruption? Well, that didnt work out either. Over the years though I have started joining tiny little citizens protests. For the environment, to save trees within cities, to stop governments from destroying whatever greenery we have left, to save public money. From Dehradun to Delhi to Secunderabad. In all of them, older people are in big numbers, children and young people come next and that middle bit of decision-makers and movers and shakers largely absent. It is still inspiring. People who want a save a park in their colony. People who read the Preamble to our Constitution. People who form human chains to demand justice and equality and fair play. Marches where political parties put aside their difference and join together to make these demands. I cannot deny that these are tiny protests, not even pinpricks on the thick skin of the behemoth. Nor can I pretend that the general public which drives by is remotely interested. I can only hope that something trickles past them. But these are voices, our voices, which speak out. It is not in my nature to be part of these, largely because my work meant I had to watch and observe, not participate. But I no longer have a job. I am free therefore to feed myself. To stand on the edges while those who are braver, more vocal, more involved hold the stage and set the pace. I bow to their courage with my attendance. I try to hum along to their songs of hope and resistance, which I do not know. I learn about their diversity and their persistence. Small steps of hope, for a democracy to awaken, so learn that voting is not enough. To learn that homogeneity is the path to disaster. To celebrate differences and the strength we can get from that. Though yesterday someone shouted Inquilab Zindabad and almost no one knew how to respond I watch the world march and speak for Palestine, and I wonder at our own radio silence. Us who once stood at the forefront of movements against colonial oppression and Us that now frolic with the oppressors. Where are our marches for Palestine, for Gaza, for the thousands killed by Israel, just because they exist as an inconvenience for a colonial power? I learn from these lines from American poet Sonia Sanchezs Haiku and Tanka for Harriet Tubman, the great American abolitionist and social activist: Imagine her saying: I freed a thousand slaves, could have freed a thousand more if they only knew they were slaves ... I march mainly for us, if only we knew that we were slaves. This marks the third incident in the past month where Houthi missiles have targeted India-bound ships New Delhi: Houthi rebels in Yemen launched missiles on Friday towards an oil tanker carrying crude to India, further escalating tensions in the Red Sea as attacks on merchant vessels continue amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. This marks the third incident in the past month where Houthi missiles have targeted India-bound ships. The Panamanian-flagged tanker, MT Pollux, reportedly sustained minor damage and its crew remains unharmed. The U.S. Central Command confirmed the attack, stating that at least three anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas towards the Pollux. No other vessels were reported damaged. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was conducted "in confirmation of continued practical solidarity with the Palestinian people." The extent of damage to the tanker remains unclear. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the incident and reported that the Pollux encountered an explosion near a missile strike. Military authorities are currently responding to the situation. This latest attack highlights the growing threat to maritime traffic in the Red Sea, raising concerns about the potential for wider regional conflict. Kunming fair reflects boom in foreign goods consumption Xinhua) 09:53, February 18, 2024 KUNMING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- While Chinese people maintain a tradition of buying new items to welcome the Chinese New Year, commodities from foreign countries are finding their popularity increasing among holiday shoppers. A 16-day-long shopping fair featuring diverse range of goods from Asia, Africa and Europe was held before the ongoing Spring Festival holiday in the city of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Wang Yajuan, who was looking for new furniture for her home, was delighted because she had found something she liked at the fair: a set of exquisite handmade rosewood furniture from Pakistan. "I like their bright color. I haven't seen this type of furniture before," she said after purchasing four chairs and a coffee table. For the Pakistani seller, who identified himself as Abrar, it was his first time selling handmade products in Kunming. "I found that many Chinese people are really interested in our Pakistani handicrafts. I was pleasantly surprised," he said. Abrar hopes to find business opportunities in other Chinese cities including Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Also doing swift business at the fair was a businessman from Bangladesh, Rashid, whose handmade purses and belts proved very popular among fair visitors. "I know Chinese people always enjoy buying new clothes before the Spring Festival, so I came here, and I'm very satisfied with the results," he said. In addition to handicrafts, foreign food has been a hit among Chinese consumers. Wu Yucui is a sales agent for Vietnamese snacks, mainly selling durian cakes and dried mangoes. During the exhibition, she sold more than 200 kilograms of durian cakes per day. "People are very receptive to the Vietnamese durian cakes. After tasking them, they often say they'd like to buy some," Wu said. Li Songyan, head of the fair's organizing team, said the event attracted exhibitors from Asia, Europe, America, Australia and other places. With more than 20,000 kinds of commodities on offer, visitors enjoy a rich and diverse consumption experience, said Li. As of Feb. 5, the total number of the visitors had reached about 800,000, and the on-site turnover was 190 million yuan (about 26.7 million U.S. dollars). "I feel like we have more shopping options this year, with goods from countries thousands of miles away right in front of us," said Li Yanxin, a visitor to the fair. In recent years, the increasing scale of commodity imports has offered greater choices of Chinese consumers, while boosting the trade in foreign commodities in the Chinese market. The China-South Asia Expo has set up a permanent pavilion in Kunming, which sells imported commodities including rice from Laos, candy and chocolate from Belarus, and durian cakes from Vietnam. The sales continue to grow, especially before this Spring Festival. From Jan. 23 to Feb. 5 alone, the retail and wholesale sales of the pavilion exceeded 1 million yuan, reflecting the boom in consumption of foreign goods in the Chinese market. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Lee Hyon-soo Aspiring writers may find it difficult to get their books published in the traditional publishing industry. Some of the main barriers they face are as follows: To stay in business, publishers only publish books that they think are salable. So they consider market demand when deciding which books to publish. If a manuscript does not fit into a popular genre or address a market need, publishers may be hesitant to invest in it. Publishers have specific quality standards that manuscripts need to meet. Writing a book that meets these standards requires not only talent but also a deep understanding of the craft of writing. Many aspiring writers may not have the necessary skills or experience to meet these standards. Publishing decisions are subjective and can vary from one editor to another. This subjectivity makes it challenging for aspiring writers to predict which publishers might be interested in their work. Publishing is as much about who you know as it is about what you write. Established authors usually have networks within the industry, including literary agents and editors who can open doors for them. Aspiring writers who lack these connections may find it extremely challenging to get noticed. Given the foregoing, Print-on-demand (POD) self-publishing has become a viable option for aspiring writers. It is a publishing model where books are printed as they are ordered rather than in large print batches. POD self-publishing offers a range of benefits to the authors, as outlined below. Unlike in the case of traditional publishing, POD self-publishing gives authors control over the books content, cover design and pricing. As manuscripts submitted to the POD self-publishing companies are not put through the rigorous screening and editing process, POD self-publishing significantly shortens the time to market. Books can be published and available for purchase online within a matter of days or weeks after submission. Traditional publishing involves significant upfront costs as books are printed in bulk for distribution to bookstores for sale. But POD eliminates the need for such costs because copies are printed after orders are placed. In traditional publishing, authors may end up taking financial responsibility for unsold copies of their books. But POD eliminates the risk and cost associated with excess inventory. POD services usually offer distribution networks, making it easy for authors to reach markets without worrying about shipping and storage logistics. While traditional publishers typically offer relatively low royalty rates, authors using the POD platform can earn a higher percentage of the book sale price. This can be especially appealing to authors who want to retain a larger portion of their earnings. POD services provide both paperback and eBook publishing options, allowing authors to cater to different reader preferences. This versatility can enhance the books reach and appeal to a broader audience. POD technology has improved over the years, ensuring high-quality printed books that are nearly comparable to traditionally published ones. Readers are more likely to embrace self-published works when the quality meets industry standards. Overall, the rise in popularity of POD self-publishing can be attributed to the democratization of the publishing industry, offering authors an affordable, accessible, and efficient way to bring their work to readers. On a personal note, I have self-published two books in the United States and four books in Korea using POD. My books can be purchased from online bookstores. Lee Hyon-soo (tomhslee43@gmail.com) is the author of Essays by A Korean-Canadian, published in the United States by KDP, Amazons publishing unit, among other books. Francis once again called for peace in a world drenched in blood. He devoted a special thought to "Europe, Palestine, Ukraine", as well as Sudan and Mozambique, where violence is intensifying in the Cabo Delgado region. As Lent begins, he calls on the faithful to devote time to "silence" and "prayer". Vatican City (AsiaNews) On the first Sunday of Lent, in his address after the recitation of todays Angelus, Pope Francis invited those who are listening to dedicate themselves to peace in a concrete way, heart and mind. As he has said before, he said: "Let us not forget: war is a defeat, always. In fact, Wherever there is warfare, the populations are exhausted, they are tired of war, which is always pointless and inconclusive, and brings only death, only destruction, and will never lead to the solution to problems. The pontiff turned his thoughts to the conflicts that are causing bloodshed in "many parts of the world", places like Europe, Palestine, Ukraine," and the African continent. After the Marian prayer, the Holy Father spoke about the ten months of armed conflict in Sudan, which broke out on 15 April 2023, pitting Sudans regular army against the RSF paramilitary group. The war in that country has created a very grave humanitarian situation," which has cost thousands of lives, especially among civilians, as well as the flight of almost seven million people, leaving the African country with the largest number of internally displaced people in the world. I once again ask the conflicting parties to stop this war, which inflicts a great deal of harm to the people and the future of the country," Francis said. He called for prayers so that paths of peace can be found soon, to build the future of dear Sudan. To commit to peace, at the start of the Lenten journey, Francis called on the faithful to entrust themselves to prayer, "tirelessly" because it is effective". The Holy Father also spoke about Mozambique, where "violence against defenceless populations, the destruction of infrastructure, and insecurity are again rampant in the northern Cabo Delgado region. Reflecting a rising wave of attacks against churches and Christian sites around the world, a local Catholic mission, Our Lady of Africa, in Mazeze, in Cabo Delgado, was recently set on fire. Let us pray for peace to return to that tormented region," Pope Francis said, A delegation representing protesting farmers was present in a sun-filled St Peter's Square packed with faithful and pilgrims. The protest movement has spread across Europe over the past few weeks. I greet the growers and livestock farmers in the square," Francis said from the window of the Apostolic Palace. The group, which brought the pope some agricultural products like flour and tools used in the fields, addressed a letter to the Holy See: "The Vatican and the Pope must give voice to our problems. We are here in a symbolic way." Before the Angelus, the pontiff commented the Gospel of the day (Mk 1:12-15), which speaks about Jesus who goes into the desert for 40 days where he is tempted by Satan. We too, during Lent, are invited to enter the wilderness, he said. Such an experience means living in silence, in the inner world, listening to the heart, in contact with the truth." Jesus in the wilderness "was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him" (v. 13). Starting from this, Pope Francis explained what are, symbolically, the beasts and angels that keep people company. In our spiritual life, the beasts can be thought of as "the disordered passions that divide the heart, trying to take possession of it. Among these, Francis cited the "coveting for wealth," "the vanity of pleasure," and "the craving for fame." For the Holy Father, They are like wild beasts, and as such they must be tamed and fought; otherwise, they will devour our freedom. As for the angels, some are Gods messengers, who help us, who do us good," the pope explained. They stand as the opposite of possession. The angelic spirits instead recall the good thoughts and sentiments suggested by the Holy Spirit. [G]ood divine inspirations unify us and let us enter into harmony: they quench the heart, infuse the taste of Christ, the flavour of Heaven, Francis said. At this time of Lent, the pope urged the faithful to devote themselves to "silence and prayer, especially this year, as preparations get underway for the Jubilee dedicated to prayer; this calls for communities and faithful to dedicate specific moments to gather themselves in the presence of the Lord. Finally, Francis ended saying that this afternoon he was going to start spiritual exercises "together with the collaborators of the Curia." A book published in Italy traces the story of the missionary bishop of Zhengzhou, the immediate predecessor of one of three recently appointed bishops in the People's Republic of China. Paul VI praised him for his extraordinary example of courage and fidelity to the Gospel in communist imprisonment and for the love he always kept alive for the flock that had been entrusted to him, even in exile. Milan (AsiaNews) Recent episcopal appointments in China have put the spotlight on the Diocese of Zhengzhou (Henan province); with the ordination of Mgr Wang Yuesheng, it now has a bishop after more than seventy years. Bishop Wangs predecessor was Mgr Faustino Tissot (1901-1991), a Xaverian missionary from Trentino (Italy), who was imprisoned and then forced into exile by communist authorities in 1953, a fate visited upon all foreign missionaries in China in those years. Bishop Tissots heroic testimony and his never-ending love for China, even in the decades after the tragic epilogue of his presence, is the subject of a recently published book. Titled Contentissimo di essere in Cina (Very happy to be in China), the tome was written by his confrere, Fr Gabriele Ferrari, and published by Vita Trentina, the diocesan weekly of Trento (Italy). In an easy-to-read biography, the author traces the story of the missionary, originally from the Primiero Valley (Trentino), and his extraordinary testimony, which is also a precious legacy for the Church in China today. Pope Pius XII appointed Fr Tissot bishop of Zhengzhou on 10 May 1946. For the Trentino missionary, who was in Italy at the time standing in for the Xaverian superior general, it was a return to the land that had been his first missionary destination, where he had carried out his apostolate from 1926 to 1933, before being called back to Italy by his institute to serve as master of novices. Bishop Tissot returned to China at a very troubled time. Two years after the death of his predecessor, the first bishop, also a Xaverian, Mgr Luigi Calza, this missionary outpost was coping with the wounds left behind by the Sino-Japanese war, the local chapter of the Second World War. Fr Faustino rolled up his sleeves to uplift his community. But he had just 20 months to do so in complete freedom; on 28 October 1948, communist revolutionaries occupied the city. The "Reds", as the missionaries called them, moved into bishop's house in Zhengzhou on day one, taking over the ground floor, forcing Bishop Tissot and other missionaries and priests onto the second floor. From four in the morning to ten in the evening, [I was] always in my room (because those are orders)," the bishop told his brother in one of the few letters he managed to send. The room is 54 metres, a bed, a desk, a dresser, and a wardrobe, in which there is the altar and the Blessed Sacrament well hidden. So, [I am] always in the company of Jesus who is all my comfort, and so I pray often, right? I remember all of you, each one, and I send you my blessing every day. "Many accusations have been made against me, the most bizarre and false, of course," he added. But, so far, they haven't been able to get me to leave. Don't worry about me; never have I touched with my own hands in recent years the gentleness of Divine Providence, which thinks not only of souls, but also of material things. Pray a lot for me, that I may bear my crosses not only with patience, but also with joy. On 30 July 1953, local revolutionaries seized on a trivial matter to move from surveillance to actual arrest; during a summer storm, water entered through the uneven windows of the upper floor and, after flooding it, it flowed onto the ground floor occupied by the communists. The latter ranted and raved against the missionaries, accusing them of trying to wreck the house that they had occupied and that had been declared the property of the people. During questioning, the communist revolutionaries tried above all to pressure the bishop to resign and let them pick a successor. At this moment, Bishop Tissots resistance was heroic. Remember that there are two paths," the prelate said, referring to the threats he had received, "either you appoint that one as vicar or we will send you to forced labour; we'll take off your robe, we'll cut off your beard, we'll dress you in a shirt with a pair of shorts, and you'll be forced to carry 2,000 bricks a day. For now, think it over in the prison cell. Despite the threats, Tissot stood firm: Do whatever, but I can't betray my conscience. If my health won't allow me to carry 2,000 bricks a day, I'll carry 500." "During the hearings, the judges insisted that I ask to leave," he said. But I said, 'No, if the government doesn't send me away, I'll stay.' On 12 November, in the evening, I was called to court for what turned out to be the last questioning or a final attack: 'We heard that you have hidden gold, you must hand it over to the government'. This information was false. They then tried with a threat: 'If you don't tell us where you keep the money, you won't leave China.' But here I responded quickly: You're doing me a favour." That same night they called him again and ordered him to leave at once. "Thus," Father Ferrari notes, "with an apparent defeat, which in reality was the glorious conclusion of his Chinese episcopate, Bishop Tissot was expelled from that land that he loved and would continue to love until the end of his life, the land that, ultimately, was the homeland of the flock solemnly entrusted to him in 1946. "He was thrown out at night, like a dog, robbed of everything. They gave him neither his garments, nor the pectoral cross, or the ring. He arrived at the Luo Wu Bridge on the border with Hong Kong in a poor Chinese robe and a pair of slippers. It was 1 November 1953. However, that did not end his episcopal ministry, which, even in forced exile in Italy he continued to carry out in the service of the mission, both at Propaganda Fidae and the Xaverian institute. But the most beautiful summary of Bishop Tissots life came later, in 1971, in a message Pope Paul VI wrote to him for the 25th anniversary of his episcopate and which the book reports. The pontiff noted the special quality of "an anniversary that, while normally celebrated in joy, you spend instead with the confreres of your religious family, mixing tears with pure joy of the heart." In fact, "in the withdrawn life you now lead in Rome, your memory will go back to your Diocese of Zhengzhou, where you were the cautious, industrious, courageous pastor, an example to all. In your memory you will remember, like on a screen, all that you were given to imagine, realise, suffer in the distant Chinese nation to disseminate and glorify the Gospel." "In remembering these things with you, one by one, Paul VI noted, "we deem you to be entirely worthy of our esteem and that of the whole Church, which in your person honours the genuine virtue of those who, for the faith, endured mockery, scourging, even chains of imprisonment' (cf. Hebrews 11:36) and who, although they were innocent, experienced outrage and violence. Yet, no shadow of bitterness prevents you from loving with intense and everlasting love the people from whom you have been separated, and from maintaining peace and sanctification with everyone, without which no one will see the Lord (ibid., 12:14)". ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SUNDAY, CLICK HERE. Copyright 2024 AccuWeather. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. People tend to become very attached to their collections. The deeper you dive into a hobby, the more its grip on you will tighten further. The Hot Wheels Universe is vast, and your best chance to survive it is to focus your energy on only a few collections. 1. '32 Ford Photo: eBay/User TitusHiddenGems 2. '64 Pontiac GTO Photo: eBay/User BizzyBee's Shop 3. '65 Mustang Photo: eBay/User unclenee43081 4. '77 Pontiac Firebird 5. Custom '56 Ford Truck 6. Dodge Caravan 7. Honda Civic Coupe Photo: eBay/User Vintage82 8. Honda Civic Si 9. Pontiac GTO Wagon Photo: eBay/User Power Seller Authority 10. Volkswagen Beetle These days, you'll often hear adult collectors talking about Mattel's Car Culture and Boulevard line of tiny cars. The latter has been around for over a decade but has undergone some changes. I've recently looked at the Ahead of Its Time collection, and I want a Vector W8 Twinturbo for Christmas. However, Mattel had five more themes for the 2012 Boulevard series.And today, I'm going over "Big Hits," a collection of 17 castings. I've chosen the ten most exciting ones for this list. But I would love to hear if you'd switch things up and select other models than I did. Excluding the seven vehicles was a challenging choice, but hear me out. I discussed the '69 Chevy Camaro in my Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Favorites review. The A-OK and the T-Bucket were cool 20 years ago, but I wonder if I would pick one up today. The '55 Lincoln Futura Concept is excellent, but I may have seen too many Batman releases based on it.Mattel never released another iteration of this vehicle after 2012, so that makes you wonder. The livery on the '65 Chevy Impala looks fresh, but I'd rather have a muscle car. That being said, I reluctantly excluded the '68 Olds 442 from this list. But you can read more about it in my 2011 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt review. As for the '57 Chevy Bel Air, something about it almost makes it feel like a Mainline model.And you don't want something like that in a premium series! Before I look at each casting individually, there's one more thing I'd like to say. For all 17 collectibles, you're looking at a budget of $300 to $700. But once you get a taste of these castings, you may go for the complete collection. I've done the math, and you won't like it. There are over 520 iterations to look for. I'm guessing here, but you might need more than $5,000 for that line-up.The '32 Ford is the only casting in this collection that Garry Saffer designed. It's also the second most popular model by number of variations after the Volkswagen Beetle (72 cars). That's because it debuted in 1998 and has always worked well with the fans.Mattel threw a Gulf livery on it, making it a Super Treasure Hunt in 2022. But I would still choose the 2012 Big Hits release over it. The yellow paint job looks superb with a minimalistic livery and the Moon Disc wheels. And you can still buy one for less than $20.The '64 Pontiac GTO was hot from the very beginning. What else would you expect from a Hot Wheels Ultra Hots release? Most of the 16 variations are unique in one way or another, and of course, you'll find a Treasure Hunt and Super Treasure Hunt GTO along the way.Some of you may feel that the paint job on the 2012 Boulevard release was slightly dull, but the car more than makes up for it. And it has an opening hood, which makes it more attractive than some of the recent Red Line Club releases.Larry Wood designed eight of the 17 Boulevard Big Hits series castings, '65 Mustang included. It is one of the cheaper models, as even the most expensive one costs a little over $20. It may be due to the Real Riders Larry Wood 5-Spoke wheels or the generally reduced interest on behalf of collectors.After all, Mattel stopped producing this casting in 2019, after 24 variations in over ten years. Mustangs fans may disagree, but the Boulevard iteration needs more attention to detail. Of course, the diecast manufacturer has many more Mustang castings to show if that's your cup of tea.Jun Imai designed the '77 Pontiac Firebird almost 20 years ago, and the casting is still going strong. With 16 iterations to look for, one of the most exciting ones is coming up in 2024. That's right, the Firebird is finally graduating to the Super Treasure Hunt level!But there are at least five more fascinating iterations to consider if you're a genre fan. And the first one showed up in the 2012 Hot Wheels Boulevard Big Hits collection. The black paint job looks great against the gold Turbine Real Riders wheels, which led to some sellers asking as much as $60 for this model.The Custom '56 Ford Truck is the only pick-up truck on the list today. Larry Wood designed this one, too, and Mattel released 29 iterations between 2007 and 2022. You won't find an STH release here, but at least ten or 11 of them are worth seeking out.I'm a fan of the Series 5 Classic version in Spectraflame Dark Red, but the diecast manufacturer also did an excellent job with the Boulevard variation. The two-tone paint job and Moon Disc wheels are like a blast to the past, and paying $10 for this item sounds like a bargain. Dodge Caravan differs from what you'd think when talking about cool cars. But having this diversity at the 1/64th scale is excellent, as it allows for complex and more life-like dioramas. Mattel appointed Phil Riehlman to design the casting but halted the project after just 14 variations.And guess what! The 2012 Boulevard model is the last to come out of the factory and the sole Premium variation simultaneously. The Mag-Style Real Riders help it score extra points, so the cheapest one on the market costs more than $20!Being a Honda guy, I couldn't help but include both the Civic Coupe and the Civic SI castings on this list. The older Coupe has been on my mind for years and years, and I'd still buy one as a secondary fun car. Three designers collaborated on designing the tiny Civic, drawing inspiration from a tuned vehicle built in 1999. Despite including 32 variations over the years, Mattel has never made a TH or STH version of it.The 2012 Boulevard release is one of the nicest Civics you can hope for, with a teal paint job, "carbon fiber" parts, and Real Riders eight-spoke wheels. And it is for that reason that prices vary between $50 to $100.The second Civic on the list is the second Japanese car in the series, which shows how much Boulevard has changed over the past decade. It's one of only a handful of models that Sei Cho designed during his tenure at Mattel (he is also responsible for the Ferrari F430 Spider).Since 2006, the diecast manufacturer has developed 28 iterations of this casting. And the 2012 Pearl Green Civic SI is the only Premium variation we've seen. $20 to $50 will earn you one, and I wonder whether we'll see another release soon or not. It has been off the market since 2018!Driving up to your local meet in a Pontiac GTO Wagon could be an exciting thing to do. Everyone loves a sleeper, right? The entire collection will require you to purchase 16 iterations, which may be costly with all the Premium GTO Wagons out there.I particularly like those with Spectraflame paint jobs, but the two-tone red and black version from 2012 isn't half bad, either. I've seen these items going for as cheap as $18, but it all depends on how good a negotiator you are.I am gawking at another Hot Wheels car with Moon Disc wheels on. I've never driven a Beetle or even sat in one before, but I understand why they're one of the most popular machines ever. Between 1989 and 2023, Mattel released 91 variations of this vehicle! Let that sink in for a moment.The earliest one to have had Real Riders wheels was a black one in 1993, and you'll find many excellent variations along the way. I dare not dream of owning the complete collection one day, but I'm sure some Beetle enthusiasts would stop at nothing to get it. EV FSD SUV Obviously intended to preview the electric future of the American brand thats been left without arguments on the US market by its parent Stellantis when it ceased production of the 300 sedan, the Halcyon Concept is nothing but a study into theworld of tomorrow. Yet, somehow, it made me wonder what would happen if the company released it to fight the most powerful sedans of the day Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire.One could argue that maybe it doesnt even hunt them in the first place. However, despite the edgy shape of this very aerodynamic concept, there are obvious similarities between the Halcyon EV and Teslas sedans or the Lucid Air. Of course, it could feature an assortment of dimensions since Chrysler doesnt quote any exact figures, so theres also that question in the real world, would it compete against the smaller Model 3 or the larger Model S and the Lucid Air?As a reminder, Chrysler revealed the Halcyon concept on the eve of Valentines Day 2024 to exemplify the fully electric future of the brand, focusing on three pillars design, sustainability, and autonomous driving. Currently, the brand is lacking in all three departments with the Pacifica being a traditional minivan, for example. As for the other two, do we even need to talk about GMs Super Cruise or TeslaAnyway, this prototype will probably never reach series production, which is understandable since it fuses Level 4 autonomous driving with odd stuff like crushed and recycled music CDs used to construct the new Chrysler wing logos. Interestingly, the company could actually bring it to life and on the market because its not something built as a clay model and instead it uses the real STLA Large platform , making it a distant sibling to the upcoming Dodge Charger Daytona EV muscle car.But the rest of the cues, from STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive technologies to the butterfly-hinged canopy and 90-degree suicide door openings, have nothing to do with a series-production model, or not yet anyway. In the near future, whenever that may be, the 95% sustainable interior materials arent a bad idea, while the biometric identification Welcome/Entru mode is just Stellantis way of understanding that Tesla with no key procedure.In fact, many things remind us of Tesla inside including the style of the steering wheel or the positioning of the single LED screen in the center with either portrait or landscape orientation modes. The main problem is speculating on the dimensions of the concept and knowing if its a Model 3 or Model S plus Lucid Air competitor. If Chrysler is smart, they will make the upcoming EV model inspired by the Halcyon something in between, maybe an heir to the 300 sedan but also a cool four-door version of the new Dodge Charger Daytona. Its embedded technologies are a long way to go before reaching series production, especially in this day and age when software is at the center of so many botched EV launches just look at GM and its Ultium troubles.Still, I would have loved to see a real Chrysler Halcyon sedan battle away with the 1,020-hp Tesla Model S Plaid and the 1,234-hp Lucid Air Sapphire because if I remember correctly the company touted the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept with up to nine Banshee EV powertrain options, including 800-volt ones that would terrorize both the Plaid and Sapphire with up to 1,320 hp. So, you see, theres a distinct possibility that Chrysler will go directly after these big EV sedans, either in equal full-size or a smaller, nimbler medium-size format.Hopefully, this will happen sooner rather than later because I dont even want to think how many people will remember Chrysler was once a glorious American car brand by the time these corner office head honchos finally decided what to do next with it. Otherwise, the gap will be impossible to fil and any legacy automaker going after these new kids on the EV block will fail from the beginning. Now, we are playing a waiting game as we intend to see if Chrysler will attack the EV block with a sedan or a crossoverinitially.Funny enough, even the Japanese could have enough time to catch Tesla down the EV racetrack if Stellantis continues to give us false expectations about Chrysler, only to reinvent the future strategy all over again note the succession of concepts: Portal in 2017, Airflow in 2022, and the Chrysler Synthesis Cockpit Demonstrator in 2023. Each had a different vision and now the Halcyon prototype. I am getting tired of seeing Chrysler reinvent itself only in the conceptual world and not doing anything in the real one. The least they could do is to fix whats wrong with the Pacifica so it doesnt pop up on peoples lists of avoid at all cost, right? kW Photo: Manhart AMG Photo: Manhart You might be tempted to say that this is how BMW rolls these days. But that's not true, as it has some pretty high-riders in its portfolio, like the X5 (and X5 M), which is arguably one of the best-looking in its class. On the other hand, models like the X6 and its smaller siblings will never truly convince the petrolhead crowd they are worth it, just like XM Sharing many components with the largest Xs out there, including the X7, X6, and X5, as well as the 8 Series and 7 Series flagship sedan, the BMW XM officially came to market a little over a year ago. That is when production started at the South Carolina plant in the United States for worldwide markets, and since then, the company has constantly expanded the family to include additional members.Since it comes to life in America, it was only logical that BMW would sell it here. The local lineup comprises the normal XM and the Label , which have respective MSRPs of $159,000 and $185,000. The former has 644 hp (653 ps/480) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque on tap from their 4.4L twin-turbo V8 with plug-in capabilities, which enables the zero to sixty mph (0 to 97 kph) in 4.1 seconds. The latter boasts over 738 hp (749 ps/551 kW) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) and is half a second faster.What does this tell us? The base XM is slower than the cheaper X6 M , which starts at $127,200, and needs 3.7 seconds to 60 mph courtesy of its 617 hp (626 ps/460 kW) available. The X5 M is equally fast and a bit more affordable at $122,300 before destination. Even the smaller X4 M is faster at 3.9 seconds, and it comes with a $79,100 MSRP. In fact, it is equally quick to the base M3 Sedan, whose 473 hp (480 ps/353 kW) twin-turbo straight-six allows it to sprint to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.So much for the only standalone M model crown in BMW's portfolio, right? That would be a yes, as one can spend far less money on a faster vehicle from the same class, which looks way better than the XM . We hate to repeat ourselves, but we cannot see why anyone would ever get it over something like an X5 M, a far prettier proposal that costs less and is quicker. Let's not forget that the competition (pun intended) offers similar models, too, so you may want to check out Porsche's, Audi's, and Mercedes-'s portfolios before ordering an XM.Since we've bashed it a bit more than we intended, let's move on to yet another tuned copy. This one came from Manhart and features a few add-ons on the outside that the company has bundled up into a package they named Thor. The updates revolve around the front, rear, and side attachments, including the long side skirts, new diffuser, apron, and a few other bits and bobs, with the fresh hood pretty much completing the build. Everything can be ordered in carbon or forged carbon, and Manhart decided to sprinkle some yellow accents on the car's black body.Manhart took to its official website and social media accounts to present the Thor kit for the BMW XM, announcing at the same time that they are working on carbon fiber exhaust tips and more add-ons for the rear bumper, which will be revealed in a few weeks. What they haven't said, however, is how much everything costs. You might think that the answer lies buried in the tuner's website, alongside a plethora of other upgrades for various models , but that's not the case or it wasn't at the time of writing.Nevertheless, someone interested in giving their XM this look can always reach out to Manhart, whose representatives will gladly answer all their Benjamin-related questions. Those who pre-order the kit will get a 12% discount, and fitting everything should be easy using fasteners and a special adhesive at the OEM mounting points. This means you can revert your BMW M super crossover to its original specification without hassle if you get bored with this look.Still, it is a bit more appealing than the stock BMW XM, so it would be a well-deserved upgrade. But would you ever fit it to yours? And better yet, would you blow a lot of money on this model or get something else instead? The offer is varied, as we already told you, and it would be the X5 M that I'd drive home. There are countless ways of enjoying nature, even as a city person, and this kind of variety is a good thing. But while some entail ditching all the comforts of city life in return for bonding with Mother Nature, glamping doesn't. Photo: Repere Boreal Photo: Repere Boreal Photo: Repere Boreal Photo: Repere Boreal With The Uhu, glamping doesn't rule out a premium, luxury experience either, and it comes with a very unique twist. Call it high-end glamping, and you wouldn't be wrong. It's high glamping in the most literal sense because this A-frame cabin is suspended 40 feet (12.2 meters) in the air.Glamping is camping's rich cousin from out of town, a sort of hybrid solution for those looking to get out of the city without leaving city-level comfort behind. It's a sort of "best of both worlds" solution to enjoy clean air, beautiful scenery, and outdoor activities while not having to rough it. Glamping takes on a variety of forms, be it with prefabs, modular units, tiny houses, or once-road-legal vehicles like buses and RVs, rendered stationary and home-like.The Uhu is one of the latest glamping builds from Canada-based maker Repere Boreal, and it's perhaps the most striking yet. It started out as a typical A-frame cabin, but it now sits on steel stilts 40 feet (12.2 meters) in the air so that it resembles a very fancy and striking tree house. Located in Charlevoix, Quebec, it's a retreat in the middle of nature that makes no compromises in terms of comfort to offer a unique experience The Uhu favors a diamond shape for the exterior, but it is surprisingly all about curved surfaces inside, which help create a cozier, more inviting space. Since the total living footprint is just a little over 200 square feet (18.5 square meters), every trick in the book that would make this "home" feel like one helps.Access is done through a steel and wood staircase inside a separate structure that also houses the water and electricity lines. The two buildings are connected by a bridge that doubles as a suspended terrace just the place to be enjoying your morning coffee smack in the middle of the forest but shielded from it.The Uhu holds every creature comfort from a shower room to a full kitchen and a bedroom, but minimalism is the key word. This was designed from the get-go as a rental unit, so minimalism works in keeping the space uncluttered. The design is truly striking, as the video tour below will show: every piece of furniture had to be custom-made to fit the angular walls and to create a curved interior.You get the "mechanical room" on one side of the entrance, with a wardrobe and the toilet room on the other. Next up is the shower room, which is encased in glass and has the same diamond shape as the cabin itself. The queen-size bed with underneath storage faces the large glass wall at the opposite end but is also basked in light coming in through the two overhead skylights.The glass wall holds a table for two built into the steel frame, so you can take in the extraordinary views while dining or getting some work done if you're the kind who has to bring work on vacation. The opposite wall holds the single-block kitchen unit, with a two-burner cooktop, a granite sink, CNC-machined cabinets, and a steel countertop.At the base of the cabin is another exterior lounge with a grill, a seating area, and a ski chair repurposed as a unique swing.Like with most projects we cover here , The Uhu stands out for the beautiful details, like the two wine bottle holders on the wall, mood lighting, or even the unique placement of the dining table. It also stands out for being a gorgeous, unique project that defied the odds and challenges to become a reality.The cabin is grounded in the rocky surface, with the stilts going 30 feet (9.1 meters) deep into the ground for stability. It's also fully insulated to withstand the differences in temperature between seasons in Canada and warmed with in-floor heating and a mini-split unit. It relies on the grid for power, water, and sewage because making it even partially off-grid would have rendered the project impossible.This unique cabin promises guests "five-star comfort in a chalet perched high," with WiFi, in-wall speakers, and views you won't find anywhere else. For everyone else reading thisplanning a trip to Canada anytime soon, The Uhu is a gorgeous example that glamping is yet to exhaust creative solutions to offer glampers a memorable experience in the great outdoors.Sure, you might argue, you won't be getting to experience much of the great outdoors if you're inside such an amazing place or any other glamping unit, and you're absolutely right. Glamping isn't comparable to regular camping, overlanding, or boondocking, but it doesn't want to be. It's a fancy outing in nature for the fancier types . And The Uhu lives up to the fancy standards. By Lee Min-hyung SK Networks has pledged to transform its overall business structure by introducing innovative profit models powered by artificial intelligence (AI) so that it can achieve triple earnings growth by 2026, the company said Sunday. According to the ICT arm of SK Group, it recently held a general meeting for institutional investors, presenting a set of its next growth strategies driven by AI and robotics. The company said the AI-focused strategy will help it generate an annual operating profit of 700 billion won ($524.6 million) in less than three years. Specifically, SK magic, a home appliance rental business subsidiary of SK Networks, will launch new AI-converged IT devices and solutions this year in lucrative growth areas such as pet care and health care. The company also plans to expand its overseas presence by launching its services in markets including the United States and India. Walkerhill Hotels & Resorts operated by SK Networks is also poised to reshape its brand image as an AI hotel. It will become a venue for customers to enjoy special content with a combination of K-culture and AI technologies. The hotel is also set to develop its non-fungible token (NFT)-based membership and offer more customized services for visitors. Under the drive, the hotel aims to attain triple growth of its revenue over the next three years. SK Networks will be able to attain the target operating profit by the end of 2026, which is almost triple growth from 2023, an official from the company said. Coupled with the revenue growth, we will also be able to enhance our corporate value and do good to interested parties. SK Networks CEO & President Lee Ho-jeong also promised to deepen transparent communication with shareholders and investors here and abroad. We will continue to pursue sustainable growth by introducing AI as the key theme for our businesses, Lee told investors during a meeting for institutional shareholders last Friday. The strategy will keep developing our businesses and help shareholders hold our shares for a longer period of time. The company will also create more synergy with our partners and affiliates, so as for both sides to map out more concrete visions, he added. In the process, we will transparently communicate with interested parties when making crucial decisions and changing our strategies. If you want your camper to serve as an adventure van, you need to make sure it can take you off-road and off-grid. Today, I'm discussing a rig that's designed for those who crave both comfort and adventure and want to enjoy group trips or family outings. Photo: YouTube Screenshot / San Juan Vans Photo: YouTube Screenshot / San Juan Vans Photo: YouTube Screenshot / San Juan Vans kWh kW Photo: YouTube Screenshot / San Juan Vans What we have here is the SJ4 camper vans, the latest creation made by San Juan Vans. As its name suggests, this company is based in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. San Juan Vans' mission is to develop off-grid-capable adventure vehicles that can take you wherever you want to go, 365 days a year.The SJ4 is built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4 170" wheelbase chassis, a popular option among van converters. In fact, all of the company's builds are based on Sprinter vans. Moreover, the SJ4 is meant to comfortably accommodate a family of four, as it boasts two bedrooms and one bath. But before we take a closer look inside, let me tell you more about the exterior features.This rig is equipped with a Van Compass Stage 3 suspension kit and rides on BFGoodrich K02 tires, further improving its off-road capabilities. Moreover, it's got 360-degree LED lighting, and Stoked Adventure Outfitters Nerf Bars. Other notable exterior details are the massive pop-top roof and flares with slide-screen windows, which increase the interior bedroom space.Pop the sliding door open, and you'll discover a cleanly designed interior San Juan Vans opted for custom-built bamboo cabinetry paired with marine-grade vinyl flooring.You'll notice an open layout, as the driver's cabin isn't separated from the rest of the living space. What's more, the driver's and passenger's seats can be swiveled, and there's a vast headliner shelf above.You'll find a massive seating area in the front besides the two front seats, there are two additional swiveling captain's chairs mounted to the floor, both with integrated seatbelts.Between these two seating arrangements, you can add two swivel tables, making this area perfect for playing board games, working on your laptop, or enjoying a meal.To climb up inside the pop-top roof, you'll have to deploy a telescopic ladder. It's a RRE Global SCA 252 pop-top roof , built from a durable reinforced glass fiber and lined with plush upholstery. What's more, it's got three screened windows and it offers insulation and soundproofing.The next part of this camper van is the kitchen, which is split into two parts. It features two countertops, a relatively small yet deep sink, an overhead microwave, a two-burner induction stove, an Isotherm fridge/freezer, two overhead cabinets, and various other drawers and cabinets.Integrated by the door into one of the overhead cabinets is a custom-made control panel with light switches, a Victron Cerbo GX touchscreen display that controls the electrical system, and buttons that dump the rig's greywater tanks.You'll find the bathroom on the driver's side of the interior. It offers a bunch of space and comes with a Nautilus self-cleaning sliding door, a cassette toilet connected to a removable black tank on the exterior, and a shower. Moreover, the space left between the bathroom and the bedroom was used to create a compact closet.The rear part of the interior is occupied by the bedroom. It has an elevated queen-size mattress, two overhead cabinets, two reading lights, a Maxxair fan, and a control panel for the heating and A/C system.San Juan Vans, like other van builders, chose to mount the bedroom higher up to leave room for the garage. And they left a ton of space, enough to fit bulkier items and even bicycles.The sides of the garage house the rig's utility systems. On the right side, you'll notice the power system. As I mentioned earlier, this company is all about enabling proper off-grid travel. This van's 48 V electrical system lives up to that promise, as it comprises an 8.4Lithionics 51 V lithium-ion battery, a 3,000 W Victron inverter/charger, and a dedicated second alternator capable of 6.9of charge.This latter piece of equipment allows the system to fully recharge after just 1.5 hours of driving. What's more, you even get 300 W solar panels on the roof. You're definitely not going to be worried about running out of battery juice in this rig.On the opposite side, San Juan Vans installed an AquaHot Hydronic heat and on-demand hot water system, a Cruise'n'Comort 12,000 BTU A/C - the company explained that you can run this A/C at full blast for 9 hours, and a 30-gallon (114-liter) freshwater tank.Regarding the rest of the plumbing system, you get a dedicated, indoor-mounted greywater tank for the sink and one for the shower, which is mounted under the vehicle.All in all, this four-season-ready tiny home on wheels is ready for any off-grid adventure. Furthermore, it's cozy and aesthetically pleasing and can accommodate more people than many other camper vans. This rig is currently for sale you'll have to dish out a whopping $198,500 (184,178) if you want to get your hands on it. What defines a gentleman's yacht? If you ask world-renowned yacht builder Heesen Yachts, it's a combination of impressive performance, outstanding and innovative features, sophisticated styling, and more industry firsts than fingers on one hand. Photo: Heesen Yachts Photo: Heesen Yachts Photo: Heesen Yachts Photo: Heesen Yachts No wonder, then, that Ultra G , codenamed Project SkyFall while still under construction, was described as Heesen's best yacht ever when it was delivered to the owner in late 2023. Heesen has delivered some 170 hulls in their nearly five decades-long existence, both series model and custom units (half or full custom), so that label is bound to attract some attention.Ultra G lives up to the hype , fortunately.Heesen calls Ultra G a "thundering full custom motor yacht," and that's perhaps a more telling descriptor than the one assigned to it by trade publications.Based on the patented Van Oossanen Fast Displacement Hull Form ( FDHF ) naval architecture, it's a full custom model from the series of the same name. It comes with interiors curated by British design firm Harrison Eidsgaard, and while essentially a sportfishing yacht, it's also essentially a gentleman's yacht.Ultra G lives at the intersection of a luxury superyacht and a fishing boat, drawing inspiration from Heesen's sportfishing yachts from the '90s, with an all-aluminum hull and superstructure and powerful engines that take it to impressive speeds.Total length is 197 feet (60 meters), with accommodation for up to ten guests across four suites and a master suite that sits on its own private deck. Separate quarters are provided for a crew of 14. Being a full custom build, its layout was designed in close collaboration with the owner, and this is where things get unconventional.For instance, despite being a luxury superyacht, Ultra G doesn't have a beach club . It has, instead, a super fancy fishing platform with storage space for 40 rods, ice lockers and freezers, live wells, and flushing systems. Also here is an outdoor Fisherman's Lounge, offering a spot to chill and tell fishing tales on large sofas while watching the live feed from several underwater cameras.The identity of the owner of Ultra G was never made public, but it is known that he is a billionaire passionate about sportfishing. Up until now, he's been unsurprisingly secretive about the interiors of his recently-delivered superyacht, not that anyone can blame him for it. If he can afford annual maintenance, there's no sense in putting Ultra G on the charter market.Only a handful of press people were ever allowed onboard, which accounts for the scarcity of photos of the elegant interiors. SuperYacht Times was recently invited to do so, resulting in the breathtaking video tour available below. It shows glimpses of spectacular features that had already been detailed in the press, but it's always nice to see more than renders to put a face to them, if you will.Ultra G comes with an "out of this world" cinema, whose highlight is Samsung's The Wall All-in-One 146" 4K screen. The Wall alone retails for some $572,000 and some change, as you probably know. This space, dubbed the media room, can work as either a private cinema or a gaming room (but there's also a poker table and a karaoke machine here). Or it can stream video from the underwater cameras, should the same gents want to move the party into a different space.Speaking of parties, there are several areas where proper partying can be done. The open-plan salon can host more formal soirees, including fine dining and wine tasting, being equipped with temperature-controlled wine fridges, a professional sound system, and a DJ deck. For when guests want to really let their hair down, there's an upper deck lounge right next to the media room, equipped with DJ decks, speakers, foam- and smoke machines, and disco lights.Another innovative feature , which Heesen describes as an industry-first, is the pet-friendly "relief area." It's a patch of artificial grass on one of the wraparound terraces, where guests can walk the pooch without worrying about making a mess or, for that matter, cleaning up. The area is rigged with sensors hooked up to sprinklers, so as soon as the pooch goes, it self-cleans.More conventional features are also present: formal dining areas, alfresco dining, and socializing, a conversation lounge, a wellness area with everything from a sauna to a steam room and a snow room, a pool, a jacuzzi, and plenty of tanning spaces. They're all elegant, too, perhaps in a way that's a bit too masculine, but beautiful nonetheless.Ultra G is not just Heesen 's best yacht; it's also the yard's fastest. Power comes from 22,000 hp MTU diesel engines that take it to a top speed of 37 knots (42.5 mph/68.5 kph) while still offering the smoothest, most enjoyable experience for those onboard.Launched one year ago, Ultra G underwent sea trials and was delivered to the owner in late 2023. Today, it is one of the most beautiful and fastest superyachts in its size category, but also among the most secretive . So duly enjoy this rare look inside! When converting camper vans, you need to make sure the layout you go for is as efficient as possible. This becomes even more important when you deal with shorter versions of vans, such as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 144" wheelbase. Today, I'm checking out a conversion based on this model that boasts an interior that's genuinely modular. Photo: YouTube Screenshot / New Way Van Life Photo: YouTube Screenshot / New Way Van Life Photo: YouTube Screenshot / New Way Van Life Photo: YouTube Screenshot / New Way Van Life Photo: YouTube Screenshot / New Way Van Life kWh Photo: YouTube Screenshot / New Way Van Life This build was done by New Way Van Life, a specialized van conversion company based in San Diego, California. The core design principles of New Way Van Life are flexibility and true modularity, something you'll soon see inside this rig.The Sprinter 144" I'm discussing today features the company's River Runner layout, which stands out with a fresh "Flow-Through design," as the company calls it. However, this project comes with various add-ons the customer requested. Before we head inside, let me tell you more about the exterior accessories.This rig was upgraded with a 2-inch suspension lift kit. Moreover, it rides on Black Rhino rims wrapped in 32-inch BFGoodrich Baja Champion all-terrain tires. Even though this base vehicle is not a 4x4, it can still handle some light off-roading . It even has a solution in case you get stuck - at the front, you'll discover two 9-inch Baja Design lights and a winch with tow hooks. Furthermore, on the passenger's side, the builders installed Van Speed steps.You'll notice the last exterior accessories on the roof New Way Van Life fitted a low-profile roof rack holding a wooden deck and walkable 325 W solar panels . Other notable features are exterior lights, a Maxxair fan, and a huge Houghton A/C unit.Step inside, and you'll discover an open layout with an inviting atmosphere. As I mentioned earlier, the layout is designed to flow through. One important thing to know about this interior is that it's built on what the company calls the "SuperStructure Panel Kit" - it features durable, lightweight, pre-finished panels with aluminum extrusion profile and stainless steel hardware. Moreover, the frame and rails in this kit are also made using aluminum extrusion.This panel kit allows you to design and build a custom interior and can even be modified afterward should you want to refresh your interior look and layout. Moreover, regarding design, the company uses Okume wood panels made with a marine-grade core and waterproof resin. Other notable features are custom upholstered accents.Let's head inside. At the rear, New Way Van Life installed a modular bed system, one of the distinctive features of this rig. This lounge area/bedroom consists of two benches each bench comes with flip-up extensions, allowing you to transform them into a big couch, what the builders call "The Relaxation Station."One feature I haven't seen in any other camper van so far is a flip-down table. But it's not just any flip-down table - it's made from a glass panel mounted on an aluminum extrusion frame on the driver's side. This panel is supported by gas struts and, when flipped down, can serve as a spacious workbench.What's more, there's another one next to it, covering another window. Because they're made of glass, when it's flipped up, they still allow sunlight to shine through and you to take in the views.Moving on toward the front, you'll find two additional benches. In the unit we're checking out, one is occupied by a Dometic fridge/freezer box the customer wanted to fit. These two benches also have extensions when you deploy all of the extensions in the rear part of the van, you can create a queen-size bed.By the way, all the benches have storage spaces underneath. The other storage options in this rig come in the form of large overhead cabinets: three on the driver's side and two on the passenger's side. They all come with compression latches and lights, both inside and underneath.Next, we have the kitchen, located on the passenger's side, by the door. It features a deep sink with an extendable faucet, a dual-burner induction stove, spacious drawers, and a water heater. Here's the cool thing with this setup: this kitchen is a stand-alone unit, meaning it can be dropped anywhere you want in the van. To make it like this, the company fitted it with a water heater, a 16-gallon (61-liter) tank, and a 12-gallon (45-liter) greywater tank.On the opposite side, you'll notice a dinette area boasting a small bench and a sizeable table. This table can be dropped down, and the benches on both sides become connected, serving as an extra bedroom.Although it doesn't look like it, this area also serves as a bathroom. That's because the bench hides a Wrappon toilet, and a stainless steel shower pan is also integrated into the floor. Furthermore, a considerable window beside the dinette area is also an emergency exit, as it can be opened all the way.To shower, you'll have to flip up the floor panel, connect a shower head to a mixer integrated into the kitchen cabinet, attach it to the ceiling, and magnetize a curtain to the floor.And finally, we've reached the driver's cabin. Notable features here are a passenger swivel seat, an Alpine Halo navigation system, an enormous headliner shelf, and some USB plugs and outlets.The last thing I want to mention is the electrical system. In the rear driver-side corner bench, you'll find an EcoFlow power kit, a plug-and-play solution. This particular build comes with two 5batteries. Furthermore, the 325 W solar panels also keep the battery juiced up, and there's also the option of using a 30-amp shore power connection.New Way Van Life's solution for the electrical system is also in line with its modular, flexible vision the company fully integrated the EcoFlow power kits into the SuperStrcture Panel Kit via its "Plug and Play Wiring Harness." Long story short, the wiring provides a foundation that allows you to drop an electrical access panel and add an electrical connection wherever you need.All in all, this is truly a modular van build that has all the creature comforts needed to go off the grid and enjoy a cozy mobile lifestyle. There's no limit to how you can create an interior with the Super Structure Panel Kit. I've seen many camper vans claiming to be modular, but this one really lives up to the promise.Regarding pricing, a New Way Van conversion typically starts at $65,000 (60,310), not including the base vehicle cost. As I mentioned, the one we checked out today had some add-ons, so its price is surely higher. You can find out more about New Way Van Life and its products and services on the company's website Google has never commented on its plans to refine Android Auto, only promising to investigate the bugs caused by Android 14.However, with Android 15 already on the radar, many people believe the next release will deliver a more polished experience behind the wheel. While it's hard to say if Google will ship any substantial Android Auto updates in the meantime, the release schedule for the Android 15 Preview program confirms that the next big OS release will happen in the fall.The first Android 15 Developer Preview went live this week. A second release, tentatively called Developer Preview 2, will ship in March, bringing additional features and what Google describes as "behavior changes."Google says the first Android 15 beta build will be ready in April, followed by a second beta in May. The third release, which will mark the First Platform Stability milestone, will go live in June. Android 15 Beta 4 and other final beta builds will be ready in July and August. Google describes these releases as "near-final" builds, allowing users and developers to conduct final testing before the production rollout begins.It's safe to assume Android 15 will land in the stable channel in late September or October, with the Google Pixel being the first device to get the update.While it's too early to tell if Android 15 will include notable changes to the experience behind the wheel (as the first DP build and the most recent Android 14 beta build bring no changes aimed at drivers), Google has already promised several new features for Android Auto users.One of them is AI integration into Android Auto. Using artificial intelligence, Google Assistant will be able to summarize lengthy conversations and busy group chats. It will provide drivers with the essential tidbits from a conversation, providing smart replies according to the context. For example, if someone asks the driver when they arrive at a destination, Google Assistant can suggest sharing the ETA via Google Maps.Additionally, Google wants to bring Android and Android Auto in sync by allowing more data from mobile devices to migrate to the infotainment system. Starting this year, Android Auto will automatically import the default icon design from Samsung devices, making the home screen look more like the phone's app drawer. Google will also enable wallpaper synchronization so Android Auto users can have the same background as on their mobile devices.The features have already appeared for a limited number of users but should expand to more users in the coming months when the broad availability phase is reached. Photo: Screenshot from GMC Hummer EV channel "Don't try to dogmatically educate your customers." Photo: Vivaldi Customers are smarter than GM's think. Photo: Google Not everybody is a Google user. Photo: Google Everybody is familiar with Android Auto and CarPlay. Photo: Polestar Don't assume you know better than your customers. The American carmaker will no longer offer phone mirroring systems in future EVs, with Android Automotive to become the exclusive infotainment offering in all zero-emission models.Considering the carmaker plans to drop combustion engines by 2035, it's a matter of time until Android Auto and CarPlay become distant memories for General Motors.The carmaker has tried to defend its controversial strategy on multiple occasions, sometimes only fueling the criticism and proving exactly the opposite: Android Auto and CarPlay are here to stay, and GM's strategy could easily backfire.GM's executives said the transition to Android Automotive was the only way to offer more advanced functionality behind the wheel. While this is true, as Android Auto and CarPlay are limited by the connection between the infotainment system and the mobile device, Android Automotive doesn't have to be the sole option in a car. Polestar already proved that Android Automotive, CarPlay, and Android Auto can live under the same roof. GM's reasoning sidesteps the subscription strategy, as many believe the all-in bet on Android Automotive is a way for the carmaker to turn the infotainment system into a money-making machine.But leaving aside the hidden long-term goals, GM's strategy is unlikely to work for different reasons, including the lack of transparency and the failure to properly communicate with customers how the switch to Android Automotive would improve their experience versus Android Auto and CarPlay.These are the words of Polestar's CEO , who commented on GM's strategy to enforce Android Automotive in its cars.Polestar offers Android Auto and CarPlay side-by-side with Android Automotive, so customers can decide what they want to use when they get behind the wheel. The CEO explained that customers must have "the choice," as it's essential for drivers to always use what they want when turning on the engine.Thomas Ingenlath is right. While I don't believe in the old saying claiming the "customer is always right," you shouldn't enforce a specific system by killing off a solution you've been praising for years.Most carmakers adopted Android Auto and CarPlay to deal with their ridiculously lazy software efforts. After giving in to Google and Apple for years, they're not trying to reclaim infotainment control, especially as they discovered that software and subscriptions can bring home the bacon.While GM claims the reason for dropping Android Auto and CarPlay is their limited functionality, customers can always read between the lines and decipher the hidden message.With the automotive world slowly but surely migrating to a subscription-based model, it was time for General Motors to adopt a similar direction. However, hiding this strategy behind a seemingly commendable attempt to provide drivers with more advanced features is the wrong way to do it.Not long ago, our reader Michael described the whole thing as a "trap.""If people fall into this trap, it's just a matter of time before everything on your car will be subscription-based, from windshield wipers to AC to heated seats. Don't do it, people. Refuse any and all subscription-based services on any car you buy, or suffer the consequences later on," he said in a comment posted to another story.Android Automotive is a Google product, so you need a Google account to make the most of this platform.It might sound like a huge surprise to GM, but not everybody is a Google user. While Google is the world's number one search engine, not everybody owns a Google account.Some people even use Bing, Microsoft's search engine, DuckDuckGo, or other alternatives because they don't want to stick with Google. The reasons are varied, and I won't delve into them today, but many are related to Google and its obsession with data.These customers are very unlikely to become GM customers now that Android Automotive is becoming the only option in its cars. Apple users are also unlikely to become huge fans of Android Automotive, especially as many Android users switched to the iPhone specifically to be a part of the Apple ecosystem.Android Automotive may offer more advanced functionality, but not everybody wants to learn to use it. Android Auto and CarPlay have been around so long that most drivers are familiar with their main features.Using Android Auto and CarPlay is extremely convenient. All it takes is connecting your smartphone to the head unit, and voila, you're already prepared to run Google Maps, Waze, and Spotify.Richard Craig Friedman commented in a different story that they're ready to give up on GM if they had to learn a new OS."If given a choice between two comparable vehicles, one of which allows me to use my phone, which I already understand and am comfortable with, and the other which does not allow me to use my phone and requires me to learn a whole new system, I will go with the vehicle that is not GM," he said.GM's strategy is based on the assumption that customers won't know what they're missing until they try it. If Android Auto and CarPlay remain the only choices in a car, customers will use them because they're already familiar with them.The strategy can easily backfire. In 2012, tech giant Microsoft tried a similar approach with Windows 8. The new operating system was the first Windows version to launch without a Start menu and a Start button.Microsoft introduced a tablet- and touch-optimized Start screen to replace the Start menu. Due to user criticism, the company brought back the Start button in Windows 8.1 but decided to stick with the Start screen. The next release was Windows 10, which included a Start menu and confirmed that Microsoft's strategy failed.Company executives later admitted that offering a Start screen side by side with the familiar Start menu wouldn't have worked because everybody was familiar with the latter. Nobody would have discovered the Start screen, so Microsoft adopted an aggressive strategy that included removing a familiar feature.GM's plan is similar. The carmaker will ditch Android Auto and CarPlay because it wants drivers to use Android Automotive. It can't give them the choice because many will stick with what they're already familiar with.Time will tell if GM's strategy succeeds or becomes a flop. For now, customers aren't willing to give up, but as the saying goes, time heals all wounds. If this happens, we should prepare for a new driving experience that blocks everything behind a paywall. 18 February 2024 11:06 (UTC+04:00) Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov visited the United States of America, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Within the framework of the visit, it is planned to hold discussions and hold a number of meetings on the prospects of development of bilateral energy cooperation, projects implemented by Azerbaijan in the direction of ensuring international energy security, and other topics. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the Commander of the Land Forces, Lieutenant General Hikmat Mirzayev, and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry visited several military units stationed in the liberated territories, Azernews reports. Having met with the leadership, brigade commanders, their deputies and commanders of separate military units of the Land Forces, the Chief of the General Staff delivered to the command staff the tasks assigned to the Azerbaijan Army by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, as well as gave relevant instructions on their fulfillment. The Chief of the General Staff inquired about the provision of reservists involved in training sessions on mobilization training and practical training, observed combat and fire training, and gave instructions on their improvement. It was emphasized that most of the reservists involved in the training sessions are reserve servicemen who participated in the Patriotic War and subsequent operations. The Chief of the General Staff instructed to pay special attention to the continuation of measures for mobilization training and the creation of mobilization reserves in a planned manner, as well as to the regular conduct of training sessions to maintain reserve servicemens combat training at a high level. Colonel General K. Valiyev also inquired about the progress of the command-staff exercises held with the involvement of mobilization reserves. The Chief of the General Staff, who arrived at the exercises venue and the training points deployed in the field conditions, heard the reports of the relevant high-ranking officers. Specific tasks to further improve the quality of the exercises, as well as increase the level of professionalism and combat training of the involved military personnel were assigned to the command staffs of the military units. Then, the Chief of the General Staff, who arrived at the military units of the Rocket and Artillery Troops, emphasized the importance of improving the quality of exercises and training, increasing the intensity of their conduct in the field conditions, as well as refining the practical skills of combat crews. Colonel General K. Valiyev, who visited the military units stationed in the Kalbajar and Lachin directions, was reported regarding the work being done. The Defense Ministers instructions on the planned implementation of measures at military facilities being under construction, as well as the timely completion of the work were delivered to the relevant high-ranking officers. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Vice President of the Republic of Turkiye Cevdet Ylmaz conveyed a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Azernews reports. According to the Press Service of the Cabinet of Ministers, Cevdet Ylmaz congratulated Ali Asadov on his reappointment as Prime Minister. He expressed his hope that the historic landslide victory achieved by President Ilham Aliyev in the election, which garnered the highest number of votes in the country's history, would bring benefits to the brotherly Azerbaijani people, strengthen the relations between the two countries, and have a positive impact on the entire region. It was emphasized that the historic significance of these elections, held for the first time in all sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, is noteworthy. " In the forthcoming era, I am confident that through bolstering our already strong cooperation and relations, we will ascend to even greater heights, as we have consistently done," stated the letter from Cevdet Ylmaz. The Vice President of Turkiye also reminisced about his visit to Azerbaijan on December 20, 2023, and conveyed gratitude to Prime Minister Ali Asadov for the gracious hospitality extended during his stay. Cevdet Ylmaz extended an invitation to Ali Asadov to attend the meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, scheduled to take place in Turkiye. The letter conveyed well wishes for success to the Azerbaijani government and expressed heartfelt wishes for the ongoing prosperity of the Azerbaijani people: "May your successes be perpetual, and may our unity endure eternally." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Senior Managing Director of the World Bank Axel van Trotsenburg in Munich, at the latters request, Azernews reports. Axel van Trotsenburg offered his congratulations to Azerbaijan on hosting of COP29, emphasizing that it is a manifestation of the country's support for green transition and combating climate change. He noted that the World Bank is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in this regard. The head of state expressed his gratitude for the congratulations. During the conversation, they hailed the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Bank. It was emphasized that Azerbaijan's current external debt, standing at around 7 percent, is a highly positive indicator, and overall economic indicators exhibit a very positive trend. With COP29 focusing on climate finance, they noted that within the framework of this significant event, there are ample opportunities for cooperation between the World Bank and Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev provided information about the renewable energy projects underway in Azerbaijan, highlighting their primarily national and regional nature. In this regard, he touched upon the Caspian Sea underwater electric cable project and Azerbaijans increased renewable energy potential in the Caspian Sea, which now exceeds 157 gigawatts. The Azerbaijani leader noted that the country is poised to become a green energy exporter in the near future, describing all of these developments as positive steps. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 21:06 (UTC+04:00) Germany could increase military spending to as much as 3.5% of economic output as it ramps up investment to reverse years of neglect of the armed forces, according to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Azernews reports, citing Bloomberg. A commitment by NATO members to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense can only be the starting point and European nations need more capable armed forces as they expand their engagement around the globe, Pistorius said Saturday during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference. As well as sufficient amounts of money, the push will require an increase in manufacturing capacity among defense contractors, he said, adding that securing enough funds will be difficult given Germanys stretched finances. That all has to fit together and then we might reach 3% or maybe even 3.5%, it depends whats happening in the world and in our economy, Pistorius said. Germany came under fire for years from NATO allies for not spending more on its military before Chancellor Olaf Scholz proclaimed a historical turning point following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With the support of the opposition conservatives, Scholzs ruling coalition set up a special fund for defense outlays worth 100 billion ($108 billion). Even though most of that money has already been spent or allocated, Germany only just managed to hit the target this year for the first time. Scholz pledged in a speech earlier Saturday in Munich that Germany will continue to meet the NATO spending commitment in the 2020s, the 2030s and beyond. However, Pistorius acknowledged that once the special fund is exhausted after 2027, it will be a major challenge for Germany to find the cash. I dont know yet where well find the money but we need it, he said. We can discuss about spending for social issues, for education, for digitalization, for infrastructure and for whatever else, he added. But without security, without freedom in security, without secure freedom, everything else is nothing. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Presidents frequent breach of promises causes industrywide disruptions By Park Jae-hyuk The sudden delay of President Yoon Suk Yeols visit to Germany and Denmark from Feb. 18 to 24 was not a surprise at least not for the government officials and reporters, who have become used to the presidential office repeatedly putting off annual policy briefings given by each minister at the beginning of the year. A couple of days before the announcement on Wednesday regarding the postponement of Yoons trips to the two European countries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs delayed its plan to give its 2024 policy briefings on Wednesday, citing the presidential offices request. The unexpected change perplexed the ministrys officials, who had worked overtime to prepare for the briefing. Some of them complained that the presidential office should have given them a specific reason, although added that abrupt changes in the presidents schedule are understandable. As the ministry had not asked for a news embargo for its briefing plan, farmers and food industry officials were also forced to wait longer for the announcement of the governments annual policies. Annual briefings on maritime and foreign policies, which had been scheduled on Feb. 2, were even delayed indefinitely in the afternoon that day, due to another request from the presidential office. In particular, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries informed reporters of the delay after the vice minister finished an informal briefing in the morning that day for the press to publish articles as soon as the minister finished giving a policy briefing to the president. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a press release on its policy briefing, before it notified reporters of the postponement. It is unusual for a government ministry to postpone its annual policy briefing after an informal briefing for the press. Consequently, reporters covering maritime and foreign policies wasted their time writing unpublishable articles. As neither ministry elaborated on the reasons for the delay, rumors spread among reporters that Yoon had ordered the ministries to postpone their briefings so that he could prepare for a prerecorded interview with state broadcaster KBS, which was held on Feb. 4 and broadcast on Feb. 7. On Jan. 22, the presidential office released a notification of Yoons absence from a government-public debate half an hour before its start and canceled the livestreaming of the event. The office cited his symptoms of a cold as the reason, but its explanation failed to convince the public. His abrupt absence triggered speculation at that time as to whether the decision was related to a clash between the presidential office and Han Dong-hoon, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party. The repeated breaches of Yoons promises with the Korean public eventually led to a failure to keep his appointments with foreign governments. Although the presidential office explained that the German and the Danish governments accepted the delay, companies in the three countries expressed frustration, complaining that they wasted their time and money to prepare for business meetings and activities. In addition, the opposition bloc attributed the decision to negative public sentiment linked to controversies over the first lady. For no more public servants to feel discouraged and for Korea to continue gaining international trust, Yoon and the presidential office should keep in mind that their sudden delays and cancellations can have significant ripple effects. 18 February 2024 13:17 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The United States Department of State's inspector general is probing last year's suspension of the country's special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, Semafor reported, citing a letter to Congress dated January 23, Azernews reports, citing foreign media. According to the report, the inspector general launched an internal investigation on the matter. "The scope of the special review of the suspension of Robert Malley's clearance will include the procedures the Department used in suspending the clearance as well as actions taken by the Department following the suspension," Ryan Holden, the Inspector General's director of congressional and public affairs, wrote in the letter and added the review will also examine which officials were involved in the decision to suspend Malley and "how the process compares to that used for other types of employees." Malley was suspended in April 2023 over potential mishandling of classified material. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 15:37 (UTC+04:00) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of the 60th Munich Security Conference, Azernews reports. During the meeting, the Turkish Foreign Minister emphasized the need to take immediate measures to stop the ongoing war in Gaza. Fidan said that continued Israeli strikes on Gaza could lead to a social backlash in the region. The parties agreed that more efforts need to be made to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, and also discussed bilateral economic relations. The ministers also discussed relations within NATO. Hakan Fidan drew attention to the importance of energy cooperation with Germany. According to him, the volume of bilateral trade between Turkiye and Germany last year amounted to about $50 billion. The tuo countries seek to increase this figure to $60 billion. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 16:08 (UTC+04:00) NATO strongly supports efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Deputy Assistant Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Special Representative of the Secretary General for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Javier Colomina, said in a post on X, Azernews reports. "Very important indeed to see Armenia and Azerbaijan meeting again at the highest level and agreeing on the need to continue the talks towards a long lasting peace treaty. NATO strongly supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Colomina said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 16:17 (UTC+04:00) The G7 members have expressed their intention to work for prolonged and durable pauses in the hostilities leading to a sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Azernews reports, citing TASS. As is noted in a statement by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the chair of the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the urgent implementation of UNSC resolutions 2712 and 2720, including corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages, are essential. The G7 also notes that foreign nationals must be allowed to continue to depart from the zone of military strikes. Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking hostages, including women, children and the elderly. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 17:06 (UTC+04:00) UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands this week to show they are a valued part of the British family, the UK government said Sunday. Britains top diplomat is making the trip amid renewed calls by Argentina for negotiations over the contested South Atlantic archipelago, Azernews reports, citing the Associated Press. The Foreign Office said Cameron will meet Falklands government officials, pay his respects to war dead and visit some of the islands 3,500 people and 1 million penguins. Hes the first British Cabinet minister since 2016 to visit the Falklands, over which Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982. Argentinas recently elected new president, Javier Milei, has called for the islands known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina -- to be handed over to Buenos Aires. Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the islands, which lie about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from South America and 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) from Britain. Argentina argues that the islands were illegally taken from it in 1833. Britain, which says its territorial claim dates to 1765, sent a warship to the islands in 1833 to expel Argentine forces who had sought to establish sovereignty over the territory. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, triggering a two-month war, won by Britain, that killed 649 Argentine troops, 255 British servicemen and three islanders. Islanders voted overwhelmingly in a 2013 referendum to remain a British Overseas Territory. The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion, Cameron said. Cameron also plans to visit Paraguay this week the first British foreign secretary to do so -- and to attend a Group of 20 foreign ministers meeting in Brazil on Wednesday, before traveling to the United Nations in New York to mark the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 18:09 (UTC+04:00) The Czech Republic has found 800,000 artillery shells of 155 and 122 millimeter caliber for Ukraine. In the coming weeks, they may be sent to the Ukrainian army, states Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic, Azernews reports, citing RBC-Ukraine. At a panel discussion with the leaders of 5 EU member states, Pavel said that the Czech Republic has been successful in finding military equipment around the world, including finding the source of thousands of shells for the Ukrainian army. "We have found half a million pieces of 155-millimeter ammunition and 300,000 pieces of 122-millimeter ammunition," he said. Pavel added that these shells could be delivered to Ukraine in a matter of weeks if the Czech Republic can secure funding from partners in the United States, Germany, Sweden and other countries. In early May 2023, the EU Council approved a decision to provide 1 billion in aid to Ukraine for joint purchases of ammunition and missiles. It was planned that European countries would provide Ukraine with one million shells by March 2024. It is now known that the EU countries failed to fulfill the plan in full. However, as promised by EU diplomat Josep Borrell, Ukraine will receive more than 1 million artillery shells from European countries by the end of the year. In addition, according to European Commissioner for Finance Johannes Hahn, the EU will be able to produce up to 2 million artillery rounds annually for Ukraine starting in 2025. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 18:41 (UTC+04:00) The Hungarian parliament can ratify Sweden's NATO membership when it convenes for its new spring session later this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told his supporters on Saturday, Azernews reports, citing Reuters. "It's good news that our dispute with Sweden will soon be settled," Orban said in a key speech. "We are going in the direction that at the start of parliament's spring session we can ratify Sweden's accession to NATO." Parliament reconvenes on Feb. 26. Sweden applied to join NATO nearly two years ago in a historic shift in policy prompted by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Orban said he and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson had taken steps "to rebuild trust" between their two countries. Orban did not say what those steps were. Hungary is the only NATO country not yet to have ratified Sweden's application, a process that requires the backing of all NATO members. The delay has soured relations with the United States and raised concerns among its allies. Orban's ruling Fidesz party has cited what it called unfounded Swedish allegations that it has eroded democracy in Hungary as the reason why Sweden's NATO bid had been held up. Orban has faced the most challenging period of his 14-year premiership in the past week amid a row over a presidential pardon for a man who helped cover up sexual abuse in a children's home. The scandal led to the resignation of Hungary's president and also the former justice minister - two of Orban's key allies - and late on Friday tens of thousands attended a mass street protest called by popular influencers. In his first public statement since the president resigned a week ago, Orban said his government would emerge stronger, focusing on the economy and on June's European parliament elections, which should boost right-wing political forces in Europe and "bring change in Brussels". He said President Katalin Novak's resignation was "like a nightmare", but was the right thing to do, adding that his government would draft legislation to strengthen child protection. Orban, who has clashed with the European Commission over his government's moves to curb media freedom and LGBTQ rights as well as over his migration policies, said this year could bring changes in Europe and elsewhere. "We would really like Donald Trump to return as President (of the US) and ... make peace here in the eastern half of Europe," said Orban, a long-time Trump supporter. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 18 February 2024 19:11 (UTC+04:00) US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Estonian Secretary General Tonis Saar announced at the Munich Security Conference the transfer of nearly $500,000 in forfeited Russian funds for the purpose of providing aid to Ukraine, Azernews reports, citing the US Department of Justice. The funds were forfeited by the United States following the breakup of an illegal procurement network attempting to import into Russia a high-precision, US-origin machine tool with uses in the defense and nuclear proliferation sectors. Additionally, on Feb. 14, a citizen of Latvia charged criminally in connection with the procurement scheme pleaded guilty to violating US export laws and regulations. This transfer is the first of its kind from the United States to a foreign ally for the express purpose of assisting Ukraine, and the second time the Justice Departments Task Force KleptoCapture has made confiscated Russian assets available for Ukrainehaving provided $5.4 million in forfeited funds last year to the State Department for the support of Ukrainian war veterans. The confiscated funds are being transferred to Estonia since under current authorities, the facts of this case do not allow for a direct transfer to Ukraine. Estonia will use the funds for a project to expedite damage assessments and critical repairs to the Ukrainian electrical distribution and transmission system, which have been purposefully targeted by Russian forces. The Department noted that together with its international partners, it will seek and develop novel solutions to ensure that the profits of Russian networks are redirected for the support of the Ukrainian people. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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? As outrage over the death of chief Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny reverberates across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin is turning a deaf ear to Western anger as he prepares to extend his 24-year rule in an election next month and police across Russia continue to squelch any protest attempts. The U.S. and its allies are pondering new sanctions against Russia over Navalnys death and the Kremlins recent actions in Ukraine. But as U.S. aid for Ukraine remains stuck in Congress and NATO allies in Europe struggle to fill the gap, many wonder what the West can actually do to stop the ruthless Kremlin leader, given that multiple previous rounds of penalties have failed to. There isnt really the room for any great value in additional sanctions against Russia, already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, Mark Galeotti, head of the London-based Mayak Intelligence consultancy firm noted in a YouTube commentary. Instead, Galeotti said, the West should focus more on working with Navalnys allies and helping ordinary Russians get access to information channels that counter Kremlin propaganda. Such efforts are key especially now, according to Galeotti, who described Navalnys death as yet another step in Putin's transition from hybrid authoritarianism to brutal thuggish despotism. The U.S. and NATO allies have been weighing more actions to bolster support for Ukraine, where the Russian military has just forced Ukrainian troops to retreat from the key eastern stronghold of Avdiivka after a four-month ferocious battle. The allies discussed ways to increase the cost of war to Russia to force Putin to back down. But the 71-year-old leader has vowed to press on, refusing to relinquish any of his gains and declaring in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson last week that the West will sooner or later be forced to negotiate a deal on his terms. Navalny's death shows Putins complete ruthlessness and disdain for both Western and international opinion, said Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British ambassador to Belarus and senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. Russia announced Navalny's death on Friday, just as Western leaders gathered at a security conference in Munich. Putin is throwing down a gauntlet to the West, Gould-Davies said. As we come up to the second anniversary of the (Ukraine) war, he is again testing Western resolve. Navalnys death should serve as a wake-up call to U.S. Republicans opposing aid for Ukraine in Congress and also encourage European NATO allies to bolster their assistance to Ukraine, Gould-Davies said. Ultimately it depends on the lessons that the West draws, he said. But Navalnys death didn't appear to move the U.S. House speaker Friday to commit to a proposed $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, seen as crucial to a Ukrainian victory. Meanwhile, Putin, the longest-serving Russian leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, is steamrolling toward another six years in power in a campaign involving three token rivals nominated by Kremlin-friendly parties. Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who made ending the war in Ukraine his chief campaign slogan, was barred from running by election officials. Yet, while there was little doubt that Putin would prevail in the election, Navalny's death still demonstrated "how much he saw Navalny as a threat, Gould-Davies said. The way the Kremlin has conducted that election campaign so far suggests that they are not confident, he said, adding that even from prison, Navalny managed to get his voice out. Navalny's death just weeks before the March 15-17 presidential election possibly marked the final act of the dismantling and crushing of any semblance of Russian organized opposition ahead of the vote, Gould-Davies said. Despite his assured victory next month, Putin still fears Western interference in the election and viewed Navalny as an adversary manipulated by the West to undermine national and state interests, said Tatiana Stanovaya, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. He sincerely believes that the West would and will use the moment to undermine the stability and to afflict political damage to his campaign, she wrote in a commentary. That will push him to take an even more hawkish, more repressive approach to any hostile manifestation, which he may link to external attempts to interfere. This may specifically create a more restrictive approach to the media and social networks. Navalny, who died at age 47, emerged as a major threat more than a decade ago, playing a key role in galvanizing massive street protests against Putin's rule in Moscow in 2011-2012 and running a successful campaign to expose government corruption. For many Russians, Navalny was a powerful symbol of hope, Galeotti said, conveying even from his remote Arctic prison a vision of the beautiful Russia of the future a slogan in defiance of the Kremlins message to Russians to just survive, just keep your head down. In 2020, Navalny narrowly survived nerve agent poisoning in Siberia that he blamed on the Kremlin. He recovered in Germany but was immediately arrested upon his return in January 2021. He remained in custody after that, convicted three times and handed a 19-year prison term on charges of extremism. Putin didnt comment on Navalnys death and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed statements by Western leaders holding the Kremlin responsible as outrageous and inadmissible. But Western leaders view any such comments from the Kremlin with the same suspicion they cast toward the death of mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash two months after his troops staged a brief rebellion against the Kremlin. The crash last August was widely seen as the Kremlins revenge for the mutiny, which marked the most serious challenge to Putins rule since his first election in 2000. Just as with Prigozhin's demise, Navalny's death shows how completely ruthless Putin is, Gould-Davies said. (AP) A group of truckers upset at the abuse of the courts in liberal New York for political purposes is planning to retaliate. They are organizing a boycott by truckers who will refuse to carry any loads to New York City and hope to bring the city to its knees. This comes after far left state AG Letitia James made good on her political campaign promise to misuse her office to "get" President Trump, and a blatantly politically biased kangaroo court judge brazenly carried it out for her. As many observers pointed out, no business should feel safe operating in New York after this blatant misuse of the courts in an unsubstantiated witch hunt against a politial figure for political reasons. Politically corrupt courts are where democracy goes to die. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fk-around-find-out-truckers-warn-loads-nyc-will-be-rejected-starting-monday https://redstate.com/mike_miller/2024/02/18/trump-backing-truckers-refuse-to-drive-to-nyc-after-former-president-slapped-with-355-million-fine-n2170286 https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/report-trucking-company-cancels-shipments-new-york-city/ https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/wayne-root-let-great-new-york-city-boycott/ https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/exclusive-new-york-became-my-top-loser-state/ https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/02/17/dershowitz-letitia-james-ought-to-be-brought-up-before-the-bar/ How crooked is this far left New York judge's ruling? Renowned Constitutional Law professor Jonathan Turley explains in an article in the New York Post that it is riggest to make it difficult for Trump to even appeal. He also points out that this is a wake up call for smart businesses to get out of New York. https://nypost.com/2024/02/19/opinion/democrats-weaponized-justice-system-to-punish-trump-in-business-case/ United States taxpayers are being milked of money that the United Nations (UN) and other agencies are spending to aid illegals in crossing the U.S. borders. Based on available government spending data, more than $1 billion in funding from the government has been granted to agencies assisting migrants. We are actually funding our own border crisis, Todd Bensman, a senior national security fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, an anti-mass migration think tank. And its provided by, ultimately, the United States taxpayer. Before President Joe Bidens term as president, America shelled out around $500 million per year to the UNs main migration arm, the International Organization for Migration (IOM). But beginning in the Biden administration, the funding skyrocketed to nearly $1.3 billion in 2023. This amount is more than double what it had been under former President Donald Trumps administration, as per USASpending.gov. As per government spending data, most of the money comes from the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). A total of $547 million over two years ending in 2023 has also been voluntarily contributed to IOM from the Population, Refugees and Migration, which is under the State Department. Moreover, the UNs Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan update for 2024 is requesting $1.6 billion to be distributed to 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries. It is also receiving U.S. grants and has been allocated $372 million in cash and vouchers and multipurpose cash assistance during 2024 for 624,300 migrants in Central and South America who are headed for the U.S. border. Migrants also directly receive cash, or what the UN emergency manual calls cash in envelopes, and they know that the U.S. border is wide open. According to the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, there had been 6.2 million encounters at the southern border, in addition to 1.7 million known gotaways since Biden took office. They say, Well, you know, were coming now because Bidens letting us in,' Bensman said. Bensman, who has been at the forefront of investigating the causes of the migrant surge, found that IOM and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) helping migrants make the dangerous trek from South and Central America. Workers at an IOM migrant camp in Reynosa, Mexico, in 2021 told him that families of four were receiving about $800 per month on a debit card. His viral post on X noted long lines of migrants waiting to receive the cards. (Related: Speaker Johnson reveals 64 instances Biden where sabotaged border security and encouraged illegal migration.) Republicans propose bill to defund UNs illegal immigration operations Even sanctuary city mayors have been crying for help and admitting that their local government funding and services are at breaking points due to the worsening migrant crisis at the United States border. Because of this, the GOP lawmakers took the liberty to reintroduce legislation that would eliminate UN migrant funding. H.R. 6166, the Tax Dollars for the UNs Immigration Invasion Act, would prohibit contributions to the IOM and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Moreover, the said bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an audit of all federal funding previously appropriated to UN agencies that have financed the migrant crisis to force repayment of that funding to the U.S. Treasury. UN agencies are financing the ongoing U.S. border crisis, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) said in a Jan. 26 statement. The United Nations is using our own tax dollars against us, and U.S. policymakers can no longer stand by while elites in the UN and Davos actively finance an invasion of our sovereign territory. Its time to say enough and cut off funding to these corrupt globalist institutions until respect for our territorial integrity and appreciation for our generosity is restored. Source: Click here Actor James Martin said it was great to be back at the Bafta Film Awards as he hit the red carpet tonight. It marks a year since he joined Belfast filmmaker Ross White and Tom Berkeley on stage when their short film An Irish Goodbye triumphed. The 2024 EE Bafta Awards are taking place at Londons Royal Festival Hall, with films like Oppenheimer, Barbie and Poor Things nominated. Speaking to reporters on the red carpet, former barista James said he expected it to be a good night for everyone. "Its been a great year, not just with the Oscars and the Baftas, but its just really nice to be back again after last year. It was good fun and really nice, and well have a good day for everyone Irish, and well see what happens, he said. "The last year hasnt stopped since, meeting so many people, its just really nice to know them and for them to know me. Its just really nice. At last years ceremony James took to the stage with filmmakers Ross and Tom as they picked up the award for Best Live Action British Short Film for An Irish Goodbye. The short film, which follows two brothers as they attempt to sort their mothers farm after her death, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Ross and Tom later directed their final and third short film together, The Golden West, which premiered to critical acclaim at the Galway Film Festival earlier this year. The pair are now working on their feature film debut. James joined a host of Irish actors on the red carpet this year, including Cillian Murphy who is nominated for Best Actor for his role in Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer. The Irish actor, who also starred in Peaky Blinders, is the favourite to win the award. Other Irish nominees include Paul Mescal for Best Supporting Actor for his turn in All of Us Strangers and Barry Keoghan for his role in the much-talked about Saltburn. They join other big names vying for an award at the ceremony including Robert De Niro for Killers of the Flower Moon, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, and Emma Stone for Poor Things. Margot Robbie is also nominated for Best Actress at the awards for her role as Barbie in the film of the same name, however she missed out on an Oscars nomination for the part. A host of records have been set at the 2024 Bafta film awards (Johnny Green/PA) Robert Downey Jr set a new record for the longest gap between wins by an actor. His award for best supporting actor, for his role as Lewis Strauss in the biographical drama Oppenheimer, came 31 years after his previous Bafta in 1993, for the film Chaplin. The previous record was 27 years, set by Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2021 when he won the award for best actor for The Father, nearly three decades after his 1994 win for Shadowlands. Robert Downey Jr at the 2024 Bafta film awards (Ian West/PA) History was also made with the award for best animation, which went to The Boy And The Heron the first time a Japanese film has won this category. It was third time lucky for British filmmaker Christopher Nolan. He was first nominated for a Bafta back in 2011, for the film Inception, but failed to win. The same happened in 2018, when he was nominated for Dunkirk, but again walked away with nothing. This year he finally triumphed, being named best director for Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan with his awards for best director and best film at the 2024 Baftas (Ian West/PA) Nolans film was responsible for another Bafta first. Cillian Murphy, who played the title role of J Robert Oppenheimer the American physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb, was named best actor, the first ever Irish winner of this award. DaVine Joy Randolph was the only non-white winner in any of the acting categories, taking best supporting actress for her role in The Holdovers. Her success bolsters the reputation of this category for being the most diverse of all the acting Baftas, with four of the last 10 winners coming from an ethnic minority background. DaVine Joy Randolph at the 2024 Bafta film awards (Ian West/PA) By contrast, the wait goes on for the first ever non-white winner of the Bafta for best actress. Of the all the acting categories at the awards, it is the only one never to have been won by somebody from an ethnic minority background. There were six people nominated in the category this year, two of whom were non-white: Fantasia Barrino (for The Color Purple) and Vivian Oparah (Rye Lane). The award went to Emma Stone for her performance in Poor Things. Emma Stone with her Bafta for best actress, which she won for the film Poor Things (Ian West/PA) Another missed opportunity for a historic moment came with the award for best editing, where Thelma Schoonmaker stood a chance of becoming the first person to win it three times. She had been nominated this year for Killers Of The Flower Moon, having won previously for Raging Bull in 1982 and Goodfellas in 1991, all films directed by her long-time collaborator Martin Scorsese. The award instead went to fellow American editor Susan Shopmaker, for her work on The Holdovers. (PA Graphics) Oppenheimers total number of Bafta wins, seven, was just two short of equalling the all-time record of nine, set by Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid in 1971. Both Oppenheimer (13 nominations) and Poor Things (11) had a chance to equal or beat this record, while Killers Of The Flower Moon (nine nominations) and The Zone Of Interest (nine) had a chance to draw level. In the event all fell short, with Oppenheimer getting seven awards, Poor Things five, The Zone Of Interest three and Killers Of The Flower Moon none at all. Irish star Cillian Murphy is nominated in the best actor category for his turn in Oppenheimer (Ian West/PA) Cillian Murphy, Claire Foy and Barry Keoghan are among the Bafta nominees who will attend the star-studded film awards in London on Sunday. Irish stars Murphy and Keoghan are both nominated in the best actor category for their turns in Oppenheimer and Saltburn respectively. Barry Keoghan is nominated in the best actor category (Ian West/PA) 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. Claire Foy is nominated for the best supporting actress prize (Ian West/PA) Her 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. It was confirmed on Friday that the Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, is attending the event his first high-profile royal engagement since his wifes operation. At the prestigious film event in 2023, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who had her surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children. Oppenheimer filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who was presented with the British Film Institute (BFI Fellowship) on Wednesday, will also attend the ceremony, where he is considered a frontrunner to win the best director prize. Christopher Nolan, left, is considered a frontrunner to win the best director prize (Ian West/PA) The ceremony will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. It was previously announced that Ellis-Bextor would perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn. Sophie Ellis-Bextor will perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor (Yui Mok/PA) Ted Lasso star Waddingham will also give a live musical performance, the details of which 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 Color Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be in attendance. Margot Robbie is nominated for Barbie (Ian West/PA) 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. Other famous faces due to present include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett and Daisy Edgar Jones. Dua Lipa will act as a presenter (Ian West/PA) It was previously announced that the Bafta Fellowship, the film academys highest honour, would be presented to actress Samantha Morton. 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. A film about medical misogyny has won the director gong at the British Film Institutes (BFI) Future Film Festival. Praised for its originality, All Up There by Scottish filmmaker Bonnie MacRae follows 20-something Eilidh as she begins to seek answers for the debilitating pain she is experiencing. The category is one of three that was judged by BFIs jury at the 2024 film festival, which featured speakers from across the industry, including Peep Show co-creator Jesse Armstrong and Big Boys actor Olisa Odele. Jury members and filmmakers Adura Onashile and Dan Cadan said of MacRaes win: All the films in this category felt very strong, but our winning director displayed a unique vision, a desire to push boundaries and great confidence in treating what could feel like an issue with humour and creativity. A lightness of touch allowed the audience to feel an emotional punch by the conclusion, and each moment was delivered with thought and precision throughout. We were inspired by the films originality and could see this was a director with great potential. We very much look forward to seeing what they make in the future. Also selected by the jury was best new talent, which was won by Tiffany Whitney Chang for Stir, a film about the accidental death of a family pet which puts a family into an unusual predicament. Jury members Onashile and Chloe Abrahams said: We were immersed in this film from the first shots, and it has left an impression on us in the days since watching. Deceptively simple in its concept, we were impressed with many aspects the brilliant cinematography, surprising and funny writing, and the filmmakers ability to convey so much depth in such a short runtime. We felt this filmmaker trusted their instincts and leant into the power of a simple story to create a strong piece of film that clearly shows their potential. Best film was given to The Third Ear by Nathan Ginter and follows a life drawing model whose self image spirals after he sees a botched image of himself and goes onto grow an ear on his back. Jury members Alexi Tan and Naqqash Khalid said: Each of the films presented has such a unique sense of voice, it was difficult to highlight just one. The Third Ear (BFI/Nathan Ginter/PA) The Third Ear manages to create and sustain a unique atmosphere whilst representing a complex character portrait and to do this in the space of a short film is quite the achievement. The film has an original, quirky blend of both humour and suspense, and the filmmaker is a cinematic voice we are very much looking forward to seeing more of in the future. In addition to the three awards judged by the BFIs jury, which was chaired by filmmakers, several other categories were judged by BFI and industry experts. Best documentary was won by Minerva Navascas Guardians, which walks viewers through the psychological reality of a girls journey home, and best experimental film was given to Lucidity by Kit Warner, the ominous experience of a photographer who reimagines a dream like memory of a beach. Best international film was awarded to Dreams Of Home, a visual poem crafted from the footage of filmmaker Justin Kaminumas life. Close up general view of The British Film Institute sign (Jonathan Brady/PA) Rock Springs by David Huang, which follows a Chinese miner in the days leading up to the 1885 Chinese Massacre in Wyoming, was also given a special mention for best international film. Elsewhere best micro short was won by experimental film 36,000 Words For Love by Zeb Goriely and best writer was given to Jack McLoughlin for Are You Okay? which sees Carl and his sister confront some dark truths after their car breaks down. This years BFI Future Film Festival ran from February 15 to 18 and each award winner was given a cash prize of 1,500 and a mentoring package. The winners were announced online and in person at BFI Southbank on Sunday. The Back To The Future film series star was described as a true legend of cinema by David Tennant, who introduced Fox on to the stage at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Fox presented the best film award which was won by Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer. He was greeted with a standing ovation and cheers from the audience as he came on stage in a wheelchair but stood at the podium. Michael J Fox arriving at the 89th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA (Ian West/PA) The 62-year-old activist and former Hollywood actor who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinsons disease a year after Back To The Future Part III was released in 1990 described films as magic which can change your life. Presenting the prize, he said: Five films were nominated in this category tonight and all five have something in common. They are the best of what we do. No matter who you are or where youre from, these films can bring us together. Theres a reason why they say movies are magic because movies can change your day. It can change your outlook. Sometimes it can change your life. Fox founded the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research in 2000, which has raised more than two billion dollars (1.58 billion), CBS News reported in November. He was honoured at the Governors Awards in 2022 with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar recognising outstanding philanthropic efforts. Ewa Puszczynska, Sandra Huller, Jonathan Glazer, Christian Friedel, and James Wilson, attending the Zone of Interest premiere during the 76th Cannes Film Festival (Doug Peters/PA) The Zone Of Interest producer James Wilson has said what is going on in the world, in Gaza reminds people of selective empathy. Wilson spoke to the PA news agency on the Baftas red carpet about whether the film about the Holocaust had produced a conversation about war and violence today. He said: I had a friend that texted me the other day, he said he couldnt stop thinking about the walls we build in our daily lives that we dont choose. Theres obviously things going on in the world, in Gaza, that remind us starkly of the sort of selective empathy, that there seems to be groups of innocent people being killed that we care about less than other innocent people. And that seems so clear. Frankly, actually, because we get asked about that a lot, I think thats always happened. In the nine years that we were making the film, things kept happening like that, you know, whether it was the migrant crisis in 2016 when refugees were coming from north Africa and Syria and bodies washing up on beaches. James Wilson, Sandra Huller, Jonathan Glazer, Christian Friedel, and Ewa Puszczynska, attending the Zone of Interest premiere (Doug Peters/PA) And the difference between how our political elite, how we respond to that compared to refugees from Ukraine, say, there are obviously these walls and I feel that reflected back in the way people, particularly young people, are receiving it. When asked about how current events echo this film, the actor who plays Nazi SS officer Rudolf Hoss in the film also said we have to learn from the past, but sometimes I have the feeling, its so difficult to learn from the past. Your ears and your eyes have to be open in this time, he also told PA. (from left) James Wilson, Sandra Huller, Jonathan Glazer, Christian Friedel, and Ewa Puszczynska (Doug Peters/PA) German actor Christian Friedel also said he was really surprised about this recognition of the film which shows Hoss living next to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The shooting was so close to the original to the camps, and every day you felt the responsibility towards the victims and to be honest, I cant understand these characters, how can you live? How can you go to work every day kill millions of people go home and say, I love you and I love the kids? The film is nominated for multiple Baftas including outstanding British film. Claire Rodgerson, Ken Loach, Paul Laverty, Rebecca OBrien and Dave Turner attend the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. Picture date: Sunday February 18, 2024. Veteran filmmaker Ken Loach and his long-standing screenwriter Paul Laverty have posed at the Baftas with a sign calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The 87-year-old was attending the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall when he made the gesture while posing for photographers. Ken Loach attends the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall (Ian West/PA) As well as Laverty, who scripted Loachs The Old Oak which was nominated in the Outstanding British Film category, the director was accompanied by the films stars Claire Rodgerson and Dave Turner, and producer Rebecca OBrien. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Posting the photograph on X, the Stop The War Coalition stated: Ken Loach, Paul Laverty and co had a message for the #BAFTAs this evening: #CeasefireNow! Loachs Sixteen Films also reposted the image and stated: Ceasefire now The Old Oak tells the story of a struggling pub landlord in a former mining community in County Durham where tensions rise after Syrian refugees are housed there. Although the film did not win, Loach was praised by Samantha Morton in her acceptance speech for her Bafta Fellowship award. She said: When I first saw Ken Loachs Kes on a huge telly that was wheeled into my classroom I was forever changed. Seeing poverty and people like me on the screen, I recognised myself representation matters. Police are appealing for information after two cars were stolen from one property in Carryduff with one vehicle later found burnt out and the other damaged. A spokesperson for the police said they received a report shortly before 2.25am on Sunday morning that a white Kia Picanto and black Toyota Auris were stolen from a home in the Saintfield Road area. Officers believe the suspects entered the property and gained access to keys for both of the vehicles, however at this time believe nothing else was stolen from inside the house. At approximately 5.10am the white Kia Picanto was located on fire in the Springfield Road area of west Belfast, added a PSNI spokesperson. Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire. However, the car was completely burnt out as a result of the arson. Meanwhile, at around 10.30am the black Toyota Auris was found abandoned in the Divismore Park area of west Belfast. Extensive damage had been caused to the vehicle. We would appeal to anyone who was in the Saintfield Road area on Sunday morning shortly before 2.30am and noticed anything suspicious, or out of the ordinary, to make contact with police on 101, quoting reference 266 18/02/24. We would also be especially keen to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam, CCTV or mobile footage of the Kennedy Way area in the direction of Andersonstown and Shaws Bridge towards Malone Road at around 2.45am that we could review. Donald Trump will address supporters at a campaign rally on Saturday for the first time since a New York judge ruled he must pay $354.9 million in penalties for fraudulently overstating his net worth to dupe lenders. The former president, set to appear at an election rally in Michigan, was due to speak shortly after Nikki Haley, his last remaining rival for the Republican presidential nomination, who held an event in South Carolina. On Saturday morning, Haley wasted no time in going after Trump after Friday's ruling, which handed him another legal setback in a civil case that imperils his real estate empire. Trump also faces four state and federal criminal trials, including one scheduled to start in New York on March 25, over alleged hush money payments to a porn star. That means Trump will become the first former U.S. president to stand trial on criminal charges. Haley frequently says "chaos" follows Trump, and that he can't be an effective president or candidate because of his myriad legal problems. "He's going to be in court March and April. He's going to be in court May and June. He said himself that he's going to be spending more time in a courtroom than he is on the campaign trail," Haley told Fox News. Trump reacted furiously to Friday's ruling in posts on his social media platform, after Justice Arthur Engoron also banned Trump from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years. New York Attorney General Letitia James had accused Trump and his family businesses of overstating his net worth by as much $3.6 billion a year over a decade to fool bankers into giving him better loan terms. In posts on his social media platform, Trump called Engoron "crooked," James "corrupt," and the case against him "ELECTION INTERFERENCE" and a "WITCH HUNT." Trump is close to clinching the Republican presidential nomination, and the prospect of a likely general election rematch with Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden, after recent nominating contest wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. Before his rally in Michigan, which holds Republican nominating contests on Feb. 27 and March 2, Trump appeared at a convention for sneaker fans in Philadelphia, where he launched his own sneaker brand gold-topped with American flag logos. "I've wanted to do this a long time," Trump said, before urging young people to vote. Haley, who has no clear path to the Republican nomination, has refused to quit. She is making a potential last stand in her home state of South Carolina, which holds its primary on Feb. 24, where she trails badly in opinion polls behind Trump. At her rally on Saturday evening, Haley also attacked Trump for his failure to comment on the death of Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader. Russia's prison service said that Navalny, 47, died on Friday at the "Polar Wolf" Arctic penal colony. The West, including Biden, blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death. Western leaders did not cite evidence. Haley, addressing a crowd in Irmo, South Carolina, accused Trump of cozying up to Putin in the past. She also referred to a speech Trump made on Feb. 10, when he said he would "encourage" Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any NATO member who didn't spend enough on defense. "Trump is siding with a thug who kills his own political opponents," Haley said. (Reuters) revealed | UDA man at centre of probe into crystal meth deaths of Belfast twins Loyalist who supplied drug that killed twins to be quizzed by cops The UDA man at the centre of the probe into the deaths of Clare and Stephen O'Neill (inset) Hugh Jordan Sun 18 Feb 2024 at 15:40 This is the first-ever picture of the UDA member suspected of supplying the deadly crystal meth which claimed the lives of the tragic ONeill twins last February. RTEs most senior staff are expected to meet Media Minister Catherine Martin amid heightened public speculation over exit packages for senior executives. Ms Martin is to meet director general Kevin Bakhurst and the chairwoman of the RTE board, Siun Ni Raghallaigh, at her department on Monday morning. Mr Bakhurst commented on Saturday on the exit arrangements for four former executives: director of commercial Geraldine OLeary, director of legal affairs Paula Mullooly, director of strategy Rory Coveney and chief financial officer Richard Collins. Catherine Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) Saying he had been restricted by legal advice, Mr Bakhurst said Ms OLeary retired from RTE and did not receive an exit payment while Ms Mullooly left to pursue another opportunity and also received no exit payment. He added that Mr Coveney had agreed he should stand down, his role became redundant and an exit payment was offered by RTE and accepted, while Mr Collins left by mutual agreement with a binding confidentiality clause that was agreed to by both sides and in the interest of fairness and respect cannot be breached. On Sunday, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney said he did not know what package his brother Rory had received. Questioned at a Fine Gael selection convention for the Dublin constituency for the European elections, Mr Coveney refused to comment. He went on to indicate he did not know what his brother received. Mr Coveney said he is not participating in discussions at Cabinet about RTE or making public comment on it. Simon Coveney (Brian Lawless/PA) Tanaiste Micheal Martin earlier called for transparency from RTE. As a general principle, where any organisation has been funded by the public via the licence fee in this case and taxpayers money, there should be full transparency in terms of salaries and packages more generally, he told RTE Radios This Week programme. RTE needs to build up trust with the people in respect of how it is governed, its governance and its administration, and I think the new director-general is doing everything he possibly can to do that. But as a general principle, I do believe that salaries and so forth, and indeed packages, should be fully transparent. The indications are that he has certainly been constrained in these specific cases. Mr Martin said the decision around funding of public services media is to be taken before this summer. He also said it is sensible that the Government awaits two reports commissioned by Ms Martin on the governance of RTE. Micheal Martin (Niall Carson/PA) However he said the TV licence is likely to remain a significant source of revenue for the national broadcaster in 2024 and 2025. The three party leaders are agreed with the minister that we do need to resolve this in terms of the model, but then it will take time, so the licence fee will be a significant revenue earner for RTE, certainly in 2024, and I will even hazard a guess into 2025 until a new system has bedded down, he said. We would hope to get a decision made this year, hopefully before the summer recess, but then itll take time, I would envisage, to work that system through and to have it fully up and running. There are different perspectives on this, thats natural. I take a particularly fundamentalist view on the editorial independence piece and the separation of media from being too dependent on any given government support at any given time. I just think we need to put in guard rails because the new funding arrangements are not just about RTE, but other stations, local and national and print media too. Speaking after attending the Munich Security Council, Mr Martin added: All were hearing here, networking with other countries, meeting tech companies, its all about election manipulation, its all about social media and the degree to which misinformation and disinformation can really prevail. This is very key to the survival of our democracy. So weve got to get it right and weve got to get the fundamentals right, in terms of how we structure it, and a new funding arrangement. Sir Keir Starmer has called for a ceasefire that lasts in Gaza, as he used a speech in Scotland to warn that the fighting in the Middle East must stop now. In Glasgow for Scottish Labours conference, the party leader has come under fresh pressure over his stance on the crisis after members north of the border backed immediate calls for a ceasefire. It comes just days before an SNP-led vote on an immediate cessation of fighting this week, which Labour has so far not ruled out backing amid fears the Commons motion could reopen deep divides among MPs. Sir Keir won lengthy applause as he called for a ceasefire that lasts, notably avoiding using the carefully chosen term sustainable ceasefire in his address to Scottish members. The Labour leader, fresh from an appearance at a gathering of top politicians in Germany, said every conversation there had focused on the crisis in the Middle East. I have just returned from the Munich Security Conference where every conversation I had came back to the situation in Israel and Gaza and the question of what we can do practically to deliver what we all want to see a return of all the hostages taken on October 7th, an end to the killing of innocent Palestinians, a huge scaling up of humanitarian relief and an end to the fighting. Not just for now, not just for a pause, but permanently. A ceasefire that lasts. That is what must happen now. The fighting must stop now. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, left, at the Scottish Labour conference (Jane Barlow/PA) The Scottish National Party on Sunday sought to pile extra pressure on the Labour leader, whose position on the crisis has hardened in recent months as the death toll mounts and Benjamin Netanyahu continues to dismiss a two-state solution. The SNPs Westminster chief Stephen Flynn rejected a claim by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar that Labour is in touch with his partys whips about the wording of their Commons motion. But he did offer to meet Sir Keir on Monday to discuss the vote, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday. In a letter to the Labour leader, Mr Flynn said: In the absence of contact from any of your Labour Party colleagues, I am now writing to make clear that I am of course willing to have such a discussion. Given the importance of this issue literally a discussion on life and death the very least the public would expect is that the leaders of the SNP and the Labour Party at Westminster can sit down and have a discussion on this ceasefire motion. But he said he wanted to be crystal clear that any motion must maintain the clarity of pressing for an immediate ceasefire. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy earlier declined to say how Labour MPs might vote, as he sought to downplay suggestions of a rift with the Scottish leadership. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has put pressure on the Labour leadership over the conflict in Gaza (Jane Barlow/PA) I havent seen the motion, its not yet put down, we will scrutinise that motion as is our way in Parliament and we will take it from there, he told the BBC. But let us be clear, yes, we will have a vote in Parliament this week but its not that vote that will bring about a ceasefire, its the diplomatic action. He added: You can have a ceasefire that lasts for a few days. We want the ceasefire to last and to be permanent and to move towards the diplomatic solution. It will only be a political solution that brings an end to this. A similar vote tabled by the SNP in November saw eight shadow ministers break ranks to back an immediate ceasefire, with some 56 Labour members defying a three-line whip and backing an amendment to the Kings Speech. Mr Sarwar himself is under pressure to whip his two Scottish Labour MPs Ian Murray and Michael Shanks to vote for an immediate ceasefire when the SNP motion is tabled. In a previous Westminster vote in November, Sir Keir favoured humanitarian pauses to allow aid to enter Gaza. In his speech in Glasgow, he added his voice to those urging Mr Netanyahu against extending the Israeli offensive into Rafah. Labour has sought to play down the idea of divides with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar over the conflict (Jane Barlow/PA) The offensive threatened on Rafah, a place where one-and-a-half million people are now cramped together in unimaginable conditions with nowhere else for them to go. This cannot become a new theatre of war. That offensive cannot happen. Even in these most terrible of circumstances, a two-state solution must be back on the table, he said. The SNP motion comes in the wake of the row over the Rochdale by-election, which saw Labour take the highly unusual step of withdrawing support for candidate Azhar Ali after he suggested Israel took Hamas October attack as a pretext to invade Gaza. A second parliamentary candidate, Graham Jones, was also suspended after audio appeared to show the former Labour MP use the words f****** Israel at the same meeting attended by Mr Ali. The Prince of Wales reportedly blocking the Duke of Sussexs return to the royal family features among a range of stories on the front pages of Sundays papers in Britain. The Sunday Mirror and Sun on Sunday say there is no way back for Harry to return to royal duties. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Sunday Express leads with William blocking the dukes return to the royal fold because nothing has changed. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Meanwhile, The Sunday Telegraph reports Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer launched a broadside at former US president Donald Trump over criticism of Nato members. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The war in Ukraine is the focus of The Observer as the nation pleads for more arms after they withdrew troops from Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Mail on Sunday says Just Stop Oil activists were planning on occupying the homes of MPs leading up to the general election. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Independent runs with a story on shocking figures of unprosecuted rape and serious assault cases in mental health wards. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Russian campaigners have claimed that Russian intelligence officers visited Alexei Navalny just two days before his death, according to The Sunday Times. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content And the Daily Star says its readers have saved a bear named Baloo in Romania. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed off growing calls to halt the military offensive in Gaza, vowing to finish the job as a colleague threatened to invade the southern city of Rafah if remaining Israeli hostages are not freed by Ramadan. Israels government has not publicly discussed a timeline for a ground offensive on Rafah, where more than half the enclaves 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge, but retired general Benny Gantz, part of Mr Netanyahus three-member war cabinet, represents an influential voice. If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area, Mr Gantz told a conference of Jewish American leaders. Ramadan, expected to begin on March 10, is historically a tense time in the region. Benny Gantz (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) As ceasefire negotiations struggle after signs of progress in recent weeks, Mr Netanyahu has called demands by Gazas ruling Hamas militant group delusional. The US, Israels top ally, says it still hopes to broker a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement, and envisions a wider resolution of the war sparked by Hamass October 7 attack in southern Israel. Washington also says it will veto another draft UN resolution calling for a ceasefire, with its UN ambassador warning against measures that could jeopardise the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities. But Mr Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood, which the US calls a key element in a broader vision for normalisation of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. His cabinet adopted a declaration on Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. The international community overwhelmingly supports an independent Palestinian state as part of a future peace agreement, but Mr Netanyahus government is filled with hardliners who oppose Palestinian independence. Palestinians line up for food in Rafah (Fatima Shbair/AP) He wants Israel to achieve total victory over Hamas. In response to international concern over a Rafah offensive, he has said Palestinian civilians will be evacuated. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. The suggested timing for the offensive came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) chief said southern Gazas main medical centre, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, is not functional any more after Israeli forces raided it last week. Israeli strikes across Gaza continued, killing at least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses. A strike in Rafah killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another killed five in Khan Younis, the main target of the southern Gaza offensive in recent weeks. In Gaza City, which suffered widespread destruction early in the war, an air strike flattened a home, killing seven people, including three women, according to a relative. Israels military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday. He said about 200 patients remain, including 20 who need urgent referrals elsewhere. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said at least 200 militants surrendered at the hospital. He also claimed that Hamas is defeated in Khan Younis and is largely leaderless in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel were among those arrested, along with patients, leaving 150 patients without medical care. It said Israel refused to allow patients, including newborn babies, to be taken to other hospitals. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside Nasser Hospital and does not target doctors or patients. The October 7 attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 were taken hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, and a quarter of them are believed to be dead. Most of the others were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. On Sunday it said 127 bodies were taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours. Around 80% of Gazas population have been displaced, and a quarter face starvation. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 123 aid trucks entered Gaza through Israels Kerem Shalom border crossing on Sunday and four trucks of cooking gas entered through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. That is well below the 500 trucks entering daily before the war. Sinn Fein has preached about Palestine but partys actions cast doubt on its sincerity SFs claims to solidarity in tatters after decision to go to White House for St Patricks Day party with Genocide Joe Michelle ONeill and Mary Lou McDonald plan to join the celebrations at the White House in pursuit of peace Suzanne Breen Sun 18 Feb 2024 at 09:30 Its the triumph of plastic politics over principles. Surely nobody who believes that whats happening in Gaza is genocide could in good conscience go to the White House and party with the president overseeing it? 20-year-old with more than 100 criminal convictions jailed again A thief who burgled five homes in under two hours has been jailed. Jordan Hamill was ordered to spend half of his 32-month sentence in a young offenders centre but will soon be freed because of time served. The 20-year-old, from Leeson Street in west Belfast, had already admitted five charges of burglary when he appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday. The hearing was told he had more than 100 criminal convictions and had spent around a quarter of his life in custody. Hamill targeted three neighbouring homes at The Courtyard in Crawfordsburn and two on the Old Windmill Road, also Crawfordsburn. The crimes were committed within 90 minutes of each other on March 26, 2022. In four of the burglaries, Hamill broke into the properties with intent to steal. He took car keys and a hammer from a fifth property. Charges of stealing a JBL speaker and a power adapter from inside a car and attempting to steal a Honda Jazz were left on the books. Judge Geoffrey Miller told the court a couple had walked into their kitchen to find Hamill looking at them. He ran out of the property and got into the Honda Jazz before the owner got him out. Forty-five minutes later, the next victim went to investigate a noise and found Hamill standing in a bedroom with his stepdaughters iPad. After the householder shouted at him, he slurred dont hurt me and then fled the home empty-handed. He was later spotted on North Queen Street in Belfast and then arrested in a flat while clearly under the influence of drink or drugs. The stolen speaker and power adapter were found on him and the clothes he was wearing matched CCTV footage, but Hamill refused to answer police questions during interviews. Judge Miller said the same footage showed the defendant had used public transport during his crime spree. He continued: (His) youth is possibly the strongest point in mitigation. The judge added that but for Hamills guilty pleas, he would have imposed a 44-month custodial sentence. Judge refuses brothel-keeping co-accuseds request to meet up on most romantic day of year An alleged pimp forced to spend Valentines Day apart from her boyfriend due to prostitution and human trafficking charges has claimed it has put her in poor health. Flortine Ciurar (35) and her lover Petru Balogh (26) are accused of running a Belfast sex trafficking ring and failed in a legal bid to spend quality time together last Wednesday. Lawyers for the pair told Belfast Magistrates Court the couple were desperate to see each other on the most romantic day of the year, but a judge dismissed the application and banned any contact. Speaking to Sunday Life on the lovers day last week, Ciurar said she had suffered heart problems as a result of the stress of being apart from her beloved. Its very sad, she said: Its not good for my health, I would love to be able to see him again soon. Hopefully it wont be too long. Its been a very long time, six months now, and all that time I am not sleeping. I have had friends and family staying with me, its very stressful to be alone like this. We just want to be together, maybe we can spend Valentines Day together next year. I have had several heart attacks in the past and have been admitted to hospital three or four times recently with heart palpitations. Balogh wasnt at home when this newspaper called to the door but a family member told us they believe the allegations would be cleared up in due course. They said: Flortine is going to take this to a court in Romania when its all finished because its all wrong, over half a year they have been apart, its so hard for them. There is too much pressure on this family, its not fair. Ciurar, of Glenbrook Street, and Balogh, of Lawrence Street, both in Belfast, deny charges of controlling prostitution for gain, brothel keeping, human trafficking and money laundering. Inquiries against the couple began in June 2022 after a woman informed police she had fled from the pair. She claimed to have been lured to Northern Ireland from Romania with the bogus offer of a job working for Amazon. Balogh and Ciurar have been on bail since August last year under strict orders not to contact one another. Ciurars barrister, Sean OHare, previously told Laganside Magistrates Court his client has no other support network in Belfast. They would even agree to meet in a police station for a couple of hours, if that would ease concerns, Mr OHare said. Opposing the application, an investigating detective revealed three new witnesses have come forward in Romania. District Judge Steven Keown denied the defendants bid to be allowed to meet up on the basis the ban remains necessary and appropriate. He said: That situation does not change for a period of a couple of hours, even on Valentines Day. The most romantic day of the year isnt the only time the pair have been refused permission to be together, with a magistrate doing the same over the Christmas period at the end of last year. McCrory admitted five charges against her A woman who assaulted bar staff and spat in the faces of two police officers has been sentenced to probation and community service. Staff at the Irish National Foresters Hall on North Street in Lurgan called the police on Patrice McCrory on February 19 last year after she started shouting and screaming and throwing things, attacking two female workers. When officers arrived, the 34-year-old was still causing a disturbance outside the bar. After one of them put her into the back of a PSNI car, she spat in his face as he put her seatbelt on. She spat in the face of another officer when they arrived at the police station. McCrory admitted five charges against her McCrory, from Dunbarton Street in Gilford, admitted all of the charges against her when she appeared at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday. She entered guilty pleas to two counts of common assault, two of assaulting police and one of disorderly behaviour. Defence lawyer Conor Coulter told the court his client knew her behaviour had been absolutely appalling. He said she wanted to apologise to the police and the women she assaulted. Mr Coulter added McCrory was particularly ashamed about attacking the bar staff because she has known these ladies almost all her life. District Judge Francis Rafferty handed the defendant a combination order of 12 months of probation and 80 hours of community service. He also ordered her to pay 100 compensation to each of her victims, allowing her six months to do so. The judge warned McCrory that if she failed to complete any aspect of either order, you will be brought back here and resentenced. Adobe Stock Almost every Christian church in the West hosts an Easter egg hunt around Easter. The egg hunt may take place on Easter Sunday. It might also take place the day before, on Holy Saturday, or during Palm Sunday weekend. It will vary depending on the church, the congregation and what else is going on during Holy Week and Easter. Some churches prefer to stack their events. The Easter egg hunt, they say, will keep young children entertained while parents talk at the church picnic on Easter Sunday. Others prefer to separate them. Rather than try and wrangle the entire congregation at once, the church focuses on children one day or weekend and the adults the next. There is no right or wrong answer. It simply depends on each particular churchs situation. Some Christians argue that there is a right answer to the question, and it has nothing to do with the timing of the event. In fact, they argue that churches should not hold Easter egg hunts at all. This particular group of Christians tends to argue that Easter egg hunts are pagan in origin and thus should never take place at a good Christian church. Others focus on how Easter has been excessively commercialized. Some would even argue that it has been more commercialized than Christmas. People may shop and buy more around Christmas, but at least most people are aware of what Christmas was originally meant to celebrate. There are plenty of people who have to think for a minute to remember what Easter is about underneath the mountain of fluffy bunnies and chocolate eggs. Stephanie Hertzenberg is a former writer and editor at Beliefnet. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where she majored in Religious Studies and minored in Creative Writing. She maintains an avid interest in health, history and science. Critics claim that Christian churches need to put a ban on Easter egg hunts to avoid supporting the slow erasure of the most important day in history or harming Christians eternal souls. Is a plastic egg full of candy, however, really that dangerous? Are Christian churches wrong to host Easter egg hunts, and are Christians wrong to support them?One could argue all day about whether or not Christians should take advantage of the commercial trappings that surround holy days. On one hand, Easter baskets and Christmas presents are a good way to help children who are too young to understand the real meanings of the days feel part of the celebration. Presents and candy are also enjoyable ways for adults to observe the holidays. While it may be good for your soul, most people do not find silent prayer to be a great way to show joy and excitement over Jesus birth and resurrection. Special food and an exchange of gifts are more likely to be seen as carrying that excitement.Easter eggs are certainly part of the commercialization of Easter, but that does not in and of itself make them wrong. They can be a great teaching tool for young children if they are used correctly. Children may not understand why it is so exciting that Jesus rose from the dead, and they are, hopefully, unaware of the sheer violence that filled Jesus final hours or the myriad options for the final cause of His death. For those few children who are aware, parents have likely spent most of Lent dealing with incessant nightmares and with good reason. Most adults are unaware of the true horror of a full Roman crucifixion, and it can be enough to turn even the strongest of stomachs.Easter eggs are a better way to get across the point of Easter than a long lecture on the horrors of ancient Rome. After all, it is much easier for a child to comprehend that Jesus resurrection and the worlds resultant salvation is even better than chocolate eggs. Children are in many ways simple creatures. Salvation must be pretty awesome if it is better than a whole basket of candy!Easter egg hunts also serve to bring people to churches who would not otherwise be willing to set foot on Christian ground. Members of other religions may let their children take part in Easter egg hunts because the affair is not, strictly speaking, Christian. This enables children and adults to converse with those who might have never heard the Gospel or have entirely the wrong perception of Christianity. After all, in many peoples minds, Christianity is all about solemn, serious prayer and sermons filled with fire and brimstone. While lifelong Christians might see the value in both of these things, potential converts are unlikely to be interested in what they see as a religion devoid of fun. Easter egg hunts can help offset that perception by showing that there is joy, light and love in Christianity as well as times of serious reflection and selfless service.As for the supposedly pagan origins of Easter eggs, this statement shows up every Easter, but no one seems able to point to a specific pagan ritual that gave rise to Easter egg hunts.Eggs have long been a symbol of rebirth and fertility, but this has been true going back into early Judaism. If Christians are meant to avoid anything that has a hint of pagan history in it, they need to stop celebrating Christmas in December since the popular date for Christmas was deliberately placed on top of a Roman-pagan holiday to help persecuted early Christians hide their celebrations. Christians also then need to come up with new names for the days of the week since the English names are based on the names of ancient Norse gods. Thursday is literally Thors day, and Tuesday is Tyrs day.Rather than worrying about whether or not an unnamed and forgotten group of pagans may have once gone egg hunting in spring, Christians should be focused on the intentions behind their own churches egg hunts. Is the egg hunt meant to focus on the commercialization of Easter and elevate store bought chocolate above the resurrection of Christ? If so, it is time for the church to reevaluate its priorities on the holiest day of the year. If the egg hunt is meant, however, to encourage harmless family fun, childrens positive associations with church and Christian fellowship, let the hunt begin. May the best egg-finder win! Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight and into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft U.N. cease-fire resolution. The U.S., Israel's top ally, instead hopes to broker a cease-fire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back, calling Hamas' demands delusional and rejecting U.S. and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. His Cabinet adopted a declaration Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians" and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it said would grant a major prize to terror after the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until total victory over Hamas and to expand it to Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah, where more than half the enclave's population of 2.3 million Palestinians has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. The head of the World Health Organization, meanwhile, said Nasser Hospital, the main medical center serving southern Gaza, is not functional anymore after Israeli forces raided the facility in the southern city of Khan Younis last week. An airstrike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive over the past two months. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. In Gaza City, which was isolated, largely evacuated and suffered widespread destruction in the initial weeks of the war, an airstrike flattened a family home, killing seven people, including three women, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative of the deceased. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the U.N. health agency, said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said there are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other hospitals. Israel says it has arrested over 100 suspected militants, including 20 who it says participated in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, without providing evidence. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israel's defenses and attacked communities across southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. The toll includes 127 bodies brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours, it said Sunday. Around 80% of Gaza's population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. David Satterfield, the U.S. Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues, said Friday that Israeli strikes on Hamas-run police guarding aid convoys had caused them to halt the escorts, making it "virtually impossible to deliver desperately-needed aid because of the threat of criminal gangs. He also said Israel has not presented specific evidence for its claims that Hamas is diverting U.N. aid. Algeria, the Arab representative on the U.N. Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washington's own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted." It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities in jeopardy, she said. The U.S. has used its veto on similar previous resolutions with wide international support, and President Joe Biden has bypassed Congress to rush arms to Israel while urging it to take greater measures to spare civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release, but there's a wide gap between Israel and Hamas' demands and Qatar said Saturday that the talks have not been progressing as expected. Hamas has said it will not release all of the remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It is also demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top militants. Netanyahu has publicly rejected both demands and any scenario in which Hamas would be able to rebuild its military and governing capabilities. He said he sent a delegation to cease-fire talks in Cairo last week at Bidens request but doesn't see the point in sending them again. In an interview with Israel's Kan public broadcaster on Saturday, Netanyahu's national security adviser said that military pressure and sticking to a strict line in the negotiations could lead Hamas to drop its absurd demands that nobody could accept. Tzachi Hanegbi said the U.S. supports Israel's campaign to destroy Hamas' capabilities and has not pressured Israel to end the war or withdraw troops from Gaza. Netanyahu has pushed back against international concern about a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, saying residents will be evacuated to safer areas. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. The Israeli leader is also opposed to Palestinian statehood, which the U.S. says is a key element in its broader vision for normalization of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, as well as Arab investment in Gaza's postwar reconstruction and governance. (AP) Bennington, VT (05201) Today Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. New book on 'whistle-stop' campaign trains describes politics and adventure throughout history Just in time for the 2024 presidential election, a new book chronicles the storied history of whistle-stop campaign trains, from the earliest days of rail travel through to today 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 Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds What's going on at Fenn Street in Pittsfield? Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds co-op is filling the block with possibilities Britain's King Charles III attended a church service at his country residence of Sandringham on Sunday as he continues to receive treatment for an unspecified cancer. The 75-year-old monarch waved to members of the public before being greeted by priest Paul Williams. The king announced on Feb. 5 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and left his London Buckingham Palace home shortly afterwards to undergo treatment at Sandringham. The diagnosis was made after a "separate issue of concern was noted" and investigated while he was being treated for a benign enlarged prostate. Charles has taken an indefinite break from royal public duties but continues to perform administrative tasks behind closed doors. His diagnosis came just 17 months into his reign following the death of his 96-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8, 2022. (AFP) Full Lenox School Committee resolution Whereas, Evidence strongly suggests that secure firearm storage is an essential component to any effective strategy to keep schools and students safe; Whereas, An estimated 4.6 million American children live in households with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm; Whereas, Every year, roughly 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. Thats nearly one unintentional shooting per day, and 70 percent of these incidents take place inside a home; Whereas, Another 1,200 children and teens die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member; Whereas, In incidents of gun violence on school grounds, 75 percent of active shooters were current students or recent graduates; Whereas, Research shows that secure firearm storage practices are associated with up to an 85 percent reduction in the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens; Whereas, The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center recommends the importance of appropriate storage of weapons because 76 percent of school shooters used firearms acquired from the homes of parents or close relatives; Whereas, Across the country, lawmakers, community members, and local leaders are working together to implement public awareness campaigns, such as the Be SMART program, which is endorsed by the National PTA and which encourages secure gun storage practices and highlights the public safety risks of unsecured guns; Whereas, School districts across the country have begun to proactively send materials home to parents and guardians informing them of applicable firearm storage laws and firearm secure storage best practices; Whereas, Keeping students, teachers and staff safe from the threat of gun violence should be the responsibility of all adult stakeholders at each of our school sites; Whereas, State law requires adults to securely store their firearms; Whereas, In order to continue with preventative measures to increase student and school safety we must act now; therefore, Be it Resolved, That we, the School Committee, direct the Superintendent to create an appropriate letter to parents and guardians explaining the importance of secure gun storage and the legal obligations to protect minors from accessing unsecured guns. Be it Resolved, That we, the School Committee, direct the Superintendent to continue to work with local law enforcement agencies, health agencies, and non-profits to collaborate and support efforts to inform District parents of their obligations regarding secure storage of firearms in their homes. Gardai have renewed their appeal for information after a fatal road traffic collision in Cork last weekend. A woman in her 50s died from her injuries in hospital on Tuesday after a single vehicle collision Sarsfield Court in Glanmire on Sunday Feburary 11th. Advertisement The second occupant of the vehicle, a woman aged in her 40s, also received treatment for non-life threatening injuries following the collision. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to contact them. Any road users or pedestrians who were in the vicinity of Sarsfield Court, and who observed a white SUV vehicle travelling in the area at the time of the incident, is asked to contact investigating gardai. Anyone with camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make this available to investigating Gardai. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Glanmire Garda Station at 021 455 6370, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. A six-year-old girl has died from the injuries she suffered in a collision in Westmeath earlier this month. The single-vehicle road traffic collision that occurred shortly before 4pm on Thursday, February 8th on the M6 eastbound. Advertisement The girl was a passenger in the car and suffered serious injuries, and died in Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street on Saturday. Two other occupants in the car at the time, a man in his 40s and a nine year-old boy, escaped serious injuries. Gardai in Mullingar are renewing their appeal for witnesses. Those with camera footage (including dash-cam) from the M6 between Junction 3 and Junction 4 at the time of the collision are urged to provide this footage to investigating Gardai. Anyone with information is requested to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. A near 1,500 bill at a Jamie Oliver restaurant, a spend of over 17,000 at the K Club and TV licence payments of 640 were among the items paid for on Oireachtas credit cards over the past year. There was also a 1,000 bill for a working dinner at a boutique lounge and a near 11,500 bill for accommodation at the Conrad Hotel. Advertisement The Oireachtas said it currently has four credit cards in active operation, one for its Finance Unit, one for the Inter-Parliamentary and travel units, and two cards in the names of the clerks of the Irish Parliamentary Association and the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. The largest single bill incurred last year was the 17,284 that was spent at the K Club, or the Kildare Hotel and Country as it is listed in statements. The Oireachtas said this was for a plenary meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in December and included representatives from across Ireland, the UK, and its various island dependencies. Advertisement There was a 1,423 charge at Chequer Lane by Jamie Oliver last February when a dinner was hosted in Dublin in honour of a visit by the Speaker of the Republic of Moldova. Advertisement Another large dining bill was incurred at Agape Cafe in June 2023 when Leinster House hosted an event at the Kildare restaurant. The Oireachtas said this 2,298 spend related to an event held in honour of the visit of the President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus. Also listed in the card statements was an 11,479 charge for accommodation at the four-star Conrad Hotel in Dublins city centre last autumn. It covered accommodation costs for a delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Nepal last September. Advertisement A four-figure dining bill of just over 1,000 was run up at the boutique Black Door venue on Harcourt Street in Dublins south city in July. That was for a working dinner of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, with attendees from Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the Isle of Man. Other accommodation costs included a 2,200 spend at the luxury Sefton Hotel in Douglas on the Isle of Man last June for a parliamentary event. The credit cards were used as well for smaller transactions with 55 spent in Wrights of Howth in January 2023, a 26 bill from Tesco, a 320 charge from Marco Pierre White last June, and almost 150 for bus tours in Berlin. It wasnt all dining and accommodation either with a 109 charge for an interiors company in Westmeath, various purchases at the Kilkenny Shop including one for 306 last June, an 88 spend at the Guinness Storehouse, and a 1,078 photographic bill from last November. There were also four separate payments of 160 for TV licence fees late last year even as the number of people paying the charge collapsed in the wake of the RTE spending controversy. RTE's most senior staff are expected to meet Minister for the Media Catherine Martin amid heightened public speculation over exit packages for senior executives. Ms Martin is to meet director general Kevin Bakhurst and the chair of the RTE board, Siun Ni Raghallaigh, at her department on Monday morning. Advertisement Mr Bakhurst commented on Saturday on the exit arrangements for four former executives: director of commercial Geraldine OLeary, director of legal affairs Paula Mullooly, director of strategy Rory Coveney and chief financial officer Richard Collins. Catherine Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) Saying he had been restricted by legal advice, Mr Bakhurst said Ms OLeary retired from RTE and did not receive an exit payment while Ms Mullooly left to pursue another opportunity and also received no exit payment. Advertisement He added that Mr Coveney had agreed he should stand down, his role became redundant, and an exit payment was offered by RTE and accepted, while Mr Collins left by mutual agreement with a binding confidentiality clause that was agreed to by both sides and in the interest of fairness and respect cannot be breached. Advertisement On Sunday, Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney said he did not know what package his brother Rory had received. Questioned at a Fine Gael selection convention for the Dublin constituency for the European elections, Mr Coveney refused to comment. He went on to indicate he did not know what his brother received. Advertisement Mr Coveney said he is not participating in discussions at Cabinet about RTE or making public comment on it. Simon Coveney (Brian Lawless/PA) Tanaiste Micheal Martin earlier called for transparency from RTE. Advertisement As a general principle, where any organisation has been funded by the public via the licence fee in this case and taxpayers money, there should be full transparency in terms of salaries and packages more generally, he told RTE Radios This Week programme. RTE needs to build up trust with the people in respect of how it is governed, its governance and its administration, and I think the new director-general is doing everything he possibly can to do that. But as a general principle, I do believe that salaries and so forth, and indeed packages, should be fully transparent. The indications are that he has certainly been constrained in these specific cases. Advertisement Mr Martin said the decision around funding of public services media is to be taken before this summer. Advertisement He also said it is sensible that the Government awaits two reports commissioned by Ms Martin on the governance of RTE. Micheal Martin (Niall Carson/PA) However, he said the TV licence is likely to remain a significant source of revenue for the national broadcaster in 2024 and 2025. The three party leaders are agreed with the Minister that we do need to resolve this in terms of the model, but then it will take time, so the licence fee will be a significant revenue earner for RTE, certainly in 2024, and I will even hazard a guess into 2025 until a new system has bedded down, he said. We would hope to get a decision made this year, hopefully before the summer recess, but then itll take time, I would envisage, to work that system through and to have it fully up and running. There are different perspectives on this, thats natural. I take a particularly fundamentalist view on the editorial independence piece and the separation of media from being too dependent on any given government support at any given time. I just think we need to put in guard rails because the new funding arrangements are not just about RTE, but other stations, local and national and print media too. Advertisement Speaking after attending the Munich Security Council, Mr Martin added: All were hearing here, networking with other countries, meeting tech companies, its all about election manipulation, its all about social media and the degree to which misinformation and disinformation can really prevail. This is very key to the survival of our democracy. So weve got to get it right, and weve got to get the fundamentals right, in terms of how we structure it, and a new funding arrangement. The continued fallout from the RTE payment scandal leads the front pages on Sunday's papers. The Sunday Independent leads with criticism from the Taoiseach on exit packages given to RTE staff when they left the broadcaster. Advertisement The Sunday Times and the Irish Mail on Sunday both lead with the 200,000 deal given to Rory Coveney approved by the Director General. Advertisement The Irish Sunday Mirror leads with a planned attack stopped by gardai after the steakhouse restaurant shooting on Christmas eve. British papers The Prince of Wales reportedly blocking the Duke of Sussexs return to the royal family features among a range of stories on the front pages of Sundays papers in Britain. The Sunday Mirror and Sun on Sunday say there is no way back for Harry to return to royal duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On tomorrow's front page: Prince Harry planned King heart-to-heart & Sandringham stay but aides blocked it over fear theyd never get rid of him https://t.co/4WPyuE3VgD pic.twitter.com/NsIrkS7i2F The Sun (@TheSun) February 17, 2024 Advertisement The Sunday Express leads with William blocking the dukes return to the royal fold because nothing has changed. EXCLUSIVE: Prince William won't allow Prince Harry' back into royal fold as 'nothing has changed', sources have told the Sunday Express.https://t.co/jB1TGyO95h pic.twitter.com/SLdwV05JEB Daily Express (@Daily_Express) February 17, 2024 Meanwhile, The Sunday Telegraph reports Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer launched a broadside at former US president Donald Trump over criticism of Nato members. The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph: 'Starmer attacks bad faith Trump over Nato'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/2BjY4jG98E The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 17, 2024 The war in Ukraine is the focus of The Observer as the nation pleads for more arms after they withdrew troops from Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. Advertisement OBSERVER: Ukraine pleads for more arms as Russia seizes frontline city #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/loQWjNG3NY Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 17, 2024 The Mail on Sunday says Just Stop Oil activists were planning on occupying the homes of MPs leading up to the general election. MAIL ON SUNDAY: Eco zealots in plot to occupy homes of MPs #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/S5jhN4E1Tu Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 17, 2024 The Independent runs with a story on shocking figures of unprosecuted rape and serious assault cases in mental health wards. Russian campaigners have claimed that Russian intelligence officers visited Alexei Navalny just two days before his death, according to The Sunday Times. And the Daily Star says its readers have saved a bear named Baloo in Romania. More than 300 people have been detained in Russia while paying tribute to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died at a remote Arctic penal colony, a prominent rights group reported. The sudden death of Mr Navalny (47) was a crushing blow to many Russians who had pinned their hopes for the future on Russian president Vladimir Putins fiercest opponent. Advertisement Mr Navalny maintained his criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. The news reverberated across the globe, with many world leaders blaming the death on Mr Putin and his government. Police officers stand guard as a woman lays flowers at a makeshift memorial to Alexei Navalny in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP) Advertisement In an exchange with reporters shortly after leaving a Saturday church service, US president Joe Biden said: The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible. Whether he ordered it, hes responsible for the circumstance. Advertisement Its a reflection of who he is. It cannot be tolerated. Other politicians took a more cautious stance. Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would not jump to conclusions, adding: If the death is under suspicion, we must first carry out an investigation to find out what the citizen (Navalny) died of. Mr Navalnys wife, Yulia Navalnaya, published a picture of the couple on Instagram in her first social media post since her husbands death. The caption read simply: I love you. Advertisement Hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities streamed to ad-hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repression with flowers and candles on Friday and Saturday to pay tribute to the politician. Police had detained 366 people in 39 cities by Sunday evening, according to the OVD-Info rights group which tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. Earlier in the weekend, the group reported 401 detentions in two days, but later updated the number and said the count may change both up and down over the next few days as information is verified. Advertisement The entrance to the prison colony where Alexei Navalny died (AP) More than 200 arrests were made in St Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, the group said. By Sunday evening, court officials in St Petersburg reported rulings ordering 85 of those detained to serve from one to 12 days in jail. Advertisement Among those detained was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Mr Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organising a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct, but was later admitted hospital with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Advertisement Memorial events also took place in cities across the world. In Berlin, members of the Russian activist group Pussy Riot held a demonstration outside the Russian Embassy, holding banners that read murderers in English and Russian. The group, which included Pussy Riot members Nadya Tolokonnikova and Lusya Shtein, as well as long-time Navalny ally Lyubov Sobol and former Russian state media journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, planned to march with the banner to the citys Brandenburg Gate but were ultimately stopped by police. Ms Tolokonnikova told the Associated Press after the demonstration that such actions are meant to show that we exist. Memorials have sprung up across the world to Alexei Navalny, including near the Russian consulate in Frankfurt, Germany (Michael Probst/AP) We show ourselves to each other and support each other, and show with this action that Russia still has a future, and the idea of a beautiful Russia of the future hasnt died, she said, using a term Mr Navalny famously coined. Advertisement Right now (some are) saying that hope died together with Navalny. But it seems to me that with (the death of) Navalny it wasnt the hope that died, but rather responsibility was born, she added. Dozens of people in Romanias capital of Bucharest gathered outside the Russian Embassy on Sunday to pay tribute to the opposition leader. Many lit candles and placed flowers next to a memorial portrait of Mr Navalny, while several people brandished placards that read: You dont win free elections by murdering the opposition. In Finland, a group of Russian residents gathered signatures for a petition proposing a name change for a park next the Russian Embassy in the capital Helsinki to Navalny Park. The news of Mr Navalnys death came a month before a presidential election in Russia which is widely expected to give Mr Putin another six years in power. Questions about the cause of death lingered, and it remains unclear when the authorities will release Mr Navalnys body. More than 29,000 people have submitted requests to the Russian government asking for the politicians remains to be handed over to his relatives, OVD-Info said. Many Russians had pinned their hopes for the future on Alexei Navalny (Aurelien Morissard/AP) Mr Navalnys team said on Saturday that the politician was murdered and accused authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body. His mother and lawyers received contradictory information from various institutions they visited in their quest to retrieve the body. Advertisement Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Mr Navalny felt sick after a walk on Friday and became unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,200 miles north east of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he could not be revived, the service said, adding that the cause of death is still being established. He had been jailed since January 2021 when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He had received three prison terms since his arrest, on a number of charges he rejected as politically motivated. Hours after his death was reported, his widow made a dramatic appearance at the Munich Security Conference. Ms Navalnaya said she was unsure if she could believe the news from official Russian sources, but if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin Putins friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband. Israeli strikes across Gaza overnight into Sunday killed at least 18 people, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft UN ceasefire resolution. The US, Israels top ally, instead hopes to broker a ceasefire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back, calling Hamass demands delusional and rejecting US and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. His cabinet adopted a declaration on Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians, and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it said would grant a major prize to terror after the October 7 attack that triggered the war. Advertisement Mr Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until total victory over Hamas and to expand it to Gazas southern-most town of Rafah, where more than half the enclaves population of 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. An air strike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in the southern city of Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive over the past two months. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. Advertisement In Gaza City, which was largely evacuated and suffered widespread destruction in the initial weeks of the war, an air strike flattened a family home, killing seven people including three women, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative of the deceased. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Nasser Hospital, the main medical centre serving southern Gaza, is no longer able to function after Israel raided the facility late last week. A Palestinian man injured in an Israeli air strike arrives at hospital in the Gaza Strip (Adel Hana/AP) Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO team was not allowed to enter the hospital on Friday or Saturday to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners. He said there are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other health facilities. Israel says it has arrested more than 100 suspected militants, including 20 who it says participated in Hamass October 7 attack, without providing evidence. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. Advertisement The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israels defences and attacked communities across southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. The war has killed almost 29,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. Around 80% of Gazas population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. Advertisement David Satterfield, the US Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues, said on Friday that Israeli strikes on Hamas-run police guarding aid convoys had caused them to halt the escorts, making it virtually impossible to deliver desperately-needed aid because of the threat of criminal gangs. He also said Israel has not presented specific evidence for its claims that Hamas is diverting UN aid. Advertisement Israel-Hamas War UN court to open hearings on legality of Israeli o... Read More At the UN, Algeria, the Arab representative on the Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late on Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washingtons own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted. She added: It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities in jeopardy. A union in Germany has called on ground staff for Lufthansa to strike at seven airports on Tuesday following a similar walkout earlier this month. The Ver.di union said on Sunday that the one-day strike will affect the airports in Frankfurt and Munich, Lufthansas two main hubs, as well as Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart. Advertisement It will run from 4am local time on Tuesday until 7.10am Wednesday. A 27-hour strike at five of the same airports that started on February 7 prompted the airline to cancel hundreds of flights. The union is seeking pay raises of 12.5%, or at least 500 euros (430) more per month, for 25,000 employees, including check-in, aircraft handling, maintenance and freight staff. A round of talks on February 12 produced no agreement and more negotiations are scheduled for Wednesday. Advertisement Talks on a potential ceasefire deal in Gaza have not been progressing as expected in the past few days, after good progress in recent weeks, key mediator Qatar said on Saturday, as Israels prime minister accused the Hamas militant group of not changing its delusional demands. Speaking during the Munich Security Conference, Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, said there were difficulties in the humanitarian part of the negotiations. Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under pressure to bring home remaining hostages taken in the October 7 Hamas attack, said he sent a delegation to ceasefire talks in Cairo earlier in the week at the request of US President Joe Biden, but does not see the point in sending them again. Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Palestinians held by Israel. Advertisement Palestinians line up for food in Rafah (Fatima Shbair/AP) Advertisement Mr Netanyahu also rejected international concern about a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, a city on southern Gazas border with Egypt. He said total victory against Hamas requires the offensive, once people living there evacuate to safe areas. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. New airstrikes in central Gaza on Saturday killed more than 40 people, including children, and wounded at least 50, according to Associated Press journalists and hospital officials. Israels military said it carried out strikes there against Hamas. Five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a house outside Khan Younis in the south, according to health officials, and another five people, including three children, were killed in an airstrike on a building north of Rafah. Advertisement Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital, said other bodies were being pulled from the rubble. Israels air and ground offensive was triggered by the October 7 attack that killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 others hostage. A destroyed building in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP) Advertisement The Gaza Health Ministry on Saturday raised the overall death toll in Gaza to 28,858, saying the bodies of 83 people killed in Israeli bombardments were taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours. Advertisement The count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, but the ministry says two-thirds of those killed are women and children. The war also has caused widespread destruction, displaced some 80% of Gazas population and sparked a humanitarian crisis in the Hamas-run enclave. More than half of Gazas 2.3 million people are packed into Rafah, which Israel portrays as the last significant stronghold of Hamas fighters. Advertisement Mr Biden has urged Israel not to carry out an operation there without a credible plan to protect civilians and to instead focus on a ceasefire. Egypt has said an operation could threaten diplomatic relations. Israel has said it has no plans to force Palestinians into Egypt. New satellite photos, however, indicate that Egypt is preparing for that scenario. . , , , . - . , . pic.twitter.com/4bcynoUXa4 Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) February 17, 2024 The images show Egypt building a wall and levelling land near its border with Gaza. Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry, who also spoke at the Munich Security Conference, said it is not our intention to provide any safe areas or facilities, but we will provide the support to the innocent civilians, if that was to take place. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said during a call with Frances leader that Egypt categorically rejected the displacement of Palestinians to Egypt in any way, shape or form, according to Mr el-Sisis office. Advertisement Two senior Egyptian officials said Egypt is building additional defensive lines in an existing buffer zone that extends three miles from the border. The buffer zone, built as part of Egypts battle against an insurgency by the so-called Islamic State group, was meant to prevent weapons smuggling to and from Gaza. The Tories can still win the next general election, Keir Starmer has warned, as he said his Labour Party cant stop fighting for every vote, not even for a second. While polls across the UK have Labour on course to form the next government, placing Mr Starrmer in Downing Street, he said the volatile world of politics, meant it would be ridiculous to suggest that the Tories could not win. Advertisement He made the point as he addressed the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, attacking the SNP for wanting to use the upcoming election to send a message to Westminster. Advertisement He told supporters there: No matter what the SNP say, the Tories can win the next election. Of course they can, politics is volatile. Its ridiculous to say otherwise. Advertisement Adding Labour has a mountain to climb to return to power, despite its poll lead, he said: We cant get carried away. Cant stop fighting for every vote, not even for a second. Insisting that another term of the Tories in power at Westminster would not be in Scotlands national interest, Sir Keir added: The easiest way to stop it, the only way to be sure of stopping it is to choose Labour to fight for Scotland in Westminster. Advertisement His comments came as he warned that Tory stagnation is a threat to Britain itself, arguing that the war on economic stability under the Conservatives had led to working people across Scotland turning their back on Britain. Speaking just days after it was confirmed the UK had gone into recession, he told the conference that this isnt just a line on a graph. Instead, he said it was confirmation that a key ideal in Britain, the notion that if you work hard you can achieve anything, was on life support. Advertisement The UK Labour leader closed his partys Scottish conference with his speech (Jane Barlow/PA) To counter this he said Labour must offer people a better future. Mr Starmer said: Hope is the fuel of change, the oxygen of a better future. And that is what we must offer Scotland. Advertisement Because after 14 years of Tory failure at Westminster, 17 years of SNP failure in Holyrood, only Labour can provide the change that Scotland needs. Advertisement Attacking SNP leader Humza Yousaf, Mr Starmer said drug deaths in Scotland are now off the scale, schools are going backwards and the NHS is in a terrible crisis. Telling supporters that the Scottish First Minister wants to send a message to Westminster in the general election, Sir Keir hit out: Send a message. With all the problems this nation faces, that is the level of his ambition for Scotland. Send a message. He added: Im afraid this is the story of the SNP now, theyre not interested in fixing Scotlands problems, they want to exploit them. The mask has slipped. The pretence that they were ever interested in improving the lives of working people rather than using their problems as fuel for their grand cause, that has been exposed. WATCH: Leader of the Labour Party @Keir_Starmer gives a speech to conference. Watch on YouTube or here on X! #ScotLab24 https://t.co/yeDA4VJCSq pic.twitter.com/KzPnbLuY3i Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) February 18, 2024 He told voters Labour had a plan for national renewal that would get the country back on our feet and would build a bond of respect between people and politics again. Advertisement The Labour leader said: You cant tell me that Scotland does not deserve better. Because it does. And we will deliver it. A new Scotland. A new Britain. Bound together again by an old partnership, the solidarity of working people across four nations. While he accepted there would always be a debate about Scotlands constitutional future he vowed that Labour would put Scotland at the heart of the Westminster debate promising this along with more money for Scottish public services. Sir Keir said: Thats change we can deliver for Scotland. Rock City Worship | Merge PR 16 February 2024 - Nashville, TN / Columbus, OH - Testify, the full-length album from Rock City Worshipofficially releases today on all digital platforms. Testify is the follow-up to their EP of the same name that dropped in October 2023 and features nine additional songs. Listen HERE. The title track brings the overarching theme of the live project, in which the group collectively explains, "God has done great things for us. Now, we are to testify of the goodness of the Lord to all who will hear." In addition, the focus track "Living Proof" shares the simple yet poignant message of returning to the basics of our relationship with God and why we first fell in love with Jesus. "Its simply that He loves us," they add. "We want listeners to walk away never forgetting how great God's love and the fact that were alive is proof of that love for us." Testify tracklisting: Testify How Could I Not Victory Is Near Evidence Restore Me Praise The Lord Living Proof Kingdom Crowns Glory Fills This Room His Name Only You Peace In Place There Is Power Made A Way Praise The Lord (Extended) Rock City Worship is comprised of a unified team of pastors, worship leaders, musicians, and songwriters who serve weekly at Rock City Church in Columbus, Ohio. It's their continued desire to create songs that capture the sound and expression of their church and equip the worship ministries of other local churches, empowering worship teams across the globe to lead people into the presence of God through the music they create. Their release of Testify built upon the groups previously released projects, including Best Thing and Summer 23, and continues to showcase Rock City Worships talents, distinctly capturing the diverse sound of their church with lyrics that are all about the goodness of the Lord. As a musical collective, it is Rock City Worship's constant goal and desire to create songs that paint a vivid picture of who God reveals Himself to be through His Word, believing that the more clearly we can see God, the more completely we can worship Him. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signed a reporters arm in a stunt about GST during his visit to WA. It comes after a front page on The West Australian included a pledge for the prime minister to sign to leave the GST contribution for the state as is. We actually have put in place not just the definition for WA, the certainty thats there, we have provided at the last national cabinet every state and territory with their no worse off GST guarantee funding, Albanese said. Albanese told the reporter Dylan Caporn that if he wanted a stunt, he should get a tattoo. I reckon you should get a tat and get a signature on the tat. Im happy to sign your arm if you like. If you are going to take it seriously, if were going to have a stunt, lets do a good one. Lets go to a tattoo parlour, we can get it tattooed on, the prime minister said. He signed the reporters arm. Caporn asked him why he wouldnt sign the pledge. You want something permanent, lets get serious. Im worried about your lack of commitment here But anyway, the offer is there available. Afterwards, a reporter asked if it was frustrating amendment to stage 3 tax cuts cast aspersions on his promises about the GST. They havent, Albanese said. Its very clear. And what is clear as well, you might have noticed this, is that the Liberal Party and Peter Dutton voted for our changes to tax last week, that went through the parliament. He said the tax cuts passed through the House of Representatives, and even One Nation was supporting them. In the last four months I have seen footage and heard things which will never leave me: children taking their last breaths, the tiny bodies of babies who were born and died in war, mothers having caesarean sections without anaesthetics. The humanitarian crisis imposed on Gaza is beyond anything in living memory. The population is being starved, deprived of water, shelter and basic medicines. Particularly shocking is the effect on healthcare. Over 400 of my healthcare colleagues have been killed. Most of Gazas hospitals have been destroyed or attacked. Dr Kate Ahmad had her photo, workplace and pictures of her family shared on a pro-Israel site calling for her to be sacked over her activism. Being a doctor committed to medical ethics, to international humanitarian law, and having a responsibility to ease human suffering, I, of course, want this horrific conflict to end, in line with international medical organisations including Medecins Sans Frontieres, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund. And so I devote my time to advocacy for Palestinians. I work with Doctors for Palestine, a group of doctors that has grown to 900 members, to push for a ceasefire, to increase aid, to reject violence as a solution, and to recognise the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and autonomy. We use the legal means at our disposal to push for these goals. We write and have petitions tabled, we attend rallies, we organise vigils, we meet politicians. We support each other in our grief at the loss of human life, culture and security. Those of a certain age see working from home as a privilege because they grew up into a workforce environment where it just wasnt a norm, and they see any attempt to create a boundary around that as an entitled reaction, he said. Loading Whereas those who are younger will say: of course remote working has benefits, but also there are downsides to it and so we need to erect boundaries. The ways in which younger employees spend their time outside of work might go some way to explaining why they have a particular enthusiasm for wanting to be able to disconnect from it, said social researcher Claire Madden, author of Hello Gen Z: Engaging the Generation of Post-Millennials. Every generation is using technology and social media, but the sense to which these are integrated into their sense of self as a [member of] Gen Z is on another level, she said. While previous generations would leave their workplace, office workers now carry a huge part of it the smartphone after hours, whether they are working from home or not. But, as is less the case for older generations, the smartphone is also a younger persons primary way to unwind after work, Madden said. Recreation time, spent scrolling social media or streaming a series, is brought to an instant halt by a notification from work on the screen. You might be on your device for one purpose, but you can be so easily interrupted. Its emotionally taxing, Madden said. I think Gen Z are probably the ones realising they need those boundaries to be put in. Madden said Generation Zs approach to work a lack of willingness to perform the dance of presenteeism and confidence to speak up despite their junior status reflected the social environment in which they came of age, entering the workforce in the disruption and confusion of a global pandemic. They dont place as much value on having an employer for life [and] the things that motivate them to stay in a job are different: they want to feel like they are relationally engaged and like they are making a contribution early on in their careers, she said. Loading While these traits might rub senior colleagues the wrong way, Madden said workplaces should be open to structuring operations to make the most of their younger employees: Isnt it a good thing that they have this willingness? They dont want to wait to make a difference. Demographer and social analyst Mark McCrindle said every new generation brings a level of disruption to the workplace: practices we now consider part of the office furniture, such as mentoring and town hall meetings, were disruptive to the extremely hierarchical workplaces Baby Boomers faced at the starts of their careers, he said. UNSW Business School senior deputy dean Frederik Anseel agreed the arguments being levelled against Generation Z by older colleagues were not new. Every new generation over the past 100 years has been called lazy or not willing to work, he said. The Belgian native strongly disagrees the right to disconnect is a Generation Z impost, noting it had been a feature of western European workplaces since the 2010s, when employees realised that just because they could work 24/7 doesnt mean they should. In that time, attitudes have shifted from companies literally turning off their servers at the end of the workday to more of a personal work hygiene, he said, characterised by steps such as including a disclaimer in ones email signature (to the tune of: just because I keep these hours doesnt mean you have to). The problem with the right to disconnect is it became an obligation, he said. In Europe we started with a radical right to disconnect, but what we realised is we actually just needed to learn what flexibility is. McCrindle questioned whether the right was a solution in want of a problem, arguing younger employees were confident asking for workplace flexibility and setting boundaries. They dont really need something mandated because theyve already arranged it and are pretty empowered in the workplace, he said. In her experience, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele ONeil said the push for right to disconnect protections in enterprise agreements, such as in the current negotiations for federal ministerial staff, was not just coming from younger workers. When workers are not being paid and [are] spending time with family, playing sport and relaxing, these new laws will mean they cant be contacted unreasonably, she said. Many union agreements, such as those in higher education and some banks, already have the right to disconnect as part of their agreements its seen as a basic right that you should be paid for the work you do and have quality time off. Generational divide: what each gen brought to the office Baby Boomers: Baby Boomers bring a boom to every lifestage they enter, says demographer Mark McCrindle. The influx of workers heralded an economic boom in which workers trusted loyalty and hard work would be rewarded. They started at the bottom and worked their way up, he says, noting Boomers were also keen adopters of technology, ushering in the PC age. Generation X: They followed in the footsteps of the Boomers but, unfortunately, economically speaking they came an hour late, says McCrindle. Gen X bore the brunt of right-sizing and cost savings as they entered the workforce in the recession we had to have. Millennial: Major change tends to take a couple of decades, and the Millennials were transformative like the Boomers, says McCrindle. The digital revolution heralded a new online era of entrepreneurship and self-marketing. Generation Z: While conversations about quiet quitting and entitlement have plagued Gen Zs entry to the workforce beyond flexibility, the new generation of workers are mostly focused on values, McCrindle says. They want to be working at a place with values they resonate with and where they feel their contribution is valued. Democracy is a bit like breakfast, says Daniela Giorgi. You have to have a little bit every day. Every year, Giorgi runs programs for thousands of school students who come to the NSW Parliament in a bid to help them become informed citizens. Daniela Giorgi, who teaches school students about how democracy works in NSW Parliament House. Credit: Steven Siewert The teenagers and adults she meets might initially be sceptical about the place with its colonial architecture and wood panelled interiors, which crawls with politicians in suits during sitting weeks. But money and power interests everybody, she says. It is about demystifying it, so it is not just a place for privileged members of parliament. 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 government ordered the shutdown of schools during COVID, disrupting the social and educational progress of children. The impacts are profound and ongoing. See all 4 stories . Mass school closures that stretched for months during the pandemic were unnecessary and led to a cascade of social and educational problems that threaten a generation of Australian children, top education experts say. Governments have failed to examine the fallout from one of the most far-reaching decisions prompted by COVID-19, which disrupted the schooling of millions of students and resulted in an attendance crisis and persistent behavioural issues. A panel of pre-eminent Australian education experts has flagged the profound impacts that school closures during COVID-19 have had on students education and wellbeing. The roundtable of education experts explored the NSW governments policy decisions, the impact on students and the aftershocks being felt today. Credit: Dylan Coker They called for a plan for future closures that puts the long and short-term needs of children at the centre of policy decision-making. The Sydney Morning Herald convened experts on education and child social development to assess the impact of COVID on students after the federal government failed to include the decision to close schools in its independent inquiry into how the nation managed the pandemic. They included the chair of the NSW education regulator, Peter Shergold, and the National Childrens Commissioner Anne Hollonds. Advertisement Schools in NSW switched to remote learning in 2020 and 2021. Strict infection controls continued to interrupt learning and social interaction for months on end. The COVID fallout: Education This month marks four years since Chinas COVID-19 outbreak was deemed a public health emergency of international concern, heralding the start of a traumatic period many of us would prefer to forget. While a federal government inquiry is examining some national responses to the crisis, key decisions made by states will not be properly scrutinised. The Herald is concerned our political leaders have not adequately studied the lessons good and bad of our most recent experience, and we plan to ask tough questions over the coming months about the pandemics impact on education, health, border closures and lockdowns and policing. This is the first of our three-part series looking at the impact of COVID on education. The forum discussions with nine expert panellists were broken up into two sessions: one examining the wellbeing and behaviour of students, the second on academic and learning disruption. The panellists warned the aftershocks of the decision to close schools are still being felt in classrooms, playgrounds and homes. Some of the worst aspects were the skyrocketing truancy rate, school refusal and significant issues with student discipline and distraction in the classroom, and self-regulation in the playground. Shergold, a former top public servant who led an independent review into the pandemic in 2022, said the lingering effects of school shutdowns on students, teachers and parents underscored the importance of scrutinising unilateral decisions by state governments to mandate remote learning. Herald panellists (from left to right): Australian Education Research Organisation chief executive Jenny Donovan, Catholic Schools NSW chief executive officer Dallas McInerney, Fairvale High School principal Kathleen Seto and NSW Education Standards Authority chair Professor Peter Shergold. Credit: Dylan Coker In September, the federal government announced a long-awaited inquiry into the pandemic response, but school closures are not included in the terms of reference. Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has previously joined health experts in urging the inquiry to examine the social damage and repercussions of long periods of remote learning. The danger of school closures, which we always knew, was that it was going to accentuate disadvantage, said Shergold. After the closures in early 2020, we made the wrong policy decisions about closing school systems. Advertisement In NSW, more than 1.2 million students either learned remotely or had minimal supervision in schools for more than five months. Schools were shut down between March and May in 2020, and then again in 2021 from July to the end of October. Hundreds of schools and childcare centres were closed again in the following months. Cleaners arrive at the Malek Fahd Islamic School in Hoxton Park in October 2020. Credit: Janie Barrett Unlike in Victoria, there was minimal supervision at schools for students, but attendance was discouraged. Shergold said the unity of national cabinet fractured as state governments forged ahead with decisions to shut schools, despite the federal government urging parents to send their children to classes. State decisions were often politically driven, some panellists said, ignoring the risk of long-lasting impacts on young children and teenagers, especially the most disadvantaged students who were most affected by the closures. It was clearly the Commonwealth position to keep school systems open, Shergold said. It was states that were unpersuaded, and thats why this present inquiry seems so bizarre that were not going to address their policy responses. Its a crucial part of the story and ensuring that were better prepared for the next pandemic. He said early in 2020 there was a fog of war, and there was ill preparation in Australia between federal and state governments for a pandemic, noting it was understandable schools closed in the first months. Advertisement Loading But after evidence emerged that children were less likely to spread the virus, and schools were not transmission hotspots, the system-wide closures were unwarranted, he said. We had Treasury pleading with us not to shut school systems. Part of the issue was that parents started to voluntarily withdraw their children from schools, and they were voting with their feet ... I think NSW reacted to that, he said. The state government also faced persistent pressure from the NSW Teachers Federation to shut down in-person classes, leaving minimal staffing to support essential frontline services workers. Some of Sydneys private schools began to defy official advice and close, putting pressure on other systems to follow suit. The advice provided by chief health officers was that attending school represented a low health risk to students, and studies in 2021 reaffirmed transmission between children in schools was minimal. Hollonds agreed the first closure early in the pandemic, which lasted seven weeks, was unavoidable, but the longer closure of 2021 was unnecessary. Maybe they should have only been short term, where there was a hot-spot, not the 15 weeks we saw across all of NSW, she said. Advertisement She said the public debate over school closures not only ignored the needs of children, but demonised them as germy super-spreaders. It felt Dickensian, some of that discourse, she said. Loading Shergold noted that the shift to online learning was implemented well across systems and schools, and effort was made to address the digital divide. But he emphasised that after the first mass closures a more targeted approach should have been taken to only close individual schools when needed. Adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said school closures, service disruptions and remote learning not only stunted the educational progress of young people, but increased their stress, isolated them and reduced their physical activity. All of [this has] contributed to the deterioration of mental health among young people, he said. COVID has a long psychological tail. Chief executive officer of Catholic Schools NSW Dallas McInerney said for many key decisions, including those made in emergency cabinet meetings, there was no schools voice in the room. Advertisement Two major free expos are happening simultaneously this weekend at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Home improvers can brush up on the latest trends at the Brisbane Home Show while competing for parking space with the wellness fans of the Mind Body Spirit Festival. Skate-punk superstars Blink-182 are playing three huge concerts, and tribute acts to some vastly disparate bands of yesteryear are playing too. Queensland Theatres first production of the year, Gaslight, should start a few conversations, while Italian restaurant Settimo celebrates its first year in the happiest way possible by giving away cannoli. Monday, February 19 Blink-182 spearheaded the skatepunk movement of the 1990s and 2000s. Music: Blink-182 There are still a few seats available to Blink-182s three shows, which will feature the classic line-up of DeLonge, Barker and Hoppus reunited for the first time in 10 years. Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Feb 19-21, $122.15-$152.70. Buy tickets. It cant be too much fun having to share your new(ish) boyfriend with the voting public, but Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses fiancee, Jodie Haydon, seems remarkably good-natured about it. News of the couples engagement was published on Thursday morning, on the social media site X (formerly Twitter), which seemed apt, as thats where they first connected. Theirs is both an unusual romance and a thoroughly common contemporary tale. Jodie Haydon and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after telling the media of their engagement at The Lodge on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Albanese is a second-time-rounder, having been married before (a friend of mine who married a divorced father-of-three called him a quality retread). They had met the old-fashioned way in person, at a superannuation event. But it was only when Haydon slid into Albaneses direct messages on Twitter that they got together for a date. I bet you did a little double-take there, right? Caesar salad from Mexico? Is that a typo? Could this quintessentially American staple really be from south of the border? Well get to that in a second. First, lets talk about what Caesar salad actually is: the salad for people who dont like salad; the health food for those who dont want to be healthy. Its a few scraps of lettuce drowned in a sauce of oil, egg, garlic, Dijon mustard, anchovies, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce, studded with crunchy croutons and blanketed in grated parmesan cheese. Bacon and chicken are often added. This thing is an umami bomb, richly fatty, and globally popular for a reason. Caesar salad is prepared table-side at Caesar's Restuarante, Tijuana. Credit: Alamy First serve During the US Prohibition era, from 1920 to 1933, the Hollywood elite would often drive or even fly themselves in private aircraft across the border to Tijuana, where the good times drinking, gambling, general cavorting rolled. One of the most popular Tijuana restaurants around that time was Caesars, owned and run by Italian migrant Caesar Cardini. In 1924, one of either Cardini himself, or a kitchenhand named Livio Santini, messed around with a quick salad of whole cos lettuce leaves with dressing, which could be eaten by hand. The dish quickly made it to the restaurants menu, and was famously tossed tableside by the expert waitstaff. Fame and fortune followed for Cardini, and the salad recipe, like much of the Hollywood elite, eventually made its way north of the border. Order there Theres only one place to go: Caesars in Tijuana, these days run by celebrated local chef Javier Plascencia (grupoplascencia.com/caesars). London: On an icy cold Moscow morning John Geering, Australias ambassador to Russia, trudged through the overnight snow to lay carnations at a makeshift memorial for yet another dead critic of Vladimir Putin. The Solovetsky Stone, located across from the former headquarters of the notorious NKVD and KGB secret police forces, is an official monument dedicated to the prisoners and victims of Communist terror. Australias Ambassador to Russia, John Geering, lays flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny in Moscow. Credit: Australian Embassy, Moscow on X. Erected after the fall of the Soviet Union, it has taken on greater significance amid Russias march towards authoritarianism. The stone was originally from one of Russias most feared gulags, or prisoner labour camps, located at the Solovetsky Islands in the Onega Bay of the Russian White Sea. Geering let the world know of his actions to mark the death of Alexei Navalny, a man who was arguably the most influential remaining critic of Putin, through the embassys social media account. The Adani group is in advanced talks with top sovereign funds based in West Asia to raise up to $2.6 billion for its airport expansion and green hydrogen projects. The group, which expects to close the ongoing financial year ending March with Rs 80,000 crore of Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation), has held a series of road shows in London, Dubai, and Singapore with potential investors, briefing them about their future growth plans. The groups flagship, Adani Enterprises, may dilute part of its stake in the airport-holding firm and/or the green hydrogen business to these funds, which are The unexpected missile attack on a second India-bound ship carrying Russian crude, just three weeks after the first, has complicated matters for domestic refiners. India now counts the Vladimir Putin-led nation as its biggest oil supplier, according to Paris-based market intelligence agency Kpler, and these attacks come on top of US sanctions since December, where vessels that bring crude to India are facing heightened scrutiny. Panama-registered Pollux, which loaded crude at the Sheshkaris oil terminal in the Russian port of Novorossiysk on January 24, was scheduled to deliver the medium, sour Urals grade to Paradip port on February 28. According to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and the US State Department data, the tanker was struck northwest of Yemens Mokha port in the Red Sea. The rebels had targeted the long-range 2 (LR2)-type tanker carrying around 628,000 barrels of Urals, with at least three missiles, and one had struck the vessel on the port side, according to a post by US Central Command (Centcom) on X (formerly Twitter). Officials then said there were no casualties, and the vessel had continued its trip to Indias east coast. On Sunday, a Kpler official said the vessel had not transmitted a signal over the past day, likely due to being hit by a missile. State-owned refiner Indian Oil has a 300,000-barrels-per-day refinery at Paradip, with Russian state-owned Rosneft being the oil supplier, showed Kpler data. If the attacks continue, Russian vessels may have to go around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing transit time by weeks and sending costs north, Indian refining officials said, expecting Moscow to intervene with Tehran to sort the issues. For all cargo types, the decision to take longer and safer routes has resulted in higher trade costs for shipping and insurance, according to the UN Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD). The incremental cost of diverting a tanker around Africa costs nearly $1million more per voyage. For an Aframax tanker, similar in size to an LR2, costs surged by 110 per cent, according to LSEG Shipping Research. A Mumbai-based refining official said there were no frantic calls from suppliers and no panic in the market on Saturday. Russian oil is still crossing the Suez, he added. This was the second such attack in less than three weeks on a Russian oil vessel. Late last month, the Achilles, a crude oil tanker managed by India's Gaurik Ship Management, was sailing to Sikka on India's west coast carrying Russian Urals when it was attacked. The missile missed the vessel, and ship-tracking data showed that the cargo was delivered on February 1 at Jamnagar oil terminal. It is likely that the Houthis have no intention of attacking non-Israeli-related commercial shipping and that this was a one-off (incident), said Tilak Doshi, a London-based energy expert. It is not in their interest to do so, as their benefactors in Iran allied to Russia and China in global geopolitics do not gain by such actions either. The Houthis continue to target Israeli-, American-, and British-linked shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. So far in February, they have targeted five vessels, including Pollux, according to UK-based Ambrey, a maritime security agency. Pollux had minor damage from the attack, Ambrey said. Russia has good relations with Iran and can manage the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, said a state-run refining official. Government officials said that India's support for Israel had turned the Hamas and the Houthis against India, a reason why they were targeting ships employing Indians and carrying goods to India. India has since tried to strike a balance in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. An industry official said some tankers, including Russian, carrying crude to India via the Suez do not show their destination as India. But the Houthis are also looking at vessel ownership, and not just where they are headed, he added. Affiliations with mainland China, Iran, and Russia have not completely negated attacks either, Ambrey said, referring to attacks on Achilles and a container ship owned by a Chinese company. The uncertainty is taking its toll on freight costs and insurance, which may make Russian oil uncompetitive unless Moscow absorbs the higher costs and maintains existing discounts of $3-4 per oil barrel, a state-run refining official said. India boosted its share of Russian crude imports to around 39 per cent of total purchases in 2023 from 16 per cent in 2022, despite warnings from Washington over potential sanctions violations. Imports averaged 1.53 million barrels per day (b/d) in January, and 1.58 million b/d in February till February 18, shows Kpler data. Imports have averaged around 1.5-1.6 million b/d since August after exceeding 2 million b/d in July owing to lower discounts, enhanced Western policing, output cuts by Russia and now the Red Sea conflict. Washington has stepped on the sanctions pedal since October, targeting vessels that carry Russian crude, trading over the $60 per barrel cap imposed by the G-7 group of nations. This has resulted in sanctions on Sun Ship Management in December and other entities in January and February. While India has no issues buying Russian oil, it will not accept such fuel transported on sanctioned vessels to Indian ports, officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modis three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, from which he returned home Thursday, was probably his last foreign visit in his current term. According to data available on the websites of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), Modi has undertaken 76 foreign visits as prime minister since his maiden visit to Bhutan on June 15-16, 2014. His predecessor, Manmohan Singh, completed 73 foreign visits in his 10 years at the helm, from his first to Thailand to attend the BIMSTEC Summit on July 29, 2004 to his last Calling Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 an act of terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Israel should have been "very mindful" of civilian casualties in its response and emphasised its "obligation to observe international humanitarian law." He outlined key dimensions of the Israel-Palestine conflict so as to have a long term and a permanent solution to the issue. Speaking at a panel discussion at the ongoing Munich Security Conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, Jaishankar said, "Well, I don't have advice for my colleagues, though I particularly, I think all of us follow the enormous efforts which Tony (Antony Blinken) is putting in right now. But look, the way we look at it, there are different dimensions, different elements to this. "Number one, we must be clear that what happened on October 7th was terrorism. No caveats, no justification, no explanation. It was terrorism. Number two, as Israel responds, it is important that Israel should be, should have been very mindful of civilian casualties, that it has an obligation to observe international humanitarian law," he added. He called the return of hostages "imperative" and emphasised the need for a humanitarian corridor to provide relief. Reiterating India's support for a two-state solution, Jaishankar said that many more nations in the world now feel that a two-state solution is necessary and more urgent than before. Jaishankar said, "Number three, the return of hostages is today imperative. Number four, there is a need for a humanitarian corridor, a sustainable humanitarian corridor to provide relief. And eventually, there has to be a permanent fix, a long-term fix, otherwise, we're going to see a recurrence." "And I think today, suddenly, India has long believed in a two-state solution; we have maintained that position for many decades. And I think many more countries in the world today feel not just that a two-state solution is necessary, but it is more urgent than it was before," he added. In his remarks, Jaishankar stated that a large number of nations, particularly those in the Global South, believe that terrorism shouldn't be justified. He said that these nations believe a two-state solution should not be delayed. "I think a very large number of countries, especially those in the Global South, believe that terrorism shouldn't be countenanced or justified. But they equally strongly believe that a two-state solution should not be delayed. These are not choices. These are both musts. And unless we are able to address both these issues, we are not going to really solve the problem," EAM said. Meanwhile, Blinken said the US is committed to Israel's security and supports the proposition that Israel has to find ways to ensure that whatever happened on October 7 "never happens again." Speaking about US policy amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, Blinken said, "We're committed to Israel's security. That's been clear from day one. It remains clear. And we understand and support the proposition that Israel has to find ways to make sure that what happened on October 7th never happens again. But we've also said and not only said, we've acted on the proposition, that, of course, the way Israel does that matters profoundly." "The way it does it in terms of trying to ensure greater protection for civilians who are caught in a crossfire of Hamas making. That's absolutely essential. Making sure that people in need get the assistance they need. We are working on this every single day. And as we've seen this evolve over the last four months, things have happened as a result of our engagement, our intervention, that I would say probably would not have happened, almost certainly wouldn't have happened without it. But it's not enough, it's insufficient. And that's why we're at it almost, literally, 24 hours a day," he added. Notably, the war between Israel and Hamas began after the latter launched an attack on the former on October 7, where around 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 taken hostage. Israel then launched a counterattack on Hamas and vowed to eliminate the terrorist group. The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 got underway on February 16 in the German capital and will conclude on Sunday. It is being held at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, according to an official statement. A panel of Union ministers held the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders here on Sunday over their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP, as thousands of protesting farmers stay put at the Punjab-Haryana border. Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai reached the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 for the talks. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting. The Union ministers and farmer leaders had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but the talks remained inconclusive. Protesting farmers from Punjab have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri points on the state's border with Haryana since February 13 when their 'Delhi Chalo' march was halted by police. The call for the march was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to press their demands. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21. Ahead of the fourth round of talks, the SKM announced that it will gherao the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three days from Tuesday to press the Centre into accepting their demands. Balbir Singh Rajewal, a leader of the SKM, an umbrella body of various farmer unions, said they will stage protests in front of the residences of Punjab BJP leaders, including MPs, MLAs and district presidents, from Tuesday to Thursday. Interacting with reporters after a meeting of SKM leaders in Ludhiana, Rajewal said it has also been decided that they would protest at all toll barriers in the state and make them free for all commuters from February 20 to 22. The SKM will not accept anything less than the C-2 plus 50 per cent formula for MSP as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report, he said after the meeting which was also attended by farmer leaders Balkaran Singh Brar and Boota Singh, among others. Earlier, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said the central government should not dilly-dally and accept farmers' demands before the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections comes into force. "We want to tell the government that it should avoid the policy of dilly-dallying," Dallewal told reporters at the Shambhu border point. If the government thinks it will continue to hold meetings till the Model Code of Conduct is imposed and then say it cannot do anything as the code is in force... the farmers are not going to return, he said. "The government should find a solution to our demands before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force," he added. The farmers' agitation, Dallewal clarified, has not been sponsored by any political party. In Haryana's Kurukshetra, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni and some 'khaps' took part in a panchayat to chalk out a course of action to support the protesting farmers from Punjab. Charuni told reporters after the meeting that it was decided to unite all farmer organisations to hold a protest in support of the agitation. Several other decisions have been put on hold for the time being due to the scheduled talks. The decisions will be announced once the outcome of the talks is known, he added. Charuni said a good chunk of the rural belt is part of the National Capital Region (NCR) and a four-member committee has been formed to connect with farmers from Delhi. He said it is surprising that the government is not allowing the farmers to travel to Delhi on their tractors. It is a farmer's vehicle and they need to carry eatables and ration for the agitation on their tractors, he said. Khap leader O P Dhankar said Haryana 'khaps' are behind the agitation and the central government should not delay giving a legal guarantee of MSP. Another 'khap' leader who attended the panchayat said farmers will reach Delhi and protest if the talks fail. Meanwhile, the suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas in some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24 on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Earlier, internet services were suspended from February 12 to 16 in view of the farmers' march. The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) continued to hold protests at toll plazas in Punjab for the second consecutive day, forcing authorities not to charge toll tax. At the Ladhowal plaza in Ludhiana, farmers shouted slogans against the Centre and the Haryana government. The Haryana government on Saturday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts till February 19. 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 Legislation to safeguard national security conforms to international practice: Hong Kong legal profession Xinhua) 09:57, February 18, 2024 HONG KONG, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Jan. 30 commenced a month-long public consultation on the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR, with the legal profession in Hong Kong saying that the legislation to safeguard national security conforms to international practice and is "necessary" and "should be done as soon as possible." Gu Minkang, a professor of the Education University of Hong Kong, said that almost all countries in the world attach importance to national security legislation, as it is related to the survival of a country and must be protected by special laws. As a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong has the constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security. Gu, also vice chairman of Hong Kong Basic Law Education Association, stressed that the legislation of Article 23 is the key to improving national security legislation, and it must be guided by the overall national security concept and fully fill the loopholes in national security. He said that through the legislation of Article 23, Hong Kong can integrate local laws and regulations on national security, absorb new international regulations on national security crimes, and build a complete legal system for safeguarding national security. Only in this way can Hong Kong gain confidence and freedom, develop its economy and maintain long-term prosperity and stability. Why is it necessary to legislate for Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law when the national security law in Hong Kong already exists? In this regard, Ian Chu, a barrister a governor of local think tank Path of Democracy, explained that although the national security law in Hong Kong has brought stability to the society, but in order to consolidate national security in an all-round way, it needs to be complementary to the legislation of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law. Chu believed that with the legislation of Article 23, Hong Kong's work in safeguarding national security will be more effective. Since national security is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's development, the national security law in Hong Kong and Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law need to work together to make Hong Kong's international status rock-solid. Hong Kong should seize the opportunity to do the legislation, so as to safeguard national security and allow Hong Kong people to live a stable life and Hong Kong can soar again. Ronny Tong, an official member of the Executive Council of the HKSAR, also a senior counsel, said that there is no contradiction between national security and public interest, because there is no public interest in the world that endangers national security. If it is against national security, it is not in the public interest. Tong said that Hong Kong is a pluralistic society, and the exchange of information is quite open and smooth. Therefore, as long as people do not do anything that violates or endangers national security, all information can flow freely. Willy Fu, a law professor in Hong Kong, said that the enactment of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law adds some crimes according to the actual situation, which is a forward-looking and will provide important support for the maintenance of good governance and long-term peace and stability in Hong Kong. Fu believed that the legislation of Article 23 and the national security law in Hong Kong are compatible and complementary, and can jointly build a strong wall of national security and plug legal loopholes. In particular, amending some existing laws, converting some common law crimes into statutory laws and providing extra-territorial effects, will give no foothold to the anti-China forces, which will do all good but not harm to Hong Kong. Cheung Kwok-kwan, deputy secretary for justice of the HKSAR government, said that the legislation of Article 23 is not intended to lower the threshold of conviction. The prosecution must still prove beyond reasonable doubt that a defendant has committed a crime and has intent to commit a crime before the court can convict the defendant. The public need not to worry about inadvertently violating the law. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) TOKYO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - Since the end of January, North Korea has successively launched three types of ground-attack cruise missiles, including a new type of anti-ship cruise missile. The "Hwasal-2" strategic cruise missile launched on January 30th was reported by North Korean media not as a test but as a "training" exercise, suggesting that deployment to units has already begun. South Korean media reported that the "Hwasal-2" flew at an altitude of less than 30 meters for a distance of 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers, making it difficult to detect by radar. Fuji TV's Senior Commentator Noboru Nose explained, "The earth is round, so at an altitude of less than 30 meters, most of the flight is hidden by the horizon, making it difficult to detect by ground or sea radar. If it can fly 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers, it could reach almost all of Japan." North Korea has previously hinted at plans to mount a tactical nuclear warhead, "Volcano 31," on the "Hwasal-2." On January 28th, they tested the submarine-launched strategic cruise missile "Pulhwasal-3-31," which flew for over two hours. Nose added, "The name of this cruise missile, launched from underwater, is 'Pulhwasal-3-31,' with 'Pul' meaning fire in Korean, suggesting the Volcano 31 nuclear warhead." Japan is countering the threat from North Korea, both from the sea and the ground. The U.S. Navy has established a method to detect low-flying cruise missiles over the ocean with early warning aircraft and relay that data to Aegis ships for interception. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has equipped two "Maya"-class destroyers with terminals to share data with U.S. Navy Aegis ships and aims to intercept cruise missiles by networking with the ground-based interception system "PAC-3." In response to Japan's moves, North Korea, the day after Japan revealed plans to begin operational training of the non-nuclear cruise missile "Tomahawk" as part of its counterattack capability in March, released a statement from Kim Yo-jong suggesting the possibility of Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Pyongyang. The tension and deterrence between Japan and North Korea continue as both sides engage in a standoff. Source: FNN 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. Patricia Cathene Mathews, 82, of Chattanooga, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at her residence surrounded by her beloved family. She was a caring wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother, and faithful servant of the Lord. Her legacy of kindness, faith, and unwavering dedication to her loved ones will forever be remembered. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941, she was affectionately known as Pat, mom, granny, and nana. She is survived by her devoted husband of 29 years, Charles, her loving children, Lena Patterson (Donnie Sr.) of Spartanburg, SC, G. Eddie McCrary (Gail) of Chattanooga, and step-daughter, Casie Mathews of Atlanta. Also left to cherish her memory are her beloved siblings, Jesse Adams (Martha) of Ocoee, Fl., Portia Adams of Chattanooga, Sandra Moton (Thomas) of Rocky Mount, NC, and sisters-in-law, Sheila Phillips of Chattanooga, and Joyce Guinn and Linda Brabson, both of Knoxville. Pat also leaves behind grandchildren, Crystal Talley (Timothy Jr) of Orlando, Donnie Patterson Jr. of Spartanburg, SC, Beatrice McCrary and Maeve McCrary, both of Chattanooga, and great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Talley and Timothy (Trey) Talley III of Orlando, and Donnie (Trace) Patterson III of Spartanburg, SC, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Potries and Evie Lena Adams; step-mother, Sarah Adams; nephew, Joseph Randall Adams; and mother-in-law, Rubye Mathews. Despite her petite stature, Pats acts of love left an indelible mark. She was a living testimony of what it meant to be Christ-like. Her gentle voice was a sharp contrast to her penetrating words, exemplifying the powerful virtues of humility, unconditional love, and sacrificial service, serving those around her like Jesus served. She blessed everyone she met with her strength, integrity, endurance, thoughtfulness, loving-kindness and gentleness. Graduating from Howard High School in 1959, she completed the nursing program at Erlanger Medical Center and served as an LPN for over 30 years. Her caring extended beyond the professional realm as she welcomed family members into her home to ensure they received loving care. This service of love, offered freely with grace and joy, was not reserved for just family and friends, however. It extended to anyone who demonstrated a need, without concern for any perceived faults or failures. Always impeccably dressed, she exuded elegance and style, earning admiration wherever she went. A devout Christian, she served Thompkins Chapel A.M.E Zion Church faithfully, contributing to various ministries and organizations, including the Buds of Promise, the church choir, the Trustee Board, the church treasury, the Womens Home and Oversees Missionary Society, and served as the President of the Chattanooga District Missionary Society. Pats radiant spirit touched all who knew her and her legacy of love and service will forever be remembered by those whose lives she enriched. Patricia will lie in state on Sunday, Feb. 18, from 12:30-5 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral services will be on Monday, Feb. 19, at 9:30 a.m. at Cleages Chapel AME Zion Church with Pastor Richard Gadzekpo as the eulogist. Burial will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery. During the four days of the ice storm and single digit temperatures in mid-January, the Soddy Daisy Public Works department used 400600 tons of salt to keep the roads open. Additionally, Public Works Director Steve Grant said it cost the city over $7,000 in overtime pay for the employees. At the commission meeting Thursday night, approval was given to begin replenishing the salt in storage. Up to $40,000 was authorized to buy 300 tons of road salt for bad weather in the future. The Fire Department also will be getting needed equipment. Fire Chief Dusty Morgan told the commissioners that the airbags fire and rescue uses to lift heavy cars off of someone who is trapped underneath have expired They are too old to even be tested, he said. The commissioners approved purchasing new airbags to replace the ones that have no useful life remaining. On the final vote, the electrical code was updated to the 2018 codes. The state of Tennessee requires that municipalities adopt electrical codes that are within seven years of the current year. The city approved updating the electrical codes to the 2018 version. That will match the codes being used by surrounding municipalities in Hamilton County. City Manager Burt Johnson announced that the paving project that replaced Dayton Pike through Soddy Daisy came in under the budgeted amount of $4,028,000. The actual cost from Tally Construction was $3,036,000. The difference will go toward the new building to replace the current city hall. Soddy Daisy has volunteers that lead and participate in activities to improve the city and partner with it. One of the organizations that helps citizens of Soddy Daisy in many ways is Kelcurt Foundation, founded and operated by Curtis Cecil and Kelly Flemmings. It is responsible for establishing and running the Soddy Daisy Community Library, which holds free events and programs to benefit the community throughout the year in addition to making books and other items accessible for everyone. The newest program is the establishment of Kelcurt Farms, growing food much of which is given to those who need it in the community. Kelcurt Foundation will be holding a fundraiser gala Minervas Masquerade at Cedar Hills Farm on Saturday, March 2, beginning at 6 p.m. There will be dinner, speakers, a silent auction and a time to mingle. Jim Stewart, another volunteer with several organizations that protect and enhance the environment, such as Keep Soddy Daisy Beautiful and the Audubon Society, is organizing the citys second Arbor Day celebration. This year, 20 flowering trees including Dogwoods, Yoshino and Okame Cherries, Serviceberry, and Hawthorns will be planted at Veterans Park on March 2. Registration for volunteers begins at 9:30 a.m. and activities continue until 6 p.m. Mayor Steve Everett is asking the community to get involved in the schools within the city. He and City Manager Johnson attended a meeting by Hamilton County Schools that explained the letter grades that were recently given to each school in the system. Daisy Elementary received an A, but Soddy Elementary got a C. The mayor said that there is underlying information that did not do the schools credit. He urges people to read the additional information explaining what was considered when assigning the letter grades. The information is being made available by Hamilton County Schools. Mayor Everett said he learned that parent and community involvement in a school is the most important element to promote success. He urges the Soddy Daisy Community to get involved, including attending extracurricular activities. The city already has a Soddy Daisy Trojan Fund that helps to support the eight schools in the city limits. It is available to supplement what may be needed in addition to what the boosters raise for each group. He said, Soddy Daisy shows up when people ae in need, and asks people to be thoughtful, persistent and considerate of every member of the community. Two men and two women were arrested when found with drugs and cash in LaFayette, Ga., on Friday. Agents with the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, the Walker County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision executed a search warrant Friday at a Clark Court property located off Corinth Road in Walker County. Agents located approximately 12 ounces of methamphetamine and a large amount of U.S. currency on the property. Also, while agents were conducting a search of the property, a vehicle pulled up the driveway and then sped away. Agents knew the person to have felony warrants. Agents and deputies chased the wanted individual and apprehended him on Monroe Green Road. Those arrested during the execution of the search warrant were: Anthony Chip Crowe from LaFayette trafficking methamphetamine; Anita Cox from LaFayette trafficking methamphetamine; Jessica Cox from LaFayette trafficking methamphetamine; and Clay Borman from Trion fleeing and attempting to elude (felony), possession of methamphetamine (Chattooga County warrant), cruelty to children (Cherokee County, Al. warrant) The Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional task force made up of the Walker County Sheriff's Office, Chattooga County Sheriff Office, Dade County Sheriff Office, LaFayette Police Department and Trion Police Department. The public does not benefit by having one person in a district scoop up multiple elected offices. Having differing people in elected positions creates great diversity in thoughts and views. Many people have been noticing a strategic hoarding of multiple elected offices by one person, which is riddled with conflicts of interest. Hoarding of power, or in many cases elected salaries by one person is bad for we the people. The bill was introduced with the following intent, Bill SB 1968/HB 2080 was introduced this year by Representative Dave Wright, R-Corryton, and Senator Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville. This bill prohibits an individual from holding an elected office of a local government from holding another elected office in Tennessee at the same time; expands the prohibition on a candidate qualifying or being nominated for more than one state office or county constitutional office to include any elected office in this state. This is a bill that is long past due. In our own Hamilton County districts elected double dippers abound. There are more situations of double dipping than I care to identify. We have a county commissioner that was appointed, who is also serving as a city council member. Then, we have a city council member that held onto her Hamilton County school board seat until it expired, when she should of resigned. Each of these elected were compensated in a double dipping political salary that equated to about $50,000 a year, plus retirement benefits. I view this situation as political greed for compensation for public service that should be free, or a collection of power in one person. There are many more examples. If the elected care our community, why do the they need a salary and retirement, which is contrary to turnover of elected office? No one should be holding an elected position until retirement. Many citizens would do the job effectively for no pay, for public good. I remember when there were no health insurance and retirement compensation associated with these local elected offices. It all started in the 1990s. Holding multiple offices only benefits the elected person, not the people. The bigger issues are conflicts of interest that abound in a person holding a city council office and county commissioner office, too much monarchy power. At the same time, the elected double dippers have knowingly reduced the sanctity of multiple viewpoints on situations from the people, and they make no apologies for creating an elected monopoly. It is a shame that legislation is required to explain how the double dippers are wrong. Apparently, they need education in ethics, and why the multiple elected offices benefit the public. Double dippers resign from your other elected offices, pick one office to serve in, and voluntarily do the right thing in the name of elected ethics. Why do yall have to be ordered in state legislation to see that truth of greed optics? To the state legislators, the approval of this bill is for the people, thank you. Bill SB 1968/HB 2080-Representative Dave Wright, R-Corryton, and Senator Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville Public Officials - As introduced, prohibits an individual holding an elected office of a local government from holding another elected office in this state at the same time; expands the prohibition on a candidate qualifying or being nominated for more than one state office or county constitutional office to include any elected office in this state. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 8. Be blessed yall. April Eidson * * * This new double dipping law in Tennessee seems like vindictive politics aimed at protecting political seats rather than the citizens. It's sickening to see laws being used for the wrong reasons. Look it up for yourself. They said out their own mouths that if Gloria ran against Blackburn they would announce this very document. It is not a coincidence one of the main people backing it is a republican from Knoxville where she is running as well, smh. And she (Johnson) is not trying to hold two spots at once she is running for the one she currently holds and against Ms. Blackburn which is not anything that (DeSantis) didn't just do in Florida. This is not about anything other than those two women. What a waste of taxpayer money and time. Another case of "if we cannot beat you, we make a bill." Christopher Cooper BANGKOK, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - In tropical Thailand, a culinary phenomenon is taking place: the Japanese "yakiimo" or roasted sweet potato. This humble snack has undergone a remarkable evolution in Thailand, captivating the nation with its sweetness and texture. Global Spotlight on Japan's Sweet Yakiimo In Tokyo's Asakusa, long queues form for a taste of this sweet delight. Visitors from around the world rave about its flavor: Visitor from Australia: "It's incredibly delicious!" Visitor from America: "It's really sweet and tasty!" Japan's sweet yakiimo is gaining international attention, with events in Hong Kong witnessing a rush for Japanese sweet potatoes. Tasting events are also being held in London and Dubai. But how are these sweet potatoes exported? Our team headed to Miyazaki Prefecture, a major production area, to find out. At Kushima Aoi Farm, President Yosuke Narasako shows us the storage facility, housing a staggering 1,000 tons of sweet potatoes, equivalent to about 4 million pieces. The "Beni Haruka" variety, harvested last year, is exported to Europe and Asia throughout the year, maintaining its quality. Thailand's Yakiimo Boom: The Role of Don Quijote Thailand is experiencing a sweet potato fever, with exports from Japan increasing sixfold in five years. In Bangkok's supermarkets, Japanese sweet potatoes, labeled "AMAIMO," are found right behind the king of fruits, durian. Despite being priced at around 500 yen each, these roasted sweet potatoes sell out quickly, with up to 300 sold daily. A regular Thai customer expresses their love for the creamy texture and sweetness, noting that such sweet potatoes are not found in Thailand. The catalyst for this boom was the popular Japanese store, Don Quijote. Five years ago, it introduced Japanese yakiimo to Thailand, and it became an instant hit. Regular Thai customers were initially skeptical about the sweetness, suspecting added sugar, but now they can't get enough of it. Since then, yakiimo has evolved uniquely in Thailand, with specialty stores popping up. One popular variation involves sprinkling sugar on the yakiimo and torching it with a gas burner before adding gold leaf. Some stores offer a unique Thai twist: frozen yakiimo, eaten like sherbet ice. Other popular items include yakiimo ice latte, yakiimo Mont Blanc ice cream, and chilled yakiimo, showcasing the versatility of this treat in a tropical climate. The Secret to Japanese Yakiimo's Sweetness: 36 Months of Maturation The key to the popularity of Japanese yakiimo lies in its sweetness. But what makes it so sweet? We visited a company in Miyazaki Prefecture that exports yakiimo to Thailand. According to President Kenji Sugou of SAZANKA, the maturation process is crucial. The sweet potatoes are matured for 3 to 6 months, undergoing a transformation that enhances their sweetness. In the storage facility, the sweet potatoes are matured in soil at a strict humidity of 95% and a temperature of 14C. Over several months, the starch inside the sweet potatoes is broken down into sugar, significantly increasing their sweetness. Unfortunately, the final stage of maturation is a closely guarded secret. When these matured sweet potatoes are roasted, they become incredibly sweet, with syrup oozing out. Yakiimo's Popularity Extends to Alcoholic Pairings While Thailand has its own sweet potatoes, the traditional way of eating them is as "fukashi-imo," sold at street stalls. The sweetness level of these is around 7 degrees Brix, whereas the Japanese yakiimo we tasted earlier has a sweetness level of 60 degrees Brix, comparable to strawberry jam. Now, the yakiimo craze in Thailand is extending beyond sweets. There's a popular yakiimo dish that pairs well with alcohol, made from the same 60 degrees Brix sweet potatoes. Shinji Hara, Executive Chef at 1923, comments on the surprising sweetness of the dish. The dish in question? Yakiimo tempura. Slicing the sweet potatoes, coating them in flour, and frying them enhances their sweetness, making them a hit with the younger generation in Thailand. Regular Thai customers praise its sweetness and compatibility with alcohol. Another popular dish among Thai women is yakiimo with cheese. The combination of the sweet potato's sweetness and the cheese's saltiness has created a surge of repeat customers. Behind the Yakiimo Boom: The Japanese Innovators Behind the expanding yakiimo boom in Thailand are Japanese innovators. Hibiki Omori, 28, left university at 21 with the ambition of spreading Japan's superior food ingredients worldwide. He joined a consulting company in Thailand and has since developed yakiimo-based menus for 60 restaurants in Bangkok. Omori finds great satisfaction in introducing something new to Thais and seeing their delighted reactions. On this day, a tasting session for a new product was held. Omori and his Thai staff were experimenting with "yakiimo French fries." They tested various powders, such as barbecue and cheese flavors, to see which would suit Thai tastes. The staff found that the combination of barbecue flavor and the sweetness of yakiimo worked well. Based on the tasting results, they decided to add barbecue and cheese-flavored yakiimo fries to the menu. Yakiimo Meets Thai Cuisine: A Match Made in Culinary Heaven Meanwhile, Thai innovators are also exploring the fusion of yakiimo and Thai cuisine. Chef On of Cafe Rabbits believes that the combination of Japanese yakiimo and Thai cuisine is perfect. One popular dish is a salad made with fried yakiimo, tossed in a spicy and sour Thai dressing. The basic elements of Thai cuisinespiciness, sourness, and sweetnessharmonize wonderfully with the sweetness of Japanese yakiimo. On sees "infinite possibilities" in the combination of yakiimo and Thai cuisine. The cafe also offers a green curry with yakiimo, which has become a signature dish. Regular Thai customers are pleasantly surprised by how well Japanese yakiimo complements Thai cuisine. At another Thai restaurant, The Rabbit's Grove Cafe & Restaurant, owner Nok chose Japanese sweet potatoes for their sweetness, which he believed would appeal to Thais. One of the restaurant's signature dishes is "Satsumaimo Massaman Curry." While the traditional Massaman curry uses potatoes, the use of Japanese sweet potatoes, which are a relatively new ingredient in Thailand, has made this dish a standout on the menu. Regular Thai customers rave about the perfect balance of the curry's spiciness and the sweet potato's sweetness, describing it as "delicious" and "blissful." The encounter between Thai cuisine and Japanese yakiimo has opened up new possibilities for this beloved snack. Regular Thai customers hope that people in Japan will also get a chance to savor these innovative dishes, showcasing the cross-cultural culinary exchange between Japan and Thailand. Source: ANN 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 While the internet can sometimes be a scary void, it can also bring people together and tremendously help others. Recently, after a TikTok creator shared videos of his familys Chinese restaurant, which had been destroyed by a drunk driver, strangers from all over began donating money to help them rebuild their lives and beloved restaurant. Kevin Chen (@hotpothottie) is a TikTok creator who made videos in the past about his parents, who are Chinese immigrants who worked very hard to open and run a Chinese takeout restaurant in Farmingdale, New York, over 20 years ago. However, in late January, Kevin went viral on TikTok when he recorded a video after a drunk driver tragically crashed into their restaurant and destroyed it. To make matters worse, the drunk driver collided with Kevins fathers car, which he used for deliveries, totaling it and pushing it into the restaurant. You think your night is going poorly? asks Kevin in his viral video. Well, a drunk driver just crashed through my familys Chinese takeout restaurant. Theyve been working here every single day for the past 25 years. They dont speak English and this was their whole life. Now it is ruined. In Kevins video, the restaurant can be seen in its obliterated state, as the crash took out the entire front of the building and left behind so much wreckage and debris. The TikTok community quickly stepped up after Kevins video went viral with over eight million views. Thankfully, a friend of the Chen family created a GoFundMe page where people could donate to help rebuild the restaurant and get their lives back on track. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News This week in Christian history: Japan legalizes Christianity, Kathryn Kuhlman dies, John Henry Newman leaves Oxford Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many people. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the death of Kathryn Kuhlman, John Henry Newman leaving Oxford, and Japan legalizing Christianity. Home Books Author shares journey of escaping cult leader's grip, finding healing and forgiveness through faith Growing up, Carrie Sheffield witnessed firsthand how religion can be used to justify evil. Her father, a Mormon cult leader, believed he was a prophet destined to become president. Eventually excommunicated from the LDS church, he continuously moved his wife and eight children around the country to avoid both religious and state authorities. Sheffields early life was spent on the move, living in various motorhomes, sheds and tents with her large family, attending 17 public schools and being homeschooled at times. 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 It was, according to Sheffield, a childhood marked by extreme instability, abuse and spiritual manipulation. There was constant abuse by my father, telling us we're not worthy, telling us that we're evil, telling us also that he's a prophet and he's basically bringing salvation to America and saving our country from destruction, she told The Christian Post. We were on welfare. At one point, we actually had no food and were boiling water with grass from the city park and eating this grass broth. It was all done in the name of God, is what my father said. Eventually, two of my older brothers developed schizophrenia. When I was 17, the older of those two tried to rape me, he groped me, and it was just incredibly scary and psychologically damaging to me. And at that point, I knew I had to make a decision. After making the difficult decision to walk away from her past, Sheffield embarked on an exploration of personal growth. She threw off all notions of religion the heart position for me was hostile; I didnt know if there was a God, but if there was, He probably hated me and I felt the same way, she said and threw herself into work and schooling. She earned a full tuition scholarship to Harvard University for a master's degree in public policy and worked as an analyst for major Wall Street firms. I was making a ton of money compared to the nothing I had living in a motorhome, she said. Eventually, Sheffield launched a successful career in political journalism at outlets like Politico and The Hill, where she advocated for conservative values. Yet, despite her success, she was deeply unhappy and unfulfilled, struggling with suicide ideation, episodic depression and health issues that left her hospitalized on several occasions. And then, in 2016, the entire trajectory of Sheffields life shifted due to two unlikely forces: Donald Trump and science. A dedicated conservative, she found herself reevaluating her beliefs amid the political upheaval surrounding Trump's rise to presidency. "I just could not process that because, I said, I'm not worshiping this guy. I cannot. I can't worship somebody who says terrible things about women, who donated to his Democratic opponent, who has no track record of conservative policy," Sheffield recalled. I cannot have that be the ultimate purpose in my life. I can't have that be my reason for living. This political dissonance catalyzed her quest for something more enduring, steering her toward a church specifically, Redeemer Church in New York City, led by Tim Keller and ultimately igniting her interest in Christianity. It was Keller's work, particularly his book Counterfeit Gods, that provided Sheffield with a framework to understand the emptiness of idolizing temporal aspects of life in her case, money, power and political ideologies. "The reason why we worship them is because they're good. But once you move into that posture where it becomes your God and your religion, then it becomes toxic," she said. The pursuit of a deeper understanding of the world and her place within it led Sheffield to explore the scientific underpinnings of creation, marking the second major influence on her conversion. Studying metaphysics and the improbability of Earth's existence by chance alone, she said, prompted a profound sense of wonder in her, challenging her previously held beliefs anchored in human intellect alone. I had also worshiped at the altar of the human intellect, going to Harvard where I'm surrounded by agnostics and atheists, people who had never actually really grappled with faith just completely dismissed it outright, she said. And that's where I was. I just dismissed it outright. But when I was just stopped in my tracks it was almost like an investigative journalism project, and I love the book The Case for Christ, where [author Lee Strobel] does just that. Sheffield, who documents her transformative story in her book, Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness, shared how her conversion to Christianity marked a turning point in her relationship with her father and her outlook on life. "It started with my Christian walk," Sheffield said, detailing how her faith journey led her to reconsider her stance on forgiveness. Inspired by the teachings of Billy Graham on honoring one's parents without necessarily obeying them when it contradicts God's will, Sheffield embarked on a process of reconciliation and forgiveness, despite the deep wounds of the past. I knew that to be angry at him ... that was not something that was bringing him honor," she said. A significant influence on Sheffield's journey was Anthony Thompson, a pastor who experienced unimaginable loss when his wife was murdered in the 2015 Charleston church shooting. Thompson's story of forgiveness toward the shooter and his book, Called to Forgive, she said, helped her understand forgiveness on a deeper level. "He helped me to go through that process," she said, emphasizing the impact of Thompson's forgiveness on her own path to healing. Still, Sheffield is the first to admit the journey to healing hasnt always been easy; even after getting baptized, she struggled with feelings of unworthiness and PTSD stemming from her childhood trauma. And though in a place of peace today, she continues the work of changing negative patterns of thought and behavior through a combination of prayer and therapy. She attends a Bible-believing, nondenominational church in the Washington, D.C., area, where she said shes found a supportive community that shares her values and beliefs and continues to work as a policy analyst. Its like a family here; I have a very full life, she said. I love what I do. I love being able to advocate for policies that I believe in. I love my church. Life's not perfect and it's a journey. But I would say overall, being able to share the love of God and letting people know that even if you've gone through hell, you can come through and be with God and He loves you. She voiced her concern over the growing secularization in society, particularly among younger generations, noting increasing suicide rates and mental health issues among young people. By sharing her story, Sheffield said, she wants to encourage the next generation that healing is possible and faith is transformative. The science is there, that people who go to church and regularly engage in religious practice there are fewer suicides, fewer alcoholic deaths, fewer drug overdoses for those who are engaged in these spiritual practices, she said. God saves, and my life is a testament to that. TOKYO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - In an effort to move away from car-dependent society, Gunma Prefecture launched its version of MaaS (Mobility as a Service) last year. This service allows users to book and pay for various public transportation options, such as trains and buses, using just a smartphone. We explored Gunma's initiative to understand its challenges and significance in maintaining public transportation infrastructure. Gunma's MaaS, called "Gun-MaaS," offers a one-stop solution for public transportation, enabling users to search, book, and pay for different modes of transport. Despite the fact that 77.1% of commuters in Gunma use private cars, significantly higher than the national average of 48.2%, the introduction of Gun-MaaS aims to make public transport more accessible and convenient. One of the key features of Gun-MaaS is the ability to book demand-responsive buses, which adjust their routes based on user reservations. This service has been particularly beneficial for residents in areas with limited public transport options, reducing travel time and improving mobility. Additionally, Gun-MaaS offers discounts on demand bus fares for users who link their My Number cards to the service. This not only makes the service more affordable but also allows the local government to gather data on service usage, which can be used to further improve the system. Interestingly, half of the registered users of Gun-MaaS are tourists from outside the prefecture. The service has also been adopted by the Watarase Keikoku Railway, allowing passengers to enjoy cashless travel through QR code ticketing. This move towards cashless transactions is expected to attract more tourists and enhance the overall travel experience in the region. Gunma's MaaS initiative represents a significant step towards creating a more sustainable and efficient public transportation system. By reducing the reliance on private cars and improving access to public transport, Gunma is paving the way for a more inclusive and environmentally friendly mobility future. Source: TBS Home News Russian priest suffers stroke after being detained for holding Alexei Navalny memorial service A priest in St. Petersburg has suffered a stroke after being arrested and detained for planning a memorial service for the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in Russia. The priest, who is now hospitalized, was apprehended near his residence as he headed to a memorial site for Soviet political repression victims. Grigory Mikhnov-Vaitenko, the detained priest, identified by his wife on Facebook, was on his way to the Solovetsky Stone in St. Petersburg when he was apprehended and taken into custody on Saturday, The Moscow Times reported. BREAKING: The Russian police has arrested the priest Grigory Mikhnov-Vaitenko after he announced he would hold a public memorial service for Alexei Navalny in St Petersburg today pic.twitter.com/wIUcqYwsvt 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 February 17, 2024 His health deteriorated while at police station No. 43, leading to his hospitalization in the intensive care unit with stroke symptoms, according to Boris Vishnevsky and Lev Shlosberg, opposition deputies from St. Petersburg and Pskov, respectively. The detention took place shortly after Russian authorities announced Navalnys death, prompting widespread memorials across Russia, where supporters laid flowers and photos at monuments. Despite the planned service for Navalny, the Russian Orthodox Church distanced itself from Mikhnov-Vaitenko, stating he is not a priest of their church and advised the public to disregard his statements. This incident coincides with the detention of over 170 individuals at Navalny memorials nationwide, a response to Russian police warnings against such gatherings, The Moscow Times said. Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence, had been a vocal critic of the Kremlin, leading to his imprisonment and the subsequent crackdown on his supporters and organizations, labeled extremist by Russian authorities. On Sunday, reports emerged of Navalnys body being found at a morgue in the Arctic after his mother was unable to find his body at the Salekhard District Clinical Hospital on Saturday, where it was reported that his body was initially taken, The Telegraph reported. His body showed signs of bruising on his head and chest when it was brought into the Salekhard hospital, according to an unnamed paramedic who was interviewed by the exiled Novaya Gazeta newspaper. He added that such injuries could be from a seizure. The person convulses, they try to restrain him, and bruises appear. They also said that he also had a bruise on his chest. That is, they still tried to resuscitate him, and he died, most likely, from cardiac arrest, the paramedic said, according to Novaya Gazeta. Russian prison officials claimed that Navalny died on Friday after a walk at the IK-3 prison camp in the Russian Arctic. However, Navalny's colleagues at the Anti-Corruption Foundation have accused the Russian authorities of a cover-up. Navalnys death has elicited reactions from various quarters, highlighting his significant role in opposing the Putin regime. In an opinion piece for The Spectator, Owen Matthews reminisced about Navalnys impact, describing him as a figure of bravery and defiance against corruption and authoritarianism in Russia. Navalnys efforts in promoting transparency and challenging the ruling party were reflected by his survival of a poisoning attempt in 2020, attributed to the Federal Security Service, Matthews noted, adding that despite the risks, Navalny returned to Russia in 2021, a move that led to his imprisonment and has been widely debated among his supporters and critics alike. The news (as yet not independently confirmed) that he died in prison came today as a physical blow sickening, but at the same time tragically unsurprising, Matthews wrote. Navalnys passion, his intelligence and his refusal to make compromises with the Putin regime made him a colossus in a world of opposition politicians filled with moral pygmies. The Soviet Communist party once claimed to be the intelligence, the honor and the conscience of the Russian people. But that title properly belongs to Navalny, whose life and career were living proof that Putin had not yet entirely extinguished Russians spirit of freedom and defiance, even in the face of terrifying odds. Home Opinion Biden admin. betrays Nigerians once again The Biden Administration has betrayed the Nigerian people once again. In what has become a regrettable annual tradition, Bidens State Department recently rejected calls from numerous leading human rights, religious freedom, and Christian organizations to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The CPC list is one of the United States governments main tools promoting global religious freedom. Any nation that engages in or allows particularly severe violations of religious freedom can be added to the list. The designation gives the U.S. Government the ability to leverage sanctions against offending nations. The State Department regularly includes countries on the CPC list that are known enemies of the United States such as North Korea, Cuba, China, and Iran. Theres no risk in calling them out. But the Biden administration continuously refuses to add Nigeria and several other countries for geopolitical and economic reasons. Not only does this politicize the CPC list, if not render it meaningless, but it exposes the Administrations inability to truly support religious freedom around the globe. 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 Recommendations for which countries and bad actors should be added to the CPC list come from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a congressionally mandated bi-partisan body on which I serve, specifically created to monitor the right to freedom of religion abroad and make policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State and Congress. When the State Department repeatedly rejects and ignores USCIRFs recommendations and concerns, it is failing to recognize the USCIRFs important role. If Nigeria doesnt belong on the CPC, then Im not sure who does. In 2022 alone, more than 5,000 Nigerian Christians were massacred in multiple waves of attacks, and another 1,041 were slaughtered in the first 100 days of 2023. This past Christmas, attacks on 26 Nigerian villages left nearly 200 dead with many more missing. Unbelievably, the State Departments decision to leave Nigeria off the CPC list was made just days after these horrific attacks took place. I recently traveled to Nigeria and met with Christians who have lost everything at the hands of Boko Haram, Fulani extremists, and other terrorists. Their family members have been killed, their homes and villages destroyed, their farms burned, and livestock stolen. The trauma and pain these survivors face are incredibly deep and painful. And yet, month after month, year after year, we allow these violent acts to continue. And the unchecked religious violence isnt limited to Nigeria. In India, multiple states have anti-conversion laws on the books, and religiously motivated mob violence regularly runs rampant. Since May 2023, hundreds of churches and the homes of thousands of Christians have been attacked in Manipur State, leaving more than 60,000 people displaced. India has a massive economy and is the United States biggest trading partner, which may explain why the Administration has ignored repeated calls to add it to the CPC list as well. The State Department also refuses to add Vietnam to the CPC list, which USCIRF has recommended for years. Many pastors are imprisoned there, with hundreds more living under the constant threat of arrest. Regular closures of house churches, the persecution of other religious minorities, and an egregious anti-religion law should be more than enough to qualify them for the list. Yet the State Department has willfully ignored such evidence of religious targeting and persecution. I support congressional hearings on this matter to understand why the US government is not standing up to this genocide and plan to file a Freedom of Information Act request to find out how these decisions are made. We need to uncover the State Departments rationale regarding which countries are included on the CPC list and why those that should be included continue to be left off. Even when offending countries are added to the list, the US has never fully utilized the political and economic tools available to discipline these bad actors. At its best, the CPC is a shaming tool, with the implied, but never carried out threat of potential sanctions. But now things have gotten even worse, and the list is being ignored altogether. Geopolitics and global economics are infecting what should be a system of accountability. The CPC issue is just the tip of the iceberg for the State Departments lack of accountability when it comes to upholding religious freedom. The Biden Administration failed to confront Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during last summers meeting at the White House and instead rolled out the red carpet for him. Despite fist-bumping Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Biden has failed to leverage the relationship to better human and religious rights in the Middle East. Friends dont let friends engage in religious persecution. We have an obligation to hold our supposed friends to account. We know that religious freedom is a cornerstone of democratic values and human rights. The Biden Administrations failure to include countries with troubling records on the CPC list vitally threatens the effectiveness of this tool when used properly. To restore its credibility while upholding the principles of religious freedom, the State Department must reassess its criteria and ensure that the CPC list accurately reflects the harsh realities of religious minorities worldwide whether they live in the countries of our allies or our enemies. Its time for the US to reaffirm its commitment to religious freedom on the global stage. Otherwise, the cries of the dying and oppressed around the world will continue to go unheard. The views reflected here are my own views and not the views of the Commission. Home Opinion So Elisabeth Elliot is trending ... A few months ago, I got into hot water with a bunch of Christian abuse survivor advocates when I publicly disagreed with Sheila Wray Gregoires use of the word prophet to describe the late Rachel Held Evans. While Rachel was a deeply insightful woman who rightly called out a lot of the abuse that goes unchecked in the American church, in my opinion, she was also pretty blasphemous, ultimately preaching forms of salvation outside surrender to the lordship of Christ, endorsing overtly heretical ideas such as trans ideology. I took no pleasure in taking potshots at a dead woman. That wasnt the point. The point is that when you set yourself up as a subject matter expert in Christian sexual ethics, and thousands and thousands of people look to you to guide them in the ways of Jesus, then you have to be really careful about the directions you give. And you cant be willy-nilly calling people prophets when those people actively preached rebellion against Gods created sexual order. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe So I stuck my neck out on Twitter and said so. Big mistake. How dare you???? came the immediate refrain. Shes dead. Shes not even here to defend herself. Shame on you for your distorting her good name! Lots and lots of women were angry at me that day, women who had previously shared my articles, sung my praises, and considered me an ally. I had challenged an idol, and now I must pay. Well, the same thing is happening in a different sector of the American church, only this time the darling in question is not a progressive; shes the poster child of complementarianism: Elisabeth Elliot. Its a newly resurrected topic, thanks largely to a now-viral article penned by blogger Liz Charlotte Grant, exploring the lesser-known subject of Elliots abusive third marriage. Much of Christian Twitter is not ready for this conversation. They prefer their role models untarnished by scandal. But its a scandal thats substantiated with ample evidence, namely in the biographies produced by writers Ellen Vaughn and Lucy R.S. Austen. The question we are not supposed to ask is, If the queen of complementarianism was trapped in an abusive marriage, what are the implications for the theology she espoused? And further still, What are the implications for women who follow her example? I cut my teeth on Elisabeth Elliots writing. Through Gates of Splendor was one of the very first books assigned to us as high school freshmen, where one of her husbands famous quotes was framed and proudly displayed on the classroom wall: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. I learned to write a five-paragraph essay by dissecting and explicating the book. We spent entire youth group sessions dedicated to reading Passion and Purity out loud. I remember dozing off in the warm church basement as the youth pastor read us stories of her life, admonishing us to rigid, almost legalistic holiness standards of the Elisabeth Elliot variety. I remember one passage in particular striking me as a little bit extra in the holiness department. It was a passage where she talked about the immense guilt she experienced for allowing her fiance to rest his head in her lap before they were married. Good grief, I remember thinking. If thats considered risque, Im probably in trouble. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I approached her prescribed holiness standards through much the same lens as I approached the prospect of being valedictorian its a worthy pursuit for someone much better than me. There was lesson after lesson about how women were made to be pursued. That was drilled into me pretty aggressively. Dont chase boys; make them come to you. I wont say its terrible advice; theres wisdom in knowing your worth and all that, but that lesson wasnt really about knowing your worth; it was about letting men lead in all things. I bristled over stories like the one where Jim (her first husband) didnt find her very attractive. It bothered me that she was expected to be pure as the driven snow but that he got to run off and kiss other girls during breaks in their courtship, and she just wrote it off by saying, What more could I expect? Jim Elliot was a man. Men are sinners. Mixed into the celebration of all things Elisabeth Elliot was a sort of romanticization of martyrdom. I remember feeling guilty for not wanting to sign up for the same gig as her. I didnt want to have to be widowed in a third-world country for God to accept me as a decent woman. I didnt want to have to blindly follow whatever my husband dictated to me as though I needed guidance like a child. I thought it was pretty controlling for Jim to require her to learn a whole new language as a condition for marrying her. And I hated that Jim would leave her alone for months on end whenever he felt like it and that she seemed to believe she was acquiring holiness points by just submitting to his selfish, neglectful decisions. I mean, didnt Paul write about how marriage would be a distraction from his missionary calling? Jim Elliot always seemed like a good candidate to follow in Pauls footsteps in this capacity, but that was never something we would dare to say out loud. Our reading was supplemented with excerpts from Foxes Book of Martyrs, and the message was always pretty clear: To follow Christ is to sacrifice. And listen, theres truth to be found here. And even if I didnt really identify with Elisabeths perspective, I was always happy enough to give her the honor she had earned. She did her best to be obedient to the Gospel she understood, and I have to believe God blesses that. So I mostly just left it alone. The problem, though, is that for thousands of young girls in the Christian church, Elisabeth Elliot has long been upheld as something of the gold standard for Christian womanhood, so the lies she believed, we believed, too, and theyre not without consequence. One thing I appreciate about the Bible is that it tells the whole truth about its heroes- good, bad, and ugly. We know that David was a man after Gods own heart, but we also know that he was a murderer who wrestled long and hard against his own demons. If the Bible tells the truth about its heroes, I think we should do the same with ours. But Im 40 years old, and Im only just now discovering what this poor woman endured in her third marriage to Lars Gren. As Liz Charlotte Grant summarized it, Gren decided when she drank a cup of tea, took a bath, and when she slept. He frequently checked her cars odometer, double-checking that she hadnt made any unplanned stops. He controlled the house thermostat. He listened in on her phone conversations and had the final say on whether she visited her friends, often declining invitations for her at the last minute. When he grew angry with his wife, he would refuse to speak to her for days. And most painful for Elliot, Gren unpredictably denied her access to the daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren she loved. And she endured all this without fighting strictly BECAUSE she thought God required it as part of submitting to her husband. It was a design feature of her theology, the theology too many young women are still being encouraged to embrace without questioning in complementarian churches and homes: Submit no matter what. Submit unto death. Its an abusive message that keeps getting reiterated time and time and time again from pulpits all over the globe. Weve heard it from Voddie Baucham who boldly declares that abuse is not grounds for divorce. Weve heard it from John MacArthur who publicly excommunicated Eileen Gray for refusing to return to her violent predatory husband. Weve heard it from John Piper, who told battered women to submit to getting smacked around for a night before turning to their church leaders for support. To Pipers credit, when pressed on this subject, he later issued a clarifying statement, acknowledging the importance of immediately calling the police when domestic violence is present, but the fact of the matter is that no such clarification should be necessary. We should never hear a minister of the Gospel suggest getting smacked around for any period or under any circumstances. We heard it from Paige Patterson, who counseled a battered woman to go home and pray for her husband, only to return a week later with two black eyes. Were hearing it in new legislation in Oklahoma preventing women from leaving their alcoholic husbands until they have concrete proof of at least five years of substance abuse. Does anyone penning this legislation have any experience with marriage to an abusive alcoholic? Do they have any idea how dangerous this is? Do they understand that, for those of us with eyes to see the danger, it actually looks like theyre trying to get women killed? Submit, woman. No matter what. Its the message a lot of us heard growing up, and its the message Elisabeth Elliot sincerely believed was Gods desire for her own life. Finally, all these years later, people are connecting the dots and saying, Hold the phone. This is wrong. We cannot afford to teach our daughters that the gold standard of womanhood is to submit to abuse. I opened a discussion about this on my Facebook page yesterday, and Elisabeths granddaughter was gracious enough to chime in. She talked about how shes still working to forgive Lars for keeping her grandmother from her. She didnt believe she was being abused, she explained. And thats precisely the problem we are trying to address. If you dont even know youre being abused, how in heavens name will you ever be equipped to combat it? And if your church isnt equipping you with this knowledge, how will anything ever improve? So let me say this loudly and clearly for anyone who needs to hear it: You dont need a broken bone to be abused. Coercive control is abuse. Restricting access to finances is abuse. Name-calling is abuse. Isolating you from your friends and family is abuse. Degrading you sexually is abuse. Mocking your body is abuse. Forcing you to have sex is abuse, even if youre married, is abuse. (Its actually called rape if you say no, and he still takes what he wants.) Stranding you in the home is abuse. Controlling your social calendar is abuse. Threatening you is abuse. And you dont have to tolerate or submit to any of it. God does not require it. (Message me for resources on this if you would benefit from them.) Your first priority is to make sure youre safe, but once you are, you are not spiritually required to enable sin. This is easy theology to defend, but we simply dont see enough of the Elisabeth Elliot diehards preaching it. The question is why. The theobros are coming undone by this broader conversation. Its the same exact response I received when I questioned Rachel Held Evans: How dare you disrespect the dead? Shame on you! Her husband is in a nursing home. Shes not here to defend herself! Theyre framing the women who insist on talking about it as divisive Jezebellian feminists who are hellbent on destroying the church, when, in fact, its the idol, not the church, thats under attack. The defense of the illusion reveals the source of the idolatry. Christian leaders must be held to unapologetically high standards. Do you think Elisabeth Elliot is up in Heaven wringing her hands about the preservation of her image here on Earth? I dont. If anything, I have to believe she would enthusiastically say, Go for it! Dissect the belief system. Keep the good. Discard the bad. Learn from my mistakes. Do better and point more people to Jesus! I think our daughters deserve better. I think Elisabeth did, too. SNP's plans to ban 'conversion therapy' are 'fundamentally illiberal', says senior lawyer A senior lawyer has warned of state overreach if the SNP's proposed ban on "conversion practices" in Scotland gets the go-ahead. Under the SNP's plans, parents who refuse to allow their children to change gender face up to seven years in jail. The SNP wants to criminalise actions actions designed to "change or suppress" an individual's gender identity, and those that are deemed "coercive" or "controlling", even where the intention is to help or protect the person. The Scottish government is consulting on its proposals until 2 April. Critics have warned that they will unfairly criminalise pastors and loving parents, as well as counsellors who do not take an affirmative approach. Aidan O'Neill KC outlined his concerns in a 46-page legal opinion provided to The Christian Institute in which he described the legislation as "ill-thought out, confused and confusing, and fundamentally illiberal in intent and effect". "This is perhaps best described as 'jellyfish legislation'," he said. "The concepts it uses are impossible to grasp; its limits are wholly undefined; it contains a sting in the tail in the form of criminal sanction of up to seven years and unlimited fines; and thus it will have an undoubted and intended effect of dissuading persons from ever even entering the now murky waters of what may or may not constitute unlawful 'conversion practices'." He warned that the proposals would allow the State to encroach on private family life and undermine religious freedom. "The proposals which the Scottish Government has consulted on would, if passed into law, effect radical changes in the current law. They will also involve a marked intrusion and expansion in the powers of the State into the private realm of families, and over the expression of orthodox religious teaching by faith groups," he said. The Christian Institute's Deputy Director, Simon Calvert, said it was "outrageous" that pastors and ordinary mums and dads are facing criminalisation. "This is another example of the Scottish Government asking Holyrood to exceed its powers and impose draconian legislation on the people. If this deeply flawed law is passed it will be challenged all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary," he said. He added, "They've spent over two years drafting this. It's time to admit that no-one can define what conversion therapy is, let alone how to criminalise it." The Christian Institute has said it will take legal action if the ban is implemented. Eight years ago, the organisation successfully challenged the Scottish government at the Supreme Court over its controversial 'Named Person' scheme, dubbed a 'snooper's charter' by critics. The Scottish government later scrapped the proposals. The legacy of Lord Shaftesbury - and a mis-named statue in London's Piccadilly Circus The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that they are surrounded by a great "cloud of witnesses." (NRSV) That "cloud" has continued to grow in size since then. In this monthly column we will be thinking about some of the people and events, over the past 2000 years, that have helped make up this "cloud." People and events that have helped build the community of the Christian church as it exists today. One of the most famous of London's many statues stands in Piccadilly Circus. Atop the monument a naked, winged, youth is dramatically poised bow in hand in the act of firing arrows down into the crowds and traffic of this busy spot in central London. Ask Londoners, passing tourists, and millions of people worldwide who is represented by the statue and almost all will reply: "It's Eros, ancient Greek god of romantic love." The statue is now internationally famous and even appears on the masthead of the Evening Standard in print and online. Erected in 1893, it became such a well-known landmark that it was removed for safety during the First World War (going back up in 1919); then removed again during the construction of Piccadilly Circus underground station in the 1920s; and removed for a third time, to protect it during the Second World War. Since then, it has been a permanent feature, except for a brief time in the 1980s when it was removed for restoration. More recently, the statue's bow was replaced in 2012, after being damaged by a tourist, and when this too was damaged it was replaced again, in 2022, when the new bow was made from aluminium. However, there is more to this statue than meets the eye or is represented in numerous cartoons and representations. The problems with "Eros" Firstly, there is the matter of the identity of the winged archer. It is not "Eros." It must be admitted that there is a bit of confusion about this, but what is clear is that nobody at the time of its erection named it as the god of romantic love. Then, during the First World War, it began to be increasingly referred to as "Eros" and from that point onwards the "identity" was fixed. However, in 1921, a book about its sculptor, Sir Alfred Gilbert, claimed he had described it as "reflective and mature love, as opposed to Eros or Cupid, the frivolous tyrant." This has caused a lot of people to assume that, rather than Eros, the statue represents Eros' brother, Anteros, the ancient Greek god of reflective love. This may be consistent with a statement made by Gilbert, in 1903, when he stated that his aim was to represent "blindfolded Love sending forth indiscriminately, yet with purpose, his missile of kindness." But that could mean that the statue may simply represent a personification of love showered down (represented by arrows) on people. No Eros. No Anteros. Spoiler alert: the statue is not blindfolded, so the description is a bit confusing! Secondly, the official name of the monument is not "Eros" and never has been. It is actually called the "Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain," or the "Shaftesbury Monument." The latter name is now more appropriate since there is no longer any flowing water at the site. This is definitely not how it is titled on tea-towels, T-shirts, cartoons, or Valentine's Day cards. In that same 1903 statement about "blindfolded Love," Gilbert had earlier explained that he had "been actuated in its design by a desire to symbolize the work of Lord Shaftesbury." During the memorial's unveiling in 1893, The Times newspaper described the fountain there as "'illustrative of Christian charity", the idea being of love and kindness freely bestowed on all. This was decades before anyone described it as "Eros." That is why the statue is sometimes described as the "Angel of Christian Charity," although you won't find that on many tea-towels or T-shirts. Perhaps one should! Far from being a monument of romantic or sexual love, the statue that now dominates Piccadilly Circus was erected in 1893 as a memorial to the Christian philanthropist Lord Shaftesbury. How a mis-named "statue of Romantic Love" is actually a reminder of an extraordinary Christian reformer Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (18011885) was one of the most effective social and industrial reformers of the nineteenth century. He became Lord Ashley when his father succeeded to the family earldom in 1811 and entered Parliament in 1826 as MP for Woodstock. This was one of the so-called "pocket boroughs" which, before the 1832 Reform Act, was "in the pocket" of a wealthy landowner who could gift it to whomever they pleased. In this case the "pocket" belonged to his uncle, the Duke of Marlborough. On the death of his father, in 1851, he entered the House of Lords as Earl of Shaftesbury. Like all people, he was complex, and his actions sometimes reflected his class and time. In 1832, he attacked the Reform Bill which was extending the right to vote beyond a tiny percentage of the electorate; he was accused of focusing more on the conditions faced by industrial workers than on the conditions experienced by the rural labourers on the Shaftesbury estates; and he shared with many others of his contemporaries deep suspicions regarding Catholic faith. However, while this reminds us that all human "heroes" are imperfect, there is simply no denying the massive positive impact he had on his society and this was firmly rooted in his evangelical Christian faith. He favoured the political emancipation of Roman Catholics and supported the repeal of the Corn Laws (import duties on grain), in 1846. These were actions which broke out of the narrow outlook of many of his elite contemporaries. It revealed a willingness to engage with contested and complex issues in a way which promoted social justice. Shaftesbury became a "lunacy commissioner" in 1828, at a time when the mentally ill were both brutally marginalised and those in institutions were often treated as a "peep show" to entertain others. He drove forward the passage of the Lunacy Act of 1845, which was the first British legal statute to treat the severely mentally ill as "persons of unsound mind," rather than as outcasts. He was a long-time supporter of factory reform. In the expanding factory system of the industrial revolution, hours, conditions, and pay were shockingly poor for vast numbers of workers. After 1833, Shaftesbury became leader of the factory reform movement in parliament. The law for shortening the working day in textile mills the Ten Hours Act of 1847 is popularly known as Lord Ashley's Act. The Mines Act of 1842, which he promoted, banned all women and girls, and all boys under the age of 10, from underground work in coal mines. Prior to this act, children as young as four or five could be found in mines. Acting as "trappers," opening and shutting doors, they would sit for hours in total darkness. As one confided to a reforming commissioner, "sometimes I am frightened of the dark." Pregnant women worked far into their pregnancies. One explained that "the belt and chain [belt round the waist, chain between the legs, to haul a heavy container of coal] is worse when we are in the family way." And women and girls often experienced appalling sexual abuse underground. The Mines Act aimed to put a stop to all this. He fought against the practice of chimney sweeps sending children up chimneys. Children who spent their life in soot often suffered from skin cancers and were sometimes trapped and died in the narrow confines of a domestic chimney. As a member of the General Board of Health (184854) he argued for state sponsorship of low-cost housing for industrial cities. Urban centres, which had massively expanded during the industrial revolution, were notorious for the poor quality, unhealthy, and overcrowded housing that had sprung up to accommodate industrial workers and their families. For thirty-nine years he was president of the so-called Ragged Schools Union. This made it possible for 300,000 destitute children to receive some free education. He served as president of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which made vernacular translations of the Scriptures available to peoples of all ethnic groups, at a price they could afford. It helped put the Bible into the hands of vast numbers of people who, otherwise, would not have been able to afford them. He supported the foundation of large numbers of Young Men's Christian Associations and Working Men's Institutes. These provided safe spaces for relaxation and education. In addition, he financially supported a number of Nonconformist missionary societies, as well as those belonging to the Church of England, which showed a generosity of spirit which looked beyond denominational boundaries. The impact of Lord Shaftesbury Shaftesbury was something of an obsessive. Florence Nightingale (rather an obsessive herself) apparently wryly observed that, had he not been so committed to reform of the lunatic asylum system, he would have been in one himself. But his achievements were massive. And perhaps it took a special kind of obsessiveness to drive forward so many reforms, on so many fronts. What is undeniable is that his impact was huge and lasting. When he died, vast numbers of ordinary people took to the streets of London to pay their respects as his coffin went past. That is an extraordinary testimony to the man and his work. Shaftesbury would have explained that his reforming work was the logical outcome of his deep Christian faith. His life and his achievements provide an extraordinary testimony to the reality of that faith and how it inspired him to action on behalf of others. That is an enduring legacy. Next time you see that statue in Piccadilly Circus, think of the reality behind it of a life of Christian service, rather than the popular legend that has obscured its meaning. Martyn Whittock is a historian and a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. The author, or co-author, of fifty-six books, his work covers a wide range of historical and theological themes. In addition, as a commentator and columnist, he has written for several print and online news platforms and been interviewed on TV and radio news and discussion programmes exploring the interaction of faith and politics. His recent books include: Daughters of Eve (2021), Jesus the Unauthorized Biography (2021), The End Times, Again? (2021), The Story of the Cross (2021), and Apocalyptic Politics (2022). His latest book, American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America (2023), examines evidence for Norse exploration (including by the first Christians to reach that continent) of North America and its impact on culture and politics there. TOKYO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - In the construction industry, where labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe, both the government and companies are focusing on acquiring female talent. We investigated the efforts of a construction company where women are leading the way on the job site. In July last year, a new construction project began under the elevated tracks of the Keikyu Line. The site was filled with women in work clothes and helmets. The reason? At "Keikyu Construction," a group called "Keikyu Komachi-kai" was formed, consisting of female technical staff members who are working to create a more comfortable environment, including revising work clothes for women. This time, they took on the challenge of constructing a building from scratch. Takumi Takahashi, a member of Keikyu Komachi-kai and an 8-year veteran at the company, is the site supervisor, while Chika Kurishima, with 6 years of experience, is in charge of design. Together with other members of Keikyu Komachi-kai, they are handling the construction of the building. The construction industry is facing a serious shortage of labor, and although the number of women working in technical roles on-site has doubled since 2014, they are still a minority. Takahashi, the first female technical staff member at Keikyu Construction, said, "I hope to create a more comfortable working environment and be a pioneer in this effort." As a site supervisor, Takahashi manages the work process and coordinates with the construction ordering party, placing special emphasis on entrusting important tasks to newer employees. One of the focuses of this project is to record the construction process, which will also be used for building inspections. Kairi Otsuka, a second-year employee, expressed her gratitude for being entrusted with important tasks, despite feeling the pressure. The building constructed by the women supervisors and designers will primarily serve as an office for night construction workers to take breaks. The design ensures separate areas for men and women to maintain privacy, with the women's room featuring orange wallpaper for a bright and spacious feel when sunlight enters, and a pink washbasin. Kurishima hopes that the pink color will bring a cheerful mood to those using the facilities. The ordering party praised the construction, noting the good communication and meticulous work. According to Keikyu Construction, the era when construction sites could be managed solely by male technical staff is coming to an end, and this initiative represents a significant step forward. Kurishima believes that being a woman allowed her to focus on specific details, and Takahashi thinks that by creating jobs that can only be done by those who have worked on-site, and prioritizing the opinions of women who want to work until the last minute before marriage or childbirth, the number of women in the construction industry will increase. Source: NEWS Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor - Recruitment for Child protection officer Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor is looking for qualified persons for Child protection officer position to support the Legal assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons in Moldova projects. TERMS OF REFERENCE Job title: Child protection officer to support the Legal assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons projects. Duty station: Chisinau, Moldova Contract type: Service contract Location: Chisinau Date of publication: 12 Martie 2024 Application Deadline: 29 March 2024 Key areas of accountability Development of situation analysis or needs assessments, strategic planning, project design, proposal review, in line with child protection policies and strategies. Integrate, promote, facilitate mainstreaming and implementation of child protection approaches Participate in initiating and spreading innovative child and youth participation practices or models. Carry out child protection including good knowledge of Case Management. Facilitate child protection related capacity development initiatives Contribute to the development of innovative solutions for the protection of children in Moldova. Participate in research on child protection, including focused on ensuring quality integration of child protection protocols, ethics and methodologies. Document child protection practices, share knowledge, lessons learned, promising practices, and research findings. Qualifications and skills required: Academic Qualifications: University degree in Law, Social science Lawyers license would be considered an advantage Experience and knowledge: Previous work experience in the area would be considered as advantage Good organizational and time-management abilities. Proficiency in Excel, Word, Competencies: Good analytical skills and good oral and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively under stress and in crisis situations. Cultural and gender awareness. Fluency in Romanian, Russian and English languages. Driver license. CDA is committed to workforce diversity. Women and men, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, LGBTQI+ as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are encouraged to apply. Please provide details in CV on your past employments and two references. Please submit a cover letter and your resume to law-center@cda.md . Applicants selected will be contacted via email. Dear Annie: Please help me. I am in my mid-40s and have been with a man for seven and a half years. He has four children who I absolutely adore. His youngest is 12. We started dating when she turned 5. We have had them full time for the past seven years. I have gotten pregnant five times with this man. There were three miscarriages and two other babies who passed away due to complications at birth. My son had no lungs; he was born at 20 weeks. My daughter passed away in 2017 at eight days old. This man has never had a single conversation with me about any of the babies that passed away. But he will talk to family members and co-workers freely about it. He cheated on me at least two times that I know of, though he denies it to this day. This past October, I moved six hours away from our home in Massachusetts up to the Canadian border. He and the kids were supposed to come, but he pulled out at the last minute and has left me in limbo with where we stand. I cry a lot over missing the older kids back home. Please help me to understand why Im holding onto something that is a lost cause. In addition to being untrustworthy, untruthful and uncommunicative, he is not very kind, appreciative or affectionate toward me. He would often diminish my feelings and make me second-guess my own feelings. He has never stuck up for me or backed me up, ever. When I try to communicate with him, Ill say something like, Hey, can we talk? and he says, We are talking. Not only did I take care of him and his kids for the past seven years. I also drove him to work and picked him up everyday with not so much as a thank you. My main question is, what in the world is wrong with me? Why am I more concerned with what he wants than what I want? Why am I holding on to a loveless, unhappy relationship? I love living up North. Its beautiful. I have no intention of ever going back to Massachusetts. I truly feel like I lived in a foreign land my whole life and Im finally home. Please give it to me straight. I have been through a lot. I can handle it. -- Feeling Sad in Northern Maine Dear Feeling Sad in Northern Maine: You have already had to handle a great deal of neglect and abuse in your relationship, and now it is time to exit stage left as soon as possible. Im almost positive you know the answer to your question, but you have to say to yourself, Enough is enough. You are holding onto this loveless and unhappy marriage because it has become a habit. It is difficult to change even if we know that changing is the best thing for ourselves. The very fact you wrote me this letter signals that you are ready for a new beginning. Leaving him will take courage and might be very uncomfortable, but like most worthwhile endeavors, if you put in the commitment and hard work, the payoff will be immense. You will no longer have to suffer. Seeking the help of a trained professional therapist will help you move forward powerfully, learn more about setting boundaries and discover how worthy you are of love and respect. Dear readers: Todays column originally ran in 2021. View prior Dear Annie columns How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology -- featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Friday, finally, President Amtrak Joe Biden belatedly visited East Palestine, Ohio more than a year after the Norfolk Southern train transporting toxic chemicals derailed in the town. Biden had earned the nickname Amtrak Joe from having used Amtrak everyday for 16 years since 1972 to commute from his home in Delaware to D.C. when he was a U.S. Senator. That made it all the more out of character for the President to delay his stop in East Palestine. While theres still over 90 reasons (charges) to doubt polls showing Donald Trump beating Biden in November, there is no doubt Trump beat Biden to East Palestine, visiting the train wreck just weeks after it happened delivering a pallet of Trump branded bottled water. Along with Trump, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were on the scene in East Palestine more promptly than Biden. Friday, Amtrak advocate Biden reaffirmed his administrations longterm commitment to East Palestines ongoing cleanup. Were not going home, no matter what, until this job is done, and its not done yet, said President Biden, also praising the Herculean efforts of the clean up. In addition, the President announced new federal grants to study the impact of the derailment both short and longterm. Now as stalled as Bidens visit had been, is the bipartisan Rail Safety Act in Congress that had been authored by Ohios two U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance. The rail lobby is said to be trying to derail the bill that should have already passed just as Biden should have visited East Palestine a year ago. Theres Johnny Come Lately, now theres Joey Come Lately too. COLUMBUS, Ohio The former CEO sat silently as his attorney, a former appointee of President Barack Obama, argued that her client should be allowed to reside until trial in either of his Florida homes, valued at $9.4 million and $1.1 million. Nearby sat the CEOs former top lobbyist. The executives lawyer told the judge theres no need for his client to post his South Carolina vacation home as bond against his pre-trial release. TOKYO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - The issue of popular serialized manga being leaked online before their official release dates, known as "early leaks," is becoming a significant problem. This phenomenon, often facilitated by platforms like YouTube, deprives both creators and eagerly awaiting readers of the joy of experiencing new releases as intended. Shueisha, the publisher of Weekly Shonen Jump, recently made a statement condemning these leaks as actions that "steal the joy" of readers anticipating new releases. The statement was prompted by an incident where manga images were illegally translated, colored, and posted on a website. On February 4th, two individuals, including Takeshi Jumonji, were arrested on suspicion of copyright infringement. They allegedly obtained a copy of a Shonen Jump issue before its release date in March of the previous year and published translated and colored versions of manga like One Piece on an online pirate site. Additionally, there are suspicions that manga was photographed and uploaded five days before its release date last month. The suspects have admitted to photographing the manga but deny posting it online. Early leaks of popular manga have been confirmed, with some appearing online up to five days before their official release. When asked about this issue, some people expressed concern that it undermines the creators' efforts and diminishes the collective excitement of the release day. There is a persistent demand for such content, which is why these leaks continue to occur. It is illegal to download pirate versions of publications, even if done knowingly. The damage caused by piracy to the publishing industry is significant, with the estimated cost of piracy reaching 831.1 billion yen from 2019 to 2022. Violations of copyright law can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to 10 million yen, or both. Early leaks, in particular, can lead to more severe penalties due to the significant damage they cause to publishers and creators. In a notable case, the illegal manga site "Manga Village" was ordered to pay 1.9 billion yen in damages. This serves as a reminder of the potential legal and financial consequences of engaging in or supporting piracy. It is crucial for fans to respect creators and the publishing industry by waiting for official releases and avoiding illegal downloads or sharing spoilers on social media. This respect is essential for the continued production of quality manga and the sustainability of the industry. Source: KTV NEWS HYOGO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - At Himeji Castle, a World Heritage site in Hyogo Prefecture, an event recreating a daimyo procession from the Edo period took place, captivating tourists with a glimpse into the past. The procession, held in front of the castle's main tower, showcased the solemn actions of the daimyo and his entourage. Organized by Himeji City, the event aimed to provide visitors with a tangible experience of history and culture. The procession depicted was that of the Sakai family, the late Edo period lords of Himeji. The costumes and paraphernalia of the 12 participants were faithfully reproduced based on illustrations owned by the city. A tourist expressed their admiration, saying, "Seeing the procession in motion and hearing the shouts was a unique experience. It's moving to imagine this is how they actually walked back then." Visitors, standing before this "moving historical scroll," were seen taking photos and immersing themselves in the atmosphere of bygone days. Source: KTV NEWS LOS ANGELES, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - At the Annie Awards ceremony held in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 17, known as the Academy Awards of the animation industry, Hayao Miyazaki's film "The Boy and the Heron" received the Storyboard and Character Animation awards. Nominated in seven categories, "The Boy and the Heron" missed out on the most coveted Best Feature award but secured accolades for Storyboarding and Character Animation. Animation director Yu Honda, who attended the ceremony, reflected on the seven-year journey of making the film. He believed Miyazaki initially intended to complete the project in about three years and make it his swan song. Honda reminisced about working side by side with Miyazaki, who often sang and suggested watching the beautiful sunset from the rooftop, seemingly enjoying the remaining years of his life. Despite the project taking seven years, Honda joked that Miyazaki is still alive and his life plans have been disrupted. He believes Miyazaki might be bored and hopes he will start working on a new project, to which Honda would gladly contribute. Studio Ghibli's executive officer, Junichi Nishioka, accepted the Storyboard award on behalf of Miyazaki. He mentioned that Miyazaki couldn't attend due to his age and the challenges of a long journey. Nishioka expressed his pleasure that Miyazaki's storyboarding was recognized, considering him the most passionate director in this aspect globally. Unlike other directors, Miyazaki doesn't write scripts but starts directly with storyboarding, a unique approach in the industry. Nishioka highlighted Miyazaki's dedication to translating his mental imagery onto paper over a year and his continuous storyboarding while directing on set for 50 years. He quoted one of Miyazaki's famous sayings: "The person who draws the storyboard is the director." "The Boy and the Heron" has already made history by being the first Japanese film to win the Best Animated Feature at the Golden Globe Awards. It is also nominated for the Best Animated Feature at the upcoming Academy Awards on March 10th, with high hopes for a win. Additionally, Joe Hisaishi, who has composed music for numerous Studio Ghibli films, was honored with the Winsor McCay Award for his significant contributions to the animation industry. Meanwhile, Makoto Shinkai's film "Suzume no Tojimari" was nominated in seven categories, including Best Feature and Best Writing, but did not secure any awards. The Best Feature award went to "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Source: NEWS 34 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet at the 60th Munich Security Conference on Feb. 16, 2024. Washington should lift sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals, and that attempts to de-couple from China would only hurt the United States, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The United States should lift the sanctions and not harm China's legitimate development rights, Wang told Blinken on Friday on the sidelines of a Munich security conference, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry. Washington has imposed sanctions on various Chinese companies that it accuses of working with China's military despite denials from the firms. U.S. sanctions have also been imposed on individuals and entities over alleged human rights abuses in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. Sino-U.S. relations have shown signs of improvement in recent months as both sides took steps to re-establish channels of communication after ties between the two global superpowers sank to their lowest levels in decades. But many points of friction remain. The Biden administration has imposed bans on the sale of certain technologies to Chinese companies, citing national security risks. China has accused Washington of "weaponising" economic and trade issues. "Making 'de-risking' into 'de-China', and building 'small yards and high walls' and seeking 'decoupling from China'" will only backfire on the U.S. itself, Wang told Blinken. The exchanges between the two men were "frank, substantial and constructive", the ministry said in the statement released on Saturday. Both sides exchanged views on regional issues including the Ukraine crisis and the Korean Peninsula, the statement said, without giving further details. It added the Korean Peninsula envoys of both sides will "stay in touch". Wang also reiterated that the United States should abide by the one-China principle, if it truly wanted stability in the Taiwan Strait. "There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China's territory, and that is the real status quo in the Taiwan issue," Wang said. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory. But Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future. U.S. President Joe Biden has said the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan. The United States does, however, maintain unofficial relations with the democratically governed island and remains its most important backer and arms supplier. China and the U.S. have made some progress in bilateral relations since Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Biden in November, where they reached agreements covering fentanyl, military communications and artificial intelligence on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. China and the U.S. held their first joint meeting of a working group on fentanyl precursor chemicals in Beijing in late January and China's financial officials hosted U.S. Treasury officials earlier this month. Blinken and Wang discussed exchanges "at all levels" between the two countries in the next stage, and agreed to maintain dialogue in all areas, according to the Chinese foreign ministry statement. A general view of smoke rising from the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant on Feb. 15, 2023 in Avdiivka district, Ukraine. Russia on Sunday said it had full control of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka after Ukraine withdrew though Moscow said that some Ukrainian troops were still holed up in a vast Soviet-era coke plant after one of the most intense battles of the war. The fall of Avdiivka is Russia's biggest gain since capturing the city of Bakhmut in May 2023, and comes almost two years to the day since President Vladimir Putin triggered a full-scale war by ordering the invasion of Ukraine. Russia's defense ministry said its troops had advanced 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in that part of the 1,000-km (620-mile) front line, and that Russian troops were pressing forward after a deadly urban battle that has left the town an almost completely depopulated wreck. Ukraine said it had withdrawn its soldiers to save troops from being fully surrounded after months of fierce fighting. Putin hailed the fall of Avdiivka as an important victory and congratulated Russian troops. After the failure of Ukraine to pierce Russian lines last year, Moscow has been trying to grind down Ukrainian forces just as Kyiv ponders a major new mobilization and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints a new commander to run the war. "The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website. But Russia said some Ukrainian forces were still holed up at the Soviet-era coke plant, once one of Europe's biggest, in Avdiivka, which is key to Russia's aim of securing full control of the industrial Donbas region. "Measures are being taken to completely clear the town of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the town and are entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. There was no public comment yet by Ukrainian authorities on this. Russian state television showed blue and yellow Ukrainian flags being taken down in Avdiivka and Russia's white, blue and red tricolor flag raised, including over the coke plant. Russia cast the Ukrainian withdrawal as rushed and chaotic, with some soldiers and weapons left behind. The Ukrainian military said there had been casualties but that the situation had stabilized somewhat after the retreat. Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the 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. Avdiivka, which is called Avdeyevka by Russians, has endured a decade of conflict. It holds particular symbolism for Russia as it was briefly taken in 2014 by Moscow-backed separatists who seized a swathe of eastern Ukraine but was then recaptured by Ukrainian troops who built extensive fortifications. Have you ever considered just packing a bag and catching a flight without knowing the destination? Scandinavian Airlines, a Sweden-based carrier, recently announced the opportunity for members of its EuroBonus loyalty program to book a flight experience they call "Destination Unknown." In a press release, the airline says that "within minutes" of the announcement on February 12, over 1,000 members signed up for the surprise flight. Registration closed 24 hours later and those selected for the trip had an additional 24 hours to confirm their seat on the plane and make a payment. The airline is no longer accepting reservations, according to Travel + Leisure. Instead of money, travelers needed to redeem 30,000 miles for a seat. If someone was selected and didn't have enough miles or points, they could purchase the remaining ones required. The trip will fly from Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 5 and return to the same city on April 8. Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's prime minister, speaks on day two of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. Bloomberg | Getty Images MUNICH, Germany The West is suffering a "colossal failure of imagination" in thinking Russia's war in Ukraine will not hit them next, European policymakers have been told amid calls for a doubling down of transatlantic support for Kyiv. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized a waning sense of urgency among delegates at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday as Moscow's full-scale offensive nearly enters its third year. "The sense of urgency is simply not clear enough in our discussions," Frederiksen told a lunchtime session. "We have to speed up and we have to scale up." Frederiksen called out Europe's claims of production constraints as a reason for failing to provide more military assistance to Ukraine, noting that the continent has existing stockpiles it could and should share. "This is not only a question about production because we have weapons, we have ammunitions, we have air defense that we don't have to use ourselves at the moment, that we should deliver to Ukraine," she said. Denmark has now donated its entire artillery to Ukraine, Frederiksen said, urging other countries to do the same as the war marks its second anniversary on Feb. 24. "On Saturday, there should be new deliveries," she said. "Words will not solve this situation." He [Putin] will draft Ukrainians into his army to attack us. Radosaw Sikorski foreign minister of Poland Frederiksen's sentiment was echoed by others in the room. The policymakers were speaking at the 7th Munich Ukrainian Lunch, hosted on the sidelines of the MSC by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum and Ukrainian non-profit the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said countries must give Ukraine "what we already have." The comments came hours after Ukrainian troops withdrew from the eastern city of Avdiivka, a longtime military stronghold, to avoid Russian encirclement. The fall of Avdiivka marks the biggest change on the frontlines since Moscow captured Bakhmut in May, and provides Russia with a new base from which to launch regional attacks that can be presented back home as a moral-boosting success. Russian forces now reportedly control just under one-fifth of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory. As they advance further into the country, seizing more territory and installing Russian leadership via sham elections, Ukrainian forces could conceivably be forced to eventually fight for Moscow, Poland's foreign minister said. "He [Putin] will draft Ukrainians into his army to attack us," Radosaw Sikorski said. The dogs of war Bulgaria's Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said he believed politicians were beginning to recognize the urgency of that reality, but that it was now up to them to convince their electorates, too. "We have to open the eyes of every citizen in Europe to understand that the life that we enjoy, the life that we want to be safe can disappear as it happened many times in history," Denkov said. "It is urgent." As the war has rolled on, public interest has shifted away from Ukraine and toward other global crises, including in the Middle East, as well as domestic political and security concerns. In the U.S., a new bumper funding package, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine, is currently held up in the House of Representatives as lawmakers contest the relevance of Eastern Europe's war to American interests. A Ukrainian serviceman of the 47th Mechanized Brigade prepares for combat a Bradley fighting vehicle, not far away from Avdiivka, Donetsk region on February 11, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Genya Savilov | Afp | Getty Images Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday that she was hopeful the bill would pass likely in March and insisted that "reality should have overcome" whatever hesitancy there was in both the U.S. and Europe to provide further ammunition to Ukraine. "We have to do a much better job of convincing ourselves, of convincing our countries, our governments that we have to stand with Ukraine and make sure that they do win," she said in Munich. That urgency was also hammered home by Ukrainian soldiers who spoke at the event. One woman, a former college lecturer who went to fight on the front lines and was held in captivity for three months, moved many in the room to tears and prompted a standing ovation as she described her people as "the dogs of war." "We are the dogs of war," she said. "The more blood you give her [war], the more she wants." Colossal failure of imagination Historian Niall Ferguson, meanwhile, chastised Western leaders for their "colossal failure of imagination" to see that they, too, could become those "dogs of war." "It's as if we just can't imagine it happening to us," he said, invoking images of Europeans and Americans fighting during World War II. "Why can't we imagine this?" "We must help our people imagine those dogs of war," he continued. "Make these dogs of war seem visible to voters, visible to politicians." That responsibility is even more pressing as Russia steps up its psychological war, Clinton said, referencing what she described as an "extraordinary" effort by Moscow to influence minds and political decision-making. A lunchtime time session at Munich Security Conference featuring President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, and Prime Minister of Bulgaria Nikolay Denkov. CNBC Around $10 billion of value was wiped off Sony's stock last week, after the Japanese tech giant cut its sales forecast for its flagship PlayStation 5 console for the fiscal year. Analysts, who already thought Sony's PS5 target was too lofty, told CNBC a bigger issue for the company are its declining margins in its key gaming business. Sony this week announced it now expects to sell 21 million units of the PS5 in the fiscal year ending in March, compared with a previous forecast of 25 million units. The company's shares fell after the announcement, with around $10 billion of value wiped off the stock since the forecast cut, according to a CNBC calculation using FactSet data. But analysts were watching another key metric the operating margin in the gaming business which came in just under 6% for the December quarter, according to a CNBC calculation. By contrast, Sony's operating margin was more than 9% in the December quarter of 2022. "The shipment forecast cut for PS5 ... is not what is disappointing ... What is disappointing is the low level" of operating margin, Atul Goyal, equity analyst at Jefferies, said in a note to clients on Wednesday. Pakistans election commission has formed a high-level committee to probe the explosive allegations levelled by a senior bureaucrat that widespread rigging aided by the judiciary and the top election body happened against jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khans party in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha on Saturday alleged that the candidates who were losing the elections were made to win in the city. He claimed that 13 candidates from Rawalpindi were forcefully declared winners. His remarks came amidst jailed former Prime Minister Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: party began nationwide protests against alleged rigging and stealing of its mandate in the February 8 elections. "I am taking responsibility for all this wrongdoing and telling you that the chief election commissioner and the chief justice are also completely involved in this", he was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. Chattha resigned from his office after accepting responsibility for the manipulation of poll results. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has strongly rejected Chattha's allegations against the chief election commissioner. It held an emergency meeting to discuss the commissioners allegations and formed a high-level committee to probe them. Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja attended the meeting via video link. In light of the committees report, the election regulator would decide whether or not the commissioner be tried for contempt. The high-level committee will record the statements of the relevant district returning officers and returning officers and submit its report to the ECP within three days. The newly-appointed Rawalpindi Commissioner, Saif Anwar Jappa, rejected all the accusations made by the former commissioner regarding irregularities in the February 8 general elections. He clarified that the commissioners role in the polls was only for coordination. Emphasising the fairness and accuracy of the recent elections, the District Returning Officer (DRO) for Rawalpindi assured that the elections were conducted with complete transparency and without any external pressure on them. 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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. Today, amidst the ongoing farmers' protest, one of the key demands raised is for India to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Let us delve into the feasibility of such a move and explore its historical context within India's globalization trajectory. India embarked on the path of globalization, opening its doors to the world. In 1947, a multilateral agreement known as the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) was signed by 153 countries to regulate international trade, primarily focusing on minimizing barriers such as quotas, tariffs, and subsidies. The GATT was succeeded by the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), originating from the Uruguay Round of talks (1986-94), which commenced operations on January 1, 1995. Unlike GATT, the WTO encompasses not only goods but also services and intellectual property rights. The crux of the farmers' demand lies in their apprehension towards WTO regulations. The Cairns Group, comprising countries like Australia, Brazil, and Canada, has raised objections against the subsidies provided to Indian farmers by the Government of India, citing violations of WTO agreements. The WTO delineates three forms of subsidies: Green Box: This method allows states to provide unlimited benefits and subsidies for research and development to enhance the quality and quantity of production. This method allows states to provide unlimited benefits and subsidies for research and development to enhance the quality and quantity of production. Amber Box: Governments utilize this method to ensure agricultural produce remains competitively priced in the market, thereby guaranteeing maximum returns for farmers. In India, subsidies are extended to reduce input costs, such as those on fertilizers, seeds, and other micronutrients. Additionally, the government procures crops at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). Governments utilize this method to ensure agricultural produce remains competitively priced in the market, thereby guaranteeing maximum returns for farmers. In India, subsidies are extended to reduce input costs, such as those on fertilizers, seeds, and other micronutrients. Additionally, the government procures crops at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). Blue Box: This method permits governments to provide support linked to production, subject to production limits, with minimal trade distortion. The issue primarily revolves around India's utilization of the Amber Box method. Developed countries are permitted a 5% subsidy allowance, while developing nations like India can avail themselves of up to 10% subsidies. However, India's subsidies, including MSP and agricultural input subsidies, surpass the prescribed limits. For instance, under the PRANAM Scheme, farmers can purchase Neem Coated Urea at a subsidized rate of Rs. 242 per 45KG, whereas the market price is around Rs. 2200. The government has allocated approximately 3.7 lakh crores to implement this scheme, benefiting numerous farmers. The challenge arises when these subsidies result in Indian produce being priced lower than that of overseas farmers, raising objections from groups like the Cairns Group and WTO. Despite being a WTO member, India justifies its subsidies under the "Peace Treaty Clause," asserting that they are essential for ensuring food security and alleviating hunger crises. India has also secured agricultural reserves for up to two years through various warehousing facilities to mitigate food insecurity. The challenge arises when these subsidies result in Indian produce being priced lower than that of overseas farmers In addition to objections regarding subsidies, WTO members such as Australia and the EU have scrutinized India's export subsidies, particularly concerning sugar exports to countries like Iraq, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. Moreover, concerns have been raised about India's MSP for cotton. India has justified these measures as responses to factors like increased production costs. Despite the contentious issues surrounding subsidies and WTO regulations, it is imperative for India to remain within the WTO framework for several reasons: India's participation in the global market is essential for revenue generation and improving the quality of goods and services, benefiting both Indian entrepreneurs and consumers. India relies on imports for various goods and services, necessitating WTO protection to safeguard against adverse impacts on import-dependent sectors. India's emergence as a digital powerhouse and a global pharma giant is facilitated by access to cheaper electronic goods, APIs, and technology transfer, all of which are facilitated by WTO agreements. Lowering tariffs and easing restrictions, facilitated by collaboration with the WTO, attracts significant foreign direct investment, creating jobs and boosting the economy. Access to technology transfer through the WTO enhances Indian businesses' capacity for innovation and upgrading. However, India must raise concerns about issues such as loss of tariff revenue, agricultural dumping, and the impact of WTO pressure on intellectual property laws. Addressing these concerns while leveraging the benefits of WTO membership is crucial for India's economic growth and sustainability in the global arena. Conclusion: While India has benefited from the Peace Treaty Clause, it is imperative to consider the sustainability of this approach. The reliance on subsidies, particularly within the Amber Box framework, has led to a stalemate between the interests of Indian farmers and consumers. To navigate this challenge, policymakers must explore alternative strategies that prioritize long-term sustainability and mutual benefits. Embracing the Green Box approach, which emphasizes research and development (R&D), presents a promising avenue to bolster Indian agriculture without excessive reliance on subsidies. Additionally, corporatizing the agriculture sector can enhance efficiency and competitiveness in both domestic and international markets. Rather than resorting to short-term fixes like increasing MSPs and subsidies to score political points, a concerted effort towards finding permanent solutions is essential to ensure the prosperity of Indian agriculture and the welfare of its stakeholders. Furthermore, India needs to adopt an open and free-market model to ensure effective gains on agricultural produce, benefiting farmers automatically without the need for MSPs. This transition requires significant investment in infrastructure to support such an economic model. --- *Political and economic commentator You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Since Im not yet a grandmother still watching from the sidelines I can only wonder as I see so many contemporaries plummeting, one after the other, into the hugely demanding, modern granny trap. Their daughters and it is almost entirely daughters not only want a bit of help with childcare but insist that their mothers (again, please note, not fathers) are on permanent standby ready to drop everything to help out. Of course, grandparents have always been part of the childcare eco-system, but nowadays many are still immersed in busy working lives themselves, or may have partners and friends who need care too. They adore their grandchildren, and their children, but with double-decker demographic demands they find themselves in an even more exhausting stage of life than when they were young mothers. Universal Aunts is a long-standing agency that provides last-minute assistance, but now its universal grannies who are roped in for everything from emergency doctors appointments to weekend babysitting and unexpected school pick-ups. And why are they seemingly so willing? Why are they so ready to cave in to their often tyrannical daughters demands? Perhaps its natural grandparental love for some, but I reckon for many its more about guilt. As a full-time working mother and a child of a working mother, I wont accept any stuff and nonsense about how being at work rather than at home frying fish fingers at teatime is damaging for the child. But becoming a grandmother appears to expose a new raft of side effects from not being a stay-at-home mum. The grandmothers I refer to worked furiously hard while their children were young. Add in any travelling overseas for business and frequent work-socialising in evenings. Some also found themselves with broken marriages, which meant that along with a demanding career they were often living alone with no partner to step in to help. Grandparents have always been part of the childcare eco-system, but nowadays many are still immersed in busy working lives themselves For them, it was just eyes straight ahead one day at a time and get through it. If you worked, that was what you did and couldnt stress about being away from home. But it wasnt easy. So now, as todays universal grannies see their daughters trying to balance work and childcare, they not only want to help, but are trying to repay the debt, putting in all those extra hours that they guiltily feel they didnt as a mother, no matter the cost now in their already full lives. Looks like Ill never get to be a Mob Wife The only fur coat Ive ever owned was a moth-eaten dark-brown number bought in a Hereford charity shop, where I did a lot of shopping as a teenager. Anna Wintour wearing faux fur Sadly, by the time I might have been able to wear a proper fur coat, when I became editor of Vogue, fur had become unacceptable to many. At least in the UK. While we at British Vogue banned fur from our pages, it was clear the Parisians, Milanese and New Yorkers had no such scruples. But in recent years even Anna Wintour has stopped sashaying around in mink. Now, though, its again fine, even fashionable, to wear fur just so long as its not new. The second-hand sites are buzzing with young women searching for glamorous old furs to wear for the current Mob Wife look. Once again, Ive missed the boat, since wearing an old fur coat can look wonderful if youre young, but a bit tragic once youre middle-aged. However, Ive got a few bits that I was given during my time at the magazine that I stuffed away waiting for this moment to emerge. I wonder if a 15-year-old chinchilla stole counts as vintage? So tempted... by a 45 pair of socks Shoes have many a purpose, but one of their most useful is to hide socks, which generally are not particularly attractive garments. But now that were so frequently asked to remove our shoes in many homes, socks have become the accessory of the day. Those holey, faded black numbers we used to get away with are no longer acceptable. Socks are a status symbol. As a result, the market has rallied and had its usual influence on prices, which found me the other day considering whether I should pay 45 for a pair of beautiful Japanese socks. Mad, I know, but if Id succumbed they would still have been cheaper than the shoes which I used to be able to show off when I visited people and now have to dump at the door. Another 6m thats gone down the Tubes Rarely have I seen such a pointless exercise as Mayor Sadiq Khans rebranding of Londons Overground lines. We live near an Overground station and its a fine thing, enabling us to get all over the capital and its suburbs without being stuck underground. An added delight is that it is just one line a clear orange on the Tube map taking us between east and west, north and south. Now the London Mayor has spent 6.3million making six distinct lines, each with a different name and colour. So instead of just following the orange line, Ill now have to get a blue Mildmay line, apparently named in tribute to a North London hospital known for its work during the Aids crisis. I have no problem with the names (theres a Suffragette and Windrush line not far away), just the ludicrous waste of money and unnecessary added complexity on an already dense Tube map. Canny Charlottes life in the fast lane Clever beauty millionaire Charlotte Tilbury is sponsoring the F1 Academy, to help more women become racing drivers. I hadnt really considered the lack of female drivers (apparently there have been only five). Beauty millionaire Charlotte Tilbury is sponsoring the F1 Academy Indeed, Im so far behind this curve that I am still a little surprised when I see a woman driving a taxi, but in this age its time for us to take the wheel. Particularly exciting is the prospect of the Tilbury-branded, colourful car with the slogan Make Up Your Destiny although, sadly for her, the helmets are likely to hide much of the make-up that I imagine she would like the drivers to wear. At the coming Election, nobody will get what they vote for, even if their party wins. Tory voters will not get a conservative government, or even a Conservative one. They will get the usual bunch of propeller-headed hedge-fund free-market fanatics, flanked by sexual revolutionaries and daft warmongers. Labour voters will also not get a Labour government (see above for roughly what they will get). This has now been so for many years. The leaders of both these parties despise their voters but somehow get away with it most of the time. If you doubt it, remember Gordon Browns vivid encounter with Rochdale voter Gillian Duffy, and his lofty dismissal of this loyal Labour supporter as a bigoted woman when he thought nobody was listening. This is probably the most telling incident in modern British politics. So I have a simple proposal, greatly reinforced by a recent event in the American state of Nevada. There, ballot papers sensibly include a slot for None of These Candidates. And the dreary Republican Nikki Haley was actually beaten by None Of The Above. About 63 per cent, in a primary election, voted for nobody at all, in preference to the actual Ms Haley. Squelch. I strongly believe that a None Of The Below option (at the top of every ballot paper) would sweep the board in a British Election, within a couple of years of being introduced. In return, I would happily agree to compulsory voting. Once people realised that they had the real power to reject the insult to the intelligence they were being offered, the two major parties in this country would be on their way to landfill, the best place for them. Watching the convulsions of the last few days in both parties, I have grown ever more sure that we need to start again. In the American state of Nevada, ballot papers sensibly include a slot for None of These Candidates. Republican Nikki Haley (pictured) was actually beaten by None Of The Above The sheer shock of having to set up new parties to replace the dead ones might conceivably stimulate the sort of original thought we need so badly. I would myself hope for a British Gaullist party, imitating Frances greatest modern leader, Charles de Gaulle strength and independence abroad, a powerful, well-run welfare state and excellent education at home. But how do we get from here to there? Our democracy is now a closed circle, in which secret cliques select candidates like themselves, and we then vote for them, urged on by slick advertising campaigns and broadcasters who are part of the system. I cannot solve this riddle. Morals row was music to my ears There is a scene in the extraordinary and gruelling film Maestro (about conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein) which runs so searingly against the fashionable belief in total sexual liberty and drug-taking that I am amazed it was scripted, shot and left in the final cut. In it, Bernstein (played by Bradley Cooper, right) is furiously denounced for his trendy selfishness by his wife, played by Carey Mulligan. Outside the window, as they quarrel, a carnival passes by, including a vast float depicting the cartoon beagle Snoopy. I wonder if it will be quietly removed from future versions? Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro Why sell Mexico the best trains we ever had? The best, most reliable and most comfortable express trains ever built in this country, the InterCity 125s, are apparently being exported to Mexico. I cannot get confirmation (or denial) of this from the Transport Department, from the company allegedly involved or their PR firm, hence the word apparently. But specialist railway journals suggest the operation is well under way, with some of the trains seen being loaded aboard a freighter at Great Yarmouth. The Mexican government announced last November that it was planning to reopen 5,000 miles of passenger services, foolishly shut down some years ago. I dont blame them for wanting the high-speed trains, a fine British product beautifully renovated and maintained over nearly 50 years. They were still operating here until quite recently (I last saw one in Taunton in July). But for me the real problem is that their hugely expensive electric replacements, on which I travel most days, have not been a success. Many are out of service, causing overcrowding and cancellations for long months. On Thursday, the carriage in which I was riding began to shake alarmingly, with an accompaniment of loud bangs, when it hit one of the increasingly frequent patches of bumpy track. I have had smoother rides on the Mandalay to Rangoon Express, and cannot remember anything so bad on any British train. On my own line, several services have recently been downgraded to 1990s diesel railbuses instead of sleek Japanese bullet trains though in fact the ancient British Rail workhorses have more comfortable seats and are not much slower in practice. So often, this country gets rid of valuable technology of its own, such as the Harrier jet, then saddles itself with more expensive and less effective foreign substitutes. We cant let Assange rot in a dungeon for exposing war crimes This week, the brave and indomitable Stella Assange will have to watch once again as her husband Julian faces the strong possibility of being sent in chains to some American dungeon, where he will be buried alive for the rest of his days. Julian is already (indefensibly) locked up on remand in Britains most ferocious prison, Belmarsh. What did he do? He did what reporters do. He received and partially published documents which gravely embarrassed the USA. In the words of my colleague Andrew Neil, who, like me, opposes Mr Assanges extradition, the material revealed war crimes covered up. Torture. Brutality. The rendition and incarceration of suspects without due process. The corruption of inquiries trying to hold it to account. The bribery of foreign officials to look the other way when America did bad things. If Julian Assange (pictured in 2017) is jailed in the US, free journalism will be dealt a blow It is simply not true, as is often claimed, that Mr Assange endangered the lives of Americans in the service of their country. He took careful steps to avoid this and no evidence has ever been produced of any such thing. The High Court in London will consider, on Tuesday and Wednesday, his final appeal against the decision to extradite him to the USA on political charges of espionage. The UK Governments determination to hand him over to the USA runs right against the extradition treaty we have with Washington. This explicitly bans any extraditions on political grounds. I believe this cruel injustice can be stopped if enough voices are raised against it. If Julian Assange is jailed in the USA, free journalism will be dealt a mortal blow. I appeal most especially to some of our nations clearest and most thoughtful media voices, Charles Moore, Danny Finkelstein, Matthew Parris and Janice Turner, to speak out now while there is still time. For once, Prince Harry is right. He's said his father's illness could have a reunifying effect on the family. From my own point of view, this is 100 per cent true. My family could give the Windsors a run for their money in the dysfunctionality stakes. Plenty of trauma, rancour and bad feeling with repercussions that echo down the generations: infidelities, fights, denial, depression, neglect. And yet when my father in many ways the focus of so much of it became seriously ill a few years ago, we rallied. My brother and I, who, despite being very close as children, have had scant contact these past 30 years, have become if not best buddies then definitely able to communicate and work together in a kind and constructive manner. Whereas he was once the only person I've ever come to physical blows with, we now exchange cheery WhatsApps and eyeroll emojis as we navigate the challenges of looking after our grumpy, ailing and almost comically ungrateful old goat of a father. He still drives me demented, but there's no malice. For once, Prince Harry is right. He's said his father's illness could have a reunifying effect on the family When you come from a family as screwed up as mine, it's comforting to know that even the King of England is not immune to such vicissitudes The truth is that, perhaps a bit like Harry, the stark reality of almost losing the old man made us realise that however much we resented the way he'd behaved when we were kids, however big the mess he'd made of things, however badly he'd treated our mother, he had nevertheless shaped us as people and that, like it or not, we were inextricably connected to him and to each other. And that helping sort out the mess Dad seemed to have made of his (and our mother's) life, as well as supporting him on his physical journey of recovery, was not only part of his healing process, it was also part of ours. At the risk of sounding too Pollyanna-ish, I hope something comes of this sliver of an olive branch. If not now, soon. Before it's too late There was and remains a huge benefit to be gained from tackling the demons that drive families apart, from rising above the resentment, from not only offering forgiveness where it isn't deserved, but also going the extra mile. When friends congratulate me for making an effort with my father after the way he behaved, I always correct them. Not selfless but selfish, actually. Because ultimately the person who benefits most is me: I get my little brother back, I see the smile on our mother's face, I get to see glimpses of the old man before life turned sour. These are all moments of joy, little nuggets of emotional gold far more beneficial to me (and by extension my own children) than the icy shroud of resentment. When my parents shuffle off this mortal coil not, I hope, too soon my family may close a toxic cycle that has dogged us for generations, ever since my grandfather went mad in the jungles of Burma, ever since my grandmother was sectioned for post-natal depression and given electro-shock therapy. Parents don't mess you up because they want to they do it because they are repeating patterns of trauma in their own lives. You can either perpetuate that cycle or try to put a stop to it. And to do that requires compromise. Lots of families are like this. That's why the Royal soap opera holds such fascination. Their vulnerabilities, embarrassing, inconvenient or shameful as they may be, make them relatable. When you come from a family as screwed up as mine, it's comforting to know that even the King of England is not immune to such vicissitudes. So Harry is right. Such crises can, and do, have 'reunifying effects' on families. But words are one thing, actions quite another. Harry may say it but does he mean it? Does he actually understand what reunification entails? If his recent actions are anything to go by, no. Calling his website Sussex.com and adopting the title conferred on him by the late Queen as his children's surname is not an act of reunification. It's a move that can only aggravate the feelings of frustration, resentment and anger between him and his family. As for his offer of being willing to take up a temporary Royal role while the King is indisposed again, that's not about helping his father, it's about helping Harry remind the world of his Royal connection. For the thing to work, there must be sacrifices. Selflessness is a key element, as is the ability to admit where you went wrong. Acknowledging your own negative behaviour and apologising for it is an important starting point, one where Harry doesn't seem to be. Words aren't enough you must show you mean it. You also must understand that sometimes it's not about you but about the greater good of the family. At the risk of sounding too Pollyanna-ish, I hope something comes of this sliver of an olive branch. If not now, soon. Before it's too late. I don't know why everyone is so hysterical about plans to recruit foreign dentists. I've only ever had one English dentist, and he was a butcher. The rest have been Italian, Asian or, like my current dentist, Mr Marwa, Middle Eastern. There's a reason having 'English teeth' is considered such a joke Breast milk theory is just bonkers According to the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, breast milk is now termed 'human milk', and can be produced by both males and females, even if in the case of the former it must be drug-induced and is weak sauce compared to the real thing. When women like me talk about our safe spaces being invaded and appropriated, it's not just in areas where the presence of biological males puts vulnerable women in danger, or where it steals their achievements in, say, the sporting arena. It's situations such as these, where our identities are eroded to suit the wishes of a minority. Worse, what's really terrifying is the idea that to support this bonkers theory, babies should be fed on this stuff. There's only one word for such dystopian behaviour: eugenics. Another Saturday, another pro-Palestine march. What irks me about some protesters is the fact they can't spell. One woman was arrested for carrying a placard reading 'Long live the intifada.' I'm sure that's not how you spell 'peace'. Another Saturday, another pro-Palestine march. What irks me about some protesters is the fact they can't spell 'Sleepy' Joe Biden continues to show his unsuitability as President with Hillary Clinton now worried about his cognitive ability. The death of Putin critic Alexei Navalny is a reminder of what's at stake. In 2021, Biden said there would be 'devastating consequences' if Navalny died in jail. I wonder: does Biden now remember who Navalny was? My favourite store no more John Lewis has always been synonymous in my mind with motherhood. While pregnant, I browsed its prams and cots. I bought much of my baby and nursery equipment there, and nursed my children in Peter Jones. Weekends always featured a visit to the toy department. So to discover John Lewis now offers advice to parents on how to bind their daughters' breasts feels like the ultimate betrayal. I've been a loyal customer all my life. Sadly no more. Everyone tells me that I should be watching One Day on Netflix, which of course means that I won't. I'm in my Griselda Blanco era now (played in the Netflix drama Griselda by Sofia Vergara) Besides, I'm done moping around over men. I'm in my Griselda Blanco era now (played in the Netflix drama Griselda by Sofia Vergara, above). Delays in diagnosing skin cancers because of lockdowns have led to 12,000 years of lives lost, it's estimated. I had a dodgy mole a couple of years ago, and after much cajoling got my GP to refer me. I was told by the hospital I could have an appointment 18 months hence. That's one way of reducing patient numbers. If, as reported, Ant McPartlin didn't tell his ex that he and his new wife Anne-Marie were expecting a child, he's gone down in my estimation. He was with Lisa, his first wife, for 23 years. If, as reported, Ant McPartlin didn't tell his ex that he and his new wife Anne-Marie were expecting a child, he's gone down in my estimation She supported him through depression and drinking, and helped forge his TV career. She gave him the best years of her life the fertile ones yet they never had the child she longed for. The least he could have done was afford her the kindness of a call. Has London Mayor Sadiq Khan been chatting to Harry and Meghan? What else can explain his absurdly woke new names, at a cost of more than 6million, for London Overground lines? That kind of thing might wash in Montecito, but Londoners can spot a con a mile off. Especially in an Election year. The world is a more dangerous place now than at any time since the Cold War perhaps even since 1945. Some of our politicians, though, behave as though their own careers mattered far more than national security. With the fall of the Ukrainian city Avdiivka, Vladimir Putin's war of conquest is entering a new phase, and Alexei Navalny's suspicious death in an Arctic prison has robbed the Russian opposition of its last hope. In the Far East, China is threatening to invade Taiwan, prompting its neighbours to prepare for the worst. Meanwhile, the war in Israel and Gaza has plunged the Middle East into turmoil, with Iranian proxies fomenting trouble across the region. As always, British forces are wherever the action is. Alongside the US, our aircraft and warships are engaged in the Red Sea against Houthi terrorists, protecting shipping lanes that are vital for our prosperity. Yet as Andrew Neil wrote in the Mail recently, our Army, Navy and Air Force are all far too small. Despite the fact that we spend more than 50billion a year on defence, our forces are crippled by manpower shortages, incompetence and reckless squandering of resources. With the fall of the Ukrainian city Avdiivka, Vladimir Putin 's war of conquest is entering a new phase, and Alexei Navalny's suspicious death in an Arctic prison has robbed the Russian opposition of its last hope. Pictured: General Patrick Sanders (left) and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (right) Yet as Andrew Neil wrote in the Mail recently, our Army, Navy and Air Force are all far too small. Pictured: Joint military exercises in Poland This month alone we have witnessed a humiliation of the Royal Navy that would have made Nelson weep. Our flagship, the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, was supposed to lead Nato's Steadfast Defender exercise, but was confined to port by a rusty propeller shaft. 'Big Lizzie' had to be replaced by her no less accident-prone sister ship, Prince of Wales, escorted by four patrol boats made of plastic. These and countless other procurement problems stem from the Ministry of Defence. The chronic failure of its 3,500 staff who work in Whitehall to deliver on time and within budget is not a secret it's a scandal. What's beyond doubt is that we must increase defence spending but use the money wisely. So where, then, is the minister responsible for our Armed Forces? Surely he must be working day and night to cleanse the Augean stables at the MoD? Alas not: it seems that His Majesty's Secretary of State for Defence is otherwise engaged. Grant Shapps was reported yesterday to be spending plenty of time on manoeuvres but not of the military kind. 'Grant is barely in the MoD these days,' an inside source told The Mail on Sunday. 'He does about six days a month. The rest of the time he is plotting to become leader.' If this claim is even partly true and it is strongly denied by his allies then Mr Shapps is unfit for his post. The charge against him is not merely disloyalty to the Prime Minister, but dereliction of duty to the country. In 2022, Mr Shapps then transport secretary set up a WhatsApp group known as 'SLAP' ('Shapps Leadership Action Plan') as part of his bid to succeed Boris Johnson. The MoS source alleges that Mr Shapps has now revived SLAP to further his leadership ambitions. Such networks are being used to canvass support amid the mutinous atmosphere in the Conservative Party following the by-election defeats in Wellingborough and Kingswood. Whether or not there is a cabal of Tory MPs and others working hard to install the Defence Secretary in No 10, I am confident that the majority of Conservative voters would greet the news with anger and bemusement. For who is Grant Shapps anyway? The phrase 'risen without trace' might have been invented for a man who has held five Cabinet posts in fewer than five years. The main reason why successive Prime Ministers have entrusted one department after another to this jack of all trades is that he can be relied upon not to rock the boat. Actually, rocking the boat might be just what the MoD needs: a root-and-branch reform to rid us of the bureaucratic complacency that has turned our once-proud Armed Forces into a laughing stock. Grant Shapps was reported yesterday to be spending plenty of time on manoeuvres but not of the military kind. Pictured: British soldiers, 4th Battalion The Rifles But Mr Shapps has never shown the slightest initiative, originality or courage in any of his roles. He is a quick study and can master a brief, but he is better at politicking than politics and too lightweight to be a leader. If the answer to the Conservatives' woes is Grant Shapps, what on earth is the question? As David Patrikarakos wrote in the Mail on Saturday, the war in Ukraine could be lost, with dire consequences for us, too. Many Americans under the influence of Donald Trump appear to be turning their backs on Nato. This is a time not for decline management, but for statesmanship. To use a Churchillian phrase, it is time for 'Action this day'. When Churchill was recalled to be first lord of the admiralty at the outbreak of war in 1939, the signal was sent to the fleet: 'Winston is back.' The signal 'Grant is back' may not elicit the same thrill of excitement, but the very least the public is entitled to expect is to see the Defence Secretary of the day hard at work at his desk in Whitehall during a time of global crisis. The Toronto-based entrepreneur's parents met while working in the watch world A luxury watch expert has revealed her top tips and tricks for investing in a high-end timepiece - detailing exactly which brands and designs will earn you the best return on your purchase, while also sharing advice for those hoping to secure a more budget-friendly piece on the secondhand market. The luxury watch market has exploded of late, with a huge surge in interest in classic brands like Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, and Cartier. Celebrities have become more watch-obsessed than ever, with everyone from Nicole Kidman to Tom Brady seen flaunting luxury designs during public appearances. This recent obsession has made it next to impossible for buyers to get their hands on new designs from these brands - and has seen some timepiece fans forced to jump through multiple hoops in order to own a sought-after design. Having a luxury watch is a serious status symbol, which is one of the reasons it's been harder to find upscale options from brands like Rolex. Nicole Kidman is seen wearing a timepiece Celebrities often show off exclusive, hard-to-get watches, which has led to the rise of everyone wanting a classic watch from a buzzy brand Kylie Jenner boasts an envy-inducing watch collection, and even bought her five-year-old daughter Stormi a Rolex Jess Chow founded Vieren in Toronto in 2020 alongside creative director Sunny Fong, a past Project Runway Canada winner, and now offers advice for investing in a luxurious watch Indeed, premium watches are, these days, almost as hard to procure as the Hermes Birkin bags - which require an exhaustive buying process that sees fashion fans forced to befriend sales associates and splash a great deal of cash on other items from the brand until they are deemed 'worthy' enough to be offered the chance to buy a premium handbag. As a result, many have turned to the secondhand market in order to track down their dream watches. But while buying a used timepiece can help to lower the astronomical prices, opting for a vintage design can also come with its risks, including falling for a fake or landing yourself with a broken product. In short, the world of watches has become increasingly broad - and thus, far more complicated. But thankfully, help is now at hand, courtesy of luxury watch expert and brand founder Jess Chow, who launched her own timepiece brand Vieren after watching her parents navigate the industry for years. Her parents, both watchmakers, met at Baselworld, the global watch and jewelry trade show that takes place each spring in Switzerland. Now, the Toronto-based entrepreneur independently makes watches that focus on form and function while pushing the boundaries of luxury watchmaking design. Chow works with the brand's creative director, Sunny Fong, a previous winner of Project Runway Canada, to create elevated, limited-edition collections. Chow, who has created a brand that is 'on a mission to reinvent the automatic watch,' tells DailyMail.com about bringing her vision to life and why customers should invest in timeless, elegant timepieces. Is it really worth investing in a luxury timepiece? With the rise of fast fashion, it's easy for people to eschew expensive watches for less expensive options. Chow explains that 'mechanical timepieces are a living piece of history and people are seeking to connect with something bigger than themselves,' joking: 'When AI takes over the world someday, you know you can still rely on an automatic timepiece on your wrist to keep you moving forward.' Instead of purchasing cheap offerings, Chow believes it's important to look for quiet luxury pieces that will stand the test of time, in monochromatic and metallic palettes that make it easy to wear. The luxury watch designer creates exclusive collections with a modern design and matches her manicure to the products to show them off What are the benefits of buying an automatic watch? Automatic watches are self-winding timepieces that don't have to be manually wound when worn regularly and while you might not see many day-to-day, Chow is working to bring them back. In the past, these timepieces were seen as being expensive and inaccessible, but Chow wants new generations to embrace the style. 'Automatic watches are timeless modern luxury pieces that can tell time forever without a battery, and a craft honed over generations that is becoming increasingly lost in the world of digital today,' Chow explains. Chow is working to bring the 'craftsmanship that has existed for forever to a generation that hasn't had the experience of wearing an automatic watch.' 'Although automatic timepieces are investment pieces that will last years, we believe that you shouldn't have to sacrifice your lifestyle to experience this technology for the first time,' the expert insists, which is why her timepieces start at about $2,000 or $3,000. Automatic watches don't require a battery and can power themselves as long as they're worn quite regularly According to Chow, Swiss craftsmanship makes a difference, and her watches are handcrafted in La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Certified Swiss made Vieren creates unique timepieces, like a recent collection inspired by New York City's famous Studio 54 How do you choose the right automatic watch? Chow tells people to look for the 'three Ms,' which are movement, materials, and make. It's best to invest in a watch made of stainless steel or scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with gold, gemstone or diamonds accents, because 'these subtle details are what makes it a luxury watch.' It's also helpful to look for Certified Swiss made timepieces, which will have the label on the dial or the case back. Chow calls these 'the world's most well-made and reliable timepieces.' Chow wants potential customers to search for 'iconic styles are thoughtfully designed for long-lasting wear' that are 'big enough to make a statement, but not too big to fit under a nice suit or jacket.' It might be tempting to try out new trends, but Chow thinks 'a quality timepiece should be long-lasting and be relevant for decade.' For those who do want to try a trend, Chow suggests 'looking for quartz movements that use a battery to tell time,' because they're usually less expensive and require less maintenance. If you want to start a collection, 'look for discontinued watch models, which are very collectable and more sought after on the resale market.' Does it make sense to buy a secondhand timepiece? Buying a secondhand watch makes sense if you're 'collecting heritage watches,' according to Chow. However, it's extremely important to know you're getting the real deal, which is why she recommends always looking for an Authorized Certification as well as working with reputable dealers. Chow also advises inspecting the watch in person to make sure it looks the same, since photos aren't always accurate and there are a lot of counterfeits. The Canada-based brand carefully crafts each timepiece for more than six months to ensure it will stand the test of time Chow advises in investing in watches that have gold, gemstone or diamond accents to make them stand out It's important to forego wearing your watch in the shower or if you go swimming, because while most luxury watches can survive getting wet, they can't go underwater Is it easy to maintain an automatic watch? While it might be tempting to only break out your new buy for special occasions, it's actually better to wear your new bling daily. 'Wearing an automatic watch every day ensures the gears are in use and lubricated for optimal performance,' Chow says. If you find yourself not always wearing the watch, a watch winder will keep it running. And although many watches, including Vieren options, are water resistant, it's best not to shower or bathe with your watch on, which could cause the gears to bend and warp. It's also important to bring your watch in for service every three to five years, so the entire watch can be taken apart, cleaned and repaired. If you plan on reselling the timepiece in the future, keep the watch in mint condition, and make sure to store the box, packaging and paperwork in a cool dry place. She now has two children and shares her life as a devout Mormon online The now 31-year-old left the church with her husband when she was 25 After growing up in a strict Mormon household, Alyssa Grenfell is sharing how she found her personal style and reclaimed her body in her late 20s. The now 31-year-old regularly shares tidbits from her past Mormon life to social media, documenting her transition from a teacher at a Mormon Missionary Training Center to her 'glow up' as an ex-Mormon. Alyssa, along with her husband, left the Mormon Church and moved from Utah to New York City in 2017, embarking on a journey to discover what her life could be outside the church. In a now-viral video shared to TikTok, Alyssa, who is a mom-of-two and a teacher, showed off her full transformation in a 60-second clip. After growing up in a strict Mormon home, Alyssa Grenfell is sharing how she found her personal style and reclaimed her body in her late 20s. Pictured with her husband at 23 The now 31-year-old regularly shares tidbits from her past Mormon life to social media. Pictured is Alyssa when she was teaching at a Mormon Missionary Training Center in Utah The clip started with photo from her engagement when she was in her early 20s, showing her and her husband dressed modestly and smiling at the camera. 'I got married in the temple at 23, and these are my very Mormon engagement photos,' she explained in the clip, which has been viewed more than 500,000 times. Alyssa was a Missionary Training Center (MTC) teacher at the time she got married, pointing out the undergarments she would wear under all her clothing. As she and her husband got older, they started trying things outside what was allowed in the Mormon church, like trying coffee and Alyssa experimented with not wearing undergarments under her clothes 'About a year and a half into being married, I tried coffee for the first time, and I am not wearing garments in this picture,' she shared, along with a picture of her wearing a T-shirt and holding a coffee cup. In her next image, she's wearing a graduation cap and gown, admitting she was 'so worried' the wind would make it fly open a bit and people would see that see she is not wearing my garments. As Alyssa, who has also written a book called How To Leave The Mormon Church, gets older her fashion choices become bolder; as she starts to show more skin and 'reclaim her body back.' 'My first time wearing a tank top in public, which is so funny because it's kind of like a T-shirt with no sleeves,' she reminisced, showing a photo of a stripy tank with her hair out. Alyssa seen wearing a graduation cap and gown, admitting she was 'so worried' the wind would make it fly open a bit and people would see that see she was not wearing my garments As Alyssa, who has also written a book called How To Leave The Mormon Church, gets older her fashion choices become bolder as she starts to show more skin and 'reclaim her body back' 'Six years after leaving the church, I got my nose ring, I got my ears pierced, and I have three tattoos,' she explained, along with a picture of her dated from 2021 'Honestly, there's something so beautiful to me looking through all these photos and seeing this transformation... of finding out who I am outside of Mormonism,' Alyssa shared 'I felt so scandalous.' 'With this shirt, combined with the coffee, this is basically like my ex Mormon nudes,' she joked. Four years after her initial 'faith crisis,' Alyssa decided to get a tattoo, and the next year she felt 'finally ready to buy a bikini.' She also coyly added that taking mushrooms 'really helped' her to work through the deconstruction process and think about who she wanted to be. After leaving the church. Alyssa started wearing shorts and tank tops, generally feeling more comfortable in her own skin. 'Six years after leaving the church, I got my nose ring, I got my ears pierced, and I have three tattoos,' she explained, along with a picture of her dated from 2021. Four years after her initial 'faith crisis,' Alyssa decided to get a tattoo, and the next year she felt 'finally ready to buy a bikini' '[Probably] seems small to most people but I love the feeling of reclaiming my body.' Alyssa then shared some current photos of herself, wearing cropped shirt, bare arms and drinking alcohol. Although admitting it took her 'years' to become as comfortable in her own body, she now loves looking back on her transformation. 'Honestly, there's something so beautiful to me looking through all these photos and seeing this transformation, the self discovery that's taken place in my life, of finding out who I am outside of Mormonism,' she shared. 'I hope that every ex Mormon finds as much joy in this journey as I have.' When I read last week about more than 100 women discovering that their frozen eggs and embryos might not be viable because of a fault with the freezing process, my heart went out to them. Id like to say I couldnt imagine how they must be feeling, but I could all too well. Because I know first-hand exactly how it feels to have done everything you possibly can to preserve your fertility, then to have all hope snatched away from you. It is utterly devastating. In my case, it wasnt due to a technical error, but I can still recall vividly the phone call in July 2017 telling me that of the last seven eggs theyd defrosted, only five had thawed normally, and of those five only two had fertilised both abnormally. There was no chance they would go on to form an embryo, much less the baby I desperately wanted. Years later, I can still remember how utterly floored I felt. If I dwell on it too much, the tears still prick in my eyes. Nothing? I recall asking. Ive got nothing? In an instant, it felt like my dreams of motherhood had been stolen from me. Im not someone prone to daydreams and flights of fantasy, but Id be lying if I said I hadnt thought about the potential those frozen eggs held. Although I knew they came with no guarantees, I couldnt help but think what it might feel like to be pregnant; to have my baby in my arms; to see that baby become a walking, talking toddler. Alice Mann felt as though her dreams of motherhood were stolen from her when she found out that there was no chance any of her eggs would go on to form an embryo It was only natural that having done all I could to ensure I could become a mother three years previously, at the age of 36, I had three cycles of egg-freezing, in all 14 eggs at a cost of about 14,000 I would wonder what my future offspring might look like, whether Id have a son or a daughter, and imagine the person they might become as they grew into adulthood. Then, in an instant, there was nothing. So I know exactly how the 136 patients who, back in September and October 2022, froze their eggs and embryos at the assisted conception unit at Guys & St Thomas Hospital in London must feel. In the past few weeks they will have received a letter telling them a manufacturing issue with some bottles of a solution that may have been used to freeze their hard-won eggs and embryos could mean that they may not survive the thaw process, and may not be able to be used in treatment. A dispassionate list of hypothetical mays that will have undoubtedly provoked a maelstrom of emotions. After my own shattering call, I tried to explain how utterly heartbroken I felt. But everyday language felt inadequate to describe the complexities of bereavement, loss and frustration I was experiencing. On eggedonblog.com, the website where I documented my treatment, I wrote that I felt sad and angry and resentful, and lamented the fact that I had nothing to say that wasnt crying and raging at the world that it was really unfair. Because, as I put it back then, three years ago, I froze my eggs, knowing that I might never have a child from those eggs, but knowing it was a positive step I could take at a time when everything looked really bleak. I dont regret it. I really dont, but I didnt just do it because I wanted to be able to look back with no regrets. I did it because I wanted the possibility of getting pregnant with eggs that were younger than I am. And I dont have that possibility any more. Because thats what frozen eggs and embryos are possibilities. Some of the Guys Hospital patients will have been women, like me, who hadnt met the right person to have a child with, but were worried about the impact their age might have on their fertility. A tube of eggs can be kept in cryogenic storage in preparation for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) Its not impossible they could still go on to conceive with their own eggs. (I tried and failed to do this, and ultimately used donor eggs to become a mother.) However, others were cancer patients who may since have had treatment that has left them infertile. But I dont just feel compassion for these women, I feel a seething, furious outrage on their behalf. Because the hospital knew nearly a year ago that this was an issue. In March last year, a mere seven months after the women had frozen their eggs, they were alerted to the issue. So why has it taken them so long to share the information? This needless delay has only compounded the tragedy. In a lifetime, a year might not feel like much. But when youre talking about fertility, when every month counts, it can be the difference between success and failure. When I was going through my own egg-freezing treatment, and subsequently attempting IVF with my own eggs at the age of 40, time felt as if it was of the essence. With every passing month, I worried my fertility was dwindling. I bailed out of holidays so I could have treatment, and when a cycle had to be cancelled because I had a cyst on my ovary, I worried that was the one: my last fertile cycle. So for the clinic to have been aware of these issues and it appears to have withheld this information from patients for 11 months is utterly unforgivable. The arrogance, the complete disregard for the impact on patients lives is well I was going to say unbelievable, but its not. Because over the past ten years Ive been treated by four fertility clinics, and while many of the staff I encountered were kind and compassionate, there is a culture in these places that seems worryingly prevalent. Whether its being expected to wait hours for a scheduled appointment, having to chase test results, or having to deal with thoughtless comments that feel casually cruel like the receptionist who told me that if I didnt pay the 120 for a blood test there and then, the results would be destroyed. A liquid nitrogen bank containing sperm and egg samples. Guy & St Thomas' Hospital in London has told 136 patients that their eggs and embryos may not survive the thaw process Then there was the anaesthetist who hadnt read my notes and seen that I was trying to conceive on my own with donor sperm, who asked where my other half was; and the nurse who cheerily quizzed a desperate friend about her plans for Mothers Day. It all smacks of a lack of consideration for the patient. And this catastrophic delay in notifying the patients is the very pinnacle of this. I know that if you are one of the women affected, nothing I say will change what has happened and the sense of loss and injustice you are feeling. But as someone once told me after yet another failed cycle of IVF, there are many ways to be a family and youll find the right one for you. When I received that devastating call, I could never have anticipated that, less than a year later, while I was trying and failing to get pregnant using an anonymous sperm donor, I would meet the man who would go on to become my husband and the father of my child. Nor could I have imagined that having a child of my own would involve the altruism of an egg donor, or that I had the capacity to love a child that Im not genetically related to in the way that I fiercely, proudly and viscerally adore my son. They are, unquestionably, the right family for me. Names have been changed. The Prince of Wales cut a dashing figure at the BAFTAs in London this evening, arriving solo for the biggest night in British film - as the Princess of Wales continues to recover from her abdominal surgery at the family's home. Prince William, 42, who has been the president of the EE British Academy Film Awards since 2010, cut a sharp figure in his trademark navy velour suit jacket and dickie bow as he greeted the crowds gathered outside the Royal Festival Hall. Looking relaxed, the heir to the throne posed for selfies with fans and chatted to well-wishers as he strolled down the red carpet. Once inside, Prince William took a seat next to Hollywood royalty - Cate Blanchett - ahead of the awards ceremony, presented this year by David Tennant, beginning. The star-studded event saw a host of A-listers descend on the South Bank, with Margot Robbie, Emily Blunt, Emma Stone and Florence Pugh donning their finery for the British film event. The Prince opted for a velour navy blue dinner jacket, dickie bow and patent black brogues for the most glamorous night in the British film calendar The 42-year-old royal strides down the carpet alone at the Royal Festival Hall ahead of this evening's ceremony The royal looked on sparkling form as he arrived for the cinematic evening on the South Bank Later in the night, Prince William shook hands with David Beckham Tonight is the first high-profile royal engagement William has attended since the Princess of Wales underwent a major operation last month, and news of his father's cancer diagnosis. It was initially thought he would miss the ceremony, which he typically attends with Kate, but the Prince appeared keen to represent the royal family at the event. The mother-of-three had surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children. Leading man: William strides forth on the red carpet, where he will address the audience as president of BAFTA Once inside, Prince William took a seat next to Hollywood royalty - Cate Blanchett - ahead of the awards beginning An embrace for Cate: Blanchett puts her arm on the Prince of Wales' shoulder as the pair greet each other A wave from Wills: Prince William pictured at the BAFTAs 2024; the royal, who has been president of the Academy since 2010 was pictured chatting to the crowds gathered at the Royal Festival Hall this evening The prince and the famous footballer chatted for a while inside the Royal Albert Hall Since the royal health announcements, which have also included his father the King's unspecified cancer diagnosis and separate prostate treatment, William has attended few events. He gave a speech at a London charity engagement raising funds for London's Air Ambulance Charity's new fleet of helicopters earlier this month. Christopher Nolan's epic biopic about atomic bomb creator J Robert Oppenheimer is expected to be a big winner at the Baftas after Oppenheimer received 13 nominations. Selfies: William appeared to lean in to pose for selfies with fans as he arrived at the event A handshake from a film fan; the Prince is likely to have fielded questions about both his wife and his father's health Flanked by close security, the Prince walks into the London landmark; traditionally he has attended the event with his wife the Princess of Wales The Prince of Wales cast a glance up to the skies as he prepared to take his seat A dapper prince: William offers a wave to well-wishers; hundreds gathered at the event to catch a glimpse of the royal, and some of the film industry's biggest stars Sharp! The suited-and-booted Prince cut a dashing figure as he arrived for the awards ceremony BBC footage of Prince William arriving at the Royal Festival Hall; the Prince is attending without Kate Middleton, who is still recovering from surgery at home William has been the president of Bafta since 2010 and Kate first attended the event with her husband in 2017. At last years event, Kate Middleton opted for an Alexander McQueen one shoulder gown for the occasion, which she first wore to the event in 2019. For his outfit, William kept things classic and simple in a double-breasted black velvet tuxedo jacket. After the award ceremony, the couple chatted animatedly with the stars, including Austin and Sex Education's Emma Mackey, as well as the host of the event, Alison Hammond. Last year: Prince William and Kate Middleton pictured at the BAFTA awards in 2023 William has taken on a new role in public royal life since news of his father's cancer diagnosis, and is expected to step in for the King at a number of upcoming events. Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers. 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. The King and Queen arrived as downpours swept across London and Charles was photographed waving to well-wishers. Charles's diagnosis followed three nights in a private London hospital where he was treated for an enlarged prostate. The Prince of Wales 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 the King's Sandringham estate. Meya Fowler was overjoyed when she finally fell pregnant after years of dreaming of a family and a traumatic miscarriage - but her worst fears came true when her baby was diagnosed with a tumour at her 20-week scan. The tumour soon grew to 1.5kg and left the baby girl with a less than 20 per cent chance of survival due to its massive size, but Meya refused to terminate the pregnancy and give up on her daughter. Meya, 36, met her husband, Callan, online and the couple immediately clicked and fell in love. They were married 18 months after their first date and started trying for a baby as soon as possible. 'I have a big family and I was close with all my cousins growing up,' Meya told FEMAIL. 'I wanted the same for my children. I unfortunately lost my first baby, but something felt different about the second time.' Meya Fowler's baby was diagnosed with a teratoma tumour at her 20-week scan As Meya's baby was growing, so was the tumour, and it could've overloaded her organs and caused heart failure 'I'd talk to my daughter inside my belly and tell her how much we loved her. We started planning the nursery and making baby name lists, imagining how much our life would change for the better in just a few short months.' While all of Meya's initial scans and bloodwork came back without any issues, a heavy weight settled on her five months in. 'Our whole lives came crashing down at the 20-week scan,' Meya recalled. 'I was so anxious because of what had happened the last time I was pregnant - I couldn't imagine something going wrong again. 'My first sign that something was wrong was when the doctor doing the ultrasound went quiet. The blood drained from his face, and a sad look came over his eyes.' Meya revealed that the doctor discovered a teratoma tumour on her child's tailbone. Teratomas are made up of tissues like hair, muscle, and bone and often form in the ovaries in women. As Meya's baby was growing, so was the tumour, and it could've overloaded her organs and caused heart failure. 'The OB told us that her survival rate had dropped to 20 per cent, and that our baby would most likely die. 'It was too much to bear mentally and emotionally. We were given the option to terminate, or continue on knowing the risk that our daughter might not make it.' Despite the odds being stacked against them, Meya and Callan never once considered terminating the pregnancy Despite the odds being stacked against them, Meya and Callan never once considered terminating the pregnancy. 'Both of us really wanted this baby, and we wanted to give her a change to live,' she said. 'We wanted her to fight for it.' At that moment, medical professionals deduced that the tumour was 4cm and slow-growing, which hadn't impacted the baby's development yet. Dealing with their baby's cancer was the first time either of them had a brush with the illness. 'Everyone always says this, but cancer is something that happens to other people. Not you.' Meya shared that the news made her feel 'burned out' and 'weak', and that knowing everything she could do still might not be enough was exhausting. The mum-to-be was overwhelmingly emotional and would often cry about the unfair situation her family had been put in. Dealing with their baby's cancer was the first time either of them had a brush with the illness At 32 weeks, the tumour suddenly ballooned and Meya and Callan were warned about the high level of risk both mum and baby were taking. The couple moved from Bendigo to Ronald McDonald house in Melbourne to be closer to the Royal Women's Hospital. By 36 weeks, the tumour had grown to 18cm and weighed 1.5kg. Meya was scheduled for an elective C-section at 38 weeks, but she went into premature labour two weeks prior because of the tumour. Once she had given birth, the baby was immediately taken into an operating room for a gruesome six-hour long surgery to cut out the teratoma. 'I hadn't even held her yet. The tumour was connected to a lot of blood vessels, so it was possible for one to rupture and cause her to bleed out,' Meya said, 'I was terrified. I couldn't focus on anything else. 'I kept asking myself: is she going to make it? Will the surgery go well? What if something happens? What if she can't withstand the recovery? What if I never get to hold her or speak to her?' Once she had given birth, the baby was immediately taken into an operating room for a gruesome six-hour long surgery to cut out the teratoma But the surgeons were able to successfully remove the tumour and Oliviae was soon hooked up to machines to help her breathe and heal. Callan and Meya didn't stop holding their breaths until she was given the all-clear - and the couple couldn't believe the 'miracle' that had been bestowed on them. The baby's tests came back negative for cancer, but it's not the end of her health journey. Oliviae still has to return to the hospital every three months for scans to ensure the cancer hasn't returned. She is expected to have some growth and development delays because of the anaesthetic used on her during the surgery - but Meya and Callan will be there to guide her through the challenges. 'I watch her crawling around our house now and it makes me so happy,' Meya said. 'She's alive! She's OK! It's all perfect.' Oliviae celebrated her first birthday at the end of January 2024 and continues to thrive. A woman who vomited so much after using Ozempic that she suffered a torn esophagus has joined a growing legal campaign with thousands of patients who claim the blockbuster drug caused horrendous side-effects. Dina Fioretti, 60, from Illinois, has sued Novo Nordisk over claims Ozempic triggered extreme vomiting, pain and a blocked bowel. Her complaint alleges she developed a Mallory-Weiss tear, the medical term for a torn esophagus, because of the vomiting and spent a week in hospital. Fioretti's complaint, which has been reviewed by DailyMail.com, is included in a batch of nearly 60 lawsuits brought against the company by patients who suffered crippling stomach paralysis after using Ozempic. Other cases include a woman who will suffer diarrhea forever after using Ozempic and a man whose intestine was partially removed after the drug allegedly caused life-threatening stomach paralysis. Another woman previously told DailyMail.com she had her gallbladder removed because of the drug's side effects. Dina Fioretti, 60, from Illinois , has sued Novo Nordisk over claims Ozempic triggered extreme vomiting, pain and a blocked bowel. The vomiting was so extreme she tore her esophogus The legal campaign against Novo Nordisk primarily includes patients who used Ozempic and Wegovy, another of the company's drugs. Several suits have also been filed against Eli Lilly, which produces Mounjaro, a diabetes and weight loss drug which works in a similar way to Ozempic and Wegovy. Patients claim they were not warned about the extreme side effects they suffered. The growing legal action reached a milestone last month when a panel of judges agreed to centralize the lawsuits in a Pennsylvania federal court. This new multidistrict litigation (MDL), which is similar to a class action lawsuit, includes patients from across the United States. Attorney Ken Moll, president of Moll Law Group, which filed Fioretti's complaint, told DailyMail.com his firm plans to add a further 100 cases to the litigation - and is one of several across the country investigating claims by thousands more patients. Paul Pennock, an attorney at Morgan & Morgan who is playing a lead role in the action, said in a statement that he expects up to 10,000 cases will be filed in the litigation. Moll said it was 'unconscionable' that the firms still hadn't added warnings to their labels which warn about the risk of gastroparesis and stomach paralysis. Fioretti's lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Illinois on January 25. The complaint states that she used Ozempic for diabetes and weight loss from July 2021 until January 2022. Zakareeya Gregory was hospitalized for four weeks and had her gallbladder removed because of complications which were allegedly caused by her use of Ozempic Novo Nordisk said it believes the allegations against the company are 'without merit' and that it will defend itself 'vigorously'. The drug maker is the most valuable company in Europe. Pictured: Novo Nordisk's corporate headquarters in Denmark The drug is blamed for causing Fioretti to suffer from ileus, which stops food from moving through the stomach. The ordeal led to 'sustained severe personal injuries, pain, suffering, and emotional distress'. Moll said: 'She went to the hospital, she had a bowel obstruction and developed a tear in her throat from vomiting. 'She had a small procedure to help her with that tear. She was hospitalized for about a week. 'In her case she had to get rid of the contents of her stomach and intestines, so she was throwing up and it caused a tear in her throat.' Fioretti required an upper endoscopy, which involves inserting a tube into the throat to examine the esophagus and stomach. She was also treated with adrenaline and a underwent a 'lengthy hospitalization requiring medications to alleviate bleeding, vomiting, and abdominal pain', the lawsuit added. The complaint alleges that Novo Nordisk 'did not adequately warn' about the risks side effects including ileus and stomach paralysis. Moll added: 'It's just unbelievable and it's so common and very life-threatening. We have a gentleman who was using it, he had 90% [bowel] obstruction, and develop gangrene. 'He had his intestines partially removed. It was just a terrible situation. And it's so common. It's unbelievable that there hasn't been an update to the warnings by these manufacturers.' Many of the lawsuits included in the nationwide litigation refer to Novo Nordisk's 'aggressive' marketing of Ozempic and Mounjaro. The firm has spent more than $1 billion advertising the drugs. 'Unfortunately, this is the type of drug [that] the amount of money that these companies are making is just going up and up every month. Just getting bigger and bigger. It's too profitable for them to stop,' Moll said. Ozempic has FDA approval as a diabetes drug but it has been prescribed off label for weight loss to millions of Americans Novo Nordisk's Wegovy is approved by the FDA for chronic weight management Novo Nordisk said it believes the allegations in the lawsuits are 'without merit' and that the company will 'vigorously defend against these claims'. Eli Lilly said 'patient safety is Lilly's top priority' and also added that it will 'vigorously defend against these claims'. The multidistrict litigation currently includes at least 55 lawsuits. US District Judge Gene E Pratter will oversee the litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Novo Nordisk has supported the multidistrict litigation but Eli Lilly objected to its inclusion because it is a defendant in only about a fifth of the cases. Judges ultimately decided complaints against both companies can be grouped together. Cameron Stephenson, an attorney at Levin Papantonio Rafferty, told DailyMail.com in January that his firm currently has around 100 clients who were diagnosed with gastroparesis after using the drugs, and it is investigating 1,000 more. Stephenson said he had 'no doubt' that thousands of cases would be added to the MDL over time. Ozempic has FDA approval for the treatment of type 2 diabetes but has been prescribed off-label for weight loss to millions of Americans. Mounjaro also has approval for diabetes but can also be prescribed off label for weight loss. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has FDA approval for chronic weight management. Cameron Stephenson, an attorney at Levin Papantonio Rafferty, told DailyMail.com that thousands of lawsuits could be filed Attorneys leading the cases have suggested that Novo Nordisk sought initial approval for its GLP-1 medicines as a diabetes treatment with the intention of later pushing them as weight-loss treatments. The legal cases also make extensive references to the 'aggressive' marketing by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Zakareeya Gregory, 46, from Walker Mill, Maryland, also has her case filed in the multidistrict litigation. She previously told DailyMail.com that her gallbladder was removed after she suffered side effects which were allegedly caused by Ozempic, which she used for seven months until February 2020. Gregory, who was prescribed Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes, said the drug initially helped her drop from 220lb to 170lb and lowered her blood sugar, while only causing minor complications such as stomach pain. The severe side effects like extreme stomach pain started 'all of a sudden' at the end of 2022, more than two years after she stopped taking Ozempic. Her legal complaint said she also used Rybelsus, a tablet form of the drug also made by Novo Nordisk, for a period of time during 2022. Gregory was taken to the emergency room in December, where scans revealed an issue with her gallbladder, which surgeons removed during her four-week hospital stay. 'I went home with a tube in my side that I had to keep changing [for] drainage. I kept that in for maybe like two weeks,' said Gregory, who also needed a blood transfusion. 'It was very horrible, it was horrible to have your gallbladder taken out. I never thought I would have to have my gallbladder taken out. I never had any issues with that. It was a dramatic change in my life.' She has since regained the weight that she lost and said she also suffers from gallbladder attacks, crippling pains which can still occur after the organ has been removed. An industry analysis found Ozempic had the fourth largest TV advertising budget of all Pharma products in 2022, with $157 million spent on commercials. The lawsuits against the firm refer to its 'aggressive marketing' of Ozempic 'I was never told [about the side effects]. All I [was told] is that it will make me healthy, it will make my A1C [blood sugar] go down, which it did. And I was never told the rest. I just know, I will look good. I was gonna be healthy. And I was excited about it.' Her lawsuit states that her injuries were caused by Ozempic. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Novo Nordisk said: 'Novo Nordisk believes that the allegations in these lawsuits are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend against these claims. However, we are pleased with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's decision to coordinate federal lawsuits related to GLP-1RA medicines in a multidistrict litigation proceeding before Judge E.K. Pratter in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 'Patient safety is our top priority at Novo Nordisk, and we work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continuously monitor the safety profile of our medicines. 'GLP-1 medicines have been used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) for more than 18 years, and for the treatment of obesity for 8 years. This includes Novo Nordisk GLP-1 products such as semaglutide and liraglutide that have been on the market for more than 13 years. 'Semaglutide has been extensively examined in robust clinical development programs, large real world evidence studies and has cumulatively over 9.5 million patient years of exposure. 'The known risks and benefits of semaglutide and liraglutide medicines are described in their FDA-approved product labeling. Novo Nordisk stands behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1 medicines when they are used as indicated and when they are taken under the care of a licensed healthcare professional.' Eli Lilly said: 'Patient safety is Lilly's top priority, and we actively engage in monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all our medicines. 'Our FDA-approved label clearly warns that tirzepatide may be associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe. The label further states that tirzepatide has not been studied in patients with severe gastrointestinal disease, including severe gastroparesis, and is therefore not recommended in these patients. 'These risks were communicated to and widely known by healthcare providers. We will vigorously defend against these claims.' It was the picture that perfectly captured the bleak state of NHS dentistry in 2024. Hundreds of desperate people standing in a queue that snaked into the distance, all clinging to the hope they might finally get the care they urgently needed. The farce at the newly opened St Pauls Dental Practice in Bristol where an estimated 1,500 patients were registered for NHS treatment in just two days highlighted the extent of the crisis that the sector currently faces. The images described as being reminiscent of Soviet-era Eastern Europe emerged as Rishi Sunak announced the Governments long-awaited recovery plan for NHS dentistry. It features a 20,000 cash incentive for dentists opting to open a practice in poorly serviced areas including so-called dental deserts where there are nearly 3,000 patients per NHS dentist and a one-off bonus of up to 50 per patient seen who has not been able to access NHS services for two or more years. The PM also promised an additional 2.5 million NHS dental appointments, mobile dental vans to visit hard-hit parts of England and wider coverage of fluoride in the water supplies to protect against tooth decay. Yet dental chiefs have branded the drive as too little, too late, and that long-term funding issues have seen NHS practitioners jump ship to the private sector. A huge queue outside Saint Paul's Dental Practice in Bristol of people hoping to register for NHS dental care taken two weeks ago As stories continue to circulate of Britons forced to pull out their own teeth with pliers or travel abroad including to war-torn Ukraine to see a dentist because of lack of NHS access, Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association (BDA), tells The Mail: We are not convinced this will make any difference its not ambitious enough to stop dentists leaving the NHS. Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, adds: Its highly unlikely that this will lead to any noticeable change in the next few months. The answer is more dentists this plan talks about the possibility of new dental schools, but that will take ten years plus five years training. It means were going to have to put up with this crisis until the early 2030s. But is there a relatively straightforward solution staring Ministers and dentists in the face? The British Society of Dental Hygiene And Therapy (BSDHT) says huge inroads could rapidly be made into the backlog if more use was made of the 9,000 dental hygienists and 5,500 dental therapists. Dental hygienists are trained to carry out duties such as scaling a type of deep-cleaning that removes build-up of plaque from below the gumline, which is a vital part of treating and preventing gum disease, the main cause of tooth-loss. They can spot areas of the teeth at risk of decay and apply protective fluoride treatments, as well as fill cracked teeth with sealant. And dental therapists are qualified to diagnose cavities, take X-rays, extract childrens teeth and check for oral cancer. SHOCKING DENTAL FACTS Almost half of all adults in the UK have gum disease that is so bad it cant be reversed, according to Government figures. Last year, a Government survey found 16 per cent of Year 6 schoolchildren in England had experienced tooth decay. Advertisement Combined, they could take on a large number of routine dental appointments, leaving dentists to tackle the complex issues such as adult extractions, root canal work and fitting dentures, crowns and bridges. And the Government seems to recognise the value of dental hygienists and therapists: in its NHS Dental Recovery Plan, it has pledged to boost the number of therapists with 500 more training places per year by 2031. In New Zealand and Australia, for instance, where dental therapists have been integrated in clinics for decades, access to care has significantly improved, reports suggest. However, according to BSDHT president Miranda Steeples herself a dental therapist she and her colleagues are regularly blocked by dentists from providing anything but the most basic teeth-cleaning duties. Some dentists seem to have the attitude that we are second-rate and dont trust us to take care of patients, she says. But this contradicts the evidence. Research shows we pick up more cases of mouth cancer, for instance, as patients have longer and more regular appointments with us. This attitude, that patients could be at risk, is absolute rubbish. Its simply protectionism, which doesnt help anyone. As this row rumbles on, the need for blue-sky thinking is urgent. An estimated four million children a year in England now miss out on check-ups because of the shortage of dentists, according to Liberal Democrats figures. On paper, they are all entitled to free care until they are 18. In reality, many parents are either having to cough up for private appointments or their children are left to endure painful tooth decay. Earlier this month, The Mail on Sundays resident GP, Dr Ellie Cannon, asked in her column whether readers had been affected by the crisis claiming her clinic is frequently filled with patients in agony from their teeth but who cannot find an NHS dentist. The BSDHT said huge inroads could be made into the dentist backlog if more use was made of the 9,000 dental hygienists She wrote: GPs arent trained to treat such issues so I have to send them away with little more than advice on painkillers. Since then, letters have been flooding in. Some cash-strapped pensioners told us they live in fear of needing urgent care as there are no NHS practices locally and they cannot afford private treatment. One reader from Bournemouth said when her NHS dentist went private last year she immediately started calling local surgeries to find a replacement. But I got the same reply everywhere we dont take new NHS patients, she wrote. Then I read an article in the local paper that said someone had called 78 practices and got the same response, so I gave up. Another reader wrote to say her regular dentist quit all NHS work after lockdown. She has had to register as a private patient but dreads huge bills. Im retired and living on a state pension. I have five crowns and two bridges which I could never afford to replace. Now I am on antibiotics from my GP as one of my bridges is causing pain due to an infection. And Jeannie Sloman, 79, from Woburn in Bedfordshire, said she recently tried to find an NHS dentist having not even had a check-up for nine years because of the shortage. I spent a whole day ringing practices but eventually gave up. What annoys me is many of their websites state they welcome new NHS patients, but when you call them theyre unable to provide NHS appointments yet they can see you privately tomorrow. She adds: Im almost 80 and really quite poor I live in fear of needing treatment as I cannot afford the cost of going private. The difference between the cost of NHS and private treatment reveals why so many are scarred of dental problems. In England, NHS patients pay 25.80 for a check-up, scale and polish (if needed), and any X-rays. Charges in other home nations vary in Wales, for example, this initial appointment is just 14.70. In Scotland, check-ups are free. If they went private in England, patients would foot 40 to 75 for the check-up, another 90 to 130 for a scale and polish and 10 to 20 for each X-ray potentially running up a bill of 225. For fillings or root canal work the health service charge is about 70 in England; private root canal treatments average 320. The BDA blames the shortage largely on the long-running problems with the NHS contract for dentists, which it says has acted as a disincentive for them to take on health service work. Dentists get paid by the NHS for Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) a scale that rates the complexity of treatment. Each practice is allotted a set number of UDAs a year and given the cash to cover them. For example, a routine check-up might fetch one UDA, but more time-consuming work, such as fillings, could use up three. Once dentists have exhausted their quota, they dont get paid for treating any more NHS patients. This means they can do only a limited number of NHS treatments or as the BDA claims frequently happens they end up subsidising it out of their own pockets. BSDHT president Ms Steeples says a similar financial picture faces dental hygienists and therapists, who earn about 28,000 a year in the NHS or up to 70,000 in the private sector. Another part of the NHS Dental Recovery Plan is to encourage clinics to recruit overseas dentists to alleviate staff shortages. However this might not be as simple as it seems. Before a foreign dentist can see patients in the UK, they have to take a practical test called the Overseas Registration Examination. These were suspended during the pandemic, creating a backlog, but they can work as dental hygienists and therapists. MoS reader Jeannie Sloman fears that she wont be able to afford private dental treatment According to reports, there were more than 1,500 applicants waiting to take the exam at the end of last summer, with many thousands more waiting for applications to be processed. Patients have been able to book appointments directly with a dental hygienist or therapist directly, without a referral from a dentist, since 2013 in the private sector and 2022 in the NHS. But under current regulations, dental hygienists and therapists cannot fill in the forms that allow them to be paid by the NHS only the dentist can. This means the dentist effectively has to give permission to use their ID number before the dental hygienist takes an appointment. Nor are dental hygienists and therapists covered by the NHSs generous, gold-plated pension scheme, which offers a guaranteed annual income from retirement until death. Ms Steeples says changing these rules could encourage dental hygienists and therapists to take on more of the NHS workload and boost patient access to care. As it is, she adds, Im afraid the Governments plan is not going to solve the problem. YOUR LETTERS: IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ONE - UNLESS YOU GO PRIVATE Unfortunately the fabulous NHS dentist where I live closed five years ago. There are many great private dentists, which charge a lot of money, but what about the thousands of people who dont have access to NHS treatment? There is no option for them. Children, pensioners and families on a low income are all suffering. People are ending up in A&E in excruciating pain. Something must be done. Tom Murray, Bury St Edmunds My wife, daughter and I have not been able to find a new NHS dentist in more than ten years after our previous dentist in West Yorkshire went private. We recently contacted our MP who could only suggest that we use an online directory to find an NHS dental practice. We checked and the nearest one with available slots was in Leeds some 15 miles away from where we live. To get there and back we would have to take four buses and two trains. David Townend, West Yorkshire My husband and I moved from Staffordshire to Derbyshire about a year ago. We always used an NHS dental practice where we used to live, but it has been impossible to find one since we moved. I have phoned more than 30 dentists in Derbyshire, even looking as far as Nottingham to try to register with a dentist, but no one is taking any new NHS patients. On the other hand, there are umpteen private dentists where we could register tomorrow. But as we are both retired, we cant afford this costly option. I am in my 60s and my husband his 70s. We have worked all our lives paying into the NHS for 40 years and feel completely abandoned by the system. I hope whatever campaign you are working on is successful for people like us. Jackie Mills, via email I have breast cancer and found my dental health worsening. For two years I have tried to get on a waiting list, but have failed due to the lack of NHS dentists taking new patients. I was so frustrated that I wrote to my MP at the time, Amanda Solloway. She kindly forwarded my letter to an NHS chief who suggested I check its dentist website to find one taking new patients. I found this to be condescending and ridiculous as it was the first place I had looked. I checked the website every week and phoned dentists to no avail. I then scheduled a private appointment for a tooth infection, as I was so desperate. I paid 200 for the consultation and received a 2,500 estimate for a filling, extraction and possible denture plate, which I cannot afford. Susan Chambers, Derby My disabled husband, my daughter and I were kicked out of our old NHS dentist surgery after it went private. I am my husbands carer due to his disability, and we cant afford to pay for expensive private treatments. Luckily weve managed to locate a new NHS dentist nearby but have found appointments to be limited. Even when you manage to get one, there is a lack of staff, so they can end up being cancelled. Penny Shorten, via email My NHS dentist, who was very special, sadly died. But nobody told me about this and I wasnt automatically moved to another dental practice. I cant afford to go private, so as a consequence I am now without dental care. I have paid national insurance contributions all my life but cannot get treatment. How can this be fair? David Hardman, via email There are a terrible lack of NHS dentists where I live. When I went for treatment on the NHS in March last year, I was informed that the practice would be closing that July. I have asked around about other local dentists offering NHS treatment but have found none in my area. It is really frustrating not to have access to an NHS dentist in case I need to turn to one in an emergency. The Government must step in and do something so that we dont have to queue outside NHS dentists for hours, like the one that was recently in the news. Thank you for raising the plight of us desperate patients. Lex Thakur, Rochdale A single-dose 'morning after' pill could be introduced to tackle the UK's soaring rates of syphilis. New guidance is being drawn up on the use of doxyPEP the antibiotic doxycycline which trials have shown can be given within 24 hours of unprotected sex to prevent the potentially life-threatening sexually transmitted infection (STI) from developing. Experts say the approach could be 'a valuable tool' in fighting syphilis, which was almost eradicated in the UK in the 1990s but has re-emerged in recent years. Doxycycline, which costs pennies, is already prescribed to treat syphilis as well as chlamydia, another STI, and is typically taken every day for up to two weeks to eradicate the infection. However, research into the effect of a single high dose found it could stop the infections from taking hold. The study involved about 500 participants who'd had an STI in the previous year. Some were given doxyPEP to take after condomless intercourse including oral sex alongside the standard care of regular three-monthly STI tests and treatment if an infection was spotted. Others were given the standard care without doxyPEP. A single-dose 'morning after' pill could be introduced to tackle the UK's soaring rates of syphilis The risk of syphilis infection which can cause serious heart and brain problems was almost 90 per cent lower in the doxyPEP group and STI infections were down two-thirds overall. In October, US regulators the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued guidance recommending doxyPEP to reverse the country's syphilis crisis, which has seen an 80 per cent rise in cases since 2018. The sharpest increases have been in the most deprived areas, where access to healthcare is scarce. The major concern in the US is that the disease can be passed by mothers to babies during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Known as congenital syphilis, this can have tragic outcomes, including miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death and lifelong medical issues. More than 3,700 babies in the US were born with syphilis in 2022. The risk of syphilis infection which can cause serious heart and brain problems was almost 90 per cent lower in the doxyPEP group and STI infections were down two-thirds overall 'The US has a major problem with congenital syphilis, and that's what we're most anxious about if cases continue to rise,' said Dr John McSorley, a London consultant in genitourinary and HIV medicine. 'In the UK it's mainly affected men who have sex with men.' Last month it was reported that sexual health services in England were grappling with 'unprecedented' increases in demand. Two-thirds of council areas saw increases in rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea, according to the Local Government Association (LGA). Overall there was a 76 per cent rise in syphilis rates and a 36 per cent rise in chlamydia. An LGA analysis found that, between 2015 and 2024, the public health grant received by councils was reduced by 880 million, resulting in a reduction in STI testing, contraception and treatment. Professor Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), which is responsible for producing sexual health treatment guidance for doctors, said its working groups were 'taking care' to produce guidance on doxyPEP for the UK. 'We are trying to understand who it might be useful for,' he said. 'It will be a useful tool for the right people.' He added that the 'spectre' of drug-resistant superbugs looms large. In the UK, another common infection, gonorrhoea, is increasingly immune to doxycycline and other first-line antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria are exposed to medications but not killed by them completely, which can happen if patients don't complete the course. Last month it was reported that sexual health services in England were grappling with 'unprecedented' increases in demand Surviving bacteria can evolve defence mechanisms against the antibiotic. Once these multiply, they're much harder to treat. 'There is the worry that if people take doxyPEP when they unknowingly have gonorrhoea, it could worsen drug-resistance,' said Prof Phillips. 'We would have to make sure patients given doxyPEP came for regular check-ups.' Dr McSorely added that doxyPEP would be recommended alongside standard approaches. 'Syphilis takes up to three months to cause symptoms, and in that time people can pass it on unwittingly,' he said. 'We recommend all sexually active people should be tested once a year, and if you've had a new partner you should also get tested. 'If it's picked up, we have 100 per cent effective treatments and can carry out contact tracing, which is the best way to catch the infection in people who are asymptomatic. 'A third of people diagnosed with syphilis had no idea there was anything wrong. We also encourage condom use as they are highly effective in preventing most STIs.' Some private clinics online are promoting doxyPEP, claiming it is 'a no brainer' to avoid syphilis. But Dr McSorley urged caution. 'The dose in doxyPEP is high on an empty stomach it would probably make you throw up,' he said. 'It can also cause photosensitivity, when the skin blisters when exposed to even mild sunlight.' Men must do more to care for elderly parents as the burden currently falls unfairly on women, a study reveals. A poll of 2,000 people by Home Instead UK, which provides at-home care for older people, found that 88 per cent of women and 65 per cent of men believe there is more expectation on women to take care of the family. Also, 62 per cent of female and 42 per cent of male carers say men don't do enough to look after older relatives. Home Instead's chief operating officer, Ruth Brown, says: 'The burden often falls to women to look after our ageing parents. This amounts to millions of hours of unpaid and often gruelling work.' Men must do more to care for elderly parents as the burden currently falls unfairly on women, a study reveals Diabetes drug aids new hip op patients Diabetes and weight-loss drugs can help hip replacement surgery patients avoid dangerous infections, new data suggests. A study found that patients on Ozempic also known as semaglutide, pictured left were 44 per cent less likely to develop an infection in a newly implanted joint. The US study reviewed data from 10,000 diabetes patients who had hip replacements. A study found that patients on Ozempic also known as semaglutide, pictured left were 44 per cent less likely to develop an infection in a newly implanted joint Semaglutide was created to treat diabetes but found to also be highly effective at tackling obesity. Experts are unsure why it cuts infection risk, though research suggests that the obese are more likely to suffer infections because being overweight weakens the immune system. An AI system may be able to decide the best treatment for stroke survivors and could slash the risk of relapse by a quarter. A study of 20,000 patients at 77 hospitals across China used the software to give doctors recommendations on how to treat victims of ischemic stroke when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off by blood clots or a burst blood vessel. The AI-guided patients were found to be a quarter less likely to have had another stroke or heart attack after three months than patients whose doctors did not use AI. Lead study author Zixiao Li says: 'AI has the potential to make a real difference in stroke care and benefit this large population of stroke survivors.' Weird Science Amputations after being licked by a dog A man who caught a deadly blood infection after being licked by a dog was saved by having parts of his legs, arms and nose amputated. In 2018, Greg Manteufel, from Wisconsin in the US, then 48, went to hospital with a fever and complaining of feeling very weak. The cause of the infection was capnocytophaga a germ commonly found in the mouths of dogs and cats. It's believed it made its way into Greg's bloodstream when he rubbed his eye after being licked on the hand by a dog. Capnocytophaga is harmless to animals but in rare cases spreads to humans through saliva, bites or scratches, when it can be extremely dangerous. A man who caught a deadly blood infection after being licked by a dog was saved by having parts of his legs, arms and nose amputated Your amazing body Human muscles are made up of hundreds of thousands of fibres which are formed in the body before birth and they cannot be replaced. Each muscle in the body is made up of a bundle of fibres called a fascicle, surrounded by a layer of tissue. The average adult male bicep, for example, contains about 253,000 of these fibres. When muscles increase in size during or after a workout, for example, this is due to the fibres growing in length or girth. But studies show the body cannot make new muscle fibres, and we lose them as we age in a process called sarcopenia, which can be slowed with regular strength-training exercises. Malaria could be wiped out within a decade, a top vaccinologist behind Oxford University's revolutionary jab has predicted. The disease, carried and transmitted by mosquitos, claims more than 600,000 lives each year across the world and progress to reduce deaths has stalled recently. But the approval of two British jabs to prevent infection now means the 'eradication of malaria could be feasible in 10 years'. Professor Adrian Hill, director of Oxford's Jenner Institute, said the new tools can be combined with traditional prevention methods including mosquito nets and antimalarial drugs. 'I think it [eradication] is probably going to be in the mid-2030s, providing the funding is provided' he told the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) annual conference in Denver. The disease, carried and transmitted by mosquitos, claims more than 600,000 lives each year across the world and progress to reduce deaths has stalled recently (File Photo) 'A lot is happening, it's really exciting. I've been in this field for 35 years and it's never been like this before.' The first successful vaccine, GSK's RTS,S jab, was given the green light for widespread use by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in July 2022, followed by Oxford University's R21 vaccine in December 2023. The world's first routine malaria vaccinations took place in Cameroon last month, with ambitions to reach 6.6 million children across 20 African countries by 2025. Professor Hill described how 114 years of research had led to the first jabs capable of priming the human immune system to resist the parasitic disease. Oxford's 3-a-dose vaccine is expected to be cheaper and easier to mass produce than GSK's, with plans for at least 35 million doses this year and potential to scale up to 200 million annually. However the WHO has said both vaccines can prevent around 75 per cent of malaria infections and there is no evidence that one is superior. The UK is 'incredibly strong on tropical medicines' and 'punching above our weight' in the fight against malaria, the Irish vaccinologist said. However, he warned that achieving elimination depends on adequate funding. The approval of two British jabs to prevent infection now means the 'eradication of malaria could be feasible in 10 years' Some countries have already seen impressive progress. Cases of malaria in China have plummeted from 30 million in 1970 and the country was declared malaria-free in 2017. Professor Hill added that it was 'something of a disgrace' that more was not being done to stamp out the disease. 'People keep thinking, 'In Africa, babies die',' he said. 'Yes they do but they're not babies, they're actually one and two year-olds, people with names who look you in the eye and were running around smiling the day before. It's horrible to see.' Mary Hamel, a malaria expert at the WHO, told the conference she was 'less optimistic' that elimination would be achieved in the 2030s with current interventions. But she added: 'I do think we'll be improving on the tools we have. These were the first generation of malaria vaccines and already there are efforts to improve on them. 'I do agree absolutely that more commitment and funding is needed for us to reach the goal of eradication.' Oil and gas bosses will attend crisis talks this week over Labour's plan to extend the windfall tax. Industry group Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's policy would be a 'hammer blow'. It had previously warned it could cost 42,000 jobs and wipe 26billion off the sector's economic value. The organisation will hold emergency summits in London and Aberdeen tomorrow and Thursday to discuss the impact of a two-year extension to the levy. A windfall tax is a levy on North Sea oil and gas producer profits. Crisis talks: Industry group Offshore Energies UK said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's policy would be a 'hammer blow' The Government introduced an energy profits levy in May 2022 as households struggled with energy bills. But Labour is planning to extend the policy to 2029 and hike taxes from 75 per cent to 78 per cent. OEUK said the meetings which will be attended by senior leaders from oil and gas firms will allow it to gather more evidence from members to present to Starmer. David Whitehouse, chief executive of OEUK, said: 'We remain deeply concerned about what Labour's proposals could do to our people. 'If we can't get companies to invest here, there are no jobs. It's that simple. I'm already hearing from our supply chain and from energy producers that these proposals would deliver a hammer blow to the energy we need today and to the homegrown transition to cleaner energies.' British energy firms Shell and BP and US oil and gas giants ExxonMobil and Chevron are members of the industry body. The firms made bumper profits last year, raking in 78billion between them. Volkswagen Group deliveries rise driven by China business Xinhua) 09:59, February 18, 2024 BERLIN, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Global deliveries by the Volkswagen Group rose by 13.3 percent year-on-year to 698,200 units in January, Germany's biggest car manufacturer said on Friday. The development was driven by a 43.3-percent sales surge in the company's largest single market China, where a total of 290,900 vehicles were delivered, according to Volkswagen. Deliveries of battery-electric vehicles there more than tripled to 17,700 units. "The strong growth of the Chinese market in January 2024 compared to the previous year can be explained by a very low base in January 2023, which was still heavily influenced by COVID restrictions," a company spokesperson told Xinhua on Friday. Volkswagen Group China is proving its strength in this highly competitive market environment, the spokesperson said. Deliveries in the Middle East and Africa region also saw double-digit growth of 13.7 percent. By contrast, the rest of the Asia-Pacific region saw a slump of 16.3 percent, while North America also experienced a slight decline to 66,300 units. The Volkswagen core brand recorded the strongest increase of 18 percent to 382,900 units. Other brands including Audi also saw rises, with only the luxury brand Bentley plummeting by 36.9 percent. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The head of the Israeli Space Agency has admitted that little could've stopped the 'stupidity' of IDF officials in the lead up to the October 7 attack. Professor Isaac Ben-Israel, currently the head of Israel's space agency, exclusively told MailOnline that for all the technological achievements Israel has made, it was human error that allowed Hamas terrorists to slip past defences and kill 1,200 people on October 7. 'Technology cannot overcome human stupidity. We had our hands on Hamas' plan to do whatever they did on October 7, we have the plans since 2014. That is now 10 years', Ben-Israel, a former general who led the IDF's research and development arm for a decade, said. In the weeks after incursion, it was revealed that intelligence officials failed to take the threat of a Hamas-led incursion seriously. The New York Times reported that Israeli officials had obtained Hamas' battle plan for October 7, which saw terrorists kidnap 240 people, only 110 of whom have since been returned to Israel, more than a year before it took place. Professor Isaac Ben-Israel (pictured), currently the head of Israel's space agency, said technology couldn't have prevented October 7 Hamas militants were seen ambushing Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7 Israeli soldiers carry the body of a victim of an attack by militants from Gaza at Kibbutz Kfar Aza While the leaked plans did not have a specific date, Hamas reportedly followed the plans closely, leading to the deadliest day in Israel's history. But intelligence officials said the plans were simply aspirational, and were too difficult to actually undertake. '[For the] last two and a half years, they are training themselves on models, they built models of Israeli villages. They did this a few kilometres from the Israel border. And we saw it. 'All these facts were known. Still, somehow, people who were in charge that night of the forces near the border didn't believe that they would do it. They believed 'this cannot be overcome by technology, he said. Even before plans for the October 7 attack, Israeli officials failed to act on intelligence that may have severely weakened Hamas's ability to operate as early as 2018. In December, it was revealed that Israeli officials had secured documents that laid out a funding operation worth hundreds of millions of dollars, that included mining operations, chicken farming, road building companies in Sudan, skyscrapers in the UAE, a property developer in Algeria and a real estate firm listed on Turkey's stock exchange. While the leaked plans did not have a specific date, Hamas reportedly followed the plans closely, leading to the deadliest day in Israel's history Terrorists were seen paragliding into Israel in the early hours of October 7 Soldiers visit the site of the Nova festival, with displayed photos of the people who were killed and kidnapped during the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza Since October 7, Israel has launched a massive offensive against the Gaza Strip, that has so far killed more than 28,000 Palestinians The plans were obtained in 2018, and showed that at its peak, the portfolio was worth half a billion dollars. This money was used to fund the terror group's sophisticated and well-planned attack on October 7, officials admitted. Since October 7, Israel has launched a massive offensive against the Gaza Strip, that has so far killed more than 28,000 Palestinians - according to the territorys health agency. It is estimated that around half of the people killed in the Gaza Strip are children. Earlier this week, Israeli forces rescued two hostages by storming a heavily guarded flat in the Gaza Strip and extracting the captives under fire in a dramatic raid that was a small but symbolically significant success for Israel. The operation killed at least 67 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Palestinian health officials in the beleaguered territory. To assist the rescue forces, heavy airstrikes pounded the area near the apartment 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. The raid was celebrated in Israel as a victory in the sluggish battle to free the hostages, with more than 100 captives still held by Hamas and other Gaza militants, and briefly lifted the spirits of a nation still reeling from the deadly cross-border raid last year. Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas A man looks at a screen showing a timer counting seconds, minutes, hours, and days since the October 7 attacks by Hamas A tourist walks with an Israeli flag as she visits the site of the Nova festival People walk past a board displaying pictures of hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack The two men were pictured, and named as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70. The pair, both being Argentinian-Israelis, were said to be in good health. Both men were kidnapped by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak in the October 7 cross-border attack that started the Israel-Hamas war. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari gave details of the raid that saved the hostages' lives, which saw counter-terrorism police using their own bodies as human shields. 'Overnight, we brought back Louis and Fernando. This was a complex rescue operation under fire based on sensitive intelligence. A professional and accurate operation,' Hagari said. 'This is an operation that we prepared for and were waiting for the conditions that would make it possible to carry it out.' Hagari said that officers from the police's Yamam unit, known for its counter-terrorism operations, breached a flat in Rafah where the two men were being held at 1:49am. 'The troops pulled Louis and Fernando out of the apartment and rescued them under fire, until they reached the safe zone,' Hagari said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined Israel's military chief and other top officials as the raid unfolded. A growing number of bosses are demanding their staff return to the office five days a week - with some offering extra perks to soften the blow. Just seven per cent of Australian employers had full-time office attendance rules in 2023, but the number is rising quickly. That number has almost doubled since 2022, according to the Australian Human Resources Institute, and is further increasing in 2024 as the pandemic years and lockdowns fade from memory. In order to speed up the process and make the transition smoother, some companies are offering perks such as work drinks, meals and games of lawn bowls. One employersinsisting staff work five days a week in the office is ES Concierge & Co - a 'business and lifestyle' firm with high-end clients. Mandi Ford, who founded the company in 2010, said 'everybody in the team has different strengths and backgrounds' which requires them to be in the office to easily share their knowledge. Employer Mandi Ford (right) and manager Jacqui Walker (left) both prefer to work from the office 'We could be doing anything from sourcing a restaurant (booking), planning a conference or a leadership retreat, to currently sourcing last minute tickets for Taylor Swift,' Ms Ford told Daily Mail Australia. ES Concierge & Co also handles tasks from finding a cleaner, to helping somebody relocate to a new country and organising a person's travel arrangements. 'Every day is very different. In order for us to be effective and to be able to find the right product or service to fulfill the task request... you really need to have a collaborative approach to action it,' Ms Ford said. She added the chain of communication can easily get muddled if some people are working from home. 'If somebody has a question and they're working remotely then they might call you, you could be in a meeting, you could be on a phone call, you call them back, then they call you back and then they've got to reach out to the suppliers, so the chain of fulfillment slows down,' she said. Jacqui Walker, a life and business concierge manager at Ms Ford's company, prefers working in the office instead of at home, as was necessary during the Covid lockdowns. She said being in the office leads to better quality work because she likes being around other people and working together. Excite Technology Services CEO Bryan Saba (pictured) also wants workers back in the office 'With the type of work that we do, you often want to discuss with someone and say, oh, what do you think about this or is this the right solution? (Being in the office), the people are right there around me to discuss it.' During the pandemic lockdowns, Ms Walker said she 'missed being part of things, meeting with people, collaboration, discussing'. 'I think that's part of being human, being able to interact with others ... I'm certainly someone that, I think, my employer gets a lot more out of me if I'm able to be in that environment,' she said. READ MORE: Aussie boss' extraordinary response after worker asked to work-from-home because of their bad hay fever A survey found that two-thirds of Australia's CEOs believed traditional white-collar roles would see a full-time return to the office within three years (stock image) Advertisement Ms Ford agreed, saying 'how we deliver is a team approach and it's in the best interests of our customers'. 'Part of that is listening, hearing and learning. And if you're not interested in listening, hearing and learning, then you're in the wrong business,' she said. Excite Technology Services CEO Bryan Saba also wants workers back in the office. 'It's important because we're a cybersecurity company,' he said. 'So some of the issues that we deal with have a lot of urgency and need really rapid collaboration. 'And being in the presence of each other, you're able to read body language and tone a lot better than over the phone or via email or video call for that matter.' Mr Saba said because of the nature of his business, after the Covid lockdowns most of the staff were keen to get back to the office. 'The culture in the office was something that a lot of our team enjoyed anyway,' he said. Mr Saba said part of encouraging people to come back to the office was about 'retaining our people and culture and promoting flexibility'. That flexibility means there are still some people who work four days a week in the office and one from home, or nine days a fortnight in the office and one day at home. 'So encouraging people to come into the office, to promoting flexibility and so forth, it actually translated into a lot of people coming to the office anyway,' Mr Saba said. A major reason being in the office works best for Excite Technology Services is that the company promotes from within. He said this means new hires are often juniors and they need to be in the office to learn from more experienced employees. There are also some non-work perks to being in the office. 'After our quarterly business reviews, and any sort of big announcements within the organisation, rather than just sending out an email we're actually doing that over a team lunch and some drinks in the office,' Mr Saba said. 'Then we'll head out to lawn bowls or something like that.' Though full-time office working is not yet being widely enforced, 90 per cent of employers have implemented some mandatory in-office days, according to a survey of 300 hiring managers commissioned by recruitment agency Robert Half. The move is not universally popular with staff, though, with almost a third of respondents saying at least one employee quit in response. Legally, the situation in Australia favours the employer over the employee. Whether someone is employed on a permanent, casual or short-term contract, they must follow 'lawful and reasonable' directions from their employer. Even if this requirement isn't clearly written in a contract, Australian courts have ruled it is 'implied'. Almost one in five primary school inspection reports published by Ofsted so far this year have been graded either inadequate or requiring improvement. So far in 2024, some 725 primary schools have received an Ofsted report. Most have been in the Good (66 per cent) or Outstanding (16.7 per cent) categories. Over the first six weeks of the year, 29 schools have been declared inadequate, while 95 others require improvement. The data is held on the Ofsted website and is updated on a daily basis. New school inspections were paused at the start of the year following an inquest into tragic teacher Ruth Perry who took her own life following an Ofsted report. So far in 2024, 29 schools have been branded as Inadequate - the lowest rating on the scale. Among the establishments on the failing list are independent schools which charge parents up to 50,000 a year to educate their children. Your browser does not support iframes. One in five primary schools reports published by Ofsted since January 1 have said the schools are either inadequate or require improvement Ofsted temporarily paused inspections while its staff received mental health awareness training following the tragic suicide of head teacher Ruth Perry A further 95 require improvement to secure a Good rating under the controversial system. The regulator is continuing to use its single word inspection reviews despite the tragic suicide into the death of primary school teacher Ruth Perry. Her inquest in December 2023 concluded that an Ofsted inspection on November 15-16, 2022 'likely contributed' to her death. The hearing heard from Ms Perry's husband Jonathan Perry who said his wife feared the school's performance could adversely affect house prices in the local area. Since the inquest, the watchdog has made some changes and it has published a policy on how school inspections can be paused in exceptional circumstances including where the headteacher requires support. In one school, Farnborough Grange Nursery & Infant School, Ofsted has been regularly in contact with management having placed the school in Special Measures in September 2022. Ms Perry, pictured, took her own life following an Ofsted inspection which was due to downgrade her school In a report published last month, His Majesty's Inspector Chris Ellison wrote: 'There are some areas where necessary improvements have not been identified or acted on with sufficient urgency. There is a lack of capacity in the school to make further progress in these areas without additional support from the trust.' The report also identified with pupil behaviour: 'Staff are not adequately supported by leadership and systems in the school when managing challenging behaviour during lesson times.' In Nields Junior Infant and Nursery School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, inspectors said the quality of education, leadership and management and early years provision were all inadequate. Behaviours and attitudes and personal development all require improvement. A previous inspection at the school had graded it Good. According to the report: 'Since the last inspection, there has been significant turbulence in leadership at this school. The quality of education that pupils receive has declined. The school has begun to take steps to address this. Leaders have started to develop a more ambitious curriculum. However, this is in the earliest stages of development.' The House of Commons Education Committee has urged Ofsted to change the way it evaluates schools following Ms Perry's tragic death. The report recommended the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted headed by new chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver develop an alternative to the single-word judgements 'as a priority' and called on the two bodies to review the support mechanisms available to school leaders during and after an inspection. The contents of the report were welcomed by Mrs Perry's family. Mrs Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns. Since the inquest, the watchdog has made some changes and it has published a policy on how school inspections can be paused in exceptional circumstances including where the headteacher requires support. Referring to the Education Committee's report, Professor Julia Waters, Mrs Perry's sister, said: 'My family and I can only hope that this report and its recommendations will help to bring about the change needed to prevent other tragedies from occurring in the future.' She called on Gillian Keegan to act, saying: 'The Education Secretary has been keen in the past to ask people to congratulate her on what a great job she has done, while others have sat down and done nothing. It's time she got to her feet now to end single-word judgements.' The committee will seek regular updates in the year ahead from Ofsted on how it is responding to the areas of concern set out in the coroner's report regarding the death of Mrs Perry. Chair of the committee, Conservative MP Robin Walker, said: 'The bulk of the evidence we received expressed widespread and deep concern about how the system works. 'We repeatedly heard that Ofsted has lost the trust of a significant chunk of the teaching profession, and leaders.' He added: 'Changes to inspection practice announced by Ofsted last year were welcome, but more action is required particularly regarding the areas of concern highlighted by the inquest into Ruth Perry's death. 'Ofsted must ensure it continues to listen and reform through 2024.' Aside from reforming the single-word judgement and improving support for school leaders, the Education Committee also made recommendations on 'inadequate' judgements based on safeguarding, workload pressures placed on school staff, inspectors' expertise, Ofsted's complaints procedures and academisation of schools. Current policy makes it 'likely' that an overall 'inadequate' judgement will follow if problems are found in a school's safeguarding practices, even in cases where issues can be fixed within the two-month window before an inspection report is published. The report concluded Ofsted should review this policy and ensure schools only receive 'inadequate' judgements where they are fundamentally failing to keep children safe. The committee heard evidence from school staff that the workload required to prepare for inspections can feel 'crushing' and 'relentless'. It recommended Ofsted undertake a programme of research to understand the causes of inspection-related workload pressure and see what reforms could be made to reduce this. The report went on to recommend that Ofsted ensure a lead inspector has expertise in the type of school they are inspecting after Lord Knight told the committee the inspection process could resemble 'a sort of sausage machine'. The committee heard strong criticism of Ofsted's complaints procedures, including suggestions that the inspectorate was 'marking its own homework'. It was told attempts to appeal against judgements were limited by Ofsted's policy of not sharing the evidence base it collects during an inspection. The cross-party group also heard criticism of the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted for only being able to look at how the inspectorate has handled a complaint, instead of managing the complaint itself. The report recommended Ofsted conduct an in-depth review of the complaints process and explore setting up an independent body to investigate judgements, as well as allow schools access to evidence. The committee also called for the DfE to assess its policy of council-run schools being required to become academies after two 'requires improvement' judgements. It also recommended inspections should be more in-depth and take longer in order to give an accurate picture of a school's performance. The National Association of Head Teachers welcomed the Education Committee's calls for major changes to Ofsted. General secretary Paul Whiteman said: 'While the new chief inspector has demonstrated his willingness to listen and openness to change, it's vital this is now followed by tangible action and far-reaching reform if Ofsted is to regain the trust of schools.' But the National Education Union claimed the report 'does not grasp the true scale of the problem'. Daniel Kebede, the union's general secretary, said: 'Schools are complex, and single-word judgements are not a sustainable means of assessing them. 'Replacing them with a more considered statement is important, but, as the work of the Beyond Ofsted commission has shown, dialogue between schools and 'improvement partners' is much more likely to yield genuine change. 'We need Ofsted to be replaced altogether by a system of inspection which is supportive, effective and fair. The inspectorate in its current form is none of these things.' A DfE spokesperson said: 'We have worked closely with Ofsted to make significant changes to ensure inspections help to keep children safe, whilst also prioritising the wellbeing of school leaders, including by recently expanding our wellbeing support for teachers. 'Ofsted's overall judgement succinctly summarises inspection findings which gives parents the confidence in choosing the right school for their child and provides a clear basis for taking action to improve underperforming schools.' They added that the department will give 'careful consideration' to the recommendations. An Ofsted spokeswoman said: 'We welcome the select committee's report and its findings. We look forward to responding in full to the recommendations. 'We have started making changes to the way we work, but we know more must be done to address the pressures faced by school leaders and staff. It is important that all changes we make are done in the best interest of children and their parents and carers, that is why we will launch a Big Listen in the coming weeks. We intend to hear from staff working in education and social care, as well as the parents, carers, children, young people and learners we serve.' Responding to the recommendation to review single-word judgments, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'Labour has long argued for the reform and strengthening of Ofsted so that its inspections give better information for parents and work with teachers to drive improvement in our schools. 'Rebuilding the fractured relationship between schools, families and government will be a key priority for an incoming Labour government as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity.' Shameless squatters are smirking after moving into a historic 140-year-old pub and winning the right to stay thanks to a 'bonkers' court ruling - and now claim locals are bullying them. A legal mishap has allowed intruders to remain inside the Baring Hall Hotel pub in Grove Park, Lewisham, in south-east London, which has been closed for almost four years after struggling during the Covid lockdown. A judge says they can keep living there, because a hearing to deal with the matter was mistakenly listed on court papers a day too early - a decision which has infuriated neighbours but is being celebrated by the squatters. Locals welcomed a buy-out for the beloved boozer last July, as publican Garry Mallon planned to reopen the Grade II-listed venue and create a nine-bedroom hotel above. But those hopes were frustrated when 15 squatters moved in just weeks before the freeholder submitted his application, changed all the locks and graffiti started to appear on the outside walls. The Baring Hall Hotel pictured in happier times before it shut in 2020 during the pandemic lockdowns One of the squatters, who asked to not be named, told MailOnline the group of 15 agreed with saving the pub Mr Mallon launched legal action in a bid to evict them, but now the squatters have been given a surprise reprieve at Bromley County Court. Two of the squatters had attended a hearing at the court on Monday this week, but the case was adjourned because the court's had listed the hearing one day too early. That meant the squatters were not given the required three-day notice period and a judge ruled the squatters could remain living above the pub for the time being as Mr Mallon's possession order was refused. While the majority of the squatting group did not turn up to court, 21-year-old Sarah Freeman and Michael Johannes, who would not give his age, represented them. The duo did not reveal where they had previously lived or if they were occupying the property out of necessity. Mr Johannes told the court: 'We have no ill intention. We agree with saving the hall. We like what this man is doing. But we have had a horrible Facebook campaign against us.' 'People have been spying on us, filming us without our consent,' said Ms Freeman. The pair went on to add that they understand 'why people are upset' but said they felt de-humanised. 'We don't like to be referred to under the squatters title because it has very negative connotations', one squatter (pictured) told MailOnline One of the 15 squatters is picture outside of the Baring Hall Hotel earlier this week Another squatter wearing a jumper saying rave is pictured smiling and chatting to someone through the gates of the boarded up Baring Hall Hotel The squatters are said to have replaced the locks on the door and the padlock into the back entrance of the property Graffiti has since appeared on the walls with piles of rubbish being left out the back of the pub A Facebook group called Save The Baring Hall Hotel has been tracking the movements of some of the squatters, with locals recording the group changing a padlock and sharing pictures of their vans parked on the drive. On one occasion the squatters are called 'scum' while another person writes 'we should get a mob together and get rid of them'. Another added, 'They are not welcome no matter what they think', while a fourth said: 'These are organised squatters. So nasty.' And in response to the squatters' comments in court, one local wrote on social media: 'Interesting how they are framing themselves as the victims and now blaming us.' But one of the squatters said they did not think the comments were fair because they want the pub to be used by locals. He told MailOnline: 'We actually think reopening the pub is a really good idea and the community really needs it because they have no focus around this area. 'So we just did it more out of necessity and for somewhere to go. 'We talked to the landlord, he's obviously in a difficult situation. 'He has to be seen as doing something because he is getting pressure but it can be beneficial both ways and might help him with planning permission.' One of the squatters, wearing beige chinos and a navy long coat, is caught leaving the property One of the warnings advising the squatters to allow access to the property posted earlier this month An abandoned trailer covered in graffiti and empty cardboard boxes are discarded outside of the pub The group of 15 moved into the property in early January and have been living there ever since, sustaining themselves through solar panels and generators. Some of the members work while others with mental health issues or physical ailments are unable to do so, the unnamed squatter who works remotely in the art world said. Residents in the area, however, have become infuriated at the situation that has just created another delay in reopening their much missed boozer. Michael Elis, a 28-year-old finance manager who lives in the local area, told MailOnline: I think it's very sad what is happening at the Baring Hall Hotel. 'We've waited a long time for something to be done with this site and now that we finally have someone willing to invest in the site and the area the squatters have brought this to a halt. 'This is terrible for the community where there are very few pubs and also does little to encourage other investment in the area. 'The site is in a prime location and should be used for a productive purpose. Even a car park would be of more use to the community than its current state which is a derelict, unsightly building not being used appropriately.' Alex Raha, a 39-year-old sales manager who has lived in Grove Park for 11 years said a lot of the frustrated locals on Facebook have been involved in trying to get the pub open for almost five years now. A gap appears in the boarded up windows of The Baring Hall pub on February 13 One of the squatters pulls furniture out of the derelict pub building on February 13 When Mr Mallon bought the pub, he put up new boarders around it until renovation works could begin 'We now have a new owner who wants to open it and redevelop the pub, meanwhile squatters have basically invaded it,' he said. 'The reason people are angry is regardless if squatters have done any damage - which is looks like they have with the graffiti, damaged walls and changed locks - it's not helping the local community who want their pub back. 'It's nothing personal to the people themselves - there might be one or two who take it too far - but there is no excuse for it.' Mr Raha added that while he had not seen any of the squatters himself and had only seen the vans on the property, some who had been guarding the gate had been 'aggressive' towards his neighbours. The owner of Mr Chippy, a fish and chip shop directly opposite the derelict pub, said: 'I rarely see them and there's not been a problem from what I have seen. 'But everyone is upset that it has finally been bought as a pub and now you have got squatters in there. 'It's stupid because they have bought the pub but they didn't put in any form of security and now this has happened so they will need to pay court fees to get them out. 'A lot of people you speak to are p***ed off because everyone thought it was going to reopen soon. Then they saw vans in there and thought work had started taking place but it was the squatters.' Three vans were seen parked outside of the derelict pub on Tuesday, two having their number plates covered up The pub - right opposite Grove Park station - has been boarded up for almost four years Another resident who has lived in Grove Park for more than 20 years said the community had been desperate to get the pub reopen. She added: 'There's a much wider community in Grove Park at the end of the day than the community within a few squatters.' The woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'You just don't go and take possession of someone else's business. I'm annoyed because we hoped it would be up and running again this year but it has another delay on it. 'We don't know what they are doing in that building. They could be harmless just sleeping in there but from my previous experience they trash the place. 'We can't see what's going on so we don't know but in my previous experience squatters trash the place. 'Again, we don't know, but if they have it will hamper the remedial work and push back the reopening. That could put renovations at risk full stop.' The squatter who spoke to MailOnline said that 'a lot of people within the community have been very friendly' adding that they 'understand their concerns because they have waited such a long time for a pub.' 'We feel their pain because we are very pro-community so we understand when people want a community again but timing will never be good anywhere,' he added. The interior of the historic pub when it was up and running in 2019 One of the squatters is pictured relocking the padlock on the back gates of the pub as he leaves The pub (pictured before its closure) has long been a community asset for the residents of Grove Park A warning placed on the properties doors last month warning that Mr Mallon, who had spoken to the squatters through the gates outside the property, said the two men were 'nice lads' but said it 'sounds disingenuous' that the squatters are trying to save the pub. He said: 'I spoke to two nice lads and they were polite. They wanted some form of agreement so that we could continue working on the property while they would live on a separate floor. 'I said I doubt the insurance would accept that and true enough the insurance company was strongly opposed.' Responding to the squatters' claims that they wanted to save the pub, Mr Mallon said: 'It sounds a bit disingenious to me because if they wanted the pub to open they could have left.' The pub owner, who has lived in the area all his life, added: 'I don't believe they have carried out any damage. My angst is with the law, not necessarily with them. 'The law is ridiculous that it allows this to happen and they are exploiting a loophole. I don't think they're horrible people, they've all been polite, friendly, nice. I genuinely mean these people no ill-harm.' Mr Mallam, whose portfolio of pubs includes the Tanyard Lane Bar & Kitchen in Bexley and The King's Head in Seven Oaks, added that he thought it was 'incredulous that the court could make such an error'. He will now have to wait until February 29 for a court hearing meaning the squatters will be able to remain until March 1. Duty solicitor Ian Webb from Greenwich Housing Rights had represented the squatters, telling Bromley County Court there had been 'insufficient' time between notice of proceedings and the hearing. Notice to evict the group was served on Wednesday last week and the court case was listed for the following Monday. Mr Webb told District Judge Raymond Koh: 'Three days doesnt include weekends, as you know.' The judge adjourned the case for a hearing to be rescheduled, saying the group were 'entitled to three days' clear notice'. The squatters maintain that their lifestyle is a result of the ongoing homelessness crisis in the UK with people left with limited options. The unnamed squatter said: 'Really there is a massive failure in Britain with homelessness - you go to Tottenham Court Road or Tower Hill, there's tents everywhere. 'The policies are failing and there needs to be a conversation between the council, the Government, the Mayor's office, Shelter, 999 services and all the buyers needs to have a conversation.' MailOnline has contacted Lewisham Borough Council for comment. It comes as Aldi plans to open 500 new across the UK in 550m expansion Hundreds of furious village locals have blasted plans for an 'eyesore' new Aldi store next to their homes. Residents in leafy Farnborough Village in Orpington, south London, are threatening a boycott of the supermarket chain which announced on Monday it would be opening 500 new branches across the UK in a 550million expansion drive. Opponents accuse the German-owned retail giant of 'invading' neighbourhoods across London and Kent, adding to noise and traffic problems whole spoiling views. Aldi insists this supermarket would transform a derelict site which attracts anti-social behaviour, as part of a nationwide expansion push it says will create 1,500 jobs - including between 40 and 50 here. But residents are not convinced and blasted the plan as 'appalling'. One told MailOnline: 'I think it will destroy the area. If it goes ahead I will not shop there and I will not use any of its other shops.' Farnborough locals fear the store would cause excessive noise and traffic in their leafy village Amy Newman, 37, left, and her Tina Hickson, 64, are both opposed to plans for a new Aldi supermarket on a derelict site close to their homes in Farnborough Village, south London Aldi submitted to Bromley Council a CGI image of how the Farnborough store would look The store, currently going through a planning process, would be open from 8am until 10pm six days a week and 10am until 4pm on Sundays if approved. Retired Barclays executive Isobele Ralston, who lives 10m from the proposed development, told MailOnline: 'I'm dead against it - it is an appalling plan. 'It's right next to my house. The noise would be unbearable - the whole thing is shocking. 'It would be round-the-clock deliveries. It's been so quiet here and now this would just cause big problems. 'The traffic through the village would be a nightmare - I cannot understand it.' Ms Ralston, 80, believes most locals are against it having attended public meetings to have their say, and added: 'It just does not make sense to build one there. 'The roads are not fit for the added hundreds of cars - it would bring the village to a standstill. There's a school nearby - the added traffic will be a nightmare for them.' Nurse Tina Hickson, 64, who lives next-door to the land, branded the plan a 'pain in the rear', saying: 'I cannot understand it - it's terrible. 'The traffic issue is a big problem for me. They have not thought it through, it's not going to work. 'The roads round here and the village was not built for a large supermarket and all the lorries and customers that will come with it - that is my main concern.' She did say: 'I do think something should be done with the land - but I don't think another big supermarket is the answer. There are plenty around here, we do not need more.' The closest Aldi store to the proposed one in Farnborough is 3.4 miles away in St Paul's Cray Isobele Ralston, 80, who lives 10m away from the proposed development, called it 'appalling' Aldi has been battling Bromley Council for permission to demolish the former petrol station and Frankie's and Benny's store in Farnborough Way, near Orpington in south London READ MORE: Can anyone stop the Aldi gravy train? How the discount retailer continues to thrive despite high profile legal spats with brand rivals Advertisement The proposed new Farnborough Village store would stand beside a road where homes have sold for average prices of 520,000 over the past year - 620,000 for semi-detached properties and 420,000 for terraced houses. Locals are worried the issues could bring down the value of their homes- and harm independent business. Neighbour and friend Amy Newman, 37, said: 'I am all for something going there, but the answer is not a big supermarket. 'I think the local shops would struggle - that would potentially put them out of business. There are not enough positive reasons for doing it.' She also described access as 'a big issue, adding: 'We paid a lot of money for our house because it's a nice and peaceful area - it's pleasant. 'We did not expect a great big supermarket to be built there. 'There could be better uses - we do not want that on our doorstep.' Simon Barnes, 44, who also lives nearby, called the mooted store an 'appalling' idea. The builder said: 'I think it will destroy the area. If it goes ahead I will not shop there and I will not use any of its other shops. 'Lidl and Aldi stores just seem to be invading at the moment, they are appearing everywhere, and with no thought or reason. 'Developers just want to take the money and do not care what happens to the people who then have to live here. 'To build it there with the traffic problems which already exist in this area is mad - there's no logic.' Rose Madley, 56, owner of Nanny Smith's Deli in Farnborough Village, worries for local trade The Farnborough Village Society says Aldi's plans clash with the area's Victorian character Opponents fear surrounding roads are 'not fit' for an influx of new cars serving an Aldi EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Supermarkets go to war: Aldi parks its tanks on Tesco's lawn as it tries to open three new stores directly opposite its rival Advertisement Rose Madley, 56, owner of Nanny Smith's Deli in the village, warned of the potential harmful impact on local traders. She said: 'There's a Post Office and a Londis and us and I'm concerned people will not bother - the traffic would just be horrendous. 'Why ruin a lovely little village? What is the point?' The planned development would create parking spaces for 47 cars and 33 bikes, while construction would involve knocking down the current building which most was originally a petrol station before recently being a Frankie and Benny's restaurant. The plans have received 218 objections online from locals, with complaints the new store would be an 'eyesore' unsuited to the nearby area's Victorian character. The Farnborough Village Society described the building's design as 'unneighbourly and overbearing', while highlighted fears that it would affect traffic. The society also said in documents to Bromley Council: 'The excessive and dangerous increase in greenhouse gas emissions for the Farnborough Village community generated by Aldi's proposal is totally unacceptable.' The society described the plans as 'inconsistent with the overarching strategy of promoting sustainable transport and minimising greenhouse gas emissions'. Aldi says it would provide parking for 47 cars and 33 bikes on the currently-derelict site Unemployed Philip Cook, 42, supports the proposals and says he would apply for a job there But there was support for the store from unemployed 42-year-old Philip Cook, who lives nearby and plans to apply for a post there. He said: 'I used to work in a supermarket and enjoyed it, so I will apply for a job. 'I think it will be good for the local economy - it's currently just empty so why not do something positive with it? It makes sense to me.' Aldi believes the push for 500 more stores this year will create 1,500 jobs, with Aldi UK and Ireland Giles Hurley saying: 'There are still areas of the country that don't have an Aldi, or that need more or larger stores to meet demand.' The firm overtook Morrisons as the UK's fourth biggest retailer in September 2022 but industry data shows Aldi's slice of the market has slipped in recent months as rivals Tesco and Sainsbury's have tried to step up competitiveness. The Farnborough Way proposals have received 233 supportive comments online, with backers saying the store would create jobs and give more choice to shoppers. Council officers also recommended the development control committee for Bromley Council refused the application for the new store. They warned that, despite developers reducing the footprint and height after a previous submission, the store would be excessively relied on by locals using cars. But their objections were ignored and Aldi's plans were granted permission. Developers have submitted drawings to Bromley Council as part of their bid for permission Documents illustrate how Aldi's new store would stretch out along Farnborough Way The supermarket giant says it is 'disappointed' planning officers are recommending rejection Richard Khodabakhsh, Real Estate Director at Aldi said: 'We were very pleased to receive a resolution to grant planning permission for a new Aldi food store from Bromley Council's Development Control Committee last October, following careful consideration by councillors. 'There were over 230 letters from residents in support of our planning application, which will provide new jobs, investment and greatly improved shopping choice with the UK's cheapest supermarket. 'We carried out extensive consultation and our plans were revised in response to earlier feedback from councillors and residents. We are proposing a sensitive design and a sustainable new building on a derelict site that is currently an eyesore and vulnerable to anti-social behaviour. 'As well as on-site car parking and ample cycle parking, the plans provide improved pedestrian and cycle links including a new Tiger crossing, benefitting the wider local area. 'We hope to start work on site in the coming months and deliver the major benefits that an Aldi store brings.' MailOnline has approached Bromley Council for comment. Elsewhere, Tesco is fighting to stop three Aldi supermarkets from being built across from their own, MailOnline revealed - in March in Cambridgeshire, Diss in Norfolk and Perth in Scotland. A historic New York village faces 'losing its soul' after the nation's oldest gunmaker, Remington, announced plans to shut its massive firearms factory next month - leaving entire families without work. Eliphalet Remington forged his first rifle barrel in the village of Ilion in 1816 and over the next two centuries, his business grew into a one million square feet factory with thousands of employees. But in December, the current Remington owners, RemArms, revealed it was moving operations to gun-friendly Georgia, and making 270 people redundant. With a population of just 7,600, the factory has long been the town's main employer. Now, Mayor John Stephens, 57, said the village is set to lose $1 million in revenue when the plant closes, while local businesses will also take a 'great financial hit' - and that's on top of the emotional toll. Speaking to DailyMail.com, he said: ''It's like the town is losing its soul. It's almost like losing a family member. That's the thing that people are struggling with, the nostalgia, the history. It feels like we are losing the identity of the town.' The one million square feet Remington plant in Ilion, New York The plant has been in the town for over to hundred years, this photo from 1875 shows the first few blocks Ilion Mayor John Stephens said it feels like the village is 'losing its identity' Mayor Stephens, 57, said the plant is all he's 'ever known' and that there are generations of families who have worked there - sometimes six or even seven. His own father worked at the plant for 37 years and raised four children on a Remington paycheck. He told DailyMail.com: 'There are people that are 100 years old in this village and it's all they've ever known. Ilion is Remington and Remington is Ilion'. Remington brought in close to $1 million in utility bills and taxes to the village and its workers also brought custom to local businesses. 'I've spoken to a few businesses, that's the part financially that's going to hurt. Even if it's only 300 people, they still buy gas, they still buy shoes. That's going to be a hit to the local businesses,' Mayor Stephens added. He also worries about the building sitting empty, saying: 'It's just going to deteriorate over time and then I have an abandoned factory that's falling into itself.' Mayor Stephen believes those who are made redundant will be able to find work as there are 'plenty of jobs available'. But that may come as little comfort to those left in the lurch in the meantime - with some entire families losing their jobs in one hit. One of those is furnace operator and technician Frank "Rusty" Brown who said the move is a 'double-hit' for him and his wife with the two of them out of a job. He said: '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.' The plant has made millions of firearms over the years and branched out into bicycles and typewriters Frank 'Rusty' Brown is devastated about the closure and said it will leave both him and his wife out of a job Both of Brown's parents worked at the factory, with Mayor saying sometimes six or seven generations have worked there Likewise, posting on Facebook, former Remington worker, Konstanty Patrick Bielanski, said the closure was 'sad news' as it was a 'great place to work'. He said: 'Many of us built millions of these rifles to make Remington the best in early 1971 through 2010. How sad it had to end, Ilion will never be the same.' In a 2016 promotional video, Remington employee Scott Nichols, said: 'We bring jobs to the area and the earnings from those jobs gets spread out throughout the community. 'It's hard to find somebody in the area that does not have someone that's related or knows somebody. It's easy to walk out on the floor and find somebody that you know.' In a letter to union officials in November, the current owners of Remington Firearms, RemArms, blamed 'production inefficiencies' for the plant closure. They cited the high cost of maintaining and insuring the one million square feet (92,903 square meters) of space in multiple buildings - many of which date back to World War I. RemArms added that Georgia offered an environment that better 'supports and welcomes the firearms industry.' New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik blamed the state's gun laws for the closure. In a statement, she said: 'New York Democrats unconstitutional gun-grab policies have pushed significant businesses out of the state. 'History can not be erased. I am proud to represent Ilion, former home base for Remington Arms in Upstate New York. And I will always stand up for our 2A Constitutional Rights!' Another former employee, David Brewer, wrote on Facebook: 'I spent 34 years there and it is sad to see it go but the governor wants to make a name for herself for the do gooders and not punish the criminals but punish the law-abiding citizens.' A shotgun made by Remington Arms, gifted by the company to the town, hangs on the wall of the municipal building in Ilion, NY A view of the Remington Arms Co. compound in the middle of Ilion, NY A sign for Remington Arms Co. is displayed in front of their compound in Ilion, NY There were over 1,200 employees in 2016, but this dropped to just 270 this year Remington is not the first firearms maker to commit to a more gun-friendly state. Smith & Wesson opened its new Tennessee headquarters in October after being based in Springfield, Massachusetts, since 1852. Announcing the move in 2021, company officials criticized proposed state legislation they said would prohibit them from manufacturing certain weapons. The previous owners of Remington were forced to file for bankruptcy after the company was sued in the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre where 20 first graders and six adults were killed by a shooter using a Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle. Family members of victims and a survivor of the shooting filed a lawsuit against Remington in 2015 and settled in 2022 for $73 million. RemArms took over ownership of the factory but the workforce has still dwindled from about 1,300 workers a decade ago to 270 now. In December they announced they would be closing the doors on March 4. Local officials hope the plant site will eventually host a mix of manufacturing, retail and residential units. But its fate remains unclear and it was listed for sale last month for $10 million. Michael Disotelle, historian at Ilion's public library, told AP: 'Things can become an eyesore quickly and the being in the center of the village like that, you cant just let it go.' Mayor Stephens said he has repeatedly asked the owners what their plan is with the site, but they haven't responded. DailyMail.com contacted RemArms for comment. A pair of twins died during a 'wild birth' in Byron Bay in an incident medical experts believe was 'completely avoidable'. The first baby was stillborn and the second died after being taken to The Tweed Hospital, in northern NSW. Police attended the scene following the births and have launched an investigation. No charges have been laid. The twins were born premature but were over 23 weeks, a gestation period considered viable. Their parents received no medical assistance during pregnancy or birth, including ultrasounds or heartbeat checks, as part of a pregnancy trend called 'wild birthing'. A pair of twins died during a 'wild birth', which sees parents completely forego medical assistance during pregnancy and birth, in Byron Bay last week It's understood the couple did not know they were having twins. A medical source told the Daily Telegraph the babies' deaths were 'avoidable'. 'At least the second was born viable. If it was born in hospital, it had a chance. That child had rights,' they said. Wild births, also known as free births, are rising in popularity among Byron Bay locals - a region that has traditionally had a high rate of home births. An Australian Facebook group for parents considering a wild birth described itself as a 'space is for women who align with unassisted pregnancy, birth and postpartum'. 'Assistance talk is very minimal and you are supported in birthing on your terms,' it states. Some wild birth followers believe medical assistance during pregnancy, including ultrasounds, can hurt babies. Home births are usually attended by a midwife. A police source described the twins' deaths as 'tragic because it was avoidable'. Australia is one of the safest places in the world to give birth however, planned at-home births almost double the risk of serious issues for the baby from five in 1,000 for a hospital birth to nine in 1,000. Home births, which are popular in Byron Bay, almost double the risk of serious issues for the baby from five in 1,000 for a hospital birth to nine in 1,000 Due to the popularity of home births in the region, the NSW Local Health District provides a home birth service to 'support the choice of planned, midwife-attended home birth as a safe choice for women with uncomplicated pregnancies'. The Northern NSW Local Health District facilitated 23 planned home birth in 2023. Lismore paediatrician Dr Chris Ingall believes home births would be less popular if parents were properly informed of its risks. 'I'm pro-women's choice but that relies on being well informed,' he said. 'Based on my own experiences, when a baby is in special care after something goes wrong, I ask "do you think you were informed that this was a likely outcome?" and they always say no. 'I do not think they are getting good information about that choice and how it may impact the baby.' However, Byron Bay-based birth educator Maha Al Musa explained many mothers turn to home births because hospital births leave them 'feeling traumatised'. The twins' death follows that of a breech baby in nearby Nimbin who was born in February 2015. Northern NSW paediatrician Dr Chris Ingall (pictured) believes home births would be less popular if parents were properly informed of its risks During the coronial inquest into the baby's death, their father said if he and the mother had known the baby was in breach they would have gone to hospital. There was no midwife or medically qualified person present during the birth. A spokeswoman for the health district urged all expecting parents to consult with doctors early in their pregnancy and seek professional advice before opting for a home birth. A mortgage broker with an impressive property portfolio has shared his top money-saving hacks for young Aussies looking to get on the housing ladder. Quang Huynh, 39, a Sydney-based home loan expert, has revealed how he built his enviable eight-property portfolio in Sydney. He also warned those serious about saving for a deposit that they would have to forgo expensive concert tickets, eating out and going to parties. 'If you can't do this, you're a spoilt, entitled Gen Z,' he said. 'Wannabe homeowners should not be eating out.' Additionally, he directed a message to young people who lack interest in purchasing a property. 'Gen Z's are like "I don't need to buy a property in my life, I'm okay where I am." 'Then why you living in your mum's basement? 'Why are you lining up trying to rent a small shoebox for $900 a week?' A Sydney mortgage broker, known online as The Homeloan Dude, has shared his top money-saving hacks for young Aussies dreaming of buying their first home Treat yourself - but only when you have reached your goals 'Yes you can treat yourself but it's good to have a set of goals,' the broker advises. 'Then you can go for a treat, you can get UberEats or go to a concert at the end of the year, but you shouldn't do it unless you've achieved your saving goals. 'Otherwise you can go back to the old treadmill of spending money on concerts, events and parties.' He also advised young Aussies to stop drinking and buying alcohol. 'You need 100 per cent clarity to achieve this goal,' he explained. 'So you have no time to be drunk.' Swap nights out for nights in and meal prep Mr Huynh said meal prepping was an easy way to save money fast. He said a simple lunch of chicken breast and greens was ten times cheaper than buying a salad that can cost between $15 to $18. 'Obviously there is the mission of cooking it, but then you've got to think: "what's my North Star?",' the broker said. He said Gen Z were usually dining out just to keep up with their friends. 'I don't think it's because of the food. I think it's just trying to keep up with your mates and that socialising circle,' he said. 'So that's why it's good to have an accountability partner where it's not so lonely, where all your mates are spending but you're not spending and you're like the boring person or the mature person.' Get a sidehustle The broker recommended choosing a side hustle like delivering for Woolworths or Uber Eats or signing up to be an extra in a film or TV ad. 'If you were to be serious and go hard on those side hustles you would definitely get an extra $20-30,000 a year.' Don't rent in an expensive suburb He explained that a common error wannabe homeowners make is trying to save for a house deposit while still paying rent in expensive suburbs. 'You've got to live like a povo for 12 months before you live like a king for the rest of your life,' he said. Turn the act of saving into a positive habit Mr Huynh said Gen Z and Millennials tended to approach saving money as something negative or something their parents were always pestering them to do. 'There's a loop, there's a queue, there's a routine and a reward and there needs to be ways to prompt people to save money and have a rewarding experienced behind it. He said people starting from scratch should aim to put $100 aside each month before increasing the amount to $500 and then $1,000. Savers should reward themselves if they skip a party or refrain from buying expensive concert tickets by buying an iced latte or other treat. 'So it's like a small reward to say, hey, savings good and then just cultivating that habit. Saving something, rather than nothing,' the expert said. 'And then building that habit slowly where it becomes like, oh, I look forward to saving because there's positive reinforcement behind it. 'So it's approaching it from a psychological point of view and just hacking the brain rather than just going cold turkey.' The broker then recommended switching to cold showers. 'I did this when I was 21 before I bought my first property and it improved my killer instinct. Plus it gives your immune system a super boost,' he said. The mortgage broker also recommended creating a vision board with their dream home on it (pictured, renters queue up outside a rental property in Bondi) Tap into your 'Why' Mr Huynh said figuring out what you are saving for will keep you focused and motivated to save money, whether it's for a home, car or other investment. 'So I usually tell people to read the book by Simon Sinek, Start with Why, and ask themselves what is your North Star, why are you saving?' he explained. 'Because it's actually practically very hard to delay gratification and have that restraint, especially when you're in like Gen Z culture when you've got Taylor Swift tickets, the weekends and Ticketek advertising stuff on Facebook. 'So you've got to remind yourself what is your North Star? Because if you don't really do that you'll get really bummed out that you're missing out.' Despite it being a 'bit cheesy,' Mr Huynh recommends his clients create a vision board, which can be made for free on apps like Canva. 'I know it's kindergarten stuff but you can do a vision board. Put your dream home on it, and maybe you can't buy the Double Bay mansion but it's the motivation,' he said. 'So every time you're like about pay for something like a ticket you can look at it and go, no I'd better not because that's my North Star. 'I've got to remind myself that I want to buy that property.' Quang Huynh has eight properties across south Sydney, a portfolio he has spent 20 years building The expert said it was important to note that a home wasn't the ultimate indicator of success Have an accountability partner Having an accountability partner who is also saving for a home and can keep you on track helps make the journey to a deposit less lonely, Mr Huynh explained. The broker said having someone that asks whether your money-saving goals were achieved that month can help you see where you're going wrong. 'So you have a person that would be like, "hey, have you saved $1,000 that you claimed that you would be saving this month?' 'And you're like, "Oh, I didn't" they may ask you what happened so it keeps you accountable and I think this has helped a lot of people.' The mortgage broker said those saving for a home should cut down on nights out Don't buy into misconceptions 'Don't tell yourself that owning a home is the ultimate indicator of success,' Mr Huynh said. He said his clients could put pressure on themselves to buy a 'perfect' first home that would impress their friends and family. 'Your first home doesn't need to be perfect, it could be just something that's small, maybe out of your vicinity of a nice suburb, but at least it's affordable,' he said. 'Instead of thinking you bought a shoe box you embarrassed to tell people about, treat it like a milestone to buy something small now.' Mr Huynh said it's important people don't think they're tied to a house forever. 'People think if they buy a home they have to live in it for the rest of their lives and pay off the mortgage for 30 years. No, you don't need to,' he said. 'Live in it for 12 months just to get all that advantages and then rent it out and then you can continue living where you are but with rental income.' Take advantage of the Super Saver scheme The First Home Super Saver Scheme allows people to make voluntary contributions into a savings account. Employees can ask their employer to deduct a portion of their pay before tax which can be used to buy their first home down the track. 'It's that out of sight, out of mind thing,' Mr Huynh said. The money gets taxed less when it goes into the super savers account and therefore it beats putting that money into a high interest savings account because that interest charge on that money gets taxed as well. 'You can put up to $50,000 into the account and it's a free service. A lot of people don't know that, they think there's fees and they have to qualify for it.' The broker said any withdrawals from the account had to be approved by the service and that the money was strictly to be used for a house deposit. He said it could help people who can become overwhelmed by urges to spend money by only leaving them with a certain amount of their pay. Mr Huynh says Aussies saving for a house shouldn't be eating out or ordering takeaway food - batch cook instead Take advantage of the first home guarantees Mr Huynh said that using the First Home Guarantee means people looking to purchase their first home can receive a 95 per loan and a 5 per cent deposit. This means they'll only pay $40,000 deposit on a $800,000 property. First-time buyers in NSW may also be eligible for a stamp duty exemption, which can save up to $40,000, and mortgage insurance, about $10,000. Mr Huynh said buyers who live in the home for the first 12 months can be exempt from paying tax on the property if they sell it within six years. His advice comes as data reveals conditions for renters are expected to remain tough throughout 2024. According to data from the latest PropTrack Rental Report, Australian rental listings are at a record low level. Over the last year, the median rental listing price ballooned by 11.5 per cent to $580 per week, fuelled by limited demand. The report found that rental stocks were at record lows due to population growth, forcing renters to pay more. In December, the number of new listings on realestate.com.au were down 20.7 per cent on the December 10-year average and down 4.6 per cent on a year prior. Similarly, total listings were down a whopping 30.2 per cent on the December 10-year average, having fallen by 4.7 per cent over the last 12 months. EXCLUSIVE A former private schoolgirl blocked from inheriting her father's $12million fortune because she's unemployed is still living in squalid housing - and her wife has now been caught drug driving. Clare Brown did not appear in court to support her wife Lauren Barr as the heiress's 39-year-old partner pleaded guilty to drug driving near the couple's dilapidated western Sydney suburbs rental. Ms Brown, who attended elite private girls' school Ascham and travelled the world with her wealthy dad as he made millions on the stock market, is living on welfare in Sydney's 'struggle street' suburb of Mount Druitt. Now Ms Brown - who last complained of being 'broke' and unable to work - and her wife seem to have slipped further into financial woes, with Barr caught driving an unregistered vehicle. The black Ford Captiva with a mauve registration plate adorned with Gay Pride stickers was both uninsured and out of registration when police say she drove it under the influence of drugs. Lauren Barr, the wife of heiress Clare Brown, arrives at Mount Druitt court on Thursday to plead guilty to drug driving Elite private schoolgirl and $12m heiress Clare Brown went from living in a luxury Darling Point apartment to a dingy rental in Mount Druitt which she shares with her wife Lauren while subsisting on a disability pension Clare Brown, who travelled the world with her dad Christopher Brown (above, the pair overseas in the late 1990s) while he made a fortune in shares, is fighting for her inheritance The car wasn't parked at the rental house where Barr and Ms Brown are living 50km west of where they resided two years ago the late Christopher Hylton Brown's $5million waterfront apartment at exclusive Darling Point. On Thursday, Ms Brown's wife was driven to Mount Druitt Local Court on Thursday for a brief hearing at which she pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs, and using an unregistered vehicle on a road. Court documents say the drugs in Barr's system were Doxylamine and Zopiclone, both anti-insomnia drugs, when she drove between 10.30pm and 11.50pm on George Street, Mount Druitt in late 2022. Magistrate Timothy Khoo adjourned the matter for sentence until March 27. Barr was also charged with shoplifting, but the charge was dismissed and she was discharged into the care of a responsible person on the condition she comply with a treatment plan. The long running $14m will dispute Ms Brown is fighting is now entering its third year, as the couple appears to be struggling to pay rent as they wait on the public housing list for accommodation. After her father Christopher Hylton Brown died in Melbourne in early 2022, Ms Brown learned she had been denied access to her inheritance because of two clauses inserted by him in his will. The will stipulated that she could only collect her inheritance 'if she gets a job and contributes something to society'. Lauren Barr (blue shirt) was driven from Mount Druitt court, to Westfield where she spent an hour shopping, then to a liquor store and a Petbarn before being drive back to the rental she shares with her heiress wife Clare Brown Heiress Clare Brown and her wife Lauren lived in Clare's late dad's Darling Point apartment before having to move out to a dingy Mount Druitt rental as she fights for her inheritance The legal dispute over Ms Brown's potential $12m inheritance has meant the granting of the will is still caught up in the Victoria Supreme Court. The court told Daily Mail Australia probate has not yet been granted, whereby the will is confirmed valid and the executor has permission to distribute the estate. When the will dispute began in 2022, Ms Brown claimed relatives who were executors of her father's estate had told lies about her. This included a claim that when the couple lived in her father's Darling Point property, they had 'trashed' the premises before moving to the $420-a-week Mount Druitt house with their young daughter. Ms Brown said she finds it impossible to work because she has Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 'high-functioning autism', and further claimed she couldn't get a job because of her sexuality. Barr's mother, Ruth, said her unemployed daughter-in-law couldn't work because 'she hates crowds, can't concentrate and people hate her because she's gay'. Clare's wife Lauren Barr was driven to Mount Druitt Local Court, with no sign of the black Captiva which she drove uninsured and unregistered while under the influence of prescription drugs Lauren Barr and Clare Brown lived at the Darling Point apartment of Clare's late father, but a dispute over inheritance forced them out to the west where they appear to be struggling with finances Christopher Hylton Brown (above) made a fortune on the stock market and left property and $12million in his will, but he stipulated that for daughter Clare to inherit the money she had to get a job Ms Brown' twin cousins, believed to have been appointed executors of their late uncle Christopher Brown's multi-million dollar estate, told Nine's A Current Affair two years ago that Ms Brown and her wife left the $5million property strewn with clothing and rubbish. Ms Brown admitted she had gone on the dole while still receiving a $500-a-week allowance from her father, but said it was from necessity and 'financial abuse'. 'I didn't start on Centrelink because I wanted to, my dad kept on cutting me off,' she said. In May 2002, Ms Brown tried to have the locks changed on the Darling Point apartment and police were called. The property has been renovated by one of her relatives who was granted four years free occupancy by the late Mr Brown to refurbish the flat. Clare travelled the world with her wealthy stockbroker father who made millions out of shares and then left it to her in his will after he died in January, but there was a catch Clare Brown in the kitchen of the basic rental she shares with her wife Laurent in the western Sydney suburb of Mount Druitt as the fight for her $12million inheritance continues Ms Brown was being paid an allowance before her father's January 2022 death, but said that ceased and that her father's $12m estate 'is rightfully mine'. Christopher Brown died aged 75 in Melbourne and due to the fact his wife was already deceased and Clare was their only child, she is believed to be the sole heir to the bulk of his fortune. Ms Brown's mother-in-law said if anyone claimed Clare was well-off they were 'telling lies'. 'She's got no money. Why else would she be living in f***ing Mount Druitt,' Ms Barr said. Asked if she wanted to work, Ms Brown has previously told Channel 9: 'Yes and no. I understand why these people want me to be a functioning person in society, however, you have to look at my diagnosis and realise that's just not going to happen. 'Can you please stop with this whole... me getting a job. It's not going to happen,' she said. Clare Brown's wife Lauren Barr says the heiress has such bad ADHD she needs a daily checklist to remind her to feed herself and their three cats 'I have called myself a broke millionaire because I am broke constantly and can't do anything about it.' Her LinkedIn profile says she was a receptionist after leaving Ascham, ran her own dog-walking, pet-sitting and animal photography business Canines, Cats and Clare for just over a year, and has worked as an administrative assistant at the autism group Aspect. She said the fact her cousins were preventing her from accessing her fortune would make her father embarrassed at their treatment of her, rather than her being an embarrassment to the family, which is what they have claimed. Clare's cousin Jimmy said the family had 'nothing but love for Clare', however she needed 'a wake-up call' and could find work as a volunteer if she couldn't hold down paid work. According to Jimmy, if Ms Brown 'ticks the two boxes' of getting a job and contributing something to society, she 'can access all the money you like'. 'Instead of her agreeing to her dead dad's wishes, she turns around and sues her trusts, that's the extremes she went to so she didn't have to work,' he said. 'It's just embarrassing to have a cousin who has millions at her fingertips to sit and take the government money every week is highly embarrassing and highly un-Australian.' Ms Brown said if her NDIS funding increases she may one day be able to get a job. 'I just want what is rightfully mine. And I want these people to get out of their heads that I am ever going to get a job,' she said. Do you know more? Email: candace.sutton@mailonline.com When movie mogul and son of a Mormon billionaire James Huntsman sued his former church for $5million over its alleged misuse of member donations, church authorities warned it could 'open the floodgates' for a series of copycat claims. They weren't wrong. Earlier this month, the fifth such 'copycat' lawsuit filed since October thundered down on the desk of church leaders in Salt Lake City earlier this month. Gene and Michelle Judson, a Mormon couple from California who have both been members of the church for more than 50 years, effectively accused their once vaunted leaders of lying to them about how they spent $40,000 of their hard-earned cash. It joined similar complaints filed in Utah, Illinois, Tennessee and Washington over the past six months, sparking the couple's attorneys to declare that the church now faced 'a reckoning in a multitude of jurisdictions'. Six lawsuits have now been filed against the Mormon church alleging it fraudulently misspent member donations. The latest claimed leaders now faced 'a moment of reckoning' James Huntsman (pictured), the son of a billionaire Mormon philanthropist, is suing the church over claims it 'lied' about how it spent billions of dollars of its followers' hard-earned cash Gene and Michelle Judson (pictured), who filed the latest suit in California, are trying to get back $40,000 paid in tithing spanning decades of membership Certainly, with the church now on the hook for multi-million pound payouts to once loyal members accusing it of fraud, it does not appear an overstatement. But legal experts have questioned the validity of their claims, with one suggesting they smacked of disaffected members desperate to get their money back. Sam Brunson, a Mormon and tax law professor at Loyola University, said he was 'skeptical' that this was the church's judgment day. Meanwhile, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly referred to as the Mormon church, has dismissed the complaints as 'baseless'. The claims all assert that the church fraudulently misrepresented how it was spending member donations, known as tithes. They allege that ecclesiastical leaders, including former President Gordon B. Hinckley, made statements from the pulpit that tithing was only used for specific religious purposes. In fact, the church spent $1.4billion in tithing funds on City Creek Center, a luxury mall in downtown Salt Lake City, the lawsuits state. The spate of filings was triggered when, in August, an appeal court overturned a decision to dismiss Huntsman's $5million claim against the church, originally filed in 2021. Huntsman, the son of billionaire philanthropist Jon Huntsman, claimed the church was 'in dire straits' as followers were 'fleeing' the church amid allegations of fraud in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com in the wake of the decision. His and the class-action suits that have followed all cite allegations by whistleblower David Nielsen, a former employee of the church's secretive investment arm Ensign Peak, who alleged the fund was spending member donations on City Creek. They also lean on a decision by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in February last year to fine the church and Ensign Peak $5million for using shell companies to 'obscure' the size of its investment portfolio. Their cases appear to hinge on a statement made in 2003 by then-President Hinckley, who Huntsman says used to fly on his family's private jet. Hinckley insisted at the church's General Conference that tithes 'have not and will not be used' for City Creek, with the money coming instead from 'commercial entities owned by the church' and the 'earnings of invested reserve funds'. Huntsman claims that a statement made in 2003 by the church's then-president, Gordon B. Hinckley (pictured), made it clear that tithes would not be used on City Creek Huntsman's suit was sparked by a complaint by David Nielsen (pictured), a former employee of the church's investment fund, who said it used member donations to prop up its City Creek development in Salt Lake City A City Creek Center sign sits across the street from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints world headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah The church has insisted throughout the case that no actual tithing was used for the $1.4billion project, only earnings from invested tithings managed by Ensign Peak. LDS spokesman Sam Penrod has previously said 'the church did exactly what President Gordon B. Hinckley stated when it invested earnings on reserve funds in the City Creek project,' he said. Professor Brunson has called on the church to be more transparent about its finances, adding that Huntsman's suit tapped into a broader 'movement' of Mormons unhappy about how they believe the church is handling their money. But he doubted whether his claims would resonate with the majority of loyal members, who he said didn't view the allegations as 'sincere'. 'They come across very strongly as disaffected people trying to get their money back,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Frankly, that's probably an accurate representation.' He added: 'I suspect there are a number of former members who would love to get their tithing paid back 'But wanting to get money back is different from being able to prove that you were defrauded.' Brunson has said he thinks the cases are likely to fail, despite Huntsman's victory in the appeal court last year. He explained that the dispute over what constituted tithing was a 'religious question', which would play into the church's hands. 'The plaintiffs can argue that tithing includes the return on invested tithing. But if the LDS church says "no, tithing only represents the amount that members paid in, and not any earnings on it", that's an internal doctrinal issue and the courts are going to accept it.' The cases come after details emerged of how the church has amassed an estimated value of $236billion, with the majority of this stashed as ready cash in its secretive investment arm, Ensign Peak Advisors. Details have emerged of how the church has amassed such vast wealth - thought to be on a par with the sovereign wealth fund of South Korea. Its leaders expect the rank-and-file to donate 10 percent of their income in tithing, which is put towards annual expenditure, such as building new temples. The surplus is invested in a portfolio of stocks, bonds, private equity and other businesses. It closely tracks the S&P 500, but with minor adjustments as its asset managers seek to outperform the index, according to a report by The Widow's Mite, the group of unnamed current and former Mormons. The report's authors claim much of the fund's estimated $175billion in assets sits unused instead of being put towards charitable causes, as its followers expect. As a Dorothea Lange photo is displayed on screen, Rosa Parks Elementary fifth graders Bea Chase, left, Ohio Robinson, center, and Isis Dash deliver remarks during the Bay Area Day of Remembrance at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres on Saturday in San Francisco. Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle Grace Shimizu of Oakland reminded the audience at the AMC Kabuki 8 that thousands of Japanese Latin Americans had also been interned during World War II and are seeking reparations. Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle The first group of 82 Japanese-Americans arrive at the Manzanar internment camp, or War Relocation Center, carrying their belongings in suitcases and bags, in Californias Owens Valley on March 21, 1942. Eliot Elisofon/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images The annual Day of Remembrance in San Francisco, which commemorates the incarceration of more than 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, pivoted on Saturday to include speakers and honorees who spoke at length about Palestinian rights and against Israel. Palestinian scarves known as keffiyehs adorned the shoulders of many at the two-hour event, which was sponsored by a consortium of Japanese American advocacy groups and held at the AMC Kabuki 8 theater in Japantown. Attendees received flyers urging Japanese Americans to condemn Zionism, the movement that established the state of Israel in 1948 as a homeland for Jews after the Holocaust. Palestinian displacement, transfer, colonization, apartheid all happened pre-Oct. 7, which is important to understand, declared keynote speaker Rev. Michael Yoshii, in the afternoons only reference to the day nearly five months ago when Hamas attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 people, according to Israel, and taking hundreds of hostages. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yet Israels ongoing violent response to that terrorism launching a war that Gaza health officials say has killed more than 28,000 Palestinans and flattened much of the territory has inspired fury and calls for a cease-fire from around the world, including among those at the Kabuki 8. Rev. Rodney Yano, left, and Rev. Joanne Tolosa, of Konko Church of San Francisco, conduct a purification ceremony at the Bay Area Day of Remembrance 2024 program. Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle Yoshii, who led a Methodist church in Alameda for three decades and is descended from people sent to internment camps, spoke instead of his work with Palestinians in the West Bank as images of a decimated Gaza flashed across a screen behind him. His keynote ventured beyond the war. Turning to the West Bank, Yoshii referred to the massive barrier built by Israel 20 years ago in response to Palestinian violence as the apartheid wall and condemned ultra-religious Israelis who have moved en masse into the West Bank, displacing Palestinian communities. Linking the Palestinians plight with that of the interned Japanese Americans, he accused Israel of similar racism. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The audience applauded, but it was Palestinian-born scholar Rabab Abdulhadi, a professor of Arab and Muslim studies at San Francisco State, who earned a standing ovation. Bay Area Day of Remembrance Chair Jeffery Matsuoka, left, holds the Dr. Clifford I. Uyeda Peace and Humanitarian Award for professor Rabab Abdulhadi while she delivers remarks at the Bay Area Day of Remembrance 2024 program at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres. Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle In her address, Abdulhadi said that both Japanese Americans during World War II and Palestinians have been forcibly removed from their communities those of Japanese descent to internment camps, and todays Palestinians to the open-air prison in Gaza where thousands lack food, water and medical care as they await a renewed bombardment threatened by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unless Hamas releases more than 100 hostages it still holds. Abdulhadi, too, ventured from the war in her remarks. She referred to the leadership at San Francisco State University as the pro-Zionist administration in apparent reference to a decision by President Lynn Mahoney two years ago not to hire two professors for Abdulhadis program. She referred to President Joe Biden as Genocide Joe. The Day of Remembrance consortium gave Abdulhadi its Peace and Humanitarian Award, named for the late Dr. Clifford Uyeda, a pediatrician who spoke out against Japanese war crimes in China and other injustices. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The second half of Saturdays event focused more on the internment, with a dramatic lighting of a massive, 11-branch candelabra with arms representing prison camps. Bekki Shibayama participates in a candle-lighting ceremony at the Bay Area Day of Remembrance 2024 program. Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle The event also featured clips from next weeks Films of Remembrance festival sponsored by the Nichi Bei Foundation, and a group of fifth-graders from Rosa Parks Elementary who recited poems inspired by photos of children taken by famed Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange before they and their families were incarcerated. Grace Shimizu of Oakland also reminded the audience that thousands of Japanese Latin Americans had also been interned and are seeking reparations. The event was followed by a procession to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California on Sutter Street. Kindergarteners in rural West Virginia must endure a three hour commute to and from school each day, leaving the five year-olds too exhausted to play. Among them is Kolbie Hale, 5, who gets up at 5am each weekday and leaves her home in Waiteville, West Virginia, each day at 5.45am- like clockwork. Her parents drive her to the home of her grandmother Tammy Hale, a few miles down the road. There, she she waits for the 6.25am bus to Mountain View Elementary and Middle School, with the trip taking 90 minutes. She arrives in time to recite the pledge of allegiance with the rest of her classmates at 8.25am, The Register-Herald reported. The school, located on Mountain View in Union, is just under 20 miles from Kolbie's home in Waiteville, roughly a 30-minute drive by car if taking State Highwy 3 West, the most direct route. But Kolbie is picked up first and must then endure a very scenic route to collect the other children, including a trip over Peters Mountain. And at the end of the day, she must suffer the same journey in reverse after school ends at 3:25pm - meaning she's the last student dropped off, at around 5pm. She has dinner with her parents Erin and Rick Hale, who have themselves just finished work, and is in bed by 7:30pm to give her enough sleep before she wakes up again at 5am the next day. An excruciatingly long day for a five-year-old that has caused a mix of frustration and angst by many families, who claim that the bus times have only increased over the years with the consolidation of several schools in Monroe County. Little five-year-old Kolbie Hale with backpack in tow is seen getting off the school bus after a grueling commute Mountain View Middle and Elementary School is located on Mountain View Drive The blue line on the map shows the most direct route from Waiteville to the last stop in Union at Mountain View Elementary and Middle School Kolbie's grandmother, Tammy Hale told The Register-Herald that the needs of the children should come first. She warned that an 11 to 12 hour day, five days a week, for ten months a year, for 13 years - is not in the best interest of any child. 'These students, they have to do this anywhere from 10 to 13 years depending on if they start in preschool,' Hale said. 'But for kindergarten through 10th grade, let's say so right there's 11 years that they are doing this, 10 months out of the year, and that adds up to a lot of time.' The unincorporated community of Waiteville is located in Monroe County, between Craig County, Virginia and Giles County, Virginia. Up until 2009, the area had a postal office, and according to a 2020 census a population of approximately 12,000. Greg Hubbard, a longtime resident of Monroe County, remembered when he was a kid, the agonizing hour and 20-minute bus ride he took each way to get to Union. He thought things had changed, but when he moved his family from Gap Hills to Waiteville two years ago, he discovered they had not. His daughter Arabella, 15, was dealing with the same issues. 'She'd catch the bus at 15 till 6 in the morning and most days she's didn't get home till 5.30 in the evening, sometimes later.' 'Two hours in the morning, two hours in the evening,' He added, 'I thought it would get better.' He said the trip became so stressful that in January his daughter enrolled in homeschooling and started taking classes online. 'It got to be too much,' he said, 'the bus ride was a deciding factor.' Though she would no longer be around teens her own age, he explained, it was a good decision in the end. Hubbard and some other families formed a community meeting a year and a half ago with the board of education, and the county commission voicing their concerns. But, Hubbard claimed nothing transpired. They told me, 'they will see what we can do' and that's it. Nothing ever happened.' He recalled one idea of using smaller buses and vans and splitting up the routes instead of consolidating everyone in that area of the county into one long journey. That idea, he said, was shot down. Five-year-old Kolbie Hale and her parents Erin and Rick walking home with their daughter from the bus stop Kolbie's grandmother Tammy Hale meets her granddaughter at the bus stop. Kolbie is the last passenger off the bus Kolbie's Erin mom looking at her watch as she waits for the school bus to arrive Monroe County School Board member Sabrina Stutts said she is aware of the long bus rides that children in Waiteville have, but claims there is little the county can do. According to the West Virginia Division of Highways, Stutts said they determined that the route the buses are currently taking is the safest, particularly during the wintertime. She also explained that one of the roads that may not take quite as long is not always cleared, and said it may be treated as a secondary road. 'It's my understanding that there's kind of geographically, there's not a whole lot to do about it to make it any shorter,' Stutts said. Hubbard believes that officials should have had a better plan in place before they started consolidating schools. 'They consolidated all of our county high schools into one, and instead of putting it in the central part of the county, they put it on the far end of the county,' he argued. 'It was set up then to where kids could have a normal day. I mean, I can understand consolidation, but if you're going to consolidate you put it in a central location, not all the way on one side of the county.' Until things change Kolbie will continue her challenging routine. When the bus drops her off back at her grandma's home around 5pm, an exhausted Kolbie gets picked up by her parents. For the youngster, it is dinner then bedtime at 7.30pm - leaving no time for extracurricular activities and little family time. Hale believes the long commute is also taking its toll on her grandbaby. 'Monday and Tuesday, she's usually okay,' she said. 'By Wednesday and Thursday and Friday, she is dragging.' Until things change, she said, they 'try to keep the weekends quiet.' 'We don't try to keep her on schedule,' Hale said. 'The weekends are to rest up.' Officials in the Bahamas are grappling with a disturbing surge in violent crime that they fear could hurt tourism, a vital industry for the Caribbean archipelago. Last month, the US State Department issued a travel advisory, citing a spike in murders in January and warning that killings 'have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets.' At the time of the alert, the country of just 400,000 had recorded 18 murders in 2024. That number has since jumped to 25. None of the murder victims have been foreigners. Then earlier this month two moms from Kentucky came forward with allegations that they were raped by staff at Pirate's Cove beach resort on Grand Bahama after receiving 'spiked' cocktails during a shore excursion from their Carnival Cruise. And just this week, the family of an 80-year-old Canadian woman who suffers from Alzheimer's went public with allegations that she was raped by another tourist at the Warwick Hotel on Paradise Island. Officials in the Bahamas are grappling with a disturbing surge in violent crime that they fear could hurt tourism, a vital industry for the Caribbean archipelago Investigators work the scene of a recent homicide in the Bahamas. The archipelago of 400,000 people has recorded 25 murders this year, a sharp increase from historic norms For Bahama residents, concerns about rising crime are twofold: Not only does the violence impact their own quality of life, but it threatens to disrupt the tourism industry that powers the nation's economy. Earlier this week, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis drew criticism after he appeared to blame journalists for reporting on crime in the country, rather than the criminals themselves. 'I want to call upon the press to be sensitive,' Davis said Monday as he addressed religious leaders in New Providence. 'I think they should see their role as trying to help the country. I'm not saying not to report, but where you report, it may make a difference.' 'Every bullet that is fired appears to be front page news on all of our daily news. And what happens AP picks it up, Reuters picks it up,' he added, referring to international newswire services. Although Davis also spoke about crime-fighting strategies, his targeting of the Bahamian press ignited furious controversy and criticism from local journalists. 'The comments were ill-placed and ill advised,' Our News anchor Jerome Sawyer told Eyewitness News Bahamas. 'When your media is on a murder scene back-to-back-to-back-to-back, suddenly that's an anomaly, and it is our job to sound the alarm.' On Thursday, Davis defended his comments, insisting to reporters: 'I'm not trying to censor the media, I'm not a dictator.' 'I'm not trying to censor the media, I'm not a dictator,' said Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis after scolding journalists for reporting on rising crime Wanted posters are seen for murder suspects sought by Bahamian police The US State Department said in January that 'retaliatory gang violence' appeared to be the primary motive in the murders seen so far this year. 'The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands,' the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs said in a Travel Advisory. 'In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the 'Over the Hill' area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population.' The alert warned tourists not to physically resist any robbery attempt, and not to answer the front door at any hotel or residence for unknown people. The number of homicides reported in the archipelago last year isn't available, but killings increased by 8 percent from 2021 to 2022, with 128 slayings reported, up from 119, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Although the year is still young, the Bahamas is on pace to exceed 190 murders in 2024 if the current rate holds, far surpassing the most recent annual total available. Local officials say that drugs, gangs and poverty are significant factors driving the violence. 'We target the drug dealers in many of these inner city communities, and we know that is the reason why we're having all of this crime,' Assistant Chief of Police Damien Robinson told ZNS Network in a recent one-hour special on crime in the Bahamas. 'It's gang retaliations based on drugs. We know that that is the key reason, and everything that follows is because of this drug issue that we are having,' he added. ACP Anthony Rolle added that poverty was a significant factor driving young people into the gang lifestyle. 'The major problems in our community is as a result of socio economic issues, namely unemployment,' he said. 'We have a lack of proper housing. We have (a lack of) education. We are also low income. So these are impacting our communities, the residents of our communities,' said Rolle. 'We target the drug dealers in many of these inner city communities, and we know that is the reason why we're having all of this crime,' said Assistant Chief of Police Damien Robinson Although the Bahamas may be associated with wealth and luxury, for local residents, the reality is often starkly different. The poverty rate in the Bahamas was estimated in 2017 at nearly 15 percent, according to the United Nations Development Programme. More recent figures show an unemployment rate of 13.24 percent in the island paradise, with the youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) approaching one-third. Officials say that economic desperation pushes some young people toward a life of drug dealing and gangs, fueling the recent rise in murders. Tragically for the country, the rise in violence crime now poses a real threat to tourism, which fuels the Bahamian economy and provides thousands of jobs. Last year 5.8 million visitors came to the Bahamas in the first seven months of 2023, putting the country on track for more than 8 million visitors for the year. Tourism accounts for roughly half for the country's gross domestic product. Separately, several reports of rape at upscale Bahamas resorts have spurred international headlines, although the circumstances of the cases vary. Earlier this month, Kentucky mothers Dongayla Dobson and Amber Shearer, both 31, came forward publicly to report they had been sexually assaulted during a shore excursion from their Carnival Cruise. The two women, who gave permission to be named, said they were drugged by 'spiked' cocktails and raped by staff at Pirate's Cove beach resort on Grand Bahama. Earlier this month, Kentucky mothers Dongayla Dobson and Amber Shearer, both 31, came forward publicly to report they had been sexually assaulted during a shore excursion In a separate shocking case, an 80-year-old grandmother from Canada, who suffers from Alzheimer's, was abducted and raped at the Warwick Hotel Paradise Island Bahamas The resort furiously denied their claims, and local police appeared to cast doubt on the allegations, releasing the suspects after reviewing security footage. But Ladonna Batty, a family nurse practitioner from Arkansas, corroborated the allegations, describing the traumatic scene she encountered when she treated the two women. Batty told Fox News the two women were bruised, partially disrobed, vomiting and disoriented, and said she had no reason to doubt they were assaulted. In a separate shocking case, an 80-year-old grandmother from Canada, who suffers from Alzheimer's, was abducted and raped at the Warwick Hotel Paradise Island Bahamas on January 28. Another Canadian, 61-year-old Gordon Wilkie of New Waterford, Nova Scotia, was arrested and charged with rape in the case. The alleged rapist did not know the victim, but got on the elevator with her and her daughter, and abducted her as the daughter stepped off the elevator on their floor, the victim's son told DailyMail.com this week. The mother was missing for some 40 minutes as the daughter and other guests searched frantically for her. Wilkie was arrested and charged with raping her in his hotel room. The victim's son, David Arhens, praised Bahamian police, but said resort staff at the Warwick were completely unhelpful, refusing to assist the search and delaying calling police. The resort has not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com. A holidaymaker is suing an airport parking company after workers 'forgot' to pick up her car at the airport. Nadine Emsley, 46, was flying for a 10-day trip to Kefalonia, Greece including a close friend's wedding in September. Using online comparison site Looking4.com, she booked the 111 meet and greet service at Heathrow Airport with JetParks. Before leaving for the airport Nadine - a lawyer from the Isle of Wight - tried to call JetParks to confirm her booking but the call went straight to voicemail. Court documents show after frantically calling the company a further 11 times in two hours as well as texting and emailing as they travelled to the airport, Nadine and brother Ollie were forced to pay 340 to park in the airport long stay car park. Nadine Emsley, 46, (left) and her brother Ollie (right) was flying for a 10-day trip to Kefalonia, Greece including a close friend's wedding in September Using online comparison site Looking4.com, she booked the 111 meet and greet service at Heathrow Airport with JetParks for her car A friend of Nadine's said: 'They were worried they would miss the flight. It was only because they planned to arrive early to check in bags that they made it at all. 'She phoned and phoned the number and nobody answered so they had no choice but to go to Heathrow long stay which was expensive.' Nadine told friends she spent several days of her holiday going back and forth with customer service agents and was told a high volume of calls meant she couldn't get through. She described the response as 'nothing short of hopeless and entirely missing the point'. The lawyer initially asked the company to refund her money but after receiving no response she is now suing Cavu Ecommerce which was previously called Looking4Parking Limited for 480. In her claim form, seen by MailOnline, she alleges JetParks is not an independent company and is linked to Looking4.com despite not advertising the connection and both companies are actually owned by Manchester Airport Plc. The friend added: 'Nadine is just flabbergasted that they are continuing to fight this. She's tried to resolve this but they are just belligerent about it. 'Because she happens to be a lawyer she can do this but what happens to somebody else who can't - there is nobody who is going to help them to get their money back. 'When you innocently go online to book car parking for your holiday do you know who it is? There is no transparency and when things go wrong there is nobody who will help you.' Court documents show after frantically calling the company a further 11 times in two hours as well as texting and emailing as they travelled to the airport They had to pay 340 to park in the airport long stay car park over their holiday Nadine told friends she spent several days of her holiday going back and forth with customer service agents and was told a high volume of calls meant she couldn't get through Cavu Ecommerce did not respond when asked to comment but court documents show it is disputing the claim Looking4.com is linked to JetParks and says it only provided the booking services while the losses relate to Nadine's issue with the parking provider. After an initial hearing took place this week the case is due before the County Court this summer. Nadine is not the only passenger to have a bad experience parking with JetParks. The company has a 1.5 star rating on Trustpilot with customers complaining of unanswered calls, long waits, damaged vehicles and items being stolen. One wrote: We booked a meet and greet service, they didn't answer the phone until 15 mins before my car park appointment and then when someone turned up after we had been waiting for another 45 mins they told me that despite someone being in the office they were to lazy to come and collect the car, delaying my check in.' Another commented: 'We dropped off the car with no problems, apart from a slight wait for the driver. However, on our return we waited over 30 minutes and then the following day found that cash and other items had been stolen from the car. We contacted the company who refused to investigate or accept any liability for the theft.' London Fashion Week organisers have called on the Chancellor to scrap the controversial 'tourist tax' in next month's Budget, as the most important event in the multi-billion-pound industry's calendar gets under way. With the world's biggest brands and top designers descending on the capital for the annual showcase of homegrown talent, the Government's refusal to reinstate the tax-free shopping perk was condemned as 'shooting ourselves in the foot'. In 2020, then Chancellor Rishi Sunak abolished rules which allowed tourists from outside the EU to claim back VAT on purchases instantly making them 20 per cent more expensive. Recent research calculated that the move was costing the British economy more than 11 billion a year. Ministers argue that reinstating the VAT refund would cost 2 billion a year in lost revenue. However critics claim the figure fails to take into account the huge amount that tourists spend on hotels, shops, restaurants and theatre trips. With the world's biggest brands and top designers descending on the capital for the annual showcase of homegrown talent, the Government's refusal to reinstate the tax-free shopping perk was condemned as 'shooting ourselves in the foot'. Pictured: Caroline Rush In 2020, then Chancellor Rishi Sunak abolished rules which allowed tourists from outside the EU to claim back VAT on purchases instantly making them 20 per cent more expensive. Pictured: Jeremy Hunt The fashion industry has also hit back at claims that the tourist tax affects only luxury retail stores. Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), said last night: 'What is quite often positioned as a luxury tax is actually something that is impacting independent businesses that either have retail stores or sell to retailers. 'And many of these independent businesses manufacture in the UK, so if their sales decrease then the manufacturing outlook would decrease, having a knock-on effect across the country.' The BFC, which oversees London Fashion Week, has thrown its weight behind the Mail's campaign to reverse the Treasury's decision to scrap the VAT refund scheme. More than 400 companies, including Marks & Spencer, Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Harrods, have also backed the campaign. The fashion industry has also hit back at claims that the tourist tax affects only luxury retail stores. Pictured: Rishi Sunak Earlier this month, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to investigate the benefits and disadvantages of the levy, but the industry wants him to move quicker and restore tax-free shopping in his Budget next month. Thierry Andretta, chief executive of the British luxury fashion brand Mulberry, said: 'Businesses are suffering and losing out to European counterparts because of the loss of tourists. Bringing back this policy would give a much-needed boost to the economy and help encourage investment, new jobs and growth.' Industry veteran Harold Tillman, who is credited with turning London Fashion Week into a global event it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year also criticised the Government's refusal to scrap the tourist tax, saying it was 'shooting ourselves in the foot at a very difficult time'. He added: 'We shouldn't be worrying about something that is unnecessary competition.' A police officer who became one of Britain's most prolific rapists has been stripped of his pension by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. David Carrick, who was convicted of 85 offences, including 48 rapes against a dozen women, has had most of his 22,000 annual pension stopped after the Mayor's move. But Tories criticised Mr Khan for doing this only last week seven months after Chris Philp, the Policing Minister, signed off on the pension's forfeiture. One Tory source said that Mr Khan had left the decision until now because he wanted to grab headlines during his Mayoral re-election campaign. He added: 'We welcome the fact that Carrick will finally be stripped of his pension, but Ministers signed this off last summer, so why has it taken so long to implement? David Carrick , who was convicted of 85 offences, including 48 rapes against a dozen women, has had most of his 22,000 annual pension stopped after the Mayor's move Carrick, 49, was a Met officer for 20 years until his arrest in 2021 The Tories criticised Mr Khan for doing this seven months after Chris Philp, the Policing Minister, signed off on the pension's forfeiture 'The Mayor must stop manipulating his office and responsibility for London's safety purely for political gain in an election year.' However, a source close to Mr Khan said the Labour Mayor had to wait for the appeals process to conclude first. Carrick, 49, was a Met officer for 20 years until his arrest in 2021. From 2009 he served in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit, which requires one of the highest security clearances for a police officer. Throughout his career he raped at least a dozen women, many of whom he was in a relationship with, met through a dating app or were among his colleagues. He told his victims: 'I'm a police officer, you're safe with me.' Last February he was jailed for a minimum of 30 years. Mr Khan who as Mayor oversees the Met announced at the time that he would strip Carrick of his police pension. The decision was also agreed by the then Home Secretary Suella Braverman. But after Mr Philp authorised the forfeiture, the Mayor's Office for Policing had to go through a legal process, giving Carrick the opportunity to respond. Carrick will lose around 65 per cent of his pension the contribution made by his employer, the Met. He will still be eligible for the proceeds of his own contributions as the law does not allow for those to be taken from him. Last night, Mr Khan said: 'David Carrick blatantly abused his position of trust as a police officer to carry out his appalling crimes. 'I have been very clear that steps should be taken to remove the employer contributions of his pension and it has now been decided that David Carrick will lose all these employer contributions.' The Scouts are to pay 75,000 a year to employ an equity, diversity and inclusion boss amid concern over wokery and transgender activism. The hefty salary was disclosed in an advert posted on the Scouts website which says they are looking for their next 'Head of EDI' to manage a team of nine and work a 35-hour week, potentially from home, 'with regular travel'. But critics have questioned whether the Scouts should spend such a large amount of resources on the role following concerns that EDI is being used to spread trans activist ideas within the organisation. Maya Forstater, chief executive of feminist campaign group Sex Matters, who was previously an assistant Cub Scout leader, said: 'The Scouts have real issue in terms of class, race and religion to some extent because traditionally they are white middle class. The hefty salary was disclosed in an advert posted on the Scouts website which says they are looking for their next 'Head of EDI' (Stock image) Pictured: Maya Forstater, chief executive of feminist campaign group Sex Matters, who was previously an assistant Cub Scout leader 'So they are trying to open up inclusion to groups of other kids, which is absolutely right and it does take work. 'But at the same time they have gone wild on the issue of gender identity. They are doing what everyone else is doing and as soon as you wave a rainbow flag they forget about safeguarding issues and their policies on trans kids are all 'affirm, affirm, affirm'. 'All of that is driven by a combination of EDI, people at headquarters and the gay, lesbian and trans Scouts group.' This latest EDI vacancy follows the Scouts announcing on networking website LinkedIn last August that they were recruiting eight new EDI staff. The Scouts have previously faced criticism for introducing a 'trans fun badge' for children as young as four, alongside a 'bisexual fun badge', a 'lesbian fun badge' and a 'Pride fun badge'. The organisation also came under fire for issuing a guide banning children from using the terms 'falling on deaf ears', 'man-made' and 'dinner ladies'. In Britain, the Scouts are funded through membership fees, donations and grants. A Scouts spokesman said: 'Keeping young people safe is our priority. 'We have a national safeguarding team with robust procedures and training in place that puts young people first and which everyone at the Scouts must follow.' Staff at the hospital where neonatal nurse Lucy Letby murdered seven babies pocketed more than 1.5 million in performance bonuses. Countess of Chester Hospital has also been accused of a 'cover-up' after it lost records of 'excellence' awards while Letby, 34, was there. Since 2018, its staff have received 459 Clinical Excellence Awards, the NHS equivalent of a performance bonus. Trusts apply to a nationally-run scheme for the awards, which are given for 'safe and high-quality care'. Critics have called them a 'gravy train' for doctors because they effectively become permanent additions to their salaries. The awards come up for renewal every five years and only a small number are not renewed. Last August, Lucy Letby was sentenced to 14 life orders after being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six more More than half of the total amount of award money 792,001 was given in 2022-23, while the Letby trial was going on. The Chester hospital's management was heavily criticised over its handling of the Letby case. Last August she was sentenced to 14 life orders after being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six more. The horror took place at the hospital's neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. The hospital claims it has lost those records for Clinical Excellence Awards handed out during that period. In internal emails seen by The Mail on Sunday, staff said they 'assume they are no longer held'. Countess of Chester Hospital has also been accused of a 'cover-up' after it lost records of 'excellence' awards while Letby, 34, was there According to information disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, since 2018 the value of Clinical Excellence Awards to hospital staff was 1.56 million. Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers' Alliance, which carried out the research, said: 'Taxpayers will have serious questions about the culture within the Health Service, given the money being handed out to one of Britain's most notorious trusts. 'And with the missing information perfectly aligning to one of the darkest periods in the trust's history, there will also be concerns about a cover-up. The NHS needs to learn that it has to be transparent and open with the taxpayers who fund it and with patients who rely on it.' Hospital sources said awards were handed out in the year of Letby's killing spree. But they said the awards and the records of them going missing are not connected to the baby killer. A spokesman for Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Clinical Excellence Awards are awarded across the NHS based on national guidelines which the trust applies to ensure transparency and integrity in the award process.' Drug-induced milk from transgender women who were born male is as good for babies as a mother's breast milk, an NHS Trust has said. A leaked letter from the Medical Director of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust describes both as 'human milk' and says that they are the 'ideal food for infants'. The letter was sent on behalf of the Trust's Chief Executive in response to a campaign group's complaint about the Trust's gender policies. It defends the controversial practice of 'induced lactation' by means of powerful medication to enable trans women to simulate breastfeeding. It also claims that the term 'human milk' is 'meant to be neutral and is not gender-biased'. But responding to the letter, Labour MP Rosie Duffield said: 'Babies can't be used as guinea pigs for someone else's lifestyle choice. A leaked letter from the Medical Director of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust describes both as 'human milk' and says that they are the 'ideal food for infants'. Stock Image The letter was sent on behalf of the Trust's Chief Executive in response to a campaign group's complaint about the Trust's gender policies. Pictured: The Royal Sussex County Hospital Labour MP Rosie Duffield (pictured) said: 'Babies can't be used as guinea pigs for someone else's lifestyle choice.' in response to the letter 'When a man has not and cannot grow a baby, why on earth are we pandering to this? Who does it benefit? Not the children. We wouldn't do any other medical experiments on babies. Breast milk made by a baby's biological mother is tailor-made for that baby.' Ms Duffield also warned of the 'ethics of untested chemicals in children'. She added that the NHS Trust's use of 'human milk' for milk from both mothers and trans women risks erasing women. In the letter, the Medical Director claims 'there is clear and overwhelming evidence that human milk is the ideal food for infants', referring to both breast milk and the 'induced lactation' of biological men. How a biological male could breastfeed a child BY PENNY WARD In the womb and during early childhood both boys and girls develop breast tissue, but during puberty only females are subject to the surges of oestrogen and progesterone which enable breasts to produce milk later. Lactation happens naturally after birth when a hormone called prolactin kicks in and stimulates milk-producing 'alveolar' cells. The baby sucking the breast also stimulates the release of prolactin and another hormone, oxytocin, which makes the breast tissue release milk. Women who haven't given birth but wish to breastfeed have been able to do so by taking hormones and stimulating their breast tissue with a breast pump. The same combination of drugs can be given to a biological male, who first needs to grow breast tissue capable of lactation. This requires them to take testosterone suppressants along with oestrogen and progesterone hormone treatment. Once there is enough breast tissue, the brain must be stimulated to produce prolactin, which can be done by giving domperidone or metoclopramide. These drugs are usually used in low doses for a short time to treat nausea and vomiting. Higher doses can stimulate the production of prolactin in the brain. When used for a month or more this enables the new breasts to start to produce milk, just like those of a biological female. There are very few studies in this area. Domperidone can cause heart arrhythmias. Taking the higher doses of this drug to stimulate prolactin secretion requires care in people with a genetic disposition to heart conditions. A man given oestrogen is also at higher risk of breast cancer. Advertisement The Director goes on: 'The evidence which is available demonstrates that the milk is comparable to that produced following the birth of a baby.' The document was revealed as part of a report by the think-tank Policy Exchange. Lottie Moore, the organisation's Head of Equality and Identity, said: 'This letter is unbalanced and naive in its assertion that the secretions produced by a male on hormones can nourish an infant in the way a mother's breast milk can.' Ms Moore added: 'A child's welfare must always take precedence over identity politics and contested belief systems that are not evidence-based. The NHS should not be indulging in this nonsense. It is compromising women's rights and child safeguarding.' In explaining its policies, the Trust cited a five-month scientific study in 2022 which measured 'infant milk testosterone concentrations' and found 'no observable infant side effects' on babies of lactating transgender women. But experts rejected the claims and pointed out the overall lack of scientific studies on such side effects. 'There have been very few publications and the vast majority have not looked at what's in the milk itself,' one medical expert said. Indeed, some of the campaigners' concerns are over the safety of the drugs given to men to produce the milk drugs which can cause heart problems. They also point out that the result produces very little milk. There is 'barely enough for a single feed' per day, the same expert told The Mail on Sunday. University Hospitals Sussex Trust is a member of Stonewall's controversial 'Diversity Champions' programme. It admitted that its policy was derived after advice from 'external organisations' but refused to clarify which. Nonetheless, the Trust rejected accusations by campaigners that its policies are 'clearly biased towards the demands of trans- people rather than the wellbeing of children'. It added: 'The Trust takes the wellbeing and safeguarding of children extremely seriously.' Meanwhile, the Trust has refused to reveal how many births in its hospitals have been to trans men, acknowledging only that it is a 'very small number'. Milli Hill, author of The Positive Birth Book and Give Birth Like a Feminist, said: 'Breastfeeding is not about the experience of the person doing the feeding it is about nourishing and nurturing a baby. 'No newborn should be used as a prop to affirm an adult's identity as 'female', when clearly they are not female. If they were actually female, they would not need to take drugs to try to induce a tiny amount of milk from their nipples. No male person has ever been able to produce enough milk to exclusively feed a baby and there are no studies into the long-term safety of offering such a substance to a baby. 'There is no reason for an adult to do this to a baby, and I would go so far as to describe it as abusive. For an NHS Trust to be supporting such an abuse is an absolute disgrace.' A spokesman from University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We stand by the facts of the letter and the cited evidence supporting them.' Dentists have come under fire for blocking trained support staff from offering basic care effectively hindering attempts to ease the nightmarish backlog of NHS dental appointments. The UK has 15,000 skilled dental hygienists and therapists, yet experts claim they are often barred from performing their duties by 'protectionist' dentists. It comes as Government plans are set to allow foreign dentists to work in the UK without an examination on their qualifications to ease the patient logjam. Miranda Steeples, president of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, argued that inroads could rapidly be made into the backlog if these workers were better utilised. 'Our members could take on routine dental appointments, leaving dentists to tackle the complex issues such as extractions and fitting dentures, crowns and bridges,' she said. Miranda Steeples, president of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talking to staff and patients during a visit to Gentle Dental practice in Newquay, Cornwall, earlier this month 'But some dentists think we are second-rate and don't trust us. This is absolute rubbish it's simply protectionism, which doesn't help anyone.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this month unveiled the 'recovery plan' for NHS dentistry, including mobile check-up centres and wider coverage of fluoride in water supplies to protect against tooth decay. But Ms Steeples wants the project to make better use of her staff. She revealed she has previously quit jobs in practices after being reprimanded for doing fillings a duty she is highly trained to perform. Dental hygienists and therapists aren't covered by the NHS gold-plated pension scheme, either, which offers guaranteed annual pay from retirement until death. Lawyers for Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright have singled out the pilot of the helicopter crash that killed Netflix co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson. NT WorkSafe announced last week it was levelling a slew of new charges against Mr Wright and his company Helibrook over the fatal crash on February 28, 2022. Mr Wilson was hanging from a helicopter on a crocodile egg collecting mission in the NT's West Arnhem Land when it crashed and killed him on impact. The NT's workplace safety watchdog charged Mr Wright and his company with 'reckless conduct for operating unsafe aircraft' on Thursday. Sebastian Robinson, who was manning the doomed flight and left a paraplegic, is not facing similar charges. Mr Wright's lawyers have written to NT WorkSafe questioning why there have been no consequences for Mr Robinson under the Work Health and Safety Act. Matt Wright (pictured) is facing charges for 'reckless conduct for operating unsafe aircraft' brought by NT WorkSafe over the helicopter crash near King River in Arnham Land in February 2022 where egg collector Mr Wilson lost his life Pilot Sebastian Robinson (left), who was left a paraplegic, is not facing similar charges (pictured: Mr Robinson and victim Mr Wilson) The letter claims 'authorities continue to target Wright despite him not being present when the crash occurred'. The letter, which was seen by the Sunday Telegraph, states that 'the pilot of the helicopter that crashed was a contractor to Wright's company, Helibrook'. 'As a contractor he also had a number of legal duties under WHS laws,' the letter adds. The letter reportedly quotes from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's (ATSB) final report into the crash which found that Mr Robinson did not identify the helicopter's reducing fuel state before the fatal rash. The report also found the pilot's use of cocaine in the previous few days before the crash increased the likelihood of fatigue but there was insufficient evidence. Mr Wilson's widow, Danielle Wilson, is suing Mr Wright personally over the crash that killed her husband. Ms Wilson previously launched a civil suit against his helicopter company Helibrook and Australia's civil aviation authority, alleging both failed in their duty of care to her late husband when he fell to his death on a crocodile egg collecting trip. Helibrook, the company owned by Mr Wilson's co-star Matt Wright, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), who cleared him to be suspended from the chopper, were both named as respondents. Ms WIlson's lawyers sought a freezing order on Mr Wright and his wife Kaia's assets at a Federal Court hearing on Thursday. However, seven of the nine transactions her lawyers are concerned about allegedly took place before the crash happened. Wright told the Sunday Telegraph he was 'bitterly disappointed this has turned into a legal dispute over money'. 'No amount of money will bring Willow back, and it's hurtful to imply that normal business transactions that occurred before the accident are in some way related to this lawsuit,' he said. Mr Wright has been committed to stand trial on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the Northern Territory's Supreme Court next year. Mr Wirght has 'strenuously' denied any wrongdoing. Naima Weigel, 36, who is homeless, holds her dog Baby on Eighth Street in San Francisco earlier this month. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Thousands of people cycle in and out of San Franciscos homeless shelters every year, but where many of them land next is a mystery. Of the 10,738 exits recorded from the citys shelter system in 2023, 22% went back to homelessness, 26% went to housing of some sort and 52% left for unknown destinations, according to city data analyzed by the Chronicle. The total doesnt represent the number of people who used the shelter, since each person could exit several times. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Although the city requires its nonprofit shelter operators to conduct exit interviews with shelter guests, officials say its not always possible. Some people simply leave and never return to their bed. Operators also say they dont have enough resources to both run their shelters and do such tracking. Naima Weigel, left, and Hyla Lacer who are both unhoused share Skittles together on Eighth Street in San Francisco last week. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle A community group that recently analyzed the data says its another example of the city wasting public funds and failing to identify effective solutions for one of San Franciscos biggest problems. City homelessness officials said the unknown category could mean many things, from going home to family or independently finding an apartment to bedding down in a tent. There hasnt been a priority on tracking people because shelters have mainly been meant for respite while the city maintains a separate system designed to help people find more stable housing. Emily Cohen, spokesperson for the city Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, acknowledges the data collection issues and said the agency is working with providers to improve tracking. Her department this past year allocated $5.5 million to provide case managers at all shelters, and though the results havent been assessed yet, shelter providers said they hope it will mean more residents will be connected with services. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is certainly one area we would like to see strengthened, she said. But even so, Cohen argues that looking at data collected by shelter providers is not a complete picture of San Franciscans exiting homelessness. The city, she said, is more focused on the outcomes documented by the citys coordinated entry system, a centralized data system designed to assess and match unhoused people with the best housing fit for them. When an individual seeks homeless services in San Francisco, their information is entered into the data system, and from there, caseworkers set out to find them a spot in a shelter, transitional or permanent supportive housing or provided rental assistance or housing vouchers There were 5,826 people in that system as of Friday. And that system, Cohen said, has seen demonstrative success: More than 3,600 people were newly housed or prevented from becoming homeless last year alone, according to city data. Thats more than double the number of people assisted through the coordinated entry system two years prior, and city officials attribute that to more efficient placements as the number of street counseling teams and other services grew in recent years. San Francisco reported 7,754 homeless people across the city in 2022, the latest year for which data is available. Of those, 4,397 people were unsheltered, sleeping outdoors or in a vehicle. Our system as a whole is housing more and more people, Cohen said. I think ultimately that is showing an improvement in our system functions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats not a good enough justification for not tracking everyone coming out of shelter, said Mark Nagel, co-founder of the community group RescueSF. His organization did its own analysis of the statistics before the Chronicle did and he says the city should try harder to verifiably route people directly from shelter into housing and services instead of leaning on the extra step of connecting to the coordinated entry system. He and the Chronicle both concluded the city spent around $80 million last year on sheltering people who were listed as exiting to either homelessness or unknown destinations. Its like they dont really have a strategy about this, Nagel said. The attitude is lets just do the shelters without demanding accountability, and its not solving the problem of getting people off the street. If people go to shelter, they need housing and services. But this is just going through the motions, and the shelter exit data shows that. Nagels call for better tracking follows a rapid expansion of the citys shelter system. It added 314 beds toward the end of last year to reach a capacity of 3,665 people throughout 47 locations, which represents a 60% increase since 2018. The nightly cost per bed averages at about $180. Some shelters are known as navigation centers, which all have some counseling services on site, but most are conventional shelters that have fewer services. Increasingly, though, homeless department managers are trying to make all shelters more able to shepherd people into housing and other types of aid. The goal is to have one case manager for every 25 adult residents and slightly more at family shelters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We absolutely need more flow through shelter into housing, but people also need to be moved in off the streets, said Cohen. Thats what the shelters are for. Coordinated entry is for helping people into housing. One shelter in particular stood out for having no idea where almost every guest landed. The Sanctuary, a 200-bed facility for adult men and women run by the nonprofit Episcopal Community Services, reported that 96% of exits were listed as having unknown destinations, with the rest either going to housing, treatment or in the case of three people being listed as deceased. Chris Callandrillo, chief program officer for ECS, said that until late last year the shelter only had enough staff to monitor the rooms, making sure everything is clean and safe. But the city homelessness department recently allocated funding for eight case managers to help people connect with housing and services, like rehab or job training. Its still early days, so we cant share what the impact is yet, he said. But its a welcome addition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Will this drive better housing placements? I dont know. Everything still goes through coordinated entry, so at this point the case managers are really extra hands for that. But its got to help. Several shelter residents said they dont expect people operating those facilities to track them. Why tell them? Theres no reason to, said Naima Weigel, 36, who left one shelter two weeks ago to check in at the Bayshore Navigation Center shelter without telling the other shelter where she went. The right way to get anything around here is through the coordinated entry system, everyone knows that. But its really up to you even there, she said. If you want to make things happen, show up and work on it. Thats what my mom did, and she got housed. Im working on mine now. At Hamilton Families emergency shelter, its a different story. Just 25% of those who left the organizations emergency shelter left for unknown reasons, while 70% found temporary housing. Families are typically easier to house than individuals. Hamilton Families CEO Kyriell Noon chalks up the organizations success to its long-term focus. We have a housing-first model, but our larger goal is providing transitions out of homelessness permanently, he said. In that way, tracking is really important because we want to know how were doing in terms of reaching that goal. The nonprofit attempts to reach every family by phone six months after theyve left the shelter to see where theyre at, but Noon said some can still be impossible to find. I guess the reality of the situation is that long-term tracking is expensive, he said. It costs money and staff time that many of us simply dont have the bandwidth for. A Michigan waitress was fired after receiving a shocking $10,000 tip on a $32.43 bill, but the restaurant insisted the dismissal was a 'business decision' unrelated to the generous tip. Linsey Boyd, a Michigan mother who received the astonishing tip, was let go from the Mason Jar Cafe in Benton Harbor despite generously sharing the money with other eight coworkers. Boyd said in a now-deleted Facebook post that drama ensued after an anonymous customer left behind the $10,000 tip to honor a recently departed friend. The middle-aged man in a dark suit wished not to be identified, but said he was in town for the funeral and intended to spread some cheer through the generous gratuity, according to Detroit Free Press. 'I just gave him a hug. I didn't even know his name at that point, but I gave him a hug. He then told me he left her a memorial of someone very dear to him and he wanted to do something kind and generous in her name,' Boyd told WSBT. Linsey Boyd, a Michigan waitress was fired after receiving a shocking $10,000 tip on a $32.43 bill, but the restaurant insisted the dismissal was a 'business decision' unrelated to the generous tip The middle-aged man who left the tip wished not to be identified, but said he was in town for the funeral and intended to spread some cheer through the generous gratuity The restaurant owners Able Martinez and Jayme Cousins (pictured) said 'labor laws' limited what they could share about the termination of Boyd Boyd, a Michigan mother who received the astonishing tip, was let go from the Mason Jar Cafe in Benton Harbor despite generously sharing the money with other eight coworkers What was supposed to be an upbeat story has taken a negative turn, as Boyd revealed in her viral post that she lost her job because of 'all of the drama, animosity and hurt' that ensured from the massive tip. The restaurant owners Able Martinez and Jayme Cousins said 'labor laws' limited what they could share but claimed that the termination of Boyd had nothing to do with the $10,000 tip. 'We cannot comment on the nature of her losing her job due to labor laws and to protect the staff involved,' the couple wrote in a Facebook post. 'However, I will say it had nothing to do with the tip. She did receive the entire tip, she did not pay taxes on it (the business did). Yes, she shared the tip at the request of the man that left it,' they continued. But Boyd offered her side of the story, saying she was asked to take mental health day as 'drama' unfolded inside the restaurant because of the tip. 'Drama ensued, and in an attempt to diffuse the situation and resolve any rumors, things became even worse,' she wrote. She did not specify what happened and has since deleted the post and taken her entire Facebook page down. But rumors have circulated, suggesting the staff who was not working that day may have expected to share the tip. 'The staff that was not working the day of the $10,000 tip expected to be cut it and created an extremely dramatic work environment,' a post reads. What was supposed to be an upbeat story has taken a negative turn, as Boyd revealed in her viral post that she lost her job because of 'all of the drama, animosity and hurt' that ensured from the massive tip The restaurant owners Able Martinez and Jayme Cousins said 'labor laws' limited what they could share but claimed that the termination of Boyd had nothing to do with the $10,000 tip Boyd offered her side of the story, saying she was asked to take mental health day as 'drama' unfolded inside the restaurant because of the tip According to Boyd, the management asked her to take another day off 'for things to settle down,' and did not respond to her text asking if she was told 'in a professional way to not come back.' Boyd was fired through a phone call on Tuesday, marking the first time since the age of 15 that she finds herself without a job. As the desperate waitress shared her experience, social media users have become infuriated, leaving negative reviews on the restaurant's page and Google Maps. An angry user shared screenshots of Boyd's post and wrote: 'This is NOT what our community is about. Linsey honored the tippers wishes & shared this act of kindness when many would've kept it to themselves. 'I have personally worked with her & she is one of the most kind & generous humans I have ever met,' they continued. 'SHAME ON YOU & SHAME ON ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES who complained that they didn't get a cut when they were NOT working. How selfish can you be?! I hope this is made right!' The restaurant owners have since refuted Boyd's claims but refused to go into details about why she was terminated. 'I know there is a lot going around that we let her go because of the tip and that's just not logical,' Cousins told WOOD-TV. 'We have a staff that has continued to work for us for years and college kids that come back every summer and we give chances after chances to our staff, so we clearly would not let someone go for no reason at all.' The owners wrote on social media that it was a purely business decision, emphasizing that such decisions are not 'made lightly or hastily'. 'We give donations for college funds for them, we kept them employed through Covid, we do everything in our power not to lose staff,' the owners wrote. Texas plans to construct a military base along the border with Mexico, the state's Republican governor announced on Friday, as his election-year tug-of-war with the White House over migration continues to broil. A wave of illegal border crossings in recent months has made migration a key talking point in the US presidential election campaign once again, with Republicans seeking to pin blame for the record-high numbers entirely on Democratic President Joe Biden. Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement of the new base in the flashpoint border town of Eagle Pass, where he has amassed national guard troops from Texas and other Republican-led states to erect razor wire and other barriers in a bid to block migrants from entering the country. The town lies along the Rio Grande, the river that forms the border with Mexico. Texas is starting construction on new 80-acre military base camp in Eagle Pass for 2,300 soldiers as Gov. Greg Abbott promises to 'amass a large army' to combat migrant invasion Soldiers are seen standing guard on the banks of the Rio Grande with the banks of Mexico just feet away The Texas Governor tweeted several times about the plans for the new facility Texas is building a military 'base camp' in the city of Eagle Pass near the Mexico border as the state's Republican governor looks to deter illegal immigration. Pictured, Texas National Guard soldiers wait nearby the boat ramp where law enforcement enter the Rio Grande at Shelby Park last month An aerial view shows an immigrant group trying to cross the Texan border despite heightened security measures in Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month A group of migrants are processed by Border Patrol after crossing the river illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas Soldiers were seen loading excess wire into a truck at the border crossing at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass last month The facility built on a site six miles south of Shelby Park and will be able to accommodate some 300 soldiers by April and will have the ability to expand to house up to 2,300 National Guard members, Abbott said. 'This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas military department personnel in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and more efficiently,' said the governor. 'Because of the magnitude of what we're doing, because of the need to sustain and actually expand our efforts ... it's essential that we build this base camp,' Abbott said. The camp will allow Texas to 'amass a large army in a very strategic area' and 'increase the speed and flexibility of the Texas National Guard to be able to respond to crossings,' he explained. Abbott said the camp will improve living conditions for soldiers who are deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that troubled the Guard's mission during the early months of Operation Lone Star. The Texas Governor posted a number of tweets explaining plans for the new development Texas Troopers arrested 15 illegal immigrants for criminal trespass in Eagle Pass. The 15 from El Salvador and Nicaragua were transported and jailed at a state facility awaiting court proceedings. If convicted, they face up to one year in jail Texas National Guard soldiers patrol the Rio Grande near Shelby Park in January Migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. gather near razor wire set up to inhibit the crossing of migrants into the U.S., as they seek to be processed by the United States Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas A shoe hangs in razor wire set up to prevent the crossing of migrants into the U.S The camp will be constructed in phases of 300 beds every 30 days with the first phase expected to be completed by April, said Maj. General Suelzer, the head of the Texas Military Department. The complex will include three command posts, weapons storage rooms and a helicopter pad, he said. It will also feature a 700-person dining facility, on-site movie theaters, workout areas and medical services, officials said. The state also intends to install more barriers north and south of Shelby Park, they said. Abbott, a supporter of former president and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, accuses the Biden administration of allowing an 'invasion' of illegal migrants at the country's southern border. He also accuses the White House of failing to take action against the drug cartels that, according to him, control the border on the Mexican side. Border control is a federal responsibility in the United States, but in January the Texas National Guard moved into Shelby Park, north of the campgrounds overlooking the river, as part of Abbott's expanding border mission. U.S. Border Patrol says it has 'no plans' to remove razor wire installed by Texas along the southern border A court ruling ordered Texas to remove the barbed wire at the Rio Grande but Texas authorities have ignored The state has also refused to remove buoys in the Rio Grande to block migrants swimming over The mayor of Eagle Pass said the move at the start of January caught the city off guard and questioned the timing, given that crossings have fallen in recent weeks. Abbott has also installed some 100 miles of barbed wire along the Rio Grande, a measure that the Biden administration is challenging in court. The U.S. Justice Department last month asked the U.S. Supreme Court to order Texas to allow Border Patrol agents back into park. The Biden administration says Border Patrol agents use the park to monitor the river and to launch boats into the Rio Grande. The US Supreme Court has temporarily authorized the federal government to remove the barbed wire, but Texas has continued to install it while the dispute proceeds. 'Having the soldiers located right here, right by the river, they're going to have the ability to more quickly be able to construct that razor wire barrier,' said Abbott on Friday, praising the 'effectiveness' of the device. Texas has also recently passed a law allowing its forces to arrest illegal migrants at the border, a power normally reserved for the federal government. Migrants are seen grouped together while waiting to be processed on the Ciudad Juarez side of the border in September 2023 in El Paso, Texas It will allow state authorities to arrest and deport people suspected of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, testing the legal limits of the state's authority. The U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights groups have sued to stop the law from going into effect. The courts are expected to rule on the issue before the law goes into effect in March. Republicans fault Biden for record numbers of migrants trying to cross illegally and say he should have kept Trump's restrictive policies. Biden says he is creating a more humane and orderly system and that Republicans have refused to fund border security for political reasons. Trump-supporting truckers have said they will refuse to take loads to and from New York City after the former president was fined $355 million in a civil fraud verdict. In a video shared to X by a driver known as Chicago Ray, the trucker said that he had spoken to colleagues who all agreed they would start refusing loads to the city. According to Ray, those he had spoken to had already alerted their bosses that as of Monday, they would no longer conduct business in the Big Apple. In the video, he says: 'I've been on the radio talking to drivers for the last hour, hour fifteen minutes. 'I've talked to at least ten drivers, they're going to start refusing loads in New York City starting Monday. According to Ray, those he had spoken to had already alerted their bosses that as of Monday they would no longer conduct business in the Big Apple According to Ray, those he had spoken to had already alerted their bosses that as of Monday they would no longer conduct business in the Big Apple 'I don't know how far across the country this is, or how many truckers are going to start denying loads to New York City. 'I tell you what, you f*** around and find out. We are tired of you leftists f***ing with Trump. Motherf***ers are getting tired of this s**t. 'Our bosses ain't gonna care about these loads, we will just go somewhere else. Do you know how f***ing hard it is to get into New York City with one of these? 'I don't wish nothing on nobody, but what I am hearing, this is real. We will see, leave Trump the f**k alone with the bulls***. It's election interference. 'I hate to say it, but truckers are for Trump. Ain't no motherf***ers are for Biden.' Since sharing the video, others have chimed in on the alleged boycott saying they supported the move. One person posted: 'Do it! Let us know how we can help! Youre NOT alone in this fight!' Another added: 'We can always rely on the trucker to restore some semblance of the right thing in response. 'Thank you from the many here on X for your courage to stand up to the Marxist leftists.' On Friday, the former President and Republican presidential candidate was fined $355m in a civil fraud verdict Tractor trailers at a Sysco Corp. distribution center in Halfmoon, New York, US, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 Judge Arthur Engoron released the ruling on Friday that will also see the 77-year-old banned from being a director in a New York firm for three years. Speaking outside his Mar-a-lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, the 77-year-old went on the offense and lashed out at Engoron and Attorney General Letitia James. The former President said: 'I paid approximately $300 million dollars in taxes as the migrants come in and take over New York, and they want me out. 'These are radical left democrats, they are lunatics. Its election interference.' The former president also said that the case had been brought by the DOJ and Biden and constituted election interference. Last month, a large MAGA truck convoy named the 'Army of God' was heading towards the southern border due to the ongoing crisis. They hoped the eye-catching, all-American protest will draw further attention to record numbers of migrants crossing the southern border and into the US, with multiple cities now buckling under the weight of trying to care for them. A massive convoy of truckers were seen making its way to migrant hotspots in a bid to shame the White House into tackling the worsening crisis New York City is currently one of those cities struggling under the weight of the tens of thousands of migrants arriving at its borders in need of accommodation. In the last two years alone, the city had to deal with the arrival of over 170,000 migrants. Mayor Eric Adams has said the cost of the migrant crisis in the Big Apple is an eye-watering $4.6 billion as he begs the state for more money. State governor Kathy Hochul pledged to commit $2.4 billion to the crisis last month, which is more than double last year's proposal. In court on Friday, five migrants were formally charged with assaulting two NYPD officers in Times Square last month. A man living with an intellectual disability has no choice but to shower in his front yard while he waits for repairs to his bathroom. Harold Kinross, 62, has been waiting for a new bathroom in his public housing townhouse, in Nailsworth, Adelaide, after termites were found in it last October. Since workers pulled out the toilet, sink, shower and walls in his upstairs bathroom, nothing has been done. Not only has the remedial work not started, the termite infestation remains. The public housing tenant has lived in the same townhouse for 28 years. Harold Kinross, 62, has been forced to shower in his front yard after waiting for repairs to his bathroom for four months The portable shower has left Mr Kinross feeling humiliated and is worried neighbours will see him showering. He now showers about 5.30am so he is not embarrassed South Australia Housing's band-aid solution was to install a portable shower - in his front yard. Mr Kinross said his daily routine has changed dramatically since the termites were found. 'I have to come out here about 5.30 in the morning because I get embarrassed neighbours might see me having a shower,' Mr Kinross told 7News. The long-term tenant said he feels humiliated and checks for anyone walking past before he turns on the water. Mr Kinross said the portable shower leaks onto the footpath and the set-up is like being in a 'gaol cell'. The tenant said he has been an ideal tenant throughout his decades in the townhouse and deserves better. 'It's disgusting. Minister, do something about it. I vote you in to do your job,' he said. The upstairs bathroom of Mr Kinross' public housing townhouse is riddled with termites, which are still there after being discovered months ago. Termites don't just damage the structure of a house - they can also eat shoes, clothing and furniture South Australia human services minister Nat Cook said it was difficult to say when a replacement property would be available for Mr Kinross. 'I understand how challenging it's been for this tenant and his family,' she said. Choice Australia says termites have the potential to cause 'major structural and economic damage' to dwellings. Termites eat the inside of a structure and only leave a thin shell to protect themselves from the outside. However, the hungry insects don't stop at devouring structural material. The termites can also eat furniture, paper, fabrics and clothing, footwear and soft plastics. The waste facility at the centre of the growing asbestos contamination scandal was previously the subject of multiple asbestos pollution incidents. The Bringelly site, in Sydney's south-west, has been subject to four clean-up notices issued by the Environmental Protection Authority. The site was not owned by Greenlife Resource Recovery at the time. Greenlife has been named by the NSW Government as the alleged source of the asbestos-tainted mulch that has been spread across NSW. The dangerous material has been detected in more than 30 sites including in topsoil at schools, hospitals and parks stretching from the CBD to Emu Plains at the foot of the Blue Mountains, and from Parramatta to Campbelltown. Asbestos was found in two more schools overnight with Penrith Christian School, in Orchard Hills, and St Luke's Catholic College, in Marsden Park, making the list. Daily Mail Australia witnessed one potentially contaminated site taped off at Surry Hills with a local pub manager saying they were not made aware of the situation. Each of the asbestos-contaminated sites has been traced back to The Greenlife Resource Recovery Facility in Bringelly in Syndey's south-west (pictured) but the company denies responsibility On Saturday afternoon, Daily Mail Australia witnessed a further possible site of asbestos contamination at a busy intersection in Surry Hills where red tape and signs warning 'possible asbestos' blocked several flower beds (pictured) The affected mulch has allegedly been traced back to the waste facility at Bringelly. The EPA issued the four clean-up notices when the site was not owned by Greenlife - with the company only coming into possession of it in 2022 after taking over the lease from another waste processing company Hi-Quality Waste Management. In 2016, officers discovered asbestos fragments, along with pieces of plastic, asphalt, concrete and bricks, mixed into natural soil and rocks. The latest incident was in 2020 when asbestos was found mingled with 8,450 square metres of waste material, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told the paper the EPA was undertaking one of the largest investigations in its history as the number of possible contamination sites continues to grow. 'There is clearly a problem and a regulatory gap when it comes to how the asbestos has got there,' she said. 'It should not be there. Its illegal for it to be there. I want the EPA to get to the bottom of this investigation.' Tracing all the contaminated mulch is a monumental task involving the combing of supply chain data, CCTV footage and trucking records. EPA staff reportedly believe the job is over 90 per cent complete but the investigation could still take months to complete. The mulch pile at the Bringelly site is locked down while the investigation continues. Greenlife's owners, who bought the plant from another waste company, Hi-Quality Waste Management, in 2022, previously told Daily Mail Australia they were puzzled by the scandal as their site had allegedly been given a clean bill of health by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) The duty manager at The Evening Star Hotel (pictured) said: 'No one said anything - we weren't given any information about it' ASBESTOS POSITIVE SITES Belmore Park, Haymarket Campbelltown Hospital Harmony Park, Surry Hills Industrie Warehouse, Bankstown Munn Park, Millers Point Regatta Park, Emu Plains St John of God Richmond Hospital Transport for NSW sites, including Rozelle Parklands, the Sydney Metro Sydenham to Bankstown Railway Corridor, Parramatta Light Rail, Prospect Highway Interchange and Nowra Bridge Upgrade Two new residential estates under construction in Sydney's south-west (not publicly accessible) Victoria Park, Camperdown Wiley Park, cnr Canterbury Rd and King Georges Rd Woolworths, Kellyville Grove Shopping Centre Three other sites have returned positive results but are not being identified for privacy reasons. Positive detection of asbestos schools Allambie Heights Public School (will remain open, small area cordoned off) Liverpool West Public School (will be closed 2-3 weeks, but school moved to another site) Penrith Christian School, Orchard Hills (will remain open, area cordoned off) St Lukes Catholic College, Marsden Park (school closed) Source: EPA Advertisement But there are reportedly no test results showing the presence of asbestos in mulch in the plant between March and December last year. Greenlife said that samples of mulch taken from its site over the relevant period have been tested and found not to contain asbestos. 'There are media reports suggesting [that] because [Greenlife] is the common source, then it must be responsible for the asbestos contamination. This is incorrect,' a spokesperson said. The company said there are multiple different sites where their mulch is handled and could have been contaminated after leaving the site. 'Many of the sites the mulch is delivered to are remediated sites, meaning those sites have had asbestos buried there many decades ago,' the spokesperson added. Greenlife general manager Domenic Vitocco said he was concerned about the scandal's impact on Sydneysiders. 'We are extremely concerned, just like everyone else, on the discovery of asbestos at even one location, let alone multiple locations, and the impact it is having on the people of Sydney,' he said. Greenlife general manager Domenic Vitocco said he was concerned about the scandal's impact on Sydneysiders A spokesperson for Greenlife said: 'The site was subject to comprehensive clean-up and remediation works, which were supervised by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). 'The remedial works included the capping of the site, and the installation of a hardstand material. 'The clean-up and remedial works were accepted by the EPA prior to GRRF commencing operations.' The detection of asbestos is two more schools brings the total number of sites returning a positive result for the hazardous material to 34. Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said on Sunday four more schools were still waiting for results, including Doremy School in Five Dock, Edmondson Park Public School, St Michaels Catholic Primary School in Daceyville and Westmead Christian Grammar School. Greenlife's owners previously told Daily Mail Australia they were puzzled by the scandal as their site had allegedly been given a clean bill of health by the EPA. 'We feel we've been made a scapegoat,' Mr Vitocco said. 'We're not quite sure ourselves how this has happened. 'All the testing from the EPA has come back from our yard clean. Our testing has come back clear and we're a little bit puzzled as to how this is all happening. Tasmania has been revealed to be Australia's biggest nanny state with its former Opposition leader labelling it the 'most over-governed place in the world'. An analysis of the number of MPs per head of population found Tasmania will have 11.7 politicians for every 100,000 people when its House of Assembly increases from 25 to 35 members at the March 23 election. The Weekend Australian compiled data from each state and territory and made the shocking discovery that NSW, often labelled a nanny state, was the least-governed jurisdiction. NSW has just 2.3 MPs per 100,000 people, followed by Queensland at 2.4 and Victoria at 2.6. Western Australia had the fifth-most MPs with 4.1 politicians per 100,000 residents, succeeded by South Australia at 4.9 and the Australia Capital Territory at 6.3. Tasmania has been revealed to be Australia's biggest nanny state with its former Opposition leader labelling it the 'most over-governed place in the world' (pictured, Hobart) NSW has just 2.3 MPs per 100,000 people, followed by Queensland at 2.4 and Victoria at 2.6 (pictured, Sydney) The Northern Territory was the only jurisdiction that came close to Tasmania's level of politicians with 11.4 per 100,000 people. The increase of Assembly seats in Tasmania from 25 to 35 was the work of Liberal state premier Jeremy Rockliff. He argued 35 seats, the number available before 1998, would help parliamentary committees, increase the ministerial talent pool and increase government diversity. However, former Liberal leader Bob Cheek - who was outspoken in reducing house seats to 25 - believes Mr Rockliff's plan will see the number of politicians, including local council, reach almost one for every 15,000 residents. 'I reckon we'll have one for every household pretty soon - it's complete and utter madness,' he said. Mr Cheek added the return to 35 seats would see more 'ratbags' elected as it would lower the percentage of voters needed for election from 16.7 per cent to 12.5 per cent. 'Putting another 10 people in parliament is not going to necessarily increase the talent. More is not necessarily better - you can get 10 more duds,' he said. Mr Cheek served as Tasmania's premier from 2001 to 2002 and is no longer part of the Liberal Party. The high ratio is the work of Liberal state premier Jeremy Rockliff (pictured) who introduced an extra 10 seats to Tasmania's House of Assembly It's understood several current Liberal Party members share Mr Cheek's concerns the lowered percentage threshold could see more independents and Greens MPs elected, meaning the party could lose its majority government. However, Mr Rockliff claims his plan, which was supported by Labor and the Greens, 'will provide greater workings of the parliament and broader representation'. Tasmania's Treasury estimates the extra 10 MPs will cost taxpayers an extra $7.9million in the first year and $7.2million extra every year after. On top of that, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission estimates it will cost an extra $100,000 each election. Mr Cheek called for Mr Rockliff to look within the existing government for the additional manpower he claims it needs. 'Committees were usually looking for something to do and while the premier and ministers work hard, the others don't,' he said. 'People were just twiddling their thumbs.' He added the increased seats were an 'ego trip' for Tasmania's current politicians and expressed frustration that his work to reduce the seats to 25 'has just been wasted'. Foreign Secretary David Cameron is to visit the Falklands to reassure islanders that they will remain 'part of the British family'. Lord Cameron, who will make the visit during a tour of the South Atlantic, South America and New York, will make clear that no discussions will be held with Argentina about sovereignty. It is nearly 42 years since the British repelled an invasion by Argentinian forces of the distant islands, which have been in British hands since 1833. The Falkland Islands overwhelmingly voted to retain their status as a self-governing UK Overseas Territory in a 2013 referendum. Lord Cameron said: 'The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion. 'The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built.' Lord Cameron, who will make the visit during a tour of the South Atlantic, South America and New York, will make clear that no discussions will be held with Argentina about sovereignty Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. It is nearly 42 years since the British repelled an invasion by Argentinian forces of the distant islands, which have been in British hands since 1833 His visit will be the first by a Cabinet minister since 2016 and he stressed that the issue of the archipelago's sovereignty is 'not... up for discussion' while the islanders wish to be British. Argentinian President Javier Milei, who met Lord Cameron last month, has called for the South Atlantic islands to be handed over to Buenos Aires. After their meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Foreign Office said the pair had a 'warm and cordial meeting' and on the issue of the Falklands 'they would agree to disagree, and do so politely'. Ahead of his trip to the South Atlantic, Lord Cameron said: 'The islands are a thriving economy, where as well as farming and fishing, there is a priority given to conservation and sustainability.' Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falklands and Mr Milei has previously suggested the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. Lord Cameron said: 'The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion' The Falklands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, around 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina, were the subject of a bloody conflict in 1982. The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel. In a 2013 referendum, the islanders voted overwhelmingly to retain their status as a UK overseas territory. On his visit, Lord Cameron will pay his respects to the British forces who served and those who lost their lives during the conflict in 1982 and thank the UK personnel based on the islands today. He will also meet leaders of the Falkland Islands government during a visit to the capital Stanley and other sites around the overseas territory. Lord Cameron will also visit environmental projects and see some of the penguins that depend on the vital island habitats. He is expected to travel to the Falklands before visiting Paraguay, the first time a British Foreign Secretary has travelled to the South American nation. Lord Cameron is then due to attend a meeting of G20 counterparts - including Russia's Sergei Lavrov - in Brazil on Wednesday. Russia's actions in Ukraine will also be the subject of a United Nations session in New York later in the week which Lord Cameron will attend. ITV bosses are facing accusations that a new documentary on the Ukraine war will be used by 'Putin's propagandists'. Publicity material says programme makers went on a 'journey into the Russian side of the war in Eastern Ukraine' to report on what is 'almost exclusively a hidden and otherwise inaccessible side of this conflict'. The 1hr 50mins special, Ukraine's War: The Other Side, will be screened on ITV1 tomorrow night. It was made by Sean Langan, who was accompanied by a fixer from Russia's foreign ministry during filming. Last night, critics said ITV should not be showing the film just days after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. They also warned that clips from the documentary are likely to be used by supporters of the Moscow regime in their social media war against the West. In the documentary, Mr Langan is repeatedly told by interviewees - both civilians and soldiers - that Russia wants to get rid of the 'Nazi' government in Kyiv. The 1hr 50mins special, Ukraine's War: The Other Side, will be screened on ITV1 tomorrow night. It was made by Sean Langan, who was accompanied by a fixer from Russia's foreign ministry during filming A scene from the documentary. Last night, critics said ITV should not be showing the film just days after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Critics also warned that clips from the documentary are likely to be used by supporters of the Moscow regime in their social media war against the West One scene shows a masked militia member claiming he was with the Russian forces when they invaded Bucha, north of Kyiv, in April 2022. Investigators later recovered 458 bodies, as well as finding evidence of summary executions and mass rape of women and girls. But the masked man denied any massacre took place and walked away from the camera unchallenged. In another scene, the filmmaker visits a stock of what are said to be captured NATO weapons with a Russian tank commander in Eastern Ukrainian town Svatove when the building is stormed by a group of men, who it emerges are from the Russian Spetsnaz special forces. One says: 'Why did you bring him in? All hell is going to break loose now. I'm eating his liver!' Another says: 'Tell him we're looking at his liver. He's always wanted to murder someone.' After Sean persuades them to be interviewed, the men - who are kitted out in balaclavas and battle dress - tell him the Russians are not to be underestimated, with one saying: 'Study the Russian history carefully, and you will understand that the Russians never wanted War. The Russians don't attack, the Russians really do end wars.' Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who has been to Ukraine twice since the war started, criticised the network for the film, saying: 'My view it is a mistake to show this documentary now by ITV after Navalny, and make the Russian side look human. 'Of course, we are all human - but in this case the Russians are aggressors and they have brought nothing but destruction to Ukraine. 'My fear now is that bits of this documentary will be used by Russian activists to prove their point that Russia is on the good side.' In the documentary, Mr Langan is repeatedly told by interviewees - both civilians and soldiers - that Russia wants to get rid of the 'Nazi' government in Kyiv Mr Langan, an independent film-maker, has previously made documentaries that tried to show 'the other side' of a world conflict Lee Anderson, the Tory MP for Ashfield, said: 'I don't think this documentary should be shown. At a time when the whole world is trying to help Ukraine in this difficult time, we need the support of the British public. But a documentary like this could reduce the support of the British public, and this is the worry, so these journalists must be careful what they are doing.' Anthony Glees, a terrorism expert at Buckingham University, said: 'I think it is totally a mistake to show this documentary. 'The people of Ukraine are not Nazis - and if there is anyone who is a Nazi, it's Vladimir Putin. 'So if this is repeated by people in this documentary, it could give oxygen to Putin's propagandists.' But ITV has stood by the documentary. A spokesman said: 'This documentary is an example of independent journalism, which tells a human story of the impact of war. Sean Langan during filming. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who has been to Ukraine twice since the war started, criticised ITV for the film, saying: 'My view it is a mistake to show this documentary now by ITV after Navalny, and make the Russian side look human' A scene from Ukraine's War: The Other Side. The documentary also interviews ordinary Ukrainians in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region who say they are fed up of the war 'This film is a unique opportunity to see for ourselves what is happening on the Russian-occupied side of the front line, clearly set within the wider context of how the conflict was initiated by the Russian invasion. 'The film provides a balanced insight into this war and was produced entirely free from any political influence.' In the documentary, Mr Langan manages to speak to members of the Spetznaz, or Russian special forces, and eventually ends up on the frontline in a wooded area near Kharkhiv called Sherwood Forest, which had just been taken over by the Russian forces after months of heavy fighting. The documentary also interviews ordinary Ukrainians in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region who say they are fed up of the war. Mr Langan, an independent film-maker, has previously made documentaries that tried to show 'the other side' of a world conflict. In previous documentaries, he interviewed the late leader of Hamas, Sheikh Yassin, in Gaza, who was killed by Israel in 2004. Mr Langan made another documentary where he interviewed Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in 2007. The following year, he was kidnapped by the Taliban, but was released three months later. As the Greens and Labor gear up for another housing battle over tax breaks for property investors, pressure is mounting on the minor party to walk the talk as their own member's housing portfolios come under the spotlight. The Coalition have ruled out their support for the government's Help to Buy scheme, meaning the Greens' support is necessary to get Labor's shared equity scheme through the senate. But the Greens are threatening to hold the scheme to ransom, unless Labor commits to overhauling negative gearing and capital gains tax - which the government has ruled out. Housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather lashed the prime minister this week for owning $4million worth of properties, despite a number of the Griffith MP's colleagues owning investment properties of their own. Labor sources say it's hypocritical for the Greens to demand the government take action on tax cuts and concessions so many of the minor party themselves enjoy. According to parliament's register of interests, four of the 15 Greens members and senators own multiple properties. Housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather (pictured) lashed the Prime Minister this week for owning investment properties, despite a number of the Griffith MP's colleagues being in the same boat Senators Mehreen Faruqi and Nick McKim own four properties each, while senator Penny Allman-Payne owns two. Brisbane-based Ryan MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown owns three, including an investment property in Brisbane and a holiday house in Hastings Point that is used only by her, her family and friends despite the town's vacancy rate being less than one per cent. Under the Help to Buy scheme, which would run over four years, 10,000 first-home buyers per year would be able to co-purchase a home with the government. Housing Australia would contribute up to 40 per cent of the value of a new home, or 30 per cent of the value of an existing home. The Greens have been vocally critical of the bill, declaring it a 'lottery' for the thousands of Australians trying to get into the housing market. They said the government should instead focus their attention on winding down rewards for investors and use the savings to build more social and affordable homes. As the Help to Buy moved through the lower house on Thursday, Ms Watson-Brown said the Greens would hold firm in their demand for the government to take action on the matter - saying tax breaks for investors were 'unfair' when so many aspirational Australians struggled to crack into the market. 'Labor and the LNP have made it easier to buy your second home, your fifth home, than your first,' she said. 'Labor and the LNP have given big tax breaks and concessions to investment property buyers, ensuring more people want to buy houses, massively driving up the prices for everyone, and driving home ownership and affordable rentals further and further from all but the very wealthy. 'Instead of a particular property becoming someone's family home, it becomes a speculative commodity for a wealthy investor.' Assistant Social Services Minister Justine Elliot, whose electorate takes in Hastings Point, said the Greens needed to 'stop playing politics' and support the government's scheme (stock image) It's understood she rents her Brisbane investment property to family, while she has owned the Hastings Point holiday home for more than 14 years. Assistant Social Services Minister Justine Elliot, whose electorate takes in Hastings Point, said the Greens needed to 'stop playing politics' and support the government's scheme. 'We need urgent action on the housing crisis, but the Greens' decision to delay real progress is hurting real people,' she said. 'The Greens delayed our affordable housing plan by six months. Now they're blocking our plan to help renters into the security of home ownership. 'It's time for the Greens to stop playing politics, and vote with Labor to get this done.' There is much to celebrate for Labour following its spectacular by-election wins in Wellingborough and Kingswood last week. But there is much to remember, too. Take this sobering fact: there have been only six Labour Prime Ministers in British history. Call me a party pooper if you like, but the General Election will be very different. And whatever polls suggest, Keir Starmer and his team will be cautious. With good reason. There has been much talk of 1992, when, despite huge public dissatisfaction with a tired Conservative administration, Labour's apparent lead under Neil Kinnock evaporated at the ballot box. Yet I urge Labour to look back further and learn from the General Election of October 1964. Keir Starmer campaigning with Labour's by-election candidate Gen Kitchen last week in Wellingborough, North Northamptonshire Things then looked pretty good for Labour, as they do now. After 13 years of Tory rule, it was time for a change. A landslide was predicted. With a young, modernising leader in Harold Wilson, it seemed Labour would engage an electorate that dared to hope for a brighter future after half a century of war and economic depression. By June 1963, the Conservative Government was a shambles. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan had sacked a third of his Cabinet and fallen out with his Chancellor. In October, he resigned amid the humiliation of the Profumo scandal and had been replaced by Alec Douglas-Home, a 'toff' of the old order, more suited to his family grouse moors than the spirit of the times. The result of the 1964 General Election seemed a foregone conclusion. And yet When the votes were counted, Labour had a Commons majority of just four seats. If not quite defeat, it was a long way from resounding victory. Why? One reason was the innate small 'c' conservativism of the British electorate, something we would do well to heed today. But for me, the real answer is that caution had overwhelmed the Labour Party's better instincts. Fearful of defeat, it took refuge in optimistic but technocratic promises a 'new Britain' based on the 'white heat' of technology (as famously promised by Wilson a year before the Election). David Blunkett says that Keir Starmer should not take the by-election victories for granted Starmer with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (centre) and the new Labour MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West Michael Shanks (left) at a rally after Scottish Labour's win in Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election last year It sounded good. There was a buzz in the air. Yet what did such things mean to the daily lives of voters? They gave their brutal answer at the ballot box. Labour: 317 MPs. Tories: 304. Liberals: nine. For all the sacrifices of the 1940s, millions remained in hardship. They wanted not just hope for a better world, but a plausible explanation of how it was to be achieved. The voters of 2024 want the same. Make no mistake, there are powerful forces ranged against a Labour victory. I understand the internal anguish Keir Starmer's team must feel as they address them. I know it is hard to find a balance between offering hope and covering your back. Even so, Labour must be brave and persuade voters not just to dispose of a tired and divided Government, but to turn out for a positive alternative. 'Defeating the Tories' is not enough. Starmer joined by musician Feargal Sharkey at Labour HQ in London canvassing voters before the Wellingborough and Kingswood by-elections Labour MP Damien Egan reacts after winning the Kingswood by-election Labour's leadership has ambition. There is a desire to join with business and the unions to achieve economic growth, transform productivity and create a more equal and less divided Britain. None of this matters, however, if we are shackled by fear unless we have the courage to set out our stall. Labour must acknowledge the needs of the millions who live outside the more affluent corners of our great metropolitan cities. People who value our collective past and dislike those who they believe despise it. After 60 years in the Labour Party, I rejoiced at last week's by-election successes. But nothing can be taken for granted. Yes, we need to 'go green' and invest. But Net Zero and the promises made about it mean nothing to most people. Voters want to know how policies will work, what those policies mean for their daily lives and how they can bring about a better future for themselves. They value the British way of life and the institutions that hold us together. And they are dismayed to see the disgraceful collapse of so many towns and cities. They want to know how an incoming Government would reverse the dereliction of boarded-up buildings, of graffiti and of anti- social behaviour. How it would make the highly profitable utilities of water, gas and electricity treat customers with respect. How it would reverse bank branch closures and encourage something better than inhuman online contacts and pathetic excuses for poor customer service. How, in other words, it would help with the reality of daily lives. Above all, we need more than a new set of individuals at the helm. We need a vision that the public can share. Nanette covers California's public universities - the University of California and California State University - as well as community colleges and private universities. She's written about sexual misconduct at UC and Stanford, the precarious state of accreditation at City College of San Francisco, and what happens when the UC Berkeley student government discovers a gay rights opponent in its midst. She has exposed a private art college where students rack up massive levels of debt (one student's topped $400k), and covered audits peering into UC finances, education lawsuits and countless student protests. But writing about higher education also means getting a look at the brainy creations of students and faculty: Robotic suits that help paralyzed people walk. Online collections of folk songs going back hundreds of years. And innovations touching on everything from virtual reality to baseball. Nanette is also covering the COVID-19 pandemic and served as health editor during the first six months of the crisis, which quickly ended her brief tenure as interim investigations editor. Previously, Nanette covered K-12 education. Her stories led to changes in charter school laws, prompted a ban on Scientology in California public schools, and exposed cheating and censorship in testing. A past president of the Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California chapter, Nanette has a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a B.A. in sociology from Queens College. She speaks English and Spanish. She can be reached at nasimov@sfchronicle.com. The family of Vladimir Putin's fiercest critic, Alexei Navalny, have demanded his body is handed over to them after it went missing from the morgue where officials said it was being held. His mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, travelled with his lawyer to Salekhard, a town near the Arctic penal colony where the Russian opposition leader was imprisoned and where he died on Friday. Mr Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, confirmed his death yesterday and cited an official document given to his mother which said he died at 2.17pm local time on Friday. The circumstances of Mr Navalny's death remain unclear. Prison officials claim the 47-year-old 'fell ill' after a walk and 'lost consciousness' before dying. Ms Yarmysh said a worker at the prison colony told them Mr Navalny's body was taken to a mortuary in Salekhard. But according to Ms Yarmysh, when his mother and lawyer visited the morgue, it was closed. When the lawyer called the mortuary, they were told Mr Navalny's body was not there. Alexei Navalny's family have demanded that his body is handed over to them after it went missing from the morgue where officials said it was being held. Pictured: Alexey Navalny who died on Friday Mr Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, confirmed his death yesterday and cited an official document given to his mother which said he died at 2.17pm local time on Friday. PIctured: A man who wanted to lay flowers for Alexei Navalny detained by police 'We demand that Alexei Navalny's body be handed over to his family immediately,' Ms Yarmysh wrote on X. In a later update, she claimed Russian investigators said Mr Navalny's body will not be returned to them until their probe is complete. In a BBC interview, she claimed Mr Navalny was murdered and his body was being withheld so Russian authorities could cover 'traces'. But yesterday on X, Ivan Zhdanov, director of Mr Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that Mr Navalny's mother was told by prison officials he died due to 'sudden death syndrome'. Just hours after Mr Navalny's death, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, with whom he shares two children, bravely spoke out to condemn Putin and vowed he and his cronies 'will answer' for her husband's death. Ms Navalnaya, 47, told world leaders at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday night: 'They will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the conference: 'After the murder of Alexei Navalny, it's absurd to perceive Putin as the supposedly legitimate head of the Russian state. He is a thug.' US President Joe Biden urged the world to 'make no mistake' about who was to blame for Mr Navalny's death. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron vowed yesterday that Britain will take action and urged other countries to follow suit. He said: 'I am clear we will be taking action.' Just hours after Mr Navalny's death, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya (pictured), with whom he shares two children, bravely spoke out to condemn Putin and vowed he and his cronies 'will answer' for her husband's death The Foreign Office said on Friday that it would summon an official from the Russian embassy to make clear it held Russian authorities 'fully responsible'. The Kremlin has denied responsibility and yesterday said it was unacceptable for Britain to interfere in its internal affairs. More than 100 people were detained in Russia on the day of Navalny's death as they laid flowers in memory, with authorities removing tributes overnight. As of last night, more than 300 people across 32 Russian cities have been detained at memorial events for Mr Navalny, rights group OVD-Info said. Mr Navalny was targeted by Russian FSB agents with nerve agent Novichok on a flight to Moscow in 2020. He was rushed to a German hospital where medics saved his life but was arrested when he returned to Russia in January 2021. He has since been held in the brutal penal colony, where he spent 308 days in solitary confinement and recently had his sentence increased to 19 years for 'extremism'. Sir Keir Starmer has opened up about the strained relationship he had with his late father in an emotional new biography. The leader of the opposition said his father, Rod, never revealed how proud he was of him. Starmer only found out about how he really felt after he passed away in 2018. When he was clearing out his family home, the 61-year-old found a scrapbook hidden in the back of a cupboard that was full of newspaper cuttings. These were all different points of Starmer's career, from his time as Director of Public Prosecutions to when he became an MP. Rod had written dates underneath each article. 'I didn't really know what to think about it, why he had taken all that trouble, then hidden it,' he said. The leader of the opposition said his father, Rod (right), never revealed how proud he was of him. Pictured: Starmer with wife Victoria, mother Jo and father Rod The new biography, written by journalist Tom Baldwin, also recalled the moment that Starmer regretted not hugging his father when he was on his deathbed 'Dad was proud of me and loved me, even if he couldn't tell me to my face. 'And it's now too late for me to tell him to his face that I was proud of him, that I loved him too.' The Labour leader said his father was heartbroken by the death of his mother, Jo, in 2015, three years before he passed away. Jo had Still's disease, a type of arthritis that can cause the immune system to attack the body. The new biography, written by journalist Tom Baldwin, also recalled the moment that Starmer regretted not hugging Rod when he was on his deathbed. 'We hadn't hugged each other for years. Not since I was a kid,' he said, choosing to walk away instead. 'I knew he was dying and I didn't turn around to go back and tell him what I thought. And I should have done.' It comes after Labour seized the previously safe seats of Wellingborough and Kingswood in the by-elections on Thursday. In an interview with Sky News, Starmer said: 'I am very pleased with the by-election results from last night. 'I think it's very clear that people are crying out for change across the country. They think the Tories have failed, they can see most things are broken.' Labour seized the previously safe seats of Wellingborough and Kingswood in the by-elections on Thursday Reform UK also managed to achieve their best ever by-election results. It secured 13 per cent of the vote in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and 10 per cent in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bemoaned low turnout and warned that voting Reform would only 'put Keir Starmer in power'. Sunak himself admitted that there was 'work to do' to convince the public that progress was being made in a TV interview after the by-election results. 'The circumstances of these by-elections were particularly challenging. I think if you look at the results, very low turnout,' he said. 'It shows that we've got work to do to show people that we are delivering on their priorities and that's what I'm absolutely determined to do. 'But it also shows that there isn't a huge amount of enthusiasm for the alternative in Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. 'And that's because they don't have a plan. And if you don't have a plan, you can't deliver real change.' Home Secretary James Cleverly has accused the Scottish and Welsh administrations of not pulling their weight over the distribution of asylum seekers. In letters directed to Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and the outgoing Welsh leader Mark Drakeford, Mr Cleverly said that while England houses 16 asylum seekers for every 10,000 people, Scotland takes only eight and Wales just nine. In his letter to Mr Yousaf, the Home Secretary wrote: 'This issue extends right across Great Britain, and it is essential that each part of the country plays its part. 'Providing safe and appropriate accommodation to those who claim asylum will help you deliver that aim and so I look forward to your support in going further in Scotland... Therefore, I am writing to ask for your support in rapidly increasing the asylum accommodation estate in Scotland. 'Reaching parity between our nations on the number of asylum seekers per capita is the only way to deliver fair and equitable asylum accommodation.' In letters directed to Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and the outgoing Welsh leader Mark Drakeford, James Cleverly said that while England houses 16 asylum seekers for every 10,000 people, Scotland takes only eight and Wales just nine (File Photo) In his letter to Mr Yousaf, the Home Secretary wrote: 'This issue extends right across Great Britain, and it is essential that each part of the country plays its part' He made similar points in his latter to Mr Drakeford: 'I trust we can continue to work collaboratively together this year to help address the challenges we collectively face.' It follows Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's attack over Rishi Sunak's record on tackling the issue of small boat migrants in the Channel, which the Prime Minister made one of his five policy pledges. Ms Cooper pointed out that figures showed that a third of all the small boat arrivals since 2018 have now taken place since Mr Sunak entered Downing Street. The milestone was reached after 52 individuals crossed the Channel by small boat on Friday, taking the total number of arrivals since Mr Sunak became Prime Minister to 38,668 more than a third of the 115,927 that have crossed the Channel since the small boats crisis began in January 2018. Ms Cooper said: 'From the recession to record NHS waiting lists to small boats, the very pledges that Rishi Sunak asked to be judged against now lie in tatters. 'No wonder the people of Kingswood and Wellingborough told him last week that they are sick of 14 years of Tory failure, and want the change that only a Labour government will bring. 'These latest figures on small boats show that Rishi Sunak isn't the solution he is part of the problem. Time and again he goes for gimmick rather than getting a grip.' She added: 'By focusing solely on getting off a few symbolic flights to Rwanda at massive cost to the taxpayer, he has taken his eye off the vital task of stopping the criminal smuggler gangs.' Prince William is set to spend 3million building social housing to tackle homelessness in a picturesque Cornish surf town. The Prince of Wales wants to build 24 home on land belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall in Nansledan, a suburb of Newquay, it is reported. The properties, which will include a mix of four-bedroom houses and one-bedroom flats, could be completed as soon as next year with the royal personally overseeing the project. If it goes well it is believed the father-of-three could consider further projects on the 130,000 acres of land he owns in the county as the Duke of Cornwall, a title he inherited when his father ascended to the throne. The 41-year-old had previously committed to building social housing on his Duchy of Cornwall land and sources have claimed he wants to 'lead from the front' in the battle against homelessness. Prince William has supervised plans to construct 24 homes in Cornwall, which are expected to be complete next year. Pictured: William and Kate in Newquay in 2016 The homes are to be built in the traditional Cornish style, like these built in the Nasledan development in October 2021 The Cornish surf town of Newquay (pictured), along with the rest of the county, has seen a rise in demand for social housing in recent years A source told The Times that the Prince wants the homes to 'look and feel as homely as possible' to combat the stigma of social housing and they will follow the 'traditional Cornish seaside' style to blend in. It is understood that the homes will be low-carbon and have slate roofs, granite lintels, solar panels and heat pumps. Environmentally conscious like his father, the Prince of Wales has ordered for the site to be planted with an array of shrubs and flowers to encourage biodiversity. The land, which he controls as the Duke of Cornwall, stretches 130,000-acres from Cornwall to Kent and was valued at 1billion. And the duchy, which provides the heir to the throne with an income - last year it brought in profits of 24million - will supply the land for the project for free and cover all construction costs. William was 11-years-old when his mother, the late Princess Diana, took him and Prince Harry to a homeless shelter and is now a patron of the Passage, the charity that ran it. READ MORE HERE - Prince William pledges to 'end homelessness' and announces plans to build social housing on own private estate the Duchy of Cornwall Advertisement Aged just 13, the royal told his mother: 'If I become King, I will let the homeless live in our palaces,' according to Richard Kay. He followed in his mother's footsteps to become a patron of another charity, Centrepoint, in 2005, and spoke at an affordable housing development of 33 flats for young people funded by the group in 2022. William is working on the project in Cornwall with local homelessness charity St Petrocs and is aiming to get those living in temporary homes in Nansledan into permanent accommodation. The Prince hopes that landowners will follow his lead and build more social housing. 'Wraparound services' are also expected to be offered to residents, such as mental health support and employment opportunities. As a senior royal and with the eyes of the world constantly on him, the Prince was asked what he does personally to help people sleeping rough in the interview with the newspaper last year. 'I don't tend to give money. I tend to buy them a drink, food, something like that. I find that when I'm walking around or driving past and see other people do it [give money], people don't even look at them. How many people stop and talk to somebody who is homeless? Very few of us. 'In my job, I get to meet these people, I get to hear the stories, I get to feel it, I get to see it. That for me and I've heard from them themselves matters an awful lot. Sources told the outlet that William wanted to lead the project and that he is considering more projects on his land Aged just 13, the royal told his mother: 'If I become King, I will let the homeless live in our palaces,' according to Richard Kay The duchy, which provides the heir to the throne with an income, will supply the land for the project for free and cover all construction costs 'They've become invisible. It's really important that society acknowledges that there is somebody there and they're having a tough time. It shouldn't happen but it's right there. You can't ignore it.' Last June, the heir launched an ambitious 3million programme to 'end' homelessness within five years called 'Homewards'. He personally funded, through his Royal Foundation's charitable arm, six projects in flagship locations across the UK. It has brought together local stakeholders, experts and even house builders to eradicate rough sleeping, 'sofa surfing' and temporary hostels and bring about substantive change. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE - Inside the UK's 'blandest' towns: Cornish seaside residents welcome title in the hope it drives away second home owners Advertisement Experts from Homewards will also work on the Nansledan project, while it will also see involvement from St Petrocs, a Cornwall charity that works to end homelessness in the county. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace told The Times: 'The prince is delighted that the duchy is using the Homewards approach as inspiration for building this innovative housing project, partnering with St Petrocs to find ways of ultimately getting people into permanent housing. 'It is exactly what he wants to do and for him it's another example that if we can show people here and in other countries what is possible, maybe others will follow our lead. The prince hopes that every town and city in the country will take inspiration from this project.' Henry Meacock, chief executive of St Petrocs, said: 'Where Prince William is showing great leadership is in wanting change in the approach to prevention and early intervention around homelessness. 'We have a unique opportunity in Nasledan with a socially-minded landowner who has a long-term development mindset, demonstrating to the private sector that you can still be commercial and make a profit, but also invest in the local community.' Cornwall has a well-publicised housing shortage, with residents of the south eastern county complaining about the lack of properties available. The waiting list for social housing in the county is more than 22,000 households in the queue - a figure that has more than doubled since the pandemic. Locals have long complained about second home owners snapping up properties in popular tourist destinations and landlords turning homes into holiday rentals, pricing residents out of the market in the process. Michael Gove led criticism last night of a housing association which suspended its chairman, the former Labour MP Ian Austin, over a post on social media attacking Hamas terrorists. Birmingham-based Midland Heart housing association said Lord Austin had been suspended over a message on X calling Hamas 'Islamist rapists and murderers'. The peer has now deleted the post and apologised, clarifying that it was a reference to the Hamas terror group's operations in Gaza. But Midland Heart chiefs say they plan to hold a further meeting in two weeks to discuss Lord Austin's removal from the board. Former Labour MP Ian Austin was reportedly suspended over a message on X calling Hamas 'Islamist rapists and murderers' Michael Gove said he would be demanding an urgent explanation over the decision Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove said he would be demanding an 'urgent meeting' and an explanation over the decision, adding that Lord Austin was a 'champion for affordable housing' who had 'spent his career fighting racism'. In his post, Lord Austin had said: 'Everyone, better safe than sorry: before you go to bed, nip down and check you haven't inadvertently got a death cult of Islamist murderers and rapists running their operations downstairs. It's easily done.' He wrote this after the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees had claimed it had been unaware that an operations centre used by Hamas terrorists was built directly under its office in war-torn Gaza. Midland Heart chief executive Glenn Harris said Lord Austin had damaged the association's reputation and angered its staff. Lord Austin said: 'I am shocked this has happened as a result of politically motivated bullies orchestrating a malicious campaign to smear me by misinterpreting comments and trying to undermine a lifetime's work fighting racism.' Brian Laundrie planned to work on an Oregon pumpkin farm with his girlfriend Gabby Petito before she was brutally murdered, newly released court documents reveal. The revelations come from depositions taken for the upcoming civil trial in May, involving Petito's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and the Laundries, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. The depositions, spanning more than 700 pages, were conducted in October 2023 but released this week. The converastions with investigators reveal how Brian had 'life plans' with Gabby in the couple's immediate future that included spending some time working on a pumpkin patch with Gabby to gain valuable experience to one day run his own farm. The Laundries also acknowledge being told that 'Gabby's gone' by Brian on August 29, 2021, two days after Petito is believed to have been murdered. Chris and Roberta have always denied wrongdoing and that they did not know Gabby had been murdered, but the Petito family is suing them for damages to be determined by a jury trial. Transcripts of Christopher and Roberta Laundrie's depositions reveal details about the moment their son Brian broke the news of Gabby Petito's death in 2021 Christopher Laundrie recalled the moment Brian called him begging for help and requesting a lawyer after admitting Gabby was 'gone' They say the Laundries family inflicted emotional suffering and anguish by hiding the truth about their daughter's murder to protect her killer, their son. But the Laundries claim they were never informed of Petito's death, remaining under the impression that she had simply disappeared. Chris Laundrie, Brian's father, recounted the frantic call he received from Brian. Despite Brian's erratic behavior, including a controversial party following a shooting incident and then moving his belongings to a storage unit in Florida a week before the cross-country trip with Gabby, the Laundries say they never suspected anything was amiss. Brian then returned to Florida alone to empty the storage unit, explaining it as a cost-saving measure. During his trip back home, Brian was with his parents for five days in North Port while Gabby was in a Utah hotel. During one conversation Chris told how Brian said he and Gabby had plans to work on a pumpkin farm in Oregon. 'When he came home, did you have any concerns about him and continuing the trip?' Chris was asked. 'No, no, and he told us again that they were going to Oregon to maybe work in a pumpkin place that they'd getlearn farming and help with that season of pumpkins. That's it. That's what he told me.' Gabby's expressed his dissatisfaction with the North Port Police Department's handling of the investigation, noting how Brian refused to talk to investigators and invoked his Fifth Amendment right. The Petito family are seeking damages of at least $100,000 and hope to hold the Laundries accountable for their actions and choices. The depositions underscore the many complexities and unresolved questions surrounding the high-profile case, offering a glimpse into the multifaceted narrative of the events leading up to Gabby Petito's death. Amid the barrage during those two days, calls were made from Christopher and Roberta Laundrie to their family lawyer Steve Bertolino in Long Island who was retained on September 2 and instructed the pair to say nothing Gabby's remains were discovered in an undeveloped camping area in Grand Teton National Forest in Wyoming on September 19 2021 Chris Laundrie described the day everything in his own words 'hit the fan' on August 29, 2021 when his son called him in desperation two days after murdering 'van life' girl Gabby on their road trip from Florida to Utah and Wyoming. Killer Brian could not be calmed down during the call and begged his father to 'just help me', eventually becoming so 'frantic' that he hung up, according to transcripts. The 66-year-old dad said in a deposition for the civil case due for trial in Sarasota, Florida: 'I asked him, you know, how is he doing, and he he was not calm and he got very excited and told me things had you know, 'Gabby's gone' and he got very frantic. 'Everything was frantic and quick. So you know, Gabby's gone' Asked by the Petito family attorney Pat Reilly what that meant, the father replied: 'I have no idea what he meant. 'He was very panicked and he said he didn't know what to do. He said, you know, 'Can you help me,' and he might need a lawyer. 'And I would I asked him why he wouldn't tell me. He was very frantic. Everything was frantic and I started to not really comprehend, and then he said just, you know, 'Can you help me?'. 'And I said, 'Okay. I'll help you'. And I calmed him down and it was all mumbled and I still don't remember everything that happened, but, you know, he said he needed help and to get an attorney. 'And I told him, 'Yeah, I'll help you. I'll call Steve Bertolino, and just stay put.' Apparently referring to what 'gone' meant, Christopher said: 'And then I asked him again, and he just said , 'Just help me'. 'And I said, 'Yeah, I'm going to, so stay calm. Stay put'. And he hung up 'All I know is what he told me and it was very quick and very, very nervous and very scattered I tried to calm him down. He would not calm down and he hung up the phone on me 'I couldn't get any more information from him.' Asked by Reilly if he believed 'gone' meant 'dead', Christopher refused to concede that saying: 'I didn't believe that, no.' Reilly asked: 'What other possible interpretation could there be of that?' The father said: 'I don't know I can guess a million things for you.' The frantic phonecall between Chris and his son Brian is detailed in a court deposition DailyMail.com has already exclusively revealed that 23-year-old killer Laundrie had a 'flurry' of up to 20 calls with his parents in two days from August 29 that year but just around five in the two months before that, while the young couple were on their cross-country trip. Nearly three weeks later, on September 19, 22-year-old Gabby's remains were discovered in an undeveloped camping area in Grand Teton National Forest in Wyoming. It would later be revealed that Laundrie had strangled her before driving back to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, on September 1 in her 2012 white Ford Transit van. The FBI believe the date he killed her was August 27. He then vanished when police began investigating his fiancee's disappearance before killing himself with a gunshot to the head in an alligator-infested swamp near his home and being discovered weeks later. Gabby's parents Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt are suing the Laundries for pain and emotional distress, claiming the couple intentionally withheld information about their daughter's death. Attorney Steve Bertolino is also being sued for the same reason in the action set for trial in May. Gabby, who had been documenting the couple's 'van life' journey after embarking on a cross-country trip in June 2021, was reported missing after Brian returned to his parents' home alone on September 1 Petito, 22, was strangled on a road trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie in Wyoming 2021 Brian Laundrie placed a 'flurry' of phone calls to his parents in the days after murdering girlfriend Gabby Petito during the couple's cross-country road trip Gabrielle Petito, 22, is seen with boyfriend Brian Laundrie. His posting was captioned: 'Never got around to posting these! I'd die just to watch all of our memories on repeat, never loved anyone as much as this girl' Gabby Petito is seen in shots from her Instagram page, pictured here at Mystic Hot Springs, in northeastern Utah Gabby Petito is seen in shots from her Instagram page with Brian Laundrie The case is focused on a statement he put out on September 14, 2021 for the couple, which said: 'On behalf of the family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family.' The 'gone' call was made to mother Roberta's phone at 4pm and lasted 55 minutes, DailyMail.com has previously revealed. But the confession was made while Brian was speaking to his father. There was another call at 9.20pm that lasted 22 minutes, according to phone records. Roberta, 66, said in her deposition that she 'loved' Gabby and admitted that 'gone' might have indicated that her future daughter-in-law may have been murdered and that was why Brian needed a lawyer. Reilly posed the question: 'The fact that maybe he murdered her went through your mind, didn't it?' Roberta replied: 'I don't know if I even wanted to I think I was so panicky, it might have gone through my mind. I can't recall what I was thinking 'I was panicking and thinking a lot of thoughts it probably went through my mind.' Nichole Schmidt, mother of Gabby Petito, is seen speaking alongside Gabby's father, Joseph Petito (second from left) her stepmom Tara Petito (far left) and her stepfather Jim Schmidt (far right) during a news conference in September 2021 Joseph Petito, the father of Gabby Petito, is seen in September 2021 Nichole Schmidt holds up a photo of her daughter, Gabby Petito during a press conference held days before her remains were found Before that, she said: 'A lot of things crossed my mind and one of them was that maybe they got in a fight and maybe she's going to press charges against him for maybe he hit her or something.' Chris and Roberta say they were never told anything other than 'Gabby's gone' and because they say Gabby was known to 'disappear' for periods of time, they did not believe Gabby had been murdered. 'Where did you thinkwhat did you think 'gone' meant?' Chris was asked. 'I didn't even know what to think at the moment, you know, at all, so that's that,' he responded. 'Okay. Well, if he told you that she was gone, but she just walked away, would he have been frantic, do you think?', they were asked. 'Alls I know is what he told me and it was very quick and very, very nervous and very scattered, so I don't remember everything he said, but he said he needed help, and I calmedI tried to calm him down. He would not calm down and he hung up the phone on me,' Chris recalled. Chris and Roberta said did not consider contacting Gabby's parents after learning Gabby was 'gone.' 'I didn't [call Gabby's parents], no, because I had no reason toat that very moment to think anything was was going on. Gabby took off and did things that Iyou know, sheon her own free will, so I had no idea whatwhere she was,' Chris said. Roberta said she also spoke to Brian on August 29th in a call that appears to have been before the killer's veiled confession. 'At the very tail of that conversation with him where everything seemed fine, as we were saying goodbye he all of a sudden completely changed and he sounded very upset, and his voice was very upset and I didn't know why and I didn't want to push him so we just said goodbye.' She said she didn't believe she'd spoken with her son 'all summer' before the panic call with Christopher and had no idea of the incident in Moab, Utah, on August 12 where police were called to a domestic violence incident between the young couple until after Brian was dead. When Brian told his parents he was returning alone to the North Port house, where he and Gabby lived with the Laundries, Roberta said the van-life girl 'could take care of herself and I was just concerned about my son at the time'. After Laundrie got back 'we mostly stayed home, prepared meals, went out to dinner, watched TV. Not much,' she said. Christopher and Roberts Laundrie (pictured at their Florida home in September 2021) 'did everything the right way, and they have no regrets' their lawyer, Steve Bertolino said Father of Brian Laundrie , Christopher Laundrie fills up with gas near their home The suit against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie charges the couple knew their son murdered Petito and refused to tell her parents the location of the girl's remains Gabby's parents, mom Nichole Schmidt and dad Joseph Petito, were seen sitting together during testimony in the civil case against the two families in October 'We did normal things', also confirming they went camping with Brian at Fort DeSoto, Florida. 'He didn't tell you that there had been a police incident between he and Gabby just days before?' 'No,' Chris said. 'Did he have any bruising on him that you're aware of?' 'No.' 'Do you know why he came alone?' 'I haveI don't know why he came alone. I thought he just wanted to come and see us and say hello,' Chris explained. 'Did you ask him why Gabby didn't come home with him?' 'It sounded as if she wanted time to make her website, so that was the only reason, the only reason that he said. She couldn't do it while she was there. I don't know,' Chris said. Of her son's demeanor, Roberta added: 'I didn't see him grieving. He was, I guess, worried and concerned, and I know he was talking to Steven (Bertolino) on the phone. Steven Bertolino told us just to keep him close and keep him calm, and that's what we did and don't talk to him about anything.' At the time of the investigation it was revealed cops had pulled the couple over in Utah on a domestic violence call after Gabby and Brian had a physical altercation Brian Laundrie is seen talking to a police officer after police pulled over the van he was traveling in with his girlfriend, Gabrielle 'Gabby' Petito, near the entrance to Arches National Park in Utah in August 2021 A selfie shared by the family's attorneys shows Gabby's beaten and bruised face moments before Utah traffic stop READ MORE: Sydney CBD stabbing leaves three in hospital A man has been left fighting for life after being stabbed in what is believed to be a random attack Emergency services arrived at a private property on Alfred Street, Kingaroy in Queensland just before 12.30am Sunday after reports of a serious wounding. A 42-year-old Kingaroy man was found with a laceration on the back of his neck. The man was treated at the scene by Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics before being transported to Kingaroy Hospital in a critical condition. He has since been airlifted to Brisbane. Paramedics treated a 42-year-old man with a laceration on the back of his neck in Kingaroy, Queensland on Sunday morning. The man is in a critical condition (pictured stock image) Kingaroy (pictured) is a rural Queensland town with a population of just over 10,000 people. It is understood the attacker, who fled before police arrived, was not known to the man he stabbed Another man, who is not known to the 42-year-old, fled the scene before police arrived. Queensland Police are urging people who saw anything suspicious around the time of the incident to come forward. They are also appealing to anyone who may have relevant dashcam/CCTV footage to come forward. Investigations are continuing. Ministers have vowed to crack down on the misery of endless waiting in a telephone queue while being tortured by holding musak. Writing in today's Mail on Sunday, Cabinet Office Minister Esther McVey announces that she has written to the CEOs of public sector organisations 'asking them to report back to me with hard numbers on their customer service performance'. Ms McVey - the so-called Minister for Commons Sense, says that the organisations, including NHS England, HMRC and the Probate Service, lag behind the the private sector in terms of customer satisfaction measures. She writes: 'Any organisation that serves the public needs to put the public first.' Ms McVey adds: 'There is a post pandemic malaise that needs shaking off - with a renewed focus put on looking after customers. Writing in today's Mail on Sunday, Cabinet Office Minister Esther McVey (pictured) announces that she has written to the CEOs of public sector organisations 'asking them to report back to me with hard numbers on their customer service performance' Ms McVey - the so-called Minister for Commons Sense, says that the organisations, including NHS England, HMRC and the Probate Service, lag behind the the private sector in terms of customer satisfaction measures (Stock image) 'Too often some public bodies have given the impression that things should be run for the convenience of the staff rather than the customer. 'We cannot allow that culture to take hold. 'This week the probate office reduced its phone helpline hours to just 9am to 1pm in an effort to clear chronic year-long backlogs other organisations have told customers that they will only allow 'digitally excluded' to use their telephone service. 'This isn't good enough and that's why I have written to the CEOs of our public sector organisations'. Tory MPs have told No.10 that frustrations such as being unable to 'speak to a human' when settling bills or resolving customer service issues, are among the most frequently-cited issues on the doorstep. Gruesome video has captured the moment a man was allegedly choked and left lying unconscious on a pavement in a vile night time attack. The video, posted to Reddit, appears to show a group of young men and another man, dressed in a white shirt, getting into a tussle on York St in Sydney's CBD. One young man can be seen pushing the man, who then talks to the group before another man comes up behind him and places his arm around his neck. The man appears to be in pain and struggles as the other man holds him. The group then move away and the video returns to show the man lying on the pavement, apparently unconscious. The video captures an alleged assault on York St in Sydney. A group of youths were seen fighting with an older person, before one pushed him and another grabbed him from behind A NSW Police spokeswoman said they were aware of an incident on York St on Saturday night. 'About 10pm last night, police were called to a licensed premises on York Street, Sydney after reports of an assault,' she said on Sunday. 'Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command attended and spoke to a 33-year-old man who had reportedly been assaulted during an altercation with a group of males on the street earlier.' Police said the man suffered facial injuries and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital for treatment. 'An investigation is now underway into the incident,' the spokeswoman said. York Street is a major thoroughfare in Sydney's CBD running from Town Hall to Lang Park. The alleged victim appears to lie unconscious on the pavement after the alleged choking assault, with the young men walking away The alleged act of violence, which was posted to the Sydney subreddit late on Saturday, has left social media users sickened. 'Just another night in Sydney. I don't go out in the CBD 'cause you just see this s**t all the time,' one person wrote on the platform. 'Hopefully lots of CCTV for the police to make quick decisions,' another said. The video is 28 seconds long and does not detail the moments before the tussle or what was said between the parties. He believes the pilot of MH370 could have depressurised the cabin A retired Qantas pilot has opened up on what may have happened during the mysterious MH370 flight that disappeared almost 10 years ago. Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 vanished over the South China Sea during a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, China, on March 8, 2014. The puzzling case made headlines across the world as it seemed the plane, which carried 239 people - including six Australians, disappeared without a trace. Just one week after the plane was downed, then-Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak claimed there was a 'high degree of certainty' communications with MH370's cockpit were deliberately cut. One popular theory is the crash was a murder-suicide at the hands of captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, but it has never been confirmed by authorities. Retired Qantas pilot and RAAF training captain Mike Glynn (pictured) said someone inside of MH370's cockpit could have depressurised the plane cabin Retired Qantas pilot and RAAF training captain Mike Glynn appeared on Sky News Australia's new documentary - MH370: Ten Years On, set to premiere at 7.30pm AEDT on Tuesday. He said there were several ways someone inside the cockpit could have incapacitated passengers. There's a chance they could have been on the verge of death without knowing anything was wrong. Mr Glynn told Sky someone inside the cockpit could have easily locked its door and forced the plane into a confused state by depressurising the cabin. '[They'd] make sure the door's locked, so no one can get in. Nothing that anyone could do,' he said. 'When you open these outflow valves, the aircraft depressurises very quickly,' he said. 'If the aircraft's not going to descend, you'll start to feel very hypoxic within three or four minutes.' Hypoxia occurs when the body does not receive enough oxygen, which can lead to confusion and a rapid heart rate before the patient loses consciousness. Mr Glynn added it would have been easy for someone inside the cockpit to keep other people out as locking doors were introduced after the 9/11 plane hijackings. 'The door will automatically close, and you can lock it by this switch,' he said. 'And you can also, there's a manual deadbolt that prohibits any sort of entry into the flight deck. You can have a full on attack on the door, it's not going to change a thing.' Mr Glynn's theorised passengers wouldn't have known they were in trouble onboard the missing flight until they reached a 'hypoxic' state The wreckage of MH370 has still not been found almost a decade later despite its disappearance triggering the largest ever air-sea multinational search. However, an Australian fisherman Kit Olver, 77, claimed last year his trawler pulled up what appeared to be the wing of a commercial airliner in late, 2014. He claims was fishing some 55km off the southeast coast of South Australia, in the Southern Ocean, when his net snagged on something large. 'It was a bloody great wing of a big jet airliner,' Mr Olver said. 'I've questioned myself. I've looked for a way out of this. 'I wish to Christ I'd never seen the thing but there it is. It was a jet's wing.' As he had held a pilot's licence, Mr Olver was confident the wing was larger than any on a typical private plane. His discovery was backed-up by Peter Waring whose expertise in surveying sea floors led to his involvement in the search for MH370. Mr Waring said it was 'plausible' for debris from the wreckage to be found in southern Australia, considering more than 20 pieces of possible debris have been discovered in Africa. However, the latest theories and discoveries would be of little comfort to the victims' families who may never have answers of what happened to their loved ones. British aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey last month accused the Malaysian Government of abandoning its search for MH370. He claims the government did not want to invest any more funding into the mission, despite several calls from victims' families to relaunch search efforts last year. 'In my view, the Malaysian government does not want the cause of the crash of MH370 to be known,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'It does not help to speculate what the motives of the Malaysian Government might be with regard to MH370.' The San Francisco Police Department has been mired in scandals in recent years and, according to newly released report from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, is one of many law enforcement agencies in the state that have been underperforming for decades. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2022 San Francisco Mayor London Breed, seen at a police academy in San Francisco in July 2023, has pushed for law enforcement to receive greater funding and for staffing levels to increase. A report from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice analyzing the performance of law enforcement agencies in the state from over the past three decades makes the case that investing heavily in police departments does not produce better results. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle 2023 The Oakland Police Department is among the states worst performing law enforcement agencies in California, according to a report from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle In Californias struggle to create safer cities, there are those who blame crime on liberal policies aimed at reducing mass incarceration and the imaginary fallout from a police defunding movement that never happened. Robust law enforcement, they claim, is the key to improving public safety. A scathing new study argues this is not true and hasnt been for decades. The study comes from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice and examines crime clearance rates a key indicator of how well police are doing their jobs for California between 1990 and 2022. During the past three decades, the percentage of reported violent and property crimes solved by police through an arrest dropped a whopping 41%. During the same three decades, the amount California taxpayers spend to fund law enforcement has risen by a staggering 52%. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The numbers only get more concerning from here. The reports author and senior researcher at CJCJ, Mike Males, told me that over the last 30 years, the number of reported crimes to police has plunged about 50%, so its not like police are underperforming because theyre getting swamped in crime reports. Yet, in San Francisco and Alameda County, home to some of the states loudest calls for more cops and more police funding, police clearance rates are abysmal. San Franciscos 6.7% clearance rate, and Alameda Countys 5.8% which includes the Oakland Police Departments 1.5% clearance rate make them some of the worst-performing jurisdictions in California, according to the study. All this national news about how California is wallowing in crime is just not true, Males said. Police are getting many, many fewer crime reports. Logically, they could have more police attention focused on each crime report. So I have to say this whole thing is a puzzle to me. In comments to the Chronicle, the San Francisco Police Department disagreed with the report. Evan Sernoffsky, a spokesperson for the Police Department, said a majority of homicides (85%) reported last year were solved. As for the citys alarmingly high rate of car burglaries, most are perpetrated by serial burglars, he said. So, the agency can only mark a limited number of break-ins as cleared if the authorities capture the repeat offenders. Theres logic in the SFPD response, but it isnt doing the department any favors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Homicides represent only a fraction of overall crimes in the city. What about the other crimes going unsolved? And the idea that car burglaries are done by one person or repeat offenders goes against the idea that San Francisco is overrun by criminals, which is what law-and-order folks say to argue that police need additional funding. Lastly, SFPD can try to justify its clearance rates over the last year or so, but what explains the CJCJ data showing police clearance rates, including at SFPD, have been falling consistently for more than 30 years? Whats clear is the fact that investing heavily in policing is not yielding the desired results in California. So, why do Republicans and moderate Democrats continue to advocate for this? An argument can be made that theyre out of touch and clinging to a vision of policing that hasnt existed in at least a generation, if ever. They also believe in a certain set of fallacies, like California is soft on crime, progressives are gutting police budgets, and liberal public safety policies are to blame for the escalation of crime and the reduction of law enforcements response capabilities. Heres some truth that the folks who have been weaponizing recalls to oust progressive politicians need to understand. Today, someone arrested by police for a violent crime or property crime is three times more likely to be imprisoned than they were in 1990. The rate jumped 207% over three decades. Advertisement Article continues below this ad California also has the 11th strictest threshold for felony theft among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to the East Coast criminal justice think tank the Prison Policy Initiative. And Californias reform era of the 2010s hasnt stopped the state from putting folks behind bars. In 2022, the imprisonment rates for property offenses in California were 26% higher than they were in 2014 when Proposition 47 was passed, which raised the felony threshold for theft from $400 to $950. This doesnt sound like a state that has ever been soft on crime. Law enforcement agencies in California also arent strapped for cash because progressive politicians are taking their funding. California spending on police in 1990 was $427 per resident. The per capita amount ballooned to $651 in 2022, which equates to an historic $25.5 billion in spending by the entire state, according to the CJCJ report. So, the scary defund movement and its fallout that the GOP and some Bay Area moderates vilify exists only in their imaginations. I discussed the new study with Jennifer Esteen, a longtime psychiatric nurse, member of the Alameda Health System board and candidate for District 4 on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. According to Esteen, the statistics on the clearance rates should prompt people to pay closer attention to the nuanced plight of the Bay Areas marginalized communities. We have more socially related issues around poverty and public health and housing, and its not a crime to be struggling with these things. But what we have are people who are currently elected who want to link these problems to the need for police action, Esteen said. What we really need isnt more police but more mental health workers, more peer support, more investments in violence prevention programs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Despite Californias supposedly liberal mindset, billions get spent on law enforcement while programs with proven track records aimed at addressing the root causes of crime poverty, homelessness, inequitable education access have shoestring budgets. On top of poor law enforcement clearance rates, time and time again we see stories of corruption, abuse of power, and scandals born from the racist actions of officers or entire police departments. Yet, instead of working to reform a broken policing system, Republicans and their moderate Democrat allies keep trying to give it more money and power. They dont want to have an honest conversation about law enforcements shortcomings. And they know playing the law-and-order card is an effective way to rally their bases around socially conservative and regressive public safety ideas like gutting police oversight or rolling back Prop. 47. The alleged murder of a married mother on a rural farm at the hands of her husband has shocked the local community where the pair kept a low profile. Yadwinder Singh, 44, is alleged to have killed his wife Amarjit Kaur Sardar, 41, at their 55.5-hectare sugar cane farm in Woodhill, in southern central Queensland, at 9am on Thursday. First responders were called to the scene where they found Ms Sardar who had allegedly been run over by a tractor slasher. She died at the scene. Police will allege that Singh had murdered his wife before interfering with her corpse in order to make the death seem like an accident. Locals in the quiet area are still reeling from the horrifying allegations, with some claiming the town will never be the same again. Yadwinder Singh (pictured), 44, is alleged to have killed his wife Amarjit Kaur Sardar, 41, at their 55.5-hectare property in Woodhill, south of Brisbane , at 9am on Thursday First responders were called to the scene where they found Ms Sardar mutilated after allegedly being run over by a sugar cane slasher (pictured) The couple bought the property in 2017 for $750,000 after moving from Brisbane and their two children went to school in nearby Beaudesert. 'The family did not mix with the local community but the woman seemed like a nice person quiet and devoted to her family,' a local, who has lived in Woodhill for nearly 50 years, told The Cairns Post. Veresdale Hotel owner Leon Mills said he did not know the couple but it was more than likely they had visited his venue. 'The property is very close and was probably used to grow organic vegetables to take to the markets,' he said. 'I would never have expected this to happen in Woodhill, it's so quiet and peaceful.' Local Matt Dunn said everyone in the community was aware of how dangerous a tractor slasher could be. Logan's Centre For Women & Co released a statement saying the death was close to home for many. 'We are incredibly saddened and sickened to hear of Amarjit's alleged murder and can hardly bear to imagine her last moments. 'Our thoughts are with her two children, her family, her friends and her loved ones.' On Saturday, Detective Inspector Chris Knight told the media: 'He [Singh] reported that his wife had passed away and there were some limited follow-up questions fed to him by the [ambulance] operators.' The married couple have two teenage children and lived on the 55-hectare property Police will allege that Singh had murdered his wife before interfering with her corpse in order to make the death seem like an accident Inspector Knight added that detectives had confiscated both Singh's and Ms Sardar's phones and that Singh's triple-0 call were 'part of our investigations'. Videos found on the phones are also being analysed by detectives. Police have seized a tractor slasher and sedan from the rural property. The children were not home at the time of their mother's death and interstate relatives have travelled to Queensland to care for them. Court documents say Singh is a truck driver who was born in India. He appeared before Beenleigh Magistrates Court and was charged with murder and 'misconduct with corpse by interfering' on Friday. The matter is adjourned to June 5. A Texas mom couldn't hold back her tears as she listened to the heart of her 14-month-old toddler, who drowned in a backyard pool, beating inside another little boy's chest after she donated her child's organs. Jenny Burns, 37, and her husband Rob, 39, endured the toughest days in 2022 when they pulled their son Beau, who had become unconscious, from the backyard pool of their Dallas home. When the Burns family faced the devastating reality of Beau not surviving, they did not know that April Flores, a 32-year-old single mother of a four-month-old boy, was fervently praying for her son. The couple made a courageous choice to donate Beau's organs to three people, one of whom was the four-month-old Eli who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. A year after the successful transplant, the two families came together, sharing a tear-jerking moment as Jenny and Bob listened to Beau's heart beating strong and fast in Eli's chest. Jenny Burns, 37, and her husband Rob, 39 couldn't hold back their tears as they listened to the heart of their 14-month-old toddler Beau, who drowned in a backyard pool, beating inside another little boy's chest after she donated her child's organs Jenny and Rob endured the toughest days in 2022 when they pulled Beau, who had become unconscious, from the backyard pool of their Dallas, Texas home When the Burns family faced the devastating reality of Beau not surviving, they did not know that April Flores (second on the left), a 32-year-old single mother of a four-month-old boy, was fervently praying for her son Beau's (pictured) heartbeat was restored through a PCR but the 14-month-old was unable to survive, passing away four days later Jenny told PEOPLE: 'That first initial meeting, looking into Eli's mom's eyes and just seeing how grateful she was and then knowing that Eli's living so well because of our decision it was just overwhelming.' 'Rob and I like to say it was Beau's gift, but now it's Eli's heart. The heartbeat was so strong and so fast - a little boy's heartbeat.' Jenny remembered the moment when she frantically screamed to her husband upon realizing that Beau was missing. 'When I couldn't find him I searched for a good three minutes I knew he was in the pool. You just start hoping and praying,' 'I was praying a miracle would happen. God was there with me,' Jenny said. Although Beau's heartbeat was restored through a PCR, the 14-month-old was unable to survive, passing away after four days. 'I thought for a good four days that there was hope that he would survive. But on the fourth day, the doctor told us he was not coming back and we had to decide what we would like to do,' Jenny said. Rob said the decision to donate his son's organs was a no-brainer, even though the family was enduring the worst nightmare after losing Beau. 'My mom and my grandmother were both nurse practitioners, so I grew up in a household that was very focused on medical education and understanding the importance of decisions you make,' he said. 'And while it was a very tough day for us, I knew that someone was going to get that miracle phone call, so for me.' Jenny added: 'It was a leap of faith. You really had to trust that the decision you're making is for the best, and it's so hard at that moment. You don't know what it will be like knowing that you're saving lives.' A year after the successful transplant, the two families came together, sharing a tear-jerking moment as Jenny and Bob listened to Beau's heart beating strong and fast in Eli's chest Jenny added: 'It was a leap of faith. You really had to trust that the decision you're making is for the best, and it's so hard at that moment. You don't know what it will be like knowing that you're saving lives' When being reached out by the Burns family last year, Flores acknowledged that she was concerned That night, Flores learned about the Burns' family loss but had no idea about what would unfold next. 'I prayed hard for the family that was losing their significant other, their child. I didn't know where it was coming from,' Flores said. 'The night we found out, before bed, I prayed for a heart for Eli because he has a whole life to live.' 'At 3.47am, I got the call from our heart transplant team after the transplant, it was an instantly different Eli. There was so much joy I could see through his face. When being reached out by the Burns family last year, Flores acknowledged that she was concerned. 'I'm a single mother. What if they wanted their son's heart to go to a family with a mother and a father? Is my son good enough for them to have received their son's heart?' Flores recalled. Jenny and Rob also met four-year-old Leonel, who was born with Citrullinemia Type 1 and saved by Beau Leonel's mother Ginamarie Rodriguez (second from the left) shared the exact same feeling, saying: 'I don't know how to explain it, but it felt like family. Going through everything we both went through, we're all grieving. I'll be forever thankful to them 'Leonel is so beautiful. He's just this rambunctious little 4-year-old, and it was so good seeing him just laugh and live so loud,' Jenny said But as the two families reunited in October of last year, all fears dissipated, replaced by big hugs and tears as they greeted each other. Flores said: 'It was just an instant connection. It is hard to put into words what they have done giving my son a chance at life, but we are connected forever. Jenny and Rob also met four-year-old Leonel, born with Citrullinemia Type 1, whose life was saved by Beau's liver. 'Leonel is so beautiful. He's just this rambunctious little 4-year-old, and it was so good seeing him just laugh and live so loud,' Jenny said. 'I don't know what it is with these women, but we have this amazing bond. Both Ginamarie and April are going to be in our lives forever, and I get two more sons.' Leonel's mother Ginamarie Rodriguez shared the exact same feeling, saying: 'I don't know how to explain it, but it felt like family. Going through everything we both went through, we're all grieving. I'll be forever thankful to them.' In January 2023, Jenny discovered she was pregnant with another baby boy and joyfully welcomed Jack, whom she described as a 'miracle,' as she shared the news with DailyMail.com In January 2023, Jenny discovered she was pregnant with another baby boy and joyfully welcomed Jack, whom she described as a 'miracle,' as she shared the news with DailyMail.com. Jenny said it's her mission to share Beau's story and spread knowledge about organ donation, drowning prevention, and child loss grief. 'Without my husband, I probably would have said no. [I felt like] they were taking away properly saying goodbye to my son, but Rob saw the bigger picture, and it was the best decision I've ever made in my life,' she said. 'Beau was gone and there wasn't anything I could do about it, but I could do this and help somebody else [and] help another mom with their little boy. Getting to see them grow up and see their mom's love on them heals my heart.' It comes after a woman claimed she was paid to attend multiple sex parties with people in Gaetz' circle and was provided with all kinds of controlled substances The ex-girlfriend of Rep. Matt Gaetz has been issued a subpoena to appear before the House Ethics Committee as part of the panel's investigation into the Republican. She is scheduled to testify via a Zoom call before the committee at the end of the month, according to a letter sent to her lawyer. The unidentified woman has previously been contacted by the committee for an interview and told them she would be 'pleading the fifth', a source told ABC News. Her lawyer, Tim Jansen, told the outlet: 'Of course we will comply with the subpoena and we will appear before the committee. 'However, we have informed the Staff that my client will be invoking her Fifth Amendment right before the Committee.' The committee is demanding that Gaetz's ex-girlfriend appear before them via a Zoom call on February 29 U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and his wife Ginger attend the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, July 19, 2023 Sources also told ABC that investigators are looking to speak with his ex about allegations that Gaetz paid for sex, abused drugs and potential lobbying violations. The outlet also reported that the woman has knowledge concerning a 17-year-old girl who was at the center of a sex trafficking investigation into Gaetz. The Department of Justice closed their investigation into the claims, deciding not to charge Gaetz. The ex was also one of the women who was allegedly on a 2018 trip to the Bahamas with Gaetz and others, including the minor, sources added. It comes after a woman claimed she had sex with Gaetz at a 'drug-fueled' orgy that she was paid to attend after texts emerged suggesting Gaetz had solicited her for an excursion to the Florida keys. The woman's lawyer told the Daily Beast that she was paid to attend multiple sex parties with people in Gaetz's circle and on one occasion had sex with the Republican Representative. 'She told [the investigators] that she and lots of girls were provided all kinds of controlled substances at these parties,' the lawyer said. 'The availability of vast amounts of alcohol and controlled substances gave rise to the lack of control of the hormonal imperative, which inspired people to engage in intimate behavior that may or may not have been because they were financially remunerated.' The shocking revelation follows Gaetz's spokesperson denying the congressman's knowledge of the woman when ABC News reported text messages showing Gaetz had arranged a trip and his associate Joel Greenberg was paying her for sex. The Ethics Committee reportedly had a meeting behind doors on Thursday to discuss the allegations against the Florida congressman. The ex was also one of the women who was allegedly on a 2018 trip to the Bahamas with Gaetz and others, including the minor, sources said. Gaetz is pictured here with his wife Ginger in 2021 The Ethics Committee, chaired by Republican Michael Guest, reportedly had a meeting behind doors on Thursday to discuss the allegations against the Florida congressman The woman has turned over text messages, photos, and other evidence to the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee, according to her lawyer. She also testified to the U.S. attorneys in response to a subpoena. Venmo transactions reviewed by the Daily Beast show the woman received around $2,500 from Gaetz' now-imprisoned pal Greenberg between March and July 2017. Greenberg entered notes including 'travel,' 'being cool,' 'stuff,' and the misspelled name of another Greenberg associate for those payments. In July 2017, she requested $500 from Greenberg and entered a policewoman emoji in the memo line. In the same week, Gaetz, Greenberg, and Donald Trump's confidante Roger Stone were captured in a selfie together in Miami, which they shared on social media. The House Ethics Committee first opened an investigation into Gaetz in April 2021, but paused it during the DOJ probe into allegations that Gaetz had engaged in sex trafficking, which concluded in February last year as it decided not to charge him. In the spring of 2021, Gaetz's associate, who had also attended those parties, reportedly met with the woman to determine if she disclosed any information and details about the gatherings to others. The lawyer said his client felt intimidated and the sole purpose of the meeting was to keep her mouth shut. 'This associate was there asking her over and over and over what she had said, demanding she tell them,' the lawyer said. His client's decision to come forward was 'a difficult and emotionally taxing experience,' the lawyer said. In July 2021, Gaetz, Greenberg, and Roger Stone were captured in a selfie together in Miami, which they shared on social media Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, got 11 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and stalking a political opponent in a plea agreement with prosecutors in May 2021 'The fact that nothing has come of it has kind of astonished her, who along with all the others had been the focal point of such an intense investigation,' the woman's lawyer said. 'For them to go through all that and then for the target of the investigation to just get a wink and a nod has created for some of them a loss of faith in the system.' The Daily Beast reported that it obtained text messages, transaction history, and photos, including a selfie of the woman posing with Gaetz. Some of the texts and pictures it obtained matched with the documents described by ABC News in their reporting on the matter, the outlet reports. It was also revealed earlier this week that texts reportedly show Gaetz asking the woman to fly on a private plane and join him, one other woman and three other men in the Keys. 'Hey - any interest in flying on a private plane to the keys May 19-21?' the congressman allegedly wrote. Gaetz informed the woman, whom ABC News describes as 'older than 21,' the trip would feature '2 guys, 4 girls. A very high-quality adventurous group.' 'Yeah I'm in,' replied the woman. Gaetz then allegedly wrote back: 'Fantastic. As is true with all time you spend w me, it'll be fun and chill [] You have a passport?' Both ABC and the Daily Beast report that the woman never did end up taking the Florida Keys trip. Greenberg has reportedly told investigators that he paid the woman to have sex with other men on their behalf. Gaetz's office denied the congressman ever knew Greenberg had been paying the woman for sex. Bank and Venmo records show payments from Greenberg to the woman which sources say were for her to have sex at parties with Greenberg's friends. 'Rep. Gaetz has no knowledge of these activities by Mr. Greenberg and was not involved in them. 'Rep. Gaetz has never paid for sex. Rep. Gaetz does not know anything about the woman you're referencing, though he takes thousands of selfies each year.' Gaetz's office denied the congressman ever knew Greenberg had been paying the woman for sex Gaetz, who has been married to Ginger Luckey, says allegations are a gross mischaracterization of his single days Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, got 11 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and stalking a political opponent in a plea agreement with prosecutors in May 2021. He was a key witness in the Department of Justice's probe into allegations that Gaetz had also sex trafficked the same minor. Greenberg allegedly penned a letter to Donald Trump's confidante Roger Stone in a bid to get a pardon from the then-President. The messages, reported to be between Stone and Greenberg, purportedly reveal that the disgraced tax collector was willing to pay $250,000 in bitcoin to Trump's longtime friend, a convicted felon, to help secure the pardon. One message - said to be from Stone - indicates Gaetz had privately turned on Greenberg and had advised Stone not to secure the pardon for Greenberg. According to a 2021 New York Times report, investigators had believed that Gaetz and Greenberg instructed women they met online 'to meet at certain times and places, often at hotels around Florida, and would tell them the amount of money they were willing to pay.' Gaetz, who has been married to Ginger Luckey since 2021, says allegations are a gross mischaracterization of his single days. And the probe ended without any charges against him. When asked about the latest development, Gaetz told ABC: 'The Ethics Committee is engaging in payback against me for ousting the person who singularly appointed every Republican - Kevin McCarthy. 'I see through this sham and the American people will too. Exposing witch hunts is kind of my thing around here.' A family has been left devastated after their 12-year-old son was hit and killed by a car while walking home from school. Kye Duclos was run down at the intersection of Police Road and Hansworth Street in Mulgrave, Melbourne, just after 4.30pm on Friday. The driver stopped at the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries. Kye's father Michael shared his heartbreak on Facebook, revealing his son had been crossing during traffic and was unable to see the 'second lane'. Kye Duclos, 12, was killed by a car walking home from school on Friday. His aunties described him as the family's 'golden child' and his father said their 'world will never be the same' 'He crossed without the green pedestrian light and was unfortunately hit by a car,' he wrote. 'An off duty MICA paramedic was on the scene from the start and was able to perform CPR and keep him alive as he went into cardiac arrest.' The father said there were 'multiple' ambulances working on his son. 'Both Jess, myself and Isla were able to attend the scene in time and watch as the ambos worked on him and give him a kiss,' he said. The father said his son had scans to assess the extent of his head injuries after the child was airlifted to the Royal Children's Hospital. Kye went into cardiac arrest before dying in his parents' arms. A GoFundMe has been launched by the 12-year-old's aunts. The fundraising page said the family 'suffered a tragic loss' and Kye was their 'golden child.' 'His parents Michael and Jessie and his sister Isla's life will never be the same,' they wrote. Father Michael Duclos said his son Kye (both pictured) was a 'beautiful boy'. The 12-year-old died in the arms of his family after going into cardiac arrest 'To help them navigate the next few months we have set up a GoFundMe page to take away the financial burden and allow them to plan a funeral and take the time they need to heal and grieve.' Mr Duclos wrote his thanks to everybody who was involved in assisting his son. 'The love everyone had for our little man was overwhelming to see,' he wrote. 'Jess and I's wishes are to be left to our grieving for as long as it takes. We love and appreciate you all but we need to take our time to come to terms with what happened. 'Our world will never be the same, we will forever miss our beautiful boy.' President Biden appeared to get his facts muddled once again on Saturday as he confused a Congressional funding bill for Ukraine with that of NATO. Biden, who is on vacation in Delaware, was speaking to reporters as he walked from his motorcade when he got his facts confused as he called for 'Congress to come home and pass the legislation funding NATO.' The $95 billion aid package the president was speaking about would see $61 billion sent to Ukraine - which it not part of NATO. The funding would be mainly in the form of military equipment from the U.S. It would also send foreign assistance and humanitarian aid to Israel, Gaza and allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. 'The idea that we're going to walk away from Ukraine; the idea that we're going to let NATO begin to split is totally against the idea of the United States of America,' Biden began. 'It is against our word and troops that we've sent over all the way back to Eisenhower. So it is about time Congress come home and pass the legislation funding NATO. It's critical,' he said, mixing up Ukraine for the organization. President Biden made another gaffe as he confused a Congressional funding bill for Ukraine with NATO as he spoke to reporters while on vacation in Delaware Biden appeared to call for Congress to pass legislation to fund NATO instead of Ukraine School number 18 is destroyed in a Russian missile attack on Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on Saturday. Russia launched missile attacks on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk killing at least two people and trapping others under the rubble Biden, on vacation in Delaware, calls on Congress come home and pass the legislation funding NATO. Ukraine isnt in NATO neither are Israel and Taiwan.pic.twitter.com/VAdPBt7ZSS RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 18, 2024 It is the latest verbal gaffe made by the president who recently mixed up the names of world leaders, including France's former president Francois Mitterrand, who died in 1996, with its current president, Emmanuel Macron. Last week he attempted to deliver a powerful defense of himself and his mental fitness, slamming a report by Special Counsel Robert Hur that suggested his memory was failing. Hur's description of Biden caused alarm when he said in his report on Bidens handling of classified documents that he was a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Investigators who quizzed Biden said that his memory appeared to have significant limitations and he did not remember, even within several years. when his son Beau died. (It was in 2015). Biden could also not remember when he was Vice President or the details of a debate about sending extra troops to Afghanistan, they said. Biden swiftly compounded the damage by giving a press conference in which he petulantly defended his cognitive powers. 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 as he confused the presidents of Egypt and Mexico in a conversation about Gaza. It's the kind of gaffe he has become known for. Biden referred to the president of Mexico as El-Sisi. In fact, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the president of Egypt. President Biden, 81, was described as 'a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory' suffering 'diminished faculties in advancing age'. Special Counsel Robert Hur recommended that President Biden not be charged for his illegal mishandling of classified documents at his Delaware home and Washington, D.C. office A hastily-arranged press conference to hit back at what he said was a 'gratuitous' report had backfired. Hur's account has given Biden's rival Donald Trump and Republicans plenty to work with when it comes to attacking the president's suitability for a second term. Hur said if Biden were to be charged in the wrongful storage of classified document at his Delaware home, a jury might be sympathetic toward him. 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 the now infamous, defiant press conference where he insisted 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, it 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].' More recently he has mixed up other world leaders and misstated when conversations with long-dead political figures took place. Biden twice recalled a conversation with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl about the January 6 riots on Capitol Hill, at the G7 summit in 2021 - despite Khol being dead since 2017. Other 'I see dead people' confusions include mixing up British prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, deceased Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski, and the inventor of insulin who died before Biden was born. Last year he declared that Russian Vladimir Putin was 'clearly losing the war in Iraq', instead of Ukraine. While surveying the aftermath of devastating storms that tore through Kentucky, he stepped off Marine One (above) and struggled for 30 seconds to put on his jacket even with the help of first lady Jill Biden. He then dropped his sunglasses on the ground after securing his jacket on his body The president also fell to the ground off of his bike when on a ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in June 2022 In September 2022 Biden appeared to get lost while walking off stage following his remarks at the Global Fund Conference Bidens long-established reputation for embarrassing gaffes and mis-statements - in 2018 even he described himself as a gaffe machine - has in one sense benefited him up until now, allowing his team to explain away mistakes as his Uncle Joe folksy, goofy charm. But the dramatically increased frequency of his verbal stumbles is causing alarm. And it has been accompanied by evidence of physical frailty, too. Since 2021 he has reportedly tripped eight times while navigating the steps of Air Force One, the presidential jet, including three times on a single flight to Atlanta. In 2022 he fell off a bicycle after getting caught up in his pedals; in 2023 he stumbled descending a small set of steps at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan; later that year he tripped over a sand bag and fell on stage at an Air Force academy graduation ceremony. And when the stairs to Air Force One were shortened last year so that he entered the plane at a lower level, Biden tripped on them, too. When he was vice president, he tripped as he walked on stage to deliver a speech at the Paddington Town Hall in Sydney in July 2016. In September 2022 he appeared to get lost while walking off stage following his remarks at the Global Fund Conference. As applause ensued, the U.S. president began walking off the stage before abruptly stopping in his tracks and looking around with an appearance of confusion on his face. He then seemed to ask people on the ground how to get off stage and did a few stuttering steps. Sleepy Joe - as he was dubbed by Trump - is already easily the oldest person to become president in US history. If he reclaims the White House, he would be 82 at the start of his second term in January 2025. (If Trump wins, he would be 78.) Biden's latest gaffes only serve to add fuel to those calling for him to be dumped as a new poll suggests Democrats would perform better in the upcoming presidential election without him. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are neck and neck in the race for the White House but if they ditched Biden the Democrats would beat the former President, a new poll has found Even though the two men are tied in the 10,000-sample poll, the American electorate thinks the momentum is with Trump: just 28 per cent think that Biden will win re-election, compared with 38 per cent who expect Trump to return to the White House Analysis by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, shared with The Mail on Sunday, puts 81-year-old Biden, who is running for re-election as President in November, on 40 per cent among US voters, the same as Trump. But when the voters are offered a choice between Trump, 77, the frontrunner to be his Republican challenger, and a Democrat other than Joe Biden, the notional candidate leads by six points. Biden would beat Nikki Haley, Trumps last-remaining rival for the Republican nomination, by 11 points. Even though the two men are tied in the 10,000-sample poll, the American electorate thinks the momentum is with Trump: just 28 per cent think that Biden will win re-election, compared with 38 per cent who expect Trump to return to the White House. The results have been released amid growing concerns about the mental capacity of President Biden, who is the oldest person ever to occupy the Oval Office. The concerns are reflected in the Presidents approval ratings: only 37 per cent of US voters approve of his handling of the Presidency, compared with 58 per cent who disapprove which includes a quarter of those who voted for him in 2020. Young voters are particularly disenchanted, with 64 per cent of the 18-24 bracket disapproving. Lord Ashcrofts focus groups found that many of Bidens supporters in 2020 had backed him only as the means of removing Trump. The Biden/Trump battle is polarizing the country along lines of race, gender and demography. Trump leads among men, the under-35s, white voters and high-school dropouts, and on issues such as immigration, defense, the economy, taxes, crime and the cost of living. Biden leads among women, the over-65s, black voters and degree-holders on healthcare and the environment. Pessimism hangs over the race: two-thirds of voters think that America is headed in the wrong direction, which rises to 86 per cent among Trump supporters. Trump the first former President in US history to face criminal indictments is facing a total of 91 charges across four separate cases, including payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and allegations that he illegally conspired to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Former President Donald Trump railed against the judge who slapped him with a $355 million fine in his New York civil fraud trial as he campaigned in Michigan on Saturday night Trump was making his pitch in a state that is expected to be critical in November as he pivots toward a likely general election rematch against Biden Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, railed against the judge who slapped him with a $355 million fine in his New York civil fraud trial and went after the long list of prosecutors with cases against him as he campaigned in Michigan on Saturday night while facing penalties that could exceed half-a-billion dollars. Trump was making his pitch in a state that is expected to be critical in November as he pivots toward a likely general election rematch against Biden. While Biden narrowly beat Trump there in 2020, the president is facing deep skepticism in the state, especially from Arab-American voters angry over his support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas war as the Palestinian death toll has climbed. Trump has been working to appeal to the blue-collar and union voters who were critical to his victory in 2016. On Saturday, he again made his pitch to auto workers, railing against electric vehicle mandates that he argues will ultimately lead to lost jobs and touted tariffs he put in place. 'We have to let them know a freight train is coming in November,' Trump told more than 2,000 supporters gathered in a freezing plane hangar in Waterford Township, in the suburbs of Detroit. But Trump was again most focused on his grievances, opening with a 15-minute screed about the criminal and civil cases against him. 'These repulsive abuses of power are not just an attack on me, they're really an attack on you and all Americans,' Trump said on Saturday. 'We're all in this mess together!' Nikki Haley, photographed campaigning in her home state of South Carolina on Tuesday, has pointed to Trump mixing her up with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a 'senior moment' Trump, 77, has also had his own senior moments. Earlier this week he claimed that he 'purposely' mixed up rival Nikki Haley and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when he was campaigning in New Hampshire last month, as he used Haley's name instead of Pelosi's as he argued the Democratic speaker should be held more responsible for what happened at the Capitol on January 6. 'When I interpose - because I'm not a Nikki fan and I'm not a Pelosi fan - and when I purposely interpose names, they said I didn't know Pelosi from Nikki, from tricky Nikki, tricky Nikki, he didn't know,' Trump said. 'I interpose and they make a big deal out of it, I said, "No, no I think they both stink, they have something in common, they both stink."' 'And remember this, when I make a statement like that about Nikki that means she will never be running for vice president,' the ex-president added to cheers. Trump also continued to claim he purposely subbed in President Barack Obama's name for Biden's, blaming the 'dishonest people' in the media and complaining it's 'very hard to be sarcastic.' 'When I say Barack Hussein Obama is the president of the United States - meaning, there is a lot of control there, because the one guy can't put two sentences together. So I say Barack Hussein Obama,' Trump explained. Both Haley, 52, and President Joe Biden's campaign, have pointed out Trump's recent flubs - as she's long argued the country is ready for a new generation of leadership. The first female mayor of a tiny Illinois village is now accused of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign, just weeks after being slammed for using city money to fund her glamorous looks. Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, 40, is accused of using her official position within the town to retaliate against those who do not comply with her wishes, the New York Post revealed. Residents claim she adopts the persona of movie gangster Nino Brown from the 1991 film 'New Jack City' during official meetings, dressing in an ensemble designed to instill fear. 'People look at politics like a joke, it's like a mockery right now because of all this stuff,' Village of Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher told The Post. 'She comes to board meetings dressed like Nino Brown.' During a meeting, she reportedly signaled for a DJ to play Rihanna's 'B***h Better Have My Money,' while fully committing to her Nino Brown persona, even carrying a small stuffed dog reminiscent of a scene from the movie. Residents claim she adopts the persona of movie gangster Nino Brown from the 1991 film 'New Jack City' during official meetings, dressing in an ensemble designed to instill fear During a meeting, she reportedly signaled for a DJ to play Rihanna 's 'Bitch Better Have My Money,' while fully committing to her Nino Brown persona, even carrying a small stuffed dog reminiscent of a scene from the movie Tiffany Henyard, 40, is accused of of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign, just weeks after being slammed for using city money to fund her glamorous looks One resident, Lawrence Gardner, claimed that Henyard forced the closure of his trucking business after he refused to renew a $3,500 contribution to her political fund. 'I made the payment,' he said. 'Then every year she started coming and required the same thing, and we had a problem about that.' 'What is she, Nino Brown?' he said. 'Anything she wants done, she gets them to harass you. She likes nobody. If you are not doing what she say, if you are not doing how she's saying to do it, you are a problem. She don't like them.' Residents and former officials accuse Henyard and Police Chief Lewis Lacey of obstructing local businesses that fail to make required payments. Trustee Kiana Belcher alleges that former Police Chief Robert Collins admitted to being directed by the mayor to target individuals. The mayor is under investigation for allegedly misusing public funds for personal expenses and utilizing law enforcement to suppress opposition. Earlier this month, she was slammed by her critics at a public meeting after she caused outrage by taking a $300,000 salary. Henyard was elected leader of Dolton, a village of 20,000, in 2021, but has since come under fire for what many see as her excessive spending. 'You all should be ashamed of yourselves because you all are black. You all are black! And you all sitting up here beating and attacking a black woman that's in power,' she said at a Monday meeting trying to point to her status as the first female mayor. 'You all should be ashamed of yourselves. In one photo posted to Instagram, Henyard even appeared to pose with a dog laden with jewelry She regularly engages the services of a professional hair and makeup team and stylist before public appearances and photo shoots for the county's taxpayer-funded billboards, with more recent reporting showing she's spent tens of thousands on multiple first-class trips around the country. Henyard also tried to lay down the law against village trustees who say she's misusing funds. 'You all forget I'm the leader. They want to hear from the mayor. You all ain't learned that yet,' she said earlier this month. 'The mayor, not the trustees that don't do nothing. They only run their mouth. You all don't do no work, no work!' Since the initial reporting on Henyard's spending, it's been revealed she and other officials spent more than $67,000 on trips to Portland, Austin, Atlanta and New York City on the village's dime, according to WGN. Many of the flights were first-class, while Henyard's team spent $13,000 in public money staying in New York. 'It's unfortunate that politics are being played. What's happened is a million dollars out of my budget have been cut because of politics,' Dolton Police Chief Lewis Lacey said. Henyard doesn't understand the criticism, as she believes she's working to better everyone's lives. 'Everything we do is for the people. But we're under attack. We get scrutinized by the media,' she said. 'For what? Loving on the people? Showing that they matter to us? We going through the fires for you all.' Henyard is pictured stepping out of a chauffeured SUV in one of her stylish outfits. She's been blasted for spending taxpayer cash on security, as well as professional hair and makeup artists At a public meeting Monday night, Henyard attempted to shame the trustees by pointing out her status as the first female mayor of the village and as a black woman The village board said the problem is a matter of trust, with citizens and trustees being unable to vet her spending. 'At the end of the day, vendors aren't being paid. The board approved it, but vendors aren't being paid,' Dolton trustee Jason House said. Fellow trustee Brittney Norwood added: 'How about you be a good leader and bring [proposals] to the forefront so not just us, but residents and everyone else in America know how the money is being spent?' Henyard is always snapped in tasteful, expensive looking outfits. She has posted photos of herself getting out of chauffeur driven SUVS, with one Instagram post even appearing to show her with a dog laden with jewelry. Henyard, who often refers to herself as 'God's favorite,' has now sparked further outrage by proposing a new law that would cap the next mayor's salary at $25,000, unless she remains in the role, Fox 32 reported in early February. Many believe the proposal, which has been branded 'illegal' is an attempt to dissuade anyone from running against her in the 2025 race. Now trustees in her town have filed a lawsuit against her alleging forgery and claiming she withheld financial records. The scandal is just the latest to hit the beleaguered mayor, after she was slammed for hiring her former campaign worker as the town's code enforcement officer despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist. She also raised eyebrows after spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars of security details, including one for an event with senior citizens and another occasion where she pulled cops off the street to perform a protection outfit. After a recall bid failed, Henyard posted this defiant image on Instagram declaring she 'forever will be Dolton's mayor' Questions have emerged over how she funds her apparently lavish lifestyle, especially since she has repeatedly swerved questions and dismissed criticism by branding trustees for the township as 'haters' in TikTok videos. Dolton trustees say she has not explained the need for her eye-watering security budget. They also claim she issued checks without proper authorization. 'I see no justification whatsoever. And more than that, it's really a detriment to the citizens of Dolton,' trustee Jason House told Fox 32. 'If we were to take the same money and put it on officers patrolling the streets, then the residents will see a much better presence and public safety will be better.' Heynard, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor in May, becoming the first woman and the youngest person to occupy that post in Dolton's 128-year history. A year after her election, Dolton residents triggered a recall process largely due to her hiring of convicted sex offender Lavelle Redmond into a role that would require him to enter people's homes. According to reporting at the time, the then-16-year-old Redmond and three others kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girls, ages 13 and 14. At age 17, Redmond was sentenced to 50 years in prison but was paroled in 2016 and required to register as a sex offender. At the time Henyard defended the move, stating that convicts who have served time deserve a second chance. Henyard uses professional stylists as well and hair and makeup teams prior to events but is not forthcoming about how they are funded However, the recall failed on a technicality and Henyard remained in post, turning up to the next board meeting blasting a disco song and dancing on the podium. Following the verdict, she also posted a defiant picture on Instagram proclaiming herself the 'People's Mayor' with the caption, 'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor.' The post is one of hundreds on the politicians profile that feature glamorous headshots of her promoting various town events and holidays. She also features heavily on professional stylist Brandon K Momom's account, sporting various ensembles handpicked for her public appearances. Visitors to Henyard's website are greeted by a huge selfie and encouraged to offer donations. Her antics have earned comparisons to the show Parks and Recreation, a comedy which pokes fun at local government employees. Dozens of suspected asylum seekers who illegally arrived in Australia by boat have been deported to an offshore detention centre. The group of 39 men claiming to be from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh landed on remote coastline near Beagle and Pender Bays in Western Australia's north on Friday. They have since been deported to the offshore detention centre on the Micronesian island of Nauru, north-west of Papua New Guinea. The arrival caused a political firestorm as opposition leader Peter Dutton took aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for abandoning Australian borders. Mr Albanese hit back, saying that his government vehemently supports Operation Sovereign Borders and criticised Mr Dutton for politicising the men's arrival. He also branded the opposition leader as a 'cheer squad' for people smugglers. A group of 39 suspected asylum seekers (pictured) claiming to be from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been deported to Nauru after slipping past border patrol and arriving in Australia via boat READ MORE: Alarm as 30 asylum seekers turn up on 'undetected' boat and are found on the side of the road near popular tourist town Beagle Bay is a small community about 128km north of Broome in Western Australia Advertisement Mr Albanese told reporters in Perth on Sunday that the 'issue' had been resolved. 'The only person who's out there on a cheer squad is Peter Dutton and he needs to explain how they think that the comments that he has made talking Australia down are appropriate,' the prime minister said. Mr Albanese said he does 'not seek to politicise national security issues' and condemned Mr Dutton's comments on the issue. 'I think that says more about him than anything else,' he said. Mr Albanese said his government's 'position on Operation Sovereign Borders is very clear' and that no one who arrives in Australia illegally by boat will 'not settle here'. Operation Sovereign Borders was created by the Abbott Government in 2013 in order to curb the amount of illegal immigrants seeking asylum in Australia by boat. 'I'm very comfortable that the Operation Sovereign Borders has been put in place,' Mr Albanese said. 'It's the same system that operated before, and we will make announcements about what has occurred there through Operation Sovereign Borders, imminently, when that occurs. ' The group of suspected asylum seekers were found by locals in indigenous communities before authorities descended on the area and detained them. The men were found by indigenous communities near Beagle and Pender Bay, northern Western Australia, on Friday before authorities descended on the area (pictured) No boat has been found in the area, with authorities investigating the possibility the group was dropped off by Indonesian fishermen. One of the asylum seekers told the ABC that they had spent five days at sea, travelling from Indonesia to Australia. After being dropped off on the beach, the group walked for about 35km, he said, before they were picked up by locals. Mr Dutton, who previously oversaw Operation Sovereign Borders as Immigration Minister, said people smugglers are trying to exploit 'a weak Prime Minister and to a weak (Immigration) Minister'. '(Mr Albanese will) tell you that he supports Operation Sovereign Borders, but that's not the actions that he's taken,' he said on Sunday. 'We know that in the last budget, on a cumulative basis, $600 million has been taken from Border Force and from Operation Sovereign Borders; as the Australian Border Force commissioner points out, they are stretched. The suspected asylum seekers were taken to the offshore detention centre on Nauru on Sunday after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government's stance on immigration 'They look at every word and every action of the Government, and they package it up, they pitch it in a sales pitch to people who are willing to pay money, the fact is that we've got a weak Prime Minister when it comes to our borders. 'He's allowed this boat through, I think it's number 12 of boats that have got through so far, and the Prime Minister reaps what he sows.' WA Premier Roger Cook admitted that the incident highlighted a need to ensure WA's north-west coast was adequately protected. 'This is fundamentally a matter for the federal government to resolve,' Mr Cook said. 'That's why we need to continue to make sure we have the resources to protect our coasts.' A boat carrying a dozen asylum seekers landed on Australian shores last November on a rural stretch of the Anjo Peninsula, the northern tip of Western Australia. State Liberal Party MP Neil Thomson told Daily Mail Australia at the time that arrivals were an 'obvious concern' for Australians and indicative of the Federal Government's stance on asylum seekers. Scott Morrison has told a rally of about 10,000 people that some Palestinian supporters chanting phrases like 'from the river to the sea' are 'ignorant' of the meaning of those words and are being anti-Semitic. Speaking at Sydney's Never Again is Now rally in The Domain on Sunday, the former prime minister suggested there had been instances of anti-Semitism in Australia rather than support for Israel following the attack from Hamas on October 7. 'Instead of support, we have seen those living under the freedom of democracy in this country calling for the extinction of the State of Israel from the river to the sea,' he said. Mr Morrison drew cheers as he said people were 'ignorant of the real meaning of those words', and of the 'violent and anti-Semitic nature of those statements'. Former prime minister Scott Morrison addressed a large crowd at an anti-Semitism rally in Sydney on Sunday 'Our presence here today is to bear witness to these acts of anti-Semitism, and call them out and express solidarity with Jewish people across Australia and around the world,' Mr Morrison said. 'To remove the cloak of sentiment, self-declared respectability and asserted moral superiority, and reveal the dark heart of anti-Semitism that continues to linger below the surface, both here in Australia and elsewhere.' Mr Morrison also advocated for a two state solution, however said both states had to be 'competent and focused on the welfare, freedom, security, advancement and flourishing of their own people'. 'Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, which we all wish to see for Israelis and Palestinians alike, but the presence of freedom, of justice and security, behind secure borders, where people can live their lives free from oppression, fear and persecution,' he said. In response to Mr Morrison's speech, Nick Everett from Friends of Palestine WA told NCA NewsWire: 'The slogan 'from the river to the sea' is a demand for equal rights and justice for Palestinians who live throughout historic Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.' Groups such as Friends of Palestine and Unionists for Palestine have consistently said they do not call for the extinction of Israel, but rather an end to the country's occupation of Gaza. Unionists for Palestine spokeswoman Grace Brooks said last month that there must be justice and human rights for all Palestinian people to bring about a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict. 'The decades-long occupation and apartheid regime in Israel-Palestine must come to an end,' she said. 'As unionists we will fight for all people, no matter their faith or ethnicity, to have equal rights and self-determination. 'Until there is peace and justice, we will continue the campaign for a free Palestine.' Around 10,000 Sydneysiders attended the rally in The Domain on Sunday Protesters waved flags and signs at the rally Political activist and businessman Warren Mundine also denounced the handling of the Sydney Opera house protests, which followed the October 7 attacks. While initial reports said protestors chanted 'F**k the Jews' and 'Gas the Jews', NSW Police later said an expert review found attendees actually chanted: 'Where's the Jews?' Mr Mundine said while he was a 'massive supporter' of the police, he was 'horrified' the event was allowed to go ahead. 'To see police stand there and do nothing, nearly broke me,' he said. 'Anyone who has looked at history for a mere second knows when a society tolerates an angry mob changing against Jews, it will take that to society down an ugly and destructive path.' Scott Morrison (left) said there had been instances of anti-Semitism in Australia rather than support for Israel following the attack from Hamas on October 7 NSW MP's 'tentacle' comments lashed Politicians from both the Labor and Liberal Party also criticised comments made by NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong, in which she spoke about the 'tentacles' of the Jewish lobby, and unknowingly referenced a historical anti-Semitic cartoon. The Newtown MP has since apologised for the 'inappropriate descriptor'. Representing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, federal MP for Berowra Julian Leeser also said politicians in the Greens and those in the far left had an 'ideological obsession' in hostility against people of faith. He referenced Ms Leong's comments and said they were an example of people questioning 'the right of their fellow Australians to participate in the life of this nation'. NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said the comments from the far left were divisive. 'They seek to divide us, they seek to bring anti-Semitism into our communities, into our schools, (and) into our parliament,' she said. Former NSW Treasurer and co-convener of Labor Friends of Israel Eric Roozendaal echoed the criticisms. 'There are some politicians who seek to exploit divisions in our society and who openly showed contempt for Jewish Australians,' he said. He also called out 'influencer' and feminist author Clementine Ford for sharing a list containing the names and details of Jewish creatives on social media. 'Now we have a so-called influencer like that awful Clementine Ford,' Mr Roozendaal said. 'She's publishing lists, telling haters exactly where they can find the Jews. That's what we've come to.' Jacqui Lambie (left) and Scott Morrison (right) were among the attendees. About 10,000 people attended the rally on Sunday. NAIN co-founder Mark Leach said the event was a response to a 738 per cent surge in reported anti-Semitic incidents across Australia. The figures were reported by the Executive Council of Australia Jewry in December, which said it had been alerted of 662 incidents in October and November last year. 'We want to mobilise the Christian and general Australian rally to push back again the anti-Semitic hate we're seeing across Australia,' said Mr Leach, who is also a senior Anglican minister. 'We want to build a cohesive and strong society were everybody, including our Jewish friends, can flourish in peace.' Tasmanian Speaker Jacqui Lambie, NSW Senator Hollie Hughes, Australian Christian Lobby director Michelle Pearse, senior Anglican minister Mark Leach and former deputy prime minister John Anderson will also speak at the event. ANTI-SEMITISM RALLY SYDNEY The Domain was filled with people waving flags, including the Australian flag, the Israel flag and the Iranian flag prior to the 1979 Revolution. George Citer, 77, said he believed Australians needed to 'come together'. 'I mean this is just so important, the Australian community stands together again anti-Semitism,' he said. 'You've got people from the broader community all coming together. This is the Australian way.' A NSW Police spokeswoman said the rally was a planned authorised assembly, and it would be attended by a highly visible police presence. 'The community can be assured we will provide a safe environment for all and appropriate policing responses are in place,' they said. In the days before she was murdered by her estranged husband, a young Australian mother-of-three went to several police stations with fears for her life, but did not get the help she desperately needed. On April 20, 2021, former US marine Brian Earl Johnston tied Kelly Wilkinson, 27, to a clothesline in the backyard of her home in Arundel on the Gold Coast and set her on fire. In her terrified state in the days leading up to her murder, Ms Wilkinson's visits to police stations were described in official notes as 'cop shopping', the Guardian Australia reported. At the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday, Johnston, 37, pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Wilkinson just weeks before he was expected to stand trial. Wilkinson's family is pursuing an inquest to examine how the system was unable to protect her. On April 20, 2021, former US marine Brian Earl Johnston tied Kelly Wilkinson, 27, to a clothesline in the backyard of her home in Arundel on the Gold Coast and set her on fire. Ms Wilkinson, Johnston and one of their children are pictured READ MORE: New start for Kelly Wilkinson's children, two years after witnessing their mum tragically die in their Gold Coast backyard Kelly Wilkinson's children and their cousins (pictured during construction) can finally move into their new home Advertisement On the day he murdered his estranged wife, Johnston was found two blocks away on a front lawn in a 'semiconscious state' with serious burns to his hands and airways. A melted plastic jerry can, three knives and a duffel bag with duct tape was also found at the scene. A neighbour reported finding her three children, who were aged between two and nine at the time, crying on the front driveway after the murder. Two days after she was murdered, the police admitted there was a 'failure' in their dealings with Ms Wilkinson, who had first contacted them about Johnston the previous month. In early April 2021, Johnston was charged with four domestic violence offences against Ms Wilkinson and was given watch house bail. In the following weeks, she tried to speak to the police 'almost every day' about her fear of Johnston, her sister, Natalie Wilkinson told the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2021. She alleged that Johnston had breached the conditions of his domestic violence order. Another sister, Danielle Carroll, said at that time that Ms Wilkinson had told police, 'I am scared for my life, I am scared for my children's life. We are not safe.' She was turned away from the Southport police station on the Gold Coast one day that April, having been told there was no one available to help with a domestic violence case. Ms Wilkinson then drove to another police station at Runaway Bay, about 15 minutes away. A police 'occurrence' report from the time described her visits to separate police stations as 'cop shopping'. Johnston will be sentenced in March after he pleaded guilty at the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday On April 22, 2021, two days after she was murdered, Brian Codd, the Queensland police assistant commissioner in charge of domestic violence responses, was asked if Ms Wilkinson's death had been preventable. 'Wouldn't you love to turn back time,' he said. 'It's important that we examine to what extent it is a systemic failure. 'Ultimately it's a failure. A woman has died. Somewhere along the line, she had engaged with the system, with us.' There were several signs that Johnston posed a potential lethal risk, in addition to Wilkinson's reports to police. Days after Wilkinson was killed, Johnston's lawyer told reporters that 'obviously, no one expected this to happen'. Johnston will be sentenced next month and has been remanded in custody. In court last Wednesday, he did not respond when asked if he wanted to say anything as to why a sentence should not be passed upon him. Defence barrister Kim Bryson said she had agreed with crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy that March 13 would be suitable for a sentencing hearing. 'There are some factual matters that remain contested in relation to the background of the relationship... we have been frustrated in our efforts to get out to the prison due to the lockdowns that have occurred,' Ms Bryson said. Mr McCarthy said there was also a contest of facts over the motivation for Johnston murdering Ms Wilkinson. Justice Callaghan said he could change the sentencing date if needed. Daily Mail Australia reported late last year how an entrepreneur worked around the clock to secure a house and land package for Ms Wilkinson's three children. The children were taken in by Ms Wilkinson's sister Danielle Carroll, her husband and their five cousins. Brian Earl Johnston pleaded guilty to the murder of Kelly Wilkinson (pictured together) at Queensland's Supreme Court on Wednesday Mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson (pictured) was doused in petrol and burnt to death by her ex-husband Construction entrepreneur Tamika Smith launched a community appeal to help build a new home to accommodate the family of ten on the Gold Coast's outskirts, which they moved into in July last year. Their new home was built by an army of local tradies and volunteers in a project spearheaded by Metricon Homes and My Bella Casa founder Tamika Smith, who is the stepsister of Ms Carroll's husband. Johnston served two tours of duty in Iraq with the aviation division of the US Marine Corps - but did not see combat. He had met Ms Wilkinson in the US state of Ohio after his time in the military. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has warned that Russia could face fresh sanctions as he vowed to take 'action' following the death of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Mr Navalny - one of the most prominent critics of Russian despot Vladimir Putin - died on Friday at the Polar Wolf penal colony in Kharp, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow, where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. The circumstances of Mr Navalny's death remain unclear. Prison officials claim the 47-year-old 'fell ill' after a walk and 'lost consciousness' before dying. His mother was told that he was struck down by 'sudden death syndrome' but Mr Navalny's team say: 'Alexei didn't die - he was murdered.' Lord Cameron joined other G7 ministers at the Munich Security Conference in calling on Russia to 'fully clarify' how the jailed opposition leader died, amid mounting pressure on Western leaders to respond. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (pictured at his trial in 2017) died in prison on Friday Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron (pictured at Munich Security Conference) has warned that Russia could now face fresh sanctions Mr Navalny was one of the most prominent critics of Vladimir Putin (pictured) who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago According to the Times, the Foreign Secretary used the German gathering to repeat the UK's call for countries to seize Russian central bank assets currently held in the West as one way of financing the reconstruction of Ukraine. It comes as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches, marked by confirmation that Putin's forces have taken complete control of the frontline city of Avdiivka. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined Western leaders in putting the blame on Moscow for the death of Mr Navalny, as he pointed to the demise of the Putin critic as another reminder of the importance of defeating Russia. 'There should be consequences,' the Foreign Secretary told broadcasters on Saturday. 'When appalling human rights outrages like this take place, what we do is we look at whether there are individual people that are responsible and whether there are individual measures and actions we can take. 'We don't announce them in advance, so I can't say anymore than that. 'But that is what we will be looking at.' Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson said Lord Cameron is correct to 'lay the blame' for Mr Navalny's death 'at the door of Putin'. He told Sky's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: 'The Foreign Secretary has been very firm and robust in his condemnation and blame frankly of Putin for what happened. 'Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine we have sanctioned 1,700 individuals and entities as well, and it's right that the Foreign Secretary considers the appropriate next steps.' He went on: 'It's very clear as the Foreign Secretary said to lay the blame at the door of Putin. 'Alexei Navalny was a courageous politician, all of us who stand for politics in the West know how hard and how challenging that is, but imagine how challenging that is to try and stand up to Putin. 'The Foreign Secretary in my view is absolutely correct to lay the blame firmly at Putin's door.' It comes as Mr Navalny's spokesperson confirmed that the Russian opposition leader died at a remote Arctic penal colony and said he was 'murdered'. Mr Navalny and his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, (pictured) have two children together Yulia Navalnaya, wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at a press conference hours after news of her husband's death emerged Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and lawyer Vasily Dubkov picturedon Saturday Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Mr Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Mr Navalny's mother had been told by prison officials that her son had perished due to 'sudden death syndrome' when she arrived at his former penal colony on Saturday with one of the politician's lawyers. When a lawyer and Mr Navalny's mother visited the mortuary in Salekhard, it was closed, Mr Navalny's team wrote on its Telegram channel. The lawyer called the mortuary and was told that Mr Navalny's body is not there, his team said. 'We demand that Alexei Navalny's body be handed over to his family immediately,' Ms Yarmysh wrote on X. In a later update, she claimed Russian investigators said Mr Navalny's body will not be returned to them until their probe is complete. The Foreign Office said on Friday that it would summon an official from the Russian embassy to make clear it held Russian authorities 'fully responsible'. The Kremlin has denied responsibility and yesterday said it was unacceptable for Britain to interfere in its internal affairs. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has called for Putin to be put before an international tribunal on crimes against humanity following the death of Mr Navalny. He told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'We've been calling for a special tribunal for crimes of aggression and against humanity. 'I'd like to see Putin in front of that special tribunal, held to account for all of his crimes, not just in Ukraine, but as we are seeing just in the last 48 hours in Russia as well. 'And of course as Russia holds elections this year, it's important that the international community is able to verify that they are free and fair elections.' Last night, it was claimed that Russian security officers visited Mr Navalny's prison just a few days before he died. Two days before he died from 'sudden death syndrome' on Friday, two officers from Russian intelligence service FSB, are alleged to have disconnected some of the CCTV and recording devices at the Polar Wolf Arctic prison. According to a report on the human rights campaign group website gulagu.net, the visit was mentioned in a report by a branch of the Federal Penitentiary Service. Although the website's information is not always proven to be correct, it was the first to expose Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin for recruiting from Russian jails. Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is dead, the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region where he had been serving his sentence said Russian investigators are alleged to have told the opposition leader's mother as she visited the brutal IK-3 Polar Wolf penal colony where he was being held. Lyudmila Navalnaya was seen on Saturday travelling to the colony in northern Russia, where she was told her son died after returning from a walk at 2.17pm local time on Friday. His press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, claimed in a video that Navalnaya had been murdered. Ms Yarmysh said: 'The whole world knows that the president of Russia personally gave this order [for his murder] just as it knows that Alexei was never afraid of him, never stayed silent, and that he never stopped acting. We must not give up. This is what Alexei urged us to do,' The Times reported. The shock death has sparked a wave of vigils and protests across Russia, prompting police to crack down with force and make hundreds of arrests since Friday. 'It's obvious that the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei's body, hiding it even from his mother,' his team said in a post on Telegram. Tributes are laid as people demonstrate outside the Russian embassy, in Denmark Police officers detain a woman during a gathering in memory of Navalny in Moscow People light candles during a vigil for the critic in Germany People leave flowers and candles as they gather for a demonstration in Amsterdam A woman lays a flower in front of the Russian Embassy in Denmark Mr Navalny and his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, have two children together, Daria, 23, and Zakhar, 15. She condemned Putin's regime in a conference on Friday, swearing he will 'bear responsibility' for what happened. Mr Navalny was last seen via video link during a court hearing on Thursday. Dressed in black prison uniform, he appeared to be in good spirits - his trademark humour back on show. 'Your Honour, I will send you my personal account number so that you can use your huge salary as a federal judge to ''warm up'' my personal account, because I am running out of money,' he said. State media reported he raised no health complaints during the session. His mother said she had seen her son in the prison colony on Monday. At the time, she said: 'He was alive, healthy, cheerful.' The opposition leader had only recently been moved from his former prison in the Vladimir region of central Russia to a grisly 'special regime' penal colony above the Arctic Circle. His allies, a brave minority in Russia fighting corruption, said at the time they feared for his life after he 'disappeared' in December to travel to the remote region notorious for its long and severe winters - just months before the closely-watched Russian presidential elections next month. Zelensky, who is struggling to convince Republican lawmakers in Washington to facilitate a major funding package for Kyiv, said Putin 'kills whoever he wants'. 'After the murder of Alexei Navalny, it's absurd to perceive Putin as a supposedly legitimate head of a Russian state and he is a thug who maintains power through corruption and violence,' he said. He explicitly warned attendees in Munich that a lack of long-range weapons is limiting the country's fightback. Mr Navalny was targeted by Russian FSB agents with nerve agent Novichok on a flight to Moscow in 2020. He was rushed to a German hospital where medics saved his life but was arrested when he returned to Russia in January 2021. He has since been held in the brutal penal colony, where he spent 308 days in solitary confinement and recently had his sentence increased to 19 years for 'extremism'. by M. K. Bhadrakumar There couldnt be a better metaphor than what a Chinese analyst used to characterise the NATO while commenting on its secretary general Jens Stoltenbergs recent remark that the West does not seek war with Russia but should still prepare ourselves for a confrontation that could last decades. The Chinese commentator compared Stoltenberg to an in-charge of a firm of undertakers, a store owner of coffin and casket, which makes no money in peacetime. As an undertaker, NATO needs conflict, bloodshed for earnings. So it spreads fear and panic in order to ensure its member countries continue to contribute military funding. German Chancellor Scholz (L) and US President Biden at the White House, Feb. 9, 2024 Stoltenbergs remark appeared in an interview with German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag on Feb. 10, soon after Russian President Vladimir Putins famous interview with Tucker Carlson where the Kremlin signalled that Russia did not refuse and is not refusing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Stoltenberg spoke for the Pentagon, no doubt. Moscow, having reached an unassailable position in the war, is not interested in a full-scale war to realise its objectives, as eventually, the West will have to co-exist with Russia. Putins interview with Carlson was timed carefully with hardly a fortnight left for the war to enter its third year. Putins message that Russia is open to dialogue caught Washington off guard. For one thing, the bandwidth of the Biden Administration is dominated by the Israel-Palestine crisis. On the other hand, the two-year anniversary of the war is marked by a signal battlefield victory by Russian forces in the strategic eastern town of Avdiivka, a gateway to Donetsk city, and effectively on the front line ever since 2014 when the conflict in Donbass started. All attempts by Russian troops to liquidate the big Ukrainian base in Avdiivka threatening Donetsk city had failed so far. Avdiivka is key to Russias aim of securing full control of the two eastern Donbass provinces Donetsk and Luhansk. Its capture not only boosts the Russian morale but also consolidates Donetsk as a major Russian logistics hub for further westerly operations in the direction of the Dniepr river. In political terms, it underscores that all along the almost 1000-km frontline, Russian forces are presently advancing. The Ukrainian military suffered a rout in Avdiivka. Bidens re-election bid will be bumpy if such distressing news keeps appearing from Ukraine highlighting the gravity of his foreign policy disaster, as NATO stares at another humiliating defeat after Afghanistan. Donald Trump is relentlessly challenging Biden on the issue of Russia-Ukraine and on NATO. Contrary to earlier prognosis, the US election has turned into one of the most influencing factors in the Ukraine conflict. The path in the US Congress towards a military aid package for Ukraine is uncertain. The main obstacle was all along the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a majority. Apart from the Republican Speaker of the House being not in any hurry to table the bill passed by the Senate, the Congress is also about to shift back towards domestic fiscal policies, so that the foreign aid bill might simply fall down the list of priorities in the legislative agenda. Meanwhile, the hearing in the Supreme Court on Trumps candidacy signals that the talk that he might be debarred from running for the presidency is only wishful thinking. That means, if Trump maintains his lead in the South Carolina primaries on 24th February, the Republican race will be essentially over and he will be the partys presumptive candidate. Trump has also widened his lead over Joe Biden in the polls. The flow of finance to Ukraine is already ebbing and there is a pall of gloom among Ukraines cheerleaders in Europe after having discovered finally that Kiev is not winning the war. The Wests proxy war without a clearly set war goal means that there is no exit strategy, either. A Trump victory would badly expose the European partners. Plugging the funding gap by Europe is going to be highly problematic. The US has so far committed 71.4 billion, more than half of it in the form of military aid. Number two is Germany with 21 billion, followed by the UK with 13.3 billion. Norway comes fourth. The paradox is, while the three largest European donors are all NATO members, it is only Germany who is a member of the European Union. And Germany is not big enough to fill the gap left by the US on its own. But the biggest obstacle to a common European response is the lack of common ground between France and Germany. The special Franco-German relationship has largely become a historical artefact. The two EU giants are pursuing incompatible economic strategies on fiscal policy and nuclear energy and their economies are diverging, and so is their politics and defence strategies. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reoriented German defence co-operation away from France and towards the US. The power struggle between the EUs two biggest powers that had its origins in the lack of chemistry between French president Emmanuel Macron and Scholz has turned into an antagonism manifesting as two different visions of the world. Macrons concept of strategic autonomy, which calls for Europe not to rely on outside powers in vital areas that could give them political leverage, is rubbing against Germanys historical reliance on American military umbrella (which France does not require.) After a meeting with Biden at the White House in Washington on February 9, Scholz said, Lets not beat about the bush: support from the United States is indispensable if Ukraine is to be capable of defending itself. Scholz strongly advocated stepping up military aid to Ukraine, emphasising an imperative need to send out a very clear signal to Putin. As he put it, We need to show that he (Putin) cant count on our support waning. Scholz added: The support we provide will be on a big enough scale and it will last long enough. By hyping up the war-like atmosphere, Germany seeks to maintain the relevance and financial stability of NATO through the conflict in Ukraine. Biden responded to Scholz purring like a cat showing pleasure. Biden will next host Polands President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk for a meeting in Washington on March 12. The US is re-energising its coalition with Germany and Poland for the next phase of Ukraine war. France stands outside looking in, while Britain lies in coma. Simply put, while Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys delusion is that he can win this war, NATOs delusion is that it will do whatever it takes. But the undertakers money is running out and further business depends on prolonging the war. The veil has come off the western narrative this war was never about Ukraine. The enemy image of Russia has become the cornerstone of NATOs very existence and function. Certainly, taking orders from an undertaker is not in Germanys interests. The noted German editor Wolfgang Munchau wrote recently about a general disorientation in Germany that accompanies the geopolitical and social change manifesting in the faltering economy, the de-industrialisation that is happening and the absence of a post-industrial strategy for the country as such. Clearly, European interests lie in shouldering own defence and making peace with Russia so as to focus attention on the economy. Germans themselves are conflicted over this war. Scholz is not a man of charisma or of big ideas, Munchau noted, and German public no longer trusts him. But then, there is also the deeper problem: it is not really Scholz. It is that Germany has become a lot harder to run. M. K. Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat by profession. Roughly half of the 3 decades of his diplomatic career was devoted to assignments on the territories of the former Soviet Union and to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Other overseas postings included South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey. He writes mainly on Indian foreign policy and the affairs of the Middle East, Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific. A Brit managed to sneak onto a plane at Gatwick without a passport or boarding pass - the second airport security fail in a week after a jobless man flew to New York from Heathrow by 'tailgating' another passenger. The unnamed man managed to avoid checking in to the midday Norwegian Air flight to Copenhagen on February 5, it is reported. He then took a seat on board the flight but was caught by suspicious crew members before the plane took off and he was escorted off the Boeing 737 by police. All the passengers had to leave the plane for a security search before being allowed back on board. This week it was revealed Craig Sturt, 46, was accused of 'tailgating' another traveller through security at passport checkpoints at Heathrow's Terminal 5 before enjoying free food and drinks on the long-haul British Airways flight to New York. Gatwick insisted the latest security breach had been 'security screened and therefore posed no immediate security risk'. A Brit managed to sneak onto a plane at Gatwick (the airport's North Terminal is pictured) without a passport or boarding pass The unnamed man managed to avoid checking in to the midday Norwegian Air flight to Copenhagen on February 5, it is reported (Pictured: Stock image of Norwegian Air plane) A source told The Sun the man had 'brazenly tailgated' another passenger in order to sneak through on board the flight. 'It's the second time this has happened recently. There needs to be an immediate review of security,' they said. Sussex Police described the incident as a medical incident. Officers removed the man from the flight at around 12.15pm. 'As per standard procedure, passengers were temporarily disembarked while a search was completed,' a spokesman for the force said. 'They were then allowed to re-board the aircraft which was then cleared for departure.' It is reported no criminal charges have been brought due to the medical nature of the incident. It comes six days after it was reported that Sturt was said to have been detained by armed US officials after they found he had no documentation and was sent back to the UK on a charter flight. He was then hand-delivered to Met Police and arrested on Christmas Day before being taken to a hospital in Reading. But Sturt, who was later charged with Fraud and Aviation Security Act offences, allegedly escaped the hospital and became the subject of a missing person's appeal. He failed to appear for a hearing on 22 January at Uxbridge Magistrates Court. Met Police have today confirmed that at around 8am this morning, Sturt was arrested in Richmond, south London, for failing to appear at court. He has been taken into custody at a London police station. His brother Lee Smith, who claims Sturt has a 'trouble past', earlier told The Sun on Sunday that he was completely shocked when police called to tell inform him of the breach of security at Heathrow, which he has branded a 'serious issue'. It is also understood that James Cleverly is demanding answers in what sources close to the Home Secretary say is a 'humiliating fiasco' for both the airport and Border Force. It comes a week after it was revealed Craig Sturt, 46, (pictured) was accused of 'tailgating' another traveller through security at passport checkpoints at Heathrow's Terminal 5 Mr Smith, 52, of Langley near Slough, told the newspaper it is 'ridiculous' that his brother successfully evaded Heathrow security and was able to fly overseas without a ticket or identification. 'If Craig, with a troubled past, could dodge security then presumably anyone else with sinister motives could do the same. Heads should roll,' the father-of-three said. 'How has this been allowed to happen?' He recalled how it felt 'surreal' and that he 'couldn't believe what I was hearing' when police phoned him after Sturt had been apprehended on Christmas Eve. 'I thought that can't be right. He doesn't even have a passport,' he shared. 'They said "Well he's just been caught walking down the runway at JFK Airport in New York."' Mr Smith, who is Sturt's next of kin, said he has 'no idea how [his brother] managed to pull it off' but believes the situation demonstrates a 'serious issue' in British security. Keir Starmer has risked stoking tensions with Donald Trump by swiping at his 'bad faith' threat to abandon Nato members who do not pay their way. The Labour leader said the military alliance must deepen cooperation to ensure security rather than 'divide and threaten'. The thinly-veiled rebuke will fuel questions about how Sir Keir would work with Mr Trump should they both succeed in winning crunch elections later this year. Keir Starmer has risked stoking tensions with Donald Trump by swiping at his 'bad faith' threat to abandon Nato members who do not pay their way The thinly-veiled rebuke will fuel questions about how Sir Keir would work with Mr Trump (pictured) should they both succeed in winning crunch elections later this year On the campaign trail last weekend, Mr Trump caused a storm when he took aim at NATO states that do not meet defence spending commitments. 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent? No, I would not protect you,' he said. He added that Russia could do 'whatever the hell they want' to members who failed to meet their promised criteria. 'In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills,' he said. The remark drew immediate fury from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who accused Mr Trump of endangering allies. '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.' Volodymyr Zelensky challenged Mr Trump to come to see the raging war against Russia in Ukraine. Under NATO's mutual defence clause, Article 5 of its founding treaty, all allies commit to help any member who comes under attack. The article has only ever been activated once, by the US in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Sir Keir attended the Munich security conference this weekend, alongside dozens of premiers and foreign ministers - although Rishi Sunak did not go this year. Speaking to the Telegraph, Sir Keir said: 'I made clear to leaders that a Britain I lead will always stand up for our allies, even if others threaten not to.' The Labour leader added that to deal with future threats 'we must rebuild, renew, and resource, not divide and threaten'. Volodymyr Zelensky challenged Mr Trump to come to see the raging war against Russia in Ukraine 'Bad faith politics risks our security,' he said. Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Sir Keir stressed that he would work with whomever wins the US presidential election in November. 'One of the issues that everybody here in the Munich Security Conference is discussing is what the various elections across the globe will mean for security in the future,' he said. 'And I think there is a feeling that the challenge will enhance as we go forward, and that Europe needs to stand together and talk about the defence not just now but for the future. 'Now, obviously, as you would expect, if we're elected into government, we will deal with whoever the American people choose to be their president. But of course, we redouble our commitment to Nato.' Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy - who previously described Mr Trump as a 'woman-hating neo-Nazi sympathiser' - said he would work with 'whomever is in the White House'. He told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'The truth is you'll be hard pressed to find anybody who was in Parliament on any side, who hasn't had views on some of the rhetoric that Donald Trump has used in the past. 'Indeed, David Cameron described him as misogynistic and xenophobic in his own book. 'We will work with whomever is in the White House, it doesn't matter, frankly, who is the incumbent of Number 10 or the White House, we are the closest allies. 'It's a prevailing and strong partnership, it will remain that. We should not get too carried away with the rhetoric that of course we'll all hear over the next few months in an election cycle.' More than a dozen countries have already pulled their funding for UNRWA Israel's defence minister claims that more than 1,400 staff from the UN aid agency in charge of helping Palestinian people are members of either Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Yoav Gallant, the former IDF general, told a group of reporters at a briefing on Friday that roughly 12% of UNRWA were members of at least one of the terror groups. 'Out of 13,000 UNRWA workers, 12 per cent are affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)', he said. 'One thousand four hundred and sixty eight workers are known to be active in Hamas and PIJ. One hundred and eighty five UNRWA workers are active in the military branches of Hamas and 51 are active in the PIJ military branch,' he added. Gallant, 65, did not publish the evidence that the claims were based on, and MailOnline was unable to independently verify Israel's figures. Israeli soldiers stand near the body of a Palestinian militant in Kfar Aza, in the south of Israel, bordering Gaza Strip Yoav Gallant, the former IDF general, (pictured) told a group of reporters at a briefing on Friday that roughly 12% of UNRWA were members of at least one of the terror groups Gallant, 65, did not publish the evidence that the claims were based on, and MailOnline was unable to independently verify Israel's figures The defence minister also revealed the identities of the 12 UNRWA staff who he says 'actively participated' in the October 7 incursion, which saw Hamas kill 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians. Israel's claims that nine of the 12 UNRWA staff worked in schools as teachers or counsellors, while the others worked as clerks and social workers. But the country provided little evidence to back the claims up, posting pictures of just two of the 12 men that linked them to Black Saturday. Faisal Ali Mussalem Al-Naami, who Israel says is a social worker with UNRWA and was 'operative in the comms and combat support in the Nusirat', was allegedly seen at Kibbutz Be'eri, and was 'involved in kidnapping a soldier', as well as coordinating 'the transfer of weapons and trucks.' The IDF posted a photo of Al-Naami next to a CCTV image of a similar-looking man standing next to a man holding a weapon. Another man, Rami Mohammad Ramadan Sabbah, who Israel alleges played a 'logistical position in Dir al-Balah Battallion', was' involved in receiving and holding hostages', and was seen 'photographing a female employee.' People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli air strikes on February 18, 2024 Palestinians return to their homes where the Israeli army withdrew as Israeli army withdraws from some areas of Khan Younis MailOnline was unable to independently verify the identities of the UNRWA employees alleged to have taken part in the October 7 massacre. Israel said at the end of January that it had evidence of UNRWA staff being involved in the massacre, which led to many of the agency's largest donors, including the US, the UK and 14 other countries, pulling funding. UNRWA's chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said almost immediately after the scandal broke that none of the employees who were alleged to have taken part in the incursion worked at the agency any more. Lazzarini later admitted that he followed a 'reverse due process', dismissing employees without evidence of their alleged crimes. He said: 'I felt at the time that not only the reputation but the ability of the entire agency to continue to operate and deliver critical humanitarian assistance was at stake if I did not take such a decision. Strikes have intensified as Israel reiterated its intent to press on with a ground offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah Smoke rises following Israeli bombardments in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Jan. 17, 2024 'My judgement, based on this going public, true or untrue, was I need to take the swiftest and boldest decision to show that as an agency we take this allegation seriously.' The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israel's defences and attacked communities across southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. The war has killed at least 28,858 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. Around 80% of Gaza's population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. Sir Keir Starmer is facing a fresh Labour row after a senior member accused 'murdered' Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny of being a 'far-Right Nazi sympathiser'. Mish Rahman, who sits on Labour's NEC ruling body, criticised Sir Keir for praising the 'courage' of Mr Navalny, who died on Friday at the Polar Wolf penal colony in Kharp, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow. Just days after the Putin critic's mystery death was revealed, Mr Rahman hit out at Mr Navalny over a 2007 video where he compared Muslims in Chechnya to 'cockroaches'. He wrote on X: 'A case of my enemy's enemy is my friend. Ignoring the fact that Navalny was a far right Nazi sympathiser... Starmer's ignorance has no bounds.' Mr Rahman had retweeted the Labour leader's post which said: 'Alexei Navalny showed incredible, impossible courage in his fight for Russian democracy. 'His death is terrible news for the Russian people. My thoughts are with his friends and family, as well as his supporters across the world.' Mr Navalny died on Friday at the Polar Wolf penal colony in Kharp, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow Sir Keir Starmer faces another Labour row following the comments. It comes after two parliamentary candidates were suspended over anti-Israel remarks Tory MP Bob Seely told The Sun on Sunday: 'This looks like more evidence that the Labour Party hasn't changed. 'Directly below Labour's leadership its senior activists appear to be attacking pro-Western democrats rather than its adversaries.' It's understood Mr Rahman's comments do not pass the threshold to face disciplinary action. Mr Rahman declined to comment to the newspaper but later tweeted: 'Navalny's Islamophobic record is plain to see.' MailOnline has contacted Mr Rahman independently. Mr Navalny's spokesperson confirmed that the Russian opposition leader died at a remote Arctic penal colony and said he was 'murdered'. Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Mr Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Mr Navalny's mother had been told by prison officials that her son had perished due to 'sudden death syndrome' when she arrived at his former penal colony on Saturday with one of the politician's lawyers. When a lawyer and Mr Navalny's mother visited the mortuary in Salekhard, it was closed, Mr Navalny's team wrote on its Telegram channel. The lawyer called the mortuary and was told that Mr Navalny's body is not there, his team said. Mr Navalny and his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, (pictured) have two children together Mr Navalny was one of the most prominent critics of Vladimir Putin (pictured) who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago Yulia Navalnaya, wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at a press conference hours after news of her husband's death emerged Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and lawyer Vasily Dubkov picturedon Saturday Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has signalled that there could be fresh sanctions against Russia officials, following the death of Mr Navalny. Mr Rahman's comments about Mr Navalny comes as Labour currently has two parliamentary candidates suspended over anti-Israel remarks. One of those is former MP Graham Jones who was found to have ranted about f***ing Israel' during a Local Labour meeting. Mr Jones was suspended by Sir Keir after also claiming that Britons who fight for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) should be 'locked up'. The 57-year-old who is standing for re-election to his hold Hyndburn seat at the general election, was administratively suspended from Labour pending an investigation. The bombshell audio recording, revealed by political website Guido Fawkes, is said to have been made at the same meeting in Lancashire where Azhar Ali suggested Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 attack as a pretext to invade Gaza. 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 Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr Ali, who was previously Labour's candidate for this month's Rochdale by-election, said Israel allowed the brutal attacks so the country would have a 'green light to do whatever they bloody want'. Labour initially tried to hold the line by publishing a statement from Mr Ali in which he apologised 'unreservedly' for his words. The party then executed a panicked U-turn after further offensive remarks from the meeting were published by the Daily Mail. It is too late for Labour to remove Mr Ali from the ballot paper, so he will still stand as its candidate. But if elected, he will be denied the whip and have to sit as an independent MP. It 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. Yet another school has been found to have mulch containing asbestos amid fears more then 100 public and private sites could be contaminated. St Luke's Catholic College in Marsden Park in north-west Sydney has been shut down for the next week after 30 cubic metres of mulch at the school tested positive to asbestos. It comes days after Liverpool West Public School was shut down with students relocated to a nearby school for the next month. A 'single pile' of contaminated mulch was also found at Penrith Christian School in Orchard Hills, however the small amount means the school will not have to close. Four other schools are anxiously awaiting results while International Grammar School and Westmead Christian Grammar have both been given the all clear. Thirty cubic metres of mulch at St Luke's Catholic College (pictured) has been found to be tainted with asbestos. The school to be shut for the next week for asbestos removal NSW Department of Education Secretary, Murat Dizdar, said the amount of asbestos found at St Luke's had also been spread throughout the school. 'That was difficult to cordon off and contain,' he told reporters on Sunday. 'One school being impacted is one too many, there's 12 so far that we've worked with. 'That's across 3000 schools, government, non-government, Catholic in this state.' A new taskforce headed by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has found 36 sites to have the asbestos-ridden mulch across NSW since January 10. NSW Premier Chris Minns last week described the situation was 'completely unacceptable'. While a Mardi Gras event fair day was cancelled for Sunday after the carcinogenic chemical was found at Victoria Park, Taylor Swift's Sydney concerts will go ahead after testing at Olympic Park found no contaminated mulch. Sutherland Hospital in Sydney's south has been identified for priority testing and has fenced off one of the at-risk areas. All but one of the positive tests were found to contain bonded asbestos, the less dangerous form of the chemical, while Harmony Park in inner-city Surry Hills contained friable asbestos. Liverpool West Public School (pictured) was shut down last week due to asbestos contamination. It's one of dozens of sites that have tested positive to asbestos Bonded asbestos can only cause harm if disturbed and forced into the air where it can be inhaled. Precautionary tests for both bonded and friable asbestos were also undertaken on median strips at Olympic Park with tens-of-thousands expected to descend on the area to watch Taylor Swift's concerts next Friday to Sunday. 'I can say with certainty the harbour city is ready to Taylor Swift welcome with open arms and the hundreds of thousands of Swifties we expect to enjoy her sell-out performances,' EPA chief executive, Tony Chappel said. The investigation into the asbestos-tainted mulch is the largest in the EPA's history with the task force now growing to over 130 people. 'We are looking carefully across the supply chain, the Premier and our Minister have been clear that all options are on the table, to improve regulatory sessions where that is required, which will be informed by our investigation,' Mr Chappel said. Rozelle locals have had flashbacks to scenes from the pandemic after workers were seen inspecting a park (pictured) in Sydney's inner west last month due to contaminated mulch The NSW Government allege GreenLife Resource Recovery Facility as the source of the asbestos crisis. The company's Bringelly site, in Sydney's south-west, had four clean-up notices issued by the EPA after multiple asbestos pollution incidents prior to it owning the site. Greenlife general manager Domenic Vitocco, son of billionaire boss Arnold Vitocco, 59, insists his company is not to blame and said it has 'been made a scapegoat' by the state government. This is the dramatic moment a Russian warplane plunged to the ground in a fireball after 'being hit with a Ukrainian missile.' A passerby who shot the video, understood to have been taken in the Ukrainian village of Dyakove in the Luhansk region on February 17, showed a Russian Su-34 fighter jet plummeting to the ground in a red-hot ball of fire. A plume of smoke can be seen rising from the ground after it crashed. A picture was issued allegedly showing the rescue crew with the 'saved Su-35 pilot', which MailOnline was not able to independently verify. The Su-34 was one of two that Kyiv claims was downed on Saturday. Ukraine also claimed its forces had shot down an Su-35 air-defence fighter as well. Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, mocked the Russians for playing down their losses. Claiming three hits, he said: 'Let me remind you that the Su-35S is a single-seater aircraft, the Su-34 is a two-seater. A Russian jet bomber has crashed to earth and exploded on the ground 'after being hit by a Ukrainian missile' The dramatic moment was caught on video and follows a Kyiv claim yesterday that two Vladimir Putin Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter, totalling more than $100million, had been shot down The footage shows the plane plummeting to earth in flames before exploding in a large cloud of smoke 'According to radio interception, one pilot was found, the others were "searched for".' He published a map showing where he believed the Russians were searching for downed pilots based on international satellite search and rescue system - Cospas-Sarsat. Russia has not admitted to the three losses but acknowledged one Su-35 had been lost and the pilot successfully ejected before being 'evacuated in a timely manner'. And there were unconfirmed claims from pro-Putin forces that the plane had been downed by its own side's air defences. The Russians claimed they did not use the system, and the data was fake. He insisted: 'On the morning of February 17, 2024, in the Eastern direction, units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed three enemy aircraft at once - two Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter. Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, mocked the Russians for playing down their losses Claiming three hits, he said: 'Let me remind you that the Su-35S is a single-seater aircraft, the Su-34 is a two-seater' 'Nothing will stop us.' He claimed the Russians were actively looking for the downed pilots from other warplanes. Russian FighterBomber Telegram channel initially claimed there were 'no losses' and that the Ukrainians were 'lying'. Other Russian channels 'confirmed that the Ukrainian military shot down at least one Russian Su-35 aircraft'. The strikes come as Ukraine had pulled back its forces in Avdiivka, conceding territory which the Russians are claiming as a major boost in the war. 'The president has congratulated our soldiers and fighters on such an important victory and such a success,' said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Ukrainian sources later claimed the video showed a Russian Su-34 crashing near the village of Dyakove in the Luhansk region Some Russian channels 'confirmed that the Ukrainian military shot down at least one Russian Su-35 aircraft' But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: 'Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of our servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defend more favourable positions.' The commanding general on the spot, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, said: 'In a situation where the enemy is advancing over the corpses of its own soldiers under constant bombardment and has an advantage of 10 to one, this is the only correct decision.' Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian forces Oleksandr Syrskyi stated three planes were shot down during an attempt by the enemy to strike Ukrainian troops' positions with guided aerial bombs. The wife of a prominent Russian dissident who was jailed for 25 years on treason charges has revealed she is terrified her husband may be murdered in his cell, in the wake of Alexei Navalny's death. Vladimir Kara-Murza, a close ally of murdered opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, was jailed for 25 years on treason charges on April 17 last year, after surviving two poisoning attempts which left him in a coma in both 2015 and 2017. His wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, has fought to have him freed since he was imprisoned, with no success. She revealed that she is terrified her husband, 42, will meet the same fate as Navalny, who Russian prison authorities said on Friday had died of a blood clot, but was later said to have died of 'sudden death syndrome.' 'I have been afraid for my husband's life since at least 2015, since that first call that I received about Vladimir collapsing in Moscow and going into [a] coma with multiple organ failure for no reason at all,' she told the BBC. Evgenia Kara-Murza (pictured) has fought to have her husband freed since he was imprisoned, with no success Vladimir Kara-Murza, a close ally of murdered opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, was jailed for 25 years on treason charges on April 17 last year, after surviving two poisoning attempts Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, his wife Yulia, opposition politician Lyubov Sobol and other demonstrators march in memory of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov in downtown Moscow on February 29, 2020 'An absolutely healthy man with no medical conditions whatsoever just collapsing and going into a coma with multiple organ failure. 'I've been sleeping with my phone since, dreading yet another call of that sort. I believe that my husband's life is in danger, as are the lives of many other political prisoner in Russian prisons.' Kara-Murza was first poisoned in 2015 after he had eaten lunch at a restaurant in Moscow before taking a two-hour meeting in which he consumed nothing. He fell ill over a ten-to-fifteen minute period, and was put into a coma to help his treatment. After his release from the hospital, he said it was hard to 'believe this was an accident.' He was again poisoned in 2017, suffering the same symptoms, and being taken to the same hospital to be treated by the same staff who looked after him in 2015. Police officers detain a man during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument Russian President Vladimir Putin toasts during the official dinner in Singapore Women put flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny to the Solovetsky stone at Lubyanka square, February 17, 2024 Details of Navalny's passing are few and far between, and those that have been made public have contradicted each other He was again put in a medically induced coma, but managed to survive the illness, though suffered from permanent nerve damage, which had added to the anxiety of his wife. She said: '[Political prisoners] are kept behind bars, very often with serious medical conditions with no proper medical treatment, and they're kept in order to make their state of health deteriorate.' Kara-Murza was imprisoned for 25 years last year, but late last month it was revealed he had gone missing from the prison in the Omsk region where he being held in solitary confinement. Despite this, Evgenia said she was still working to stand up against the Russian state: 'With all that's happening, I cannot afford to break down. I cannot afford to be afraid. I cannot afford the normal human feeling of fear. 'I have to always fight that and step over it and say "yes I am afraid, but that it not important right now".' 'Continuing the fight is important, telling the stories of the people who are suffering from the regime is important. Law enforcement officers lead people away from the monument to the victims of political repressions A photo of Alexei Navalny lies among flowers near the Wall of Grief monument Russian police officers stand by the the flowers near the Wall of Grief monument laid in memory of Alexei Navalny A woman lays flowers at the monument to the victims of political repressions to honour the memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny 'Today, people are getting arrested for laying flowers to the memorials of victims of repression. That situation is deteriorating by the day.' She said she was 'horrified, but not surprised' to learn of Alexei Navalny's death on Friday. 'The use of political assassination as a method of dealing with opponents has been there for the entire rule of Vladimir Putin. 'He's been using this method since [the] early 2000s. '[Navalny's death] was a murder for which Vladimir Putin is responsible. All that impunity that lasted for decades led him to believe that he's somehow untouchable, and for as long as he is sitting in the Kremlin unchecked, we will see more [warmongering], we will see more repression and we see more deaths.' Details of Navalny's passing are few and far between, and those that have been made public have contradicted each other. Just two minutes after the time Navalny was reported to have died - 2.17pm - Russia's prison service put out a statement revealing his passing. Police officers detain participants of a civil memorial service to Russian late opposition leader Alexei Navalny Police officers watch as people lay flowers paying the last respect to Alexei Navalny at the monument, a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands Women carry flowers to put in memory of Alexei Navalny to the Solovetsky stone at Lubyanka square Four minutes after this, a Telegram channel controlled by the Kremlin claimed he had died of a blood clot, and just seven minutes later Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, was talking to the media about it. On top of this, Kremlin officials are alleged to have told the opposition leader's mother that he died from 'sudden death syndrome' as she visited the brutal IK-3 Polar Wolf penal colony where he was being held yesterday. Navalny's allies say they were denied the opportunity to see the body, which would remain with the authorities until an investigation was complete. Navalny's lawyer, who arrived in the town of Salekhard with Navalny's mother on Saturday, was allegedly told by the prison that the body was being held in the morgue. But a contact at the Salekhard morgue later denied the body was there - leaving yet more question marks around the shock death of one of Putin's most fierce critics. 'It's obvious that the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei's body, hiding it even from his mother,' his team said in a post on Telegram. At least four police officers were hurt during a violent riot that erupted on the streets outside The Hague last night, after two rival groups of Eritreans clashed following a a political disagreement. Rioters torches police cars and a bus, and Dutch police officers were forced to use tear gas to try and dispel them. Dozens of rioters were filmed surrounding the Opera conference hall along Fruitweg in the Netherlands, as multiple police vans drove to the scene. Another clip also showed the aftermath. The building had several smashed windows and parked vehicles were on fire, with the street left looking like a warzone. A fight broke out between two groups of Eritreans. 'It got seriously out of hand,' The Hague Municipality spokesman Robin Middel said last night. Police said that during the disturbances, two officers sustained injuries to their hand and another to her teeth. A fourth was hit by a police car in the chaos. Another clip also showed the aftermath. Buildings had several smashed windows and parked vehicles were on fire A crowd walks past a burning vehicle after a meeting of the Eritrean community ended in violence, with several cars set on fire, in The Hague A police car burns at the Opera hall centre last night Police stand guard during clashes between two groups of Eritreans during riots after a meeting in the conference center in The Hague on February 17, 2024 'Out of nowhere, our colleagues were confronted with very intense and serious violence,' said police commander Marielle van Vulpen. Police made several arrests and have called for witnesses and video footage, as they investigate the riots. 'The violence used against police officers and equipment is appalling and unacceptable,' said the city's mayor Jan van Zanen. An official said a group loyal to Eritrea's government was holding a meeting when the venue was attacked by Eritreans who oppose the African nation's government. Shards of glass covered the streets and smoke from the tear gas could be seen seeping into the air, as coppers had their cars pelted by bricks, bikes and traffic signs. Officers dressed in riot gear barricaded the entrance to the building and dealt with a fire that had broken out inside. They removed what appeared to be a fuel canister from the property. Youths were dressed in hooded jackets and some covered their faces with scarves and balaclavas. Netherlands-based journalist Owen O'Brien shared the footage on X and wrote: 'Rioters break into an entrance at the #Opera. 'Windows are broken and attempts are made to enter. The fire brigade has also left again and cannot extinguish the fire.' The reporter said the Opera hall had suffered 'extensive damage' because of the violent riots. Jan van Zanen, mayor of The Hague, authorised police to use tear gas, a spokesman told the Netherlands Times. The mayor also issued an emergency order for the area around Fruitweg, a spokesperson for the municipality of The Hague said. A burned vehicle is seen at the Opera hall center on the Fruitweg following the chaos The scene of one burned-out car is seen to be cordoned off last night Dozens of rioters were filmed running out of a building in the Netherlands as multiple police vans drove to the scene Shards of glass, bricks and what appears to be a fuel canister are pictured on the floor outside where the riot took place last night Youths were filmed launching bricks at police vans A police car is pictured on fire, as The mayor also issued an emergency order for the area around Fruitweg Jan van Zanen, mayor of The Hague, also authorised police to use tear gas The mayor also issued an emergency order for the area around Fruitweg Police Unit The Hague posted on X: 'At #Fruitweg in #DenHaag a confrontation between two groups of Eritreans resulted in a fight. 'Stones were thrown. We act with the riot police, among others, to restore public order.' Multiple cars that were torched were left charred as emergency services were able to put out the fires. Police spokesperson Kristianne van Blanken said she could not immediately say if anybody was injured or if any rioters were arrested. Anti-immigration sentiment has already been running high in the Netherlands, and far-right leader Geert Wilders, who won the nation's most recent election in November, took to X to say: 'Why is half the world allowed to come here to tear down our country, fight amongst themselves, throw stones at the police and set their cars on fire? I want to become the prime minister who finally brings some order to this.' There are some 25,000 Eritreans living in the Netherlands, according to official government figures. The fighting is the latest outbreak of violence at Eritrean events in Europe. Burning vehicles at the Opera hall center on the Fruitweg A burnt out car from the scene, where a fight broke out between two groups of Eritreans Coppers dressed in riot gear are pictured along the road in an attempt to diffuse the situation A woman takes photos of the damage to the conference hall in the Hague A firefighter puts out a car that was set alight by rioters Police dressed in riot gear stood in front of the Opera building to protect it from further damage Dozens of people, including at least 26 police officers, were injured during unrest surrounding an Eritrean cultural festival in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart in September 2023. A fight the same month between Eritrean government supporters and opponents in Tel Aviv led to violent street confrontations among African asylum-seekers and migrants. Months earlier, a clash at an Eritrean festival in the western German city of Giessen left 22 police officers injured. Tens of thousands of people have fled Eritrea for Europe, many alleging they were mistreated by the repressive government of President Isaias Afwerki. The conflicts underscore deep divisions among members of the Eritrean diaspora between those who remain close to the government and those who have fled to live in exile and strongly oppose Isaias. One of Australia's most high-risk inmates has allegedly been seriously assaulted inside Goulburn Supermax Jail for the second time in less than two months. Bassam Hamzy, 45, the founder and crime boss of the infamous Brothers 4 Life gang, was punched in the head and momentarily knocked unconscious in the alleged attack on Saturday afternoon. It followed a similar assault on Hamzy on December 21, when he was attacked with makeshift blade, known as a shiv by convicted murderer Ricky McNamara in a small, caged exercise yard in NSW's most secure prison. In the latest alleged attack, Hamzy had just been just bled into the exercise yard, when another inmate allegedly lunged at him with a shiv, before a prison officer knocked the blade away. It's also alleged the other inmate threw a flurry of punches one of which knocked Hamzy to the ground, forcing a prison officer to intervene again. 'One inmate suffered injuries to his head area but did not require hospitalisation and refused treatment by on-site medical staff,' a Corrective Services NSW spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. Bassam Hamzy (pictured), the 45-year-old founder of the infamous Brothers 4 Life gang, was briefly knocked unconscious in the alleged attack on Saturday afternoon The Supermax (pictured), officially named the High Risk Management Centre, is known for holding some of NSW's most dangerous criminals READ MORE: One of Australia's most notorious gang bosses is 'shivved' in supermax Bassam Hamzy (pictured), was attacked by another inmate wielding a makeshift blade, known as a shiv Advertisement 'Corrective Services NSW is investigating the incident.' According to sources, Hamzy later told corrective services officers that he did not need to be checked on overnight and thanked staff for their concern. Despite the frenzied violence of the previous attack on December 21, Hamzy escaped with just minor injuries, according to prison authorities. A Corrective Services NSW spokesperson said at the time that Hamzy and McNamara had undergone strict vetting before being put in the yard together. At about 8am on Thursday, 21 December 2023 two inmates were undertaking approved exercise together in the yard at the High Risk Management Correctional Centre in Goulburn,' the statement said. 'One inmate assaulted the other inmate who sustained minor injuries as a result. 'Chemical munitions were deployed and both inmates were secured safely. NSW Police were notified and attended the scene.' Hamzy also made headlines earlier this week by calling for the Supermax prison to be shut down for exposing inmates to cruel and inhumane punishment. He represented himself in NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday after launching a civil action against the Commissioner for Corrective Services. He claimed conditions inside the Goulburn Supermax are in breach of NSW law. Hamzy recalled harrowing incidents of self harm, suicide and segregation inside the prison which he argues may 'reasonably be expected to adversely affect' prisoners' physical and mental health. In handwritten documents, Hmazy asked the court to declare Supermax in breach of NSW regulations and order it 'be shut down or brought into compliance with the law'. He submitted a list of incidents 'in relation to (himself)' which he believed were detrimental to his mental health, including a prisoner setting their own cell alight. Hamzy claims Supermax (pictured) has exposed inmates to cruel and inhumane punishment after he allegedly witnessed several self harm and suicide incidents involving other prisoners 'When an inmate next door to me commits suicide that has an impact on me,' Hamzy told the Supreme Court, news.com.au reported. 'When an inmate sews up his lips or puts faeces all over his body that has an impact on me.' READ MORE: Inside one of Australia's most notorious maximum security prisons amid calls for the 'cold and dark' jail to be shut down Advertisement The Supermax, officially named the High Risk Management Centre, is known for holding some of NSW's most dangerous criminals, including terrorists and murderers. James Emmett SC, acting for the commissioner, urged the court to deny Hamzy's request as issues relating to other inmates were not intended to be punishment. The court also heard Hamzy has collected statements from inmates including gangland killer Naseam El-Zayat and an old affidavit from ex-Bandidos bikie Kon Georgiou. He claims he tried to collect further affidavits from other inmates but staff had used his status as a high-risk inmate to block him from talking to 'willing witnesses'. Hamzy's list of potential witnesses included Brothers 4 Life-linked hitman, Conrad Craig. 'I already know what they're going to say,' Hamzy said of the witnesses. 'I've lived their experiences, and I know their experiences.' Hamzy has been imprisoned since 1999 after he was arrested and found guilty of fatally shooting a Sydney nightclubber in 1998. He has also faced allegations of running a drug ring from behind bars in the Supermax prison. Hamzy is also seeking the court to declare a 2022 decision to deny him phone contact with lawyer was an abuse of power. On Tuesday, Hamzy called for the commissioner to submit incident reports from Supermax. The matter will return to court at a later date. Vladimir Putin has snarled that the Ukraine war is a 'matter of life and death' for Russia that could determine its fate as his forces rain down death on cities in the east of the country. The Kremlin has repeatedly framed the almost two-year conflict as a battle for Russia's survival in a bid to rally patriotic sentiment among its population, many apathetic toward the offensive. 'I think it is still important for us ourselves, and even more so for our listeners and viewers abroad, to understand our way of thinking,' Putin said in an interview with Russian state TV. 'Everything that is happening on the Ukraine front: For them it is an improvement of their tactical position, but for us it is our fate, it is a matter of life and death,' he said. This comes as Russian forces shelled and fired missiles at a series of cities in eastern Ukraine yesterday, killing at least three people and leaving others under the rubble of shattered buildings, Ukrainian officials said. Vladimir Putin (pictured) said the war in Ukraine was for Russia's 'fate, it is a matter of life and death' Firefighters extinguish the fire at school number 18 destroyed in a Russian missile attack on Sloviansk, Donetsk oblast, Ukraine February 17 Ukrainian police officers and rescue workers clear the rubble of a destroyed private house after a Russian rocket attack in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, on February 17 In his TV appearance, Putin was responding to a question about a two-hour long interview he gave to US talk show host Tucker Carlson, which the Kremlin used to promote its narratives on the conflict. In that interview, Putin talked at length about Russian history and continuously questioned Ukraine's statehood, drawing ire in both Kyiv and the West. 'For the Western listener, the viewer, it was not easy. Even more so for Americans,' Putin said when asked about his long, historical musings in the Carlson interview. 'The history of the United States is 300-odd years, and I started in 862. So I think it was not easy for American audiences to understand,' he said. His remarks come as Putin's soldiers shelled two cities, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, close to the front line in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region yesterday. The city council in Kramatorsk said on Telegram that a missile hit a section of town used for industry and individual houses, killing two people. Rescuers were combing rubble for another person believed to be trapped beneath it. Kramatorsk has been the scene of some of the deadliest attacks in the nearly two-year-old war, including the a missile strike on the town's train station in April 2022 that killed 63 people. Russian shells on Saturday struck a school in the nearby town of Slovyansk, with rescuer teams searching for at least one person trapped underneath piles of debris. In his TV appearance, Putin was responding to a question about a two-hour long interview he gave to US talk show host Tucker Carlson (left, pictured with Putin), which the Kremlin used to promote its narratives on the conflict A view of destroyed car as rescuers from the State Emergency Service continue the search operations after a Russian missile attack hit Kramatorsk on February 17 Russian forces have been making slow progress in their drive through Donetsk region, but both towns would be certain targets for Moscow if they made greater progress along the 600-mile front line. Further north in the town of Kupiansk, scene of heavy Russian attacks for months, one person was killed when a two-storey house was struck by Russian shells, the governor of Kharkiv region said. The reports could not independently verified, but they occurred in areas where Russian assaults are frequent. Russia says it does not deliberately target civilian sites. by Nihal Jayawickrama Earlier this week, the Presidents Media Division issued a statement to the effect that the next presidential election will be held on schedule. What was the need for that statement? In terms of the Constitution, the Presidents term of office ends not later than 18th November 2024. As far as I am aware, no member of Parliament has given any indication that he or she intends to introduce a Bill to amend the Constitution to extend the term of office of the President, as required by article 83 of the Constitution. Such a Bill, if passed with a two-third majority, will also need to be approved by the people at a referendum. In the absence of any such move, what was the need for the Presidents Media Division to assert the obvious. Was it to stifle the movement for restoring the parliamentary executive that now appears to be gathering wide public support? Parliament of Sri Lanka [File Photo] The hypocrisy of politicians The leader of the SLFP, Maithripala Sirisena, has publicly declared that he supports the abolition of the executive powers of the President. In 2019, the JVPs Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented a Bill to enable the then non-executive President to be elected by Parliament. In 2021, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa proposed a constitutional amendment to enable a non-executive President to be elected by Parliament. None of these political leaders now show any inclination to implement their previous commitments. Instead. they have publicly announced their intention to seek election to the office of Executive President. The chief whip of the Opposition offers a hilarious half-way deal: first hold the presidential election; then abolish the office! Lawyer-parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila sees the call for abolishing the executive presidency as part of a conspiracy to postpone the next presidential election. He argues that since the Supreme Court has previously held that a parliamentary vote to remove the executive powers of the President should be followed by a referendum, if a person challenges the validity of the referendum, the executive presidency will not be abolished pending the Supreme Court determination, and the incumbent President can remain in power until the dissolution of parliament in August 2025. He explains that the hearing of a petition could take six months or even longer. The obligation of the President The responsibility to give effect to what is now an increasingly vocal public demand surely rests with the Head of Government, the incumbent President. In 2013, the Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP published the text of the principles upon which a new Constitution would be formulated after it forms a government. Among them was that the executive presidency would be abolished. In 2018, the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe prepared and published a draft Constitution which required the President to be elected by Parliament and to exercise his/her powers on advice. It is surely the responsibility, if not the obligation, of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to set in motion the legal processes necessary to achieve that objective before time begins to run out. Bill for the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution The first step should be to reform the electoral system. Since the list system of election to Parliament, based on proportional representation, is an integral element in the executive presidential system of governance, the Constitution will need to be amended to replace that system with the first past-the-post system of single and multi-member constituencies that prevailed under the 1946 and 1972 Constituencies. These will need to be supplemented with an element of proportional representation to ensure that minorities are adequately represented, and that there is equitable distribution of seats based on the totality of votes cast for each political party. Following the passage of this constitutional amendment by a two-third majority, the delimitation of electorates will need to commence immediately. Bill for the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution The next step should be another constitutional amendment for the following purposes: Establish the office of President of the Republic who shall be the Head of State, the Head of the Executive, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Establish the offices of two Vice-Presidents who shall belong to two different ethnic groups, and neither of whom should belong to the ethnic group of the President. The President and Vice-Presidents shall be elected by Parliament. The term of office of the President and Vice-Presidents shall be four/six years. The President and Vice Presidents shall, except as otherwise provided by the Constitution, act on the advice of the Prime Minister, or of such other Minister to whom the Prime Minister may have given authority to advise the President or a Vice-President on any function assigned to that Minister. Whenever the President is prevented by illness or other cause from performing the duties of his office or is absent from Sri Lanka a Vice-President designated by the Prime Minister shall act in the office of President. A Bill for the above purposes will require to be passed with a two-thirds majority. The Constitution does not require such a Bill to be approved at a referendum. However, the Supreme Court has been inconsistent on this question. In 2015, Chief Justice Sripavan and two other Judges held that the 19th Amendment (which required the President to act on the advice of the Prime Minister) was not required to be approved at a referendum, but different benches of Judges have since, in my view erroneously, held that approval at a referendum is required. Therefore, it is advisable for the government to state at the outset that it intends to submit the Bill to a referendum. This Bill, after being approved at a referendum, will come into force upon being certified by the President. Dissolution of Parliament The third and final step would be to dissolve Parliament, and fix dates for receiving nominations and for conducting the poll. The general election and the referendum could be held on the same day. If the President-in-office intends to be a candidate at the general election, he will need to resign his office upon issuing the proclamation dissolving Parliament. Since the incumbent Prime Minister may also be a candidate, the proposed Bill for the 23rd Amendment will need to make provision for the incumbent President to nominate a suitable person who is not a member of any political party to serve as interim president, and for such interim president to hold office until Parliament, after the general election, elects the President. A New Constitution During a brief conversation on a flight to Colombo, four months after he had been elected by Parliament to the vacant office of President, Ranil Wickremesinghe mentioned to me that one of his priorities was to solve the ethnic problem. I had no reason to disbelieve him. In fact, I accepted, and still do accept, that he had set that as a priority for himself during his tenure in the highest office in our country. Unfortunately, his belief that the full implementation of the provisions in the Constitution introduced by the 13th Amendment in 1987, during a bloody civil war, would achieve that objective is unfounded. The strident response of the TNA spokesman Mr. Sumanthiran that nothing short of federalism will satisfy the Tamil population in the North and East, demonstrates the futility of seeking a solution based on that much maligned controversial constitutional amendment. Equally unfounded is his belief that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (which is based on the Christian concept of Confession) will be appropriate for our country. If President Wickremesinghes objective is national reconciliation and reintegration, Sri Lanka needs a new Constitution with a strong democratic foundation and based on the recognition that Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-linguistic country. The Constitution must also assert that Sri Lanka is a secular country, as Singapore does, in which everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and does not need the intervention of the State to exercise that right. It is desirable that a new Constitution should also contain the following provisions: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka will be restored to its original name The Republic of Sri Lanka. May 22nd will be recognized as Republic Day, while February 4th will continue to be recognized as Independence Day. Sinhala, Tamil, and English shall be the official languages, with English being the medium of instruction at the secondary and tertiary levels. The provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which Sri Lanka has ratified, will be incorporated in the Constitution and be enforceable, including in respect of existing laws. A Constitutional Court will be established. Its jurisdiction will include the issuance of writs and the ex-post facto review of legislation. It may also serve as the court of final appeal in respect of important questions of law. (f) A 30-member Senate will be established as the upper chamber of Parliament (perhaps consisting of representatives of professional organizations), with a 175/200-member House of Representatives as the lower chamber. Conclusion A new Constitution to replace the 21-times amended, author-unknown, and drafting- process-unknown, 1978 Constitution, is the real need of the hour. It will obviate the necessity to adopt the 22nd and 23rd Amendments referred to above. It will need a general election before it becomes fully operative, but it will not require a referendum to bring it into force. If the 1946 Constitution could have been drafted by a young assistant legal draftsman in three months, using a borrowed typewriter to work on; and if the 1972 Constitution could have been drafted in even less time, both at little or no expense to the State, there is no reason why a new Constitution for Sri Lanka cannot be drafted and adopted by Parliament before the Elections Commission begins the process of electing a new Executive President. In this crucial election year, we need to ask ourselves why it is necessary to change the existing system. In answering that question, we must have regard not only to the manner in which this country has been governed during the past five decades, but also to the quality of governance in the world around us with which we must necessarily interact. We need to look ahead to the next 25 years and ask whether the constrictive framework of governance prescribed in the 1970s is appropriate or adequate to meet the challenges of the new millennium. Dr. Nihal Jayawickrama is former Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Professor of Law at University of Hong Kong, Ariel F Sallows Professor of Human Rights at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and Executive Director of Transparency International. Rishi Sunak is facing a backlash today over claims he has undermined the benefits of Brexit by quietly writing EU equality rules into British law. Tories have sounded alarm over regulations that could open the door to firms being sued over issues such as carers being denied the right to work from home. Ministers pushed through the changes, which give force to European Court of Justice rulings, before Christmas despite 10 Conservatives voting against and others abstaining. However, the government said it was still 'carefully' considering concerns about the move and could make further amendments to the 2010 Equality Act if necessary. Worries around the law include that people would be able to sue for 'indirect discrimination' if they were subject to the 'same disadvantage' as gay people or members of religions, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Doubts have also been raised about whether firms could face action from third parties if executives make 'discriminatory' comments about hiring types of workers, even if they were not recruiting at the time. Rishi Sunak is facing a backlash today over claims he has undermined the benefits of Brexit by quietly writing EU equality rules into British law Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg is among those expressing concerns about the legal move Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg - who abstained in the vote - told the newspaper: 'Not only people who voted for Brexit, but people who didn't, would think that implementing ECJ judgments in any form is simply weird. We have left the EU.' He added: 'I cannot understand why the Government wishes to put more burdens on businesses and add to the Equality Act's damage to our economic vibrancy.' Another senior Tory MP, John Hayes, said: 'It's not good enough for a Conservative government to let the ratchet move further on. 'The vote for Brexit was in some sense a cry for help from the law-abiding, patriotic, hard-working majority. They are desperate for more conservatism, not less.' Britain has not been bound by ECJ case law since the end of 2023. The amendments covered other issues that were not disputed by MPs. A Government spokesman told the Telegraph the new legislation was 'essential' to 'ensure that existing key rights and principles such as equal pay and protections for breastfeeding women were enshrined in law'. 'We are not restating EU Law where it is not needed. This legislation applies only to directly discriminatory statements relating to recruitment decisions,' the spokesman said. Ministers pushed through the changes, which give force to European Court of Justice rulings, before Christmas despite 10 Conservatives voting against 'Individuals will continue to be free to express their personal beliefs as they are at present. 'However we have noted a number of concerns from MPs and are giving these careful consideration. We have not ruled out the possibility of making further amendments to legislation.' A 17-year-old boy has died after being stabbed in east London. Police and paramedics were called to Hackney Road in Shoreditch, near the junction with Cremer Street, at about 10.50pm on Saturday. The victim was found with stab injuries and died at the scene. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of the Metropolitan Police, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: 'My thoughts are with the family of the young person who has tragically lost his life. 'I can assure them that we will be relentless in seeking to identify whoever was responsible for this murder. 'Cordons are in place in Hackney Road for forensic examination of the scene and we have launched what will be an extremely thorough investigation, supported by specialists from across the Met. Forensic officers seen investigating near the scene of the stabbing on Hackney Road Police say there will be additional patrols in Shoreditch following the attack on Saturday A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death on Hackney Road (pictured) in Shoreditch on Saturday night with police confirming they have started an investigation Police have yet to make any arrests in relation to the east London stabbing which was reported at around 10.50pm on Saturday (pictured: map of east London) 'Local people will also see additional patrols in Shoreditch. 'If you have any concerns or information, please speak with those officers. 'They are there to support you.' A post-mortem examination and formal identification are yet to take place. There have been no arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference 7553/17Feb, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously. Fired The Apprentice star Dr Asif Munaf has this morning furiously denied making shocking comments to 'horrified' cast members about 'only having sex with virgins'. The former NHS doctor was accused of making the remarks to other candidates and crew members in the house with a source saying his comments had made people feel uncomfortable. But Dr Munaf, who was seen leaving the show on Thursday, has defiantly hit back and denied the accusations saying they are 'absolute lies' and baseless. He then went on to say his comments were in relation to his religious belief that women should be virgins when they get married. It comes after BBC bosses confirmed on Thursday they had dropped Dr Munaf from their spin-off show after he made 'a stream of anti-Jewish' comments on social media. Fired Apprentice star Dr Asif Munaf has been accused of making comments to 'horrified' cast members about 'only having sex with virgins' But the former NHS doctor has defiantly hit back Dr Munaf - who owns his own wellness brand - described Zionism as a 'satanic cult' in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attack. He said today: 'Firstly absolute lie, absolute baseless. What was said was in the house I remembered what we talked about was the sanctity of marriage when you get married for the first time you should be a virgin. 'This is what Islam teaches, Christianity teaches, Judaism teaches. In fact, most religions teach purity, chastity - respecting the institution of marriage. 'It's a sanctimonious institution. Do not sleep around before and during marriage. So that is what I said.' A source told The Sun yesterday Dr Munaf 'made the candidates feel uncomfortable' and 'they were particularly shocked when they heard the way he spoke about sex and women'. 'Crew members were also horrified and could not believe someone with this attitude had made it so far in the process,' they said. BBC bosses edited Dr Munaf out of Thursday's episode of The Apprentice: You're Fired! in the wake of anti-Jewish posts. He also wrote on social media that he was compiling a 'list of sadistic doctors' who were 'supporting the Zionist genocide' and described Zionists as 'odiously ogre-like', also labelling the 'Zionist PR machine' as 'slimy'. The discovery of his comments caused outrage across the Jewish community, with the Board of Deputies of British Jews complaining to Tim Davie, the BBC director-general and Samir Shah, its chairman, about having Dr Munaf on the show. Hitting back at the Corporation in a series of Twitter/X posts, Dr Munaf accused the broadcaster of '[doing] me dirty' before branding Israel a 'neo-colonial white supremacist death cult'. A spokesman for The Apprentice said earlier this month: 'After filming had taken place, we were made aware of concerns over social media posts that Asif had made after he had left the process. 'As soon as we were alerted, we took immediate action and spoke to Asif in detail on this. Asif took part in specialised training to understand why his posts may cause offence.' They added: 'No formal or informal complaints were made about Asif's behaviour, including about the alleged comment.' In a passionate defence, Dr Munaf said his comments were in relation to his religious belief The Board of Deputies of British Jews' statement after Dr Munaf was edited from the show Dr Munaf insisted 'it was not my intention to offend anyone', and added: 'The beliefs I hold and have shared are based on the values that I was brought up with.' However, he has since continued to make controversial remarks about the conflict in Israel and Gaza. Towards the end of January, he wrote that the 'Zionist mask is falling' and accused Israel of weaponizing the Holocaust to 'push another fascist ideology'. On Monday, Danny Cohen - former director of BBC Television - claimed the training 'clearly did not work' citing further offensive remarks by Dr Munaf. Writing in The Telegraph Mr Cohen said: 'The BBC's inaction sends a message. 'You can be racist towards Jews and there are no consequences. You can enjoy fame on the BBC even if you are the kind of person whose views painfully remind Jewish viewers of Nazi propaganda. 'Once again, the Jewish community has been failed by the BBC.' Meanwhile, a spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'How does the BBC think that Jewish people react when they turn on the television and see someone who has engaged in the most vicious rhetoric on their national broadcaster? 'Asif Munaf has reportedly spoken of 'the Zionist antichrist', the 'slimy Zionist PR machine', 'odiously ogre-like Zionists', 'Zionist doctors', 'weaponising the Holocaust' and more. 'These sorts of views should usually get you fired. At the BBC, they just put you on telly.' Director of the board of deputies Marie Van der Zyl said: 'The BBC's response has been extremely poor. Our community feels as if viewing figures have been prioritised over combatting hideous prejudice. 'The corporation should publicly apologise for its mishandling of this situation.' Concerns about Dr Munaf were first raised by the Jewish News after Dr Munaf appeared on BBC show Dragon's Den. His now defunct University of Masculinity was also criticised for its controversial postings and retweeting posts by controversial influencer Andrew Tate. In one post about women, he reportedly asked: 'Have you ever met a beautiful feminist?' Meanwhile, a video on his Instagram account is said to have been titled 'Don't Trust What Women Say.' Alexei Navalny's body reportedly shows signs of bruising that were caused by being held down while he suffered a seizure, raising fears that he was killed on the orders of Vladimir Putin. The wounds are consistent with the Russian opposition leader - who died aged 47 on Friday amid claims he was 'murdered' by Vladimir Putin's regime - having suffered a 'seizure', according to independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe. The news outlet spoke to a paramedic in the Salekhard ambulance service, close to the IK-3 penal colony, also known as 'Polar Wolf', where Navalny was being held. Paramedics found bruises on Navalny's body, which is now under police guard in a morgue at Salekhard district clinical hospital, according to the independent news outlet. 'Usually the bodies of people who die in prison are taken straight to the Bureau of Forensic Medicine on Glazkova Street, but in this case it was taken to the clinical hospital for some reason,' the anonymous paramedic told the outlet. 'As an experienced paramedic, I can say that the injuries described by those who saw them appeared to be from convulsions. Alexei Navalny's (pictured) body shows signs of bruising, according to a new account Alexei leaves behind his wife Yulia (pictured) and their two children Vladimir Putin (pictured) has been accused of signing off on his murder A view of the entrance of the IK-3 prison colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia 'If a person is convulsing and others try to hold him down but the convulsions are very strong, then bruising appears. They also said he had a bruise on his chest the kind that comes from indirect cardiac massage. 'So they did try to resuscitate him, and he probably died of cardiac arrest,' the paramedic said, adding: 'But nobody is saying anything about why he had a cardiac arrest.' An autopsy has not been carried out yet, according to the outlet. Earlier, Navalny's mother was wrongly informed that the politician's body was at the main morgue in Salekhard. Now the family has been told that the cause of death has not been established and his body cannot yet be passed to relatives for burial. Details of Navalny's passing are few and far between, and those that have been made public have contradicted each other. It was most recently reported that Navalny died of 'sudden death syndrome', but no details were given to back this claim up. Just two minutes after the time Navalny was reported to have died - 2.17pm - Russia's prison service put out a statement revealing his passing. Four minutes after this, a Telegram channel controlled by the Kremlin claimed he had died of a blood clot, and just seven minutes later Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, was talking to the media about it. On top of this, Kremlin officials are alleged to have told the opposition leader's mother that he died from 'sudden death syndrome' as she visited the brutal IK-3 Polar Wolf penal colony where he was being held yesterday. Navalny's allies say they were denied the opportunity to see the body, which would remain with the authorities until an investigation was complete. A view of the town of Kharp, the home of the Polar Wold prison, seen through a frame with the words 'Happiness is not over the hill' in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia A policeman guards as a young man lay flowers paying the last respect to Alexei Navalny A couple lay flowers to pay the last respect to Alexei Navalny at the monument, a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands, where the first camp of the Gulag political prison system was established Details of Navalny's passing are few and far between, and those that have been made public have contradicted each other. Police officers detain a woman during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument Navalny's allies say they were denied the opportunity to see the body, which would remain with the authorities until an investigation was complete Russian police officers stand by the the flowers near the Wall of Grief monument laid in memory of Alexei Navalny Navalny's lawyer, who arrived in the town of Salekhard with Navalny's mother on Saturday, was allegedly told by the prison that the body was being held in the morgue. But a contact at the Salekhard morgue later denied the body was there - leaving yet more question marks around the shock death of one of Putin's most fierce critics. 'It's obvious that the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei's body, hiding it even from his mother,' his team said in a post on Telegram. Yesterday it was claimed that FSB officers visited the prison Navalny was being kept in just a few days before he died. Two intelligence officers allegedly disconnected some CCTV and recording devices at Polar Wolf, according to Russian human rights campaign group gulagu.net. Though the site isn't known for its reliability, it was the first group to break the news that Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group was recruiting mercenaries from Russian prisons. The world has condemned Navalny's suspicious death, and states across the globe have called for an independent investigation into how he died. Yesterday, US president Joe Biden said there was 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin was to blame for Navalny's death. He said that the US was looking into a 'number of options' to punish Russia. A woman lays flowers at a monument to victims of political repression to honor the memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Yesterday it was claimed that FSB officers visited the prison Navalny was being kept in just a few days before he died In 2021, Biden said he told Putin that the consequences of Navalny's death would be 'devastating for Russia.' The US ambassador to Moscow visited a makeshift shrine to Alexei Navalny on Sunday, as Russian authorities suppressed memorials and tributes to the late opposition leader. Rights groups say police have detained over 400 people at gatherings for the politician, a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin who died in an Arctic prison Friday. Ambassador Lynne Tracy was pictured on Sunday at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument to political repression that has become a major site of tributes for Navalny. 'Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia,' the US embassy in Moscow said on social media. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Alexei Navalny's family, colleagues and supporters. His strength is an inspiring example. We honour his memory,' it said. At a separate makeshift memorial known as the 'Wall of Grief', a bronze monument to Soviet-era repression, police had set up fences in a bid to ward off mourners. Several dozen police officers could be seen standing nearby, but some people were allowed to enter through the fence and lay flowers, an AFP reporter saw. In more than a dozen cities, police had detained 401 people by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, with his wife Yulia, right, daughter Daria, and son Zakhar pose for the media after voting during a city council election in Moscow, Russia, on September 8 2019 Navalny and his wife Yulia attend a rally against pension age increase in Moscow, Russia, 29 July 2018 Navalny and his wife Yulia attend his last election campaign event during heavy rain in Moscow, Russia on 6 September 2013 More than 200 arrests were made in St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, the group said. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church - a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church - who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Mr Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organising a rally and placed in a police holding cell, but was later taken to hospital after suffering a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Courts in St Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. The UK, meanwhile, has threatened to impose another set of sanctions against Russia in the wake of Navalny's death. Yesterday, US president Joe Biden said there was 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin was to blame for Navalny's death Flowers and portraits of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are placed at the monument to the victims of political repressions following his death Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, joined other G7 ministers at the Munich Security Conference in calling on Russia to 'fully clarify' how the jailed opposition leader died, amid mounting pressure on Western leaders to respond. The Foreign Secretary used the German gathering to repeat the UK's call for countries to seize Russian central bank assets currently held in the West as one way of financing the reconstruction of Ukraine. It comes as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches, marked by confirmation that Putin's forces have taken complete control of the frontline city of Avdiivka. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined Western leaders in putting the blame on Moscow for the death of Mr Navalny, as he pointed to the demise of the Putin critic as another reminder of the importance of defeating Russia. 'There should be consequences,' the Foreign Secretary told broadcasters on Saturday. 'When appalling human rights outrages like this take place, what we do is we look at whether there are individual people that are responsible and whether there are individual measures and actions we can take. 'We don't announce them in advance, so I can't say anymore than that. 'But that is what we will be looking at.' More to follow. A dog that lost its legs in a vicious machete attack has been given new custom-made prosthetics that allow it to run around. Cola was only nine months old when a neighbour hacked off his front legs and left him in a Bangkok gutter in revenge for him chewing the man's shoes. But the poorly pup was taken in by Brits John and Gill Dalley, who had retired to Phuket in Thailand and set up Soi Dog Foundation to help the island's strays, and given prosthetic legs so he could be just like other dogs. Now eight years old, Cola is living in Hornsea, Yorkshire, with John, who moved back to the UK for medical reasons in June 2022, but his old prosthetics are falling apart. Leading specialists Dorset Orthopaedic have provided their services free of charge to create sturdy and durable new legs so Cola can run free. Cola (pictured, with owner John Dalley) lost his legs in a vicious machete attack in Bangkok and has been given new custom-made prosthetics that allow him to run around Cola was only nine months old when a neighbour hacked off his front legs and left him in a gutter in revenge for him chewing the man's shoes The prosthetics have now worn out and the pup needed new ones or he would be confined to the house Cola was attacked in Bangkok in 2015. The Dalleys took him in as their own. Gill, who died from cancer in 2017, had both her legs amputated after getting septicaemia trying to rescue a dog from a flooded field and she and Cola immediately bonded over their shared experience. She asked her prosthetist Bengt Soderberg if he could also make something for Cola and he was happy to help. But the prosthetics have now worn out and the pup needed new ones or he would be confined to the house. The new legs are made from a plastic laminate with a softer, flexible material on the sole to allow for shock absorption and make it more durable for Cola to run on. Then Cola has an inner socket made from soft foam which fits over his stumps and slots into the legs. Prosthetist Toby Carlsson, from Dorset Orthopaedic's Manchester clinic, said: 'Cola's current prostheses are quite old and have come to the end of their useful life so we are replacing them with something similar to what he's got. 'We are not trying to build in sophisticated functions, they are very sturdy, functional and hopefully comfortable so he can stand and run properly. 'He had running blades before but they didn't really work - they would snag when he was running on grass and things like that. Prosthetist Toby Carlsson (pictured, with Cola), from Dorset Orthopaedic's Manchester clinic, said: 'Cola's current prostheses are quite old and have come to the end of their useful life so we are replacing them with something similar to what he's got' Now eight years old, Cola is living in Hornsea, Yorkshire, with John (pictured, trying out new legs with Cola), who moved back to the UK for medical reasons in June 2022 Owner John (pictured, left), 74, said: 'At home Cola can get around just on his back legs but he loves to go for walks and he needs his prosthetics for that. Just like [prosthetist] Bengt [Soderberg], Toby (pictured, right) has very generously given his time to make new prosthetics for Cola' Gill Dalley (pictured, with Cola), who died from cancer in 2017, had both her legs amputated after getting septicaemia trying to rescue a dog from a flooded field and she and Cola immediately bonded over their shared experience 'He's my first dog patient so that's a challenge but he's such a good boy. He sits still when you want him to and let's you take a cast of his legs. 'We don't often cast a being with furry legs but the principle is the same as a human patient. 'With his prostheses he can run on beaches with other dogs and fully participate. 'They have a wide base so they don't sink into the sand or ground.' Owner John, 74, said: 'At home Cola can get around just on his back legs but he loves to go for walks and he needs his prosthetics for that. 'His current prosthetics were made for him in Thailand by my wife's prosthetist but they are in danger of falling to bits now. 'Just like Bengt, Toby has very generously given his time to make new prosthetics for Cola. 'They transform his life, he can't go far without them and he loves to go for proper walks. I can't imagine not being able to take him for a walk. 'The prosthetics allow him to behave like a normal dog, he can run pretty quick on them. 'There was never any question we were going to keep him. 'As soon as I mentioned to Gill that she might want to meet this dog that was a double amputee too I knew he would be staying with us. 'His owner couldn't keep him, she was scared of the man who attacked him, and was very grateful we were going to take him in. 'He's extremely friendly, surprisingly, after what he went through. John added: 'They transform his life, he can't go far without them and he loves to go for proper walks. I can't imagine not being able to take him for a walk' Cola's owner said: 'With his prostheses he can run on beaches with other dogs and fully participate' Soi Dog Foundation spays or neuters and vaccinates Thailand's strays and last year surpassed the one million animals milestone They also campaigned for improved animal welfare rights in Asia and the Dalleys were instrumental in getting Thailand's first animal welfare law in 2014, which also allowed Cola's attacker to be prosecuted for cruelty 'He loves being the centre of attention.' Soi Dog Foundation spays or neuters and vaccinates Thailand's strays and last year surpassed the one million animals milestone. They also campaigned for improved animal welfare rights in Asia and the Dalleys were instrumental in getting Thailand's first animal welfare law in 2014, which also allowed Cola's attacker to be prosecuted for cruelty. Ukraine's deadliest female sniper has claimed that Putin will be 'assassinated by his own henchmen' and warned that she would kill him herself if she could. Olena Bilozerska, 44, said Putin 'will not live to see the international tribunal where he will be judged', as she believes he will be 'killed by his own henchmen' once the 'Russian elite realises that Putin's rule is becoming unprofitable for them'. 'Of course I would kill him if I could - but it's unrealistic for me to get such a chance, Olena, who has been credited with at least 10 confirmed kills in the trenches of Donbas, told the Sun. She also described Putin as an 'inadequate person' and warned that if he succeeded in taking over Ukraine, other neighbouring countries like Moldova, Poland or Finland could be invaded next. The female sniper added that Russia could only be defeated on the battlefield, because 'Russian politicians never keep their promises' and would break any treaties. Olena Bilozerska (pictured), 44, said Putin 'will not live to see the international tribunal where he will be judged', as she believes he will be 'killed by his own henchmen' once the 'Russian elite realises that Putin's rule is becoming unprofitable for them' 'Of course I would kill him if I could - but it's unrealistic for me to get such a chance, Olena (pictured), who has been credited with at least 10 confirmed kills in the trenches of Donbas, told the Sun She also described Putin (pictured) as an 'inadequate person' and warned that if he succeeded in taking over Ukraine, other neighbouring countries like Moldova, Poland or Finland could be invaded next Olena joined the Ukrainian military as a volunteer sniper in Dnipro in 2014 while working as a journalist in Kyiv before becoming a full-time soldier of the Ukrainian Marine Corps in 2018. She was demobilised in 2020, but went back to fighting for her country after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and still serves in Ukraine's Artan Special Unit. Although she was demobilised from the marines in 2020, she and her husband Valeriy Voronov were both still members of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Services, ready to deploy. She is something of a celebrity in Ukraine due to her best-selling book called 'Diary of an Illegal Soldier', referring to the fact that for the first few years of her service, volunteers like her were not technically allowed to fight on the front lines, but the law was changed in 2016. She was well-known even before the war as her oppositional journalism found her under threat of imprisonment by the old hardline regime of Viktor Yanukovych, deposed in the 2014 Maidan Revolution. Olena also wrote poetry but found no contradiction between that and fighting, telling MailOnline: 'A creative nature requires perfectionism in everything, and this helps a lot in my work. Of course I don't write poetry now though.' She said just weeks before the invasion in 2022 that she does not believe that Putin will order an invasion and his troop build-up was just 'pressure and intimidation'. But when her assessment turned out to be false, she and her husband signed up for an army unit and arrived on the front line on the day Putin's forces sent missiles to rain down over her home town Kyiv. Olena told the Sun that the nature of the war has become more difficult compared to the fighting in 2014 and 2017 due to Russia's use of drones enabling the enemy to 'see you almost all the time'. The 44-year-old, now planning and leading raids as an officer in Ukraine's Defence Intelligence unit, said Ukraine must continue to fight Russia to take back control over its borders as they were outlined in 1991 after the Soviet Union collapsed. 'After that, Ukraine must isolate itself from Russia with a reliable and very well-fortified border, strengthen its army, and finally join Nato,' Olena told the Sun. Olena who was then a volunteer fighter, but later joined the Ukrainian Marine Corps, has no qualms about any of the men she has killed or wounded in battle Bilzerska (pictured) says she spares no thoughts for those unfortunate enough to come into her line of fire. When the enemy crawls towards our position to kill me, does he think if I have a husband, parents, or kids? she said She said that Russia was fighting against Ukraine because 'it is not satisfied' with its 'very existence' and Putin's country could only be defeated in battle, not via treaties. Olena previously said she has no qualms about any of the men she has killed or wounded in battle. She told MailOnline: 'Moral anguish about the "murder of a human" was invented by people far from the war. An armed enemy is not a person, but a target. 'You take up a weapon against my country - that's it, you're a target. If you don't take him out in time, he might kill you or one of your comrades.' She said she spares no thoughts for those unfortunate enough to come into her line of fire. 'When the enemy crawls towards our position to kill me, does he think if I have a husband, parents, or kids?' she said. 'Of course not. And I don't bother myself with stupid things either. That stuff is for books and movies. In real life, anyone who thinks along those lines in battle is already as good as dead.' Olena's skills as a sniper are undeniable, as chilling footage from 2017 shows, in which she is picking off her targets through a thermal imaging night sight with the ruthless efficiency. On the soundtrack, as a bird flutters above the silent enemy trench 200m away, she is surprised to see two men crawling out of their position. 'It was the night of Ukrainian Independence Day anniversary in August 2017,' Olena recalled, 'and these Cossacks must have assumed we were lying drunk in our trenches celebrating. 'I felt something interesting was going to happen when they started getting out of a trench and passing weapons to each other.' The sobering footage shows one man crawling out of the trench into the crosshairs of Olena's rifle. Unable to believe her eyes, she exclaims to her comrade "Ah, he got out! Look, look, look, look -crawling! B*****d." Twenty seconds later, the image becomes more focused and her first shot rings out, targeted at the enemy soldier's torso, swiftly followed by two more rounds. After the screen clears following the gun's muzzle flash, another soldier is seen leaning over his comrade and he is similarly dispatched. Shortly afterwards, another enemy combatant is seen emerging above the level of the trench and he is felled with a single shot, falling lifelessly backwards out of sight. 'I shot three of them that night,' said Olena. Two of them were what we call 'cargo 200' [an old Soviet military term for dead, referring to the labels put on coffins] and the third was "cargo 300" [wounded].' Afterwards her husband Valeriy, who was beside her in the trench, collected up the cartridge casings and, following an old sniper tradition from WWI, had one made into a silver ring for her. An Alabama mom has been accused of punishing her seven-year-old son by making him walk home from school before accidentally running him over with her car. Sarai Rachel James, 27, was charged with aggravated child abuse on February 8 over the cruel punishment, according to Marshall County Jail records. She picked her son up from school in Boaz, northern Alabama, around 3.30pm, when she learned he had got into trouble with the principal earlier that day. There were two women in the car along with the boy - James and an unnamed 53-year-old woman who has also been arrested, police told McClatchy News. James allegedly stopped the car and ordered her son to get out and run or walk the rest of the way home - around eight blocks. Sarai Rachel James, 27, was charged with aggravated child abuse on February 8 over the cruel punishment, according to Marshall County Jail records She picked her son up from school in Boaz, northern Alabama, around 3.30pm, when she learned he had got into trouble with the principal earlier that day She drove beside him for a few blocks, but the boy tried to grab the car door handle. James accelerated and her son was pulled under the vehicle, which ran him over with the rear tire. Investigators believe that part of the incident was an accident. Boaz Chief of Police Michael Abercrombie told McClatchy News the child would never have been in that situation if James had not decided to punish him. The boy was taken to the University of Alabama hospital with scrapes on his back and the side of his head from the incident. James was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse. She was released on a $50,000 bond on February 11, according to Marshall County Jail records. She is reportedly barred from having any contact with her son. The 53-year-old passenger in James' car at the time of the incident has also been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, and she has been released on a $500 bond. James, who is around 5-feet 2-inches, appeared expressionless in her booking photo, wearing a baggy red t-shirt. Aggravated child abuse involves a 'responsible person' causing 'serious physical injury' to a child on one occasion, or harming them through 'acts on more that one occasion' in Alabama law. A new poll has found that more than half of Australians have forgiven Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for breaking his promise on stage three tax cuts. The DemosAU survey conducted earlier this month found 51 per cent supported Labor's recently overhauled stage three changes, which will give more take home pay to low and middle income earners. The question asked sought to get people's true feelings about the Prime Minister's motives by included the line 'critics say the changes break an election promise'. Of the other 49 per cent, 32 per cent were opposed to the changes while 17 per cent were undecided, the survey of 1154 Aussies showed. Support for the changes is higher among older Australians, with 54 per cent of people aged 55 or over backing the newly-engaged Mr Albanese. A new survey has found that more than half of Australians believed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with fiancee Jodie Haydon) did the right thing by breaking his promise on stage three tax cuts Poll Do you agree with Anthony Albanese's broken promise on stage three tax cuts? Yes No Undecided Do you agree with Anthony Albanese's broken promise on stage three tax cuts? Yes 88 votes No 461 votes Undecided 17 votes Now share your opinion Other polls, whose questions did not specifically mention that Labor's stage three changes were a broken promise, showed higher support. The Australia Institute's polling, for instance, found that two-thirds of voters in the Victorian seat of Dunkley, where a byelection will be held in March, favour the cuts. The latest survey found Labor voters were the strongest supporters of the changes, followed by the Greens and other minor parties. But 46 per cent of Liberal and National voters opposed the changes, with just 41 per cent in favour. How much a person currently earns did not seem to have much impact on their views about the tax cuts, with even those whose tax cut will be lower than under the original Coalition plan overall supporting the Labor version. About 54 per cent of people earning $200,000 or more support the changes, but just 43 per cent of those making $45,000 or lower backing the cuts. The DemosAU survey found 51 per cent were in favour of Labor's stage three changes, which will give more take home pay to low and middle income earners. People are pictured in Sydney's Pitt St Mall There were also some differences by state, with 35 per cent of Queenslanders against the changes, while 33 per cent opposed the cuts in NSW and just 29 per cent of Victorians are against them. 'Opposition to the changes to stage three is higher in the DemosAU poll than any other public polling,' DemosAU director George Hasanakos told the Daily Telegraph. 'This probably reflects the larger prominence of the term "broken promise" in the DemosAU formulation of the question.' Mr Hasanakos said Coalition voters overall appeared 'comfortable' with Labor's changes, specifically citing older voters who are more likely to be conservative. 'It is over-55s who are the critical factor in majority support for the changes,' he said. Labor's stage three legislation has already passed the lower house of parliament and is expected to be voted on in the Senate later this month. It's a classic musical adored by generations of theatregoers. But theatre bosses staging the latest revival of My Fair Lady were so concerned it may upset some members of the audience that they attached a trigger warning to the show. The charming Lerner and Loewe musical, including a string of timeless hit songs, tells the story of how Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle is given speech lessons by Professor Henry Higgins so she may pass as a society lady. Theatre bosses at Leeds Playhouse were so concerned its production of My Fair Lady may upset some members of the audience that they attached a trigger warning to the show But anyone looking to buy a ticket online for the production at the Leeds Playhouse is warned: 'My Fair Lady is set in Edwardian London and true to Lerner and Loewe's book includes depictions of high society Britain, classism and sexism.' The warning comes under a section entitled 'Triggers and Advisories'. The Opera North and Leeds Playhouse production later this year is the latest example of a number of controversial theatre 'trigger warnings' that have attracted widespread criticism. Anyone looking to buy a ticket online for the production at the Leeds Playhouse is warned: 'My Fair Lady is set in Edwardian London and true to Lerner and Loewe's book includes depictions of high society Britain, classism and sexism' My Fair Lady is based on the George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. A recent production of Pygmalion at London's Old Vic had the warning it contained 'portrayals of abuse, abusive language and coercive control'. While a revival of The Sound of Music at the Chichester Festival Theatre last July warned ticket buyers it touches on 'Nazi Germany and the annexation of Austria.' Adding that some 'may find certain themes distressing.' Earlier this month actor Ralph Fiennes called on theatre trigger warnings to be scrapped, commenting that 'the impact of theatre should be that you're shocked and you should be disturbed.' Adding: 'I don't think you should be prepared for these things'. Speaking today on BBC One's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, actor Matt Smith backed the plea to scrap the warnings. He said: 'I agree with Ralph utterly and completely.' The star of Doctor Who and The Crown said: 'That's why we go to the theatre isn't it? 'To be shocked, to be arrested out of ourselves, to recognise ourselves in front and with an audience. 'I also agree that if there are strobes or whatever - there are some things it (warnings) makes sense. 'But I worry sometimes that we're moving towards a sort of sanitised version of everything and we're stripping the danger and the invention and the ingenuity out of everything. 'Isn't art meant to be dangerous? The 1964 film adaptation of My Fair Lady starring Audrey Hepburn (pictured) who plyed Eliza Dolittle 'It's like, I always thought that was one of the great things of doing Doctor Who is that you scare children but in a controlled way. 'But you did scare them. 'I mean imagine going to kids watching Doctor Who "by the way this might scare you". No, I'm not into it.' My Fair Lady debuted on Broadway in 1956 with Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews in the starring roles. The 1964 film version saw Audrey Hepburn take over the role of Eliza and won Oscars for best film, director and Harrison was named best actor. There have been numerous theatre revivals of the popular classic ever since. The Leeds Playhouse has been contacted for comment. An altercation erupted during an anti-Scientology protest outside a Hollywood restaurant where convicted rapist Danny Masterson took one of his victims and drugged her before assaulting her. Demonstrators gathered outside La Poubelle Bistro and Bar Saturday night, urging patrons to steer clear of the eatery whose owner, Francoise Koster, wrote a letter defending Masterson's character amid his rape trial. The 'That 70s Show' star was handed a sentence of 30 years after he was convicted of raping two women, one of whom he drugged at the restaurant before taking her to his Hollywood Hills home. The Saturday confrontation began when one of the protestors wheeled on a man who stood outside the restaurant, smoking. 'You're gonna support a place where Danny Masterson raped women?' the protestor demanded. An anti-Scientology protest outside La Poubelle Bistro and Bar in Hollywood turned into an altercation Saturday night after a patron knocked a demonstrator's phone from his hand, leading to one arrest La Poubelle has been linked to 'That 70's Show' actor Danny Masterson, who was accused of drugging one of his victims at the restaurant before assaulting her at his Hollywood Hills home Demonstrators urged patrons to steer clear of the eatery whose owner, Francoise Koster, wrote a letter defending Masterson's character amid his rape trial 'Who's that?' the man responded. The protestor explained that the owner supported the convicted rapist as others butted in to the conversation. At least a dozen protestors encircled the man, spilling onto the street and surrounding parked vehicles. Several had cameras raised to film the confrontation. 'I already told you about it,' another protestor said, pointing his phone directly at the man, who turned and knocked the device from his hand. A scuffle ensued, ending when Los Angeles police arrived to break up the brawl and arrest one of the protestors. 'You guys are so full of s***,' one man shouted at the police. 'He gets assaulted and you f***ing lock him up.' The person who swatted the phone stood by one of the cruisers, shirtless and talking to an officer. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they arrested one person for battery but declined to identify the individual. Masterson was convicted in May 2023 after a jury found him guilty of two counts of forcible rape. In late December, Masterson was admitted to North Kern State Prison to serve his 30-years-to-life sentence. The scuffle ended when Los Angeles police arrived to break up the brawl and arrest one of the protestors 'You guys are so full of s***,' one man shouted at the police as they took a protestor into custody. 'He gets assaulted and you f***ing lock him up' The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they arrested one person for battery but declined to identify the individual The actor was denied bail last month, with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo citing a flight risk amid his ongoing divorce from Bijou Phillips. 'In light of the fact that defendant has no wife to go home to, defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful,' Olmedo wrote. Masterson was arrested in 2020 and charged with raping three women between 2001 and 2003. After his arrest, and during his first two trials, the actor was out on $3 million bail. Masterson was ultimately convicted of raping a 23-year-old in April 2003 and a 28-year-old woman later that year. Both victims said he got them drunk before assaulting them at his Hollywood Hills home. While he was only convicted on two counts of rape, Masterson had several accusers. At least three claimed they were pressured to keep quiet by the Church of Scientology. The women - identified in court as Chrissy B., Jen B. and N. Trout - were all practicing Scientologists when they met the actor through the church. La Poubelle Bistro factored prominently into the account of Chrissy B., who said she lost consciousness after Masterson served her a drink at the restaurant in 2001. When she woke up the next morning at the actor's house she was in serious pain, and Masterson told her they had sex. The damning allegations were laid out in a letter penned to a Scientology official that was presented at trial. Masterson was convicted in May 2023 after a jury found him guilty of two counts of forcible rape. He was deemed a flight risk amid his ongoing divorce from actress-model Bijou Phillips (left) Masterson was arrested in 2020 and charged with raping three women between 2001 and 2003. He was ultimately only convicted on two counts The owner of La Poubelle, Koster, is a close friend of Masterson's and a steadfast defender, even appearing in court to support him. Court documents describe her as 'a restaurateur who has had a three-decade friendship with Danny.' In the character reference, written August 11, 2023, Koster praised his relationship with his daughter and commitment to his then-wife, Bijou Philips, following her kidney failure diagnosis. The restauraunter described herself as a Buddhist with an upbringing rooted in the Los Angeles community through her family-owned restaurant. 'In the three decades of our friendship, I have had the honor of witnessing Dannys extraordinary qualities and the profound impact he has on those around him,' Koster wrote. 'I am aware that Danny was convicted of multiple force by rape, but as you contemplate Dannys circumstances, I urge you to reflect upon these facets of his character. His commitment as a parent, a husband, a son, brother, and friend.' MBABANE-Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo has come out to defend the country against allegations that its system does not allow dissenting views. In particular, Nxumalo has said that allegations that the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 was used to punish those who spoke against government were untrue. In a press statement issued yesterday, Nxumalo said there was a continued baseless allegation against the Kingdom of Eswatini to the effect that its system of governance did not allow dissenting views. The allegation, Nxumalo said, was mainly perpetuated through South African media houses by some individuals from political formations residing or hiding in that country. They continue to accuse this government of using the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 as a cudgel to punish or suppress those with dissenting views or voices on the politics of this country. This allegation is baseless. It is baseless on facts and it is baseless in law, Nxumalo said in the statement. Even though the government spokesperson did not mention names, it is a fact that recently, Swaziland News Editor Zweli Martin Dlamini was interviewed by South African media house, Newzroom Afrika, where he made an allegation that the Tinkhundla System of Government was a dangerous regime that killed those with dissenting views. fear Dlamini was responding to a question posed by Newzroom Afrika Presenter Naledi Moleo, who asked him if he did not fear for his life following the killing of Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko, who was the Chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF). Dlamini also mentioned that the Suppression of Terrorism Act was used to suppress dissenting views in Eswatini. Following the statements made by Dlamini, the government press secretary also had his say the following day on the same television station, where he mentioned that the editor was not a journalist. Also, Nxumalo mentioned that government was not even sure if Dlamini was a refugee or an illegal immigrant in the neighbouring country. The government spokesperson lamented that Dlaminis stories were fabricated, contained insults and promoted terrorism, which was why the government had approached the South African courts to assist in making him refrain from his shenanigans. Elaborating on the press statement issued yesterday, Nxumalo said it was important to point out immediately that that the Kingdom of Eswatini followed the framework of the international community and that of the United Nations when crafting and enacting the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008. I recall vividly in early 2008 as I was working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the American ambassador for instance, was in constant contact with the then Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Moses Mathendele Dlamini, impressing on him about the urgency of enacting the law to contain and to eradicate terrorism around the globe, Nxumalo said. He mentioned that the Suppression and Terrorism Act of 2008 was never meant to be used as a tool to suppress dissenting views or voices in the country but face head-on the challenges that were posed by terrorism. narrative According to Nxumalo, any sympathy given to the narrative that the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 was being used to silence dissenting views or voices in the country was misplaced. He said such an allegation was part of the agenda of those who wanted the neighbouring States to be in doubt about the Kingdom of Eswatinis democratic system of governance. Nxumalo said those spreading the allegation were using it as a ploy to garner regional, continental and international support for their regime change agenda. Of course, dissenting views or voices should be expressed within the provisions of the Constitution and the parameters of the law. You cannot for an example; wake up and commit arson act by burning both public and private peoples properties and claim that you are expressing a dissenting view. You cannot incite and insult and still claim to be expressing a dissenting view or opinion. No! said Nxumalo. He said if there were people who committed acts of terrorism and violating the laws of the land, the justice must take its course under those circumstances and situations. Also, Nxumalo said the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 shall be applied to the maximum force and intensity without fear or favour. Therefore, the two series of interviews I had with one of South Africas TV channels were to put in proper perspective and context the purpose and application of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008, an assignment which we executed with clarity and with precision, he said. Even though Nxumalo did not necessarily cite him in the press statement, this publication sought a comment from Dlamini by virtue of the fact that he is on record having said that the Tinkhundla System of Government used the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 to punish those with dissenting views. In response, Dlamini said, As I stated on Newzroom Afrika, the problem with the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 is that in this country, it is being politicised, manipulated and used to target those with dissenting views. mandate You will understand that even the media is not allowed to conduct its mandate of disseminating information to the public freely. Provisions of this Act might result in journalists being associated with terrorist entities just for interviewing or reporting on facts of what is on the ground. Dlamini said that was the gist of his analysis of the law when it came to the aforementioned Act. He said in his view, the government spokesperson was not being honest regarding whether the Suppression of Terrorism Act was being used to suppress those with dissenting views or not. You will remember that two former Members of Parliament are incarcerated yet they were exercising their right of representing the people who elected them into Parliament. They just demanded democracy and were not violent. I would say that not all emaSwati want multiparty democracy, but some do and the former MPs were expressing the views of the latter, Dlamini stated. Keir Starmer today insisted fighting in Gaza 'must stop now' as allies dodged on whether Labour MPs will back an SNP motion demanding an 'immediate' ceasefire. Sir Keir devoted a section of his speech to the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow to the crisis - after the party north of the border risked inflaming internal divisions by endorsing the separatists' move. But Sir Keir stressed that a ceasefire has to 'stop all acts of violence on both sides' and 'last'. The Labour leader has been struggling to contain a growing rift over the Israel-Gaza conflict - which saw him disown the Rochdale by-election candidate last week. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described the SNP motion as 'perfectly reasonable', and the conference voted to back it this weekend. But in interviews this morning, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy insisted that Keir Starmer would decide his stance closer to the vote on Wednesday afternoon. Keir Starmer devoted a section of his speech to the Scottish Labour conference in Edinburgh to the Gaza crisis Earlier David Lammy said the fighting 'must' stop and he understood why Scottish Labour were supporting the separatists' call Palestinians inspect the ruins of a collapsed building in Rafah, Gaza today In his speech, Sir Keir warned Benjamin Netanyahu not to extend Israel's military offensive to Rafah, as he stressed the need for a two-state solution. 'Any ceasefire cannot be one-sided. It must stop all acts of violence on both sides and it must lead to a genuine peace process,' he said. 'The offensive threatened on Rafah, a place where one-and-a-half million people are now cramped together in unimaginable conditions with nowhere else for them to go. 'This cannot become a new theatre of war. That offensive cannot happen. Even in these most terrible of circumstances, a two-state solution must be back on the table.' Sir Keir said everyone wanted to see 'a return of all the hostages taken on October 7th, an end to the killing of innocent Palestinians, a huge scaling up of humanitarian relief and an end to the fighting'. 'Not just for now, not just for a pause, but permanently. A ceasefire that lasts. That is what must happen now. The fighting must stop now,' he said. Asked earlier what Labour would do on Wednesday, Mr Lammy told BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'We all want to see an end to the fighting, it must stop. 'Over 28,000 people have lost their lives, women and children, you know, one of my children is adopted, (there are) 17,000 orphans now in Gaza, it's just abominable. 'So of course people want to see a ceasefire, the question now is how and to be absolutely clear that when that ceasefire comes, we can't see the fighting restart. 'I haven't seen the motion, it's not yet put down, we will scrutinise that motion as is our way in Parliament and we will take it from there. 'But let us be clear, yes, we will have a vote in Parliament this week but it's not that vote that will bring about a ceasefire, it's the diplomatic action.' Mr Lammy said he 'fully understands' the position of Scottish Labour but any pause in the conflict - which erupted after Hamas massacred Israelis on October 7 - had to be 'sustainable'. 'We want the fighting to stop now. I'm not sure that what's flying around on Twitter says anything about it being sustainable,' he said. 'You can have a ceasefire that lasts for a few days. We want the ceasefire to last and to be permanent and to move towards the diplomatic solution. It will only be a political solution that brings an end to this.' SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn confirmed this morning that he will push the issue to a vote on Wednesday. As it is an Opposition Day motion the outcome is not binding, and could be simply ignored by the government. 'I hope Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will find the courage to do the only right thing but, if they won't, it falls to us, MPs of all parties, to show that we demand a ceasefire now,' Mr Flynn said. 'The intolerable situation in Gaza is far more important than any narrow party loyalties - and it places a moral duty on all of us to act.' SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn confirmed this morning that he will push the issue to a vote on Wednesday The text of the SNP motion states: 'That this House calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel; notes with shock and distress that the death toll has now risen beyond 28,000, the vast majority of whom were women and children; further notes that there are currently 1.5million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah, 610,000 of whom are children; also notes that they have nowhere else to go; condemns any military assault on what is now the largest refugee camp in the world; further calls for the immediate release of all hostages taken by Hamas and an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people; and recognises that the only way to stop the slaughter of innocent civilians is to press for a ceasefire now.' A San Diego migrant center has been forced to close after services were stretched to breaking point with up to 1,500 people flooding in per day. Non-profit SBCS will shut the facility for good Thursday - reflecting the bleak picture across the country as the numbers of asylum seekers coming to the US remain sky-high. The US Border Patrol recorded 2,063,692 encounters with undocumented immigrants in the 2023 fiscal year, down just slightly from the record high reached in 2022. Over Biden's first three years in office, Border Patrol recorded a total of 5,940,511 encounters, a 277 percent increase from the same period during Trump's term, from 2017 to 2019, according to US Customs and Border Patrol data. SBCS, formerly known as South Bay Community Services, has announced the closure of its migrant center after just five months of operations because the number of people needing help in that time alone has increased dramatically. A San Diego migrant center has been forced to close after services were stretched to breaking point with up to 1,500 people flooding in per day A migrant from China holds up his passport and paperwork as he is photographed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in an open-air holding area as they prepare to board a bus to a processing facility near to the small, desert San Diego County border community of Jacumba Hot Springs in December 2023 'As the number of migrants arriving at the center has increased significantly over the last few weeks, our finite resources have been stretched to the limit, leading to the closure of the center on February 22,' CEO Kathie Lembo said in a statement. 'When we accepted the challenge of this work in October of last year, we knew two things: that it spoke to the heart of our mission, and that it was for a limited time.' 'Leading this effort has been an honor. We will continue working with the County and our partners in hopes of identifying additional resources to keep the center open, preventing hundreds of individuals a day from being stranded in San Diego without the support they need to continue their journey.' San Diego County gave SBCS $6 million for the welcome center designed to keep it going for six months from the start of October. 'With the receipt of that money there was expectations that it would be used until the end of March, so ending a month early does raise concerns and questions for me,' Lembo said. A group of Central American migrants - travelling in a caravan - are seen after crossing the Mexico-US border fence to San Diego County in 2018 A Central American migrant, jumps over the US-Mexico border fence from Tijuana to San Diego in the US as seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico Migrants are seen near the San Diego border as Title 42 regulations come to an end A border patrol agent patrols along a construction site for the secondary border fence which follows the length of the primary border fence that separates the United States and Mexico in the San Diego Sector on August 22, 2019 SBCS has been providing migrants with resources and information to link them with sponsor families. It comes as tensions between the Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott reach boiling point over how to handle the deluge at the southern border. On Saturday, Abbott announced the construction of a military base along Eagle Pass in a bid to block migrants entering from Mexico. The camp will allow Texas to 'amass a large army in a very strategic area' and 'increase the speed and flexibility of the Texas National Guard to be able to respond to crossings,' Abbott said. The camp will be constructed in phases of 300 beds every 30 days with the first phase expected to be completed by April, said Maj. General Suelzer, the head of the Texas Military Department. Texas is starting construction on new 80-acre military base camp in Eagle Pass for 2,300 soldiers as Gov. Greg Abbott promises to 'amass a large army' to combat migrant invasion An aerial view shows an immigrant group trying to cross the Texan border despite heightened security measures in Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month A group of migrants are processed by Border Patrol after crossing the river illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas The complex will include three command posts, weapons storage rooms and a helicopter pad, he said. It will also feature a 700-person dining facility, on-site movie theaters, workout areas and medical services, officials said. The state also intends to install more barriers north and south of Shelby Park, officials said. 'This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas military department personnel in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and more efficiently,' said the governor. 'Because of the magnitude of what we're doing, because of the need to sustain and actually expand our efforts ... it's essential that we build this base camp,' Abbott said. The camp will allow Texas to 'amass a large army in a very strategic area' and 'increase the speed and flexibility of the Texas National Guard to be able to respond to crossings,' he explained. Abbott said the camp will improve living conditions for soldiers who are deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that troubled the Guard's mission during the early months of Operation Lone Star. Abbott, a supporter of former president and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, accuses the Biden administration of allowing an 'invasion' of illegal migrants at the country's southern border. Soldiers were seen loading excess wire into a truck at the border crossing at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass last month He also accuses the White House of failing to take action against the drug cartels that, according to him, control the border on the Mexican side. Border control is a federal responsibility in the United States, but in January the Texas National Guard moved into Shelby Park, north of the campgrounds overlooking the river, as part of Abbott's expanding border mission. Abbott has also installed some 100 miles of barbed wire along the Rio Grande, a measure that the Biden administration is challenging in court. The US Supreme Court has temporarily authorized the federal government to remove the barbed wire, but Texas has continued to install it while the dispute proceeds. 'Having the soldiers located right here, right by the river, they're going to have the ability to more quickly be able to construct that razor wire barrier,' said Abbott on Friday, praising the 'effectiveness' of the device. Texas has also recently passed a law allowing its forces to arrest illegal migrants at the border, a power normally reserved for the federal government. CEO says it will cost tens of thousands of pounds to repair the damage Thieves spent five minutes raiding the shelves of Tidal Vape store in Totton This is the shocking moment balaclava-wearing thieves ransacked a vape shop after ram-raiding it and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Shocking CCTV footage shows the brazen intruders' vehicle crashing into the glass doors, before two enter and fill two bags up with as much as they could get their hands on. After spending nearly five minutes raiding the shelves, the pair can be seen fumbling with a sack full of good and struggling to get it into their pickup truck. Tidal Vape CEO Ben Richardson was woken up by his alarm company, shortly after the break-in which happened at around 3.15am on Sunday morning. The 33-year-old, who has 24 stores across the South Coast, said it will cost tens of thousands of pounds to repair the damage to the Totton branch, near Southampton, Hampshire. One of the balaclava-wearing thieves caught on CCTV stealing stock from a vape shop in Totton, Hampshire The pair can be seen fumbling a sack full of goods and struggling to get it into their pickup truck after spending nearly five minutes raiding the shelves Tidal Vape CEO Ben Richardson (above) was woken up by his alarm company, shortly after the break-in which happened at around 3.15am on Sunday morning 'The alarm company called me two or three times so I looked at the CCTV to see which store had been targeted,' he said. 'I saw the damage and knew I had to get out because it was so serious. 'It was the first time I've seen something as bad as this. 'I was very surprised with the amount of damage that the store had sustained. 'Watching the CCTV back was a total shock - that's why I knew I had to get down there straight away.' Mr Richardson said the two in the store had gone after disposable vapes, but was not able to accurately ascertain how many had been taken. However, he added: 'The numbers are very, very high. We had stock out the back which they went after as well.' Mr Richardson said it will cost tens of thousands of pounds to repair the damage The damage caused to the shop after the intruders' vehicle crashed through the glass He said the shop will be boarded up and remain closed until repairs have been carried out. A spokesperson from Hampshire Police said: 'We are investigating a report of a burglary at Tidal Vapes in Totton, which happened around 3.20am this morning. 'It was reported a large quantity of vape items was stolen from inside the store. 'Officers attended and enquiries are ongoing.' Ministers have urged police to be 'robust' in protecting politicians after a pro-Palestinian protest at the home of a Tory MP. Security minister Tom Tugendhat and policing minister Chris Philp have written to chief constables stressing the powers that are available. The intervention comes with concerns over the safety of MPs running high. Activists calling for a Gaza ceasefire gathered at the Dorset home of Tobias Ellwood earlier this week, while some politicians have opted to stand down rather than face death threats. Protests took place outside the family home of Tory MP Tobias Ellwood earlier this month Security minister Tom Tugendhat (pictured) and policing minister Chris Philp have written to chief constables stressing the powers that are available The letter from Mr Tugendhat and Mr Philp, seen by the Telegraph, said: 'This will be an election year. That makes it all the more important that candidates, both locally and nationally, are free to make their arguments to our communities without fear. 'You have my full support in making robust use of all your powers to ensure that the security of our elected representatives is protected, and our democratic values upheld.' The two ministers told chief constables that the Government has 'confirmed that, where the facts support it so the conditions are met, section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 can be used by the police to direct protesters away from a residential dwelling, in order to prevent harassment, alarm or distress to the resident'. Mr Ellwood and his family were not at home during the demonstration, after being warned by police to stay away. But the action was condemned by colleagues. Protests have been held across the country in recent months to call for a ceasefire, as the death toll from the Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues to rise. There have also been warnings of a growing volume of antisemitic incidents in the wake of the Hamas attacks of October 7, amid heightened tensions over the conflict. The Bournemouth East MP, writing in the Telegraph, said it was a 'mystery' why he was targeted. He added: 'I was the only MP in the Commons debate after the barbaric Oct 7 attacks, but before Israel sent in the tanks, to counsel against a full-scale ground invasion at this time as there was no emergency governance, security or humanitarian plan in place. Mr Ellwood (pictured) said it was a 'mystery' why he was targeted by protesters 'Last Monday morning (hours before this demonstration) I criticised Benjamin Netanyahu directly on his plans to take Rafah.' He said: 'Though this was the first pro-Palestinian targeting of an MP's house, it is far from an isolated incident. 'Fellow MPs agree we are witnessing a growing trend where public servants increasingly face intimidation and threats.' Mr Tugendhat warned against such incidents becoming the norm. The minister told the paper: 'There's a chilling effect that these people are having. They think of themselves as progressive and on the side of right. They are not. 'They are shouting down debate, and silencing democracy.' Grassroots police officers have launched a gender-critical network to push back against forces they are concerned have adopted self-ID policies not recognised in law. The serving officers have launched the Police Sex Equality and Equity Network, accusing the service of 'actions that embed gender ideology' within forces nationwide. They called on bodies representing both rank and file officers, as well as chief constables, to recognise lobby groups and activists within policing in England and Wales had created a 'culture of fear' among those holding gender-critical views. The group said by focusing on gender issues, police forces risked undermining public confidence. Police SEEN have said the group intends to emulate the civil service network, which was established 'to re-focus attention on improving equality and equity between women and men'. The group said in a statement: 'Police SEEN warns that the influence of lobby groups and activists within UK policing has created a culture of fear which prevents officers and staff who believe there are two sexes and that sex is real and immutable, from speaking out, for fear of disciplinary action. Serving officers have launched the Police Sex Equality and Equity Network, accusing the service of 'actions that embed gender ideology' within forces nationwide (Stock image of two police officers on duty) 'They believe a formal internal network is desperately needed, not only to provide a voice and support for those who want to ensure the law is upheld, but also to restore political impartiality to policing.' Examples cited by the group of gender ideology in the police service include recent guidance that would allow trans-officers to strip search people of the opposite biological sex. The National Police Chiefs' Council, which published the guidance, was forced to retract it and conduct a 'thorough' review, following an outcry and concern from the Government. It would have seen officers who have transitioned 'search persons of the same gender as their own lived gender'. The group also accused police forces of routinely recording crime data based on gender self-ID, rather than biological sex, including in reports of rape an offence which can only be committed by a man. The National Police Chiefs Council, the Superintendents' Association and the Police Federation, were all asked to support the new group, Police SEEN said. Charlotte Cadden, a Detective Chief Inspector with Greater Manchester Police said: 'We feel that this network is long overdue and it is not just needed now, it is absolutely imperative that it is set up. 'We know personally of serving officers and staff who have been referred for disciplinary action for merely expressing a view that sex is real and that they don't subscribe to a belief in gender ideology. 'Many officers and staff have also been warned to keep quiet or their careers will be harmed or even ended. 'While we have respect for those whose views differ from our own, and their right to express those views, for the sake of public trust and confidence in our policing service, we have to ensure that there is a space where officers and staff know that sex realist views will also be respected and not subject to cancellation or harassment. 'We cannot sit back and do nothing; we feel that public confidence is being lost as a result of very clear mistakes that are being made.' Examples cited by the group of gender ideology in the police service include recent guidance that would allow trans-officers to strip search people of the opposite biological sex (Stock image) Under current laws, people who want to change legal sex must provide a medical report showing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The NHS defines this as a 'sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity'. They must also provide evidence of living full time in their gender for at least two years campaigners claim the requirement is excessively bureaucratic and invasive. The announcement was hailed by women's rights groups, who called the launch 'a vital first step'. Cathy Larkman, of the Women's Rights Network called on police chiefs to take notice and protect their officers from discrimination. Ms Larkman, a former police superintendent, said: 'Policing aspires to be without fear or favour and it has been very sad to see that ideal fail so spectacularly on so many occasions, with the attendant loss of public trust and confidence. 'We hope that this is a vital first step in regaining that trust and that more officers will join them. 'We have spoken to police officers and staff ourselves on many occasions. We know that there are real fears about challenging any aspect of gender ideology in the service, and that there have been instances of officers and staff being warned to remain silent, or even referred for disciplinary interventions if they challenge the prevailing narrative that places ideology over and above the law. 'Self ID is not the law in this country. 'We know that these police officers and staff represent the overwhelming majority view of the police service, who want to do their jobs properly and provide excellent public service. 'It is high time for those police officers and staff who believe that there are two sexes and that sex is immutable, to have a voice within the policing service and for that to have as much recognition and support from their leaders as other internal police networks do. 'Given the growing number of tribunal successes for women who have been unfairly discriminated against for their views, police chiefs would be well advised to support them.' A recent interim report of His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary into activism and impartiality in policing highlighted 'a lack of clarity in how police forces understand and interpret this evolving legal framework'. It read: 'There is a lack of clarity in how police forces understand and interpret this evolving legal framework. In particular, this is seen in the contested areas of: sex and gender reassignment; what constitutes a genuinely held belief; and when such beliefs are themselves protected under the Act. Without greater clarity, there is a risk that officers and staff may make the wrong decisions and, in so doing, undermine public trust and confidence.' The NPCC, Police Federation and Superintendents' Association all declined to comment. This is the moment a suspected burglar smashed his vehicle into a street sign during a 90mph police chase before being arrested by officers. Video footage shows a Greater Manchester Police car tearing through streets in a residential area in pursuit of their suspect. But the chase, which reached speeds of 91mph, came to an abrupt end as the motor crashed into a street sign and the two men inside tried to do a runner from cops, leaving a hammer in the car. After they were held, the force even mocked the pair online with a post saying they had 'sign posted' the suspect to custody. The force said traffic police witnessed the car travelling at 'dangerously' high speeds at around 2.15am on Friday morning along Bury New Road in Prestwich. Before officers were able to approach the vehicle, it failed to stop and sped off, a spokesman said. This is the moment a suspected burglar smashed his car into a sign post during a 90mph police chase before being arrested by officers The chase came to an abrupt end as the motor crashed into the sign and the two men inside tried to do a runner from cops, leaving a hammer in the car Greater Manchester Police force said traffic police witnessed the car travelling at 'dangerously' high speeds at around 2.15am on Friday morning along Bury New Road in Prestwich After they were held, the force even mocked the pair online with a post saying they had 'sign posted' the suspect to custody Inspector Danny Kabal said: 'The public would rightly expect us to lock-up anyone who thinks it is acceptable to carry a weapon or drive dangerously in a bid to escape, and this is exactly what we will continue to do' After the car chase, cops then gave chase to the suspect on foot and held a man in his 50s on suspicion of dangerous driving, having no insurance and failing to stop for police. A search of the car revealed a hammer and the man was further arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. He remains in custody for questioning, the force said. Inspector Danny Kabal said: 'The public would rightly expect us to lock-up anyone who thinks it is acceptable to carry a weapon or drive dangerously in a bid to escape, and this is exactly what we will continue to do.' The Kremlin today threatened to fire nuclear missiles on London, Washington, Berlin and Kyiv if Russia is forced to give up the Ukrainian territory it has invaded. Dmitry Medvedev - a close Putin ally who served as president from 2008 to 2012 - said if a military defeat led to a return to the 1991 frontiers, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Moscow would unleash Armageddon. 'Attempts to return Russia to the borders of 1991 will lead to only one thing,' he said. 'Towards a global war with Western countries using the entire strategic arsenal of our state. In Kyiv, Berlin, London, Washington.' Hypersonic nuclear missiles would also strike 'all other beautiful historical places that have long been included in the flight targets of our nuclear triad'. He added: 'Will we have the courage to do this if the disappearance of a thousand-year-old country, our great Motherland, is at stake, and the sacrifices made by the people of Russia over the centuries will be in vain? The answer is obvious.' Dmitry Medvedev (pictured) - a close Putin ally who served as president from 2008 to 2012 - said if a military defeat led to a return to the 1991 frontiers, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Moscow would unleash Armageddon School number 18 is destroyed in a Russian missile attack on Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on February 17 A Ukraine tank crew drives through roads near the city of Avdiivka on February 17. As the Ukrainian army retreats from Avdiivka, reports of heavy losses continue and Russian forces advance quickly Civilians take part in a military training activity day conducted by the Ukrainian Volunteer Army on February 17 as the war's two-year mark nears He suggested Kyiv and the West should allow Putin to have the bits of Ukraine he thinks of as Russia. 'It's better to return everything [to us] before it's too late. Or we will return it ourselves with maximum losses for the enemy. Like in Avdiivka. Our warriors are heroes!' Medvedev, deputy head of the Russian security council which controls the war, hit out at 'snotty Anglo-American fosterlings' who oppose Putin. The British and German defence ministers Grant Shapps and Boris Pistorius were '***holes' who believe the world cannot afford a Russian victory in the war, he said on his Telegram channel. If they got their way, there would be a 'direct and irreversible collapse of present-day Russia' including its newly-invaded territories. A view of destroyed building, located near a frontline position, after Russian shelling as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on February 16 Ukrainian police officers and rescue workers clear the rubble of a destroyed private house after a Russian rocket attack in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, on February 17 This handout photograph taken and released by National Police of Ukraine on February 14, 2024, shows a hospital building destroyed as a result of a missile attack in Selydove, Donetsk region There could be 'violent civil war with the final disappearance of our country from the world map, tens of millions of victims, the death of our future.' He asked: 'Do these idiots really believe that the people of Russia will swallow such a division of their country? 'That we will all think something like this: "Well, alas, this happened. They won. Today's Russia has disappeared. "It's a pity, of course, but we must continue to live in a collapsing, dying country, since a nuclear war is much more terrible for us than the death of our loved ones, our children, our Russia"? 'The West should not think that in such a scenario the leadership of Russia will 'tremble in its hand' in pushing the nuclear button.' A man will appear in court on Monday after migrants were discovered in the back of a lorry at an East Sussex ferry port. Anas Al Mustafa, of Heather Crescent, Swansea, was charged with assisting unlawful entry to the UK following the major response from emergency services at Newhaven ferry port on Friday. The 42-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear at Brighton Magistrates' Court. Six people were taken to hospital after the discovery on the 'Seven Sisters' ferry between Newhaven and Dieppe in Normandy, northern France, but no deaths were reported by Sussex Police. On Friday, police said two men had been arrested in connection with the incident, one on suspicion of people smuggling and the other on suspicion of entering the UK illegally. Six migrants were discovered in the back of a van at Newhaven ferry port (pictured) on Friday The migrants were discovered on the 'Seven Sisters' ferry (pictured) between Newhaven and Dieppe in Normandy, northern France Emergency services including ambulances, police and Border Force were in attendance at the incident. Ferry operator DFDS, which runs services between Newhaven and Dieppe, previously confirmed migrants were found on board the Seven Sisters vessel and said immediate medical attention was provided. The migrants, who appeared to be of Asian origin, were freed after the ferry's security staff broke down a false wall in the back of the van that had been concealing them. The port security staff did this after workers on board the ferry heard banging coming from the van as they were preparing to dock at Newhaven port. One man, who declined to be named, said: 'The migrants appeared to have been lying down in a small section of the van. 'They were hidden by a false wall that had been built into the back of the van. It was only a small space so they must have been practically lying on top of each other. It would have been very cramped and hard to breathe. 'The reason they were found was that staff working on the ferry heard the migrants banging on the wall and the back of the van during a routine check of vehicles as we were about to dock. 'They summoned some other workers, who looked like security personnel and who then physically broke down the wall and let the migrants out. Some were unconscious and some were able to climb out the van with help. 'The police and fire teams arrived soon after the ferry had docked and they took the seven or so migrants to an ambulance. They were put on stretchers and taken off the ferry one by one in oxygen masks. 'The driver of the van and another man who I think was in the passenger seat were then arrested and taken away.' Workers on board the ferry heard banging coming from the van as they were preparing to dock at Newhaven port Another eyewitness, who was driving to work at the time of the incident, said: 'It looked pretty horrendous. Three of the men were totally unconscious. They were on ambulance gurneys and paramedics were giving them oxygen. 'They looked in a bad way. Paramedics were particularly concentrating on treating one individual - I couldn't see if it was a man, woman or child. 'Paramedics had wrapped them all in foil blankets. It looked really serious.' 'Initially we thought loads of people had been found dead but thankfully they are alive. The emergency services responded really quickly and it was all brought to a close very rapidly.' Responding to media reports about the incident, Lewes MP Maria Caulfield, whose constituency includes Newhaven, said in a post on X: 'Very concerned about these reports. 'From my office in Newhaven we can see lots of activity opposite at the port and thanks to the emergency services responding.' People trafficking into the UK has become a hot political topic in recent years. Besides soaring numbers crossing the English Channel in small boats, smugglers have also used HGVs to hide migrants - at times with tragic results. At least six police officers were hurt during a violent riot that erupted on the streets outside The Hague last night, after two rival groups of Eritreans clashed following a political disagreement. Rioters torches police cars and a bus, and Dutch police officers, who arrested 13 people throughout the night, were forced to use tear gas to try and dispel them. Dozens of rioters, who set fire to two police cars and a tour bus, were filmed surrounding the Opera conference hall along Fruitweg in the Netherlands, as multiple police vans drove to the scene. Another clip also showed the aftermath. The building had several smashed windows and parked vehicles were on fire, with the street left looking like a warzone. A fight broke out between two groups of Eritreans. 'It got seriously out of hand,' The Hague Municipality spokesman Robin Middel said last night. A damaged and burnt HTM bus a day after the police had to intervene in a confrontation between two groups of Eritreans Burning vehicles at the Opera hall center on the Fruitweg Wooden partitions are placed over the broken windows at the Opera hall center on the Fruitweg Police said that during the disturbances, two officers sustained injuries to their hand and another to her teeth. A fourth was hit by a police car in the chaos. Police in a later statement said another agent became unwell because of the tear gas, while a sixth officer was wounded in the knee. 'Out of nowhere, our colleagues were confronted with very intense and serious violence,' said police commander Marielle van Vulpen. Police made several arrests and have called for witnesses and video footage, as they investigate the riots. 'The violence used against police officers and equipment is appalling and unacceptable,' said the city's mayor Jan van Zanen. An official said a group loyal to Eritrea's government was holding a meeting when the venue was attacked by Eritreans who oppose the African nation's government. Shards of glass covered the streets and smoke from the tear gas could be seen seeping into the air, as coppers had their cars pelted by bricks, bikes and traffic signs. Officers dressed in riot gear barricaded the entrance to the building and dealt with a fire that had broken out inside. They removed what appeared to be a fuel canister from the property. Another clip also showed the aftermath. Buildings had several smashed windows and parked vehicles were on fire A crowd walks past a burning vehicle after a meeting of the Eritrean community ended in violence, with several cars set on fire, in The Hague A police car burns at the Opera hall centre last night Police stand guard during clashes between two groups of Eritreans during riots after a meeting in the conference center in The Hague on February 17, 2024 Youths were dressed in hooded jackets and some covered their faces with scarves and balaclavas. Netherlands-based journalist Owen O'Brien shared the footage on X and wrote: 'Rioters break into an entrance at the #Opera. 'Windows are broken and attempts are made to enter. The fire brigade has also left again and cannot extinguish the fire.' The reporter said the Opera hall had suffered 'extensive damage' because of the violent riots. Jan van Zanen, mayor of The Hague, authorised police to use tear gas, a spokesman told the Netherlands Times. The mayor also issued an emergency order for the area around Fruitweg, a spokesperson for the municipality of The Hague said. Police Unit The Hague posted on X: 'At #Fruitweg in #DenHaag a confrontation between two groups of Eritreans resulted in a fight. 'Stones were thrown. We act with the riot police, among others, to restore public order.' Multiple cars that were torched were left charred as emergency services were able to put out the fires. A burned vehicle is seen at the Opera hall center on the Fruitweg following the chaos The scene of one burned-out car is seen to be cordoned off last night Dozens of rioters were filmed running out of a building in the Netherlands as multiple police vans drove to the scene Shards of glass, bricks and what appears to be a fuel canister are pictured on the floor outside where the riot took place last night Youths were filmed launching bricks at police vans A police car is pictured on fire, as The mayor also issued an emergency order for the area around Fruitweg Jan van Zanen, mayor of The Hague, also authorised police to use tear gas The mayor also issued an emergency order for the area around Fruitweg Police spokesperson Kristianne van Blanken said she could not immediately say if anybody was injured or if any rioters were arrested. Anti-immigration sentiment has already been running high in the Netherlands, and far-right leader Geert Wilders, who won the nation's most recent election in November, took to X to say: 'Why is half the world allowed to come here to tear down our country, fight amongst themselves, throw stones at the police and set their cars on fire? I want to become the prime minister who finally brings some order to this.' There are some 25,000 Eritreans living in the Netherlands, according to official government figures. The fighting is the latest outbreak of violence at Eritrean events in Europe. A burnt out car from the scene, where a fight broke out between two groups of Eritreans Coppers dressed in riot gear are pictured along the road in an attempt to diffuse the situation A woman takes photos of the damage to the conference hall in the Hague A firefighter puts out a car that was set alight by rioters Police dressed in riot gear stood in front of the Opera building to protect it from further damage Dozens of people, including at least 26 police officers, were injured during unrest surrounding an Eritrean cultural festival in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart in September 2023. A fight the same month between Eritrean government supporters and opponents in Tel Aviv led to violent street confrontations among African asylum-seekers and migrants. Months earlier, a clash at an Eritrean festival in the western German city of Giessen left 22 police officers injured. Tens of thousands of people have fled Eritrea for Europe, many alleging they were mistreated by the repressive government of President Isaias Afwerki. The conflicts underscore deep divisions among members of the Eritrean diaspora between those who remain close to the government and those who have fled to live in exile and strongly oppose Isaias. Nikki Haley is calling out Donald Trump for his recent 'bone-chilling' response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's rising aggression amid speculation he ordered the killing of political rival Alexei Navalny. The 2024 hopeful said Trump's silence on Navalny's death is one of two things: the ex-president 'siding' with Putin or a sense of apathy toward a world leader killing their opponent. It comes after Trump received a slew of backlash for encouraging Putin to attack delinquent NATO ally countries. 'This goes back to the fact that we need to remind the American people that Vladimir Putin is not our friend. Vladimir Putin is not cool,' Haley told ABC News This Week on Sunday morning. 'This is not someone we want to associate with. This is not someone that we want to be friends with. This is not someone that we can trust.' Former UN Amb. Nikki Haley tore into former President Donald Trump for remaining silent on the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin's political rival and prisoner Alexei Navalny Haley has grown increasingly critical of Trump's soft-on-Russian stance and 'empowering' of Putin. Pictured: Trump and Putin speak during the APEC Leaders' Summit in Vietnam on November 11, 2017 Nikki Haley on Donald Trump's silence following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny: "Either he sides with Putin and thinks it's cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents, or he just doesn't think it's that big of a deal." https://t.co/FvJWal3Drw pic.twitter.com/FjzXnooH7J This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 18, 2024 Navalny was a Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist who was a political prisoner of Putin's who died at age 47 on Friday. His body reportedly shows signs of bruising that were caused by being held down while he suffered a seizure, increasing fears that Navalny was killed on Putin's orders. Many world leaders and politicians have spoken out against Navalny's untimely death, but Trump did not bring it up during his rally over the weekend, leading to swift criticism of the former president. 'It's actually pretty amazing that he won't acknowledge anything with Navalny,' Haley told ABC News host Jonathan Karl. 'Either he sides with Putin and thinks it's cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents, or he just doesn't think it's that big of a deal,' she added. 'Either one of those is concerning. Either one of those is a problem.' Trump told a crowd in Conway, South Carolina last weekend that if president again, he would not protect NATO allies against Russia if they don't pay their fair share toward the alliance. '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?' I said you didn't pay, you're delinquent? He said, 'yes, let's say that happened.' 'No, I would not protect you,' Trump said last Saturday. 'In fact I would encourage them [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want.' 'You gotta pay! You gotta pay your bills.' Alexei Navalny (pictured) died as a political prisoner in Russia on Friday at the age of 47 and recent reports are heightening concerns he was killed on the orders of Putin This all coincides with the House arguing over bringing to the floor more aid for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, which entered its third year this month. Republicans are more reluctant to send more funding to Kyiv after the U.S. already provided billions to the eastern European nation after Russia invaded in February 2022. Haley is accusing Trump who is the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 ticket of empowering Putin with his recent comments. 'When you hear Donald Trump say in South Carolina a week ago that he would encourage Putin to invade our allies if they weren't pulling their weight. That's bone-chilling, because all he did in that one moment was empower Putin,' Haley said. 'And all he did in that moment was, he sided with a guy that kills his political opponents, he sided with a thug that arrests American journalists and holds them hostage, and he sided with a guy who wanted to make a point to the Russian people don't challenge me in the next election or this will happen to you too.' MBABANE At Bhalekane Correctional Centre, some tell it like a tale. This relates to the issue of an officer from His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) who allegedly stabbed his colleague in the buttocks. Insiders said there was a bloody altercation on Wednesday night at the HMCS residential quarters between roommates, a situation that culminated in one of the warders sustaining injuries. He was bandaged after the incident. Their names would not be mentioned for now as the issue is still being investigated internally and no arrests have been made so far. Sources said the attacker, without warning, approached his neighbour and stabbed him once. At least two HMCS officers at the quarters witnessed the altercation and intervened, sources said. The survivor confirmed the incident, saying that it happened on Wednesday night around 11pm. He said there has been a dragging misunderstanding between him and his colleagues about the sharing of the electricity metre units. made his concerns known The survivor said he has on numerous times made his concerns known to his roommate that the sharing of the metre seemed to have always been disadvantaging him. He said the alleged attacker stayed with a live-in-girlfriend who was always around cooking. While they shared the electricity metre, he said they found themselves having disagreements about recharging their prepared electricity metre. He said they agreed to each fork out E100 per month towards the electricity units they purchased. However, it does not last a month, hence the top-up. He also said they did not agree on the amount to be topped up. The survivor said what infuriated his assailant was that these top-ups are caused by his girlfriend, who is always around. He also said he thought the alleged attacker might have been infuriated by what his girlfriend resorted to doing. The survivor said he was not sure why his attacker would attack him for what her girlfriend did because it was a good sign that she could see the inconvenience being caused by this arrangement. The survivor said he spent less time at the camp than at home. He said he went home quite often on his off-duty days. The warder said he did not stay around as often as his roommate and his girlfriend did. He also said he did not have many appliances, as he spent most of his time at home where he has TV and fridges, among other appliances that consume electricity. wiring of the units The survivor also said the wiring of the units might be faulty, causing the unending running of the bill in the walls. The survivor said he had been receiving medical attention at one of the health facilities. He narrated that he had changed bandages, explaining that he bled profusely after the stabbing. He also said he ran away and did not fight back. He said he considered laying a charge against the HMCS officer. Efforts to get the alleged attackers side of the story proved futile. He was called numerous times over the week and phone numbers on both MTN and Eswatini Mobile were unreachable. However, a reliable source said that the survivors version was not entirely true, as he was sighted as the instigator rather than the other way around. The source said the alleged attacker had not been contributing his share of the electricity purchase and an argument ensued within the house they shared. The source said it was at that time that the survivor was stabbed, as in the heat of an argument, the survivor slapped the attacker. In retaliation, the attacker stabbed the survivor, the reliable source said. When contacted about this issue, HMCS Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) Sergeant Baphelele Kunene confirmed the incident, citing it as an unfortunate occurrence. stabbed officer Kunene said even though the matter was reported to the facilitys administration, the stabbed officer had not yet opened a case with the police, at least according to information available at the moment. Kunene, however, mentioned that the HMCS administration intervened soon after the incident. He said the administration separated the two roommates. He said it was unfortunate that officers would get to the point of engaging in a fight, especially because the Office of the Commissioner General always advocated for harmony and unity among officers. Kunene said even the commissioner general was aware of how thorny an issue of electricity had become. It is for this reason that the department was working around the clock to address the issue, Kunene said. Asked how soon this would be, the deputy PRO said it was within the commissioner generals wish to address this matter at the earliest possible time. In his tour of HMCS facilities last month, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, is said to have pleaded for the provision of utilities, including electricity, for the officers. The New York City Police Department is facing opposition over its extracurricular dance crew, with critics demanding officers focus more on combatting crime and less on their dance moves. Founded in 2022, the team was intended to serve as a place for officers to unwind after their shifts. The dancers practice two to three times a week, performing at city schools, galas and other events. President Autumn-Rain Martinez described dance rehearsal as 'a place to release mental stress' during a recent appearance on PIX 11. 'We have to have a space to decompress,' she explained. The team's very public promotion comes as New Yorkers voice concerns about rising crime and strained resources amid the ongoing migrant crisis. 'This will scare the beejeezes (sic) out of any criminal in NYC,' said one critic, offering up some sarcastic criticism of their recent performance on X, formerly Twitter. Members of the New York City Police Department's dance team appeared on a local television station Thursday President Autumn-Rain Martinez (front) described the club as 'a space to decompress' However, the team quickly drew criticism online as netizens urged them to spend more time cracking down on crime New Yorkers themselves had plenty to add to the conversation. 'Instead of stopping crime, watch us do the Macarena instead!' a Brooklyn resident wrote. 'Cant wait for them (to) arrive on the scene and lighten the mood during a brutal homicide case,' a Jets fan snarked. Yet another poster commented on the dance troop, saying: 'Well, we now know why all the criminals are able to evade arrest in NYC.' Others were quick to jab fingers at what they view as police inaction in the city. 'One Daniel Penny is worth more than 500 of these cop dancers when it comes to keeping New York residents safe. Im not exaggerating,' wrote one man, referencing the man charged with fatally choking Jordan Neely on the subway. 'In the meantime crime is at an all time high,' a fellow X user posted. 'Can't wait for them (to arrive) on the scene and lighten the mood during a brutal homicide case,' one local quipped The NYPD's very public promotion of its dance crew drew heated criticism from X, formerly Twitter users One netizen remarked: 'We now know why all the criminals are able to evade arrest in NYC' The officers themselves are acutely aware of the disapproval. 'I'm just answering 911 jobs all day, all day, all day out of roll call until it's time to go home,' Dance Team Vice President Lauren Pagan said. 'Music is amazing. And when I get to sit here and just listen even if it's the same song over and over, it's a nice place to be. Everybody here loves to dance. They love being here.' Martinez said the club was designed to provide officers with a place to 'express themselves creatively.' 'We have a dance team because the mental health kind of takes a toll while doing this job,' she explained. The dance troop's recent appearance on local media comes as highly-publicized instances of migrant crime have drawn attention and rates of theft continue to rise. In one of the most viral incidents of the past month, three NYPD officers were pummeled by a group of migrant men in Times Square and left with minor injuries. Five of the asylum seekers charged with assault were previously allowed free without bail by a Manhattan judge. In total, eight people have now been charged in connection to the incident. Three NYPD officers were pummeled by a group of migrant men in Times Square and left with minor injuries last month According to the NYPD, the migrants then started to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body while the two officers tried to pin down one of the other men, tearing off his sweatshirt The violence was sparked after a fight broke out between a suspect in a yellow sweatshirt and the police officers. According to the NYPD, the migrants then started to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body while the two officers tried to pin down one of the other men, tearing off his sweatshirt. The attackers then made an escape east on 42nd Street toward 7th Avenue. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg identified 12 suspects in total and his office presented evidence to a grand jury on Tuesday. Police have not released the identities of four other suspects in the attack against the NYPD officers. On February 2, Bragg defended the decision to initially release them. '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,' he said. 'In Manhattan, we don't tolerate or accept assaults on police officers. I watched the tape this week. Despicable behavior. It sickened me and outraged me.' In another case, a 15-year-old Venezuelan migrant opened fire at a sneaker store during an attempted shoplifting. He was arrested and charged as an adult after the bullet struck a Brazilian tourist and he continued to shoot at police while fleeing. More than 160,000 migrants have landed in the city since the spring of 2022. That number is only rising as Texas Governor Greg Abbot continues to bus people up north in retaliation of the federal government's border policy. Appearing on 'Good Day New York' in January, Mayor Eric Adams estimated between 2,500 and 4,000 new arrivals each week. Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer himself, drew criticism for remarks comparing the Big Apple to L.A.'s Skid Row, a homeless area plagued by sexual assault and drug-related crime More than 160,000 migrants have arrived in the city since the spring of 2022 and the crisis is only deepening as they continue to be bussed from Texas where record numbers are pouring over the border. Adams confessed to Fox 5's Rosanna Scotto that, 'We're getting close to anywhere from 2,500 to peaking at 4,000 a week.' The NYPD touted decreases across several major crime indexes in January. Murder fell by 25 percent; rape by 24.4 percent; burglary by 19.8 percent; grand larceny auto by 3.8 percent; and felony assault by 1.5 percent. In addition, arrests for all major crimes citywide increased 5.7 percent year over year. But statistics for other types of theft-related crime saw an increase - robbery rose 5.4 percent while grand larceny saw a 0.4 percent uptick last month. The department attributed the increase to 'organized pickpocket teams' and so-called 'lush workers' targeting drunk or sleeping victims in the subway. Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer himself, drew criticism for remarks comparing the Big Apple to L.A.'s Skid Row, one of the most condensed populations of homeless people in the country - and an area plagued by sexual assault and drug offenses. During a discussion about year-end crime statistics at NYPD headquarters last month, Adams brandished photos of the embattled area, saying: 'You don't see this in New York.' Chilling footage shows a group of masked neo-Nazis marching through historic black neighborhoods in Nashville on Saturday before raising their swastika flags at the State capitol. Dozens of uniformed extremists descended on Tennessee throwing Hitler salutes as they marched in step down Nashville's 'Honky Tonk Highway'. The group was unchallenged as they occupied a podium at the state capitol building for a show of strength, but were met with fury as they took their protest to the streets. 'Show me your f***ing faces!' one bystander screamed as they stomped past, 'What are you ashamed of?' 'You don't belong here,' one replied, 'Go to your third-world country.' The neo-Nazis went unchallenged as they hoisted their swastika flags above a podium at Tennessee's state capitol The group, thought to be 'Blood and Tribe' members threw Hitler salutes as they marched through Broadway in Nashville's historic black district Ordinary people were caught up in the drama as the extremists marched through downtown Nashville on Saturday afternoon The marchers are thought to be members of the white supremacist 'Blood Tribe' organization that has mounted previous protests at the Wisconsin state capitol and outside Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The group is an extreme white supremacist groups that espouse anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic views and parades in military-style clothing, often while heavily armed. Based in Maine, it was founded by former US Marine turned tattoo artist Christopher Polhaus, who has been linked to the January 6 riots at the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, in 2021. It does not allow female or LGBT members and regard itself as a hardcore group that sees itself as 'the only path to a white ethnostate', and rejects white supremacists who call for softer 'optics', according to the Anti-Defamation League. Last year it picketed drag shows in Wisconsin and Ohio, as well as arriving heavily armed at two Pride events in Toledo and Watertown, performing Hitler salutes and chanting 'Us or the pedophiles'. The group clashed with right-wing journalist and former Congressional candidate Laura Loomer during its protest at Orlando in September. At one point, video showed one of the members tell Loomer she should be 'thrown in an oven' while also yelling slurs at her. 'Very vitriolic and irrational behavior,' the Jewish Trump loyalist tweeted. 'But, it is moments like this that remind us that this is what free speech was created for. Speech you disagree with is also free speech.' In November, around 20 members of the group halted outside a former synagogue in Wisconsin chanting 'Israel is not our friend' and 'there will be blood' as state police looked on. Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones was leaving an event honoring a Black sorority when he stumbled into the path of the marchers on Saturday afternoon. Christopher 'Hammer' Pohlhaus (pictured center right) founded the neo-Nazi 'Blood Tribe' Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones was among those expressing their outrage at the march our office is closely monitoring the Nazi rally downtown these groups once relegated to the dark corners now feel empowered to spew their noxious ideology out in the open due to our states leadership REFUSING to condemn their speech and actions. pic.twitter.com/WZ1whZ2tPZ Rep. Aftyn Behn (@AftynBehn) February 17, 2024 He said it was the second time in a matter of months that far-right groups had targeted the state capitol and blamed Republican lawmakers for fostering a culture of impunity. 'They're normalizing this, so that these types of extreme manifestations of white supremacy feel comfortable coming out into the streets,' he added. 'I didn't want to run away and hide from it, because I think we have to let people know that this is our community, and that we're not going to be intimidated.' Democratic Rep Aftyn Behn agreed with the claim, tweeting: 'These groups once relegated to the dark corners now feel empowered to spew their noxious ideology out in the open due to our state's leadership refusing to condemn their speech and actions.' Nashville vice mayor Angie Henderson shared Behns post on X and added: 'That I even have to say this. NAZIS are NOT WELCOME in NASHVILLE. 'In America everyone is free to demonstrate & to say what they want, so: SHAME ON YOU ALL! 'Get your hateful, dangerous, fascist, nazi nonsense off our streets & off our beautiful Public Square.' Ruwan Karu who confronted those on the Nashville march said he was determined to let them know that they are the minority. 'Seeing Nazis rally in broad daylight on a lovely Saturday afternoon in downtown Nashville should make us all angry,' he told The Daily Beast. 'Families enjoying chicken and BBQ were subject to hate our grandparents fought against.' But Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth insisted he shared their concerns. 'Go away Nazi thugs,' he tweeted, 'This is Tennessee and you are NOT welcome here. 'Btw, why not show your faces so we can all see who you are? I would be willing to bet that none of you are from anywhere near here.' Jewish Metro Councilmember Jacob Kupin told News 2 he received calls asking if he was okay after also seeing the march. 'My response to them was kind of, sadly, Im almost used to it at this point',' he said. The group clashed with right-wing journalist and former Congressional candidate Laura Loomer during a protest in Orlando in September 'Over the summer, we experienced a number of instances where people dropped anti-Semitic literature on peoples doorsteps, and there was an incident where someone painted a swastika on buildings.' The group ar thought to have left town in a U-Haul hire truck, and Republican Rep Jody Barrett described the march as a 'made-for-clicks, fake clown show'. 'These idiots are either paid performers or low IQ low-lifes who need to go back home to their mothers basements. 'Either way they are worthy of all the ridicule and scorn we can muster.' The Anti-Defamation League estimates there are at least 50 loosely affiliated white supremacist groups flooding the country with record amounts of racist propaganda, including fliers, banners, graffiti and laser projections. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Democrat firebrand Ted Lieu has blamed Donald Trump for Alexei Navalny's death in a Russian gulag during an eyebrow-raising interview. The California Rep. floated the theory with MSNBC host Alex Witt the penultimate president's comments about NATO emboldened the Kremlin killing. The host offered little pushback as the congressman made his comments. Trump claimed he would encourage Russia to attack NATO members who didn't pay their share of the alliance's budget while speaking at a rally last weekend. Navalny, the strongest opposition leader facing Putin, was killed aged 47 at a penal colony known as the 'Polar Wolf' in Siberia on Friday. 'It's quite a coincidence,' Lieu said of the timing, adding that 'Russia certainly was listening' to Trump and he gave them the 'green light to do all sorts of crazy stuff.' Democrat firebrand Ted Lieu (pictured) has blamed Donald Trump for Alexei Navalny 's death in a Russian gulag during an eyebrow-raising interview The California Rep floated the theory with MSNBC host Alex Witt that the penultimate president's comments about NATO emboldened the Kremlin killing Navalny, the strongest opposition leader facing Putin , was killed aged 47 at a penal colony known as the 'Polar Wolf' in Siberia on Friday Lieu's comment came after Witt brought up Navalny's death and President Joe Biden's response saying that Putin was responsible. 'What are your thoughts about this and how, if we can, should the US hold Russia responsible?' she asked. 'I think we have to ask ourselves, why did Navalny all of a sudden die at this point in time?' Lieu said. 'I first of all, agree with President Biden that Russia is responsible for his death. Also, what happened in a few days leading up to his death? 'Well, we had former President Donald Trump essentially say that Russia should attack European countries.' Trump bragged to a MAGA rally in Conway, South Carolina, that if NATO allies had failed to pay their bills, the US would not defend them from Russia. 'In fact I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want,' Trump said. 'You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.' Lieu condemned this as 'crazy, traitorous language'. 'Russia certainly was listening, and I think they thought, hey, we now have a green light to do all sorts of crazy stuff,' Lieu said. Witt asked him whether he was suggesting that there could be 'a direct link' between Trump's comments and Navalny's death. 'Do you think it emboldened, potentially, Putin?' she asked. 'I think it's quite a coincidence,' Lieu replied. 'And certainly Russia is listening to what the former president is saying. He's saying crazy stuff.' In stark opposition to other Western world figures, Trump also failed to condemn Navalny's untimely death despite speaking at several more events this weekend. Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley slammed his response as 'bone-chilling' and said it showed him 'siding' with Putin. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia Navalnaya in September 2020 Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles on Friday as he visits a forge in Chelyabinsk, Russia Navalny died while serving a 19-year sentence on charges which have been widely recognized as politically motivated. Along with his Anti-Corruption Foundation, he has been the main opposition figure against Putin for the past decade. Russia's prison service claimed the courageous leader died from 'sudden death syndrome' after collapsing. Signs of bruising were reportedly found on his body. 'Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny's death,' President Joe Biden said in a statement from the White House. 'Even in prison he was a powerful voice for the truth,' Biden continued, with US Vice President Kamala Harris adding the death was 'a sign of Putin's brutality.' Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya shared a touching photo of them together in happier times in a heartbreaking social media post. 'I love you,' she wrote. Alexei Navalny's wife posted a touching photo of the pair together in happier times before the reportedly murdered Putin critic was found dead in his cell. 'I love you,' Yulia Navalnaya captioned the heartbreaking post on social media today. This comes as Navalny's body was reportedly found, which reportedly shows signs of bruising that were caused by being held down while he suffered a seizure, raising fears that he was killed on the orders of Vladimir Putin. The wounds are consistent with the Russian opposition leader - who died aged 47 on Friday amid claims he was 'murdered' by Vladimir Putin's regime - having suffered a 'seizure', according to independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe. The news outlet spoke to a paramedic in the Salekhard ambulance service, close to the IK-3 penal colony, also known as 'Polar Wolf', where Navalny was being held. Alexei Navalny's wife posted a touching photo (pictured above) of the pair together in happier times before the reportedly murdered Putin critic was found dead in his cell 'I love you,' Yulia Navalnaya captioned the heartbreaking post on social media today Yulia Navalny shared a heartbreaking tribute to her husband Alexei Navalny (pictured together in happier times) Alexei Navalny's (pictured) body shows signs of bruising, according to a new account A sign is left amongst flowers as a tribute to Russian politician Alexei Navalny, near to the Russian Embassy in London, Sunday, February 18 Paramedics found bruises on Navalny's body, which is now under police guard in a morgue at Salekhard district clinical hospital, according to the independent news outlet. 'Usually the bodies of people who die in prison are taken straight to the Bureau of Forensic Medicine on Glazkova Street, but in this case it was taken to the clinical hospital for some reason,' the anonymous paramedic told the outlet. 'As an experienced paramedic, I can say that the injuries described by those who saw them appeared to be from convulsions. 'If a person is convulsing and others try to hold him down but the convulsions are very strong, then bruising appears. They also said he had a bruise on his chest the kind that comes from indirect cardiac massage. 'So they did try to resuscitate him, and he probably died of cardiac arrest,' the paramedic said, adding: 'But nobody is saying anything about why he had a cardiac arrest.' An autopsy has not been carried out yet, according to the outlet. Yulia Navalnaya, wife of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, reacts to the reports of her husband's death as she speaks during the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany, Friday, February 16 Alexei leaves behind his wife Yulia (pictured) and their two children Vladimir Putin (pictured) has been accused of signing off on his murder A view of the entrance of the IK-3 prison colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia Navalny and his wife Yulia attend his last election campaign event during heavy rain in Moscow, Russia on 6 September 2013 Earlier, Navalny's mother was wrongly informed that the politician's body was at the main morgue in Salekhard. Now the family has been told that the cause of death has not been established and his body cannot yet be passed to relatives for burial. Details of Navalny's passing are few and far between, and those that have been made public have contradicted each other. It was most recently reported that Navalny died of 'sudden death syndrome', but no details were given to back this claim up. Just two minutes after the time Navalny was reported to have died - 2.17pm - Russia's prison service put out a statement revealing his passing. Four minutes after this, a Telegram channel controlled by the Kremlin claimed he had died of a blood clot, and just seven minutes later Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, was talking to the media about it. On top of this, Kremlin officials are alleged to have told the opposition leader's mother that he died from 'sudden death syndrome' as she visited the brutal IK-3 Polar Wolf penal colony where he was being held yesterday. Navalny's allies say they were denied the opportunity to see the body, which would remain with the authorities until an investigation was complete. A view of the town of Kharp, the home of the Polar Wold prison, seen through a frame with the words 'Happiness is not over the hill' in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia A policeman guards as a young man lay flowers paying the last respect to Alexei Navalny A couple lay flowers to pay the last respect to Alexei Navalny at the monument, a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands, where the first camp of the Gulag political prison system was established Details of Navalny's passing are few and far between, and those that have been made public have contradicted each other. Police officers detain a woman during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument Navalny's allies say they were denied the opportunity to see the body, which would remain with the authorities until an investigation was complete Russian police officers stand by the the flowers near the Wall of Grief monument laid in memory of Alexei Navalny Navalny's lawyer, who arrived in the town of Salekhard with Navalny's mother on Saturday, was allegedly told by the prison that the body was being held in the morgue. But a contact at the Salekhard morgue later denied the body was there - leaving yet more question marks around the shock death of one of Putin's most fierce critics. 'It's obvious that the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei's body, hiding it even from his mother,' his team said in a post on Telegram. Yesterday it was claimed that FSB officers visited the prison Navalny was being kept in just a few days before he died. Two intelligence officers allegedly disconnected some CCTV and recording devices at Polar Wolf, according to Russian human rights campaign group gulagu.net. Though the site isn't known for its reliability, it was the first group to break the news that Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group was recruiting mercenaries from Russian prisons. The world has condemned Navalny's suspicious death, and states across the globe have called for an independent investigation into how he died. Yesterday, US president Joe Biden said there was 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin was to blame for Navalny's death. He said that the US was looking into a 'number of options' to punish Russia. A woman lays flowers at a monument to victims of political repression to honor the memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Yesterday it was claimed that FSB officers visited the prison Navalny was being kept in just a few days before he died In 2021, Biden said he told Putin that the consequences of Navalny's death would be 'devastating for Russia.' The US ambassador to Moscow visited a makeshift shrine to Alexei Navalny on Sunday, as Russian authorities suppressed memorials and tributes to the late opposition leader. Rights groups say police have detained over 400 people at gatherings for the politician, a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin who died in an Arctic prison Friday. Ambassador Lynne Tracy was pictured on Sunday at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument to political repression that has become a major site of tributes for Navalny. 'Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia,' the US embassy in Moscow said on social media. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Alexei Navalny's family, colleagues and supporters. His strength is an inspiring example. We honour his memory,' it said. At a separate makeshift memorial known as the 'Wall of Grief', a bronze monument to Soviet-era repression, police had set up fences in a bid to ward off mourners. Several dozen police officers could be seen standing nearby, but some people were allowed to enter through the fence and lay flowers, an AFP reporter saw. In more than a dozen cities, police had detained 401 people by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, with his wife Yulia, right, daughter Daria, and son Zakhar pose for the media after voting during a city council election in Moscow, Russia, on September 8 2019 Navalny and his wife Yulia attend a rally against pension age increase in Moscow, Russia, 29 July 2018 More than 200 arrests were made in St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, the group said. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church - a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church - who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Mr Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organising a rally and placed in a police holding cell, but was later taken to hospital after suffering a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Courts in St Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. The UK, meanwhile, has threatened to impose another set of sanctions against Russia in the wake of Navalny's death. Yesterday, US president Joe Biden said there was 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin was to blame for Navalny's death Flowers and portraits of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are placed at the monument to the victims of political repressions following his death Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, joined other G7 ministers at the Munich Security Conference in calling on Russia to 'fully clarify' how the jailed opposition leader died, amid mounting pressure on Western leaders to respond. The Foreign Secretary used the German gathering to repeat the UK's call for countries to seize Russian central bank assets currently held in the West as one way of financing the reconstruction of Ukraine. It comes as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches, marked by confirmation that Putin's forces have taken complete control of the frontline city of Avdiivka. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined Western leaders in putting the blame on Moscow for the death of Mr Navalny, as he pointed to the demise of the Putin critic as another reminder of the importance of defeating Russia. 'There should be consequences,' the Foreign Secretary told broadcasters on Saturday. 'When appalling human rights outrages like this take place, what we do is we look at whether there are individual people that are responsible and whether there are individual measures and actions we can take. 'We don't announce them in advance, so I can't say anymore than that. But that is what we will be looking at.' The cousin of a student who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 has slammed Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for refusing to commit to a deal that would bring back the remaining 130 hostages, claiming he is handing Hamas a 'massive victory' if he 'sacrifices' them for a military victory. Gil Dickmann, 31, has been working with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum to lobby Israeli politicians into bringing his cousin Carmel Gat, and the other hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, home. Carmel, a 39-year-old occupational therapist-in-training, was last reported to have been doing yoga with other hostages underneath Gaza in an effort to keep morale up. She was visiting her parents in Kibbutz Be'eri when Hamas attacked, and was taken with her brother, Alon, sister-in-law Yarden Roman-Gat and niece, Geffen. While Alon and Geffen were taken, they managed to escape their captors on October 7. Yarden, meanwhile, was freed on November 29 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal. Carmel has been stuck underneath Gaza since October 7, and her family have not been given any information about her wellbeing. Gil Dickmann (pictured), a student who dropped his Master's degree in psychology to focus on his work with the hostages' forum, told MailOnline he is furious with the Israeli government's refusal to prioritise the return of hostages Carmel Gat, a 39-year-old occupational therapist-in-training, (pictured) was visiting her parents in Kibbutz Be'eri when Hamas attacked, and was taken as a hostage Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) has consistently refused to sign off on a ceasefire deal Netanyahu at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on February 18 The Israeli Prime Minister addressing the attendees of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Gil, a student who dropped his Master's degree in psychology to focus on his work with the hostages' forum, told MailOnline he is furious with the Israeli government's refusal to prioritise the return of hostages, and said that Israel was handing a victory to Yahya Sinwar and the rest of Hamas by focusing solely on the military operation in Gaza, which has so far killed 28,985 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Netanyahu has consistently refused to sign off on a ceasefire deal, and told reporters on Saturday night that his government would only approve a deal with Hamas, who are believed to be keeping the hostages somewhere underground in the Gaza Strip, if the terror group dropped it's 'delusional demands.' 'Until this moment, until this very moment, Hamas's demands are delusional. They mean only one thing: defeat for Israel', Netanyahu said. 'Of course, we will not agree to them. But when Hamas drops these delusional demands we can move forward,' he added. Behind the scenes, mediator Qatar has admitted that talks to agree to a ceasefire were 'not very promising.' Carmel has been stuck underneath Gaza since October 7, and her family have not been given any information about her wellbeing. Gil, a student who dropped his Master's degree in psychology to focus on his work with the hostages' forum, told MailOnline he is furious with the Israeli government's refusal to prioritise the return of hostages Protesters hold signs during a demonstration calling for a hostages deal and against the Israeli government on February 17, 2024 Police officers clash with a protester during a demonstration calling for a hostages deal and against the Israeli government Police officers clash with a protester during a demonstration calling for a hostages deal and against the Israeli government Palestinian children wheel a piece of furniture past entrance of the damaged Al-Nour rehabilitation centre for the visually impaired in Gaza City on February 15, 2024 Gil said: 'I can't believe that Israel is not able to win and to make sure Hamas doesn't exist anymore, and that the only way to make it go away is at the expense of the hostages. This is unbelievable to me.' He admitted he is worried that Israel's current focus of destroying Hamas at the expense of the lives of hostages has permanently altered Israeli society for the worse. 'Some people really want revenge for what happened on October 7th and to make sure that this doesn't happen again right now and want to destroy Hamas. 'Things sometimes can get in the way of each other, and sometimes politicians don't want to take tough decisions and don't want to pay the political price for them. 'The thing that we fear the most is that Israel has changed from a society that puts life above anything else. '[In Hebrew], we say Am Yisrael Chai, meaning "the people of Israel are alive". 'To choose life is very important in both Israeli society and in Judaism. Now, knowing that Israel might choose to knowingly sacrifice lives of people, deciding to let them stay in captivity and die there... it's something I don't want to see happening, but I understand that it's possible. 'In a way, they already decided to sacrifice the lives of some of the hostages. I think that... would change the very core of Israeli society from a society that believes in life to a society that sacrifices lives just like Hamas. A woman reacts as she looks at photographs and memorabilia showing the hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv Families of hostages are becoming more and more vocal about their anger towards the government Relatives of Israeli prisoners and groups supporting them carrying the Israeli flags, banners and photos of hostages march from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's house A picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment on February 18, 2024 A young Palestinian pulls a wheel cart past the heavily damaged building of Al-Azhar University in Gaza City on February 15, 2024 'It would be a massive victory for Yahya Sinwar if he turns Israel into a society that sacrifices the lives of civilians.' He said he was worried distrust in the government would increase if it did not prioritise the return of the hostages as soon as possible. 'Most Israelis will agree with me and understand that the most important thing is to save the lives of [hostages] right now, because if Israel doesn't it's not the kind of society that we want to become. 'Most people understand that a government that sacrifices hostages might sacrifice them at the end of the day. That's why I think people support us, and they know that it could have been them, and they know that it will be them if we don't do the right thing.' Gil told MailOnline that Netanyahu and his war cabinet did not make bringing back the hostages taken on Black Saturday a priority from the get-go, which has had a devastating effect in the four months since. In the immediate aftermath of the October 7, Netanyahu outlined five goals for Israel's retaliation against Hamas. The leader wanted to retake Israeli border communities that had been overrun by Hamas on October 7, begin an offensive against Hamas in Gaza, beef up security on Israel's hostile borders, preserve international support for Israel, and bolster solidarity within Israel. People attend a rally calling for the release of hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack on Israel A soldier walks by a teddy bear on a bench, symbolising hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas A banner displaying photos of hostages kidnapped on the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas Palestinians inspect the collapsed building following an Israeli strike hit the house belonging to the Abu Nahal family in Rafah Palestinians flock to bazaars to meet their needs during rainy day as they try to continue their daily life amid Israeli attacks in Rafah Gil Dickmann, the cousin of Carmel Gat who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 slammed Netanyahu for refusing to commit to a deal that would bring back the remaining 130 hostages Gil says that Netanyahu would be handing Hamas a 'massive victory' if he 'sacrifices' them for a military victory Netanyahu said at the time: 'Our polarisation is over. When we are united, we win.' 'None of these goals was returning the hostages home', Gil pointed out. He said it took concerted effort to bring the hostages' return into the conversation. 'In a way, I understand it. Some people didn't want us to talk about it, and didn't want people to know that there were hostages and that their lives were at risk. 'I think it changed really quickly when we started the campaign and we started talking about bringing them home all over the world and then Israel couldn't just put it aside and not talk about the hostages.' Asked what he would personally give to get his cousin back, he said he was willing to pay 'a very high price', adding: 'That's why my whole life is paused, I haven't worked for four months, and I don't do anything else.' But he said he was frustrated that Israeli leaders didn't feel the same from the get-go. 'On a national level, it's a matter of priorities.[The hostages] could have been a higher priority and could have come before anything else if they'd chosen the right thing in the first few weeks.' A man holds a placard bearing the portrait of Israeli hostage Carmel Gat, as relatives and supporters of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7 attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants march during a demonstration calling for their release Kites fly, as smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Younis, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas Israeli helicopter flies over Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on February 15, 2024 Gil admitted that the powerlessness he and the other family members of hostages felt was one of the main driving forces behind their work to bring them home. 'Many people just feel like they have no power at all in this horrible situation. The worst thing was feeling that you have no power over your life and the lives of your loved ones. We just lost everything and [there was] nothing you [could] do about it. Bringing back the ways to control your life, to do things that can actually have an effect, that's very important.' But he feels like he still hasn't done enough to bring Carmel home. 'In a way, I feel I could have done more because she's not yet here.' Last night, police in Tel Aviv clashed with protesters during a demonstration calling for a hostages deal and against the Israeli government. The British and American ambassadors to Moscow have laid flowers for Russian opposition leader and renowned Putin critic Alexei Navalny, who was found dead in prison earlier this week. Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and died on Friday after a walk at the remote Arctic penal colony where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said. His sudden death was a crushing blow to many Russians, who had pinned their hopes for the future on President Putin's fiercest foe. Mourners have left hundreds of flowers at the Solovetsky Stone monument in Moscow, photographs have revealed, with US ambassador Lynne Tracy and Britain's Nigel Casey among those seen paying their respects. More than 400 people have been detained in Russia while paying tribute to Navalny, who had remained vocal in his unrelenting criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. There are still few details of why he died, but prison authorities have said he suffered 'sudden death syndrome'. However, Navalny's allies and many world leaders have blamed his death on Putin and his government. Hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities have streamed to ad-hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repressions with flowers and candles to pay tribute to Alexei Navalny. A mourner is pictured laying flowers on Saturday at the Solovetsky Stone in Moscow A man lays flowers to pay the last respect to Alexei Navalny at the monument, a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands, where the first camp of the Gulag political prison system was established, near the historical the Federal Security Service building in Moscow on Sunday Flowers and a picture are left as a tribute to Russian politician Alexi Navalny near the Russian Embassy in London on Sunday A woman lays flowers mourning Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death near the memorial to political prisoners in Moscow, Russia on Saturday Hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities have streamed to ad-hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repressions with flowers and candles to pay tribute to Navalny. The US Embassy in Moscow shared a photo on X of Ambassador Tracy visiting the memorial and issued a statement reading: 'Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Alexei Navalny's family, colleagues and supporters. His strength is an inspiring example. We honor his memory.' Britain's embassy shared a photo of Casey visiting the memorial on Saturday and called for a 'full and transparent investigation into Navalny's death.' The Foreign Office issued a statement saying: 'Alexei Navalny dedicated his life to exposing the corruption of the Russian system. 'The UK has summoned the Russian Embassy to make clear we hold the authorities responsible for his death. There must be a credible and transparent investigation.' In more than a dozen cities, police had detained 401 people by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. More than 200 arrests were made in St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, the group said. The US Embassy in Moscow issued a statement reading: 'Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Alexei Navalny's family, colleagues and supporters. His strength is an inspiring example. We honor his memory' US ambassador Lynne Tracy lays flowers on Sunday to pay the last respect to Alexei Navalny at the monument, a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands, where the first camp of the Gulag political prison system was established Britain's embassy shared a photo of Ambassador Nigel Casey visiting the memorial on Saturday and called for a 'full and transparent investigation into Navalny's death' The Foreign Office said it summoned a representative of the Russian Embassy to 'make it clear that we hold the authorities responsible for his death' Prison authorities have said Navalny suffered 'sudden death syndrome'. However, his allies and many world leaders have blamed his death on Putin and his government. Pictured: Alexei Navalny is seen during the trial of his detention in March 2017 A photo of Alexei Navalny lies among flowers near the Wall of Grief monument in Moscow, Russia on Saturday More than 400 people have been detained in Russia while paying tribute to Navalny. Officers are pictured detaining a man near the Wall of Grief monument on Saturday Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church - a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church - who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organizing a rally and placed in a police holding cell, but was later taken to hospital after suffering a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Courts in St Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. The news of Navalny's death reverberated across the globe, with many accusing Putin of having him murdered. In an exchange with reporters shortly after a church service on Saturday, US President Joe Biden reiterated his stance that Putin is ultimately to blame for Navalny's death. Biden said: 'The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible. Whether he ordered it, he's responsible for the circumstance. It's a reflection of who he is. It cannot be tolerated.' Police officers detain a woman with a placard reading "Murderers" during a gathering in memory of Alexei Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument on Saturday A woman holds a placard reading "Putin is the killer of Navalny" during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument on Saturday Police officers detain a man during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument on Saturday A woman sits by the Wall of Grief monument to the victims of political repressions, where people gather to honor the memory of Alexei Navalny in Moscow on Saturday Police officers detain a woman during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument on Saturday Thousands of people across Russia on Saturday laid flowers at memorials of Stalin's political repressions in memory of Navalny. Pictured is a man laying flowers near the Wall of Grief monument in Moscow A woman prays after laying flowers to pay the last respect to Alexei Navalny at the Solovetsky Stone monument in Moscow on Sunday People lay flowers at the Wall of Grief monument in Moscow on Saturday Meanwhile, Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, published a picture of the couple on Instagram on Sunday in her first social media post since his death. The caption read simply: 'I love you.' Questions about the cause of death lingered on Sunday, and it remained unclear when the authorities would release his body to his family. Navalny's team said on Saturday that the politician was 'murdered' and accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body, with his mother and lawyers getting contradicting information from various institutions where they went in their quest to retrieve the body. 'They're driving us around in circles and covering their tracks,' Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on Saturday. Navalny's closest ally and strategist Leonid Volkov added: 'Everything there is covered with cameras in the colony. Every step he took was filmed from all angles all these years. Each employee has a video recorder. In two days, there has been not a single video leaked or published. There is no room for uncertainty here.' A note handed to Navalny's mother said he died at 2.17pm local time on Friday, according to Yarmysh. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at the colony on Saturday that her son had perished from 'sudden death syndrome', Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service reported Navalny felt sick after a walk on Friday and became unconscious at the colony, which is in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,200 miles north-east of Moscow. An ambulance arrived but he could not be revived, the service said, adding his cause of death is still 'being established'. A woman who just put flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny, cries near the Wall of Grief monument in Moscow, Russia on Saturday A mourner cries near the Solovetsky stone at Lubyanka square on Saturday as she pays her respects to Alexei Navalny A photo of Alexei Navalny lies among flowers near the Wall of Grief monument on Saturday A woman put flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny at the Solovetsky stone at Lubyanka square on Saturday A woman lays flowers to pay the last respect to Alexei Navalny at the monument, a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands, on Sunday Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He has received three prison terms since his arrest, on a number of charges he has rejected as politically motivated. After the last verdict that handed him a 19-year term, Navalny said he understood he was 'serving a life sentence, which is measured by the length of my life or the length of life of this regime'. Hours after Navalny's death was reported, his wife made a dramatic appearance at the Munich Security Conference. Navalnaya said she was unsure at the time if she could believe the news from official Russian sources, 'but if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband'. Jewish actress Tracy-Ann Oberman has claimed the 'Progressive Left' is 'fuelling anti-Semitism' in Britain, revealing that she now needs round-the-clock security after receiving a series of threats. The Friday Night Dinner star said the political faction had a 'huge problem with understanding and seeing what anti-Semitism' is, blaming them for a series of 'anti-Jewish' attacks she had seen. Ms Oberman's comments follow a disastrous week for the Labour Party after it was forced to suspend two parliamentary candidates after claims emerged that they had made anti-Semitic remarks about Israel. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenessberg this morning the actress, 57, said: 'I think the Progressive Left has a huge problem with understanding and seeing what anti-Semitism, what anti-Jewish hatred is.' The EastEnders actress is currently starring in The Merchant of Venice 1936 on the West End where she plays a female version of the Jewish moneylender Shylock. Jewish actress Tracy-Ann Oberman has claimed the 'Progressive Left' is 'fuelling anti-Semitism' in Britain People taking part in a pro-Palestine march in central London yesterday making renewed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza She said those who had been attacking play, which focuses on real-life battles between Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts and anti-facist protesters, in recent weeks had been from those on the 'Progressive Left'. The playwright added: 'As the headlines have shown this week, the rise in attacks on Jewish students, on Jewish pupils at schools, the fact that a police man had to tell a man to hide his Star of David because it was seen as incitement; 'The fact that I - a Jewish actress - have to have pretty much 24/7 security for putting on the Merchant of Venice in the West End is frightening. 'And many of the attacks we have been getting are from the Progressive Left. You know where you are with the right and far right, it's on the left and people that see themselves as freedom fighters which is so deeply upsetting.' Earlier this week it was revealed the number of anti-Semitic incidents jumped 147 per cent last year to record levels, with a massive surge in the wake of the Hamas atrocities on October 7. The Community Security Trust, a charity, recorded 4,103 instances of anti-Semitism in Britain, up from 1,662 in 2022. It included 266 violent assaults on Jews, up 96 per cent year-on-year and the highest figure since the CST started gathering data 40 years ago. For the first time, it recorded at least one anti-Semitic incident for every police force in the UK, with the majority more than 2,400 in London, including some at vigils for Hamas's Israeli hostages. The Community Security Trust, a charity, recorded 4,103 instances of anti-Semitism, up from 1,662 in 2022. It included 266 violent assaults on Jews, up 96 per cent year-on-year and the highest figure since the CST started gathering data 40 years ago (File Photo) People attend a Campaign Against Antisemitism rally outside New Scotland Yard in central London, seeking police action amid a rise in anti-Semitic incidents Home Secretary James Cleverly condemned the figures as 'utterly deplorable'. Ten of the violent incidents involved fake firearms and three involved knives. Victims were struck with metal bars or other objects in 13 cases, 53 were punched or kicked and 36 were spat upon. A further 58 saw stones, bricks, eggs, bottles or other objects thrown at victims. Offenders removed Jews' religious clothes or accessories in 15 cases, and vehicles were driven at pedestrians in a further ten. Exactly half of the violent incidents occurred in just five boroughs Barnet in north London saw 56; Hackney in east London saw 41; Bury and Salford in Greater Manchester saw 17 and 13 respectively; and Gateshead saw six. Forty cases of assault were perpetrated by children against other children. The report said that, in all, 325 incidents involved schools or schoolchildren, up from 98 year-on-year, and a further 182 were at universities, up from 60. 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 Mr Ali pictured for the first time since the fallout over his claims about Israel The shocking figures come as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was forced to suspend two parliamentary candidates following a row over the Gaza conflict. The Mail revealed last week that Azhar Ali, picked to stand for the party in the Rochdale by-election on February 29, had told a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party that Israel 'allowed' the Hamas attacks of October 7 to happen. He claimed this was so the country would have a 'green light to do whatever they bloody want'. Labour initially tried to hold the line by publishing a statement from Mr Ali in which he apologised 'unreservedly' for his words but eventually made a panicked U-turn after further offensive remarks from the meeting were published by the Mail. Meanwhile, former MP Graham Jones was also suspended this week after he ranted about 'f****** Israel' during a local Labour meeting. He also claimed that Britons who fight for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) should be 'locked up'. Mr Jones, 57, who is standing for re-election to his hold Hyndburn seat at the general election, was administratively suspended from Labour pending an investigation. Two police officers and a paramedic who went to their aid were shot dead after responding to a domestic incident at a Minneapolis home on Sunday morning. Cops Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were killed. Another police officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was injured and being treated at a hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. The officers were called to a report of a family in danger at a house in 33rd Avenue South, Burnsville, shortly after 2.30am. A shelter-in-place alert was sent to phones in the area 15 miles south of the city center and a third police officer was shot and injured before the gunman killed himself. Burnsville police officer Matthew Ruge. The officers were called to a report of a family in danger at a house in 33rd Avenue South, Burnsville, shortly after 2.30am Burnsville police officer Paul Elmstrand Burnsville firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth Minnesota state governor Tim Walz has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff starting from sunrise tomorrow, and the killings have appalled police departments across the state. We are heartbroken. Our law enforcement community is heartbroken, tweeted The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. Were just devastated at the horrific loss. These heroes leave behind loved ones and a community who will forever remember their bravery and dedication keeping Minnesotans safe. Dozens of heavily armed police officers descended on the street and a SWAT vehicle was seen with multiple bullet holes on its windshield. A barricade situation developed amid fears that hostages were being held inside the home and the gunman is thought to have killed himself shortly before 6am. Dozens of heavily armed officers descended on the street in Burnsville after the shooting in the early hours of Sunday morning Officers had been called to a report of a family in danger at a house in 33rd Avenue South, around 15 miles south of Minneapolis city center Authorities in the state are expected told a press conference shortly 'While responding to a call of a family in danger, two police officers and one firefighter lost their lives, and other officers were injured,' the governor tweeted. 'We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville.' Rep. Jim Nash tweeted: My heart is heavy for the families of these officers, the community of Burnsville, and for our country because this headline is not unique. Learned from police this morning that three officers have been shot in Burnsville, Sen. Amy Klobuchar added. They were doing their jobs. They were protecting our community. A SWAT vehicle was seen with multiple bullet holes in its windscreen after being withdrawn Police departments from across the city and the state dispatched vehicles as a show of support to the Hennepin Healthcare Hospital in downtown Minneapolis where the injured officer is thought to have been taken. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara asked that people keep Burnsville Police in your prayers. A warehouse storing 900 tons of lithium batteries waiting to be recycled went up in flames this afternoon, amid growing fears over their dangers. The fire in France occurred at a storehouse in the town in Viviez in Aveyron, and residents were told to stay indoors by authorities. Locals were ordered to keep their doors and window closed as the thick smoke engulfed the town. No injuries or deaths were reported. While the cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed, it took 70 firefighters to get the flames under control. Lithium batteries, found in e-scooters, are the fastest growing fire risk in London, with the London Fire Brigade called to an e-bike or scooter fire once every two days on average last year. The fire in France has once again raised questions around the use and safety concerning the batteries. A warehouse storing 900 tons of lithium batteries waiting to be recycled went up in flames this afternoon, amid growing fears over their dangers The fire in France occurred at a storehouse in the town on Viviez in Aveyron, and residents were told to stay indoors by authorities Locals were ordered to keep their doors and window closed as the thick smoke engulfed the town. No injuries or deaths were reported Jean-Louis Denoit, the mayor of Viviez, called the fire 'shocking' and told French news outlet BFMTV: 'There is indeed reason to ask questions about the function of electric vehicles and lithium batteries.' The fire comes amid proposals in the UK to build one of Europe's largest battery storage sites in Buckinghamshire has been met with fierce criticism. More than 200 residents have lodged objections to Statera Energy's plans to construct the 500 megawatt facility on fields at Rookery Farm. The developers have planned to 'strip the topsoil' and build 888 full-sized shipping containers to accommodate the batteries, which will be surrounded by a 2.5m high steel mesh fence. The energy firm also wants to build 37 inverter houses, three storage containers, seven control rooms, four fire water storage tanks, a large customer substation and a welfare unit. It's expected that it will take 18 months to build the battery plant, with residents also voicing concerns over the possibility of 30 HGVs passing through each day. Buckingham Tory MP Greg Smith told MailOnline that he was 'sick and tired of agricultural land being taken from Buckinghamshire for development'. The fire comes amid proposals in the UK to build one of Europe's largest battery storage sites in Buckinghamshire has been met with fierce criticism Campaigners said they visited this Yorkshire site to see what it would be like More than 200 residents have lodged objections to Statera Energy's plans to construct the 500 megawatt facility on fields at Rookery Farm. Pictured are residents with MP Greg Smith These huge battery storage plants could become a regular sight in Britain, with hundreds of applications lodged with councils around the country, the BBC reports. READ MORE - Fury as villagers slam plans for 900 shipping container development next to their homes in Buckinghamshire countryside Advertisement But furious campaigners say that the controversial plant would damage the environment and 'undoubtedly affect the mental health of the community'. It also comes after the construction of HS2 and their battle against a separate 2,100-acre solar farm in Buckinghamshire. The Rosefield Solar Farm is estimated to power 57,000 homes and save 125,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide but campaigners say it will destroy more farmland and spoil the countryside views. It follows confirmation that a blaze at the Royal Courts of Justice was caused by an e-bike battery failure earlier this month. The fire destroyed part of a ground floor storage room and caused chaos outside as it disrupted traffic in the Strand, London. The LFB said at the time: 'Whilst E-Bikes and E-Scooters offer a great way round the city, if the batteries become damaged or begin to fail they can start incredibly ferocious fires. 'Lithium battery fires can spread quickly out of control, and within minutes have started a large fire. It follows confirmation that a blaze at the Royal Courts of Justice was caused by an e-bike battery failure earlier this month. Member of the legal profession are seen outside the Old Bailey amid the incident Fire crews had to check out 'multiple buildings' on Warwick Lane Frefighters with specialist gear (pictured) from three fire engines rushed to battle the blaze The Genius Star XI was carrying a load of lithium-ion batteries across the Pacific Ocean, from Vietnam to San Diego when the cargo caught on fire last December 'When these batteries are charged in communal areas or escape routes, a fire breaking out can quickly block people's ability to escape.' Last December, a cargo ship carrying lithium ion batteries was burning as it reached Alaska. The 19-strong crew managed to make it to shore with no injuries reported, according to the US Coast Guard. The Genius Star XI was carrying a load of lithium-ion batteries across the Pacific Ocean, from Vietnam to San Diego when the cargo caught on fire, the guard's Alaska district said in a release. The fire started on Christmas Day in cargo hold No. 1, a spokesperson for ship owner Wisdom Marine Group said at the time. The crew worked quickly to release carbon dioxide into the hold and sealed it over to avoid a potential explosion. The main hospital serving southern Gaza 'is not functional anymore' after Israeli forces raided the facility, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. Israeli forces stormed Nasser hospital in Khan Younis last week in what the army described as a 'precise and limited' operation seeking the remains of hostages taken by Hamas, which the military has accused of 'cynically using hospitals for terror'. Israel Defense Forces raided the medical centre on Thursday after 'credible intelligence' found Hamas had held hostages at the hospital and that the remains of hostages might still be inside. IDF but did not release the evidence it was citing. Now, just days after the raid, WHO has revealed that its team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday to assess patients and critical medical needs. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a post on X, said that about 200 patients remain at Nasser, including 20 who need urgent referrals elsewhere. Israeli forces stormed Nasser hospital in Khan Younis last week. The hospital, pictured above, is 'not functional anymore' after the military raided the facility, the World Health Organization has warned Injured Palestinians are brought to Kuwait Hospital for treatment following Israeli attacks on Rafah City in the south of Gaza on February 15, 2024 Palestinian patients rest as they arrive in Rafah on February 15, 2024 after they were evacuated from Nasser hospital in Khan Younis due to the Israeli ground operation 'Nasser hospital in Gaza is not functional anymore, after a week-long siege followed by the ongoing raid,' Ghebreyesus tweeted on Sunday. 'Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners.' He added: 'Medical referral is every patient's right. The cost of delays will be paid by patients' lives. Access to the patients and hospital should be facilitated.' It is understood that there are only four medical staff are still inside Nasser to care for the remaining patients, BBC News reported. A source inside the hospital told the news outlet that 11 patients had died 'due to interruptions in the supply of electricity and oxygen'. The insider also claimed that 'several' doctors has been arrested. Israel says it arrested over 100 suspected terrorists at the hospital, including 20 who it says participated in the Oct. 7 attack, without providing evidence. IDF said it was looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. Ruth Munder, freed by Hamas last year, told Army Radio she was kept on the second floor of Nasser Hospital with other hostages. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel were among those arrested, along with patients in hospital beds. Ashraf al-Qidra, a ministry spokesperson, said soldiers stripped and beat detainees. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the allegations. Israeli troops were instructed to keep the hospital running and on Saturday a military spokesperson said that both food and water had been delivered to the facility. It is unclear what the status was as of Sunday. A source inside Nasser Hospital, pictured, has claimed that 11 patients had died 'due to interruptions in the supply of electricity and oxygen' It is also understood that there are only four medical staff are still inside Nasser, pictured, to care for the remaining patients People inspect the damage in a room following Israeli bombardment at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on December 17, 2023 Video of the aftermath of Thursday's strike, taken by a doctor who works at the hospital, showed medics scrambling to wheel patients on stretchers through a corridor filled with smoke or dust WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in an X post on Sunday, said that about 200 patients remain at Nasser, including 20 who need urgent referrals elsewhere Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft United Nations (UN) cease-fire resolution. The US, Israel's top ally, instead hopes to broker a cease-fire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Hamas' demands 'delusional' and rejected US and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. His Cabinet adopted a declaration Sunday saying Israel 'categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians' and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it said would 'grant a major prize to terror' after the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until 'total victory' over the Hamas terrorist group and to expand it to Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah, where more than half the enclave's population of 2.3 million Palestinians has sought refuge. Netanyahu has pushed back against international concern about a Rafah offensive, saying residents will be evacuated to safer areas. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. An airstrike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive in southern Gaza in recent weeks. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. 'All those who were martyred were those whom the Jews asked to move to safe places,' said a bystander after the Rafah strike, Ahmad Abu Rezeq. In Gaza City, which suffered widespread destruction in the initial weeks of the war, an airstrike flattened a home, killing seven people, including three women, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative. Israel's military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the terrorists operate in dense residential areas. In the occupied West Bank, a shootout erupted when Israeli forces went to arrest an armed suspect in the town of Tulkarem. The military said the suspect was killed, and a member of Israel's paramilitary Border Police was severely wounded. It described the target of the raid as a senior Hamas member. The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed. Palestinian patients rest as they arrive in Rafah after they were evacuated from Nasser hospital in Khan Younis on February 15, 2024 due to the Israeli ground operation Hawkers are seen selling what little food and basic life necessities they have left on the streets as Palestinians struggle with the rising cost of living due to Israeli attacks in Gaza City on February 14, 2024 Palestinian children rest outside after arriving in Rafah following their evacuation from Nasser hospital in Khan Younis on February 15, 2024 Palestinians wounded in an Israeli strike lie in corridor at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on January 12, 2024 Injured Palestinians are brought to Kuwait Hospital for treatment following Israeli attacks on Rafah City in the south of Gaza on February 15, 2024 Algeria, the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, and rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the draft 'will not be adopted' and runs counter to Washington's efforts to end the fighting. 'It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it - and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities - in jeopardy,' she said. The US has vetoed previous resolutions that had wide international support. President Joe Biden has bypassed Congress to rush arms to Israel while urging it to take greater measures to spare civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The US, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release, but there's a wide gap between Israel and Hamas' demands. Qatar said Saturday the talks 'have not been progressing as expected.' Hamas has said it will not release all remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It also demands the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top Hamas members. Netanyahu has publicly rejected the demands and any scenario in which Hamas would rebuild its military and governing capabilities. He said he sent a delegation to cease-fire talks in Cairo last week at Biden's request but doesn't see the point in sending them again. In an interview with Israel's Kan public broadcaster, Netanyahu's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said military pressure and sticking to a strict line in negotiations could lead Hamas to drop its 'absurd demands.' Netanyahu also opposes Palestinian statehood, which the US calls a key element in broader vision for normalization of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike during Israeli military operation in Khan Younis on Sunday, February 18, 2024 Palestinian children next to their tent inside the Rafah camp on February 18, 2024 People search for victims in the rubble of the Baraka family home in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip after it was hit in an Israeli air strike on February 18, 2024 Temporary shelters for Internally displaced Palestinians in the Rafah camp are pictured on February 18, 2024 Palestinians search for bodies and survivors among the rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli air strike on Deir Al Balah town on February 18, 2024 The Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages. Hamas still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of them believed to be dead. Most of the others were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. On Sunday it said 127 bodies were brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours. Around 80 per cent of Gaza's population have been driven from their homes, and a quarter face starvation. MBABANE Talk about cracking the whip! Seven government ministries have been called upon to account for all cars that were bought through project funds. This is reflected in a memorandum issued by the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Finance, Sizakele Dlamini. The memorandum is a directive to the seven ministries to provide information on inventory for all cars purchased through project funds. The ministries are those of Public Works and Transport, Natural Resources and Energy, Health, Education and Training, Economic Planning and Development, Agriculture as well as Information Communication and Technology (ICT). project funding The memorandum reads: You are kindly requested to submit to the ministry information regarding cars bought through project funding. The information sought is about the number of cars bought through each project funding, their registration as well as submission of the relevant papers for the different cars. The information, according to the memorandum, was expected to be submitted by the end of Friday February 9, 2024. This publication engaged the PS regarding the memo, in particular to ascertain what had motivated it and what government aimed to achieve. Also, this publication asked to know why it was only seven ministries that were asked to send the information. Firstly, the PS clarified that the information was sought from ministries that had externally-funded projects. Secondly, she stated that the Ministry of Finance aimed at confirming that all project cars were registered in the government fleet register. We were surprised that the Ministry of Education and Training had project vehicles registered under the name of the under secretary, the PS said. A government employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said what the Ministry of Finance has ordered was something that should have been done a long time ago. how these cars are utilised The information provided must also include how these cars are utilised. We have seen some of them being used on weekends for personal errands. They need to be properly monitored, the employee said. Donor funds come in handy for the Government of Eswatini to execute service delivery. In both the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 financial years, donor funds accounted for three per cent of Eswatinis budget (at around US$143m). This is the equivalent of E2.57 billion at the current foreign exchange rate. This includes funding for projects that provide a range of agricultural inputs, health programmes and infrastructure, and sanitation and water supply, among others. Donors offer technical assistance in range of areas. The country receives technical assistance in particular areas from donors that include the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), FinMark Trust and the World Bank. The European Union (EU) also assists in funding various projects and sectors including agriculture. Other donors are active in projects in specific areas such as health and children. bought with a loan Meanwhile, despite that the PS did not pick on any particular ministry, our publication reported last month how five vehicles bought with a loan from World Bank have been registered in Nanikie Mnisis name. Mnisi is the under secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training. Government obtained a loan of E486 million from the World Bank Group to strengthen the countrys education service delivery and management systems. A sum of E486 million is the equivalent of US$27 million. The project is also co-financed by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through a grant of E85.5 million, the equivalent of US$4.75 million. The vehicles are three Toyota Station Wagon (Fortuner 2.4 GD) retailing at E733 100 each, and two Toyota LDV (Toyota Hilux Raider) priced at E602 100 each. In total, the five vehicles cost, at minimum, a sum of E3.4 million. The registration of the government assets in a persons name is sharply contrary to the Public Finance Management Act of 2017 and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini).Section 277 (1) of the Constitution states that: subject to the provisions of Chapter XII, all properties and all assets which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution were vested in any authority or person for the purposes of, or in the right of the government or in the government shall, on the commencement of this Constitution, vest in the government. vest in government Upon commencement of the Constitution, legal experts advise that all public assets shall vest in government. It was also gathered that there was no provision in the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 2017, for personal registration of government assets. The expectation is that all government vehicles should be entered in the car register at Central Transport Administration (CTA). Section 80 of the PFMA provides that asset management lies primarily on the PS in the Ministry of Finance and secondarily falls under the jurisdiction of chief executive officers of public entities. For an asset to be registered in the Asset Register, it should be in the name of the public entity, but not in the name of an officer or principal secretary. Section 80 (1) provides that: the chief executive officer of a public entity, local government or government business enterprise shall be responsible for the management of assets of the public entity and shall manage the assets to ensure government achieves value for money when acquiring, using and disposing of government assets. Section 72 of the Act states that the PS responsible for finance has the power to keep records of accounts of loans taken by government. public assets It has been learnt that all public assets registered as SD, including those driven by the ministers are registered under government. The World Bank-financed project is expected to improve the quality of education in the early years and for junior secondary pupils, in targeted areas. When seeking the loan, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini stated that it recognised the importance of the education sector and the role it was playing in building the countrys human capital and transforming its economic and social landscape. Despite prioritising education both in terms of financing and policies (Eswatini introduced free primary education (FPE) in 2010), school completion rates and learning outcomes have been low compared to other lower-middle income countries. Prolonged school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to have exacerbated student dropout rates and low learning levels, particularly for children from poor and vulnerable households. It is said that the project supports government in addressing learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among the poor and most vulnerable. life-cycle approach It takes a life-cycle approach to human capital development, ensuring that all children start with a solid foundation for learning by strengthening the quality of early childhood care, development and education, as well as supporting teachers to deliver effective foundational literacy and numeracy programmes in primary schools. The World Bank commended government for prioritising human capital investments. Government was also applauded for its dedication to improving accessibility, effectiveness and inclusiveness of education services, particularly for orphaned and vulnerable children. The project supports Eswatinis human capital development agenda by strongly aligning with the countrys National Strategic Development Plan (2018/19-2022/23) and the new Education Strategic Sector Plan (2022-2034). Artificial intelligence is being used by the Army to speed up recruitment amid fears of the depleted number of military personnel. Government contractor Capita uses AI to analyse and summarise medical documents to ensure a candidate is suitable to enlist. The documents are uploaded by a GP into the system and the technology then converts the information so that emails, documents, voice messages and handwritten notes are in one format for recruiters to analyse. It comes as the Army is suffering from a staffing crisis over strict rules about tattoos, hay fever and asthma. Capita previously said the rules should be loosened up, especially because would-be recruits are being 'attracted elsewhere' as the time taken to be accepted was so long that they were finding other jobs in the meantime. Last week, a leaked document also revealed that the Army wants to relax security checks it runs on overseas recruits in an effort to solve the growing staffing crisis. Artificial intelligence is being used by the Army to speed up recruitment amid fears of depleted number of military personnel. Pictured: Junior soldiers take part in their graduation parade at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate Last week, a furious Grant Shapps ordered a review into the British Army's woke nonsense' inclusion policy following reports it wants to relax security checks for overseas recruits Former military personnel told the i newspaper that AI could be a 'valuable tool', but more is needed to be done and the tech shouldn't be used as a 'shield' if things go wrong. The AI is designed to improve efficiency as in the past, 40,000 medical documents a year needed to be delivered by GPs and assessed by recruiting staff manually, the i reported, The standard health record analysed by recruiters is between 50-100 pages long and takes an hour per applicant, without the use of AI. But a Capita source told the i that the introduction of the new technology had reduced total application times by 25 per cent since 2016. Speaking to MPs, Captia previously blamed the staffing shortage and recruitment issues on the strict rules in the Army. People who have tattoos on their necks, face or hands, a history of asthma and hay fever, as well as those who had broken bones when they were children, are being denied entry, it said. Richard Holroyd, Leader of complex Operations, Turnaround and Transformational Change at the firm, added that restrictions on people with high body mass index (BMI) mean that the 'current England rugby team would struggle to join the army'. The firm revealed that some would-be soldiers with tattoos in restricted places had been taken through the recruitment process after being told they might have to have the markings removed, and that a Capita 'hardship fund' had been provided for those who might not be able to pay for the procedures. Capita previously said the rules should be loosened up, especially because would-be recruits are being 'attracted elsewhere' as the time taken to be accepted was too long MPs were told that Capita had succeeded in lowering the barrier for entry for applicants who have a history of asthma, and wishes to do the same for those with a record hay fever. Pictured: Cadets line up for inspection during The Commandmants Parade at Sandhurst He insisted the firm was 'completely committed to working to drive recruitment up' and it understood 'the importance of this to the nation and to the Armed Forces which we serve', the Times reported. MPs were told that Capita had succeeded in lowering the barrier for entry for applicants who have a history of asthma, and wishes to do the same for those with a record hay fever. Previous rules meant recruits had to have avoided any flare ups of asthma for four years before joining the Army, but this has now been reduced to two years, with plans to lower it further to one year. Maria Mallet, chief operating officer for Capita's Recruitment Partnership Project, said the firm would like to do the same for hay fever. Capita was given a 10-year contract to handle recruitment by the Ministry of Defence in 2012 at a cost of 495million. This was extended for a further two years at a cost of 140million in 2020, but the firm is forecast to miss its target this year. It had hoped to recruit 9,813 people between April 2023 and April 2024, but so far has only managed to bring around 5,000 on board. According to data from Labour, the Royal Navy recruited 730 sailors below expected last year, while the Royal Marines missed their target by 300 in the same period. It comes after the Mail revealed that officer candidates who failed part of the Army's rigorous selection procedure are still being accepted for training. Due to the unprecedented recruitment crisis, the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has lowered its entry standards and for the first time applicants who did not make the grade at the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) have been taken on. In December the Army confirmed that passing AOSB was no longer a stipulation for entry to Sandhurst. Pictured is the Military Academy Sandhurst Sovereign's Parade In December the Army confirmed that passing AOSB was no longer a stipulation for entry to Sandhurst. It said its 'assessment methodology' had been reviewed, to include a 'greater emphasis on a candidate's capacity to develop even, if they narrowly missed out on passing AOSB under the previous criteria'. 'This helps us maximise the potential of all aspiring officers and has no impact on the standard required to commission into the British Army from RMAS.' The Army has also scrapped a 12-week preparation course for candidates who only just made the grade at AOSB. They are to proceed directly to Sandhurst. But last week, a furious Grant Shapps ordered a review into the British Army's woke nonsense' inclusion policy following reports it wants to relax security checks for overseas recruits to boost diversity. The Defence Secretary said there will be no 'lowering of security clearance requirements on my watch' after a leaked internal policy document outlined a series of actions that aim to boost falling personnel numbers. Privately, senior officers conceded the current recruiting environment is 'challenging'. Under current plans, the Army will be reduced to just 73,000 full-time soldiers by 2025, with further cuts expected. There is also a 17billion shortfall in defence funding, according to the National Audit Office. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said last month that he was worried the make-up of the military did not reflect wider society and insisted more should be done to attract and retain women. Discussing his plans to tackle the crisis, Mr Shapps told the Telegraph: 'Something which I'm extremely passionate about is actually having a military which should represent our country as it is today. It can't be right that our military still only has 11 or 12 per cent women, for example, when you make up half the population.' Women make up just a fraction of Britain's military, comprising about 11.3 per cent of the whole force. Recent figures showed 13.8 per cent of all officers in the forces were female. However, there were just 24 women holding top positions. The RAF has the biggest representation, with 16 per cent of its personnel being female. In the Royal Navy the figure is 13 per cent. For the Army it's just 10.3 per cent. Mr Shapps has previously denied that the numbers of recruits are a cause for concern. In 2019, the Commons Defence select committee labelled the performance of the Army Forces and Capita in terms of recruitment as 'abysmal'. General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff, said that Britain needs a 'citizen army' but even that would be 'not enough' as he pointed to allies in eastern and northern Europe 'laying the foundations for national mobilisation'. In a speech last month, the general - who has been openly critical of staff shortages in the military - said boosting Army numbers in preparation for a potential conflict would need to be a 'whole-of-nation undertaking'. The comments are being seen as a warning that British men and women should be ready for a call-up to the armed forces if Nato goes to war with Russia. But Downing Street later hit back at the suggestion, insisting there were no plans for conscription. A Capita spokesperson told the i newspaper: 'Face-to-face contact and engagement with serving personnel will always be at the heart of Army recruitment, but there are parts of the process which have become quicker, simpler and more effective through the use of artificial intelligence technology. 'We are deploying these tools to streamline recruitment, get people into basic training faster, and help prevent candidates from dropping out.' The Ministry of Defence and Capita have been approached for comment. Charlamagne tha God has called Joe Biden 'an uninspiring candidate' for the 2024 presidential election with 'no main character energy at all' in his latest ripping of the Democratic frontrunner. The 'Breakfast Club' radio personality, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, backed Biden in 2020 but has said he won't be endorsing him in 2024. 'He's just an uninspiring candidate. There's nothing about Joe Biden that makes you want to listen to him,' the influential radio presenter told ABC host Jonathan Karl. 'That's why he should be leaning on his Vice President Kamala Harris who is way more charismatic than him. 'He should be leaning on other surrogates like Gavin Newsom or Shapiro in Pennsylvania.' Charlamagne tha God has called Joe Biden 'an uninspiring candidate' for the 2024 presidential election with 'no main character energy at all' The 'Breakfast Club' radio personality, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, backed Biden in 2020 but has said he won't be endorsing him in 2024 Charlamagne said Biden should be 'leaning on his Vice President Kamala Harris who is way more charismatic than him' 'He should be leaning on people who are more inspiring than him, who are more charismatic than him,' Charlamagne added. 'And he should just be, I guess if you want to call it the brains of the operation behind the scenes. 'Like that sounds crazy that we're saying that about a president of the United States of America, but he has no main character energy at all.' When asked whether he found Biden, 81, uninspiring because of his age, he added: 'I don't think it has anything to do with age. 'I think it has everything to do with him. Donald Trump is, what, four years, three years younger than President Biden. 'But he just comes off a lot more youthful. He comes off, you know, like he has a lot more energy.' Charlamagne appeared on the campaign trail with Harris in 2019, when she unveiled her mental health plan something of a personal issue for a radio host who has spoken of his own struggles. But he's among those who have grown disillusioned with the Biden administration, and he's admitted listeners have given him grief for telling them to support him in 2020. Last month, Charlamagne called Biden a 'shi**y elected official' and Trump 'the end of democracy as we know it'. In recent years he's become a thorn in the side of the Biden administration, often criticizing Democrats for not being able to find a different candidate. Biden 'should be leaning on other surrogates like Gavin Newsom' for the 2024 race according to Charlamagne Charlamagne tha God has been a frequent critic of the Biden administration since backing them in 2020 While guest hosting the Daily Show in December, Charlamagne said the 'ultimate Christmas gift' would be President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 race and pleaded with him not to make the same mistake as former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 'Biden is not getting any younger. Hes not going to get any more popular and he is not getting a new running mate. Please, Mr. President, give America the ultimate Christmas gift and a step aside,' he said on the Daily Show. 'I know he thinks hes got this in the bag but the polls say otherwise. I want Biden stepping in to beat Trump the way I want him stepping in to defend me at a bar fight. I appreciate you caring, but I dont like our chances.' In September 2023, he slammed the president for botching LL Cool J's name and using a 'racist' term to refer to him at an event honoring the artist. Biden messed up the rappers name and then called LL Cool J 'boy' during a speech at a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation dinner. Charlamagne said, 'He fully understands the word boy in the racial context around a white man referring to a black man, is boy.' 'When somebody uses the word boy to refer to an adult Black man and the speaker is white, that takes on a whole different point in context.' The word boy, when used by white people to refer to back men, is a historically loaded term which has been used to denote superiority during enslavement and beyond. In January 2023, Charlamagne and The Breakfast Club co-host DJ Envy claimed Biden needs to be 'tested for dementia' before running in 2024. In November 2022, on Fox News he criticized Democrats for not having a better candidate for 2024 than Biden, who he said would not be able to energize voters. He told Fox it was 'sad' that Biden was Democrats' 'safest bet,' and questioned if he was popular enough to beat Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. When asked if he would vote for Biden again, Charlamagne did not commit and instead said voting for Former President Donald Trump would be like voting for the 'antichrist.' In October 2022, Charlamagne slammed Biden for defending his former crack addict son Hunter after putting 'so many black people in jail for smoking cocaine' instead of getting them 'help' when he was senator. He gave the president the title of 'Donkey of the Day' in January 2022 when the voting rights bill was killed off and accused the president of not caring about black voting rights. On an July 2020 radio show, Charlamagne dubbed Biden the 'Donkey of the Day' for calling Donald trump the 'first racist president.' 'Saying Donald Trump is the first racist president is a lie, ok? It's a lie that relinquishes America of all responsibility of its bigotry,' he said. The Breakfast Club host also claimed Biden was making it possible for rapper Kanye West to seem like a 'viable option' for president. He said, 'I really wish Joe Biden would shut the f up forever.' Following a May 2020 interview with the then presidential candidate, Charlamagne condemned Biden's track record with black voters, stating that the former vice president was a 'very intricate' part of the 'systemic racism' that needs to be 'dismantled' with his 1994 crime bill. During that May 2020 interview, Biden concluded with saying, 'If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black.' Rep. Rashida Tlaib is getting behind the pro-Palestinian effort to get Michigan Democrats to vote 'uncommitted' in the primary instead of casting their primary ballot for President Joe Biden. Listen to Michigan is a group spearheading the effort to create a ballot protest against Biden's backing of Israel in its conflict with Hamas terrorists operating out of Palestinian enclave of Gaza. 'Don't make us even more invisible. Right now, we feel completely neglected and just unseen by our government,' Tliab (D-Mich.) said in a video posted on Saturday, speaking as a voice for the Palestinian-American community. 'If you want us to be louder, then come here and vote uncommitted,' the progressive squad member said in informing Michigan voters of a 'way you can raise our voices.' Tlaib is the first and only Palestinian-American in Congress and is one of the most prominent voices against Israel and President Biden for supporting the Jewish State. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) is endorsing the effort to vote 'uncommitted' instead of backing President Joe Biden in the Michigan primary election on February 27 'It is important, as you all know, to not only march against the genocide... It is also important to create a voting bloc. Something that is a bull horn to say: enough is enough,' Tlaib said in a video posted Saturday. Pictured: Pro-Palestinian protesters march to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 2024 to demand a ceasefire in Israel NEW ENDORSEMENT: If you want us to be louder, come here and vote uncommitted. -@RashidaTlaib pic.twitter.com/8pxuUjq5QG #ListenToMichigan (@Listen2michigan) February 17, 2024 She officially endorsed on Saturday the Listen to Michigan campaign to get 'uncommitted' to beat Biden on the ballot in the state later this month. Michigan is holding its primary election on Tuesday, February 27 where both Democrats and Republicans will cast their ballots for their preferred presidential nominees. While Biden is facing virtually no real competition in the Democratic primary, Michigan is a state where progressives are mobilizing to essentially cast a vote of no confidence against the president by voting for 'uncommitted' instead of the incumbent. This would do little to impact the primary election going forward and Biden's chances of earning the nomination but would serve as a massive symbolic vote against the president's handling of the ongoing Middle East conflict. 'I wanted to remind everyone, please, know that you can early vote today until Feb. 17,' Tlaib said in a video outside the Ford Civic Center in Dearport, Michigan on Saturday. 'It is important, as you all know, to not only march against the genocide, not only make sure that we're calling on members of Congress and local electeds and passing city resolutions all throughout our country. It is also important to create a voting bloc. Something that is a bull horn to say: enough is enough,' she continued. 'We don't want a country that supports wars and bombs and destruction,' Tlaib insisted. 'We want to support life. We want to stand up for every life killed.' Tlaib and other progressives do not agree with Biden's backing of Israel in the war with Hamas terrorists operating out of Palestinian enclave of Gaza Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack in Israel in October, leading to a months-long brutal war between the Palestinian's de facto government and the Jewish State. Biden has joined the majority of voices in America and Congress by backing Israel and its right to defend itself against the terrorist group Hamas. But opposers of this stance, including Tlaib and other progressive lawmakers, claim that Israel is responding to the attack by in-turn committing a genocide against Palestinians. Officials said that if these fires advance, the wildfire season could start as early as March or April Hundreds of 'out of control' wildfires blanketed the nation in the summer and caused haze, smog and dangerous air in the US Zombie fires have been smoldering under layers of snow in Canada as the remnants of last year's massive wildfires remain in the area. The zombie fires, or flameless, slow-burning fires that occur under the earth's surface, have triggered fears that the thaw will bring another smog-filled summer to the US. Firefighter and scientist Sonja Leverkus said that as she drove in a snowstorm in November in her small town in British Columbia, she noticed that instead of the snow being white, it was a blue-grey color from the smoke. 'I've never experienced a snowstorm that smelled like smoke,' Leverkus said. Now, those fears could spark another wave of smog and haze down to the US like much of the East Coast experienced in the summer of 2023. Zombie fires have continued to smolder under layers of snow in Canada and cannot be put out due to a lack of firefighters on break in the off-season. Now, there is fear they could impact the US again like they did during the summer Over the summer, huge swaths of the US , from the north east to the Great Lakes, are braced for several more days of smog, while Canadian officials grappled with over 400 wildfires. A thick, nicotine-yellow haze shrouded the famous Big Apple skyline on Wednesday as the city became the most polluted in the world, with its Air Quality Index score soaring past 400, which is deemed 'hazardous.' More than a dozen US states and over 100 million people are under air quality alerts, prompting many to start wearing pandemic-era masks. Health experts warned that breathing the fog can be as damaging as smoking 22 cigarettes a day. Nanoparticles from the smog are so small they can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, with side effects also including irritation to the eyes and throat as well as breathing problems. 'The Canadian wildfires present a common exposure to almost all New Yorkers right now.' Acting Health Commissioner James McDonald said at that time. 'Our risk from this exposure is based on our own personal underlying health condition. A man talks on his phone as he looks through the haze at the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey on June 7 New York's Yankee Stadium pictured under the hazy conditions ahead of a game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox, which has since been postponed due to poor air quality The smoky yellow haze enveloped the city and lasted for days An orange mist blanketed the entire city Wednesday as health officials warned against exposure to the pollution Manhattanites were barely able to see the Statue of Liberty across the Hudson River due to the poor visibility 'Those New Yorkers with underlying conditions such as lung or heart disease are at increased risk from this exposure and are encouraged to adjust their activities accordingly.' A sheet of smoke from the wildfires first descended on New York on Tuesday before thickening throughout the afternoon and into Wednesday, leaving those in Manhattan unable to see the New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River. As well as sending New Yorkers inside, air quality alerts were also introduced in states including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and the Carolinas, according to the National Weather Service. On one day during the smog, Chicago had also recorded the worst air quality in the world yesterday as it too was consumed by smoke from the fires. The city had been marked as having unhealthy air with a reading of 175 AQI, with parts of Michigan reaching higher. The index is a measure of five common pollutants and runs on a scale from 0 to 500, with a rating over 150 considered 'unhealthy.' According to the index at the time, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit were all in the top ten for the worst air quality on the planet. Washington, DC, was covered in the smog throughout Wednesday, and it is expected to continue to linger for several days Hazy skies seen over the skyline in Washington, DC, one of many East Coast hubs to have been hit by the smoke The Chicago skyline is blanketed in haze from Canadian wildfires as seen from Solidarity Drive amid heavy smog from the wildfires in Canada Today in Canada, the plumes have remained visible in February, even as the temperatures drastically dropped. The fires cannot be put out manually due to a lack of firefighters on break in the off-season, according to Forrest Tower, a fire information officer with British Columbia Fire. Zombie fires, also known as overwintering fires, are kept alive through peat moss, an organic soil that is commonly found in North America's forests and thick layers of snow. In the last ten years, British Columbia has experienced, on average, five to six zombie fires that have continued to burn on, the BBC reported. By January, the Canadian province saw a record-setting 106 active zombie fires, something that scientists fear could impact the risk for future wildfires and have linked them to a possible early start in the wildfire season. According to provincial data, though most of these overwintering fires tend to burn out on their own, a total of 91 are still burning in the area. The data has gone on to suggest that the fires that manage to burn on into March could raise the chance for reignition once the temperatures rise and the snow melts. Jennifer Baltzer, a biology professor at Wilfrid Laurier University and the Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change said that the pro-longed smoldering 'is very alarming to see.' More than 44million acres of land was consumed by the fires in 2023 and was one of the most fatal wildfire seasons, as multiple firefighters died while battling the blazes. Burned trees were seen in social media posts from the wildfires in Canada The wildfires spread across large portions of Canada and caused haze and smog in parts of the US Combie fires, or flameless, are slow burning fires that occur under the earth's surface, have triggered fears that the thaw will bring another smog-filled summer to the US Mike Flannigan, a professor and fire management expert at Thompson River University said that the surge in wildfires last year is one of the reasons why the area is seeing an increase in zombie fires. He added the extreme drought, something British Columbia has been dealing with for years, has also contributed to the zombie fires. In February, British Columbia has been under medium to extreme drought level, according to the province's drought map. Similar to the overwintering fires, the presence of the drought has also been quite significant as Leverkus noted that a creek she saw last summer has become 'just puddles.' Another disturbing factor is that the area has also not seen very much snow or rain, giving more room for the smoky fires to ignite into flames. Tower said that the zombie fires are currently being monitored by officials and if they advance, there is a chance that the wildfire season in the province could come as early as March or April. Two seven-year-old twin girls have tragically died after the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree about halfway between Perth and Kalgoorlie. The girls died on Sunday morning just after 11am at the crash scene near the Great East Highway in Carrabin, Western Australia. Their 31-year-old mother, who was behind the wheel, was rushed to Merredin Hospital by St John paramedics before she was released a few hours later. Two seven-year-old twin girls have tragically died after the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree about halfway between Perth and Kalgoorlie 'Upon arrival at the scene it was confirmed the crash involved a white Toyota Camry sedan, which had left the road and struck a tree,' WA Police said in a statement. 'Tragically, two seven-year-old girls died at the scene.' The accident shut down the Great Eastern Highway for hours, blocking an important road through the Wheatbelt region. Police are appealing for anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward. Police have launched a murder investigation after a 64-year-old man was found dead in a Cardiff home. South Wales Police said officers were called to a property in Belmont Walk, Butetown shortly after 9am today. A number of roads were sealed off by police earlier today and there was a heavy police presence after officers were first called to the incident. A 38-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident. South Wales Police have launched a murder investigation after a 64-year-old man was found dead in a Cardiff home. First responders are pictured at the scene today officers were called to a property in Belmont Walk, Butetown shortly after 9am. A number of roads were sealed off and there was a heavy police presence earlier today (pictured) A 38-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident. Police are pictured at the scene this morning Detective Chief Inspector Matt Davies, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Clearly, this incident will cause shock to the close-knit community of Butetown. 'I want to assure the public that an early arrest has been made and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. 'The support and understanding of the local community are very much appreciated.' Police have asked that anyone with information about the case to contact them quoting occurrence number 2400056193. That 70's Show star Danny Masterson has been moved from maximum security prison Corcoran State Prison to the less harsh California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, according to reports. The disgraced TV actor was convicted last May of raping two women in the early 2000s. He was sentenced in September by a Los Angeles jury to 30 years to life behind bars with the possibility of parole for two counts of rape with force, violence or fear of bodily injury. He was previously set to serve his term at Corcoran State Prison, which famously housed Charles Manson. That prison, which was built in 1988, houses some of California's most dangerous prisoners and has a sizable population of Level 4 inmates in need of extra protection and supervision. That 70's Show star Danny Masterson has been moved from his maximum security prison to a less harsh facility in Obispo, California Corcoran State Prison houses some of California's most dangerous prisoners Masterson's new home, California Men's colony, offers self-help and academic programs such as abuse counseling, mental health treatment and anger management California Men's colony, however, is a medium- to minimum-security prison offer self-help and academic programs for inmates to learn vocational skills. The courses include substance abuse counseling, mental health treatment and anger management. Records indicate that the once-prominent member of the Church of Scientology will first be eligible for parole in 2042, when the now-42-year-old is 66. Following Masterson's sentencing, it was reported that he was under round-the-clock surveillance due to potentially showing signs of 'mental distress.' Deputies would come by his cell every half hour to check on him 'with the goal of keeping tabs on his mental state and making sure he's safe.' Masterson's legal team is currently attempting to appeal his conviction. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo said in January that Masterson will 'likely remain in custody for decades, and perhaps the rest of his life' if his sentence is upheld on appeal. The judge, who oversaw his trial and subsequently denied him bail, stating that he is a flight risk in part because his now-ex-wife Bijou Phillips filed for divorce following his guilty verdict last year. Masterson has been moved to a maximum-security facility that was the longtime holding place of Charles Manson In addition to cult leader Charles Manson (pictured), Corcoran was also the prison where Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated RFK was held Masterson was previously set to serve his term at Corcoran State Prison, which famously housed Charles Manson The judge's order read: 'In light of the fact that defendant has no wife to go home to, defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful.' The denial comes after Masterson's attorneys Clifford Gardner and Eric Multhaup wrote in a motion on January 17 asking for the court to grant the disgraced actor bail. 'Defendant requests that this Court grant bail on appeal, and offers to comply with any relevant terms and conditions imposed by the Court that enable him to be an at-home parent and financial provider for his family, including house arrest and/or participation in an electronic monitoring program administered by the probation department' the motion read. After Masterson' conviction for the two rapes, he was expelled from the Church of Scientology and declared a 'suppressive person' - or an 'SP' - which the church defines as someone whose behavior seeks to impede the spiritual progress of those around him. The sole survivor of a fatal mushroom lunch in which three people died from suspected poisoning has broken his silence more than six months after the tragedy. Ian Wilkinson, a pastor at the Korumburra Baptist Church in eastern Victoria, delivered a heartfelt sermon to the congregation on February 11. The 70-year-old revealed he would have celebrated his 45th wedding anniversary with his wife Heather that week, who died in hospital just days after the meal. He reportedly told those gathered last Sunday it had been a 'pretty big week'. 'At the start of the week, it was six months since Heather and Gail and Don went to be with the Lord,' Mr Wilkinson said. 'And yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary, so it's been a pretty big week, but I am grateful for all that God has given me, God has done through me.' Ian Wilkinson (pictured with wife Heather) a pastor at the Korumburra Baptist Church in eastern Victoria, delivered a heartfelt sermon to the congregation on January 11 Mr Wilkinson was the sole survivor of a deadly mushroom lunch held at the home of Erin Patterson on July 29, 2023. Pictured is Korumburra Baptist Church in eastern Victoria The pastor, who has spent 25 years at the church, jokingly asked the congregation if they remembered a Bible teaching series that was 'cut short' last year. 'Does anybody remember our series on Genesis that we began last year?' he asked. 'Has anybody got any vague memories of that? It was dramatically cut short half way through Genesis chapter two.' Mr Wilkinson said he was grateful for the support offered by the congregation who he told 'the ways are sometimes hard but God is good. He's with us'. 'A pastor is nothing without the team, the family of God, without the partners in the gospel and you have been such wonderful partners and let me encourage you to keep on going,' he told those gathered. Several shared their admiration for the embattled pastor's 'servanthood, leadership, wisdom, thoughtfulness and wonderful teaching', the Herald Sun reports. 'When Ian was approached to be our pastor, the church was quite small and had been through a hard time but this didn't put Ian off he was keen to follow God's lead,' one woman said. 'The funds were tight and the manpower was very light on but we were led by Ian and Heather's faith, trust and example.' Accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson, 49, was arrested at her home and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder on November 2 Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, were also victims of the suspected mushroom poisoning Accused mushroom chef Erin 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. It came several months after the mother-of-two served a beef wellington lunch suspected of being laced with death cap mushrooms at her home on July 29. Mr Wilkinson was the sole survivor of the deadly lunch, which claimed the life of his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66, and Don and Gail Patterson, both 70. Patterson's husband Simon pulled out of the lunch at the last minute. Patterson remains behind bars in Victoria's largest women's prison, Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne's western industrial suburbs. She has not entered a plea in any of the charges. Police are expected to present their brief of evidence on March 25, 2023. An Adelaide man is in a critical condition in hospital after he was struck by an SUV while changing a tyre on the side of the Port River Expressway. The pedestrian, a 23-year-old man from Taperoo, was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after he was hit by a silver Toyota RAV4 about 3.50pm on Sunday. He was in a serious condition. The driver, a 71-year-old man from Enfield, was not physically injured but was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for mandatory testing. It's understood the 23-year-old had pulled over in a stopping lane 300m west of Hanson Rd to change a tyre on his grey Subaru Forester 4WD. A 23-year-old man has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after he was hit by a SUV while changing his tyre on the side of a highway (pictured, officers at the scene) A second collision (pictured) followed between cars that slowed to look at the aftermath of the crash The 71-year-old driver then hit him from behind before pulling over. Witness Ryan Spoolder, 29, rushed to the scene to help his girlfriend after her car was rear-ended by another vehicle that had slowed to look at the collision. 'When I got here, there were at least a dozen people crowding him trying to help,' he told the Adelaide Advertiser. His girlfriend Ebony Vertigan, 27, said paramedics used a yellow tarp to shield the 23-year-old from prying eyes. 'It at least gave him some privacy so people didn't peek at it,' she said. South Australia Police advised Port River Expressway was partially closed while officers investigated the cause of the collision but has since reopened. Harry Potter author JK Rowling has donated 70,000 to a feminist campaign to help their Supreme Court appeal against the definition of a woman. She pledged the money to For Women Scotland, which contested whether transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) had the same legal rights as women under the Equality Act 2010 - which counts sex as a protected characteristic. The group won an earlier case where it was found the SNP's position that anyone who identifies as a woman is one in terms of gender quotas for public boards was unlawful. However it lost a case challenging guidance stating that a biological man counted as a woman if they have a gender recognition certificate. The group is now appealing the decision in a bid to obtain a 'historic' Supreme Court ruling stating that men can't become women. And JK Rowling, who is outspoken on trans issues, donated the 70,000 within hours of Scottish courts granting permission for the appeal to go ahead. Controversial author JK Rowling has donated 70,000 to a feminist campaign to help their Supreme Court appeal against the definition of a woman JK Rowling, who is outspoken on trans issues, donated the 70,000 within hours of Scottish courts granting permission for the appeal to go ahead Supporters of For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network pictured protesting In a message with her donation, she wrote: 'You know how proud I am to know you. Thank you for all your hard work and perseverance. This is truly a historic case.' The fundraiser, which has raised 229,365 so far, reads: 'We had really hoped the situation could have been resolved with the judicial review but, unfortunately, it was not to be. 'The protected characteristic of woman in the Equality Act still includes some males and although the Gender Recognition Reform Bill (which allowed anyone to obtain a GRC) has been paused for now it may yet come back in some form.' For Women Scotland had appealed to the Court of Session - Scotland's supreme civil court - after losing a Judicial Review over legislation introduced in 2018 to address gender imbalance on public boards. Scottish ministers had insisted transgender women with a GRC would be included under the new law, a stance opposed by the campaigners. Responding to the ruling which the group lost over the definition of a 'woman', For Women Scotland said: 'Naturally, we are hugely disappointed in [the] judgement, which has ruled that womens protections under law may in some cases include men who have obtained a GRC. Gender recognition reform has become a fierce political debate in Scotland. (Pictured: A For Women Scotland protester in December) After the Scottish Parliament voted through Nicola Sturgeon's Gender Recognition Reform Bill in December, the UK government intervened 'We are obviously still analysing the decision and will be speaking to our legal team in due course to consider the possibility of a further challenge.' LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall praised the court's decision. A spokesman said: 'This ruling is welcome and it serves to affirm what the long standing law on this has always said. It also demonstrates that the way trans people are accepted and counted as who they are is working - despite a concerted campaign by anti-trans campaigners to remove the existing rights trans people have had for decades. The Equality Act does allow for some 'proportionate means' for exclusion of transgender people with a GRC. Upon this point, legal expert Dr Michael Foran wrote for Unherd: 'It is more likely to be lawful to exclude a [biological] male with a GRC stating they are a woman from a rape crisis centre or a changing room than it will be to exclude them from a women-only hair salon or leadership training course.' READ MORE - Scottish feminist campaigners lose appeal over the definition of 'woman' after ruling that trans women with a female gender recognition certificate are legally defined as women Advertisement Other interested parties also made submissions in the case, among them Baroness Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and campaign group Sex Matters. Baroness Falkner questioned whether the law would impact upon lesbians' and gay men's groups, writing: 'If sex means legal sex, then sexual orientation changes on acquiring a GRC: some trans women with a GRC become legally lesbian, and some trans men with a GRC become gay men.' But the ruling responded it found this submission 'hard to follow' adding: 'There is no such thing as being legally lesbian and we have not identified a problem which would require that sex be referable to biology alone.' Reflecting on this part of the judgement, Sex Matters stated: 'The judgement's assertion that there is no such thing as being "legally lesbian" does nothing to resolve the issue of whether lesbians can legally form associations which exclude men who identify as lesbians and who have a GRC which deems them to be female.' Gender recognition reform has become a fierce political debate in Scotland. The SNP and Green Party have both campaigned to make it easier for people to change their legal gender, while opponents claim there is a clash between advancing trans rights against women's and LGB rights. After the Scottish Parliament voted through Nicola Sturgeon's Gender Recognition Reform Bill in December last year, the UK government vetoed it using Section 35 powers - arguing the proposed changes had implications for the UK-wide Equality Act. Indian farmer union calls for 1-day rural shutdown amid massive protest Xinhua) 10:00, February 18, 2024 NEW DELHI, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- A pan-India rural shutdown call given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (United Farmers Front) and supported by Central Trade Unions evoked a partial response on Friday. The farmer organization has asked for the suspension of all agricultural work for a day and urged village shops, markets and businesses to remain shut. There was a mixed response to the call. The shutdown call also saw public transport off the roads at many places in Punjab and Haryana, causing inconvenience to commuters. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers when they moved towards the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala district in Haryana, about 200 km from Delhi. The fresh confrontation comes on the fourth day of the ongoing stand-off. Scores of farmers with large convoys of tractors embarked on the Delhi march on Tuesday to press for their demands including a minimum support price for crops. The farmers were stopped near the Haryana border and tear-gassed. On Thursday evening protesting farmers held the third round of talks with three federal government ministers over the issue. Though nothing concrete came out, the two sides were scheduled to meet on Sunday for another round of talks. "We believe we will all find a solution together peacefully," Federal Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said following the culmination of the meeting. A farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said the farmers would hold off their march until Sunday. Meanwhile, farmer leaders said a 63-year-old farmer, who was among the protesters died of a heart attack at the Shambhu border. The call for Delhi march was given by farmer unions to increase pressure on the federal government to fulfil their demands which also include pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases, compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous agitation. Approximately 200 farmer organizations are part of the protest plan. India's opposition leaders have also extended support to the protesting farmers and condemned the government's action to use police force to stop farmers. In September 2020, the Indian government passed three contentious laws aimed at "modernizing" the country's agriculture sector. However, farmers feared the new laws would weaken their position and make them dependent on corporates. 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 in a surprise address to the nation announced his government was repealing the laws. Farmers in India form a considerable size of voters. The farmer protests have erupted at a time when India is due to hold general elections this year. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) MBABANE After having fled the Kingdom of Eswatini over two years ago, former Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane has been granted a refugee asylum stay in the United Kingdom (UK) for the next five years. Refugees have a right to apply for welfare in the UK, in line with nationals in that country. If one is a refugee, they are able to work in the UK without any restrictions. The Times SUNDAY has seen a copy of a letter dated February 8, 2024, written by the UK Home Office, detailing that his application for a stay had been approved. Simelane fled the Kingdom of Eswatini in July 2021, shortly after news of an arrest warrant against him made rounds. His warrant of arrest was issued along with those of incarcerated former MPs Mthendeni Dube and Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza. The two were arrested on July 25, 2021, and charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008. After fleeing the country, Simelane stated that he was in the UK in a quest to spread the word about the human rights violations in Eswatini. He said he was on a global advocacy drive. addressed followers On Monday, the former MP, who is the President of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) addressed his followers on a late-night show dubbed Family Meeting, where he revealed that the Government of Eswatini cancelled the diplomatic passport that was issued to him. The passport was given to Simelane as a working tool in his capacity as an MP. During the late-night show, Simelane told his followers that he was happy that in 2024 he would travel the whole world speaking about the plight of emaSwati. Following his statement, the Times SUNDAY engaged him on what exactly he meant by saying he would travel the world. In his response, he said, what was meant to be his worst moment turned out to be an hour of great strides. I did not intend on making UK my home away from home by then, but upon discovering that government has taken down my Eswatini passport, due to the pressure they felt about my global advocacy, I then had to apply for a stay here, lest I be stateless. I thank Alpheous and the government for the continuous own-goals they keep scoring. The 18 months of being grounded while the process was taking its time has been painful, but through it I have scored the biggest victory I never thought of ever, Simelane said. When asked how he ended up being granted the so-called stay in the UK, he stated that a string of intensive interrogations of his story was launched by the relevant department as soon as he applied for the stay. This, he said, gave him the greatest platform to share the Eswatini story in depth backed by massive evidence. application passed He then commended the mainstream media and online platforms for the fact that his application passed with flying colours. I got all the support I needed. The government here declared that it is convinced with my presentations on the course and all I stand for, Simelane. Again, this reporter asked him what the latest developments meant, especially since in the Kingdom of Eswatini he was regarded as a fugitive of the law. To this he responded by saying: The fugitive status only exists in the mind of the Eswatini Government. He mentioned that the world was now clear about the true colours of the Eswatini regime and that emaSwati should never hesitate to apply for a stay anywhere now. Simelane was also asked what benefits he would enjoy now that he had reportedly been granted a stay in the UK. He mentioned that there were massive benefits which included the UK passport. The UK ordinary passport travels to 153 countries including world super powers without the need of a visa while the Eswatini diplomatic passport only covers 86 countries; I guess none of the super powers included. Therefore forcing me to take the UK stay propelled the calling to higher dimensions, he said. Elaborating, Simelane said now was the time for him to take the route once taken by the late South African political activist Oliver Tambo. History dictates that Tambo was one of the heroes of South Africas struggle for freedom from apartheid. forced to leave For many years he served as president of the African National Congress (ANC). Because the South African Government did not like the ANCs activities, Tambo was forced to leave the country. For 30 years he continued to oppose apartheid while living outside of South Africa. I will now wage the international pillar of the Eswatini struggle with ease. I appeal to the peace and democracy loving organisations, institutions and individuals across the world even back home to be destiny-helpers in this course. Time is against us as our people continue to languish in pain as some are with the incarcerated former MPs. We need to fast-track the process to set our people free. Resources are what will make it possible for me and others to make our footprint globally, emphasised Simelane. Upon further investigation, this publication discovered that Simelane has been granted refugee status of five years permission to stay in the UK. The latest developments mean that the UK Government has accepted that Simelane has a well-founded fear of persecution and, therefore, cannot return to the Kingdom of Eswatini and has, therefore, been recognissed as a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention. inquiry A questionnaire was sent to the British High Commission in Eswatini and it responded by saying: Such matters are the responsibility of the Home Office in London and we have not yet received any information related to your inquiry, so we are unable to respond to specific questions at the moment. However, we undertake to clarify the position in due course. By definition, a refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Seeking asylum is not an unlawful act, and as such, international refugee and human rights law standards protect from penalisation even those who have entered or remained in the territory of a State, without authorisation, including penalisation in the form of detention or other restrictions on their movement. According to research, the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention or the Geneva Convention of July 28, 1951 is a United Nations (UN) multilateral treaty that defines who a refugee is and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. Convention Research also makes mention of a relation between the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees and what is known as the 1967 Protocol. The 1967 Protocol broadens the applicability of the 1951 Convention in that it removes the geographical and time limits that were part of the latter. These limits initially restricted the Convention to persons who became refugees due to events occurring in Europe before January 1, 1951. Meanwhile, while every refugee is initially an asylum seeker, not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognised as a refugee. This, the UN law says, is because the right to be recognised as a refugee is determined by law after an asylum seeker has applied for protection in the country of refuge. In terms of rights, refugees and asylum seekers have a right not to be removed, in any manner whatsoever, by their host country to their country of origin, or any other country, where they are at risk of being seriously harmed. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), refugees are regarded as being among the most vulnerable people in the world and the 1951 Refugee Convention; supplemented by its 1967 Protocol, helps protect them. They are the cornerstone of refugee protection and the key legal documents that form the basis of UNHCRs work. In terms of background, Simelane, Dube and Mabuza were charged after spearheading calls for political reforms from 2021, during a Parliament sitting. ideology They spoke of the ideology outside Parliament, where it received support, mainly from the youth. The three legislators made calls that the premier should be elected by the people so that he could be accountable to them. It is currently the prerogative of the head of State to appoint the prime minister (PM), on the recommendation of the Kings Advisory Council, known as Liqoqo. As the call for the election of the premier by the people intensified, the youth delivered petitions to various tinkhundla centres across the country. They mandated their respective MPs to support the three MPs who were calling for political reforms. Trouble started when the petition delivery was banned by the then Acting PM, Themba Masuku, who felt the gatherings at the tinkhundla centres violated COVID-19 regulations. Meanwhile, as law enforcers arrested the pair, in then MPs Mabuza and Dube, while Simelane had a warrant of arrest issued against him; but he did not hand himself over to the law enforcers. Instead, Simelane left the country and this later resulted in Parliament invoking Section 98(1) (c) of the Constitution. His Parliament seat was declared vacant as he was absent from 20 consecutive sittings. The section invoked by Parliament reads: The seat of a senator or of a member of the House shall become vacant where the holder is absent from 20 sittings of the chamber during any meeting of that chamber without the permission in writing of the presiding officer and is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges. On another note, it was on July 26, 2021, that Simelane was declared a fugitive from justice. hiding A fugitive from justice, also known as a wanted person, can be a person who is either convicted or accused of a crime and hiding from law enforcement in the State or taking refuge in a different country in order to avoid arrest. In the warrant of arrest issued on July 8, 2021, presented in court, it stated that the three former MPs allegedly acted jointly to incite people of Eswatini to revolt against the constitutionally established Government of Eswatini. The Crown stated in the charge sheet that Simelane was a fugitive from the law. According to the charge sheet, as a consequence of the alleged incitement by the trio, there were riots in all the regions of the country. The Crown further brought it to the attention of the court that these riots caused loss of life, bodily injury to people and destruction of private and public properties. Eswatini Govt not aware - Alpheous MBABANE Eswatini Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo has said that they were not aware of the latest developments regarding former Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelanes stay in the United Kingdom. Nxumalo said if there was a letter confirming that Simelane had been granted refugee status, it would be duly directed to him as the recipient. The spokesperson said the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini respected the sovereignty rights of other countries and, therefore, did not dictate to them for any course of gesture or action. diplomatic channels We have a long standing, warm and cordial relations with the Government of the United Kingdom. If there is a need for the Government of Eswatini to be appraised about any details on this matter, we shall use the normal diplomatic channels to communicate same to the Government of the United Kingdom, Nxumalo said. The British Museum is being targeted by Chilean campaigners who are demanding the return of a statue taken from Easter Island more than 150 years ago. Campaigners began 'spamming' the museum's Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts after a Santiago-based influencer encouraged his one million followers to flood the institution's accounts with 'return the moai' comments. The museum has two moai statues which were taken from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) by British surveyors in 1868. There has since been longstanding demands for the statues to be returned to the Chilean territory. British Museum officials deactivated the comments section on one Instagram post in response to the influx of comments. The online campaign comes amid a row between the Greek and the UK governments about the ownership of the Elgin Marbles, which were brought to Britain in the 1800s. Greece has been calling for their return since the 19th century. The British Museum is being targeted by Chilean campaigners who are demanding the return of a statue taken from Easter Island more than 150 years ago. The statue is pictured on display at the British Museum on November 22, 2018 The museum has two moai statues which were taken from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) by British surveyors in 1868. There has since been longstanding demands for the statues to be returned to the Chilean territory. The statue is pictured on display at the museum in November 2018 The British Museum became inundated with 'return the moai' comments after influencer Mike Milfort in January instructed his followers to 'spam' the institution. 'My followers began spamming "return the moai" on Wikipedia, and then the comments section of the British Museum Instagram was full of people posting "return the moai,"' Mr Milfort said in a recent video. The museum indefinitely deactivated comments on one social media post, which had been shared in collaboration with the charity Youth Project. A spokesperson told MailOnline the decision was made for the 'comfort and security' of the charity. 'We welcome debate, but this has to be balanced against the need for safeguarding considerations, especially where young people are concerned,' the spokesperson added. The museum also reiterated it has 'good and open relations' with its colleagues in Rapa Nui, including inviting them to visit the institution for 'various initiatives' over the past two years. Members of the Rapa Nui community visited London in November 2018 and a reciprocal visit took place in June 2019, which saw museum staff visit Rapanui cultural sites and take part in a series of conversations about the moai. Campaigners have spammed the British Museum by flood the institution's social media accounts with 'return the moai' comments The British Museum has two moai statues, including the Hoa Hakananai'a, which holds particular significance to Rapa Nui. The four-ton, 7ft 10in Hoa Hakananai'a is regarded as one of the most spiritually important of the Chilean island's 900 famous stone monoliths, or moai. Each of the figures is said to embody tribal leaders or deified ancestors. It was taken from the island, which lies in the Pacific more than 2,100 miles off the coast of Chile, in 1868 by Commodore Richard Powell, captain of HMS Topaze, who gave it to Queen Victoria. She donated it in 1869 to the British Museum, where it now stands at the entrance to Wellcome Trust Gallery. But Easter Island's indigenous community, the Rapa Nui, want Britain to give back the spiritually 'unique' effigy. The museum has faced other claims to return artefacts to their original homes, including the Elgin Marbles to Greece. Greece has long demanded the return of the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed by Lord Elgin from occupied Athens in the early 19th century, when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. A Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry in 1816 found the acquisition of the Marbles had been entirely legal and done with permission of Ottoman authorities. The British Museum has faced other claims to return artefacts to their original homes, including the Elgin Marbles (pictured) to Greece Part of friezes that adorned the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, the Elgin Marbles have been displayed at the British Museum in London for more than 200 years. Most of the remaining sculptures are in a purpose-built museum in Athens. The Greek government in December offered to lend rotating exhibitions of 'important antiquities' to 'fill the void' in exchange for the the Elgin Marbles. British Museum chairman George Osborne previously pledged to continue working on an exchange deal to allow the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece. Soaring numbers of Scots are receiving emergency surgery on the NHS after botched cosmetic procedures abroad. The growing trend to go overseas for breast surgery, tummy tucks and face lifts has led to a huge rise in patients turning to the health service to fix complications some of them life-threatening. One plastic surgeon has revealed that he was forced to treat eight victims of cosmetic tourism in one week. Doctors say the trend is putting a significant burden on the NHS in Scotland, with the average cost of emergency care following bungled foreign ops estimated to be 15,000 per patient. There are also concerns that some patients are returning home with bacteria that are hard to treat and may infect other people. The Scottish Government has said it is working to assess and address the problem but critics say that it must do more. Countries such as Turkey have seen a surge in demand for cut-price operations since the pandemic, when British clinics were closed. Countries such as Turkey have seen a surge in demand for cut-price operations Tragic gran, 54, had 3 operations in one day Carol Keenan, 54 Carol Keenan, 54, had a tummy tuck, a Brazilian butt lift known as a BBL and an abdominal repair procedure to make her stomach more defined. But following her surgery in Turkey, as she travelled to a local hospital to receive her fit-to-fly-home letter, she collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest. Ms Keenan died on April 20, 2022. Ms Keenan, a grandmother from Glenrothes, Fife, saved up for 18 months and paid 7,000 for the surgery less than half of the cost in the UK. She had initially booked in for the BBL and tummy tuck but was offered the abdominal repair on the day of surgery for free. Ms Keenans family later said they knew her death was due to the surgeries because the autopsy stated that if she had not had them, shed still be here. They said they wanted to see urgent changes from both the Scottish and Turkish governments to avoid other families enduring the same trauma as them. Advertisement Tragic gran, 54, had 3 operations in one day Carol Keenan, 54, from Fife, died after three cosmetic procedures in Istanbul. The risks of cosmetic tourism include a lack of pre-operative assessments, and patients with health conditions being given the go-ahead overseas when they would not be allowed the procedure in the UK for safety reasons. Patients with complications including sepsis are being admitted for NHS emergency care every week. One person a week is being seen at a plastic surgery unit following cosmetic surgery complications, while three or four a month are seeing bariatric surgery specialists following botched gastric weight loss operations. A letter to the Scottish Government from one plastic surgeon at a major Scottish unit in October 2022 reveals a spike in cases. It says: During my week on call so far, I have had not one but eight patients with major surgical complications secondary to cosmetic tourism. Several have required emergency surgery. Its incredibly rare for patients treated in UK private institutions to be transferred for emergency NHS care as these providers manage their own complications and, frankly, the pre-operative surgical assessment and patient selection is superior. This is a vulnerable patient group who are not well informed and often think they are combining a holiday with bargain surgery. Some of these complications will leave patients with lifelong deformity or disability. I think patient education needs to be the key. The consultant plastic surgeon has not been named but the warning, released by the Scottish Government in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, followed the death of Ms Keenan. Meanwhile, Scots EuroMillions winner Jane Park fell ill after suffering an allergic reaction to an anaesthetic following cosmetic surgery in Istanbul in 2017. On her return home, she ended up in hospital with suspected sepsis. Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: Scotlands NHS is already buckling under the strain of SNP mismanagement, without having to deal with the added strain of treating patients who have had botched cosmetic surgery abroad. The FOI correspondence between Scottish Government officials reveals bariatric surgeons have a steady stream of patients who have to be admitted following weight-loss operations overseas such as gastric band surgery. There are also problems with patients returning after dental treatment in Turkey. Dr Iain Kennedy, chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, said there was already not enough workforce capacity to meet patient demand and anything that adds to this pressure should be avoided. He added: This is encroaching on doctors and their colleagues time when we can ill afford it. A Scottish Government spokesman said: We do not recommend that patients and families seek clinical treatment or care for themselves overseas, and there is guidance on NHS Inform recommending that people do not travel abroad for surgery. We are engaging with colleagues and partners, including the UK Government and other devolved nations, to assess and address this concerning issue. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said the higher cost of surgery in the UK stems from strict regulations, which come with extensive malpractice indemnity. It estimates that across the UK between 2018 and 2022, a total of 324 patients needed surgery after returning from having cosmetic procedures overseas. However, it also said: We are only scratching the surface of the true number. A children's playgroup has been accused of encouraging youngsters to produce pro-Palestinian 'propaganda'. The Red Sunday School [RSS] operates out of a Glasgow community centre funded by the taxpayer. But it is tutoring children as young as four to make their own pro-Palestinian literature and to write letters used to lobby workers in the defence industry. A new online magazine compiled by the pupils states: 'If they [the Israelis] weren't occupying someone else's land there would be no reason to fight. 'If we say we are staying neutral on Palestine, then we are not actually being neutral, we are siding with the oppressor. 'The end of the occupation means the liberation of both Palestinian and Israeli children. From the river to the sea all the children will be free.' A pro-Palestine project produced by pupils at the Red Sunday School in Glasgow Pro-Palestinian project worked on by children attending the Red Sunday School in Glasgow The Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the magazine. A spokesman said: 'This is propaganda, pure and simple. But it is all the more alarming because it is directed at children. 'For a school that seeks to encourage 'anti-racism', it is surprisingly comfortable using rhetoric that plays on genocidal language and implicitly denies a right to Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel. 'This material is borne of the socialism of fools and has no place in a British classroom.' The RSS describes itself as a 'space for children and young people to think for themselves, play with freedom, question the world around them and change it'. Staffed by 'activists, educators, parents, carers and cultural workers', the group boasts of being 'organised on the principles of socialism and solidarity' to encourage 'active participation in the great struggles of our day: anti-racism, the climate crisis, feminism and the revolutionary transformation of capitalism'. But its monthly meetings are at the Kinning Park complex, owned by a charity that recently bought and developed the premises with 1.2million of Scottish Government cash and 1.5million of Lottery funding. The owner's charitable status relies on a pledge to 'promote community, citizenshipand well-being in the local area and Glasgow more widely'. But the RSS has staged a series of events to 'celebrate Palestinian resistance' and has taken children to participate in demonstrations demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. It has helped the youngsters produce a magazine as 'a resource to help people understand what is happening in Palestine'. A new online magazine compiled by the pupils states: 'If they [the Israelis] weren't occupying someone else's land there would be no reason to fight' (File Image) It says: 'When a state decides to take land from another state and say that it's now theirs, this is called an occupation. Palestine has been an occupied state for nearly 100 years. Children do not get to choose when an oppressor occupies a land. 'They do not get to choose how the oppressed try to take their land back from the occupiers and gain their liberation.' RSS pupils have also been called upon to write letters to be handed to defence industry workers at demonstrations organised by political activists. The Red Sunday School and Kinning Park Complex were approached for comment. Last November, the RSS called on pupils and teachers to join a national school strike for Palestine. It previously organised a Halloween party with the theme 'socialist heroes versus capitalist villains'. Children attended dressed as Lenin and a zombie Margaret Thatcher. He said Beijing's plan to secretly plant technology inside the US critical infrastructure has become a significant threat to national security The wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East were the focus of the conference - but Wray urged leaders not to lose sight of a subtler menace China's cyber attacks have grown to a 'scale greater than we'd seen before', the FBI director has advised amid fears that US infrastructure is under threat. Christopher Wray gave the grave warning as intelligence chiefs and politicians met at the Munich annual security conference on Sunday, according to the Wall Street Journal. The wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East were the focus of the conference - but Wray urged leaders not to lose sight of a subtler menace. He said Beijing's plan to secretly plant technology inside the US critical infrastructure has become a significant threat to national security. Wray cited Volt Typhoon, the moniker given to the Chinese hacking network that infiltrated the US last year, but said it's only the 'tip of the iceberg.' China's cyber attacks have grown to a 'scale greater than we'd seen before', FBI director Christopher Wray has warned amid fears that US infrastructure is under threat Analysts believe China's military has changed its strategy from intelligence-gathering to infiltration in a bid to sew chaos should war break out 'It's one of many such efforts by the Chinese,' he told the conference. Wray added that China is increasingly inserting 'offensive weapons within our critical infrastructure poised to attack whenever Beijing decides the time is right.' Under 'Volt Typhoon' Beijing's military have burrowed into more than 20 major suppliers in the last year alone including a water utility in Hawaii, a major West Coast port and at least one oil and gas pipeline, analysts revealed weeks ago. They have bypassed elaborate cyber security systems by intercepting passwords and log-ins unguarded by junior employees, leaving China 'sitting on a stockpile of strategic' vulnerabilities. 'It is very clear that Chinese attempts to compromise critical infrastructure are in part to pre-position themselves to be able to disrupt or destroy that critical infrastructure in the event of a conflict,' said Brandon Wales of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Hiding among authorized users can leave the hackers almost invisible to authorities. 'The two toughest challenges with these techniques are determining that a compromise has occurred, and then once detected, having confidence that the actor was evicted,' said Morgan Adamski of the National Security Agency. But in August the hackers were spotted trying to penetrate systems run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas that provide the state's power. But Hawaii is thought to be the biggest target given the crucial role it would play for the US if conflict broke out over Taiwan. Chinese military planners intend 'network warfare' to play a crucial role in amphibious invasions with air and missile strikes coordinated alongside cyber-attacks on command networks, critical infrastructure, satellite networks and military logistics, according to Reynolds. 'This is stuff they pretty clearly see as relevant to a Taiwan scenario,' he said, 'though they don't explicitly say this is how we're going to take over Taiwan.' In May, Microsoft uncovered Chinese attempts to infiltrate dozens of sectors in Guam, the closest US territory to Taiwan. Communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education organizations were targeted by Volt Typhoon. That month, the 'Five Eyes' security alliance between the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand offered new advice to companies on how to keep their systems safe. But new requirements on states to report on cyberthreats to their public water system have been withdrawn by the Environmental Protection Agency in the face of court challenges against Federal 'overreach'. Beijing has a long history of cyber warfare with the West and managed to steal critical control data from Canadian gas pipeline operator Telvent after breaching its firewall in 2012. President Joe Biden with Chinese president Xi Jinping last year China's focus on Guam is of particular concern, as the US territory is a key military base in the Pacific, and would be a major staging ground for any American response in the event of a conflict in Taiwan or the South China Sea The group's apparent focus on Guam is of particular concern, as the US territory is a key military base in the Pacific Hackers at the notorious Unit 61398 were held responsible and Five members of the unit were indicted in 2014 for hacking US companies. But officials believe the strategy has changed from one of gathering intelligence to one of wreaking havoc. And no company is too small or seemingly unimportant to escape Chinese attention. Eric Goldstein of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency told the Washington Post that many targets are 'not necessarily those that would have an immediate relevant connection to a critical function upon which many Americans depend. 'Opportunistic targeting based upon where they can gain access', is a way of establishing access to an entire industry. The National Security Agency has warned that any employee is at risk of allowing Chinese spies into their company, and has urged firms to insist on mass password resets. They want better monitoring of accounts that have high network privileges and warned that authentication which relies on a text message to a user's phone can be intercepted by foreign governments. And while the Chinese are keen to project their growing military strength, the full extent of their cyber capabilities remains a closely guarded secret. Jim Biden used his brother's name and White House connections to help back a rural healthcare provider that landed jobs for three Biden family members, insiders revealed. An email obtained by Politico from a person close to Americore, a healthcare company that has been accused in $100million Medicare fraud case, revealed that Jim used his brother's clout as vice president to advance the company. Jim worked as a consultant for Americore in 2017 after his brother served eight years as vice president. Former executives from Americore also told Politico that Jim had also planned for Joe to serve on the board and suggested his brother could promote the company during a future presidential run, according to the report. Sources also said that Jim used his relationship with his older brother to pursue deals and make pitches that rewarded the company with funds for drug rehab, cancer treatments and lab testing. The shocking report is the latest alleging inappropriate behaviors by the Biden family. It comes as the president faces an impeachment investigation about the family's business dealings. An investigation by Politico found that Jim Biden used President Joe Biden's name to back Americore. P In response to the accusations and findings, a spokesperson for the president told Politico that they 'are not able to participate in this story at this time' Politico went on to report that Jim offered to secure funds from investors in the Middle East to fund Americore's expansion. The expected funds did not arrive and led to the downfall of the healthcare company, which left bills unpaid and patients untreated. The company also remains under investigation, accused of $100million in Medicare fraud. At least three of the president's relatives were also employed by Americore, including Jim's wife Sara and his son Jamie, Politico reported. Hunter Biden was also found to have met with the company's CEO and his personal physician, Kevin O'Connor. The two joined in on a meeting with Jim and the president of the hospital, according to documents reviewed by Politico. It is unclear what roles the family members played in the company, as none of them answered questions related to the topic. The White House also didn't respond for comment, Politico said. Jim's attorney, Paul Fishman, said in a statement that his client 'conducted himself ethically and honorably in all his business dealings.' Jim has not been charged with criminal wrongdoing. Former executives from Americore also told Politico that Jim had also planned for Joe to serve on the board and suggested his brother could promote the company during a future presidential run, according to the report Jim has not been charged with criminal wrongdoing and last year, he repaid Americore $350,000 to settle a lawsuit - though his lawyers said he played no role in the company's demise In response to the accusations and findings, a spokesperson for the president told Politico that they 'are not able to participate in this story at this time.' Americore imploded in 2019 and filed for bankruptcy amid a pile of lawsuits and a federal investigation into fraud allegations. Americore also accused Jim Biden of failing to repay $600,000 in loans. According to Politico, the investigation did not find that the president directly involved himself in the fraud, but 'did benefit indirectly from his brother's work with the firm.' The outlet went on to say that on the same day that Jim received a $200,000 Ameicore payment, he made a check out to his brother Joe. In response, the White House said that the check was to pay off a loan, but did not respond when asked if the president knew of his brother's income from the company or the specifics of the said loan payment. 'I was told that Americore was going to be the salvation of rural hospitals,' one former executive told Politico. 'The whole thing was a scam, and it didnt take that long to figure it out.' Last year, Jim repaid Americore $350,000 to settle the lawsuit - though his lawyers said he played no role in the company's demise and that he had received the money for consulting work, not loans, as Americore Trustee Carol Fox alleged as the trustee. According to one source familiar with the interview, Fox identified no services rendered by James to Americore - and that Americore provided a 'loan' to him with no documentation in return for a promise of funding from the Middle East that never came. According to Politico, the investigation did not find that the president directly involved himself in the fraud, but 'did benefit indirectly from his brother's work with the firm' Hunter Biden was also found to have met with the company's CEO and his personal physician, Kevin O'Connor. The two joined in on a meeting with Jim and the president of the hospital, according to documents reviewed by Politico A patient in one of the company's hospitals, located in Southern Kentucky, died of cardiac arrest in 2018 after staff dwindled, along with medical supplies due to the alleged scheme, Politico reported. Employees at that hospital were also found to have lost health insurance after Americore suddenly stopped paying for the benefit, Politico found. The Justice Department then found that Ellwood City Hospital in Pennsylvania, under Americore , entered into several service agreements and paid kickbacks involved with 'medically unnecessary lab tests' the the hospital shipped out, according to Politico. Documents also revealed that Jim assisted the company in getting medical approval to obtain the hospital in Pennsylvania. Email reviewed by Politico also showed that Jim fired the medical company's CFO. Republicans leading the investigation into the Biden family's 'influence peddling scheme' that is the center of their impeachment inquiry into the president, say this personal check directly shows Joe was aware of - and included in - his family's dealings. Alejandro Mayorkas is one of Republicans most loathed members of President Joe Biden's administration becoming last week only the second-ever cabinet secretary impeached in U.S. history. A new report Saturday includes officials detailing how the White House tried to stop the Homeland Security Secretary from calling the migration surge over the southern border a 'crisis.' And three officials, according to the New Yorker report, claim it was floated in late spring 2023 that Mayorkas be fired to help reset the administration's messaging over the southern border. Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled House finally voted by a margin of just one vote to impeach Mayorkas. But the Democrat-led Senate is likely to acquit him. This all comes amid record-breaking illegal immigration and migration across the southern border after Biden instructed Mayorkas to loosen Trump-era restrictions upon entering office in 2021. A New Yorker article this weekend reveals the White House intentionally directed DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas to not called the surge at the southern border a crisis The report notes that White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain floated last spring potentially firing Mayorkas as a way to reset the messaging on handling of the southern border In December 2023, the U.S. saw the largest-ever single day apprehension record with Customs and Border Protection coming in contact with 301,983 migrants crossing the southern border into the U.S. Republicans blame Biden's lax policies for this surge, and claim Mayorkas is at fault as well for a dereliction of duty at the southern border and lying to the American people about the severity of the crisis. During a March 2021 press conference, a reporter asked Mayorkas outright if there was a 'crisis at the border,' to which the DHS Secretary replied: 'The answer is no. I think there is a challenge at the border that we are managing.' This answer, according to the New Yorker article, was in accordance with White House instructions for Mayorkas to avoid using the word 'crisis' in his public appearances when discussing immigration. It was obvious to most Americans and lawmakers alike that there was crisis with thousands of asylum-seekers arriving every day. And Mayorkas' wording at the time stuck even his most staunch defenders as awkward. 'I refuse to engage on battles of diction,' Mayorkas told The New Yorker when reached about his evasion of using the word 'crisis' at the time. Additionally, three administration officials said that during a White House meeting last spring, Biden's Chief of Staff Ron Klain brought up potentially firing Mayorkas. It was proposed, according to the officials, as a way to reset the narrative on the southern border and border security overall. The House voted to impeach Mayorkas last week, making him only the second-ever cabinet secretary to be impeached in U.S. history But one former official questioned who could possibly replace Mayorkas, who had the most experience on the issue. 'I never suggested firing Secretary Mayorkas,' Klain insisted to the New Yorker. 'I consider Ali a friend and a dedicated public servant.' House Speaker Mike Johnson brought a floor vote to impeach Mayorkas last week, which was ultimately successful. But now the issue goes to the Senate, which requires a two-thirds vote to convict and remove a secretary official from office. Mayorkas was the first cabinet official to be impeached in nearly 150 years and only the second to ever face that fate. Claims that Prince Harry could return to royal duties were dismissed as the King made a public appearance at church yesterday. Sources say His Majesty is 'firmly of the opinion' there is no way back for the Duke of Sussex as a working royal 'in any way, shape or form'. Insiders stress this does not mean Charles, 75, isn't open to repairing his relationship with his estranged younger son in the future. But this is seen as very different from Harry being invited to support the King professionally during his cancer battle. Prince William is also understood to share this opinion although Kensington Palace has made it clear that his focus is on returning to work after taking a break to care for his wife following her operation last month. Claims that Prince Harry could return to royal duties were dismissed as the King made a public appearance at church yesterday Sources say His Majesty is 'firmly of the opinion' there is no way back for the Duke of Sussex as a working royal 'in any way, shape or form' Queen Camilla attends the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene today Speculation ran rife over the weekend after The Times claimed the Duke of Sussex is willing to return to a 'temporary royal role' to support his father during his illness. Harry, 39, has been encouraged by 'warm exchanges' between himself and the King since his father's cancer diagnosis was revealed earlier this month, it was suggested. The prince had told friends he would be happy to 'step into a royal role while his father is unwell', it was said. A 'royal insider' said 'on all practical levels it makes perfect sense for the family to come together to support the King while he's sick', adding: 'The feeling is that this arrangement could work.' But well-placed sources have dismissed this completely, saying it is erroneous to suggest any discussions about the issue have taken place, even at a casual level. Sources say Charles, the Prince of Wales and the rest of the royal family are in 'solid agreement' that the terms of the so-called 'Sandringham Summit' stand. During this meeting, in January 2020, the late Queen made it clear her grandson's desired 'half-in, half-out' approach was unworkable. She insisted Harry must give up his royal affiliations and undertake not to trade on his royal connections if he insisted on pursuing business deals abroad. A source said: 'The terms of the accord were very clear and nothing that has happened recently, including the King's illness, has changed that.' Prince William is also understood to share this opinion although Kensington Palace has made it clear that his focus is on returning to work after taking a break to care for his wife following her operation last month Speculation ran rife over the weekend after The Times claimed the Duke of Sussex is willing to return to a 'temporary royal role' to support his father during his illness Another source added: 'Have the King and Harry been speaking? Yes. Does this mean a return to the fold even on a temporary basis? No.' Aside from a small number of investitures, the King does not plan to offload a great number of duties on other family members while he undergoes treatment, another source said. If he does need his family to step in, any extra duties can easily be covered by William. His Majesty looked in good spirits as he went to church on the Sandringham Estate with Queen Camilla, waving to well-wishers. He has spent the last few weeks at his Norfolk estate, returning to London briefly during the week for medical treatment and meetings. Over the weekend, it was also claimed that royal aides 'blocked' Harry from joining the King at Sandringham when he made a 25-hour visit to the UK in early February to see his father. Staff feared 'they'd never get rid of him', the Sun reported, and invited him to a 45-minute meeting at Clarence House instead. But a source pointed out that Harry had an engagement in Las Vegas a day after returning to the US. In an interview with Good Morning America, Harry said he was pleased to have visited the UK to see his father. The prince, who headed to Vancouver, Canada, last week with his wife Meghan for an Invictus Games celebration, said he would return to see him again as he has other trips to the UK planned and did not discount the suggestion that his family rift could be healed by the crisis. A woman arrested on suspicion of murdering three children in Bristol was 'having a hard time' with her newborn baby, neighbours said last night, as they paid tribute to the 'lovely' kids. Police officers tragically found the youngsters dead at a home on Blaise Walk, Sea Mills, in the early hours of Sunday morning after receiving a concern for welfare call. The 42-year-old woman, said locally to be a Sudanese national who has lived in the city since 2017, was then taken to hospital where she is being held in police custody. While Avon and Somerset Police have not revealed any details about the children, locals believe a boy, aged around eight, a girl, thought to be around four, and a baby boy, between six-months to a year old, were found in the property. One woman, wished to remain anonymous, said said: 'She was lovely, her kids were lovely, they were nice people. I think she was having a hard time with her newborn.' Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of murder after three children were found dead at an address in Blaise Walk, Sea Mills in Bristol. Pictured: Police at the scene on Sunday Officers gather at the scene in Sea Mills, Bristol on Sunday after three children were found dead The neighbour said that the two eldest children had attended the local Sea Mills primary school. The school announced it would remain closed on this morning and reopen at 1.30pm. A 42-year-old Bristol taxi driver said he had last seen the mother two weeks ago. He said: 'She was happy. Her kids were all happy.' The man said the family were part of the Sudanese community in Bristol. He added: 'She is a very nice person. It is very sad.' Others described the woman as 'really gentle' and 'really lovely' who 'always had a smile on her face'. The force has not confirmed the name of the woman or her relationship to the children who were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after officers arrived at around 12.40am on Sunday. The children's cause of death is yet to be confirmed. A heavy police presence remained in the area much of yesterday, with photos showing part of the road cordoned off, with multiple police cars and a forensic team on the scene. A gathering at a local church was held in memory of the children last night, locals added, while a local playground announced it would be closed today. Tributes have since flooded in from those within the Sea Mills community who have been left rocked by the tragedy. The force has not confirmed the name of the woman or her relationship to the children. Pictured: Officers at the scene in Blaise Walk on Sunday A police cordon seen in place on Blaise Walk in Sea Mills near Bristol after three children were found dead A police cordon in place in front of a home in Sea Mills, Bristol on Sunday afternoon Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Melen said: 'This is an incredibly tragic and heart-breaking incident in which three children have sadly died. 'My sincere condolences go to the children's loved ones and we will be ensuring they are offered support through our family liaison unit. 'We believe this to be an isolated incident and there is no further risk to the wider community, however officers will remain at the scene to provide reassurance to anyone who has any questions or concerns. 'Over the coming days, residents can expect to see an increased police presence and we thank them for their co-operation during this time.' Police said the Independent Office for Police Conduct had been informed about the incident due to 'prior police contact'. Mayor of Bristol Martin Reeves wrote on Facebook: 'It's almost impossible to find the words to describe this afternoon's devastating news from Sea Mills, Bristol 'My thoughts are with all who knew these three young children we will be working with schools, the community, and the police to support people.' Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West added on social media: 'I'm deeply saddened by this tragic news from Sea Mills today. 'My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the children, and my thanks go to our emergency services who responded. Avon and Somerset Police will remain in the area but consider this to be an isolated incident.' The three children were pronounced dead at the scene, Avon and Somerset Police said today. Pictured: Police at the home A police van seen earlier on Sunday after officers were called to the scene at 12.40am Avon and Somerset Police said the discovery was made after officers attended a concern for welfare call in Blaise Walk, Sea Mills. Pictured: Police at the scene earlier today Local councillor Henry Michallat, who represents Sea Mills said: 'I am deeply shocked and saddened by the news coming from Sea Mills today. 'My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the children at this sad and difficult time. I thank emergency service personnel who have responded.' Avon and Somerset Police Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford added: 'I am deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of three children today in Sea Mills. 'The deaths of these children is heart breaking. My thoughts are with all those who knew and cared for these children and with the local community, who I know will be impacted. 'The police have made an arrest and believe this to be an isolated incident. They have assessed that there is no further risk to the wider community. 'There are questions to be asked about how such an appalling event has occurred and what could have been done to prevent it, but for now, I ask that people allow the police to investigate.' A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: 'Officers attended a concern for welfare call in Blaise Walk, in Sea Mills, on Sunday February 18 at around 12.40am. 'Tragically, three young children inside the property were pronounced dead a short time later. Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of murder after three children were found dead at an address in Blaise Walk, Bristol 'A 42-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and she is in police custody at hospital. 'As is usual in these circumstances we have notified the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), due to prior police contact.' An IOPC spokesperson said: 'We were notified this afternoon about this tragic incident in Bristol by Avon and Somerset Police, who advised us that there had been prior police contact earlier this month. 'We have requested a paper referral with further information about the prior contact and once received, we will assess it to determine whether further action is required from us.' The community in Sea Mills has been left reeling from the incident. The area's local community playgroup will remained closed tomorrow as a result of the tragedy. Writing on Facebook Sea Mills Community Playgroup said: 'Due to the tragic events in our community today, playgroup will be cancelled tomorrow morning. 'Our hearts go out to the family and their friends, neighbours, school friends and wider community.' A UK-registered cargo ship has come under attack off the coast of Yemen amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea. The attack occurred 35 nautical miles south of Al Mukha in Yemen on Sunday night, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. An explosion in close proximity to the open hatch general cargo ship resulted in damage, but all crew are safe and 'authorities are investigating', the agency said in an advisory note. The report gave no further details but Sky News, citing private security firm Ambrey, said that the ship was a UK-registered vessel and had come 'under attack' in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched repeated drone and missile attacks against international commercial shipping in the Red Sea since mid-November, saying it is acting in solidarity with Palestine as Israel wages war on Hamas. The UK and the US have carried out joint airstrikes against the Houthis in recent weeks in order to stop attacks on commercial shipping. The UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received a report of an incident 35 nautical miles south of Al Mukha in Yemen on Sunday night. An explosion in close proximity to the vessel had resulted in damage, but all crew are safe and 'authorities are investigating' BREAKING: UK-registered cargo ship 'under attack' near Yemen https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/qJGtU1lhep Sky News (@SkyNews) February 18, 2024 The ship was heading north during its journey from Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates to Varna, Bulgaria, when the attack occurred, Ambrey revealed. 'The partially laden vessel briefly slowed from ten to six knots and deviated course, and contacted the Djiboutian Navy, before returning to her previous course and speed,' the firm added. The ship is believed to Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated and UK registered. Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait over Israel's offensive in Gaza. They have often targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperilling shipping in a key route for trade among Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The attacks have prompted several companies to halt Red Sea journeys and opt for a longer and more expensive route around Africa. The Houthis fired naval missiles at the British ship 'LYCAVITOS' in the Gulf of Aden last Thursday. The group said it will continue to enforce a 'blockade on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas until a ceasefire is achieved and a siege is lifted in the Gaza Strip'. Meanwhile, spiralling shipping costs triggered by the Houthi rebel attacks on vessels in the Red Sea could mean that Britons could face severe price rises and shortages on major household items like white goods, sofas, garden furniture and barbecues this summer. The price of global shipping containers jumped by more than 300 per cent from November 2023 to January this year as a result of the chaos. A dangerously out of control XL bully-type dog was shot dead by police yesterday after attacking another dog and injuring three people. The dog described by officers as being a large bulldog-type was reported to have been shot six times by armed police after attempts to restrain it had failed. Police had been called to the scene in East Kilbride after reports of the animal attacking a collie. Local officers tried to get it under control but had to call in armed police as the dog could not be safely restrained. Three people suffered minor injuries before the dog was killed. Distressing video footage shared on social media showed armed police at a property and captured the shooting of the animal, the Scottish Sun reported. An investigation is now under way to determine what breed it was. A referral has also been made to the police investigation authority because a firearm was discharged. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Around 10.25am on Sunday, 18 February, police were called to a report of a large bulldog-type dog attacking a collie dog on Mannering, East Kilbride. From Friday, February 23 all owners of XL Bullies in Scotland must make sure their dog wears a muzzle and is kept on a lead at all times in public. Local officers attended and attempted to restrain the dog, which was dangerously out of control. Armed officers subsequently attended and the dog was shot dead by police. Three people reported receiving minor injuries during this incident. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the breed of dog and there will be a continued police presence in the area while inquiries continue. The spokesman added: As with any firearm discharge, the circumstances of the incident will be referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. The condition of the three injured people and the collie dog was not known last night. From this Friday, all owners of XL bullies in Scotland must make sure their dog wears a muzzle and is kept on a lead at all times in public. It will also be against the law to breed, sell, exchange, gift, advertise or abandon an XL bully, or allow it to stray. In August, it will become an offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate. Scotland brought its ban into force later than in England and Wales, raising concerns that the animals were being brought over the Border to be rehomed. Last month a man suffered serious injuries after being mauled by a bully-type dog which had been brought up from England a fortnight previously. That dog was also shot by police after it had attacked its owner and another man in Hamilton. Jonathan S. Blake in Boston Review: In early 2022, the Economist decried governments widespread new fondness for interventionism. The state was becoming bossier and more meddlesome, it complained. In fact, the states punitive arm was plenty active in the United States and the United Kingdom during the decades that neoliberalism shredded public investment and public goods, to say nothing of the foreign interventions of these states over this period. But on the economic front, at least, the Economist was right: state spending and regulation are back after years of retrenchment. In the United States, the federal government has recently spent $5 trillion under two presidents to act against public health and economic threats, and the Biden administration is boastfully pursuing industrial policy to remedy problems created by four decades of deference to the private sector, especially around climate. Add to this a more aggressive approach to antitrust enforcement and regulation in general, and the administrative and development elements of todays American state looks very different than they did in 1990 or even 2010. This new statism is a direct response to the rise of China as well as a rejection of the anemic policies rolled out to combat the 2008 financial crisis. Many left-of-center officials and policy intellectuals have concluded that both national security and the preservation of democracy against populist threats require more vigorous government control over markets. More here. Barnaby Joyce has given up drinking for a religious holiday after he was filmed lying on a public footpath rambling on his phone, having mixed alcohol with prescription medication. The former deputy prime minister, who has denied having a problem with alcohol, also refused to comment on his Nationals colleague Perin Davey who admitted to drinking alcohol before she was caught slurring her words at a budget estimates hearing. 'I have given up two things for Lent, one is drinking, and the other one is talking about other people in regards to that,' Mr Joyce told Nine's Today Show on Monday. 'I will let other people deal with the issues that are personal to them. I won't be adding commentary to it.' Daily Mail Australia captured video of Barnaby Joyce lying on the footpath on a Canberra street mumbling into his phone about a fortnight ago Ms Davey was filmed stumbling over her words while speaking at a Senate environment and communications legislation committee hearing on February 13. The NSW Senator has denied being intoxicated but said she consumed two glasses of wine at a staff drinks function beforehand. Nationals leader David Littleproud defended Ms Davey's actions and said he 'wholeheartedly' supported the MP's assurances that she was not drunk. 'We're not without faults in the National Party,' he told Sky News. 'We all slur our words from time to time and I think this is a bit of an overreach.' The incident, which emerged just one week after Mr Joyce was filmed sprawled drunk on a Canberra footpath after a long parliamentary sitting day, has sparked growing calls to reconsider an alcohol ban in parliament. NSW Senator and Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey slurred her speech during a budget estimates hearing. Picture: Supplied Opposition leader Peter Dutton said individuals should take responsibility for their actions and that he thought a lot of people would learn a lesson from the scandals. 'People can have a drink in moderation. You can catch up with friends, you can attend social functions and that happens in workplaces and across society every day. But you need to take responsibility, particularly if you're in the public eye,' he told Sunrise. When earlier asked about the back-to-back alcohol-related controversies plaguing his party, Mr Joyce remained tight lipped but said he thought the issue had been blown out of proportion for political reasons. 'Sometimes I do get a sense of 'let's exploit this issue politically for all the purpose we can get,' he said.'That is an issue for the parties to decide. I will let them have that discussion.' Crossbencher Zali Steggall has called for random drug and alcohol testing in Parliament. Above, Mr Joyce during Question Time last week Teals MP Zali Steggall last week urged the prime minister to introduce random drug and alcohol testing into parliament, citing an 'apparent issue' with a culture of alcohol consumption in Canberra.Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she did not think that an alcohol ban would deter parliamentarians from drinking at work. The senior Labor figure knocked back calls to roll out breath testing for federal MPs, arguing there was 'real problem' if the public could not trust their elected officials to resist drinking in their workplace. 'I think the first thing to say is people shouldn't be drunk at work. I think adults need to think very hard about their consumption of alcohol in the workplace - I don't really see any cause for it at all,' she said. 'The truth is most parliamentarians don't drink at work, what you see is a few high-profile cases that I suppose give the impression that we are all out there [on the drink] every night. It's simply not the case.' It's impossible not to be horrified by the grotesque behaviour of police officers who shared, via WhatsApp groups, graphic details of the appalling injuries suffered by Valdo Calocane's victims. The police are entrusted with protecting the public from harm. By sending sickening messages about those killed in Nottingham to colleagues, family and friends, they have instead caused it. Such twisted voyeurism is an insult to the three killed in the vicious knife attacks Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates and yet another profound betrayal of their devastated families. One constable has been given a final written warning after being found guilty of gross misconduct. But following this scandal, Nottinghamshire Police's reputation has hit rock bottom. The force is already under investigation by the police watchdog over the killings. A police corden in Milton street in Nottingham on the day Valdo Calocane murdered his three victims Paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane, 32, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter with diminished responsibility At the time of his calculated rampage, Calocane was wanted for assaulting an officer, yet they had failed to locate him. As a result, three innocent people died. This dismal failure was compounded by investigators not bothering to take proper toxicology samples from the killer, which would have shown if he had taken drugs. That could have led to a tougher sentence. The sharing of explicit information about the victims' wounds is just the latest disturbing aspect of this case. What makes it worse is this kind of conduct is not a one-off. It is a pattern of police behaviour. Sarah Everard was murdered by a serving officer known to colleagues in a WhatsApp group as 'the rapist'. Metropolitan Police officers shared obscene pictures of the bodies of two women murdered in a north London park. The list goes on. This is not something that happened overnight. A culture of skewed priorities and unacceptable behaviour has grown like a virus over the years. The cumulative effect is a severe corrosion of public confidence in the police. Chief constables have pledged to clean up their forces. This shameful case underlines the colossal scale of the task. Indefensible ambition One lesson from history is that the best way to keep peace is to prepare for war. Our adversaries understand deterrence through strength. It is through deterrence that we seek not to fight in the first place. Any sign of weakness is an invitation for despots to threaten us and stoke conflict. Given that the first duty of government is defence of the realm, we are entitled to ask if our leaders have fulfilled this obligation. The answer is an emphatic no. Although funding for the Armed Forces is rising in cash terms, it is hard to argue that it is sufficient to protect our interests in a world growing more volatile by the day. Only last month Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warned that the world is in a 'pre-war' state. Our enemies are rearming. Only last month Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warned that the world is in a 'pre-war' state. Our enemies are rearming Russia's invasion of Ukraine rages on. Vladimir Putin's regime has threatened nuclear strikes on the West Russia's invasion of Ukraine rages on. Vladimir Putin's regime has threatened nuclear strikes on the West. The Middle East is in flames. And an aggressive China is sabre-rattling over Taiwan. Yet our military is smaller and less ready to fight than at any time in history. Crippled by a recruitment crisis, a shortage of ships and planes, and wasteful procurement, it seems we'd struggle to defend the Isle of Wight. So what is the Defence Secretary doing about this? Incredibly, instead of having a laser-like focus on his brief, Mr Shapps is apparently plotting a Tory leadership bid. The Mail on Sunday reports he spends barely six days a month at the MoD, and takes Tuesday afternoons off to hatch plans. His allies vehemently deny this. But even if it's only partly true, it would be a disgraceful dereliction of duty to the nation. With World War III inching ever closer, Mr Shapps should be ensuring Britain has a military our enemies fear not fighting to further his own political ambitions. READ MORE: Video emerges of pilot being held hostage in West Papua At least 26 people have been killed in a massacre in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, local officials have confirmed. The men were shot dead in an ambush in the Enga Province in the remote highlands region of the South Pacific island nation on Sunday, the ABC reported. The massacre was a major escalation in ongoing tribal violence in the region. Confronting photos and footage have emerged of bodies being loaded onto police trucks as officers gather at the scene. The massacre was reportedly related to a conflict between two tribes. Dozens were shot dead in an ambush in the Enga Province in the remote highlands region of Papua New Guine. Pictured are officials removing some of bodies At least 26 people have been killed in a massacre in the highlands of the Enga Province, in Papua New Guinea, local officials have confirmed (pictured is locals in the Enga Province) Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Acting Superintendent George Kakas said the massacre was the 'largest killing' they'd seen in the Enga province. 'We're all devastated, we're all mentally stressed out. It's really hard to comprehend,' he told the publication. 'These tribesmen have been killed all over the countryside, all over the bush. 'Police and defence forces have had to go in to do their best to quell the situation at their own risk. 'We started collecting bodies, scattered all over the battlefield, the roads, the riverside and they were loaded onto police trucks and taken to the hospital.' Acting Superintendent Kakas said one of the tribes had been on their way to attack a neighbouring group when they were suddenly ambushed. Kakas initially said 53 combatants had died. But security forces later revised the death toll down to 26. Officials remain on patrol near the town of Wabag, 600km north-west of PNG capital Port Moresby following Sunday's massacre Authorities described the massacre was the 'largest killing' they'd seen in the Enga province Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said news of the massacre was 'very disturbing'. 'We remain available to provide whatever support we can in a practical way, of course, to help our friends in PNG,' he said. Violence is not new in the province, with the area being locked down for three months last July to address ongoing tribal conflict. The lockdown included a 9pm to 6am curfew and travel restrictions. The measures were taken to help seize illegal firearms. Enga Governor Peter Ipatas said authorities had been warned that such violence was going to be seen in the province. 'From a provincial perspective, we knew this fight was going to be on and we [alerted] the security forces last week to make sure they took appropriate action to ensure this didn't occur,' he said. Violence is not new in the province, with the area being locked down for three months last July to address ongoing tribal conflict (pictured is Enga Province) The Prince of Wales will be attending the Bafta film awards in London alone tonight as the Princess of Wales continues to recover from abdominal surgery. William, who is president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), is attending his first high-profile royal engagement since his wife's operation last month. Initially, it was thought he would miss the event at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall but he is thought to be keen to represent both himself and his wife. Last year, he attended the ceremony along with the Princess of Wales, where they met award-winners Cate Blanchett, Austin Butler and Emma Mackey. Kate had surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children. Since the royal health announcements, which have also included his father the King's unspecified cancer diagnosis and separate prostate treatment, William has attended few events - however, he will attend the BAFTAs this evening, without Kate by his side (the pair pictured at last year's event) Date night on hold: The couple have made their appearance at the award show an annual night out in previous years (Pictured in 2023) Since the royal health announcements, which have also included his father the King's unspecified cancer diagnosis and separate prostate treatment, William has attended few events. He gave a speech at a London charity engagement raising funds for London's Air Ambulance Charity's new fleet of helicopters earlier this month. Christopher Nolan's epic biopic about atomic bomb creator J Robert Oppenheimer is expected to be a big winner at the Baftas after Oppenheimer received 13 nominations. William has been the president of Bafta since 2010 and Kate first attended the event with her husband in 2017. At last years event, Kate Middleton opted for an Alexander McQueen one shoulder gown for the occasion, which she first wore to the event in 2019. The Prince of Wales was grinning as he waved to royal fans who had lined the red carpet waiting for the couple (Pictured: The ceremony in 2023) The Prince and Princess of Wales, who regularly attend the BAFTA awards, chatted with Krishnendu Majumdar, Chair of BAFTA at the event For his outfit, William kept things classic and simple in a double-breasted black velvet tuxedo jacket. After the award ceremony, the couple chatted animatedly with the stars, including Austin and Sex Education's Emma Mackey, as well as the host of the event, Alison Hammond. It comes as King Charles returned to London for a short period for further cancer treatment following his diagnosis earlier this month. Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers. The Queen has been carrying out her royal diary of engagements and last week said her husband was doing 'extremely well under the circumstances'. King Charles has been seen returning to London this week for more cancer treatment after his first public appearance at Sandringham Charles seemed in high sprits on Sunday morning as he attended a church service on the Sandringham estate almost a week after his cancer diagnosis 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. The King and Queen arrived as downpours swept across London and Charles was photographed waving to well-wishers. Charles's diagnosis followed three nights in a private London hospital where he was treated for an enlarged prostate. The Prince of Wales 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 the King's Sandringham estate. Christopher Nolan's epic biopic about atomic bomb creator J Robert Oppenheimer is expected to be a big winner at the Baftas after Oppenheimer received 13 nominations. Cillian Murphy, who played the titular role of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer Cillian Murphy, who played the titular role in Oppenheimer, will go up against fellow Irish star Barry Keoghan, who is nominated for his leading role in Emerald Fennell's viral black comedy Saltburn, in the best actor category. Also expected to attend are Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who are both nominated for their roles in Cooper's Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and Colman Domingo, who is nominated for Rustin, where he plays the man who helped Martin Luther King Jr and others organise the 1963 March On Washington. Mulligan's best actress rivals Margot Robbie, who is nominated for Barbie; Emma Stone, for Poor Things; Sandra Huller, for Anatomy Of A Fall; Fantasia Barrino, for The Color Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be at the awards. The ceremony will also feature a live musical performance by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham while Sophie Ellis-Bextor will sing her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn. The EE Bafta film awards will be hosted by Doctor Who star David Tennant at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday February 18. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. Dozens of Texas families are campaigning against uber-liberal Austin DA Jose Garza who they say is 'revictimizing' them after the deaths of their loved ones by not pursuing strict jail-time for their killers and attackers. Over 70 survivors of rape and other violent crimes and the families of those killed in the Austin area have formed a group to air their grievances with Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza. Backed by liberal billionaire George Soros, Garza swept into office in 2021 in a post George Floyd election-- promising to prosecute bad cops and reform the justice system, especially for black and brown law breakers. 'I thought he might be lenient on people caught with pot, not that he would be letting murderers go,' Conny Branham, whose son was murdered in June 2020 told DailyMail.com. Chris Branham, 26, was brutally beaten by a gang of five people, who stomped on his face in a motel. Two of the suspects drove him out to a remote corn field, where the father of two tried to flee, but was ultimately shot to death. Jose Garza was elected to office in 2020 and is currently running for re-election. The Democrat has a primary challenger, Jeremy Sylestine Chris Branham, 26 was killed in June 2020 after his body was dumped in a field outside of Austin Chris Branham (left) and his mother, Conny, (right) visiting the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2016 It took 37 days for his body to be located and his mother said he was mummified by then. Five people were involved in his mob-style beating, with the drug dealers believing Branham was a police informant, according to prosecutors. Only three of the five suspects arrested were sentenced to prison time. A man and teen girl, who shared a video on Snapchat of herself kicking and breaking Branham's jaw, had charges against them dropped. Kyle Cleveland, the man who prosecutors say fired the shots that killed Branham was originally indicted under capital murder charges, but the charges were later reduced and he was offered a plea deal for 35 years. Kyle Cleveland and Anthony Davis both received plea deals from Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza for their roles in the beating, kidnapping and shooting of Chris Branham Happy Valentine's Day from TMPA to Travis County DA @JosePGarza In the spirit of love and *sweetness*, we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than by showering Travis County DA Garza with thousands of Hershey Kisses. Why, you ask? Each delicious little morsel pic.twitter.com/BavoJ9Il3u TMPA (@TMPALegislative) February 14, 2024 The DA's office did not inform the Branhams that Garza was offering them plea deals until the paperwork had already been signed, Conny claims. The grieving mother and her family have already gone to parole eligibility hearings to try to keep her son's attackers in prison. 'It's total re-victimization,' fumed Conny. 'We, the victims have to go to parole hearings and write letters, relive every thing, every single time, just to entertain a criminal.' Then there are the cases Garza flat out refused to prosecute, resulting in charges being dropped all together-- up almost 50% compared to the previous DA, an investigation by local TV station KXAN found. 'It's because he believes that prison is bad,' lawyer Jeremy Sylestine who is running against Garza told DailyMail.com. Jeremy Sylestine, a former prosecutor in Austin, Texas, is challenging Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza in the Democratic primary Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza is on record as being against the death penalty, vowing to never enforcing it as long as he's in office 'He believes that he knows better than the Travis County citizens who make up our juries. There's a reluctance to take cases to trial and hear what the community has to say. Rather than do, he'd rather cut a deal that smacks the victim right in face.' The Democrat even offered a plea deal to Kaitlin Armstrong, the woman accused of killing the woman her boyfriend had briefly dated, in a jealous rage. Armstrong rejected the deal, and instead, went to trial in November. A jury found her guilty in under three hours and sentenced her to 90 years in prison. There are other countless stories like the Branham's, of families in mourning and seeking justice feeling disrespected by Garza's decision to drop charges or offer plea deals. 'I just feel broken,' JR Lopez, whose daughter was shot in the head during a deadly road rage incident, bleed out in her father's arms. JR Lopez pictured with his daughter, Miranda, 21, who was killed in 2021 Miranda Lopez, whose dad says loved being with her nieces and nephews, was shot in the head during a road rage incident in Austin, Texas The two men who fired at Miranda Lopez while she was driving home from dinner with her sister were also offered plea deals, even though the families were told state law allowed prosecutors to seek up to 99 years in prison. Lopez said Garza refused to take the cases to trial. 'This isn't justice,' the victim's dad said. 'I'm not sure how much longer I can do this.' Garza declined to be interviewed for this story, however, he sent a statement to DailyMail.com defending his record. 'Over the last three years, the District Attorneys Office has focused on holding accountable people who commit acts of violence and addressing the root causes of violence,' the statement said. 'As a result, this is one of the safest communities in the country.' Garza, who previously worked as a federal public defender, originally ran for office under the promise of being a different type of DA. 'He's someone who doesn't know what he's doing,' Sylestine added. 'He's not a trial lawyer. He has not been a criminal lawyer for most of his career and he's never been in front of a Travis County jury in his whole life. I just don't know that this is what Travis County bargained for in 2020.' Garza's campaign promises were to focus more on violent crimes and less on low-level drug offenses, he told a liberal legal publication. In his first 100 days in office, the Democrat ended the use of cash bail for people charged with low-level, non-violent crimes. Anita Byington, 21, was beaten to death in August 1992. Allen Andre Causey confessed to killing Byington over a drug dispute, and is now seeking exoneration through the Texas Innocence Project He's also actively working with the Innocence Project of Texas, the group best known for helping death row inmates avoid the death penalty, to review cases from 1985 through 199, the Department of Justice announced. Garza is on record as being against the death penalty, and while running for office in 2020, vowed to never seek it if he became district attorney. Kristina Byington and her family was blindsided to learn Garza was working overturn a conviction for her cousin's killer. Allen Andre Causey had been convicted in July 1992 for the murder of Anita Byington. 'I don't understand it-- how can you be pro-criminal,' Kristina Byington said. Byington complained the DA's office hasn't even had the courtesy to keep them informed of hearings, forcing them to hire an attorney to review the facts of the case. The DA's beside manner was family was the most common complaint expressed by multiple victim's families interviewed by DailyMail.com Garza's opponent, a former assistant district attorney, claims 75 prosecutors out of about 95 have left the office under Garza's tenure. 'It's a huge percentage of experience and that can't be replaced quickly, and I don't know that he has the tools to teach people in a way that makes the public and victims feel good about who is handling those cases,' Sylestine stated. A democratic New York City lawmaker last week introduced a bill to ban laundry detergent packs like Tide Pods - in the latest attempt to crack down on household goods because of climate change fears. Stores and laundromats would face a fine of up to $1,200 for repeated violations. It's the latest in a series of green regulations that target household products, rules that have frustrated some consumers and business groups. Detergent packs join the ranks of gas stoves, washing machines, refrigerators, single-use plastic bags, home water heaters, and plastic straws as products that lawmakers want to regulate. Proponents of these regulations tout their environmental and human health benefits, arguing that there is little cost to the regular person. Opponents such as biostatistician Louis Anthony Cox Jr., speaking to DailyMail.com, criticize these rules for being anti-consumer nanny state overreaches that are based on flimsy science. Federal, state, and local regulators have implemented a range of new rules over the past decade governing everyday items like plastic grocery bags and clothes washers. In some cases, the scientific evidence for these rules is stronger than in others For example, gas stoves made headlines last year when federal regulators said they were considering banning them. The evidence was strong, but not conclusive, and it may have cost consumers about $1,000 to switch to electric induction stoves, plus a couple dollars more per month to operate them. One major critic of some of these consumer regulations told DailyMail.com that, whether or not they are based on good science, the rules require people to buy new products, waste resources that could be better spent elsewhere, deprive consumers of choices, and needlessly worry people that their daily activities are killing them - or the environment. The trouble is that it can be difficult for science to definitively prove that replacing gas stoves or inefficient dishwashers is actually helping human or environmental health - at least not without making the change and tracking data for years. Even in cases where there is strong evidence supporting new rules, science can rarely provide us with an answer that is absolutely certain. For that reason, there may be no way for science to say for certain whether a ban on plastic straws will help the environment, for example. But there are ways good science can inform laws, experts told DailyMail.com. And understanding the evidence can help us make informed decisions for ourselves and our loved ones, as well as recognize when lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum are making faulty arguments. Detergent packs are made of the quick-dissolving plastic called PVA, which spreads into the environment during wastewater processing Detergent pods polluting our water The 'Pods Are Plastic' bill targeting detergent pods was introduced last week by New York City Councilman James Gennaro. If passed, the law would go into effect at the beginning of 2026, banning retailers, wholesalers, and any other vendor from selling laundry pods, dishwasher pods, laundry sheets, or dryer sheets that contain polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The justification was that PVA contributes to pollution in waterways. WHY DETERGENT PACKS ARE SO DANGEROUS Laundry pods contain laundry detergent, softener, and other soap types enclosed in dissolvable plastic discs. The chemistry of the pods is roughly the same as in liquid detergents (including alkylbenzenesulfonates - the most common organic compound found in detergent). The water-soluble pouch is typically made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or a derivative of it. Although the formulas are similar, a detergent pod's liquids may contain only 10 percent water compared to 50 percent in liquid detergents. Because of this, the solution inside of the packets have a much higher concentration than conventional detergent - powder or liquid. Advertisement Detergent pods work because PVA, a see-through synthetic material, dissolves easily in water, releasing the detergent inside. Laundry sheets are also made of PVA, but in their case the detergent is infused into the material and is released as the sheet dissolves in wash water. Even though PVA dissolves in water, it does not actually break down into other, more basic molecules in the environment. Around 17,000 metric tons of PVA per year end up in wastewater treatment systems from detergent pods alone, according to a 2021 study. Nearly two-thirds of that ends up in the environment as sludge after treatment, while about 16 percent stays in the water. This means PVA belongs to the dreaded category of microplastics, microscopic bits of plastic that contaminate the environment and fail to decompose. Microplastics have been found in 90 percent of bottled water brands, and they have been linked to a wide range of human health conditions including infertility and cancer. PVA specifically can foam up in high enough concentrations, which could block fish from taking in oxygen - but this is not something that has proven to happen in the small concentrations that PVA exists in treated wastewater. The human health concerns surrounding detergent pods has also been marginal. Six adults with dementia and two children have died since 2012 after mistakenly eating the brightly colored pods. These health risks come from the detergent in the pods, though, not the PVA itself, which is not known to cause serious health issues - at least in the short term. A high-profile case of a turtle with a straw in its nose helped get the ball rolling on a whole spate of straw bans Plastic straws account for just 0.025% of world's plastic pollution In 2015, a disturbing video went viral, showing a team of marine biologists slowly pulling a plastic straw from a sea turtle's nose. The animal's pain is apparent, blood trickling from its nostril as biologists struggle to remove the straw. Be warned, the 8-minute video is excruciating. This emotional video helped spark the movement to ban plastic straws, an initiative that led multiple US states and cities to consider plastic straw bans - much to consumers' dismay. Since 2015, Seattle has banned plastic straws, as has Washington, D.C. California, Oregon, Colorado, and New York City have banned them unless customers specifically request them. Many other US states and cities, too, have implemented full or partial straw bans. Companies, too: Starbucks phased out plastic straws and stirrers, and McDonalds has banned them in its non-US locations. Some hotel chains and airlines, too, have ditched them in favor of paper straws or nothing. It's impossible to tally the true risk plastic straws pose to sea creatures, but it is possible to show how much plastic straws contribute to the world's plastic pollution: 0.025 percent, according to National Geographic. Out of the 8 million metric tons of plastic pollution going into oceans each year, only one-one quarter of one-tenth percent is plastic straws. Clearly the larger problem is plastics in general. But banning all plastics is a much tougher task. 'I think the question of how (and when) regulators should act on the basis of realistically imperfect information is one of the great questions of our age,' Cox, the former chair of the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, told DailyMail.com. Some states that have banned plastic straws also banned other single-use plastics like grocery bags and takeout utensils, but in many places plastic straw bans have not been accompanied by any additional rules on plastic. Anyone who has used a paper straw knows it can be tough to use, as they often start coming apart from the moisture. 'Depriving consumers of choices they would prefer, in order to create projected benefits that do not actually occur, can lead to higher costs, worse performance, and perhaps greater risks than result from leaving more choices open to consumers,' Cox said. In the case of plastic straw bans, that benefit that doesn't occur is a reduction in plastic waste. So for these bans to truly be science-backed, they may need to incorporate all or most single-use plastics. Regulations like this risk causing 'alert fatigue,' said Cox. 'Asking people to worry about too many everyday exposures risks desensitizing them to the ones that really matter,' he said. 'Paying closer attention to causation rather than correlation can help focus warnings and regulations where they actually make a difference.' Front-loading and top-loading washing machines were subject to different rules, under a set of Trump-era guidelines meant to offer consumers quicker, less efficient machines Washing machines - the evidence is a head-spin One of the main arguments against high-efficiency washing machines is that a cycle can take too long and won't be enough to get a load clean - requiring an additional load, which used up more water and electricity than one non-energy-efficient load would have in the first place. This was the argument used by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) when it sued the Biden federal government for repealing Trump-era rules on dishwasher and clothes washer efficiency. Washing machines are thought to contribute about 62 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, as well as using 19 billion cubic meters of water. In 2020, President Trump signed into effect rules that allowed manufacturers to make machines that ran more quickly, though they used more water and electricity. This rule enabled top-loading laundry cycles shorter than 30 minutes and front-loading laundry cycles shorter than 45 minutes The Biden administration overturned the rule, but CEI won. Trump's original rule was not based on scientific data about dishwashers or clothes washers, but on anecdotes. The same was true of Biden's executive order overturning the rule, and the same was true of the CEI lawsuit. In other words, none of the rules on washing machines, neither those in favor of quick, low-efficiency units, or those banning them, are based on science. Rather they are based on the arguments of lawyers - and a judgment from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Single-use plastic grocery bags make up a much greater portion of ocean trash than straws do, but most bans have not been enforced Plastic bags Just like plastic straws, single-use plastic grocery bags are increasingly unwelcome in the US. Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont have all banned them. San Francisco had already banned them in 2007, and the rest of California followed suit in 2014. And just like straws, some of the early messaging around bags had to do with sea turtles: They confuse them for jellyfish, eating them and choking. Despite the ban, many critics argue that the rules aren't working - because people simply aren't following them, and nobody is enforcing them. The science behind a ban mostly involves what does happen to the existing bags: Less than 10 percent of plastic bags get recycled, and they make up about 8 percent of plastic waste in the ocean - around 3.3 million tons. So eliminating single-use plastic bags could put a significant dent in that waste. The question is whether Americans will adopt reusable alternatives. Total bag volumes in New Jersey, for instance, fell by 60 percent according to a study from this January. Unfortunately, the effect on carbon emissions may not be there. According to that estimate, the carbon emissions from making nonwoven cloth bags is six times that of making plastic ones. And cotton bags, too, represent an increase in greenhouse gases because of how CO2-heavy cotton production is, according to a study from Columbia University. New energy-efficient water heaters may cost more in the short term, but the science behind energy efficiency is well settled between industry and government Water heaters The Biden administration proposed new energy efficiency rules for home water heaters in July of last year. Water heaters eat up about 13 percent of Americans' annual residential energy use and utility costs, and the new pumps are twice as efficient as older models. Officials said at the time that the new regulations to impose energy efficiency standards would save consumers $11.4 billion on energy and water bills annually. It would be nearly impossible to track how much these standards changed people's energy and water bills. Nonetheless, water heater standards had not been updated since 2010. One of the main changes under the new guidelines, which take effect in 2029, will be that new electric heaters must employ heat pumps to improve their energy efficiency. Heat pumps have not been shown to offer worse performance than existing models, which means there is less risk that the 'replacement' will be worse than the 'old' version - one of the potential harms of green regulations that Cox identified. 'Regulations that focus on the risks attributed incorrectly to an established product without considering the risks from its replacements may end up doing more harm than good,' he said. New water heaters may be more expensive, but consumers should make back that cost over time, Johanna Neumann, a senior director at the nonprofit Environment America Research and Policy Center, told the Washington Post at the time. 'Appliance standards are an unsung hero in our work to address climate change and transition to wiser energy use,' Neumann said, 'and this rule is the king of them all.' Questions of consumer choice aside, these standards are based on science. The Department of Energy has negotiated with pro-industry groups like CEI over the rules for how it rates appliance efficiency, so even the appliance industry is in agreement with the measurements. It is not debatable that these high-efficiency water heaters cost less energy, and since most will only be going into new construction where the materials to make them would have gone to making a conventional heater, there is no greater resource cost, either. Gas stoves have been shown to emit nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter, each of which has been shown to have negative effects on human health. But scientists and lawmakers still don't agree whether they should be banned. Gas stoves In January 2023, gas stoves became a political battleground after a commissioner on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the federal government may consider banning the products if manufacturers could not make them safer. His comment set of a fight that included lawmakers accusing scientific researchers of being in the pocket of the climate movement and even the Chinese Communist Party, and Biden's Department of Energy later issued a statement saying there was no plan to ban gas stoves. The safety at issue has to do with the gases emitted by burning natural gas. Multiple studies have shown that gas stoves give off nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter, often at higher levels than would trigger air quality warnings outdoors. All of these substances have been shown to be unsafe for humans to breathe. In one of the most cited pieces of evidence on the health effects of indoor gas stoves, a 2022 study found that 12.7 percent of childhood asthma cases could be blamed on having a gas stove in the home. That paper was based on a combined analysis of 27 different observational studies in Europe and North America. An observational study examines the possible cause-and-effect link between two things - in this case, having a gas stove in the home and having asthma. Observational studies can not prove cause and effect for absolute certain, but 27 different studies combine to strongly indicate that there may be a connection. Because it would be unethical to perform a randomized clinical trial where some children are assigned to homes with gas stoves and some to homes with electric, it may never be possible to determine with absolute certainty whether gas stoves contribute to asthma. But that may not be necessary. After all, the link between cancer and smoking was proven with observational studies - same as any cancer-causing substance or behavior. Scientists like Louis Anthony Cox Jr. have attacked gas stove regulations for not being based on sound science Nonetheless, not all researchers accept the conclusion that gas stoves contribute to asthma. Cox, a biostatistician, wrote that the conclusions drawn in an observational study can't necessarily be used to make predictions about other scenarios. 'The qualitative finding that reducing exposure to gas stove pollution would reduce the burden of childhood asthma in the United States has no demonstrated validity,' he wrote in March of last year. In other words, data collected in one situation may not apply to another situation. Cox has been accused of narrowly interpreting scientific evidence, by critics who argued that observational studies should be sufficient for questions of human health. He has written extensively on the idea that if lawmakers want to ban something, they should have to show science saying that the alternative is better. Appliance manufacturers and industry groups arguing against a ban have argued that the cost to homeowners would be unreasonable. 'A ban on gas cooking appliances would remove an affordable and preferred technology used in more than 40 percent of homes across the country,' Jill Notini, spokesperson for industry trade group Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, told DailyMail.com. For now, the federal government has not moved forward with a ban, after public backlash caused a rethink. But lawmakers and the courts in California are currently battling it out over a proposed ban, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul has said that she wants to ban gas stoves in new buildings by 2030. Not everyone can afford to replace their stove, so if you have a gas stove and are concerned about indoor air quality, doctors recommend opening a window or turning on the vent fan whenever you use it. Industry groups claimed high-efficiency dishwashers require multiple cycles to get dishes clean, but they had no data to back that up. Neither did the Biden administration when it killed special rules around less efficient dishwashers Dishwashers In the same rule affecting washing machines, the Trump administration had created a special category for and dishwashers with cycles under 60 minutes. But last year the US Department of Energy announced new energy efficiency standards for home appliances. One of these involved cutting the limit for water used by dishwashers from 5 gallons to 3.3, and improving energy efficiency by about 30 percent. 'The efficiency levels proposed in todays rule reflect that there are models available today that can meet improved energy and water standards, while providing the cleaning performance that consumers expect from their dishwashers,' read the DOE statement on the new standards. Critics once again attacked the rules for limiting consumer choice. 'Consumers will pay the real price,' Notini told DailyMail.com. 'The Department of Energy has proposed very stringent standards for home appliances that will require higher upfront costs to purchase a product.' 'Manufacturers just want to be able to deliver high performing, fully featured products at costs that consumers of all incomes can afford. The DoE is making that very difficult with the standards they are proposing,' she added. But in January of this year, a federal court disagreed and said that the new rules were not only overly restrictive, but also counterproductive. That may have been a political decision, but as with water heaters, efficiency is difficult to debate - especially when government and industry alike have agreed on the standards for measuring it. As to whether the cost justifies the energy savings over time, that is a personal consumer decision. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a set of Green Guides that lay out how companies are allowed to market their products. Last updated in 2012, the Green Guides govern when a company can and can't say its product is compostable, recyclable, "free of" an ingredient, produced by renewable energy, and so on. But these rules have not kept up with the pace of green regulations and the technologies involved in home appliances. Unfortunately, as this review has found, many of the green regulations around appliances - as well as the pushback against these regulations - are based more in emotion and politics than in science. On April 26, 1986, a systems test at the Number Four RBMK reactor at the Chernnobyl plant in the Ukraine led to a reactor overheating, and initiated a series of disastrous explosions, leading to the world's worst nuclear disaster. The Soviet military rapidly established an 'Chernobyl Exclusion Zone' around the plant - a 30-mile cordon where public access was forbidden due to contamination, and which remains largely deserted today, a haven for wildlife from feral dogs to wild horses. But what effect has the radiation of 'The Zone' - an area the size of Yosemite National Park - had on the wildlife that now thrives there? Several animals have begun to display differences from those elsewhere, scientists say - and some are exhibiting what might be described as 'superpowers'. Nature thrives in the shadow of the Chernobyl plant The ruined plant in Chernobyl Background radiation is up to 100 times higher than the nearby uncontaminated city of Kiev, but scientists still debate how much effect the radiation has had (compared to other factors such as the absence of human beings). For humans, The Zone is safe to walk through though, and is even visited by tourists (and people still work at the Chernobyl plant, largely on clean-up efforts). Tourists are warned that 'hot spots' off the beaten track still harbour dangerous amounts of radiation - and are told not to eat the fish or mushrooms which flourish in the wild landscape near Kiev in Ukraine. In the wake of the accident, the plant itself remained open, and other reactors generated electricity until 2000. The black frogs of Chernobyl Frogs around the ruined nuclear plant have become darker - a response, researchers believe, to radiation hot spots in 'The Zone'. The frogs around 'The Zone' have become darker due to radiation Researchers believe that the amphibians rapidly evolved black skin because green frogs were less likely to survive - driving what the researchers described as 'rapid evolution'. The Eastern tree frogs with the most protective melanin pigment were most likely to survive in highly radioactive areas, meaning populations became dominated by darker frogs. The researchers believe that the period of 'rapid evolution' may have occurred just after the accident itself, when radiation levels were at their highest, the team led by Pablo Burracco write in their research. The frogs are darker due to radiation, the researchers believe The researchers wrote in 2016 on The Conversation: 'Our work reveals that Chernobyl tree frogs have a much darker coloration than frogs captured in control areas outside the zone. 'As we found out in 2016, some are pitch-black. This coloration is not related to the levels of radiation that frogs experience today and that we can measure in all individuals. 'The dark coloration is typical of frogs from within or near the most contaminated areas at the time of the accident.' Super-powered bacteria Bacteria found on the wings of swallows within Chernobyl has been found to be more resistant to the effects of gamma radiation. When exposed to doses of radiation, bacteria from Chernobyl were able to reproduce and thrive, compared to bacteria from elsewhere. Bacteria found on the wings of birds near the site are radiation resistant In a 2016 study published in Scientific Reports, the researchers wrote, 'Long-term effects of radiation in natural populations might be an important selective pressure on traits of bacteria that facilitate survival in certain environments.' Cancer-resistant wolves Mutant wolves roaming the wasteland of Chernobyl have developed what might be described as a 'superpower' - and it could save human lives. Researchers found the animals in the Chernobyl Evacuation Zone (CEZ) have genetically altered immune systems that show a resilience to cancer. Wolf tracks near Chernobyl Researchers are now working to find if the genes could help human cancer patients. In 2014, Cara Love, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University, travelled to The Zone with a team of researchers to understand how animals have been able to survive the cancer-causing radiation. Researcher Cara Love with a wolf near Chernobyl Love and her team took blood samples from the wolves and placed GPS collars with radiation dosimeters on them to get real-time measurements of where they were and their radiation exposure levels. 'We get real-time measurements of where they are and how much [radiation] they are exposed to,' said Love. The researchers examined the genetic differences between the DNA of mutated wolves in the 1,000-square-mile radius of the CEZ and those outside it. Analysis showed that a number of their genes which are linked to cancer had new mutations to them, suggesting they had evolved to protect against the radiation. It is hoped that the discovery could pave the way for experts to identify mutations in humans that reduce the risk of cancer. A new kind of dog? Thousands of feral dogs now live in 'The Zone', many of whom are descended from family pets abandoned as people fled the area in the wake of the 1986 disaster. A study by University of South Carolina scientists analyzed the DNA of 302 feral dogs near the power plant and found significant DNA differences from other dog populations. A tawny owl flies from a chimney near Chernobyl The researchers write, 'the individuals from the power plant and Chernobyl City are genetically distinct'. More research will reveal how much radiation contributed to the genetic differences (compared to other factors such as inbreeding). Co-author Elaine Ostrander, a dog genomics expert at the National Human Genome Research Institute said to the New York Times, 'Do they have mutations that they've acquired that allow them to live and breed successfully in this region?' 'What challenges do they face and how have they coped genetically?' He told police he was homeless and has drug habit Paul Hogan's grandson has been convicted of two separate stealing offences after being caught shoplifting at Coles and Myer. Jake Paul Hogan, 34, whose dad is one of five children shared by the Crocodile Dundee star and his first wife Noelene Hogan, was arrested twice within three days in Sydney's CBD earlier this month. He was convicted of larceny in his absence in the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday. The carpenter was first arrested on February 5 after a Coles worker spotted him stealing two Dare Iced Coffees without paying at Coles World Square. 'The accused opened [a] 500ml [Dare] and began consuming the beverage while walking to another aisle,' court documents stated. Jake Paul Hogan, 34, has been convicted of two separate stealing offences after being shoplifting at Coles and Myer Jake Hogan is the grandson of the Crocodile Dundee star and his first wife Noelene Hogan (pictured) '[Hogan] then placed the larger 750ml bottle inside his bum bag, the accused exited the store without making any attempt to pay for the items.' According to court documents, Hogan told the witness he was homeless and didn't have any money, and claimed to police he hadn't eaten in a couple of days. He also claimed to police he paid $380 rent per week from a weekly income of $500 from carpentry work and about $500 in Centrelink benefits. Hogan was charged with shoplifting and released on bail with strict conditions, but three days later was caught stealing from Myer on George Street. On February 8 police were called after Myer security 'strongly suspected' Hogan of removing security tags from clothing items. According to court documents police found a black Puma cap, a black KSCY T-shirt, a black Nena & Pasadena T-shirt and one pair of green KSCY cargo shorts, with a total value of $259.97. Police informed him he was under arrest for shoplifting and for breaching his bail conditions, and issued him with an official police caution. Jake was arrested at Coles World Square earlier this month for stealing two Dare Iced coffees after claiming to be homeless Court documents state that Hogan is a 'recidivist property offender, which supports his illicit drug habit'. He has 12 prior charges in the state of New South Wales and is due to front court in March. Paul Hogan also has one child, wayward son Chance, 24, with his second wife, Linda Kozlowski. In October last year a video emerged of Chance covered in cuts and bruise after visiting a hospital in the US. The worrying clip came after he was forced to deny being a 'devil worshipper' far posting satanic images on social media, was seen vomiting outside a venue where his band had performed in 2018, and was seen smoking a bong on the balcony of Paul's home as a teenager in 2015. David Tennant recently returned to Doctor Who for a trio of specials to celebrate the show's 60th Anniversary - 18 years after first joining the show. The actor, 52, who originally played the part of the Time Lord from 2005 to 2010 and returned for a 2015 special, has the show to thank for his fame and acclaim. But the series has also played a much bigger role in David's life as the Sci-Fi introduced him to his wife, Georgia, through a rather spooky connection. The couple, who remain relatively quiet about their family life, have now been married for 13 years and share five children. MailOnline takes a look at their relationship; from their first meeting, to becoming the parents of five kids. David Tennant is best known for his role on Doctor Who, but the series also introduced him to his wife, Georgia, through a rather spooky connection (pictured in 2018) Here, MailOnline takes a look at their relationship; from their first meeting, to becoming the parents of five kids When did they meet? In November, Doctor Who star David revealed how the BBC show led to his marriage with Georgia Moffett. The couple met in 2008, when Georgia starred in the BBC hit series Doctor Who, as she took on the role of David's character's genetically engineered daughter Jenny, and they married three years later. Georgia is the daughter of former fifth Doctor Peter Davison, 72, who played the iconic role from 1981 until 1984. David later admitted he 'felt a bit stupid' marrying his wife Georgia, given she's the daughter of a former Doctor Who star, but she was relentless in her affections. The actor, who himself played the titular Time Lord from 2005 to 2010 later joked they're an 'unlikely partnership' due to their 14-year age gap. David and Georgia offered insight into their marriage during a rare joint interview, with the actress describing herself as a 'stalker' due to her non-stop attempts to woo him. Discussing their romance on That Gaby Roslin Podcast, Georgia said: 'I very much forced it into happening, didn't I?' before joking she was determined to woo the actor and kept pursuing him until he gave in. David then added: 'That makes it sound like I was resistant, which was not what happened. I thought we were an unlikely life partnership, I suppose. There is a bit of an age gap. 'Because Doctor Who had run through my life like a stick of rock, to end up marrying the daughter of one of the Doctors, it all felt a bit stupid... that wasn't really likely to happen. So there were a lot of things against it.' Peter said of his daughters relationship with David Its great because David is a genuinely nice guy. 'Im delighted Georgia has found happiness because she hasnt always had an easy life. David revealed how the BBC show led to his marriage with Georgia Moffett when she starred on the hit series as his character's genetically engineered daughter Jenny Georgia is the daughter of former fifth Doctor Peter Davison, 72, who played the iconic role from 1981 until 1984 (pictured in 1981) Engagement and wedding David and Georgia became engaged over Christmas 2010 and married in a low-key ceremony on New Years Eve 2011. Before the wedding, a friend said: David and Georgia cant wait to get married, they are madly in love. They have tried to keep everything quiet and the wedding is for family and closest friends only. The couple celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in 2021 by sharing a rare glimpse into their nuptials with an unseen snap. The actress took to Instagram to share the sweet photo of the newlyweds and their son, Ty Tennant at the altar after exchanging their vows. In the image the actress could be seen in her wedding dress complete with veil, alongside David who wore a black suit. Alongside the adorable photo Georgia penned: 'The happiest day followed by the happiest life. Thanks DT.' She added the hashtag, 'tenwithten' a cheeky reference to David's role as the tenth incarnation of the titular Time Lord in Doctor Who. David and Georgia became engaged over Christmas 2010 and married in a low-key ceremony on New Years Eve 2011 Before the wedding, a friend said: David and Georgia cant wait to get married, they are madly in love' (pictured in 2020) Children and family life At the time of their wedding Georgia already had a nine-year-old son called Tyler whom she gave birth to in 2002, when she was just 17. She brought him up alone and has never publicly revealed who the father is. David later adopted Ty, 21, and they went onto welcome their first daughter, Olive, in 2011. A friend announced the news and revealed to MailOnline at the time: Georgia and David could not be happier, Olive is beautiful and their families are over the moon. They did very well in keeping everything very nearly private and keeping things under wraps. Georgia was a lot more pregnant than people thought when the news first broke. The couple share, Olive, 12, Doris, seven, and Birdie, four, and a son, Wilfred, ten. Ty has followed in his father and mother's footsteps, starring as Tom in H. G. Wells' War of The Worlds and House Of The Dragon - the hugely popular prequel to Game Of Thrones. He played an older version of Aegon Targaryen, the son of King Viserys and Alicent Hightower who viewers first saw as a toddler in episode three. The talented teenager has also appeared in Casualty, and made his big screen debut with the role of young Christopher Wisemanin 2019's Tolkien. Wilfred has also made his television acting debut in BBC soap Casualty as he burst onto the screen asking for a doctor in 2022. The budding star, nine, followed in the footsteps of his mum Georgia, who starred on the show in 2007 and his older brother Ty, who appeared on the drama in 2020. Wilfred took on the role of Joey Parker, a little boy who wanders into the Holby City Hospital looking for some help for his pet gerbil, Rory. Taking to Twitter, Georgia, 37, re-shared a Tweet from his acting agent Sarah Camlett, who wrote: 'So proud of this glorious young person's TV debut. The Future Is Bright. #WilfredTennant,' alongside a photo of the credits. David adopted Georgia's son, Ty, 21, from a previous relationship, with them also sharing Olive, 12, Doris, seven, and Birdie, four, and a son, Wilfred, ten Ty has followed in his father and mother's footsteps (pictured in 2018) He played an older version of Aegon Targaryen, the son of King Viserys and Alicent Hightower in House Of The Dragon - the hugely popular prequel to Game of Thrones Leonardo DiCaprio is known as one of the most iconic actors of all time - finally picking up an Oscar in 2016 for The Revenant. The Titanic star, 49, has carved out a reputation not only for starring in the biggest films of his generation and routinely dating women 25 and under - but for his numerous good deeds. DiCaprio has long been an outspoken advocate for environmental issues and established The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 aged 24 with the mission of bringing attention and funding to the protection of biodiversity, ocean and forest conservation, and climate change. He has been honored with the Clinton Global Citizen Award for his philanthropic work and is a United Nations Messenger of Peace for climate change. This month it emerged he had 'quietly' funded a well in the African village where he filmed Blood Diamond in 2006 - and even proved lifesaver when he saved a member of the public lost at sea in 2020. As DiCaprio's selflessness falls under the spotlight again - DailyMail.com looks back at his kind gestures... Leonardo DiCaprio is known as one of the most iconic actors of all time - finally picking up an Oscar in 2016 for The Revenant - but the star has also won plaudits for his many good deeds DiCaprio established The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 aged 24 with the mission of bringing attention and funding to the protection of biodiversity, ocean and forest conservation and climate change (pictured feeding an orangutan in Indonesia in 2016) LEO TO THE RESCUE! STAR HELPS SAVE MAN LOST AT SEA Leo's character Jack Dawson famously did not survive the sinking of the Titanic in James Cameron's blockbuster movie - but in real life, the star was hailed for his part in rescuing a man from drowning while on his Caribbean vacation in 2020. A source confirmed to DailyMail.com that the Hollywood star, then 45, was on board a boat off the island of St. Barts that successfully located the man after he'd spent 11 hours treading water and pulled him to safety. The dramatic rescue occurred on December 30 when the captain of the boat DiCaprio was on board heard that a Frenchman, 24, had fallen from a cruise ship. The actor immediately agreed the vessel should divert to aid in the search and after looking for hours in rough water, they spotted the man waving his hands. The crew was able to pull him from the water just before nightfall as a giant rainstorm moved into the area. DiCaprio's vessel was the only one looking for the missing man who faced certain death in the middle of the ocean. In fact, the boat's captain described the successful rescue as a 'one in a billion shot'. Leo's character Jack Dawson famously did not survive the sinking of the Titanic in James Cameron's blockbuster movie - but in real life, the star was hailed for his part in rescuing a man from drowning while on his Caribbean vacation in 2020 A source confirmed to DailyMail.com that the Hollywood star, then 45, was on board a boat off the island of St. Barts that successfully located the man after he'd spent 11 hours treading water and pulled him to safety STAR FUNDS WELL IN AFRICAN VILLAGE DiCaprio's Blood Diamond director Edward Zwick revealed in his new memoir Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood that the star had donated money to fund a well in a village where they had filmed (pictured 2006) Zwick said he learned DiCaprio had 'quietly donated the funds to leave a place in better shape than when they arrived'. The movie was filmed in Mozambique and Cape Town, South Africa - pictured in the film with co-star Djimon Hounsou DiCaprio's Blood Diamond director Edward Zwick revealed in his new memoir Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood that the star had donated money to fund a well in a village where they had filmed. Zwick said he learned DiCaprio had 'quietly donated the funds to leave a place in better shape than when they arrived'. The movie was filmed in Mozambique and Cape Town, South Africa. Zwick wrote: 'In this, and in some many other areas of his life, Leo walks it like he talks it.' Leonardo starred in Blood Diamond with Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou - scoring another Oscar nomination for the actor. ACTOR SECURES RELEASE OF 100 WHALES FROM RUSSIAN JAIL In 2019 the actor backed a campaign to release around 100 sea mammals from a 'whale jail' in the Primorsky region of Russia The actor - who boasted more than 18 million followers on Twitter, tweeted a plea to sign a petition demanding the release of the whales The petition garnered more than 1.5million signatures, with the actor later writing: 'Thank you to everyone who signed the petition. Lets keep up the momentum and ensure that these whales are released back into the wild where they belong' Russian president Vladimir Putin then demanded the swift release of 11 orcas and 87 beluga whales In 2016 - shortly after winning his Oscar the actor jetted to Indonesia to raise awareness about conservation of critically endangered Sumatran elephants In 2019 the actor backed a campaign to release around 100 sea mammals from a 'whale jail' in the Primorsky region of Russia. The animals were being held captive so they could be tamed and trained before being shipped to aquariums in China. The actor - who boasted more than 18 million followers on Twitter, tweeted a plea to sign a petition demanding the release of the whales. He wrote: 'Please sign this petition and join me in speaking out against the inhumane capture of orcas and belugas in Russia.' The petition garnered more than 1.5million signatures, with the actor later writing: 'Thank you to everyone who signed the petition. Lets keep up the momentum and ensure that these whales are released back into the wild where they belong.' Russian president Vladimir Putin then demanded the swift release of 11 orcas and 87 beluga whales. STAR TACKLES HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER ON VISIT TO SCOTLAND The Hollywood A-lister lent his star power to a good cause, by raising awareness of homelessness in Edinburgh in 2016 with a visit to restaurant Home - which feeds the homeless The Hollywood A-lister lent his star power to a good cause by raising awareness of homelessness in Edinburgh in 2016. Continuing his humanitarian work across the pond, the Oscar-winning actor was invited to visit Home eatery in Queensferry Street, a restaurant with a social purpose. Naturally, the Wolf Of Wall Street star caused quite a frenzy during his first visit to Scotland as he waved and signed autographs for fans who lined the streets. Home was a new establishment set up by Josh Littlejohn and Dean Gassabi, who owns the Maison Bleue restaurants. Social Bite co-founder Josh said: 'It was such an honour to have Leonardo DiCaprio visit our brand new restaurant, Home.' The restaurant, which is a joint venture between Social Bite and a local restaurant group Maison Bleue, aims to provide a great restaurant experience whilst at the same time giving customers the chance to 'Pay it Forward' for the homeless. 'Homeless people are then invited in every Monday to dine with dignity, as well as being offered job opportunities to help break the cycle of homelessness. Co-founder Josh Littlejohn - seen posing with Dicaprio said: 'For Leo to choose to highlight this initiative whilst in Scotland is very humbling and we are grateful to him for raising the awareness' 'For Leo to choose to highlight this initiative whilst in Scotland is very humbling and we are grateful to him for raising the awareness.' It was set up to provide training and employment for members of the Social Bite Academy, a four-year paid course for homeless people. Biffy McKay, who was homeless for five years before joining Social Bite, said: 'When you are homeless people don't look at you, they look through you. 'I didn't feel like person back then, I felt invisible. Now I have totally turned my life around and it has given me such a big confidence boost to cook lunch for Leo DiCaprio. I have loved him since I was little girl, it's a dream come true.' There was also a raffle for one lucky fan to win a lunch date with the star - with DiCaprio enjoying a meal with Elise Lovell, 45. LEO LEADS $43M PLEDGE TO RESTORE WILDLIFE IN GALAPAGOS ISLANDS In 2021 DiCaprio announced he was contributing to a $43million (30.2million) fund towards vast conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands [Stock image] The plan will see efforts undertaken to preserve the endangered wildlife and environment of the islands, as well as those of all Latin American Pacific archipelagos [Stock image] In 2021 DiCaprio announced he was contributing to a $43million (30.2million) fund towards vast conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. The actor revealed that his social media accounts would be taken over by experts on rewilding efforts on the islands, which are among the most biodiverse places on Earth. The initiative is in partnership with Re:wild, a conservation charity that DiCaprio recently co-founded, and will be based on decades of local conservation efforts, Ecuador's Ministry of Environment and Water said. The plan will see efforts undertaken to preserve the endangered wildlife and environment of the islands, as well as those of all Latin American Pacific archipelagos. The money will fund operations to restore Floreana Island, which is home to 54 threatened species. It will help to reintroduce 13 locally extinct species, including the Floreana mockingbird, the first mockingbird described by Charles Darwin during his 1835 visit to the Galapagos. The funds will also create a captive breeding programme and other methods to save the pink iguana from extinction. Measures will also be introduced to help to protect the island from the impact of ecotourism. DiCaprio is seen delivering his remarks during the Paris Agreement on climate change held at the United Nations Headquarters in NYC in 2016 'Re:wild begins with a $43m commitment to rewild the Galapagos, to bring the Pink Iguana, the Floreana Giant Tortoise and the Floreana Mockingbird back from the brink of extinction, and to ensure the people of the Galapagos thrive with the wild,' DiCaprio said in a Twitter post. The actor also praised the work of Paula A Castano of Island Conservation, a wildlife NGO that protects native species: 'More than half of Earth's remaining wild areas could disappear in the next few decades if we don't decisively act,' DiCaprio said. DiCaprio also serves on the board of several environmental protection organizations including the World Wildlife Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Pristine Seas and Oceans 5. He is also an advisor on The Solutions Project, an organization dedicated to scaling up the adoption of clean, renewable energy Sarah Burch in Jacobin: On Sunday, while one hundred million Americans were watching the kickoff of the Super Bowl, Israel took the opportunity to unleash the next stage in its genocide of Palestinians. Air strikes over Rafah killed at least sixty-seven Palestinians, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered soldiers to prepare for a ground entry into the city. Rafah, on Gazas southern border with Egypt, is the last refuge for nearly 1.5 million Palestinians displaced by the ongoing Israeli genocide. Since Israeli bombs began decimating Northern Gaza in October, Palestinians have been told to evacuate to the south. Rafah is as far south as anyone can go. With a ground invasion imminent, the Israeli government is calling for the population to evacuate even though they have nowhere to evacuate to. An Israeli invasion of Rafah would be the most dangerous stage of the genocide yet, causing death on a scale unseen even in these four months of sheer brutality. After indiscriminately flattening Gaza and pushing Palestinians toward famine, now the Israeli military is seeking to remove the Palestinians from Gaza permanently, whether by displacement, disease, hunger, or execution. More here. Shes had her share of troubles and Heather Locklear proved she is only too happy to help someone else down on their luck. The Melrose Place alum rolled down her window and handed a few banknotes over as she and fiance Chris Heisser were driving in her Los Angeles neighborhood this week to help a panhandler who was begging for money. She also gave him a few supportive words as the couple stopped at traffic lights. It may have been his neon pink sign with the words Only God will save his people, scrawled on it in capital letters that attracted the actress. Makeup-free and looking healthy and trim Heather was dressed for comfort in a soft pink lounge suit and matching beanie and carrying a Louis Vuitton purse Heather hands the panhandler the cash as her fiance Chris Heisser stopped at a traffic light in Thousand Oaks, California She had a few words of comfort for the guy as she passed him the money Locklear and Heisser, both 62, were on their way home after visiting friends on Tuesday when they made the unscheduled stop to help. Makeup-free and looking healthy and trim Heather was dressed for comfort in a soft pink lounge suit and matching beanie and carrying a Louis Vuitton purse. The stop at traffic lights in Thousand Oaks was the first time in more than six months that the former high-school sweethearts had been seen out together. Heather, who has admitted her problems with alcohol and pills has been to rehab at least 20 times over the years and so recognizes when someone might need a little help. She had been doing better since reconnecting with former motocross racer Heisser. The couple got engaged just as Covid pandemic lockdown started in April 2020. But concern for Heather who also starred in the TV classics Dynasty and TJ Hooker was raised last July when, looking disheveled, she was spotted climbing on a narrow ledge of a Malibu office building, wearing flipflops and having to cling on to a pillar for support. Video showed her looking bewildered as she sat at the top of the steps reading from her personal journal and talking to herself. At one point she was seen pointing angrily at something written in the diary and gesticulating wildly before pushing it firmly back into her purse. She sat for a lengthy period of self-reflection at the top of the stairs before running over to Heisser, who was waiting for her in their car. Heather has had her own troubles with some 20 stints ini rehab so she has sympathy for anyone down on their luck Locklear and Heisser, both 62, were high school sweethearts but lost touch for 40 years during which time she married rockers Tommy Lee and Richie Sambora The panhandler carried a large neon pink sign reading 'Only God will save his people' A source confirmed to DailyMail.com that she had relapsed and was back drinking her favorite tequila and But since that alarming incident Heather has been seen looking healthy and that is how she appeared when she handed over the cash to the homeless man. Locklear and Heisser, also 62, first dated in the late 1970s when they were both students at Newbury Park High School. But they lost contact for 40 years and Heather went on to marry rockers Tommy Lee from 1986-1993 and Richie Sambora from 1994-2007, with whom she has a daughter, Ava, now 26. Ava got engaged to Tyler Farrar, her boyfriend of four years, last weekend. It's been the steadfast support of her lover and daughter that helped Heather get over her problems that were first reported after she was stopped for suspected DUI shortly after her split from Bon Jovi guitarist Sambora. Although tests confirmed her blood alcohol level was under the legal limit, authorities believed that prescription medication she was taking for her anxiety and depression had caused her erratic driving. The actress displayed erratic behavior and was seen walking along a ledge and talking to herself while appearing in distress during a visit to an office building last summer The Melrose Place alum opted to keep fiance Chris Heisser waiting in his car and was seen balancing herself along the edge of the building last year Heather has had the support of fiance Heisser and her daughter Avas, 26, who got engaged last weekend to boyfriend of four years Tyler Farrar Heather first found the spotlight with her role as Sammy Jo Carrington on the '80s soap Dynasty (left). The following decade she was starring as Amanda in Melrose Place Over the next decade, police were called to Heather's home on multiple occasions, and she would rack up eight different charges after allegedly attacking law enforcement officials who were trying to calm her down. She ultimately pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to three years probation. In February 2018, she was arrested for domestic violence and battery against a police officer after she allegedly kicked three law enforcement officials while they were trying to calm her down during an argument between her and Heisser. Then in April the following year she crashed her Porsche and after being convicted of nine misdemeanors the court ordered her to rehab. Locklear was a TV staple during the 1980s and 90s. She first hit it big as Sammy Jo, Blake Carrington's daughter-in-law on Dynasty. She then went on to play Officer Stacy Sheridan on the police drama T.J. Hooker before she landed her signature role as manipulative Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place. She was later brought in to the sitcom Spin City as the campaign manager for Barry Bostwick's New York Mayor character as he decided to run for Senator. She was nominated for six Golden Globes four for Melrose Place and two for Spin City without winning any. A new thriller series has taken Netflix by storm, with many viewers claiming they've finished it in 'one night.' The show is called A Killer Paradox and has an impressive score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as 91 percent Audience Score. It follows a college student who murders a stranger, but soon discovers that the victim was actually a serial killer. The South Korean crime series stars SAG Award winner Choi Woo-shik as well as Son Suk-ku and Lee Hee-jun, and was directed by Lee Chang Hee (Strangers from Hell) and written by screenwriter Kim Da Min. Choi is best known for his role in the Academy Award winning film Parasite. A new thriller series has taken Netflix by storm, with many viewers claiming they've finished it in 'one night' The South Korean crime show is called A Killer Paradox and has an impressive score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as 91 percent Audience Score Though the protagonist might have done society a favor by taking a serial killer off the streets, he must still try to avoid arrest. It proves not to be an easy task, as a homicide detective becomes determined to uncover the truth. The show was added to Netflix's extensive library earlier this month, and each episode is around one hour. 'Well-worth watching. The series is several steps above the usual soulless killer-who-kills-killers series or movie (i.e. Dexter or Hannibal),' one person wrote on Rotten Tomatoes. 'Koreas puttin out some bangersthis is the stuff! Choi Woo Shik, Son Suk Ku and Lee Hee Joon give stellar performances. Stylish and visually breathtaking. I binged the entire show in one sitting and want more,' another added. Fans took to praise the series on LADbible's Netflix Bangers Facebook Group, calling it 'fantastic' and 'gripping.' 'Finished in one night,' one viewer wrote. The praise continued on X (formerly known as Twitter), with one user writing, 'binged all of a killer paradox, will be waiting patiently for season 2.' The premise of the show, starring Choi Woo-shik (pictured), follows a college student who murders a stranger, but soon discovers the man was actually a serial killer Though the protagonist might have done society a favor by taking a serial killer off the streets, he must still try to avoid arrest It proves not to be an easy task, as a homicide detective, played by Son Suk-ku (pictured) becomes determined to uncover the truth The show was added to Netflix earlier this month, and each episode is around one hour. It was directed by Lee Chang Hee (Strangers from Hell) and written by screenwriter Kim Da Min 'Starting a killer paradox, 6 mins in and I'm already hooked,' another added. At a recent press conference Choi described his character as 'someone who internally justifies his killings because it's aimed at people who are evil.' However, he clarified: 'I think that killing cannot be justified at all.' 'If I had the power to identify evil people like Tang does, I wouldnt go killing them, but I would certainly report them to the police.' Netflix has yet to renew Killer Paradox for a second season. Korean content has been a big hit on Netflix in recent years, with shows like Squid Game, All of Us are Dead, Hellbound and Extraordinary Attorney Woo all winning over international audiences. Sean Evans dumping girlfriend Melissa Stratton on Valentine's Day may have broken her heart a little, but searches for the porn star seem to be breaking the internet. Since word of the split, searches for Melissa's content on Pornhub have gone through the roof according to data given to TMZ. According to the adults only website, searches for the X-rated actress went up 1,217-percent Wednesday after the news hit, compared to her daily average. The video sharing site didn't have final numbers, but estimated searches for the 34-year-old actress were expected to be up more than 1,300 percent on Thursday. The couple attended the Super Bowl together in Las Vegas Sunday. Hot Ones host Sean Evans dumping girlfriend Melissa Stratton on Valentine's Day may have broken her heart a little, but searches for the porn star seem to be breaking the bank According to the publication, the Hot Ones host, 37, broke up with Melissa one day after the the outlet made their relationship public. It appears Sean wasn't happy with all the attention, even though he knew what his then girlfriend did for a living. After being dumped reportedly over the phone Melissa took to X (formerly Twitter), writing, 'Don't try to date a [p--- star] if you actually hate [p---]...' in a now-deleted post, according to Page Six. The Girl In The Basement star later shared a TikTok video of herself and fellow adult movie actor Johnny Sins writing, 'It's ok I've got a better bald man to get spicy with @mosttalentedbaldman.' Sean took a bit of heat for his actions. 'Who dumps a girl on Valentines Day? Smh not cool,' one person commented on his Instagram page. 'It was a sex worker, all fair,' said another. Another summed up the hit that kind of relationship could have on his career this way; 'Dating a pornstar?' they asked. 'Seeing you in a whole new lightand its not good at all. Good thing I was already mostly over Hot Ones.' The couple attended Super Bowl LVIII and several related activities last weekend in Las Vegas The Hot Ones host, 37, reportedly broke up with Melissa over the phone on Valentine's Day after their relationship was made public Since then, Melissa's popularity on Pornhub, where she shares her content increased by 1,217-percent Wednesday after the news hit, compared to her daily average (Pictured in Las Vegas in January) Pornhub is one of the most popular sites for hard core viewing attracting 3.5 billion visitors a month. The website came under fire after a 2020 investigation by Nicholas Kristoff at the New York Times. The investigation found users were monetizing videos of women being raped, and under-aged girls being molested or blackmailed into sex acts. According to the investigation, many of those kinds of videos were taken down by the Canadian-owned company, but quickly uploaded again. Pornhub's terms of service prohibits content featuring anyone under the age of 18 or 'depicting underage sexual activity, non-consensual sexual activity, revenge porn, blackmail, intimidation, snuff, torture, death, violence, incest, racial slurs, or hate speech,' but the investigation discovered these terms were difficult to enforce in light of the large amount of content uploaded to the site daily. Byron Bay clothing label Yoli & Otis has sparked outrage after customers were left waiting for their online purchases for up to six months, as its glamorous owner travelled the world. Founded by mother-of-two Lena Catterick, Yoli & Otis brands itself as a sustainable, luxury fashion label for adults and kids with a bohemian taste for style. Catterick also inspires her followers by sharing idyllic pictures of lavish hotels and enviable locations that she is visiting around the globe. However even die-hard fans have recently slammed the brand recently, after they became sick of waiting for their packages to arrive. Many have lashed out on social media, with one recently commenting underneath a photo Catterick's posted from a lavish resort getaway to Indonesia: 'Lovely photo. Wondering if you are going to address the many people waiting months for orders they've paid for though?' Byron Bay clothing label Yoli & Otis has sparked outrage after customers were left waiting for their online purchases for up to six months, as its glamorous owner travelled the world. (Pictured: Founder Lena Catterick) 'Does anyone know, are they still in business? It has almost been 6 months since I purchased in August and the seller was scheduled to ship in September and then has been continually delaying shipment,' another commenter wrote, in part. Some customers claimed their emails were 'blocked' by the brand. Catterick has since apologised for the delays. 'I just would very much like to sincerely apologise to everyone and stress these delays were never intentional,' she said, according to The Daily Telegraph. Many have lashed out on social media, with one recently commenting underneath a photo Catterick's posted from a lavish resort getaway to Indonesia: 'Lovely photo. Wondering if you are going to address the many people waiting months for orders they've paid for though?' Lena denied that the brand had blocked emails, explaining the situation was just a system error. 'Everyone has been communicated with about these issues in the last few months. No emails weren't blocked, our emails were down for 4 days- Friday sat Sunday and Monday. 'Finally orders will arrive next week and I will personally email everyone apologising and thanking them from the bottom of my heart for their incredible support, and the opportunity to earn back their trust. It means everything right now.' Catterick has since apologised for the delays. 'I just would very much like to sincerely apologise to everyone and stress these delays were never intentional,' she said, according to The Daily Telegraph According to The Daily Telegraph, customers also issued a complaint about the failed orders with NSW Fair Trading. Catterick last made headlines in June 2020 after the brand shared a contentious Instagram post about 'mainstream media' and 'political agendas' following the death of George Floyd amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In her post, Catterick suggested the recent events were part of a cover-up for bigger political issues. Lena denied that the brand had blocked emails, explaining the situation was just a system error Catterick also said she receives her information from 'an alternative view' and referred to anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists, celebrity chef Pete Evans and anti-vaxx ex-Home and Away actor, Isabel Lucas. 'I believe we need to look deeper. A connection needs to be made between those in power and their ability to push the world in one direction or another to suit their own invested interests,' the statement read. 'If they wanted to end racism and division, they could. If they wanted to end poverty, they could. If they wanted to reverse the effects of global warming, they could. The system fuels violence, they perpetuate fear, create division, inequality, poverty, protect the elite.' Catterick said she was aware of her 'privilege' as a white woman and insisted that she was not undervaluing the life of Floyd. Catterick last made headlines in June 2020 after the brand shared a contentious Instagram post about 'mainstream media' and 'political agendas' following the death of George Floyd amid the Covid-19 pandemic Advertisement Carey Mulligan, Ruth Wilson and Jodie Foster led the stars at a swanky Oscars Nominees Reception held at The Dorchester Hotel in London on Saturday evening. Carey, 39, who is nominated for Best Actress for her role in Maestro, was the epitome of chic in a stylish black leather co-ord which boasted a eye-catching coat and figure-hugging trousers. The stunner, who was joined by husband Marcus Mumford, completed the look with a pair of pointed heels and accentuated her features with glam make-up. Meanwhile Ruth, 42, was ravishing in red and teased a glimpse of her toned midriff in a stylish top with racy cut outs and tie detailing. The Woman In The Wall star teamed it with a pair of darker merlot trousers and even carried the colour story into her lipstick. Carey Mulligan (L) Ruth Wilson (C) and Jodie Foster (R) led the stars at a swanky Oscars Nominees Reception held at The Dorchester Hotel in London on Saturday evening Best Actress nominee Carey, 39, was the epitome of chic in a stylish black leather co-ord which boasted a eye- catching coat and figure-hugging trousers Meanwhile Jodie, 61, who is nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Nyad, looked sensational in a perfectly tailored black suit. Her blazer boasted gold embellishment lapels and she layered it over a plunging blouse while accessorising with simple jewellery. The two films at the centre of this past summer's box office showdown - Barbie and Oppenheimer - are both firmly in the Oscar race. Both Barbie and Oppenheimer are up for Best Picture, with Barbie up for eight Oscars while Oppenheimer leads all contenders with a whopping 13 nominations. Director Christopher Nolan's magnum opus fell just short of the most nominations by a film in Oscar history, one shy of the record 14 held by La La Land, Titanic and All About Eve. Oppenheimer will be vying for four of the top five awards - Best Picture, Best Director (Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Nolan). It will also be vying for Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt) and a slew of technical categories as well. Barbie made more headlines for those who weren't nominated, with fans expressing their disapproval of Margot Robbie's Best Actress snub, along with Greta Gerwig for Best Director. The stunner, who was joined by husband Marcus Mumford , completed the look with a pair of pointed heels and accentuated her features with glam make-up Meanwhile Ruth, 42, was ravishing in red and teased a glimpse of her toned midriff in a stylish top with racy cut outs and tie detailing The Woman In The Wall star teamed it with a pair of darker merlot trousers and even carried the colour story into her lipstick Ruth (L) posed for a snap alongside Carey (R) The pair were both dressed to impress on the big night Meanwhile Jodie, 61, who is nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Nyad, looked sensational in a perfectly tailored black suit. Her blazer boasted gold embellishment lapels and she layered it over a plunging blouse while accessorising with simple jewellery (pictured with Cillian Murphy) Barbie star Margot Robbie (L) also attended alongside the movie's director Greta Gerwig (R) Carey also caught up with her Maestro co-star and director Bradley Cooper The pair appeared in great spirits and shared a giggle at the swanky event Carey appeared to be handing Bradley his own business card Robbie was nominated for Best Picture, though, for her work as a producer through her LuckyChap Entertainment company, and Gerwig was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay with her co-writer and husband Noah Baumbach. Ryan Gosling was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for playing Ken, along with America Ferrera for Best Supporting Actress for Gloria, who delivered one of the movie's most rousing speeches. The 10-movie Best Picture field is rounded out by American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Past Lives, Poor Things and The Zone of Interest. Lily Gladstone also made history by becoming the first indegenous actor to be nomianted for Best Actress for her turn in Killers of the Flower Moon. Saltburn's Barry Keoghan kept things cool in an all black ensemble The Irish actor oozed confidence as he posed for the cameras Best Supporting Actress Da'Vine Joy Randolph stunned in a sweeping velvet gown Emma Stone also became just the second woman ever to be nominated for Best Actress and Best Picture for her role as a producer on Poor Things. The only other woman to have that distinction was Frances McDormand, who won both Best Actress and Best Picture for Nomadland in 2021. The 96th Academy Awards will be held on March 10 at 7 p.m. live on ABC, hosted for a fourth time by Jimmy Kimmel. It comes after the nominations for the 2024 Golden Raspberry Awards was announced, awards given out to performers and movies deemed the 'worst' of the year. Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox and Vin Diesel are given Razzie nods as Sylvester Stallone's Expend4bles led the list in seven categories Isla Fisher cut a stylish figure as she arrived at the Charles Finch & Chanel 2024 Pre-BAFTA Party in London on Saturday. The actress, 48, looked radiant as ever for the evening as she donned a long-sleeved midi dress with a multi-coloured floral print. The garment also featured a high collar and pleated hemline while Isla added height to her frame with a pair of heels. Letting her flame-haired locks fall loose down her shoulders, the Australian beauty complimented her look with a white coat. The film star also wore a pair of gold earrings and completed her outfit with a black clutch bag. Isla Fisher cut a stylish figure as she arrived at the Charles Finch & Chanel 2024 Pre-BAFTA Party in London on Saturday The actress, 48, looked radiant as ever for the evening as she donned a long-sleeved midi dress with a multi-coloured floral print The outing comes after Isla revealed she had to give up one big habit to make it big in Hollywood. A true blue Aussie down to her roots, The Great Gatsby star, 47, said she grew up with 'a filthy gutter tone' which helped her fit in at home. But since making it big in the US, the movie star, who is married to comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, said she had to give up swearing, reported Confidential. 'I am working on my swearing,' the Wedding Crashers star told the publication, adding that the behaviour is 'frowned upon in Hollywood'. 'It is not given the gravitas that it is in Australia where you can get, kind of in macho circles, taken seriously with a bit of a swear word, or at least around my brothers when I was younger.' Isla went on to say she successfully gave up swearing until she started playing her character Mary in Wolf Like Me, which is now filming season 3 in South Australia. 'My character Mary swears all the time I have so much dialogue and basically I was just swearing all day, every day. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it that is why I have a filthy gutter tone.' Isla and Sacha were originally living between Los Angeles and the UK with their three young children until they decided to relocate to Sydney in 2020. Bobby Brazier has revealed he spent Valentine's Day alone while addressing the romance rumours surrounding him and his former Strictly Come Dancing co-star Ellie Leach. The EastEnders actor, 20, who is returning to filming as character Freddie Slater for the soap next week, formed a strong bond with former Coronation Street actress Ellie, 22, during Strictly's live tour this year. Both Bobby and Ellie competed in the BBC ballroom dance competition last year, with Ellie winning the contest with her professional partner Vito Coppola, 31, shortly before Christmas. But, despite his close friendship with Ellie and the persistent rumours of a budding love affair between the pair, Bobby spent the most romantic day of the year on his own this week. The model told The Sun: 'I made good friends with Ellie. We spent a lot of time together on the tour, which I love because we were just always pretty close to each other, but thats all. Bobby Brazier has revealed he spent Valentine's Day alone while addressing the romance rumours surrounding him and his former Strictly Come Dancing co-star Ellie Leach (pictured this week) The EastEnders actor, 20, formed a strong bond with former Coronation Street actress Ellie, 22, during Strictly's live tour this year (pictured this week) Ellie triumphed on the BBC ballroom dance contest with her professional dancer partner Vito Coppola in December last year (Ellie and Vito pictured during the Strictly final) 'I hope to stay in touch with her. I met her parents too, theyre brilliant. 'The tour was always fun backstage, it was like one big party and we got to become better friends with people.' On what he got up to on Valentine's Day, Bobby added: 'I was on own eating watermelon and watching TV.' It comes after Ellie and Bobby 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 and Bobby addressed their rumoured romance on Monday night, after weeks of speculation that they are dating Bobby was asked about his feelings towards the actress 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. Bobby also refused to confirm if he intended on starting a relationship, quickly changing the topic to his career (pictured last 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 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 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. 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) 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.' 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.' 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 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'. Poppy Delevingne looked stunning as she arrived at the Charles Finch & Chanel 2024 Pre-BAFTA Party in London on Saturday. The model, 37, put on a very leggy display as she flaunted her slender physique in the pastel mini dress. Patterned with pale pink, blue and yellow stripes the star looked dressed for summer in the strappy ensemble, despite the rainy February evening. Adding a designer white Chanel clutch bag to the look, she elevated her height with some white block heels with black toe caps. Sweeping her blonde locks back into a low ponytail she accessorised the look with some dangly pearl pink floral earrings. Poppy Delevingne, 37, put on a VERY leggy display in a gorgeous pastel dress as she arrived at the Chanel pre-BAFTA party in London on Saturday Patterned with pale pink, blue and yellow stripes the star looked dressed for summer in the strappy ensemble, despite the rainy February evening It comes after Poppy celebrated Valentine's Day with Lily James and Gala Gordon earlier this week. The threesome opted to prioritise friendship on the day of love as they enjoyed a girls' night out at Dorian restaurant in London's Notting Hill on Wednesday. There were no partners in sight as the group got together for a 'Galentines' dinner on the romantic date, sparking rumours they may now all be single. Lily, 34, was last linked to Michael Shulman who she has been in an on-off relationship with and they most recently rekindled last summer. The couple haven't been pictured together in recent months and it is currently unclear whether they are together. Gala, 48, is not publicly dating anyone and Poppy split from her toyboy boyfriend Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece at the end of last year. Making the most of the occasion they got a group together at the bistro, joining a group of pals for a fun-filled evening. It was reportedly by the Daily Mail in December that Poppy and Prince Constantine had split, with a source close to them saying it was entirely amicable. Adding a designer white Chanel clutch bag to the look, she elevated her height with some white block heels with black toe caps Sweeping her blonde locks back into a low ponytail she accessorised the look with some dangly pearl pink floral earrings The star threw a black jacket around her shoulders as she made her way inside the venue Poppy is thought to be single after splitting from her toyboy boyfriend Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece at the end of last year They said: 'They are just at different stages of their life. There is no animosity.' There was a 12-year age gap between Poppy and her blue-blooded toyboy, 25, known affectionately to his friends as Tino. But it seemed not to matter as they threw themselves into their relationship, going on each other's glamorous family holidays and working on glitzy projects together. Poppy found romance with Tino whose grandfather, the late Constantine II, was the last king of Greece after splitting from her financier husband James Cook last year. The pair revelled in their time together with Poppy even joining Tino and other members of the defunct Greek royal family in Ibiza this summer. Poppy also spent time with Tino's sister Princess Olympia in the Ralph Lauren suite at Wimbledon in July. Poppy remains on good terms with James, 44, whom she married in a lavish Knightsbridge ceremony in 2014. He is now happily loved-up with Australian model, Lauren Brown. An Australian Taylor Swift fan has sparked a fiery debate on social media with a controversial opinion that has divided the Swiftie community. One Melbourne resident took to X, formally known as Twitter, this week to express his views on the ticketing process for the pop superstar's concerts, which have seen phenomenal demand across the country. After final-release tickets became available just days before her shows, the user proposed a contentious system aimed at fairness. 'Probably gonna cop so much hate for this. But my opinion is that I think you should be only able to see Taylor Swift once in Australia,' the user wrote, igniting a heated exchange among fans. 'I've seen like 10 people going again tonight after attending last night. Would give the other people that missed out a better opportunity,' he continued. An Australian Taylor Swift fan has sparked a fiery debate on social media with a controversial theory that has divided the Swiftie community A Melbourne resident took to X, formally known as Twitter, this week to express his views on the ticketing process for the pop superstar's concerts Swift's decision to add two extra shows to the Australian leg of her tour did little to quell the frenzy, as over a million fans bombarded the Ticketek website, vying for a piece of the 450,000-ticket pie. With many fans left empty handed, the sight of some attendees boasting about securing multiple show passes has only added salt to the wound. 'I agree... because I tried everything in my power to get tickets and was unsuccessful and I know some people going to all Melbourne and Sydney shows I'm actually devastated I couldn't go,' one disappointed fan replied to the user's post. After final release tickets just days before her shows, the user proposed a contentious system aimed at fairness 'Probably gonna cop so much hate for this. But my opinion is that I think, you should be only able to see Taylor Swift once in Australia,' the user wrote, igniting a passionate debate among fans Swift's decision to add two extra shows to the Australian leg of her tour did little to quell the frenzy, as over a million fans bombarded the Ticketek website, vying for a piece of the 450,000-ticket pie Another echoed, 'I totally agree with you. Having tried everything I could to get tickets for my daughter, hearing stories of how people are going to every single show is disappointing and not the flex they think it is. How you police it, I don't know.' Amidst the chorus of agreement, some stood firmly against the user's proposition. 'No. I went last night and going to Sydney, you snooze you lose,' a defiant fan stated. Others pointed out the logistical challenges of enforcing such a restriction. 'There's no way to police it. Don't direct your frustration to other fans, blame the fact they only put on 7 shows in Australia. Nowhere near enough to meet demand,' another fan argued. Kylie Jenner showed off her figure wearing a skintight ensemble while promoting her clothing brand, Khy, in a new Instagram post uploaded on Saturday. The TV personality, 26 - who recently went topless underneath a fur jacket for a sultry Valentine's Day post - modeled the piece to celebrate a limited restock of items from her first collection. The Drop 001 was in collaboration with the Berlin-based brand called, Namilia, and contained a total of 12 items made of a black, vegan leather material. Jenner could be seen donning a long-sleeved, faux leather minidress with a hem that stopped inches above her knees and is currently priced at $128, per the official website. She slipped into a pair of open-toed, black heels and also added black, Moto gloves from the brand which are sold out. Kylie Jenner, 26, showed off her figure wearing a skintight ensemble while promoting her clothing brand, Khy, in a new Instagram post uploaded on Saturday Her long locks were parted to the side, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. Kylie's makeup was glammed up for the photo session, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light shadow around her eyes. A warm blush and contour was added to better accentuate her cheekbones, while a nude-colored tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. The mother-of-two stood in front of a black backdrop to coincide with the color scheme of the collection - which initially dropped late last year on November 1. The caption of the post simply read, 'the LBD that sold out within minutes. available now in limited quantities.' Shortly after Khy became available to consumers, it was reported that the company has already garnered a whopping $1 million in sales, selling out of items such as the faux leather trench coat as well as the Moto gloves. Along with the minidress, other items that have been restocked include the $118 faux leather cropped jacket, the $52 seamless long-sleeved shirt and $58 seamless leggings. Earlier this week, Kylie modeled the hooded, cropped jacket to announce that some items from Drop 001 have been restocked in 'limited quantities.' Earlier this week, Kylie modeled the hooded, cropped jacket to announce that some items from Drop 001 have been restocked in 'limited quantities' Along with the minidress, other items that have been restocked include the $118 faux leather cropped jacket, the $52 seamless long-sleeved shirt and $58 seamless leggings At the time of Khy's launch in November 2023, the reality star opened up to Vogue about the brand. 'I want people to know how completely involved I am in this.' 'From original concept, to designing, or co-designing if we're working with other designers, from picking fabrics, colors, I've been in every fit meeting. I am the creative director of the brand and marketing.' The beauty added, 'There's not an Instagram post or video that hasn't been personally edited by me, there hasn't been an Instagram post that I haven't posted myself.' While also talking to Elle around the time the first collection dropped, Jenner opened up about what had inspired to start her own clothing brand. 'I felt like it was the perfect time [in my life]. I was having kids, and it's always been a dream of mine to have a fashion line, especially one like this.' Kylie has been keeping busy and recently took to her main Instagram page on Wednesday to flaunt her stylish look for Valentine's Day. She showed off her toned midriff by going topless while donning a brown, fuzzy jacket that was partially fastened at the front. The star additionally slipped into a pair of low-waisted, baggy pants as well as closed-toed, black shoes. At the time of Khy's launch in November 2023, the reality star opened up to Vogue about the brand. 'I want people to know how completely involved I am in this' Kylie has been keeping busy and recently took to her main Instagram page on Wednesday to flaunt her stylish look for Valentine's Day Later in the day, Jenner took a selfie while sitting inside a vehicle to give a close-up glimpse of her makeup look for the special day The media personality completed the look by wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses and easily carried a blue and red-colored duffle bag over her shoulder. In the caption of the carousel of snaps, The Kardashians star simply penned to her fans and followers, 'happy vday.' Later in the day, Jenner - who is currently dating actor Timothee Chalamet - took a selfie while sitting inside a vehicle to give a close-up glimpse of her makeup look for the special day. Kylie additionally showed off her cooking skills in the kitchen by making homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time - with her daughter Stormi also lending a helping hand. The TV personality shares her six-year-old daughter as well as son Aire, two, with ex and rapper Travis Scott. Kylie additionally showed off her cooking skills in the kitchen by making homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time - with her daughter Stormi also lending a helping hand She took her followers through the steps and then shared an image of the rolls covered in clear, plastic wrap to set overnight before baking Over Valentine's Day, her beau Timothee Chalamet was seen spending time in London while promoting his latest film Dune: Part 2 - which hits theaters next month on March 1; seen in London on Thursday She took her followers through the steps and then shared an image of the rolls covered in clear, plastic wrap to set overnight before baking. 'first time making cinnamon rolls from scratch i can't wait to bake them in the morning,' the beauty mogul typed out in text added above the tasty treats. Jenner later showed her fans the baked cinnamon rolls that were covered in a sugary icing before diving in to enjoy. Over Valentine's Day, her beau Timothee Chalamet was seen spending time in London while promoting his latest film Dune: Part 2 - which hits theaters next month on March 1. Peter Beinart in Jewish Currents: THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA), which has provided education, health care, and other essential services to Palestinian refugees since 1949, could soon disappear. In recent weeks, the United States and at least 18 other countries have suspended aid to the agency, which operates in the Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, serving more than five million people. The House and Senate are both considering legislation to prevent the USwhich is UNRWAs largest donorfrom ever resuming that funding. UNRWA officials have said that if funding is not restored, the organization will likely halt operations as early as the end of this month. The current effort to abolish UNRWA dates from late January, when Israel alleged that 12 of the agencys staff members took part in the October 7th massacre, and that roughly 1200 employees10% of UNRWAs workforce in Gazahave ties to Hamas or other militant groups. But Israel and its supporters in the US have been seeking to undermine the agency for at least a decade. In 2018, when leaked emails revealed that then-President Donald Trumps son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner was attempting to disrupt UNRWA because the agency perpetuates a status quo and is corrupt, inefficient and doesnt help peace, a number of mainstream Jewish groups praised Kushners efforts. The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations declared that UNRWA is not the answer to Palestinians humanitarian needs. (The Trump administration later cut off US aid to UNRWA; Joe Biden restored the funding soon after entering office.) In 2021, Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, urged that this UN agency for so-called refugees should not exist in its current format. More here. Heather Graham stole the spotlight at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival Closing Night on Saturday. The stunning star, 54, looked incredible in a stylish red gown as she arrived at the Arlignton Theatre gala, which included the world premiere of her film Chosen Family. The dramedy was written and directed by the actress, who also stars in it alongside Julia Stiles, Andrea Savage, Ella Grace Helton and John Brotherton. She effortlessly commanded attention at the event in her bold gown, showcasing a plunging neckline and a strategically placed cut-out design that highlighted her sculpted abs. Opting for minimal makeup, Heather let her natural beauty take center stage as she posed alongside her co-stars, Ella and John. Heather Graham stole the spotlight at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival Closing Night on Saturday The stunning star, 54, looked incredible in a stylish red gown as she arrived at the Arlignton Theatre gala, which included the world premiere of her film Chosen Family In Chosen Family, Heather takes on the role of Ann, a yoga teacher on a quest for inner peace amidst her chaotic family dynamics and a less-than-ideal dating life. Despite her struggles, Ann grapples with an inability to say no, constantly finding herself entangled in others' problems. As she endeavors to mend her fractured relationship with her sister Clio (Stiles), Ann leans on her friends Roz (Savage), Max (Thomas Lennon), and Frances (Odessa Rae) for support. 'Im so excited to be making my dream project with an amazing team,' Graham previously said in a statement. 'In a male-dominated industry, we love supporting women,' producers Chad A. Verdi and Michelle Verdi told The Hollywood Reporter. 'Heathers drive, writing, directing and starring in this film has been wonderful to witness.' Heather's big night at the annual festival comes a week after Robert Downey Jr. was recognized with the esteemed Maltin Modern Master Award at the Arlington Theatre. Downey Jr. - whose searing performance as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer is gaining Oscar buzz - was also joined by superstar pals Rob Lowe, David Duchovny, Natasha Leggero, Chelsea Peretti and more. The dramedy was written and directed by the actress, who also stars in it alongside Julia Stiles, Andrea Savage, Ella Grace Helton and John Brotherton She effortlessly commanded attention at the event in her bold gown, showcasing a plunging neckline and a strategically placed cut-out design that highlighted her sculpted abs. Opting for minimal makeup, Heather let her natural beauty take center stage Heather posed alongside her co-star Ella Grace Helton 'Im so excited to be making my dream project with an amazing team,' Graham previously said in a statement; pictured with John Brotherton Thomas Lennon, Ella, Heather and John posed for a fun group photo Heather braved the rain to attend her world premiere Heather spoke at the gala as she wrote and directed Chosen Family Thomas co-stars in Chosen Family Cillian Murphy - who played nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's blockbuster - beamed with pride as he posed with the guest of honor. The Modern Master Award is the highest honor presented by SBIFF, according to its website. 'Established in 1995, it was created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry,' reads the statement. The award was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of long-time SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin. Past winners included Jamie Lee Curtis Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman, Bill Murray Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman and Denzel Washington. Bombshell new images have revealed the fate of Tim Calwell's 'marriage' to his Married At First Sight bride Sara Mesa. The photos show the online business owner, 31, has apparently moved on from the nutritionist, 29, with a brunette bombshell named Barbara. In the photos, taken earlier this month in Queensland, Calwell and the woman grabbed some takeaway food and drinks, before later heading to a nursery to buy some plants. Tim did not appear to be wearing his wedding band in the photos. At one point the reality TV hunk's new woman hugged Tim and planted a kiss on his cheek. Bombshell new images have revealed the fate of Tim Calwell's 'marriage' to his Married At First Sight bride Sara Mesa She wore an animal print mini-dress for the outing, paired with black sandals and dark Ray-Bans. She wore her dark straight tresses loose and flowing for the romantic day with her new man. Tim, meanwhile, went with a low-key look, pairing gray shorts with thongs and a black T-shirt. Later, he changed into a sleeveless top to showcase his muscular arms. The photos show the online business owner, 31, has apparently moved on from the nutritionist, 29, with a mystery brunette bombshell named Barbara In the photos, taken earlier this month in Queensland, Calwell and the woman grabbed some takeaway food and drinks, before later heading to a nursery to buy some plants Tim did not appear to be wearing his wedding band in the photos Calwell addressed claims he was secretly texting an ex-girlfriend behind his TV wife Sara Mesa's back during filming for the show in an exclusive chat with Daily Mail Australia last week. The revelations came to light on the Kyle and Jackie O show on Thursday, where a visibly shocked Sara Mesa was confronted with allegations Tim had been photographed with another woman on the Gold Coast. 'I don't know if this is true, but multiple people I know up in Queensland have said that this Tim has been rooting this Brazilian the entire time, all through the MAFS, all through the filming,' radio host Kyle Sandilands disclosed. At one point the reality TV hunk's new woman hugged Tim and planted a kiss on his cheek She wore an animal print mini-dress for the outing, paired with black sandals and dark Ray-Bans Sara, taken aback by the allegations, could only express her surprise. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia Tim adamantly denied cheating on his TV bride. 'No I wasn't seeing anyone through the experiment. I was literally locked in, dialled in, trying to make our relationship work,' he explained. 'I don't know why, if she's bringing that up... she's trying to throw heat on my end to try and distract, maybe, from whatever going on in her ballpark.' Tim described his TV marriage with Sara as 'toxic' and very up and down. She wore her dark straight tresses loose and flowing for the romantic day with her new man Tim, meanwhile, went with a low-key look, pairing gray shorts with thongs and a sleeveless top Calwell addressed claims he was secretly texting an ex-girlfriend behind his TV wife Sara Mesa's back during filming for the show in an exclusive chat with Daily Mail Australia last week 'It was definitely very up and down. Almost toxic at this point, I don't know,' he said. 'We were trying our best to be in a relationship. The whole experience is very intense anyway... it was definitely wasn't comfortable for me.' Tim hinted there may be trouble for the newlyweds in the show's future and told fans to buckle up for what's about to come. He referred to a dinner party blow-up where he claimed Sara had cancelled dates with him on three occasions, and she responded furiously. The revelations came to light on the Kyle and Jackie O show on Thursday, where a visibly shocked Sara Mesa was confronted with allegations Tim had been photographed with another woman on the Gold Coast Speaking to Daily Mail Australia Tim adamantly denied cheating on his TV bride Tim's new love balances several items during the new couple's trip to a nursery 'I think her bailing on the dates was more of a catalyst for the other things that were going on behind the scenes,' he said. 'I was getting really frustrated by being spoken over and talked down to. 'My feelings and my opinions were just being thrown back in my face and it just felt like nothing I had to say was valid.' Tim admitted his frustration may not have entirely come from the cancelled dates. 'It's more of a catalyst of my frustrations of being put down over the course of the three weeks or however long it was,' he said. Tim's wife Sara set to be rocked by cheating scandal Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Sara is set to be find herself at the centre of a cheating scandal in the coming weeks. According to well placed insiders, the nutritionist has been accused of meeting up with her ex-boyfriend while filming the show. The revelation is set to 'divide friendships' and 'tear the cast apart'. Tim hinted there may be trouble for the newlyweds in the show's future and told fans to buckle up for what's about to come Rooney Mara is expecting her second child with fiance Joaquin Phoenix three years after the birth of their son River. The A Nightmare On Elm Street star, 38, debuted her baby bump on Friday at the premiere of her new film La Cocina during the Berlinale International Film Festival. She cradled her stomach while posing for photographers on the red carpet in a billowing black strapless dress. DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Rooney and Phoenix for comment. Rooney and Joaquin quietly welcomed their first child in August 2020. Rooney Mara revealed she is expecting her second child with fiance Joaquin Phoenix three years after the birth of their son River Phoenix - as she debuted her baby bump on Friday The A Nightmare On Elm Street star, 38, debuted her baby bump on Friday at the premiere of her new film La Cocina during the Berlinale International Film Festival Mara and Phoenix - who first sparked up a romance upon meeting on set of Her in 2012 - mainly keep their relationship private and out of the spotlight; It was director Victor Kossakovsky who spilled the beans at the 2020 Zurich Film Festival after a screening of the film Gunda, on which Joaquin served as executive producer. 'He just got a baby by the way... A beautiful son called River,' the director told audience members at a Q&A. Their son is named after Joaquin's late brother, who tragically died of a drug overdose in 1993. He was just 23-years-old. Joaquin and Rooney did not officially announce the birth of their firstborn until two months later in an impassioned PEOPLE op-ed about the displaced migrant children at the US-Mexico border. In the piece, Rooney and Joaquin called the thought of being separated from their own son 'unbearable', and imagined having to answer to him as he grew curious about the subject later in life. 'As new parents, it's unbearable to imagine what it would feel like to have our child taken away from us for a day, let alone years,' the engaged couple wrote. 'But that's the very situation those 545 children and their parents have been living through. As Americans, it's our responsibility to continue paying attention to the plight of these families and get answers for why they still have not been located.' The couple also wondered how they would be able to explain the situation to their son once he grew more curious about the topic. She cradled her stomach while posing for photographers on the red carpet in a billowing black strapless dress Rooney and Joaquin quietly welcomed their first child three-year-old son River Phoenix in August 2020 Their son is named after Joaquin's late brother, who tragically died of a drug overdose in 1993. He was just 23-years-old Joaquin and Rooney did not officially announce the birth of their firstborn until two months later in an impassioned PEOPLE op-ed about the displaced migrant children at the US-Mexico border 'We have to ask ourselves: Is this the country that we want? Are these our values? 'How will it feel to explain to our son, when he asks us about this time and how we treated scared, defenseless children, some of whom may never see their parents again? 'For the sake of our nation's character, I hope we will be able to tell him that America unequivocally rejected this cruelty and demanded that our representatives did everything in their power to find those missing parents.' Earlier last year in January, Rooney opened up about motherhood while on the LaunchLeft podcast. 'I love it. I love it so much. I think it's the best thing in the world.' 'I mean, it sounds so cliche when you talk about it, but things are cliche for a reason,' the Carol actress expressed, while also discussing how being a mother can also be 'challenging.' 'I also have a very privileged life,' she stated. 'Motherhood is very challenging, even when you have a privileged life, and I'm so lucky that I have the choice to get to be with him most of the time.' 'That I'm like, "Oh, I'm just going to work once a year if something feels right, and other than that, this is what I'm doing." Most people don't have that option.' Rooney also talked about raising River with her husband and fellow actor, Joaquim Phoenix. The couple also wondered how they would be able to explain the situation to their son once he grew more curious about the topic Earlier last year in January, Rooney opened up about motherhood while on the LaunchLeft podcast . 'I love it. I love it so much. I think it's the best thing in the world' 'I mean, it sounds so cliche when you talk about it, but things are cliche for a reason,' the Carol actress expressed, while also discussing how being a mother can also be 'challenging' Rooney also talked about raising River with her husband and fellow actor, Joaquim Phoenix. 'It doesn't feel like a two-actor house because I didn't work for the first three and a half years we were together,' she said; seen in February 2020 'It doesn't feel like a two-actor house because I didn't work for the first three and a half years we were together,' she said. 'Basically since we've been together, I only worked one or two times and one was really small and short. It feels like a creative household, we're constantly talking about creative things.' Mara and Phoenix who first sparked up a romance upon meeting on set of Her in 2012 mainly keep their relationship private and out of the spotlight. They starred in another project together in 2016 in the biblical drama titled, Mary Magdalene, which was released in 2018. The following year, the lovebirds privately became engaged. That same year, Joaquin reflected on the beginning stages of their romance while talking to Vanity Fair. 'She's the only girl I ever looked up on the internet,' the Joker star revealed. 'We were just friends, e-mail friends. I'd never done that. Never looked up a girl online.' Although the two have yet to confirm if they have said 'I do' or not, Phoenix referenced to Rooney as his 'wife' during an interview with Hello! Magazine in 2022. Rooney attended the Berlinale International Film Festival on Friday to celebrate the premiere of her latest project titled La Cocina. The film which was written and directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios also stars Raul Briones Carmona, Anna Diaz, Motell Foster and Oded Fehr. Earlier on Friday before stepping onto the red carpet, Mara notably made an appearance at a photo call for the film (seen above) The premise of the movie follows, 'the life in the kitchen of a NYC restaurant where cultures from all over the world blend during the lunchtime rush,' per an IMDB synopsis. Earlier on Friday before stepping onto the red carpet, Mara notably made an appearance at a photo call for the film. She opted for a chic, all-black ensemble that comprised of a pair of black trousers as well as a plain, black top and an oversized blazer that was left unbuttoned at the front. The actress slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black pumps and pulled back her locks into a sleek up do. Coronation Street's Bill Roache is 'unphased' by huge six-figure amount he owes to the taxman, according to pals. The actor, 91, who has played Ken Barlow on the ITV soap since 1960, entered an agreement in 2018 to clear a 588,015.18 debt owed, but has only paid 41,666.65 so far. Friends from Bill's spiritual group claim he is 'doing fine' as he 'faces bankruptcy' for a second time, according to The Mirror. At a Stride for Truth group meeting on Friday night, one member said they were '100% supporting' Bill. The organisation, which strives for world peace and enlightenment, meets in a room above a foot clinic in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Coronation Street's Bill Roache is 'unphased' by huge six-figure amount he owes to the taxman, according to pals Friends from Bill's spiritual group claim he is 'doing fine' as he 'faces bankruptcy' for a second time, according to The Mirror Stride for Truth's Facebook reads: 'The ultimate vision and plan is true and everlasting world peace. A new world order shall be established and a new collective consciousness created. 'This new order and new Earth will be love centric. Strength shall return to the human heart and no longer shall lies, deceit, greed and wickedness thrive. The truth shall set us free.' Bill, who is now the highest-paid member of the cast, earning around 250k a year, 'owes the taxman nearly 550,000'. The Sun have published his six-figure debt, just weeks after it was revealed he's facing bankruptcy for a second time. Bill initially owed 588,015.18 and entered a 2018 agreement to clear it, but the High Court papers obtained by the publication claim he has only paid 41,666.65. He had until last month to pay the full amount of 546,348.53, and now faces a High Court battle in March. Bill's interest payments come to 14,699, while he also faces late-payment fines of more than 8,000, which are both included in the total. MailOnline have contacted Bill's representatives for comment. The actor, 91, who has played Ken Barlow on the ITV soap since 1960 when he was paid just 70 a week, is now the highest-paid member of the cast, earning around 250k a year It comes after HMRC said it does 'not comment on individual cases', but a spokesperson told The Mirror : 'We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts, and do everything we can to help those who engage with us to get out of debt, such as offering instalment plans. 'We only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort.' A spokesperson for Coronation Street told the publication: 'We're really sorry to hear of Bill's financial situation. Bill has an ongoing contract with Coronation Street and remains a much-loved member of the cast.' Papers were lodged against the father-of-five at London's High Court on Tuesday, and details of the cause of the tax debt remained confidential. At the end of the nineties Bill ended up bankrupt following a libel battle with The Sun for calling him 'boring Ken Barlow'. He won the case but was judged to have wasted court time with the law suit and was awarded only 50,000, the amount the paper had offered him to settle out of court. He was left with huge legal bills which he compounded with the decision to sue his lawyers over the case, landing him in up to 600,000 of debt. It was reported in December last year that Bill has signed on to star in Coronation Street for another 12 months, marking his 63rd year on the soap. The actor, 91, has played Ken Barlow on the ITV soap since it debuted back in 1960 when he was paid 70 a week. He had until last month to pay the full amount of 546,348.53, and now faces a High Court battle in March He holds the world record for the longest-serving TV actor in a continuous role and is even listed in the Guinness World Records (pictured on soap with Anne Reid in 1963) He holds the world record for the longest-serving TV actor in a continuous role and is even listed in the Guinness World Records. Bill previously said he wanted to still be on the soap at 100 years old. Last year he told The Mirror: 'Someone said to me, 'Look, Bill, you're in the Guinness Book of Records, you've got the MBE, you've been in Coronation Street for over 60 years, what else is there?' 'I said to him, 'I would like to be the first centenarian who is still cast in an ongoing drama'. That's my aim, to be 100 and still working on Coronation Street.' 'While they want me and while I can do it I'll continue to do it.' Bill has also said: 'People will say when are you retiring? Are you going to take a break? But then what happens? 'Whilst I can do it, and whilst they will have me, I have no intention of retiring. I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me.' Last December, Bill was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting following more than 60 years on Corrie. Bill, who was previously awarded an MBE, revealed the hilarious reaction of King Charles, who playfully asked: 'Not still working are you?' Last December, Bill was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting following more than 60 years on Corrie In May 2022, Bill revealed he nearly quit the soap to pursue his dream of appearing in Westerns alongside the likes of Clint Eastwood . He admitted he first aspired to star in films when he launched his career as an actor, telling the Sunday People: 'When I started out I wanted to be in films, particularly I wanted to be in Westerns. 'There was a time in the middle of my career, when I was in my 40s, I thought if ever I'm going to get out and do something else, now is the time. 'But I only thought about it. I never actually did it. I realised I'm really proud of Coronation Street, lucky to be in it.' Dani Imbert joined her stylish co-stars Amber Turner and Courtney Green to film TOWIE's 33rd series at Savaya Beach Club in Bali on Saturday evening. The trio recently touched down on the Indonesian island a few days ago to begin filming along with their other co-stars. Dani, 25, put on a very busty display in a mesh cut-out co-ord as she walked into the late night beach club. Amber, 30, covered her modesty in a strapless blue mini dress, teamed with stylish beige cowboy boots and a statement necklace. Courtney, 28, flashed her washboard abs in a cropped black bralette and mesh skirt, while donning cowboy boots. Dani Imbert, 25, (pictured) joined her stylish co-stars Amber Turner and Courtney Green to film TOWIE's 33rd series at Savaya Beach Club in Bali on Saturday evening Amber, 30, (left) covered her modesty in a strapless blue mini dress, teamed with stylish beige cowboy boots and a statement necklace Chloe Meadows, 32, was seen wearing a stylish corset lace top and white mini skirt, while donning cowboy boots to match Amber and Courtney. Harry Derbidge, 29, arrived to the luxurious beach club wearing a trendy black and white co-ord set. Filming kicks off next week in Indonesia as ITVBe bosses promise even more drama is set to unfold from The Only Way Is Essex cast. It comes after it was revealed the Chloe Brockett was banned from the trip to Bali after causing an explosive feud with her TOWIE cast members. The TV personality, who was suspended from the ITVBe reality show last year after she was violent towards two co-stars, is said to be 'gutted' to be missing out. ITV bosses reportedly do not 'trust' the TV personality which is why they have excluded her from the filming trip in Bali, which will air in March. A source told The Sun: 'Chloe Brockett hasn't been invited to join the rest of the cast when they film their group trip to Bali to kick off the new series in March. 'Bosses toyed with the idea, as they know she makes good telly, but ultimately they didn't feel they could trust her not to misbehave and they couldn't risk anything derailing things while they are filming in an expensive overseas location.' Dani teamed her racy look with stylish strappy sandals and a sequin gold Jacquemus bag, as she arrived at the beach club Chloe Meadows, 32, (pictured) was seen wearing a stylish corset lace top and white mini skirt, while donning cowboy boots to match Amber and Courtney Harry Derbidge, Amber, Courtney and Chloe (L-R) recently touched down on the Indonesian island a few days ago to begin filming along with their other co-stars Chloe flashed her incredibly toned and bronzed legs in the tiny mini skirt as she posed up a storm Courtney appeared in great spirits as she stepped out with her best pals to begin filming Harry Derbidge, 29, arrived to the luxurious beach club wearing a trendy black and white co-ord set Chloe Brockett was noticeably missing from the cast in Bali after she was banned from the trip after causing an explosive feud with her TOWIE cast members Chloe's future on the series is 'still up in the air' after her suspension and she is 'hoping to be invited back' when the cast return to filming in Essex. The source continued: 'Execs still haven't made the final decision on whether she will return. 'She may well show up later in the series, but she will definitely not be heading to the Indonesian island with her pals. Chloe's gutted, but she's just hoping she'll be invited back once filming resumes in Essex.' Chloe was suspended from TOWIE last year after she allegedly threw three tumbler glasses at her co-star Roman Hackett during a heated argument while filming in Essex. At the time, the cast of the ITV series were said to have been 'appalled' by Chloe's behaviour and called for her to be axed from the show permanently. A TOWIE spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline at the time: 'Chloe Brockett will not be returning to filming for the remainder of the series.' James Norton has reportedly signed up from Raya, after his surprise break-up from ex fiancee Imogen Poots. The Happy Valley star, 38, and the actress, 34, went their separate ways before Christmas, with their split being announced last week. The couple had been together for six years, before decided to call time of their relationship after 'growing apart'. And it seems that James is hoping to move on, as it has been reported the actor has created a profile on celebrity dating app Raya. Raya is a private membership community that started out as a dating app, but has since become a platform for networking and social discovery. James Norton has reportedly signed up from Raya, after his surprise break-up from ex fiancee Imogen Poots (alleged profile pictured) The Happy Valley star, 38, and the actress, 34, went their separate ways before Christmas, with their split being announced last week (pictured in March 2023) It was launched in 2015 and costs 5.99 per month, but in order to join, you must fill out an application, have an impressive social media presence and referrals from existing members. According to The Sun, James' profile states he is an actor based in London but grew up in York, and is full of a slew of broody black-and-white snaps. One handsome selfie shows the hunk sporting artfully tousled hair, while gazing pensively off camera. The publication reports that James has also included a shirtless shot of himself and opted for John Prine's romantic 1999 track In Spite Of Ourselves as his theme tune. James' new search for love comes after it emerged that his ex Imogen tried to keep their heartbreaking split a secret. Despite splitting late last year, the pair decided to keep their break-up on the down low, with a source close to the pair telling MailOnline: 'Imogen, for whatever reason, didn't want people to know.' The 'free-spirited' actress previously spoke about how she 'wasn't ready to slow down' as she wanted to travel the world. However, James has been open with his hopes of wanting a family and admitted three years ago that his 'broody barometer is kicking off'. The couple had been together for six years, before decided to call time of their relationship after 'growing apart' (pictured February last year) And it seems that James is hoping to move on, as it has been reported the actor has created a profile on celebrity dating app Raya (pictured Friday) Imogen split her time between New York and London, but previously insisted: 'I have never known anything to fall apart due to distance'. She told The Evening Standard back in 2020: 'Its all Ive ever known. I find work to be my happy place, in a way. Because its all Ive ever known: packing up a bag and moving on. 'That restlessness thats inherent in you is very addictive. And I suppose now Im supposed to slow down and set up a farm or something. But Im not ready to do that. I want to keep exploring the world.' James previously said his 2020 film, Nowhere Special, in which he played the dying father of a three-year-old boy, kicked off his desire to become a dad. He told The Guardian in 2021: 'Im mid-30s, Ive always wanted a family, my sister has kids, my broody barometer is kicking off anyway.' In an interview last year to promote the Happy Valley finale, James said of his busy acting life: 'It comes as a cost because you don't see each other a lot, but we are willing to pay that for the benefit of having someone in your life close to you who gets it, who is forgiving, who will give up their Sunday to do an annoying self-tape.' Both have been working almost constantly, with James filming the Bob Marley biopic One Love, while Imogen spent time in New Mexico in 2022 making the drama Outer Range. 'James and Imogen have extremely busy work lives and it has made it difficult for them to see each other,' a source told The Sun. James' new search for love comes after it emerged that his ex Imogen tried to keep their heartbreaking split a secret (pictured together in January 2020) The 'free-spirited' actress previously spoke about how she 'wasn't ready to slow down' as she wanted to travel the world, but James has been open with his hopes of wanting a family (pictured together in NYC in 2021) 'They grew apart and split up last year. It hasnt been easy for either of them but they are keeping their heads down and getting on with things.' The couple's romance began in December 2017 after meeting during a run of the play Belleville at the Donmar Warehouse. In 2020, Imogen moved into James's London pad, before setting up home together and after five years of dating they got engaged in February 2022. Imogen was last seen with James at Wimbledon in July last year, however there has been no sign of her at any of the recent One Love premieres, in Jamaica, LA or London. The pair also appear to have unfollowed each other on social media, and Imogen is not among those liking any of James' recent Instagram posts about the film. She has been celebrating her birthday in style after jetting away for a family holiday in Dubai. And Amanda Holden gave fans a glimpse of her festivities as she shared a slew of swimwear-clad snaps to Instagram on Saturday. The mother-of-two put her incredible figure on display in a tiny orange bikini while enjoying a day at the beach, baring her toned abs and cleavage. She also modelled a white swimsuit with a zippered front, posing for snaps in an infinity pool and sipping on an Aperol Spritz. Amanda rang in her 53rd birthday on Friday and celebrated by posing for a nude photoshoot. Amanda Holden put her incredible figure on display in a tiny orange bikini while enjoying a day at the beach, baring her toned abs and cleavage for a sizzling Instagram snap on Saturday She also modelled a white swimsuit with a zippered front, posing for snaps in an infinity pool and sipping on an Aperol Spritz The Britain's Got Talent judge looked incredibly youthful in the snap and recently revealed drinking lots of water and avoiding 'people pleasing' is the key to her fresh-faced looks. She told The Express: 'I drink loads of water because I'm on Heart Breakfast every morning. I don't deny myself anything. I think being happy and confident shines. 'I've got good people around me, I surround myself with good people, and I put my energy into the people who deserve it. I don't try to people please as much as I did anymore. 'I think all of that really helps you feel confident and helps the glow. If you feel good on the inside you will feel good on the outside.' It's words of wisdom that she'll no doubt be passing onto her daughters Lexi, 18, and Hollie, 12, who have joined her on the holiday. Lexi looked the spitting image of her mother on Wednesday, as she shared a new bikini-clad snap. Lexi has often been compared to her famous mum being called her miniature twin thanks to their very similar looks. And when she took to her Instagram this week to share photos from her sun-soaked getaway, the resemblance was uncanny. The Britain's Got Talent judge looks incredibly youthful and recently revealed drinking lots of water and avoiding 'people pleasing' is the key to her fresh-faced looks It's words of wisdom that she'll no doubt be passing onto her daughters Lexi, 18, and Hollie, 12, who have joined her on the holiday Lexi posed lounging on a sunbed, wearing a red bikini that showed off her toned figure, while shielding her eyes behind oversized shades. Captioning the photo, she wrote: 'Vitamin D' with a sun emoji as she enjoyed her balmy day on the beach. The snap was almost identical to one Amanda posted last year, while on holiday in Los Angeles. The Britain's Got Talent judge flaunted her chiselled abs in a very similar red bikini to Lexi, while lounging by a swimming pool. She let her identical blonde hair fan out behind her, while also sporting a pair of dark oversized sunglasses. Amanda has previously admitted to taking inspiration from her daughter and revealed she confiscates some of Lexi's skimpier outfits to keep them for herself to wear. She told The Mirror: 'There's this sequined... I wouldn't even call it a bikini top. "No, you're not wearing that to Reading Festival, but Mummy can have it", so Mummy's got it, and waiting for a moment to wear it. 'It just about covers the bits up top that you would expect it to cover, but it was definitely not for my daughter.' Lexi is following in her mother's showbiz footsteps as well, signing with Storm modelling agency in March 2022. Amanda's eldest daughter Lexi looked the spitting image of her mother on Wednesday as she shared a new bikini-clad snap Phillip Schofield was once so powerful at ITV that he could make or break the careers of anyone working at the channel whether they were in front of the camera or behind it. As many employees at the network put it: he ran the show. And his influence wasnt confined to This Morning, the programme he hosted for 21 years, but the entire network. What Phillip wanted, Phillip got, one former staff member says. If he didnt want someone there, then they went. If he wanted something changed, it was changed. So when Schofield decided that he didnt want to run the risk of a much younger former lover ever divulging details of their affair, he hired lawyers to negotiate a non-disclosure agreement, which the individual involved voluntarily signed as part of an agreement to pay a substantial sum, and the document was put to one side, never to be mentioned again. Given the power he wielded, Schofield was no doubt confident that, like the romance itself, the existence of this NDA, though perfectly legal, would not become public knowledge. But when asked about its existence in recent days, Schofields lawyer came clean, confirming that not only had an agreement been signed but a six-figure payment had been handed over. And now, for the first time, the Mail can reveal the horrifying impact the affair had on the life of the person concerned, who was after all 34 years younger than Schofield. Phillip Schofield with his lover and Holly Willoughby on the This Morning sofa The former producer who left ITV with a payout in 2020 has seen his life turned upside down since May last year when Schofield, after being confronted about lies hed told about the affair, issued a statement to the Mail confirming that it had taken place. A week later, in a bid to rehabilitate himself, the presenter gave an interview to the BBCs Amol Rajan, before retreating from public life to lick his wounds and spend time with his elderly mother. Meanwhile, the younger man, after being forced out of a career he loved, is still trying to piece his life back together. While he has never been named by the mainstream media, given the rumours swirling around on social media platforms he has required legal help to maintain his privacy and it is no secret that the star, once thought to be worth 20 million, has funded much of those expenses. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Shamed Phillip Schofield goes for a walk with his daughter Molly - as he's seen for the first time since it emerged he paid younger lover a six-figure sum to keep quiet about their affair Fact-box text Advertisement One former colleague said: He had been involved at ITV for most of his adult life, he had friends there, a support network and most of all he absolutely loved the job. Things went wrong with Phillip, he moved onto Loose Women which was apparently a promotion but then, after a short time, that came to an end. Now it turns out he has been gagged. It all seems very unfair. He has been struggling for some time, he had a lot of friends at ITV and we often think about him and hope he is doing OK. It has been tumultuous for him, just when he was getting his life sorted. Friends of the man, who was known as Person X at ITV, are also angry about the fact that Schofield had the opportunity to have his say and share some intimate details of the romance, while his younger lover no longer has that choice because he was persuaded to sign an NDA. Nobody is saying he wants to [speak out] but to not have the option is cruel, added the friend. Person X is not the only person to have lost out over the affair, of course. Schofield himself had to resign from all of his commitments at ITV, lost lucrative brand deals and was stripped of all his charity roles. He is left to while away his days in the West London enclave of Chiswick, where he has lived since splitting with wife Stephanie Lowe in 2020, while his former ITV colleagues continue successful TV careers. Phillip Schofield seen for the first time since it transpired that he paid the runner he had a relationship with a six-figure sum and asked him to sign an NDA. He was spotted out for a walk in West London with a new puppy Only on Friday, he would have found it hard to miss the channels announcement that his former sidekick Ben Shephard is to replace him on This Morning alongside Cat Deeley. Industry insiders say there is literally no chance of any comeback now. The seeds of his dramatic fall from grace were sown well over a decade ago when a mutual friend of both Schofield and his wife Stephanie asked if he would give a talk to a theatre school in the North-West of England, where a 15-year-old relative of the friend was a student. Happy to oblige, Schofield, then in his late 40s, made time in his busy schedule to make the trip and, unsurprisingly, his visit caused great excitement. As ever, Schofield was enthusiastic, encouraging and generous with his time and he certainly inspired the teenager whose relative had organised the visit. The boy expressed an interest in a career in television and, at the appropriate time, Schofield arranged an interview for him but nothing more. Bright and good-looking, though in some respects young for his age, the young man made a good impression when he was eventually invited to London and began working on This Morning when he was in his late teens. A year or so later, their affair began. While their colleagues all deny that they were aware of the romance, there were certainly clues. Schofield took to inviting the man, who is now 27 the same age as Schofields youngest daughter to glitzy industry functions, often to the amazement of other employees at the broadcaster. One year, he was a guest on ITVs VIP boat to the National Television Awards, for example. Phillip Schofield came out as gay on This Morning with the support of Holly Willoughby in February 2020 At one particular awards ceremony in 2019, he stunned ITV colleagues, by as one put it declaring his love for Phil in no uncertain terms as he walked into the channels box. Soon afterwards, he was moved to lunchtime chat show, Loose Women. The network later insisted this was a promotion but others there say he was given little choice in the matter. Whatever the truth, it meant Schofield didnt have to deal with the fallout from their ill-advised liaison on a daily basis. Now the world knows about the NDA, it would be intriguing to know what the celebrities who publicly spoke out in support of Schofield at the time the scandal broke are thinking. Sir Elton John jumped to his defence, saying that the whole scandal was homophobic, while actor Rupert Everett said that the media should drop the story despite ITV launching an independent inquiry into the matter. Jeremy Clarkson came out in Schofields favour, too, stating that no crime had been committed and, as recently as last weekend, Schofields former ITV stablemate Lorraine Kelly admitted she was heartbroken when the relationship was revealed. Its just a shame for the amazing career that hes had, for it to end like that, she told the Sunday Times. She added that everybody lost their minds a wee bit during the scandal. What cannot be denied is that two mens lives lie in tatters and the nation has lost one of its most accomplished broadcasters. And all because Schofield made that fateful decision to travel north from his Oxfordshire home to share his experience with some eager young drama students. Rebecca Adlington has said she'll 'never get over her miscarriage' as she discussed the 'tough' year her family have had. The former competitive swimmer, 34, announced she lost her daughter Harper in a devastating late miscarriage in October 2023 - after she lost another child at 12 weeks in 2022. Rebecca already shares son Albie, two, with husband Andy Parsons as well as daughter Summer, eight, from her previous marriage to swimmer Harry Needs. Discussing what the last year has been like for her and her family, Rebecca told The Mirror: 'My miscarriage last October, physically and emotionally, the back end of last year was tough. 'Well never fully get over what happened, but Harper will always be part of our family. Even my two-year-old, Albie, tells people, "My sisters are Harper and Summer." Rebecca Adlington has said she'll 'never get over her miscarriage' as she discussed the 'tough' year her family have had The former competitive swimmer, 34, announced she lost her daughter Harper in a devastating late miscarriage in October 2023 - after she lost another child at 12 weeks in 2022 'Her ashes are now in the house. We talk about her, shell always be part of our lives. I think you learn to find a way forward and to talk about her, without bursting into tears.' Rebecca announced the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Harper on Instagram last year. She penned: 'I don't really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20 week scan this week and they found no heartbeat. 'I gave birth to our angel, Harper on Friday at 7pm. We held her, and had time with her. We will forever love her and remember her always.' Rebecca continued by paying tribute to staff at her local hospital, writing: 'We cant thank the staff at Wythenshawe enough.' She then paid tribute to her husband, saying that his 'selfless support, love and help is truly amazing. I couldnt of survived without you.' 'I don't have the strength or words right now, and don't feel ready to share this news. However, I can't pretend to be OK or fake a smile. I can't have people ask me how pregnancy is or when I am due as I still look pregnant. 'We are so truly heartbroken. Our beautiful girl. Rest in peace, the sportswoman ended her post. Announcement: Last month, Rebecca revealed she was expecting another child with husband Andy Parsons, a year after the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage Her post was flooded with kind support from her friends and followers who offered messages of support. The NHS states: 'A stillbirth is when a baby is born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy. If the baby dies before 24 completed weeks, it's known as a miscarriage or late foetal loss.' Rebecca revealed her third pregnancy in September this year - a year after the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage. Rebecca captioned her social media post: 'Our own bit of magic Baby number 3 on the way'. It comes after Rebecca said she feels 'responsible' for the tragic miscarriage she suffered last year and revealed how the heartbreak made her reluctant to try again for a third child. Rebecca went in to hospital for her 12-week-scan and later had to go down for the emergency surgery after discovering she had miscarried the child. After being sent home following the surgery, Rebecca had to be readmitted to treat sepsis, a kidney infection and a fever. In an interview with The Mirror , Rebecca said: 'Because I'd had two children without any problems, a miscarriage never crossed my mind. I realise this might sound naive, but I expected some signs. 'I felt really responsible for the miscarriage, even though it wasn't my fault. I remember speaking to the doctors and they said there was nothing I could have done to prevent what happened.' 'But you've got all this pressure to protect something this delicate being, this precious, special, incredible baby for nine months, and it just seemed crazy because I've done it twice before and been absolutely fine.' Last year Rebecca went in to hospital for her 12-week-scan and later had to go down for the emergency surgery after discovering she had miscarried the child Happy: Andy and Rebecca tied the knot back in August with a Cheshire ceremony, five months after welcoming their son (pictured showing off their wedding rings) Athlete: Rebecca won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012 Andy and Rebecca tied the knot back in August with a Cheshire ceremony, five months after welcoming their son. The pair met on dating app Bumble in 2018, with the swimmer gushing after their wedding 'It worked out perfectly for us. We couldn't be happier'. The couple started dating two years after the swimmer split from her ex husband Harry, and she previously admitted she was nervous about finding love again. The couple quickly fell in love and facilities manager Andy moved from Liverpool to live with Becky in Manchester in 2019. Rebecca, who won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012, was previously married to Summer's father Harry - with the pair splitting in 2016. As a result of Rebecca's two gold medal win at the 2008 Summer Olympics, she became Britain's first Olympic swimming champion since 1988. In 2013, aged 23, she retired from all competitive swimming. If you have been affected by this story, you can seek advice at www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or www.tommys.org or by calling 01924 200 799 Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker packed on the PDA in Brisbane on Sunday. The reality TV star, 44, and the blink-182 drummer, 48, both wore head-to-toe black for their romantic stroll through the city. Kardashian wore a dark hoodie with billowing sweatpants, while Barker donned a Balenciaga sweatshirt and dark pants. Husband and wife both shielded their eyes with dark shades for the walk, with Travis also sporting a backwards black cap. At one point the lovebirds paused to embrace and gaze into one another's eyes. Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker packed on the PDA in Brisbane on Sunday At one point the lovebirds paused to embrace and gaze into one another's eyes Later, the musician paused to indulge some local fans and posed for a selfie. Kourtney is in Australia with her kids Penelope, 11, and Reign, nine, both of whom she shares with her ex Scott Disick. Their eldest son, Mason, 13, did not join his mother and stepfather for the trip. The Kardashians star recently welcomed a baby boy, Rocky, three months, with Travis. The reality TV star, 44, and the blink-182 drummer, 48, both wore head-to-toe black for their romantic stroll through the city Kardashian wore a dark hoodie with billowing sweatpants, while Barker donned a Balenciaga sweatshirt and dark pants Husband and wife both wore dark shades for the walk, with Travis also sporting a backwards black cap Kourtney is in Australia with her kids Penelope, 11, and Reign, nine, both of whom she shares with her ex Scott Disick The Kardashians star recently welcomed a baby boy, Rocky, three months, with Travis The sighting came just a day after Travis performed with Blink-182 at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena The sighting came just a day after Travis performed with Blink-182 at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. Kourtney attended the show to show her support, taking to her Instagram Stories to give an insight into the night out. She shared a snap of Travis' dressing room backstage as she spent time with the drummer before he took to the stage. Kourtney attended the show to show her support, taking to her Instagram Stories to give an insight into the night out Later, the musician paused to indulge some local fans and posed for a selfie The band will perform their Brisbane shows before returning to Sydney and Melbourne for newly-added dates at the end of the month The Kardashians star also shared a picture of her son Reign grinning widely as he posed in front of a huge poster of Travis and his Blink-182 bandmates. It marked Blink-182's second show in Sydney, after they also took to the stage in the city on Friday night, days after kicking off their Australian tour in Perth. While Travis travelled to Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne with his bandmates Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus, Kourtney remained in Sydney with her children. The band will perform their Brisbane shows before returning to Sydney and Melbourne for newly-added dates at the end of the month. Michelle Keegan spent the weekend partying at a Scottish estate and country club with her husband Mark Wright and family to celebrate her grandfather Michael's 90th birthday. The actress, 36, enjoyed a three day long celebration at Ingliston Estate and Country Club in Bishopton, near Glasgow Airport. She was joined by her family, including her brother Andrew and her dad Mike, who was born in Scotland. Her husband Mark, 37, had been booked to DJ at the venue's Galentine's lunch party in their grand marquee on Saturday, and initially asked Michelle to join him as an extension of their own Valentine's Day celebrations. However, according to insiders, when Mark showed her the swish venue, the couple thought it would be perfect for her grandfather's own party and ended up booking Ingliston's boutique hotel, function room and some lodges exclusively for their use. Michelle Keegan (third right) spent the weekend partying at a Scottish estate and country club with her husband Mark Wright (far right) and family to celebrate her grandfather Michael's (second right) 90th birthday The actress, 36, enjoyed a three day long celebration at Ingliston Estate and Country Club in Bishopton, near Glasgow Airport (Michelle and Michael pictured) She was joined by her family, including her brother Andrew and her dad Mike (left), who was born in Scotland They are believed to have hosted fifty of their own guests at the venue, which also saw Mark party with over five hundred revellers. The three day long celebration began on Friday when Michelle and Mark were spotted by fellow diners enjoying a meal at the resort's Palominos restaurant. As she and Mark tucked into their food, they were joined by other Scots born family members who soon took over a large section of the restaurant. The following day Michelle was spotted enjoying time with the horses on-site at the 100 acre country club twenty minutes from Glasgow centre. She also posted a picture of herself beside her grandfather as they tucked into a pint of Guinness following her breakfast of some square sausage, writing: 'Let the weekend celebrations begin. Happy 90th birthday grandad.' Michelle also made a brief appearance onstage with Mark, her dad, grandad and other family members as revellers chanted her name at the venue during his set, but the star became overwhelmed as she was swamped for pictures from adoring fans. Later the couple, alongside their relatives and friends, headed to the art deco Salerno Suite, which boasts furniture from the Savoy hotel, to carry on with their celebrations. They are believed to have carried on until the early hours and left the venue on Sunday. Her husband Mark, 37, had been booked to DJ at the venue's Galentine's lunch party in their grand marquee on Saturday, and initially asked Michelle to join him as an extension of their own Valentine's Day celebrations However, according to insiders, when Mark showed her the swish venue, the couple thought it would be perfect for her grandfather's own party and ended up booking Ingliston's boutique hotel, function room and some lodges exclusively for their use They are believed to have hosted fifty of their own guests at the venue, which also saw Mark party with over five hundred revellers Later the couple, alongside their relatives and friends, headed to the art deco Salerno Suite (pictured), to carry on with their celebrations until the early hours An Ingliston spokesperson said: 'We were delighted to host Mark Wright, Michelle Keegan and their family for what turned out to be a momentous occasion. 'It's not everyday you get to celebrate your grandfather's 90th birthday and we are delighted such a high profile and much loved couple decided to spend his birthday with us. It made our Galentine's event even more special.' The couple plan too return to the venue which says it has other 'big name' announcements coming soon. It comes after Michelle and Mark celebrated Valentine's Day on Wednesday with a romantic dinner date at their swanky local eatery. The couple headed to Smith's restaurant for a lavish meal comprising a set menu for 95 for three courses, a choice of canapes and petit fours to finish. Taking to Instagram, Michelle shared snippets of the evening, including a smitten shot of her and Mark and an image of a single red rose gifted by her husband. It comes after Michelle and Mark celebrated Valentine's Day on Wednesday with a romantic dinner date at their swanky local eatery Jamie Laing has broken his silence after furious Radio 1 listeners slammed his new role on the show. It emerged on Friday that Jamie will be replacing Jordan North, 34, who quit the legendary Going Home show after a decade on on the BBC station. Jamie, 35, will appear Monday to Thursday, 3.30pm to 6pm - next to radio co-host Vick Hope from March, 4. However, fans were left dismayed over the news, with one fuming listener writing on Twitter: 'Ffs radio 1 has turned into the posh boys club'. Undeterred by the backlash, Jamie addressed his new role in an Instagram post on Sunday, writing that it felt 'unreal' to be joining the Radio 1 family. Jamie Laing has broken his silence after furious Radio 1 listeners slammed his new role on the show presenting Monday to Thursday, 3.30pm to 6pm - next to radio co-host Vick Hope Undeterred by the backlash, Jamie addressed his new role in an Instagram post on Sunday, writing that it felt 'unreal' to be joining the Radio 1 family He penned: 'Guys, firstly Im beyond excited to be joining the amazing Vick Hope on BBC Radio 1's drivetime show. 'Jordan North is a complete pro/legend, he's left some really big shoes to fill so Im going to do my absolute best to do him and the show justice, and to be working alongside the insane Vick Hope is amazing. 'Ive always loved music and radio and grew up a Radio 1 fan, so to be joining the BBC Radio 1 family officially feels unreal. Lot's of you may know I'm never happier than when in front of the 1 mic, chatting to people, sharing stories, having fun and to continue that on drive time is going to be wild in the best way. I will pour everything I have into making it the best show I possibly can for the listeners who love it so much. now, let's go!! Radio 1 baby! Jamie x.' Jamie is a broadcaster and producer who currently co-hosts the hugely successful Radio 1 podcast 6 Degrees from Jamie and Spencer. He can also be heard on the popular podcast NewlyWeds which he presents alongside his wife Sophie Habboo. The personality tied the knot on April, 14, 2023 in London before they headed to Marbella for a second wedding in front of friends and family on May, 20, 2023. On the appointment, Jamie said in a press release: 'I've loved every minute that I've been on air with Radio 1 in recent years, so to be joining Vick on Drivetime is just incredible. 'To be working with Vick is an absolute dream so I'm beyond excited to get started and keep listeners company on their journeys home.' Fans were left dismayed over the news, with one fuming listener writing on Twitter : 'Ffs radio 1 has turned into the posh boys club' Jordan North has quit Radio One's legendary Going Home after a decade starring on the BBC show Show bosses penned: 'Radio 1 will be saying goodbye to Jordan North. Jordan has been behind some of the most hilarious and entertaining moments on air over the years, and has been a constant source of inspiration'. But fans weren't pleased, sharing: 'Oh yes the famous expert in music... why dont you have people who actually know about music, absolutely ridiculous... 'Won't be listening to that anymore then another pointless celebrity on either radio or tv why is there such an obsession with all these talentless made in people'. Radio 1 will be saying goodbye to Jordan, who has been heard on Radio 1 for the last 10 years with his first major show being Radio 1's Greatest Hits on Sundays. He was announced as a co-host on the BBC Radio 1 daily drivetime show in 2021, alongside Vick. In 2020, the presenter finished second in the 20th series of ITV's Im a CelebrityGet Me Out of Here, before he completed an epic 100-mile rowing challenge from London to Burnley for Comic Relief in March 2022. Head of Radio 1, Aled Haydn Jones said: 'Jordan has enjoyed huge support from the station and listeners, developing his talent to host multiple shows across the network. Fans were left dismayed over the news, with one fuming listener writing on Twitter : 'Ffs radio 1 has turned into the posh boys club' Further devastation came, with fans writing: 'Oh yes the famous expert in music... why dont you have people who actually know about music, absolutely ridiculous' In the original announcement post, bosses penned: 'Radio 1 will be saying goodbye to Jordan North. Jordan has been behind some of the most hilarious and entertaining moments on air over the years, and has been a constant source of inspiration' Jordan is pictured with his co-star Vick in October 'He has been behind some of the most hilarious and entertaining moments on air over the years, and has been a constant source of inspiration for younger presenters. 'Jordan has been an amazing presenter and a valued colleague at Radio 1, and I'm so proud of his journey with us. 'He has always connected with the Radio 1 audience through his shows and projects, as witnessed by the huge amount of money raised for Comic Relief during his rowing trip from London to Burnley.' He added: 'I'm so excited to officially welcome Jamie to the Radio 1 family. From his hugely popular BBC podcast to his appearances on the network, our young audiences have loved him. 'His infectious energy and love for music and culture will bring an exciting new element to Drivetime, I can't wait for people to hear all of the exciting new ideas Vick and Jamie have lined up.' Oppenheimer has won Best Film as well as sweeping the board in the major categories at the EE BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall on Sunday. The epic biographical thriller led the wins with seven gongs, including Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. and Best Director for Christopher Nolan. It had the most nominations with 13. The biggest night in British film returned with actor David Tennant as host and an array of guest presenters on hand to deliver awards throughout the night. Prince William attended the ceremony in London solo as his wife Kate Middleton continues her recovery from last month's abdominal surgery. Murphy, 47 - who plays the titular role in Nolan's atomic bomb saga - picked up the prize at the prestigious awards ceremony. He triumphed against Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Colman Domingo for Rustin, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, Barry Keoghan for Saltburn and Teo Yoo for Past Lives. Accepting the trophy, he said: 'Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much BAFTA.' He paid tribute to 'the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn't see in myself.' Cillian Murphy accepts the Leading Actor Award for Oppenheimer Emma Stone accepts the Leading Actress Award for Poor Things Christopher Nolan won the Best Director BAFTA for Oppenheimer, his epic tale of how the nuclear bomb was created Robert Downey Jr. accepts the Supporting Actor Award for Oppenheimer Da'Vine Joy Randolph has been crowned victorious in the Best Supporting Actress category for her part in The Holdovers The Irish actor said to Nolan: 'Thank for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again.' Nolan also acknowledged his 'fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies', adding: 'I know it's a cliche to say, but I'm in awe of you.' He said J Robert Oppenheimer was a 'colossally knotty character', adding: 'We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it's a privilege to be a part of this community with you all. Downey Jr, 58, also collected a BAFTA for his role as Lewis Strauss in the Hollywood blockbuster, which has swept the board during the 2024 awards season. He admitted he owes the award to Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and leading man Murphy, as well as 'British influence'. Gesturing to Nolan, he said: 'Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility.' Downey Jr's win set a new record for the longest gap between wins by any performer as it comes 31 years after his previous BAFTA, for the 1993 film Chaplin. The previous record was 27 years, set by Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2021 when he won the award for best actor for The Father, nearly three decades after his 1994 win for Shadowlands. Nolan won the Best Director BAFTA for Oppenheimer, his epic tale of how the nuclear bomb was created. Prince William attended the ceremony in London solo as his wife Kate Middleton continues her recovery from last month's abdominal surgery Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas accept Best Film Award Michael J Fox presents the Best Film Award to Oppenheimer The actor, 58, collected a BAFTA for his role as Lewis Strauss in Hollywood blockbuster Oppenheimer , which has swept the board during awards season Downey Jr admitted he owes award to the film's director Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and leading man Cillian, as well as 'British influence' Cillian accepts his award from Cate Blanchett for Best Actor for his portrayal as Robert Oppenheimer in the biographical thriller Cillian hugged his co-star Emily Blunt after his name was announced Emily wrapped her arms around Cillian following the momentous win It marked five awards for Poor Things, as Emma Stone collected the gong for her turn as Bella Baxter Ryan Gosling gave his La La Land co-star Emma a cheeky wink as she made her way on stage She said: 'I really wanted to thank my mum, because she's the best person I know. Without her none of this would exist, including my life, so thank you for that Mum' THE BAFTA WINNERS AT A GLANCE Best Film - Oppenheimer Best Director - Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Leading Actor - Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Leading Actress - Emma Stone, Poor Things Supporting Actress - Da'vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Advertisement Before accepting the award from actor Hugh Grant, Nolan hugged Murphy. Nolan joked that his brother 'beat him up here' by being in a chorus of a production 40 years ago. Nolan has previously lost out despite numerous commercial successes such as Inception and The Dark Knight, the UK-born filmmaker won out against Jonathan Glazer [The Zone of Interest], Justine Triet [Anatomy of a Fall], Alexander Payne [The Holdovers], Bradley Cooper [Maestro] and Andrew Haigh [All of Us Strangers]. He paid tribute to Murphy and added to those who backed the film: 'Thank you for taking on something dark'. The director also acknowledged the efforts of nuclear disarmament organisations to bring peace. Oppenheimer swept up in the big name categories, but it was closely followed by the surreal black comedy Poor Things. It marked five awards for the film, as Emma Stone collected the Best Actress gong for her turn as Bella Baxter. Accepting her award, she said: 'Since we're in London, I want to start by thanking dialect coach. She praised him for not laughing at her when he taught her how to say 'water'. 'I really wanted to thank my mum, because she's the best person I know. Without her none of this would exist, including my life, so thank you for that Mum.' The American actress said she was 'in awe' of all of the team behind the film, where she plays the part of a woman who is reanimated and implanted with the brain of a baby. She paid tribute to the writers for coming up with the line 'I must go punch that baby' in a memorable dinner scene, and also hailed director Yorgos Lanthimos for 'our friendship and the gift of Bella'. Also thanking her mother, Stone said: 'She kind of made me believe this crazy idea that I can do something like this.' Randolph celebrated her win as she posed in the press room with her gong The actress proudly held up her accolade in the winners room David Tennant hosted the awards bash and was at one point joined by a white fluffy dog Luther actor Idris Elba presents the Leading Actress Award Nolan joked that his brother 'beat him up here' by being in a chorus of a production 40 years ago Before accepting the award from actor Hugh Grant, Nolan hugged his Irish star Murphy who played physicist J Robert Oppenheimer Dua Lipa presents the Outstanding British Film Award on stage Downey Jr was awarded the gong by fellow actor Gillian Anderson She took to the stage and told the presenter 'you are so handsome' - prompting laughter from the audience 'Thank you for trusting me with this beautiful character,' she says Stone appeared completely elated with her BAFTA win Stone posed with her BAFTA in the winners room after accepting the award on stage Meanwhile, Da'Vine Joy Randolph crowned victorious in the Best Supporting Actress category for her part in The Holdovers as she continues her march to Oscars glory. Randolph took to the stage and told Chiwetel Ejiofor, who was presenting the award, 'you are so handsome' - prompting laughter from the audience. On a more serious note, she said: 'Thank you for trusting me with this beautiful character. Becoming emotional, she said being able to 'wear this beautiful gown, standing on the stage in London, is not a responsibility I take lightly'. Randolph plays school cook Mary in the film set at a boarding school in the early 1970s. Next up, Director Jonathan Glazer and producer James Wilson's The Zone Of Interest won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film. Wilson told the audience they were 'stunned' the film had won three awards during the ceremony, and while it was shot in Poland, the team who made it was assembled from the UK. The night kicked off with French legal drama Anatomy Of A Fall winning the Original Screenplay award after premiering in Cannes back in May. Collecting the award, co-writer and director Justine Triet, said: 'The last time I I was in London, a woman said to me: 'After I saw your movie I called my ex and told him to see it to understand why I dumped him.' Nolan poses with the Best Film Award and Best Director for Oppenheimer in the winners room Murphy in the press room after winning the Best Leading Actor award for Oppenheimer Oppenheimer director Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and Charles Roven Mia McKenna-Bruce poses with the award for EE rising star award Mia was overcome with emotion as she accepted the award earlier in the evening Mia thanked the public for her award and admitted she hoped her sisters would think she was cool now Mia raised the award in the air as she celebrated her win Justine Triet and Arthur Harari accept the Original Screenplay Award for Anatomy of a Fall Following this, drama film Earth Mama was honoured with the BAFTA outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer (pictured Savanah Leaf) David Beckham presents the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer to Earth Mama 'Someone else said 'Did you put a mic in my kitchen?' Gesturing to her co-writer and partner Arthur Harari, Triet said 'I would like to make a statement tonight: it's a fiction and we are reasonably fine.' Harari referred to the plot of the courtroom drama when he joked that he had recently found himself near a window in an attic. He added: 'I want this room as my witness, if something happens to me, I loved insulating that attic and I'm quite happy tonight.' Next up, Poor Things has won the BAFTA for special visual effects. VFX supervisor Simon Hughes said receiving the special visual effects BAFTA for the the film was a career highlight. 'It's the peak of my career, absolutely for me. And to have it happen on such a unique film like this is just a real eye-opener, it's been such a surreal and such a rewarding experience.' Following this, drama film Earth Mama was honoured with the BAFTA outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer, presented by David Beckham. Director Savanah Leaf was sobbing as she took to the stage to be presented with the award for her tale of a pregnant single mother. Leaf said 'this is crazy', adding: 'Our lead had never acted before and she poured her heart into this and she was so fearless.' The director was given the award alongside Irish producers Shirley O'Connor and Medb Riordan. Samantha Morton in the press room after winning the BAFTA Fellowship award The Zone Of Interest won the BAFTA for a film not in the English language (pictured Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn) hirley O'Connor, Medb Riordan and David Beckham backstage Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was not at the ceremony so the award was collected by presenters Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott (pictured) Kingsley Ben-Adir, Cord Jefferson, winner of the adapted screenplay award for American Fiction, with Bryce Dallas Howard Hoyte van Hoytema winner of Cinematography Award for Oppenheimer and Sheila Atim Sayed Badreya, Yasmin Afifi, Elizabeth Rufai and guest, winners of the British Short Film Award for JellySfish Simon Hughes, Tim Barter, Jane Paton and guests, winners of the Special Visual Effects Award for Poor Things Ludwig Goransson, winner of the original score award for Oppenheimer Bryce Dallas Howard and Kingsley Ben-Adir present the Adapted Screenplay Award The Zone Of Interest won the BAFTA for a film not in the English language. Director Jonathan Glazer said it was 'an out of body experience' to win the award as he paid tribute to his collaborators. Producer James Wilson thanked Glazer for his 'virtuosity and his friendship'. He continued: 'Walls aren't new from before or since the Holocaust and it seems stark right now that we should care about innocent people being killed in Gaza or Yemen or Mariupol or Israel.' He added: 'Thank your for recognising a film that asks us to think in those spaces.' The BAFTA for Casting was awarded to Susan Shopmaker for private school-set The Holdovers, while the editing award has gone to Jennifer Lame for Second World War biopic Oppenheimer. Comedy drama American Fiction has won Best Adapted Screenplay. American writer and former Gawker journalist Cord Jefferson said winning a BAFTA was 'surreal', and that he had his speech written for him because he did not think he would need it. Jefferson said in a 'risk-averse industry', he is thankful for his film - about a novelist who spoofs the 'black genre' of books, which becomes a ruse he has to maintain - was made. The Boy And The Heron won the Best Animated Film Bafta. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was not at the ceremony so the award was collected by presenters Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott. The Documentary BAFTA went to 20 Days In Mariupol, which highlights the work of Associated Press journalists in the besieged Ukrainian city during the Russian invasion. Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov said: 'This is not about us', this is about the country invaded by Russia and the bombed city they filmed in was just 'a symbol of everything that has happened'. 'Thank you for empowering our voice, and let's keep fighting,' he added. Composer Ludwig Goransson won the BAFTA for Original Score for Oppenheimer while Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers scooped the honour for best sound for Holocaust film The Zone Of Interest. The BAFTA for Production Design went to Shona Heath, James Price and Zsuzsa Mihalek for surreal comedy Poor Things, about a woman who is reanimated and begins a new life. It was previously announced the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema would go to programmer and archivist June Givanni, founder of the Pan African Film Archive, who collected the prize during the ceremony from Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh. Margot Robbie , Emily Blunt , Emma Stone and Florence Pugh were among the star-studded arrivals Despite the wet and miserable weather forecast, the sun was shining as the first stars arrived on the red carpet Hollywood favourites Emma and Emily were in high spirits as they posed up a storm on the red carpet Northern Ireland actor James Martin, from Oscar-winning film An Irish Goodbye, presented the British short film Bafta to Yasmin Afifi and Elizabeth Rufai for Jellyfish And Lobster, a tale about care home residents. Accepting the prize, Afifi said the film was about elderly people who find the 'magic in their final days', before wiping tears away from her face. Egyptian actor Sayed Badreya, who appears in the film, got down on his knees and prayed on stage. The British Short Animation BAFTA was presented to Ross Stringer, Bartosz Stanislawek and Aleksandra Sykulak for Crab Day, about a father and son in a fishing community. Stringer thanked his parents in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and said the film was about 'standing up for yourself, no matter what the world thinks of you'. Poor Things won two more BAFTAs for best costume design, and make-up and hair. Samantha Morton collected the BAFTA Fellowship from producer David Heyman, who she worked with on Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. There were tributes from her Minority Report co-star Tom Cruise, as well as collaborators Susan Lynch, Molly Windsor and Daniel Mays, while Heyman described her as a 'rare breed and true artist'. Morton was visibly emotional and overwhelmed as she said: 'This is nothing short of a miracle. When I first saw Ken Loach's Kes on a huge telly that was wheeled into my classroom I was forever changed. 'Seeing poverty and people like me on the screen, I recognised myself - representation matters.' The actress, 33, posed for snaps alongside her husband Tom Ackerley, also, 33, who looked dapper in a black tuxedo Her multi-textured dress boasted a satin panel down the front, with velvet on the sides and a sequinned bodice Robbie added a pair of black velvet evening gloves for extra glamour and dangling diamond teardrop earrings Robbie was also joined by her Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling, after he landed a Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Ken Emily Blunt, 40, stole the show in a gold embellished cut-out gown with flared sleeves, a trail and matching ruby necklace The BAFTA nominee slipped into the dramatic nude gown adorned with silver beaded detailing Blunt and her Oppenheimer co-star Murphy were in high spirits as they posed for snaps together ahead of the ceremony, where they were both nominated for their roles in the Nolan epic Poor Things star Stone opted for a quirky orange gown with one puff sleeve as she beamed alongside Yorgos Lanthimos Stone hopeful stunned in the eye-catching orange gown as she arrived for the star-studded film event Dune star Florence Pugh nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction in the plunging silver bustier as she headed into the ceremony She teamed her glamorous ensemble with a dazzling silver necklace and an elegant black cape which wrapped around her arms Lipa oozed confidence as she posed in a semi-sheer eye-catching red gown with a cape detail The blonde beauty flaunted her slender physique in the figure-hugging dress which snatched her waist Emerald Fennell, who received critical acclaim for her work as the director of Saltburn, vamped it up in a dramatic black plunging velvet gown with red sequinned floral detailing The daring silver backless gown showed off Bryce's incredible figure as she posed for snaps on the red carpet Howard cut a glamorous figure in a stunning silver sequinned gown, teamed with daring black platform heels Daisy Edgar Jones, 25, put on a racy display in a plunging maroon gown with a daring thigh-high split and matching strappy heels as she was one of the first stars to arrive She said she would tell her younger self: 'You matter, don't give up, the stories we tell, they have the power to change people's lives. 'Film changed my life, it transformed me and it led me here today.' She added: 'I dedicate this award to every child in care, or who has been in care and who didn't survive.' The BAFTA Rising Star award was won by Mia Mckenna-Bruce following a public vote. The star of coming-of-age film How To Have Sex appeared emotional on stage as she thanked her family and her 'beautiful baby boy'. The 26-year-old joked that she hopes her little sisters, who do not think 'I'm cool', will change their mind after her win. Margot Robbie, Emily Blunt, Emma Stone and Florence Pugh were among the star-studded arrivals earlier in the evening on the glitzy red carpet. Meanwhile, Lily Collins exuded elegance in a figure-hugging black gown - designed by Tamara Ralph - with floral detailing around the neckline, 80s-inspired puff sleeves and a gothic berry-coloured lip The Emily In Paris star, 34, elevated her height in platform heels and accessorised with silver drop earrings Collins put on a loved-up display with her husband Charlie McDowell Robbie and Greta Gerwig was all smiles as they posed for a snap Phoebe Dynevor put on a breathtaking display as she arrived in a deeply plunging ivory gown Meg Bellamy put on a very daring display on Sunday as she arrived at the Awards After arriving for the event, Prince William was seen meeting a slew of the stars in attendance, including David Beckham The royal, who has been president of the Academy since 2010 was pictured chatting to the crowds gathered at the Royal Festival Hall this evening Harry Styles ' girlfriend Taylor Russell, 29, looked sensational in a dramatic white feathered gown which flashed plenty of sideboob as she made a solo appearance at the event Carey Mulligan exuded glamour in a black strapless gown Mulligan and Bradley Cooper were all smiles as they caught up Hannah Waddingham donned a chic navy floral midi dress, teamed with clear heels The biggest night in British film returned with actor David Tennant as host, with an array of guest presenters on hand to deliver awards throughout the night Rosamund Pike slipped into an elegant pale blue midi dress, with a nude bra and gold heels Saltburn star Barry Keoghan looked typically stylish in a dark green jacket and matching trousers Emma Corrin ensured all eyes would be on them in a daring sheer skirt and a crop top as they attended the BAFTAs on Sunday night Downey Jr. and his wife Susan posed for beaming snaps The actress, 33, posed for snaps alongside her husband Tom Ackerley, also, 33, who looked dapper in a black tuxedo. Emily - who was nominated for playing Kitty in Oppenheimer - was a vision of beauty as she stormed the red carpet in a glamorous beaded gown with cut outs along the waist that showed off her lithe figure. The glamorous garment was adorned with gems and clung to her hourglass curvesm flaring out into a fishtail hem. Blunt, 40, completed the look with a diamond and ruby necklace paired with matching earrings. Elsewhere, Best Actress winner Stone opted for a quirky orange gown with one puff sleeve as she beamed alongside Yorgos Lanthimos. Dune star Pugh, 28, nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction in the plunging silver bustier as she headed into the ceremony. She teamed her glamorous ensemble with a dazzling silver necklace and an elegant black cape which wrapped around her arms Lipa oozed confidence as she posed in a semi-sheer eye-catching red gown with a cape detail. Naomi Campbell looked like she should be gracing the halls of The Traitors castle in the Scottish Highlands as she attended the BAFTAs on Sunday night. Robert Downey Jr made history as he scooped the Best Supporting Actor prize at the 2024 British Academy Film Awards on Sunday. The Marvel legend set a new record for the longest gap between wins by any performer as he accepted the award for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, his first in 31 years. Robert's last BAFTA win came for his role as the silent movie icon Charlie Chaplin in the biopic of the same name in 1993, though he was nominated in 2009 for his performance in Tropic Thunder. The previous record was 27 years, set by Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2021 when he won the award for best actor for The Father, nearly three decades after his 1994 win for Shadowlands. Collecting the gong, Robert joked he was going to tell the story of 'the entirety of my life in 20 seconds'. Robert Downey Jr made history as he scooped the Best Supporting Actor prize at the 2024 British Academy Film Awards on Sunday The Marvel legend set a new record for the longest gap between wins by any performer as he accepted the award for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer , his first in 31 years Collecting the gong, Robert joked he was going to tell the story of 'the entirety of my life in 20 seconds' Gesturing to director Christopher Nolan, he said: 'Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility.' He said he owed the award to Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and star Cillian Murphy, as well as 'British influence'. Oppenheimer proved to be the big winner on the night, earning seven gongs including Best Film, Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr and Director for Christopher Nolan. Prince William attended the ceremony in London solo as his wife Kate Middleton continues her recovery from last month's abdominal surgery. Oppenheimer swept up in the big name categories, but it was closely followed by the surreal black comedy Poor Things. It marked five awards for the film, as Emma Stone collected the Best Actress gong for her turn as Bella Baxter. After Oppenheimer was awarded Best Film, director Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas, who also produced the blockbuster, took to the stage. Emma described her husband, as 'inspired and inspiring' and 'brilliant', adding that he was 'often infuriating and always right.' He said he owed the award to Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and star Cillian Murphy, as well as 'British influence' THE BAFTA WINNERS AT A GLANCE Best Film - Oppenheimer Best Director - Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Leading Actor - Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Leading Actress - Emma Stone, Poor Things Supporting Actress - Da'vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Advertisement Robert's last BAFTA win came for his role as the silent movie icon Charlie Chaplin in the biopic of the same name in 1993 Robert was previously awarded a BAFTA for his role as Charlie Chaplin (pictured) 'I am incredibly grateful to him for letting me come along for this ride,' she said. Emma also paid tribute to their 16-year-old son Magnus, saying: 'Your dad and I are the luckiest people in the world but our greatest fortune is being parents to you, Flora, Oliver and Rory.' Cillian, 47, - who plays the titular role in Christopher Nolan's atomic bomb saga - picked up the Leading Actor prize at the prestigious British awards ceremony. He triumphed against Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Colman Domingo for Rustin, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, Barry Keoghan for Saltburn and Teo Yoo for Past Lives. Robert, 58, collected a BAFTA for his role as Lewis Strauss in Hollywood blockbuster Oppenheimer, which has swept the board during awards season. Robert's win set a new record for the longest gap between wins by any performer. His award, for the film Oppenheimer, comes 31 years after his previous BAFTA, for the 1993 film Chaplin. Nolan won the Best Director BAFTA for Oppenheimer, his epic tale of how the nuclear bomb was created. Nolan has previously lost out despite numerous commercial successes such as Inception and The Dark Knight, the UK-born filmmaker won out against Jonathan Glazer [The Zone of Interest], Justine Triet [Anatomy of a Fall], Alexander Payne [The Holdovers], Bradley Cooper [Maestro] and Andrew Haigh [All of Us Strangers]. Oppenheimer swept up in the big name categories, but it was closely followed by the surreal black comedy Poor Things. It marked five awards for the film, as Emma Stone collected the gong for her turn as Bella Baxter. Meanwhile, Da'Vine Joy Randolph crowned victorious in the Best Supporting Actress category for her part in The Holdovers as she continues her march to Oscars glory. Next up, Director Jonathan Glazer and producer James Wilson's The Zone Of Interest won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film. The night kicked off with French legal drama Anatomy Of A Fall winning the Original Screenplay award after premiering in Cannes back in May. Next up, Poor Things has won the BAFTA for special visual effects. Following this, drama film Earth Mama was honoured with the BAFTA outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer, presented by David Beckham. The Zone Of Interest won the BAFTA for a film not in the English language. The BAFTA for Casting was awarded to Susan Shopmaker for private school-set The Holdovers, while the editing award has gone to Jennifer Lame for Second World War biopic Oppenheimer. Comedy drama American Fiction won Best Adapted Screenplay. The Documentary BAFTA went to 20 Days In Mariupol, which highlights the work of Associated Press journalists in the besieged Ukrainian city during the Russian invasion. Composer Ludwig Goransson won the BAFTA for Original Score for Oppenheimer while Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers scooped the honour for best sound for Holocaust film The Zone Of Interest. The BAFTA for Production Design went to Shona Heath, James Price and Zsuzsa Mihalek for surreal comedy Poor Things, about a woman who is reanimated and begins a new life. It was previously announced the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema would go to programmer and archivist June Givanni, founder of the Pan African Film Archive, who collected the prize during the ceremony from Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh. Northern Ireland actor James Martin, from Oscar-winning film An Irish Goodbye, presented the British short film Bafta to Yasmin Afifi and Elizabeth Rufai for Jellyfish And Lobster, a tale about care home residents. Poor Things won two more BAFTAs for best costume design, and make-up and hair. Samantha Morton collected the BAFTA Fellowship from producer David Heyman, who she worked with on Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. There were tributes from her Minority Report co-star Tom Cruise, as well as collaborators Susan Lynch, Molly Windsor and Daniel Mays, while Heyman described her as a 'rare breed and true artist'. The BAFTA Rising Star award was won by Mia Mckenna-Bruce following a public vote. The star of coming-of-age film How To Have Sex appeared emotional on stage as she thanked her family and her 'beautiful baby boy'. Cillian Murphy paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife and sons as he won the Best Actor BAFTA for his role in Oppenheimer on Sunday, as the movie swept the board bagging seven gongs. The Irish actor, 47, who plays the titular role in Christopher Nolan's atomic bomb saga, picked up the prize at the star-studded London's Royal Festival Hall ceremony. Presented with the trophy by Cate Blanchett, he paid tribute to wife of 20-years Yvonne McGuinness as well as sons Malachy, 18, and Aran, 16, who is also an actor. Saying: 'To Yvonne, Malachy and Aran you are my best friend and I love you so much'. Cillian triumphed over Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Colman Domingo for Rustin, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, Barry Keoghan for Saltburn and Teo Yoo for Past Lives. Accepting the trophy he said: 'Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much BAFTA.' Cillian Murphy, 47, paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife and sons as he won the Best Actor BAFTA for his role in Oppenheimer on Sunday, as the movie swept the board bagging seven gongs The Irish actor, who plays the titular role in Christopher Nolan's atomic bomb saga, picked up the prize at the star-studded London's Royal Festival Hall ceremony (Pictured with wife Yvonne McGuinness in 2006) He also paid tribute to 'the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn't see in myself.' The Irish actor said to Nolan: 'Thank for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again.' He also acknowledged his 'fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies', adding: 'I know it's a cliche to say, but I'm in awe of you.' Cillian described J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, was a 'colossally knotty character', adding: 'We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it's a privilege to be a part of this community with you all. Downey Jr, 58, also collected a BAFTA for his role as Lewis Strauss in the Hollywood blockbuster, which has swept the board during the 2024 awards season. Robert admitted he owes the award to Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and leading man Murphy, as well as 'British influence'. Gesturing to Nolan, he said: 'Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility.' Downey Jr's win set a new record for the longest gap between wins by any performer as it comes 31 years after his previous BAFTA, for the 1993 film Chaplin. Presented with the trophy by Cate Blanchett, he paid tribute to wife of 20-years Yvonne McGuinness as well as sons Malachy, 18, and actor Aran, 16 Cillian triumphed over Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Colman Domingo for Rustin, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, Barry Keoghan for Saltburn and Teo Yoo for Past Lives He also paid tribute to 'the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn't see in myself.' He said in his speech: 'To Yvonne, Malachy and Aran you are my best friend and I love you so much' (pictured as a family in 2014) THE BAFTA WINNERS AT A GLANCE Best Film - Oppenheimer Best Director - Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Leading Actor - Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Leading Actress - Emma Stone, Poor Things Supporting Actress - Da'vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Advertisement The previous record was 27 years, set by Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2021 when he won the award for best actor for The Father, nearly three decades after his 1994 win for Shadowlands. Nolan won the Best Director BAFTA for Oppenheimer, his epic tale of how the nuclear bomb was created. Before accepting the award from actor Hugh Grant, Nolan hugged Murphy. Nolan joked that his brother 'beat him up here' by being in a chorus of a production 40 years ago. Nolan has previously lost out despite numerous commercial successes such as Inception and The Dark Knight, the UK-born filmmaker won out against Jonathan Glazer [The Zone of Interest], Justine Triet [Anatomy of a Fall], Alexander Payne [The Holdovers], Bradley Cooper [Maestro] and Andrew Haigh [All of Us Strangers]. He also acknowledged his 'fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies', adding: 'I know it's a cliche to say, but I'm in awe of you' Cillian shared a hug with co-star Emily Blunt before taking to the stage to make his speech Cillian married Irish artist Yvonne McGuinness in 2004, after the pair first met at one of his rock band's shows in 1996. They went on to have two sons (pictured in 2016) He paid tribute to Murphy and added to those who backed the film: 'Thank you for taking on something dark'. The director also acknowledged the efforts of nuclear disarmament organisations to bring peace. Oppenheimer swept up in the big name categories, but it was closely followed by the surreal black comedy Poor Things. It marked five awards for the film, as Emma Stone collected the Best Actress gong for her turn as Bella Baxter. Accepting her award, she said: 'Since we're in London, I want to start by thanking dialect coach. She praised him for not laughing at her when he taught her how to say 'water'. 'I really wanted to thank my mum, because she's the best person I know. Without her none of this would exist, including my life, so thank you for that Mum.' American actress Stone said she was 'in awe' of all of the team behind the comedy, where she plays the part of a woman who is reanimated and implanted with the brain of a baby. Emma Stone paid tribute to her mum as she won Best Actress for her role in Poor Things at the 77th EE British Academy Film Awards on Sunday. The Hollywood star, 35, took home the top prize for her role as Bella Baxter in the sci-fi comedy and made sure to thank her mother Krista for believing in her dreams. She said: 'She kind of made me believe this crazy idea that I can do something like this.' The Cruella star said she was 'in awe' of all of the team behind the surreal comedy, where she plays a woman who is reanimated and implanted with the brain of a baby. Emma looked visibly pleased with herself as she entered the Winners' Room at the ceremony, Emma Stone made sure to pay tribute to her mum as she collected her BAFTA on Sunday night in London The actress looked in shock as she entered the Winners' Room clutching her Best Actress statuette The Hollywood star, 35, took home the top prize for her role as Bella Baxter in the sci-fi comedy and made sure to thank her mother Krista for believing in her dreams. THE BAFTA WINNERS AT A GLANCE Best Film - Oppenheimer Best Director - Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Leading Actor - Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Leading Actress - Emma Stone, Poor Things Supporting Actress - Da'vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Advertisement Emma fought off competition from Maestro actress Carey Mulligan, Rye Lane's Vivian Oparah, Barbie star Margot Robbie, Anatomy of a Fall actress Sandra Huller and former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino - who had been nominated for her role in The Color Purple - for the gong. Meanwhile, Cillian Murphy won the Leading Actor award at the BAFTAs. The 47-year-old actor - who plays the titular role in Christopher Nolan's atomic bomb saga - picked up the prize at the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall. He triumphed in a category which included Bradley Cooper for 'Maestro', Colman Domingo for 'Rustin', Paul Giamatti for 'The Holdovers', Barry Keoghan for 'Saltburn' and Teo Yoo for 'Past Lives'. Cillian won his award after Nolan paid tribute to his leading man when he collected his Best Director award for 'Oppenheimer'. Robert Downey Jr won the Supporting Actor gong for the film, which was also victorious in the Cinematography and Editing categories. Oppenheimer has been nominated for a total of 13 awards. Earlier, Da'Vine Joy Randolph won the Supporting Actress award for The Holdovers. The Cruella star beamed as she held onto her prize for her role in the sci-fi comedy at the BAFTAs on Sunday night Just moments earlier, Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy scooped the Best Actor gong for his role in the wartime epic She said: 'Thank you for trusting me with this beautiful character. 'Being able to wear this beautiful gown, standing on the stage in London, is not a responsibility I take lightly.' She also thanked her co-star Giamatti and said she 'cries every time' she says his name. She went on: 'I'm proud to call you a friend and thank you for never wavering.' French legal drama 'Anatomy Of A Fall' won the Original Screenplay gong and co-writer and director Justine Triet, collected the award. The 2024 British Academy Film Awards saw an amusing exchange between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as she took to the stage during Sunday's ceremony. The star was awarded the Leading Actress prize for her performance in Poor Things, and while making her way to the podium, Ryan winked at her. The pair previously starred together in La La Land and Crazy, Stupid Love, and were both nominated at this year's ceremony, Ryan for his performance in Barbie, and Emma for Poor Things. As she took to the stage, Emma paid tribute to her mother Krista for believing in her dreams. She said: 'She kind of made me believe this crazy idea that I can do something like this.' The 2024 British Academy Film Awards saw an amusing exchange between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as she took to the stage during Sunday's ceremony The star was awarded the Leading Actress prize for her performance in Poor Things, and while making her way to the stage, Ryan winked at her The Cruella star she was 'in awe' of all of the team behind the surreal comedy, where she plays a woman who is reanimated and implanted with the brain of a baby. She paid tribute to the writers for coming up with the line 'I must go punch that baby' in a memorable dinner scene, and also hailed director Yorgos Lanthimos for 'our friendship and the gift of Bella'. The actress fought off competition from Maestro star Carey Mulligan, Rye Lane's Vivian Oparah and former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino - who had been nominated for her role in The Color Purple - for the gong. Oppenheimer won Best Film as well as sweeping the board in major categories at the BAFTAs at The Royal Festival Hall on Sunday. The epic biographical thriller led the wins with seven gongs, including Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr and Best Director for Christopher Nolan. It had the most nominations with 13. The biggest night in British film returned with actor David Tennant as host and an array of guest presenters on hand to deliver awards throughout the night. After Oppenheimer was awarded Best Film, director Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas, who also produced the blockbuster, took to the stage. Emma described her husband, as 'inspired and inspiring' and 'brilliant', adding that he was 'often infuriating and always right.' The pair previously starred together in La La Land and Crazy, Stupid Love, and were both nominated at the ceremony, Ryan for his performance in Barbie, and Emma for Poor Things THE BAFTA WINNERS AT A GLANCE Best Film - Oppenheimer Best Director - Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Leading Actor - Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Leading Actress - Emma Stone, Poor Things Supporting Actress - Da'vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Advertisement As she took to the stage, Emma paid tribute to her mother Krista for believing in her dreams 'I am incredibly grateful to him for letting me come along for this ride,' she said. Emma also paid tribute to their 16-year-old son Magnus, saying: 'Your dad and I are the luckiest people in the world but our greatest fortune is being parents to you, Flora, Oliver and Rory.' Murphy, 47, - who plays the titular role in Nolan's atomic bomb saga - picked up the prize at the prestigious British awards ceremony. He triumphed against Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Colman Domingo for Rustin, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, Barry Keoghan for Saltburn and Teo Yoo for Past Lives. Accepting the trophy he said: 'Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much BAFTA.' He paid tribute to 'the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn't see in myself.' The Irish actor said to Nolan: 'Thank for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again.' He also acknowledged his 'fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies', adding: 'I know it's a cliche to say, but I'm in awe of you.' He said J Robert Oppenheimer was a 'colossally knotty character', adding: 'We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it's a privilege to be a part of this community with you all Downey Jr, 58, also collected a BAFTA for his role as Lewis Strauss in the Hollywood blockbuster, which has swept the board during the 2024 awards season. Robert admitted he owes the award to Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and leading man Murphy, as well as 'British influence'. Gesturing to Nolan, he said: 'Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility.' After accepting the gong, Emma was in high spirits as she posed backstage Downey Jr's win set a new record for the longest gap between wins by any performer as it comes 31 years after his previous BAFTA, for the 1993 film Chaplin. The previous record was 27 years, set by Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2021 when he won the award for best actor for The Father, nearly three decades after his 1994 win for Shadowlands. Nolan won the Best Director BAFTA for Oppenheimer, his epic tale of how the nuclear bomb was created. Before accepting the award from actor Hugh Grant, Nolan hugged Murphy. Nolan joked that his brother 'beat him up here' by being in a chorus of a production 40 years ago. Nolan has previously lost out despite numerous commercial successes such as Inception and The Dark Knight, the UK-born filmmaker won out against Jonathan Glazer [The Zone of Interest], Justine Triet [Anatomy of a Fall], Alexander Payne [The Holdovers], Bradley Cooper [Maestro] and Andrew Haigh [All of Us Strangers]. He paid tribute to Murphy and added to those who backed the film: 'Thank you for taking on something dark'. The director also acknowledged the efforts of nuclear disarmament organisations to bring peace. Oppenheimer swept up in the big name categories, but it was closely followed by the surreal black comedy Poor Things. Meanwhile, Da'Vine Joy Randolph was crowned victorious in the Best Supporting Actress category for her part in The Holdovers as she continues her march to Oscars glory. Director Jonathan Glazer and producer James Wilson's The Zone Of Interest won the BAFTA for outstanding British film. Wilson told the audience they were 'stunned' the film had won three awards during the ceremony, and while it was shot in Poland, the team who made it was assembled from the UK. The night kicked off with French legal drama Anatomy Of A Fall winning the Original Screenplay award after premiering in Cannes back in May. Collecting the award, co-writer and director Justine Triet, said: 'The last time I I was in London, a woman said to me: 'After I saw your movie I called my ex and told him to see it to understand why I dumped him.' 'Someone else said 'Did you put a mic in my kitchen?' Gesturing to her co-writer and partner Arthur Harari, Triet said 'I would like to make a statement tonight: it's a fiction and we are reasonably fine.' Harari referred to the plot of the courtroom drama when he joked that he had recently found himself near a window in an attic. He added: 'I want this room as my witness, if something happens to me, I loved insulating that attic and I'm quite happy tonight.' Next up, black comedy Poor Things won the BAFTA for special visual effects. Following this, drama film Earth Mama was honoured with the BAFTA outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer, presented by David Beckham. The director was given the award alongside Irish producers Shirley O'Connor and Medb Riordan. The Zone Of Interest won the BAFTA for a film not in the English language. Comedy drama American Fiction won best adapted screenplay at the Bafta film awards ceremony. Composer Ludwig Goransson won the BAFTA for original score for epic biopic Oppenheimer while Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers scooped the honour for best sound for Holocaust film The Zone Of Interest. The Bafta for production design went to Shona Heath, James Price and Zsuzsa Mihalek for surreal comedy Poor Things, about a woman who is reanimated and begins a new life. It was previously announced the BAFTA for outstanding British contribution to cinema would go to programmer and archivist June Givanni, founder of the Pan African Film Archive, who collected the prize during the ceremony from Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh. Northern Ireland actor James Martin, from Oscar-winning film An Irish Goodbye, presented the British short film Bafta to Yasmin Afifi and Elizabeth Rufai for Jellyfish And Lobster, a tale about care home residents. Samantha Morton collected the BAFTA Fellowship from producer David Heyman, who she worked with on Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. The BAFTA Rising Star award was won by Mia Mckenna-Bruce following a public vote. The star of coming-of-age film How To Have Sex appeared emotional on stage as she thanked her family and her 'beautiful baby boy'. Georgia Fowler has given birth to her second child with husband Nathan Dalah. The Victoria's Secret model, 33, announced the joyous news on Monday morning, taking to Instagram with several black-and-white photos of herself and Nathan cradling their newborn son in hospital. Revealing the baby's name in the caption, Georgia wrote: 'Zeke Atlas Dalah. 15.2.24. You are so loved already little man.' Georgia's famous friends were quick to express their excitement, with fellow model Cheyenne Tozzi commenting: 'Congratulations you guys.' Models Shanina Shaik, Lily Aldrige and Jessica Gomes also shared their congratulations. Georgia Fowler, 33, has given birth to her second child with husband Nathan Dalah - a baby boy named Zeke Atlas (all pictured) Georgia announced in September that she and Nathan were expecting a baby boy. She shared the exciting news alongside a stunning photo shoot in which she was seen cradling the couple's daughter Dylan, who they welcomed in September, 2021. 'Baby brother brewing,' she wrote in the caption. The Victoria's Secret model announced the joyous news on Monday morning, taking to Instagram with several black-and-white photos of herself and Nathan cradling their newborn son in hospital Revealing the baby's name in the caption, Georgia wrote: 'Zeke Atlas Dalah. 15.2.24. You are so loved already little man' Georgia also shared this adorable photo of Zeke holding his mother's fingers The couple tied the knot during a gorgeous countryside ceremony on 27 January 2023. They exchanged vows at Hopewood House in the township of Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands. Among the attendees were the couple's fashion friends, including model Tahnee Atkinson, fashionista Rey Vakili and designers Sophie Coote and Nikki Campbell. Also attending was 'Australian tailor to the stars' Patrick Johnson and his wife Tamsin Johnson, an interior designer. The couple tied the knot during a gorgeous countryside ceremony on 27 January 2023 Arabella Chi and Adam Maxted were sensationally dumped from the Love Island villa just a day before the final in a shocking twist on Sunday night. The dumped All Stars returned to the villa ahead of the grand final to give their judgements on the remaining Islanders on the ITV2 show. The former contestants arrived dressed in their bikini and swimming trunks to offer their opinion on the remaining couples. The fate was left in the hands of the ex-Islanders as they individually decided which couple they would like to dump from the villa. Kicking off the voting, Mitchell Taylor voted to send home Georgia Harrison and Anton Danyluk, claiming they are 'game players and are going for the prize money.' Arabella Chi and Adam Maxted were sensationally dumped from the Love Island villa just a day before the final in a shocking twist on Sunday night The dumped All Stars returned to the villa ahead of the grand final to give their judgements on the remaining Islanders on the ITV2 show The former contestants arrived dressed in their bikini and swimming trunks to offer their opinion on the remaining couples Meanwhile, Demi Jones revealed she wanted to send home Arabella and Adam because she felt others were 'more deserving' of their place. Chris also voted for Georgia H and Anton, while Kaz Kamwi agreed and sadi that she had been left 'questioning their connection'. Dropping a bombshell in the Molly and Callum saga, Luis Morrison revealed he thought that Molly Smith and Tom Clare's connection was 'one-sided' as he voted to send them packing. Tom, who has already been rattled by allegations that there is still a connection between his partner Molly and her ex-boyfriend Callum, asked Luis what he meant. Luis confirmed that he believes there is still something between them after watching the series play out on TV after leaving the villa. Liberty Poole and Hannah Louise also voted for Arabella and Adam, with Hannah saying: 'There are strong relationships in here and she is a friend of mine but i have to pick someone.' Tyler Cruickshank and Casey O'Gorman also voted for Georgia H and Anton. Jake Cornish admitted that he thought Georgia Steel and Toby Aromolaran were the weakest couple, as he gave them their only vote. Liberty Poole (pictured) and Hannah Louise also voted for Arabella and Adam Georgia Harrison and Anton Danyluk narrowly avoided the dumping as they received five votes The couple received the most votes and were sent home The fate was left in the hands of the ex-Islanders as they individually decided which couple they would like to dump from the villa Finally, Joanna Chimonides, Eve Gale and Joe Garrett all voted for Arabella and Adam, ultimately sending them home. While the girls were having their morning debrief, they quickly notice the former islanders making their way back into the villa. Molly shouted: 'Oh my God, my heart is pounding.' Georgia H gets a text and reads: 'Islanders, please gather around the fire pit immediately.' She then says: 'Guys, I think whatever's about to happen is going to be savage.' During the tense scene, Tom fumed after Luis voted to dump him and Molly. His reason was that she has 'another connection in the villa' and their relationship was 'one-sided' - amid the public backing of Molly and Callum getting back together. But after Molly insisted she did want to be with Tom, while Callum told how he was enjoying moving on with Jess Gale. When Luis made his choice Tom was visibly angry as he retorted to him: 'Why though!' Mitchell Taylor voted to send home Georgia Harrison and Anton Danyluk , claiming they are 'game players and are going for the prize money Finally, Joanna Chimonides, Eve Gale and Joe Garrett (pictured) all voted for Arabella and Adam, ultimately sending them home During the tense scene, Tom fumed after Luis voted to dump him and Molly Luis then defensively replied: 'It's just what I'm seeing on TV.' It comes after on Friday night's show the girls had phone calls from home where lots of their pals suggested Callum and Molly still had feelings for each other. On Friday fans were left devastated as Molly and Callum confirmed they would never rekindle their romance. Viewers had hoped the couple would get back together having entered the villa last month after splitting following a three-and-a-half year relationship in September last year. The couple appeared to have found closure during their time living together in South Africa and, despite Molly being coupled-up with Tom Clare and Callum being paired-up with Jess Gale, fans of the show had hoped Molly and Callum would realise see a future for themselves together. During a chat about the current status of their relationship, Callum told Molly: 'If I could take anything from this, it's that we've actually got a friendship now because on the outside we didn't have that.' He added: 'I'm happy that you've found Tom. He makes you happy.' After Molly told him she was happy he'd found Jess, he said: 'I'm enjoying it. We would never have come to this on the outside. I feel like I'm i a good place.' The pair they shook hands at the end of their conversation and refused to make eye contact with each other as they joked people may read into it. On Friday fans were left devastated as Molly Smith and Callum Jones confirmed they would never rekindle their romance Viewers had hoped the couple would get back together having entered the villa last month after splitting following a three-and-a-half year relationship in September last year Fans of the show took to social media to express their sadness at the prospect of Molly and Callum not getting back together. One person wrote on Twitter: 'Im still convinced Molly and Callum are going to get back together.. Im rooting for it till the very end.' Someone else wrote: 'Molly and Callum shaking hands, end of an era.' While someone else shared: 'If molly and Callum arent back together by the end of the series just cancel love island altogether.' 'Im never going to believe Molly and Callum are officially over until one of them gets married,' wrote another viewer. While someone else posted: 'Can Maya Jama please just run in, throw Molly a note telling her everything Callum has done to make her happy, and then run back out.' Fans of the show took to social media to express their sadness at the prospect of Molly and Callum not getting back together Someone else commented: 'Im just gonna stay in delulu land that molly and Callum will get back together, I like it here.' And someone else shared: 'Anyone else notice that Callum and molly said the exact same thing to Jess and Tom theres no substance to it whatsoever.' Someone else wrote: 'Why do Callum and Molly talk exactly the same man there is a substance to it yall are soul mates.' While another person exclaimed: 'CALLUM AND MOLLY BOTH USING THE WORD substance THEY ARE MEANT TO BE YOU WAIT AND SEE.' Someone else wrote: 'Molly and Callum rehearsed this. They used the same phrases when talking to their partners about how there no substance etc. They are gonna get back together on the outside.' Meanwhile, Molly claimed Callum's family would 'absolutely love' Jess Gale, during Thursday's episode. It's an age-old question guaranteed to spark debate: how much should you tell your partner about the state of your finances? The answer, claims personal finance guru Suze Orman, is absolutely everything - otherwise you may be guilty of 'financial infidelity.' The 72-year-old media personality warns a rise in partners lying to each other about their spending habits is spearheading divorces and it is often women who pay the price. 'Financial infidelity is just as bad as personal infidelity,' Orman - who hosts the podcast Orman Women and Money - told DailyMail.com. 'And we are seeing much more of it because, in my view, more women are the main wage-earners. And the husbands can't handle that so they're hiding more and more. Personal finance guru Suze Orman claims a rise in partners lying to each other about their spending habits is spearheading divorces and it is often women who pay the price 'Just the other day I had an email from a woman whose husband had taken $18,000 out of their joint account to give his adult children from another marriage. 'They don't have enough money to pay their bills. They have credit card debt. It was all the money they had but he was never going to tell her he did that.' A recent survey by Bankrate found that 42 percent of US adults have kept financial secrets from their significant other. This is despite the fact more than a quarter of those guilty believe keeping financial secrets from a romantic partner is as bad as physical cheating. Orman said one of the worst cases she had seen involved a man who pretended to go to work every day - only for his wife to discover he was actually unemployed and living from a family trust fund. She added: 'Years ago it would be men writing to me to say 'my wife is hiding all this credit card debt from me. 'But now 40 years have passed and women have progressed economically and the reverse is true. 'If you're in a relationship where one person has all the power and is making all the financial decisions, you are heading for a divorce so fast I can't even tell you.' A recent survey by Bankrate found that 42 percent of US adults have kept financial secrets from their significant other According to a 2022 study by market research firm Harris Poll, around 15 percent of engaged couples now have a pre-nup, up from 3 percent in 2010 Orman recommends that women always sign a prenuptial agreement - no matter their income. According to a 2022 study by market research firm Harris Poll, around 15 percent of engaged couples now have a pre-nup, up from 3 percent in 2010. But Orman claims this still isn't enough. She argues that all women should have one - and make sure they don't sign it 'on the way to the chapel.' And for women who are already in the throes of a divorce, her advice is: hire a high-powered attorney. She said: 'So many women say they don't want to get into a nasty fight. But they should - they should take everything they are legally divorced. 'And if they're weighing up whether they want to keep the house in the settlement they should think very carefully about whether they can afford the home? Can they afford the terms of the mortgage and the property insurance? 'I often tell women - depending on their circumstances - to take the money and just go rent somewhere. Start afresh.' Private lender Bandhan Bank on Saturday said that it has been authorised by the West Bengal government to collect tax and non-tax receipts on its behalf. The mandate will enable the bank to collect revenues through the Government Receipt Portal System (GRIPS). By virtue of this mandate, people will be able to pay various taxes like property tax, motor vehicle tax and professional tax using this portal, the lender said. The bank will soon be integrating itself with the West Bengal government to operationalise the payment collection process. Debraj Saha, head-government business, Bandhan Bank said West Bengal is among the top three markets for Bandhan Bank. The bank has over 1,700 transaction outlets in the state, he said. GRIPS is an online internet-based platform for making various tax and non-tax payments to the West Bengal government. The recent data revealing a distressing trend of Indian student deaths abroad underscores the pressing need for heightened awareness and intervention The year 2024 began with a series of tragic incidents involving some Indians living in the USA, starkly highlighting the vulnerability of persons of Indian origin abroad. Recently an IT executive Vivek Taneja, 41, was killed when he tried to save a female colleague from molestation outside a restaurant in Washington. Vivek became the seventh victim of attacks that took place on Indians in America this year. A spate of incidents of death of Indians living in foreign countries has ensued in the recent past. The government of India had recently informed the Parliament that around 403 incidents of death of Indian students living abroad have been reported since 2018 due to various reasons including natural causes, accidents and medical conditions. The data reveals a disheartening scenario for Indians aspiring to go abroad for various purposes as it showed that 91 Indian students died in Canada, 48 in the UK, 40 in Russia, 36 in the US, 35 in Australia, 21 in Ukraine and 20 in Germany, 14 in Cyprus, 10 each in Philippines and Italy and nine each in Qatar, China and Kyrgyzstan. Among other factors responsible for the death of Indians abroad, the crimes and attacks upon Indians have emerged as a major cause of concern. The recent incidents of attacks on Indians in America also raise concerns about the probable escalation of xenophobia and hate crimes against immigrants and minority communities in the United States. The attacks highlight the vulnerability of Indian Americans and other minority groups and underscore the need for increased awareness and intervention if the attacks were prompted by hatred and discrimination. These incidents might also be a reflection of the broader trend of racially motivated violence and anti-Asian hate crimes that witnessed a surge in anti-Asian racism and violence especially during and post the COVID-19 pandemic. The year 2024 has witnessed many consecutive deaths of Indian or Indian-origin students due to various causes, some of which the cause of deaths is still unclear. These incidents serve as a catalyst for a broader discussion about the challenges faced by Indians living overseas. While the specific details surrounding each death remain under investigation, they collectively underscore the critical need to address the risks and dangers encountered by Indian nationals abroad. As investigations into the recent incidents continue, it is crucial to examine the root causes and systemic issues that contribute to the vulnerability of Indians living abroad. Factors such as racism, xenophobia, inadequate security measures, and cultural misunderstandings are likely to play a role in endangering the lives of Indian nationals overseas. Organizations like the South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) report hate violence against South Asian communities, including Indians, and press for increased measures to address these crimes and enhance community safety. It is likely that systemic racism still continues in various institutional practices and policies, creating a disadvantageous environment for Indians and other minority groups in the USA. Disparities in hiring and promotion practices, unequal treatment within the criminal justice system, and limited access to quality education and healthcare are probable systemic issues that might require immediate attention. Reports suggest a need for greater awareness and accountability regarding systemic racism, requiring policy reforms and initiatives that promote equity and inclusion as Indian Americans become targets of hate crimes fuelled by racial or ethnic animus resulting in incidents of verbal harassment, vandalism, and physical assaults across the nation. In cases where individuals are found responsible for crimes against Indian nationals abroad, there is a growing demand for extradition and legal accountability. Extradition of guilty persons to India for trial and punishment is essential to ensure justice and deter future crimes. India and the US had signed an extradition treaty in 1997. This treaty outlines the process for extraditing individuals who commit crimes in one country and flee to the other. While the extradition treaty exists, navigating it is usually complex and time-consuming. Delays occur due to lengthy legal processes, gathering evidence, potential appeals etc. The Government of India bears a significant responsibility for safeguarding the interests and security of its citizens living abroad. The Indian government has taken up such matters with foreign governments and has constantly expressed its concerns in the past. Indian consulates in the US and elsewhere must enhance the process of providing assistance to Indian citizens, offer guidance on various issues like legal rights, visa concerns, and emergency support etc. The government must raise awareness about safety concerns and resources available to Indian citizens in foreign lands, including collaborating with community organizations. The Indian government may also consider collaborating with organizations like SAALT to provide support, resources, and advocacy for Indian communities abroad. Consulates can connect Indian citizens with legal resources and provide guidance on navigating the foreign legal system in case of discrimination or hate crimes. Tragedy in the US underscores the urgent need for multifaceted solutions. The death of Indian or Indian-origin individuals in America serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the safety and security of Indian nationals living abroad. (The author is a Sr Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, the University of Delhi, research inputs by Shreyansh Gupta; views are personal) Rae Bareli remains a focal point of intrigue, embodying the rich electoral history and the ever-evolving political landscape of Uttar Pradesh There were constant speculations that Sonia Gandhi might contest the elections from Medak, Telangana. Months ago, Telangana Congress had passed a similar proposal and sent it to Delhi. Since the Medak constituency had also supported former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in bad times. Because after Amethi was out of control, positive messages were not coming from Rae Bareli also. That too ever since BJP felt a public wave in entire UP after Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha. Sensing such a situation, senior Congress leaders advised Sonia Gandhi to come from Rajya Sabha. To which Sonia Gandhi also agreed. Since former Congress President Sonia Gandhi's announcement after her Rajya Sabha nomination in Jaipur that she will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli, Priyanka Gandhi accompanying her brother for most of the UP part of Rahul Yatra has given rise to speculations that she will contest her Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli. Can contest elections from mother's former seat Rae Bareli. Senior Congress leaders said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to join the yatra along with her brother Rahul Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will enter Uttar Pradesh via Chandauli on Friday. In an emotional letter to the people of her parliamentary constituency Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi informed them about her decision not to contest the elections from the Congress stronghold. Whatever I am today is because of you... but due to old age and health, I will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Sonia Gandhi wrote a day after filing her Rajya Sabha nomination papers from Rajasthan. Thanking the people of Rae Bareli for their continued support, he wrote, Our family has very deep roots in Rae Bareli. I am proud to say that whatever I am today is because of you... I know that you will stand by me and my family in the future as well as in the past. This gesture strengthens Priyanka Gandhi's Rae Bareli entry. Sonia Gandhi, who had won from Rae Bareli in the last four consecutive elections, said. According to the program of the Congress Party, the Congress Yatra will reach Amethi on February 19 and Rae Bareli the next day. As part of the new route of travel in UP, Rahul will spend six days in the state before entering Madhya Pradesh from Jhansi on February 22, the state Will cover parts of Eastern, Central and Bundelkhand regions. Which is politically important. The situation in Rae Bareli has continuously deteriorated in the last few days. During the UP elections in 2022, the strength of the Samajwadi Party was seen increasing in Rae Bareli. At the same time, Aditi Singh, who joined the BJP from Congress, won from Rae Bareli Sadar seat. BJP won for the first time in the Congress fort. Even in the Modi-Yogi wave of 2014 and 2019, the BJP was not successful in conquering the fort of Rae Bareli. But now the situation in Congress ground is not good. In the review conducted by the top leadership of Congress, questions are being raised about the party's victory on this seat after Sonia Gandhi left the seat. In such a situation, there is confusion on the part of the party leadership about fielding Priyanka Gandhi in the election field. It is believed that the party may change its strategy. It is also being claimed quoting senior leaders that Priyanka Gandhi herself does not want to contest elections from Rae Bareli. In that situation, it is also being claimed that under the alliance, this seat can also go to SP. Rae Bareli has been the traditional seat of the Gandhi family and their friends. The electoral history from 1952 to 2014 clearly says that Congress has lost only three times, in the rest big personalities like Firoz Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Sheila Kaul, Arun Nehru, and Satish Sharma have won elections from here .Whereas from the opposition, faces like Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia, Mahipal Shastri, Janeshwar Mishra, and Savita Ambedkar have had to face defeat here. (The writer is a senior journalist, views are personal.) At least 10 wagons of a goods train derailed near Sarai Rohilla Station in Delhi on Saturday, the police said. The incident took place on the Patel Nagar-Dayabasti section at around 11:50 am near the Zakhira flyover in north Delhi. An official of Railway Police said 10 bogies have derailed in the incident and added that a rescue operation was underway. Teams of railway police and fire brigade have arrived at the spot for the rescue operation. The body of the 70-year-old rag-picker, identified as Rafiq, was recovered from under a bogie, a railway police official said, adding he was working under a contractor hired by the railways, along with three other workers. His other fellow workers were safe, the official said. Iron sheet rolls were loaded in the goods train. Possible casualty of a person on the track not ruled out, the official said. During inquiry from the co-workers and examination of the accident site, prima facie no foul play has been noticed, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways) KPS Malhotra said. Another official of the Railway Police said 10 bogies have derailed in the incident and added that a rescue operation was underway. Teams of railway police and fire brigade have arrived at the spot for the rescue operation. The official said mobile crime team along with forensic expert have been called who are inspecting the site. Staff from local police also reached the spot to control the crowd and to maintain the law and order situation, he said. Law and order is normal and rescue operation and resumption of the train operations over the track will resume after the railways procedures, he said. Soon after the incident, panic gripped among people living alongside the track, another official said. A video clip of the incident also surfaced in which the train boogies were seen getting derailed. In the video, the residents could be seen running away as the accident took place. A huge quantity of inflammable material was found on the premises of the factory in Delhis Alipur where 11 people died in a fire posing a risk to human life, according to the FIR registered on the incident. The son of the factory owner was being questioned in the case as the owner was also killed in Thursdays fire, it said. The FIR, said the factory had multiple machines and iron drums, which were later found in a burnt state. At least 11 people the factory owner and 10 workers died and four others were injured in a fire that broke out in a paint factory in outer Delhis Alipur area on Thursday evening. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), in a statement has said the building in which the fire broke out was being used illegally for the purpose of mixing chemical paint. The police said that all the eleven deceased have been identified by their family members. Eight dead bodies were handed over to their families after identification on Friday. Three more are identified on Saturday, a police officer said. Ram Pravesh (18), Kripa Shanaker (42) and Harish Chandra Yadav (59) were identified on Saturday. The FIR which is registered on the complaint of a Sub-Inspector Anil Kumar from Alipur Police Station said that he along with head constables Subhash Singh and Sanjeet and a constable Karambir, immediately reached the spot. When they reached the spot, the factory and nearby houses were under the blaze. They also heard multiple explosions during the rescue operation, the FIR said. Constable Karambir was injured while rescuing the people, it said. After the fire stopped, the crime team was called for inspection. The factory had many machines and iron drums which were found in burnt state, the FIR said. It said the factory owner had collected inflammable material in a huge quantity posing a risk to human life. A police officer said since the owner Ashok Kumar Jain, 62, himself died in the fire, his son Akhil Jain is being interrogated. He has been asked to provide the required documents related to the factory, which has been running since 2017. The police said that they will also conduct the audit on other factories running in the locality of Dayal Market of Alipur area. The audit will be related to checking the documents and other required certificates, an official said. Locals have claimed that there were over 100 factories producing chocolates, slippers and paint illegally running in the area. Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri on Saturday said here Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal presented the Motion of Confidence in the Assembly only to divert attention from corruption. Making this assertion, he said there was no need for this as the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP)has a sufficient majority in the Assembly. The truth is that AAP MLAs have faith in the Aam Aadmi Party government but it has lost faith in the public, Bidhuri claimed. Opposing the Motion of Confidence in the Assembly, he said it is a ridiculous situation that the allegation after which the Motion of Confidence has been moved in the Assembly, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Minister Atishi are not cooperating with the Delhi Police in the investigation of this allegation. Bidhuri said the Motion of Confidence was moved to divert attention from corruption and failure of the government on every front. In his speech, Bidhuri strongly attacked the government regarding several scams of Aam Aadmi Party. He said by bringing the new liquor policy the master plan and the directions of the Supreme Court were violated. Contractors commission was increased from 2 % to 12%. Many leaders including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh are in jail in the scam and this policy had to be withdrawn after the corruption was exposed. Bidhuri said the Jal Board is facing a loss of Rs 73 thousand crores and when the Chief Minister of Delhi was the Chairman of the Jal Board, there were scams worth of rupees crores which are being investigated. Private companies were benefited to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore through electricity scam, whereas these people came to power by promising to conduct CAG audit of those companies every year. Even in the name of health, Delhi government is full of scams. Delhi Governments Anti Corruption Bureau has caught the scam of fake tests in mohalla clinics. The misappropriation of crores of rupees in the class room scam is also being investigated. Bidhuri charged that the DTC scam has also come to the fore and is being investigated by the CBI. Apart from this, crores of rupees were recovered from bus operators and taxi owners in the name of panic button, whereas it proved to be only a toy. The anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government has also accepted this. With the aim to strengthen the relation between Netherlands and India, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in collaboration with Embassy of Netherlands on Saturday organised a music concert by Indo-Dutch Artist on the theme of Song of Water in the background of newly bloomed Tulips at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri. Thousands of audience across the Delhi NCR region mesmerized with wonderful performances by Eminent Artist Pandit Shubhendra Rao and Maestro Saskia Rao with Pranshu Chaturlal and Heiko Dijker in Indo-Dutch Music Concert. In his welcome address, Chairman NDMC Amit Yadav welcomed all diplomatic dignitaries, music lovers and visitors of the Tulip Festival in Nehru Park as an audience of Indo- Dutch Music Concert as a part of the event series of Spring season celebration by NDMC. He said across the city is being visiting the Tulip Festival organised by NDMC in collaboration also with Netherlands and enjoying the beauty and fragrance of the second edition of this Tulip Festival. In this year, NDMC added a music flavour in the Tulip Festival in association with the Embassy of Netherlands. The Chairman hopes that the Netherlands will also be collaborated in future for this cultural and horticulture field to continue these activities to strengthen the friendship of India and Netherlands. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha will gherao the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three days from Tuesday to press the Centre into accepting the farmers' demands including a legal guarantee to minimum support price on crops, a leader of the outfit has said. Several farmer outfits, which are part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have extended their support to the "Delhi Chalo" call given by SKM (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The march was stopped by security forces at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana which led to clashes. Protesting farmers have stayed put at Shambhu and Khanauri for the sixth day after their march to the national capital was halted. A group of Union ministers and farmer leaders will hold a fresh round of talks with farm leaders on Sunday evening in Chandigarh. The two sides met on February 8, 12 and 15 as well but those talks remained inconclusive. Balbir Singh Rajewal, a leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of various farmer unions, said they will stage protests in front of the residences of Punjab BJP leaders, including MPs, MLAs and district presidents, from Tuesday to Thursday. Interacting with reporters after a meeting of SKM leaders here, Rajewal said it has also been decided that they would protest at all toll barriers in the state and make them free for all commuters from February 20 to 22. The SKM will not accept anything less than the C-2 plus 50 per cent formula for MSP as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report, he said after the meeting which was also attended by farmer leaders Balkaran Singh Brar and Boota Singh, among others. The long-pending demands of farmers, the ongoing agitation by SKM (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha) and their multiple rounds of talks with Central ministers were also discussed in the meeting, Rajewal said. He also said the SKM will hold a high-level meeting on February 22 in Delhi to chalk out future strategy on the demands put up earlier before the Centre during their agitation in 2021 against the now-repealed farm laws. "Our struggle will continue even if the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections comes into force," he said in reply to a question by reporters. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21. Meridian Wealth Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,167 shares of the companys stock after selling 46 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company comprises about 1.0% of Meridian Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Meridian Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $3,850,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of LLY. Thompson Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Retirement Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 159.1% in the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 57 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Family CFO Inc acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 78,573 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $648.07, for a total value of $50,920,804.11. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,333,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $64,375,262,246.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 195,055 shares of company stock worth $125,254,657. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 3.2 % NYSE:LLY traded up $24.28 on Friday, reaching $782.06. The stock had a trading volume of 5,009,368 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,524,873. The company has a market cap of $742.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 134.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firms fifty day moving average is $636.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $590.56. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $309.20 and a 12-month high of $794.47. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $9.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 50.78%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.09 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.66%. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is 89.66%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have issued reports on LLY shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $805.00 to $950.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $655.50. Get Our Latest Report on Eli Lilly and Company Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC decreased its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 1.1% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 61,918 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 665 shares during the period. Rafferty Asset Management LLCs holdings in Union Pacific were worth $12,608,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Park Place Capital Corp lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the second quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 3,893 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $797,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Vivaldi Capital Management LP lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 3.1% in the second quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP now owns 1,585 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $324,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 3.7% in the third quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas now owns 1,384 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $282,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the period. Eley Financial Management Inc lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.3% in the second quarter. Eley Financial Management Inc now owns 18,735 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $3,834,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 6.3% in the second quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 840 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $172,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.36% of the companys stock. Get Union Pacific alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets UNP has been the topic of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Union Pacific from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $280.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $282.00 to $272.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Union Pacific from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $223.00 to $235.00 in a report on Friday, October 20th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $249.67. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total transaction of $235,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 98,297 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,099,795. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total transaction of $235,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 98,297 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,099,795. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at $14,170,500. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Union Pacific Stock Performance NYSE:UNP opened at $246.59 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $150.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.57, a PEG ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 1.08. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $242.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $225.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $183.69 and a 1-year high of $251.65. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 46.87% and a net margin of 26.45%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.67 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.92 earnings per share for the current year. Union Pacific Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.11%. Union Pacifics payout ratio is 49.71%. About Union Pacific (Free Report) Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CenterBook Partners LP acquired a new position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM Free Report) (TSE:CM) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 116,780 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $4,509,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 8.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 8,361 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,017,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 14.7% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,323 shares of the banks stock valued at $527,000 after purchasing an additional 554 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 24.1% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 6,630 shares of the banks stock valued at $807,000 after purchasing an additional 1,287 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 20.4% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 4,512 shares of the banks stock valued at $549,000 after purchasing an additional 763 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 6.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 308,427 shares of the banks stock valued at $37,532,000 after purchasing an additional 18,653 shares during the last quarter. 43.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. National Bank Financial raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Four equities 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, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $63.00. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Trading Up 0.4 % CM stock traded up $0.17 during trading on Friday, hitting $45.88. The company had a trading volume of 1,887,897 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,590,404. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.01, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $41.61. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 52-week low of $34.35 and a 52-week high of $48.92. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The bank reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $5.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.34 billion. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a net margin of 8.99% and a return on equity of 13.55%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 5.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 28th were given a dividend of $0.6623 per share. This is an increase from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 27th. This represents a $2.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.77%. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 67.54%. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM Free Report) (TSE:CM). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 76,543 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $8,186,000. Ryder System makes up 4.5% of Cambridge Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its biggest holding. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.17% of Ryder System as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in R. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Ryder System by 13.6% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 193,131 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $15,322,000 after purchasing an additional 23,111 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ryder System in the first quarter valued at approximately $290,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Ryder System by 33.3% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 34,694 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,752,000 after acquiring an additional 8,674 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in shares of Ryder System by 10.5% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 19,678 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,561,000 after acquiring an additional 1,876 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its position in shares of Ryder System by 12.5% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 32,930 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,691,000 after acquiring an additional 3,652 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.62% of the companys stock. Get Ryder System alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently commented on R shares. Vertical Research lowered Ryder System from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $120.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Ryder System from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Ryder System from $117.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday. StockNews.com upgraded Ryder System from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Finally, Stephens raised their price target on Ryder System from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $116.00. Ryder System Stock Down 1.4 % R traded down $1.51 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $107.31. 425,924 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 275,216. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32. The stocks 50-day moving average is $113.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $105.93. Ryder System, Inc. has a 1-year low of $76.15 and a 1-year high of $119.47. The stock has a market cap of $4.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.29 and a beta of 1.41. Ryder System (NYSE:R Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The transportation company reported $2.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.75 by $0.20. Ryder System had a net margin of 3.45% and a return on equity of 19.68%. The firm had revenue of $3.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.98 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.89 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Ryder System, Inc. will post 11.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Ryder System Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be given a $0.71 dividend. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.65%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 16th. Ryder Systems payout ratio is presently 32.53%. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Robert D. Fatovic sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.51, for a total value of $1,065,100.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 52,314 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,571,964.14. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 4.00% of the companys stock. Ryder System Company Profile (Free Report) Ryder System, Inc operates as a logistics and transportation company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Fleet Management Solutions (FMS), Supply Chain Solutions (SCS), and Dedicated Transportation Solutions (DTS). The FMS segment offers full-service leasing and leasing with flexible maintenance options; commercial vehicle rental services; and contract or transactional maintenance services of trucks, tractors, and trailers; access to diesel fuel; and fuel planning and tax reporting, cards, and monitoring services, and centralized billing, as well as sells used vehicles through its retail sales centers and www.ryder.com/used-trucks website. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding R? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ryder System Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ryder System and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 47,118 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,925,000. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WFC. Defender Capital LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the first quarter worth $246,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the first quarter worth $124,000. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter worth $222,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 273,936 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,274,000 after purchasing an additional 770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 24.5% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 9,630 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $467,000 after purchasing an additional 1,895 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have commented on WFC. Robert W. Baird reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, January 8th. Raymond James upped their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Odeon Capital Group downgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $48.80 price objective on the stock. in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.43. Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance Shares of WFC traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $51.91. The stock had a trading volume of 24,359,733 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,672,132. The stock has a market capitalization of $188.52 billion, a PE ratio of 10.77, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.18. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12 month low of $35.25 and a 12 month high of $52.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. The companys 50-day moving average is $49.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $44.39. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $20.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.67 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 EPS for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd will be given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.05%. About Wells Fargo & Company (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. Further Reading 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. Altice USA (NYSE:ATUS Free Report) had its target price trimmed by UBS Group from $6.00 to $4.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. HSBC downgraded shares of Altice USA from a buy rating to a reduce rating and reduced their target price for the company from $4.00 to $1.20 in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. Benchmark reduced their target price on shares of Altice USA from $10.00 to $5.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $4.48. Get Altice USA alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Altice USA Altice USA Trading Down 8.3 % Shares of NYSE ATUS opened at $2.00 on Thursday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $2.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.77. Altice USA has a 1-year low of $1.75 and a 1-year high of $4.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $909.52 million, a P/E ratio of 16.67 and a beta of 1.33. Altice USA (NYSE:ATUS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported ($0.26) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.33). Altice USA had a negative return on equity of 13.00% and a net margin of 0.58%. The business had revenue of $2.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.43) EPS. The companys revenue was down 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Altice USA will post 0.43 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Altice USA Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in Altice USA by 9.6% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 20,815 shares of the companys stock worth $193,000 after purchasing an additional 1,830 shares in the last quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Altice USA by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. now owns 21,131 shares of the companys stock worth $264,000 after purchasing an additional 1,953 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its stake in Altice USA by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 107,242 shares of the companys stock worth $493,000 after purchasing an additional 2,249 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in Altice USA by 798.9% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,353 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 2,980 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL lifted its stake in Altice USA by 9.7% in the 1st quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 36,200 shares of the companys stock worth $452,000 after purchasing an additional 3,200 shares in the last quarter. 54.59% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Altice USA (Get Free Report) Altice USA, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides broadband communications and video services in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It offers broadband, video, telephony, and mobile services to residential and business customers. The company's video services include delivery of broadcast stations and cable networks; over the top services; video-on-demand, high-definition channels, digital video recorder, and pay-per-view services; and platforms for video programming through mobile applications. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Altice USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altice USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Channing Capital Management LLC decreased its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 83,964 shares of the companys stock after selling 397 shares during the quarter. Channing Capital Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $7,773,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,342,014,000 after purchasing an additional 4,368,323 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 1.0% during the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 106,291,477 shares of the companys stock worth $10,376,231,000 after acquiring an additional 1,092,991 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 1.1% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 95,439,062 shares of the companys stock worth $9,316,761,000 after acquiring an additional 1,056,110 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 3.1% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,592,611 shares of the companys stock worth $5,793,812,000 after acquiring an additional 1,745,868 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 4.9% during the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 51,558,741 shares of the companys stock worth $5,033,166,000 after acquiring an additional 2,430,519 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently weighed in on PM. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. Societe Generale upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. UBS Group downgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and dropped their price target for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $105.40. Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSE PM traded up $0.67 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $89.65. 4,382,484 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,870,257. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $92.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $93.16. The stock has a market cap of $139.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.86, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.63. Philip Morris International Inc. has a one year low of $87.23 and a one year high of $102.00. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.99 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.39 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.4 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.80%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 103.59%. Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International In related news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total value of $942,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at $18,703,629.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Philip Morris International (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Columbia Asset Management trimmed its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 18.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,641 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 1,300 shares during the quarter. Columbia Asset Managements holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $546,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of ABT. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter worth $131,000. United Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 27,280 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,229,000 after purchasing an additional 1,826 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 813,253 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $96,257,000 after purchasing an additional 15,521 shares during the last quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC now owns 19,467 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,304,000 after purchasing an additional 436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 636.2% in the 1st quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,216 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $262,000 after acquiring an additional 1,915 shares during the last quarter. 73.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 0.3 % ABT traded up $0.37 during trading on Friday, hitting $114.01. The stock had a trading volume of 7,161,109 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,708,897. The company has a market capitalization of $197.93 billion, a PE ratio of 34.97, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.75. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $89.67 and a twelve month high of $115.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.74. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $111.43 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $103.99. Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.19. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 14.27% and a return on equity of 20.84%. The company had revenue of $10.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.19 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.03 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.61 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 12th were paid a dividend of $0.55 per share. This is an increase from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 11th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 67.48%. Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $4,781,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at $7,315,537.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $4,781,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,315,537.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total transaction of $1,620,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. TheStreet raised shares of Abbott Laboratories from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned 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 $120.00. View Our Latest Stock Report on Abbott Laboratories Abbott Laboratories Company Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Peachtree Investment Partners LLC raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 24.5% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 31,383 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 6,169 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up approximately 8.6% of Peachtree Investment Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Peachtree Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $16,857,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 12.1% during the third quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 399 shares of the companys stock worth $214,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Pearl River Capital LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the third quarter valued at $3,273,000. Polen Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the third quarter valued at $335,068,000. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 23.0% in the third quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,174 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,705,000 after buying an additional 594 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Qtron Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 6.9% in the third quarter. Qtron Investments LLC now owns 8,496 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,563,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the period. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 3.2 % Shares of LLY stock traded up $24.28 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $782.06. 5,009,368 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,524,873. The business has a 50 day moving average of $636.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $591.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $309.20 and a 52 week high of $794.47. The company has a market capitalization of $742.42 billion, a PE ratio of 134.84, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.32. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $9.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 50.78%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.09 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.66%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 89.66%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on LLY shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $805.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $710.00 to $865.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $655.50. View Our Latest Analysis on LLY Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 34,538 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $631.81, for a total value of $21,821,453.78. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 99,719,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,004,019,910.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In the last three months, insiders have sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 131,839 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,599,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. owned about 0.12% of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 57,915 shares of the companys stock worth $4,178,000 after purchasing an additional 540 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,740 shares of the companys stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 42.1% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 4,721 shares of the companys stock worth $341,000 after buying an additional 1,398 shares in the last quarter. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC raised its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC now owns 11,487 shares of the companys stock worth $827,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Founders Financial Securities LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 6.5% during the 1st quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 14,359 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,036,000 after acquiring an additional 875 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Up 0.4 % Shares of EFAV stock opened at $68.69 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $68.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $67.10. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a 52 week low of $64.68 and a 52 week high of $76.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.71 billion, a PE ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 0.60. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Glenview Trust co increased its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 2.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 160,950 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,100 shares during the period. Mastercard makes up approximately 1.8% of Glenview Trust cos investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Glenview Trust cos holdings in Mastercard were worth $63,722,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp boosted its position in Mastercard by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,255,582 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $13,866,020,000 after buying an additional 495,768 shares during the period. Capital International Investors boosted its position in Mastercard by 6.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 19,377,705 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $7,620,937,000 after buying an additional 1,240,661 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Mastercard by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 16,643,273 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $6,529,235,000 after buying an additional 274,679 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley boosted its position in Mastercard by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 15,843,692 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $5,509,328,000 after buying an additional 2,385,640 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $3,308,223,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.94% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard In other news, insider Craig Vosburg sold 8,900 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $430.26, for a total transaction of $3,829,314.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 46,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,003,217.66. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Ajay Bhalla sold 98 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $439.52, for a total value of $43,072.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 6,235 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,740,407.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 8,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $430.26, for a total transaction of $3,829,314.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 46,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,003,217.66. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 30,540 shares of company stock worth $13,542,519. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have commented on MA. KeyCorp raised their price target on shares of Mastercard from $475.00 to $490.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Mastercard from $432.00 to $499.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Mastercard from $433.00 to $482.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $480.00 to $490.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $443.00 to $439.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $471.85. View Our Latest Research Report on Mastercard Mastercard Stock Down 0.7 % NYSE:MA traded down $3.15 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $468.13. 2,237,275 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,555,843. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $435.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $412.28. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $340.21 and a fifty-two week high of $474.17. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. The company has a market capitalization of $439.00 billion, a PE ratio of 39.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.08. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.08 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $6.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.46 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.60% and a return on equity of 191.22%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.65 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Mastercard declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, December 5th that permits the company to repurchase $11.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the credit services provider to buy up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Mastercard Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be paid a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 8th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio is presently 22.32%. Mastercard Profile (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Glenview Trust co lifted its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 85,282 shares of the investment management companys stock after buying an additional 2,122 shares during the quarter. Glenview Trust cos holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $27,595,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 1st quarter worth about $66,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1,505.1% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 41,300 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $13,633,000 after purchasing an additional 38,727 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.5% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 118,609 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $39,153,000 after purchasing an additional 18,540 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 79.4% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 827 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $273,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 118.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 310 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.06% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Insider Transactions at The Goldman Sachs Group In other news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total value of $1,129,170.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 10,121 shares in the company, valued at $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total value of $1,129,170.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 10,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Ericka T. Leslie sold 1,376 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.15, for a total transaction of $461,166.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 10,471 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,509,355.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 16,110 shares of company stock valued at $5,990,991. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Down 0.3 % NYSE:GS traded down $0.98 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $384.44. 2,376,824 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,494,996. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07. The business has a 50-day moving average of $381.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $345.68. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $289.36 and a twelve month high of $396.35. The company has a market capitalization of $125.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.85, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.43. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The company had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.80 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 7.82% and a net margin of 7.85%. The firms revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.32 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.66 EPS for the current year. The Goldman Sachs Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a dividend of $2.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.86%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 48.20%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently weighed in on GS shares. Barclays boosted their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $437.00 to $493.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $440.00 target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley upgraded The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $333.00 to $449.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $491.00 to $506.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $382.00 to $440.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $409.93. Get Our Latest Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group The Goldman Sachs Group Profile (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Barnwell Industries (NYSE:BRN Get Free Report) and Granite Ridge Resources (NYSE:GRNT Get Free Report) are both small-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation and analyst recommendations. Insider and Institutional Ownership 9.4% of Barnwell Industries shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 7.6% of Granite Ridge Resources shares are held by institutional investors. 16.3% of Barnwell Industries shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.4% of Granite Ridge Resources shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Barnwell Industries alerts: Profitability This table compares Barnwell Industries and Granite Ridge Resources net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Barnwell Industries -11.35% -14.70% -7.70% Granite Ridge Resources 29.78% 20.45% 15.26% Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Barnwell Industries $25.27 million 0.86 -$960,000.00 ($0.27) -8.04 Granite Ridge Resources $497.42 million 1.65 $262.34 million $0.91 6.78 This table compares Barnwell Industries and Granite Ridge Resources gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Granite Ridge Resources has higher revenue and earnings than Barnwell Industries. Barnwell Industries is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Granite Ridge Resources, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Barnwell Industries and Granite Ridge Resources, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Barnwell Industries 0 0 0 0 N/A Granite Ridge Resources 0 0 2 0 3.00 Granite Ridge Resources has a consensus target price of $8.50, suggesting a potential upside of 37.76%. Given Granite Ridge Resources higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Granite Ridge Resources is more favorable than Barnwell Industries. Dividends Barnwell Industries pays an annual dividend of $0.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Granite Ridge Resources pays an annual dividend of $0.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.1%. Barnwell Industries pays out -18.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Granite Ridge Resources pays out 48.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Granite Ridge Resources has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Granite Ridge Resources is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Risk and Volatility Barnwell Industries has a beta of 0.21, indicating that its share price is 79% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Granite Ridge Resources has a beta of 0.13, indicating that its share price is 87% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Granite Ridge Resources beats Barnwell Industries on 12 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Barnwell Industries (Get Free Report) Barnwell Industries, Inc. acquires, develops, produces, and sells oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Oil and Natural Gas, Land Investment, and Contract Drilling. It also acquires and develops crude oil and natural gas assets in the province of Alberta, as well as invests in land interests in Hawaii. In addition, the company owns and operates threes water well drilling rigs, two pump rigs, and other ancillary drilling and pump equipment; and drills water and water monitoring wells of varying depths. Further, it installs and repairs water pumping systems; and distributes trillium flow technologies. Barnwell Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1956 and is based in Honolulu, Hawaii. About Granite Ridge Resources (Get Free Report) Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. operates as a non-operated oil and gas exploration and production company. It owns a portfolio of wells and acreage across the Permian and other unconventional basins in the United States. The company is based in Dallas, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Barnwell Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barnwell Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT Free Report) by 2.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 968 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 27 shares during the period. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in Gartner were worth $333,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in Gartner by 271.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,151,011 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $723,041,000 after buying an additional 1,571,413 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Gartner in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $263,599,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Gartner by 30.3% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,565,046 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $537,766,000 after buying an additional 364,128 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in Gartner by 20.3% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,029,738 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $603,766,000 after buying an additional 342,228 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in Gartner by 1,083.3% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 351,703 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $123,205,000 after buying an additional 321,981 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.28% of the companys stock. Get Gartner alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets IT has been the subject of a number of research reports. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Gartner from $444.00 to $450.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Gartner from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 10th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Gartner from $380.00 to $435.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Gartner from $421.00 to $446.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Gartner from $412.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $455.25. Insider Transactions at Gartner In related news, EVP Akhil Jain sold 250 shares of Gartner stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $420.47, for a total value of $105,117.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,061 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,287,058.67. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Gartner news, EVP Alwyn Dawkins sold 1,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $428.91, for a total transaction of $514,692.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 46,587 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,981,630.17. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Akhil Jain sold 250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $420.47, for a total value of $105,117.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 3,061 shares in the company, valued at $1,287,058.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 7,956 shares of company stock valued at $3,637,466 in the last quarter. 3.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Gartner Stock Performance Shares of IT stock opened at $448.61 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $34.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 1.30. Gartner, Inc. has a 52 week low of $292.60 and a 52 week high of $471.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.32. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $452.45 and a 200-day moving average of $396.83. Gartner (NYSE:IT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The information technology services provider reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $1.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.59 billion. Gartner had a net margin of 14.94% and a return on equity of 166.35%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.70 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Gartner, Inc. will post 11.36 earnings per share for the current year. Gartner announced that its board has approved a share buyback program on Friday, November 3rd that allows the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the information technology services provider to purchase up to 1.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. About Gartner (Free Report) Gartner, Inc operates as a research and advisory company in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Research, Conferences, and Consulting. The Research segment delivers its research primarily through a subscription service that include on-demand access to published research content, data and benchmarks, and direct access to a network of research experts. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Gartner Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gartner and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Laidlaw Wealth Management LLC lowered its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report) by 34.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 2,319 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,217 shares during the period. Laidlaw Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $219,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IJR. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 118,698.9% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 738,286,464 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $69,871,431,000 after purchasing an additional 737,665,005 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 21,166,236 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,003,173,000 after acquiring an additional 140,493 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 17,414,739 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,642,732,000 after acquiring an additional 1,214,523 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 13,473,730 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,270,977,000 after acquiring an additional 76,899 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 9,796,289 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $976,200,000 after acquiring an additional 147,471 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance Shares of IJR stock opened at $107.38 on Friday. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 52-week low of $87.32 and a 52-week high of $110.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $105.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $99.37. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Company Profile iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC Free Report) (TSE:MFC) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note published on Thursday, Benzinga reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has $35.00 price target on the financial services providers stock, up from their previous price target of $31.00. MFC has been the topic of a number of other reports. TheStreet raised shares of Manulife Financial from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Manulife Financial from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $33.33. Get Manulife Financial alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Manulife Financial Manulife Financial Stock Down 0.4 % Manulife Financial Increases Dividend Shares of NYSE MFC opened at $24.69 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $21.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.07. Manulife Financial has a 52 week low of $17.07 and a 52 week high of $24.89. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be paid a $0.298 dividend. This is a boost from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $1.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.83%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio is 54.40%. Institutional Trading of Manulife Financial Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Manulife Financial by 10.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 878,359 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $18,753,000 after purchasing an additional 80,450 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its holdings in Manulife Financial by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 27,503 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $587,000 after buying an additional 2,013 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers acquired a new position in Manulife Financial in the first quarter valued at about $428,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its stake in Manulife Financial by 2.3% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 43,078 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $920,000 after buying an additional 956 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 32.7% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,560 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $311,000 after acquiring an additional 3,585 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.02% of the companys stock. Manulife Financial Company Profile (Get Free Report) 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP lifted its stake in Sempra (NYSE:SRE Free Report) by 716.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,162 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 12,428 shares during the period. Mirabella Financial Services LLPs holdings in Sempra were worth $963,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Sempra by 110.5% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,775,627 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $256,856,000 after buying an additional 1,981,930 shares in the last quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd acquired a new stake in Sempra during the third quarter worth about $23,406,000. Balentine LLC boosted its stake in Sempra by 81.3% during the third quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 5,467 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $372,000 after buying an additional 2,451 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Sempra by 111.9% during the third quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 1,066 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 563 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Sempra by 100.0% during the third quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 400 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.83% of the companys stock. Get Sempra alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 34,190 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.83, for a total transaction of $2,421,677.70. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 2 shares in the company, valued at approximately $141.66. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.24% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Sempra Stock Down 0.0 % Analyst Ratings Changes Shares of SRE opened at $70.49 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $73.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $71.72. The company has a market capitalization of $44.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.30, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.61 and a quick ratio of 0.55. Sempra has a one year low of $63.75 and a one year high of $80.15. SRE has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Sempra from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, February 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Sempra from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $78.00 to $86.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets raised Sempra from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $76.00 to $84.00 in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Sempra from $83.00 to $79.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Sempra from $76.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $81.83. Get Our Latest Report on SRE Sempra Profile (Free Report) Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Gas Company, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The San Diego Gas & Electric Company segment provides to San Diego and southern Orange counties; and natural gas service to San Diego County. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SRE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sempra (NYSE:SRE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sempra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sempra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated their overweight rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) in a research report released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. Cantor Fitzgerald currently has a $140.00 price objective on the stock. Several other brokerages have also weighed in on NVO. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. UBS Group started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $121.25. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Performance Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend NYSE NVO opened at $124.01 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $107.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $88.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $556.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.84, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.41. Novo Nordisk A/S has a fifty-two week low of $67.66 and a fifty-two week high of $124.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.82. The company also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.664 per share. This is a positive change from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. This represents a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. Novo Nordisk A/Ss payout ratio is 22.92%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Novo Nordisk A/S Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Burford Brothers Inc. purchased a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,045,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 93,426 shares of the companys stock worth $9,665,000 after buying an additional 450 shares in the last quarter. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 4th quarter worth approximately $329,000. D L Carlson Investment Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S during the 4th quarter worth approximately $205,000. Finally, SageView Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S during the 4th quarter worth approximately $271,000. 6.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile (Get Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, a healthcare company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity care, and Rare Disease. The Diabetes and Obesity care segment provides products in the areas of insulins, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products, obesity, glucagon, needles, and other chronic diseases. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Polen Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 7,906,255 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $718,995,000. Novo Nordisk A/S accounts for about 1.9% of Polen Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.3% during the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 23,419,405 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,129,761,000 after buying an additional 11,727,507 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 122.7% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 12,077,501 shares of the companys stock worth $1,098,328,000 after acquiring an additional 6,654,614 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 91.7% during the 3rd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 9,097,808 shares of the companys stock worth $827,354,000 after purchasing an additional 4,350,862 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 1,514.6% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,785,560 shares of the companys stock worth $602,435,000 after purchasing an additional 3,551,104 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. now owns 6,755,654 shares of the companys stock worth $614,359,000 after purchasing an additional 3,377,827 shares during the last quarter. 6.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 1.9 % Novo Nordisk A/S stock traded up $2.26 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $124.01. 6,609,465 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,469,254. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $107.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $88.32. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a market cap of $556.50 billion, a PE ratio of 45.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.41. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 12-month low of $67.66 and a 12-month high of $124.64. Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a $0.664 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. This is a boost from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.92%. A number of brokerages recently issued reports on NVO. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They set an overweight rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. They set a neutral rating for the company. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Wednesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.25. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk A/S Profile (Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, a healthcare company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity care, and Rare Disease. The Diabetes and Obesity care segment provides products in the areas of insulins, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products, obesity, glucagon, needles, and other chronic diseases. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Presilium Private Wealth LLC lessened its position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK Free Report) by 11.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 460,765 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 56,760 shares during the quarter. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF makes up 8.5% of Presilium Private Wealth LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Presilium Private Wealth LLCs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF were worth $29,710,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 1,190.1% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,479,304 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $317,416,000 after purchasing an additional 5,054,597 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 80.2% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,261,262 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $259,724,000 after acquiring an additional 1,896,544 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 5.2% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 35,003,290 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,159,703,000 after acquiring an additional 1,745,652 shares in the last quarter. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 459.2% during the 3rd quarter. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative LLC now owns 1,973,920 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $114,349,000 after acquiring an additional 1,620,909 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $64,318,000. Get Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:VGK traded up $0.10 on Friday, hitting $64.34. 3,265,230 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,501,401. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a 1-year low of $55.06 and a 1-year high of $64.92. The company has a market capitalization of $19.67 billion, a PE ratio of 11.10 and a beta of 0.95. The firms 50-day moving average is $63.57 and its 200 day moving average is $60.87. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Profile Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VGK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada restated their outperform rating on shares of TransUnion (NYSE:TRU Free Report) in a research note released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $85.00 price objective on the business services providers stock. Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on TRU. StockNews.com raised TransUnion from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Bank of America downgraded TransUnion from a buy rating to an underperform rating and cut their price target for the stock from $95.00 to $44.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Truist Financial increased their price target on TransUnion from $65.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on TransUnion from $63.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, December 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on TransUnion from $76.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, TransUnion presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $77.80. Get TransUnion alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on TransUnion TransUnion Stock Performance Shares of TRU stock opened at $75.07 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $68.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $68.11. TransUnion has a 12-month low of $42.09 and a 12-month high of $82.75. The company has a market cap of $14.54 billion, a PE ratio of -50.38, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.60. TransUnion (NYSE:TRU Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.08. TransUnion had a positive return on equity of 13.43% and a negative net margin of 7.50%. The firm had revenue of $954.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $927.04 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.70 EPS. The firms revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that TransUnion will post 3.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in TransUnion by 5.7% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,101,403 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,311,005,000 after buying an additional 1,242,868 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in TransUnion by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,910,715 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,230,645,000 after acquiring an additional 234,123 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in TransUnion by 12.5% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 12,668,211 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $718,921,000 after acquiring an additional 1,404,564 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors acquired a new stake in TransUnion in the 4th quarter valued at about $663,001,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in TransUnion by 570.4% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,029,897 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $483,024,000 after acquiring an additional 5,981,271 shares during the last quarter. About TransUnion (Get Free Report) TransUnion operates as a global consumer credit reporting agency that provides risk and information solutions. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Markets, International, and Consumer Interactive. The U.S. Markets segment provides consumer reports, actionable insights, and analytic services to businesses, which uses its services to acquire new customers; assess consumer ability to pay for services; identify cross-selling opportunities; measure and manage debt portfolio risk; collect debt; verify consumer identities; and mitigate fraud risk. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for TransUnion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransUnion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors grew its position in shares of Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK Free Report) by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 769 shares of the medical technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the period. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors holdings in Stryker were worth $210,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Stryker by 28.6% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 679,432 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $185,668,000 after acquiring an additional 150,903 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Stryker in the third quarter valued at $5,302,000. QRG Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Stryker in the third quarter valued at $2,930,000. Mar Vista Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in Stryker during the third quarter worth about $5,557,000. Finally, Korea Investment CORP boosted its stake in Stryker by 18.1% in the 3rd quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 467,678 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $127,802,000 after buying an additional 71,614 shares during the last quarter. 76.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Stryker alerts: Stryker Stock Performance SYK stock opened at $349.30 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $313.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $291.56. Stryker Co. has a 12-month low of $249.98 and a 12-month high of $352.88. The firm has a market cap of $132.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Stryker Announces Dividend Stryker ( NYSE:SYK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The medical technology company reported $3.46 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $5.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.60 billion. Stryker had a net margin of 15.44% and a return on equity of 22.99%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.00 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Stryker Co. will post 11.87 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th will be given a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.92%. Strykers dividend payout ratio is presently 38.79%. Insider Buying and Selling at Stryker In related news, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 201,146 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $342.90, for a total transaction of $68,972,963.40. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,755,128 shares in the company, valued at $1,287,633,391.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CAO William E. Berry, Jr. sold 573 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $292.28, for a total value of $167,476.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $850,242.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 201,146 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $342.90, for a total value of $68,972,963.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 3,755,128 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,287,633,391.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 204,992 shares of company stock valued at $70,256,533. Company insiders own 5.90% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently commented on SYK. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Stryker from $289.00 to $297.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Roth Mkm upped their price target on shares of Stryker from $345.00 to $348.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Stryker from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $360.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Stryker from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Stryker from $336.00 to $364.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $331.52. View Our Latest Report on SYK Stryker Profile (Free Report) Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in hip and knee joint replacements, and trauma and extremities surgeries. This segment also offers spinal implant products comprising cervical, thoracolumbar, and interbody systems that are used in spinal injury, deformity, and degenerative therapies. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SYK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Stryker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stryker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of Realty Income Co. (NYSE:O Free Report) by 22.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,422 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,005 shares during the period. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Realty Income were worth $171,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pearl River Capital LLC increased its stake in Realty Income by 13.2% in the 3rd quarter. Pearl River Capital LLC now owns 45,390 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,267,000 after acquiring an additional 5,291 shares during the last quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP bought a new position in shares of Realty Income during the 3rd quarter valued at about $255,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new position in shares of Realty Income during the 3rd quarter valued at about $211,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Realty Income during the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,498,000. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in shares of Realty Income by 11.0% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 429,245 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $21,591,000 after purchasing an additional 42,449 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.82% of the companys stock. Get Realty Income alerts: Realty Income Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of NYSE O traded up $0.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $52.33. 5,678,173 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,322,587. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 1.55. Realty Income Co. has a 52 week low of $45.03 and a 52 week high of $67.05. The company has a market cap of $37.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.64, a PEG ratio of 3.90 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $56.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $54.25. Realty Income Dividend Announcement Insider Activity at Realty Income The company also recently declared a feb 24 dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.2565 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.9%. Realty Incomes dividend payout ratio is presently 233.33%. In related news, Director A. Larry Chapman sold 3,500 shares of Realty Income stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.98, for a total transaction of $199,430.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 10,590 shares in the company, valued at $603,418.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently commented on O shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Realty Income from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Realty Income in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. They set a market perform rating and a $57.00 target price for the company. BNP Paribas upgraded Realty Income from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Mizuho increased their target price on Realty Income from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Realty Income from $69.50 to $67.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Realty Income has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $61.50. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on O Realty Income Profile (Free Report) Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company, is an S&P 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. We invest in people and places to deliver dependable monthly dividends that increase over time. The company is structured as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 13,250 real estate properties primarily owned under long-term net lease agreements with commercial clients. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Realty Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Realty Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eloro Resources Ltd. (CVE:ELO Get Free Report) Director Thomas Larsen purchased 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$1.45 per share, for a total transaction of C$14,500.00. Eloro Resources Stock Performance Shares of ELO stock traded up C$0.18 during trading on Friday, reaching C$3.50. 144,360 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 106,080. The company has a quick ratio of 3.75, a current ratio of 2.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. The stock has a market capitalization of C$260.58 million, a PE ratio of -18.42 and a beta of 1.46. Eloro Resources Ltd. has a twelve month low of C$2.85 and a twelve month high of C$5.44. The firms fifty day moving average price is C$3.50 and its 200-day moving average price is C$3.50. Get Eloro Resources alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Haywood Securities dropped their price objective on Eloro Resources from C$5.00 to C$4.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. About Eloro Resources (Get Free Report) Eloro Resources Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties. It explores for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, bismuth, indium, and other base metal properties. The company holds 99% interest in the Iska Iska project, a polymetallic property consisting of one mineral concession covering an area of approximately 900 hectares located in Potosi Department, southern Bolivia; and 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver project that consists of 16 concessions covering an area of 8,933 hectares located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eloro Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eloro Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Reduce from the ten ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $23.56. A number of research firms have recently weighed in on VNO. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Vornado Realty Trust from $12.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 7th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $16.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Vornado Realty Trust from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Thursday, December 28th. Get Vornado Realty Trust alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Vornado Realty Trust Insider Buying and Selling Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vornado Realty Trust In other Vornado Realty Trust news, Director Michael D. Fascitelli sold 262,945 shares of Vornado Realty Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.54, for a total value of $7,767,395.30. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,306,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,595,368.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In other news, Director Russell B. Wight, Jr. sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.04, for a total transaction of $560,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,380,174 shares of the companys stock, valued at $66,740,078.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, Director Michael D. Fascitelli sold 262,945 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.54, for a total transaction of $7,767,395.30. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,306,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,595,368.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 8.03% of the stock is owned by insiders. Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VNO. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 1.0% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 27,358,232 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $633,617,000 after purchasing an additional 282,152 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Vornado Realty Trust by 30.0% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 20,448,221 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $314,289,000 after buying an additional 4,723,170 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Vornado Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $376,294,000. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 5.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 14,749,324 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $341,594,000 after buying an additional 776,978 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Putnam Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 9,978,649 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $281,897,000 after acquiring an additional 288,952 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.86% of the companys stock. Vornado Realty Trust Stock Performance Shares of VNO stock opened at $26.08 on Tuesday. Vornado Realty Trust has a 12-month low of $12.31 and a 12-month high of $32.21. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $27.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $24.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 113.39 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 4.95 and a quick ratio of 4.52. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 12th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by ($0.55). The business had revenue of $441.89 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $453.82 million. Vornado Realty Trust had a return on equity of 3.22% and a net margin of 5.82%. The companys revenue was down 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.72 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Vornado Realty Trust will post 2.36 EPS for the current year. Vornado Realty Trust Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th were paid a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.60%. Vornado Realty Trusts payout ratio is presently 521.74%. About Vornado Realty Trust (Get Free Report Vornado is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of premier New York City office and retail assets and the developer of the new PENN DISTRICT. While concentrated in New York, Vornado also owns the premier assets in both Chicago and San Francisco. Vornado is a real estate industry leader in sustainability, with over 27 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and over 23 million square feet at LEED Gold or Platinum. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Vornado Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vornado Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its stake in General American Investors Company, Inc. (NYSE:GAM Free Report) by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 44,373 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,093 shares during the quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC owned 0.19% of General American Investors worth $1,826,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in General American Investors by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,314,303 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $55,818,000 after buying an additional 18,292 shares during the period. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in General American Investors by 1.3% in the third quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 634,708 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $26,112,000 after acquiring an additional 8,141 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in General American Investors by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 567,265 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $23,337,000 after purchasing an additional 37,683 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of General American Investors by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 191,130 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $6,909,000 after purchasing an additional 9,234 shares during the period. Finally, Shaker Financial Services LLC lifted its position in shares of General American Investors by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC now owns 121,842 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $5,013,000 after purchasing an additional 4,947 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 23.71% of the companys stock. Get General American Investors alerts: General American Investors Trading Down 0.6 % Shares of NYSE GAM opened at $44.78 on Friday. General American Investors Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $36.44 and a 1 year high of $45.08. The companys 50-day moving average is $43.16 and its 200 day moving average is $41.98. Insiders Place Their Bets General American Investors Company Profile In other news, CEO Jeffrey W. Priest bought 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $42.19 per share, for a total transaction of $42,190.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 95,616 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,034,039.04. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Company insiders own 8.25% of the companys stock. (Free Report) General American Investors Company, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm invests in the public equity markets of United States. It invests in growth stocks of companies. It makes investments in Information Technology, Financials, Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, Retailing, Communication Services, Industrials, Health Care, Energy and Materials. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General American Investors Company, Inc. (NYSE:GAM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General American Investors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General American Investors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Worried about the mass unfettered migration? Cant get an appointment with a GP? Cant go more than 10 MPH on the overcrowded roads? The Daily Squib presents a plan that would solve the UKs overcrowding problem in a jiffy. Lets face it, the cities and towns of the tiny British Isles are now so overcrowded with legal and illegal migrants that the entire system of government is crumbling. The NHS cannot cope; the schools are overcrowded, the roads are parking lots and English is now a dying language. Well, never fear, the Daily Squib has a cunning plan that would not only stop the fucking rubber dinghies crossing the Channel daily, but all of the migrants would leave the UK for good in less than a month. You may ask yourself what sort of dastardly plan is this, and is it even possible? Well, our plan is not only safe, legal and kosher, but it will weed out the wheat from the chaff. You see not all migrants are a detriment to the UK, there will be some who will stay and be of actual use to the country even after our plan is implemented but they will be very few in number. Lets cut to the chase. Our plan is very simple and can be implemented in less than a month, ensuring a huge exodus of millions of unwanted people from the overcrowded shores of Britain. Its quite simple bring in a compulsory military draft for every man and woman. The airports and ports would be overcrowded within hours as millions of economic migrants make their escape. The Channel would be full of little dinghies overcrowded with illegal migrants doing a bit of reverse osmosis paddling back to France, where they will be greeted by a baffled French Navy who would urge them to go back to the UK, but it would be too late. Within hours of the announcement, NHS hospital appointments delayed for over 2 years would be suddenly available. GPs would suddenly be able to see you. Hospital wards would have empty beds for the first time since the 1950s. Benefits offices would be nearly empty, as the prams full of kids pushed by Eastern Europeans and Sub Saharans disappear. School class sizes would suddenly drop to normal teachable levels. The roads would empty, reducing pollution. You would be able to walk down the street without being stabbed or robbed because the gangs would leave as well. Crucial funds for Britains services would suddenly be available. The prisons would empty. You may even start to hear English being spoken on public transport and the streets. The Labour Party would lose 80% of their voters overnight. Sadiq Khan would be one of the first people to leave, which would bring back London as the true capital city of Britain. These would be some of the benefits for the UK, as there are too many to list here. This is a bona fide plan that would work. The key thing is, does anyone have the balls to implement such a plan, as simple as it is it would be bloody effective? Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company specializing in developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide range of healthcare products. The company has its headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois and operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. The company was founded in 1888 by Dr. Wallace C. Abbott, and it has since grown to become one of the world's largest and most respected healthcare companies. Abbott Laboratories has a diverse portfolio of products, including medical devices, diagnostic tests, nutritional products, and branded generic pharmaceuticals. The company is committed to developing innovative products that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. Robert B. Ford is the current President and CEO of the company. He was appointed to this position in 2020 after serving as the company's Chief Operating Officer. He has been with Abbott Laboratories since 1996 and has held various leadership positions. Abbott Laboratories has delivered strong financial performance, declining as investors seek growth. The company's net earnings have been increasing steadily. Abbott Laboratories has a solid balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio. The company has consistently delivered strong cash flow, allowing it to invest in research and development and return value to shareholders. Abbott Laboratories has a higher price-to-earnings ratio than the industry average, and the company's price-to-book ratio is also higher than the industry average. These metrics suggest that the market has a positive outlook on Abbott Laboratories and is willing to pay a premium for the company's shares. Over the past year, Abbott Laboratories' stock has declined as consumers seek to see what the company will do post-pandemic. The company's shares have experienced some volatility, but overall, they have outperformed the broader market. Abbott Laboratories operates in the healthcare industry, which is highly regulated and complex. The industry is characterized by rapidly evolving technology, changing regulatory requirements, and shifting consumer preferences. Abbott Laboratories competes with other large healthcare companies such as Johnson & Johnson. Abbott Laboratories' robust product pipeline is expected to drive growth in the coming years. The company is focused on developing innovative products that address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. In addition to its core businesses, Abbott Laboratories is expanding into new markets and investing in digital health technologies. Like any company, Abbott Laboratories faces a range of risks and challenges. One of the most significant risks facing the company is regulatory uncertainty. Changes in regulatory requirements could impact the company's ability to bring products to market and could also increase the cost of doing business. Another risk facing the company is the threat of competitive pressures. The healthcare industry is highly competitive, and Abbott Laboratories faces competition from established companies and new entrants. Changes in consumer preferences could also impact the company's performance, particularly in the nutritional products segment. Additionally, Abbott Laboratories is exposed to geopolitical risks, such as changes in trade policies or political instability in key markets. The company's international operations also expose it to currency fluctuations, which could impact its financial performance. Ad Crypto 101 Media Like Tiny Crypto Retirement Funds The crypto bull market is about to blast off. Bitcoin and Ethereum are surging. But so are tiny altcoins that could be so profitable They're like tiny crypto retirement funds. Click here and see how to get a copy. Ad Monument Traders Alliance Make This $3 Trade the Instant the Opening Bell Rings Since the birth of Wall Street, one simple rule has remained the same.... Buy stocks that are cheap....When theyre on sale. And when nobody else is looking See Why This $3.00 Stock Could Hit $15.00 Energizer Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes household batteries, specialty batteries, and lighting products worldwide. It offers lithium, alkaline, carbon zinc, nickel metal hydride, zinc air, and silver oxide batteries under the Energizer, Eveready, and Rayovac brands; primary, rechargeable, specialty, and hearing aid batteries; and handheld, headlights, lanterns, and area lights, as well as flashlights under the Hard Case, Dolphin, and WeatherReady brands. The company licenses the Energizer, Rayovac, and Eveready brands to companies developing consumer solutions in solar, automotive batteries, portable power for critical devices, generators, power tools, household light bulbs, and other lighting products. In addition, it designs and markets automotive fragrance and appearance products, including protectants, wipes, tire and wheel care products, glass cleaners, leather care products, air fresheners, and washes to clean, shine, refresh, and protect interior and exterior automobile surfaces under the brand names of Armor All, Nu Finish, Refresh Your Car!, LEXOL, Eagle One, California Scents, Driven, Bahama & Co, Carnu, Grand Prix, Kit, and Tempo; STP branded fuel and oil additives, functional fluids, and other performance chemical products; and do-it-yourself automotive air conditioning recharge products under the A/C PRO brand name, as well as other refrigerant and recharge kits, sealants, and accessories. The company sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, and wholesalers; and various retail and business-to-business channels, including mass merchandisers, club, electronics, food, home improvement, dollar store, auto, drug, hardware, e-commerce, convenience, sporting goods, hobby/craft, office, industrial, medical, and catalog. Energizer Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri. 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. U.S.-led airstrikes hit Houthi targets after reported fresh attack on ship in Red Sea Xinhua) 10:03, February 18, 2024 Yemenis shout anti-U.S. and Israel slogans during a protest held against the Israel's continued war on the Gaza Strip, and the U.S.-led airstrikes and sanctions against the Houthi group in Sanaa, Yemen on Feb. 16, 2024. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) SANAA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes of the U.S.-British coalition launched multiple airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Friday, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. The strikes targeted Houthi camps in three districts, including the northern districts of Al-Zuhrah and Alluheyah, and Bait al-Faqih district, to the south of the port city, said the television without providing details on any casualties. Earlier in the day, a British maritime security agency reported a new missile attack on a commercial vessel near Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, the second attack in less than 24 hours. "The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency received a report of an incident in the vicinity of 70 nautical miles north west of al-Mukha (south of Yemen's Hodeidah port city). The master reports the vessel was attacked by a missile and reports an explosion in close proximity," the UKMTO said in a statement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "The military authorities are responding," it said, noting that the vessel and crew were reported safe. On Thursday, the Houthis also launched a missile attack on what they described as a British commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The Houthi group has vowed to continue launching missile attacks on Israel-linked vessels, as well as U.S. and British ships, in a move to show its solidarity with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) fighting Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since last October. A protestor holds a model of a Houthi missile during a protest held against the Israel's continued war on the Gaza Strip, and the U.S.-led airstrikes and sanctions against the Houthi group in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 16, 2024. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) Yemenis shout anti-U.S. and Israel slogans during a protest held against the Israel's continued war on the Gaza Strip, and the U.S.-led airstrikes and sanctions against the Houthi group in Sanaa, Yemen on Feb. 16, 2024. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) Yemenis take part in a protest held against the Israel's continued war on the Gaza Strip, and the U.S.-led airstrikes and sanctions against the Houthi group in Sanaa, Yemen on Feb. 16, 2024. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Ad Advantage Gold Escaping Bidens $4.7 Trillion Tax Hunt Did you know that Joe Biden and his administration proposed a $4.7 trillion tax hike for this year? It's true... Biden is targeting businesses and high-income individuals to fund various governmental programs at the EXPENSE of everyday Americans. Click here to get your free Digital Dollar Guide Matson, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of ocean transportation and logistics services. It operates through two segments, Ocean Transportation and Logistics. The Ocean Transportation segment offers ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, and Guam, as well as to other island economies in Micronesia. It primarily transports dry containers of mixed commodities, refrigerated commodities, food products, beverages, building materials, automobiles, and household goods; livestock; seafood; general sustenance cargo; and garments, footwear, e-commerce, and other retail merchandise. This segment also operates an expedited service from China to Long Beach, California, and various islands in the South Pacific, as well as Okinawa, Japan; and provides stevedoring, refrigerated cargo services, inland transportation, container equipment maintenance, and other terminal services to ocean carriers on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, as well as in the Alaska locations of Anchorage, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor. In addition, it offers vessel management and container transshipment services. The Logistics segment provides multimodal transportation brokerage services, including domestic and international rail intermodal, long-haul and regional highway trucking, specialized hauling, flat-bed and project, less-than-truckload, and expedited freight services; less-than-container load consolidation and freight forwarding services; warehousing and distribution services; supply chain management services, and non-vessel operating common carrier freight forwarding services. It serves the U.S. military, freight forwarders, retailers, consumer goods, automobile manufacturers, and other customers. The company was formerly known as Alexander & Baldwin Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Matson, Inc. in June 2012. Matson, Inc. was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Ad Behind the Markets The only AI company you should be looking at This is the ONLY AI company you should be watching right now. No. It's not Nvidia, Intel, or Microsoft... 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The name of this cryptocurrency is revealed right here: Click to get the name of the cryptocurrency A pensioner has been left shaken after five masked individuals entered his home in Co Antrim. The incident happened at the home of a man aged in his 70s in the Saintfield Road area of Lisburn on Saturday evening. Police are appealing for information. Police received a report shortly before 11.30pm on Saturday, February 17 that between 10pm and 10.30pm on the same evening, five masked men entered a house in the Saintfield Road area, a police spokesperson said. A man, aged in his 70s, who was inside the house at the time, was threatened by the suspects, who were all wearing black clothing, balaclavas and long black gloves. The men rummaged through a number of rooms in the house and the rest of the property outside. They left on foot without taking anything. Although the victim was not physically injured, he was left extremely shaken by what happened. We would appeal to anyone who was in the Saintfield Road area on Saturday between 10pm and 10.30pm and noticed anything suspicious, or out of the ordinary, to make contact with police on 101, quoting reference 1900 17/02/24. Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr and Sophie Ellis-Bextor have been among the stars arriving on the red carpet ahead of the Baftas. Irish actor Murphy, who is nominated for best actor for playing theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolans epic biopic Oppenheimer, was wearing a dark outfit at the Royal Festival Hall in London. His co-star Downey Jr, who is up for supporting actor, opted for a grey suit with a starfish-shaped brooch. London-born director Nolans Oppenheimer, about the father of the atomic bomb, could be the favourite on the night with 13 nominations, while there are 11 nods for Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimoss surreal tale Poor Things, based on a 1992 novel by Scots artist and writer Alasdair Gray. Murphy faces competition from fellow Irishman Barry Keoghan, who took on the role of a student at Oxford in high-society thriller Saltburn, and Canadian actor Ryan Gosling for blockbuster success Barbie. Sophie Ellis-Bextor was asked on the red carpet by the PA news agency how it would be received if Keoghan recreated his naked dance in Saltburn. She said him performing again to her hit Murder On The Dancefloor may be a bit much for the ceremony but she was looking forward to seeing him again. She also said she felt very complimented by director Emerald Fennell choosing her 2001 song for the film. Saltburn actor Richard E Grant told PA that a number of grandmothers had written to complain about the film which contains explicit and sexual imagery. He said the women claimed they had been told to watch it as a family film before Christmas, and joked that their false teeth fell out so it was a great response. British actress Claire Foy said she has been overwhelmed at the response to All Of Us Strangers, the film for which she earned her Bafta best supporting actress nomination. Speaking to the PA news agency, she said: I think Ive been so overwhelmed with the response the films had, just (going) out and about every day, and its amazing to have been part of something that has had that impact. Im just so thrilled something I never thought I would get from my job, which is really amazing. Actress Samantha Morton told PA that she sobbed during the interval of a London play when she found out she would receive the Bafta fellowship, the film academys highest honour. She added: I was going to see My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican, which is incredible, by the way, and its enough to cry out anyway. My family had got up (for) ice cream at the interval and I was just sobbing and I was like, people probably thought I had really bad news, but no, it was good news. There are also nine nominations each for Martin Scorseses western Killers Of The Flower Moon and Jonathan Glazers Holocaust film The Zone Of Interest, as well as three nods each for How To Have Sex and Past Lives. Actress Mia McKenna-Bruce told PA that the goal of How To Have Sex was to start the conversation around the films themes to do with sex, consent and more. McKenna-Bruce, nominated for the Bafta Rising Star award, also said that if more people see it because of the Baftas it will make a wider difference. All Of Us Strangers actors Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, who is nominated in the best supporting actor category, also took to the red carpet. The Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, will be attending the event his first high-profile royal engagement since his wifes operation. At the prestigious film event last year, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who will not be attending this time as she continues her recovery. The Bafta film awards is hosted by Scottish actor David Tennant and will feature performances by Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. AN encounter between two Corkonians might just be a match made in heaven in the next episode of First Dates Ireland on RTE2 on Thursday, February 22, at 9.30pm. Weary of flash boyos and looking for a male version of herself, cafe manager Lorraine, 35, samples a unique cocktail served up by barman, romcom fan and fellow Corkonian Eoin, 44. Love is also in the air for another Corkonian, as perennial student Andrew, 61, meets free-spirited hair stylist Clare, 59, from Wexford. But will their shared experience of life in the States unite them? An unusual case relating to child sexual abuse images saw a man taking no evasive action even though he felt certain that the gardai would be coming to his home to conduct a search. The case against Olan Haskett, 50, dates back to 2015, and on Friday he faced sentence for his offence. Judge Helen Boyle acceded to the defence submission from barrister Donal OSullivan to impose a fully suspended sentence on Mr Haskett in all the circumstances. The judge accepted from evidence of Garda James Quirke that in effect: You self-disclosed. You gave yourself up, as it were. You preserved the evidence of your crimes and handed it over to the gardai. Mr OSullivan said of Mr Haskett, who was living in a house at the Hermitage in Macroom with his wife and children at the time of the 2015 offence that he could have thrown his phone with the downloaded images into the river in Macroom but he had chosen not to do so. He said the accused had been in therapy in relation to this even before the gardai seized the material in February 2015. The 981 images included 262 category 1 images of children and sexual activity, 354 images of child exposure, and 365 category 3 images. Judge Boyle said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: In assessing the gravity of the offence, the categories of the images 1, 2, and 3 there is no evidence of distribution in this case. They are real children. One image is too many. These are children from all over the world who are vulnerable and by clicking on the images you perpetuate their abuse. In terms of mitigating factors, you have spared the time of the State by pleading guilty, this offending occurred quite some time ago quite a lot of time has passed since the offending and the Court of Appeal said that is something I should take into consideration. You were addicted to adult porn and moved on to clicking on images of child abuse. You were full and frank in your therapy sessions with your psychologist. You realise the real harm done. You have not come to any adverse attention since. Psychologist says you have changed your patters of behaviour. There is no evidence of risk which is a very important thing. The judge finalised sentencing with a two-year suspended sentence on the defendant who now lives at Old Fort Road, Ballincollig, Co Cork. Judge Boyle noted that the defendants wife and family had been lost to him as a result of his actions nine years ago. (Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/WCC)Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Rev. Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary in Jerusalem on Feb. 17, 2024. The head of the World Council of Churches is visiting the Holy Land and will meet the president of Israel and the Palestinian president as well as Christian leaders. The Geneva-based WCC said in a statement that its member churches, religious leaders, and local Christian groups in Palestine and Israel were meeting with the council's general secretary, Rev. Jerry Pillay. The visit began on Feb. 16, and Pillay will also meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli head of state Isaac Herzog during his visit. Pillay's visit was his first to Palestine and Israel since he became the WCC general secretary one year ago. The agenda in the Holy Land opens with a meeting with the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. Pillay attended a Sunday service at a local church. He met with various religious, social, and political leaders and visited the WCC Jerusalem Liaison Office. The WCC head met with the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem on Feb. 17. He was received with gratitude "at this difficult and complicated time for all the peoples of this region, and especially for the Christian community of the Holy Land," said Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in a welcome address. "Your visit is of such importance, for you bring with you the attention of the World Council of Churches and its members to the situation here," said Theophilos III. "War and violence are always the consequence of human failure." 'DIFFERENT TRUTH' The church proclaims a different truth, the patriarch said. "In theological terms, we affirm that hatred and darkness have no hypostasis; it is only light and life that have a true and enduring existence," he said. "Death is not our mission." The patriarch called for unity, peace, and reconciliation. "This is our common human vocation and our common human destiny," he said. "Our historical experience in the Holy Land is a powerful and tangible example that synagogue, church, and mosque may exist side-by-side in mutual respect." One of the programs WCC runs in the Holy Land is to send "accompaniers" to witness life under occupation in the Holy Land. Recently, six ecumenical accompaniers returned to Palestine and Israel, resuming in-person operations for the WCC's "Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel." Ecumenical accompaniers were evacuated at the beginning of October 2023 and had continued their support and accompaniment online. The WCC said, "The Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel modified its strategy in response to the intensifying crisis in Gaza, moving to distant activities while keeping its commitment to vulnerable communities." TACTICAL CHANGE It said, "This tactical change ensured that the impacted communities are empowered, and their voices are heard." The WCC said that Jerusalem is the primary location for the physical presence of ecumenical accompaniers. Accompaniers continue to support other regions remotely, collaborating with various organizations and ensuring comprehensive coverage and assistance. "The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel remains committed to providing support and advocating for justice and peace in the region," said Carla Khijoyan, WCC program executive for the Middle East. "The program emphasizes the importance of impartiality and nonviolence in its operations and aims to contribute towards a future of coexistence and mutual respect between Palestinians and Israelis." The Ecumenical Accompaniment Program for Palestine and Israel, which the WCC initiated, brings international volunteers to the West Bank to witness life under Israel's occupation and support local communities. The WCC represents more than 500 million Christians worldwide in more than 110 countries, mainly from Anglican, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions, and has its main office in Switzerland. Christians represent a tiny minority in Gaza. During the current Gaza conflict, a deadly explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital on October 17 killed close to 500 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, Al Jazeera news reported. Two days later, Israel bombed the Church of Saint Porphyrius, the Gaza Strip's oldest church, killing at least 18 people, according to Al Jazeera news. The deadly attacks on the hospital an Anglican institution and the church brought into sharp focus the enclave's embattled Christian minority, Al Jazeera reported. It said the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem described the attack on the church as a "war crime." The Christian community was left reeling, yet most have not left the besieged city, which lays claim to a rich seam of Christian heritage going back two millennia. The number of Christians in Gaza has dwindled in recent years. Today, there are only approximately 1,000 left, a sharp drop from the 3,000 registered in 2007 when Hamas assumed complete control over the enclave next to Israel. Al Jazeera quoted Kamel Ayyad, a Church of Saint Porphyrius spokesperson, saying that most of the population is from Gaza itself. The rest fled there in 1948 after the creation of the state of Israel, which displaced about 700,000 Palestinians. Most of the Held v. Montana plaintiffs and their attorneys pose outside the courtroom for photos halfway through the trial. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) The State of Montana filed its appeal of a district court judges decision in the Held v. Montana case with the Montana Supreme Court this week, arguing that the statute the judge struck down as unconstitutional could not solely be responsible for climate change and so the case never should have been decided in the first place. The appeal brief, filed six months after Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley handed down her decision declaring the so-called limitation to the Montana Environmental Policy Act unconstitutional, argues that declaring the statute unconstitutional does not redress the plaintiffs injuries caused by climate change because climate change is a global problem and because MEPA carries no permitting authority. The MEPA limitation has been in place since 2011 to say that environmental reviews could not include a review of impacts outside of Montana, but was amended by the 2023 Legislature in response to a judges ruling on a NorthWestern Energy plan in Laurel to expressly prohibit the state from evaluating greenhouse gas emissions or climate impacts to Montana or beyond the states borders. The argument is similar to what the state has said throughout the case, during trial, and after Seeleys decision was handed down in statements and attempts to block her order. The District Court never should have reached the merits of this lawsuit because the Held plaintiffs lack case-or-controversy standing. MEPAwhich is comprised solely of procedural statutesdid not cause plaintiffs alleged climate change injuries; invalidating 75-1-201(2)(a) within MEPA will not redress the Held plaintiffs claimed injuries. Nor would enjoining this subsection redress Plaintiffs injurieswhich, if caused by climate change, were indisputably caused by global climate change, the states brief says. The other portion of the states brief asks the high court to clarify that Seeleys order does not and cannot require the state to perform greenhouse gas emissions and climate change analyses when performing MEPA reviews because the judicial branch cannot create law and no such laws exist currently, and because judges cannot compel executive branch agencies to perform certain analyses. While Seeley struck down the MEPA limitation, she had previously noted that doing so would not be congruent with commanding the State to consider climate change in every project or proposal. But in her August order, she also found that the plaintiffs injuries will be exacerbated if the state continued to ignore climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. After Seeleys order came down, attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote to the Department of Environmental Quality saying it must calculate emissions resulting from proposed energy projects, and multiple lawsuits have been filed claiming the same. The state had requests made to Seeley and the Supreme Court to pause Seeleys decision pending the Supreme Court appeal denied in the final months of 2023 and in January. It is difficult to see how the District Court could have been clearer that it was only considering the constitutionality of statues; it was not contemplating replacing those statutes with an affirmative order requiring the State to take specific steps to respond to climate change, the states brief filed this week said. Held cannot recast the District Courts Order to require what the Court explicitly rejected. Before the trial, the state had successfully reduced the scope of the case to the MEPA limitation and a portion of another bill lawmakers passed, and the governor signed, during the 2023 legislative session. Initially, the plaintiffs had asked for the court to require the state to prepare an accounting of emissions, to develop a plan to reduce emissions and to appoint a special master to oversee those plans. In the Supreme Court appeal, the states attorneys extensively cite the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissal of the Juliana v. United States case, which is still ongoing after the plaintiffs were granted the chance to file an amended complaint last summer and involves similar climate change claims but at the federal level. In that 2-1 decision, the majority said that it was beyond the courts Article III power to implement a climate change remediation plan the plaintiffs had sought, though the dissenting judge disagreed that the court had no possible role in trying to stop climate change. This court has made clear that the Montana Constitutions justiciability requirements embody[y] the same limitations as the case-or-controversy language in Article III of the United States Constitution, Montanas attorneys wrote in the appeal brief. The state argues that the MEPA limitation is not the cause of climate change that led to physical and psychological injuries and that invalidating it cannot fix those injuries. MEPA cannot be the legal cause of climate change injuries if MEPA does not give agencies any legal authority to prevent the environmental effects of climate change, the brief says, adding that if the plaintiffs wanted to challenge the constitutionality of the permitting statutes that MEPA informs or individual projects, they could have done so. Attorneys for the state wrote that Seeley seemed to fault the MEPA limitation for the sum of Montanas GHG emissions, including those fossil fuels that only pass through the state, without making any findings about how much greenhouse gas emissions Montana was actually responsible for or how much they raised the global temperature. They also argue that Seeleys decision should be overturned because her order found Montanas governments actions over several decades had contributed to climate change but the MEPA limitation was not in place until 2011. Instead of asking whether the specific relief Plaintiffs requested would redress their injuries, the District Court seemed to believe that enjoining section 75-1-201(2)(a) could reverse decades of greenhouse gas emissions. The District Courts evident confusion on this point led it to find standing when it should not have, they wrote in the brief. Finally, the state argues that even if Seeley correctly found the MEPA limitation violated plaintiffs rights under the state constitution to a clean and healthful environment, the MEPA limitation and Montana alone can have no effect on global climate change no matter the actions it takes. It is, at best, speculative whether removing an impediment to GHG analysis in MEPA review will reduce future GHG emissions, the attorneys wrote in the brief. Whatever happens to GHG emissions in the future depends on the speculative future actions of billions of third parties. They wrote that enjoining MEPA cant stop people around the world from driving vehicles with combustion engines, force companies to start using renewable energy, or stop any private or state actors from burning fossil fuels. At bottom, no single judicial action in Montana can meaningfully reduce climate change, and thus redress plaintiffs injuries. That would require a fundamental transformation of the worlds energy system, the brief says. That conclusion should apply with even greater force here: reducing the global consequences of climate change requires much more than an injunction of one subsection within a procedural statute in Montana. In their conclusion, the attorneys again cite back to the Juliana decision, saying that if stopping all federal activity that causes climate change couldnt address the plaintiffs injuries, enjoining the MEPA limitation could only be a step absent action by the legislature or state agencies to adopt emissions analyses as part of the permitting process. There is no doubt that many Montanans are understandably concerned about climate change, they wrote. But addressing that issue is a matter to be addressed by the policymaking branches. Attorneys for the plaintiffs will file a response to the states brief, after which the court is likely to set a date for oral arguments in the appeal. Multiple groups, including chambers of commerce, think tanks, and the Republican House Speaker and Senate President are also expected to file friend-of-the-court briefs in the case for the court to consider. The post State of Montana files Supreme Court appeal asking to overturn climate change decision appeared first on Daily Montanan. DaVine Joy Randolph became fixated on portraying the complexities of an average woman in The Holdovers. DaVine Joy Randolph became fixated on portraying the complexities of an average woman in The Holdovers The 37-year-old actress nominated for best supporting actress at Sundays (18.02.24) BAFTA awards in Londons Royal Festival Hall for her role as Mary in Alexander Paynes comedy drama about a bunch of schoolboys marooned in school over Christmas. She said on the red carpet about her character, who is devastated over the death of her child in the movie: It was extremely important to show an average woman and to show all the nuances and all the complexities of what it is to be a woman, and a woman in the working class and a woman in a male dominated world. (The designers) did a great job of making it all authentic and I knew reading the script it was special. The design was above and beyond. They did a phenomenal job. It aids your performance it bolsters you. She added about being at the BAFTAs: I feel excited, so blessed to be here, to meet new people it feels so special. Dominic Sessa, who also landed a best supporting actor nomination for his breakout role in The Holdovers, echoed DaVine by saying the films "little details contributed to its success. The film centres around a professor at a prestigious boarding school in the early 1970s played by Paul Giamatti, 56, who reluctantly has to take care of those children whose parents cant have them home for the Christmas holidays. Dominic, 21, added he couldnt have asked for a better group of people to work with and said director Alexander, 63, took care of him. Naomi Campbell says she wants to expose her children to as much truth as she can. Naomi Campbell says she wants to expose her children to as much truth as she can The model, 53, who had a son in 2023 and daughter two years earlier, was at the 77th BAFTA awards on Sunday (18.02.24) at Londons Royal Festival Hall and spoke of her delight there were so many authentic movies nominated this year. She said: Maestro is amazing theres so many great films. Killers of the Flower Moon is amazing. Its such a great year of films and artistry that the creators have done blood, sweat and tears and I really appreciate them taking us into their fantasy and teaching us things we dont know. Its people telling more authentic stories. Talking about her personal life, Naomi added: I am my authentic self, I think we already know. I want them (my children) to know things, as a mother I want them to know things and that its as close to the proximity of truth as possible. Naomis outfit a hooded black cape and fringe hairstyle, left fans comparing her to Claudia Winkleman when she presents The Traitors show. Other stars at the event which is being hosted by 52-year-old actor David Tennant included Margot Robbie, 33, Emily Blunt, 40, Emma Stone, 35, and 28-year-old Florence Pugh. Margot referenced her role as Barbie by dressing in a pink and black strapless gown with matching gloves and heels, and posed for photos alongside her husband Tom Ackerley, 33, who turned up in a black tuxedo. Dune star Florence nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction as she had on a the plunging silver bustier as she headed into the ceremony. She teamed her glamorous ensemble with a dazzling silver necklace and an elegant black cape which wrapped around her arms. William, Prince of Wales, 42, arrived on his own to the event as his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, continues to recover from her abdominal surgery at the family's home. He has been the president of the EE British Academy Film Awards since 2010 and wore his now-signature navy velour suit jacket and dickie bow as he greeted the crowds gathered outside the Royal Festival Hall, and took a seat beside Cate Blanchett, 54, for the event. Paris Hilton has enjoyed her "most iconic year yet" over the last 12 months. Paris Hilton has celebrated her birthday on social media The TV star - who married Carter Reum in 2021 - has taken to social media to celebrate her 43rd birthday. Alongside a series of throwback photos, Paris wrote on Instagram: "Another sparkling year of pure #Sliving! [stars and hearts emojis] Feeling so blessed for every lesson this year has gifted me. From motherhood to wifey duties, girl boss moments, and standing up for whats right This has been the most iconic year yet! #Aquarius #SlivingBirthday [star and heart emojis] (sic)" Paris - who has Phoenix, 14 months, and an infant daughter called London - has also shared a number of photos from the last 12 months, including one of herself launching her line of Walmart cookware. Paris' children were both born via a surrogate, and blonde beauty previously admitted that it was a "difficult" decision to make. She said on 'Paris In Love': "Surrogacy was a difficult decision to make. "I would have loved that experience of growing the baby in your tummy and feeling the kicks and all of those exciting moments, but my life has just been so public. "So even though the baby is biologically mine and Carter's, we decided to have a surrogate carry him." Carter, 43, wants his children to have a "normal" childhood. However, the entrepreneur is also aware that they need to prioritise the safety of their children. He explained: "Now having a family with Paris, we want our family to grow up and be normal and not always be known as Paris Hilton's children. "We have to think about safety. When we go to the farmer's market, it's one thing if someone stops and asks Paris for a photo. It's a whole other thing with the baby in tow in a stroller." Prince William is pressing ahead with a 3 million social housing plan on his Cornwall estate as part of his campaign to end homelessness. Prince William plans to build social housing The Prince of Wales wants to offer high-quality accommodation in the area and is looking to have 24 new homes - both four-bedroom houses and one-bedroom flats - built on the development in Nansledan, Newquay, by next year. According to the Sunday Telegraph, the low-carbon houses will be designed by Adam Architecture and local firm ALA Architects in a "traditional Cornish seaside" style, featuring slate roofs, granite lintels, solar panels, heat pumps and colourful timber windows. William - who has three children with wife Catherine, Princess of Wales - has offered to cover the construction costs of the houses, along with giving the land free of charge. Investment will also be made in local infrastructure, including bus links, electricity, water, and superfast broadband. The prince wants the new estate to "look and feel as homely as possible" to tackle the stigma surrounding social housing and wants to add shrubs and relandscape the area to encourage biodiversity. And the scheme will also offer various "wraparound services" in collaboration with homelessness charity St. Petrocs, including mental health support, training, employment opportunities and counselling. Sources told the newspaper the 41-year-old royal - who saw the Duchy record profits of 24 million in 2022-23 - wants to "lead from the front" and urge other landowners to follow in his footsteps. Kensington Palace hailed the scheme as the Duchy's first innovative housing project to help address homelessness. William vowed last year to build social housing on his private estate as part of his mission to "end homelessness". Asked if there are duchy plans for affordable housing, he told the Sunday Times newspaper in a rare interview: There is. Absolutely. Social housing. Youll see that when its ready. Im no policy expert, but I push it where I can. It is believed William will "start small" and scale up his plans if they prove to be viable but the prince stressed "the key thing is making this sustainable" when it comes to his vision. He said: Its all very well doing big gestures, but theres no point if . . . theres no future to it.. "[I am determined to] make a difference . . . that doesnt set people up that are homeless for another fall. "They think theyve got hope and then you take it away from them, which so many of these people have experienced. To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. PRIME Unlimited Access to Insightful Industry Information All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Karan Kundrra is one of the most talked about actors in the television industry. He has proved his mettle time and again and has won hearts with his versatility. He was last seen in Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal with Reem Shaikh and Gashmeer Mahajani and it did grab a lot of eyeballs. And ever since this much talked about supernatural fantasy drama went off air in July last year, fans have been eagerly waiting for Karan's next project. Interestingly, there were reports about Karan collaborating with Erica Fernandez for a web series. The media reports suggested that they will be seen collaborating for the first time for a web series for Amazon miniTV helmed by Tanveer Bookwala. The media reports suggested that it will be a romantic thriller. While fans have been eagerly waiting for the series, Karan has finally shared an update about the same. This happened during his recent interactive session on micro-blogging site Twitter (now X), wherein a fan asked the Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2 actor about his upcoming projects and tweeted, "Just want an update on your new Bike show & ur upcoming web/shortfilm with Erica. And yesss when is Tera Kya Hoga Lovely releasing???" To this, Karan replied, "Bike show is in the process of finding the best pro rider in India.. yatri is in post production and Tera Kya Hoga Lovely ka mujhe bhi nai pata". Well, while he clearly dropped hints that his romantic thriller with Erica will be titled as Yatri and is expected to release soon. Sharing a mushy post for the Naagin 6 actress, he wrote, "for the simplicity you bring to my chaotic life.. for the immediate calm you exude to my treacherous day.. for being the responsible answer to my outlandish claims.. for just you and I.. happy Valentine's". New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 17, 2024) - In a bold move to address the persistent challenge of claim denials plaguing the US healthcare system, RapidClaims has announced its official launch, backed by a substantial initial funding round. This innovative startup is set to transform the healthcare industry by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the complex medical coding and claim submission processes, which are critical factors contributing to the financial strain on healthcare providers. RapidClaims team: (L to R) Abhinay Vyas, Dushyant Mishra and Jot Sarup Sahni. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/198183_5a453b1d84f118c7_002full.jpg The seed funding round, orchestrated by Together Fund, a notable global SaaS fund, along with contributions from other significant investors, underscores the confidence in RapidClaims' mission. The initiative is further supported by a group of industry experts and advisors from leading healthcare organizations, indicating a strong backing for RapidClaims' approach. Led by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in healthcare, data science, and technology scaling, RapidClaims aims to tackle the inefficiencies in revenue cycle management head-on. The company's focus is on medical coding automation, a critical area where errors and delays significantly impact claim denials. RapidClaims' AI-driven solution is designed to simplify the coding process, reducing the likelihood of errors and accelerating submissions, thereby minimizing the risk of denials. The company has already shown promising results with successful pilots shortly after its beta product launch, indicating strong potential for widespread impact. Dushyant Mishra, Founder & CEO of RapidClaims, highlighted the transformative role of AI in healthcare administration. "Our approach goes beyond automation. We aim to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of medical coding, which is fundamental in reducing claim denials and improving the financial health of healthcare providers," Mishra explained. RapidClaims has introduced a suite of products aimed at reducing the administrative burden on healthcare organizations. These tools are designed to support the entire spectrum of medical coding and claim management processes, demonstrating RapidClaims' comprehensive approach to tackling this industry-wide challenge. The involvement of Together Fund and other investors not only signifies a strong start for RapidClaims but also underscores the growing recognition of the need for innovative solutions in healthcare administration. As healthcare providers continue to face challenges with claim denials and administrative complexities, RapidClaims stands poised to lead the way in transforming revenue cycle management through AI. About RapidClaims RapidClaims is at the forefront of automating medical coding to assist healthcare organizations in reducing claim denials and streamlining their revenue cycle management processes. Utilizing advanced AI technology, RapidClaims aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical coding, addressing a critical pain point in the healthcare industry. About Together Fund Together Fund is an enterprise software-focused, operator-led fund initiated by industry veterans. Specializing in Seed and Series A investments across various technology sectors, Together Fund supports the development of innovative solutions with a founder-friendly approach. Contact Info: Name: Bilal Mahmood Email: b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Organization: RapidClaims Website: https://www.rapidclaims.ai/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198183 SOURCE: Plentisoft REAL TIME PAYMENT SETTLEMENTS TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USI Money, a global payment solution provider, has announced a strategic partnership with Saudi Based Enjaz Payment Services Company, enabling real time payment processing into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To announce the partnership, a signing ceremony took place in Riyadh. The digital payments landscape in Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid transformation propelled by Vision 2030. This partnership enables both parties to remain leaders in this evolution, fostering market innovation through the utilization of advanced technologies to improve the effectiveness and availability of digital financial services. Notably, there is a particular focus on catering to the needs of pilgrims and tourists, leveraging USI Money's expertise in this domain. Nadeem Qureshi, of USI Money, said "I am excited to announce our strategic partnership with Enjaz. This partnership exemplifies our dedication to innovation, ensuring our customers experience seamless transactions. It's not just about moving money; it's about breaking barriers and fostering a connected global economy." Khalid Al Zain, CEO of Enjaz, said "We are thrilled to witness the launch of this collaboration. USI Money has in depth knowledge and experience within the payments market, being a renowned pilgrim payment provider, USI Money brings invaluable expertise to this collaboration and makes them a natural fit to help provide customers with advanced financial solutions leveraging on Enjaz complementing infrastructure". About USI Money USI Money, headquartered in the UK, stands as a leading fintech company, leading the charge in the sphere of global payment solutions. Leveraging state-of-the-art proprietary technology, USI Money facilitates robust and frictionless transactions worldwide. Committed to both adaptability and technological excellence, the company maintains its position as a frontrunner in international payments. Through its innovative approach, USI Money empowers businesses and individuals alike to efficiently manage their dynamic financial needs. About Enjaz Enjaz Payment Services Company is a leading fintech licensed by the Saudi Central Bank within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia providing a comprehensive range of financial solutions with a widespread presence in major cities encompassing 150 branches as well as strategic partnerships with renowned global banks, seamlessly blending digital and physical channels. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2341964/USI_Money_Enjaz.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/usi-money-and-enjaz-sign-strategic-partnership-to-introduce-payment-innovation-302064345.html Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, whos best known for directing films like Ghayal, Damini, Ghatak, Andaz Apna Apna, and was is set to direct Lahore 1947 with Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, has been sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a cheque bouncing case. A court in Jamnagar on Saturday, February 17 pronounced the verdict. Advertisement The filmmakers advocate, Mr. Binesh Patel states that they will appeal against the magisterial courts judgement. First of all, the court has stayed its judgement for 30 days granted Mr.Santoshi bail after we sought time to appeal against the judgement at a higher forum, Patel said, adding, The prosecution didnt produce any documentary evidence to prove that Mr. Santoshi had taken money at all. The prosecution itself has admitted that a third party had collected the said money from the complainant. In-retuen the third party had provided altered eleven cheques of Rs.10 lakh each, which Mr. Santoshi was not aware. He added, The magisterial court overlooked these facts and ruled against us. Therefore, on the ground of invalid and false claims, alterations happened in the cheques, the fact that the complainants do not want to present or call-in the said third party who had collected the money, about Mr.Santoshi does not know. So we shall appeal at a higher forum with the above highlighted points and even more. Advertisement About Lahore 1947 Rajkumar Santoshi s next Lahore 1947 is one of the most talked about films. Ever since the film was announced, the excitement of the audience to know more about the film is soaring. As the film is all set to bring the never-seen-before trio of Sunny Deol, Rajkumar Santoshi, and Aamir Khan together, it will also see a powerful villain. The director Rajkumar Santoshi has roped in Abhimanyu Singh as the villain of Lahore 1947. Oscar winning actor Kate Winslet said long back she was having that sinking feeling at the prospect of being seen naked in the 3D version of Titanic. Winslet, 36, was at the London premiere of the newest version of the 1997 hit film (in 2012) in which she stripped for a scene with co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, The Sun reported. Advertisement Im not going to look. Ill be in the bar by that point. I wish I hadnt shown so much flesh but I was young and I knew I had things to prove, she said. However, Winslet said she will be happy to watch herself on screen with her two kids - Mia, 11, and Joe, eight. In Titanic , she played socialite Rose DeWitt Bukater opposite DiCaprio, who essayed the role of Jack Dawson. The film bagged 11 Oscars and the re-release of the films marks 100 years since the doomed passenger liner set sail from Southampton to New York in 1912, claiming several lives. Winslet is an icon and a diva whose force is truly to reckon with. Shes known for films like Titanic, The Reader, and Avatar: The Way of Water. In a video of the actress that is going viral, she said something that has made Anushka Sharma and Kareena Kapoor Khan laud her. Advertisement She said, I had some great role models, but I dont feel I ever had people consistently looking out for me. Whereas now, we are consistently looking out for the younger actors. So any of that, you know, white noise in your head that says you shouldnt be here and you dont have the right and theres going to be someone better, forget it. Its you, and we all are excited to see what youre going to do. Advertisement And it doesnt matter if you make mistakes because you learn from your mistakes. So being an older actor whos able to share those little pieces of wisdom that Ive hopefully gathered along the way, Im really appreciating that moment because I feel like Ive kind of earned the right to step into it. Just getting to choose, when I can switch off, she added. Advertisement With added inputs from agencies Alexei Navalny was the last public politician to pose a real challenge to the Kremlin. Now the death of Russias most famous opposition leader draws a line under the era when politics was politics in Russia. Today there is only Vladimir Putins authoritarianism Flowers and a photo of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are placed near the Russian consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, on 17 Feb. Navalny, who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests as President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe, died Friday in the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence, Russia's prison agency said. AP Reports of the death of Russias most famous opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, in an Arctic prison camp are shocking, but not entirely unexpected. It draws a line under Russias political development over the past two decades by highlighting that a challenge from within is no longer possible. Navalny was the last public politician to pose a real challenge to the Kremlin, but his attempt to overthrow the regime failed long before what appears to be his untimely death in prison. Advertisement His unrealistic calculations about the impact of his return to Russia in 2021 led to the dismantling of the remnants of any organised opposition that was not sanctioned and controlled by the Russian state. Navalny ended up in prison, his supporters arrested or fled abroad. As a result, when the invasion of Ukraine came, there were very few street protests against it. Active in Russian politics for more than 20 years , Navalnys main focus was identifying and rooting out state corruption, an issue with almost limitless material in modern Russia. He embraced new methods of bringing his investigations to as wide an audience as he could, notably the internet, particularly via his YouTube channel. Some of his most popular clips have tens of millions of views. Advertisement But corruption investigations and blogging were not enough to really challenge Putins status quo in Russian politics. Thats why Navalny increasingly turned to the direct action of mass street protests. The birth of an opposition His big break came in 2011 , when allegations of widespread fraud in the December 2011 Duma elections, coupled with the announcement of Putins return to the presidency the previous September, brought tens of thousands of protesters onto the streets of Moscow. Advertisement Although the protests were not organised by Navalny, his charisma and more radical rhetoric made him the most prominent face of the protests, overshadowing more established opposition leaders such as Boris Nemtsov . However, the mass protests of 2011-12 failed to prevent Putins re-election in March 2012 and eventually fizzled out. But, the protests prompted the Kremlin to change tack and experiment with allowing the opposition to stand in elections. Navalny was the main beneficiary, being registered for the Moscow mayoral elections in the summer of 2013. This was Navalnys only real chance of winning power in Russias tightly controlled electoral system. Advertisement He campaigned enthusiastically and won a respectable 27 per cent of the vote . But it also showed the limits of his appeal. Moscow was at the time one of the most opposition-leaning cities in Russia, one of the few regions where Putin got less than 50 per cent in the 2012 presidential election. Advertisement In this handout photo taken from footage provided by Moscow city court, Alexei Navalny shows a heart symbol standing in the cage during a hearing of a motion from the Russian prison service to convert the suspended sentence from the 2014 criminal conviction into a real prison term in February 2021. AP If the opposition could really challenge the Kremlin, it was in Moscow. But turnout was extremely low at 32 per cent, and the incumbent mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, won the 51 per cent he needed to avoid a run-off with Navalny. This was indicative of the oppositions problem: reliance on restriction to a committed core of supporters whose passion for change didnt spill over into the general population. Advertisement How Navalny rattled authorities Elections in todays Russia are a foregone conclusion , but they are also a potential vulnerability for the Kremlin. There is a fine balance that the Kremlin has to strike between control of elections and their legitimacy. Too much control, or outright fraud, and the legitimising value of the elections is reduced. Advertisement This can lead to potentially destabilising results, as the mass protests in Moscow in 2011 or the protests in Belarus in 2021 showed, and as happened in the 2004 Ukrainian elections , which led to the first Orange Revolution . Navalny understood this well and made participation in the 2018 presidential election his main goal. His strategy was to cause enough trouble for the authorities in the run-up to the vote, particularly through various street demonstrations, to force the authorities to allow him to stand as an official candidate in these elections. Advertisement To this end, he set up a regional network of Navalny HQs that ran in parallel with his main anti-corruption organisation, FBK (the Anti-Corruption Foundation) . This gave Navalny a potential nationwide reach, in contrast to the old Moscow-centred opposition. This strategy didnt produce the desired result of getting Navalny onto the ballot. But it seemed to rattle the authorities enough to want to take care of the Navalny problem. In August 2020, Navalny fell ill on a flight and, according to the German doctors who treated him, escaped near-certain death from a Novichok weapons-grade chemical agent. Advertisement Alexei Navalny attends a rally in Moscow, Russia, on in January 2018. He was the fiercest foe of Vladimir Putin and crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests. AP He returned from Germany in January 2021 and was immediately arrested on landing in Moscow. The mass protests that followed were unusual for their regional scale, but not enough to really challenge the Kremlin. Instead, the authorities banned Navalnys organisations in Russia and either arrested or forced those who worked for them to flee Russia. Advertisement Navalnys fate became the main point of contention for Moscow in its dealings with Western governments and media. Navalny was the obligatory subject of high-level contacts with the Russian authorities, with Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan warning that Russia would suffer consequences if Navalny died in prison. How the Ukraine war changed Navalnys fate Advertisement But all this paled into insignificance after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the end of February 2022. Overnight, Navalnys fate seemed diminished against the backdrop of Europes biggest war since 1945. Navalnys own agenda of generating enough domestic protest to topple the regime became obsolete as the new anti-opposition laws were enforced and most of his most ardent supporters fled the country. Navalny tried to stay relevant by promoting his views from prison, including a call to end the war by handing over all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, and paying reparations to Ukraine. Its not clear that he gained any supporters in Russia, but he certainly appealed to those in exile and to Western governments. With the West and its allies imposing an unprecedented level of sanctions on Russia and providing Ukraine with the military support to defeat Putin on the battlefield, theres literally nothing else the West can do to punish Russia over Navalnys fate. Protesters stage a demonstration opposite the Russian embassy in London, on 16 February. AP Only Putins dictatorship remains Alexei Navalny was clearly a very brave and charismatic politician who posed the most significant domestic challenge to Putins regime in more than a decade. He never really came close to toppling Putin, and perhaps often overestimated his level of support within Russia. With the news of his untimely death in prison, the question remains whether he could have done more from exile in the West. He would have joined a long list of Russian opposition leaders, from former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky to chess champion Garry Kasparov, who have virtually no influence on what happens in Russia. But Navalnys refusal to go down that road, and his belief in his own importance, is precisely what has made him stand out in Russian politics. Ultimately, Navalnys death draws a line under the era when politics was politics in Russia. Today there is only Putins own personal authoritarianism. Alexander Titov , Lecturer in Modern European History, Queens University Belfast This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article . The visit by the Greek prime minister will complete the latest phase in Indo-Greek relations, which began with the Indian prime ministers visit to Greece last August India and Greece enjoy a historic, cultural, and civilisational partnership, even as two major maritime nations, which is acquiring greater significance in modern times as India, a resident power in the Indian Ocean, seeks a strategic connection to the Mediterranean, given the ever-volatile and evolving regional and global dynamics. She has been seeking reliable and like-minded partners in this quest. Greece and Egypt have emerged as two such nations, which PM Modi visited recently, catapulting the partnership into a strategic orbit. Advertisement Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou conferred the prime minister of India with The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour. India and Greece agreed to intensify their defence and security cooperation, especially in maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and the defence industry. They also decided that there should also be an India-Greece dialogue framework at the level of National Security Advisors (NSAs). As seafaring nations, they shared their vision of a free, open, and rules-based Mediterranean Sea and Indo-Pacific in accordance with the law of the sea, in particular the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom of navigation to the benefit of international peace, stability, and security. Advertisement It has been merely six months since the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Greece, and now Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is planning to reciprocate with a two-day state visit to New Delhi from February 21 onwards, 2024. This would be the first bilateral head-of-state/government-level visit from Greece to India after 15 years; the last prime ministerial visit from Greece to India took place in 2008. Prime Minister Mitsotakis visit is expected to further strengthen and deepen the strategic partnership between India and Greece, as per the Ministry of External Affairs of India. Advertisement The Greek prime ministers trip has been timed to coincide with the Indian Davos, the Raisina Dialogue, which he will attend and speak as Chief Guest. There will also be a parallel visit by a Greek business delegation led by Deputy Minister K Fragogiannis and Secretary General M Myrogianni, which will showcase Greek opportunities to Indian businesses in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Advertisement In addition to collective meetings between both sides business groups with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), there will be B2B meetings between Indian and Greek businessmen. Economic engagement has to be the crux of any major partnership. In this context, it is important to remember that a leading Indian company, GMR, is already involved, together with the Greek Company Terna, in the construction of the second largest airport in Greece, Kastelli in Crete. Advertisement This visit by the Greek prime minister will complete the latest phase in Indo-Greek relations, which began with the Indian prime ministers visit to Greece last August. The meeting will effectively confirm that the Greek and Indian leadership have opted to gradually inaugurate, step by step, a special strategic partnership between their two countries, of the sort that India currently maintains with only France and Germany. Advertisement Their closer communication will allow a substantial upgrading of relations after many years of inactivitythe last state visit by a Greek prime minister to India was by C Simitis as far back as 2001and this one can lay the foundations for a new era of strategic cooperation and economic partnership between the two countries. Advertisement This will certainly be important for both sides, but it will also allow Greece to establish a privileged relationship with India, which is expected to be the worlds third-largest economy by 2030. The areas on which this cooperation could have a positive impact extend beyond the political, economic, and commercial spheres to include all-round military cooperation and the related development of areas of bilateral engagement, including exercises and exchanges, given that units from the naval and air forces of the two countries have been taking part in joint exercises for a number of years. The Indian Navys Kolkata class destroyer ship INS CHENNAI was at Souda Bay in Crete on July 2729 and held exercises with the Greek Navy in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The crew of INS CHENNAI also laid a wreath at the Commonwealth Souda Bay Memorial in Crete to pay homage to the fallen Indian soldiers that fought in the British-led efforts to resist the Nazi invasion. Earlier in November 2022, India participated along with many friendly countries in the MEDUSA 12 military exercises between Greece and Egypt, in which Cyprus, the US, and Saudi Arabia participated. Advertisement The Greek prime ministers visit will also allow further discussion on where the IMEC (India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor) project should go from here, as well as on political, structural, and practical aspects of the creation of the economic corridor connecting the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, which was decided on the sidelines of the G20 last September. Only this week PM Modi was in the UAE for his 7th visit when a Framework Agreement on the IMEC was signed and special projects for port developments and energy transit were also inked. India is seriously continuing with the UAE and other partners, including Greece, on this vital connectivity corridor despite some hiccups due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and consequent brakes on rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Advertisement This project concerns Greece directly, given that the corridorwhich is, of course, expected to involve other countries along its routewill connect with Europe in Greece, making it an important commercial channel and entry point for Indian products destined for Western and Eastern Europe. All these initiatives have a strategic depth to them andinternational conjuncture permittingprove that we are on the verge of a new and important phase in Indo-Hellenic relations, which could certainly be beneficial in any number of areas for both sides. It would perhaps be useful to establish either Track 1.5 or 2 dialogue mechanisms between India, Greece, and Egypt, or, for that matter, Israel, to study the implications of emerging threats and challenges and recommend collaborative possibilities. Greater collaboration among the think tanks would also be desirable. Advertisement Over and above political and economic relations, there will certainly also be cooperation in the cultural, academic, and touristic spheres, which will encourage and facilitate the creation of the appropriate infrastructure, as well as at the level of civil society, given the two nations significant historical and cultural contribution to world history. Advertisement Amb Yannis Alexis Zepos is the former Secretary General of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador to India, and Amb Anil Trigunayat is a distinguished fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Following the Talibans 2021 comeback to power in Afghanistan, the international world has struggled to determine how to deal with the new government For the second UN gathering of its sort in less than a year, national and regional special envoys to Afghanistan are set to meet in Doha on Sunday. However, there is still a cloud over whether Taliban leaders would attend. According to a spokeswoman for Antonio Guterres, the two-day conference, which is being hosted by the UN secretary-general, will include stepping up cooperation with Afghanistan and developing a more coordinated approach to the Central Asian country. Advertisement Following the Talibans 2021 comeback to power in Afghanistan, the international world has struggled to determine how to deal with the new government. The administrations involvement in the convention is still unknown on the eve of the gathering in gas-rich Qatar, which played home to the Taliban during years of peace negotiations with the US. The UN has extended an invitation to the Taliban authorities to participate in the Doha convention, following their exclusion from the first meeting in May. A senior diplomatic source told AFP the Taliban government had said it will only if they are the sole representative of Afghanistan at the convention excluding civil society representatives. Advertisement A second demand was that the Taliban government delegation meet with the UN secretary-general and be given an opportunity to present its position, the source said, on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of discussions. On Saturday Taliban authorities said they had reiterated their conditions to the United Nations, emphasising that their participation in the UN-convened talks would be unbeneficial if those conditions were not met. Advertisement Significant opportunity The Talibans government in Kabul has not been officially recognised by any other government since it took power and the administration has imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women bearing the brunt of laws characterised by the UN as gender apartheid. Many governments, international organisations and aid agencies cut off or severely scaled back their funding for Afghanistan in response causing a serious knock to the already struggling economy. Advertisement The meeting in Qatar will also consider the recommendations of a UN independent assessment on Afghanistan, which has suggested recognition of the Taliban authorities be tied to the removal of restraints on womens rights and access to education. The assessment, backed by Western nations, also recommends the appointment of a UN special envoy, which the Taliban government has also rejected. Advertisement Ahead of the gathering in Doha, Tomas Niklasson, EU special envoy for Afghanistan, said the meeting offered a significant opportunity to meet to hold meaningful discussions and engage on a way forward, based on the report, in a UN-led process. The UNs Working Group on Women, Peace and Security said the meeting in Doha offers an important opportunity for the UN, the Security Council and the international community to reaffirm that the rights of Afghan women are not negotiable. Advertisement Respect for womens rights must be a core objective of the international communitys engagement on Afghanistan, and a priority agenda item for discussions in Doha, it added in a statement. Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, the main base of the Taliban, issued an order on Sunday forbidding its employees from capturing pictures or videos of living things The province's Department of Interior sent a letter to civil and military officials instructing them "not to take pictures of living things during your formal and informal gatherings, as it causes more harm than good" Image Courtesy AP On Sunday, officials in the Talibans birthplace of Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, issued an order prohibiting their employees from taking images or films of living things. The provinces Department of Interior sent a letter to civil and military officials instructing them not to take pictures of living things during your formal and informal gatherings, as it causes more harm than good. Advertisement It said that audio or textual materials about official actions were permitted. Islamic art often steers clear of depictions of people and animals, and some Muslims even abhor pictures of any living thing. Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, the main base of the Taliban, issued an order on Sunday forbidding its employees from capturing pictures or videos of living things. Islamic art often avoids human and animal representations; some Muslims even detest images of any living creature. (With agency inputs) The two diplomats had a meeting outside the Munich Security Conference in Germany, where Wang promised to use China as a force for stability in the globe while addressing a crowd of 180 politicians and defence chiefs Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Canadian colleague Melanie Joly on Saturday that China and Canada were not rivals, let alone enemies despite Ottawas concerns about foreign meddling in their affairs, which is a source of tension in their bilateral relationship. The two diplomats had a meeting outside the Munich Security Conference in Germany, where Wang promised to use China as a force for stability in the globe while addressing a crowd of 180 politicians and defence chiefs. Advertisement Beijings retaliatory imprisonment of two Canadians on espionage accusations and the arrest of a top Chinese telecom executive in Vancouver in December 2018 on a US warrant caused a severe freeze in ties between Beijing and Ottawa, which has resulted in strained relations in recent years. A public investigation of foreign meddling, particularly by China, in Canadas democratic and political processes was started last year. China has been charged of attempting to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections; as a result, Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat in May 2023 over claims of coercion. Wang on Saturday told Joly the current difficult situation is not what China wants to see, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout released Sunday. Advertisement The two sides are not rivals, let alone enemies, and should become cooperative partners, Wang said. Wang urged Canada to stop hyping the China threat theory and stop spreading false information about so-called China interference in domestic affairs. The two foreign ministers also discussed issues critical to global security, including Russias invasion of Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East, according to a Canadian government readout of the meeting. Advertisement Both Ministers agreed that bilateral issues should continue to be discussed pragmatically and constructively, in a spirit of mutual respect, with regular communication between the two sides, the readout added. Since Moscows invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia have intensified their diplomatic and economic ties, and their strategic alliance has only gotten stronger China's foreign minister Wang Yi has assured his Ukraine counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that the Chinese are not selling weapons to Russia Image Courtesy X/@DmytroKuleba According to a statement released on Sunday, Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi informed his Ukraine counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing does not supply Russia with deadly weaponry for use in its conflict with Ukraine. In a readout from the foreign ministry, Wang Yi informed Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday that China does not take any advantage of the situation, and does not sell lethal weapons to conflict areas or parties to the conflict at a meeting on the sidelines of a significant security conference in Munich. Advertisement China claims to be impartial in the Ukraine war, yet it has come under fire for not denouncing Russias aggression. Since Moscows invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia have intensified their diplomatic and economic ties, and their strategic alliance has only gotten stronger. Beijing has traditionally refuted claims that it is providing Russia with deadly weaponry. No matter how the international situation changes, China hopes that China-Ukraine relations will develop normally and continue to benefit the two peoples, Wang told Kuleba, according to the ministrys readout. Once again, I would like to thank Ukraine for helping the Chinese people evacuate safely under emergency conditions, it added. The Chinese people will never forget that. Advertisement According to the readout, Wang emphasized Chinas commitment to peaceful resolution of contentious problems through diplomacy and insisted on advancing peace negotiations. We will continue to play a constructive role in bringing an early end to the war and re-establishing peace, Wang told Kuleba. Even if there is only a glimmer of hope for peace, China will not give up its efforts. Residents of Kinmen have expressed dissatisfaction about the vessels noise and sound pollution as well as damage to their fishing livelihood In this handout photograph provided by Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, Taiwanese coast guards inspect a vessel that capsized during a chase off the coast of Kinmen archipelago in Taiwan. AP Days after two of its fisherman perished while being pursued by the Taiwanese coast guard, which accused the boat of trespassing, China is increasing patrols in the waters off the coast of the Kinmen islands. A spokesperson for the Chinese coast guard, Gan Yu, stated in a statement on Sunday that the Fujian division of the coast guard will intensify maritime law enforcement by routinely monitoring the seas off the southern shore of the city of Xiamen, which is only a few kilometres from Kinmen. Advertisement That body of water is frequently visited by Chinese and Taiwanese fishermen, and as the number of Chinese fishing boats and sand dredgers in the region has significantly risen, tensions have escalated. Residents of Kinmen have expressed dissatisfaction about the vessels noise and sound pollution as well as damage to their fishing livelihood. Despite the amount of Chinese involvement in the waters surrounding Kinmen, which is closer to China than Taiwans main island, the fishermens fatalities are exceptional. Taiwan, which is governed by itself, is all claimed territory by China. According to Taiwans Coast Guard, two of the four Chinese fisherman perished after their boat overturned on Wednesday. According to the report, their vessel was fishing around one nautical mile from Taiwans claimed Kinmen archipelago, which is off-limits. Taiwan is still in charge of the other two survivors. Advertisement China has strongly denounced Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party, blaming them for the fishermens deaths. It also said that there was no such thing as restricted waters. Taiwan said an investigation was underway and that its Mainland Affairs Council said they were communicating with Chinese authorities. Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office vowed on Sunday further measures, without clarifying further detail. Advertisement The Mainland reserves the right to take further action, and all the consequences will be borne by Taiwan, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office. Taiwan split from China during the 1949 civil war, but Beijing continues to regard the island of 23 million with its high-tech economy as Chinese territory and has been ramping up its threat to achieve that by military force if necessary. Up until Sunday, Nasser was the biggest hospital in Gaza that was still operational in Gaza. It had been under siege because to Israels conflict with Hamas this week. The hospital was invaded on Thursday by Israeli commandos Qidra claimed that violence surrounding the hosspital and a shortage of fuel had forced an end to operations Image Courtesy Reuters According to a spokesman for the Gaza health ministry, the second-largest hospital in the Gaza Strip has been placed completely out of service on Sunday. There are only four medical staffers currently caring for patients inside the Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, Ashraf al-Qidra was quoted as saying by Reuters. Advertisement The Nasser medical complex is the backbone of healthcare in the southern Gaza Strip. Its ceasing to function is a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian displaced people in Khan Younis and Rafah, he said. Qidra claimed that violence surrounding the hosspital and a shortage of fuel had forced an end to operations. Up until Sunday, Nasser was the biggest hospital in Gaza that was still operational in Gaza. It had been under siege because to Israels conflict with Hamas this week. The hospital was invaded on Thursday by Israeli commandos. Foreign nations urging Israel to spare the city, where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought safety, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed, were essentially instructing the nation to lose the war' Demonstrators protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and call for new elections in the latest weekly protest against his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, in Tel Aviv, Israel. AP On Saturday, as Israel rejected calls to postpone a planned attack on the Gaza city of Rafah, mediator Qatar conceded that the chances of a fresh respite in Israels conflict with Hamas were not really promising. Foreign nations urging Israel to spare the city, where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought safety, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed, were essentially instructing the nation to lose the war. Advertisement This week saw a sharp increase in the efforts to establish a truce as the United States, Qatar, and other mediators Egypt and Egypt raced to get one before Israeli forces moved into Rafah, the last significant Gazan city unaffected by Israeli ground forces. Despite a direct appeal from US President Joe Biden earlier this week, Netanyahu insisted the operation would go ahead regardless of whether a hostage release deal was agreed with Hamas. Even if we achieve it, we will enter Rafah, he said at a televised news conference Saturday. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who met with negotiators from both Israel and Hamas this week, said efforts for a ceasefire had been complicated by the insistence of a lot of countries that any new truce involve further releases of hostages. Advertisement The pattern in the last few days is not really very promising, he said at the Munich Security Conference. His assessment came as Hamas threatened to suspend its involvement in talks unless relief supplies are brought into the north, where aid agencies have warned of looming famine. Negotiations cannot be held while hunger is ravaging the Palestinian people, a senior source in the Palestinian militant group told AFP, asking not to be identified as he is not authorised to speak on the issue. Advertisement Earlier, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh reiterated the groups demands, which Netanyahu called ludicrous. They include a complete pause in fighting, the release of Hamas prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Netanyahu also rejected pressure from some Western governments for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. After the terrible massacre of October 7, there can be no greater reward for terrorism than that and it will prevent any future peace settlement, he said. Advertisement The hawkish premier was speaking as thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv, calling for an immediate election and accusing the government of abandoning hostages. I am begging the prime minister and the cabinet to enter the negotiations, said former hostage Sharon Aloni-Cunio, who was released along with her twin children in November but whose husband remains in Gaza. Advertisement Fears for patients after raid Israel said Saturday it detained 100 people at one of Gazas main hospitals after troops raided the complex, with fears mounting for patients and staff trapped inside. At least 120 patients and five medical teams are stuck without water, food and electricity in Nasser Hospital in Gazas main southern city of Khan Yunis, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Advertisement Israel has for weeks concentrated its military operations in Khan Yunis, the hometown of Hamass Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, the alleged architect of the October 7 attack that triggered the war. Intense fighting has raged around Nasser Hospital one of the territorys last major medical facilities that remains operational. The Israeli military said troops entered the hospital on Thursday, acting on what it said was credible intelligence that hostages had been held there. It later acknowledged it found no firm evidence that they had. Advertisement The power was cut and the generators stopped after the raid, leading to the deaths of six patients due to a lack of oxygen, according to Gazas health ministry. A witness, who declined to be named for safety reasons, told AFP the Israeli forces had shot at anyone who moved inside the hospital. Advertisement The Gaza war began with Hamass October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Militants also took about 250 people hostage, 130 of whom are still in Gaza, including 30 who are presumed dead, according to Israeli figures. Advertisement Israels retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed at least 28,858 people, mostly women and children, according to the territorys health ministry. We need food now In northern Gaza, many are so desperate for food they are grinding up animal feed. Were going to die from hunger, not by bombs or missiles, said Mohammed Nassar, 50, from Jabalia in northern Gaza. Advertisement As a much-needed delivery of supplies arrived in southern Gaza Saturday, the UN warned that Gazans are close to famine. Palestinians in Rafah have grown so hungry that they are stopping aid trucks to take whatever they can manage, according to the UN. With intense fighting around Khan Yunis, even more people are fleeing into Rafah, despite the risk of an imminent invasion there too, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Advertisement The promised military operation has ignited speculation that Palestinian refugees could be forced into neighbouring Egypt. After satellite images appeared to show extensive construction work along the border, an Egyptian human rights monitor claimed preparations were underway for a camp to receive displaced Palestinians in the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has publicly denied any such plans and since the start of the war has refused to open its border to refugees. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said there is no intention of evacuating Palestinian civilians to Egypt, while at Saturdays press conference Netanyahu told reporters there was a lot of space north of Rafah where civilians could resettle. 8:44 AM (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Mediator says Gaza truce 'not promising' as Israel rejects calls to spare Rafah Truce efforts had intensified this week as Qatar and fellow mediators Egypt and the United States scrambled to secure a ceasefire before Israeli troops enter Rafah, the last major population centre in the Gaza Strip still untouched by Israeli ground troops. But despite a direct appeal from US President Joe Biden earlier this week, Netanyahu insisted the operation would go ahead regardless of whether further releases of Israeli hostages were agreed with Hamas. Even if we achieve it, we will enter Rafah, he told a televised news conference Saturday. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who has met with negotiators from both Israel and Hamas this week, said efforts for a ceasefire had been complicated by the insistence of a lot of countries that any new truce involve further releases of hostages. Netanyahu has pledged to push the attack to the southernmost town of Rafah in Gaza, where over half of the 2.3 million Palestinian residents of the territory have fled there due to violence elsewhere, and will continue until total victory against Hamas Palestinians gather near a crater at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters According to witnesses and doctors, Israeli attacks throughout Gaza killed at least eighteen people overnight and into Sunday. Meanwhile, the US announced that it will reject a new draft of a United Nations resolution ending the hostilities. Instead, the US, Israels main backer, is hoping to mediate a cease-fire and the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas, with the ultimate goal of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian issue on a larger scale. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has retreated, labelling Hamas ambitions as delusional and rejecting appeals from the US and other countries for a Palestinian statehood route. Advertisement Netanyahu has pledged to push the attack to the southernmost town of Rafah in Gaza, where over half of the 2.3 million Palestinian residents of the territory have fled there due to violence elsewhere, and will continue until total victory against Hamas. World Health Organisation chief Dr. Margaret Chan claimed that Nasser Hospital, the primary medical institution in southern Gaza, is not functional anymore following an Israeli military strike on the establishment in the southern city of Khan Younis last week. Six individuals, including a lady and three children, were murdered by an airstrike in Rafah overnight, while five men were killed in another hit in Khan Younis, the primary focus of the attack during the previous two months. Journalists for the Associated Press witnessed the dead arriving at a Rafah hospital. Advertisement An airstrike destroyed a family house in Gaza City, which was isolated, mainly evacuated, and devastated in the early stages of the conflict. Three women were among the seven individuals who died, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative of the deceased. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. Advertisement UN says raided hospital no longer functioning Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the U.N. health agency, said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners. Advertisement In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said there are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other hospitals. Israel says it has arrested 70 suspected militants, including 20 who it says participated in Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, without providing evidence. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. Advertisement The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israels defenses and attacked communities across southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Advertisement The war has killed at least 28,858 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. Around 80% of Gazas population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. David Satterfield, the US Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues, said Friday that Israeli strikes on Hamas-run police guarding aid convoys had caused them to halt the escorts, making it virtually impossible to deliver desperately-needed aid because of the threat of criminal gangs. He also said Israel has not presented specific evidence for its claims that Hamas is diverting U.N. aid. Advertisement US opposes another cease-fire resolution Algeria, the Arab representative on the U.N. Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washingtons own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted. Advertisement It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities in jeopardy, she said. The US has used its veto on similar previous resolutions with wide international support, and President Joe Biden has bypassed Congress to rush arms to Israel while urging it to take greater measures to spare civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. Advertisement The US, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release, but theres a wide gap between Israel and Hamas demands and Qatar said Saturday that the talks have not been progressing as expected. Hamas has said it will not release all of the remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It is also demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top militants. Advertisement Netanyahu has publicly rejected both demands and any scenario in which Hamas would be able to rebuild its military and governing capabilities. He said he sent a delegation to cease-fire talks in Cairo last week at Bidens request but doesnt see the point in sending them again. Netanyahu has also pushed back against international concern about a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, saying residents will be evacuated to safer areas. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. Advertisement The Israeli leader is also opposed to Palestinian statehood, which the US says is a key element in its broader vision for normalization of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, and Arab investment in Gazas postwar reconstruction and governance. The rioters, who the police claimed were pro- and anti-Eritrean government groups attending a meeting in The Hague, were attacked with tear gas shells by special police units Anti-immigration far-right leader Geert Wilders posted social media images of the riots with a caption in capital letters: "Arrest and Deport" Image Courtesy AFP Rival groups of Eritreans engaged in skirmishes in The Hague early on Sunday, setting fire to police cars and hurling rocks, inflicting injuries to at least four police officers. The rioters, who the police claimed were pro- and anti-Eritrean government groups attending a meeting in The Hague, were attacked with tear gas shells by special police units. Advertisement During the riots, stones, fireworks, and other items were thrown at police officers and the fire brigade. Several rioters had weapons to hit people with. Out of nowhere, our colleagues were confronted with very intense and serious violence, police commander Marielle van Vulpen told the media. As they investigate the rioting, police made a number of arrests and requested witnesses and video. The violence used against police officers and equipment is appalling and unacceptable, said the citys mayor Jan van Zanen. Anti-immigration far-right leader Geert Wilders posted social media images of the riots with a caption in capital letters: Arrest and Deport. He then wrote on X, formerly Twitter: The Netherlands has really had it up to here with this. Advertisement Why is half the world allowed to come here to tear down our country, fight amongst themselves, throw stones at the police and set their cars on fire? I want to become the prime minister who finally brings some order to this, added Wilders, who won elections in November but is struggling to form a coalition government. Advertisement Authorities in the Netherlands estimate that there are about 25,000 Eritreans residing in the country. There have been past conflicts between pro- and anti-government factions, exemplified by the stabbing deaths of multiple individuals in front of an event commemorating Eritreas independence from Ethiopia last year. (With agency inputs) The Ch47 Chinook Helicopters are heavy-lift helicopters of the Indian Air Force for strategic airlift and humanitarian efforts. The choppers were formally inducted into the force in 2019 at the Indian Air Force station in Chandigarh and the remaining 11 were delivered in 2020 The Chinook is a recommended option for large freight and troop transport at high altitudes because to its tandem-rotor configuration. In underslung operations, it may carry artillery, tanks, and relief supplies Image Courtesy Agencies Due to a technical snag that occurred on Sunday near Barnala in Punjab, an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter had to make a precautionary landing, according to authorities. According to air force officials, the crew and the helicopter are safe after landing in an open field during a routine flying sortie. A rescue team has also arrived at the scene. What caused the technical snag is a mystery that the Indian Air Force will investigate. Advertisement An IAF Chinook helicopter made a safe, cautious landing close to Barnala, Punjab, during a regular flying sortie. The recovery team has reached the site, the IAF said in a statement on social media platform X. The US Army stopped its fleet of Chinook helicopters in 2022 due to engine fires. Salil Hupte, the head of Boeings operations in India, stated that there is no impact on the helicopter operated by the Indian forces and that the Indian Air Forces Chinooks are operating without any issues. The Indian Air Force has asked Boeing, the maker of the Chinook, for information regarding the causes of the US Armys complete Chinook helicopter fleets grounding. The Indian fleet of Chinook choppers is based out of Chandigarh for operations in the north while another unit is located in Assam for taking care of the northeastern areas. Advertisement The Ch47 Chinook Helicopters are heavy-lift helicopters of the Indian Air Force for strategic airlift and humanitarian efforts. The choppers were formally inducted into the force in 2019 at the Indian Air Force station in Chandigarh and the remaining 11 were delivered in 2020. The Chinook is a recommended option for large freight and troop transport at high altitudes because to its tandem-rotor configuration. In underslung operations, it may carry artillery, tanks, and relief supplies. Advertisement The Chinooks twin rotor design offers better performance in the wind, maximum agility, simplicity of loading and unloading, and enhanced stability and control. To negate the yawing of the helicopter and balance out the torque produced by a blade, the blades revolve in opposite directions. A tail rotor is employed in single-rotor helicopters to counteract torque. Advertisement If the torque is not neutralized, the chopper will spin on its vertical axis and crash. According to Boeing, this particular helicopter is the only one in its class with a service ceiling of 20,000 feet. The almost two-year struggle has been constantly portrayed by the Kremlin as a fight for Russias survival in an effort to incite patriotic fervour among the countrys populace, many of whom are uninterested in the offensive President Vladimir Putin stated in remarks broadcast on Sunday that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is life and death for Russia and might decide its future. The almost two-year struggle has been constantly portrayed by the Kremlin as a fight for Russias survival in an effort to incite patriotic fervour among the countrys populace, many of whom are uninterested in the offensive. Advertisement I think it is still important for us ourselves, and even more so for our listeners and viewers abroad, to understand our way of thinking, Putin said in an interview with state TV. Everything that is happening on the Ukraine front: For them it is an improvement of their tactical position, but for us it is our fate, it is a matter of life and death, he said. Putin was answering a query regarding a two-hour interview he had with American talk show presenter Tucker Carlson, which the Kremlin utilised to further its war narratives. Putins lengthy discussion of Russian history and his constant doubts about Ukraines sovereignty throughout the conversation infuriated both Kyiv and the West. For the Western listener, the viewer, it was not easy. Even more so for Americans, Putin said when asked about his long, historical musings in the Carlson interview. Advertisement The history of the United States is 300-odd years, and I started in 862. So I think it was not easy for American audiences to understand, he said. The External Affairs Minister stated that Israel has an international duty to uphold humanitarian law while simultaneously characterizing the Hamas attacks on Israeli cities on October 7 as terrorism and citing Tel Avivs reaction. He also emphasized Indias long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Palestine conflict Jaishankar discussed the many pulls and pressures that different countries experience in that setting. He also mentioned that relationships are difficult to be one-dimensional because different countries have diverse histories and issues Image Courtesy AFP External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that India should not be criticized for having a variety of options in light of the fact that the nation is transitioning from non-alignment to all alignment and was questioned about the nations foreign policy priorities. In the presence of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he made these comments during an interactive session at a security conference in Munich. Advertisement The moderator brought up Indias ongoing import of crude oil from Russia in the face of Moscows invasion of Ukraine when posing the question. Why should it be a problem? I am smart enough to have multiple options. You should be admiring and not criticising. Is it a problem for others? I do not think so, he said. Jaishankar discussed the many pulls and pressures that different countries experience in that setting. He also mentioned that relationships are difficult to be one-dimensional because different countries have diverse histories and issues. I do not want you, even inadvertently, to give the impression that we are purely and unsentimentally transactional. We are not. We get along with people, we believe in things, we share thingsbut there are times when you are located in different places, different levels of development, different experiences, all of that gets into it, he explained. Advertisement So life is complicated, life is differentiated, he said. Good partners provide choices, smart partners take some of those choices Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister stated that Israel has an international duty to uphold humanitarian law while simultaneously characterizing the Hamas attacks on Israeli cities on October 7 as terrorism and citing Tel Avivs reaction. In addition, he emphasized Indias long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Palestine conflict. Advertisement Israel has been carrying out its military campaign in Gaza as part of its reprisal for Hamas historic October 7 onslaught on Israeli cities. India has been advocating for a de-escalation of the situation and has strongly denounced the terror act carried out by Hamas. To a question, the External Affairs Minister said the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India- China-South Africa) grouping started in an era when Western dominance was very strong. Advertisement According to Jaishankar, some thirty nations expressed interest in joining BRICS last year because they saw its benefits. He answered, There must be something excellent we have done. As Israel continues its catastrophic assault on Gaza, the International Court of Justice has set six days of hearings in which an unprecedented number of countries will participate A general view of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands. Reuters The 15 international judges will be thrust back into the centre of the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the United Nations top court begins its historic hearings on Monday to consider the legitimacy of Israels 57-year occupation of territory demanded for a Palestinian state. As Israel continues its catastrophic assault on Gaza, the International Court of Justice has set six days of hearings in which an unprecedented number of countries will participate. Advertisement The case centres on Israels unrestricted occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem, although taking place against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Palestinian legal team informed reporters on Wednesday that the Palestinian delegates, who will speak first on Monday, will contend that the Israeli occupation is unlawful because it has broken three fundamental principles of international law. They say that Israel has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest by annexing large swaths of occupied land, has violated the Palestinians right to self-determination, and has imposed a system of racial discrimination and apartheid. We want to hear new words from the court, said Omar Awadallah, the head of the U.N. organizations department in the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. Advertisement Theyve had to consider the word genocide in the South Africa case, he said, referring to a separate case before the court. Now we want them to consider apartheid. Awadallah said an advisory opinion from the court will give us many tools, using peaceful international law methods and tools, to confront the illegalities of the occupation. Advertisement The court will likely take months to rule. But experts say the decision, though not legally binding, could profoundly impact international jurisprudence, international aid to Israel and public opinion. The case will put before the court a litany of accusations and allegations and grievances which are probably going to be uncomfortable and embarrassing for Israel, given the war and the already very polarized international environment, said Yuval Shany, a law professor at Hebrew University and senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. Advertisement Israel is not scheduled to speak during the hearings, but could submit a written statement. Shany said Israel will likely justify the ongoing occupation on security grounds, especially in the absence of a peace deal. It is likely to point to the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas-led militants from Gaza killed 1,200 people across southern Israel and dragged 250 hostages back to the territory. Advertisement There is this narrative that territories from which Israel withdraws, like Gaza, can potentially transform into very serious security risks, Shany said. If anything, Oct. 7 underscored the traditional Israeli security rationale to justify unending occupation. But Palestinians and leading rights groups say the occupation goes far beyond defensive measures. They say it has morphed into an apartheid system, bolstered by settlement building on occupied lands, that gives Palestinians second-class status and is designed to maintain Jewish hegemony from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Israel rejects any accusation of apartheid. Advertisement The case arrives at the court after the U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin in December 2022 to ask the world court for a non-binding advisory opinion on one of the worlds longest-running and thorniest disputes. The request was promoted by the Palestinians and opposed vehemently by Israel. Fifty countries abstained from voting. Advertisement In a written statement before the vote, Israels U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the measure outrageous, the U.N. morally bankrupt and politicized and any potential decision from the court completely illegitimate. After the Palestinians present their arguments, 51 countries and three organizations the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union will address the panel of judges in the wood-paneled Great Hall of Justice. Advertisement Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state. Israel considers the West Bank to be disputed territory, whose future should be decided in negotiations. It has built 146 settlements, according to watchdog group Peace Now, home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers. The West Bank settler population has grown by more than 15% in the last five years according to a pro-settler group. Advertisement Israel also has annexed east Jerusalem and considers the entire city to be its capital. An additional 200,000 Israelis live in settlements built in east Jerusalem that Israel considers to be neighborhoods of its capital. Palestinian residents of the city face systematic discrimination, making it difficult for them to build new homes or expand existing ones. Advertisement The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal. Israels annexation of east Jerusalem, home to the citys most sensitive holy sites, is not internationally recognized. Its not the first time the court has been asked to give an advisory opinion on Israeli policies or to declare an occupation illegal. In 2004, the court said that a separation barrier Israel built through east Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank was contrary to international law. It also called on Israel to immediately halt construction. Israel has ignored the ruling. Advertisement In a 1971 case the Palestinian legal team is likely to draw from, the court issued an advisory opinion finding that the South African occupation of Namibia was illegal, and said that South Africa had to immediately withdraw from the country. Also, late last month, the court ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in its campaign in Gaza. South Africa filed the case accusing Israel of genocide, a charge that Israel denied. South African representatives are scheduled to speak Tuesday. The countrys governing party, the African National Congress, has long compared Israels policies in Gaza and the West Bank to the apartheid regime of white minority rule in South Africa, which restricted most Black people to homelands before ending in 1994. On Friday, a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay $355 million after concluding he had lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements While campaigning in Michigan on Saturday night, former President Donald Trump unleashed a tirade against the judge who handed him a $355 million fine in his New York civil fraud trial and attacked the numerous prosecutors who had cases against him. With interest, his penalties could total more than half a billion dollars. Advertisement Trump was making his case in a state that will likely be crucial in November as he prepares for what seems to be a rematch with President Joe Biden in the general election. Even though Biden defeated Trump by a tiny margin in this state in 2020, the president is now dealing with widespread scepticism from Arab-American voters who are incensed about his backing of Israel in the Israel-Hamas conflict as the number of Palestinian casualties has increased. Meanwhile, Trump has been making an effort to win over the union and blue-collar supporters who were so important to his election in 2016. He resumed his appeal to auto workers on Saturday, praising his tariffs and screaming against laws requiring electric vehicles, which he claims would eventually result in job losses. Advertisement We have to let them know a freight train is coming in November, Trump told more than 2,000 supporters gathered in a freezing plane hangar in Waterford Township, in the suburbs of Detroit. But Trump was again most focused on his grievances, opening with a 15-minute screed about the criminal and civil cases against him. Advertisement On Friday, a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay $355 million after concluding he had lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements. Trump has vowed to appeal. That penalty came days after Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. Advertisement With interest payments, Trumps legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars an amount it is unclear whether or not Trump can afford to pay. Trump cast Fridays decision as a lawless and unconstitutional atrocity that sets fire to our laws like no one has ever seen in this country before. Advertisement He called the judge in the case, Arthur Engoron, crooked, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, a lunatic. He called special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against him an animal, while mocking the pronunciation of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis name. Trump has succeeded in the GOP primary by casting the charges which include state and federal criminal indictments across four separate jurisdictions as part of a coordinated effort by Biden and other Democrats to damage his electoral prosects. He has also repeatedly cast them as an attack on his supporters. Advertisement These repulsive abuses of power are not just an attack on me, theyre really an attack on you and all Americans, Trump said Saturday. Were all in this mess together! But its unclear whether those appeals will work in a general election, particularly among suburban voters in key swing-state metro areas in places like Oakland County, where Trump was speaking Saturday. Advertisement An affluent Detroit suburb and the states second-largest county, Oakland County was once a GOP stronghold, but has trended more Democratic in recent elections, in part due to women voters. Trump lost the county to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020, both times by eight percentage points. While Michigan will hold its primary next after South Carolina, only 16 out of 55 Republican presidential delegates will be determined by the Feb. 27 vote. Advertisement The remaining 39 will be distributed by precinct delegates at a Michigan GOP state convention on March 2. Trumps visit came as the states GOP has been in turmoil, amid competing claims on the chairmanship and financial crisis. Trump waded carefully into the chaos by offering a shoutout to the newly elected state GOP Chairman Pete Hoekstra, a former longtime U.S. House member and Trump loyalist who served as Trumps ambassador to the Netherlands. Advertisement Hoekstra was elected after then-Chair Kristina Karamo was ousted after racking up hundreds of thousands in debt. A great congressman, and a great ambassador, Trump said. A lone man in the crowd still loyal to Karamo, who has said she wont cede the position, booed and called Hoekstra a RINO. The term is intended as an insult and an acronym for Republican In Name Only. The southern Zaporizhzhia direction became the primary focus of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, despite the fact that no substantial advances occurred and only a few localities were freed A view shows residential buildings heavily damaged by permanent Russian military strikes in the front line town of Avdiivka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine. Reuters File Following Kyivs soldiers retreat from the damaged eastern town of Avdiivka, Ukrainian forces thwarted a Russian onslaught on the southern front, the Ukrainian military announced on Sunday. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the head of Ukraines army, stated on Saturday that after months of intense Russian attacks, Kievs forces withdrew from Avdiivka to avoid being surrounded. This was Moscows largest advance since its forces took Bakhmut in May. Advertisement Defence forces in the Zaporizhzhia sector defeated yesterdays Russian offensive, Ukrainian military said on Telegram messaging app. The military reported that 18 armoured vehicles, including three tanks, were destroyed, and that the Russians retreated to their previous positions. So yet, the Russians have made no reaction. The southern Zaporizhzhia direction became the primary focus of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, despite the fact that no substantial advances occurred and only a few localities were freed. The Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces were firmly established at the towns coke factory, but the push on Avdiivka represented Moscows largest since it captured Bakhmut in May Ukrainian soldiers get out of a military vehicle in a location given as Avdiivka, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, in this screen grab. Reuters Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, referred to the takeover of Avdiivka as an important victory after the military leader of Ukraine said on Saturday that his men had left the badly damaged town in the east of the nation following months of fierce fighting. The Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces were firmly established at the towns coke factory, but the push on Avdiivka represented Moscows largest since it captured Bakhmut in May. Advertisement Days before the second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, additional US military aid had been delayed for months by Congress, and the country was suffering from severe ammunition shortages. It is also the clearest sign yet of how the tide of the war has turned in Moscows favour after a Ukrainian counteroffensive failed to break through Russian lines last year. The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory, the Kremlin said in a statement on its website. US President Joe Biden warned this week that Avdiivka could fall to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages following months of Republican congressional opposition to a new US military aid package for Kyiv. Advertisement A White House statement on Saturday said Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday to underscore the US commitment to continue supporting Ukraine and reiterated the need for Congress to urgently pass the package to resupply Ukrainian forces. The White House said the withdrawal had been forced upon Ukraine by dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, that had forced Ukrainian soldiers to ration ammunition and resulted in Russias first notable gains in months. Advertisement Capturing the city is likely to provide a morale boost for Russia ahead of Putins bid for re-election next month, which he is almost certain to win. It is also seen as another step towards securing Moscows hold on the regional centre of Donetsk, about 20 km (12 miles) to the east, held by Russian and pro-Russian forces since 2014. Advertisement Russia has not given details of its losses in the brutal fighting, but Ukrainian officials and Western military analysts say its advances have come at a staggering cost in terms of personnel and armoured vehicles. Putins telegram paid tribute to soldiers who had died in the campaign, saying: Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in fulfilling the tasks of the special military operation! Advertisement Also, it seems that Russia still does not have a full control of the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical plant on the northwestern edge of the town. Ukraines largest coke producer before the war and now in ruins, it has been the Avdiivkas last stronghold. Measures are being taken to completely clear the city of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the city and are entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, Russian Defence Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a video published on the ministrys Telegram channel. Advertisement Zelenskyy implores west for supplies Addressing the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy who praised his troops for exhausting Russian forces in Avdiivka, implored his Western allies to step up supplies of military aid and suggested the withdrawal was partly caused by a lack of weapons. Now, (the military) will replenish, they will wait for the relevant weapons, of which there simply werent enough, simply arent enough, he said. Russia has long-range weapons, while we simply dont have enough. Advertisement In a post on X, Zelenskyy expressed hope that the US Congress would make a wise decision. We discussed the current frontline situation, he said of his call with Biden. I am grateful to have President Bidens full support. Zelenskyy said he had met in Munich with a delegation of Republican and Democratic members of the US House of Representatives. Advertisement We hope that the House of Representatives will make decisions to ensure further necessary US support for Ukraine, he said. We must win this war. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said Avdiivka showed the need for modern air defence systems to counter guided bombs and long-range weapons to destroy enemy formations. He said artillery shells were also needed. Advertisement Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who took command of the Ukrainian military in a major shake-up last week, said Ukrainian forces had moved back to more secure positions outside the town, which had a pre-war population of 32,000, to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen. Ukraines 3rd Assault Brigade, which officials say was deployed to Avdiivka this week, said on Telegram that it had pulled back to prepared positions on the outskirts of Avdiivka and evened out the front line. Advertisement At this time, the Russians are not slowing down their assault. We keep holding the line in the area of Avdiivka. it said. Avdiivka has borne the brunt of mounting offensive pressure by Russia in the east since October, as wavering Western military aid has compounded the fatigue of Ukrainian troops fighting since early 2022. Advertisement Ukraines positions had looked fraught for weeks. The Third Assault Brigade, a prominent infantry assault unit, was rushed to the town to help reinforce troops this week as other Ukrainian forces pulled back from its southeast. In December 2022, the UN General Assembly asked the ICJ for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem' A general view of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands. Reuters The UNs top court will start hearings on the legal ramifications of Israels occupation of Palestinian territory since 1967 beginning Monday, with an unprecedented 52 countries set to testify. Nations such as the United States, Russia, and China will address justices during a week-long session at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the site of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Advertisement In December 2022, the UN General Assembly asked the ICJ for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. While any ICJ ruling would be non-binding, it comes as international legal pressure on Israel grows over the Gaza conflict began by the deadly Hamas onslaught of October 7. The proceedings are different from a high-profile lawsuit made by South Africa, which alleges that Israel is committing genocide during the ongoing Gaza war. The International Court of Justice concluded in that case in January that Israel must do all in its power to avert genocide and allow humanitarian supplies into Gaza, but it did not mandate a ceasefire. Advertisement On Friday, it rejected South Africas attempt to impose extra sanctions on Israel while emphasising the need of fully implementing the verdict. Prolonged occupation The General Assembly has asked the ICJ to consider two questions. Firstly, the court should examine the legal consequences of what the UN called the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Advertisement This relates to the prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem. In June 1967, Israel crushed some of its Arab neighbours in a six-day war, seizing the West Bank including east Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. Advertisement Israel then began to settle the 70,000 square kilometres (27,000 square miles) of seized Arab territory. The UN later declared the occupation of Palestinian territory illegal. Cairo regained Sinai under its 1979 peace deal with Israel. The ICJ has also been asked to look into the consequences of what it described as Israels adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures. Advertisement Secondly, the ICJ should advise on how Israels actions affect the legal status of the occupation and what are the consequences for the UN and other countries. The court will rule urgently on the affair, probably by the end of the year. Despicable The ICJ rules in disputes between states and its judgements are binding although it has little means to enforce them. Advertisement However, in this case, the opinion it issues will be non-binding. In the courts own words: The requesting organ, agency or organisation remains free to give effect to the opinion by any means open to it, or not to do so. But most advisory opinions are in fact acted upon. The ICJ has previously issued advisory opinions on the legality of Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia and apartheid South Africas occupation of Namibia. Advertisement It also handed down an opinion in 2004 declaring that parts of the wall erected by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory were illegal and should be torn down. Israel is not participating in the hearings and reacted angrily to the 2022 UN request, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it despicable and disgraceful. Advertisement The week after the UN resolution, Israel announced a series of sanctions against the Palestinian Authority to make it pay the price for pushing for it. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that while advisory opinions are non-binding, they can carry great moral and legal authority and can eventually be inscribed in international law. Advertisement The hearings should highlight the grave abuses Israeli authorities are committing against Palestinians, including the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution, said Clive Baldwin, HRW senior legal adviser. Dennis Webb/The Daily Sentinel Crosby Davidson and the horse Slim from the Shoshone Specialty Pack String are shown during a recent horsemanship training Davidson led in Rifle. training was to get U.S. Forrest Service employees up to speed on the through fundamentals of saddling and bridling horses, and the basics of riding them, steering them, getting them to speed up and slow down, and so on. Jesse Gardea at his Fruita home welding iron works sculptures made from recycled scrap metal. Gardea uses the recycled scrap metal and molds it by hand into the shape he wants to use in his artwork, which is displayed in the yard of his home. Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers after midnight. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Russo-Ukraine War - 17 February 2024 - Day 723 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 17, there were 63x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 61x air strikes, carried out 79x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, Russian attacks resulted in killed and wounded civilians. Residential private and apartment buildings, healthcare institutions and critical infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Stohnii, Chorne, Sadovod (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Vil'na Sloboda, Holyshivs'ke, Veselivka, Mohrytsya, Mykhailivs'ke, Yizdets'ke (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Veterynarne, Vovchans'ki Khutory, Bochkove, Kruhle, Ozerne (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kup'yans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x assaults near Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area the Russian adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Makiivka and Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, New York (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x attacks in the vicinity of Lastochkyne (Donetsk oblast). On top of that, the Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Orlivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at up to 20x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made 21x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks south of Prechystivka and west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Also, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Zaliznychne, Charivne, Novoandriivka, Lobkove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. During the day, Russian forces made 2x attempts to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. The settlements of Beryslav, Antonivka, Sofiivka (Kherson oblast), and the city of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Russian forces also shelled Kherson with MLRS strikes. During the day of February 17, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 14x concentrations of Russian troops, 3x anti-aircraft missile systems. On top of that, along the eastern sector, Ukrainian Air Force units destroyed as many as three Russian military aircraft: two SU-34 fighter-bombers and one SU-35 fighter jet. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 4x artillery systems, 4x ammunition depots, 1x electronic warfare stations of the Russian invaders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China-donated generators delivered to healthcare centers in South Africa Xinhua) 10:04, February 18, 2024 JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The majority of the generators that arrived from China late last year have been delivered and distributed to healthcare facilities, South Africa's National Department of Health said Friday. "A bulk of generators have been given to the National Health Department, and the department has distributed them to mainly clinics across the country," said Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the department. These generators were a component of the generators that China donated around the end of 2023 to South Africa. The National Department of Health's comments followed Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa's remarks to the media regarding the generator distribution. Ramokgopa noted that 450 gasoline generators had been shipped to schools and clinics around the nation. These clinics would benefit from these generators during the loading shedding, commonly known as power cuts. "The first consignment consisting of gasoline generators officially received in November 2023 for backing up several public service facilities across the country was allocated for distribution," according to the electricity minister. The minister disclosed that the health department received 306 generators for use in clinics across different provinces. Additionally, a total of 44 generators were given to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) for use in public facilities. Fifty generators, in all, were shipped to KZN for emergency assistance. Some schools received another fifty. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Norman Analista, is the founder of Analista & Co., a Guam-based fashion brand specializing in bespoke apparel. He has designed clothing for dozens of celebrities and social media influencers in the US, Asia, and Europe. For unpublished content related to this column, follow @tastemaker671 and @analista_co on Instagram. For story suggestions email nanalista@yahoo.com. Guam welcomed nearly 2,000 cruise ship passengers and crew members on Sunday with the arrival of the MS Zuiderdam, the second of about a dozen total cruise liner visits in 2024. The massive, 955-foot-long MS Zuiderdam, a Vista-class ship owned and operated by Holland America Line, pulled into the Port Authority of Guam at 7:30 a.m. Cultural dancers and a shell lei greeting welcomed the cruise ship passengers at the dock Sunday morning. The ship departs at 5 p.m. The more than 10-hour cruise ship visit to Guam gives passengers the opportunity to explore Guam, from sightseeing to shopping and dining. The influx of passengers onboard the vessel is a boost to Guams tourism industry and highlights Guam as a premiere luxury cruise destination, Port General Manager Rory J. Respicio said in a statement. The MS Zuiderdam is the lead ship of the Vista-class vessels, so named for the extensive use of glass in their superstructure, and is sister to three other Holland America Line ships, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Noordam. Prior to coming to Guam, the MS Zuiderdams last port of call was in Hawaii. In January, Guam welcomed its first cruise ship of 2024 with the arrival of the MSC Bellissima with 5,494 passengers and crew. Other potential cruise ship visits to Guam in 2024 include the MV Artania on Feb. 25, the MS Asuka II on March 3, the MS Queen Elizabeth on March 21, the Le Soleal on March 24, the Carnival on April 8, the Seabourn on May 14 and Sept. 7, the Le Soleal on Oct. 8, the Carnival on Oct. 22, and the MS Asuka II on Dec. 30. The MS Zuiderdams visit also comes just as a major military exercise, Cope North 2024, is about to wrap up this week. The exercise, along with the visit of the USS Roosevelt, added thousands of visitors to Guam in February, a much needed boost to the tourism industry still struggling from the pandemics impacts. Total arrivals to Guam are still about half of what they used to be prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Corrections & Clarifications: This story was updated with accurate total campaign contributions and "small dollar" funds raised for Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes and Sen. Joe San Agustin. Their campaigns filled out contribution forms differently from other campaigns, resulting in an error in a previous version of the story. This story was further updated to reflect that Sen. Joanne Brown did accept campaign contributions from the medical community. Other information was previously reported. Records at the Guam Election Commission show that each of the 15 senators in the 37th Guam Legislature reported receiving campaign donations from doctors, clinics and others with interests in the medical field, with contributions ranging from $100 to nearly $10,000. With lawmakers expected to tackle whether a new hospital should be built at Ypao Point in Tamuning or the Mangilao-Barrigada area this week, the Pacific Daily News has reviewed just how much money each senator received from doctors, clinics, pharmacies, health insurance companies, and others involved in the healthcare field on Guam. Sen. Sabina Perezs campaign got the least amount of $100 from the medical community. Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, who backed the governors push for a Mangilao-Barrigada site, reported $9,500 worth of contributions from various medical interests in the 2022 election cycle, more than any other sitting senator. Sen. Amanda Shelton recorded the second highest amount of donations from various medical interests, at $8,500. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has called Sen. Chris Barnetts legislation that would place the new hospital at Oka Point a special interest measure, with a number of healthcare providers pushing for the hospital to remain in Tamuning, even as some doctors back the Mangilao-Barrigada site. There will also be those with a stake in having a hospital built along the backroad, according to political scientist and University of Guam professor Ron McNinch, especially as land values in the area would rise with the construction of a hospital there. Amounts donated to sitting senators in the 2022 election add up to $40,100. The final number may be higher, however, as Guam law does not require campaigns to record the names of individuals that buy small-dollar fundraiser tickets that are less than $100. That means if staff at a pharmacy or insurance company bought a number of tickets for a senatorial fundraiser, campaign finance records would not reflect the purchases. Barnett and Muna Barnes said donors that contributed to their campaigns didnt influence their support for one of the hospital sites. Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Fisher, who is also an attorney, said he doesnt have any stake in a construction company he used to represent, which donated to his campaign and owns a parcel of land by the proposed hospital site. Never had a sit down Barnett, who received $4,500 from medical donors in his freshman senatorial bid in 2022, said that outside of public hearings, hes never sat down one on one or in a group to talk to doctors or donors about the hospital site. He said hes only sat down with the administration to talk about the issue. The senators Bill 185-37, which would lock the construction of a hospital into the Oka Point site in Tamuning, was introduced in October 2023. Following the data and the facts contained in the Matrix study is not special interest, Barnett said, referring to a $1.48 million hospital study GovGuam paid for that ranked Ypao Point higher over the governors preferred site for a new hospital. Barnett received $1,000 from Dr. Hoa Nguyen, a vocal supporter of the Tamuning site, and another $2,000 from Nguyens American Medical Center in the 2022 primary and general elections. Another $1,500 came from TakeCare Insurance, which owns the Tamuning based FHP Health Center, and has also backed the Tamuning site. Those contribution amounts were within legal limits. Barnetts total campaign fundraising was $52,919.53, GEC records show. Bill 185-37 could stand on its own merits, Barnett said, and there were very few facts backing up the administrations preferred site. I met with the Governor seeking more information, and didnt get it. I was elected to make informed decisions, not to follow Adelups wishes and commands, Barnett told the Pacific Daily News. No vote buying Muna Barnes said shes confident her voting record shows that giving my campaign money does not buy my vote on any issue. Among contributions to her campaign were $1,000 from TakeCare, and $1,000 from Guam X Ray, which does business as Guam Radiology Consultants, and whose CEO and medical director Dr. Nathaniel Berg has been touted by the administration as a supporter of the Mangilao-Barrigada site. Barnes total fundraising for the 2022 election cycle was reportedly $95,077.99. The vice speaker said campaign donors have been among a number of people and groups she has sat down with to talk about the hospital issue, including at chance encounters and events hosted by the Office of the Governor and the Guam Medical Association. She stated that any policy call she made would be based on the merits of the proposal and her moral compass. No stake Fisher, who himself has called Bill 185-37 a special interest measure, was accused by Barnett of having a close relationship with a company that stands to benefit from the building of a hospital in the Mangilao-Barrigada area. Ian Corporation, which according to the testimony of government land officials last November, owns land by the proposed hospital site that could see a value increase, donated $1,000 to Fishers campaign. Company owner Jihyung Chong likewise contributed $1,000. The company recently paid ${span}251,957{/span} in damages for federal labor law violations. Fisher said he had no connection whatsoever to the company, besides his law firm having represented the company, and their contribution. Fisher said his former partner, attorney Rachel Ayuyu, took over the client when he ran for office. The senator denied having any stake in Ian Corporation, which he said records at the Department of Revenue and Taxation would support. The office was closed on Saturday. He said he only owned his home in Ipan, Talofofo, an abutting beachside property, and some property in Inalahan. Barnett told the PDN Fisher had his own special interest in supporting the administrations hospital site. Fisher responded that Barnett was flailing. GEC records show Fisher reported raising $26,685 in the 2022 election cycle, though he spent much more to win, $124,185.23 Soft ties are stronger Despite public perception, legally reported campaign contributions did not necessarily indicate that an entity had strong influence over a candidate, according to UOGs McNinch. The political scientist said the hard ties of donors were less important than soft ties on Guam. The far stronger effect is the soft tie of a business person who runs a major company, who then gets their friends and affiliates to kind of board on to the fundraising events of a particular candidate or person in office, McNinch said. I come back to you and say, look, I had 10 of my friends donate $2,000 to you total at your last fundraiser, and I need your help on medical stuff later on, he said. He said that connection wouldnt necessarily be spelled out on a finance report, but could be indicated by the total volume of contributions to a candidate. On the issue of the hospital, interest was likely to accumulate around anyone who had invested in land around the hospital sitethose investors would be more likely to dump major funds into a politicians campaign. Already constructed medical infrastructure in Tamuning has been a sticking point for those in the medical field during the hospital debate, with several major clinics in Tamuning lobbying for the hospital to stay there. But McNinch said the proposed new hospital site also opened up the door to new land speculation. Either way, the real bigger benefit derived in donor relationships was to the politician, McNinch said, not the donor. Politics is about politicians getting you to do favors for them. Thats what the real game is, he said. TakeCare is biggest contributor Across all medical donors, various affiliate companies of TakeCare Insurance, owner of FHP Health Center, were reported contributing more to senatorial campaigns than any other clinic, individual, or company. Donations from TakeCare affiliates donated to 11 out of the 15 sitting senators, GEC records show, and contributions from TakeCare affiliates accounted for $20,000 out of the total $40,100 in medical contributions tabulated by the PDN, about half of the total. Although corporate contribution limits are capped at $1,000 per candidate per election, combined donations from different affiliate companies like TakeCare Insurance Brokers Inc., TakeCare Insurance Risk Management Services Inc., and Veiovis LLC exceed that amount for some candidates, records show. The practice is legal under Guam law, as each company under a single umbrella is technically its own entity, which pays its own taxes, according to Guam Election Commission Executive Director Maria Pangelinan. She said whether that legality was appropriate was a political question beyond the scope of GEC, which only weighs in on matters affecting election processes. Federal candidates were not allowed to accept corporate contributors at all, Pangelinan noted, but since the issue of mirroring the policy locally had never come up during her time at GEC. GEC does an annual review of election laws and makes recommendations to lawmakers, and has recommended copying certain procedural campaign finance regulations practiced by the Federal Election Commission. But the issue of corporate contribution amounts, Pangelinan said, was left up to lawmakers, who had not addressed the matter in a number of years. Heres a summary of the medical communitys contributions to senators 2022 campaigns, based on records filed with GEC: Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, $9,500 Sen. Amanda Shelton, $8,500 Sen. Chris Barnett, $4,500 Sen. Joe San Agustin, $3,500 Sen. Chris Duenas, $2,500 Sen. Joanne Brown, $2,000 Sen. William Parkinson, $2,000 Sen. Telo Taitague, $2,000 Speaker Therese Terlaje, $2,000 Sen. Thomas Fisher, $1,000 Sen. Jesse Lujan, $1,000 Sen. Frank Blas Jr., $500 Sen. Roy Quinata, $500 Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas, $500 Sen. Sabina Perez, $100 Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen Air Force Base Environmental Flight and the National Park Service. AN arts trail featuring sundials and stone benches could be created in Benson. The installations would be paid for using money from David Wilson Homes, which has built a new development in the village. A special working group made up of parish councillors and residents has identified a number of suitable sites for the artworks, which must be placed on land or in buildings that are owned by or under the control of the council. The trail will feature metal sundials made by David Harber, a specialist with a studio near Blewbury, and Martin Cook, a sculptor from Roke, who will make the stone benches with inscriptions about the history of the village. Bob Martin will create large murals of Benson to install in the parish hall, introducing the village to visitors. The sundials will all be set to Benson time, four minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time. Mr Harber said he was delighted to be asked to take part in the project as he was local. Speaking at a public consultation on the plans, he said: My first sundial was made just outside Henley on the steps of my cottage. Then I had a converted pigsty near Henley. Then I had a converted dairy, again near Henley, and now we are just the other side of Wallingford. The business has grown enormously. Weve got a presence in Dubai and New York but it all stems from one man on the steps of his cottage in Oxfordshire not knowing what he was doing. He said the sundial trail would become a destination for visitors. Mr Harber said: You will see strangers walking around your village with a pamphlet, wanting to find the next sundial. Its an intellectual journey and it almost becomes a little thing to do were going to do the sundial trail and then well go to the pub for lunch and its really fun. He said there would be different sorts of sundials, including an armillary sphere. Mr Harber said: Although it looks incredibly complicated, it was the first thing I ever attempted to make rather than a conventional little horizontal. Theyre incredibly accurate. He will also create a bird box sundial based on a 300BC Egyptian model which will allow birds to nest on top. One sundial will be by the river. Mr Harber said: The British Sundial Society will more than likely put this on their register and it will become a destination for people to come and look at. Mr Cook said: Ive lived in Roke for nearly three years now and love this area. Its wonderful that this money that has landed in the lap of the council because of all the building projects is going to be used to create something that will become a piece of Bensons history. David is probably the leading sundial maker in the world, so its incredible to have him available to do this. I would like to create benches that complement his work. Ill carve inscriptions on the benches which will be created out of as much reclaimed stone as I can find. Ill try to use materials that complement the materials that David uses. I think together we can make something thats unique and that Benson can be proud of. Christopher Swann, who edits the Benson Bulletin and was part of the working group, said: We looked very hard at what Benson has in its DNA, which includes agriculture, nature and meteorology. We were looking at things which were open air and then we looked at the talent that was local because the whole point of this is to draw in local people and local artisans. The working group discussed materials, ruling out wood because it is difficult to maintain. Mr Swann said: We looked primarily at metal and stone which have longevity and the ability to be here in 100 years time. This money will only happen once, so it is essentially a generational opportunity for the village, which I think should be exploited properly. Remember, the arts condition everything. You look at your houses, your furniture, your crockery, the planes you fly in, the cars you drive everything within your environment comes from some sort of artistic imagination. Good or bad, youll find a lot of bad art around you but that also conditions your imagination and your feeling about your place in society and your place in life. The postmasters and mistresses would not be in the position they are now if it wasnt for a TV drama, which is primarily a function of the creative arts. People attending the event will complete surveys before a final decision is made about the project. By Mohamed Olad Hassan Sunday February 18, 2024 Somalia has condemned what it calls "a provocative attempt by the Ethiopian government," claiming that Ethiopian security forces tried to block Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from accessing the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, a government statement said Saturday. "The Federal Republic of Somalia strongly condemns the provocative attempt by the Ethiopian government to obstruct the delegation of the Somali President from attending the 2024 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa," said the statement released by the Somali National News Agency SONNA. advertisements Ethiopia hosts the African Union headquarters, and Mohamud leading a delegation from the Somalia government went there to attend the AU summit at a time when both countries already are at odds over a controversial maritime pact between Ethiopia and Somaliland."Given that Ethiopia hosts the African Union headquarters, its leadership and government have an obligation to treat all African leaders equally," the Somali government statement said."Hosting the AU is both an honor and a privilege for Ethiopia; however, if its government fails to uphold this honor and responsibility with the necessary decorum, it may be necessary for the African Union to reevaluate the location of its headquarters," the statement added.Mogadishu described the incident as "outrageous conduct" and called for a full investigation by the pan-African body."While we denounce Ethiopia's unwarranted action, we also call upon the AU to urgently conduct a credible and independent investigation to this outrageous conduct in line with the protocols of the union," the statement said."This morning when I prepared myself to come and attend the closed session of the summit, the Ethiopian security blocked my way," Mohamud told reporters, after later gaining entry to the venue for the meeting.He said he had tried again with another head of state, Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, but they were also blocked from the AU headquarters, a claim challenged by Ethiopia."A soldier with a gun stood in front of us and denied us access to this facility," he said.Agence France-Presse has reported that Ethiopia insisted Mohamud was warmly welcomed and said the Somali delegation was blocked when its security detail tried to enter a venue with weapons.Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's spokeswoman, Billene Seyoum, told AFP that Ethiopia had "warmly welcomed" Mohamud and accorded him the full honors of visiting heads of state and governments to the summit.She said the Somali delegation had declined the security offered by Ethiopia and tried to enter a venue with their weapons."As host country, the government of Ethiopia is responsible for the security of all heads of state and government while in the country," Seyoum said."The Somali delegation security attempted to enter the AUC [African Union Commission] premises with weapons, which was blocked off by AUC security."Somalia has accused Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity over the January 1 memorandum of understanding with Somaliland that declared independence in 1991 in a move not recognized by the international community.Under the maritime deal, Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of its coast for 50 years to Ethiopia, which wants to set up a naval base and a commercial port on the coast.In return, Somaliland a former British protectorate has said Ethiopia would give it formal recognition, assertions not confirmed by Addis Ababa.Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa and one of the largest landlocked nations in the world, was cut off from the coast after Eritrea seceded and declared independence in 1993 following a three-decade-long war.Addis Ababa had maintained access to a port in Eritrea until the two countries went to war in 1998-2000, and since then, Ethiopia has sent most of its sea trade through Djibouti.While Somaliland is largely stable, Somalia has witnessed decades of civil war and a bloody Islamist insurgency by the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group. Sunday February 18, 2024 Two Cuban doctors held captive by the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab were killed in a US airstrike, the militant outfit claimed on Saturday. The al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group claimed in a Telegram statement that the doctors were killed in a US air raid in Somalia's southern state of Jubaland on Thursday. advertisements The terrorist group blamed the US for "deliberately targeting the prisoners for several years and have conducted strikes" in at least two locations before Thursday's airstrike in Jilib town."We neither confirm nor deny the terrorist group's claims," a local official told Anadolu over the phone, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.On April 12, 2019, the al-Shabaab terrorists kidnapped the Cuban doctors while on their way to work in Kenya's northeastern province, killing one of their bodyguards in the process.Meanwhile, the Somali Defense Ministry said on Saturday that 15 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed and 20 others were injured during national army aerial operations in Lower Shabelle and Galguduud provinces.The airstrikes, which were backed by unnamed international partners, targeted terrorists in Kuntu Waarey in Lower Shabelle and Galcad in Galguduud.The strikes targeted al-Shabaab gatherings and terrorist assets, the ministry said in a brief statement. In December 2022, Laxmi Ghalan (41) and their partner, Meera Bajracharya (45) petitioned the Nepal Supreme Courts constitution bench, challenging specific provisions pertaining to marriage in the National Civil Code of Nepal. These provisions, their petition said, were not in consonance with Nepals constitutional guarantees of rights to equality, social justice and citizenship. While Nepals landmark new Constitution in 2015 guaranteed these rights to persons of gender and sexual minorities, the Nepal Civil Code which was issued in 2017 recognised marriage as only between a man and a woman. Other queer persons, including Maya Gurung, a cis-woman, and Surendra Pandey, who is the general secretary of a non-governmental organisation, Mayako Pahichan Nepal, also filed writ petitions in the Supreme Court seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage in Nepal. In June 2023, the SC passed an interim order that directed the office of the prime minister and council of ministers of Nepal and other relevant ministries to establish a transitional mechanism to ensure the registration of marriages for same-sex couples. By November 2023, Gurung and Pandey became the first queer couple to register their marriage. Earlier this month, Anju Devi Shrestha and Suprita Gurung, a lesbian couple, registered their marriage in the country. Same-sex couples finally have access to a legal document. Last year, a constitution bench of Indias Supreme Court, headed by the chief justice, rejected a host of petitions seeking marriage equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI+) community. Marriage was not a fundamental right, the bench found. How do two countries with shared traditions, and social and cultural mores, diverge on the issue of same-sex marriage? The answer lies in the years between 2001 and 2015, and the peoples movement in Nepal that swept everyone up in a shared dream for equality. A country in turmoil In June 2001, several members of Nepals royal family, including the reigning King Birendra, were massacred by crown prince Dipendra. This cataclysmic event led to the fall of the monarchy and the institution of a political system and a Constitution that upheld the significance of individual rights at its core. Whats more, non-discrimination against same-sex persons was written into the newly-formed constitutional document. At the time, Nepal was five years into a civil war as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) fought with government forces to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, whose new titular king was the late Birendras brother Gyanendra, and establish a peoples republic. A short-lived ceasefire after the royal massacre saw the CPN-Maoists take up arms again. In 2003, an Emergency was imposed, and security forces descended on the streets. The third gender population faced a lot of violence, both from them as well as the Maoists. Even in Kathmandu, the situation was bad. I would go three or four times a week to bail out transgender persons who were detained by security forces under some pretext or the other. It was a special situation created by the state and the security forces had impunity, said Sunil Babu Pant, who co-founded the gay rights group Blue Diamond Society in 2001, and became one of the countrys most well-known human rights activists. By 2005, King Gyanendra had dismissed Nepals elected government, suspended the constitution and assumed direct rule, with the stated aim of ending the Maoist insurgency. The kings action was met with fierce protests by people, political parties and the CPN-Maoist, leading to Gyanendras restoration of democracy by April 2006. But the monarchys days were numbered. The subsequent spread of the large-scale pro-democracy peoples movement beginning in 2006, ultimately led to the collapse of the monarchy. Pant recalls the heady days of Nepals Jan Andolan. The 2006 pro-democracy protests were largely led by students unions, Pant said. We went to all the protests. And thats where we started building connections with other political parties and organisations. Eventually, the peoples movement snowballed to include ordinary citizens and political parties, which eventually led to the fall of the autocratic monarchy and the setting up of an interim democratic government in 2007. But the promise of those heady months did not translate into actual rights for Nepals sexual and gender minorities, Pant said. When the political parties invited suggestions for an interim Constitution for Nepal, Pants suggestions for inclusion of specific LGBTI rights were thrown in the dustbin. The same people we marched with on the streets refused to meet us, he said. This prompted Pant to petition the Nepal Supreme Court in 2007 for social and legal recognition of sexual and gender minorities, including transgender persons. He was joined by Mitini Nepal, the organisation started by Ghalan and Bajracharya, as well as two others. The resulting Nepal Supreme Court order in 2007 was far-reaching and path-breaking. What did the SC order state? The Supreme Court in its order recognised the legal identity of transgender persons and on the issue of same-sex marriage, held that it was the inherent right of adults to marry whom they wish to. The SC at the time also directed the government to form a committee to study the issue of same-sex marriage and prepare a report. We all rejoiced at the order it was unbelievable, Ghalan recounted. We thought we had won all the rights to marry, adopt, everything. Yet, when Ghalan approached the Chief District Officers office to get their citizenship certificate according to Nepal Citizenship Rules (2006) prevalent at the time, a citizen of Nepal who has completed the age of 16 years and intended to obtain the certificate of citizenship of Nepal by descent, had to make an application with specific documents they were told that they cannot be given a document in their chosen gender identity. Ghalan and Bajracharya also tried to get their marriage registered in a court, but they were turned away. We were asked, who among us was the man, and who was the woman, Ghalan recalled. A gay lawmaker, a new democracy If the years between 2001 and 2006 were cataclysmic for Nepals citizens, the years that followed the institution of a democratic government were no less eventful. In 2008, Pant became the first openly gay lawmaker in the newly formed democratic government. The main task of this government was to come up with a new constitution for the country. The SC had clearly stated in 2007 that the new Constitution must guarantee non-discrimination on the grounds of gender identity, as well as sexual orientation. I had this readymade presentation on my laptop that I took to the Parliament and spent at least 3-4 hours every day talking to [members of the Parliament], orienting them on gender, sexuality, human rights and all those things that they may have questions about, said Pant. He was also part of the committee tasked with drafting the Fundamental Rights. In September 2015, Nepals new Constitution was ratified, turning the constitutional monarchy into a federal democratic republic. Its fundamental Right to Equality, under Article 18, prohibited the state and judiciary from discriminating against gender and sexual minorities. Article 42, or Right to Social Justice, enshrined the right of gender and sexual minorities to participate in state mechanisms and public services. Lastly, Article 12 affirmed the right of citizens of Nepal to choose their preferred gender identity on citizenship documents. The same year, the government committee mandated by the Supreme Court in 2007 to inquire into the possibility of same-sex marriage in Nepal, issued its report. It highlighted the work carried out by the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Affairs (now the Ministry for Women, Children and Senior Citizens) in ensuring marriage equality for members of the LGBTI community, by amending specific words in Nepals draft Civil Code and making them gender neutral. For recognition of same-sex marriage and resulting liabilities related laws needed to be amended. Especially, it is necessary to include such provisions in Bills of Criminal Code and Civil Code, the report stated. However, Nepals new civil and criminal codes that were released in 2017 continued to refer to marriage as being between a man and a woman. It was this anomaly between the Civil Code and Constitutional rights that led the petitioners to approach the Supreme Court. Way forward Within two weeks of the apex courts June 2023 order, the Kathmandu District Court refused to register a marriage because both applicants were of the same gender, the Press Trust of India reported. It thus fell to Lamjung district to register Nepals first interim same-sex marriage, in November 2023. The marriage was between a transgender woman and a man, both of whom had been born male. This past week, Ghalan and Bajracharyas hopes of legalising their 24-year relationship got a big fillip when Nepal registered the first female-female same-sex marriage, between Anju Devi Shrestha and Suprita Gurung in Bardiya district, per a PTI report. How soon can these marriages move from the temporary register for nontraditional marriages ordered by the Supreme Court, into full-fledged legal marriages once Nepal amends its civil code, time will tell. Dhamini Ratnam, HT Premium editor in-charge, writes about gender, sexuality and our blind spots Feb 18, 2024 7:32 PM IST On Sunday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Hannan Mollah claimed that no protest is being held by SKM on the border of Delhi, rather, three-four organisations that separated from SKM after the movement in the year 2020 are agitating and taking their name. "The government is holding the fourth round of talks with the farmers. Last time in the year 2020, when there was a farmers' movement, the government talked to us 11 times, but no solution was found. In these 11 meetings, the government used to call 42 people, and at that time, two of them separated. The government is calling two of them for a meeting today but not talking to the remaining 40 people with whom the government spoke during the last movement. In such a situation, it seems that the government has some purpose," Hannan Mollah told news agency ANI. "We are continuously conveying our demands to the government. But right now, no protest is being held by SKM on the border of Delhi, rather, three-four organisations that separated from SKM after the movement in the year 2020 are agitating and taking our name. But this does not mean that we oppose the farmers; we support them, and all their demands should be fulfilled as soon as possible. They should be given their rights and no wrong should be done to the agitating farmers in any way," the CPI (M) leader added. When Sam Altman talked about fusion at Davos, it reminded me of a decades-old science fiction trope. As a sci-fi author, I know all that there is to know about fusion power a human-made Sun that offers limitless power, an energy solution to all imagined sciences and technology. From terraforming Mars to spacecraft fitted with fusion reactors to even transferring consciousness between bodies, we authors have used fusion as the answer to all freakishly large energy requirements. So, when after a rather operatic boardroom drama at the Open AI office in the Valley last month, the hottest tech celebrity in the world talked about fusion, it made me sit up and wonder why. Fusion energy, Open AI CEO Sam Altman announced in an interview with Bloomberg during the World Economic Forum in January, was one of the two most important currencies of the future after computational intelligence. Whats changed for Altman is ChatGPT. The year 2023 saw an AI boom after OpenAIs commercial AI system, ChatGPT, exploded into the market. While we learn to adapt to and live with the language learning model, we are yet to realise the true energy cost required to run it. An AI model relies on thousands of specialised computer chips (the reason NVIDIAs stock prices rose more than 208% last year). Each of these chips drinks up the energy of a few US households not tiny San Franciscan apartments but Texan-sized houses. All AI servers are power-hungry devices, writes Alex De Vries, a PhD student at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and founder of Digiconomist.com. In a paper released in October 2023, De Vries estimated that by 2027, the worldwide AI-related electricity consumption could increase by 85.4-134 TWh (terawatt-hour) of annual electricity. Thats the annual energy consumption of countries the size of the Netherlands or Argentina. In a world concerned about climate change, the energy that the servers of the tech industry consume is its best-kept secret. According to UN estimates in 2021, the tech industry was responsible for a whopping 2-3% of global carbon emissions, which is at par with the aviation industrys environmental impact. So far, the real carbon cost of our digital lives has been flying under the radar of our concerns around air travel, oil, deforestation, and veganism. We havent even been able to calculate the true carbon footprint of a ChatGPT query. But a heavy energy cost exists, and the tech industry realises that. To feed a growing army of AI models, Silicon Valley needs clean energy and a lot of it for the chips and servers that will run future AI systems. Thats the reason that all the last decade, everyone from Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff, and Dustin Moskovitz has been putting their money into different fusion startups. Altman also joined this long list of Silicon Valley CEOs looking to fuse some disruptive energy into fusion. In 2021, he put $375 million into a Redmond-based fusion startup called Helion Energy that was first funded by Paypal founder Peter Thiel. The real-life tech of fusion is tricky. Fusion generates energy by forcing lighter atoms to bond together and form new particles, releasing massive energy from the leftover mass. Given that all nuclei are positively charged, atom mating is a tough thing, requiring massive amounts of energy (like inside a star). The challenge to produce more energy from the fusion process than it takes right now to create in a reactor is called breakeven or Q=1. Then theres specialised, costly equipment to extract this energy from the fused atoms and the safe disposal of byproducts like helium that one made me laugh and nuclear waste. On the other hand, the reward is a steady, clean source of energy for all the electricity needs you might have. Perhaps thats what tempts the rather dreamy, disruptive founders who live on the West Coast. And governments too. In December 2022, scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California produced a nuclear fusion reaction that released more energy than was used to create it a breakeven. This year, the US Department of Energy has announced a $42 million investment in advancing fusion to companies. Japan has inaugurated JT-60SA, a six-storey-sized machine housed north of Tokyo, which will experiment with nuclear fusion. Another International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is under construction in France, formally signed in 2006 by India, the EU, Russia, China, South Korea and the US. And then theres the startup industry. While government laboratories across the world have put in decades of careful work in fusion power, nimble startups use this research to engineer new machines and bang atoms together in a commercial race to produce fusion energy. According to a report by the Fusion Industry Association, the fusion industry attracted a total of $6.21 billion in investment in 2023, up from $5.8 billion in 2022. Helions one, then theres Zap Energy, Xcimer Energy, Longview Fusion Energy Systems, Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Focused Energy all aiming for the 2030s to be the decade that will bring fusion to the market. Microsoft has already purchased hypothetical energy to be produced by Helion Energy in 2028. But why not sustainable alternatives like solar, wind or even fission that powers current nuclear plants, you may ask? Cheekily, I feel the answer to that also lies in our imagination. Tech magnates grew up on the same sci-fi stories you and I did and with their optimism and can-do attitude want to pursue the riskiest, most rewarding, apparently steadiest source of boundless energy. We want nothing less than to create our own Sun. And no, I wont add an Icarus analogy here. Like the Valleys founders, I remain optimistic about fusion as I head back to my cosy reading nook and find another sci-fi read to find the secret sauce that next-gen startups will be made of. Shweta Taneja is an author and journalist based in the Bay Area. Her fortnightly column will reflect on how emerging tech and science are reshaping society in Silicon Valley and beyond. Find her online with @shwetawrites. The views expressed are personal. On a wooded hill edged by rice fields in Sri Lankas northern Mullaitivu district sit the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery. Members of the countrys Sinhalese majority call it Kurundi Viharaya. For Tamils, who are mostly Hindus and consider the war-battered north their homeland, it is Kurunthoor Malai. Since 2018, when the state archaeological department began excavating the site, Tamil and Sinhalese nationalists have rowed over which community has a greater claim to it. Sri Lankas long civil conflict, between the secessionist Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sinhalese-dominated government, has left deep scars in Mullaitivu. Tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were slaughtered by the army there in 2009 during the wars terrible denouement, according to the UN. Some locals who fled the fighting were only permitted to return in 2013. It was around then that the department started showing interest in the many archaeological sites, including Kurundi, dotted across the vanquished Tigers former domain. The Kurundi complex dates back to the 2nd century BC, with extensions added over subsequent centuries. The limited area that has been excavated includes a stupa, or Buddhist reliquary tower, and an image house, used to display representations of the Buddha. On the sites summit, white butterflies flit to a chatter of cicadas. For Sinhalese nationalists such as Ellawala Medhananda, a Buddhist monk and author of a popular book on the Buddhist heritage of Sri Lankas north and east, such ruins serve a keen political purpose. At the heart of the claim for a Tamil homeland is a belief that ethnic Tamils were the original settlers of Sri Lankas north and east. For Sinhala nationalists, the ancient Buddhist sites repudiate that claim. Tamil nationalists counter that the monuments were also Hindu. The two religions often co-existed in pre-modern Sri Lanka. Excavations at many Buddhist monuments in northern Sri Lanka have revealed evidence of Hindu practice. Even where excavations are limited at a site, local Hindus often lay claim to it. Kurundi is locally believed to contain a Hindu temple; Hindus have begun gathering to pray there. These rival claims have put archaeology on the front line of Sri Lankas communal fissure. It has become a highly volatile ethnic issue that has created a tension in the minds of both Sinhalese and Tamils because of its political implications, writes G. P. V. Somaratna, a historian. The Kurundi site was protected by British administrators in 1933. Earlier this year, the archaeological departmentciting evidence of unexplored ruins outside its 78-acre expansecalled for a further 229 acres, including fertile paddy fields, to be blocked off. This has outraged the Tamil farmers who cultivate the land. Tamil leaders decry the proposal as an effort to Sinhalise the region. The site has been decked in signage, written in Sinhalese, that does not mention its Hindu significance. Local Hindus have filed lawsuits to prevent further changes. A judge who ruled in their favour fled the country in August, citing death threats and a lot of stress. The politics of the dispute are warping history. It is not merely the case that Tamils and Sinhalese once worshipped side by side. Buddhist and Hindu identities were also more fluid than Sri Lankas bitter politics today permits; some ethnic Tamils were once Buddhist. That probably makes the ancient sites at least as Tamil as they are Sinhaleseeven if not in a way that extremists on either side would recognise. The row is about ethnicity, not religion, and essentially about who got here first, observes Shamara Wettimuny, a historian. A growing number of sacred sites are seeing the same ethnic disagreement. Kandarodai, a collection of restored stupas in the northernmost Jaffna Peninsula, has been fenced off and put in (mostly Sinhalese) army hands. Local Hindus are outraged. Rowdy protests at some other monuments have led to police intervention. And with an election due next year, such tensions are likely to increase. A Tamil human rights lawyer calls this sectarian conflict based on ruins. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com 2nd Street Elects New Executive Director PITTSFIELD, Mass. The 2nd Street Board of Directors has elected Sergeant Lindsay Maynard as its new executive director following the departure of Jason Cuyler, who recently announced he has taken a position as Assistant Deputy Superintendent of Community Engagement at the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office. Maynard will take the reins at 2nd Street on April 1, 2024. "Jason's leadership has been a key element in the extraordinary success of 2nd Street. His knowledge of our clients' needs and available services, as well as his vast network and credibility in the community, assured a level of trust and confidence from those we serve and those who support us. We are happy to see him advance in his career," said Mark Gold, president of the 2nd Street board of directors. "We look forward to working under the leadership of Lindsay, who brings considerable skills and ability to lead 2nd Street into the next phase of its growth." Maynard, a native of Lanesborough, is currently a corrections officer and corrections caseworker for the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office. She holds a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation and disabilities studies with a minor in psychology, along with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, from Springfield College. She is also a graduate of the Western Massachusetts County Correctional Officers Academy. Maynard has been "an integral part of 2nd Street since its inception," Gold said, noting that the organization works closely with the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office to place referrals, facilitate aftercare case management, create workshops and other events, and help maintain a seamless transition between incarceration and reentry into the community. "Gratitude fuels my excitement as I step into the role of Executive Director of 2nd Street. I'm grateful for the trust of Sheriff Tom Bowler and the advocacy of Mark Gold, and I give special thanks to Jason Cuyler for his leadership and guidance," Maynard said. "I am ready to carry forward the community 2nd Street has created." Jason Cuyler said his experience at 2nd Street will help drive him forward at his new position. "Working collaboratively with fellow Berkshire County community agencies and the 2nd Street support staff has been an honor, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to sustain these partnerships in my new capacity with the Sheriff's Office," Cuyler said. "Providing services and support for formerly incarcerated clients has been a rewarding journey, and I look forward to continuing this vital work for the betterment of our community." Sheriff Thomas Bowler praised both Cuyler and Maynard for their accomplishments. "I am extremely proud of the incredible work Jason Cuyler has done as executive director of 2nd Street. What started as a simple vision to work collaboratively with community agencies to address the needs of the formerly incarcerated resulted in the creation of something very special," Bowler said. "Jason proved to be the right fit at the right moment in time. The time has come, however, for Jason to take on an even bigger role within the Sheriff's Office," Bowler continued. "I could not think of a better person to assume his role than Sergeant Lindsay Maynard. Lindsay is extremely qualified and is respected by her clients and her peers. I am confident that she will continue what Jason has started with great success. Our community is blessed to have such talented individuals devote their lives to helping others in need." Enercon Asia, a leading provider of comprehensive energy and power system integrator solutions, is pleased to announce the expansion of its services in the Philippines and the introduction of an advanced smart energy assessment and monitoring system to address the growing market demand for sustainability innovations. (L-R) Enercon Asia Executive Chairman Dr. Azhar Othman, Enercon Asia CEO Roland Lim, and Enercon Systems International Philippines Corporation Country Manager Dexter Carinugan Amidst the global challenge of achieving energy sustainability, businesses worldwide are increasingly adopting more efficient energy consumption solutions. This trend is especially prominent in the Philippines, where the Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) recognizes the need for more efficient energy usage. To meet the urgent demand for advanced energy efficiency solutions, Enercon has introduced its Remote Energy Monitoring System. This IoT-based power monitoring system seamlessly connects to various energy sources, including generators, solar panels, batteries, and the power grid. Additionally, it is equipped with a data-driven tool to prepare businesses for sustainability management and reporting. Dr. Azhar Othman, Executive Chairman, Enercon Asia, "Our goal is to advance towards a more intelligent and sustainable energy landscape while assisting businesses in navigating the complexities of energy efficiency. We aim to empower businesses to actively monitor their energy consumption, address challenges in establishing carbon reduction goals, and most importantly, achieve a significant reduction in power consumption costs." In addition to catering to commercial and industrial sectors, Enercon strategically positions itself to support rapidly growing industries such as microgrids and data centers. Projections from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) indicate a fivefold increase in data center capacity by 2029. Enercon's timely launch of the Remote Energy Monitoring System, combined with their proficiency in integrating Data Centre Power system solutions, is well-positioned to support businesses in adapting to the ever-changing landscape of energy consumption efficiency. Recognising that power consumption constitutes a significant operating expense for many facilities and building owners, we are committed to helping them better manage their energy usage. Through site verification, measurement, monitoring, and analysis with state-of-the-art smart energy monitoring equipment, our teams ensure that clients have a thorough understanding of their energy consumption patterns, on top of meeting compliance requirements. By incorporating preventive and predictive measurements, our solution furnishes businesses with insights into their energy consumption patterns. Moreover, it facilitates remote monitoring of facilities' energy usage, empowering businesses with enhanced control and efficiency in overseeing their energy resources, said Roland Lim, CEO of Enercon Asia. For the past 50 years, Enercon has been specializing in power generation and control, spanning across commercial, industrial, and emerging sectors. Beyond offering energy audits, Enercon extends its services to include asset management, encompassing regular preventive maintenance, upgrading, retrofitting of electrical equipment, and thorough testing, commissioning and training. This holistic approach ensures the sustained longevity and efficiency of power systems. In the Philippines, Enercon is already an ESCO registered company, backed by a team of energy engineers and energy auditors to help companies comply with RA-11285, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act. 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 }} China is stepping up patrols in the waters off the coast of Taiwans Kinmen archipelago, days after two of its fishermen drowned while being chased by the Taiwanese coast guard, which accused the boat of trespassing. The Chinese coastguard's Fujian division will regularly monitor the waters off the southern coast of the city of Xiamen a few kilometres from Kinmen to strengthen maritime law enforcement, said the coastguard's spokesman, Gan Yu, in a statement on Sunday. Fishermen from Taiwan and China regularly sail that stretch of water which has seen a rise in tensions as the number of Chinese vessels including sand dredgers and fishing boats have notably increased in the area. Kinmen residents have complained of both the noise and sound pollution from the vessels, as well as losses to their livelihood in fishing. The fishermens deaths are unusual despite the level of Chinese activity in the waters near Kinmen, which is closer to China than it is to Taiwans main island. China claims all of self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory. On Wednesday, Taiwan's Coast Guard said two of four Chinese fishermen died after their boat capsized. It said their boat was fishing about one nautical mile away from Kinmen archipelago which Taiwan has claimed as a restricted area. The other two survivors remain in Taiwan's custody. China has issued a furious condemnation and blamed Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party for the fishermens deaths. It also said that there was no such thing as restricted waters. Taiwan said an investigation was underway and that its Mainland Affairs Council said they were communicating with Chinese authorities. China's Taiwan Affairs Office vowed on Sunday further measures, without clarifying further detail. The Mainland reserves the right to take further action, and all the consequences will be borne by Taiwan, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office. Taiwan split from China during the 1949 civil war, but Beijing continues to regard the island of 23 million with its high-tech economy as Chinese territory and has been ramping up its threat to achieve that by military force if necessary. 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 high-level investigation has been initiated in Pakistan following the resignation of a senior elections officer on Saturday, who alleged widespread manipulation of polling results. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formed a committee that will record statements from district polling officials and submit a report within three days. The investigation was initiated following the resignation of Rawalpindi citys commissioner, Liaquat Ali Chattha, who admitted to manipulating results and claimed he was pressured by the countrys senior officials. "I am taking the responsibility for all this wrongdoing and telling you that the chief election commissioner and the chief justice are also completely involved in this, Mr Chattha told a room full of reporters on Saturday. His accusations surfaced amid nationwide protests by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party against perceived rigging in the 8 February elections. Mr Chattha claimed the candidates who were losing the elections were made to win in the city. He claimed that 13 candidates from Rawalpindi were forcefully declared winners. Mr Chattha also said the pressure on him was so intense that he contemplated self-harm, but later decided to expose the matter in front of the media because stabbing the country in its back does not let him sleep. I should be punished for the injustice I have done and others who were involved in this injustice should also be punished, he told reporters. It is my request to the entire bureaucracy to not do anything wrong for all these politicians. The ECP has rejected the allegations but said it will investigate the claims. The committee will also decide whether Mr Chattha will face contempt charges. The senior officials expose drew the ire of many ministers and officials, including the information minister of the state of Punjab, Amir Mir, who said Mr Chattha was trying to kick start his political career after he retires. The newly-appointed Rawalpindi Commissioner, Saif Anwar Jappa, also dismissed the allegations, adding that the former commissioner's role was solely for coordination during the polls. The controversy further erodes trust in the countrys electoral system, following an unusually prolonged delay in determining who will form the government. Meanwhile, a nationwide disruption in the social media platform, X's service was reported in Pakistan, linked to the "escalating unrest and protests" over election fraud allegations, according to Internet tracking organisation NetBlocks. In the 8 February elections, independent candidates, mostly backed by Mr Khans PTI, won 93 of the 265 National Assembly seats. PTI's rivals, Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan People's Party, are forming a coalition government after a post-poll alliance. To govern, a party must secure 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. 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 }} Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole from a Bangkok hospital after serving six months of his sentence on corruption charges. Mr Thaksin, 74, left the Police General Hospital early morning on Sunday in a convoy wearing a neck support, a sling on his right arm and a surgical mask. He was accompanied by his two daughters, including the ruling Pheu Thai Party chief, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Mr Thaksin arrived at his house to find a crowd of reporters and banners that said Welcome home and Weve been waiting for this day for so, so long hanging at his front gate. However, the former prime minister did not speak to the media. The two-time prime minister was released on parole six months before the end of his reduced one-year jail term. Mr Thaksin was considered eligible for parole due to his old age, justice minister Tawee Sodsong said last week. Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, right, sits in a vehicle with his daughter Paetongtarn (AP) He will, however, still have to report to parole officers every month for the remainder of his sentence and will be subject to a travel restriction. But he is not required to wear an ankle monitor due to his age and health conditions, officials have said. Mr Thaksin was sentenced to eight years in jail on corruption charges on his return from a 15-year self-exile in August last year. But King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his sentence in September. A supporter waits in front of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatras residence (AP) An influential and highly polarising figure in Thai politics, Mr Thaksin was accused of abuse of power during his time in office from 2001 to 2006. His government was toppled in an army coup, and he was subsequently charged with allegations of corruption. His release is seen as a sign of improving ties between him and Thailands elites, who earlier viewed him as a threat to the countrys monarchy. Mr Thaksin will continue to conduct the music behind the scenes for the ruling Pheu Thai party - led by his daughter - but how much political power he can now exercise is unclear, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn University. Additional reporting with agencies Close Floodwaters rush through Montecito, California on Monday afternoon 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 }} A brutal storm that battered California is winding down as of Wednesday morning, with heavy rain beginning to subside. Much of California was on flood watch on Monday and Tuesday as some regions approach ten inches of total rainfall while bracing for floods and landslides. Road blockages, landslides and toppled trees have already been reported in and around Los Angeles. A massive tree also crashed in a Los Angeles neighbourhood on Monday, damaging parked vehicles and downing power lines. Officials warned Californians to avoid road travel and prepare for power outages, mud or rock slides and coastal flooding. Portions of the US-101 and Pacific Coast Highway were blocked on Monday as rainfall intensified and floodwaters rushed onto the major roadway. Meanwhile, Santa Barbara County officials issued evacuation warnings for some waterfront neighbourhoods, which could persist through Wednesday. Many parts of California are already saturated from the heavy rain after a storm earlier this month caused hundreds of landslides so far. 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 }} Royal-favourite designer Richard Quinn presented a feminine, romantic and floral-themed 2024 autumn/winter collection at London Fashion Week. The curved catwalk, that went around the vast and grade-listed 1901 Ballroom at Andaz London, was signposted by huge bouquets of pink and white roses and puddle-length floral-themed curtains. A live band, including a string quartet and a pianist, quickly put guests into a trance as the show began. The London-based fashion and print designer incorporated vintage-inspired bridal wear that emphasised curves and accentuated long limbs similar to high society elegance. Quinn is said to be inspired by the late Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family. She made a surprise appearance on the front row of his LFW show in 2018, alongside US Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and awarded him with the first The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. The designer also dedicated his 2023 spring/summer collection to her, because she touched him among so many others with her grace and kindness. While each piece in the new collection has been designed to endure and realised with the future in mind. The show notes said: Unconcerned with hype, the clothes exist to be cherished, passed down from mother to daughter in days to come. From their internal structures to outer fabrications, these pieces focus on shape, volume, [and] craftmanship recognising the art of fashion design. For some pieces, models came out in white and black versions both just as breathtaking as each other including an off-the-shoulder A-line midi dress that had huge crafted roses over the bustier and long sleeves. The dress had pockets in its embellished, structured bottom half. A flapper fringe jumpsuit with sheer panel detailing and a Tudor-inspired crimped collar was another example of this intentional repetition. There was a classic white gown with a traditional wedding veil, and a black cross-hatch A-line midi-dress, with a deep plunge and bow waistline. Whilst floral-themed chiffon garments stood out in the collection as well. From a high-neck black floral-themed flared jumpsuit with black dramatic feathers, to an oversized maxi dress, also finished with feathers. Backstage, Terry Barber, the global creative director of make-up artistry at MAC Cosmetics and the key artist for the show, said he was inspired by the eighties, Victorian times, mannequin skin and how some characters looked in The Hunger film. Most models were wearing MAC retro red matte liquid lipstick in Feels So Grand. I wanted the lips to have a tight shape, Barber explained. Weve not overlined or stolen [erased] the lips. We kept it quite straight, tight and structured. So they just look uber chic, like how Yves Saint Laurent models used to look back in the day. We havent done a lot of coverage on the skin. We have used a lot of powder and the MAC strobe dewy tint, with some concealer and foundation all around the face, including the eyelids and underneath, to make the eyes almost look faded away, almost quite Victorian paired with a really hard red mouth. We also used a MAC pearl tint and pearl highlighter on top. Though its just skin and a lip, its two elements that are very worked and perfected. The retro matte liquid lipstick is based a little bit on Russian red thats the red Madonna wore on the Blonde Ambition tour, its that blue red. Its sharp. Feels So Grand is based on that. We did one coat then powdered the edge of the lips, and then put another coat on top. I didnt want it lined up. I wanted it freehanded. Some of the models also have a net over the face, but that make-up will not budge. Some models also had their hair in vintage French rolls, which hairstylist Sam McKnight also admitted was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent models of the late 70s and early 80s. They are high shine, high gloss updos, styled with Sam Mcknight products, including the Love Me Do nourishing shine oil, said McKnight, the lead hairstylist for the show. 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 teenage boy has been stabbed to death on the streets of London as murder detectives appeal for witnesses. The victim, aged 17, was found suffering multiple knife injuries in a night time hotspot of Shoreditch, east London at 10.53pm on Saturday. Despite the efforts of first responders, he died at the scene in Hackney Road near the junction with Cremer Street, E2. The victim was found with stab injuries and died at the scene (Victoria Jones/PA Wire) There has been no arrest so far. DCS James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: My thoughts are with the family of the young person who has tragically lost his life. I can assure them that we will be relentless in seeking to identify whoever was responsible for this murder. Cordons are in place in Hackney Road for forensic examination of the scene and we have launched what will be an extremely thorough investigation, supported by specialists from across the Met. Local people will also see additional patrols in Shoreditch. If you have any concerns or information please speak with those officers. They are there to support you. The scene of the murder in east London (Victoria Jones/PA Wire) A Met spokesman said post-mortem examination and formal identification will be arranged in due course. He added the victims family have been informed and will be supported by specialist officers. Anyone with information and any witnesses yet to speak with police are asked to call 101, ref 7553/17Feb. To remain anonymous, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prince William is expected to attend the glitzy BAFTAs solo as his wife the Princess of Wales continues to recover from abdominal surgery. Kensington Palace confirmed that the Prince of Wales, 41, will "attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night. "The Prince, President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will watch the Awards ceremony before meeting category winners and EE Rising Star Award nominees," the palace added. The Prince And Princess Of Wales Attend The EE BAFTA Film Awards in 2023 (Getty Images) Prince William has been president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 2010, and he regularly attends the annual awards. Williams late grandfather, Prince Philip, was the first president of the academy. At the prestigious film event in 2023, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who had her surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children. A friend told People magazine: "He is coping remarkably well considering his wife had surgery and he only found out his fathers news recently. Tonights ceremony will be presented by actor David Tennant in his first TV appearance since returning for a series of Doctor Who specials in 2023. Poor Things and Oppenheimer are the leading contenders for the British Academy Film Awards, which will be handed out Sunday in front of an audience of filmmakers, movie stars and the heir to the British throne. Yorgos Lanthimos gothic fantasia is up for 11 trophies, while Christopher Nolans atom-bomb epic has 13 nominations for the British prizes. Thats the same number Oppenheimer has for the Oscars, where it is also the frontrunner. Robbie also made reference to Brexit as she accepted Pitts award on his behalf In 2020, Margot Robbie made a cheeky joke about Prince Harrys exit from the royal family and subsequent relocation to California as she accepted a best actor award for Brad Pitt. The Barbie actress delivered her Once Upon a Time in Hollywood costars closing joke, saying while holding up the golden statue: He says that hes going to name this Harry because hes really excited about bringing it back to the States with him. His words, not mine! The award shows cameras zeroed in on the Prince and Princess of Wales reaction as they sat in the front row, but they were visibly unflappable, and in good nature, they laughed along with the rest of the audience. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} David Cameron has said the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for discussion as he prepares to visit in a show of support for its population. The new Argentinian president, Javier Milei, pledged during his recent election campaign that he would gain sovereignty over the islands. He has said Buenos Aires had non-negotiable sovereignty over the islands, although he has vowed to get the islands back through diplomatic channels. Downing Street insists the issue of sovereignty is settled. A referendum in 2013 saw islanders overwhelmingly vote to remain a self-governing UK overseas territory. Ahead of his visit, foreign secretary Lord Cameron said: The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion. He described the islands as a modern, prosperous community and said locals should be proud of what they had built. Lord Cameron will pay his respects to the British armed forces personnel who served and lost their lives during the Falklands War in 1982 after Argentinian forces invaded. Foreign secretary Lord David Cameron (PA Wire) He is also expected to thank the military serving on the islands today. The visit will be the first part of a trip that will also see him become the first foreign secretary to visit Paraguay. After that he will travel to a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Brazil and then on to New York. Mr Milei, who has been nicknamed El Loco or the madman, is reported to have said during a televised election debate: What do I propose? Argentinas sovereignty over the Malvinas islands is non-negotiable. The Malvinas are Argentinian. Now we have to see how we are going to get them back. It is clear that the war option is not a solution. We had a war that we lost and now we have to make every effort to recover the islands through diplomatic channels. Mr Milei has also proposed that the UK hand over the Falklands in a similar way to how Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in the late 1990s. 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 }} Keir Starmers new chief of staff Sue Gray has taken the extraordinary step of denying she was ever a spy. Ms Gray shot to fame when she compiled the Partygate report into events at Downing Street during lockdown. Her damning findings were widely seen as hastening Boris Johnsons departure from No 10. Once so powerful in the Cabinet Office that she was described by a minister as the person who really runs Britain, news of Ms Gray being hired by Labour while still a civil servant was greeted with fury by the former prime minister. Rumours that she was a spy centre on a period in her life when, during a career break in the 1980s, she briefly ran a pub in Northern Ireland the Cove Bar in Mayobridge, Co Down, a short drive from the border with the Republic of Ireland. Asked in a new biography of the Labour leader if she had been working for British intelligence at the time, Ms Gray laughed and said: Im definitely not a spy and no, I never have been. The book also reveals that Sir Keir had always wanted a civil servant for the post, to help him prepare for transition into government. On Ms Gray, he said: When all this nonsense blew up and some people were asking if I should still go ahead, I was willing to wait for her because of Sues obvious integrity, rather than her lack of it. Keir Starmer: The Biography, serialised in The Times, also reveals Sir Keir considered resigning after a crushing defeat in the Hartlepool by-election in 2021. Labour had held the seat since it was created in 1974. Biographer Tom Baldwin was told the party leader told close aides in the immediate wake of the vote that he was going to quit, before being persuaded otherwise. According to the book, Sir Keirs wife Vic was among those who urged him not to act hastily. Sue Gray: Im definitely not a spy and no, I never have been (PA Wire) Another key figure who helped keep Sir Keir in his post was Morgan McSweeney, who remains Labours highly influential director of campaigns. Since then, Labour has seen a dramatic turnaround in the polls, suggesting it is on course to win the keys to No 10 later this year. 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 }} Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson has said he can guarantee flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off before the next election as he defended the governments floundering plans to stop the boats. Rishi Sunak has repeatedly refused to go that far, saying his aim is to get planes in the air. The prime minister is fighting to save his policy, with a new treaty with Rwanda and a bill currently going through parliament after the Supreme Court declared it unlawful late last year. In a sign of the increasing pressure he is facing over the issue, Mr Sunak recently made a 1,000 bet with Pier Morgan that he would get planes in the air a move that led to howls of criticism. Speaking to the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News, Mr Tomlinson said: As soon as the treaty is ratified and the bill is through parliament when that happens, the planes will take off. Asked if he was guaranteeing flights before the next election, he said: Yes. We need to get through the bill first. We need to get the treaty ratified and then the planes will take off. He added: I want that to happen as soon as possible, you can sense my impatience for that. Last month, Mr Sunak said he was unable to guarantee flights before the election, as he urged peers not to block the bill. It is due to return to the Lords on Monday when peers who oppose the plan will table amendments to strip out measures they say breach international law. The prime minister has said he will not allow a foreign court to block Rwanda flights and is prepared to ignore injunctions that would ground them. However, he suffered a major blow when his immigration minister Robert Jenrick resigned and warned the legislation would not work. The new home secretary James Cleverly has also failed to deny he called the policy bats***. Impatience: Michael Tomlinson (PA Media) The Supreme Court ruled the original plan unlawful, based on evidence that Rwanda is not a safe country. In response, the bill will declare the African nation safe. Last week, MPs and peers on parliaments joint committee on human rights said the bill was fundamentally incompatible with the UKs human rights obligations. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael said: Conservative minister after Conservative minister has put the public on this endless merry-go-round when it comes to the Rwanda policy. It is a never-ending calamity. It is a policy which is destined to fail and is extortionately expensive. Instead of getting on with driving down the backlog, this Conservative government is governing by press release and pursuing policies that have no chance of being effective. 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 }} Ukrainians who fled to the UK for sanctuary will be allowed to stay for at least an extra 18 months as the world prepares to mark the second anniversary of Russias brutal invasion. Ministers said the move would provide reassurance as the war continues. On Saturday, the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky warned global leaders his countrys fight against Vladimir Putins forces was being held back by a lack of long-range weapons. His call came as both foreign secretary Lord Cameron and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer gave firm messages of support for Kyiv at the Munich Security Conference. Lord Cameron has been among European leaders urging US politicians to pass a billion-dollar foreign aid package for Ukraine. The first visas for those fleeing Ukraine granted three years leave in the UK under a number of programmes which were set to expire in March of next year. But these will be extended for another 18 months, the Home Office has said. As the two-year anniversary approaches later this month, the legal migration minister Tom Pursglove said over 200,000 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in Britain. Families across the country have opened their homes and their hearts to the people of Ukraine, showing extraordinary generosity, including offering shelter to those fleeing from the horrors of war. This new visa extension scheme provides certainty and reassurance for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as this war continues, and we will continue to provide a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict. A demonstrator holds a placard opposing Russias nuclear threat during a Munich protest (Reuters) Housing and communities minister Felicity Buchan appealed for more families to come forward to open their homes to those still fleeing the war. As more families arrive, we will need more sponsors to come forward, she said. I encourage anyone interested in hosting to check their eligibility and apply as soon as they can. Eduard Fesko, the charge daffaires at the embassy of Ukraine to the UK, described the extensions as a clear signal of the continuous support by the government. 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 }} Two police officers and one paramedic were killed and others were injured in Burnsville, Minnesota after law enforcement responded to a domestic violence call, authorities said. Burnsville Police were called to the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue South in the early hours of 18 February after receiving a report of a domestic situation in which an armed man was allegedly barricaded with family members including seven children aged two to 15 years old, Drew Evans, Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Crime Apprehension, said at a press conference on Sunday afternoon. Police spent quite a bit of time negotiating, with the suspect, he said. While we dont know the exact exchange of gunfire, Mr Evans said at some point, the man opened fire on the officers. He added that the unnamed individual had several guns and large amounts of ammunition. Shots were fired from the upper and main floors of the residence, he said. Police officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, as well as Adam Finseth, 40, who was a paramedic and firefighter, were killed, police said. One officer was shot inside of the home, Mr Evans said, and its not currently clear where the others were shot. Matthew Ruge (left), Paul Elmstrand (centre), and Adam Finseth were killed in Burnsville, Minnesota on Sunday (Burnsville Police) Another officer, Sgt Adam Medlicott, was injured and transported to a hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. They are heroes, Police Chief Tanya Schwartz said at the press conference. We are hurting. Hours later around 8am the suspect, who has not been named, was reported dead. Not long after, family members were able to leave the home; they were reported safe. The Medical Examiners Office will provide identification of the suspect, Mr Evans said. Officials assured there is no ongoing threat. Mr Evans called it a terrible day for the city of Burnsville. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is now investigating the incident. Minnesota Gov Tim Walz said at the press conference called the incident heartbreaking and praised the first responders noble work. Earlier on X, the governor wrote, Horrific news from Burnsville. While responding to a call of a family in danger, two police officers and one firefighter lost their lives, and other officers were injured, he wrote on X. We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville. The Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the incident deeply shocking and saddening. He added, My prayers are with their loved ones, their colleagues and their communities. I stand ready to assist in any criminal prosecution and the pursuit of justice. Please keep Burnsville Police Dept in your prayers this morning, Minneapolis Police chief Brian OHara wrote on X on Sunday. Coons Rapids Police Department also wrote, Our hearts are broken this morning as we learn about an unthinkable tragedy in Burnsville this morning. Details are limited at this time. Please join us as we send our thoughts and prayers to the Burnsville Police Department, their families and their public safety community. Learned from police this morning that three officers have been shot in Burnsville, Minnesota Sen Amy Klobuchar wrote. They were doing their jobs. They were protecting our community. John and I are praying for them and their families and the Burnsville P.D. this morning. Minnesota Rep Angie Craig wrote, Im devastated to hear the news coming out of Burnsville this morning & remain in close contact with local officials & law enforcement to offer any federal support they need. She added, Im keeping the Burnsville PD, first responders, their loved ones & the entire community in my thoughts. 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 }} Former Republican conference chair Liz Cheney has argued that former president Donald Trump has created the Putin wing of the Republican Party, a section backing the Russian president. Ms Cheney, 57, was on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday warning of the Putin wing possibly coming back to the White House in the form of former president Donald Trump. She slammed the ex-president for his recent comments saying that he wouldnt protect Nato countries who dont pay their fair share, recounting how he told a fellow world leader that he would urge Russia to do whatever the hell they want. Ms Cheney also criticised Mr Trump for his silence after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison camp. I think that we have to take Donald Trump very seriously, Ms Cheney said. We have to take seriously the extent to which you have now got a Putin wing of the Republican Party. I believe the issue this election cycle is making sure the Putin wing of the Republican Party does not take over the West Wing of the White House, she added. Speaking to anchor Jake Tapper, Ms Cheney said: Donald Trump, as you pointed out, said just a few days ago that he had told a Nato ally that he would encourage [Russian President Vladimir Putin] to do whatever he needed to do, whatever he wanted to do. Hes basically made clear that under a Trump administration, the United States is unlikely to keep its Nato commitments. And I think that Republicans who understand the importance of the national security situation who continue to support him are similarly going to be held to account, she added. Calling Mr Trumps comments on Nato disgraceful, Ms Cheney said, I cant imagine any other American president of either party since the establishment of Nato saying such a thing. And its completely uninformed and ignorant and dangerous. When you think about Donald Trump, for example, pledging retribution, what Vladimir Putin did to Navalny is what retribution looks like in a country where the leader is not subject to the rule of law, she noted. She also tore into speaker Mike Johnson over the Republican leaders refusal to put supplemental funding for Ukraine and Israel up for a vote in the House. Its widely thought that, with support from many centre-left Democrats and some progressives, the legislation passed with bipartisan support last week in the Senate would pass the lower chamber. But speaker Mike Johnson has refused to bring the legislation to the floor, citing the demand from right-wing members of his caucus for border security to be addressed before the House passes further funding for other national security priorities. That position has infuriated Republicans in the Senate, especially since the same faction of the House GOP is responsible for walking away from a bipartisan deal reached on border security by Senate negotiators. Ms Cheney implored Mr Johnson to find his conscience and bring the legislation up for a vote as Ukraines military situation begins to look increasingly desperate. The White House this week directly blamed Congresss inaction for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from a city that they had been defending from a Russian advance for months. Addressing CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday, she said: One thing thats really important, Jake, for the viewers to recognise and understand is, one man, one man has the power to get that done. And thats Mike Johnson. Mike Johnson ought to search deep in his conscience, understanding exactly whats happening, the slaughter thats happening, she said. History will look back on this moment, and ask: What did Mike Johnson do? His current resistance to bringing the legislation up for a vote, Ms Cheney continued, was the path of cowardice and doing what Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin want him to do. The rhetoric was strong, but not particularly surprising to hear from Ms Cheney, who is no longer a member of the House of Representatives after being ousted in a primary election due to her opposition to Donald Trump in 2022. She has since remained one of Mr Trump and the right wings most vocal critics among the national GOP. Ms Cheney soared to prominence in that regard after agreeing to serve as vice chair of the select committee formed to investigate the January 6 attack on Congress. Just one other Republican, former Rep Adam Kinzinger, served on the panel after then-minority leader Kevin McCarthy pulled his support from the investigation in the course of his journey to mend ties with Donald Trump. The supplemental legislation passed by the Senate for Ukraine and Israel aid is controversial with the wings of both parties. Left-leaning Democrats oppose the legislations funding for Israels military given the ongoing bloody siege of Gaza. Hardline Republicans, meanwhile, oppose further aid to Ukraines military. President Joe Biden has pledged to sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. The White House has gone to a full-court press against congressional Republicans, seizing on the image of dysfunction and chaos plaguing the lower chamber, which has now ousted one speaker after less than a year in office and ground to a halt due to GOP infighting. Complicating the issue for Mr Johnson is that despite grumblings about the rule change and its complicity in the downfall of Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House can still be ousted by a discharge petition brought by just one member. His party holds just a two-vote majority in the chamber, meaning just a pair of GOP rebels could bring down his speakership with the support of a unified Democratic caucus. 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 fully on the offensive as she stares down the quickly approaching South Carolina primary, now less than one week away. The former UN ambassador was on the Sunday show circuit this weekend as her campaign continues events through her home state and maintains that she will stay in the race through March no matter what happens this coming Saturday. On ABCs This Week, Ms Haley attacked her opponent once again for his comments about Nato. The former president made an off-colour remark at a rally in the state on 10 February wherein he seemed to invite Russia to attack any Nato member-state deemed to be making insufficient contributions to its own national defence. [W]hen you hear Donald Trump say in South Carolina a week ago that he would encourage Putin to invade our allies if they werent pulling their weight, thats bone chilling because all he did in that one moment was empower Putin, said Ms Haley. And all he did in that moment was he sided with a guy that kills his political opponents, he sided with a thug that arrests American journalists and holds them hostage. Those comments, she argued, were part of the favouritism Mr Trump has shown Vladimir Putin and the Russian government throughout his political career. After Russian agents were found to have worked against his political opponent Hillary Clinton during the 2016 US presidential election, Mr Trump would go on to declare at a joint press conference with Mr Putin that he accepted Russias explanation of its supposed innocence despite the conclusions of the US intelligence community. Ms Haley contended in the interview that the pro-Russia sentiment her opponent exhibits was playing into his lack of acknowledgement of the death on Friday of Alexei Navalny, Mr Putins leading opposition figure, in a Russian prison. Its actually pretty amazing that he would encourage Putin to invade Nato, but the fact that he wont acknowledge anything with Navalny; either he sides with Putin and thinks its cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents or he just doesnt think its that big of a deal, said Ms Haley. Either one of those is concerning. Either one of those is a problem. She had also, a day prior, demanded that Mr Trump answer for Mr Navalnys death at a press conference at a campaign event where she asked the rhetorical question: Why does he always side with dictators? Trump needs to answer to that. Does he think Putin killed him? Does he think Putin was right to kill him? And does he think Navalny was a hero? she asked. Technically, Mr Trump did acknowledge the death of Mr Navalny on Sunday; but in a way only he could. A re-Truthed post on the former presidents Truth Social feed Sunday morning highlighted a memo declaring that Mr Navalnys past treatment and eventual death in Russian captivity highlighted the injustice of Mr Trumps own situation. In normal times, it would be pretty damning criticism for a former president to take, especially coming from their own former ambassador to the United Nations. But Donald Trump has up until now largely remained impervious to any criticism lobbed his way by rivals for the Republican nomination. Heading into the final week of campaigning in South Carolina, Mr Trump is leading Ms Haley by anywhere from 20-40 points according to polling, and has shown no signs of losing his dominant share of the Republican electorate so far. Still, Ms Haley has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday, a collection of primary contests held on 5 March. This past week, her campaign travelled to Texas where it announced a $1m fundraising haul after a two-rally swing through the state. Close Donald Trump warns of a 'bloodbath' in US if he isn't elected as president again 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 }} Former president Donald Trump is once again facing criticism over his use of inflammatory rhetoric after he declared at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday evening: If I dont get elected its going to be a bloodbath for the country. The Republican presidential challenger used the phrase as part of a dire economic forecast for the American auto industry but was swiftly rebuked by the White House over its wider implications, with spokespeople for Joe Biden accusing him of endorsing political violence particularly given that the candidate had also bemoaned the fate of the J6 hostages at the same event. The luxury real estate mogul has since hit back on Truth Social, claiming the media is only pretending to be shocked by his choice of words. Mr Trump gave an interview to Fox News journalist Howard Kurtz over the weekend in which he again attacked the late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for making jokes at his expense, doubled-down on comparing migrants to vermin and on his call to terminate parts of the US Constitution and floated the prospect of supporting a 16-week national abortion ban in an overt appeal to the Christian right. Close Donald Trump warns of a 'bloodbath' in US if he isn't elected as president again 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 }} Former president Donald Trump is once again facing criticism over his use of inflammatory rhetoric after he declared at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday evening: If I dont get elected its going to be a bloodbath for the country. The Republican presidential challenger used the phrase as part of a dire econominc forecast for the American auto industry but was swiftly rebuked by the White House over its wider implications, with spokespeople for Joe Biden accusing him of endorsing political violence particularly given that the candidate had also bemoaned the fate of the J6 hostages at the same event. The luxury real estate mogul has since hit back on Truth Social, claiming the media is only pretending to be shocked by his choice of words. Mr Trump gave an interview to Fox News journalist Howard Kurtz over the weekend in which he again attacked the late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for making jokes at his expense, doubled-down on comparing migrants to vermin and on his call to terminate parts of the US Constitution and floated the prospect of supporting a 16-week national abortion ban in an overt appeal to the Christian right. Close Related: Alexei Navalnys mother demands Vladimir Putin returns her sons body 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 UK has frozen the assets of six Russian prison bosses in charge of the Arctic penal colony where opposition leader Alexei Navalny died. Western leaders say the blame for Mr Navalnys death lies with the Russian authorities, including Vladimir Putin. Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalnys wife, has said she believes her husband was poisoned with Novichok. Those responsible for Navalnys brutal treatment should be under no illusion - we will hold them accountable, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said. The UK is the first country to impose sanctions in response to his death, the Foreign Office said. It comes as the Salekhard City Court, the city in which Mr Navalnys body was supposedly transferred after his death, said it will consider the demand of his mother to have his body returned on 4 March. Elsewhere, Vladimir Osechkin, founder of the human rights group Gulag.net claimed to The Times that he believed the Russian authorities kept Mr Navalnys body out in the cold for hours before killing him, potentially with one punch to the heart. Claiming that former prisoners from the Arctic region had previously told of such deaths. The details of Mr Navalnys death are still unclear. 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 }} Yulia Navalnaya has paid a heartfelt tribute to her husband, Alexei Navalny, while the Vladimir Putin critics family wait for the return of his body after he died in an Arctic prison on Friday. Ms Navalnaya posted a picture of the pair, heads touching, with the caption I love you on Instagram. It is the first public statement from Ms Navalnaya since Russian authorities confirmed to Mr Navalnys mother Lyudmila Navalnaya, 69, via a note, that the 47-year-old opposition leader was dead. More than 12,000 people have submitted requests to the Russian government asking for the politician's remains to be handed over to his relatives, the prominent rights group OVD-Info said on Sunday. Flowers and tributes are left opposite the Russian embassy, to commemorate the death of Alexei Navalny in London (AP) Her post on the social media site was only the second of the year. The first, posted on 1 January, showed her with the couples two children, 23-year-old Daria and teenager Zahar. The caption read: Let this year be better than the last, let the desired wishes come true, surprises are only pleasant, and loved ones are not sick, do not disappear, and even better they will always be there! She will attend the European Union foreign affairs council on Monday to discuss her husbands case, the blocs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday. It is still unclear what has happened to Mr Navalnys body. Mr Navalnys mother and his lawyer has turned up at the Salekhard morgue on Saturday, where they had been told his body was, to find that it was closed and empty. At the time, Mr Navalnys spokesperson claimed that the Russian authorities were deliberately withholding his body to cover traces of his murder. On Sunday, the independent formerly Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, citing an unnamed source, claimed that Mr Navalnys body had been delivered to the Salekhard District Clinical Hospital, instead and had been seen with bruises. They also said he had a bruise on his chest the kind that comes from indirect cardiac massage, the source said, also claiming that the injuries were consistant with some kind of seizure. But neither Mr Navalnys team nor Russian authorities spoken about the claim, nor the whereabouts of the body. Novaya Gazeta also said that it had managed to contact an inmate at IK-3, who said that a mysterious commotion had erupted at the prison the night before news of Mr Navalnys death broke. It also reported that Mr Navalny had been initially taken to the town of Labytnangi, around 22 miles from the Polar Wolf Arctic penal colony in Kharp, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow, where he had been serving a lengthy sentence on charges his supporters and the international community believed are trumped up, Navalny was jailed in January 2021 before being relocated to an Artic Penal Colony late last year (AP) Citing anonymous sources, they said his body was later on Friday taken to the District Clinical Hospital in the regional capital of Salekhard, about a two-hours drive south of the penal colony in Kharp. The Russian authorities have told Mr Navalnys team that they would not release his body until investigations into his death were complete, which could take weeks. Sam Greene, the director for democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), said that while the exact instance of his death remains an open question, ultimately, Mr Putins regime is responsible for Mr Navalnys death. Whether they picked a moment to kill him in a way that would leave a trace of that moment, or whether they simply decided to leave him in conditions in which he would eventually die is an open question, he told The Independent. But there is no question about who bears responsibility for Navalnys death. Last Saturday, a mob in San Francisco surrounded a driverless car, smashed its windows, placed fireworks inside, and torched it. The vehicle, which had no passengers in it at the time, was owned and operated by Waymo the autonomous driving unit of Googles parent company Alphabet and was one of the worlds first fully autonomous taxis. Some believe it was also a symbol of the growing resentment against AI and Big Tech. It was the latest incident in a spate of attacks on self-driving vehicles in the city, with a group of activists disabling robotaxis last summer by placing traffic cones on their bonnet. Frustrations against the technology come from a wide range of San Franciscans: from city officials who complain they obstruct emergency vehicles to taxi unions who say they will cost human drivers their jobs. An even bigger fear is that they are putting peoples lives at risk. Writer Rebecca Solnit, who lives in San Francisco, describes their behaviour as erratic, unpredictable, and unsettling for other road users. I also have yet to see a good answer to why we need them, she wrote on Twitter/X following the torching. 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 }} Perpetual sunshine, golden swathes and free-flowing bottles of Etensel beer, Death in Paradise injects a virtual dose of vitamin D into gloomy UK winters and its bound to inspire your wanderlust. Thankfully, the balmy backdrop of Saint Marie island, though fictional in name, is a real-life slice of the Caribbean open for holidaymakers to top up their tans, don some flippers and kick back with a cocktail on a serious winter sun getaway. With series 13 of the crime comedy currently running in the Sunday 9pm slot, here are the filming locations behind almost 100 episodes of the British-French crime comedy. Saint Marie island, though fictional in name, is a real-life slice of the Caribbean (BBC / Red Planet / Amelia Troubridge) Where is Death in Paradise filmed? Since it first aired in 2011, the six islands of Guadeloupe a French archipelago in the Lesser Antilles have been the stage for the paradise filming destination of the hit BBC show. Situated between Dominica and Antigua in the eastern Caribbean Sea, the dreamy scenery terracotta roofs, traditional churches and a blanket of wafting palms you see on screen are primarily filmed on butterfly-shaped Guadeloupes Basse-Terre island, specifically on its north west coast. Basse-Terre and Terre-de-Haut set the scene for Death in Paradise (Getty Images/iStockphoto) What filming locations can you visit? Deshaies, a vibrant fishing village on Basse-Terre island, doubles as the shows fictional seaside setting of St Honore, with Death in Paradise location tours running in peak season for super fans looking to find more than just sun on Guadeloupe. Scenes at Catherine Bordeys the barmaid-turned-mayor mother of OG detective Camille Bordey beachfront bar and frequent haunt for the fictional crime team, though originally shot at Le Kaz restaurant further inland, are now filmed at Le Madras cajun and creole restaurant on Rue de La Vague Bleue promenade. Visit Catherines Bar yourself for a menu of fresh seafood and frosty daiquiris. Catherines Bar films in Le Madras restaurant on the Deshaies seafront (BBC / Red Planet / Amelia Troubridge) As for the shows dramatic Honore Police station and the centre of most episodes, the Presbytery attached to the church of St Peter and St Paul in Deshaies sets the scene. Elsewhere the shows legendary shack, currently home to bumbling British detective DI Neville Parker played by Ralf Little, is constructed each season on Anse de la Perle Beach and The Langley Fort Royal Hotel, where the cast stays from December to May, has also invited the cameras in for a murder or two over the years. How can I get there? Deshaies doubles as the shows fictional seaside setting of St Honore (Getty Images/iStockphoto) It takes two flights via Paris, France to get to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport, the main air hub in Guadeloupe. Vueling Airlines return flights start from 540. From there its just a 50-minute drive to Deshaies to live out your Death in Paradise dreams murder, betrayal and chaos excluded. Death in Paradise continues its 13th season this Sunday at 9pm on BBC1. The wife of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Vladamir Kara-Murza has admitted she believes many more prisoners are in danger following the death of Alexei Navalny. Evgenia Kara-Murza appeared on BBC News this morning (18 February), where she explained her suspicions were raised by her seemingly healthy husband collapsing in 2015. Ive been sleeping with my phone since dreading yet another call of that sort, she said. I believe that my husbands life is in danger as are lives of many other political prisoners... These people are kept behind bars, very often with serious medical conditions, with no proper medical treatment. David Lammy has shared concerns that dirty money could be flowing through London amid sanctions against Russia. The shadow foreign secretary told the BBC that Labour would be looking to plug gaps in existing sanctions, should they win the election - particularly following the death of Alexei Navalny. The UK has led on sanctions, the issue now is the enforcement of those sanctions, he said. I remain concerned that the full implementation of the Russia report following the interference in our elections and the work of our select committee have not been fully implemented. Labour leader Keir Starmer delivered a speech at the Scottish Labour Conference in Glasgow today (18 February), where he took the opportunity to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. "A ceasefire that lasts. That is what must happen now. The fighting must stop now," he said, reflecting on his time at the Munich Security Conference. "Not just for now, not just for a pause, but permanently." MPs will vote on a second SNP-led motion on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza this week. Shares drop as defeat takes push for an accelerated sell-off of almost 4,000 apartments and houses off the agenda All proposals from a rebel shareholder in Ires Reit were defeated at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Friday. Shareholders had been asked to vote on a series of resolutions put by rebel investor Vision Capital, a Canadian fund which has a 5.01pc stake in the business. Shares fell sharply after the results became known, dropping more than 5pc on Friday afternoon to 1.032 each. That is well below the 52-week high of 1.20 hit at the end of January when the shareholder rebellion appeared to be gaining momentum. The backing of most shareholders for the incumbent board and its management of the nearly 4,000 strong portfolio of residential properties ends, at least for now, the push by Vision for a series of measures that were ultimately aimed at hiking Ires Reits share price through a managed sell off of the portfolio. However, the relatively lacklustre buy-in for the board that survived means at least some of the issues raised will be back on the table at the annual general meeting, scheduled for May 2. Vision had proposed five new directors to take up some of the nine board seats. None of the resolutions to appoint new directors set out by Vision received the required 50pc or more support from shareholders to be carried. A special resolution that would have bound Ires in effect to work towards share-price-boosting disposals needed 75pc support to pass but got 40pc. An tally of votes cast showed that the proposals to oust a number of directors from the board of Irelands largest private sector landlord were rejected, with chief executive Margaret Sweeney, chairman Declan Moylan and chief financial officer Brian Fagan among those set to retain their positions. A total of 59.09pc voted against the motion to remove Mr Moylan, while 59.95pc voted against the resolution to remove Ms Sweeney. Today's News in 90 Seconds - February 16th Around 53.2pc voted against the resolution to remove Mr Fagan from his post. The tally however indicates a split shareholder base and lukewarm support for the incumbent board with around 40pc of votes cast supporting various rebel motions. That is known to include the single biggest investor, Capreit. Around a quarter of shareholders did not participate in the voting. Ires Reit said it noted more than a fifth of shareholders voted against the boards recommendation and said that it recognises the public statements made by Capreit and minority investor Ewig Morris ahead of the meeting. It said it takes its responsibility to understand the views of shareholders seriously and will continue to engage with all constructively as it looks ahead to the strategic review of the business which is set to commence in the first quarter of 2024. At the beginning of the meeting, chairman Declan Moylan described the ongoing dispute as disappointing, adding that Ires Reit had incurred significant costs and expenses in dealing with the requisition from Vision. He said there was a very serious loss of management time in recent months but added the board was willing to work with the Canadian fund in its attempt to do what is in the best interest of shareholders. Mr Moylan also told the EGM that the board will take the breakdown of votes into account as it looks to launch a strategic review. It will consider a full range of strategic options to maximise value for shareholders. These include consolidation, mergers, a review of the company as a listed Reit, the sale of the entire issued capital of the company and the sale of assets and returning value to shareholders. Hugh Scott Barrett, incoming chair of the board, also told reporters following the EGM that Ires is focused on annual results next week. Weve said that well give a substantive update ahead of the AGM. The AGM is on May 2 and so we should expect to get a substantive update ahead of that time, so that shareholders can vote on the resolutions at the AGM with the benefit of that feedback that we provide, he added. Vision Capitals president and chief executive Jeffrey Olin said that the company had been highly supportive of Ires Reit for most of the time that it has been a shareholder following the companys IPO in 2014, adding that an activist campaign was not the preferred path. However, he outlined a number of concerns around the work of the current board that led to the EGM, including years of poor stock market performance. Mr Olin also called on the company to disclose the expenses associated with managing the dispute from April last year in its annual results due to be published in the coming months. In April 2023, Vision wrote a scathing open letter to the Ires board, demanding the company be taken private. It revived the campaign to shake up management last month. The company has around 3,700 units in Dublin and Cork which had a combined value of 1.43bn in June last year. The units currently have 99pc occupancy. The construction phase at the site is expected to take between 12 and 18 months SK Biotek, a South Korean-owned pharmaceutical contract development company, has received planning permission to develop a manufacturing facility in Swords, Co Dublin, that could represent an investment of up to 35m. Fingal County Council recently approved SK Bioteks plans to build the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient manufacturing plant. The company applied to build the facility in March last year. According to planning documents seen by the Sunday Independent, the total installed cost for the project has been valued at between 30m and 35m, representing a significant investment in the areas growing pharmaceutical sector. The new, modern manufacturing plant has been designated as a multi-product facility. The development would see the demolishing of part of the original production building on the site. According to the planning documents it will see the company employ the latest industry technology but not change the current nature of its operations. The construction phase at the site is expected to take between 12 and 18 months. SK Biotek currently operates several multi-functional pharmaceutical production processing plants from the Swords site. The company acquired the Swords Campus facility from the US multinational life sciences giant Bristol Myers Squibb for an undisclosed price in 2017. SK Biotek did not respond to a request for comment. It is not the first pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing investment proposed in north Dublin and the surrounding areas. In November, Bristol Myers Squibb revealed it was planning to develop a biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Cruiserath, Dublin 15. The site could create around 300 jobs, according to planning documents. The conferencing firms latest accounts show that more cash from a better trading year was eaten up by substantial pay rises for staff The Web Summit recorded revenues of 52.5m in 2022, up over 20m from the previous year, as in-person events reconvened after two years of disruption from Covid. However, the same period saw the companys profits fall from 3.8m in 2021 to 114,000 in 2022, according to accounts just filed. Former CEO Paddy Cosgrave, who owns 81pc of the Web Summit, said in November that the company almost went bankrupt in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid restrictions. The fall in profit in the most recent year was due to a rise in some costs, including what the company described as a significant round of pay rises for existing staff. Wages and salaries jumped from 12.3m to 19.9m, a rise of almost two thirds, despite the Web Summits headcount falling slightly from 246 in 2021 to 239 in 2022. A spokesperson for the company said that it employed up to 50 additional people as staff and that its Portuguese office grew to 59 people in 2022. The company did not provide an update on appointing a new CEO after the current boss, Katherine Maher, announced she was stepping down to join US National Public Radio as CEO after just three months in charge of the Web Summit. Ms Maher will remain a non-executive chairperson of the Web Summits board. A total of 3.5m in directors fees were shared between five people, including Paddy Cosgrave, Mike Sexton, Nina Shah, Nathan Hubbard and Peter Gilmer. Of the five directors, only Nina Shah still serves in the company. It was very important that a significant portion of our record 2022 revenues went towards pay increases for our staff, who had responded to the challenges of the pandemic, said Ms Maher, who does not join NPR as chief executive until March. We are very confident that the judicious investment of so much of those 2022 revenues in global growth will prove successful as we head towards what should be a record-breaking 2024. Ms Maher said that all of the companys 2023 events sold out and that it expects to see double-digit revenue growth for 2023. She also said that the company has shattered its targets for its inaugural event in Qatar later this month. Ms Maher has previously said that she expects some of the large US tech companies that boycotted the Web Summit over Paddy Cosgraves remarks about Israel to return as commercial partners this year. The Web Summit runs events in Lisbon, Toronto, Rio and Qatar. It expects to host an event in Hong Kong next year. According to its accounts, the company retained more than 19m in cash reserves at the end of 2022. Web Summit again opted for a strategy of continued investment in international expansion as it scaled Collision and prepared for its first ever Web Summit event in Latin America, Web Summit Rio, the company said in a statement. The organisation also invested in laying the groundwork for its first ever Middle East event, which will take place later this month. Myths on stage Possession is a new opera created by artist Amanda Coogan and composer Linda Buckley with collaborators Alvean Jones, Lianne Quigley and the community artists of the Dublin Theatre of the Deaf. Based on a script from the deaf artist Teresa Deevy, Possession focuses on the story of An Tain, or The Cattle Raid of Cooley, told through the eyes of Queen Medb, which combines Irish Sign Language with experimental sonic and vocal composition. LH Running from February 21-24 at Projects Arts Centre, see projectartscentre.ie Hike Psych Camino, September 13-20, 789pps, flights, lunch, dinner and insurance not included, see uwalk.ie NOTION Walk this way The Camino de Santiago features on many a wishlist, but the organising and even the doing of it can prove a bit daunting. Camino experts UWalk.ie have teamed up with The Hike Psych, Cara Byrne, a trained psychotherapist and walking enthusiast, to create a special seven-day, 115km walk in September. The trip takes in the route from Sarria to Santiago, and includes airport transfers, accommodation, daily baggage transfers, walking notes, emergency support and plenty of encouragement, though you can set your own pace. SC Hike Psych Camino, September 13-20, 789pps, flights, lunch, dinner and insurance not included, see uwalk.ie Acqerello homeware from 14-90, see acquerellohome.com NOTION Boarding glass If youre dreaming of booking a holiday or willing the weeks to pass quickly to get to one already planned get in the travel mood with new homewares collection Acquerello. Event planner turned designer Annie Dunne was inspired by Marrakesh, Seville and Crete, as well as Portugal where the collection of tableware, candles and candlesticks is made. SC Priced from 14-90, see acquerellohome.com Resilience, pack of 30 sachets, 49, weareethos.com NOTION Boost when busy Irish brand Ethos has just launched a new supplement, Ethos Resilience, intended to provide a boost on busy days. Each sachet includes vitamin B12, reishi mushroom, and vitamin C. LH Pack of 30 sachets, 49, weareethos.com Ashleigh Dorrell in the titular role of Mollie. See ark.ie NECESSITY Mollie magic The Ark Childrens Cultural Centre presents a new adaption for children aged 8+ by author Anna Carey, of her first historical novel, The Making of Mollie, about a young teen who gets involved with Dublins suffragette movement in 1912. It will run from February 23 until March 16. LH See ark.ie See axisballymun.ie NOTION Youth arts festival Sm(ALL) Folk is an inclusive arts festival for young audiences with a focus on accessibility and affordability. It takes place at Axis Ballymun, from February 21 until March 6, and aims to reach children of all backgrounds and abilities. The programme of events will take place over two weeks, with theatre, music, dance and storytelling from some of Irelands top artists and international companies. LH See axisballymun.ie You Spin Me Round, 15, published by PVA Books NECESSITY Music memories This small volume packs a big emotional punch, as various writers put together a mixtape of musical memories. Each essay sparks off with a song, an album, a gig, capturing the magical way in which music sits in our senses and souls. With writing from Aingeala Flannery, Ciaran Carson, Declan Long and more. SC You Spin Me Round, 15, published by PVA Books Nivea Soft pot, 8.50, available nationwide NECESSITY All-round softness If youre overwhelmed by complicated skincare ingredients but suffering with parched skin, take solace in the Soft range from Nivea. Celeb fans such as DJ Annie Mac have compared it to Creme de la Mer for its cocooning quality, and this tub of simple moisturiser can be used on face, body, beards, hair and even as a make-up primer. SC Nivea Soft pot, 8.50, available nationwide Cillian Murphy has won the leading actor Bafta for the biopic Oppenheimer. Accepting the trophy he said: "Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much Bafta." He paid tribute to "the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn't see in myself." The Cork native said to Nolan: "Thank for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again." 'The Irish people I'm always behind' - Andrew Scott at Bafta red carpet He also acknowledged his "fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies", adding: "I know it's a cliche to say, but I'm in awe of you." He said J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, was a "colossally knotty character", adding: "We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it's a privilege to be a part of this community with you all." Christopher Nolan won the best director Bafta for Oppenheimer, his epic tale of how the nuclear bomb was created. Before accepting the award from actor Hugh Grant, Nolan hugged his Irish star Murphy. Nolan joked that his brother "beat him up here" by being in a chorus of a production 40 years ago. Christopher Nolan, winner of the awards for Director and Best Film for "Oppenheimer". Photo: REUTERS/Hollie Adams He paid tribute to Murphy and added to those who backed the film: "Thank you for taking on something dark". The director also acknowledged the efforts of nuclear disarmament organisations to bring peace. Oppenheimer was also named best film at the ceremony, The award was presented by actor Michael J Fox, who was greeted with a standing ovation as he came on stage in a wheelchair but stood at the podium. Collecting the prize, producer Emma Thomas said: "This is not at all what I imagined when I was sitting at UCL film society with Chris dreaming about making films for a living." Paying tribute to her husband, the film's director Christopher Nolan, Thomas said: "He is inspired and inspiring, he is brilliant, often infuriating, he is always right. Cillian Murphy quips 'Should I sing a rebel song?' to prove he is a proud Irishman after Bafta win "I am incredibly grateful to him for letting me come along for this ride." She also gave a shout-out to their 16-year-old son Magnus, who she said was "looking at me with daggers in his eyes", adding: "Your dad and I are the luckiest people in the world but our greatest fortune is being parents to you, Flora, Oliver and Rory." Murphys co-star Robert Downey Jr won the best supporting actor prize for his role as Lewis Strauss, head of the Atomic Energy Commission. Collecting the trophy, the Iron Man star paid tribute to Nolan, saying: Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility. Robert Downey Jr (Ian West/PA) He said he owes the award to Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and star Cillian Murphy, as well as British influence. Oppenheimer also won the Baftas for best cinematography and editing. Murphy faced competition from fellow Irish man Barry Keoghan, who took on the role of a student at Oxford in high-society thriller Saltburn, and Canadian actor Ryan Gosling for blockbuster success Barbie. Barry Keoghan poses at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Paul Mescal was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his turn in All of Us Strangers where he starred alongside Andrew Scott. Paul Mescal arrives at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Emma Stone was named best actress for Poor Things, the steampunk fairytale adaptation of the novel of the same name by Scottish author Alasdair Gray. She paid tribute to writer Tony McNamara for coming up with the line "I must go punch that baby" in a memorable dinner scene, and also thanked her British dialect coach for "not laughing" when she said water in an American accent. Poor Things won five prizes in total, including costume design, make up and hair, production design and visual effects. Emma Stone poses in the winner's room with her award for Leading Actress for "Poor Things" during the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Hollie Adams Sophie Ellis-Bextor was asked on the red carpet by the PA news agency how it would be received if Keoghan recreated his naked dance in Saltburn. She said him performing again to her hit Murder On The Dancefloor may be a bit much for the ceremony but she was looking forward to seeing him again. She also said she felt very complimented by director Emerald Fennell choosing her 2001 song for the film. Sophie Ellis-Bextor at the Royal Festival Hall (Ian West/PA) Saltburn actor Richard E Grant told PA that a number of grandmothers had written to complain about the film which contains explicit and sexual imagery. He said the women claimed they had been told to watch it as a family film before Christmas, and joked that their false teeth fell out so it was a great response. Actress Samantha Morton told PA that she sobbed during the interval of a London play when she found out she would receive the Bafta fellowship, the film academys highest honour. She added: I was going to see My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican, which is incredible, by the way, and its enough to cry out anyway. My family had got up (for) ice cream at the interval and I was just sobbing and I was like, people probably thought I had really bad news, but no, it was good news. Samantha Morton has been honoured with a Bafta fellowship (Ian West/PA) Britains Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, is attending the event his first high-profile royal engagement since his wife Catherines operation. At the prestigious film event last year, Prince William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who will not be attending this time as she continues her recovery. The Bafta film awards is hosted by Scottish actor David Tennant and will feature performances by Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. Guggi on growing up: We would be lined up on a Sunday morning. We would have to stand to attention and he would walk along like an army inspection The artist on religion, his childhood and finding love with his new partner Guggi inherited his love of motorcycles from his dad, Robbie. Photo: Niall MacMonagle Niall MacMonagle Sun 18 Feb 2024 at 03:30 Beneath a gibbous moon, on a crisp, cold January night, the stars came out for Guggis Kerlin Gallery opening. Them, new paintings and sculptures, is now showing, and among the crowd that evening were Gavin Friday, Caroline and Andrea Corr, Richard Gorman, Leah Hewson, Eoin Colfer, Jim Jarmusch, James Hanley and Orla de Bri. And every artists favourite colour red-dot red was everywhere. Nearly 270,000 was spent in total on deportation flights last year. Above, Dublin Airport's Terminal 2. Photo: Getty The Department of Justice spent an estimated 270,000 on deportation flights last year, with tickets for a single operation to Argentina costing more than 20,000. On certain long-distance trips, business-class travel had to be booked for gardai carrying out the forced removal, according to records obtained from the department. Among the most expensive flights, 18,758 was spent last September taking a failed asylum-seeker back to their home country of Mozambique. The department said this involved a business-class flight to a hub airport on the return leg due to the long-distance involved. A spokesperson said the total deportation bill for 2023 was an estimated 269,045, though figures for the second half of the year have not been finalised, and some credit notes may be due. There was also a significant bill of more than 23,000 for postponed or cancelled flights, according to figures that were released under Freedom of Information. This included 6,651 for flights to Bolivia last April, 3,679 for a proposed deportation to Egypt and 3,098 for tickets to Nigeria last November. The department said that in cases where a deportation was delayed due to legal challenges or other circumstances, partial refunds sometimes applied. The most expensive deportation last year was the 20,983 for flights to Argentina as part of an immigration operation in November. A sum of 16,143 was spent on an escorted removal to Cameroon last May, with business-class flights booked for the return trip to a hub airport. This would usually involve circumstances where no direct flight operates from Ireland, and for the long-distance trip back to a major European airport. Other deportations that cost the taxpayer at least 10,000 included flights to Malaysia, Lebanon, Brazil and Bangladesh. There were also enforced removals to other countries where the bill was less than 10,000, with destinations including Georgia, South Africa and Botswana. The cheapest operation was the 1,869 spent taking a person back to Mexico last July. The department said some subsistence costs were incurred during deportation operations where a garda officer needed accommodation depending on flight times. An information note said: Escorts will usually conduct a return journey as soon as possible. An overnight stay may be required, and a standard subsistence claim is submitted by the escort in line with standard public service rates. A department spokesperson said deportation was a key part of any immigration system, with escorted removals carried out by members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Where people do not leave the state, GNIB currently enforces deportations on commercial flights, the spokesperson said. This is the most economical option available where there are small numbers of one nationality. The department has recently begun a process of seeking a charter service provider. But the State currently uses and will continue to use commercial flights to effect deportations in advance of and in conjunction with a charter arrangement once it is put in place. Celtic Tiger fraudster set to be sentenced tomorrow Michael Lynn fled Ireland for Brazil where he fought extradition for more than four years. Photo: Collins. Garda fraud detectives have frozen in the region of 2.75 million in Irish bank accounts linked to a network of companies in a financial investigation connected to rogue former solicitor Michael Lynn. The firms are understood to own several properties in Ireland, and include one company owned by a man who lives in the UK. Army join major Co Kerry Garda operation in search for Sinaloa cartel's secret Irish stash Defence Forces support Garda operation after seizure of crystal meth valued at 33m Gardai search home near Tralee Patrick O'Connell, Ken Foy and Sinead Kelleher Sun 18 Feb 2024 at 09:29 MEMBERS of the Defence Forces were drafted in to assist gardai yesterday afternoon as they carried out a major excavation at a property in Co. Kerry linked to an Irish member of the worlds biggest drugs gang. Muslim cleric Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said he is willing to forgive the perpetrators of an assault in Dublin last week. The Chairperson of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council, who required medical attention following the incident said, While I hope the culprits are caught, I also hold the desire to communicate with them and offer forgiveness and prayers for their guidance. The son of a former Kerry politician is embroiled in a major international drugs investigation into a deadly Mexican cartel after the seizure of crystal meth at Cork Port on Friday. The man, who has a history of violence, was arrested along with a second man, also believed to be from Kerry, after gardai intercepted a huge haul of the synthetic drug crystal meth in a container at the port. The seizure weighed 546kg and had an estimated value of 32.8m. Health Minister has accused some dentists of choosing to not treat public patients About 600 of the IDAs 1,800 members participate in the medical card scheme. Stock image by Getty Irish Dental Association (IDA) chief executive Fintan Hourihan wrote to Mr Donnelly in December complaining comments made at an Oireachtas Health Committee meeting two days earlier were unfair and unacceptable. Mr Donnelly told the committee dentists are choosing to not treat public patients. The minister said this was despite more funding being allocated to the medical card scheme. Dentists have long-standing gripes with how the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) operates. They say it is too restrictive because it does not allow for preventative care and limits the treatments dentists can administer. Under the scheme, medical card holders have access to an annual dental examination, teeth cleaning, extractions and two fillings per year. Other treatments are available but can require HSE approval. Mr Hourihan said the scheme can be costly for dentists, and many are opting out of it. About 600 of the IDAs 1,800 members participate in the medical card scheme. This is equivalent to one dentist per 2,500 eligible patients, Mr Hourihan said. The IDA has called for a new medical card scheme to be introduced but Mr Hourihan said successive governments have failed to deliver one that works. Mr Donnelly told the Health Committee the current medical card contract with dentists is old and too restrictive but new talks with dentists were kicking off. While we need to listen to, respect and acknowledge the concerns being raised by the dentists, we also need to push back on them a little, the minister added. The dentists need to play their part. The vast majority of GPs treat public patients. They do not turn around to their GP card patients and say, I am not accepting your card but give me 70 and I will see you. In a letter, released under Freedom of Information laws, Mr Hourihan asked the minister to withdraw his comments. Regrettably, you chose to repeat baseless allegations about denial of care to medical card patients, a slur which is particularly offensive to those dentists who have remained within the scheme at considerable cost, he wrote. Despite repeated promises to the contrary, we are no closer to addressing the obvious problems in accessing care by medical card holders and we still wait for meaningful engagement and proper consultation. As such, it is not accurate to state that engagement with our association has begun, or that discussions are kicking off. Calling into question the integrity of those who are providing and have provided this service is not only unfair but an unacceptable commentary in the absence of any real action on your part to replace the scheme which has been unfit for practice for well over a decade. The ministers private secretary responded to Mr Hourihan, saying Mr Donnelly believes oral healthcare access for medical card patients should be maintained while reform of the service is progressed. He said the minister wanted to see more dentists consider taking on a DTSS contract. While dentists may choose whether they will hold a DTSS contract, the minister is concerned that medical card patients in some areas are unable to access care, he added. Under the scheme, dentists are paid 40 for an examination. Payments for additional treatments vary. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said an additional 154,864 treatments were provided under DTSS last year. The scheme will be reformed through the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, she added. A range of measures were introduced by the Minister for Health from May 1, 2022, to introduce and reintroduce elements of preventative care and increase the fees paid to dentists for most treatment items by 40pc to 60pc. The principal of a Dublin secondary school says she has been inundated this year with applications for exemptions from studying Irish in the Leaving Certificate and at other levels, and it is causing unnecessary tension between school principals and parents. Barbara Ennis, principal of Alexandra College in Milltown, Dublin, who is also an Irish teacher, says she believes Ireland should follow the lead of Wales, and Irish should no longer be compulsory after the Junior Certificate. The principal of the fee-paying south Dublin school with 650 pupils was responding to publication of a recent Oireachtas committee report which calls on Education Minister Norma Foley to abolish the current exemption system. Almost 63,000 schoolchildren in Ireland received an exemption from Irish between 2022 and 2023 49,570 at second level (12pc of 406,000 students) and 13,060 at primary level (2.4pc of 549,000 pupils). Having to choose between higher level maths and higher level Irish, both equally demanding at Leaving Cert level, means that Irish always loses out as the extra 25 points at higher level for maths forces students hands, Ms Ennis told the Sunday Independent. The additional allowance for exemptions due to anxiety has made it even more difficult for school principals, she says. There are genuinely a lot of kids who are very anxious due to the impact of Covid-19, and will secure an exemption from Irish, and will then continue with French or German. In 2019, changes introduced by the Department of Education made it much more difficult for principals to refuse, she explains. Where students have learning difficulties but they are not severe enough to warrant an exemption, they are tested for literacy levels, and supports are put in place. They are tested again to see if they have improved, which puts a huge extra burden on myself, teachers and the learning support department. I am an Irish teacher myself and I understand how it can be difficult for some students, but the current system is not working and it is killing the language by stealth. You cant blame pupils if they think their time is better spent on taking honours maths, but that is not a suitable option for everyone. The Department of Education doesnt realise the personal implications for us, given that we are interested in the well-being of our students, she says. The principals final say can cause unnecessary tension. She suggests two changes would be more positive awarding bonus points for Leaving Cert Irish also, and/or introducing the Welsh approach where all children in Wales have to learn Welsh until the age of 16 and then it is optional for A-level. In contrast with Ireland, nearly a quarter of students in Wales conduct most of their schooling through the Welsh language. The use of Welsh is widespread and around a third of the population speak it fluently. In Ireland, 8pc of primary and 4pc of secondary students go to Irish-medium schools, with under 2pc of the total population saying they speak Irish daily. Wales is aiming to create a large proportion of schools where Welsh is the only medium of communication and at the same time increase proficiency in Welsh at second level in English-medium schools, so it is not quite the same system, Ms Ennis says. The major difference between our system and theirs is that after GCSEs, Welsh is not compulsory as its recognised that the senior cycle becomes a rush for grades. Fewer subjects are studied in the Welsh system so it makes sense not to make it compulsory. However, the same logic should apply in Ireland. Even though we have more subjects at Leaving Certificate level, continuing with the compulsion at senior level narrows choice, and Irish is then hammered by the extra 25 points available at higher level for maths. Having studied any language from age four to 16 years should lead to good proficiency. But resentment built up at senior level over compulsion filters right down to primary level and creates a negative culture from day one. The recently published Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking community report said the exemption system is falsely convincing school students that learning Irish is difficult compared to other languages. It proposed genuine exemptions for the most vulnerable being granted for any second language, where necessity is proven, and not specifically Irish. The report has been criticised by the Dyslexia Association of Ireland. In 2011, a proposal by Fine Gael to end compulsory Irish for the Leaving Certificate became an election issue, when Donegal TD Dinny McGinley said he had not been consulted about the election pledge by his party leader Enda Kenny. Kenny, a fluent Irish speaker, argued that Irish as a compulsory option had clearly failed. The move was strongly criticised by Irish language advocacy groups, and by both Fianna Fail and the Labour Party, with Micheal Martin stating that it would lead not (to) the revival of Irish by 2030 but to its extinction. A six-year-old girl who was hospitalised following a serious road crash in Westmeath on Thursday last week has died. The single vehicle traffic collision happened on the M6 eastbound shortly before 4pm. A man and two children were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The male, aged in his 40s, and a nine-year-old boy escaped serious injuries, but the six-year-old girl was rushed to hospital. In a statement this afternoon Gardai confirmed that the young girl sadly passed away at Temple Street children's hospital yesterday. A spokesman said: "Gardai at Mullingar continue to investigate a serious single-vehicle road traffic collision that occurred shortly before 4pm on Thursday, February 8th, 2024, on the M6 eastbound between Junction 4 (Tyrellspass) and Junction 3 (Rochfortbridge) in County Westmeath. "A six-year-old girl, who was a passenger in the car and suffered serious injuries, was pronounced deceased at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street on Saturday, February 17th, 2024. "The Coroner has been notified, and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem examination. "Two other occupants in the car at the time, a man in his 40s and a boy aged 9 years, escaped serious injuries. "Gardai in Mullingar are renewing their appeal for witnesses. Those with camera footage (including dash-cam) from the M6 between Junction 3 and Junction 4 at the time of the collision are urged to provide this footage to investigating Gardai. "Anyone with information is requested to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station." Politician now setting his sights on MEP role after drink-driving scandal Barry Cowen has not forgiven Micheal Martin for sacking him over a drink-driving row just 17 days after he had appointed him agriculture minister in the summer of 2020. No, he says when asked. I am no different than I was previously on that, insofar as he has a job to do, he has powers within that job and he saw fit to do that. I didnt agree with it, but I have to accept it, which I did and continue to do so. With Holly Cairnss first party conference as leader out of the way, the Soc Dems are satisfied they made the right choice Holly Cairns delivers the opening address at the Social Democrats' national conference in UCD on Friday. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie In less than two weeks time, Holly Cairns will mark one year as leader of the Social Democrats. On Friday, she confessed to being both excited and nervous as she opened her first party conference as leader. The mood across the SocDems is one of vindication; that it made the right move to replace two Dail veterans who served as co-leaders for seven years, Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall, with Cairns, a first-time TD who is bright and articulate and can broaden the partys appeal. Shes hitting the right tone with people, says one insider, who describes the mood internally as very positive. Of course, the decision was a fait accompli, a bloodless changeover that, unusually for a party of the left, did not involve any backroom plotting. Murphy and Shortall decided to step down of their own accord last February, and Cairns, a TD for Cork South-West, was elected leader unopposed. In fact, in the nine years since the party was founded by Shortall, Murphy and the long-departed Stephen Donnelly, the Social Democrats have yet to hold elections for any leadership position. Cian OCallaghan, the partys deputy leader, was appointed by Cairns. There has been a demonstrable, if not outstanding, improvement in the partys poll numbers. Before Cairns took over, it bounced between 3pc and 4pc in the Ireland Thinks series for this newspaper. The buzz around her elevation saw that rating soar to 9pc last March. Dubbed The Holly Hop, it led to excitable chat about how much of a powerbroker she would be after the next election. While falling back to 4pc the following month, the Social Democrats have since stabilised at 5pc a rating returned in every poll in the Ireland Thinks series since last September. While not exactly breaking free from the pack of small parties, it has the distinct advantage of not being Labour, whose spell in government from 2011 to 2016 continues to haunt it, or the Greens, whose presence in the current Coalition has turned many voters against them. The perennial question of a merger with Labour is categorically ruled out by Cairns and other TDs. You can talk about policies all day, its what you do with those policies when you get close to power, thats the true test of any left party in government and they failed that test, she said yesterday. Another party figure highlights an issue of culture in Labour that makes it incompatible with the SocDems. It is a strong signal that Cairns may be hitching her wagon to Sinn Fein Cairns has made clear in interviews that she is ambitious to serve in government. Its the first time I think ever that we will not [after the next general election] have a Fine Gael or Fianna Fail party leading government. That itself is seismic, she said on Friday night. It is a strong signal that Cairns may be hitching her wagon to Sinn Fein, and there is alignment on some policies such as housing, where both have proposed a three-year rent freeze and a ban on no-fault evictions. Yesterday, she identified the latter as a red line in future coalition talks. Both parties share an ambition to deliver thousands of affordable homes. Cairns herself has grown into the role of leader and is adept at delivering the clippable soundbite for social media, both in TV interviews and in the Dail, where she tends to be more scripted. Yet it is hard to escape the sense that she is a somewhat reluctant participant in politics. She told Virgin Media last year she might never have run for election had she known the level of abuse she would face. Last month she revealed she had closed her constituency office in Bandon over security concerns. Yesterday, she told The Irish Times she found it jarring that the Sunday Independent had reported details of plans to build a 243 square metre home in West Cork on her familys farm. People do deserve a certain amount of privacy, and if we want to encourage more women to go into politics, constantly drawing attention to peoples home address just isnt necessary, she said. Details of Cairnss plans to build a house twice the size of the average family home were reported last September, days after she had claimed ministers did not understand the cost-of-living crisis because they could afford to pay for everything. I think if youre on a ministers wage or a TDs wage or a taoiseachs wage, there is no housing crisis, there are no waiting lists. You can pay for everything. They dont seem to really understand the reality of what people are facing. So its obliviousness, she said at her partys think-in. Two senior figures in the SocDems believe Cairns should not have launched such a line of attack on ministers, who can reasonably argue that as constituency TDs they are not exactly detached from the struggles of ordinary people. One described what she had said as a s***e comment. In recent days the Sunday Independent requested an interview with Cairns in advance of her first party conference but was told there was no time to do one. Finian McGrath wants to advocate on issues such as housing and health if elected Former Independent minister Finian McGrath has announced he will stand in the European elections this June in a surprise move. Mr McGrath confirmed to the Sunday Independent last night that he will run for the European Parliament in the four-seat Dublin constituency having said only last month that he was considering a Dail comeback at the next general election. It came up in discussions with my election team and then I thought about it for a week. We thought about the fact that we could bring the disability issue right to the heart of Europe and see if we can access extra funding for projects in Ireland, he said. Mr McGrath said he has also been motivated to run for Europe over his opposition to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. I felt very angry with the way things are going and I felt sucked back into politics. Politics is always in your genes, he said. I accept its an extremely difficult job to take on the big parties, but as I said before theres plenty in the tank, I am up for a big scrap. There are ongoing talks in his Dublin Bay North team around running candidates, including some with disabilities, for Dublin City Council in Junes local elections. He said if elected he will advocate on issues such as housing and health and making Dublin a priority for investment. Mr McGrath said he would also campaign strongly in favour of immigration. We all need to build a more humane Europe and I will be a strong Independent voice against the war in Gaza, he said. The 70-year-old former disabilities minister served three terms as a TD for the old Dublin North Central constituency and two as a Dublin Bay North TD between 2002 and 2020 when he retired from the Dail. In his final four years in Leinster House, he was junior minister for disabilities in the Fine Gael-Independent government. Since then he has taken up voluntary roles, including with Shelbourne FC, where he is a shareholder. Mr McGrath enters a crowded field in Dublin with incumbent MEPs Fianna Fails Barry Andrews, Green Ciaran Cuffe, and Independent Clare Daly seeking re-election. Sinn Fein is running former MEP and current senator Lynn Boylan, who lost her seat in 2019, along with Dublin city councillor Daithi Doolan. Fine Gael will tonight select its candidate to replace the retiring MEP Frances Fitzgerald with junior minister Josepha Madigan tipped to see off competition from Senators Regina Doherty and Barry Ward. Labour has selected Dublin Bay North TD Aodhan O Riordain, while People Before Profit will run Dublin South-Central TD Brid Smith. The Social Democrats are expected to run Sinead Gibney who is resigning as head of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. John Connor, who died in hospital on January 27, shortly before his 80th birthday and after being in a car crash, was a former Fine Gael TD and senator who held the rare distinction of representing the electorate at national level before becoming a local councillor. A born orator in the tradition of former Fine Gael leader James Dillon and a politicians politician were among tributes paid to him by colleagues. His former party leader John Bruton also spoke highly of him on Shannonside radio shortly before his own death. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Connors commitment to serving the people of his area was unwavering and referred to his keen intellect . Former Fine Gael regional organiser Darragh Kelly said: He was so erudite and well-informed on international affairs that spending time with John Connor was akin to being in the company of [former Conservative MP and broadcaster] Michael Portillo. Born on February 14, 1944, Connor was given the middle name Valentine. As the only boy in a family of three, he was involved in the family farm run by his parents John and Mary Connor at Frenchpark, Co Roscommon. Largely self-educated, after leaving school he honed his debating skills with the rural youth organisation, Macra na Feirme, and expanded his knowledge of world affairs through shortwave radio and voracious reading. He was a rate collector and group water scheme organiser for Roscommon County Council before he inherited the farm. Connor joined Fine Gael in 1973, having been an admirer of the liberal agenda of late taoiseach and party leader Garret FitzGerald. Connor was first elected to the Dail for the Roscommon-East Galway constituency in June 1981 but failed to retain his seat in the two 1982 general elections before being nominated to the Seanad in 1983 by FitzGerald, where he served on the agriculture panel. He described the political rough and tumble of the 1980s as ruinous, when there was great rivalry between his own canvassing team and that of the late Liam Naughten. Naughtens son Denis, also a TD, recalled there was just one vote between the two men in the 1987 general election and John won by two in the first recount, while Dad won by 18 votes in the second recount. Naughten added: On a personal level, they got on of course, and I also knew him very well. Youd go to a branch meeting of most rural parts of Co Roscommon, someone would bring up something that was happening in Brussels or the Middle East, and John Connor could go into great detail and explains the nuances but then also explain the local impacts, such as the effect on the price of beef in local marts. He could relate international events back to local level, which is a pretty unique skill. Connor regained his seat for Roscommon-East Galway in 1989 and held it until 1992. He was subsequently elected for what became Roscommon-Longford in 1992 and was opposition spokesman on European affairs until 1997. He was then elected to the Seanad, where he served until 2002. Fine Gael senator Paddy Burke recalled his oratorical skills were so fine that he was a great man for a filibuster in the chamber. He also remembered how Connor had regular clashes with Seanad leader Donie Cassidy of Fianna Fail. His constituency clinics were held for over 20 years at Dodds public house in the Crescent in Boyle, Co Roscommon. He was elected to Roscommon County Council in 1999 and re-elected in 2004, retiring from active politics in 2009. He served as a United Nations observer in overseas elections including in South Africa, Senegal and Mozambique and retained a strong involvement in Fine Gael, mentoring younger candidates and attending events as recently as last November. He was also an Irish member of the Council of Europe. At a function to mark his retirement from politics, Enda Kenny recalled how Connor had been invited to join himself and FitzGerald to entertain a group of visiting Vietnamese politicians in Ballsbridge in the late 1980s. FitzGerald was not so amused when his own knowledge of Vietnamese politics was overshadowed by that of Connor. In an interview with the Roscommon Herald in 2020, Connor said that too often politicians pandered to local interests, and their role as legislators was overlooked. Being a politician should be public service at its best, but younger candidates had to be prepared for a rough life, with lots of intrusions, he said. Interview: China sets "example" in AI regulations -- expert Xinhua) 10:12, February 18, 2024 Edson Prestes, an informatics professor at Brazil's Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, speaks during an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Feb. 5, 2024. China has set an "example" in the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), an informatics professor at Brazil's Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul has said.(Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) LJUBLJANA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has set an "example" in the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), an informatics professor at Brazil's Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul has said. China is making huge investments in education to enhance the development of AI products and services and has also made principles on "how to do good research and implement good services and products," Edson Prestes said in an interview on the sidelines of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI that took place earlier this month. During the UNESCO forum held in Slovenia, China's Vice Minister of Education Wang Jiayi said that China is willing to participate in global efforts to promote the ethics and governance of AI so that it will benefit all mankind. Citing the China-proposed Global AI Governance Initiative and the Beijing AI Principles, which aim to support AI's healthy development, Prestes said he was a "bit surprised" by China's emphasis on the environment, which is included in Chinese AI governance stating the importance of citizens protecting the environment. "That's a very good point in terms of regulation." The lead expert in RAM exercise said regulation should respect cultural differences between states. "We should not have almost homogenous kind of regulation because we are different by nature and in terms of race, gender, age, and future." Regulation should not be solely influenced by the Global North and the West, but should emphasize global discussion on AI, he said. "I believe China could contribute a lot to showing others how to implement AI systems and services ... and be part of international cooperation on this matter," he said. "What happens in Brazil could affect the Chinese, and what affects the Chinese could also affect citizens of the United States ... It is very important to foster collaboration across countries and cooperation in building a global framework where you can accommodate different cultural aspects," Prestes said. The professor, who is also an avid lover of Chinese culture, said China is a very important player in the global discussion on AI development, adding that Chinese experts have contributed greatly to this kind of discussion and debate. He also encouraged more Chinese experts to take part in international discussions and debates on AI development. "It is necessary to be open and listen to others, and try to consolidate these different views," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Revenue Commissioners wanted to ensure a planned crackdown on people who took payments to withdraw planning objections contained sufficient menace to ensure they handed over the tax due on their windfalls. In discussions following an RTE investigation into two brothers who objected to housing with the hope of being paid off by property developers, Revenue said they needed to be blunt about the consequences for people involved. Internal emails assessing how they could come down hard on the controversial activity said: Updated version of the proposed press release for your consideration following this afternoons call. Its not a huge amount shorter than the original but it is much higher level and much blunter in tone perhaps a touch too blunt in one or two places! However, a colleague responded saying: Not too blunt at all Ive suggested a few small changes to add a touch more menace. Discussions also centred on how Revenue could go about investigating the practice of cash for pulling objections by looking for details of withdrawals from various planning authorities. A note of a meeting with the Revenue chairman Niall Cody and other senior officials said: Could An Bord Pleanala disclose this information? If not, could Revenue powers be used? The meeting also heard they could look at the websites of local authorities to see if instances of withdrawn objections could be catalogued from there. How can we identify other individuals who may be in receipt of similar payments? said the notes. Queries were also raised over how payments were being made, whether it was being done by cash, cheque, or bank draft, and how property developers categorised them in their financial records. Revenue also wanted to encourage individuals with knowledge about cash payments for withdrawn objections to make tax evasion reports about the shadow economy. The meeting notes said: If people submit [such reports] how can we ensure these are highlighted and not overlooked in a branch [office]? Revenue aimed as well to make sure that individuals with knowledge of dubious payments knew they could make a protected disclosure under legislation designed to safeguard whistleblowers. An email said: [We need] to relate this back to the types of workers that may have possible knowledge of such payments maybe those working in property development companies, planning consultants, accounts, etc. A senior official said any Revenue action needed to target different groups of people, including those who had taken a payment with a strong reminder of how they needed to ensure they had paid tax on any money received. It said they would also welcome disclosures from companies or individuals that had paid objectors, employees in companies involved, and members of the public who had their own suspicions about planning activity in their area. I do think that we have different audiences and need to try and speak to each, if at all possible, said the official. A later message from Mr Cody explained how he had been in touch with colleagues in the Department of Housing who were very interested and supportive of any proposed crackdown on the payments. Mr Cody wrote: It would be good to contact [An Bord Pleanala] today about accessing the data in a useful way. In my chat with [The Department of Housing] we all recognised that this is already published data. Asked about the records, the Revenue Commissioners said it had nothing to add to their contents. It has been reported Rory Coveney got a 200k package when he departed broadcasterSimon Coveney also insisted people should pay their TV licence as its the law Employment Minister Simon Coveney has refused to say how much his brother Rory received in goodbye money from RTE and the taxpayer. But he called on people to pay their 160 TV licence fee because its the law. The reported exit package of Mr Coveney, estimated at 200,000, is equivalent to 1,250 TV licence fees. The minister was asked at a Fine Gael selection convention for the European elections to state how much his brother received. Speaking to reporters, it was suggested to Mr Coveney that Fine Gael politicians, including the Taoiseach, had called for the disclosure of all such RTE exit amounts. He replied: For a number of months now, I've made it clear that I'm not participating in discussion in Cabinet on it and the various different crises that they've been dealing with. And I haven't been making public comment on it either apart from general statements in relation to supporting the need for public service broadcasting in Ireland. Employment Minister Simon Coveney He was asked to answer the original question, but said: I have stayed out of debates and there are more than enough politicians to make comment in relation to RTE so I'm not going to change that position today. To the suggestion that it was incumbent on him to either tell the public the figure his brother received from the taxpayer or to resign from Cabinet, Mr Coveney said: No, I don't think that is a choice. My position has been clear and consistent for months that I've stayed out of the RTE debates publicly and in cabinet and for good reason. We have Oireachtas committees doing their work. We have a whole series of independent reviews that are underway. Some have already reported and some are to report in the next few weeks. And as I say, there's no shortage of people who are willing to comment in relation to what's needed in terms of transparency and accountability coming from RTE. Rory Coveney Photo: Norma Burke/RollingNews.ie Told that it was wanted from his brother too, Mr Coveney said that while he naturally spoke to his brother he did not know the amount involved. Asked if it was his position was credible in claiming that he was not his brother's keeper, and yet he and the Government expect people to pay the TV licences and RTE to disclosure full details of the exit packages, Mr Coveney said: My position is as I just outlined. He added: I'm not going to publicly talk about the conversations I have with individual siblings. Earlier, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said there should be full transparency when it comes to salaries and exit packages at RTE. Mr Martin also said the sums of such packages should correspond with norms as controversy continues to swirl around the sums highly paid executives received when they left the broadcaster. It was revealed this week that former RTE chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe received an exit package worth 450,000 when she left her role under a voluntary exit scheme. Former director of strategy Rory Coveney received an exit package upon his departure from the national broadcaster worth around 200,000. RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst (Niall Carson/PA) Director General Kevin Bakhurst yesterday said in a statement that Mr Coveneys role became redundant and an exit package offered by RTE was accepted. "Rory Coveney and I agreed that it was best that he stand down from his role as Director of Strategy. This enabled the beginning of the restructuring of the leadership team and the suppression of his role, Mr Bakhurst said. "Responsibility for Strategy has passed to Adrian Lynch, with no additional compensation, in addition to his substantive role as Director of Audience, Channels and Marketing. Rorys role became redundant, an exit payment was offered by RTE and accepted by Rory, and with no backfill being made RTE will recoup that payment by July of this year. Speaking to RTEs This Week today, Mr Martin said he believes there should be full transparency in terms of salaries and packages at the broadcaster. "My own view is as a general principle where any organisation is being funded by the public via the licence fee in this case and taxpayers money, there should be full transparency in terms of salaries and packages more generally, he said, adding that in the midst of all the noise that RTEs editorial independence should be respected and the broadcaster must rebuild trust in its governance and administration. "I think the new director general is doing everything he possibly can to do that. I do believe in his bona fides in respect of that but as a general principle, I do believe that salaries and so forth and, indeed, packages should be fully transparent. The indications are that he certainly has legal constraints in these specific cases that is what he has indicated to the minister. Mr Martin said the payment to Mr Coveney did realise savings and such packages are often the result of legal frameworks that govern employment and contracts but those at RTE should correspond with norms. He added that he is always loathe to respond with particular policy initiatives without seeing the full consequences of them and is conscious of the editorial independence of the broadcaster. Meanwhile, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said she is surprised the issue has arisen given months of calls for transparency and accountability at RTE. "Quite honestly, it shouldnt be arising again that there are leaks and bits of information and making guessing about how much exit packages are, she said. "Complete transparency is the only way that they will rebuild the trust for people and I think also Id be making the call that Government need to come to a decision on how theyre going to proceed with the financing of our public service broadcaster because its very difficult for the organisation to move on without that information. "There is only a number of options available to them. Its really time to make that decision. The threatened expansion of Israels military operations in Rafah, which is effectively now the largest and most overcrowded refugee camp in the world, would represent a grave violation of international humanitarian law and must not be allowed to happen. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands condemned for his order to evacuate an estimated 1.5 million Palestinians who are sheltering in the area with nowhere safe to go and at risk of mass forced displacement ahead of an anticipated Israel Defence Forces ground invasion in the southern city. US president Joe Biden has said he does not expect an offensive on the densely populated Rafah, the last refuge of Palestinians fleeing Israeli assaults elsewhere in the besieged territory. For that, small mercies; but this is the same president who has struggled to exert his undoubted leverage and influence on Israel a president who is said to have had profane thoughts about the Israeli prime minister, reportedly calling him a bad f**king guy and an asshole. In response to Bidens further and public assertion that Israels killing of Palestinians is over the top, the EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell succinctly put it thus about the US: If you believe too many people are being killed, you should provide less arms. Belatedly, in the face of a humanitarian disaster in Rafah, Europe may be moving closer to the admirable position adopted by Ireland and Spain, with chancellor Olaf Scholz saying yesterday that Germany was asking Israel to abide by international law in the conflict and noting Irans malign influence in the Middle East calling for Israel not to open a second front on its northern border with Lebanon. Nearly 29,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 68,000 wounded, according to the health ministry in Gaza run by Hamas, the terrorist organisation that perpetrated a horrific attack on Israel, taking the lives of 1,200 citizens and kidnapping around 250 people on October 7. At what point is the demand for retribution satisfied? That point has long since been reached. In an urgent joint statement yesterday, international humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations warned of the catastrophic consequences of an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah. These organisations said that collectively punishing civilians by denying adequate shelter, food, clean water and other essentials, as well as obstructing humanitarian aid, may amount to grave breaches of the obligations of an occupying power under international humanitarian law, constituting war crimes. Last month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and to allow humanitarian aid into the territory, but evidence on the ground shows that not only has this not happened, but the situation has deteriorated further. After the ICJ ruling, this newspaper made a point that Ireland should join the South Africa genocide case before the ICJ if Israel failed to abide by the court orders to date. If Israel launches a ground offensive in Rafah, where half-a-million children are among the 1.5m Palestinians taking refuge, that point will have been reached. The urgent demand now is for Hamas to release all remaining hostages immediately and unconditionally, and for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to be provided. To achieve this, a temporary ceasefire must be immediately agreed, quickly followed by a permanent end to the carnage in Gaza. Agri Studies students at Colaiste Abbain in Adamstown, Co Wexford, have been getting some hands on experience in caring for sheep, as part of an engaging course. Teacher Dean OConnor is shaping the farmers of the future by implementing new, interesting ideas into his school to teach the students about farming and where their food comes from. Recently weve been learning about sheep farming and to put all of that theory into practice we went on a visit to Rothwells Farm in Adamstown during this time of the year when theyre busy lambing. The students get to see all the ins and the outs of lambing and the processes involved. We are very thankful to local farmers in the community especially local brothers Stuart and Gavin Rothwell who provide regularly facilitate farm visits for our Ag students, said Mr OConnor. A bird in the hand. Harry Tomkins at Colaiste Abbain. The school even has its own school pet lamb which stays in the school stables. Its like some schools have therapy dogs, weve a therapy lamb! The secondary school teacher comes from a beef farm in Oulart and loves passing on his knowledge about farming. Overall the short course is booming here. I have a very high uptake at junior level which transfers to senior cycle. Its very engaging; based on active learning and the students definitely put what they learn in the classroom into practice. He said: Students that have progressed to senior cycle feel that it has given them a head start for Ag Science for Leaving Cert. Students who currently study agriculture feel that it is a hands on subject and you learn lots about farming in Ireland. They really enjoy applying what they learn in the classroom into practice throughout the year. Try these at-home skin and hair devices and products that will make you look like youve just stepped out of a salon Sweet divine Mary Mother of Gucci, there are brand new beauty gadgets and tools flooding the market at the moment, and its only February. But do we really need any of them?! Im such a sucker for a good beauty device as anything that makes my life easier gets a big, well-manicured thumbs-up from me. Ive tested and trialled trillions over the years so I know a thing or two about what is worth parting your hard-earned dosh for. Triona and Minis tween skincare buys Anyhoo, unless youve been living under a rock, youll have heard excited whispers about the arrival of the Dyson Airstrait (499.99, dyson.ie). So whats all the fuss about, I hear you ask? Well, its a wet-to-dry straightening tool that uses air and doesnt have hot plates, so your hair wont get damaged. I know its expensive but you cant put a price on keeping your hair healthy, and it does a great job at getting my hair sleek and dry so Im a fan. Dyson Airstrait, 499.99, dyson.ie Im also a long-time fan of the ghd, and the new ghd Chronos (329, ghdhair.com) is a great new addition to the range. With hair health also at the forefront, it has motion responsive technology that continuously adapts to your styling movements. This means that it delivers a heat monitoring accuracy at the optimum temperature of 185C for one stroke HD results. I recently went to a SharkNinja press launch to see what they had coming down the line for us and yes the Ninja airfryer people are the same people who bring us Shark and as you might already know, Im a fan of the Shark SpeedStyle Full Suite (289.95, brownthomas.com) as it creates a high-gloss finish with its five-styler attachments. I love using the RapidGloss Finisher to banish any frizz and flyaways from my hair. So enough about hair, what about skin? If you want to transform your skin from within, the Lyma Laser Starter Kit (2,399, brownthomas.com) is said to be the worlds most powerful at-home beauty device. Its low-level laser therapy reaches the base layer of the dermis, transforming the skin from within in as little as 12 weeks and is endorsed by A-list facialists, dermatologists and plastic surgeons. I know its expensive but if you fancy salon-grade treatments at home with zero recovery time, its a great investment long-term. Haumea Skincare Light Therapy Mask Device, 149.99, haumeaskincare.com And finally, you cant go on Instagram these days without seeing Victoria Beckham, Trinny Woodall and Kate Lawler wearing red LED masks. Light therapy is all the rage, my dears, and it works by sending light waves deep into the skins layers to trigger natural intracellular reactions at a molecular level. Irish brand Haumea Skincares Light Therapy Mask Device (149.99, haumeaskincare.com) promotes skin health, stimulates collagen production and reduces the signs of ageing. It also has a customisable setting to tailor your light therapy sessions to address specific skincare concerns. Best of all, youll scare your husband and kids away while wearing it! Three of the best Mascaras Poco Empower Volume Mascara, 24, pocobeauty.com 1 Poco Empower Volume Mascara, 24, pocobeauty.com The hype is real with this! Not only does it deliver dramatic black lashes with its unique brush, it has a formula bank at the centre to hold overflow, making sure the product delivers evenly on to each lash without smudging. Trinny London Lash2Lash, 21.50, trinnylondon.com 2 Trinny London Lash2Lash, 21.50, trinnylondon.com Trinny can do no wrong! Her latest launch has a tapered brush that lifts, lengthens and separates every lash, and contains organic chestnut extract to keep them looking shiny and healthy, as approved by her Trinny Tribe. M.A.C Stack Lovestruck Luck, 32, brownthomas.com 3 M.A.C Stack Lovestruck Luck, 32, brownthomas.com The clue is in the name the endlessly buildable, clump-resistant mascara stacks on infinite layers of volume and length with its micro brush that delivers ultra-precise application and is ideal for shorter lashes. Triona and Minis tween skincare buys Triona and Minis tween skincare buys Barbie, Killers Of The Flower Moon and Saltburn were all left empty handed at the Baftas. Greta Gerwigs film about the Mattel doll having an existential crisis was the highest-grossing film of 2023 and was nominated for a string of awards, but failed to win a single one. Star Margot Robbie lost out on the best actress prize to Poor Things Emma Stone, while the screenplay by director Greta Gerwig and her husband Noah Baumbach lost out to courtroom drama Anatomy Of A Fall, by Justine Triet and Arthur Harari. Margot Robbie (Victoria Jones/PA) Ryan Goslings Ken was defeated in the supporting actor category by Robert Downey Jr for Oppenheimer. Gerwig was a conspicuous absence from the directing contenders when the nominees were announced. Killers Of The Flower Moon, Martin Scorseses western crime epic, also left with nothing, despite nods for best film, best supporting actor for Robert De Niro and a number of the below the line categories. Meanwhile Saltburn failed to translate its viral success into awards gold. Rosamund Pike (Ian West/PA) The film about a student at Oxford who becomes enthralled by a wealthier classmate and spends a summer at his sprawling estate, has become an internet sensation but did not land a single Bafta, despite nods for outstanding British film, leading actor Barry Keoghan, supporting actress Rosamund Pike, supporting actor Jacob Elordi and score. However, the film did get a moment in the spotlight with the performance of Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The song, released 22 years ago, had a scene-stealing moment in the final stages of the film and has since re-entered the charts. Ellis-Bextor was joined by a team of dancers in sequins as she took to the stage in a dramatic black and orange gown with a full skirt as she performed the disco hit. Carey Mulligan led the charge on a glamorous red carpet at the EE Bafta Film Awards. Mulligan is nominated for the best actress award for her role in Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and wore a black strapless gown from French fashion house Dior. Her stylist, Andrew Mukamal, posted pictures and sketches of the dress on his Instagram Stories, labelling it as Christian Dior 1951 suggesting Mulligan is either wearing the original dress from the 1950s or a modern recreation of it. Carey Mulligan (Ian West/PA) It would not be the first time Mulligan has been inspired by vintage fashion for the red carpet during the Golden Globes in early January she wore a recreation of a Schiaparelli dress dating back to 1949. And Mulligan was not the only celebrity modelling high glamour at the Baftas. Australian actress Cate Blanchett lived up to her reputation as a champion of sustainable fashion in a high-necked burgundy-coloured gown from Louis Vuitton made from deadstock material. Even her jewellery had an environmentally-friendly slant, and was made partly from the necklace she wore to last years Baftas. Blanchetts stylist Elizabeth Stewart wrote on Instagram: The creation gives a second life to the pearls from Cates 2023 Bafta High Jewelry design, while the stones and materials have been sourced from five archival High Jewelry creations. As an ambassador for Louis Vuitton, it is no surprise that Poor Things actress Emma Stone chose an outfit from the French fashion house. Her pastel orange gown echoed the 18th-century costuming of her character Bella Baxter in Poor Things, with a brocade bodice and a puff asymmetric sleeve. Australian actress and producer Margot Robbie has spent a large part of the last year channelling the spirit of Barbie in her red carpet fashion, and the Baftas were no exception. Her pink and black Armani Prive gown was relatively pared-back, with hints of sparkle and black matching opera gloves. Rosamund Pike (Ian West/PA) Saltburn star Rosamund Pike heralded the coming of spring in her pastel blue Dior outfit. The ballet-inspired tulle gown had a full skirt that grazed her ankles, and was worn with a nude bodice and matching high heels. Emma Corrin (Ian West/PA) Emma Corrin can always be relied upon for an experimental take on red carpet dressing for the Baftas, they wore a black long-sleeve crop top paired with a sheer black skirt and black short shorts over bright blue tights, paired with dramatic face netting. It drew upon one of the biggest trends in catwalk fashion right now: extremely short, underwear-style shorts. The outfit is by Miu Miu The Crown star has a long-standing relationship with the brand and has previously walked the Miu Miu runway at Milan Fashion Week. Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal (Ian West/PA) All Of Us Strangers co-stars Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott both delivered interesting interpretations of menswear for the Bafta red carpet. Mescal played around with tailoring in a wrap-style black jacket with white stitch detailing along the lapel, while Scott experimented with colour in an all-red ensemble, even down to his matching shoes. Phoebe Dynevor (Ian West/PA) Nominated for the EE Bafta Rising Star Award, Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor was joined on the red carpet by her mother, Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor. Phoebes outfit seemed to be inspired by Marilyn Monroe a simple white halterneck gown, worn with her hair slicked back into a chic bun. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Bear star Ayo Edebiri also nominated for the rising star award has emerged as a style star during this awards season, and for the Baftas she channelled old Hollywood glamour in a peach halterneck gown by Bottega Veneta, completing the look with a white feather stole and matching opera gloves. Naomi Campbell (Ian West/PA) In a surprise appearance on the Bafta red carpet, supermodel Naomi Campbell proved all-black does not have to be boring wearing a simple column gown underneath a layered tulle cape with a built-in hood, worn over a severe bob haircut. Sophie Ellis-Bextor (Ian West/PA) Set to perform Murder On The Dancefloor at the Baftas which appears in a scene of Emerald Fennells film Saltburn Sophie Ellis-Bextor tapped into the trend for Gothic glamour in a see-through black dress with statement sleeves from Italian label Antonio Riva. Christopher Nolan is a director who has pondered important questions throughout his body of work, but had never won a Bafta for directing until Sundays ceremony. The London-born filmmaker was previously nominated for a total of five Baftas for his dream-bending thriller Inception and Second World War epic Dunkirk. He went into the Sunday ceremony as the favourite to win for Oppenheimer for which he has been given three nods across the adapted screenplay, director and best film categories. Accepting his directing award, Nolan paid tribute to the nuclear disarmament programme and the efforts to bring peace and thanked the films backers for taking on something dark. Nolan did walk away with a Britannia Award for directing in 2010, an honour that was given in Los Angeles by Bafta up until 2019, but has not won a coveted Bafta prize in London. The 53-year-old has also had six Oscar nods before exploring the life of the father of the atomic bomb J Robert Oppenheimer, which would see him reunite with Irish actor Cillian Murphy. Director Christopher Nolan. (PA Wire) He has collaborated with Murphy for nearly two decades also on Batman Begins, Inception, Dunkirk and briefly in The Dark Knight Rises. Murphy told GQ in February that Nolan gets his family to drop off his scripts to keep it secret and for reasons of tradition while also speaking how his set feels like a private, intimate laboratory. He added: Theres no phones but also no announcement, everybody just knows. And theres no chairs because he doesnt sit down. Sometimes a film set can be like a picnic. However, despite often being nominated and never winning during awards season, things are starting to look up for Nolan as this year the Directors Guild of America (DGA) gave him the prize for outstanding directorial achievement and he won a Golden Globe for best director motion picture award. Nolan, born in London to a British father and American mother, read English at University College London (UCL), choosing the school because of its filmmaking facilities. It is also where he met his future wife, Emma Thomas, with whom he has four children and runs a production company, Syncopy and has worked with across his filmmaking. Cillian Murphy and Tom Conti attend the BFI Fellowship Annual Dinner, honouring Christopher Nolan (James Manning/PA) Earlier this week, when Nolan was presented with the British Film Institute (BFI) Fellowship for being one of the worlds most innovative and influential film directors, he credited his wife. He said he never felt alone making films as Thomas always saw things the same way I did in terms of the importance of the medium. While at UCL, Nolan was president of the film society and produced short films while studying before getting his big break, making his directorial debut with 1998s Following. Two years later Memento, which saw Guy Pearce as a man suffering memory loss, desperately trying to discover who attacked him and killed his wife, unlocked Hollywood for Nolan. The film received two Academy Award nominations, for best original screenplay and best film editing, as well as being a blockbuster success. Following the well-received Memento, Nolan directed Insomnia, a psychological thriller starring Al Pacino as a detective on the hunt for a killer in an Alaskan town. It was another critical and commercial smash, the beginning of a gilded run for Nolan. In 2005, he made the first film in the Dark Knight trilogy, with Christian Bale playing the titular role in Batman Begins. That was followed by drama The Prestige in 2006, which starred Bale and Hugh Jackman as two rival magicians in Victorian London. The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises followed in 2008 and 2012 respectively, with both films grossing more than one billion US dollars worldwide. In 2010, Nolan directed sci-fi action film Inception, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals ideas from victims unconsciousness. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning four. Nolan received his first best director Oscar nomination for 2017s Dunkirk, which depicts the Allies retreat from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk during the Second World War. He did not receive nods for Interstellar, which shows Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway going on a mission to find a new planet to live on after the Earth becomes uninhabitable, but the blockbuster was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning in 2014 for visual effects. It also saw him reunited with his brother, the co-creator of TV series Westworld, Jonathan Nolan, who he worked with on Memento, The Prestige and The Dark Knight films. His time-warping Tenet, starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson, was one of the few releases for cinemagoers during the pandemic and was hailed by critics but did not give Nolan any Bafta, Oscar or Golden Globe nomination. It did take home an Academy Award for visual effects. A devotee of the big screen experience Tenet was shot on 65mm and large-format Imax cameras and had been delayed a number of times, before the espionage thriller became one of the big films of 2020. His latest project, Oppenheimer, was confirmed in 2021 and is based on the 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and the late Martin J Sherwin. Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh (Ian West/PA) It birthed the Barbenheimer phenomenon, as Greta Gerwigs comedy about the famous doll Barbie and his dark Second World War scientific film were released on the same date. Barbie was the highest grossing film of 2023, but Oppenheimer has led during awards season, getting 13 Bafta nods. Aside from showing the downfall of the director of the Manhattan Project, who came under fire due to his activities with socialist groups, the film also dives into the moral questions of the atomic bomb and shows a slow-motion scene of the impact of the devastation wrought on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, it has not all been smooth sailing as the premiere in London meant that stars including Robert Downey Jr, Murphy, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh staged a walkout when the Hollywood union Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra) called a strike. Downey Jr took home the supporting actor Bafta at the ceremony in London. Five patients die after Israeli raid on Gaza hospital causes facility to lose power Israeli troops arrested 100 suspects during the incursion at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, including medics Palestinian patients rest as they arrive in Rafah after they were evacuated from Nasser hospital in Khan Younis due to the Israeli ground operation. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell Sun 18 Feb 2024 at 03:30 Five patients have died at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after an Israeli raid last week caused the facility to lose power, the Ministry of Health in Hamas-controlled Gaza said, Mourners react as the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes lie at Abu Yousef Al-Najjar hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas Photo: Reuters/Mohammed Salem Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight and into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft UN ceasefire resolution. Disease and famine stalk population who have nowhere to hide or flee in so-called safe zone No one could fail to be appalled by the increasingly hellish conditions people in Gaza have been forced to endure over the last four months. But inconceivable though it may seem, things will get a whole lot worse. Photo Courtesy: wikipedia.org/twitter.com/NupurSharmaBJP Amsterdam: Dutch leader Geert Wilders, who is striving to form a coalition government in the country, on Saturday hailed suspended BJP Spokesperson Nupur Sharma as brave and said that he has sent a personal message of support to her. Wilders, a far-right leader, emerged as the surprise winner of the elections last year. Nupur Sharmas controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed triggered widespread protests in 2022, which took a violent turn leading to loss of property and lives. In a post on X with Nupur Sharmas image, Wilders said he would like to meet her one day while visiting India. "I sent a personal message of support to the brave Nupur Sharma, who is threatened by Islamists for years now only for speaking the truth. Freedom loving people all over the world should support her. I hope to meet her one day while visiting India," read his post on X. I sent a personal message of support to the brave Nupur Sharma, who is threatened by Islamists for years now only for speaking the truth. Freedom loving people all over the world should support her. I hope to meet her one day while visiting India. #NupurSharma Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) February 17, 2024 Back in 2022 as well, he had expressed his support for Sharma amid a storm over her remarks on Prophet Muhammad. "Nupur Sharma is a hero who spoke nothing but the truth. The whole world should be proud of her. She deserves the Nobel Prize. And India is a Hindu nation, the Indian government is obliged to strongly defend Hindus against Islamic hate and violence," he had said in a tweet after Nupur Sharma's remarks on a TV debate triggered a row. Nupur Sharma is a hero who spoke nothing but the truth. The whole world should be proud of her. She deserves the Nobel Prize. And India is a Hindu nation, the Indian government is obliged to strongly defend Hindus against Islamic hate and violence. #NupurSharma #India #Islam pic.twitter.com/kVkQjEr3RN Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) October 9, 2022 Geert Wilders has been endeavouring to form a coalition government in the Netherlands after the electoral success of his nationalist Freedom Party (PVV) last year, despite falling short of a majority by a significant margin. Since securing victory in November, he has been engaged in coalition talks with the center-right party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the centrist New Social Contract, and the farmers' protest party BBB. In order to secure the position of Netherlands Prime Minister, the coalition led by Wilders must achieve a minimum of 76 seats in the 150-seat Lower House. Jharkhand ministers after taking oath on Friday in newly-form JMM govt. (Image courtesy: twitter.com/ChampaiSoren) Delhi/Ranchi: Amid turbulent intra-party dynamics within the Jharkhand Congress, eight party legislators have reportedly reached Delhi to air their dissatisfaction over the inclusion of four party MLAs as ministers in the Champai Soren-led JMM government, media reported. As many as 12 Congress legislators have threatened to boycott the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly session starting from February 23 and go to Jaipur if the four new inductees are not replaced. Eight of the 12 lawmakers have conveyed their unhappiness and lodged their protest with the party high command in Delhi in connection with the issue, said the report. The opposing MLAs are against Congresss decision to give ministerial berths to Alamgir Alam, Rameshwar Oraon, Banna Gupta and Badal Patralekh again, according to reports. According to media reports, Bermo MLA Kumar Jaimangal said that the 12 MLAs have already submitted a signed letter to the Congress party chief on the matter. He also hinted at a potential revolt if the high command failed to address their demands. The JMM-led alliance in the state comprises 47 MLAs (JMM has 29, Congress has 17, and RJD has one) out of the 81-member assembly. Earlier, the 12 MLAs gathered at the Ranchi Circuit House just ahead of the swearing-in ceremony on Friday with the intention of boycotting it. However, after being persuaded by Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir and PCC chief Rajesh Thakur, they later joined the ceremony. According to media reports, the disgruntled MLAs want a minister from each division to cover all the five divisions in the state and also demanded that the "one person, one post" rule made by Rahul Gandhi be implemented. Moreover, most of the Congress MLAs opposed the nomination of Banna Gupta, particularly in light of recent controversy. Gupta had come under scrutiny after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey shared a video allegedly depicting him involved in an "obscene" phone conversation with a woman. Gupta has strongly denied the allegations, calling the video fake and edited. Out of the 11-member Champai Soren cabinet, only two legislators are new additions: Basant Soren, the youngest son of JMM supremo Shibu Soren, and JMM's Chaibasa MLA Deepak Birua. Photo courtesy: Screen grab from video posted on twitter.com/DrSJaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday asserted that India's freedom to make diverse choices should not be criticised in response to a question about its foreign policy priorities in the backdrop of observations from its transition from "non-alignment to all alignment". He made these comments during an interactive session at a security conference in Munich, alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The moderator highlighted India's continuing procurement of crude oil from Russia despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. "Why should it be a problem? I am smart enough to have multiple options. You should be admiring and not criticising. Is it a problem for others? I do not think so," he said. Jaishankar elaborated on the various influences and pressures that countries encounter. He underscored that each nation has its own unique historical background and set of challenges, making it difficult to maintain a one-dimensional relationship. "I do not want you, even inadvertently, to give the impression that we are purely and unsentimentally transactional. We are not. We get along with people, we believe in things, we share things...but there are times when you are located in different places, different levels of development, different experiences, all of that gets into it," he explained. "So, life is complicated, life is differentiated," he said. "Good partners provide choices, smart partners take some of those choices," Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister also called the attacks on Israeli cities by Hamas as acts of terrorism. However, he also underscored that Israel, in its response, is obligated to adhere to international humanitarian law. Further, he reiterated India's longstanding stance supporting a "two-state solution" for the Palestine issue. In response to the Hamas attacks, Israel has initiated a military offensive in Gaza. India has unequivocally condemned Hamas' actions and has consistently called for a de-escalation of the conflict. Addressing a query, the External Affairs Minister noted that the formation of the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) grouping occurred during a period of significant Western dominance. Last year, about 30 countries expressed interest in joining BRICS because they recognized its value, Jaishankar said. He remarked, "There must be something good we have done." "I think it is important today to make a distinction between being non-West and anti-West. I would certainly characterise India as a country which is non-West but which has extremely strong relations with the Western countries that is getting better by the day," he added. Photo courtesy: twitter.com/ECISVEEP Bhubaneswar: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday the Election Commission (EC) will follow the direction issued by the Supreme Court on the electoral bonds and take action accordingly. Responding to a question at a news conference here, Kumar said necessary steps will be taken as per the order of the court. He, however, did not disclose when the electoral bonds would be made public. The CEC said the Commission has always favoured transparency in the conduct of elections and all related processes, adding that its affidavit clearly stipulates that. Day 1 of ECI's Review Meeting at #Bhubaneswar of Poll Preparedness for Simultaneous Elections to both #GeneralElections2024 & #OdishaAssemblyElections2024 . The meeting is being chaired by CEC Rajiv Kumar and EC Arun Goel. pic.twitter.com/G1k9rbOH6R Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) February 16, 2024 Kumar and his team, including EC Arun Goel, who arrived in Odisha on a three-day visit to the state to review poll preparedness, concluded their visit on Saturday. The ECI team held meetings with the representatives of various political parties, both national and regional, the state chief secretary, heads of various enforcement agencies, district election officers, superintendents of police, and other senior officials of the state. Kumar said the Election Commission is fully prepared for the conduct of elections and said the guidelines should be strictly followed by the administration and the enforcement agencies in conducting free and fair elections in the state. Odisha will have the state Assembly polls simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. (With UNI inputs) Photo courtesy: video grab New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged party workers to reach and engage every voter in the next 100 days for a decisive third term of the government. "Over the next 100 days, our goal is to unite and engage with every new voter, every beneficiary, every sector, and every community. It is essential to earn the trust of the people, and with collective efforts, the BJP will have the opportunity to serve the nation with the highest mandate ever," PM Modi said here while addressing the BJP's national convention. Modi asserted that the BJP will have to cross 370 seats for the NDA to surge past the 400-mark in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Highlighting the achievements of the government over the last 10 years, Modi said that the next five years would play a crucial role in realizing the dream of a developed India. "To achieve our goals, the first step is the BJPs grand return to power. ... To make this a reality, the BJP must secure over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," he stated. Modi said that he was seeking a decisive mandate for political gains or enjoying power but for taking the nation forward. He noted that the government had completed many tasks that had been pending for decades and centuries. "We have shown the courage to solve the problems that were pending for centuries. By building a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, we have ended the wait of five centuries. The dharma dhwaja has been unfurled in Pavagadh, Gujarat, after 500 years. After seven decades, we have opened the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. After waiting for seven decades, the country has gotten rid of Article 370," PM Modi said. He also took a jibe at opposition parties and said that they may not know how to fulfill their promises, but they dont hesitate to make false promises. "Despite this, they lack the courage to make one promise: no opposition party will promise you a 'Viksit Bharat'. Nor do they question us about it. These parties have acknowledged that they cannot lead India to development," he said. (With UNI inputs) Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Unknown attackers stabbed to death a Rohingya man at Ukhias Jamtoli camp in Bangladesh's Coxs Bazar region on Saturday, media reports said. The deceased person was identified as 38-year-old Badsha Mia. Ukhia police station Officer-in-Charge Shamim Hossain told UNB some 4-5 miscreants called Badsha Mia out his house, beat him and then fled after stabbing him. Locals rescued him and took to MSF Hospital where doctors declared him dead. The motive behind the attack is still not known. Photo Courtesy:Wikimedia Commons/ShareAlike 4.0 International Rights group OVD-Info on Saturday claimed more than 400 people were detained by Russian authorities for paying tributes to President Vladimir Putin's key opponent Alexei Navalny across various cities in the country. "401 DETAINED," the group said on its website. It said people were detained across 36 cities in Russia. On Saturday, police in Moscow detained about 15 people who had laid flowers and lit candles at the foot of the "Wall of Grief" monument to the victims of repression during the Soviet-era, reported BBC. Reacting to the Russian politician's death, the group earlier said in a statement: "Navalnys death was a murder a planned murder, a murder methodically carried out, a murder of which the Russian state is guilty. Including those very agencies that are now talking about investigations." Navalnys spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, said authorities have denied giving the body of the politician to his family until the investigation into his death is completed. "Now the Investigation Committee says directly that Alexey's body will not be handed over to his relatives until the investigation is complete," she posted on X. What happened to Navalny? 47-year-old Alexey Navalny died in an Arctic prison on Friday (February 16, 2024). He was serving a 19-year term. Alexey Navalny felt unwell in prison after a walk and lost consciousness. He received all necessary resuscitation measures, but they did not yield positive results, the Federal Ptnitentiary Service stated as quoted by Russia's Sputnik news agency. President Vladimir Putin did not comment on the issue since his death was announced. Several world leaders, including Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden, have slammed Putin over the politician's death. Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia posts her first emotional image on Instagram after her husband's death. Photo Courtesy: Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia Instagram page Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia on Sunday wrote her first social media post ever since Russian President Vladimir Putin's critic and the country's key opposition leader died in prison, an incident which triggered widespread criticism of the government. Posting an image with the deceased Russian opposition leader, Yulia wrote: "I love you." US, UK envoys pay floral tributes Meanwhile, envoys of the US and the UK paid floral tributes to the deceased leader on Sunday. US ambassador Lynne Tracy and Britain's Nigel Casey were pictured paying their respects at a memorial in Moscow, reported BBC. Sharing an image of Lynne Tracy paying floral tribute to the Russian opposition leader, the US Embassy in Moscow posted on X: "Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the passing of Alexey Navalny and all other victims of political repression in Russia." "Our hearts go out to his family, friends and supporters. His strength is an inspiration. We honor his memory," the Embassy said. Casey wrote on X: "In memory of Alexei Navalny @FCDOGovUK." Meanwhile, rights group OVD-Info on Saturday claimed more than 400 people were detained by Russian authorities for paying tributes to President Vladimir Putin's key opponent Alexei Navalny across various cities in the country. "401 DETAINED," the group said on its website. It said people were detained across 36 cities in Russia. What happened to Navalny? 47-year-old Alexey Navalny died in an Arctic prison on Friday (February 16, 2024). He was serving a 19-year term. Alexey Navalny felt unwell in prison after a walk and lost consciousness. He received all necessary resuscitation measures, but they did not yield positive results, the Federal Ptnitentiary Service stated as quoted by Russia's Sputnik news agency. President Vladimir Putin did not comment on the issue since his death was announced. Several world leaders, including Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden, have slammed Putin over the politician's death. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash At least two minor siblings died due to an unknown virus at Chuniapara village in Bangladesh's Rajshahi area after eating Boroi (jujube), media reports said. According to reports, physicians also took their parents to isolation. The deceased siblings were identified as Muntaha Marisha, 2, and Muftaul Masia, 5. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, in-charge of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, told Prothom Alo that the two siblings ate the fruits before falling sick. The domestic help collected those from the ground under a tree, and those were not cleaned up," the doctor said quoting the father when he was asked whether the fruits were cleaned before consumption. The physician initially suspects that it might be the Nipah virus that led the two minor girls to death, the newspaper reported. Physicians sent samples to Dhaka to know the exact cause of the death. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay The police told ARY News that they are investigating the murder from different angles as no valuables were snatched from the deceased. It is still not clear whether the incident was related to targeted killing or robbery. The police sustained a single bullet injury which proved to be fatal. On February 7, another person was a victim of street crime in Karachi. The person was gunned down by alleged robbers. As per details, a young man named Sohail Hashmi the son of a retired police officer was shot dead by robbers in Karachis Orangi Town, ARY News reported. Photo Courtesy:Unsplash A four-party alliance on Sunday protested against alleged rigging in the recently held national polls by blocking roads in Balochistan, media reports said. A wheel-jam strike and protest has been underway in Quetta and other cities of Balochistan on the call of a four-party alliance, comprises of BNP-Mengal, Pashtunkhwa MAP, the National Party and Hazara Democratic Party, reported ARY News. Protesters blocked the National Highway with hurdles at N-65 Naari over alleged rigging claims. The alliance also blocked Sohbatpur. During the protest, demonstrators closed the Quetta-Karachi National Highway at Mughal Chowk in Kalat for traffic. Pakistan polls Pakistan voted to elect a new government on February 8. However, the country plunged into a political crisis with none of the political outfits winning the majority needed to form the government. Political parties are now trying to forge an alliance and secure 169 seats needed to secure a majority in the 336-member lower house of parliament. Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has said it detected seven Chinese military aircraft, five naval vessels, and one balloon around the country between Friday and Saturday, media reports said. The defence ministry said that seven Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jets had been detected in the Taiwan Strait, reported Taiwan News. The ministry, however, indicated none of them had entered the air defence identification zone (ADIZ) or crossed the median line. The ministry said it monitored the situation with its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system. In response, it scrambled combat patrol aircraft, dispatched naval vessels, and deployed land-based air defence missile systems, the news portal reported. In addition, the ministry said a Chinese balloon was detected in the ADIZ at 1:41 a.m. on Friday 144 km (78 NM) northwest of Keelung City at an altitude of 6,096 m (20,000 feet). Image credit: UNI Washington/IBNS/UNI: Four anti-ship missiles were fired from areas controlled by the Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in Yemen, with at least three of them targeting Danish merchant ship MT Pollux in the Red Sea, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday. " four anti-ship ballistic missiles launched from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea. It is assessed that at least three of the missiles were launched towards commercial vessel MT Pollux, a Panamanian-flagged, Denmark-owned, Panamanian-registered vessel. There were no reported injuries or damage from MT Pollux or any other ship in the area," the command said in a statement. On Friday, US forces launched self-defense strikes against one anti-ship cruise missile and one mobile unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Yemeni waters, the statement added. "CENTCOM identified the mobile missile and USV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," the statement read. The Ansar Allah movement, which controls much of Yemen's Red Sea coast, has previously warned of its intention to attack any ships linked to Israel, calling on other countries to recall their crews and stay away from them at sea. Several shipping companies have decided to suspend traffic through the Red Sea. The Houthis have previously said that their actions in the Red Sea are aimed at helping the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, saying that they do not interfere with freedom of navigation in the region. Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki's son Marco Troper found dead. Photo Courtesy: Esther Wojcicki Facebook page Marco Troper, 19, son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, was found dead inside the dormitory of the University of California, Berkeley, media reports said. The Berkeley Fire Department attempted life-saving measures, but he died at the scene, UC Berkeley police was quoted as saying by KRON4. The cause of his death is still not known. The police said there was no sign of foul play. Tropers grandmother Esther Wojcicki suspects the teen died due to a drug overdose. He ingested a drug, and we dont know what was in it, she told SFGATE. One thing we do know, it was a drug," she said. We want to prevent this from happening to any other family, Wojcicki said. In a Facebook post, she wrote: "Tragedy hit my family yesterday My beloved grandson Marco Troper, age 19 passed away yesterday. Our family is devastated beyond comprehension." "Marco's life was cut too short. And we are all devastated, thinking about all the opportunities and life experiences that he will miss and we will miss together. Marco, we all love you and miss you more than you will ever know," she said. Who is Susan Diane Wojcicki? Susan Diane Wojcicki was the chief executive officer (CEO) of YouTube from 2014 to 2023. Wojcicki married Google's director of product management Dennis Troper in Belmont, California, on August 23, 1998. They have five children. India signs MoU with Colombia on sharing India's open-sourced DPIs MoU intends to promote digital transformation via India Stack Colombia seeks to transform itself from consumer to technological producer with the strategic collaboration of India, world leader in Digital Government, Artificial Intelligence and information technologies. India is keen on partnering with Colombia by building upon development partnership on digital transformation leading to a smooth adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure in Colombia. Colombia, which until now has been mainly a consumer of technology, aspires to take a significant turn with this strategic partnership. India, recognized as one of the world leaders in technology, will share its knowledge to empower Colombia as a technology producer in crucial areas such as Digital Government, Artificial Intelligence, talent training in Information Technology (IT) and Digital Public Infrastructure. The agreement contemplates the creation of a joint working group that will strengthen cooperation in technology transfer, development of public digital infrastructure and training of human talent. In addition, it will focus on advancing digital transformation in key areas such as Digital Government and Artificial Intelligence. India is keen on partnering with Colombia by building upon development partnership on digital transformation leading to a smooth adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure in Colombia.Colombia, which until now has been mainly a consumer of technology, aspires to take a significant turn with this strategic partnership. India, recognized as one of the world leaders in technology, will share its knowledge to empower Colombia as a technology producer in crucial areas such as Digital Government, Artificial Intelligence, talent training in Information Technology (IT) and Digital Public Infrastructure.The agreement contemplates the creation of a joint working group that will strengthen cooperation in technology transfer, development of public digital infrastructure and training of human talent. In addition, it will focus on advancing digital transformation in key areas such as Digital Government and Artificial Intelligence. Advertisements India and Colombia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation. It was signed between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Information Technologies and Communications of Colombia.Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti, Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar exchanged the MoU with Mr. Mauricio Lizcano, Minister of Information Technologies and Communications of Colombia.The MoU intends to promote digital transformation (viz INDIA STACK) through capacity-building programs, the exchange of best practices, the exchange of public officials and experts, the development of pilot or demo solutions and the facilitation of private sector contacts to mutually benefit the digital ecosystems of both countries.Introduced in 2009, INDIA STACK is the largest open API in the world that allows governments, businesses, startups and developers to utilize a unique digital Infrastructure to solve Indias hard problems towards presence-less, paperless, and cashless service delivery.Both sides discussed the importance of Digital Public Infrastructures. These infrastructures constitute a set of shared digital systems that are secure and interoperable. They can be built on open standards to deliver and provide equitable access to public and private services. India Stack Solutions are DPIs developed and implemented by India at population scale to provide access and delivery of public services. Not very long ago, OTT platform Netflix debuted the documentary Einstein and the Bomb. Many people are praising the compelling project about Albert Einstein. Many claim that it fills in the gaps that Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer overlooked or to put it simply, gives in more details about Einsteins perspective. Rolling Stone Internet Reviews Einstein and the Bomb One wrote, Now watching the Netflix Docudrama Einstein and the Bomb. The scene where Einstein is being denounced by a Nazi supported society for the preservation of Pure Science has rhetoric oddly reminiscent of contemporary anti-vax movement. Another added, Just watched Einstein and the bomb on Netflix. Its a movie from a point of view, but it is was brilliant. A third went on to add, I just watched Oppenheimer and am watching Einstein And The Bomb right now. He wasnt just a genius, he was compassionate and empathetic. I believe this is what Poilievre is doing, picking up human flotsam and organizing them around himself. X Einstein and the Bomb Cast Aidan McArdle plays Albert Einstein in the primary role. McArdle has experience playing the same character in Einstein's Big Idea as per Collider. In Ella Enchanted, he portrayed Slannen, an elf, and in The Duchess, he portrayed Richard Sheridan. The remaining supporting cast members are James Musgrave, who is best known for his role in The King's Man; Andrew Havill, who is well-known for playing Robert Fellowes in The Crown; Simon Markey, who made an appearance in Black Mirror; Rachel Barry, Helena Westerman, Leo Ashizawa, Jay Lewis Mitchell, and Simon Haines. X What Is Einstein and the Bomb About? Einstein and the Bomb is a dramatized documentary that combines cast depictions of historical documents with archival material. The relationship between Adolf Hitler and the scientist is examined, along with the events that gave rise to his suspicions that Nazi Germany was working on an atomic weapon. Einstein was sufficiently persuaded that action was necessary because of his concern about the German dictator's potential to wield such a terrible and destructive weapon. But sending a letter to American President Franklin D. Roosevelt started an arms race that would permanently alter the nature of warfare. The synopsis reads, Using archival footage and his own words, this docudrama chronicles what happened after the scientist fled Nazi Germany and dives into the mind of this tortured genius. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Hema Malini, an actor and politician, has disclosed whether her older daughter Esha Deol plans to enter politics. Hema revealed that Esha "is very interested" in politics. Hema also made a suggestion that Esha might enter politics in the upcoming years. Hema Malini revealed that her husband, actor Dharmendra, had once encouraged her to pursue a career in politics. Hema Malini Talks About Esha Deol's Possible Political Journey During an interview with ABP, Hema Malini said, "The family is with me all the time. Because of them, I am able to do this. They are taking care of my house in Mumbai, so I am coming to Mathura very easily. I come and go back. Whatever I'm doing, Dharam ji is very happy with that, which is why he supports me and also comes to Mathura." Esha/Instagram Talking about her other daughters, she said "If they want. Esha is very interested in it, she loves doing it. In the next few years, if she is interested, she will definitely (join politics)." Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtanis divorce statement "We have mutually and amicably decided to part ways. Through this shift in our lives, the best interests and welfare of our two children is and will be of utmost importance to us. We would appreciate that our privacy is respected throughout," the duo said in a joint statement. Hema Malini performs for Ram Lalla in Ayodhya On February 17, Hema Malini was in Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, she prayed before Ram Lalla. She gave a performance for Ram Lalla in the temple later that night, and she gave peeks into the performance. She wrote in her post, "This afternoon I gave a Bharat Natyam performance for Ram Lalla inside his temple. It was such a euphoric experience and I danced with passion which was appreciated by the public. A few photos of some moments from my dance captured for you #dance #danceprogram #bharatnatyam #ayodhya #ramlala (sic)." Bank Holiday On Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2024: In India, banks follow a specific schedule when it comes to holidays. They are closed on national and public holidays, which can vary depending on the state. Additionally, banks are closed on Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, as per the guidelines set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). However, there are exceptions to this rule, as banks may operate as usual on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays in some cases. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) divides holidays into three main groups. The first group includes holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The second group includes holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holidays. The third group includes holidays when banks close their accounts. On bank holidays, you can't do certain financial transactions like depositing a cheque. However, you can still do many financial and non-financial transactions using net banking, mobile banking, and Whatsapp banking. There are 11 bank holidays in February 2024, according to the list provided by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). However, there is some confusion about whether banks will be open on Monday, February 19 or not on the occasion of the 394th birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Are Banks Closed On Monday, February 19 On The Occasion Of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj | Photo: Freepik On February 19, banks in Maharashtra will be closed to honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. However, banks in other states will operate as usual on Monday. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, also known as Shiv Jayanti, is a public holiday celebrated in Maharashtra. It falls on February 19 every year, marking the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha warrior king. This day is observed with great enthusiasm across Maharashtra, with people paying homage to the legendary leader who fought for the rights of his people. It is a time for reflection on his bravery, leadership, and contributions to the region's history. About Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shivaji Maharaj was born in 1630 at Shivneri Fort near Pune. He was the first Chhatrapati and a great Maratha warrior. People in Maharashtra respect him a lot. He is also respected across India for his progressive thinking, rich cultural legacy, and efforts to free India from foreign invaders. He wanted to establish Swarajya. Shivaji Maharaj belonged to the Bhonsle clan. He was born at Shivneri Fort, close to Pune. His mother, Jijabai, played an important role in shaping his character. She taught him about justice, bravery, and the importance of his heritage. Even as a young boy, Shivaji showed that he was a good leader. By the time he became the king at Raigad in 1674, he had shown that he was a smart and charismatic leader. As a brilliant strategist, Shivaji Maharaj implemented advanced military strategies that became synonymous with his successful campaigns. He stood out by creating a well-trained cavalry, establishing a navy, and using guerrilla warfare effectively. His strategically positioned defenses, like the famous forts of Raigad, Pratapgad, and Sinhagad, became strongholds crucial for defending Maratha territories. Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated for his military skills, especially for pioneering guerrilla warfare techniques known as "Ganimi Kava," which were very successful against the powerful Mughal army. Under his leadership, the Maratha navy grew into a strong force, challenging European dominance in the Arabian Sea. Shivaji Maharaj was a visionary leader who not only excelled in military tactics but also in administration. He established a well-organized system of governance, with a focus on justice and welfare for all. His rule was marked by religious tolerance and respect for all faiths, setting an example for future leaders. He also promoted trade and commerce, leading to economic prosperity in the Maratha Empire. Shivaji Maharaj's legacy lives on today as a symbol of courage, leadership, and innovation. He is remembered as one of India's greatest warriors and statesmen, whose contributions continue to inspire generations. Bank Holidays In February 2024 February 2024: Bank Holidays Date & Day Holiday State February 4 (Sunday) Weekend Holiday All Over India February 10 (Saturday) Second Saturday Holiday All Over India February 11 (Sunday) Weekend Holiday All Over India February 14 (Wednesday) Basanta Panchami/Saraswati Puja (Shree Panchami) Tripura, Odisha, West Bengal February 15 (Thursday) Lui-Ngai-Ni Manipur February 18 (Sunday) Weekend Holiday All Over India February 19 (Monday) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Maharashtra February 20 (Tuesday) State Day/Statehood Day Mizoram, Itanagar February 24 (Saturday) Fourth Saturday Holiday All Over India February 25 (Sunday) Weekend Holiday All Over India February 26 (Monday) Nyokum Itanagar For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Facts about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Kingdom, was a courageous and forward-thinking ruler in India. He was born on 19th February 1630, in the renowned Shivneri Fort. This day is celebrated as Shiv Jayanti with great enthusiasm and traditional customs by the people of Maharashtra. Shivaji made a significant mark in history with his administrative skills, upholding the values of Swarajya and the Maratha heritage. He was renowned for his bravery and strategic prowess, which led to his victories in several battles against the Mughals. On his 394th birthday anniversary, let's remember with some interesting facts about this great Maratha ruler. 1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Birth: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, also known as Sivaji, was born on 19 February 1630 in the hill fort of Shivneri, located in Junnar, Pune. He was born into a family of bureaucrats, with his father Shahji Bhonsale serving as a prominent general in the army of the Bijapur Sultanate, and his mother Jijabai being a devout religious follower. 2. Founder Of Maratha Kingdom: Shivaji Maharaj is widely regarded as the founder of the Maratha kingdom in India. He is celebrated for his bravery and remarkable leadership during the 17th century. His reign marked a significant period in Indian history, characterised by his efforts to establish an independent kingdom against the backdrop of the Mughal Empire. 3. Administrative Reforms Shivaji Maharaj's legacy extends beyond his military prowess; he is also remembered for his administrative reforms, which aimed to promote justice and equality among his subjects. His vision for a strong and prosperous Maratha kingdom laid the foundation for the future development of the region. 4. Shivaji Maharajs Education: Shivaji was well-educated and had a keen interest in Sanskrit, Hindu scriptures, and military tactics. He was raised by his mother Jijabai and his guardian Dadoji Kond Deo. Dadoji taught him many skills, including horse riding, archery, and patta, as well as other fighting techniques. He was very interested in religious teachings, especially those of Hindu and Sufi saints. He also studied the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. 5. Military Genius: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj | Photo: Freepik He was a brilliant military strategist and is often considered one of the greatest warriors in Indian history. As Shivaji grew up, he displayed exceptional military abilities and cunning tactics. He battled against the Mughal and Adil Shahi rulers who were mistreating his people. His bravery and guidance earned him admiration and respect from the masses. 6. Fort Builder: Located along the Konkan coast, Maharashtra is home to numerous impressive forts including Lohagadh Fort, Sindhudurg Fort, Shivneri Fort, Raigad Fort, Torna, Korigad Fort, and many others that tell the tales of the renowned Maratha ruler. The pathways, dungeons, and ramparts of these forts reverberate with the stories of battles and the bravery of Chattrapati Shivaji, the Maratha emperor. 7. Father of Indian Navy: India's maritime history is known for its diversity and richness. One notable figure who stands out for his unmatched contributions to naval warfare and strategy is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, revered as the Father of the Indian Navy. He was instrumental in establishing the Maratha naval force, constructing fortified naval bases, and introducing innovative naval tactics. His vision extended beyond mere military prowess; he aimed for an independent and sovereign state. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's legacy is not just about his military and administrative achievements. He championed the idea of Hindavi Swarajya, which envisioned a strong and independent Indian state. He is celebrated as a symbol of Maratha pride, credited with promoting the Marathi language and culture during his reign. 8. Religious Tolerance: Shivaji Maharaj was known for his religious tolerance, respecting all faiths. He treated people of different religions fairly, allowing them to practice their beliefs freely. He employed Muslims in his army and administration, and his policies were inclusive. He even had Muslim bodyguards and advisors. This approach earned him respect and loyalty from people of all faiths, contributing to the unity of his empire. 9. Supporter of women's rights Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a great believer in the rights of women. He introduced strict laws to protect their honor and dignity. Under his rule, it was strictly forbidden for anyone to dishonor or disrespect women. The punishment for any such offense was very severe. His soldiers and officers were strictly prohibited from engaging in any form of womanising, and they were not allowed to imprison women. This was a significant step towards ensuring the safety and respect of women in his kingdom. 10. Guerrilla warfare Shivaji Raje is known as the pioneer of Guerrilla warfare (ganimi kawa), which involves understanding the geography of lands and using hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and surprise raids to harass and weaken his enemies. His rivals called him the 'Mountain Rat' because of his guerrilla tactics. His forces were highly mobile, relying on speed and stealth, and they often targeted supply lines and isolated outposts, making it difficult for larger armies to engage them effectively. This technique is still used by armies worldwide to defeat enemies on the battlefield. 11. Military Strategy Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha warrior king, was a master of military strategy. He transformed his army of 2,000 men into a formidable force of 10,000 soldiers through various methods. He recruited skilled warriors from different regions, including the Maval region, which was known for its brave soldiers. Shivaji also implemented a system of guerrilla warfare, which allowed his smaller army to outmaneuver and defeat larger forces. Additionally, he established a disciplined and well-trained army, which was equipped with modern weapons and tactics. Through these measures, Shivaji was able to expand his kingdom and become a significant force in the region. 12. Coronation: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj | Photo: Pexels Chhatrapati Shivaji, a brave leader and the creator of the Maratha Empire, was a powerful king who brought Hindus together and was a great opponent of the Mughals. He was also known for his respect for all religions. On June 6, 1674, he was officially crowned as the Chhatrapati of Raigad. 13. Raigad Fort: Shivaji made Raigad Fort his capital and ruled from there until his death. Raigad Fort, built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is a grand and renowned hill fort situated in Mahad, Raigad District in Maharashtra. It is considered one of the most formidable forts on the Deccan Plateau and is globally known as the Gibraltar of the East 14. Administration: Shivaji Maharaj established an efficient administrative system by dividing his kingdom into smaller regions called 'prants' or 'swarajyas'. Each prant had its own administrative head, known as the 'prant patil', who was responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining law and order. Shivaji also promoted local self-government by allowing village councils, known as 'gram panchayats', to handle local issues and make decisions regarding land distribution, irrigation, and other matters affecting the community. 15. Revenue System: Shivaji Maharaj implemented the Ryotwari system, a fair revenue system based on the assessment of land. Under this system, land revenue was collected directly from the cultivators (ryots) rather than intermediaries. The revenue was fixed based on the quality of land and the crops that were grown. This system aimed to ensure fairness and transparency in revenue collection, benefiting both the state and the farmers. 16. Treaty of Purandar: The Treaty of Purandar was signed in 1665 between Shivaji and the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It allowed Shivaji to retain control over 23 of his forts while agreeing to surrender 23 others to the Mughals. Shivaji also agreed to serve as a Mughal vassal and pay a tribute to the Emperor. This treaty marked a temporary truce between the Marathas and the Mughals, but tensions later escalated, leading to further conflict. 17. Military Campaigns: Shivaji Maharaj conducted numerous military campaigns, including the famous raid on Surat in 1664 and the successful defense of the Panhala Fort against a much larger Mughal army in 1660. His military genius and strategic brilliance are widely acknowledged, making him one of the greatest warriors in Indian history. 18. Escape from Agra: In 1666, Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha king, was invited to Agra by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. However, he was put under house arrest. Using a clever ruse, he escaped by hiding in a large basket of sweets, which was then carried out of the city by his loyal followers. 19. Legacy: Shivaji Maharaj's legacy is one of valor, leadership, and administrative prowess. As the founder of the Maratha Empire, he instilled a sense of pride and unity among his people. His military strategies and fortifications continue to be admired, and his fair governance and religious tolerance set a high standard for rulers. 20. Influence: Shivaji Maharaj's influence is profound and enduring. As a visionary leader and military genius, he laid the foundation for the Maratha Empire, inspiring generations with his courage, administrative prowess, and religious tolerance. His legacy continues to shape Indian politics, culture, and the collective consciousness of Maharashtra. 22. Shivaji Maharaj's Death: He passed away on April 3, 1680, at the age of 50, due to an illness. Shivaji Maharaj's memory is honored with numerous memorials, including statues, forts, and museums across Maharashtra. These facts highlight the life and achievements of Shivaji Maharaj, who continues to inspire generations with his courage, leadership, and vision. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti FAQs Q. What is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is an annual celebration in India that commemorates the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a revered Maratha warrior king and the founder of the Maratha Empire. It is observed on the 19th of February every year. Q. Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680) was a prominent Indian warrior king who established the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. He is remembered for his military leadership, administrative skills, and his efforts to protect Hinduism from the Mughal Empire. Q. Why is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebrated? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated to honor the life, achievements, and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He is considered a symbol of courage, valor, and patriotism in India, especially in the state of Maharashtra. Q. How is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebrated? The celebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti includes various events such as processions, cultural programs, and speeches that highlight the life and contributions of Shivaji Maharaj. People also pay their respects by visiting Shivaji Maharaj's forts and monuments. Q. Is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti a public holiday in India? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is a public holiday in the Indian state of Maharashtra, where it is celebrated with great enthusiasm. In other states, it is not a public holiday but is still observed by many people. Q. How do people honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on this day? On Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, people honor Shivaji Maharaj by offering prayers, reading his life stories, and participating in cultural events that showcase his achievements. Some also organise charitable activities in his memory. Q. What are some famous quotes by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? Of all rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother. Even if there were a sword in the hands of everyone, it is willpower that establishes a government. No need to learn from your mistakes. We can learn a lot from others mistakes. Q. What is the significance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Indian history? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a significant figure in Indian history because of his role in establishing the Maratha Empire and his efforts to protect Hinduism from the Mughal Empire. He is remembered as a brave and visionary leader who fought for the welfare of his people. Q. How can I participate in the celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti? You can participate in the celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti by attending events organised in your area, reading about his life and achievements, and paying your respects at his monuments and forts. You can also contribute to charitable activities in his memory. Q. What is the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? The legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj includes his contributions to Indian history, his role in establishing the Maratha Empire, and his efforts to protect Hinduism. He is remembered as a symbol of courage, valor, and patriotism in India. ??| Hace pocas horas, en un panel sobre la reforma de las Naciones Unidas en el marco de la Conferencia de Seguridad de Munich, el canciller @J_GonzalezOFr presento la propuesta ????: UNM3 Initiative. pic.twitter.com/1RdBqcP5BU Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2024: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is an important event that celebrates the birth anniversary of the respected Maratha emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is celebrated on February 19 every year, and is a public holiday in the state of Maharashtra. According to the Hindu Samvat calendar, this special day falls on March 10, 2024, while in the Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on February 19. This event is significant historically and culturally, marking the 394th birthday of the great Maratha King. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, known for his bravery, leadership, and administrative skills, is celebrated as a heroic figure in Indian history. He founded the Maratha Empire and is particularly remembered for his military strength, innovative strategies, and his vision of Hindavi Swarajya, which means self-rule for the people of the Indian subcontinent. Shivaji Jayanti is marked with various cultural programs, processions, and events that honor the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj. People from all walks of life come together to pay tribute to the great warrior king who fought for the rights of his people and established a strong and prosperous kingdom. The festival is a reminder of the values of courage, bravery, and leadership that Shivaji Maharaj stood for, and continues to inspire generations of Indians. Inspiring Quotes with poster By Chhatrapati Shivaji | Photo: Indiatimes This event not only honors the memory of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but also inspires people to follow his noble qualities and contribute positively to society. Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated twice a year Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated twice every year, once according to the Hindu calendar and once according to the Gregorian calendar. According to the Samvat Hindu calendar, Shivaji was born on the third day of Phalgun, while according to the Gregorian calendar, his birthday falls on February 19. Shivaji Maharaj's name comes from the local Goddess Shivai, who blessed his mother by granting her prayers for a son. This is why he is known as Shivaji Maharaj. Why do we celebrate Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti? Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is a celebration of the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a legendary and revered figure in Indian history. He was born on February 19, 1630, in the hill fort of Shivneri in Maharashtra, India. His birth anniversary is celebrated with great enthusiasm and reverence, especially in Maharashtra, where he is considered a symbol of courage, valor, and leadership. In 2024 the nation will celebrate the 394th birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj. Inspiring Quotes with poster By Chhatrapati Shivaji | Photo: Indiatimes In 1870, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule started celebrating Shivaji Jayanti after finding Shivaji Maharaj's tomb in Raigad in 1869, about 100 miles from Pune. Bal Gangadhar Tilak made these celebrations more popular in 1894. Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated with a lot of pride and excitement in Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. The Maratha community organizes many cultural programs on this day to honor the great Maratha Emperor for his excellent skills in administration, martial valor, and military strategies. Shivaji Maharaj's bravery and intelligence are legendary and continue to inspire generations. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj promoted the use of regional languages such as Marathi and Sanskrit in his court and administration, surpassing the prevailing standard language of Persian. Shivaji is also known as the "Father of the Indian Navy" for his important role in developing the naval wing of the Indian army during the Middle Ages. Another reason why Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated is to honor his contributions to Indian society and his efforts in fighting against the oppressive Mughal and Adilshahi rule. Shivaji Maharaj was a champion of the common people and worked tirelessly to protect their rights and freedoms. He is also remembered for his efforts in promoting Hindu culture and traditions, while also respecting the diversity of religions and cultures in his empire. Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is also celebrated to inspire the younger generations to emulate his values and principles. His life and achievements serve as a source of inspiration for millions of people, especially in Maharashtra, where he is revered as a hero and a role model. His legacy continues to live on through various cultural and educational initiatives that seek to promote his ideals of justice, equality, and freedom. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti FAQs Q. What is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is an annual celebration in India that commemorates the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a revered Maratha warrior king and the founder of the Maratha Empire. It is observed on the 19th of February every year. Q. Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680) was a prominent Indian warrior king who established the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. He is remembered for his military leadership, administrative skills, and his efforts to protect Hinduism from the Mughal Empire. Q. Why is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebrated? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated to honor the life, achievements, and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He is considered a symbol of courage, valor, and patriotism in India, especially in the state of Maharashtra. Q. How is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebrated? The celebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti includes various events such as processions, cultural programs, and speeches that highlight the life and contributions of Shivaji Maharaj. People also pay their respects by visiting Shivaji Maharaj's forts and monuments. Q. Is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti a public holiday in India? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is a public holiday in the Indian state of Maharashtra, where it is celebrated with great enthusiasm. In other states, it is not a public holiday but is still observed by many people. Q. How do people honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on this day? On Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, people honor Shivaji Maharaj by offering prayers, reading his life stories, and participating in cultural events that showcase his achievements. Some also organise charitable activities in his memory. Q. What are some famous quotes by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? Of all rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother. Even if there were a sword in the hands of everyone, it is willpower that establishes a government. No need to learn from your mistakes. We can learn a lot from others mistakes. Q. What is the significance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Indian history? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a significant figure in Indian history because of his role in establishing the Maratha Empire and his efforts to protect Hinduism from the Mughal Empire. He is remembered as a brave and visionary leader who fought for the welfare of his people. Q. How can I participate in the celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti? You can participate in the celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti by attending events organised in your area, reading about his life and achievements, and paying your respects at his monuments and forts. You can also contribute to charitable activities in his memory. Q. What is the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? The legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj includes his contributions to Indian history, his role in establishing the Maratha Empire, and his efforts to protect Hinduism. He is remembered as a symbol of courage, valor, and patriotism in India. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Renowned Urdu poet and acclaimed lyricist Gulzar, along with Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, chosen to be honored with the prestigious 58th Jnanpith Award. This announcement was made by the selection committee responsible for India's highest literary accolade on Saturday. jnanpith Gulzar Gulzar, celebrated for his profound contributions to Hindi cinema, is widely regarded as one of the most eminent Urdu poets of contemporary times. His illustrious career spans across multiple decades, during which he has captivated audiences with his lyrical brilliance and unparalleled storytelling prowess. With an impressive array of accolades to his name, including the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu in 2002, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013, and the Padma Bhushan in 2004, Gulzar has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema and literature. He has penned some of the most iconic songs in the history of Indian cinema, including for films like "Slumdog Millionaire," for which he wrote the Oscar-winning song "Jai Ho,". Additionally, his collaborations with acclaimed filmmakers have yielded timeless classics such as "Maachis," "Omkara," "Dil Se...," and "Guru," earning him numerous National Film Awards and widespread acclaim. Gulzar has also made significant contributions as a filmmaker, helming timeless classics like "Koshish," "Parichay," "Mausam," and "Ijaazat." ANI Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, revered as the founder and spiritual leader of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot, played a pivotal role in nurturing a vibrant spiritual community and imparting invaluable teachings to countless devotees and disciples. A polyglot, who speaks 22 languages, Rambhadracharya is a poet and writer in several Indian languages including Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili. In 2015, he received the Padma Vibhushan award. He was named Giridhara Misra. He lost his eyesight at the age of two months due to trachoma and was home tutored during the initial years by his grandfather. By age five, he had memorized the entire Bhagwad Gita and by eight, the entire Ramcharitmanas, according to his website. ANI Official statement from the Jnanpith The official statement from the Jnanpith selection committee read, It has been decided to give the award (for 2023) to eminent writers from two languages: Sanskrit litterateur Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and well known Urdu litterateur Shri Gulzar. The press release from the official selection commitee recognized Gulzar for the award, and said, Along with his long film journey, Gulzar has been setting new milestones in the field of literature. In poetry, he invented a new genre Triveni which is a non-mukaffa poem of three lines. Gulzar has always created something new through his poetry. For some time now he has also been paying serious attention to children's poetry. The Jnanpith Award is the most prestigious literary accolade in India, recognising outstanding contributions to literature in any of the 22 official languages of the country. Established in 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, a trust founded by the Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain family, the award aims to honor writers who have enriched Indian literature with their exceptional literary works. Over the years, the Jnanpith Award has been conferred upon some of the most eminent literary figures in India, including poets, novelists, playwrights, and essayists, spanning diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. In a significant blunder causing embarrassment for the Uttar Pradesh police, an admit card featuring the name and photo of actor Sunny Leone for the UP Police Constable examination was widely circulated on Saturday. Credit: X The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board issued the erroneous admit card. 'Sunny Leon' from UP taking police exam The issue came to attention when a seat at Srimati Sone Shri Smarak Balika Mahavidhyala in Kannauj district remained unoccupied during the initial meeting. Upon inquiry, invigilators discovered that the roll number had been assigned to an applicant named 'Sunny Leon', according to the admit card issued by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board. ASP Amit Kumar Anand of Kannauj stated, "Upon investigation, it was revealed that the form submitted in the actor's name originated from Kasganj district. The Kasganj Police is currently looking into the matter. The UP Police is also investigating how the admit card was issued." India isn't for beginners, say netizens The image of the admit card shared on X (previously Twitter) prompted humorous reactions from users. One user remarked, "Log kya kya karte he yaar," while another quipped, "India is surely not for beginners." A third user swiftly questioned the authenticity, suggesting possible editing. However, with the Uttar Pradesh Police addressing the blunder, conducting thorough investigations, the incident, though peculiar, seems to be factual indeed. UP Police recruitment drive 2024 Representative image The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment Board conducted its examination on February 17, with approximately 48 lakh candidates participating for a total of 60,244 available positions. Among the total number of candidates, roughly 15 lakh were women. Who is Sunny Leone? Wikipedia On a separate note, for those unfamiliar with Sunny Leone's background, she is an actress and model renowned for her successful career in the US adult film industry. Born as Karenjit Kaur Vohra into an Indian Sikh family in Canada, she holds dual Canadian and American citizenship. Her personal life took a turn when she married Daniel Weber in 2011, and the couple expanded their family through adoption and surrogacy, welcoming three children Nisha, Asher, and Noah. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a heartwarming gesture, a man left a $10,000 tip on a $32 bill while dining out at a restaurant in Michigan in US. In a post that quickly went viral, The Mason Jar Cafe expressed overwhelming emotions, echoing the sentiment of everyone involved. The receipt, dated February 5, showcased the extraordinary act, with the customer identified only by the name "Mark." The bill amounted to $32.43, a modest sum for a breakfast meal, but what followed was truly extraordinary, a tip of $10,000. cafe mason jar Restaurant's post on social media "I'M CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING, WE'RE ALL CRYING," the restaurant wrote in the Facebook post, which had garnered 3,100 reactions and 361 comments by the time of writing. The restaurant also shared a picture of the receipt. The bill was $32.43, the photo of the receipt shows. The suggested tip amount on the receipt was between 20% and 25%, or from $5.95 to $7.44. But the customer didn't take those suggestions. Instead, a sum of $10,000 was written in as the tip, bringing the customer's total bill to $10,032.43. "In a time where so much is happening, we wanted to share and thank the person who did this life changing act," the restaurant continued writing on Facebook. "In memory of a friend" Disclosing the reason behind the generous gift, the staffers at the Mason Jar Cafe said, "It was in memory of a friend who had recently passed and he was in town for the funeral." The money was split nine ways among the coworkers, who each took home a little over $1,100 each. Tipped 30,835% of his bill "Typically, we'll see every now and then $100," the restaurant's manager told WOOD-TV of tips. "But not ever anything of this gratitude or magnitude," Tim Sweeney continued. The tip of $10,000 meant the man had tipped 30,835% of his bill. On average, people in the US tip 16% of their bill when dining out, as per Forbes' 2023 Digital Tipping Culture Survey. "It was just really an act of kindness that impacted so many people," Paige Mulick, who was working at the restaurant that day, told WOOD-TV. Mulick, who's a recent graduate of Western Michigan University, said the money will help pay off some of her student loans. She added that there were "so many incredible women working that day, so many hardworking mothers ... just who deserve this." For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Even the most basic activities take on new dimensions when aboard the International Space Station (ISS). As a result, it is not surprising that something as simple as wringing a towel may become a captivating spectacle. Simple tasks become more challenging in space due to the absence of gravity or the presence of microgravity. In a microgravity environment, objects don't behave as they do on Earth. What happens when you squeeze a wet towel in space? CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield performed a simple science experiment | Image: YouTube A old video of an astronaut doing this has reappeared on social media, leaving people astounded. The footage, which was published on Instagram, is part of a longer clip that the Canadian Space Agency originally put on YouTube ten years ago. The space agency wrote while sharing the video, CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield performed a simple science experiment designed by grade 10 Lockview High School students Kendra Lemke and Meredith Faulkner. The students from Fall River, Nova Scotia won a national science contest held by the Canadian Space Agency with their experiment on surface tension in space using a wet washcloth." Why does it happen? Your muscles have to work harder to accomplish the same task which is easier on Earth | Image: YouTube On Earth, when you squeeze a wet towel, the downward force of gravity provides resistance against which your muscles work, making it easier to wring out the water. In space, there is no such resistance, so your muscles have to work harder to accomplish the same task. In the Instagram video, astronaut Hadfield can be seen squeezing a wet towel and describing how it works while aboard the International Space Station. How did people on the internet react? The video was uploaded a few days ago. Since then, the video has received close to 5.9 lakh views. It has also accumulated almost 15,000 likes. People offered various remarks in response to the video. "Maximum respect to astronauts and their passion for teaching us all," an Instagram user wrote. "This is why I enjoy learning physics," said another. "This is so cool," added a third. "Space is crazy," said a fourth. Check the viral video here. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced two new loans to Greek entities on Friday in Athens , worth more than 300 million euros between them The Nigeria Police Force, Tantita Security Services, the Nigeria Military and other relevant security agencies have arrested 40 persons involved in oil theft. The joint security operatives also recovered two vessels at the Ogbogoro Oil Field, Brass Area, and Ekeni Area of Southern-Jaw in Bayelsa State. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, in a Saturday statement, said the suspects were apprehended and subjected to investigation having established a prima facie case against them. He said they would be arraigned in court to face charges related to economic sabotage and oil theft. Adejobi added that the vessels used in the illegal activities have been seized as part of the evidence against the suspects. The Nigeria Police Force, as part of its intensified efforts to curb the illegal oil theft and economic sabotage in the country and in conjunction with the military and other relevant security agencies, has been in active liaison on intelligence sharing and collaboration with Private Security Contractors (PSCs) engaged by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) particularly Tantita Security Services. READ ALSO: Anambra Lawyer Accused Of Brutalising Maid Surrenders To Police The efforts led to the arrest of forty (40) suspected individuals and recovery of two (2) vessels in two different interceptions at the Ogbogoro Oil Field, Brass Area, and Ekeni Area of Southern-Ijaw in Bayelsa State, for conspiracy, tampering with oil pipeline, illegal transportation of crude oil, dealing in crude and storing same without lawful authority or appropriate license amongst others. Specifically, arraignment for suspects involved in the case of one of the vessels is scheduled for 26th February, 2024, while the motion for interim forfeiture of the Vessel and products contained therein will be heard on 19th February, 2024, Adejobi detailed. He noted that preliminary investigations have indicted numerous individuals and companies, including their foreign collaborators who would in due course be interrogated and caused to face the full wrath of the law. Burna Boy, an acclaimed Nigerian Afrobeat artist, has responded to his senior colleague, Eedris Abdulkareem, for degrading him. During a recent interview on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Eedris criticised Burna Boy for his controversial statement about the Nigerian music industry. Eedris Abdulkareem dismissed Burna Boys assertions that he was never assisted in his music career in Nigeria as stupid talk. In his words, You hear someone like Burna Boy say no one helped him in Nigeria. Thats stupid talk. In response to the development, Burna Boy, who was upset by Eedris comment, turned to his X account to drag the artist, claiming he blamed individuals who showed solidarity by donating to his medical expenditures. READ MORE: AY Comedian Shares How He Went From Scandal-Free To Being Hated He also prayed for a physical meeting with Eedris. Abdul Kareem Abi wetin dem dey call your papa, I no blame you. I blame people wey donate money for your hospital bills. And I wish say you be person wey fit dey enter the kind places wey I dey dey, make we use mistake jam he wrote. SEE POST: Popular Nigerian comedian, Seyi Law, has accused state governors for doing nothing to assist citizens as the country continues to face economic hardship. Seyi, in a post via his X page, described the governors as shameless, adding that everything that has to do with governance does not lie at the centre. He mentioned that the allocations for states have increased and wondered what the governors are doing with the added funds they have received. Seyi said: I would rather stay with a Moses through the wilderness to Canaan than eat meats and drink wine in slavery in Egypt at the expense of my childrens future. SEYILAW. While a lot of Nigerians kill the optimism of others with hate and urge for immediate gratification, it is sad that our government agencies are not communicating government agendas, efforts, and actions effectively. READ MORE: Seyi Law Used My Content Behind Me Baba Tee I am not one to judge anyone for their anger towards the government. After all, they were voted to serve the people. I am maybe only privileged to be better informed. I know everything doesnt rest at the centre, and I should be able to make demands from the state government. Your allocations have increased, and to take steps towards a better transportation system not to talk of subsidizing it for your citizens is a mountain youre finding hard to climb. The state governors are absolutely shameless. It is easy for any government at the centre to please the multitude by reverting back to full subsidy on fuel and exchange rates, but I would rather we reset, rebuild, and sustain our future than live on a better now by borrowing our future. I want to see certain people-driven and engaging policies in agriculture, power, and health sectors. I am hopeful. I will criticise constructively and condemn unworthy acts. To those still cursing in my mentions, if another election was held tomorrow, I would still vote ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU. Former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Ike Ibe, says the elites are to be blamed for the Nigerias economic state. Ibe, in a weekend statement via X noted that the elites have not lived up to expectations. Hardship, starvation, high cost of living, unimaginable costs of food and products, leadership failures, nepotism, hunger, deaths, etc. We have seen worse cups. This cup too shall pass over us. Amen. READ ALSO: Lets Have State Police, But Governors Shouldnt Be Allowed To Abuse It Arase It is the elites that destroyed Nigeria. The party leaders who give crooks tickets because of money. The professors, who as returning officers, declare losers as winners because of money. The judges who give ridiculous judgments declaring obvious losers as winners because of money. All these characters are elites. They destroyed Nigeria, he posted. At the event "Latin America in the Changing Global Era: Rethinking multilateralism for security, democracy, and development," organized by Fedesarrollo, the Peruvian government official detailed the previous actions for crafting this regulatory document. "We got to work fast seeking, within the existing Andean regulations, an agreement," Gonzalez-Olaechea expressed on Friday. He said the four member countries ordered that their Defense, Interior, Migrations, and Justice teams drive advances, with a view to the meeting held on January 21 in Lima, where Decision No. 922 was approved by which the Resolute Action Plan (PAR) was adopted . This document prioritizes spheres of action related to security and the fight against transnational organized crime in the Andean subregion. "We adopted a binding document within 10 hours: Decision No. 922, which is an Andean Law. The Resolute Action Plan contains 13 scopes of action, with 28 specific measures (...)," he indicated. The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has been accused of abandoning his constitutional duties and making governance suffer in the state. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the accusation was made to the public, by the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party, in the states off-cycle polls, Emeka Nwulu, on Sunday. Nwulu, believed that Uzodinma has been out of Imo for over thirty days and did not hand over to his deputy. He said: The collapse of governance in Imo State is evident in the governor abandoning his duties. With the governor missing in action for the past 30 days, the state is left directionless and devoid of leadership. READ MORE: Imo: Uzodinma Suspends Lands Commissioner, Special Adviser There is no government in Imo State in the past 30 days. And we wonder how the State can function without appointees and the governor absconding from his duties for a long period. Imo State is being run like someones empire. The State is like a vessel without a captain. At a time when Imo State urgently requires proactive measures to alleviate economic hardship, Governor Uzodimmas abandonment of his people is deeply troubling, His actions raise doubts about his legitimacy as a leader chosen by the people. Aisha Yesufu, popular rights activist and stalwart of the Labour Party, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of rigging himself into power to kill Nigerians. The activist, via X on Saturday, said those close to the President cant feel the hardship Nigerians are currently experiencing. According to her, Nigerians, who experienced poverty during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, are witnessing another level of hardship now. The people that were in multi-dimensional poverty during Buhari, can you imagine what state they are in now? Tinubu rigged his way in to destroy Nigeria. READ ALSO: Buhari, Emefieles Infractions Responsible For Current Hardship Afenifere The Muslim-Muslim ticket and the Emilokan group will not feel it. Anytime they buy, they will just say, at least theyre rigged in, nothing else matters, she posted. Recall that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had announced a two-day nationwide protest over the hardship being experienced by Nigerians as well as the deteriorating security situation in the country. The protest will begin a week after the expiration of the 14 day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government which expires on February 23. The days for the nationwide protest are February 27 and 28. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has boasted that he has established a strong political system that will make the 2027 general elections a stroll in the park. The former governor made this revelation on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at a thanksgiving service in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State, which was hosted by Senator Barinada Mpigi. Dignitaries such as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio attended the occasion. Speaking about his preparedness for the general elections in 2027, Wike stated that the alliance between Rivers States two major political parties will ensure success. With the forces we have I dont know of anybody who can challenge us. I can tell you it is like tomorrow is 2027. For me it is still very far, I cant wait. The two leadership of the party, APC is here, PDP is here; where can you find that leadership unity? Which state? It is only in Rivers that you can find that unity. And that is what many people dont like. When they see people united and working together, they find how to make sure they are divided but since we know, we have refused to be divided. Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, has advocated for the creation of an independent body to probe complaints against police officers. Alamutu said this at a weekend lecture at the 26th Annual Convention of the Alumni Association of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The conventions theme, Insecurity in Nigeria: The Mistrust between Police and Citizenry, assesed the importance of addressing the strained relationship. He however emphasized the necessity for systemic, institutional, and legislative reforms to foster improved police-citizen relations, promoting accountability and transparency within the police force. Strong mechanisms should be put in place for holding police accountable for their actions including thorough and impartial investigations into allegations of misconduct. READ ALSO: Police Kill One, Arrest Suspected Kidnappers Of Ekiti Pupils There should also be an establishment of an independent body to monitor and investigate complaints which will further help to pacify the ill feelings of the citizens toward the police. Furthermore, transparency in police operations should be promoted and this can be achieved through publishing of crime statistics and making information on police procedures public, he said. Corruption, human rights abuses, inadequate training and professionalism among others, he noted, are factors contributing to the mistrust between the Nigerian police and the people Addressing the mistrust between the police and the citizenry, the police chief added, is crucial for combating insecurity and creating a safe environment for everyone. He noted that rebuilding trust would require a multifaceted approach which encompasses community policing, accountability, human rights training, public awareness campaigns, adequate funding, among others. The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Mandilas Market for the next two days. This is to enable marketers comply with its directive for the removal of illegal make-shift structures erected on road setbacks within and around the market. The closure notice was issued on Saturday during a joint inspection and enforcement exercise carried out by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), in conjunction with some law enforcement agencies and other relevant government agencies in charge of emergency-related matters. The enforcement exercise followed the expiration of the 14-day self-removal notice earlier given by the state government to the traders to remove their wares and shops from the roads, especially around Mandilas on Lagos Island. Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on electronic Geographic Information System and Urban Development; his colleague in charge of Central Business District, Bola Olumegbon-Lawal; the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Nurudeen Sodehinde and the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, led the enforcement team during the monitoring exercise. Speaking on the rationale behind the extension, Babatunde explained that the extension of the initial ultimatum was meant to further give room for the affected shop owners to salvage their belongings and voluntarily remove obstructions erected on walkways. With the level of non-compliance and lackadaisical attitude put up by the affected traders, the state government is fully ready to enforce compliance and removal where necessary upon the expiration of the new ultimatum given, he said. READ ALSO: Fallen Container Claims Three Lives On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Olumegbon-Lawal, on her part, said the clean-up exercise being embarked upon by the state government throughout the entire Lagos Island was in the interest and safety of the residents. She said: The rate of safety infractions being perpetrated within the Mandilas market including the erection of high capacity generating set on make-shift extensions on first, and second floors. While pleading for self-compliance from the affected shop owners to remove all illegal attachments and extensions, Olumegbon-Lawal stated that the state government is desirous of achieving a saner, well-organised and clean city devoid of all forms of environmental nuisance. Also speaking, Sodehinde said the state government was sending strong a message to Lagosians to be law-abiding. He added, If the state government is forced to carry out the removal of the extensions and illegal structures, the affected persons would be compelled to pay for such exercise. Lagos is an urban state and this implies that there should be organisation and proper coordination in the way and manner we carry out our businesses and all our engagements. He assured Lagosians that the monitoring and enforcement of compliance with the ongoing cleanup would be sustained until total sanity is restored to Lagos Island. The Lagos State Government had on January 29, 2024, given a 14-day ultimatum to traders occupying illegal structures in Lagos Island to evacuate. The Olu of Owode in Obafemi/Owode Local Government of Ogun State, identified as Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, has confirmed his two-month suspension without salaries by the Egba Traditional Council. This is coming, following the monarchs alleged abuse of naira notes, as seen in a viral video from early January. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that in the video, the royal father was captured on camera adorning popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde with new notes of N1,000. However, the event did not settle well with the Egba Traditional Council as they suspend the monarch for his public degradation of the Nigerian currency, which is a violation of the Central Bank of Nigerias regulations. The suspension was reportedly imposed during the February statutory meeting of the Egba Traditional Council, chaired by the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. It was gathered that the joint resolution passed during the meeting approved the suspension of the monarch based on the Ethics Committees recommendation. READ MORE: Ogun Monarch Crushed To Death Inside Commercial Tricycle Speaking to journalists on the development, Sowemimo said that the suspension was announced during the traditional rulers meeting on Friday. He said: They said the suspension was due to the way I spent money on one musician. And when I was asked if I had anything to say, I stood up and apologised for whatever I had done wrong, and the suspension, which was earlier announced to be for three months without salaries, was reduced to two months. I totally accept the verdict of the council because it is the person that we love that we chastise, so I am good with the decision. The Port of Philadelphia's Packer Avenue Marine Terminal and the auto processing facility at Southport. Read more The Port of Philadelphia has been booming in recent years. Cargo units have almost doubled since 2016, as the deepening of the Delaware River and public investment have enabled the port to accommodate bigger ships that carry containers full of fruits and meats from such countries as Chile and Australia. The port long known as a top market for refrigerated cargo such as produce in December welcomed the largest vessel ever to stop here, via a shipping line that serves South China and Southeast Asia through the Suez Canal. A key driver of that growth has been Holt Logistics, a South Jersey-based, family-owned company founded almost a century ago that operates terminals on both sides of the Delaware River, including Philadelphias largest, the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. Holt has held the lease to the Packer Avenue terminal for more than 30 years, and in just the last decade it says its companies have invested more than $200 million to support Philadelphia port operations. Advertisement The state of Pennsylvania has invested more than half a billion dollars in the port since 2016, betting that major infrastructure upgrades to the commercial hub will help power the regional economy. But as the port grows, some in the logistics industry say Holt is getting too big, offering services that go beyond a terminal operators core role of loading and unloading ships. That growth has been enabled by favorable treatment from the state agency that oversees the port, critics say, adding that theyve lost business to Holt as a result of what they think could be anticompetitive conduct in violation of federal law. They warn that if the state agency that governs the port doesnt take action, truckers who move the cargo from the docks could go out of business, and Holt will gain monopoly power and potentially raise prices for shippers. Holt denies engaging in anticompetitive conduct and says it has reduced costs for shippers, making Philadelphia a more attractive cargo destination in the competitive East Coast market. Federal regulators have taken an interest in the truckers allegations. A senior investigator for the Federal Maritime Commission wrote in a Feb. 8 email seen by The Inquirer to trucking company Tri State Intermodal that the agency is reviewing information and documents provided by the truckers. The agency has assigned civil trial lawyers to the investigation, emails show. Three other trucking companies told The Inquirer theyve lost business to Holt and raised similar concerns about its business practices. The dispute comes after the pandemic focused the publics attention on the importance of resilience in supply chains, as the United States faced shortages of medical products and other goods. Early in his administration, President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at increasing competition across the economy and encouraging more rigorous enforcement by federal regulators. Shipping now faces another stress test amid the conflict in the Middle East, as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. And a severe drought in the Panama Canal a key trade route between the U.S. and Asia is disrupting the global economy. While those events are shaping international trade, the biggest flashpoint in the Philadelphia Regional Port Authoritys monthly meetings on Delaware Avenue near the Betsy Ross Bridge has been Holt. Whats being done here in Philadelphia is not part of the standard operating procedures of a marine terminal operator, said Mike Hellam, who worked with ports around the country as an agent recruiter for national trucking company Evans Delivery before starting his own trucking business. Hellam, who says he lost business to Holt, added: They are actually maintaining control over who handles the trucking and transportation portions. Hell of a job The Holt family business started in 1926 as a small trucking company in Camden, but over time Thomas Holt Sr. grew it into an empire with an ocean cargo line and marine cargo handling operations not just in Philadelphia and Gloucester City but also Jacksonville, Fla., and Puerto Rico. Many of its assets were sold off after the Holt Group filed for bankruptcy in 2001, but the family continued operations in Philadelphia. Holt, a privately owned company, declined to share financial data. Theyve done a hell of a job bringing more business into the port, said Tim Avanzato, an executive with Lanca Sales, a New Jersey-based import/export company. During a tour of the terminal Friday, longshoremen could be seen operating cranes to drop empty containers onto a Maersk ship that had arrived from South America carrying frozen meat, shoes, auto parts, and other goods. Inspectors with Customs and Border Patrol were scanning containers, and truckers were picking up cargo. In an interview Friday, Leo Holt, the companys president, said his family chose to invest in Philadelphia despite headwinds facing maritime transportation generally and even though ports in New York and California handle significantly more cargo. Whilst in recent years people have become aware very painfully of the supply chain, and its fragility, we have been living it almost for the last century through a phenomenal period of change and growth, he said at the companys offices underneath the Walt Whitman Bridge. Whats been steady through those ups and downs is our willingness to invest in our people, our willingness to invest in facilities, and our willingness to bet on the future of the Port of Philadelphia. Some logistics executives say theyre concerned about Holts business practices specifically its brokerage that connects shippers with trucking companies. A terminal operators main job is to load and unload ships. With its brokerage, Holt operates in another part of the supply chain determining how containers get from the terminal to a railroad or warehouse, where their contents are stored before reaching manufacturers, distributors, or retailers. Holt also operates a new warehouse, developed with $52 million in state funds, a mile from the Packer Avenue terminal. Trucking companies say Holt bundles these services terminal, trucking brokerage, and warehousing to shippers, offering rates they cant match. Holt also offers more efficient terminal services, such as clearing customs, to shippers that use its brokerage, truckers say. And as the terminal operator, Holt has access to information about all the cargo flowing into the port and therefore a road map to potential customers for its brokerage business, critics say. Leo Holt said his company brokers less than 4% of containers that come into the Packer Avenue terminal and is emulating industry best practices. The terminal operator shares data with Holts competitors in trucking and warehousing, he said. Alfred Iannelli, president of Northstar Transport Services, said Holts brokerage hasnt underbid his company, but hes concerned nonetheless. As Holt gets bigger and stronger, will there be enough business for the trucking community in Philadelphia or will they absorb all of it? he said. An infusion of state money As Holt has gained new business, its also benefited from state investment in the Packer Avenue terminal. The terminal and the ports other facilities are owned by the port authority, known as PhilaPort. As governor, Tom Wolf made port expansion a key part of his economic plan. It was a shot in the arm for Philadelphia, which had been a major commercial hub back when the U.S. was a manufacturing powerhouse but fell behind other East Coast ports amid 20th-century deindustrialization and a failure to keep pace with infrastructure investment made in other cities and states. Wolf and port leadership announced the first round of funding $300 million in November 2016, with two-thirds of that earmarked for the Packer Avenue terminal, which was built in 1967. The capital financed PhilaPorts purchase of new electric container cranes, among other things, and Wolf highlighted the jobs it would create. At the same time, the state announced it had renegotiated its leases with Holt whose agreement dated to 1991 and two other tenants to market rates. As part of Holts amended lease, PhilaPort agreed to provide Holt 365,000 square feet of warehouse space to replace 280,000 square feet inside the Packer Avenue terminal it would tear down to make room for containers. The port says that extra container capacity has helped drive growth. In the next two years three Holt brothers contributed $110,500 to Wolfs 2018 reelection campaign, plus another $50,000 to Wolfs PAC in 2019 and 2020, records show. Holt Logistics also spent $90,000 on lobbying during Wolfs tenure, according to state records. The port authority spent $10 million in 2017 to buy a 30-acre site near the Packer Avenue terminal that was once the Philadelphia Regional Produce Terminal. The property is now home to a $42 million, 200,000-square-foot dry warehouse operated by Holt, which said it has invested an additional $25 million in the building. A second, 165,000-square-foot refrigerated warehouse is underway. Officials have said the new warehouses would expand the ports capacity to move cargo. Truckers including South Philly-based Tri State Intermodal questioned why the port didnt follow a competitive bidding process in selecting an operator for the warehouse. PhilaPort board chairman Michael Pearson, an appointee of Gov. Josh Shapiro, said the authority selected Holt because of the requirements in the lease. The state provided the port an additional $269 million under Wolf, bringing the total to more than half a billion dollars. His administrations funding helped develop a 155-acre automobile processing center in the Navy Yard known as Southport. And the port authority is developing its first new berth a place where ships can stop to transfer cargo in 50 years, also at Southport. From 2015 through 2023, PhilaPort invested $420 million across more than a dozen terminals and facilities, according to data obtained through public records requests. Forty-six percent of that total $195 million went to the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. Over this same period of time, Holt paid $29 million in rent to the port or 21% of the ports $137 million in total rental income. In other words, while Holt accounted for just one-fifth of the agencys rental income, the companys terminal received almost half the public capital invested by the port. Its doubtful, Tri State said in a letter to port leadership, that the lawmakers who established the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority intended for one terminal operator to have access to a bounty of taxpayer-funded capital which allows it to unfairly compete/take business from smaller Pennsylvania-based companies without access to that same bounty. The vast majority of the state funding was financed through bonds; in 2017, several port initiatives were included in a list of capital projects authorized by the legislature as eligible for such financing. At the time, Wolf and his administration said the bonds would be repaid by revenue from the ports leases, not taxpayers. The ports annual rental income has doubled since 2015, from $11 million to $22 million, and the agency hasnt relied on state subsidy for operating needs since 2018. However, the borrowing was financed by general obligation bonds, so the money to cover the debt service actually comes from the states general fund, not directly from lease revenues, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson. That means taxpayers are in fact on the hook, said Nathan A. Benefield, senior vice president at the Harrisburg-based Commonwealth Foundation, a right-leaning think tank. Board chairman Pearson whos also a real estate executive and CEO of Philadelphia nonprofit Public Health Management Corp. said the ports capital planning was influenced by the 2016 expansion of the Panama Canal in Central America, which has allowed bigger ships to carry more cargo through the waterway that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Those newer, larger Super Post-Panamax ships so named because they were designed to fit through the expanded canal were unable to navigate beyond the Walt Whitman Bridge, Pearson said. That restriction was a determining factor in the ports planned growth south of the Walt Whitman Bridge. Improvements to the berth to accommodate new cranes helped leverage the capabilities of the recently completed dredging of the Delaware River to 45 feet, he said. Pennsylvania and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the project. From 2016 to 2023, container volume increased 82%, Pearson said. He said 60% of all jobs on the port are related to container business, which also accounts for a majority of the $90 million in annual tax revenue generated by the port. The number of jobs supported by the port increased 25% to 12,100 across its terminals and facilities since 2016, the port has said. As part of the lease agreement, Holt purchased two Ship-to-Shore container cranes and developed an on-dock inspection facility for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among other improvements, Pearson said private investments that have totaled tens of millions of dollars. Political contributions in Pennsylvania Holt has worked to cultivate ties to politicians in Harrisburg who help set the state budget. Since 2010, three Holt brothers who are also company executives Leo, Thomas Jr., and Michael have contributed $742,000 to Pennsylvania political committees registered with the Department of State, an Inquirer analysis found. More than half of that went to the three most recent governors Democrats Shapiro and Wolf, as well as Republican Tom Corbett who along with legislative leaders appoint PhilaPorts 11 board members. Shapiros transition team was chaired by William Sasso, chairman emeritus of the law firm Stradley Ronon and a longtime attorney for the Holts. Holt has long supported leaders who support the port, and we make no apologies for doing so, said Kevin Feeley, the companys spokesperson, adding that the governor is uniquely positioned to direct policies and investments that impact the port. One public entity whose board members are mostly appointees of the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey recently faced scrutiny over its oversight of a lease with Holt. Since 1984 the company has held a lease with the Delaware River Port Authority for land beneath the Walt Whitman Bridge in connection with Holts wharf and marine terminal operations in Gloucester City. The bistate agency which operates the regions bridges initially set annual rent at $19,000, or about $57,000 in todays dollars. Holts rent was reduced to $1 in 1993 as part of an unrelated agreement. The rental arrangement hasnt been updated since, according to a 2022 inspector generals report, which recommended negotiating the lease at current market rates. A DRPA spokesperson told The Inquirer last month that the agency is completing the due diligence work necessary to take action. Holts spokesperson said a portion of the seven-acre parcel was literally created by Holt in the 1980s when it built a new wharf at the adjacent Gloucester Marine Terminal, which today employs nearly 1,000 people. The leases were negotiated fairly and with full consideration for both sides, including recognition of Holts improvements to the site as well as use restrictions, the spokesperson said. The loss of a $2 million contract Truckers say their frustration is exacerbated by Holt being the beneficiary of the millions of dollars in investment from Harrisburg. Leading the public criticism of Holt has been Tri State Intermodal, a family-owned company that owns or leases 65 trucks and has 65 employees. In 2022 Tri State lost a $2 million annual contract with bottled water manufacturer FIJI Water, which switched to Holts brokerage. Tri State says Holts bid for the FIJI deal was enabled in part by the new state-funded warehouse that was incorporated into Holts lease, because it gave Holt another resource to offer shippers. Bottles of FIJI Water have since been stored at the warehouse. Holt has been in the warehousing business for years; when Tri State had the FIJI contract, it would often take containers to a Holt-operated warehouse in New Jersey. We at Tri State do not fear competition, but currently our business, our livelihoods, and those of many other local trucking companies are in danger of failure due to what we suspect is unfair competition being carried out by the Holt family of companies, the company wrote to the port boards chairman last fall. During a pre-Christmas meeting of PhilaPorts board, Tri States John P. DiDomenicis III likened Holt to Scrooge, bullying the port community and leveraging his position as port operator to gain more and more power. Holt says its operations reduce customer costs, provide shippers with a series of efficiencies and so improve the competitive position of our port. Making Philadelphia a more attractive cargo destination works to everyones benefit, including our nearly 3,000 union employees and their families, a Holt affiliate said in a January letter to the port. Tri States demand that Holt exit the trucking business shows that Tri State is only interested in securing profits, not fair competition, Holt said. The ports deputy general counsel, Brian Gocial, told Tri State in a December email that the agency takes all allegations of improper conduct relating to PhilaPort facilities seriously but that the truckers have not provided specific information or documentation demonstrating a violation of the law or breach of Holts lease. Holt spokesperson Feeley said FIJI had described numerous problems with Tri States servicing of the account, including that during the pandemic, Tri State prioritized transport of on-dock containers based on which customers were paying the highest rates. (Tri State disputed that assertion.) Holt has invested more than $100 million in warehouse space to support increased cargo volume, Feeley said. This gives Holt a decided advantage in competing for cargo, he said. If other companies choose not to invest in warehouses, he said, they must live with the consequences of their decisions. FIJIs parent company, The Wonderful Co., declined to say why it switched to Holts brokerage but said it reviews trucking contracts every year. FIJI said it has contracted with Holt for warehousing services for 10 years. Tri State reached out to the Federal Maritime Commission last year about the FIJI account and other matters. Matthew D. Forst, senior investigator for the FMCs Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations, and Compliance, told Tri State in a Feb. 8 email that every aspect of that information is being reviewed and analyzed and these efforts are ongoing. Holt said it has been told that the commission is currently in the preliminary phase of its review and that the company will cooperate fully. We are patriots. ... We pay our taxes, were very careful. We believe in the rule of law, Leo Holt said. FMC spokesperson John DeCrosta said the agency does not discuss matters related to potential investigations. Generally, he said, when the Bureau of Enforcement receives an allegation of misconduct, it reviews the information and decides whether to pursue the matter. At that point, it conducts an initial assessment to determine whether the allegations are accurate. If investigators conclude theres been a violation of the law or regulations, they can ask the agencys five-member commission to negotiate a settlement with the party involved or seek to initiate a formal proceeding with an administrative law judge akin to bringing a lawsuit. Asking questions does not convey an assumption of wrongdoing or guilt, DeCrosta said. PhilaPorts Pearson said the state agency has consistently maintained that the FMC is the proper venue for Tri State to pursue their complaint. It would not be proper for me to provide comment on our tenants and their business relationships, he said. The port has consulted an outside law firm, Blank Rome, he said. Gatekeeper to commerce Ocean shipping is a key part of the U.S. economy. Maritime vessels carry 70% of U.S. international trade weight, according to federal data. Everything from consumer goods such as TVs and cell phones to energy supplies and raw materials rely on maritime supply chains. That means marine terminal operators and shipping lines are gatekeepers to commerce a fact that Congress recognized in federal law. Under the Shipping Act, those gatekeepers face a higher obligation not to engage in conduct that could undermine competition, according to the American Antitrust Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research and advocacy group. Tri State contends Holt has violated a provision of the Shipping Act that says marine terminal operators may not give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage with respect to any person. Tri State points to an April 2022 email from German international shipping company Hapag-Lloyd about the shipping lines decision to switch from Tri State to Holts brokerage for transportation from the terminal to a railroad. The main driver is to avoid or mitigate Hapag-Lloyds storage exposure in the port, the email says, according to a copy shared with The Inquirer. Tri State, in its letter to port leadership last fall, said this shows Holts terminal business is manipulating storage fees to drive business to its brokerage. A Hapag-Lloyd spokesperson declined to comment. Holts spokesperson, Feeley, said the terminal operator does not reduce port fees for clients of Holts brokerage, Holt Cargo Systems. What distinguishes the brokerage is its emphasis on moving cargo efficiently out of the port, reducing costs for shippers, the company says. Our DNA is to get it moved, and get it moved expeditiously, Leo Holt said. He said the notion that the terminal operator gives preference to Holts family of companies is absolute fantasy. We must have the velocity through the port. Guess what happens if we dont have the velocity through the port? he said. The customers can vote. Tri State isnt the only company upset with Holt. Hellam, the former Evans Delivery recruiter, said hed spent months recruiting a customer to the port and thought he had a deal that would result in estimated annual revenue of $750,000. But before a single shipment came, he said, in fall 2022 he learned the customer had switched to Holt. Hellam declined to name the customer to preserve business relationships, but other sources familiar with the matter identified it as furniture maker Restoration Hardware. Hellam said the shipper told him the reason behind the switch wasnt just a lower rate for trucking services: Holt had also guaranteed that it wouldnt charge the shipper for port demurrage, or the time a container spends inside the terminal before its taken to its next destination. Only the terminal operator can influence such port charges. That takes out fair market competition, Hellam said. Holts spokesperson, Feeley, disputed Hellams role in soliciting the business, saying Holt and the shipper, MSC, had recruited Restoration Hardware. At no point did Holt guarantee that it would not charge demurrage, Feeley said. Hellam said a different steamship line was involved and that Holts account is completely incorrect. Restoration Hardware said that only its CEO can comment on behalf of the company and that he wasnt available. Not a level playing field Hellam and Tri State say they want the port to intervene, noting that the Packer Avenue lease prohibits the tenant, Holt, from violating federal law. The ports deputy general counsel, Gocial, told Tri State in a December email that the truckers had not provided evidence that FIJIs switch to Holts brokerage was due to preferential treatment rather than legitimate business concerns. He declined Tri States request for a meeting but wrote that port leadership was willing to review documents that may substantiate its allegations. It remains to be seen whether the Federal Maritime Commission will take action. Tri State could also file a complaint with an administrative court housed in the FMC. The truckers say lawyers have told them it would cost more than $2 million to litigate. Tri States John Henkel said he worries PhilaPort has effectively ceded control of the port to its longtime tenant. Its not a level playing field, he said. Two other trucking companies who asked not to be named said theyd lost business to Holts brokerage. Avanzato, the import/export executive and a Tri State customer himself, said it makes sense for Holt to direct terminal traffic to the CSX railroad nearby, in order to keep containers moving efficiently. Beyond that, he said, the concern from the trucking community is: Where does it end? Gregory T. Gundlach, professor of marketing in the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida and a fellow at the American Antitrust Institute, said consolidation has increased at every level of the supply chain across the U.S. and globally. To assess whether alleged anticompetitive conduct is unlawful, Gundlach said, regulators and courts focus on whether consumers have been harmed through either higher prices, lower quality, or less innovation. Staff writer Aseem Shukla contributed to this article. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated Alfred Iannellis first name. PhilaPort's Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port on the Delaware River in South Philadelphia on June 18, 2019. A new $42 million distribution center will be built nearby. Read more In an ongoing bid to make Philadelphias port more competitive with New York and Baltimore, elected officials and port leadership on Thursday kicked off construction of a $42 million warehouse in South Philly. The building is going up a mile from the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal and is expected to create up to 300 jobs. The state is paying for the project under Gov. Tom Wolfs multiyear port development plan, an investment of more than $300 million in cranes and other infrastructure. Today the Port of Philadelphia is the fastest growing container port on the U.S. East Coast, and this new distribution center is an important step to improve port facilities and bring more traffic to the port, Wolf said in a video message that aired during a live-streaming of the groundbreaking ceremony. The port, which goes by PhilaPort, has fared well even during the pandemic: It saw 7% growth in 2020, handling a record 640,000 cargo units. Advertisement That growth rate shows the durability and the need for international trade, as ships brought fruits, vegetables and other essential commodities, said PhilaPort board chair Jerry Sweeney. Even though the pandemic shut down major parts of the economy, that trade dynamic was really important. PhilaPort supports 17,000 direct and indirect good-paying, family-sustaining jobs, Sweeney said. Expanding the ports capacity to move cargo, such as by adding the new warehouse, wont create new jobs just at the site, he said, but throughout the operations connected to the port. We all collectively believe that the port can be one of the great job and revenue creators for the southeast part of the state over the next decade, Sweeney said. The dredging of the Delaware River to a 45-foot depth, a massive, 30-year undertaking recently finished by Pennsylvania and the federal government, cleared the way for bigger cargo ships to come to Philadelphia. It was a key driver of the overall plan, Sweeney said, because it increased the viability of the port dramatically. Holt Logistics operates PhilaPorts Packer Avenue terminal and will also run the new 200,000-square-foot distribution center. There are some great examples up and down the East Coast where ports have really, really grown on the back of robust distribution-center landscapes, said Leo Holt, the companys president. That type of warehouse space helps keep cargo moving toward its final destination, and puts Philadelphia more fully into the last-mile business, Holt said. For Wolf, his legacy will be really kick-starting the rejuvenation of the port, Holt said. Putting money into cranes, into distribution centers, into improvements in the terminal, you can see it paying off. Fourth-grader Jayden Sanabria reacts to having his blood pressure taken at the beginning of a Mini Nurse Academy lesson at General George G. Meade Elementary School in North Philadelphia this month. The program, hosted by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association, aims to introduce more Black and brown children to nursing. Read more School nurse Clarissa Collier held up a pocket-size medical device on a recent afternoon at North Philadelphias General George Meade Elementary School and asked if any students in the class could identify it. Jayden Sanabria shot his hand into the air. The 9-year-old fourth grader recognized the glucometer a device to measure blood sugar from his own experience: My mom has diabetes. Every morning, I help her with her medicine, he said. Watching his mother manage her diabetes helped inspire Jayden to spend one afternoon a week learning about a potential career in nursing from Collier and other Philadelphia nurses at an after-school program called the Mini Nurse Academy. The two-month course offers an introduction to nursing, first aid, and health care, designed for elementary school students. The program is hosted by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association, a local chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. We break it down to language the kids understand, said Venus Gwynn, a retired nurse in the local NBNA chapter. Theres a lot of opportunities for students in junior high and high school, but were introducing this career to younger kids. Looking to diversify the nursing profession Sixteen students at Meade opted into the Mini Nurse Academy this year including a few, like Jayden, who participated in the program the year before and enjoyed themselves so much they decided to come back. Now in its second year, the class is designed to introduce Black and brown students, in particular, to the field of nursing. Advertisement Nursing as a profession is very white and female, said Monica Harmon, SEPABNAs chapter president. To see Black nurses leading and educating is powerful for the students. During a recent class, the students, ages 8 to 11, covered a breadth of topics. They wrapped blood pressure cuffs around each others arms. They counted carbohydrates and sugars to prepare a healthy meal for someone with diabetes. Everything has sugar in it, one child sighed during the lesson. Just about, Collier said, laughing. They also learn first aid techniques, like CPR, and how to apply pressure to a wound to slow bleeding. The lessons can be applied close to home. Some students, like Jayden, have family members who deal with chronic health conditions. Others have witnessed violence in their neighborhoods. One fourth-grader said he was interested in becoming a nurse because hes seen too many people get hurt and wanted to be able to help them. Some of the kids have seen people stabbed or shot the trauma thats gone on, Simpson said. They can appreciate this information, like how to stop bleeding. It makes them feel more in control, because they could actually do something if they needed to. The programs instructors say the class is just as valuable for them as it is for students. Jamisen Williams, a nursing student at Thomas Jefferson University who works with the Mini Nurse Academy as part of her clinical rotation, said shes proud to act as an example to children interested in nursing. Its important for the kids to see people who look like them in nursing, she said, especially considering the health disparities among communities of color. And theyre really learning some core values [of the profession]. Gwynn, of the Black Nurses Association, said the organization stays in touch with students even after they graduate the program, hoping to connect them to further opportunities in nursing. Its not just a one-off, Simpson said. A 30-year-old Huntingdon Valley truck driver died in the crash. No other injuries were reported. Read more A Huntingdon Valley man died early Sunday after the truck he was driving struck a semitrailer, then veered into a barrier and caught fire on the New Jersey Turnpike. Both trucks were headed southbound when the crash occurred, around 4:24 a.m. in Bordentown Township, according to New Jersey State Police Detective Jeffrey Lebron. The 30-year-old Pennsylvania mans Volvo bobtail truck collided with a Volvo semitrailer around milepost 54.5, according to crash investigators. The bobtail truck veered off the road, collided with a sound barrier and ignited in flames. The name of the victim was not released. No other injuries were reported. The investigation into the crash continues. LONDON Central Saint Martins MA Fashion graduate show saw students subverting symbols of luxury, challenging what the fashion industry deems as luxuriousand what it doesnt. The course is designed [for students] to go through a journey of learning, reflection, and on a discovery of what their values are and how they can apply them to their practice to make a statement, course director Fabio Piras told WWD. More from WWD Perfect magazine founder, editor, and creative director Katie Grand was charged with picking the winner of the shows grand prize, the LOreal Professionnel Creative Award, handing it to Dhruv Bandil. Boasting sculptural detailing, cutouts, and textiles he developed himself, his collection came in shades of acid green, vibrant magenta, startling turquoise, and deep purple. A lot of inspiration comes from dwelling with divinity in the Indian countryside, and I connected a lot with Jamini Roys work, Bandil said in an interview after the show. Making farmwear chic was Grace Owusu-Agyemang, who won the Canada Goose Human Nature Award for responsible design. Characterized as Afro futurism viewed through an agricultural lens, her looks were made from pure hemp, organic cotton, and regenerative cotton that Owusu-Agyemang grew in her native Zambia. Every fiber was entirely traceable, the designer said in an interview, noting that her green thumb began during COVID, when she experimented with growing plants on her balcony. Eventually, when I went back home to Zambia where the soil was so fertile, thats when I started to grow my own food organically. So doing fashion, it only makes sense to start growing my own fibers the right way, the regenerative way, she explained. Story continues A look representing a single mother Traiceline Pratt took inspiration from. Traiceline Pratts work was ode to six women in his life typically excluded from the luxury industrya mistress, a businesswoman, a single mother, a thief, and a stripper. My collection comes from what each of these women define as luxury and what they were willing to sacrifice for it, Pratt explained. Take the outfit representing the single mother, who saw luxury as the ability to provide for her children. There, workwear motifs abounded: a burnt yellow parka was crowned with an oversized faux fur collar and paired with denim trousers. Adorned with bells, keys, and studs, Maximilian Raynors jingling collection was a multi sensory affair. In Maximilian Raynors world, purgatory is heaven. I was feeling anger towards prevailing patriarchal power systems and how that would extend to the concept of heaven, that somebody at its gates would only be allowing in people who tick a certain box, he said. He added: I devised a manor house where all the people that dont fit the mold might end up. At first it seems like a deviant, debauched place, full of sinful characters. But by the conclusion, I wanted it to feel that this was actually heaven all along, filled with the best people: women, queer people, people of color. Broad-shouldered dresses and jackets represented a fallen angels wings, and were made from deadstock tweeds, ginghams, and striped fabrics. Luxury fabrics that would be otherwise discarded were shredded to create a feather-like feel. Its like youre taking a shredder to a symbol of elitism, the designer said. Other highlights included Paula Einfalt Mihovilovics playful use of colors, patterns, and silhouettes as well as Mira Maktabis sleek tailoring. For more London Fashion Week reviews, click here. Best of WWD The Port of Philadelphia's Packer Avenue Marine Terminal and the auto processing facility at Southport last month. Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Good morning and welcome to Sunday. Did you get to see some snow this time around? The Saturday forecast wasnt a complete bust, Tony Wood notes in his latest report, but the amounts didnt quite measure up to the warnings around Philly. As he puts it, maybe those computers are only human after all. See how much snow fell across the region, and enjoy the sunshine today, with a high near 41 and a breeze coming from the southwest. The Port of Philadelphia has been booming in recent years, progress that has been driven by state investment and the efforts of Holt Logistics. The South Jersey-based, family-owned company operates Phillys largest terminal, the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, and has held the lease there for more than 30 years. But as the port grows, some in the logistics industry are concerned that Holt is getting too big. Our lead story looks into claims of anticompetitive conduct at the commercial hub, and how Holt has cultivated political ties in Harrisburg to bolster the port. Advertisement Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. A key driver behind growth at Phillys port has been Holt Logistics, which operates terminals on both sides of the Delaware River. In just the last decade, Holt says its companies have invested more than $200 million to support Philly port operations. Cargo units have almost doubled since 2016. But as the commercial hub grows, so do concerns that Holt will gain monopoly power as a result of what some claim to be anticompetitive business practices in violation of federal law. Why this matters: Ocean shipping is a key part of the U.S. economy. Consumer goods rely on maritime supply chains, making maritime terminal operators major gatekeepers to commerce. They are bound to the Shipping Act, and face a higher obligation not to engage in conduct that could undermine competition. Some logistics executives say Holt is offering services that go beyond a terminal operators core role of loading and unloading ships specifically, its brokerage that connects shippers with trucking companies. Trucking companies say Holt bundles services to shippers, offering rates they cant match. As a result, truckers who move the cargo from the docks say theyve lost business to Holt. They warn that if the state agency that governs the port doesnt take action, truckers will go out of business, and ultimately lead to an increase in prices for shippers down the supply chain. In total, four trucking companies told The Inquirer theyve lost business to Holt. Notable quote: Whats being done here in Philadelphia is not part of the standard operating procedures of a marine terminal operator, said Mike Hellam, who worked with ports around the country as an agent recruiter for national trucking company Evans Delivery before starting his own trucking business. Hellam, who says he lost business to Holt, added: They are actually maintaining control over who handles the trucking and transportation portions. Truckers say their frustration is exacerbated by Holt being the beneficiary of the millions of dollars in investment from Harrisburg. Since 2016, Pennsylvania has invested more than half a billion dollars in the port. Federal regulators are looking into these allegations. In a Feb. 8 email reviewed by The Inquirer, a senior investigator for the Federal Maritime Commission wrote to one trucking company that the agency is reviewing information and documents, and civil trial lawyers have been assigned to the investigation. Continue reading for more on truckers raising alarms about unfair competition subsidized by taxpayers at Phillys port, plus the Holt companys side of the story. This former MMA fighter has bet his career on it. Chris Wing sold his Bensalem martial arts gym and traded a life of crippling calf kicks and elbow strikes to save rusty cast-iron skillets with layers of generational gunk on them. Now, he goes by Cast Iron Chris. He restores anything cast iron for customers, posting restoration videos from his basement lab and kitchen for his nearly 600,000-plus followers on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Hell buy old cast iron and flip it, too. And for all the lore and myths surrounding cast iron care, Wing has a controversial take on the most popular one up for debate: Soap is safe for cast iron. In his own words: It drives me crazy, Wing said. Cast-iron owners avoid soap to keep rust at bay, but Wing said the biggest mistake they make is putting them away wet. Not drying them enough will be a huge mistake. Keep reading for more on how Wing found his new passion, and why he says hed put his work up against anyone else in the world. What you should know today Pop quiz Solo Philly renters pay a singles tax that costs them thousands. (On the bright side, the luxury of living alone is still less than in many other big cities and in the country as a whole.) How much more a year do solo renters pay for a one-bedroom apartment in the city? A) $4,620 B) $5,390 C) $6,185 D) $7,125 Think you know? Check your answer. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Paul Giamattis character in this 2023 film smells like fish. (FYI: Its a real condition, and for decades, a Philadelphia scientist was one of the worlds leading experts.) HOVERED SLOTH Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Hillel Lieberman who correctly guessed Fridays answer: Insomnia Cookies. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if youd like. Photo of the day For todays Sunday track, were listening to: Spring is coming / With a strawberry in the mouth. Time to have some cafecito and greet the sun. Thanks for starting your morning with me. See you next week. Tesla, Inc. (TSLA), formerly known as Tesla Motors, has grown since its IPO in 2010 into one of the world's biggest producers of electric vehicles under the leadership of CEO Elon Musk. The company sells cars, SUVs, and trucks. In addition to electric vehicles, Tesla has expanded into energy generation and storage systems. Tesla stock joined the S&P 500 and S&P 100 on Dec. 21, 2020, and the company reached a $1 trillion market capitalization the following year. As of Feb. 23, 2024, Tesla had a trailing twelve-month revenue of $96 billion and net profits of $15 billion. The market capitalization was $611 billion. Below, we'll take a look at the top shareholders of Tesla based on the number of shares owned as of Feb. 23, 2024. Key Takeaways Tesla is the world's most valuable auto manufacturer, with a market capitalization of $611 billion. CEO Elon Musk is by far the largest shareholder, with over 20% of the company's equity. Besides Musk, the largest shareholders are asset management companies like BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street. Top 3 Individual Insider Shareholders The largest individual investors are company shareholders, like executives and directors. The following accounts only for direct ownership of shares, not Elon Musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk is the largest shareholder in Tesla. With 715 million shares, Musk holds nearly 23% of all Tesla shares, according to a 13G filing for the period ending Dec. 31, 2023. Musk owns more than three times as many Tesla shares as the next largest shareholder. In addition to serving as co-founder and CEO of Tesla beginning in 2003, Elon Musk also is CEO of SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. He was also co-founder of PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). According to Forbes, Musk is currently the second-richest person in the world, with a net worth of about $205 billion. "Insider" refers to people in senior management positions and members of the board of directors, as well as people or entities that own more than 10% of the company's stock. In this context, it has nothing to do with insider trading. Kimbal Musk Kimbal Musk, the younger brother of Elon Musk, owns a total of 1.6 million Tesla shares, accounting for less than 1% of the total as of April 2023. Musk holds a seat on Tesla's Board of Directors. He is a restaurateur, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the food access company The Kitchen. He also serves on the boards of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) and SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space exploration company whose CEO and founder is Elon Musk. Jeffrey Straubel Jeffrey Straubel holds 276,000 shares of Tesla, worth about $55 million and accounting for less than 0.01% of the total. He was Tesla's former Chief Technological Officer, before he moved to an advisory role in 2019. He is also the CEO of Redwood Materials, which he founded in 2017, and has served on the boards of SolarCity and QuantumScape. Top 3 Institutional Shareholders Institutional investors hold a substantial portion of Tesla shares, totaling about 41.87% of total shares outstanding. Vanguard Group Vanguard Group holds nearly 230 million shares of Tesla stock, according to filings on Dec. 30, 2023. This accounts for about 7.2% of all outstanding shares. Altogether, Vanguard's investments are worth nearly $46 billion. As one of the world's largest asset managers, most of these shares are held on behalf of clients, who invest in Vanguard's various mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. The largest share of these are held in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, which represents a cross-section of the market as a whole. Altogether, Vanguard Group has about $7.6 trillion in assets under management. BlackRock Inc. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, holds 188 million shares of Tesla stock as of December 30, 2023. BlackRock's portfolio accounts for 5.9% of all Tesla shares. Like Vanguard, Blackrock does not directly own these sharesthey are held on behalf of thousands of customers who invest in BlackRock's ETFs and mutual funds. The largest share is held in the portfolio of the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, a passively managed fund that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 index. Altogether, BlackRock's portfolios hold a combined $9.4 trillion in assets under management. State Street Corporation State Street holds the third-largest institutional share of Tesla stock. As of Dec. 30, 2023, State Street held 108 million shares of Tesla, accounting for 3.4% of the total. Altogether, State Street holds $3.7 trillion in assets under management, and its largest portfolio is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. How Much Is Elon Musk Worth? Elon Musk has a net worth of $204 billion as of Feb. 25, 2024, making him the second richest person in the world after Bernard Arnault. Most of that wealth is tied up in Tesla and SpaceX equity. How Much Is Tesla Worth? Tesla closed at $191 per share on Feb. 23, 2024, giving the stock a market capitalization of $611 billion. How Much Is SpaceX Worth? Because SpaceX is not traded on public markets, it is difficult to assign an objective value to the company. A private sale in December 2023 valued the company at $175 billion, making it the most valuable pre-IPO company in history. The Bottom Line Tesla is a leading auto manufacturer and one of the most valuable companies in the world. As of 2024, the largest shareholder is CEO Elon Musk, who holds about a fifth of Tesla equity. Besides Musk, the largest shareholders are asset managers, like BlackRock and Vanguard. The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) will host their 2024 Annual Global Business Conference on Wednesday, March 20. The conference will be returning to the Croke Park Conference Centre. AmCham is delighted to host Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD as guest of honour. Minister Coveney will deliver a special keynote address and take part in a fireside chat with AmCham 2024 President Elaine Murphy and AmCham 2024 Vice President Liz Cunningham. This all-day event will offer attendees the opportunity to listen to insightful discussions from a series of industry experts and stakeholders from around the globe, enjoy a catered lunch and refreshments and have ample networking opportunities. The conference will have several discussion panels and exclusive keynote speeches and fireside chats throughout the day. The topics up for discussion will offer insights into challenges currently facing the business community in Ireland. This years topics will include Ireland's Global Role in Supporting Business & FDI, the Climate Crisis and Irelands place in the global response, leading global teams from Ireland in a hybrid world and Ireland as a global centre for digital and AI excellence. The conference will also feature a discussion on the upcoming US and European elections with commentary from Irish Times Washington Correspondent Martin Wall. The fantastic lineup of speakers will include: Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland; Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland; Ruth Cotter, senior VP at AMD; Marjorie Chorlins, senior VP of Europe at the US Chamber of Commerce; Kay Hope, head of ESG for Global Fixed Income at Bank of America; Vincent Goggin, manufacturing director at PepsiCo; James O'Connor, Vice President of the Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre and Site Lead, Microsoft Ireland; Hilary OMeara, country managing director for Ireland at Accenture; Jason Ward, VP global alliances EMEA at Dell Technologies; and Mark Cockerill, VP of legal corporate, securities, M&A and international development, ServiceNow. Attendees at the AmCham conference will also hear keynote addresses from Haim Israel, managing director of research at Bank of America, and Feargal O'Rourke, chair, IDA Ireland. Attendees will also have first access to AmChams 2024 US-Ireland Business Report. This years report will feature commentary from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and AmCham CEO designate Paul Sweetman as well as contributions from AmCham members. AmChams Global Business Conference is sponsored by Bank of America with The Irish Times as media partners, and the US Chamber of Commerce as conference partners. Tickets are still available for this event which is sure to be AmChams Global Business Conference promises to be a fantastic event offering unique insights and unparalleled networking opportunities with leadership from over 300 AmCham member companies. You can find out more about this event and book your place via the AmCham members portal at the website for this event: www.amchamevents.ie The AmCham Global Business Conference sells out every year so book now to avoid disappointment. Brian Conroy, Executive VP and Director North America at IDA Ireland, explains why Ireland continues to attract US investment Irelands investment relationship with the U.S. is strong and enduring because like any good relationship its beneficial for both sides. Today, of the roughly 1,800 multinational companies that have chosen Ireland as a location for their global operations, about half of them are based in the U.S. Whats more, these companies employ more than 180,000 people in Ireland. Across the Atlantic, were also a good investment partner. Ireland is among the top 10 largest sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S., and Irish companies employ more than 110,000 people across every state in the U.S. When it comes to why U.S. companies choose to invest here, some factors just make our country an inherently appealing place to do business. For starters, American companies operating here gain access to the large and lucrative E.U. market. Were also the only member state in the E.U. that speaks English as its primary language. And it doesnt hurt that someone working in New York City can hold a mid-morning call with teams from both their Los Angeles and Dublin offices without inconveniencing either of them. Of course, U.S. investments in Ireland are by no means gained effortlessly. A key reason our country is an attractive place for U.S. companies to do business is because people here in government, industry and academia work hard to make it that way. Keeping pace with changing times The business world is never static. But rarely have companies had to evolve and adapt like they have the last few years as theyve navigated a global pandemic, supply chain challenges, geopolitical and economic turmoil, and technology disruption. Today, available office space, competitive tax rates and amenities like high-speed internet arent enough to attract FDI spending. Countries need to keep pace with the speed of business to help companies stay competitive, which is exactly what Ireland is doing. Here are just a few examples: AI: Well before ChatGPT entered the worlds vocabulary, Ireland already had an AI strategy in place. Titled AI Here for Good, the strategy was crafted to help our country be a global leader in the use of AI to deliver economic and societal benefits. Ireland is also home to world-class research centres like the INSIGHT Centre and the CEDAR Institute that are at the forefront of AI research and actively collaborating with businesses on the technology. Government-allocated research funds like the Digital Transition Fund and the Disruptive Technology Fund incentivize research centres and industry in Ireland to engage in research and development in AI and other cutting-edge technologies. Manufacturing: Irelands manufacturing sector employs more than 270,000 people and contributes to 37% of the countrys GDP. So, its critical that the sector remains innovative and competitive to keep Ireland top of mind for U.S. companies when they want to establish or expand their global manufacturing operations. In support of this goal, IDA Ireland last year opened Digital Manufacturing Ireland (DMI) in Limerick to advance the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. This national centre of excellence is a resource where Irish-based manufacturers, including multi-national businesses, can access expertise, experiment with future technologies, and train staff in new manufacturing areas. Read More Climeaction welcomes US shift towards decarbonization Sustainability: American companies are putting a greater focus on improving the sustainability of their operations. Proposed regulations in the U.S. could require them to soon track and report emissions across their entire supply chains. And many U.S. companies like companies here in Europe are seeking to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. Ireland is taking aggressive steps to help these companies meet their environmental goals. We have one of the most ambitious decarbonisation goals not only in Europe, but in the world. For example, were the top country in the world for share of electricity demand provided by onshore wind. And were aiming to get at least 80% of electricity generation from renewables by 2030. Companies operating here can also receive financial support for climate action plans, decarbonisation projects, and the development of green economy technologies. Remote and hybrid work: U.S. companies expanding internationally want to retain remote and hybrid work approaches that many employees appreciate. Some companies have even established remote hubs in Ireland to take advantage of the benefits of remote work and realize cost savings. Organisations like IDA Ireland have worked to help facilitate remote and hybrid work. This has involved creating an environment that supports such work approaches by ensuring reliable broadband infrastructure and necessary supporting facilities. Whats next? Keeping Ireland as a top investment destination for U.S. companies will require building on the work that got us here. Weve established industry clusters in critical sectors such as technology, life sciences, financial services. Now, we need to continue strengthening those clusters to ensure they remain competitive and conducive to innovation. And by continuing to remain open to talent from the E.U. and beyond, we can help companies fill the skilled positions that they may struggle to fill in other parts of the world. Additionally, by maintaining a supportive environment for businesses and staying at the forefront of technologies, like AI, quantum computing and others, we can continue to show American companies that were not only a good place to do business we can be a partner for success. Green Sod Ireland is an Irish environmental charity and land trust (based in Galway) dedicated to the protection of Irish land for its wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystems. GSIs Wildacres initiative started with 10 acres of gifted land in Carlow and now has grown to more than 200 acres of land gifted to the trust throughout Ireland. GSI manage habitats in counties Cork, Cavan, Donegal, Carlow, Galway and Mayo and they always welcome any volunteers in those counties. These habitats include grassland, peatland, woodland, shoreline, streams, and hedgerows. Green Sod Ireland: "Protecting land in our care Wild Acres. Creating safe habitats, facilitating the free movement of wildlife, vital for biodiversity" Sometimes the management of these habitats is minimal, allowing natural regeneration to occur and other times, habitats require a little help to start moving in the right direction. Examples of this include fencing, raising the water table on drained peatlands or the removal of invasive species. Deciding on conservation measures requires the gathering of as much data as possible to make the best decisions for nature. Thats where volunteers and the local community play an important role. By monitoring these pieces of land, GSI can gather data on soils, vegetation, butterflies, moths, mammals, birds and invertebrates. "Together we Hold this Land in Trust" Green Sod Ireland Janet Laffey is programme manager at GSI. Her role revolves around the management of the land that GSI hold in trust. The degree of biodiversity in each of the habitats varies, depending on the previous use of the land and the landscape to which that habitat is connected. In Ireland, much of the land has been altered over time and GSI aims to protect these habitats, allowing nature to return and flourish. Communicating this is also an important part of GSI work and they do that by hosting talks, school workshops and citizen science events. Green Sod Ireland works with local communities and volunteers to restore habitats and enhance biodiversity locally Janet said: Our aim in doing so is to demonstrate that we are having a positive impact on biodiversity over time and encouraging our volunteers to allow nature back to their own gardens and farms. This is a great way for individuals and community groups to learn more about nature and also to pass that knowledge on to others. The more people we get involved, the more people get excited about nature and the more we can do to halt biodiversity loss and climate change. Maria Heneghan is the director on the board of GSI and remembers back to when the GSI land trust was set up in 2007 at a time when climate change and the preservation of biodiversity were just comments in-passing'. Mature trees in cities were being replaced with concrete walkways, and carparks and ornamental landscapes were devoid of pollinator-friendly planting. "By supporting Green Sod Ireland, you are contributing to the long-term protection of Irelands land and its biodiversity for all our sakes. Ensuring that our natural heritage is protected is critical to the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we depend on for life. It is crucial to sustaining ALL life" Green Sod Ireland She notes that the human-centred approach, with little regard for the land and species that support human existence, was prevalent: We share the earth with other species whose existence is essential to our survival through nourishment of the soil, the growth of plants and trees, and the provision of fresh air, without these essentials, our human existence would be seriously challenged. With this background, a group of visionary people came together and set up a land trust whose main aim was to create a consciousness of the need to consider the human-centred approach, create an awareness of the need to be kinder to the earth that sustains us and preserve the land and the species that live there. Green Sod Ireland's mission: "... to protect and conserve Irish land in perpetuity, for the sake of its indigenous inhabitants: Animals, plants, soils, rocks, micro-organisms and the like for their own sake, for present and future generations" Proactive versus a reactive approach is key to GSIs progress A visionary proactive group of two women in Galway and five from the East, came together initially to explore models of successful Wildacres initiatives in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Britain. Learnings from other success stories showed that, being reactive to insensitive development was not going to gain any traction and that a proactive approach would yield success. The group agreed that in order to achieve their aim the establishment of Wildacres (land in protection) in every county in Ireland thereby creating safe havens where species can thrive and flourish through proper management and rewilding was the way forward. It was decided that each piece of land gifted to the trust would have its own uniqueness and therefore would be managed according to the recommendations of its ecological report. A unique feature of GSI land is that except for research and environmental management, it cannot be walked on by the public. To learn more about Green Sod Ireland and the work they do visit twitter.com/greensodireland, or facebook.com/GreenSodIreland/ or instagram.com/greensodireland/ Safe havens for ecological existence GSI is mindful that we share this Earth with a myriad of other species who, like us, have essential value, and whose life systems facilitate the nourishment of the soil, the growth of trees and plants, and the provision of air for us to breathe. In short, they are essential to our health physical, mental, emotional and spiritual so we must respect, care for and cherish their existence for human existence. The European Rewilding Organisation GSI is linked with like-minded initiatives such as the European Rewilding Network (ERN). GSI and Lord Dunsaneys Meath Estate are the only two ERN member groups in Ireland. GSI recognition and financial support from the Heritage Council; FBD Insurance; OPW; LEADER West Cork, Galway Rural Development; London School Economics; NUIG has allowed GSI to grow. Compiled by Jenny Cunningham, Green Sod Ireland administrator; Janet Laffey Green Sod Ireland programme manager and Maria Heneghan, director on the Board of Green Sod Ireland When the Big Bad Wolf bares his gnashers and devours Granny, I find myself quickly flipping over the page before my daughter realises the bloodbath that has just taken place. I have read Little Red Riding Hood countless times to my three-year-old, yet it is just one example of many fairy tales which I struggle to relay faithfully during the bedtime ritual. These are great stories, dont get me wrong. But they can leave conscientious parents in a conundrum: whether to reveal the true gothic violence and period nuance of the tales to unsuspecting eyes and ears or to gloss over the macabre details in the hope of protecting their innocence. This is just one aspect of a broader plethora of issues with the most enduring fairy tales that still succeed in hooking kids in. Despite the many problems with these stories, the result is the same: sometimes parents need to alter them for the greater good of the child. In a world which increasingly recognises the anachronisms and inequalities of monarchy, it is striking how many kids' stories and movies continue to rely on royal tropes. Beyond this, the issue of archaic stereotyping of certain groups of people continues to be an ongoing challenge for publishers of legacy titles such as Herges Tintin and the works of Enid Blyton. These combined issues have led me to regularly change stories when Im reading to my kids. I omit key scenes and even change the background of certain characters. I am well aware that this will seem unnecessary and, God forbid, woke to many readers. Theyre just stories! Let the wolf eat Granny! There are two classic fairy tales whose endings I always exclude when reading to my two daughters Once we get beyond these unhelpful judgements, I think we can begin to understand that the material kids read matters. Let me offer a really simple example of how I alter a typical tale during the story before bedtime. In our house, we love Richard Scarrys classic 1960s illustrated books about various animals and their exploits. Despite their brilliance, Scarry insists in all his books that the pig characters eat sausages. Like a weird cannibalistic odyssey, Mr. Piggy and Mrs. Piggy happily munch away on their own brethren during family picnics. I find myself explaining to my girls that this is actually not sausage at all, but some other magic sausage-shaped, pork-free alternative. The truth is just too grotesque. Kids are logical. If pigs eat pig sausages then do humans eat human sausages? Lets not go there. There are two classic fairy tales whose endings I always exclude when reading to my two daughters: Hansel and Gretel and The Gingerbread Man. Both stories end with abrupt and violent death. Gretel, cognisant of her own impending demise, takes her opportunity and shoves the witch into the oven, immolating her. The story ends with an elderly woman burning to death. I simply cannot find a way to tell this part of the story to a three-year-old child without it being immensely upsetting. Equally, The Gingerbread Man ends with the wolf gorging on our protagonist. It is sudden, brutal and leaves the reader bereft. The arrogance of monarchy shines through but is rarely questioned in some stories Perhaps a more egregious trope that I find myself constantly meddling with is the insistence on the benevolence of monarchy in kids fairy tales. Royal figures are portrayed as aspirational, heroic, beautiful. In Charles Perrots 1697 version of Cinderella, which now forms the basis of most editions of the story, the Prince rampages through the city trying the glass slipper on any woman he sees, in the vainglorious assumption that he can marry whomever the shoe fits. The arrogance of monarchy shines through but is rarely questioned in these stories. Despite the fact that many of us have an aversion to the idea of contemporary monarchy, a lot of our girls pretend to be princesses or play dress up with little tiaras. I watch this unfolding and wonder how this has happened. We live in a republic, so why are so many kids finding this aspirational? It all comes back to fairy tales and how these characters are portrayed. Disney has done more to preserve the idea of monarchy in the 20th and 21st centuries than any Golden Jubilee or Trooping the Colour could ever do. Royalty is consistently equated with beauty in kids' stories. Snow White is described as having lips red as the rose, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow. In Rapunzel, the eponymous character, beautiful and blonde, is saved by a prince. Snow White herself is also depicted as a damsel in distress, brought back to life by a charming prince. If young readers are constantly bombarded with the idea that the royals are beautiful, strong and brave then it is inevitable that they become role models for them. The problem is this: I dont want princes and princesses to be my childrens role models. The whole notion of monarchy represents the antithesis of the values I wish to impart. But of course, these values quickly crumble when those big innocent eyes ask for yet another screening of Frozen. Academics Lori Baker-Sperry and Sociology professor Liz Grauerholz have studied what they describe as the feminine beauty ideal in fairy tales and they found that there are approximately five times more references to womens beauty per tale than mens handsomeness. The portrayal of girls and women in many fairy tales is simply outdated and doesnt adhere to contemporary values of equality. In my own telling of the Cinderella narrative, the prince isnt a prince at all, but a regular layperson who happens to own a massive gaff through his own hard work, rather than royal privilege. A socialist interpretation of Cinderella? Yep, Ill take that. Others will argue that I am needlessly sanitising traditional childrens literature. I dont agree. There are certain books that most people wouldnt dream of showing to their kids nowadays, titles that were once considered acceptable. The Three Golliwogs, Enid Blytons 1944 book, fits this description. So, if we collectively decide that a title like this isnt okay anymore then it is fair to examine the appropriateness of any book, surely? The British publisher Egmont has taken an intriguing approach to their publication of Herges Tintin. I recently bought a copy of Tintin in the Congo, his problematic and hyper-colonial escapade in Africa. I discovered that the latest edition comes with a note warning readers of this. It reads, In his portrayal of the Belgian Congo, the young Herge reflects the colonial attitudes of the time... he depicted the African people according to the bourgeois, paternalistic stereotypes of the period - an interpretation that some of today's readers may find anachronistic. This offering of important cultural context is a possible solution to controversial legacy titles. Literary revisionism is simply part of a broader and ongoing critical assessment of the books we read and the works we hand down to the next generation. But its not just publishers who have to make retrospective decisions about their books, its parents too. One of Irelands long-serving health advocates is backing calls for a commission of investigation into hospital baby deaths. Roisin Molloy said it would be the "logical next step" after the ten-year maternity service reforms herself and husband Mark have fought for since their son Mark died in 2012. He was one of five babies who died in the Portlaoise baby deaths scandal, which broke in 2014, and which centred around deaths between 2006 and 2012. They and other parents lobbied for a variety of changes that led to Irelands first National Maternity Strategy. The Irish Examiner has, however, discovered there have been multiple more potentially avoidable baby deaths and injuries in maternity units around the country since 2013. There have also since been repeated apologies and pay-outs by hospitals for mistakes that they have admitted have been made in cases where babies either died or were injured. An Irish Examiner survey in December of mostly coroners court reports shows there have been at least 42 potentially avoidable hospital baby deaths between 2013 and 2022. Safer Births Ireland, run by two women whose babies died after being born in Portlaoise Hospital after 2013, is behind a national campaign for a Commission of Investigation. They have around 20 grieving mothers backing the campaign for the commission of investigation, and Mrs Molloy is the latest to back it. She said: We have spent 10 years advocating for improved governance, performance and accountability across the health service. This was to secure medical and management accountability for failings, in particular, where the risk of recurrence of predictable and preventable deaths and injuries is high. But weve no legislation to hold HSE management to account. There is no forum, independent of the HSE, to act as a regulator for HSE management. Medical and nursing staff can be held to account by their professional regulating bodies. However, there is no such body to hold management to account." She said it is impossible to get "a complete picture" of what has happened due to this. Meanwhile, former Minister of Justice Frances Fitzgerald - who is promoting women's rights at European Parliament level - has said the Department of Health should look back over hospital mother and baby deaths and injuries. Speaking in Strasbourg, she told the Irish Examiner: A mechanism should be found to collate the data, to investigate, to make sure that if there are reasons that have not yet been identified, they are identified. If there's practice changes that are needed, if there's more education, if there's OPD (Outpatient Department) attendances that need to be more rigorous. I'm sure there's a lot of lessons that can be learned from those experiences. Referencing the Portlaoise baby scandal, she added: We've had Portlaoise. We've had other instances (and) I've met some of the women here (in the European Parliament), and it's totally traumatic. So we do need to get as good information as we can, on the cases where there are not yet answers. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has been asked if he will conduct a look-back review over deaths identified by the Irish Examiner. While one has not been announced, he has said he has asked HSE officials to meet with Safer Births Ireland to discuss their issues, which include avoidable hospital baby deaths. That meeting is due to take place next month. The decision around the funding of public services media is set to be taken before this summer, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said. Mr Martin said it is sensible that the Government awaits two reports commissioned by Culture Minister Catherine Martin on the governance of RTE. However he said the TV licence is likely to remain a significant source of revenue for the national broadcaster in 2024 and 2025. The three party leaders are agreed with the minister that we do need to resolve this in terms of the model, but then it will take time, so the licence fee will be a significant revenue earner for RTE certainly in 2024 and I will even hazard a guess into 2025 until a new system has bedded down, he told RTE Radios This Week programme. Tanaiste Micheal Martin (Niall Carson/PA) We would hope to get a decision made this year, hopefully before the summer recess but then itll take time I would envisage to work that system through and to have it fully up and running. There are different perspectives on this, thats natural. I take a particularly fundamentalist view on the editorial independence piece and the separation of media from being too dependent on any given government support at any given time. I just think we need to put in guard rails because the new funding arrangements are not just about RTE, but other stations, local and national and print media too. Speaking after attending the Munich Security Council, Mr Martin added: All were hearing here, networking with other countries, meeting tech companies, its all about election manipulation, its all about social media and the degree to which misinformation and disinformation can really prevail. This is very key to the survival of our democracy. So weve got to get it right and weve got to get the fundamentals right, in terms of how we structure it, and a new funding arrangement. On Saturday, RTEs director-general Kevin Bakhurst commented on the exit arrangements for four former executives director of commercial Geraldine OLeary, director of legal affairs Paula Mullooly, director of strategy Rory Coveney and chief financial officer Richard Collins. Saying he was restricted following legal advice, Mr Bakhurst said Ms OLeary retired from RTE and did not receive an exit payment while Ms Mullooly left to pursue another opportunity and did not receive an exit payment. RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst (Niall Carson/PA) He said Mr Coveney agreed that he should stand down, his role became redundant and an exit payment was offered by RTE and accepted. Mr Bakhurst went on: Following independent mediation, Richard Collins, RTEs former chief financial officer, departed RTE by mutual agreement, with a binding confidentiality clause that was agreed to by both sides and in the interest of fairness and respect cannot be breached. As I have said before, in relation to all the exits, I have sought an update to the legal advice previously received. Asked for his view on Sunday, Mr Martin said: As a general principle, where any organisation has been funded by the public via the licence fee in this case and taxpayers money, there should be full transparency in terms of salaries and packages more generally. RTE needs to build up trust with the people in respect of how it is governed, its governance and its administration, and I think the new director-general is doing everything he possibly can to do that. But as a general principle, I do believe that salaries and so forth and indeed packages should be fully transparent. The indications are that he has certainly been constrained in these specific cases. Australian drivers have been left scratching their heads after a somewhat perplexing video captured native birds using small rocks to break car windscreens in the nation's capital. A Canberra resident posted the video to Facebook, asking other locals for help in understanding the unexpected bird behaviour, noting it has been happening throughout the Belconnen area. The bird was seen using a rock to try to crack a car's windshield. Source: Facebook/ Canberra Notice Board Group "There's bad bird behaviour leading to broken car windscreens in my neighbourhood. The birds take little stones in their beak and knock on the windshields," they wrote. "Can anyone assist with information to understand this behaviour and what can be done if anything, to stop them from continuing." Yahoo News Australia reached out to Wildlife Ecologist Dr Grainne Cleary to ask about the bird's seemingly destructive behaviour and why we're seeing it. She confirmed the type of bird is a white-wing chough, a highly social species native to Australia. 'Social intelligence of birds is huge' Cleary said the video was "amazing" and goes to show just how much we still have to learn about Australian birds. "We've only really seen this type of behaviour in primates before. If you think about it, the bird has taught itself to pick up this stone and use it against the screen. It's amazing!" "The social intelligence of birds is huge. When we live and work with other individuals it increases intelligence, so the bird might be enjoying the sound of the stone hitting the window or trying to understand how to make the window crack." Cleary said much more research is needed to understand why the chough is behaving like that. "A few of the comments have suggested they can see food, but the person has confirmed there's no food in the car and there's also suggestions it could be seeing its reflection and trying to attack it, thinking it's another bird, but birds don't attack each other with stones when they see each other in real life." Story continues More research needed Cleary said there are very few reports relating to bird behaviour like what is being displayed in the video. "The only other report I can find, which is similar to this is from 1971 when a researcher observed a right-winged chough use one muscle shell to bang against another, to try and open the shell to get the meat out of it." Cleary says more research is needed into this type of bad bird behaviour, and it's pretty amazing to see it on film. Source: Supplied She's urged Australians to continue to show interest in Australia's wildlife. "We have such magic birds and people really care about them. It's great. You see when we have bushfires or floods people are always worried about the animals and want to help and one of the best things we can do is monitor for change, like the behaviours shown in this video." What is a white-winged chough? The Australian Museum describes the chough as a large, almost completely black bird with a curved beak, red eye and large white wing patch seen when the bird is in flight. The native birds live in social clans of seven to ten individuals and defend their nest territory during breeding season with "wing-waving" displays to deter unwanted intruders. They are found throughout most of eastern and south-eastern mainland Australia, but are absent from northern Queensland. The white-winged chough (corcorax melanorhamphos) is a large almost completely black bird with a curved beak, a red eye and a large white wing patch which can be seen in flight. Source: Supplied Aussies delighted by 'bloody clever' birds People commenting on the video after it was shared on Facebook were delighted by the vision. "I know its destructive, but thank you for getting a video of the behaviour - this is really cool!" one person wrote. Another said: "Bloody clever little birds". Many were just surprised by the footage: "So weird," one woman wrote. While someone else said that the footage was "amazing, but annoying". How to stop windscreen breakage Cleary suggested that car owners try a few approaches to stop their windscreens from being broken. "You could try to put the sun shield or visor on the outside of the car. It would stop the birds from hitting the glass with the stone," she said. There were plenty of other suggestions from concerned residents commenting on the post too, with many taking a humorous approach to solving the problem. The ideas included everything from using a rubber toy snake to scare the bird off to giving them a stern talking to and asking them to do damage elsewhere. One person said putting a towel over the windshield would help to keep the birds away. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. One of the European Parliaments far-right politicians says the rise of the far right in Ireland is down to a failure among the old political classes here. Anders Vistisen said the rise of the far right also shows Ireland is now becoming more like Europe, where politicians are increasingly adopting right-wing policies on issues such as immigration. The MEP from the Danish Peoples Party in the Identity and Democracy group in the parliament also warned that not listening to the views of people on the far right in Ireland will only lead to a greater radicalisation. A controversial figure in Europe, Mr Vistisen was accused of hate speech by a group of MEPs after he called for the harmful influence of Islam to be addressed in an EU debate on violence against women last year. He also linked the religion to many examples of murder and rape in Denmark. The 36-year-old Eurosceptic, like his party, believes in controlled immigration and tighter border controls. Speaking to the Irish Examiner in Strasbourg ahead of the June EU parliamentary elections, Mr Vistisen said: It is a catalyst if you don't allow debate and if you don't take people's concerns into account. Extreme views People can become more extreme in their view, and they can be pressured towards more extreme points of view. On the rise of the Far Right in Ireland, he said: I think it's a failure of the old political class to take issues, like immigration, seriously. Ireland has been an outlier because it never had parties on the right on this spectrum. I'm not an expert in Irish politics, but maybe Ireland has been isolated from (the rise of the far right) up to now. It seems to have not been a part of Irish politics. But that could also just be that Ireland is becoming like the rest of Europe and not so much different than they've been before. Asked about the recent spate of violence and arson attacks on potential asylum centres blamed on the Irish Far Right, he said: I always think violence is wrong. In my own party, we always had a zero tolerance towards right-wing extremists and we kicked out people very rapidly if they had any tendencies like that. I think that's a very important part of being a responsible political party - that you show clearly that you want to work within the framework of a democratic society. That is a responsibility also to parties on the right as well as on the left to commit to that because that's the foundation of democracy. He dismisses being labelled far right. He said: It's a label that is normally used by a political opponent to try to disown a point of view that they don't want to or can't counter in a political or rhetorical fashion. He was asked about former Danish People's Party leader Kristian Thulesen Dahls description as an anti-Muslim party. Mr Vistisen said that comment was taken out of context and that what his party is concerned about is the Islamisation of Denmark. A woman who was urged by her two daughters to vote might be the reason Holly Cairns will lead the Social Democrats into the European and local elections in June. Ms Cairns unlikely win in the 2020 general election, which made her a national figure, might not have happened had she not been elected to Cork County Council eight months previously. Friendly rivalry: Independent candidate Finbarr Harrington and the Social Democrats' Holly Cairns at the initial count for the 2019 local elections at the Community Hall in Clonakilty, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan In that election, she pipped Independent candidate Finbarr Harrington by just one vote flipping the outcome of the first full count, when the latter had been deemed elected by the same margin. Ms Cairns, who became the partys leader in March 2023, told the Irish Examiner that the drama on the 16th floor of Cork County Hall was something of a blur now, but that it encapsulates the small margins in politics. Even when its mentioned, I get a shiver, Ms Cairns said. I think we just hear that all the time from people: Whats the point of voting? Those days themselves are a bit of a blur, but I do remember parts of it and the things that stand out the most were messages that I got from people, some people because I initially lost by one vote, saying things like, Oh my god, I was on holiday, I didnt vote or I got home late or I was feeling sick, Im so sorry. Then Cork County Council candidate Holly Cairns watching the gruelling four-day recount for the Bantry LEA in Cork County Hall on May 27, 2019, when she and Finbarr Harrington fought it out for the final seat. Picture: David Keane And then there were messages from people when I got in by one vote, who explained the last-minute nature of potentially getting that vote, and Ill always remember there was one woman who sent me a message saying that she got home from work, she wasnt going to vote. Just, like, to be honest, I just didnt really see the point, local elections, it was raining, all of these different things. But her two daughters who are too young to vote they begged her to go and vote for me. Theyd been following the campaign on social media. She went and voted and that is, in my mind, the vote that got me through and I just feel that because of that one vote and then the people of Cork South-West getting me to here I always feel like... each person who voted for me, Im really aware of the kind of risk they took in voting for me. Because it is a huge thing to ask for somebodys vote and its a bigger thing to go and vote for somebody when the perception is they dont stand a chance. And I just think when were going into these elections now, that is what were asking people to do is to give us a chance. While Ms Cairns profile has been useful for the party, the focus on her has not always been positive. Just recently, her plans for a home in Skibbereen became national news. That kind of coverage can put women off becoming involved in politics, she said. Its unfortunate, sometimes, that I think theres kind of female politicians being covered a little bit differently, she said. All you can do is keep going. I think that a really helpful thing for bringing more women into politics is if there wasnt, for example, that coverage of peoples homes, addresses, and I think that everyone in politics deserves that kind of privacy for safety reasons. "And I think if we want to bring more women into politics itd be good if those kinds of things werent covered about about women in politics. Leading the party into her first set of elections, Ms Cairns is reluctant to put a number on the seats she would like the Social Democrats to win saying that it is about putting social democratic policies on the ballot in as many places as possible. Those policies include a 147m plan to increase paid parental leave to cover the first 12 months of a childs life and to increase maternity, paternity, and parental benefit to 350 per week, up from 262. Krispy Kreme has appealed against Cork City Council's decision to refuse permission for its location on St Patrick's Street in the city centre. The retailer had sought retention permission from Cork City Council for a change of use from previous retail use to a cafe, as well as the retention of shopfront and signage at its branch on 42 Patricks Street. The American doughnut chain opened the Patrick Street branch last April to great fanfare, as it eyed further expansion around the country. It took out a 10-year lease on the ground floor only of Porters, which closed in October 2022. However, a council inspector examined the latest planning and said that the proposed use by Krispy Kreme would be contrary to the Cork City development plan. As the premises is located within the Core Retail Area of the city centre, the existing cafe use would be contrary to policy objective 10.5 which is to support the function of the core retail area as the primary location of comparison shopping in the region, the inspector said. The inspector also determined that the existing signage on Krispy Kremes shopfront would have a visual adverse effect on the architectural conservation area, which is separately in contravention of the city development plan. The American doughnut chain opened its Patrick Street branch last April to great fanfare, as it eyed further expansion around the country. Krispy Kreme has now appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanala. In doing so, it claims that its business on the street is a retail outlet, no different than the business that preceded it at the same premises. The restrictions on businesses on the street relate to hot food takeaway and restaurant uses, which Krispy Kreme says is not applicable in this case. It also rejects the contention about its visual impact, claiming the shop front has undergone minimal change when compared to what was there previously. Accounts published last year showed Krispy Kremes revenues in Ireland had topped 10m for the first time. The doughnut maker has a plethora of retail locations in the capital, which includes the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre in north Dublin, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, The Square Shopping Centre, Dundrum Town Centre and One Central Plaza, Dame Street which opened in August 2022. The business has steadily expanded despite the impact of covid-19 following the opening of its record-breaking doughnut-selling store in Blanchardstown in September 2018. 41331535[#embed3] Former president Donald Trump has railed against the judge who slapped him with a 355 million dollar (280 million) fine in his New York civil fraud trial while facing penalties that, with interest, could exceed half-a-billion dollars. Mr Trump was campaigning in Michigan on Saturday a state that is expected to be critical in November as he pivots towards a likely general election rematch against President Joe Biden. While Mr Biden narrowly beat Mr Trump here in 2020, the president is facing deep scepticism in the state, especially from Arab-American voters angry over his support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas war as the Palestinian death toll has climbed. Mr Trump, meanwhile, has been working to appeal to the blue-collar and union voters who were critical to his victory in 2016. Mr Trump opened with a 15-minute screed about the criminal and civil cases against him (Paul Sancya/AP) On Saturday, he again made his pitch to auto workers, railing against electric vehicle mandates that he argues will ultimately lead to lost jobs and touted tariffs he put in place. We have to let them know a freight train is coming in November, Mr Trump told more than 2,000 supporters gathered in a freezing plane hangar in Waterford Township, in the suburbs of Detroit. But Mr Trump was again most focused on his grievances, opening with a 15-minute screed about the criminal and civil cases against him. On Friday, a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay 355 million dollars after concluding he had lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements. Mr Trump has vowed to appeal. That penalty came days after Mr Trump was ordered to pay 83.3 million dollars to the writer E Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. With interest payments, Mr Trumps legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars an amount it is unclear whether or not Mr Trump can afford to pay. Mr Trump cast Fridays decision as a lawless and unconstitutional atrocity that sets fire to our laws like no one has ever seen in this country before. He called the judge in the case, Arthur Engoron, crooked, and New York attorney general Letitia James, who brought the case, a lunatic. He also called special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against him an animal, while mocking the pronunciation of Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis name. Mr Trump has succeeded in the Republican primary by casting the charges which include state and federal criminal indictments across four separate jurisdictions as part of a co-ordinated effort by Mr Biden and other Democrats to damage his electoral prospects. He has also repeatedly cast them as an attack on his supporters. These repulsive abuses of power are not just an attack on me, theyre really an attack on you and all Americans, Mr Trump said on Saturday. Were all in this mess together. Mr Trumps visit came as the states Republican Party has been in turmoil (Paul Sancya/AP) But it is unclear whether those appeals will work in a general election, particularly among suburban voters in key swing-state metro areas in places like Oakland County, where Mr Trump was speaking. An affluent Detroit suburb and the states second-largest county, Oakland County was once a Republican stronghold, but has trended more Democratic in recent elections, in part due to women voters. Mr Trump lost the county to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Mr Biden in 2020, both times by eight percentage points. While Michigan will hold its primary next after South Carolina, only 16 out of 55 Republican presidential delegates will be determined by the February 27 vote. The remaining 39 will be distributed by precinct delegates at a Michigan Republican state convention on March 2. Mr Trumps visit came as the states Republican Party has been in turmoil, amid competing claims on the chairmanship and financial crisis. Mr Trump waded carefully into the chaos by offering a shoutout to the newly elected state Republican chairman Pete Hoekstra, a former long-time US House member and Trump loyalist who served as Mr Trumps ambassador to the Netherlands. Mr Hoekstra was elected after then-chair Kristina Karamo was ousted after racking up hundreds of thousands in debt. A great congressman, and a great ambassador, Mr Trump said. A lone man in the crowd still loyal to Ms Karamo, who has said she will not cede the position, booed and called Mr Hoekstra a Rino (Republican In Name Only). Israeli strikes across Gaza overnight into Sunday killed at least 18 people, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft UN ceasefire resolution. The US, Israels top ally, instead hopes to broker a ceasefire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back, calling Hamass demands delusional and rejecting US and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. Mr Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until total victory over Hamas and to expand it to Gazas southern-most town of Rafah, where more than half the enclaves population of 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. An air strike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in the southern city of Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive over the past two months. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. In Gaza City, which was largely evacuated and suffered widespread destruction in the initial weeks of the war, an air strike flattened a family home, killing seven people including three women, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative of the deceased. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Nasser Hospital, the main medical centre serving southern Gaza, is no longer able to function after Israel raided the facility late last week. A Palestinian man injured in an Israeli air strike arrives at hospital in the Gaza Strip (Adel Hana/AP) In a post on X, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO team was not allowed to enter the hospital on Friday or Saturday to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners. He said there are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other health facilities. Israel says it has arrested 70 suspected militants, including 20 who it says participated in Hamass October 7 attack on Israel, without providing evidence. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israels defences and attacked communities across southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. The war has killed at least 28,858 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. Around 80% of Gazas population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. David Satterfield, the US Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues, said on Friday that Israeli strikes on Hamas-run police guarding aid convoys had caused them to halt the escorts, making it virtually impossible to deliver desperately-needed aid because of the threat of criminal gangs. He also said Israel has not presented specific evidence for its claims that Hamas is diverting UN aid. At the UN, Algeria, the Arab representative on the Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late on Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washingtons own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted. She added: It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities in jeopardy. At just 24, Siobhan makes more than double the median Australian salary. But shes the first to admit, theres no way she could have done it in her home country. She is among a growing number of non Australians to make their way to our booming mining industry, taking on intense fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) work to set themselves up financially. For the past five months she has been working in Western Australia servicing heavy diesel mining machinery, mostly dump trucks. After previously working in kitchens, she currently makes $145,000 per annum in her current job. I cant even think of any roles in New Zealand where youd earn that amount unless youre a well over-worked doctor or lawyer, she told Yahoo News Australia. FIFO worker Siobhan doesn't ind the dirty work. Source: Supplied She may look like a fish out of water, but Siobhan was drawn to the mines by the high salaries on offer. My biggest motivation and aim is to break the generational poverty I grew up in, she said. Most NZ citizens can visit, live and work in Australia without applying for a visa. Kiwis are the fourth largest migrant community in Australia with some 560,000 New Zealand-born people living here, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data in June 2021. Australia notched record high net overseas migration by taking in more than half a million people in the past financial year and with many mining occupations on the Australian governments Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL), it's no surprise the mining industry presents as an attractive proposition to many overseas workers. The type of mining dumper truck that Siobhan works on in the WA mines. Source: ConstructionSales The industry has long relied on workers outside Australia. A little over a year ago, Perth based Mineral Resources launched an advertising blitz aimed at luring Kiwis across the ditch for mining jobs worth as much as $300,000 a year. In 2017, an Irish Times story boasted to a domestic audience of how then 29-year-old electrician Darren Kane saved a 40 per cent house deposit by working in the mines. Working in mines in Oz, I saved enough for a home in Ireland, the headline declared. Story continues FIFO work glamourised on social media In todays TikTok generation, social media is full of both Australian and migrant workers detailing their FIFO experience. But Siobhan warns its not as glamorous as most videos make it out to be (her own employer has even asked her to take down videos of her at work). The FIFO life is glamourised quite a lot online just be prepared, its not for everyone, she said. The heat, the humidity and the flies have been the hardest thing to adapt to. TikTok is awash with content from mining workers showing their #FIFOlife. Source: TikTok Siobhan works two week on, two weeks off, with the first week consisting of day shifts while the second consists of night shifts. During her fortnight rostered off she is free to explore WA and further afield, often taking trips to Bali. Some companies will pay for your flights to New Zealand, most wont, she said. Life is 'isolating' as a FIFO mine worker For anyone contemplating taking a similar path, the 24-year-old is quick to warn about the isolating nature of the work and FIFO lifestyle something which is compounded for her by the five hour time difference between Perth and NZ. My advice would be to make sure youre in a decent enough head space so as the isolation and conditions dont knock you off track, she said. For me, the isolation comes from not having friends to look forward to seeing on my [off weeks] FIFO can also either be great or a breaker for relationships but thats a whole other story. For Siobhan, she plans to save her money as much as she can before moving on. Get in and get out she said. Dont fall into the trap of the golden handcuffs. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. By Rene van Westen, Utrecht University; Henk A. Dijkstra, Utrecht University; and Michael Kliphuis, Utrecht University | Superstorms, abrupt climate shifts and New York City frozen in ice. Thats how the blockbuster Hollywood movie The Day After Tomorrow depicted an abrupt shutdown of the Atlantic Oceans circulation and the catastrophic consequences. While Hollywoods vision was over the top, the 2004 movie raised a serious question: If global warming shuts down the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which is crucial for carrying heat from the tropics to the northern latitudes, how abrupt and severe would the climate changes be? Twenty years after the movies release, we know a lot more about the Atlantic Oceans circulation. Instruments deployed in the ocean starting in 2004 show that the Atlantic Ocean circulation has observably slowed over the past two decades, possibly to its weakest state in almost a millennium. Studies also suggest that the circulation has reached a dangerous tipping point in the past that sent it into a precipitous, unstoppable decline, and that it could hit that tipping point again as the planet warms and glaciers and ice sheets melt. In a new study using the latest generation of Earths climate models, we simulated the flow of fresh water until the ocean circulation reached that tipping point. The results showed that the circulation could fully shut down within a century of hitting the tipping point, and that its headed in that direction. If that happened, average temperatures would drop by several degrees in North America, parts of Asia and Europe, and people would see severe and cascading consequences around the world. We also discovered a physics-based early warning signal that can alert the world when the Atlantic Ocean circulation is nearing its tipping point. The oceans conveyor belt Ocean currents are driven by winds, tides and water density differences. In the Atlantic Ocean circulation, the relatively warm and salty surface water near the equator flows toward Greenland. During its journey it crosses the Caribbean Sea, loops up into the Gulf of Mexico, and then flows along the U.S. East Coast before crossing the Atlantic. This current, also known as the Gulf Stream, brings heat to Europe. As it flows northward and cools, the water mass becomes heavier. By the time it reaches Greenland, it starts to sink and flow southward. The sinking of water near Greenland pulls water from elsewhere in the Atlantic Ocean and the cycle repeats, like a conveyor belt. Too much fresh water from melting glaciers and the Greenland ice sheet can dilute the saltiness of the water, preventing it from sinking, and weaken this ocean conveyor belt. A weaker conveyor belt transports less heat northward and also enables less heavy water to reach Greenland, which further weakens the conveyor belts strength. Once it reaches the tipping point, it shuts down quickly. What happens to the climate at the tipping point? The existence of a tipping point was first noticed in an overly simplified model of the Atlantic Ocean circulation in the early 1960s. Todays more detailed climate models indicate a continued slowing of the conveyor belts strength under climate change. However, an abrupt shutdown of the Atlantic Ocean circulation appeared to be absent in these climate models. Ted-Ed Video: How do ocean currents work? Jennifer Verduin This is where our study comes in. We performed an experiment with a detailed climate model to find the tipping point for an abrupt shutdown by slowly increasing the input of fresh water. We found that once it reaches the tipping point, the conveyor belt shuts down within 100 years. The heat transport toward the north is strongly reduced, leading to abrupt climate shifts. The result: Dangerous cold in the North Regions that are influenced by the Gulf Stream receive substantially less heat when the circulation stops. This cools the North American and European continents by a few degrees. The European climate is much more influenced by the Gulf Stream than other regions. In our experiment, that meant parts of the continent changed at more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) per decade far faster than todays global warming of about 0.36 F (0.2 C) per decade. We found that parts of Norway would experience temperature drops of more than 36 F (20 C). On the other hand, regions in the Southern Hemisphere would warm by a few degrees. These temperature changes develop over about 100 years. That might seem like a long time, but on typical climate time scales, it is abrupt. The conveyor belt shutting down would also affect sea level and precipitation patterns, which can push other ecosystems closer to their tipping points. For example, the Amazon rainforest is vulnerable to declining precipitation. If its forest ecosystem turned to grassland, the transition would release carbon to the atmosphere and result in the loss of a valuable carbon sink, further accelerating climate change. The Atlantic circulation has slowed significantly in the distant past. During glacial periods when ice sheets that covered large parts of the planet were melting, the influx of fresh water slowed the Atlantic circulation, triggering huge climate fluctuations. So, when will we see this tipping point? The big question when will the Atlantic circulation reach a tipping point remains unanswered. Observations dont go back far enough to provide a clear result. While a recent study suggested that the conveyor belt is rapidly approaching its tipping point, possibly within a few years, these statistical analyses made several assumptions that give rise to uncertainty. Instead, we were able to develop a physics-based and observable early warning signal involving the salinity transport at the southern boundary of the Atlantic Ocean. Once a threshold is reached, the tipping point is likely to follow in one to four decades. The climate impacts from our study underline the severity of such an abrupt conveyor belt collapse. The temperature, sea level and precipitation changes will severely affect society, and the climate shifts are unstoppable on human time scales. It might seem counterintuitive to worry about extreme cold as the planet warms, but if the main Atlantic Ocean circulation shuts down from too much meltwater pouring in, thats the risk ahead. This article was updated on Feb. 11, 2024, to fix a typo: The experiment found temperatures in parts of Europe changed by more than 5 F per decade. Rene van Westen, Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate Physics, Utrecht University; Henk A. Dijkstra, Professor of Physics, Utrecht University, and Michael Kliphuis, Climate Model Specialist, Utrecht University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) New York Governor Kathleen Courtney Hochul, a sixth-generation Irish-American, spoke on Thursday to a Jewish philanthropy in her state. In the course of her remarks, she referred to Israels right to defend itself from Hamas. She went on to say, If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, Im sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, right, right? But think about that, that is a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure it never happens again, and that is Israels right. She has since apologized for a poor choice of words, not in her full-throated advocacy of genocide but for making Canada the scenario for it. She momentarily forgot that it is only allowed to advocate ethnic cleansing of non-white people. The Gaza conflict is like a UV black light for detecting sociopaths. There are many things wrong with Hochuls remark. First, Gaza is recognized by the UN and most countries in the world as an occupied territory over which Israel is the occupying power. It isnt an independent country. It has no port, airport, or heavy armaments. It is almost completely surrounded by Israel, including from the sea and the skies, and even the Egyptian checkpoint of Gaza is de facto controlled by Israeli policy. Israel has the basic right of self-defense, as do all United Nations member states under its charter. But it doesnt have the right to wage a total war, to wipe out 30,000 people in Gaza, the bulk of them innocent non-combatants, or to ethnically cleanse 1.9 million people. It has a right to defend itself from the Hamas organization, but not to destroy Gaza. As an occupying power it has a special responsibility to ensure the welfare of the Palestinian non-combatants of Gaza, a responsibility it has abandoned with glee. NBC News Video: Humanitarian crisis growing in Gaza Second, who in the world says things like there would be no Canada the next day? It is never all right to wipe out a whole people. The technical term for that sort of thing is genocide. As an Irish-American, Hochul should be more sympathetic to people being starved by impersonal colonial policy. The British rulers of Ireland during the potato famine believed that distributing food would backfire by making the locals forever dependent on this state largesse, setting them up for more deaths in the future. Nobelist in economics Amartya Sen debunked this theory, versions of which we hear from Republicans today. The only way to stop a famine is for the government to intervene to distribute food. The British also exported food from Ireland while a million were dying of hunger. There were 8 million Irish in 1840. A million died in the famine and a million left, many for the United States and Canada, leaving 5.8 million by 1860 or so. Israels position in Gaza is no less colonial than Britains was in Ireland. Today, the Israeli authorities are imposing widespread hunger and thirst on millions of noncombatants, including small children. These policies are not necessary to combat Hamas, they are clearly undertaken for their own sake, as a form of collective punish. One physician who recently volunteered there wrote in the LA Times, it wasnt war, it was annihilation. The final thing that is wrong with what Hochul said is that we already had a war with Canada, when it was still part of the British Empire, in 1812-1814. The British provoked US ire by trying to restrict its trade with the Napoleonic Empire. American Gen. George McClure burned a Canadian town, and the British forces came down from Canada with First Nations auxiliaries and destroyed a number of American hamlets and towns, and then burned Buffalo, New York (Hochuls home town) to the ground. The US Constitution Museum explains, American armies invaded Canada in 1812 at three points, but all three campaigns ended in failure. One army surrendered at Detroit at the western end of Lake Erie, a second army surrendered at Queenston Heights at the other end of the lake, and a third army withdrew after little more than a skirmish north of New York. A similar multi-pronged invasion went better in 1813, but only in the West. So the 500,000 Canadians werent wiped out by the much more populous Americans, and except in the west they fought the U.S. forces to a standstill. In the aftermath, the British forces invaded Washington, D.C. and burned the White House, the Capitol and the navy shipyard. So Hochuls genocidal fantasy doesnt even accord with history. Just as it wasnt possible for the US to polish off British Canada in 1812-1814, it likewise isnt possible for Israel to polish off the worlds 14.3 million Palestinians, however much its Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, might like to do so. Politicians who glory in a whole nation abruptly not existing should be understood as disturbingly abnormal, and people should stop inviting them to dinner, much less electing them to high office. A Land for All offers an imaginative, reality-based vision to end the cycle of violence and its gaining traction with both Palestinians and Israelis. The Palestine solidarity movement has been an important voice for justice in recent months. It has mobilized millions behind the call for a desperately needed ceasefire, and has successfully pressured some key politicians, like Bernie Sanders, to take a stronger stand against Israels relentless bombing of Gaza. That said, the Palestine solidarity movement, and the American left more broadly, dont seem to have a practical, pragmatic or achievable long-term vision for the future of Palestine-Israel. Thats unfortunate, because the two options topping the news maintaining the status quo and a carceral two-state solution are both bad. Not having a workable vision could be one reason pressuring Biden to demand a ceasefire in Gaza has been less successful than, for example, pressuring him into meaningful action on climate issues. Unlike with Palestine-Israel, activists working on the climate have long had informed, reality-based and entirely practical visions for a fossil-free future (such as the Green New Deal). The only vision thats united the American left on Israel-Palestine is the one-state solution, in which Jews and Palestinians magically form one secular, democratic state like all the ones that we already know as if with a ginormous copy-and-paste. Unfortunately, neither Palestinians nor Jewish Israelis actually want that. Support among Palestinians for a one-state solution has hovered around 10 percent since 2020. For one thing, they understandably seem to fear that discrimination against Palestinian citizens would continue. Also, could it be that after 750 years of occupation by various non-Arab powers, from Mamluks to Jews, Palestinians have some longing for real self-determination? As for Jewish Israelis, a recent poll by the conservative Jewish People Policy Institute shows that 97 percent whether left or right, secular or religious want Israel to remain a Jewish state. Even allowing for a generous margin of error, its clear that very few Jewish Israelis are ready to give up their political self-determination. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Europe are pressuring Israel to accept a carceral two-state solution in which Jews and Palestinians are restricted to their own bunkered territories by an increasingly reinforced border wall like today, in other words, but with autonomy for the Palestinians. That could be better than nothing, but it wont lead to any lasting peace, either, since both peoples will continue to consider the land beyond the wall theirs. In 2017, Banksy painted these angels breaking open the West Bank separation wall using a crowbar. (Facebook/A Land for All) Neither violence nor separation will bring freedom to either people, as Oct. 7 and whats followed have amply demonstrated. Luckily, Netanyahu is extremely unpopular for his immense failures before, on and after Oct. 7 like propping up Hamas in order to divide Palestinians. (He was already deeply unpopular for his attempts to cripple the Israeli Supreme Court, which generated nine months of huge protests.) While the trauma from Oct. 7 has blinded much of the Israeli public to the carnage in Gaza, theres recently been a renewed surge of direct action and protest against Netanyahu. If the American left can help pressure Biden to obtain a real ceasefire, Netanyahus career will be over, along with the war and the momentum that ousts him could well sweep away those with similar views. It would be a pity to squander such an opportunity by pushing for a hugely unpopular one-state or a deeply flawed two-state solution. Fortunately, the American left doesnt have to come up with their own great plan, because theres already a homegrown left vision in Israel-Palestine, thats supported by a large and increasing number of Arabs and Jews. Its utopian but also deeply pragmatic, and I believe it has the strongest chance of working of any day after plan. A Land for All, formerly known as Two States, One Homeland, is a group advocating for two completely autonomous states, each with its own institutions and citizenship, with clear but open borders between them. Citizens of Israel and Palestine will have full access to live, work, travel and worship anywhere in their mutual homeland, with non-discrimination in housing enforced by a mutual judicial institution. This vision of an Israeli-Palestinian confederation is the same, with only slight differences, as what worked to bring relative peace to many formerly violent places on earth like Northern Ireland, or for that matter Europe, where countries that warred for centuries would now never consider fighting each other. It can work in Israel-Palestine too: Two million Palestinians are currently living with Jews within Israel, as Israeli citizens, obviously with no walls to keep the two peoples apart. Eight years ago, I met one of the founders of A Land For All, Meron Rapaport, and was instantly captivated by the simplicity, obviousness and justice of the idea. Rapaport didnt think it had much chance of success at that time, but he thought the day might come when the status quo would be widely seen as untenable, and a pragmatic but beautiful vision might fill the gap. Now is such a time. Composed of both Israeli Jews and Palestinians, with an equal number of each in leadership positions, A Land For Alls annual conferences, public and academic events, and publications have already resulted in the option of confederation entering the vocabulary of activists, experts and opinion makers. And a poll by Palestinian-Israeli Pulse showed support for confederation growing among the general public as well from 24 percent in 2016 to 29 percent in 2023 and surging dramatically among the Israeli left from 35 percent in 2016 to 66 percent in 2023. (The same poll shows support for the classical two-state solution declining among both Jewish and Palestinian Israelis, from 53 percent in 2016 to 34 percent in 2023.) The group has begun a more grassroots campaign as well, to further influence public opinion in Israel-Palestine and abroad, since international help and pressure are needed. The groups Palestinian and Jewish directors, Rula Hardal and May Pundak, recently toured the U.S., speaking with audiences and meeting with leaders of several progressive Jewish and Palestinian groups, who reacted warmly to the Land For All vision. A Land For All is continuing to work with progressive groups in the U.S. to help make this vision more visible to movement grassroots. (On Feb. 20, I am co-hosting a public Zoom session, together with the Center for Artistic Activism and members of A Land For All, to start brainstorming ways to spread a much-needed vision of justice and freedom into our movements.) When the war ends if Netanyahu goes to jail for massive corruption and Hamas loses its murderous hold on Gaza the vision of A Land For All will still face huge challenges from extremists. The support and pressure of the American left will be critical to ensuring that, despite the opposition, this deeply pragmatic (yet utopian) vision can gain traction and win an outcome the whole world needs. Andy Bichlbaum is a co-founder of the Yes Men, an ever-expanding, increasingly diverse group who, these days, mainly partner with activist groups on creative tactics to further campaigns. The Yes Men have made three feature films about their stunts, which give mainstream journalists humorous fodder for covering important issues. As a school-ager and teenager, Joanne OConnor often heard her mother calling from the top of the stairs in their Auburn home to turn off the TV and get to bed. OConner was an early aficionado of old movies, classic films. Her favorite actress was Una OConnor. While her mother dreamed of her becoming a secretary and working in town, OConnor had early dreams of theater and the stage. She describes herself as a shy child, but in eighth grade as a student at Blessed Trinity, she auditioned for a role at the Womens Union with Sam Kennedy of the Auburn Players. She didnt get the part. She attended Mount Carmel High School, where she felt she was taught, more than anything, about discipline and perseverance. When Mount Carmel High School closed, she was among those in the first class of students to attend Auburn High School. While maintaining that she was always shy in high school, she continued to pursue her love of classic movies, developed an obsession with the stories of Charles Dickens, and dove into anything regarding history. She explained, Early on, I simply knew I loved stories. Despite her shy disposition, OConnor did get involved in the first plays produced at the new Auburn High School under the drama teacher, Brian McLernan. She became the student director, including stage management of Camelot. At the time she noted that her mother didnt know what to do with me. she giggled that her mother wanted her to be a nun or pursue secretarial work after high school. OConnor said joyfully, I did not want to be a nun. I wanted to be Jennifer Jones! She began college at Auburn Community College (now Cayuga Community College) in the secretarial program. But after a few typing classes, OConnor said she went out the back door and discovered the colleges theater program. She enrolled in theater classes and learned lifelong lessons from professor Daniel Labay, who lectured her and her classmates, The most important thing about the theater is no one is going to be a star. You are here to learn to be the audience. At Auburn Community College she worked in all aspects of the theater, including acting on stage. She noted that she also developed a love of theater history, which joined together her early love of classic films, classic theater and the classic stars of the '30s, '40s and '50s. The passion instilled in her at the college led her to SUNY Brockport, where she graduated from the theater program. While there she performed as Miss Wellington in You Cant Take it With You. Her performance as Clara in Save Me a Place at Forest Lawn went on tour and won best performance in the state theater competition in 1976. OConnor had clearly overcome her early shyness and learned that she is an old soul and loved playing older women in her 20s. Graduate school at Boston University followed. She said she always wanted to live in a big city. OConnor took many art classes and theater history classes. She said that she was inspired to personally learn the American Songbook. Immediately, she found herself auditioning and getting what she referred to as little acting jobs, including television commercials. She was hired as the stand-in for Karen Allyn in A Small Circle of Friends. She did numerous plays during her years in Boston. Feeling that her acting work and previous program at Brockport had already taught her more than she was learning in graduate school, the next essential move was to New York City. Friends from her years at Brockport were waiting for OConnor in New York. As a gang of four college roommates, they all roomed together again as they pursued a relentless schedule of auditioning, bit parts and moving from one apartment to another. OConnor paid the rent as a roller-skating waitress at a popular spot on 64th Street where Bruce Willis was the bartender. She roller-skated to and from work for years. She loved the work and met some of New Yorks famous and unique actors, including Russell Baker, Clyde Barners and the Stiller family. The staffers from Mad Magazine ate there regularly, often utilizing the rolling-skating restaurant as their second office. One of her daily customers was Quentin Crisp, who created an iconic role in Stings music video, Englishman in New York. She and her friends workshopped their own plays together, even after exhaustingly long shifts on roller skates. OConnor wrote and created a 15-minute show as part of their workshopping of a work they referred to as The Birthday Girls. Her piece featured a cat lady based on her experiences with a former neighbor in New York City who had 72 cats, titled Molly was my Next-Door Neighbor. The play took off and showed all over NYC, explained OConnor. It became an off-Broadway feature at the Clurman Theatre, and when cable TV launched, Molly was repeated for years. Eventually, though, OConnor said that after 35 years in theater she had enough of the theater world and was done. Instead, she became the event planner for NYCs premier club venue, Laura Belle. In a luxurious space that could hold 1,000 guests, OConnor planned every detail of over 200 major events yearly. Among her vitae at Laura Belle, she planned the 75th birthday party for Paul Newman, created openings for Bob Mackie and Chanel, coordinated parties and openings for Diana Ross, Liza Minelli, Mary Tyler Moore and Madonna. To pull off all this work, OConnor said she "lived at Laura Belle. One of her dearest memories of working with hundreds of theater, music, arts and clothing designer stars was an incident with Paul Newman. He came to Laura Belle hours before the event and asked if he could work there for awhile in her office. In this interaction, he held out his hand to shake hers; he held onto her hand for a long, extended time with such warmth and genuine interest in her that to this day she said, I can feel his hand in mine still. As she recalls this memory to this day, it evokes tears of warmth, connection and joy. And then, in her 41st year in NYC, COVID-19 hit. The pandemic pushed her heart back toward home. She knew Angela Daddabbo at Auburn Public Theater and realized, There is just as much theater and fun available right in my old neighborhood. Without a look back, she packed up her life in NYC and moved home. OConnor described her years in NYC as getting on the front seat of the Ferris wheel and never getting off for 41 years. But she notes that Auburn and Cayuga County offer as much fun. Now that she is home again, she said she is "never bored and tries to have fun every day. OConnor played a key role at Auburn Public Theater during the COVID shutdown. With Daddabbos encouragement, OConnor created three online theater shows for APT that move from comedic details in My Live as a Wedding Planning to a 2020 New Years Eve party show, All Dressed Up and No Where to Go. Another online show is Live from Kips Bay. All of these performances have been preserved and can be watched on APTs YouTube channel. In a full cycle of her early childhood and teen interests, OConnor now hosts the weekly classic movies at 1 p.m. Tuesdays at APT. She prepares and presents the history of the weekly film and fills audiences in with fun facts about the classic actors and actresses. January featured Hitchcock films. In late January, she performed Chronicles of an Auburn Citizen, in which she read from selected articles she has written for The Citizen. OConnor is now a member of the board of Auburn Public Theater. She describes her association with APT as among her most important work to date. Perhaps OConnor jumped off the Ferris wheel in NYC to take the front seat on a Merry-Go-Round in Auburn. After all, OConnor, spoke the first words at the first show of the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, briefly called the Auburn Civic Theatre. Despite learning the painful truth about his past, Yeo Jeong Woo (Park Hyung Sik) found solace and love from Nam Ha Neul (Park Shin Hye) in "Doctor Slump" Episode 7. 'Doctor Slump' Episode 7: Nam Ha Neul Learns How Severe Yeo Jeong Woo's Situation Is The episode started with Yeo Jeong Woo's lonely journey from childhood to adulthood. Back in the present, he tried to chase the strange man but failed. At home, Ha Neul found a spy camera in Jeong Woo's room and understood how severe the situation was. Later on, she brought him to the hospital to cure his wound and cried in front of him as she felt distressed for Jeong Woo. She blamed her depression for crying, but Jeong Woo knew that she was just being worried for him. ALSO READ: 'Doctor Slump' Achieves New All-Time High + Park Shin Hye, Park Hyung Sik Receive Positive Reviews Days later, Jeong Woo's trial came and Nam Ha Neul prepared food and things for him before going to the battle. She then hurried to her room to get ready to accompany Jeong Woo in court but was caught by Ba Da. She convinced him to keep it a secret and asked if he ever saw anyone entering Jeong Woo's room. He then remembered someone followed Jeong Woo upstairs on the day he moved, and Ha Neul scolded him for not telling her in advance. Yeo Jeong Woo Proven Innocent But Learns Painful Truth About His Family Nam Ha Neul then went upstairs to leave with Jeong Woo and found she couldn't find him anywhere. Instead, she saw his phone on the ground. She was worried that he had not arrived yet in court. She tried to make up a reason for him, and just right then, he came with evidence in hand. A flashback was shown where Jeong Woo tried calling Jin Seok while waiting for Ha Neul but spotted him near his house. He rushed to him and after a little chase, he caught him and handed him the evidence, which was a video from the scene of the accident. Caught in the video are the people who entered the operation room before the surgery and tampered with the fluids which led to the incident. Yeo Jeong Woo won the case and was proven innocent. It turned out that the case was about jealousy among his family members which was the cause of the whole issue. Sadly, Jeong Woo was not at peace after having faced all those adversities while witnessing people around him criticizing and leaving him during his hard times. Everyone from his past appeared one by one to reconnect with him again and kept up a pretense. This made him feel lonelier. Yeo Jeong Woo Confesses to Nam Ha Neul Nam Ha Neul, on the other hand, was worried and decided to visit Jeong Woo. She was surprised to see her mom and brother on the rooftop preparing for a barbecue. At first, she is annoyed by her family but soon changed when she saw them cheer Jeong Woo up to make him feel better. After their small celebration, Jeong Woo and Nam Ha Neul went for a drink and expressed themselves. As their conversation deepened, a drunk Jeong Woo made a sweet confession about his feelings to Ha Neul. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Doctor Slump' Ranks 1st Worldwide + Accumulates 10.2 Million Viewing Hours on its 2nd Week What can you say about "Doctor Slump" episode 7? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! 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. FILE - Then-CBS president Leslie Moonves attends the CBS Network 2015 Programming Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015, in New York. Moonves has agreed to pay a $11,250 fine to settle a complaint that he interfered with a police investigation of a sexual assault case, the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission says. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Sunday, February 18, 2024 - Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli is back to supporting Azimio Leader Raila Odinga even after dumping him for President William Ruto after he lost the election in 2022. Atwoli is now vouching for Raila to succeed Moussa Faki at the African Union Commission (AUC) as its chairperson. Faki's second and last term in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, lapses by March 2025. Raila joined the race to succeed Faki after formally declaring his bid on February 15. I have been consulting widely. I think if am ready to serve the continent of Africa. Africa deserves better Raila stated. Atwoli now says Raila qualifies for the post owing to his rich background and knowledge of the political and socio-economic status of not only Kenya but the larger continent. "Raila is up to the task and can do the job. He has been tested and understands the political and social dynamics of our countries. He also understands the boundaries and political differences from the African nationalities," said Atwoli. The COTU boss said Africa would bank on the former prime minister's expertise in solving conflicts bedeviling various countries in the continent. For instance, Atwoli stated that with Raila at the helm of the AUC, the problem in the Eastern DRC will be arrested. "One of the worst areas in our continent is in DRC. If there is a problem there, it affects us," he said. The trade unionist drew an instance from Raila's involvement in the restoration of peace in the Ivory Coast. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, February 18, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas bid to become the African Union chairperson has received a rocket boost after Amani National Congress (ANC) endorsed his bid. In a statement on Saturday, ANC party leader Issa Timamy said it fully backs the ongoing diplomatic endeavors spearheaded by President William Ruto to have Raila Odinga lead the continental body. Timamy also praised Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, for leading campaigns to ensure Jakom is the next AU chairperson, ahead of the retirement of Mousa Faki late this year. "The party expresses confidence in the timing and merits of Eastern Africa's bid for the AUC chairmanship and commends Mudavadi's steadfast leadership in championing the region's candidacy," Timamy said. According to Timamy, Raila is a highly qualified candidate for the crucial position. "His extensive experience and dedication to the advancement of the African continent make him a highly qualified candidate for this important position," he stated The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, February 18, 2024 President William Rutos government has struck once again, this time targeting churches, groups, and school associations. This is after the Registrar of Societies cancelled the licenses of 102 organisations, including churches, businesses, and school associations. In a notice, Registrar Maria Nyariki noted that the organisations would cease operation following the gazettement of the notice. It was explained that the revocation of licenses was done per the law as mandated in the Societies Act. Among those religious groups that have had their licenses cancelled include Kenya Independent Churches, Winners Celebration Center, Glorious Gate Ministries, Kenya Revival Group of The Gospel, and the God of Wonders Evangelistic Ministry. The African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa also had its licence revoked. On the other hand, business and professional organization also had their licenses revoked, including the Burma Meat Suppliers Association, Western Community-Based Tourism Association, Imenti Jua Kali Association, and Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors. The Kenya Press Club was also listed among the 102 associations. Old school student associations were also affected by the latest government move. The Tambach Old Boys Association and the Nairobi Tindiret Students Association were among them. Welfare associations were also found non-compliant with government regulations with their operation licences cancelled. Among them were the Maseno Welfare Association, Nyandarua Welfare Association, and Kaluo Okang Welfare Association. The government often reviews the licenses of groups and associations to ensure compliance with regulations including books of account, property details, and members list. The registrar's office is based at the State Law led by Attorney General Justin Muturi. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, February 18, 2024 - Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has taken a swipe at Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders, accusing them of taking the country to the dogs. Speaking on Saturday when he attended the burial of former Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya's wife in Nyandarua, Uhuru accused President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, of taking the country in the wrong direction. The former president likened leading the country to driving a car, arguing that one cannot drive properly if he keeps looking at the rear mirror. In an indirect attack on Ruto's administration, which has been blaming him for the challenges facing the country, Uhuru said leaders who look at the past will lead the country astray. "When I was in leadership, I used to tell leaders that focused leaders are the ones who look ahead and not those who always want to revisit the past. If you want to lead this country, focus ahead. "But if you keep with gossip ... You are going nowhere. Leadership is like driving a vehicle. You can't drive while looking at the rear mirror, or you risk crashing the vehicle," Uhuru said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, February 18, 2024 President William Ruto will win the 2027 General Election by a landslide. This was predicted by renowned Political Analyst Mutahi Ngunyi, who criticized those claiming that Ruto will only serve one term based on his lies and plethora of unfulfilled promises. Sharing his message on X, Ngunyi argued that Ruto is a smart politician and that he will turn the lies into truths and will go ahead to win the election. He pointed out that its merely wishful thinking to believe that Ruto wont seek re-election due to the lies and unfulfilled promises. According to Ngunyi, criticism aimed at Ruto, often labeled as lies or unfulfilled promises, in his view, are the genuine aspirations of an earnest leader. And for the record: Those saying that Ruto will be a one-term President are daydreamers. "In 2027, Ruto will win with a landslide. "I do not know how. But the trends are obvious to the objective eye. "What you are calling lies are the dreams of a sincere man. And God will grant them, he stated. President Ruto has been under fire for the unfulfilled promises he made to Kenyans during his campaign season, with others becoming infuriated at how he was running the country. The high cost of living, choking taxation, youth unemployment, and corruption among other issues are some of the dire needs Kenyans have been calling on the government to address yet unattended to. Additionally, his movements across the continent have not eased the situation with many Kenyans angered by the cost he is incurring as he globe-trots. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, February 17, 2024 French police officers have shot a man dead for allegedly threatening them with a meat cleaver in Paris after initially hitting him with a Taser stun gun. The man was said to be brandishing the weapon and carrying a notebook with Arabic writing at a tram stop in the capital on Saturday, February 17. When police arrived on the scene around 3am, the man refused to drop the cleaver and proceeded towards the police, prosecutors said. According to first reports, four police officers fired their pistols a total of about 20 times, they said, adding that none of the police on the scene were injured. The suspect was born in 1984 in Sudan and had no criminal record, prosecutors said, adding that two investigations had been launched over the man's action and the police response. The suspect was wearing an Arab-style robe and carrying the weapon when police arrived on the scene. He refused to drop the cleaver and proceeded towards the police, prosecutors said. The four police officers who opened fire had been taken to hospital in a state of 'shock', the prosecutors said. Laurent Obertone, a journalist, wrote on X this morning that the events took place around 3am on Saturday at the Butte Duhat Rouge station. The suspect apparently refused to obey orders to stop and 'brandished a Koranic book' before threatening the officials. David Wilcox Executive editor Follow David Wilcox 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 Dan Dennis has been holding his breath for a year and a half. After waiting all that time for the green light from New York state, the Montezuma man will open a cannabis dispensary, Just Breathe, before March 1. Located just over the Cayuga County line on Routes 5 and 20 in the town of Tyre, across from Montezuma Winery, it will be the area's first licensed dispensary to open since the passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act in March 2021. The 3,700 square feet of Just Breathe will feature a large selection of flower, vapes and other cannabis products, Dennis told The Citizen, as well as a stage for bands and comedians, a gallery of local art, regular visits from food trucks and more. A former member of Auburn hard rock band Stone Soul Foundation, he said creative expression has always had a place in his entrepreneurship. "Being a musician and in love with the plant, I think everyone who has that love and passion for it feels similarly," he said. If you go WHAT: Just Breathe Finger Lakes WHEN: Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays beginning sometime before March 1 WHERE: 2988 Routes 5 and 20, Tyre INFO: For more information and updates on the dispensary's opening day, find Just Breathe on Facebook or @JB_Fingerlakes on Instagram. To inquire about displaying art at the dispensary, email justbreathefingerlakes@gmail.com. Dennis applied for a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license in September 2022, he told The Citizen. Having been convicted for cannabis possession, he qualified for the social equity program. Still, Dennis was so unsure he'd receive a license that he also started a cannabis-inspired clothing line, Prohibition Prophets. Then, in July of last year, he received an email from the state Office of Cannabis Management giving him the good news. But the following month, a lawsuit by disabled military veterans accusing the program of discrimination led to an injunction against its licensees. The lawsuit was settled in late November, allowing Just Breathe and more than 400 other dispensaries across the state to move forward. Dennis has since obtained a regular dispensary license as well. As of Wednesday, all Dennis needed to open was the Office of Cannabis Management's dispensary verification sticker for his window. After that, he can begin stocking his shelves. "It's been a long, uphill battle," he said. "When I filled out the application to get a dispensary, I was very naive and uneducated. It took a lot of knowledge, resources and money." As part of the state's legal cannabis industry, Just Breathe will only carry products grown and processed in New York. Dennis noted that they are tracked seed to sale, and customers can access that information using QR codes. Knowledgeable "budtenders" will also be among the seven to 10 people working at the dispensary. Dennis expects to open as soon as this week, and as late as March 1. Along with cannabis, Just Breathe will carry local art for sale, beginning with work by Auburnians Bryan Simmons and Kevin Burke. Dennis said 100% of sales will go to the artists, with no consignment. The dispensary's stage will host what Dennis hopes will be weekly performances by local bands, including his own, and comedians. He said sets will be short, about 20 minutes, to maintain the appropriate customer flow for a retail environment. Just Breathe has a lounge area for people to enjoy performances, but Dennis noted that he does not have a license for on-site cannabis consumption. With food truck visits also planned, Dennis believes his business will complement Montezuma Winery across the street. He even joined the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail to be part of its promotions. "The stage was an important part of what we do," he said. "We'll be operating a little differently than most dispensaries." Cannabis queue: Farms, entrepreneurs in Cayuga County area await industry's launch On March 31, 2021, recreational cannabis became legal in the state of New York. Immediately, people 21 and older could possess up to 3 ounces Gallery: Cannabis dispensary Just Breathe opening soon Sunday, February 18, 2024 - Tana River County Senator, Danson Mungatana, has asked former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to support President William Ruto in his 2027 re-election bid. Speaking in Hola Town on Saturday, Mungatana emphasized Ruto's statesmanship, citing his efforts in campaigning for Raila Odingas bid as the African Union Commission chairman. Mungatana highlighted the historical support, noting Ruto's backing of Raila's 2007 presidential bid and his recent endorsement for the AU role. "In 2007, William Ruto supported you in your presidential bid, and now, 17 years later, in 2024, Ruto is instrumental in helping you secure the AU position. "When the time comes in 2027, we urge you to also extend your support to President Ruto's reelection," Mungatana said. The Senator also underscored the significance of Raila's bid in regional politics, asserting that Kenya stands to gain substantial benefits from his victory. "We thank the President for supporting Raila's candidacy for the African Union Commission Chairmanship. It's a crucial position that will bring positive impacts for us as Kenyans," Mungatana stated. The Kenyan DALY POST. Sunday, February 18, 2024 - The late Monica Kimanis father Bishop Paul Ngarama has broken silence after Jowie, the main suspect in his daughters brutal murder, was found guilty. Bishop Ngarama welcomed the courts verdict and said he has forgiven Jowie. He said forgiveness will put an end to the trauma that his family has gone through since Monica was killed in cold blood. Forgiveness will put an end to the trauma that my family has gone through since 2018 when my first child and only daughter was killed, he said. He also denied claims that his daughter was carrying Ksh 8 million in cash when she landed at JKIA and denied reports that she was involved in money laundering. I have forgiven Jowie for killing my daughter Monica Kimani but in all humility, I am asking why he killed my daughter? "What was the motive? Accusations about money laundering and stealing of dollars were all false. "We did clean business. Talk of Monica carrying Ksh 8 million in cash was just rumours. "I wasnt showed the money if indeed she had it, he said. Despite the progress in the case, Ngarama's quest for closure, which will only happen once he knows the motive, remains unanswered. I am asking him why he killed my daughter. Why? Is he ready to face me and ask for forgiveness? he questioned. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, February 18, 2024- Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday left a funeral in Nyeri County in a hurry to avoid meeting with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Uhuru was among thousands of mourners who attended the funeral of former assistant inspector general of police, Kingori Mwangi. After a brief stay at the burial, Uhuru left moments before Gachagua arrived at the venue. Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandetto revealed that Uhuru sought to be excused as he was headed to another funeral but left his apologies to the deputy president. " "The former president was here and we alerted him that you (Gachagua) were on your way but you were engaged somewhere but passed your message to him. "He also asked that we give you his apologies because he had wanted to stay but he had to go and condole with another family," said Wandetto. Gachagua and Uhuru have been at loggerheads for a while. The second in command has constantly accused Uhuru of leveraging his powers as head of state to persecute those who chose to dissent from him. The Kenyan DAILY POST 10 Shares Share Dr. Shaun Murphy (played by Freddie Highmore) stars in ABCs The Good Doctor, a television drama that centers around an autistic surgeon whose job at the hospital was frequently threatened and would be lost if it were not for the practical and emotional support from the hospital president. I dont know how many Doctor Murphys practice medicine in real life autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevails in about 1% to 2% of the general population but I do know that ASD is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by two main types of symptoms: 1. Social communication and interaction challenges: People with ASD often have difficulty with social aspects of communication and interaction. This can include: Difficulty with social-emotional reciprocity, such as initiating or responding to social interactions. Challenges in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, like eye contact, body language, or understanding and using gestures. Difficulty in developing and maintaining relationships appropriate to the developmental level. 2. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities: People with ASD may display behaviors, interests, or activities that are restricted and repetitive. This can include: Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech. Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior.h Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus. Hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment. The severity and combination of symptoms can vary widely among individuals with ASD, hence the term spectrum was added to the diagnosis of autism in 2013. Symptoms of ASD are typically recognized in the early developmental period, but they may not fully manifest until social demands exceed the individuals capacities. Symptoms can also be masked by learned strategies in later life, but individuals may suffer from the stress and effort of maintaining a socially acceptable facade. This last point, i.e., symptoms may be masked in adulthood, weighs heavily, because I can see myself as an outlier on the autistic spectrum. Not too long ago, a colleague who knows me well suggested half-kidding that I may have had autism as a child. No way, I said Think about it, she replied. You dont socialize much, you have rituals (two showers a day), youre rigid and set in your ways, and youre fixated on your hobbies. I bet if we gave you the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition), youd come out on the spectrum. I was speechless. I revisited the DSM criteria for autism spectrum disorder and researched some of the characteristics that may potentially correlate with or predispose someone to a career in medicine. Here is what I found: 1. Attention to detail: Many individuals with ASD have an exceptional ability to focus and pay attention to detail. This can be particularly useful in medicine, where precision and meticulousness are crucial. 2. Strong memory skills: Some people with ASD have excellent memory skills, particularly for factual information or processes. This could be beneficial in a medical profession where remembering large amounts of information is required. 3. Systemizing tendency: People with ASD often have a strong interest in systems. This can translate into an interest in the human bodys systems and a passion for understanding how they work, which is a fundamental aspect of medicine. 4. Perseverance: Many people with ASD can be exceptionally determined and persistent, especially when they are passionate about a particular subject. This trait can be very advantageous in the demanding field of medicine. 5. Honesty and directness: Individuals with ASD often have a straightforward and honest communication style. While they may need to develop soft skills for patient interactions, their honesty can be an asset in a profession where transparency and integrity are valued. 6. Special interests: People with ASD often have intense special interests. If their interest lies in the field of medicine, they could excel in this field due to their ability to focus intensely on their area of interest and specialization. Until recently, there has been little research into the experiences of autistic doctors. However, a 2023 survey of 225 physician members of the U.K.-based support group Autistic Doctors International, representing about 45% of its membership, shed light on challenges faced by neurodivergent doctors in their profession. The findings are shocking: 24% have attempted suicide 77% have contemplated suicide. 49% engaged in self-harm The average age of a formal diagnosis of autism for doctors was 36 years old, confirming that high intellect and specific aptitudes in this instance, aptitudes viewed as medical assets may explain why signs can go undetected for years and mask the diagnosis in adults. There have always been autistic doctors, but this survey revealed that the field of medicine is extremely challenging for the neurodivergent clinician to navigate. The survey also highlighted the need for greater support and understanding of autistic doctors and autism in general within the medical community. Indeed, a 2019 study demonstrated that medical students report low knowledge of ASD, and more than 90% of students cite inadequate preparation for caring for individuals with autism. Medical students also reported a greater need for increased education and training in ASD care. Although a diagnosis of autism can have unfavorable consequences if individuals are met with denial or discrimination from employers, the condition is not a reason for organizations to impede the successful practice and career progression of doctors with ASD. Like the good Dr. Murphy, a successful career in medicine is possible for doctors on the autistic spectrum if the condition is recognized and supported sooner and appropriate accommodations are made. I dont doubt I share some of the disorders features with individuals who fall on the autistic spectrum. Considering that ASD is a spectrum disorder, meaning characteristics can vary greatly from person to person, not all individuals with ASD will have these traits, and having these traits does not necessarily mean an individual with ASD will want to or be able to become a doctor. To be clear, I was never diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Reflecting on the possibility, I feel a bit like psychologist Malcolm Crowe (played by Bruce Willis) in The Sixth Sense. Dr. Crowe doesnt recognize he is dead until the end of the movie. Im quite alive, but the thought I might have ASD is quite unimaginable, even if it were true. Receiving the correct diagnosis in the field of psychiatry, especially can be a moment of sudden enlightenment and explain a lifetime of difficulties. Arthur Lazarus is a former Doximity Fellow, a member of the editorial board of the American Association for Physician Leadership, and an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He is the author of Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine and Medicine on Fire: A Narrative Travelogue. Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is launching a photo competition in Kilkenny and nationwide, My Favourite Waterbody. LAWPRO is a national shared service working on behalf of the 31 local authorities in Ireland coordinating efforts to achieve good water quality across the country. Speaking at the competition launch, Anthony Coleman, Director of Services at LAWPRO said: I am delighted to launch this nationwide competition to find out the peoples favourite waterbodies. Ireland is bountiful with iconic waterways and scenic landscapes, and we know how important these waters and wetlands are to people. We want you to take part by submitting a photo of your favourite waterbody in Kilkenny to be in with a chance of winning a prize. The competition is open to anyone across Ireland, entrants under 18 years of age must be submitted by a parent/ guardian. If your photo includes anyone aged under 16 years of age, only a parent/guardian may submit the content. The overall winner will receive a 500 voucher for Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa in Co Wicklow along with an A3 framed print of your winning photo and there will also be regional prizes of framed prints. The top photos will be featured in LAWPROs 2025 calendar and winners will receive a calendar along with their prize. The closing date for entries to My favourite waterbody is 5pm on Friday, March 15. To enter the competition please email a photo to photocomp@lawaters.ie as an attachment along with your name, age, address and the location of your submitted photo. For full competition rules and T&Cs visit: Press Release: Local Authority Waters Programme Launches National Photography Competition - Local Authority Water Programme (lawaters.ie) Two Kilkenny bishops have attended a summit organised by IARCCUM (The International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission) in Rome and Canterbury. Bishop Niall Coll (Bishop of Ossory) and Bishop Adrian Wilkinson (Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory) were the two Irish bishops asked to attend the summit. It was the first time since 2016 that IARCCUM was convened. On this occasion over 50 bishops from 27 different countries, mostly in national pairs, spent between January 22-29 together to listen, pray and discuss how growing together as churches might strengthen our joint witness and mission in the world. Here, they reflect on their pilgrimage together: Visiting holy sites to pray in both Rome and Canterbury was very much part of the process. On January 23 it was moving for us to be part of an Anglican Choral Evensong being held for only the second time ever in the Choir Chapel of St Peters Basilica. The meeting coincided in part with the annual Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity which always ends on January 25 when our churches mark the Feast of the Conversation of St Paul. Appropriately that evening all the bishops attended Catholic vespers at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, where the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury both preached and commissioned the IARCCUM delegates in their pairs for their work. For us and many of those attending the liturgy, it was encouraging to observe both church leaders clearly at ease in each others company and both committed to the goal of Christian unity. Earlier that day the Archbishop of Canterbury had presided at an Anglican Eucharist in the basilica of San Bartolomeo. Before the service he and the participating bishops, toured the Sanctuary of the New Martyrs, which is a memorial in the crypt of this church. Opened in March last year, this permanent exhibition commemorates the stories of the Christian martyrs of the 20th and 21st centuries. Here the vestments worn by Archbishop Oscar Romero and a book owned by Maksymilian Kolbe were on display. Martyrs from churches other than the Roman Catholic Church are also commemorated in the sanctuary. Among them are the seven martyrs of the Melanesian Brotherhood, an Anglican religious order, who were murdered by rebels in the Solomon Islands in 2003. One of those attending IARCCUM was the Anglican Archbishop Leonard Dawea from the Solomon Islands. As a young man, he spent twelve years as a member of the Melanesian Brotherhood and so knew some of those martyred. At the end of the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury laid a wreath at the chapel where the martyrs of Oceania are commemorated. On the last day in Rome, the bishops visited the church where Pope Gregory the Great commissioned St Augustine (the First Archbishop of Canterbury) to convert the Anglo-Saxons. From there they made the same journey he did, albeit using the comfort and speed of Easyjet! The second phase of the summit was based in Canterbury and most of the delegates stayed at Cathedral Lodge in the shadow of the great cathedral. There we had time to reflect on many of the issues discussed and began to prepare the final text of a statement setting out our aims and achievements. We had heard the contributions from other bishops living in Brazil on the need to defend the rights of indigenous people living in the rain forest, from bishops in the Middle East on how the Anglican Diocese in Jerusalem is continuing to support a hospital in war torn Gaza, on the challenge of secularism in some parts of the world, as well as the contrasting challenge of religious fundamentalism in other countries, and these issued were reflected in the text of our statement. As the week unfolded, it was obvious that some of our episcopal colleagues were returning to situations of religious discrimination if not persecution, as well as places of political instability; all very far removed from our experience in Kilkenny. For us as bishops from Ireland, the summit's focus on partnership and friendship was best summed up by Cardinal Stephen Chow Saau-yan (Bishop of Hong Kong), who preached at the final Sunday Eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral. He said: We Anglicans and Roman Catholics are called to be Jesus partners, individually and collectively. The twelve apostles and disciples were not called to form camps, working for their own missions, or competing against each other. They were called to become an assembly, a community, a communion, praying and discerning, teaching and serving for the mission of our Triune God. The memory of IARCCUM will live long with us and our hope is that it will be a stimulus for continued fruitful ecumenical engagement, not only between the two of us as friends and fellow bishops, but for the wider diocese and church too. Longer Spring Festival holiday sparks travel frenzy among Chinese Xinhua) 08:10, February 18, 2024 An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 14, 2024 shows tourists watching a folk art parade in Chongchuan District of Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua) BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- For the Chinese people, the eternal theme of the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, remains family reunion, yet an increasing number of Chinese are choosing to integrate travel into their holiday traditions. The change was seen this year as the Spring Festival holiday spanned eight days -- possibly nine with a flexible one-day paid leave -- surpassing the usual one-week holiday in previous years. According to data released Saturday by Chinese travel website Mafengwo, Monday and Tuesday saw peak travel activity. "We made a random decision to drive to the historic city of Datong (in northern China) on Monday but were surprised to see a large number of tourists. Local hotel chains are almost always full, and restaurants almost always have a waiting line," said a tourist surnamed Li. NEW TRENDS IN DOMESTIC TOURISM According to Mafengwo, family travel accounted for 45 percent of all trips during the holiday, reflecting a trend that young people return home for family reunions before embarking on trips with their families, taking advantage of the extended holiday period. Beijing, Xi'an and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area were among the most popular tourist destinations, said Mafengwo, adding that visiting museums, grottoes, temples and other historical and cultural places was another highlight of this year's Spring Festival travel after temple fairs and folk activities. A report by travel portal Tuniu.com showed an emerging trend for cross-regional travel between the northern and southern parts of the country during the holiday. Harbin, capital of northeastern Heilongjiang Province, maintained its growing popularity among people from the South who are eager to explore an ice-and-snow world, while tropical cities such as Sanya, Xishuangbanna, and Beihai remained favored destinations for northlanders seeking winter getaways. SURGING OUTBOUND TOURISM Data from multiple online travel platforms showed that on the first day of the eight-day holiday, outbound travel bookings already surpassed the 2019 figure, with Southeast Asian countries, particularly those with visa-free policies for Chinese nationals, emerging as red-hot destinations. From Feb. 10 to 13, bookings for hotels in Bangkok tripled year on year, while reservations for Singaporean hotels reported a stunning growth of 800 percent, according to the travel platform LY.com. Several European destinations have introduced unique strategies to attract Chinese tourists. A Michelin-starred restaurant in downtown London has launched a menu specially designed for the Year of the Loong (Dragon), while a railway for the well-known scenic spot Jungfrau in Switzerland has been decorated with Chinese elements to greet Chinese tourists between Feb. 8 and 20. With a substantial rise in outbound tourism, this holiday is projected to see a daily port clearance of 1.8 million people nationwide, more than triple that of the previous year and nearly reaching the level of 2019, according to the National Immigration Administration. According to a market forecast by Ctrip, a leading travel platform in China, the eight-day holiday would mark the country's first travel rush of the year, with a notable increase in international travel being one of the highlights. "Destinations in Southeast Asia have continued to gain traction as many in China opted for the region for an escape from the winter season," said Gao Tao, from Tuniu. "The tourism industry has gone through a rough patch in the past three years due to the pandemic. But it is now poised for a growth spurt, particularly in outbound tourism." In 2023, China saw its outbound passenger trips exceed 87 million, and this figure is projected to reach 130 million in 2024, according to a paper published by the China Tourism Academy. UPWARD MOMENTUM Experts believe that the revved-up Spring Festival tourism consumption heralds an upward momentum in the tourism sector in 2024. In a recent report, the China Tourism Academy estimated that over 6 billion domestic trips will be made in 2024, and the total number of inbound and outbound travelers is expected to exceed 260 million. "With the recovery of the economy, the resumption of international flights and the relaxation of visa policies, it is expected that the scale of domestic tourism consumption will continue to grow in 2024, and the scale of outbound tourism will be comprehensively advanced," said Qi Chunguang, vice president of Tuniu. Tourists in costumes pose for photos at Fenghuang ancient town in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Guo Liliang/Xinhua) Tourists visit the Pingjiang Road by boat in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 15, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Hang Xingwei/Xinhua) Tourists visit the Fuzi (Confucius) Temple scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Su Yang/Xinhua) Tourists enjoy the frozen waterfall scenery at the Tianhe Mountain scenic spot in Xingtai, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Chen Lei/Xinhua) Tourists get off a passenger ship at the Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 15, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua) Tourists watch a parade at Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village in Leishan County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 13, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Wu Jibin/Xinhua) Tourists visit the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Feb. 15, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 14, 2024 shows tourists watching a single bamboo drifting performance staged on the water surface in Wujiangzhai scenic spot in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Wang Yang/Xinhua) Tourists watch a dragon dance performance at the Zhengding ancient city in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 15, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 14, 2024 shows tourists visiting a scenic area in Huimin County of Binzhou City, east China's Shandong Province. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Chu Baorui/Xinhua) Tourists enjoy their time at the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) Tourists wearing costumes pose for photos at an art square in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 12, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) Visitors watch an exhibit at the Qingzhou Museum in Qingzhou, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Visitors watch exhibits at the Qingzhou Museum in Qingzhou, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) People walk on the city wall in Yanchi County, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Feb. 13, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) Tourists enjoy their time at Xiaoyaojin park in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) People watch black-headed gulls at a dam in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 15, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Tourists visit an ancient street in Chongqing, southwest China, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists enjoy leisure time at Qianmei Village, Shantou City of south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 15, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) Tourists watch sunrise on the Jingmai Mountain in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Tourists visit a scenic area in Linxia City, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China's Gansu Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Photo by Shi Youdong/Xinhua) Tourists wearing Hanfu, a style of clothing traditionally worn by the Han people, enjoy themselves at night in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 13, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) Tourists experience bamboo pole dance at Maona Village, Wuzhishan City of south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 14, 2024. More Chinese people nowadays choose to go on a journey during the Spring Festival to experience different cultures and lunar new year atmosphere. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Interview: "Greater understanding" between China and Europe key to prosperous ties: Spanish expert Xinhua) 10:19, February 18, 2024 BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- "Greater understanding" between China and Europe is the key to prosperous business relations in the future, a Spanish entrepreneur told Xinhua in an interview on Friday. Unlocking the full potential of opportunities between China and Europe depends on greater understanding, Marin Orriols, a Spanish businessman and the CEO of China-Europe Consultants, told Xinhua. The leader of the consultancy, based in the Spanish city of Barcelona and specializing in aiding Chinese and European companies in market establishment, emphasized that grasping the potential of the Chinese market requires Europeans to develop a profound understanding of China. "The reality of China is very different from what we think, and we need to make the effort to go to China, to understand China and to see the possibilities of that market," he said. The consultant also argued that the lack of knowledge of the local business environment, whether in China or in Europe, is a major hurdle for companies in both places, and that these firms require assistance in navigating the intricacies of each other's systems. He said that many Chinese companies want to come to the European Union countries but fail, "and they fail for the same reason our companies fail there. They see an interesting market of 440 million inhabitants but there are also 27 countries, 24 languages, and each country has its own protectionist policy," said Orriols. "We should make more of the government delegations visiting Europe from China," giving them support that is more professional and business-oriented and aiding them when they come here to set up business agendas with different sectors, he added. As for European companies, the CEO argued that looking to the future they have little choice but to find a way to come to terms with China, given the Asian country's continued growth. "China will become the main power at all levels globally in the 21st century. We can do one of two things: pretend it's not happening and do nothing, or we can accept this reality and face it, which means visiting, talking and negotiating with them," he warned. Although there is still a lot of work to be done in developing the business relationship between China and Europe, Orriols said he is optimistic that the challenges facing both blocs can be overcome. "It won't be easy but it can be achieved with the right government policies to help the situation and if we are capable of seeing China as a partner and not a rival," the consultant added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) AUBURN An Auburn murder suspect turned down a plea offer in Cayuga County Court on Friday ahead of his trial next month. Gage Ashley, 26, was in court for a final conference before his March trial on murder charges for the November 2019 shooting death of Joshua A. Poole. Shaun Chase, Ashley's attorney, told Judge Thomas Leone that his client has declined an offer from the Cayuga County District Attorney's Office to plead guilty to second-degree murder, with a sentence of 21 years to life in state prison. That would have satisfied his charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. "My client maintains innocence," Chase told The Citizen after court. "He's not interested in taking any disposition." Cayuga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Valdina said in court that the offer would be rescinded after Friday. Valdina noted that Ashley pleaded guilty to the same charges a day into his first trial for them in September 2021. He was sentenced that December to 21 years to life in prison, but his conviction was overturned in May 2023 after a state appeals court determined the grand jury that indicted him was illegally constituted because a member had a criminal conviction. Ashley was arraigned again on the same charges in June. Two weeks have been blocked out for his retrial. A hearing was held in January about the legality of a police search at the Aurelius home of Mary Ferro, Ashley's romantic partner, days after Poole's death. Leone ruled last week that the search was legal. Ashley is one of four men arrested on murder charges following Poole's shooting, and the other three have been convicted. Questions surround Auburn murder suspect's relationship with teacher Many questions remain after a former Southern Cayuga teaching assistant admitted in court last month to having a romantic relationship with a former student at the district. AUBURN A new program aims to give homeless people a safe place to go for a couple hours and some hope. Safe and Warm, which takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Fridays at the Harriet Tubman Memorial AME Zion Church at 90 Franklin St. Auburn, has been open for around three weeks. It allows local homeless people to get coffee, snacks and clothing, charge their devices, escape the elements and sit by themselves or be with others, said the Rev. Barbara Blom, one of the program's creators. Blom, of the United Ministry of Aurora, and the Rev. Paris Price, of the AME Zion church, said homeless people at the program can also get information about local resources available to them. Blom and Price told The Citizen they are trying to get the word out about the program, as they believe there is a strong local need for it and they want to give people hope. Price added that the program takes place on Fridays because the day can be triggering for the approximately one-third of homeless people who have substance abuse or addiction issues, due to the prospect of going to bars or parties during the weekend. The program also ends before the start of local recovery meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. "We want them to be able to come here, we want to be able to talk with them, we want to able to treat them in a manner that they may not have experienced (before)," she said. Safe and Warm was founded by Blom, Price, Larry Buffam and Eli Gansert, a community volunteer who said he has been homeless before and is in recovery for addiction himself. Gansert told The Citizen he understands what people dealing with those issues are going through, and that the program is meant to help "bridge the gaps" between local resources and people who need them. "In this day and age, 90% of America is one or two paychecks away from being homeless, so this group is really put together for homeless and homelessness prevention," he said. "We're finding that a lot of services in our community are not well-advertised, or grouped together to where they can just find (the services)." Nicole Gee, director of housing and street outreach with the Cayuga Community Health Network, has trained the Safe and Warm program's volunteers about interacting with people experiencing homelessness, Price said. While people with the program who haven't been homeless "can't fully understand what it is that they're going through," she added, the volunteers still want to help. The program is sponsored by Cayuga Community Faith Partners, which was created in 2023. Price said the organization came together after Blom reached out to her in October about working together to help address homelessness in the area. The group includes the two reverends' churches as well as the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles and Poplar Ridge Friends, a Quaker group. Nonprofits such as the health network are also involved in the coalition, Price said. She, Blom and Gansert said they would like to eventually offer Safe and Warm programs throughout the county. Blom added that homeless people deserve respect like everyone else, and she wants people to understand homelessness. "It's nice that we're doing what we're doing," she said, "but to really understand what's going on in not just this community, but all the communities, is really important because it's growing." The timing is critical as Russia is looking for a morale boost ahead of the second anniversary of its war in Ukraine. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Banco Santander-Chile (NYSE:BSAC Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 499,000 shares, a drop of 5.8% from the January 15th total of 529,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 355,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days. Approximately 0.1% of the companys shares are sold short. Banco Santander-Chile Stock Up 2.2 % NYSE BSAC traded up $0.43 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $20.18. The companys stock had a trading volume of 267,820 shares, compared to its average volume of 288,987. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $18.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.71. Banco Santander-Chile has a twelve month low of $16.24 and a twelve month high of $21.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.94, a quick ratio of 1.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.88, a PEG ratio of 0.40 and a beta of 0.80. Get Banco Santander-Chile alerts: Institutional Trading of Banco Santander-Chile Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in Banco Santander-Chile by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,154,396 shares of the banks stock worth $59,460,000 after acquiring an additional 37,700 shares during the last quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP boosted its holdings in Banco Santander-Chile by 48.7% during the 3rd quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 495,671 shares of the banks stock worth $9,091,000 after acquiring an additional 162,396 shares during the last quarter. Henry James International Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Banco Santander-Chile by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Henry James International Management Inc. now owns 49,354 shares of the banks stock worth $905,000 after acquiring an additional 2,624 shares during the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Banco Santander-Chile by 241.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 9,160 shares of the banks stock worth $173,000 after acquiring an additional 6,478 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Privium Fund Management B.V. purchased a new position in shares of Banco Santander-Chile in the 3rd quarter worth about $220,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.74% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets BSAC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. HSBC lowered shares of Banco Santander-Chile from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Banco Santander-Chile from an underperform rating to a buy rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $22.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Banco Santander-Chile from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $19.97. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Banco Santander-Chile About Banco Santander-Chile (Get Free Report) Banco Santander-Chile, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial and retail banking products and services in Chile. It operates through Retail Banking, Middle-Market, Corporate Investment Banking, and Corporate Activities segments. The company offers debit and credit cards, checking accounts, and savings products; consumer, automobile, commercial, mortgage, and government-guaranteed loans; and Chilean peso and foreign currency-denominated loans to finance various commercial transactions, trade, foreign currency forward contracts, and credit lines, as well as mortgage financing services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Banco Santander-Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Santander-Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Byline Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:BY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 372,900 shares, a decline of 9.4% from the January 15th total of 411,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 104,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.6 days. Approximately 1.3% of the shares of the company are short sold. Insider Activity In related news, Director Ana Casanueva sold 1,500 shares of Byline Bancorp stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.54, for a total value of $32,310.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 2,131 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,901.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders bought a total of 1,400 shares of company stock valued at $28,590 in the last three months. 35.04% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Get Byline Bancorp alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Byline Bancorp Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Byline Bancorp by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 24,330 shares of the companys stock valued at $573,000 after acquiring an additional 570 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its holdings in Byline Bancorp by 24.7% in the 3rd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 3,831 shares of the companys stock valued at $76,000 after buying an additional 759 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers raised its holdings in Byline Bancorp by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 49,760 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,076,000 after buying an additional 840 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Byline Bancorp by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 172,801 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,736,000 after buying an additional 986 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in Byline Bancorp by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 174,299 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,148,000 after buying an additional 1,295 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 41.12% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Byline Bancorp from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. View Our Latest Report on Byline Bancorp Byline Bancorp Trading Down 0.7 % BY traded down $0.15 on Friday, hitting $21.30. 91,490 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 127,251. Byline Bancorp has a fifty-two week low of $16.40 and a fifty-two week high of $25.18. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $22.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $21.16. The stock has a market cap of $931.24 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.98 and a beta of 1.16. Byline Bancorp Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 5th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.69%. Byline Bancorps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.48%. Byline Bancorp Company Profile (Get Free Report) Byline Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Byline Bank that provides various banking products and services for small and medium sized businesses, commercial real estate and financial sponsors, and consumers in the United States. It offers various retail deposit products, including non-interest-bearing accounts, money market demand accounts, savings accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, and time deposits; ATM and debit cards; and online, mobile, and text banking services, as well as commercial deposits. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Byline Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Byline Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On February 18, He Xiaopeng, CEO of Chinese new energy vehicle maker XPENG, sent a motivational letter to all employees with ambitious goals set for the new year. Photo credit: XPENG As XPENG celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2024, He Xiaopeng set a goal to double the companys performance, address organizational weaknesses comprehensively, and initiate high-quality operations. In 2024, XPENG plans to launch its first vehicle models on both the over-300,000-yuan and 150,000-yuan vehicle platforms. The first vehicle on the 150,000-yuan platform is codenamed "MONA", which is a collaborative model with ride-sharing giant DiDi. Meanwhile, the inaugural vehicle on the 300,000-yuan platform, potentially codenamed "F57," is scheduled for market release in the second half of the year. He Xiaopeng revealed plans to recruit approximately 4,000 more employees and allocate over 40% of the budget to R&D. He believes 2024 marks the beginning of intense competition and elimination for Chinese automotive brands. XPENG, having battled fiercely from the outset, has amassed significant experience, with He Xiaopeng asserting that perseverance will lead to victory. In 2023, XPENG achieved an annual sales volume of 140,000 vehicles, falling short of its target of 200,000 units, representing a completion rate of only 70%. Crane (NYSE:CR Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 626,200 shares, a drop of 5.9% from the January 15th total of 665,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 245,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.6 days. Approximately 1.1% of the companys stock are sold short. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CR has been the topic of several analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Crane from $124.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com cut shares of Crane from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. CJS Securities initiated coverage on shares of Crane in a report on Monday, October 30th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Finally, Vertical Research initiated coverage on shares of Crane in a report on Monday, November 20th. They issued a hold rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Crane has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $107.83. Get Crane alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Crane Insider Activity Hedge Funds Weigh In On Crane In other news, CEO Max H. Mitchell sold 22,542 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.45, for a total value of $2,399,595.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 322,628 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,343,750.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its stake in shares of Crane by 40.9% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 341 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Crane by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 7,926 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $936,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Crane by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 3,560 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $421,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Crane by 14.1% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,077 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $116,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in shares of Crane by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 12,777 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,408,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. 85.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Crane Stock Down 0.8 % CR stock traded down $1.00 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $122.00. 248,950 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 274,877. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.18. Crane has a 1-year low of $67.28 and a 1-year high of $127.83. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $117.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $101.45. The company has a market cap of $6.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.49. Crane Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.205 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.67%. This is a boost from Cranes previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. Cranes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.22%. About Crane (Get Free Report) Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company has three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials. The Aerospace & Electronics segment supplies critical components and systems, including original equipment and aftermarket parts, primarily for the commercial aerospace, and the military aerospace, defense, and space markets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Crane Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GNRC Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,090,000 shares, a drop of 5.8% from the January 15th total of 3,280,000 shares. Approximately 5.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 963,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.2 days. Insider Transactions at Generac In other news, CEO Aaron Jagdfeld sold 5,000 shares of Generac stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.28, for a total value of $636,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 582,690 shares in the company, valued at $74,164,783.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Generac news, EVP Rajendra Kumar Kanuru sold 250 shares of Generac stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.76, for a total transaction of $29,190.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 15,618 shares in the company, valued at $1,823,557.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Aaron Jagdfeld sold 5,000 shares of Generac stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.28, for a total transaction of $636,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 582,690 shares of the companys stock, valued at $74,164,783.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 15,250 shares of company stock worth $1,825,490 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 2.80% of the companys stock. Get Generac alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Generac Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Credit Suisse AG lifted its stake in shares of Generac by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 138,332 shares of the technology companys stock worth $20,629,000 after purchasing an additional 5,667 shares during the period. Lyell Wealth Management LP increased its holdings in Generac by 30.0% in the 2nd quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP now owns 15,559 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,320,000 after acquiring an additional 3,594 shares in the last quarter. Ulysses Management LLC purchased a new stake in Generac in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $373,000. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC increased its holdings in Generac by 14.3% in the 2nd quarter. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC now owns 545,069 shares of the technology companys stock worth $81,286,000 after acquiring an additional 68,131 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AHL Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Generac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $653,000. Institutional investors own 87.59% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on GNRC. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Generac from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Roth Mkm upped their price target on shares of Generac from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Generac from $165.00 to $144.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of Generac in a report on Friday, October 20th. They set an underperform rating and a $78.00 price target for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Generac from $112.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $139.55. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Generac Generac Stock Performance GNRC traded down $3.40 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $117.28. 1,270,132 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,183,641. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 2.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.20 billion, a PE ratio of 35.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.45. The companys 50-day moving average is $122.29 and its 200 day moving average is $113.52. Generac has a 52 week low of $79.86 and a 52 week high of $156.95. Generac (NYSE:GNRC Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The technology company reported $2.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.09 by ($0.02). Generac had a net margin of 5.33% and a return on equity of 14.15%. The company had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.78 EPS. Generacs revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Generac will post 7.28 EPS for the current year. Generac Company Profile (Get Free Report) Generac Holdings Inc designs, manufactures, and sells power generation equipment, energy storage systems, energy management devices and solutions, and other power products for the residential, light commercial, and industrial markets worldwide. The company offers residential automatic standby generators, automatic transfer switch, air-cooled engine residential standby generators, and liquid-cooled engine generators; residential storage solution consists of a system of batteries, an inverter, photovoltaic optimizers, power electronic controls, and other components; Mobile Link, a remote monitoring system for home standby generators; smart home solutions, such as smart thermostats and a suite of home monitoring products; smart water heater controllers; residential clean energy solutions; and portable and inverter generators; outdoor power equipment, including trimmers, field and brush mowers, log splitters, stump grinders, chipper shredders, lawn and leaf vacuums, and pressure washers and water pumps; and battery-powered turf care products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Generac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Generac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hess Midstream LP (NYSE:HESM Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,270,000 shares, a decrease of 9.3% from the January 15th total of 4,710,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 956,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.5 days. Insider Activity In other news, Director Infrastructure Investor Global sold 11,500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.83, for a total value of $377,545,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Get Hess Midstream alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hess Midstream A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of HESM. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Hess Midstream by 43.0% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 8,053 shares of the companys stock worth $241,000 after acquiring an additional 2,423 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hess Midstream in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $244,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hess Midstream in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $445,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS acquired a new stake in shares of Hess Midstream in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,556,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Hess Midstream by 220.0% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 391,128 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,733,000 after buying an additional 268,914 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.34% of the companys stock. Hess Midstream Stock Up 0.2 % NYSE HESM traded up $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $33.28. 753,617 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,206,840. The companys 50-day moving average is $32.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $30.88. Hess Midstream has a one year low of $25.63 and a one year high of $34.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.05, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. The company has a market capitalization of $7.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.92 and a beta of 1.51. Hess Midstream (NYSE:HESM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by ($0.05). Hess Midstream had a return on equity of 26.98% and a net margin of 8.79%. The business had revenue of $356.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $358.86 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.49 earnings per share. Hess Midstreams revenue for the quarter was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Hess Midstream will post 2.52 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hess Midstream Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 8th were given a dividend of $0.6343 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 7th. This represents a $2.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.62%. This is an increase from Hess Midstreams previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Hess Midstreams dividend payout ratio is 121.53%. About Hess Midstream (Get Free Report) Hess Midstream LP owns, develops, operates, and acquires midstream assets. The company operates through three segments: Gathering; Processing and Storage; and Terminaling and Export. The Gathering segment owns natural gas gathering and compression systems; crude oil gathering systems; and produced water gathering and disposal facilities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hess Midstream Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hess Midstream and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,280,000 shares, a decrease of 5.9% from the January 15th total of 4,550,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,320,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.2 days. Currently, 3.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Clorox Trading Down 1.2 % NYSE:CLX traded down $1.76 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $151.05. 1,071,509 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,420,154. The companys 50 day moving average is $145.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $141.92. Clorox has a twelve month low of $114.68 and a twelve month high of $178.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.37. The company has a market capitalization of $18.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 239.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.43. Get Clorox alerts: Clorox (NYSE:CLX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $1.08. The firm had revenue of $1.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. Clorox had a return on equity of 319.41% and a net margin of 1.09%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 16.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.98 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Clorox will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. DA Davidson reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $162.00 price objective on shares of Clorox in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Citigroup upgraded Clorox from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $135.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. StockNews.com upgraded Clorox from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Clorox from $145.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Clorox from $115.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $144.64. Get Our Latest Analysis on Clorox Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Schroder Investment Management Group increased its position in shares of Clorox by 384.0% in the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 64,175 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,206,000 after buying an additional 50,917 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Clorox by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 9,709 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,544,000 after buying an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC bought a new stake in shares of Clorox in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,862,000. Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its position in shares of Clorox by 742.8% in the 3rd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 78,713 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,316,000 after buying an additional 69,373 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its position in shares of Clorox by 30.7% in the 2nd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 25,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,006,000 after buying an additional 5,918 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.98% of the companys stock. About Clorox (Get Free Report) The Clorox Company manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle, and International. The Health and Wellness segment offers cleaning products, such as laundry additives and home care products primarily under the Clorox, Clorox2, Scentiva, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Tilex, and Formula 409 brands; professional cleaning and disinfecting products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands; professional food service products under the Hidden Valley brand; and vitamins, minerals and supplement products under the RenewLife, Natural Vitality, NeoCell, and Rainbow Light brands in the United States. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Clorox Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clorox and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The recent establishment of diplomatic ties with Cuba could have positive economic impacts on the Korean economy, the presidential office said Sunday, citing Cuba's rich natural resources. "Cuba has significant mineral resources critical for electric battery (EV) production, such as cobalt and nickel," read the press release, which laid out the formal diplomatic relationship's expected effects by sector. Seoul and Havana established diplomatic relations in New York on Wednesday, with the two countries' representatives to the United Nations exchanging diplomatic notes to mark the establishment of formal ties. Korean businesses can look to tap into Cuba's vast reserves of natural resources, read the release, when and if the United States lifts the economic and trade embargo against Cuba, the world's fifth-largest reserves of nickel and fourth largest of cobalt. Korea is home to three of the world's five biggest EV battery makers. The presidential office said it will help Korean businesses make inroads into the country in such sectors as daily necessities, home appliances and machinery, given the scarcity of such items due to Washington's economic sanctions against Havana. The Korean government also pointed out possible business opportunities and cooperation in the energy sector as Cuba, suffering from chronic electricity shortages, is looking for ways to expand electricity generating facilities and renewable energy use. Medical and biotechnology were also cited as potential sectors for future economic and research cooperation between the two, the office said. "Cuba had been an untapped market," it said, "Direct trade is still very limited due to the U.S. sanctions, but we will take this opportunity of the formal diplomatic ties to lay the groundwork for gradual expansion of economic cooperation." Seoul is planning to set up a consulate there to help Korean visitors to the country. Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 14,000 Korean nationals visited the country every year. (Yonhap) South Korea, the United States and Japan are expected to reiterate their strong stance against North Korea, as the top diplomats of the three nations are likely to meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Rio de Janeiro this week. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul is likely to hold separate bilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. It will be Cho's first face-to-face talks since taking office last month. The talks, if they materialize, will come on the heels of a flurry of recent diplomatic and geopolitical events -- the establishment of diplomatic ties between Seoul and Havana, North Korea's statement last week about the possibility of mending ties with Japan and Pyongyang's possible provocation in protest of planned South Korea-U.S. military drills. Last week, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said North Korea and Japan can open up a "new future" together if Tokyo makes a political decision to pave a new path for mending relations through "courteous behavior and trustworthy action." Seoul is said to believe Pyongyang's sudden change in tone against Tokyo could be designed to try to create fissures in Seoul-Tokyo relations, especially after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Havana, which has maintained decadeslong close brotherly ties with Pyongyang. South Korea's government also is said to feel the need to cement unity among the three countries, especially in the run up to the large-scale, joint exercises next month, which could lead to North Korea's provocations. The G20 foreign ministers' meeting will take place in the Brazilian city from Wednesday to Thursday to discuss a range of issues like the G20's role amid geopolitical challenges and global governance. (Yonhap) An arts university in Cuba is set to open a Korean language class starting next month on a trial basis, the Korean Cultural Center in the Caribbean country said Sunday. The language course, which began preparations in January, could become a part of the Instituto Superior de Arte's (ISA) regular curriculum as early as September amid a growing demand for Korean language education and the recent establishment of Seoul-Havana diplomatic ties, the center said. "Since Cuba puts great emphasis on its public education system, it is very meaningful that the country is running a Korean language course for university students," said Chung Ho-hyeon, the principal of the Korean Language School in Cuba. "It will help promote the Korean language following the establishment of diplomatic ties." Korea and Cuba established diplomatic ties in New York on Wednesday, with the two countries' representatives to the United Nations exchanging diplomatic notes to mark the establishment of formal ties. Founded in 1976 by the Cuban government, the ISA offers higher education in various genres of arts, including music, visual arts and theater, among others. The school has offered language courses in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese, but not Korean. In 2012, a Korean language course was opened at the University of Havana, a public school located in the country's capital, but was closed in 2018, due to various factors inside the country. (Yonhap) By Lee Jong-eun The United States will hold a presidential election in November, . likely to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. As such, there are already multiple predictions on how U.S. foreign policy could change after the election. Some U.S. allies, in particular, are apprehensive that a Trump return to the presidency will lead to similar diplomatic challenges they faced during his first term -- a more unilateralist and unpredictable U.S. foreign policy. However, the more immediate challenge facing U.S. allies is how the presidential campaign will impact the Biden administration's foreign policy this year. Facing what is expected to be a close election, how will Biden reorient his foreign policy to increase his chances of reelection? And how should U.S. allies respond to such changes? Following the Republicans taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 congressional elections, Biden's foreign policy agenda has largely been stalled. The congressional Republicans have criticized his administration for excessive involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war at the expense of insufficient attention to U.S.-Mexico border migration. They have also criticized Biden for excessive commitment to international institutions at the expense of U.S. businesses and workers, and for supporting global climate change initiatives rather than prioritizing U.S. energy independence. Trump's presidential campaign will amplify these criticisms, portraying the incumbent president as inattentive on issues that are important to American voters. The Biden campaign can respond to Trump's challenge in one of two ways. First, Biden could steadfastly defend his foreign policy agenda and seek clear policy contrasts with Trump. Attacking his foreign policy as detrimental to the U.S. national interest, Biden could rally voters who oppose Trump's return to the presidency. Second, Biden could shift his foreign policies to reassure voters who might be leaning toward supporting Trump because of dissatisfaction with these. It is likely that Biden will attempt a dual strategy of defense and accommodation during his reelection campaign after observing the political strategies of many European governments that have faced election challenges from an ideologically hardline opposition. Biden will differentiate himself from Trump as a defender of U.S. global leadership and the rules-based liberal international order. Biden will continue defending U.S. security partnerships with NATO and other U.S. allies and supporting global climate change initiatives. At least rhetorically, the Biden campaign will likely affirm support for the defense of democracies and human rights internationally. Even if U.S. domestic politics limit Biden's accomplishments on these issues during an election year, the Biden campaign could seek advantages in portraying Trump and the Republican Party as near-sighted and unilateralist in defending America's interests abroad. The Biden campaign, however, faces pressure to reassure voters who may not favor "America Alone" isolationism but support "America First" in prioritizing U.S. foreign policy interests. Such domestic pressures might motivate the Biden administration to take a harder bargaining stance with other countries, including allies, and urge the latter to support U.S. policy objectives. In Europe, the Biden administration will continue to support Ukraine but could pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government to either achieve a significant military victory or start armistice negotiations with Russia before the election. During the Vietnam War, the Lyndon B. Johnson administration lobbied South Vietnam's government to help Johnson's Vice President Hubert Humphrey win the 1968 presidential election by supporting Johnson's proposal for peace talks with North Vietnam. However, South Vietnam did not support the proposal, favoring Nixon's election instead. The NATO allies might receive requests to provide more aid to Ukraine to offset the reduction of U.S. aid, and support Biden's success in achieving more equitable defense burden sharing. In Asia, Japan and South Korea could receive requests to be more supportive of the U.S. strategic competition with China and help the Biden campaign repudiate Trump's criticisms that he is ineffective in confronting Beijing. U.S. allies might also receive requests to understand that the Biden campaign will include protectionist rhetoric such as "Buy American, Hire American" to placate certain U.S. economic sectors and might even impose trade protection measures. In the Middle East, Biden's campaign will weigh whether it is politically more favorable to support Israel's war against Hamas or to prevent the escalation of the regional conflict. Depending on the calculation, either Israel or other U.S. allies who support a truce could be under pressure to accommodate Biden's domestic political considerations. U.S. allies will face challenges in responding to the Biden administration's foreign policy requests. They might perceive some requests as costly for their own domestic politics. The Biden administration, however, might find U.S. allies' anxiety toward the prospects of Trump's presidency as negotiation leverage. Wouldn't accommodating Biden's requests be ultimately less costly than facing future demands from the Trump presidency? NATO states have already expressed concerns with Trump's recent comments that he will not protect members who do not increase their defense contributions. To support Biden's chance of reelection, some U.S. allies might tactically "cut slack" for Biden to achieve several foreign policy "wins." Paradoxically, the greater the U.S. allies' fear of a future Trump presidency, Biden might have more cooperative allies until the November election. Even if foreign policy accomplishments have limited impacts on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, multiple U.S. allies could become cautious in hurting Biden's campaign, especially in a close vote. Again, the desire to prevent Trump's election might incentivize U.S. allies this year to be more accommodating of an "America First" foreign policy, so as long as it is Biden's, not Trump's America. Lee Jong-eun is an assistant professor of political science at North Greenville University. By Park Jae-hyuk Koreas three mobile carriers will look for strategies to outstrip their rivals in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, through their forthcoming participation later this month in MWC Barcelona 2024, an annual telecommunications technology convention, formerly called the Mobile World Congress, the companies said Sunday. SK Telecom (SKT) will showcase its large language model (LLM) dedicated to mobile technologies during the event, which will be held in the Spanish city from Feb. 26 to 29. The SK Group affiliate plans to introduce its chatbot-based virtual agent, AI-based spam filter and AI call center, as well as its visions for an AI quantum camera and AI-based analysis of floating population. Given that the company is a member of the Global Telco AI Alliance launched last July, SKT CEO Ryu Young-sang said he will attend the event to pursue further cooperation with global partners in the AI sector. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is expected to support SKTs efforts, as he will also attend the trade show. MWC will be the place to introduce how our AI technology can be used in various sectors, Ryu said. In collaboration with world-class companies, we will transform rapidly into a global AI company. KT will also open an exhibition booth to introduce various services using its LLM and AI-based management of urban air mobility (UAM). KT CEO Kim Young-shub is also expected to fly to Spain, as he is a board member of the GSMA, the organizer of MWC. For visitors from all over the world to experience next-generational digital innovation at our booth, we will showcase AI, UAM and future network technologies, a KT spokesperson said. LG Uplus will send CEO Hwang Hyeon-sik and multiple senior executives to the event, although the company will not open an exhibition booth this year. The LG Group affiliate has not exhibited its technologies at MWC since LG Electronics shut down its smartphone business in 2021. The executives of LG Uplus plan to seek global partners for the AI business at the event venue. MWC is an important opportunity for us to learn the latest trend of the global telecommunication industry and the AI and ICT technologies, Hwang said. We will strengthen global partnerships to discover opportunities for our growth. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. XPENG owners log intelligent driving-powered distance of 3.72 million km during Chinese New Year holiday Chinese new energy vehicle maker XPENG announced a remarkable achievement as its vehicle owners collectively log over 3.72 million kilometers of intelligent driving distance from the start of the Chinese New Year holiday travel rush until February 16. This milestone represents a significant 2.71-fold increase compared to the same period last year, underscoring the growing adoption and effectiveness of XPENG's smart driving technology. Photo credit: XPENG Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen offers limited trade-in subsidy for C5X, 408X models Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen initiated a campaign to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, offering exclusive benefits for loyal customers. Highlights include the limited trade-in promotions for 1,314 units of the C5X and 520 units of the 408X. Specifically, existing customers participating in the exchange program can enjoy subsidies of up to 85,000 yuan when upgrading to new models. Haima Automobile expedites plans for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle demonstrations in Hainan Haima Automobile recently disclosed via an investor interactive platform that the company holds plans of accelerating efforts to introduce small-scale demonstration operations for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Hainan Province. The company confirms significant progress in deploying demonstration vehicles and advancing external collaborations, product development, and production. BorgWarner gets right to produce LFP battery pack using FinDream Batterys Blade cells On February 18th, BorgWarner announced a strategic cooperation agreement with FinDream Battery, a subsidiary under BYD. Great Wall Motors Hi4 Performance hybrid technology to be deployed onto WEY Gaoshan MPV first Great Wall Motor's Hi4 Performance edition intelligent four-wheel drive hybrid technology will debut in the WEY Gaoshan Four-Wheel-Drive Executive Long-Wheelbase MPV model. https://autonews.gasgoo.com/new_energy/70031362.html Geely to deploy new-gen CTB platform onto mainstream car models On Feb. 18, Geely Auto Group's CEO, Mr. Gan Jiayue, shared his New Year wishes, unveiling plans to expedite the integration of high-end new energy technologies into Lynk & Co's and Geely Galaxy's product lines. XPENG to launch over-300,000-yuan sedan model in second half of 2024 On February 18, He Xiaopeng, CEO of Chinese new energy vehicle maker XPENG, sent a motivational letter to all employees with ambitious goals set for the new year. Li Auto releases preview images of Li L6 five-seater SUV Li Auto recently unveiled the official teaser images of the Li L6 SUV via a post on its WeChat account. Li Auto so far delivers over 150,000 Li L7 SUVs Chinese new energy vehicle maker Li Auto announced on February 12 that the cumulative deliveries of its flagship five-seater SUV, the Li L7, had surpassed 150,000 units. GAC Group sees new energy vehicle wholesales soar 71.83% YoY in Jan. 2024 GAC Group said its vehicle wholesale volume reached 131,970 units in the first month of 2024, declining 10.18% compared to the prior-year period. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Mostly cloudy with snow flurries and snow showers, especially in the afternoon. High around 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Kim Chaewon is a member of LE SSERAFIM, a leading fourth-gen K-pop girl group. However, how much has the idol made this year? Read more to find out! How Kim Chaewon Earns Her Riches: IZ*ONE History, LE SSERAFIM, Endorsements, More! Chaewon's exposure in the K-pop industry dates back to 2018, when the idol participated in the survival program "Produce 48." In the final lineup, Kim Chaewon finished 10th place, making her one of IZ*ONE's official members. On October 29, 2018, IZ*ONE debuted with their first mini album "COLOR*IZ" and title track "La Vie en Rose." This was followed by other hit title tracks such as "Violeta," "Fiesta," "Secret Story of the Swan," and "Panorama." Aside from their Korean releases, IZ*ONE is also prominent with their Japanese tracks such as "Suki to Iwasetai," "Beware," "Vampire," and "Buenos Aires." These releases eventually made IZ*ONE one of the best-selling K-pop groups, thanks to their solid core fanbase and impact. With good results bound for the group, the members, including Chaewon, have also benefited from the consecutive successes IZ*ONE experienced. However, they disbanded on April 29, 2021, leading members to head their separate ways. As for Chaewon, the idol re-debuted with LE SSERAFIM with IZ*ONE bandmate Sakura, as both artists have signed with Source Music, a subsidiary of HYBE Labels. LE SSERAFIM debuted on May 2, 2022, with first mini album "Fearless," and its title track of the same name. Apart from the album sales both IZ*ONE and LE SSERAFIM made throughout their career, Chaewon has also earned income by participating in songwriting and producing songs. Chaewon has both written and composed songs like "With*One," "Slow Journey," "Blue Flame," "Fearnot (Between you, me, & the lamppost)," and their upcoming "EASY" B-side track "Swan Song." Outside her activities in the music field, Chaewon has also endorsed multiple brands. On October 13, 2023, LE SSERAFIM was appointed as one of Louis Vuitton's newest brand ambassadors. They've also become the models for Kwangdong Pharmaceutical's energy drink "Vita 500 ZERO." Moreover, Chaewon is also a brand ambassador for the makeup brand "Make Up For Ever." How Much is Kim Chaewon's Net Worth THIS 2024? Here's What We Know According to sources, Kim Chaewon has an estimated net worth of $3 million to $5 million USD, with the calculation being a fused estimate of Chaewon's earnings from 2023 and 2024. However, it is also expected that Chaewon's earnings will increase throughout 2024, depending on LE SSERAFIM's album sales performance, tour reception, endorsements, and the leader's participation in music production, as well as other endeavors that can lead to income flow. For more intriguing K-pop news and exciting updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Birth of Kim Do-dok: LE SSERAFIM Chaewon Gets 'Like' from BTS Jungkook After THIS Hilarious Mistake During Performance KpopStarz owns this article Written by Riely Miller Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], February 18 (ANI): Former Odisha Congress MLA Anshuman Mohanty, who joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday after serving for a decade in the grand old party, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's vision of a new Odisha and his pro-poor activities prompted his switchover. The switchover was seen as a significant development ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. Also Read | Delhi Weather Update: National Capital Records Maximum Temperature of 26.5 Degrees Celsius, Rain Likely on February 19. After formally joining the ruling party in the state, Mohanty visited the chief minister at his residence. Mohanty was elected an MLA from Rajnagar and served the people of his constituency from 2014 to 2019. He, however, lost the 2019 general election to BJD's Dhruba Sahoo. Also Read | Earthquake in Afghanistan: Quake Jolts Mazar-I-Sharif City, No Casualties Reported. "I have the highest regards for all the Congress workers and leaders. I was with the Congress for a long time, starting from 2013 till yesterday. However, considering the development that has been brought about in Odisha, the exemplary leadership of the chief minister, his work, dedication and his vision of a new Odisha and pro-poor activities, I decided to join the BJD," Mohanty said. Earlier, in a blow to the Congress ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, three prominent leaders and party old-timers in Maharashtra--Ashok Chavan, Milind Deora and Baba Siddique--left the grand old party last month. Amid a flurry of exits, media reports have surfaced that Congress old-timer and former Union Minister Kamal Nath may switch sides and gravitate to the BJP. The arrival of Kamal Nath and his MP son Nakul Nath at Delhi airport on Saturday added further grist to rumours of their impending exit from the Congress. Earlier, a post by former Congress leader and BJP state spokesperson, Narendra Saluja, on X ahead of Kamal Nath's arrival in Delhi, added to the buzz that he was poised to change his political stripes. Saluja on Saturday posted an image of Kamal Nath with Nakul Nath, captioning it as 'Jai Shree Ram'. Several news reports claimed the current Chhindwara MP, Nakul Nath, removed 'Congress' from his bio on his social media handles. However, there was no official confirmation of the same. It was later claimed that he never mentioned Congress in his bio on his social media handles. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tinsukia (Assam), Feb 18 (PTI) At least three miners from Assam have allegedly been kidnapped by suspected militants in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, a top police officer said on Sunday. A team comprising police of both states and the Assam Rifles launched a rescue operation to trace the miners, a spokesperson of the paramilitary force told PTI. Also Read | PM Modi West Bengal Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Likely To Hold Rally in Barasat, Next to Sandeshkhali in March First Week. Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Abhijit Gaurav said three persons from the district, working in a coal mine in the neighbouring state, were among those suspected to be kidnapped. "They have been identified as Gyan Thapa, Lekhan Bora and Chandan Narzari. The exact number of people abducted is not known yet," he said. Also Read | Chandigarh Mayor Manoj Sonkar Resigns Day Before Supreme Court Hearing in Vote-Count Row. The ASP of Tinsukia, Bibhash Das, is monitoring the case to ensure their safe return. According to reports received from Arunachal Pradesh, workers at a coal mine in Febru Basti area of Changlang district were abducted by suspected ULFA (I) and NSCN militants. (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, February 18: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has taken a decisive step to streamline baggage handling procedures across major airlines operating in India. On February 16, 2024, BCAS issued letters to seven prominent airlines, namely Air India, IndiGo, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express Connect, and Air India Express, urging them to implement necessary measures to ensure the timely delivery of baggage. BCAS conducted an extensive survey across the nation's six major airports, scrutinising the operations of seven airlines and analysing over 3600 flight movements along with their baggage delivery processes. As per regulations, "airlines are required to ensure the delivery of passengers' baggage within a timeframe of 10 to 30 minutes following the aircraft's engine shutdown." Air India Express Becomes First Airline to Inaugurates Surat-Dubai Direct Flight. The directive comes in response to concerns regarding the punctuality of baggage delivery and the receipt of complaints through social media and other windows that passengers are reported to have been victimized by late baggage delivery after landing at the airport, as outlined in the Service Quality Requirements of Operation, Management, and Delivery Agreement (OMDA). Moscow to Goa Direct Flight: Russian Airline Aeroflot Begins First Flight Connecting Russia Capital to Indian State. The Aviation Ministry, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, BCAS, initiated a rigorous monitoring exercise in January 2024. This exercise focuses on tracking the time taken for baggage to arrive at designated belts in six major airports across the country. While there has been a noticeable improvement in performance since the inception of the review, none of the airlines have consistently met the prescribed standards. The OMDA stipulates that the first baggage should reach the conveyor belt within 10 minutes of the engine shutdown, further emphasizing the need for prompt handling and delivery. Currently, the monitoring efforts are concentrated on six major airports. However, BCAS has directed the airlines to extend their compliance measures to all airports within their operational purview. This broader scope aims to ensure uniformity and adherence to mandated service levels across the aviation sector. "BCAS has set a deadline of 10 days for airlines to implement the required measures, with a target date of February 26, 2024. Failure to comply with these directives may result in further regulatory action," an MoCA official said. The move by BCAS underscores the importance of enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency within the aviation industry. By prioritising timely baggage delivery, airlines can enhance customer satisfaction and uphold the highest standards of service excellence. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Feb 18 (PTI) A panel of three Union ministers on Sunday proposed the buying of pulses, maize, and cotton crops by government agencies at minimum support prices for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers. Speaking to the media after a more than four-hour-long meeting with farmer leaders here, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said the innovative and out-of-the-box idea came up during the discussions. Also Read | Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundhara Raje May Form Own Parties if ED Stopped, PMLA Section 45 Abolished: Arvind Kejriwal Jabs BJP. The minister said the farmer leaders will decide on the proposals put forward by the government by Monday morning. "Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow 'tur dal', 'urad dal', 'masoor dal' or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years," said Goyal. Also Read | PM Modi West Bengal Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Likely To Hold Rally in Barasat, Next to Sandeshkhali in March First Week. There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this," he added. It will save Punjab's farming, improve the groundwater table, and save the land from getting barren which is already under stress, Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, said. He also proposed that the Cotton Corporation of India buy cotton from farmers at a minimum support price (MSP) for five years after entering into a legal agreement with them. "We also want the cotton crop to be revived in Punjab. Whosoever farmer revives cotton or sows it, the CCI will enter into a legal agreement and whatever crop comes from the field through diversification will be bought for five years at MSP," said Goyal. A panel of Union ministers held the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders here on Sunday over their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP, as thousands of protesting farmers were camping at the Punjab-Haryana border. Goyal, along with Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai reached the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 for the talks. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting. The Union ministers and farmer leaders had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but the talks remained inconclusive. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 18 (ANI): The Indian Navy is going to carry out major operations involving the fleets of both of its aircraft carriers off the west coast in the next ten days, Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Sunday. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, he said both aircraft carriers, including the INS Vikramaditya and made-in-India INS Vikrant, would be present in Vishakhpatnam during the 'Exercise Milan' but the twin carrier operations would be seen only after 10 days. Also Read | Farmers Delhi Chalo Protest: Union Ministers, Farm Leaders To Hold Fourth Round of Talks Today. "Both the carriers are going to be there for Exercise Milan. However, the operationalisation of the carriers, the integration to the fleet and participation of the fleet is going to happen in ten days," the Navy chief said. He further said on completion of Exercise Milan, "the carriers as well as the escort ships will all go to the western seaboard. We are going to integrate them". Also Read | Naked Man Festival in Japan: Amid Ageing Population, 1,000-Year-Old Hadaka Matsuri Event Held One Last Time in Iwate Prefecture. "The tempo of operation is quite high in the western seaboard right now because 10 of our ships are deployed for anti-drone measures and another 3-4 ships are deployed for anti-piracy operations, which is unprecedented. This wasn't the case earlier," the Navy chief said. He added that INS Vikrant would be positioned on the east coast only after the infrastructure for it is created there. On the clearance of C295 aircraft based surveillamce planes for the force, Admiral Hari Kumar said, "The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) approved it yesterday. There are nine aircraft for the Navy and six for the Coast Guard. So, a total of 15 aircraft." The Navy chief added that the C295 aircraft now is going to be built in India, in line with the push for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). "The key thing is that the sensor suite and the information management system, all that is going to be developed jointly by DRDO and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. it will take probably at least 4-5 years before we get the delivery of the first aircraft because it's a developmental project for this," the Navy 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) Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 18 (ANI): Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, VK Birdi, convened a meeting on Sunday at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Kashmir, which was attended by senior officers of various security agencies. The meeting was attended by the police, Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), SSB, and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), as well as state and central intelligence agencies. Also Read | Jharkhand CM Champai Soren Gives Go-Ahead for Caste-Based Survey, Says Official. The meeting aimed to comprehensively review and strengthen security arrangements in anticipation of visits by VVIPs to the UT of J-K, as well as other events in the offing. Among the participants were IG CRPF (SOS) Srinagar, IG BSF Ftr, DD IB Kmr, DIsG of CKR, SSB, BSF, Armed, IRP, CRPF, ITBP, SSsP Srinagar, PCR Kashmir, CID CIK, Traffic, Security, PC and Telecom, DC SB Sgr and CSO (1) 15 Corps, whereas those who joined virtually were DIsG NKR, SKR Baramulla, CRPF Bla and South, and all SSsP/SP's of Districts and PDs. Also Read | Alabama Shocker: Woman Runs Over Seven-Year-Old Son After Making Him Walk Home From School As Punishment in US. During the meeting, a comprehensive briefing was given by participating officers on the security plans devised in the backdrop of coming events. Recognizing the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between security needs and the smooth conduct of events, IGP Kashmir directed officers to ensure heightened vigilance, particularly during night hours, to mitigate the risk of terrorist threats. Emphasizing the imperative to bolster intelligence gathering and anti-terror operations, IGP Kashmir urged officers to minimize the risk of untoward incidents by strengthening security at vulnerable points, especially during significant events. Special attention was given to enhancing security along the National Highway, tunnels, minority pickets and other critical pockets. Furthermore, specific directives were issued to intensify security/surprise naka measures in both uptown and downtown areas of Srinagar, with 24x7 patrolling and increased presence at entry and exit points of the district. The IGP also stressed the importance of briefing personnel to take care of SOP, considering the heightened security concerns during events. Additionally, the IGP Kashmir Zone emphasized the critical need for thorough monitoring of vulnerable areas and prompt action against suspicious activities. Special instructions were given to border district heads to maintain strict vigilance along the LoC and hinterland to prevent potential terrorist activities. In conclusion, the Inspector General of Police Kashmir reiterated the importance of collective vigilance and proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the Kashmir valley. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 18 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority (JK DMA) issued a low-danger level avalanche warning on Sunday for Anantnag and Kulgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir for the next 24 hours. The warning said that the avalanche is likely above 2500 metres over the Anantnag and Kulgam districts. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Woman With Psychiatric Disabilities Strangles Daughter to Death With Her Dupatta in Borivali Before Trying To End Life; Arrested. JK DMA also issued a warning of an avalanche with a medium danger level over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban Bandipore, Baramulla, Kupwara and Ganderbal districts in the next 24 hours. Taking to the micro-blogging site, X, JK DMA posted, "Avalanche with *LOW Danger Level* is likely to occur above *2500 metres* over *ANANTNAG & KULGAM* districts in the next 24 hours. Avalanche with *MEDIUM Danger Level* is likely to occur above *2200 metres* over *DODA, KISHTWAR, POONCH, RAMBAN BANDIPORE BARAMULLA, KUPWARA & GANDERBAL* districts in next 24 hours." Also Read | Bee Attack in Guna: Wedding Turns Nightmare As Swarm of Bees Attack Guests in Madhya Pradesh, Video Surfaces. People living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into the avalanche-prone areas. Earlier this month, a snow avalanche hit the Sarbal area of Sonamarg in Ganderbal district. However, no loss of life or injuries were reported. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thane, Feb 18 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday alleged Maharashtra is lagging behind other states in development under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He flagged the alleged lack of employment and the flight of industries to Gujarat to target the state government. Also Read | Kamal Nath Spoke to Rahul Gandhi Over Phone Amid BJP Switch Buzz, Says Congress Leader Sajjan Singh Verma. Aaditya, son of Uddhav Thackeray, visited various shakhas (party branches) of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Thane city, the stronghold of CM Shinde. "Unemployment is rising but industries are being shifted to Gujarat. This government is neglecting common citizens while prioritizing self-interest," he said. Also Read | Mamata Banerjee Alleges BJP-Led Central Government 'Deactivating' Aadhaar Cards To Stop People From Getting Welfare Scheme Benefits. Aaditya mocked Shinde for his "emotional response" to certain political developments and said the latter betrayed Uddhav. "Shinde is a failure as a Shiv Sainik as well as a human being. Under his leadership, Maharashtra is lagging behind in progress and development," the former cabinet minister said. He recalled the old association of Shiv Sainiks from Thane with his grandparents Bal Thackeray and Meenatai. "Betrayers have left the Shiv Sena but the real sainiks from Thane are with us," he said. Aaditya reiterated his "challenge" against Shinde, asking him to resign as the chief minister and contest elections against him. "I am ready to contest elections from your constituency in Thane," he said. He alleged that elections to municipal bodies in Maharashtra are purposely being delayed as some public surveys have given an edge to Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents over the ruling Shiv Sena and BJP if elections are held. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 18 (ANI): Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N K Premachandran will again contest from the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency as the UDF (United Democratic Front ) candidate in the upcoming general election, said RSP state secretary Shibu Baby John on Sunday. John said that the decision was taken at the state committee of the party unanimously. Also Read | Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi's Nyay Yatra Resumes From Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj (Watch Video). "The party's rank and file are fully satisfied with the performance of Premachandran as MP. So with utmost confidence and a tinge of pride, we are presenting Premachandran as the UDF's candidate for the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming election," John told reporters here. Recently, Kerala's ruling alliance LDF criticised Premachandran for his having lunch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House canteen and accused him of having had a "newfound closeness" with the RSS. Also Read | Tamil Nadu: Police Intercepts Ganja Consignment Bound for Sri Lanka, Three Arrested. However, John said that this "baseless" allegation of the LDF is designed to create confusion in the minds of the minority voters in the constituency. "They have nothing else to say against Premachandran. Their main intention is to create confusion in the minds of the minority voters. So they are playing a communal card indirectly by saying that Premachandran is going to the BJP. We are not in the least bothered because in 2019 the same allegation was made," he said. John said that UDF is confident of winning all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala. NK Premachandran is a member of the RSP Central Secretariat. Premachandran has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Kollam in 1996, 1998, 2014 and 2019. He was also a Rajya Sabha member in 2000. During 2006 - 2011, he was the Kerala's Minister of Water Resources. Premachandran was also awarded the Sansad Maha Ratna for his outstanding performance in the 17th Lok Sabha. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Port Blair, Feb 18 (PTI) Bodies of six suspected Myanmarese poachers were found in remote Narcondam island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an officer said on Sunday. It appears that the poachers died of starvation and dehydration on the small volcanic island after they ran out of ration, the official said. Also Read | Farmers Delhi Chalo Protest: Union Ministers, Farm Leaders To Hold Fourth Round of Talks Today. The small boat they used to reach the island had developed some snag and they could not return. The bodies were found lying a few metres from the shore in a forest on the small Narcondam island on Saturday. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: DMK Agrees To Give Seven LS Seats to Congress in Tamil Nadu. Located in the easternmost part of India, Narcondam in North and Middle Andaman district is only 126 km from Myanmar's Coco Island. It is formed of andesite, a volcanic rock. The island is classified as a dormant volcano by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The island covering an area of approximately 7.6 square kilometres is a hunting ground for the poachers from Myanmar. On February 14, the Andaman police during a search operation apprehended two Myanmarese poachers from Narcondam Island. They were brought to Port Blair and handed over to the CID, the officer said. During interrogation, they revealed that six more poachers from their country were hiding in the forest of Narcondum. Immediately, a search team of Andaman police swung into action and they found bodies of the six poachers, the officer said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the motorised wooden dinghy in which they entered the Indian Territory developed some snag and they took shelter in the jungle of Narcondum. They ran out of ration and drinking water and most probably died of starvation. There are no injury marks on their bodies. The exact cause of their death will be known only after the post-mortem examination," the officer said. The bodies were brought to the GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair with the help of the Coast Guard and further investigation is going on. The Union Home Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry have been informed about this to fulfil the formalities at the international level to hand over the bodies to their Myanmar counterpart, the officer said. More than 100 poachers from Myanmar were arrested from the archipelago in the last two years and large numbers of sea cucumbers and Turbo snails seized from them. Poachers sneak into Andaman and Nicobar Islands mainly to collect sea cucumbers and turbo snails. Sea cucumbers are highly endangered and they help in keeping the ocean's bed clean by eating decaying matter which settles on the sea bed. They are used for medicinal purposes in the international market. Turbo snails are also in high demand in several Asian countries to be used in exotic cuisine and for decorative purposes, including showpieces, jewellery and buttons. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Feb 18 (PTI) Gulf carrier Etihad has seen strong growth in the domestic market post pandemic and is expecting to fly more Indian passengers this year than 2023, which saw around 3-million Indians boarding its flights, a top executive at the airline has said. The Abu Dhabi-based national carrier, according to its chief revenue and commercial officer Arik De is also a strong "believer" in competition and is not afraid of it. Also Read | KCET Exam 2024: Registration for Karnataka Common Entrance Test Examination Ends on February 20, Apply Online at kea.kar.nic.in. "Etihad is actually back with a bang in the Indian market. Our numbers are over 10 per cent higher than they were pre-pandemic," De told PTI. Noting that the airline came back "pretty strongly" in 2023 itself, he said, "we grew capacity by over 40 per cent and then in 2024 we plan to finish the year with around 35-40 per cent further growth." Also Read | TBJEE Exam 2024: Registration for Tripura Joint Entrance Examination Extended Till February 22, Apply Online at tbjee.nic.in. Moreover, the airline carried around three million Indians last year and this number is obviously set to grow this year as well, he stated. Emphasising that a 10 per cent capacity growth ahead of pre-pandemic numbers is a strong growth rebound in India for the airline, he said, "passenger volumes are tracking better than that and our planes are full." It has also expanded its network in India, with the launch of fights to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala this year. He also said that Etihad still has capacity to grow and the Indian market might see some more growth coming in terms of the airline's commitment to India going forward. Etihad, which was an investment partner in the grounded carrier Jet Airways, currently operates 165 weekly frequencies to and from 10 Indian cities. Etihad has a tie-up with Sharjah-based Air Arabia, which also operates its services to and from India, and along with its partner, it offers 230 weekly flights. Etihad earlier this month, announced entering into a pact with five-times IPL champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to become its official sponsor. The airline has definitely seen a shift in traffic pattern post the pandemic. "One interesting trend we're seeing is the amount of Indians, especially young ones, who are willing to go to new destinations and try out new things," he said. According to him, the airline as part of this pattern is also seeing a lot more Indians in its premium cabins (business and first class), which also speaks about the strength of India's (fast-paced) economic growth. "Premium segment growth is tracking ahead of our overall capacity. Roughly speaking, we continue to see some 15-20 per cent growth in our premium segments. It's one of the reasons why in India, we're putting our best foot forward, in some ways," he said. Pointing out that the airline is a strong believer in competition he said," I think it (competition) is a great thing for all of us, and the winner is the Indian consumer." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, Feb 18 (PTI) The Karnataka government on Sunday decided to pay compensation to a Kerala man who was killed by a tuskless elephant that was captured in Karnataka but later strayed into Wayanad in the neighbouring state. In a statement, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said the state government has agreed to pay compensation on par with the indemnity paid to the people of Karnataka killed by an elephant. Also Read | KCET Exam 2024: Registration for Karnataka Common Entrance Test Examination Ends on February 20, Apply Online at kea.kar.nic.in. The tuskless male elephant was captured in Belur taluk of Hassan district on November 30, 2023, and translocated to the Bandipur Forest area. After more than two months, it was found that it had strayed into Wayanad district of Kerala. On February 10, a man was killed by the elephant in Wayanad district of Kerala. Following this, elected representatives and the Government of Kerala had requested the Karnataka government to be largehearted and pay compensation for that case, the minister's office said. Also Read | TBJEE Exam 2024: Registration for Tripura Joint Entrance Examination Extended Till February 22, Apply Online at tbjee.nic.in. The statement said Khandre took up the matter of payment of compensation with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday. "The chief minister agreed to pay compensation to the family of Ajeesh on par with any person of Karnataka," the statement read. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Balochistan [Pakistan], February 18 (ANI): Leaders from a coalition of Baloch, Pashtoon and Hazara nationalist parties accused the process of being marred by corruption, and called for a wheel jam strike today (Sunday), as reported by Dawn. Moreover, they also rejected the results of the February 8 general elections and accused that they were given Rs 70 billion in Balochistan for electoral victories. Also Read | Tesla Able To Produce Real-World Video Similar to OpenAIs Sora for Over a Year, Says Elon Musk. They were speaking at a joint public meeting in front of the office of the Quetta district returning officer on Saturday, according to Dawn. The heads called for a province-wide wheel jam strike and declared that they would support parties that would stop civil and military interference in politics. Also Read | Israel Wont Capitulate To Pressure Against Its Army Entering Rafah To Eliminate Hamas Militants, Says Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The heads of these four parties, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), National Party (NP) and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), alleged that the candidates declared winners in the elections did not secure their positions through legitimate votes but were instead aided by "supernatural entities". They further said that the Baloch people had been denied their real mandate, which was a crime, and those involved must be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution, as reported by Dawn. Moreover, the ongoing sit-ins in Quetta, Dera Murad Jamali, and other urban centres have reached their 8th day, drawing in hundreds of supporters, including a significant number of women, Dawn reported. While highways leading to Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have reopened after being blocked for over a week, Quetta-Chaman and Quetta-Taftan highways remain obstructed at various points, causing inconvenience to travellers. Additionally, the protest landscape includes workers and supporters from the PPP, although not part of the alliance, protesting in the Dera Allahyar highway areas against the reported alteration of the result of PPP candidate Baba Ghulam Rasool. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Budapest [Hungary], February 18 (ANI): In a recent move, the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, announced that the Hungarian parliament can ratify Sweden's NATO membership when it convenes for its new session later this month, according to Al Jazeera. "It's good news that our dispute with Sweden will soon be settled," Orban said in his state-of-the-nation address on Saturday in Budapest. Also Read | Indonesia Presidential Election Results 2024: PM Narendra Modi Congratulates Newly-Elected President Prabowo Subianto. "We are going in the direction that at the start of parliament's spring session we can ratify Sweden's accession to NATO," the Hungarian PM added. Orban emphasised that actions had been taken "to rebuild trust" between the two nations by him and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. But he omitted to mention what those actions were. Also Read | Alabama Shocker: Woman Runs Over Seven-Year-Old Son After Making Him Walk Home From School As Punishment in US. In May 2022, Sweden made a dramatic policy change in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine by applying to join NATO, according to Al Jazeera. Hungary is the only NATO nation that has not yet approved Sweden's application. All other members of NATO have supported this process, according to Al Jazeera. The only other country that had not approved the membership was Turkey, but last month the Turkish parliament approved Sweden's accession. Earlier this month, members of the ruling Fidesz party in Hungary abstained from an emergency session of parliament where a vote on Sweden's NATO candidature was scheduled. The Hungarian Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on February 26. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Munich [Germany], February 18 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday (local time) held a meeting with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and exchanged views on contemporary politics. The meeting between two leaders was held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar stated, "Useful exchange of views on contemporary politics with former US Secretary of State @mikepompeo." Also Read | Munich Security Conference 2024: India Pushing for Two-State Solution for Decades; Now More Countries Seeing It As 'Urgent', Says EAM S Jaishankar on Situation in Gaza. Jaishankar, who is currently in Munich to attend the Munich Security Conference, also held a meeting with German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner. Sharing details regarding the meeting, Jaishankar on X posted, "Great meeting German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner today evening. Appreciate his insights and assessments." Also Read | Munich Security Conference 2024: EAM S Jaishankar Calls for Permanent, Long-Term Fix to Israel-Palestine Conflict (Watch Video). Jaishankar also held a meeting with Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party chairman, Friedrich Merz. Jaishankar recognised Merz's strong support for India's ties with Germany and European Union. "A warm conversation with @_FriedrichMerzand @CDU foreign policy team. Recognize his strong support for deeper India-Germany and India-EU relations," Jaishankar wrote on X. EAM S Jaishankar also held a meeting with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed the West Asia situation and the strategic partnership. In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar wrote, "A productive conversation with FM HH @FaisalbinFarhan of Saudi Arabia. Discussed connectivity, the West Asia situation and our strategic partnership." Earlier, he also held a meeting with Atlantic Council President Fred Kempe. EAM S Jaishankar met his Norway counterpart, Espen Barth Eide, on Saturday and had a "big picture chat" with him in Munich. The two leaders discussed reformed multilateralism, and the world order. "A big picture chat with FM @EspenBarthEide of Norway on sidelines of MSC 2024," the EAM posted on X."Spoke about the imperative of reformed multilateralism and a more equitable world order," he added. He also participated in a session on 'Vishwa Mitra: Bridging the Divide', which was hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India, a New Delhi-based think tank."Joined @FaisalbinFarhan, @stephenharper, @vestager and @OSullivanMeghan in 'Vishwa Mitra: Bridging the Divide' session hosted by @orfonline. A lively discussion on the world order; past, present and upcoming," Jaishankar posted on X. He also met his counterparts from Poland, Belgium, and Portugal on the sidelines of the Security Conference in Munich. Jaishankar held a meeting with his Portuguese counterpart Joao Cravinho and shared views on recent global developments as they met. In another post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Pleasure to meet FM of Portugal @JoaoCravinho, this time in Munich. Shared views on recent global developments." During his meeting with Poland's Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, the EAM discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries across different domains. "A deep discussion on the Ukraine conflict with FM @sikorskiradek of Poland today on MSC 2024 sidelines. Also exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation in different domains," he wrote on X. In his meeting with the Belgian Foreign Minister, Hadja Lahbib, the EAM lauded the advancement in bilateral ties between India and Belgium. Taking to X, Jaishankar wrote, "Good to meet FM of Belgium @hadjalahbib this morning in Munich. Glad to work with the Belgian Presidency of the EU, as well as in advancing our bilateral ties. The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 got underway on February 16 in the German capital and will conclude on Sunday. It is being held at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, according to an official statement. The MSC 2024 once again provides a unique opportunity for high-level debates on the world's most pressing security challenges. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Munich [Germany], February 18 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the foreign minister of Palestine, Riyad al-Maliki, in Munich on Sunday and discussed the situation in Gaza. In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar wrote, "Nice to see Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki." Also Read | Alabama Shocker: Woman Runs Over Seven-Year-Old Son After Making Him Walk Home From School As Punishment in US. "Exchanged views on the current situation in Gaza," he added. The External Affairs Minister is currently in Munich, Germany, to attend the prestigious security conference there. Also Read | Pakistan: Asif Ali Zardari To Be PPP's Candidate for President, Says Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 offers a unique opportunity for high-level debates on the world's most pressing security challenges. Six decades after its foundation by Ewald von Kleist, the MSC has assembled senior decision-makers and thought leaders from around the world for discussions on the most pressing international security concerns in February 2024, according to the conference's official statement. This year's conference was held under the chairmanship of the German Ambassador to the US, Christoph Heusgen. Speaking at a panel discussion at the ongoing Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Jaishankar said there was no justification for the 'terrorism' that was unleashed on the kibbutzes of southern Israel on October 7, last year. "All of us follow enormous efforts which Tony (Antony Blinken) is putting in right now,but look the way we look at it has different dimensions, different elements to this," Jaishankar said. "We must be clear that what happened on October 7 was terrorism. No justification, no explanation, it was terrorism," the EAM added. As he went on to speak, the EAM also stated that a large number of countries " strongly believe in two-state solution." Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on February 17 to rising appeals from world leaders to avoid a ground operation in Rafah, remarking that doing so would mean "losing the war against Hamas," as reported by The Times of Israel. "Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are essentially telling us: 'Lose the war.' I won't let that happen," he vowed at an evening press conference in Jerusalem. "We won't capitulate to any pressure," he said. According to The Times of Israel, Rafah, located on the Gaza-Egypt border, is the final remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory, but it also houses over a million displaced Palestinians sheltering from war. In the previous discussions, Israel claimed that it would draw up a plan for civilians to evacuate before it enters, and believes it cannot effectively curtail Hamas without taking Rafah. At least some of the 134 hostages remaining in Gaza are thought to be in the city, as per The Times of Israel. Hamas leadership is also believed to be sheltering there. Netanyahu said at the press conference that he'd told US President Joe Biden that Israel will fight until "total victory," and yes, that includes action in Rafah." But the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) operation in Gaza's southernmost city, he stressed, will "obviously" come only after civilians there have an opportunity "to evacuate to safe areas." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], February 18 (ANI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, said that Omar Ayub Khan would become Prime Minister of the country if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released results on the basis of Form 45, according to ARY News. Barrister Gohar called for a quick investigation into the claims of rigging made by the Commissioner Rawalpindi division during a press conference in Islamabad. Also Read | Alabama Shocker: Woman Runs Over Seven-Year-Old Son After Making Him Walk Home From School As Punishment in US. It should be noted that Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaqat Ali Chatha resigned from his position after acknowledging that there had been alleged electoral manipulation in 2024. Chattha acknowledged that election tampering occurred and that under his supervision, candidates with a lead in their constituencies and over 70,000 votes were turned into losers with the use of fictitious seals, reported ARY News. Also Read | Pakistan: Asif Ali Zardari To Be PPP's Candidate for President, Says Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Barrister Gohar claimed that the Commissioner had to identify the victorious candidates when he declared that they had been defeated. The PTI leader claimed, "We were winning the election based on Form 45, but later our candidates were defeated with Form 47." The Commissioner's statement, according to Barrister Gohar, is extremely serious. "If we go towards a new election, we have to open the Pandora's Box," he continued. It is important to note that Omar Ayub Khan, the secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was suggested by the party's founder as a candidate for prime minister (PM). (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Moscow, Feb 18 (AP) Over 400 people were detained in Russia while paying tribute to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died at a remote Arctic penal colony, a prominent rights group reported Sunday. The sudden death of Navalny, 47, was a crushing blow to many Russians, who had pinned their hopes for the future on President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe. Navalny remained vocal in his unrelenting criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. Also Read | Earthquake in Afghanistan: Quake Jolts Mazar-I-Sharif City, No Casualties Reported. The news reverberated across the globe, with many world leaders blaming the death on President Vladimir Putin and his government. In an exchange with reporters shortly after leaving a Saturday church service, President Joe Biden reiterated his stance that Putin was ultimately to blame for Navalny's death. The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible. Whether he ordered it, he's responsible for the circumstance, Biden said. It's a reflection of who he is. It cannot be tolerated. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: 28,985 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Since October 7, Says Health Ministry. Meanwhile, Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, published a picture of the couple on Instagram Sunday in her first social media post since her husband's death. The caption read simply: I love you. Hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities streamed to ad-hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repressions with flowers and candles on Friday and Saturday to pay a tribute to the politician. In over a dozen cities, police detained 401 people by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. More than 200 arrests were made in St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, the group said. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organising a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct, but was later hospitalised with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Courts in St. Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said late on Saturday. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. The news of Navalny's death came a month before a presidential election in Russia that is widely expected to give President Vladimir Putin another six years in power. Questions about the cause of death lingered, and it remained unclear when the authorities would release Navalny's body. More than 12,000 people have submitted requests to the Russian government asking for the politician's remains to be handed over to his relatives, OVD-Info said Sunday. Navalny's team said Saturday that the politician was murdered and accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body, with Navalny's mother and lawyers getting contradicting information from various institutions where they went in their quest to retrieve the body. They're driving us around in circles and covering their tracks, Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Saturday. Everything there is covered with cameras in the colony. Every step he took was filmed from all angles all these years. Each employee has a video recorder. In two days, there has been not a single video leaked or published. There is no room for uncertainty here, Navalny's closest ally and strategist Leonid Volkov said Sunday. A note handed to Navalny's mother stated that he died at 2:17 p.m. Friday, according to Yarmysh. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at the penal colony Saturday that her son had perished from sudden death syndrome, Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Navalny felt sick after a walk Friday and became unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometres northeast of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he couldn't be revived, the service said, adding that the cause of death is still being established. Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He has received three prison terms since his arrest, on a number of charges he has rejected as politically motivated. After the last verdict that handed him a 19-year term, Navalny said he understood he was serving a life sentence, which is measured by the length of my life or the length of life of this regime. Hours after Navalny's death was reported, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, made a dramatic appearance at the Munich Security Conference. She said she was unsure if she could believe the news from official Russian sources, but if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], February 18 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi has challenged her conviction in the Toshakhana case before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), as reported by Dawn. This come as Imran Khan on Saturday also moved the court against his convictions in the Toshakhana and cypher cases. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Mourns the Demise of Jain Seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, February 18, 2024. An Accountability Court (AC) in Pakistan last month, sentenced Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana case. Additionally, a fine of Rs 1.54 billion was also imposed. Bushra Bibi, in her appeal, contended that the "power corridors" were behind her conviction, according to Dawn. Also Read | Alexei Navalny Death: Russian Opposition Leader's Team Confirms His Demise, Demands Return of Body. She further said that the conviction was based on the "false statement" of Syed Inamullah Shah, a former comptroller in the Prime Minister's Office. Imran Khan had instructed his military secretary to deposit the graft jewellery set in Toshakhana, however, the prosecution alleged that the set was not deposited, Bibi said. She further requested the court to set aside the conviction and suspend her sentence till a decision on her appeal is made, Dawn reported. Meanwhile, Khan in his appeal pleaded that the trial was conducted in violation of the fundamental right to a fair trial even though the convicts and their counsels extended full cooperation to the court. However, Judge Bashir "suddenly and illegally" ended the couple's right to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses on Jan 29. Additionally, Imran Khan's lead counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa, was contesting the election and had sought general adjournment from the Supreme Court and high courts. But the trial court refused his request for an adjournment. Later when Khosa's substitute Zaheer Abbas, took over, he was also not allowed reasonable time to prepare arguments since the court was "under some undue pressure" to decide the case before Feb 8, Khan claimed in his appeal. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], February 18 (ANI): Amnesty International (NGO that campaigns for human rights) has issued a statement condemning the murder of Sindhi political activist and teacher Hidayatullah Lohar, emphasising the urgent need for an independent and impartial investigation by Pakistani authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, as reported by The Balochistan Post. In a post on X, Amnesty International remarked, "PAKISTAN: @amnestycalls on the authorities to conduct an independent, impartial and prompt investigation into the killing of Sindhi political activist and teacher Hidayatullah Lohar, and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable without recourse to the death penalty." Also Read | Pakistan: Asif Ali Zardari To Be PPP's Candidate for President, Says Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. https://twitter.com/amnestysasia/status/1758855511116562729 The tragic killing of Hidayat Lohar underscores the grave risks faced by human rights workers in Pakistan. Lohar, who was forcibly disappeared in 2017 and recovered two years later in May 2019, was recently shot and killed by armed men. Also Read | Earthquake in Afghanistan: Quake Jolts Mazar-I-Sharif City, No Casualties Reported. Hidayat Lohar, father of Surath Lohar, leader of Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh, and Sasi Lohar, fell victim to this heinous crime. His family members have been staging protests demanding justice for his murder, as per The Balochistan Post. Surath Lohar, in a video released on social media, squarely blamed Pakistani intelligence agencies for his father's murder. He highlighted ongoing attempts to subject his father to enforced disappearance again, even after his previous ordeal. According to The Balochistan Post, expressing desperation for justice, Hidayat Lohar's daughter, along with Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh, has called upon international organisations and the United Nations to intervene. They seek accountability from Pakistan regarding her father's murder and assistance in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The killing of Hidayat Lohar not only represents a personal tragedy but also signifies the broader threats faced by human rights activists in Pakistan. Amnesty International's call for a prompt and transparent investigation resonates with the growing concerns over impunity and lack of accountability in cases of violence against activists. As voices demanding justice grow louder, the international community's attention is drawn to the plight of individuals like Hidayat Lohar, who dedicate their lives to advocating for human rights and justice in Pakistan. In the face of adversity, the resolve to seek justice for Hidayat Lohar remains unwavering, as his family and supporters continue to seek accountability and redress for this senseless act of violence. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Avdiivka [Ukraine], February 18 (ANI): Following Ukraine's withdrawal of troops from the key eastern town of Avdiivka, Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed his army's capture of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka as an "important victory", as reported by Al Jazeera. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Putin about the seizure of the front-line town in a meeting at the Kremlin on Saturday, his ministry said in a statement. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Visits Wayanad, Meets Family of Elephant Attack Victim: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, February 18, 2024. Avdiivka was a "powerful defensive hub" for Ukraine's armed forces and its capture would "move the front line away from Donetsk (city)," reducing Ukraine's ability to shell the Russian stronghold, the defence ministry said. "The President congratulated our military and fighters on such an important victory, on such a success," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Also Read | Alexei Navalny Death: Russian Opposition Leader's Team Confirms His Demise, Demands Return of Body. The new army chief announced that Ukrainian troops have been withdrawn from Avdiivka after months of heavy fighting and little progress in repelling Russian forces on the country's eastern front, Al Jazeera reported. "I decided to withdraw our units from the town and move to defence from more favourable lines in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen," Oleksandr Syrskii said on Saturday. The town, which had become one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds on the eastern front, witnessed an escalation of Moscow's attacks, including airstrikes, artillery bombardment, and ground assaults by armoured vehicles and soldiers, CNN reported on Saturday. In this two-year war, the battle for the industrial hub, less than 10 km (six miles) north of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk has been one of the bloodiest, according to Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, many compare it with the battle for Bakhmut, in which tens of thousands of soldiers were killed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that pulling out troops "was a professional decision that will save many Ukrainian lives." "Our actions are limited only by the sufficiency and length of range of our strength," he added, highlighting the situation in Avdiivka. However, Russia had been trying to capture the city since October and had surrounded it on three sides, and has left limited resupply routes for Ukrainian forces before they withdrew, as reported by Al Jazeera. Reportedly, Avdiivka had about 34,000 inhabitants before the Russian invasion. According to the local authorities, most of the city has been destroyed but an estimated 1000 residents still remain there. Before issuing orders to pull out of Avdiivka, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, Ukraine's army's commander in the area, said on Friday that several Ukrainian soldiers had been captured by Russian forces, Al Jazeera reported. Avdiivka lies in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, which the Kremlin has claimed to be part of Russia since a 2022 annexation that remains unrecognised by nearly all United Nations members. The development has come in advance of Russian presidential elections scheduled for March this year, in which Putin is set to in a fifth term allowing him to continue the invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday at the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian president Zelenskyy pushed for countries to give Ukraine longer-range weapons and more air defence systems, according to Al Jazeera. "Unfortunately, keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in the deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war," Zelenskyy said in Germany. "The self-weakening of democracy over time undermines our joint results," he added. Moreover, he promised to "surprise Russia" later this year with new drone systems and electronic warfare. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that Avdiivka risked falling to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages following months of Republican congressional opposition to a new US military aid package for Kyiv. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The 77th British Academy Film Awards has concluded in London on February 18, 2024, with the former Doctor Who star David Tennant having hosted the awards night. The nominations were earlier announced on January 18, with Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things garnering the maximum number of nominations. Now that winners have been announced, it is Oppenheimer who owns the show with seven awards, including Best Film, Best Director for Christopher Nolan, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy and Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. BAFTA 2024 Red Carpet: Ryan Gosling, Deepika Padukone, Emma Stone, Florence Pugh and More Check Out the Celebs Who Attended 77th Annual BAFTAs (View Pics). Poor Things comes close with five awards, including Best Actress for Emma Stone. The Zone of Interest won Outstanding British Film and Best Film Not in the English Language. Mia McKenna-Bruce won the EE Rising Star Awards, which was open to public voting. Barbie, shockingly, won not a single award on the night. Check the Full List of Winners Below Best Film - Oppenheimer Best Leading Actress - Emma Stone Poor Things Watch Video of Emma Stone's Speech: Best Leading Actor - Cillian Murphy Oppenheimer Watch Video of Cillian Murphy's Speech: Oh boy! Cillian Murphy collects his Leading Actor BAFTA for Oppenheimer #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/M5pjKhtrqZ BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024 EE Rising Star Award - Mia McKenna-Bruce Watch Video of Mia McKenna-Bruce's Speech: BAFTA Fellowship Award - Samantha Morton Watch Video of Samantha Morton's Speech: A gorgeous speech from Samantha Morton who is awarded the BAFTA Fellowship #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Q4eyfhmNjK BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024 Best Director - Christopher Nolan Oppenheimer Watch Video of Christopher Nolan's Speech: Christopher Nolan is honoured to collect the Director BAFTA #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/DWNxzSGK4B BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024 Best Make Up & Hair - Poor Things Best Costume Design - Poor Things Outstanding British Film - The Zone of Interest British Short Animation - Crab Day British Short Film - Jellyfish and Lobster Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award - June Givanni Watch Video of June Givanni's Speech: The incredible June Givanni accepts the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award. #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/ahq7c6lADw BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024 Best Production Design - Poor Things Best Sound - The Zone of Interest Best Original Score - Oppenheimer Best Documentary - 20 Days in Mariupol Best Supporting Actress - DaVine Joy Randolph The Holdovers Watch Video of DaVine Joy's Speech: The wonderful Da'Vine Joy Randolph gets emotional as she picks up her Supporting Actress BAFTA #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Px7LuQJojq BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024 Best Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr Oppenheimer Watch Video of Robert Downey Jr's Speech: Robert Downey Jr. gives a whistle stop tour of his life as he accepts his Supporting Actor BAFTA! #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/jvsyuPnwxB BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024 Best Adapted Screenplay - American Fiction Best Cinematography - Oppenheimer Best Editing - Oppenheimer Best Casting - The Holdovers Best Film Not in the English Language - The Zone of Interest Watch Video of Jonathan Glazer's Speech: The Zone of Interest takes home the Film Not In The English Language BAFTA #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/X2ltOCPzdd BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024 Best Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer - Earth Mama Best Special Visual Effects - Poor Things Best Animated Film - The Boy and the Heron Best Original Screenplay - Anatomy of a Fall So what do you think of the winners of the big night? Share your thoughts and observations in the comment sections below. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 19, 2024 01:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Munich, February 18: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki during which they exchanged views on the current situation in war-torn Gaza. Jaishankar is in Germany to attend the prestigious Munich Security Conference, the world's leading forum for debate on international security. "Nice to see Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki. Exchanged views on the current situation in Gaza," the minister posted on X, sharing a photograph of the meeting. India has been pushing for a two-state solution to the Palestine issue for many decades. During an interactive session at a security conference here on Saturday, Jaishankar underlined that an increasing number of countries are now not only supporting the two-state solution to the Palestine issue but seeing it as "more urgent" than before. The minister described the October 7 attacks on Israeli cities by Hamas as "terrorism". At the same time, he said Israel has an international obligation to observe humanitarian law. Munich Security Conference 2024: India Pushing for Two-State Solution for Decades; Now More Countries Seeing It As Urgent, Says EAM S Jaishankar on Situation in Gaza It is important that Israel should have been very mindful of civilian casualties, he said at the session, also attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Israel has been pushing ahead with its military offensive in Gaza as part of its retaliation to the unprecedented attack on Israeli cities by Hamas on October 7. Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 220others some of whom were released during a brief ceasefire. Terrorism Started the Moment When So-Called Raiders Came From Across Pakistan, Says EAM S Jaishankar (Watch Video) Over 25,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the Israeli offensive, according to Hamas-run authorities in Gaza. India has been calling for de-escalation of the situation and creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue. India strongly condemned the terror attack by Hamas. Chennai, February 18: Tamil Nadu police on Sunday arrested three people from state's Nagapattinam district and seized over 364 kg of ganja from their possession which was meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh. The arrested persons have been identified as K.Sathiyaseelan(37) who hails from Velankanni ,M.Mahendran (38) from Naluvedhapathi and T. Sugumar (29) of Pushpavanam. Assam Police Seizes Ganja Worth Rs 1.5 Crore in Sonitpur Nagapattinam Superintendent of Police, Harsh Singh told IANS that the accused were planning to smuggle ganja to Sri Lanka through the sea route using the fibre glass boat that was seized. Mumbai Police Seize 1.80 Tonnes of Ganja Worth Over Rs 3.60 Crore Hidden Under Coconuts Vettaikaraniruppu police have registered a case against the three accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2024 06:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Feb 18: India has a significant stake in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and the best part is that the government is very open to partnering with the industry, not only for the advancement of AI technology in a responsible manner but also how skills can be scaled up in this space, Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India/South Asia, said on Sunday. Speaking to IANS, Patel said that to be Atmanirbhar with AI, India must quickly establish itself as one of the hubs for AI adoption and innovation in the world. US-India Business Council Launches Task Force to Align Leadership Between Two Nations on Artificial Intelligence. While progress is being made, there is scope to accelerate Indias AI story by connecting the dots between different domains -- policy making, investments that are going into AI, skilling and R&D, said Patel. R&D will be very necessary. And we have to do all of this responsibly, he added. At the New Delhi declaration of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) last December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that the governments endeavour is to take full advantage of the capabilities of AI for social development and inclusive growth. India is also fully committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI. We have started the 'National Programme on Artificial Intelligence'. We are also going to launch an AI mission in Bharat, PM Modi had told the gathering. The goal of this mission is to establish adequate capacity of AI compute power in Bharat. Under this mission, AI applications will be promoted in sectors like agriculture, health care and education. Patel said that the government plans to establish the centre of excellence (CoEs) in the AI space across different domains. The government is also serious about driving practical applications of this technology so it doesnt just become experimentation or a sandbox kind of an activity, he told IANS. New research commissioned by the company has found that about 59 per cent of enterprise-scale organisations in India have AI actively in use in their businesses. The IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2023 found early adopters are leading the way, with 74 per cent of those Indian enterprises already working with AI, having accelerated their investments in AI in the past 24 months in areas like R&D and workforce re-skilling. According to a recent Nasscom study, AI and automation have the potential to add up to $500 billion to Indias GDP by 2025. Patel said that AI is one of the key drivers for growth globally, but clearly a very key driver for Indias techade. We believe that India has a significant stake in the AI revolution. There has been an explosion and advancements across the field of AI in India. However, there are still ongoing challenges for AI adoption in enterprises, including hiring employees with the right skill-sets. There are ethical concerns and issues around data complexity, etc., Patel told IANS. AI in India: 59% of Domestic Firms Actively Using Artificial Intelligence, Country on Path To Become Global AI Hub, Says Report. He said that we have to accept that the next set of innovations in generative AI will be led by enterprise use cases that are adopted and then scaled effectively. Last year, IBM signed three MoUs with the IT ministry, one of them being around the proliferation of AI. IBM has made a commitment to skill 30 million people worldwide by 2030, and train two million learners globally in AI by the end of 2026. India must adopt responsible AI which is only possible when its powered by proper governance. With the governments efforts supported by industry, if we do it right, India can actually set the standard for precision regulation that boosts AI innovation not only here but also around the world, the IBM India executive stressed. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2024 11:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New York, February 18: A woman in Alabama has been charged with aggravated child abuse after she ran over her 7-year-old son with her car, police said. The incident happened on February 9, when the mother, Sarai Rachel James, 27, picked up her son from school in Boaz and found out that he had misbehaved in class. As a punishment, James made her son get out of the car and walk or run the rest of the way home, which was about eight blocks away, the New York Post reported. She followed him in her car, but when she slowed down, the boy tried to grab the door handle. James then sped up, and the boy was dragged under the car and run over by a rear tyre, police said. US Shocker: 20-Year-Old Woman Kills Boyfriends Baby Girl by Force-Feeding Her Metal Screws, Batteries and Nail Paint Remover in Pennsylvania, Held. Woman Runs Over Son After Making Him Walk Home The boy suffered abrasions on his back and head but survived the ordeal. He was taken to the University of Alabama Hospital for treatment. God watched over him, Boaz Chief of Police Michael Abercrombie said. James was arrested and released on a $50,000 bond three days later. She is not allowed to have any contact with her son, who is in the custody of a relative. Another woman, 53, who was in the car with James, was also arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanour. She was released on a $500 bond. Police said that James may not have intended to run over her son, but she was negligent and irresponsible. She may not have realized he was doing that, Abercrombie said. But she should not have put him in that situation in the first place. US Shocker: Woman Kills Infant Son, Starts Fundraiser to Make Jewellery From His Ashes in Texas; Charged With Murder. In another incident, a woman was charged with force-feeding her boyfriend's baby with nail polish remover, batteries, and screws, resulting in the child's death in Pennsylvania state of United States. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2024 09:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). As the month of October begins, street-art fans are buzzing with curiosity over signs that Banksy is in Los Angeles and on the loose. Enigmatic statements have been surfacing around the city. The posters the most recent appeared at Beverly and Highland all carry the same message: Banksy Oct. 2013. The mysterious UK-based street artist, whose identity has never been publicly confirmed, also unveiled a new piece of work on his website two weeks ago, a stenciled mural at an unknown location. The mural, which depicts a graffiti tagger bent forward, spray can in-hand and vomiting a tower of blooming flowers, carried the text: Better Out Than In. October 2013. Advertisement CHEATSHEET: Fall arts preview 2013 Most guessed that was the name of an upcoming Banksy show. But the bigger mystery until now, midday Tuesday was where the show would take place. On Tuesday, the image on Banksys website changed and the text was updated to say: Better Out Than In. An artists residency on the streets of New York. The mural depicting a little boy standing atop another boys back and captioned The street is in play is in Manhattans Chinatown, according to the Village Voice. Banksys website elaborates: For the next month Banksy will be attempting to host an entire show on the streets of New York. Slightly ahead of the curve, street art photographer Fragile posted a picture on his Twitter account recently, visible only to his followers, of The street is in play. The tweet suggested the mural was in New York, which fueled buzz that the Better Out Than In show would be as well as opposed to Los Angeles, as many suspected. But the more immediate question is not who, but where, is Banksy today? RELATED: A tour of Los Angeles boulevards Advertisement Perhaps the artist is on both coasts at once. Speculation, for some time, has been that Banksy is, in fact, not one individual but a collective of people throwing up the artists work on walls internationally. Ive always found that the variety of mediums [Banksy] works with might indicate a collective, said Rico Gagliano, cohost of American Public Medias Arts-Culture show, The Dinner Party Download. There are the signature stencils, which seem to come from a single hand, but also street installations like his cut-up British phone booth, sculptures like the Roman-style statue with a surveillance camera head, Xerox art like his manipulated British pound note. Most street artists have one style they hit over and over with some tweaking, whereas Banksy seems like the most ambi-artistic street artist ever Gagliano said. Street artist Ron English, who painted with Banksy in 2007 in Palestine as part of the Santas Ghetto Bethlehem project and whose own solo show of paintings opens at Corey Helford Gallery on Oct. 26 wouldnt reveal any confidences about his elusive street-artist friend. But he said the mysteries surrounding Banksy not only fuel interest in the artist but make the art itself more accessible. Some artists have had reputations for being egomaniacs we remember a few guys from the 80s but Banksy doesnt take any credit, English said by phone from Spain, where he was working on a new Poultry Rex mural. Banksy doesnt take a bow, its all about the art. Theres a purity to it that people like. Advertisement Check back with Culture Monster for the next development in the ongoing Banksy mystery. ALSO: New York City Opera officially calls it quits Minnesota Orchestra loses music director Osmo Vanska Smithsonian museums closed due to federal government shutdown Twitter.com/@debvankin Actors perform a dance during the "Festival of Spring" Chinese Lunar New Year Gala Night in Wellington, New Zealand, Feb. 15, 2024. The "Festival of Spring" is a national cultural brand hosted by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of China's State Council, and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, a Chinese civic organization. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) The "Festival of Spring" Chinese Lunar New Year Gala Night was held on Thursday night in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. About 1,500 people enjoyed the two-hour show at the St James Theatre, home of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The evening brought together the traditional Peking Opera, classic songs, festive songs and dances, as well as stunning Gong Fu and acrobatic performances, which perfectly presented the charm of Chinese culture and art to the audience. During the performance, applause and cheers came one after another. Alice, a local citizen, said that the Chinese martial arts performance was profound and worthy of being the quintessence of China. "These theatrical performances could always transcend race, color and language differences and directly touch people's heart to promote people-to-people exchange." "Civilizations will be all the richer by mutual appreciation and mutual learning," said Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong. "In Chinese folklore, the high-flying dragon symbolizes strength, wisdom and achievement." "Let's work together to carry forward the spirit of the dragon, enhance exchanges and mutual understanding, and take our bilateral relationship to the next level, to the greater benefit of the two peoples," the ambassador added. Yi Zhang, chairperson of the 2024 "Festival of Spring" Art Troupe, attributed his gratitude to the overseas Chinese for their contribution to the friendly exchanges between China and New Zealand. "The overseas Chinese living in Wellington live in harmony with the locals, actively promote Chinese culture, and have made positive contributions to promoting New Zealand's economic and social development and friendly exchanges between China and New Zealand," Zhang said. The "Festival of Spring" is a national cultural brand hosted by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of China's State Council, and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, a Chinese civic organization. This year, the "Festival of Spring" art troupe from China comprised 35 artists who started their tour performances from Auckland on Tuesday. New Jersey legal weed will be a $1 billion industry this year, the states Cannabis Regulatory Commission said. Im confident well reach and surpass that milestone in 2024, CRC Executive Director Jeff Brown said at the commissions monthly meeting Thursday. The states cannabis industry saw close to $800 million in sales in 2023. The commission this week also announced New Jersey now has 100 dispensaries selling cannabis, something that was touted by Gov. Phil Murphy. By Brigitte Meyer A recently proposed bill in the Pennsylvania legislature has attracted the attention of residents concerned about the proliferation of logistics facilities such as warehouses and distribution centers. House Bill 1960, proposed by state Rep. Joe Emrick in Northampton County, would subject local land development approval of certain warehouses and distribution centers to a public referendum, effectively giving the public standardless veto power over this type of development. While this bill reflects an admirable response to community outcry and a desire for more control over a form of development that can cause significant traffic, aesthetic, health, and environmental impacts, the mechanism it offers misses the mark. To see why this is the case, consider an illustration: You are driving through an unfamiliar town and see that the posted speed limit is 45 mph. You are cruising along at 40 mph and obeying all known traffic laws, so you are surprised when a police officer pulls you over and writes you a ticket. Whats the problem, officer? you ask, The sign says the speed limit is 45 mph. I was only going 40 and havent done anything else illegal that I know of. I know, says the police officer, but, we have a law that says that a driver can be ticketed if local residents dont approve of the way they are driving, even if they are following the traffic laws. Some of the folks who live on this street called the station and said they didnt like how fast you were going, so I have to write you a ticket. Thats not fair! you exclaim. Youre telling me I can get a ticket just because local residents dont like how Im driving?! How am I supposed to know what kind of driving theyll approve of? What keeps me from getting a ticket just because they dont like my car or the way I look?! How do I know they wont change their mind about what they approve of next time I drive through here?! If they wanted the speed limit to be lower, they should have gotten the law changed and put up new signs! Maybe, says the police officer with a shrug, but theyre the ones who live here and they agreed they dont like the way youre driving today, so thats the way it is. Have a nice day. If you were this driver, you would be right to think this was unfair. Most of us understand that we have a right to know ahead of time whether our actions are lawful and what specific standards we must follow to comply with the law. We have a right not to be subject to the whims of our neighbors on a case-by-case basis. In fact, this right is so fundamental to our understanding of how society works that it is enshrined in a constitutional amendment that prohibits deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. In the context of land development, due process means that a persons right to use and develop their property cannot be subject to arbitrary, standardless, case-by-case decision making, even if the decision makers are neighbors and community members. This is why the type of public referendum put forth by HB 1960 cannot be the mechanism used to control logistics development. Neither landowners nor the community would know ahead of time what type of development would be permitted, and voters could reject or approve a proposed development for any number of reasons, including unfair and unlawful ones. Voters could reject a proposed development simply because they dont think the developer is the right kind of person, because they think their brother-in-law should get to develop the property instead, or because they think a different type of development would be more attractive or personally beneficial to them. Public referendums would also invite unsavory politicking by developers, who may try to influence voting with bribes or other unlawful incentives. All of this would amount to a deprivation of property rights in violation of due process. But neighbors and community members do have a say in how our communities are developed. Communities ability to guide and control logistics development resides not in public veto power over individual projects, but, as it always has, in municipalities power to adopt zoning and land development ordinances. These ordinances set forth the standards governing land use and development so that everyoneland developers, decision-makers, and community members alikeknow the rules ahead of time and apply them fairly to all comers. Clear standards, set forth in ordinances and applied by local decision-making bodies in public proceedings, prevent the kind of arbitrary and capricious decision-making that results from standardless public referendums. Landowners can consult ordinances and know with confidence what will and will not be permitted on their land, and neighboring community members can consult them to see what kind of land use and development they can reasonably expect on nearby properties. Although ordinances may not seem as sexy as a direct public vote on individual logistics development projects, they can accomplish the same goals while keeping the appropriate constitutional safeguards in place. Through ordinances, municipalities can dictate where within a municipality logistics uses may be constructed and impose restrictions to ensure that the significant impacts caused by these facilities are appropriately minimized and mitigated. Pennsylvania residents who are concerned about the impacts of logistics development on their communities should encourage their local officials to review their land use ordinances and determine whether updates are necessary to appropriately control this development. PennFuture has drafted a model ordinance and guidebook as well as a community toolkit for just this purpose. PennFuture applauds state and local officials like Rep. Emrick who have engaged with the issue of logistics development and listened to community members who desire more control over this highly impactful form of land use. While public referendums may not be the solution, Pennsylvania municipalities and residents still have the power to guide and control this development while protecting their communities and the environment from harm. We will continue to work with community members and state and local elected officials to see that this is accomplished. Brigitte Meyer is staff attorney for PennFuture, which advocates a transition to a clean energy economy in 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. A student admitted being paid 200 to allow 32,270 to pass through her bank account. Christina Daramola, 21, of 21 Clonroosk Abbey, Portlaoise admitted money laundering at AIB Lyster Square, Portlaoise on November 5, 2020. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the defendant was one of these money mules and had allowed 32,270 transfer through her account. Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was a student who attended TU in Dublin and was doing a pharmacy course. He said she had been contacted by a gentleman online who had persuaded her to hand over her details. Mr Meagher said his client, who did receive a 200 payment, cooperated fully with Gardai and has no previous convictions. She realises she was completely naive, he said. Judge Nicola Andrews said a conviction for money laundering could derail the defendants future career. People like your client are important cogs in a system, Judge Andrews told Mr Meagher. Judge Andrews said she would like to see a charitable donation of 1,500 to the court poor box by September 2. If the woman hasnt come to the attention of Garda in the meantime, Judge Andrews said she would consider leaving the woman without a conviction. I will explain to her the chance she has been given, said Mr Meagher. The case was adjourned to Portlaoise District Court on September 2. The decision around the funding of public services media is set to be taken before this summer, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said. Mr Martin said it is sensible that the Government awaits two reports commissioned by Culture Minister Catherine Martin on the governance of RTE. However he said the TV licence is likely to remain a significant source of revenue for the national broadcaster in 2024 and 2025. The three party leaders are agreed with the minister that we do need to resolve this in terms of the model, but then it will take time, so the licence fee will be a significant revenue earner for RTE certainly in 2024 and I will even hazard a guess into 2025 until a new system has bedded down, he told RTE Radios This Week programme. We would hope to get a decision made this year, hopefully before the summer recess but then itll take time I would envisage to work that system through and to have it fully up and running. There are different perspectives on this, thats natural. I take a particularly fundamentalist view on the editorial independence piece and the separation of media from being too dependent on any given government support at any given time. I just think we need to put in guard rails because the new funding arrangements are not just about RTE, but other stations, local and national and print media too. Speaking after attending the Munich Security Council, Mr Martin added: All were hearing here, networking with other countries, meeting tech companies, its all about election manipulation, its all about social media and the degree to which misinformation and disinformation can really prevail. This is very key to the survival of our democracy. So weve got to get it right and weve got to get the fundamentals right, in terms of how we structure it, and a new funding arrangement. On Saturday, RTEs director-general Kevin Bakhurst commented on the exit arrangements for four former executives director of commercial Geraldine OLeary, director of legal affairs Paula Mullooly, director of strategy Rory Coveney and chief financial officer Richard Collins. Saying he was restricted following legal advice, Mr Bakhurst said Ms OLeary retired from RTE and did not receive an exit payment while Ms Mullooly left to pursue another opportunity and did not receive an exit payment. He said Mr Coveney agreed that he should stand down, his role became redundant and an exit payment was offered by RTE and accepted. Mr Bakhurst went on: Following independent mediation, Richard Collins, RTEs former chief financial officer, departed RTE by mutual agreement, with a binding confidentiality clause that was agreed to by both sides and in the interest of fairness and respect cannot be breached. As I have said before, in relation to all the exits, I have sought an update to the legal advice previously received. Asked for his view on Sunday, Mr Martin said: As a general principle, where any organisation has been funded by the public via the licence fee in this case and taxpayers money, there should be full transparency in terms of salaries and packages more generally. RTE needs to build up trust with the people in respect of how it is governed, its governance and its administration, and I think the new director-general is doing everything he possibly can to do that. But as a general principle, I do believe that salaries and so forth and indeed packages should be fully transparent. The indications are that he has certainly been constrained in these specific cases. A former psychology student who appeared at Naas District Court on Thursday, February 15 last was fined for assaulting a garda. Appearing before Judge Desmond Zaidan was Calvin Carlyle, with addresses given as Rossfield Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24, County Dublin, and Cloonmore Park, Tallaght. The 26-year-old was in attendance for the execution of a bench warrant related to a Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) matter in Dublin, for an alleged trespass offence committed in 2020. Gardai detailed an incident involving Mr Carlyle which occurred on November 15, 2020 in Blessington. It was heard that Mr Carlyle, along with some other male passengers, were in a car that crashed. They were spotted by gardai, and the gardai brought them back to a bus stop so that they could return home to Tallaght. Judge Desmond Zaidan presided over the case, which was held in Naas District Court. However, gardai said that Mr Carlyle, who was drunk at the time, became verbally abusive towards them and was subsquently arrested. Later, when he was placed in a garda patrol car, he kicked one of the gardai sat in the car. Defending barrister Sarah Connolly said that her client was a former psychology student, and that he hopes to continue his studies in the near-future. It was heard that he is residing with his grandmother at present. Judge Zaidan fined Mr Carlyle 750 for the assault on the garda, which is to be paid within three months. Mr Carlyle's CCJ matter will resume on March 6 and Judge Zaidan remanded him on continuing bail until this date. I REALLY wish there had been a warning that gambling was addictive Hannah. These are the words of a young woman who became addicted to online gambling. What started out as a fun online pastime for Hannah quickly spiralled out of control and into an addiction that left her anxious, depressed and in debt. It may be hard to believe but children as young as 12 and 13 are receiving treatment for Gambling Addiction in the UK. The Health Service in the UK have opened and continue to open gambling clinics aimed at treating 13 25 year olds following a record number of referrals for treatment. Whilst there are no figures available for child gambling in Ireland, a 2021 study of gambling trends in Ireland reported a significant increase in gambling across all age groups with the biggest increase seen in young people, particularly males, including young people under 18. Online and TV advertising coupled with easy access to gambling is driving this increase. The gambling industry spends millions advertising their products. They do this because the advertising works. Young people are subjected to an onslaught of gambling advertisements on TV, online and social media for both sports-based gambling and casino gambling. All thats needed for them to take part is a smartphone and an internet connection. Nowadays, the bookies is available in your pocket 24 hours a day. Research has shown that children who are introduced to and begin gambling as a young teenager are four times more likely to develop a gambling problem. Young people are introduced to gambling in ways we may not be unaware of, for example, through the purchasing of loot boxes in video games. Children experience the same emotions that a gambler does when purchasing the loot boxes - the anticipation of the purchase, the highs or lows that follow depending on whats in the box and the desire to spend more and more to get what they want, the cycle continues. There is no skill involved and the outcome is random, similar, in ways, to scratch cards or casino spins. There are published studies that show a link between loot box spending and problem gambling. Social media platforms including Facebook provide casino-style games such as virtual slot machines and poker games. Because the money involved is virtual there are no age restrictions so children of any age can play and learn the rules and habits of gambling. These games will provide more wins than real life casino games and are widely considered to be a gateway to real money gambling. Its impossible to prevent young people from being exposed to the world of gambling but we can educate them on what gambling is and the harms associated with problem gambling. Have a look at our top tips and start a conversation at home about the world of gambling and its potential harms. Once you start the conversation you can let your children know that gambling is addictive and carries the same risks to a persons wellbeing as a drug and alcohol addiction does. The gambling industry exists because it makes money, not the gambler. Top tips for talking to your children about gambling Make talking about gambling a regular thing Like all potentially awkward conversations from online safety to sex the more you talk about it, the more comfortable youll feel. So rather than having one big just say no conversation about gambling, its a good idea to chat about the risks and consequences regularly, so your child feels comfortable to approach you on the topic. For example, if youre watching sport together, you could talk about the gambling adverts you see, or if you hear a gambling advert on the radio, you could ask them what they think about it. Find out more about gambling A great starting point is awareness of the kind of gambling children are more likely to get involved with, and the harm gambling can do. To learn more, visit the Problem Gambling website: www.problemgambling.ie/ youth-gambling-ireland.html Ask your child what they think about gambling Its a good idea to ask your child what they think about gambling before offering your own opinion. This could be a great way to correct any misunderstandings they may have. For example, they may think its just a bit of fun, or that everybody does it. Remember that the way you answer any questions may affect how comfortable they feel approaching you in future to talk about gambling so its best to make it a discussion not a lecture! Challenge the adverts When you come across gambling adverts, encourage your child to think critically about how gambling is represented as fun, exciting and cool. Remind them that behind the adverts is a business looking to make money! Let your child know that gambling isnt a way to make money Talk with your child about how they spend their money, and explain that gambling should never be seen as a way to make money or recover lost money. It may also be helpful to explain that, in the end, the house always wins, meaning anyone that gambles is always more likely to lose than win. Talk about the harms and risks of gambling Gambling is often made to seem like a normal part of everyday life, without any negative effects. So its a good idea to discuss with your child the risks and consequences of gambling. For example, you could talk to them about how they could end up losing a lot of money, or how gambling could have a negative impact on their wellbeing and friendships. Be careful to avoid scare tactics though, as they can often have the opposite desired impact. Be conscious of your own gambling and its impact If you gamble, be aware of your influence on your child and discuss with them what it means to gamble safely. If you or someone you live with is experiencing gambling harms, Hospital, Croom and Northside Family Resource Centres provide one to one counselling for anyone over the age of 16 who is struggling with harmful gambling or impacted by the gambling behaviour of another person. For more information contact Brenda at bokeeffe@hospitalfrc.com This article was contributed by a member of Parenting Limerick, Brenda OKeeffe, on behalf of Hospital FRC. Brenda provides supports to people impacted by harmful gambling. You can contact her on 083 2076403 or email bokeeffe@hospitalfrc.com for support or information. Parenting Limerick IS a network of parenting and family support organisations in Limerick. For more information on this and other topics go to www.loveparenting.ie. From Dyad Productions, the award-winning creators of A Christmas Carol, I, Elizabeth, Female Gothic, Christmas Gothic, and A Room of Ones Own Austens Women are back in a brand-new show. Meet devil-may-care Lady Susan, the coquettish black widow, hunting down not one, but two, fortunes; oppressed, rebellious daughter Frederica; long-suffering sister-in-law Catherine; family matriarch Mrs De Courcy; and insouciant best friend, Alicia. Return to the Regency (or rather, Georgian) in this darkly comic tale of society and the women trapped within it; their struggles, their desires, their temptations and manipulations and at the vanguard, Lady Susan: charming, scheming, witty, and powerful; taking on society and making it her own. But has she met her match? Based on Jane Austens first full-length work from 1794, and created entirely from letters, the piece is performed by Rebecca Vaughan and directed by Andrew Margerison. Created in collaboration with The Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead. This play will be staged at the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge on March 1. Admission is 18 and the curtain will be raised at 8pm. For further information log on to www.riverbank.ie Beatrice Public Schools was recently awarded the Stronger Connections Grant from the Nebraska Department of Education. The two-year grant will provide funding for mental health services in the elementary school. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jackie Nielsen said the district partners with area mental health providers. We have a large number of partners that drop in weekly with students, she said. The nice part of this grant is there will be a therapist that will be a part of the staff and in the building. They will be able to check in daily with students. Our goal is to help students build a strong foundation in the elementary school so when they transition to middle school and high school, they have the skills they need to cope. We hope they will understand how their mind works. We hope they will become more engaged in that learning environment and be successful. Our goal is to build good citizens. Carlina Grove was hired as the mental health counselor. She has been working as the guidance counselor in Lincoln and Stoddard Elementary. Nielsen said that during the last two years Grove has provided 956 individual school counseling sessions. She met with 204 individual students. Seventy-nine students were referred to the School Community Intervention and Prevention program. Twenty-nine students in the elementary were assessed for suicide and safety risk. She led 35 small groups with a variety of different skills. Guidance counselors teach full-time, so they fit in small groups, individual sessions and whatever comes up, she said. This will help our guidance counselors support our students and families, in addition to our teachers and other staff. She noted that this will position will also result in a reduction in the loss of time. When a student has an appointment, they have to leave the school. Now they will be able to stay in school, receive therapy and acclimate back into the classroom, she said. This will continue to help our teachers. In the 2022-23 school year, 286 students at Paddock Lane Elementary missed five or more days of the school year. Our goal is also to help reduce the absenteeism rate, she said. Currently, about a quarter of a full-time position of a partnering provider has been recorded as helping teachers who have asked for assistance in supporting students with mental health needs. Our teachers are seeking outside support, she said. They want their students to be successful. Nielsen said St. Pauls Parochial School will also be able to access services from the mental health grant for their students and families. Counselor Carlina Grove said she was looking forward to the new elementary building. Im looking forward to a space that students will be able to relax and process, she said. I am looking forward to being able to control the lighting. There will be opportunities for the whole team to help students regulate. Grove said she is looking forward to working with a team in collaboration with teachers and time to help students. She will also be working with and supporting families as a part of the position. "I want students to think about their mental health as just as important as brushing their teeth. "I brush my teeth; I take a shower and I also take care of my brain," she said. The school-based mental health grant will begin in the 2024-25 school year. A Taiwanese TSMC plant under construction in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 6, 2022. BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES The Arizona desert is playing a key role in the international semiconductor great game. North of Phoenix, the state capital, an industrial behemoth is rising from the ground, an offshoot of Taiwan's TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), the world's leading microchip manufacturer. The microprocessor giant was lured to this remote territory of the American West by a series of local and federal subsidies. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the US has made the revival of semiconductor production a national security priority. Like Donald Trump before him, President Joe Biden wants to reduce the dependence of American industry on Asia, and above all to "counter China," according to the official objective, in a sector so essential to the economy. Two thousand kilometers from California's Silicon Valley, Phoenix is beginning to deserve the nickname "Silicon Desert" from its marketers. Since the health crisis and the reindustrialization advocated by Biden, the city has become a hub for the development of advanced technologies; the setting for an episode of the global chip war, the battle between Washington and Beijing for control of a component essential to smartphones, connected cars, video games, medical devices etc. Read more Subscribers only Semiconductors: The US unveils its plan to counter China Today, 80% of semiconductors are manufactured in Asia (and 90% of the most advanced in Taiwan), compared with just 12% in North America. At a time when the island of Taiwan is threatened by China, the Pentagon is anxious to end its dependence on TSMC for its missiles and fighter planes. On the edge of Interstate 17, the highway that winds its way north through the red dust, TSMC is building two "fabs" (manufacturing plants, in the jargon of the industry), covering five square kilometers, a gigantic construction site occupying 12,000 workers. Fab 21 will produce chips with an engraving fineness of 4 or 5 nanometers (billionths of a meter), a technological feat that TSMC is the only company, along with Samsung, to have mastered. The estimated production capacity will be 20,000 silicon wafers per month. Holding back China's technological advances Twenty-eight of its subcontractors have already taken up positions around Phoenix. Taiwan's Sunlit Chemical is building a hydrofluoric acid production plant nearby, at a cost of $100 million (92 million). The American company Amkor is building a plant in Peoria, 35 kilometers from the TSMC site, to package the Apple chips that will leave the Taiwanese foundry. TSMC's great rival, the American company Intel, dethroned from world number one, is also building a new factory in its stronghold of Chandler, south of the city, a $20 billion investment. Before its arrival in 1980, Chandler was a farming town of 30,000 inhabitants. It is now a city of 280,000, and Intel is its largest employer, with 12,000 employees. You have 72.12% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva cautioned Sunday, February 18, against rushing to conclusions on how Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died, in a break with Western leaders who have been quick to blame the Kremlin. Read Le Monde's obituary Subscribers only Alexei Navalny, a life of resistance and sacrifice In some of the first comments on Navalny's death from a fellow member of the BRICS group of emerging nations, Lula said it was important to avoid "speculation" and await the results of an autopsy. "I think it's a matter of good sense... If the death was suspicious, we have to first investigate to find out what the citizen died of," Lula told reporters in Addis Ababa, where he was attending an African Union summit. "The medical examiners are going to say the guy died of this or that. Then you can judge. Otherwise, if you judge now and say I-don't-know-who ordered the killing and it wasn't them, afterward you have to apologize. Why the rush to accuse?" Lula has faced criticism in the West as overly soft on Russian President Vladimir Putin, his fellow leader in the BRICS group which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa but was recently expanded to include several other emerging powers. Lula, 78, has been critical of the US and European responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said Kyiv shares the blame for the conflict and refused to join Western sanctions on Moscow. Navalny, Putin's leading critic, died Friday in a remote Siberian prison after more than three years behind bars. He was 47. Lula said Navalny could have been sick or had a health problem, and warned against "trivializing" accusations of murder. "I don't want speculation," he said. Read more Subscribers only Alexei Navalny dies and with him 'the last hopes' of a free Russia As we emerge from the Decade of Centenaries the story of Limericks leading role in the fight for Irish Freedom is now widely known and well documented. Historic events like the Dromkeen Ambush, the capture of Kilmallock RIC Barracks and the sacrifices of leading republican rebels Con Colbert, Sean Wall, Sean Finn and Mayors George Clancy and Michael OCallaghan are still widely celebrated in song and story throughout the Treaty County. This is unsurprising because these events were commemorated annually from the 1940s onwards, were frequently discussed by IRA veterans in later life and widely written about in the local press. However one aspect of the conflict in Limerick that is the IRAs secret executions of the Limerick men alleged to be British spies who were Disappeared by the IRA during the War of Independence. The first of these was John OReilly of Newcastle West. The first Limerick man to be disappeared by the IRA was John OReilly, who was born in Limerick in 1904. He was the youngest child of Thomas OReilly, a labourer, and his wife, Bridget, who lived at Boherbee Street, Newcastle West. OReilly had an older sister named Mary and three older brothers, Denis, Thomas and Patrick. He left his family home in Newcastle West during the War of Independence and was never seen again by his parents or siblings. In November 1925 his mother wrote to the Minister of Justice seeking information as to her sons fate: Sir I would be very thankful to you if you could let me know anything about my son that is missing for the past four years as I was forced to write to this address. He is missing since the Black and Tan trouble. His name is John OReilly. I have not heard of him since so I would be very thankful to you sir if you looked up this case for me and oblige Mrs T OReilly. In response Garda Superintendent John Carberry wrote to Garda Commissioner Eoin ODuffy and reported that: It has been ascertained that a boy answering OReillys description was shot as a spy by the IRA in the Douglas area of this city [Cork] about a week prior to the Anglo-Irish Truce. It is believed the boy was from County Limerick and he admitted being with the Black and Tans but the source from which this information is obtained is of the opinion that he was never with the Black and Tans but was with the British Military Intelligence Staff in Co Cork Military Barracks [Victoria Barracks]. At about the time the boy was shot a number of persons believed to be spies were camped in a field known as the camp field which was attached to Cork Barracks. Reillys body, like that of more than 60 others who were disappeared during the War of Independence era, was never recovered and is believed to still be buried somewhere in the Douglas area of Cork city. The other Limerick man to be secretly executed and disappeared was also from Newcastle West. Thomas Hanley was a Catholic ex-British soldier from Newcastle West, , who was born on November 29, 1920, had three older brothers and was the youngest child of Michael Hanley a general labourer and his wife, Ellen, who lived in Maiden Street, Newcastle West. After leaving school, Hanley found work as a stock-taker checking freight shipments at the Newcastle West railway station. He volunteered to join the British Army in 1915 and fought on the Western Front. On returning to civilian life, he began a criminal career as an armed robber before becoming an identifier for K Company of the RICs Auxiliary Division. Hanley first came to the attention of the IRA after he and a cadre of other unemployed ex-soldiers in the town embarked on criminal careers as a means of earning a living. Ex-soldiers in Newcastle West, including Hanley, were suspected of being involved in a spate of armed robberies in the locality. The activities of this criminal gang intensified to the point that the Limerick Ex-Servicemens Association placed a notice in the local press condemning and distancing themselves from the low acts committed recently by some ex-soldiers. On January 15, 1920, members of the local IRA unit shot and wounded Timothy OSullivan, a member of this criminal gang. The ex-soldiers retreated to the towns RIC barracks, where they sought refuge. In September 1920 K Company of the Auxiliary Division commandeered Devon Castle, the Duke of Devonshires Newcastle West residence, which dominated the town square. Hanley saw this as his opportunity for revenge. He made contact with the Auxiliaries and volunteered to act as an identifier, but his role quickly became known to local IRA officers, including Garret McAuliffe, who recalled, Hanley, an ex-British Army man joined the Auxies on their patrols and went round with them in lorries. READ MORE: In Pictures: Out and about in Limerick supporting Ireland in the Six Nations In November 1920 Hanley, realising that his life was now in danger, left his family home and sought protection by living with the Auxiliaries at their barracks in the castle. In January 1921 he formalised this arrangement by enlisting as a temporary cadet in the Auxiliary Division. McAuliffe claimed that, after enlisting, Hanley went around the town in civvies, presumably gathering intelligence information. In February 1921 Hanley was deployed to an RIC outpost in Croom for his own protection. Although he disappeared from Newcastle West, he was not forgotten, and on June 22, 1921 two local IRA Volunteers, Owen McAuliffe and Thady Collins, got a tip-off that he had returned to the town to visit a friend, James Coffey, who lived on the Knockane Road. At 10pm that evening, the two republicans approached Coffeys home in stockinged feet with their revolvers drawn. They burst in and Hanley, seated at the fireside, and the two IRA Volunteers immediately drew their revolvers and opened fire. Despite being wounded by the initial burst of fire, Hanley managed to reach the rear door of the building and escaped along a laneway. Knowing that the sound of their gunfire would attract members of the Warwickshire Regiment stationed nearby, McAuliffe and Collins fled the scene. Hanley had been hit by five 45 revolver bullets, but British soldiers arrived at the scene within minutes and, recognising Hanley, saved his life by immediately transporting him to the military hospital in Limerick. The failed assassination had the desired effect, according to IRA Volunteer Mossie Hartnett: This surprise raid kept this man Hanley from having any further association with the Tans and British soldiers in Newcastle West. Spys Beware was a warning that was now heeded. The county inspector for Limerick, John M Regan, cited Hanleys shooting and his status as a veteran of the First World War as proof of an alleged IRA campaign to murder local ex-soldiers. However, Regans report neglected to mention Hanleys personal vendetta against the IRA, his work as an intelligence agent and his membership of the Auxiliary Division as likely motivating factors in the attempted assassination. The IRA was determined to kill Hanley, and Garret McAuliffe recalled, He was taken into the military hospital in Limerick, and we kept an eye on him after the truce he went missing. For six weeks after the failed assassination attempt, Hanleys life hung in the balance, but he had recovered enough to apply to the British governments Irish Compensation Commission for compensation. On October 10, 1921 Hanley received news that he was to be awarded 550. His brother John, who lived in New York, had bought him a transatlantic ferry ticket for America. Hanley was apparently waiting to collect his compensation payment before leaving, but he did not live long enough to do either. Hanleys father, Michael, stated that his son Thomas disappeared quite suddenly and unexpectedly, without informing his parents of his intended departure, without bidding them goodbye and he was never seen or heard of since. The British Colonial Office revealed that Hanley did not collect the compensation payment which had been issued to him. The American Consul in Ireland confirmed that the United States government had no record of Hanley ever having travelled to America. In November 1929 Michael Hanley made a successful application to the High Court in Dublin seeking to have his son Thomas declared dead, and stated in a supporting affidavit that he had heard rumours that his son had been killed in the County of Cork towards the end of 1921. The rumours were correct Thomas Hanley had been abducted by the IRA on October 17, 1921 and was executed for spying and secretly buried in an unmarked grave near Macroom. Hanleys body, like that of OReilly and more than 60 others who were disappeared during the War of Independence era, was never recovered and is believed to still be buried somewhere near Macroom. The full story of these and other killings is finally told for the first time in The Disappeared Forced Disappearances in Ireland 1798 -1998 which is available online and in bookshops now. Cillian Murphy, Claire Foy and Barry Keoghan are among the Bafta nominees who will attend the star-studded film awards in London 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. Her 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. It was confirmed on Friday that the Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, is attending the event his first high-profile royal engagement since his wifes operation. At the prestigious film event in 2023, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who had her surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children. Oppenheimer filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who was presented with the British Film Institute (BFI Fellowship) on Wednesday, will also attend the ceremony, where he is considered a frontrunner to win the best director prize. The ceremony will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. It was previously announced that Ellis-Bextor would 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, the details of which 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 Color 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. 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, would be presented to actress Samantha Morton. 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. HONG KONGChinese electric-vehicle makers that enjoyed years of explosive growth now face a slowdown in domestic demand, spurring them to push overseas and challenge global auto giants already struggling with a transition to battery-powered cars. A subsidies-driven boom in past years helped China sell more electric cars than Europe and the U.S. combined. The sales surge created a wave of investment into homegrown automakers that have become the envy of the global industry. A deceleration in the China market, after subsidies were reduced and consumers cut back spending, means the growth rate there has fallen behind those two regions. The slowdown has fueled a fierce price war in China embroiling dozens of EV startups and foreign players such as Tesla. Many Chinese EV makers burned through cash to chase a share of the growing market. Many are yet to turn a profit despite rising sales, leaving some at risk of going bust or needing injections of capital. Slower growth also leaves an industry geared up to make millions more cars than it can sell domestically in the next few years. Chinas government has acknowledged overcapacity and underused factories, and is pushing automakers to expand overseas. Analysts say that trend could lead to oversupply at home and abroad. Automakers in China are projected to add capacity for five million cars between 2023 and 2025, most of which are EVs, according to an estimate by Bernstein Research. EV sales in China are expected to grow by around 3.7 million during this period, it said. BYD, the crown jewel among Chinese carmakers that is backed by Warren Buffett, added enough factory capacity in China alone by December to churn out four million cars a year, Bernstein said. That figure is a million more than it sold in 2023. Global ambitions BYD, which has ousted Tesla as the top global EV seller, has ambitious plans to increase sales overseas in the coming years, including buying ships to transport cars to Europe. Its first foreign factory making passenger EVs began delivering cars this year, from Uzbekistan, and a second in Thailand starts deliveries in July. It plans to open two more factoriesin Brazil and Hungaryin the coming years, and is weighing setting up a plant in Mexico from which it would consider exporting to the U.S. BYDs cheapest car sells for around $11,000 in China. Chinas commerce ministry this month encouraged its EV makers to expand overseas, such as by tying up with foreign partners for research, logistics and supply chains. Chinese auto suppliers will get credit from banks to support the push. There is clear overcapacity in China, and this overcapacity will be exported. Especially if overcapacity is driven by direct and indirect subsidies," the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said late last year. The commission launched an antisubsidies probe against Chinese carmakers in September, amid concerns Europes auto powerhouses could be hurt by Chinas emerging rivals. Rapid growth created price a war Global auto giants that previously counted on sizable sales from China are now struggling to make gains there against dominant local upstarts, as overall appetite for electric vehicles wanes in other major markets. General Motors and Ford Motor have dialed back on their electric-car production plans. Elon Musks Tesla warned of notably slower growth this year, including in China, during an earnings call last month. Last year, more than one million domestically made electric vehicles were shipped from China as it became the worlds biggest auto exporter, to countries such as Australia and Thailand. That total included vehicles from Tesla and Polestar as well as Chinese-owned brands including BYD, MG and NIO. Chinese automakers have so far had limited success in developed markets such as Europe, and they are largely shut out of the U.S. by tariffs and an inability to tap green-transition subsidies. Whether China can prevent oversupply depends on whether policymakers can control the electric-car revolution as well as they juiced it. Favorable consumption policiesincluding tax waivers, cash subsidies and incentives such as priority for rationed car licenses and parkingled to a three-year streak during which consumer demand for EVs soared and often outran supply. The central government withdrew EV-purchase subsidies for consumers at the start of last year, sending growth down to 21% for 2023 from 74% a year earlier. In comparison, EV sales in 2023 grew 47% in the U.S. and 37% in Europe, according to industry analysts. The demand downshift sparked a fierce price war in China, with discount rates for electric passenger cars in the country climbing steadily last year to a historic high of around 8% by year-end, according to the China Passenger Car Association. Right now in China we already see overcapacity. This is because in the past few years many auto brands believe in the immense demand and that they will remain strong," said Ming Hsun Lee, auto analyst at Bank of America. A senior Chinese official last month indicated Beijing was concerned about disorderly competition, saying some local governments and companies had gone ahead blindly with electric-car construction projects or projects that are redundant. Too many cars A record 158 new car models came onto Chinas market last year, more than 70% of which were EVs, according to CMB Internationals auto analysts. China has too many car models available, around 400 of which are electric, according to HSBC analysts. Carmakers in China will see the most intense competition" in the next two years, William Li, founder of Tesla-rival NIO, said in December. U.S.-listed Chinese NIO is planning to launch a second brand this year with cheaper models as its debts mount. The company has cut back on staff and deferred projects such as battery production. BYD didnt respond to a request for comment. NIO declined to comment. Many Chinese carmakers will produce and sell more cars that will lead to a collapse in pricing, said Qu Ke, autos analyst at CCB International. Eventually, there could be an oversupply of EVs even in overseas markets, he added. Exported EVs are sold at a premium compared with prices in China, even after taking into account shipping costs. BYD and MG, the Shanghai-government-owned British marque, are estimated to bring 5 to 10 percentage points more in margins from exports than domestic sales, according to Bernstein. HSBC has reduced its estimate for BYDs earnings this year by 13%, saying it is expecting lower volume, pricing and margin from BYD as the price war in China intensifies. BYD took almost a third of all EV sales in China last year. BYD has a target to sell 400,000 cars overseas this year. It exported around 242,000 worldwide last year, only 13,000 of which went to the European Union, according to estimates by GlobalData. In Germany, one of BYDs local distributors announced an up to 15% price cut for all its available models last month. A BYD cargo ship has set sail for Europe with thousands more vehicles. Write to Selina Cheng at selina.cheng@wsj.com Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! New Delhi: The government may infuse additional capital into IFCI Ltd and reverse-merge it with one of its subsidiaries, two people aware of the matter said, as part of a rescue plan for Indias oldest development finance institution where losses have mounted over the years. Although the reverse merger option is still being worked out, IFCI may most likely be merged with its subsidiary Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL), the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. SHCIL is among the countrys largest depository participants, the largest premier custodian in terms of assets under custody, and the highest profit-generating entity under IFCIs fold. IFCI owns prime real estate, and holds significant stakes in several entities, including SHCIL and IFCI Financial Services Ltd (IFIN). However, it has done little lending business in the last two decades, and halted lending operations altogether in FY22 following liquidity constraints. It has reported annual losses for at least five years till FY23. Queries sent to IFCI and the finance ministry on the reverse merger plans remained unanswered. Financial services secretary Vivek Joshi, however, said that while the government is weighing a few options to rescue IFCI, any merger or reverse merger involving a subsidiary would be pursued by the new government after the general elections. We will finalize the cheapest option for restructuring IFCI. The option to close the entity would be very expensive," Joshi said, and added that although the institutions lending activity has been suspended, it was doing well as an agency for governments production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes. The secretary did not name the subsidiary for the possible reverse merger and said no final decision had been taken yet. The people cited earlier said that like in the previous two financial years, the government would again pump in 500 crore capital into IFCI in the second half of FY25even though the Union budget of 2024-25 has not made any allocationto reduce its debt and strengthen its financials, thereby easing the burden on any other entity or strategic investor involved in its restructuring. IFCI shares closed 4.58% higher at 54.57 on the BSE on Friday. Set up in 1948 as a development financial institution, IFCI was later turned into a non-banking finance company (NBFC). Its activities covered financing of various kinds of projects such as airports, roads, telecom, power, real estate, manufacturing, services, and other such allied industries. A combination of imprudent lending and poor management turned the institution sick in the late 1990s, and has failed to turn around despite continued government support. The company reported a loss of 444 crore in FY19, which shrank to 278 crore in FY20. But the losses shot up to 1,958 crore and 1,991 crore in FY21 and FY22, respectively. With active capital support, IFCI again brought down losses to 288 crore in FY23. In the current fiscal year, it reported losses in the first and third quarters. It clocked a profit of 83.77 crore in the second quarter as capital support from the government covered a large portion of its provisioning requirements. As on 31 March 2023, IFCI had six subsidiaries: IFIN, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd, IFCI Infrastructure Development Ltd, IFCI Factors Ltd, MPCON Ltd, and SHCIL. Of these, IFCI has only two material subsidiaries: IFCI Infrastructure Development Ltd, which reported a profit of 16.13 crore in FY23, and SHCIL that returned a profit of 178.11 crore in FY23. The company also had seven step-down subsidiaries: IFIN Commodities Ltd (indirect control through IFIN); IFIN Credit Ltd (indirect control through IFIN); IFIN Securities Finance Ltd (indirect control through IFIN); IDL Realtors Pvt. Ltd (indirect control through IIDL); SHCIL Services Ltd. (indirect control through SHCIL); Stockholding Document Management Services Ltd (indirect control through SHCIL); and Stock Holding Securities IFCI Ltd (SSIL). A man in Jaipur, Rajasthan, bought Ather 450 Electric Scooter worth around 1,09,947-1,44,871 recently. What made the purchase interesting was that the customer paid the entire amount in 10 coins. Ather Energy CEO Tarun Mehta took to social media to share a picture of the "new Ather owner" being handed over the keys. Mehta tweeted, "A new Ather owner just bought himself a 450 in Jaipur...all with 10 Re coins!" The picture shared by him also showed tens of pouch filled with 10 coin laid on the table. Mehta didn't specify the exact model of the Ather 450 series the Jaipur man purchased. However, the Bengaluru-based EV startup offers three models under the Ather 450 series Ather 450Apex, Ather 450X and Ather 450S. The prices start at around 1.10 lakh and can go up to 1.45 lakh (effective ex-showroom price in Jaipur). The on-road price could touch 1.75 lakh. Ather, backed by Singapore's GIC and Flipkart co-founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, is planning an India listing and has a market valuation of $739.4 million, Reuters reported while citing data from investment tracker Tracxn. India's government anticipates the share of electric two-wheelers in overall sales to rise to 60%-70% by 2030 from 4.7% in 2023. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Ather Energy Pvt is seeking to hire investment banks to help arrange a potential initial public offering in Mumbai as early as this year. The company is selecting banks for a listing that could value the firm at about $2 billion, sources told the media. The Bangalore-based company could seek to raise as much as $400 million in a share sale, said the people, asking not to be identified because the matter is private, the report added. Ather was founded in 2013 by two graduates of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain. The company raised about $128 million in a series E round in 2022 from investors including Indias sovereign wealth fund, the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Ltd., and existing shareholders such as Indian two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp Ltd, Bloomberg reported. Referring to the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) regulatory action on Paytm Payments Bank, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that regulatory compliance cannot be optional" for companies, rather it is an aspect every entrepreneur must pay full attention to, reported PTI . The issue of Paytm Payments Bank is a case where a hard-charging and aggressive entrepreneur has failed to realise the need for regulatory compliance, and that no company can get away if it is non-compliant with the law, said minister of state for electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, as per the PTI report. He also said that the RBIs regulatory action on Paytm Payments Bank has drawn the attention of fintech firms to the importance of complying with the laws. The central bank has barred Paytm Payments Bank from accepting new deposits from March 15, and ruled out any review of its action against the company. It has cited persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns, for the regulatory action. The notion that RBI action on PPBL had rattled fintechs, was not a correct characterisation, said the minister. And this notion that RBI... the regulator's action against Paytm Payments Bank has rattled fintech is... I don't think that's a correct characterisation," Chandrasekhar said. I think it has drawn the attention of fintech entrepreneurs, to the fact that you also have to know how to comply with the law. Regulatory compliance is not an optional thing for any country in the world, certainly not in India, and it is something that they (entrepreneurs) should pay more attention to." Paytm Payments Bank is an associate of One97 Communications Limited. One97 Communications holds 49 per cent of the paid-up share capital (directly and through its subsidiary) of PPBL. Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma has a 51 per cent stake in the bank. ONE 97 COMMUNICATIONS 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! New Delhi: A probe by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) into the affairs of two private firms and a state public sector enterprise that has snowballed into a political storm is likely to get bigger. The investigation order into Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL), Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd and Kerala State Industrial Development Corp. has a broad scope" and will look into alleged illegal payments made to political functionaries, influential persons, government servants and media houses, a person informed about the investigation order said. That 31 January order was based on an interim report by the Registrar of Companies, Bengaluru. It referred to alleged illegal payments by CMRL, a company engaged in sourcing of ilmenite, to various political functionaries and entities". Payments of 135 crore were made to influential persons, state government functionaries, government servants, media houses etc" the person said, quoting from the order. The broad scope of the investigation has not previously been reported. P. Rajeev, Keralas minister for law, industries and coir, told Mint that KSIDC, a state agency that promotes industrial development in the state with term loans and equity support, will respond to the allegations. A person informed about KSIDCs functioning told Mint on condition of anonymity, KSIDC has moved the Kerala High Court. To promote industry in the state, KSIDC has invested in over 200 companies. Of those, 76 companies are active now. CMRL is one of them. KSIDC does not involve itself in their day-to-day management and if a manager in any of those companies commits a breach, KSIDC has nothing to do with that. KSIDC has filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court seeking to be excluded from the investigation." The state agency has a 13.4% stake in CMRL. One of the transactions the SFIO will look into is a contract that CMRL had with Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, a one-person company founded by Veena T, daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. On 16 February, the Karnataka High Court rejected a petition from Exalogic Solutions challenging the SFIO probe, according to a copy of the order seen by Mint. The transaction between Exalogic Solutions and CMRL was an old software contract. The amount is very small, unlike cases probed by SFIO in the past involving multiple crores," a person informed about the transaction between the two companies said on condition of anonymity. The SFIO probe order mentions the transaction between the two companies to be of 1.72 crore. Emails sent to the Chief Minister of Kerala and CMRL on 7 February and on 15 February, as well as to the spokesperson for Union finance and corporate affairs ministries and KSIDC on 15 February and to Exalogic Solutions on Sunday seeking comments for the story remained unanswered at the time of publishing. In his recent guest column (Billings Gazette Jan. 26), Sen. Steve Daines tries slapping a new coat of rhetorical paint on a bill Montanans know is a lemon a bill hes twice introduced and his constituents have twice rejected, a bill that a pathetic 6% of Montana voters support. His bill would eliminate three wilderness study areas and strip protection from more than 100,000 acres of wildlands, prime elk habitat, and headwaters that trout populations depend on. The fact that he continues to exhume this bill and tries selling it as something that its not makes you wonder if Daines thinks Montanans are gullible. As always, his most recent effort to sell the bill doesnt hold up under the slightest scrutiny, starting with the title: Montanas public lands should be run by Montanans, not D.C. Daines bill does nothing to change who runs public lands in Montana. Thats not the intent of the bill. (And even if it was the intent, doesnt he know by now that Montanans have rejected the idea of transferring ownership of public lands to the states?) For him to suggest that his bill isnt top-down and wasnt concocted in some backroom of his Senate office is as laughable as it is disingenuous. Not once since he started introducing his anti-wilderness study area bills in 2017 has he conducted a town hall meeting to discuss WSAs, nor has he sought a shred of input from everyday Montanans who know and treasure these areas. In the last month alone, he turned a deaf ear to a petition from more than 2,000 Montanans calling on him to meet honestly, openly, and publicly to discuss WSAs. If Daines truly wanted to give Montanans a say over how public lands are managed, then he would live up to his 2019 promise made in writing to respect the findings of a report issued by the Montana Legislatures Environmental Quality Council, which spent over a year exploring the best path forward for Montanas WSAs. During the process, the EQC invited public testimony from recreationists, timber industry representatives, conservationists, and other stakeholders, the vast majority of whom supported a collaborative approach to determining the future of WSAs. Not only did he break his promise to respect the EQCs finding, but he voted against a made-in-Montana public lands bill that is the direct result of a collaborative approach the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. That approach has made the BCSA extremely popular 83% of Montanans support it, according to the same University of Montana poll that found 6% of Montanans support Daines anti-WSA bill. It couldnt be clearer which approach Montanans favor, and its not Daines top-down, made-in-D.C. approach. His refusal to support the BCSA, a bill protecting the four most important tributaries of the beloved Blackfoot River, proves again that he is all talk and no walk on the issue of protecting public lands. As he writes in his recent column, I have fond memories with my Grandpa Daines of learning how to fish and hunt north of Big Timber, and my goal is to pass these traditions on to my own children and grandchildren. Thats a great goal, Sen. Daines, shared by myself and most other Montanans. To achieve it, you need to first throw your support behind the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. Only by protecting headwaters, as the BCSA does, can we expect healthy fisheries and the opportunity to enjoy trout fishing. Only by protecting habitat, as the BCSA does, can we expect healthy populations of elk and other big game and the opportunity to hunt them. Next, you need to withdraw your made-in-D.C. proposal for WSAs and engage Montanans with a history of using those lands. It will be hard work but our public lands and Montanans deserve the best result. You will find your constituents are capable of working together and crafting solutions that are worthy of the moniker, Made in Montana. Airfares are climbing. And people are planning to travel more. Two contrasting trends are merging this summer, belying the gloomy outlook of rising airfares hurting travel. Flight tickets are turning expensive because of rising demand and, more pertinently, due to not enough capacity available to handle that demandIndiGo, Indias largest airline, has grounded 20% of its fleet; Mumbai airport, Indias second busiest, has been asked to cut down flights. Travel group Thomas Cook has seen a year-on-year (y-o-y) uptick of approximately 1015% in advance airfares for April-May on routes connecting hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai to popular summer destinations of Srinagar, Chandigarh, Leh, Bagdogra and Goa. As per travel platform ixigo, advanced airfares have surged by around 30% for routes such as Delhi-Srinagar and Delhi-Goa. Still, based on advance bookings and search trends, industry executives say air traffic is also likely to grow in the summer months, with demand primarily rising for leisure destinations. The pandemic having accelerated the YOLO (you only live once) mindset, Indians are displaying strong appetite for travel this upcoming summer," Indiver Rastogi, president and group head, global business travel, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel said. Despite increased airfares, customers have clearly not compromised on their planned holiday, and our demand trends indicate brisk uptick of over 3X compared to last year." That is good news following Indias highest air traffic recorded in FY24 so far. Latest data from Airports Authority of India for April-December show that combined domestic and international traffic was recorded at an all-time high at 34 million passengers, 7% higher than the pre-covid year of 2019 in the same period, and 10% higher than in 2022. That high airfares are not acting as a deterrent to demand is visible in destinations such as Srinagar where 7580% of five-star hotels and 8090% of budget hotels are already booked for summer, P. P. Khanna, board member, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (Faith), said. Similarly, in the international segment, online travel portals have witnessed an uptick of up to 20% in fares on long-haul routes, with fare levels showing a slight increase on short and medium-haul destinations. In terms of international destinations, data from Thomas Cook shows airfares for Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, among others, are 47% higher, and flights to Sri Lanka and Nepal are witnessing an uptick of more than 10%. Flights are up to 20% more expensive for cities such as Zurich, Paris, Madrid, Vienna, Budapest, Milan, and Helsinki. Despite tailwinds of strong demand sentiment, challenges remain with respect to volatility in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and supply chain constraints following IndiGos grounding of more than 70 aircraft due to engine inspection requirements and shortage in availability of engines and spare parts. And ATF prices for domestic airlines, despite being cut four times, are now at 1,00,772.17 per kilolitre in Delhi as of 1 February, 74% higher than in 2019. Going forward, too, airfares are expected to go up, said Ajay Prakash, board member, Faith and president, Travel Agents Federation of India, The upswing in the demand can be seen with supply falling short of it. Besides, Mumbai, one of the busiest airports in the country, has been asked to reduce flights, so all the factors together would make air travel costlier in the coming summer season," he said. In 2024, predictions for passenger demand globally also remains high, with the International Air Transport Association announcing that the number of passengers travelling by air will reach a record high of 4.7 billion in 2024, a jump from the 4.5 billion passengers who travelled in 2019. This weeks $26 billion combination of two Texas oil companies is the latest in a series of deals thats ushering in the era of Big Shale. Wall Street, which eyed the sector with skepticism for most of the last decade, appears to be all in. Diamondback Energy Inc.s takeover of Endeavor Energy Resources LP announced on Feb. 12 topped off a year of roughly $250 billion in US oil and natural gas deals that consolidated a fractured collection of private wildcatters into larger corporations. Diamondback boldly touted itself as the must-own" stock in Americas richest oil field, and in a stark reversal of the knee-jerk punishment typically meted out to suitors in corporate acquisitions, the stock jumped 11% in a matter of hours. It was perhaps the surest sign of investor approval. By the end of the week, the shale explorer touched a record high and swelled its market valuation by $5 billion, even though the transaction wont close for several months. On a broader scale, the consolidation wave is healing the hangover from years of overspending by shale drillers who pursued output growth at the expense of investor returns. While it was small upstarts who pioneered the shale revolution, Wall Street demands for scale, efficiency and cash returns mean the new era is turning into one of survival of the biggest. It has become a big-company game," said Mark Viviano, a managing partner at Kimmeridge Energy Management Co., which has been hammering the shale-sector to consolidate for half a decade. Now you have an arms race for operational scale and investor relevancy." The evolution of the shale industry comes at a time when energy makes up just 3.8% of the S&P 500 Index despite Americas status as the worlds premier oil producer, pumping 45% more crude than Saudi Arabia. To put the transition in perspective, the cohort of publicly traded shale explorers shrank by about 40% over the past six years to roughly 50 today, according to Warwick Investment Group LLC. Its kind of like Pac-Man right now: consolidate or get eaten," said Kate Richard, chief executive officer at Warwick, which has invested in thousands of shale wells. Were probably going back to the 70s, where there were seven to 10 major players in the US." Once the Endeavor deal is complete, Diamondback will double its market value to around $60 billion, making it a contender with EOG Resources Inc. for the title of biggest pure-play shale stock. It put us in a new weight class, which is a good thing in this business," Kaes Vant Hof, Diamondbacks 37-year-old chief financial officer, said during an interview. The perception is that bigger means more durability" through oils boom-and-bust cycles, as well as lower capital costs and a deeper portfolio of drilling prospects. In the wake of the deal announcement, Diamondback is trading at 9.9 times earnings, overtaking EOG, which has pledged to sit out the current buying spree. Diamondback will jump to around 150th in the S&P 500 by market value, from 275th today, putting it on the radar of large investors in search of more exposure to the Permian Basin, the prolific oil field straddling the Texas-New Mexico border. For Diamondback, a bigger balance sheet means easier access to capital and more ability to sustain payouts to investors through oil price shocks. In addition, a broader geographic footprint in the Permian region means more potential drilling sites to choose from an prioritize. It also means more clout negotiating terms with the service companies that provide everything from rigs to drill bits to fracking crews and pipes. Big buyers are likely to spearhead a fresh wave of efficiency gains driven by technological advancements in both production and cost management," said Teresa Thomas, US energy leader at Deloitte LLP. One phenomenon that often flies under the radar is that takeovers of this sort tend to presage a slowdown in oil-production growth. A spate of follow-on deals could help support global crude prices and take some of the pressure off the OPEC alliance that has been restraining output in a bid to buoy the market. Endeavor was one of the Permians fastest-growing operators, increasing production 30% since 2022. But after merging with Diamondback, that growth will slow to less than 2%, with the cash that would have gone to leasing drilling rigs and related costs freed up for dividends and buybacks. The new era also represents a changing of the executive guard. Autry Stephens, Endeavors octogenarian founder, will become Americas richest oilman once the deal closes. His exit leaves a lasting legacy. Hes one of the last original wildcatters, funding things out of your own back pocket and taking risk," said Sam Sledge, CEO of Midland, Texas-based ProPetro Holding Corp. Were playing a different game now." Stephens decision to retain 40% equity in Diamondback and Warren Buffetts implicit" backing of Occidental Petroleum Corp.s recent purchase of CrownRock LP is a key reason why investors found comfort in the deals, according to Andy Rapp, co-founder of Petrie Partners, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm. At some social or emotional level that validation has driven the market embracing these transactions," he said. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Steel and alloy rolls manufacturer Deem Roll Tech is all set to launch its initial public offerings (IPO) in the upcoming week. The small and medium enterprise (SME) IPO will open for subscription on February 20, 2024 and closes on February 22, 2024. The price band of the Deem Roll Tech IPO has been set at 129 per share, with a face value of 10 per share. The issue price is 12.90 times of the face value of the equity share. The SME IPO is a a fixed price issue of 29.26 crores. The issue is entirely a fresh issue of 22.68 lakh shares. Also read: IPOs next week: Two mainboard, 3 SME public issues to keep primary market busy Our company, in consultation with the lead manager, has undertaken a pre-IPO placement of 2,300 equity shares of 129 per equity, aggregating to 299.98 lakhs. The size of the fresh issue is up to 3,225 lakhs, which is reduced 299.28 lakhs pursuant to the pre-IPO placement and the revised size of the issue is 2,925.72 lakhs," the company said in its RHP. Investors can bid for a minimum of 1000 shares and in multiples thereof. The minimum amount of investment required by retail investors is 129,000. The minimum lot size investment for HNI is 2 lots (2,000 shares) amounting to 258,000. The promoters of the company are Jyoti Prasad Bhattacharya and Dev Jyotiprasad Bhattacharya. Around 50 percent of the issue is reserved for retail investors and the rest of the issue reserved for other investors. Also read: Juniper Hotels IPO opens next week. GMP, price, other details of upcoming IPO The company intends to utilize the proceeds from the fresh issue towards funding capital expenditure towards the expansion of its existing manufacturing facility at Mehsana, Gujarat, India, funding its working capital requirements; and general corporate purposes. Deem Roll Tech Limited manufactures steel and alloy rolls that are exported to more than 10 countries, including the USA, Germany, Europe, the Middle East, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nepal, and Bangladesh. As of September 30, 2023, the company has served over 340 domestic customers and 30 export customers. The company has three manufacturing Units one of which is located in Mehsana, Gujarat, the second unit is located in Dadpur, Hoogly, West Bengal and the third unit is located in Ahmedabad, Gujrat. The manufacturing unit comprises several sections, including engineering & design, mould making, melting, casting, machining, and dispatch, all of which are supported by related quality testing and assurance equipment. 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! Kolkata-based GPT Healthcare initial public offering (IPO) will for subscription on February 22, 2024 and closes on February 26, 2024. However, the price band for the upcoming IPO has not been announced yet. GPT Healthcare IPO is a book built issue, comprising of fresh issue of 40 crore and offer for sale of 2.61 crore shares. Around 50 percent of the issue is reserved for QIB, not less than 35 percent of the issue reserved for retail investors and not less than 15 percent of the offer is reserved for NII. Also read: Gala Precision Engineering files draft papers with SEBI to raise funds via IPO GPT Healthcare Limited operates a chain of mid-sized, multi-specialty, full-service hospitals in Eastern India under the ILS Hospitals brand, providing integrated healthcare services focusing on secondary and tertiary care. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, the company offers a range of healthcare services in over 35 specialties and super-specialties, including internal medicine and diabetology, nephrology (including kidney transplant), laparoscopic and general surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, intensive care, gastroenterology, orthopaedics and joint replacement, interventional cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery, paediatrics, and neonatology. It also offers integrated diagnostic services and pharmacies. The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds towards funding towards repayment or prepayment, in full or in part, of all or a portion of certain outstanding borrowings availed by the company from banks and financial institutions and general corporate purposes. Also read: IPOs next week: Two mainboard, 3 SME public issues to keep primary market busy GPT Healthcare Limited's revenue increased by 7.11% and profit after tax (PAT) dropped by -6.37% between the financial year ending with March 31, 2023. The allotment for the GPT Healthcare IPO is expected to be finalized on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. The IPO will list on BSE, NSE with tentative listing date fixed as Thursday, February 29, 2024. Jm Financial Limited is the book running lead manager of the GPT Healthcare IPO, while Link Intime India Private Ltd is the registrar for the issue. BSE More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Kerala-based Tolins Tyres has filed preliminary papers to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise 230 crore through an initial public offering (IPO). According to the draft prospectus filed on February 16, the IPO will comprise a combination of fresh issuance of equity shares amounting to 200 crore, and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of shares valued at 30 crore by the company's promoters. Also read: Gala Precision Engineering files draft papers with SEBI to raise funds via IPO The promoters, Kalamparambil Varkey Tolin and his wife Jerin Tolin, will be the selling shareholders in the OFS, divesting 15 crore worth of shares each. Currently, the promoters hold 92.64 percent of the shares in the tyre and tread rubber manufacturer, with the remaining 7.36 percent held by public shareholders. Before filing the red herring prospectus with the Registrar of Companies, the company is considering raising 25 crore through a pre-IPO placement. The firm, owned by the Tolin family, intends to allocate 62.55 crore from the net fresh issue proceeds to debt repayment and 75 crore for long-term working capital needs, with total debt standing at 95.09 crore as of January 2024. Additionally, 24.37 crore will be invested in a wholly-owned subsidiary, Tolin Rubbers. Of this, 16.37 crore will go towards repaying the subsidiary's debt, and 8 crore for its working capital requirements. The remaining proceeds from the fresh issue will be allocated for general corporate purposes. Also read: IPOs next week: Two mainboard, 3 SME public issues to keep primary market busy Operating under the Tolins Tyres brand, the company specializes in selling tires to light commercial vehicles, agricultural vehicles, and two/three-wheeler manufacturers, primarily within India. It also exports to the Middle East, the ASEAN region, and Africa, with current exports spanning 18 countries. Export revenue accounted for 9.01 percent of its total revenue from operations in the fiscal year ended March FY23. Tolins Tyres faces competition from listed peers such as Indag Rubber, Vamshi Rubber, TVS Srichakra, GRP, and Elgi Rubber. Notably, it achieved a standalone net profit of 4.99 crore in the fiscal year ended March FY23, compared to 0.63 crore in the previous year, alongside an increase in revenue from operations to 118.3 crore from 113.4 crore during the same period. 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! Last week saw a notable fluctuation in the combined market capitalization of the top-10 most valued firms in India, with six of them witnessing a decline amounting to 71,414 crore. Leading the pack in this downturn was the state-owned giant, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Among the top 10, LIC, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), ITC, Hindustan Unilever, Bharti Airtel, and Reliance Industries collectively experienced this erosion in market value. Conversely, State Bank of India, Infosys, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank emerged as gainers, together adding 62,038.86 crore to their combined market capitalization. Despite this market movement, the BSE benchmark managed to climb 831.15 points or 1.16%, reflecting a mixed sentiment among investors. LIC, the top laggard, witnessed a significant decline in market valuation by 26,217.12 crore, settling at 6,57,420.26 crore. TCS also faced a substantial dip, losing 18,762.61 crore to reach 14,93,980.70 crore in market capitalization. Similarly, ITC's market value shrank by 13,539.84 crore to 5,05,092.18 crore, while Hindustan Unilever's decreased by 11,548.24 crore to 5,58,039.67 crore. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries also experienced declines, albeit smaller in comparison. Bharti Airtel's market valuation dropped by 703.60 crore to 6,30,340.9 crore, while Reliance Industries witnessed a decrease of 642.62 crore, reaching 19,76,493.92 crore. Notably, Reliance Industries achieved a significant milestone as it became the first Indian company to attain a market capitalization of 20 lakh crore, with its shares hitting a 52-week high of 2,968.40 apiece. Conversely, State Bank of India witnessed a substantial increase in market capitalization, jumping by 27,220.07 crore to 6,73,585.09 crore. Infosys added 13,592.73 crore to its valuation, reaching 7,06,573.08 crore. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank also saw gains, with market valuations climbing by 12,684.58 crore and 8,541.48 crore, respectively. In the hierarchy of the top-10 most valued firms, Reliance Industries continued to dominate, followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Infosys, State Bank of India, LIC, Bharti Airtel, Hindustan Unilever, and ITC. These fluctuations underscore the dynamic nature of the stock market and the shifting fortunes of the top players within it. (With inputs from PTI) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! On 15 February, the Constitutional bench of the Supreme Court unanimously struck down the electoral bond scheme, holding it as unconstitutional, and in violation of the Right to Information provided in Article 19 of the Constitution of India. The scheme was notified in 2018 and enabled Indian companies and individuals to make contributions to any registered political party in India by way of an electoral bond, without any monetary threshold. The bonds, issued in the nature of promissory note which is a bearer banking instrument, did not carry the name of the buyer and were issued in denominations of 1,000, 10,000, 1 lakh, 10 lakh and 1 crore. The apex court directed that the issuing bank, State Bank of India (SBI), shall herewith stop the issuance of electoral bonds and submit complete detailsname of the purchaser and the denomination of the electoral bond. The SBI has also been directed to submit to the Election Commission of India (ECI) the details of political parties which have received contributions through electoral bonds since April 2019 till date. SBI has also been directed to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by political parties. The Supreme Court has further directed SBI to submit the above information to the ECI by 6 March. The ECI has been directed to publish the information on its official website within one week, by 13 March. As per the Income Tax Act, any Indian company or person, contributing to any registered political party in India through an electoral bond is eligible to claim the deduction of equivalent amount from its taxable income, under sections 80GGB and 80GGC, respectively. The Electoral Bond Scheme provided that the electoral bonds shall be available for purchase for a period of 10 days on a quarterly basis, in the months of January, April, July, and October and an additional period of 30 days in the year of general elections. The scheme also provided that such electoral bonds are valid for encashment by the concerned political party only for 15 days from the date of issue and no payment will be made to a political party if the bond is deposited after the expiry of 15 days. So, for FY 2023-24, the electoral bonds purchased in the specified months of April, July, October 2023 and in January 2024, would have already been encashed by the respective political parties, as the validity period of 15 days has already expired for all these four specified months. The Supreme Court judgment directed that the electoral bonds which are within the validity period of 15 days but those that have not been encashed by the political party yet shall be returned by the political party or the purchaser depending on who is in possession of the bond to the issuing bank. The issuing bank, upon the return of the valid bond, shall refund the amount to the purchasers account. This implies that the SC judgement, prima-facie, will not impact the deduction claimed by Indian companies, and individuals, u/s 80GGB and 80GGC, respectively, for FY 2023-24 and relevant to AY2024-25, in respect of the electoral bonds already purchased by them in the current FY2023-24. This is because the said donations via electoral bonds have not been directed to be refunded as the same would have already been encashed by the respective political parties, on the expiry of the 15 days validity period. Also, no direction has been given in the SC judgement suggesting scrapping of deduction u/s 80GGB or 80GGC. The amendment in the Income Tax Act, granting relaxation to the political parties from maintaining and keeping complete records of contributions exceeding 20,000, received through electoral bonds, has now been struck down as unconstitutional, thus the political parties will be required to maintain complete records of electoral bond contributions received by them in the year 2023-24, in order to claim the income tax exemption in respect of such contributions. Mayank Mohanka is the founder of TaxAaram India and a partner at S.M. Mohanka & Associates. Indias recent emphasis on advancing infrastructure development is a notable trend with substantial consequences. The 2024 Interim Budget underscored a considerable focus on infrastructure development, earmarking a historic budget of 11.11 lakh crore (3.4% of GDP). Numerous pivotal announcements were made across diverse sectors. Furthermore, the connection between Indias infrastructure development and the facilitation of foreign investment via Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) is anticipated to enhance Indias economic strategy. Focusing on infrastructure-themed funds The construction, logistics, and transportation sectors are certainly pivotal industries to monitor for heightened foreign involvement, spurred by Indias expanding focus on infrastructure development. Engaging in individual stock investments comes with inherent risks. Therefore, allocating funds to mutual funds operating in the infrastructure sector can be a prudent strategy for long-term wealth growth. Mutual funds that invest in communication networks, transportation systems, and utilities such as gas, electricity, water, etc., fall within the infrastructure category. This broadens the scope of investment when choosing the right funds, enhancing the strength of ones portfolio. Some of the best mutual funds in the infrastructure space that may help you grow your money in the long run include: Canara Robeco Infrastructure Fund The Canara Robeco Infrastructure Fund, provided by Canara Robeco Mutual Fund, concentrates on investments in companies actively engaged in and benefiting from the expanding infrastructure scenario in India. Commencing in December 2005, this fund adheres to a Growth" style and carries a Very High" riskometer rating. The fund exhibits a comparatively lower portfolio turnover in contrast to certain other infrastructure funds, possibly suggesting an emphasis on long-term investment strategies. An attractive aspect of investing in this fund is its lack of consistent outperformance against its benchmark (S&P BSE India Infrastructure TRI) across various timeframes. Similar to other infrastructure funds, this fund comes with a high risk attributed to the inherent volatility of the sector. Nevertheless, when compared to certain peers, the fund manages smaller assets under management (AUM), potentially influencing its diversification and negotiation capabilities. Bandhan Infrastructure Fund Bandhan Infrastructure Fund, provided by Bandhan Mutual Fund, primarily invests in companies actively involved in and benefiting from the expanding infrastructure sector in India. With its inception in December 1999, the fund has a commendable track record and serves investors looking for long-term capital growth through exposure to infrastructure. For investors looking to tap into Indias expanding infrastructure sector, the Bandhan Infrastructure Fund presents an intriguing option. The objective of the scheme is to achieve long-term capital growth by investing in companies actively involved in and benefiting from Indias infrastructure development. It predominantly focuses on equity and equity-related instruments for its investments. An examination of the funds portfolio composition underscores its emphasis on sectors such as transportation, power, construction, real estate, and other industries related to infrastructure. Additionally, the fund may allocate investments to companies indirectly associated with infrastructure, including those involved in the supply of materials or equipment. Quant Infrastructure Fund For investors looking to participate in Indias burgeoning infrastructure sector, the Quant Infrastructure Fund presents another compelling option. Its objective is to generate capital appreciation and offer long-term growth opportunities by investing in a portfolio of companies that concentrate on the Indian infrastructure sector. The composition of the funds portfolio closely resembles that of other funds within the same sector, with a focus on industries such as transportation, power, construction, real estate, and other infrastructure-related sectors. Additionally, investments are made in companies involved in the supply of materials or equipment. UTI Infrastructure Fund The UTI Infrastructure Fund, provided by UTI Mutual Fund, is a reputable mutual fund designed to achieve long-term capital appreciation through investments in companies active in Indias infrastructure sector. Introduced in November 2002, the fund currently possesses a commendable performance history and substantial AUM. The fund boasts an extensive history, surpassing 20 years of expertise in the infrastructure sector, demonstrating its adeptness in navigating diverse market cycles. The idea behind putting money in this fund revolves around generating capital appreciation by primarily allocating funds to equity and equity-related securities of companies directly or indirectly engaged in infrastructure-related activities within the Indian economy. The fund operates based on a sectoral theme, providing concentrated exposure to the infrastructure sector, which stands to benefit from Indias continuous development initiatives. ICICI Prudential Infrastructure Fund The ICICI Prudential Infrastructure Fund, provided by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, seeks to achieve capital appreciation by investing in companies involved in and profiting from the expanding infrastructure sector in India. Introduced in July 2005, it holds a High" risk rating while showcasing a substantial AUM. The investment goal is to pursue capital appreciation primarily by investing in equity and equity-related securities of companies involved in infrastructure-related activities or anticipated to derive benefits from them. The fund takes pride in its varied portfolio, investing across multiple infrastructure-related sectors such as transportation, power, construction, and real estate, providing extensive exposure. The substantial AUM in the direct plan reflect investor confidence and potential negotiating strength. Nevertheless, its comparatively elevated portfolio turnover in comparison to other infrastructure funds may potentially raise costs, thereby impacting its stability. SBI Infrastructure Fund The SBI Infrastructure Fund, provided by SBI Mutual Fund, strives to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in companies actively engaged in and benefiting from India's expanding infrastructure sector. Introduced in July 1996, this fund primarily allocates investments to equity and equity-related instruments of companies directly or indirectly involved in infrastructure-related activities within the Indian economy. The fund possesses an extensive performance history and carries a Very High" riskometer rating. Its substantial AUM size indicates investor confidence and potential negotiating strength. With an equity-centric portfolio, the fund predominantly invests in equities, potentially providing greater growth prospects compared to balanced infrastructure funds. Letting performance speak for itself The following table illustrates some of the top mutual funds in the infrastructure category along with their 10-year returns, thus, highlighting the need for investors to stay put without succumbing to the frequent highs and lows that this sector begets. Name of the fund house Name of the mutual fund 10-year returns (in %) Quant Mutual Fund Quant Infrastructure Fund 26.19 ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund ICICI Prudential Infrastructure Fund 21.47 SBI Mutual Fund SBI Infrastructure Fund 21.39 Tata Mutual Fund Tata Infrastructure Fund 21.25 Canara Robeco Mutual Fund Canara Robeco Infrastructure Fund 21.11 Bandhan Mutual Fund Bandhan Infrastructure Fund 20.56 UTI Mutual Fund UTI Infrastructure Fund 17.82 Source: AMFI (As of February 16, 2024) Infrastructure funds require a significantly long investment horizon, typically spanning 7-10 years, owing to their high risk and potential volatility. This underscores the necessity for a high risk tolerance to navigate market fluctuations and uncertainties. Investors considering the risk inherent in thematic funds must possess a clear comprehension of the risks associated with sector-specific funds, indicating their willingness to endure the constant fluctuations within this sector. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! A Gurugram-based consulting firm executive was defrauded of approximately 38 lakh by a woman, whom he met on a matrimonial site. The fraudster enticed him to invest in a cryptocurrency called deuncoin, and was asked for various other charges, police said. An FIR has been registered at Cyber Crime East police station and the police are currently looking for the accused. Consulting firm executive Naman Aggarwal met Ridhi Sharma via jeevansaathi.com in November 2023. She claimed to have been living in London for the past five years and that she was a native of Kolkata, Aggarwal said in his complaint. One day she lured me to invest in cryptocurrency and made my trading account on the website m.deuncoin.vip. The link to this website was sent by her on WhatsApp and the customer care team of the trading platform was also communicated with via WhatsApp." She asked me to invest 10 lakh initially and said she will transfer a similar amount to my trading account. On December 20, the victim said he received a message on WhatsApp from Deuncoin customer care support team that an amount transferred by Ridhi Sharma was an act of money laundering and comes under the scanner of financial action, and the task force asked him to deposit a similar sum within 24 hours to restore the normal status of the trading account warning that it would otherwise be frozen," he said in the complaint. Soon after this, Aggarwal deposited another 10 lakh and asked them to withdraw his money. Instead, they forced him to transfer more money in the name of different charges Even after he paid 38 lakh, they kept demanding more, this convinced him that the woman was involved in the whole fraud, Aggarwal said and added, The modus operandi was to first win the mans trust and then make him a victim of financial fraud." Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against the unknown woman and other fraudsters under Section 420 (cheating) of IPC at the cyber police station, east. A senior cyber police officer said that a probe is underway and the accused will be arrested soon. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea by Sharad Pawar against the Election Commission s decision to recognise the faction led by Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharastra, as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and KV Viswanathan is likely to hear the petition filed by the former cabinet minister plea on Monday i.e. February 19. On February 16, Pawars counsel senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi requested the top court to urgently consider the matter given the Maharashtra Assembly session coming up in the week. The petition stated that the senior Pawars MLAs are likely to face a whip that may be issued by the faction led by the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. The veteran leader sought an urgent hearing of his plea in view of consequential fear of facing action for possible violations of the whip by his MLAs after the February 15 order of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. It is important to note that Maharashtra Speaker Narwekar held that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar was the real NCP and that the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution cannot be used to stifle internal dissent. The special Maharashtra assembly session is beginning on February 20. Earlier on February 6, the Election Commission announced the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP and allotted the party's 'clock' symbol to the group. Sharad Pawar, who founded the NCP with former Lok Sabha speaker P Sangma and Tariq Anwar in 1999 after their expulsion from the Congress, has challenged the Election Commission's decision. Ajit Pawar faction has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that no ex-parte order is passed in favour of the Sharad Pawar group if the latter moves the apex court. Ajit Pawar and a majority of NCP MLAs walked away to join Maharashtras ruling coalition of Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena and BJP in July 2023. Election Commission's decision On February 6, the Election Commission announced the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP and allotted the party's 'clock' symbol to the group. "...this commission holds that the faction led by the petitioner, Sh Ajit Anantrao Pawar, is the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and is entitled to use its name and reserved symbol "clock" for the purposes of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968," the election panel said in its 140-page order. The commission had said there were serious inconsistencies in terms of timelines in the claim of the Sharad Pawar group on organisational majority, which resulted in unreliability of their claim. The poll panel had also expressed the hope that political parties will adopt good disclosure practices of organisational elections and internal party democracy. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker On February 15, the Maharashtra assembly speaker dismissed the disqualification petitions filed by both the factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar against each other's legislators. The Speaker noted that the Ajit Pawar group had an "overwhelming legislative majority" of 41 out of 53 party MLAs when it decided to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in July 2023. The Ajit Pawar group was, thus, the "real political party" when the factions emerged, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker said. "All the petitions seeking disqualification of MLAs are rejected," Narwekar had said while reading out the ruling at the legislature complex in Mumbai on February 15. The tenth schedule of the Constitution, which provides for disqualification of a legislator in case of defection, was misused in this case, Narwekar had held. 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! 1 firefighter killed, several injured in explosion in U.S. Virginia -- media Xinhua) 11:09, February 18, 2024 WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- One firefighter was killed and several others were hospitalized following a gas explosion in Sterling, U.S. Virginia on Friday evening, local media reported. Nine of the injured were firefighters and two were civilians. Firefighters responded to a gas leak at a home on Silver Ridge Drive at around 7:30 p.m. local time (0030 GMT Saturday), and an explosion took place about 30 minutes later, said fire officials. James Williams, assistant chief of operations for Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, said at a news conference that the explosion occurred while firefighters were inside the building, describing the damage as "total devastation." An investigation into the explosion is underway, said Williams. The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company said on social media X that its crews had been responding to a report of a gas leak before the blast. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Tamil Nadu government has implemented a ban on the sale of cotton candy after test reports revealed the presence of cancer-inducing chemicals. State health minister M Subramanian also ordered food safety officers to take required measures and strict action. According to reports, the Food Analysis Laboratory found the compound Rhodamine-B in various confectionaries as well as cotton candy. The textile dye imparts a vibrant, fluorescent-tinted pink-to-red hue and is used extensively in textiles, inks, and cosmetics. The chemical is however toxic for humans and can cause cancer. The development also comes mere days after Tamilisai Soundararajan issued a similar order for Puducherry. The Lieutenant Governor said officials had been directed to inspect shops selling cotton candy and undertake seizures if Rhodamine-B is found in their products. She also warned people against giving "food items having colour additives" to children. According to data shared on the US government-run National Library of Medicine website, Rhodamine-B ingestion can lead to oxidative stress, injury, increase in cell apoptosis and brainstem". The substance often enters the body when mixed with food. The use of Rhodamine B in food for a long time leads to liver dysfunction or cancer, and when exposed to large amounts over a short period, it results in acute poisoning," a research paper available on the site adds. While it's use is restricted in several parts of the world, Rhodamine-B is also used as the colorant in food items such as chili powder and chili oil. B By itself the chemical can irritate the nose and throat when inhaled. Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. Exposure to Rhodamine-B (also known as CI Food Red 15) can cause headache, nausea and vomiting. (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! Telangana Police have filed a FIR against an unidentified man who gunned down 20 stray dogs on the streets of Ponnakal village in Mahabubnagar district on Thursday night, news agency PTI reported. The matter came to light when locals found 20 stray dogs dead and five others injured on the streets of Ponnakal village on Friday morning and informed police. A police official said a case has been registered under section 429 (killing or maiming animals) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, besides the Arms Act at Addakal Police Station based on a complaint by a panchayat official. Also Read | IMD predicts heavy rainfall, snow for THESE states in next 24 hours An investigation was underway to identify the culprits, he added. An eyewitness has claimed that one person who came in a car is the one who committed the crime, the official said, based on a preliminary investigation. According to a report in The Times of India, police are yet to ascertain the accuseds motive behind the crime. Bhoothpur Police Inspector M Ramakrishna told TOI that the crime occurred between 1.30 am and 2.30 am. According to the locals, after midnight, a few masked men came in the car and fired at the dogs with a gun. Around 20-25 dogs were killed in the incident and several others were injured. We have filed a complaint to the police officials in this incident," ANI quoted Adulapuram Goutham, an activist from the Stray Animal Foundation of India, said. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Bike-taxis could be an answer to our urban mobility woes but often face regulatory hurdles. While the Centre has recently clarified their legality, state-level concerns about licensing and regulation persist. What needs to be done to make them more viable? Mint explains: Why could bike-taxis be significant? Bike-taxis offer a cost-effective mode of transportation, particularly for lower and middle-income groups. With fares of 8-10 per km, they compete well with traditional auto-rickshaws, catering to first- and last-mile connectivity needs. Their affordability and accessibility make them useful for urban mobility, especially in congested areas where other modes of transport may be scarce. Theyve so far found most popularity in Tier II and III towns and cities. But a Localcircles survey said 44% of Delhi residents and/or their family or staff had used a bike taxi at least once in 2022-23. What challenges do bike-taxis encounter? Despite increasing demand, bike- taxis have encountered resistance from some state governments and transport unions. Bans in Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala and Tamil Nadu (some now resolved by way of new motor vehicle aggregator policies, like in Delhi), highlight regulatory inconsistencies based on states differing interpretations of the Central Motor Vehicle Act (CMVR) with respect to the legality of bike-taxis, as well as concerns regarding improper licensing. These challenges hinder their widespread adoption, creating uncertainty for operators, riders and users. How do different states view bike-taxis? Goa, Haryana, Gujarat and West Bengal have formulated aggregator policies for bike-taxis. Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka had banned them. In Delhi and Karnataka, aggregator policies now mandate a switch to electric bike-taxis. State-level policies are essential to address regulatory gaps in the bike-taxi ecosystem. What role does a clarification play? The roads ministry has issued a clarification saying motorcycles fall within the definition of contract carriage under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. While this provides legal clarity, the advisory says that All states and UTs are advised to accept and process applications for contract carriage permits for motorcycles." Central government support will have to be supplemented with coordinated efforts at the state level to streamline regulatory processes and foster industry growth. What is needed to grow bike-taxis? A comprehensive framework addressing safety standards, licensing requirements, insurance provisions and environmental concerns will be essential. Resistance from taxi unions who worry about potential livelihood loss due to bike-taxis must be addressed. Concerns around safety, especially for women riders, must also be addressed by transport authorities as well as by aggregators. According to industry estimates, Ola, Uber and Rapido together completed 300 million bike-taxi rides in 2022. Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha occupied the prestigious fifth position in India in terms of popularity rating among the Chief Ministers, according to a recent survey by one of the media aimed at gauging the acceptability of the leaders. The survey aimed to gauge the popularity and acceptability of the country's chief ministers, unveiling some intriguing results. According to the survey, Odisha's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik topped the list with a remarkable popularity rating of 52.7 per cent. Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath secured the second position with a 51.3 per cent popularity rating. The third spot is held by Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who garnered a 48.6 per cent rating, while the fourth position is occupied by Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with a 42.6 per cent rating. Dr Manik Saha, with a commendable 41.4 per cent popularity rating, highlighting his significant acceptance and approval among the citizens of Tripura and beyond. Following the survey, the people of Tripura praised Chief Minister Saha for his simplicity, dedication, honesty, and the developmental strides made under his leadership. Residents commended him for being a compassionate leader who shares in their joys and sorrows. Meanwhile, a local of Tripura who runs a shop and a businessman praised Chief Minister Saha and said, " CM Saha is very honest, and always works at the grassroots level. He is always there to solve any type of problem". Another shopkeeper Debabrata Chakraborty said that he is very fortunate to be a native of Tripura while emphasizing the positive impact on the state's gradual development. "We are in very good condition under the leadership of CM Dr Manik Saha. Under his guidance, each and every person in Tripura is gradually developing," Deepak Debnath a shop owner in Kashipur said. A businessman from Agartala Basudeb Chakraborty said that CM Saha is working for the development of the people of Tripura. "I had heard that our CM Dr Manik Saha had been ranked in the 5th position in popularity. It's very true, as he is very honest, he always interacts with everyone and is committed to the well- being and progress of the people. According to me, he must be in the 1st position," he added. "Our CM Dr Manik Saha is greatly working on his work. He is always delightful and devoted to God. He takes care of every person in the state. He is honest," Vakti Kamal Saint Maharaj, Jagannath Jew Mandir, Agartala said. Prof. Jagadish Gan Choudhary said that he is feeling proud of this survey, adding that it is a matter of respect for Tripura. "I feel that the present CM Saha is the most popular and best. He is a very simple person, active and dedicated towards his work. He serves the people of Tripura very sincerely and honestly. Among so many Chief Ministers he is the best," Asutosh Ranjan Ghosh, a Retired Government employee said. A social activist, Bipin Debbarma said that CM Saha has been working for all the classes of people, especially for the tribal people. "For the last 25 years, we hadn't seen such common people taking so much facilities from the CM. He always thinks about the development of the Janajati people of Tripura, and how to develop them from the grassroot level he is working on continuously," he added. Moreover, Durjay Kumar Chowdhury, a shop owner said that the CM Saha has boosted the infrastructure development in the state. "Manik Saha has been successfully working for the development of the state. He is working on various developmental projects that we haven't seen in the last 25 years of rule of another political party," he added. Earlier in March 2023, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manik Saha, a dentist-turned-politician who steered the party to power in Tripura, took oath as the Chief Minister of the state for the second consecutive term. Manik Saha, who led the BJP to victory, is a dental surgeon who joined the BJP in 2016 after quitting Congress. He was made party chief of the state in 2020 and elected to Rajya Sabha in March 2022. 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! This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has yet not notified the victory of most of the independent candidates who have won National Assembly seats in the general elections has raised concerns among their voters and stakeholders amid political wrangling over a numbers game for the formation of a new government in the Centre, English daily Dawn reported on Sunday. The report said, over 101 independent candidates most of them backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have won National Assembly seats, citing unofficial results. Until Saturday evening, the election panel had notified the result of only eight independents and declared the victory of 33 more through a late-night notification. Also Read | Samyukta Kisan Morcha calls for agitation against BJP MPs on Feb 21 It is important to note that under the election rules of the country, independent candidates have only three days to join a political party after the official notification of their victory. The ECP has so far notified results of 154 out of a total of 265 NA constituencies, where elections took place 10 days ago i.e. on February 8. Rule 92(6) reads "For the purpose of this rule, the expression "total number of general seats won by political party" shall include the independent returned candidate or candidates who may duly join such political party within three days of the publication in the official gazette of the names of the returned candidates". Meanwhile, former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) today demanded a judicial commission to probe a senior bureaucrat's allegation that the election body and the top judiciary were involved in vote rigging, reported news agency PTI. Senior PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan today said that the party was demanding a judicial commission to investigate the claims of rigged election results following the election rigging allegations of the Rawalpindi Commissioner. Earlier on Saturday, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha alleged that the candidates who were losing" the elections were made to win" in the city. Before resigning from his post, the Rawalpindi Commissioner claimed that 13 candidates from the city were forcefully declared winners. I am taking responsibility for all this wrongdoing and telling you that the chief election commissioner and the chief justice are also completely involved in this," Chattha said. Chattha resigned from his office after "accepting responsibility" for the manipulation of poll results. Gohar said that Chattha's allegations corroborated what the party had been saying all along. This is the first time a commissioner is raising his voice according to his conscience. He said that he made sure candidates who lost were made to win while those who won were made to lose. This corroborates what we have been saying," he said. That is why the PTI demands that a judicial commission be formed and an inquiry be conducted. And not just an inquiry, but those [involved] should be made to join the inquiry," he said, adding that the report of such an inquiry should also be shared with the people. He alleged that efforts were made to keep the party out of the electoral arena when people, responding to 71-year-old PTI leader Khan's call, went to the polling stations in huge numbers. We had won 180 seats in the National Assembly, 42 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly, 115 in Punjab, 16 in Sindh, and four in Balochistan assembly," he said. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The Uttar Pradesh Police constable recruitment exams began on Saturday i.e. on 17 February. The state government is recruiting 60,244 police constables to further strengthen the police force, the examinations for which are being conducted on February 17 and 18 at 2385 centres in all 75 districts of the state. The exams are being conducted in two shifts. About 48,17,441 candidates are appearing for their exams, huge rush was witnessed across districts of Uttar Pradesh. Of the total candidates, 15,48,969 are female candidates. As per NDTV report, over 6 lakh applications are from outside of Uttar Pradesh, with 2.5 lakh alone from Bihar. As per news agency ANI report, on Saturday, a total of 12,04,360 candidates had appeared for the exam in both the first and second shifts while today a total of 12,04,361 candidates will appear in the first shift, and 12,04,360 candidates in the second shift. The report also added that 2,67,305 candidates were from Bihar, 74,769 from Haryana, 17,112 from Jharkhand, 98,400 from Madhya Pradesh, 42,259 from Delhi, 97,277 from Rajasthan, 14,627 from Uttarakhand, 5,512 from West Bengal, 3,151 from Maharashtra, and 3,404 from Punjab. A candidate from Bihar while speaking to NDTV said that he faced difficulty while coming to appear for the exams as there was a huge rush in the trains. Users on X had also shared some videos of the rush witnessed around several railway stations. Meanwhile, security has been ramped up at the examination centres for the smooth conduct of the exam. A clash broke out between two rival groups of Eritreans in the Netherlands on Saturday night, said police adding that tear gas was also used to quell the unrest in The Hague as rioters torched police cars and a bus, AP reported. Images from the scene showed vehicles in flames and dozens of men in the street, some throwing rocks. It got seriously out of hand," The Hague Municipality spokesman Robin Middel said. Middel said a group loyal to Eritrea's government was holding a meeting when the venue was attacked by Eritreans who oppose the African nation's government. Police spokeswoman Kristianne van Blanken said she could not immediately say if anybody was injured or if any rioters were arrested. The fighting is the latest outbreak of violence at Eritrean events in Europe. Dozens of people, including at least 26 police officers, were injured during unrest surrounding an Eritrean cultural festival in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart in September 2023, as per AP reports. A fight the same month between Eritrean government supporters and opponents in Tel Aviv led to violent street confrontations among African asylum-seekers and migrants. A few months ago, another clash took place at an Eritrean festival in the western German city of Giessen left 22 police officers injured. Tens of thousands of people have fled Eritrea for Europe, many alleging they were mistreated by the repressive government of President Isaias Afwerki. The conflicts underscore deep divisions among members of the Eritrean diaspora between those who remain close to the government and those who have fled to live in exile and strongly oppose Isaias. (With AP 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! Addressing a panel at the ongoing Munich Security Conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Jaishankar emphasized India's commitment to maintaining relationships with both the United States and Russia amid ongoing geopolitical challenges. In response to inquiries about India's foreign policy objectives, particularly amidst perceptions of a transition from non-alignment to multi-alignment," Jaishankar said, Is that a problem, why should that be a problem? If I am smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me. Is that a problem for others? I don't think so, suddenly in this case." Also Read: India thinks US is weak, so strategically remains aligned with Russia: Nikki Haley As Jaishankar made the statement, Blinken was observed smiling. The moderator explicitly referenced India's ongoing procurement of crude oil from Russia despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine when posing the question. Also Read: Jaishankar to skip G20 Brazil meet amid clash of dates EAM further added, We try to explain what are the different pulls and pressures that countries have. it's very hard to have that unidimensional relationship." I do not want you, even inadvertently, to give the impression that we are purely and unsentimentally transactional. We are not. We get along with people, we believe in things, we share things, but there are times when you are located in different places, different levels of development, different experiences, all of that gets into it," Jaishankar added. Also Read: S Jaishankar, Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly hold talks amid strained bilateral ties He added, So life is complicated, life is differentiated. Good partners provide choices, smart partners take some of those choices." The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 commenced on February 16 in the German capital and is scheduled to conclude on Sunday. The conference is taking place at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, as per an official announcement. Also Read: 'We shouldn't be scared of Beijing,' EAM S Jaishankar on India's stance when geopolitics is shaped in 'China's way' Earlier on Friday, Jaishankar initiated his activities on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference with discussions with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Peru Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea. During the meeting, EAM Jaishankar and his British counterpart deliberated on bilateral cooperation between India and the UK, as well as global and regional matters. (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! Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft UN cease-fire resolution. The US, Israel's top ally, instead hopes to broker a cease-fire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Here are the latest developments: Hamas' demands delusional" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Hamas' demands delusional" and rejected US and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. His Cabinet adopted a declaration Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians" and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it said would grant a major prize to terror" after the October 7 attack that triggered the war. Brazil's Lula accuses Israel of 'genocide' in Gaza Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel Sunday of committing "genocide" against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and compared its actions to Adolf Hitler's campaign to exterminate Jews. Airstrike in Rafah An airstrike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive in southern Gaza in recent weeks. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. Qatar says negotiations over Gaza cease-fire not positive Qatars foreign minister said negotiations aimed at securing an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and the release of hostages havent progressed as hoped, with issues such as how to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza still to be resolved. Israel opposes 'unilateral' imposition of Palestinian state Israel on Sunday formalised its opposition to what it called the "unilateral recognition" of Palestinian statehood, and said any such agreement must be reached through direct negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brought the "declaratory decision" to a vote in cabinet, which unanimously approved the measure, according to a statement. Jaishankar discusses Gaza situation with Palestinian counterpart al-Maliki External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki during which they exchanged views on the current situation in war-torn Gaza. Jaishankar is in Germany to attend the prestigious Munich Security Conference, the worlds leading forum for debate on international security. 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! WASHINGTONThe Biden administration is looking to financially prop up the Palestinian Authority amid warnings from officials in Ramallah that it is close to running out of money, potentially jeopardizing U.S. hopes that the organization will be able to govern Gaza when Israels war with Hamas is over. The administration is trying to work around a law that prevents it from contributing directly to the Palestinian Authority, while also nudging allies to give more to the organization, U.S. officials said. Palestinian officials have warned that they could run out of the money needed to pay salaries and provide essential government services as soon as late February, the U.S. officials said. Early in the war in Gaza, the U.S. opted to rely on a revitalized Palestinian Authority as the best, if not only, option for what it has described as the day after" the war ends. U.S. officials said they are concerned that without a revenue boost, the organization wont be stable enough to maintain its hold on power in the West Bank, let alone be in a position to take on an expanded role. The organizations financial plight also limits its ability to implement overhauls the U.S. says are needed to secure support from Israel and from the Palestinian public. The Palestinian Authority has been dogged by accusations of corruption and ties to extremists that led to the cutoff of U.S. funds in the first place. The Palestinian Authority has relied over the years on assistance from the U.S. and Europe and tax revenue collected by Israel. Cuts in aid by the Trump administration put the Ramallah-based organization under financial strain, and a suspension of Israeli tax revenue after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel has left the Ramallah-based government on the verge of financial collapse," a senior Palestinian official told The Wall Street Journal. In October, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich initially suspended the delivery of all tax revenue, which had been transferred monthly to the Palestinian Authority pending the ministrys approval. The Israeli government then opted to suspend only revenue earmarked for the Palestinian Authoritys employees in Gaza, saying the funds go into the pockets of Hamas militants. In response, the Palestinian Authority said it wouldnt accept any partial revenue transfers. The organization pays the salaries of about 150,000 public-sector employees in the West Bank and Gaza, according to its official estimates. In December, President Biden asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a proposal to transfer the frozen tax revenues to Norway for safekeeping until an arrangement could be found that would assuage Israels concerns that the money would fund Hamas, according to U.S. officials. Israels government said in January that it agreed to the plan, but U.S., European and Palestinian officials said a few sticking points remained. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the revenue should be conveyed to the Palestinian Authority in accordance with previous agreements, according to a statement about his meetings with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in January. The Biden administration is struggling to overcome concerns about the Palestinian Authoritys aging leadership and unpopularity, particularly in Gaza, where it was ousted from power by Hamas in 2007. If the organization runs out of money, U.S. officials say, it will be vulnerable to groups viewed by the U.S. and Israel as more extremist and opposed to compromise. It could also be overwhelmed by a deteriorating security situation in the West Bank, the officials say, amid an increase in clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, as well as attacks by Israeli extremists. The Palestinian Authority has been in financial crisis since 2020, the senior Palestinian official said. The Palestinian finance ministry is operating under the most restrictive budget, which is the worst-case scenario, paying a portion of public servants and trying to pay portions of previous debt," he said. He added that he hoped international pressure would bring a speedy transfer of the funds. The U.S. is limited in its ability to provide direct support. In March 2018, Congress enacted the Taylor Force Act, suspending U.S. bilateral economic assistance for the Palestinian Authority because of its practice of providing payments to Palestinians accused of terrorism and their relatives. In 2018, former President Donald Trump directed the State Department to withdraw $200 million in aid that was originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza, following a review of U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority. Biden reversed the move shortly after taking office, restoring much of the aid, which isnt subject to the Taylor Force Acts ban on direct assistance. In January, as Congress grappled over a foreign-aid package that was passed by the Senate on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the Palestinian Authority relentlessly and thoroughly corrupt" and objected to including funding for Palestinian aid. Some U.S. lawmakers described the United Nations and other international organizations as potential ways to circumvent Taylor Force Act restrictions. The bill approved by the Senate, which would provide $14.1 billion for Israels war against Hamas, includes almost $10 billion for humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Palestinians in Gaza, which wouldnt go directly to the Palestinian Authority. The bill still faces a significant hurdle in the House. A boost by the U.S.s European Union allies in financial support for the Palestinian Authority appears unlikely. The EU is already doing an awful lot, but I dont see that we are about to increase our support financially," EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Sven Koopmans said in an interview. While the Palestinian Authority is often subject to criticism over issues including corruption, it is an essential partner and we have to stand by them and we also encourage them very much to reform and we are helping them on that," Koopmans said. If the PA collapses for any reason, it is a catastrophe for the security situation, for the Palestinians, for the Israelis and for the wider region." Fatima AbdulKarim contributed to this article. Write to Vivian Salama at vivian.salama@wsj.com Russia on Saturday claimed full control of the city of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, which has been a focus of intense combat for months. The Russian Defense Ministry's statement coincided with Ukraine's military chief announcing the withdrawal of troops from Avdiivka, where defenders faced a four-month Russian assault In an official statement, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Kremlin that forces were in the process of clearing the final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plan. Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one of the plants buildings. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally sent congratulatory messages to his troops Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia: Zelenskyy An artificial deficit of arms for Ukraine risks giving Russia breathing space, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on withdrawing troops from Avdiivka. He further highlighted the need for artillery and long-range weapons. Speaking at Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy pointed out Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia in the nearly 2-year-old war, hindered by low ammunition supplies and a shortage of personnel. Ukrainians have proven that we can force Russia to retreat," he said. We can get our land back, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin can lose, and this has already happened more than once on the battlefield." However, "our actions are limited only by ... our strength." Dear friends, unfortunately keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war," Zelenskyy said and added, The self-weakening of democracy over time undermines our joint results." But, is it a strategic advantage or just a symbolic win? Heavily fortified with a web of tunnels and concrete fortifications, Avdiivka lies in the northern suburbs of Donetsk, a city in a region of the same name that Russian forces partially occupy. With less than 1,000 residents remaining out of its prewar population of 31,000, the city stands as a symbol of the ongoing struggle. Capturing Avdiivka could provide Moscow with a strategic advantage, potentially serving as a launching point for further advances in the region. However, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said Thursday that taking Avdiivka would be more of a symbolic win for the Kremlin and would not bring significant changes to the 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line that has barely budged in recent months. The potential Russian capture of Avdiivka would not be operationally significant and would likely only offer the Kremlin immediate informational and political victories," the institute said in an assessment, as reported by AFP. Russian forces would be highly unlikely to make rapid operationally significant advances from Avdiivka if they captured the settlement, and the potential Russian capture of Avdiivka at most would set conditions for further limited tactical gains," it added. (With agency 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! It was inevitable that Indians would make an ingenious contribution to corruption. It now appears that we did in 2017. A set of amendments had brought into life the electoral bond, a financial instrument unique to India. Last week, the Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional, which is a polite word for illegal. The bond, which was sold in various denominations by the State Bank of India (SBI), could be bought by an Indian citizen, corporation or other type of organization, and deposited in the account of a legitimate political party that secured at least 1% of the votes polled in the last general or a state election. It enabled the donor to pay any amount to a political party and remain anonymous. Anonymous to us, that is, the citizens. The government defended the anonymity of the donor stating that we had no business knowing everything. It even defended the anonymity of the donor in court. Attorney General of India R. Ventakaramani said there can be no general right to know anything and everything without being subjected to reasonable restrictions." Yet there was no public rage over electoral bonds. People did not hit the streets screaming how can they be kept in the dark about those donating crores to political parties, apparently out of unconditional love. They did not ask who the donors were and why were they donating, or what were they getting in return. We can expect supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be quiet, but a majority of Indians are not BJP voters. Yet, there was no real public ire. It was not public sentiment that made the Supreme Court look into electoral bonds. The court was hearing a clutch of petitions filed by activists and the Congress, which received only a small fraction of what the BJP received from electoral bonds. As the BJP transmits an aura of permanence in Delhi and grows stronger in states, anonymous donations to the party would have grown many times, making it even more formidable at the polls. The Indian public did nothing to kill the bonds. If it were not for a few activists and a party fighting for its survival, all major parties would have continued to get crores from donors whose identity would never have been revealed. It is difficult to make a wide section of Indians angry about useful things. Practically, when it comes to issues that affect their quality of life, there is no public rage in India. In its defence of electoral bonds, the government officially claimed that the donors were anonymous even to their beneficiaries, the political parties. As though it is very hard for a person who is sending an enormous sum to a political party anonymously to intimate someone in the party that some money is coming its way. The idea of the electoral bond was introduced by the late Arun Jaitley, a BJP leader and lawyer. He said that this device would eliminate black money from political donations and guard the identity of virtuous donors. Anonymity, Jaitley had claimed, would protect the donor from political vendetta. So, in the national interest, the anonymity of donors had to be preserved. Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed this view. The Supreme Court has directed the State Bank of India to reveal the identities of donors and the details of bond encashment by political parties. If this actually happens, patterns of quid pro quo may emerge that would be fascinating. However, even if some startling patterns come to light, there will probably be no public outrage in the country. Just as there is no public rage against lethal bad air, traffic congestion, rampant petty corruption in government offices across the nation and the pathetic quality of life in all major Indian cities. There are, of course, signs of localized public anger about very specific issues. As I write this column, farmers from Punjab are agitating in and around Delhi, seeking better prices for their crops from the government. A few days ago, a few politicians from the South had made symbolic protests in Delhi against the Centre, accusing it of treating states that are not governed by the BJP poorly. But these do not constitute public rage by the standards of Indians who have in the past protested forcefully against caste-based reservations and on matters of religion. Somehow, issues like the probable misuse of electoral bonds and air quality have never stirred public emotion, at least not in a highly visible or audible way. Even what is called the anti-corruption movement of 2010 was never really against corruption. It began as an anti-politician sentiment in 2008, after ten terrorists attacked Mumbai. And it slowly revealed itself as an anti-Congress nationalistic movement that expressed a farcical collective shock at the level of corruption in India, as though it was something new. Public anger in India is fragmented, and when it does have national scale, it is usually over tired social issues. It is possible that mass disenchantment in India is never obvious until the results of a general election are announced. That is one way a modern democracy expresses its anger. By voting. But then, in the past ten years, especially during national elections to the Lok Sabha, it appears that most of India has reached some kind of an emotional Zen-like equilibrium, as though the country has solved all its major problems. It is part metaphor, part myth and part history. Thomas Hobbes thought life there was nasty, brutish and short. John Locke disagreed, proclaiming that it was where people first learnt how to own things. Jean-Jacques Rousseau described it as the place where people were born free, before they became ensnared in chains. Robert Nozick thought that people were so desperate to escape it, there was an inevitable result: the creation of a state. Ideas about the state of nature"how people lived before politics organised itself into governmentshave held the attention of philosophers for centuries. Discovering whether it played out as imagined was nigh-on impossible. And yet thinking about what people would do without a government helped answer profound questions. What are the limits of political power? Is the modern state something that citizens would freely choose? Now, after all this theorising, three economists think they have some empirical answers. According to Robert Allen of New York University, Abu Dhabi, Leander Heldring of Northwestern University and Mattia Bertazzini of the University of Nottingham, the key to understanding the emergence of modern politics is not a metaphor, but the constantly shifting courses of ancient rivers in Iraq. The first states, they argue in a paper published in the American Economic Review, were glued together not as shelters from violence, as Hobbes believed, but by economics. The banks of the Tigris and the Euphrates, Iraqs two longest rivers, are home to some of the worlds oldest settlements. Mesopotamia, which 5,000 years ago refined the first known system of writing, earned the area the reputation of the cradle of civilisation". The paths of these rivers shift, as floods and droughts cause their beds to flood. When a shift came, some ancient farmers were left without water for their crops. Mr Allen and his co-authors investigate whether the timing of changes to a rivers course had anything to do with when the number and size of settlements grew. They do so by looking at the effect of the first recorded shift in 2,850BC. This presented farmers with something close to the choice imagined by philosophers when theorising about the state of nature. Those left behind by the river could revert to nomadism. Or they could band together to build irrigation systems to ferry water from distant rivers. A philosophical question is therefore transformed into something akin to a laboratory experiment, only one set thousands of years ago and extending hundreds of miles across. Moreover, the results of the experiment are clear. A 5km-by-5km square in the basin left behind by a river was 14% more likely to have a settlement, marked by a public building such as a temple or marketplace, 150 years after the shift than in the 50 years before it. Each square was 12% more likely to have a built canal, a form of artificial irrigation that made farming far from rivers possible. Five new cities were created, and only three abandoned. Esnunna, one city along a new tributary of the river, became much bigger. This, Mr Allen and his co-authors say, is evidence that that the first states were formed by farmers co-operating for economic reasons. A canal network would have been too large a cost for any to bear alone. But by spreading the cost, the construction was worth it for each. Such decisions were momentous. They represent some of the earliest examples of governments providing infrastructure in return for taxes, and thus the genesis of the earliest states. The authors then divide centuries of thinking on the origins of states into two camps. The first, which they say ranges from Daron Acemoglu, an influential economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to Karl Marx, supposes that states ultimately emerge from a process of social bargaining. The rich and high-status seize power for personal gain, and periodically dole out services, such as a road, school or police force, in order to keep populations on board. But if this had been the case in Mesopotamia then it would have been in the areas that a river shifted towards that settlements would have formed. After all, they developed richer and more fertile farmland, yielding a bigger tax take. That Mesopotamian farmers seem to have chosen to band together as the river shifted away lends support to the second camp. Philosophers in this group, who include Locke and Rousseau, contend that governments emerged when people chose to co-ordinate themselves, swapping their freedom to do whatever they wanted for a state that mediates disputes and provides a degree of safety. Mr Allen and his co-authors analyse only Mesopotamian Iraq, but they argue that their results ought to apply more generally to other fledgling states. Governments, in other words, are chosen rather than foisted upon their citizens. Meandering path This is quite the landgrab by economists, seizing terrain that is more commonly occupied by political theorists. The study is not flawless. Perhaps an unknown conquest explains the spread of settlements in the period under consideration. Maybe the authors are wrong and the pattern does not hold elsewhere. There were already six cities and many more settlements in the Mesopotamian Valley before its rivers really began to move, and some had existed for a thousand years. The authors insist that they are only interested in how new governments form, but there is a chance they have in fact captured older ones spreading. The paper is nevertheless bold and valuable. Philosophers have sought for centuries to explain why states emerge. Too little time has been spent considering whether economic factors might have been at play. Although transforming the state of nature into a specific time and place means losing some of its complexity, doing so opens the door to the sort of experiment that could only have been imagined by earlier philosophers. If Hobbes or Locke could have studied something approximating the state of nature about which they were theorising, they surely would have tried. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath reportedly told Congress leaders on Sunday that speculations about him joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are just rumours" and that he will remain with the grand old party. While there hasn't been any clear statement from Kamal Nath himself on the buzz, here's what Madhya Pradesh Congress claimed on Sunday: Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari told ANI that he spoke with Kamal Nath. "He (Nath) told me that all these things are just rumours, and that he is a Congress person and will continue to be a Congress person... This is his own thoughts, he said this..." Follow Kamal Nath news LIVE Updates here Patwari also alleged a conspiracy against Kamal Nath. He said, The rumours about Kamal Nath going to the BJP is an example of how media can be misused. This was a conspiracy made against Kamal Nath." Congress general secretary Jitendra Singh also told NDTV that Kamal Nath told leaders that he is not joining the BJP. Besides, former Madhya Pradesh minister Sajjan Singh Verma also said he met Kamal Nath and had a discussion with him on Sunday. "He (Kamal Nath) said that he had no thoughts of leaving the party, nor has he discussed it with anyone," Verma told media on Sunday evening. "He (Kamal Nath) was sitting with chat, mulling how tickets will be distributed for Lok Sabha Elections and discussing caste equation on each seat (in Madhya Pradesh)," Verma said. ALSO READ | Kamal Nath switch: India has become BJP mukt Bharat, says former Congress leader Sanjay Jha However, Times Now shared a video of Nath's close aide Sajjan Verma where he could be heard saying, "He (Kamal Nath) is in Congress right now... I don't know if he will be in the Congress the day after tomorrow." Earlier in the day, Madhya Pradesh Congress leader PC Sharma said it is not possible that Kamal Nath would leave the Congress and join the BJP. "It's all media speculation and he has also said that there is nothing like that. As far as I know, Sonia Ji, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are continuously talking to him (Kamal Nath). I don't see any merit in these speculations," he added. Senior vongress leader Digvijaya Singh also informed he was constantly in touch with Kamal Nath. "the Congress leadership is having discussions with him. A person like him, who started with the Congress, whom we all considered to be theunha and has been a pillar of the Congress. He was the cabinet minister in the Centre, State Congress Committee President and Chief Minister. He got all the posts. I don't think he will leave the party...," he said. What Kamal Nath has said so far Kamal Nath had reached Delhi on Saturday amid speculations thar might meet BJP leadership and join the party. When asked about these rumours, Kamal Nath said it was not about denying. "I will inform you all if there is something like that...," he said. Hints of Kamal Nath being unhappy Several Congress leaders had earlier hinted Kamal Nath being "unhappy" with the Congress leadership. Deepak Saxena, a former Congress MLA, said Kamal Nath as blamed for the Congress' loss in the 2023 assembly polls. ALSO READ: Why Kamal Nath may be 'unhappy' with Congress? 5 possible reasons "The public wants Kamal Nath should go to the BJP so that development works will be done in the Chhindwara... The way he (Kamal Nath) has been removed from his post, there is a group of 11 senior Congress members, we all discussed and decided that if we are neglected like this then it would be better to go to BJP and get the work done. I will also go...," Saxena said on Sunday. 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! Mamata Banerjee said that rejecting secularism, democracy, or the Constitution is unacceptable, and if someone claims that Constitution needs to be changed, then it is to please some ideology or some vision. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo comments came while she was speaking at The Telegraph national debate "If somebody says that secularism is bad, equality is unthinkable, democracy is dangerous and federal structure is a disaster, we cannot accept it," she said. Banerjee asserts the spirit of the Constitution is its preamble. The Constitution commends meticulous drafting, prioritizing democracy, federalism, and secularism. Banerjee stressed the importance of preserving the fine balance between fundamental rights and the country's sovereignty. "If the Constitution will only be run by the agency, for the agency and of the agency, we cannot accept that," she said, adding, "Constitution is of the people, by the people and for the people". "I don't have any right to speak. If I say strongly, tomorrow the ED (Enforcement Directorate) will come to my house," she said. Banerjee pointed out Dr. B R Ambedkar's election to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal, and stresses his ideals in shaping a robust democracy. She credited the Constitution for fostering justice, equality, and freedom. She said that the Constitution has also been amended for the necessity of the country. "But nowadays, what is going on, I am afraid. It's a horrible thing which is going on. As a human being, a common person, I cannot accept it," she said. She questioned what was the need for democracy and Constitution if "anyone tells us what to eat, wear or which language to speak in". "We want to live in peace and everyone has a right to do that," she said. Without naming PM Narendra Modi, Banerjee said in a sarcastic note said, she has worked with several prime ministers from Rajiv Gandhi to Manmohan Singh, but has not seen such a good prime minister. However, she said that her party respects all political parties and leaders and maintains political courtesy with all of them. (With agency 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! A few Congress MLAs were reportedly upset over the induction of four party MLAs in the new cabinet led by Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren. Soren's JMM formed the government in Jharkhand last month with support of Congress and RJD MLAs. Here's all you need to know about the latest developments in Jharkhand. Why were Congress leaders 'unhappy' As many as 12 MLAs of the Congress reportedly threatened to boycott the upcoming state assembly session from February 23 and head to Jaipur if four ministers are not replaced with new faces. They were unhappy with the Congress' decision to give ministerial berths to Alamgir Alam, Rameshwar Oraon, Banna Gupta and Badal Patralekh again, PTI reported. The disgruntled section of Congress legislators went into a huddle Saturday at a Ranchi hotel. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) new minister Basant Soren, the youngest son of party supremo Shibu Soren, then reached there to persuade them to change their decision, the report said. ALSO READ: Congress says BJP tried to topple Jharkhand govt: INDIA bloc did not let them' Congress legislator Kumar Jaimangal, also known as Anup Singh, told PTI, "We have reached Delhi. Rest will be reaching tomorrow... We will hold discussions with the Congress leadership here... We want replacement of all the four... the 12 MLAs are together barring the four ministers and MLA Pradeep Yadav." Meanwhile, Rajesh Kachhap, Congress MLA from Khijri, said, "When JMM can give new faces, why not Congress? Nobody is a king in a democracy. Senior Congress leader and Mahagama MLA Dipika Pandey Singh also said, "We want the party to change the ministers and give opportunity to new faces. Instead of adding more women faces, they have retained one woman minister...How do you justify that." The JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand has 47 MLAs (JMM-29, Congress-17 and one RJD) in the 81-member assembly. Champai-Kharge 'courtesy call' CM Champai Soren met Congress Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Sunday. "After forming the government, I came to Delhi for the first time and it was a courtesy meeting," said CM Champai Soren. Meanwhile, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir also said the meeting between the two leaders was just a courtesy call. "There was a change in government (in Jharkhand). Everyone is aware why it had happened. Following the cabinet expansion, the CM wanted to meet the Congress president. It was a courtesy call," Mir said. ALSO READ: 'I am Hemant Soren part 2': New Jharkhand CM Champai Soren hails predecessor as JMM-led govt wins floor test Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Pranav Jha, among others, were present during Soren's meeting with Kharge. 'Alliance strong' Soren denied speculations on the conflict between the JMM and the Congress. According to PTI, Soren said the JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand is "strong" and there is no threat to the coalition government in the state. On a section of Congress MLAs being disgruntled over the recent cabinet formation, Soren said it was the internal matter of the Congress. "This is an internal matter of the Congress party, they will solve it on their own. I have nothing to say about that. There is no conflict between JMM and Congress, everything is absolutely fine," Soren was quoted by PTI as saying before meeting Kharge. In a post on X after his meeting with Soren, Kharge said, Today, along with Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren ji and leaders of Jharkhand Congress, we again resolved to fight the dictatorial government (Centre). We will continue our journey of progressive, public welfare and social justice in Jharkhand." Jharkhand CM gives go-ahead for caste-based survey Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren gave nod to a caste-based survey in the state on the lines of the recent exercise in neighbouring Bihar, a senior official was quoted by news agency PTI on Sunday. "The caste survey will be conducted on the pattern of the study in Bihar, where data collection began on January 7, 2023 and it was released on October 2 last year," Vinay Kumar Choubey, principal secretary to the chief minister, told PTI. According to the report, Soren directed the personnel department to prepare a draft and place it before the cabinet for approval. "If everything goes according to plan, the exercise will begin after the Lok Sabha elections," the official said. Meanwhile, the CM posted on X, indicating the survey: "Jiski Jitni Sankhya Bhari, Uski Utni Hissedari (bigger the population, bigger the share). Jharkhand is ready." Arvind Kejriwal speaks with Hemant Soren's wife Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that had his former Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren joined hands with the BJP, he would not have been in jail. Soren's wife Kalpana Murmu Soren said Kejriwal had a telephonic conversation with her earlier in the day. Taking to X, she said, Today I had a telephonic conversation with honourable Chief Minister of Delhi Shri @ArvindKejriwal ji. Thanks to Arvind ji that at such time he is with Jharkhandi warrior Hemant ji and the JMM family." Quoting her post, Kejriwal said he stands in solidarity with Soren. "Kalpana ji, we fully stand with former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren ji. The whole country praises his strength and courage. How he is facing the atrocities of BJP. If today he had gone with the BJP, he would not have been jailed. But he did not leave the path of truth. Salute to him!" he said in the post in Hindi. 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! Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BJP National Convention 2024 on Sunday, I am not asking for the third term to enjoy power. I am living for the future of poor children. The dreams of crores of women, poor and youth are Modi's resolve." He added, Now the country's dream and resolve will be bigger." With the Lok Sabha Elections around the corner, PM Modi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needs to reach every new voter. "In the next 100 days, we all have to reach out to every new voter, every beneficiary, every community. We have got to win everyone's trust and support...," he said. He said the youths who turn 18 and step into adulthood today will elect the 18th Lok Sabha in a few days from now. He said BJP workers stay with the people 24x7 all through the year, "doing something or the other to gain their trust and confidence." However, over the next 100 days, we have to work with renewed enthusiasm and vigour, he added. Attack on Opposition PM Modi took a dig at the Opposition and said, , "They are not even capable of mentioning what we (NDA) are promising Viksit Bharat (Developed India)". He said, The Opposition makes many false claims but wary of making one promise, which is to make India developed. Only the BJP can do it." He held the Congress responsible for causing harm to the national security and "breaking the morale of our security forces". He said the Congress left no stone unturned to hurt India's National security and strategic power. "Five years ago, they tried everything to prevent our Air Force from getting the Rafale jet...they raised questions about the surgical strike by our security forces. When the surgical strike happened, they asked for proof...Congress is very confused...one group in the Congress says to hate Modi and make personal allegations on him... Other group says stop hating Modi and the Congress will suffer more loss that way...," the Prime Minister said. The roadmap The Prime Minister also laid out the roadmap for the next five-six years. Addressing BJP workers at the national convention, he said, "India, filled with the energy of the youth, is setting big goals today." He added India is preparing for the Youth Olympics in 2029. He said, "We are working to host the Olympics in our country in 2036. By 2030, we aim to achieve net-zero target for railways and make it carbon free. Instead of 2030, we will be able to achieve the 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol five years ahead of our target. India is also making policies to achieve the net-zero by 2070." In coming years, India will be "uncountable green jobs", PM Modi said. "We are reducing India's dependence on foreign countries and hence we are setting big goals and working for it. In the future, we will see such an India in which there will be no need to import oil or fertilizers worth lakhs of crores of rupees from abroad. Our palm oil mission will empower our farmers so much that they will save the country's money...," he added. Confident of 400 par in Lok Sabha polls At the BJP National Convention 2024, PM Narendra Modi said that today, the opposition leaders are also raising slogans of 'NDA sarkar 400 paar'. "To take the NDA to 400, the BJP will have to cross the mark of 370 (seats)...," he said. He said the elections are yet to happen but he has already received invitations from foreign countries for July, August, and September. "What does this mean? It means that other countries are also confident of BJP government returning to power. They also know 'Aayega toh Modi hi'...," he said. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India's recent verdict on electoral bonds has cast a spotlight on the practice of loss-making companies making political contributions. The court deemed certain amendments to the Companies Act, 2013, and the Finance Act, which facilitated these contributions, as unconstitutional, and flagged concerns regarding the potential misuse of "shell companies" in making political contributions. The ruling also highlighted the impact of these amendments on the fairness of elections and how it infringed on the right to privacy of voters, while impeding the right of shareholders of a company to oversee its finances. Mint delves into the nuances of the Supreme Court's ruling, its impact on the political contributions of loss-making companies, and the broader ramifications on corporate-political party dynamics. What is a loss-making company? While there is no clear legal definition, the determination of a loss-making company can be inferred from Schedule III of the Companies Act, 2013. Typically, a company reporting a loss in its profit and loss statement for any reporting period falls under the category of a "loss-making company." This indicates that its operating expenses exceed its revenue. According to Srisatya Mohanty, principal associate at law firm Aquilaw, "An easier way to identify a loss-making company is to check if the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) is negative for the given financial year." SC order on loss-making companies Contrary to speculation, the Supreme Court has not outrightly banned political contributions by loss-making companies. Instead, it has deemed specific amendments to Section 182 of the Companies Act, 2013, which removed the distinction between a profit- and loss-making company, as unconstitutional. The ruling said about the distinction between between loss- and profit-making companies for the purpose of political contributions, "The underlying principle of this distinction is that it is more plausible that loss-making companies will contribute to political parties with a quid pro quo, and not for the purpose of income tax benefits." Earlier, companies could only donate a certain percentage of their profits to political parties before the amendments, but that was done away with by way of the amendments. Hence, the top court noted, "...the amendment to Section 182 is manifestly arbitrary for not making a distinction between profit-making and loss-making companies for the purposes of political contributions (sic)". Arjun Rajgopal, partner at Saraf & Partners, explained the implication: "The Supreme Court, through its ruling, has reversed the prior position that permitted all companies, irrespective of their profitability, to contribute to political parties via electoral bonds." Shareholders' rights While recognizing the petitioner's arguments concerning potential violation of a shareholder's rights due to non-disclosure of political contributions, the court refrained from explicitly ruling on shareholder rights. But it emphasized the importance of transparency in corporate donations to political parties. The ruling declared that shareholders have a right to oversee a company's finances, including political contributions as it ensures transparency and maintaines trust in corporate governance. Rajgopal underscores this: "The judgment makes it clear that a shareholders right to have oversight of a companys finances cannot be impeded." According to Ameet Datta, partner at law firm Saikrishna & Associates, the judgment highlights the necessity for transparency in corporate donations to political parties, ensuring that shareholders are informed of where and how corporate funds are being utilized. "This transparency is crucial for shareholder trust and corporate governance, reinforcing the principle that shareholders deserve a clear understanding of their company's political engagements," he said. The Alternative: Electoral trusts The Supreme Court also proposed electoral trusts as an alternative to electoral bonds. Introduced by the United Progressive Alliance II government in 2013, Electoral Trusts allow companies registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956, to establish trusts for political donations. Individuals and corporate entities can then donate to these trusts under Section 17CA of the Income-Tax Act, 1961. Prior to the introduction of electoral bonds, electoral trusts were the primary means of political funding. Both schemes aim to facilitate donations to political parties, with electoral bonds emphasizing donor anonymity, while electoral trusts offer greater transparency by mandating disclosure of funding details of political parties to the Election Commission of India. According to experts, these trusts, comparable to the U.S. political action committees (PACs), offer a structured and transparent mechanism for political funding. Companies can voluntarily contribute to these trusts, which then distribute the funds to political parties. The electoral trusts can receive donations from Indian citizens, companies, firms, Hindu Undivided Families (HUF), or associations of persons living in India. Crucially, electoral trusts are required to donate at least 95% of their received contributions within a financial year to the political parties registered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951," explained Nilesh Tribhuvann, managing partner at White & Brief - Advocates & Solicitor. He added, "The scheme mandates the disclosure of contributors' PAN numbers (for residents), or passport numbers (for NRIs) at the time of making contributions." According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report for fiscal year 2022-23, five Electoral Trusts disclosed receiving contributions totalling 366.5 crore from both corporations and individuals, with Prudent Electoral Trust emerging as the leading beneficiary that received 363 crore from the 30 corporates/businesses in FY 2022-23. Among political parties, the BJP received a total of 259.08 crore (70.69%) from electoral trusts, with the maximum amount coming from Prudent ( 256.25 crore), followed by Samaj Electoral Trust Association which donated 1.50 crore, and Paribartan Electoral Trust which donated 50 lakhs ruling party. Four parties (BRS, YSR-Congress, AAP and INC) collectively received a total of 107.40 crore, or 29.31%, of the total contributions received by parties from electoral trusts for FY 2022-23. The future of corporations and political parties Experts foresee a significant reshaping of the relationship between companies and political parties post the Supreme Court's ruling. The decision is likely to caution corporations on political funding, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Suhail Nathani, managing partner at Economic Laws Practice, reflects on the potential consequences: As a consequence of this judgment of Hon'ble SC, inferences will undoubtedly be drawn between contributions made by a company to the party in government & government policy. Whether true or not, such inferences can't be avoided." Rajgopal of Saraf & Partners, said that the judgment has moved the regime of corporate political contributions back to a process which is transparent and effectively capped. "It isnt presently clear that political contributions will move back to being made in cash," he adds, with a caveat. ALEXEI NAVALNY did not like tragedies. He preferred Hollywood films and fables in which heroes vanquish villains and good triumphs over evil. He had the looks and talent to be one of those heroes, but he was born in Russia and lived in dark times, spending his last days in a penal colony in the Arctic permafrost. A fan of Star Wars", he described his ordeal in lyrical terms. Prison [exists] in ones mind," he wrote from his cell in 2021. And if you think carefully, I am not in prison but on a space voyageto a wonderful new world." That voyage ended on February 16th. Mr Navalnys death was blamed by Russian prison authorities on a blood clotthough his doctor said he suffered from no condition which made that likely. Whatever ends up on his death certificate, he was killed by Vladimir Putin. Russias president locked him up; in his name Mr Navalny was subjected to a regime of forced labour and solitary confinement. Mr Navalny will be celebrated as a man of remarkable courage. His life will be remembered for what it says about Mr Putin, what it portends for Russia and what it demands of the world. A man of formidable intelligence, Mr Navalny identified the two foundations on which Mr Putin has built his power: fear and greed. In Mr Putins world everyone can be bribed or threatened. Not only did Mr Navalny understand those impulses, he struck at them in devastating ways. His insight was that corruption was not just a side hustle but the moral rot at the heart of Mr Putins state. His anti-corruption crusade formed a new genre of immaculately documented and thriller-like films that displayed the yachts, villas and planes of Russias rulers. These videos, posted on YouTube, culminated in an expose of Mr Putins billion-dollar palace on the Black Sea coast that has been watched 130m times. Despite the palaces iron gates, adorned with a two-headed imperial eagle, Mr Navalny portrayed its owner not as a tsar so much as a tasteless mafia boss. Mr Navalny also understood fear and how to defeat it. Mr Putins first attempt to kill him was in 2020, when he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok smeared inside his underwear. By sheer good luck Mr Navalny survived, regained his strength in Germany and less than a year later flew back to Moscow to defy Mr Putin in a blast of publicity. He returned in the full knowledge that he would probably be arrested. On the way back to confront the evil ruler who had tried to poison him he did not read Hamlet. He watched Rick and Morty, an American cartoon. By mocking Mr Putin, he diminished him. Ive mortally offended him by surviving," he said from the dock during his trial in 2021. He will enter history as a poisoner. We had Yaroslav the Wise and Alexander the Liberator. And now we will have Vladimir the Poisoner of Underpants." Mr Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in jail on extremism charges. He turned his sentence into an act of cheerful defiance. Every time he appeared in court hearings via video link from prison, his smile cut through the walls of his cell and beamed across Russias 11 time zones. On February 15th, on the eve of his death, he was in court again. Dressed in dark-grey prison uniform he laughed in the face of Mr Putins judges, suggesting they should put some money into his account as he was running short. In the end there was only one way Mr Putin could wipe the smile off his face. In his essay Live Not by Lies", in 1974, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a Nobel-prize-winning Soviet novelist, wrote that when violence intrudes into peaceful life, its face glows with self-confidence, as if it were carrying a banner and shouting: I am violence. Run away, make way for meI will crush you." Mr Navalny understood, but instead of running he held his ground. His great strength was to understand Mr Putins fear of other peoples courage. In one of his early communications from jail he wrote that: it is not honest people who frighten the authoritiesbut those who are not afraid, or, to be more precise: those who may be afraid, but overcome their fear." That is why his death portends a deepening of repression inside Russia. Mr Navalnys murder was not the first and it will not be the last. The next targets could be Ilya Yashin, a brave politician who followed Mr Navalny to prison, or Vladimir Kara-Murza, a historian, journalist and politician who has been sentenced to 25 years on treason charges for speaking against the war. The lawyers and activists who continue to defend these dissidents are also in danger. Since Mr Putins return to the presidency in 2012, the number of prisoners has increased 15 times. Even as the remnants of Stalins gulag fill with political prisoners, professional criminals are being recruited and released to fight in Ukraine. Mr Navalnys death also casts a shadow over ordinary Russians. In Moscow and across Russia, people flooded the streets at the news. Before the police started to arrest them, they covered memorials for previous victims of political repression in flowers. Yet that repression is intensifying. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, 1,305 men and women have been prosecuted for speaking out against it. A wave of repression is also swallowing up people who never before engaged in politics. The president will shoot into the crowds if he must. For the West, Mr Navalnys death contains a call to action. Mr Putin considers its leaders too weak and too decadent to resist him. And for many years Western politicians and businessmen did much to prove that fear and greed work in the West, too. When Mr Putin first bombed and shelled Chechnya in the early 2000s, Western politicians turned a blind eye and continued to do business with his cronies. When he murdered his opponents in Moscow and annexed Crimea in 2014, they slapped his wrist. Even after he had invaded Ukraine in 2022, they hesitated to provide enough weapons for Russia to be defeated. Every time the West stepped back, Mr Putin took a step forward. Every time Western politicians expressed their grave concern", he smirked. The West needs to find the strength and courage that Mr Navalny showed. It should understand that Mr Navalnys murder, the soaring number of political prisoners, the torture and beating of people across Russia, the assassination of Mr Putins opponents in Europe and the shelling of Ukrainian cities are all part of the same war. Without resolve, the Wests military and economic superiority will count for nothing. Western governments should start by treating people like Mr Kara-Murza as prisoners of Mr Putins war who need to be exchanged with Russian prisoners in the West or prisoners of war in Ukraine. They should not stigmatise ordinary Russians living under a paranoid dictator and his goons, or put the onus on ordinary people to overthrow the dictator who is repressing them. The best retort to Mr Putin is by arming Ukraine. Every time Americas Congress votes down aid, Russia takes comfort. The leaders assembled at the Munich Security Conference, who heard Mr Navalnys wife, Yulia, speak of justice for her husbands death, need to stiffen their resolve to see through the war. For their part Ukrainian politicians must see that standing up for Russian activists and prisoners is also a way of helping their own countryjust as Mr Navalny called for peace, for rebuilding Ukraine and the prosecution of Russian war crimes. Liberating Ukraine would be the best way to liberate Russia, too. The voyage ends After he had been poisoned, Mr Navalny returned home because he believed that history was on his side and that Russia was freeing itself from the deadly grip of its own imperial past. Putin is the last chord of the USSR," he told The Economist a few months before he took that last fateful journey. People in the Kremlin know there is a historic current that is moving against them." Mr Putin invaded Ukraine to reverse that current. Now he has killed Mr Navalny. Mr Navalny would not want Mr Putins message to prevail. [If I get killed] the obvious thing is: dont give up," he once told American film-makers. All it takes for evil to triumph is the inaction of good people. Theres no need for inaction." Mr Navalnys death has seemed imminent for months. And yet there is something crushing about it. He was not alone in believing that good triumphs over evil, and that heroes vanquish villains. His courage was an inspiration. To see that moral order so brutally overturned is a terrible affront. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Have you noticed lately that some of your Google searches have steered you wrong? Theres a reason for that. Spammers are using artificial-intelligence tools to create an ocean of content, and Googles algorithms are ranking some of those robot-generated pages ahead of the information you actually need. This adds a new layer onto tricks that spoil your searches, including misleading targeted ads and low-quality websites built to appear atop the results page. At best, this clickbait is annoying. At worst, it can lead you to scams intended to get your credit-card number and other personal information. Heres a quick example: When I wanted to switch the Google account I use for Gmail, I searched how to change default Google account." The top result, with large highlighted text, led to an article posted to LinkedIn. The author was Morgan Mitchell, content manager at Adobe. Mitchell has bylined 150 articles, all of them written in search-friendly Q&A format. Lots of those articles include customer-service phone numbers, the go-to solution for more complex problemsand for less tech-savvy users. Trouble is, Mitchell doesnt exist. And the phone number in the article didnt belong to Google or Adobe. Likely, Mitchell is just a figment of some AIs imagination, and the number is a way to con unsuspecting users. In independent analysis, Google results are of higher quality than those from competing search engines, a Google spokesman said. Our spam-fighting systems help keep search 99% spam free," he said, adding that the company reviews user feedback and updates the search tool thousands of times a year. I use Google every day and so do most of usit accounts for over 91% of searches globally. I find it more reliable than the alternatives. Still, theres a lot of muck out there. Generative AI only adds to the mess. Heres what to know about googling now, and how to search smarter. Flooding the zone To rank highly in search results, spammers are now publishing posts on established sites that Google tends to favor, such as LinkedIn, Reddit and Quora. Generative text chatbots make producing this parasite" content easier, said Mark Williams-Cook, a search-engine specialist and director at marketing agency Candour. Web spam is not new, but the tools are, and they have lowered the barrier for entry," he said. Google prohibits mass-produced content aimed at hijacking search results. Its on the lookout for spammers using software to generate keyword-filled gibberish or scrape text from other websites. Still, AI-generated content doesnt necessarily violate Googles spam rules. If an AIs content is good enough, it could surface in search. But what looks good enough to Googles search-ranking systems might not be helpful to you, said Williams-Cook. To both machines and users, the content reads well," he said, but can contain glaring mistakes that nonexperts might miss. Now back to Mitchell, supposed author of 150 LinkedIn posts: Adobe confirmed that no one by that name is affiliated with the company. Williams-Cook suspects the profile and its posts were created using AI. The Mitchell profile image might be AI-generated, too, based on my image searches. Weve long been clear that if content is produced solely for ranking purposesincluding AI-generated contentthat would violate our spam policies and wed address it," the Google spokesman said. (After I shared the profile with LinkedIn, the company removed it for violating the platforms fake-account and spam policies.) Heres an example of an AI-powered service that gets past Googles filters, but does add noise to the web. With the help of OpenAIs ChatGPT, Eightify generates text-based summaries and Q&As from YouTube videos. It went from no traffic to 1.2 million monthly Google referrals in the past six months, according to Williams-Cook. The site ranks highly on hundreds of searches such as Capital One credit increase hack" and safe places to sleep in your car." Eightifys founder, Alex Kataev, said the company doesnt fact-check every article, but it does check its most popular, as well as those flagged by users. Unfortunately, the spread of misinformation isnt due to the use of AI," said Kataev. We rely on YouTubes moderation, and it often falls short." A YouTube spokeswoman said the company does not allow misleading or deceptive content that poses a serious risk of egregious harm" and removes videos that violate this policy. Snippet sniping When you search, you often get a featured snippet"a highlighted excerpt at the top of the page from a source that Googles algorithm deems authoritative. No need to click any further. If you search flu symptoms," up pops information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, followed by a link to more information from the CDC. But the algorithm sometimes gives this spot to less desirable sources. In January, Luan Santos realized his wifes name was misspelled on an upcoming Delta Air Lines reservation. A quick Google search yielded a snippet containing a customer-service number, so he called it. The first red flag: An agent picked up immediately. He had expected a robotic greeting followed by a half-hour wait. He provided the booking confirmation number and was asked for his wifes last name. At that point, he noticed the URL in Googles snippet didnt point to Deltas website. Fearing a scam, he hung up. He said he now has less trust in Google. (For the record, here is Deltas official contact information.) I attempted my own desperate-traveler search: Southwest real person." This snippet also had a phone number that didnt belong to the airline. When I called it, an agent immediately answered. He said this was for a consolidated airlines help desk" and requested a credit-card number to make flight changes. A Southwest Airlines spokesman confirmed the airline isnt part of any consolidated help desk, and recommended reaching out via official channels. More-common search terms are likely to point to official information, while less common terms might pick up these lower-quality pages, the Google spokesman said. Sure enough, I found the correct hotline by typing in Southwest customer service." After I showed the malicious featured snippet to Google, it no longer appeared. Bad ads Google search results usually begin with a layer of ads, sometimes so many that you have to scroll to get to nonsponsored links. Paying for ad placement is another way bad actors can lure customers away from their intended link. Take the search ChatGPT Plus." Thats OpenAIs $20-a-month premium chatbot service. Its easy to sign up, especially if you already have the ChatGPT app on your phone. The first Google sponsored link reads ChatGPT 4.0 now available," and takes you to a website that isnt run by OpenAI. This service also charges a $20 monthly fee, but serves up older, freely available software. Users of the review site Trustpilot say they havent been able to obtain refunds from the site. I tried contacting the sites operators and didnt receive a response. The Google spokesman said the company prohibits ads that distribute malware or seek to scam users, and removes billions of ads each year that violate its terms. Whatever youre searching for, remain vigilant. Check whether the link is an authority on the subject. If youre looking for customer service or product information, start with the companys website. Youll likely get the best data straight from the source. Write to Nicole Nguyen at nicole.nguyen@wsj.com The reading The "short back and sides" haircut is ubiquitous among soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women in armies, navies and air forces worldwide. The Japanese Defence Ministry has just announced it will relax rules for new recruits to have this crewcut style. This is in a bid to attract more young people to its ranks. Many companies in Japan are experiencing staff shortages; and the military is no exception. From April this year, new enlistees to Japan's Self Defence Forces (SDF) will be allowed to have longer hair. Men will be able to sport longer hair on top, while female personnel can have long hair, provided it does not interfere with the wearing of a helmet or does not fall below the shoulders. According to the Kyodo news agency, recruitment experts met last month to discuss how troop numbers could be boosted. Japan's defence forces are up against an ever-dwindling number of young people to recruit from. In addition, they have to compete with businesses who are more aggressively trying to lure new employees. Japan's Defence Minister said: "As our nation faces a serious workforce shortage, we recognize competition with others, including the private sector, to secure talent has been intensifying." He added that the easing of haircut rules would "change or eliminate regulations that lack rationality". In a related move, the ministry is considering allowing people with tattoos to join the SDF. Sources: https://www. japantimes.co.jp /news/2024/02/17/japan/politics/sdf-recruits-hair-rules/ /news/2024/02/17/japan/politics/sdf-recruits-hair-rules/ https://www. bbc.com /news/world-asia-68327068 /news/world-asia-68327068 https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14944309 Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-) Knightsbridge Law Facilitates Foreign Companies Doing Business in Thailand Foreign companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in Thailand often encounter a myriad of legal complexities and regulatory hurdles. 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Thank you for your interest in Knightsbridge. Police were called to the shooting at 9:45 p.m. in the 100 block of Sprenger Avenue. The injured man, who was outside when he was shot, was taken to Erie County Medical Center and treated for "apparent non-life-threatening injuries," police said. Last week, Longford IFA held two significant events in the County with the Longford IFA AGM taking place in the Rugby Club on Tuesday and a farmers protest on Thursday (see pages 1 & 7), in the form of 50 tractors gathering on the Longford by-pass and driving through the town. The well attended Longford AGM was addressed by guest speaker, Damian McDonald, Director General of the Irish Farmers Association, who gave a detailed presentation to the Longford members. His account covered a wide variety of issues and challenges facing farmers such as changes in taxation, farm schemes issues, regulation and restriction on farming, commodity market Information, IFA membership benefits and the myriad of ways in which IFA represents farmers from Department appeals to Debt support services and general advice. IFA Life Honorary Membership was presented to Seamus Treacy, Ballinalee, in recognition of his many years of work, covering many Officer roles with Longford IFA. Gavin White, Abbeyshrule, was presented with the JJ Farrell Memorial Cup in recognition of his ongoing work and support to Longford farmers. John Sheridan, Longford County Chairperson, had also invited the award-winning student trio from Ballymahon Vocational School, who recently took the ABP Sustainable Farming award at the Young Scientist Competition, to address the AGM. The three students, Keira Hopkins, Grace Cassells and Lara Flood took the farmers through the main findings of their project Are Cow Collars worth the hype and thanked the many farmers who partook in their survey research, who provided vital information to form the basis of the project. John Sheridan thanked the officers for their ongoing work and support and is looking forward to the challenges for the year ahead as he continues in his role as Longford IFA Chairperson. It was a busy weekend for first time author Tiernan Dolan as he launched his book, Sips, the Magic Pony on Saturday. The book was launched by well known Longford author John Connell in the Longford Library. Tiernan was delighted with the turnout: Saturday's book launch of 'Sips the Magic Pony' in the Longford Library was an outstanding success. It was standing room only with a much larger crowd than anticipated in attendance. While the adults listened to Mr Connell heap praise on the book, the children were creating a montage based on 'Sips the Magic Pony'. The montage was presented to the first time author, much to his surprise and delight. The story behind this children's book is fascinating in its own right. Sips, is a Connemara pony gifted to Tiernan's niece by a very generous neighbour. A few years ago, his niece was a patient in Great Ormond Street hospital, London. So to cheer her up, Sips used to write regular letters to her recounting the magical world of animals and nature in the kingdom of Crieve. There was a multicultural element to the launch: There was a lovely Ukrainian link to the afternoon's event - children sang in their native language and there was a video link with the Odessa based young illustrator, Anastasia Soliar, Tiernan told the Leader. The author was pleased with the public response: The book almost sold out immediately which was a great endorsement and already there are plans for a follow up.Longford seems to be riding the crest of a creative wave currently with the amazing rise in published authors. Next up will be John Connell himself who is planning a launch of his latest work in April, he said.Tiernan concluded by thanking all who assisted with the launch: Full credit to the staff in the Longford Library Services for helping to spread more creative magic last Saturday. Several people in the capital gathered to show their support for the Russian opposition politician, who died on Friday The memorial was organised by an association known as RUHelp - Russians against war The memorial was organised by an association known as RUHelp - Russians against war Photo credit: Steve Remesch The memorial was organised by an association known as RUHelp - Russians against war Photo credit: Steve Remesch (GlS/str) - People gathered in Hamilius square in Luxembourg City over the weekend to commemorate Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who died on Friday under still unclear circumstances in a Siberian penal colony. Several dozen individuals congregated at the square on Saturday afternoon, to honour Navalny, placing candles, flowers, and signs on the ground, bearing messages such as Hero of our time and Russia will be free. The memorial was organised by an association known as RUHelp - Russians against war, which aims to unite Russian-speaking residents of Luxembourg in solidarity against the conflict in Ukraine and to extend support to those affected by the war. The call to action, disseminated via Instagram on Friday evening, urged individuals to stand with Navalnys family and denounce the regime responsible for his death, declaring that his cause cannot be silenced. The demonstration received prior clearance from both local law enforcement and municipal authorities. Navalnys passing has ignited widespread condemnation globally, with the opposition leader long viewed as a prominent adversary to the Kremlins dominance. Surviving a near-fatal poisoning incident in 2020, Navalny, 47, had been serving time in a remote Siberian prison camp before his death. Over 350 people have been arrested at rallies in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities on Friday and Saturday, according to the civil rights organisation OVD-Info. Efforts are now underway by Navalnys family and lawyer to retrieve his body for further examination, in order to clarify the cause of death. (With additional reporting by DPA) (This article was first published on the Luxemburger Wort. Translation by Haneyl Jacob) BELMONT After shooting both of his parents with a semi-automatic rifle in 2019, William J. Larson Jr. said he holed himself up in a bathroom, cried for at least two hours and tried to overdose on a mix of hydrocodone, Oxycontin and Xanax. Larson, who was 17 at the time, said he passed out and woke up the next day, then repeated the cycle over the next two weeks, before setting fire to the familys log house with the bodies of Lisa Larson, 50, and William Larson, 67, in the basement. I overdosed multiple times and slept for multiple days, Larson told Allegany County Court Judge Terrence M. Parker. It was the first time Larson, 21, testified in court about the shootings, which happened in the driveway of the Larson family home on Courtney Hollow Road in Clarksville. He took the stand for nearly three hours Friday in a bid to get Parker to reduce a sentence of 15 years to life under a state law that allows judges to consider whether abuse or domestic violence was a contributing factor in the crimes. Prosecutors argued against any sentence reduction and accused Larson of altering his version of events to fit into an abuse narrative. Man pleads guilty to 2019 slaying of parents; will claim they abused him, argue for shorter sentence William J. Larson Jr. pleaded guilty Monday in Allegany County Court to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree manslaughter in connection with the slaying of his parents in November 2019. How many times have you changed the story about what happened on the day in question? Joseph G. Pelych, assistant district attorney for Steuben County, asked Larson at one point during a cross examination. Pelych and Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker prosecuted the case in place of the Allegany County District Attorneys Office. Larson, in leg shackles and an orange jail sweatsuit, requested more water and sometimes moved from side to side in the swivel chair during the questioning by Pelych. A sheriffs deputy unlocked his handcuffs for the testimony. Larson pleaded guilty in 2022 to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree manslaughter, with a sentence capped at 15 years to life in prison. On Friday, after hearing two days of testimony, Parker paused the hearing until April 16. He did not issue a ruling on the sentence reduction request. The slayings happened Nov. 5, 2019. State Police discovered the bodies two weeks later when a report of a fire at the house was called in. In the time between the shootings and the discovery of the bodies, Larson responded to text messages to his mothers mobile phone in the manner that it was her responding, said Dr. Ana Natasha Cervantes, a forensic psychiatrist who interviewed Larson for more than four hours. Neighbor: Teen murder suspect spent weeks in house with parents' bodies I was basically taking care of him these past three weeks. I had no idea his parents were dead up there. It blows my mind, said neighbor Bruce Cervantes said Larson told her that in addition to taking a lot of drugs and sleeping after the shootings, he also felt compelled to do the chores around the house that he had regularly done, including chopping wood, cleaning and feeding the pigs and chickens. Cervantes also testified in support of Larsons claim that his parents had abused him mentally and physically for years. She said she diagnosed Larson with substance abuse disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The PTSD may have stemmed from a chronic stressor, such as his parents ongoing alcohol and substance abuse. Or it might have been brought on by a threshold event, such as Larson being shot in the foot at age 15 by his father or witnessing his parents harm his pet animals. Larson testified his father intentionally shot him in the foot in 2018 in a dispute over how much money he was owed for transporting pain pills as part of a drug dealing enterprise. He threatened to shoot me, but at that point I didnt take his threats seriously, Larson said. He said, OK, you dont think Ill shoot you, Ill shoot you. Teen charged with murder after 2 found in burned Allegany County home WGRZ is reporting that, according to court documents the station obtained, the victims were shot Nov. 5, 16 days before the bodies were found by authorities in the home the suspect shared with his Then, after he was shot in the foot, Larson said his father told him: You didnt think I would shoot you, huh? Ill blow your head off. Larson claimed that his father killed his German shepherd, Axle, by clubbing the dog on the head with a sledgehammer after it had bitten Larson on the hand. He testified that his father had ties to a notoriously violent biker gang and had bragged repeatedly of having killed people. Larson also claimed that his mother had burned him on his arms with cigarettes on multiple occasions when he was sleeping. But prosecutors depicted Larson as a chronic liar who provided little corroborating evidence of parental abuse and has changed his stories to get a reduced sentence. They pointed out that Larson initially told State Police he went outside the house to urinate and found his mother had been shot and killed by his father. And in 2018, after Larson had been shot in the foot, he told State Police that it was an accident. His fathers knee gave out while they were shooting at pop cans, causing him to lose his balance and shoot the birdshot at Larsons foot, according to an incident report. The prosecutions expert witness, Dr. Rory P. Houghtalen, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester who interviewed Larson and 16 other people who knew the Larson family, said he could not determine whether Larson had been subjected to domestic violence or abuse or had post-traumatic stress disorder. Houghtalen expressed concern that Larson might be exaggerating or faking PTSD because there were no reported symptoms of it prior to his arrest and prosecution. Larsons behaviors were more consistent with a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, according to Houghtalen. Larson said he used an SKS semi-automatic rifle to shoot twice at his father and three times at his mother following an altercation inside the house. He said his father ripped a bedroom door off the hinges and attacked him on the morning of Nov. 5, 2019, shaking him violently, hitting him in the ears and head and threatening to kill him. Larson said he defended himself with a knife that he had stashed between his bed and the wall, and the fight moved into the dining room, where his mother intervened by grabbing at his throat. He said he tried to push his mother away and slashed her in the shoulder with the knife. Larson said he shot his father as he was trying to get into his car, and then shot his mother, hitting her in the back of the leg. Prosecutors pressed Larson about a deep stab wound that, according to an autopsy, severed two major arteries in Lisa Larsons chest. But Larson maintained that he did not recall stabbing his mother there and had caused only the slashing wound to her shoulder. Pelych asked Larson why he didnt simply let his parents get away once he had the gun and they were retreating. Larson acknowledged that his father was not armed when he shot him. I was crying. I was in a bit of a rage. I had just been attacked. I wanted both of them to stop, said Larson, adding that he wanted to be able to sit down and talk with his parents. I felt like I had no control over myself. Pelych also questioned why Larson didnt call an ambulance for his mother. Larson responded that he was afraid. When defense attorney Dominic Saraceno asked how he felt about not aiding his dying mother, Larson responded: Im ashamed. Words cant express how bad I feel. Disgusted with myself. Larson said at some point during the two weeks he moved both bodies behind the vehicle and covered them with a tarp. He then moved them into the basement and set a fire in the house. I had the intention of covering up my actions, he said. I felt scared. I felt ashamed. I felt guilty. Boston police are asking the public to help them identify a suspect they believe was involved in a shooting in Roxbury late last month. The shooting took place a little after 7 a.m. on Jan. 25 at 236 Blue Hill Ave., Boston police said in a press release Friday. Officers responded to a gunfire alert at that time and spoke to witnesses at the scene. Read more: Fall River shooting investigated as homicide after victim dies in hospital Witnesses told officers that the suspect pictured above got out of the passenger seat of a vehicle and shot at the victim, but missed, police said. The suspect is described as Black man wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. Boston police believe the suspect pictured above was involved in a shooting in Roxbury on Jan. 25.Boston Police Department The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner, the department wrote in the release. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Boston police anonymously by calling 1-(800)-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). No further information about the shooting has been released. Massachusetts State Police have identified the pedestrian killed in a car crash on Route 146 north in Sutton Saturday evening as 34-year-old Thompson, Connecticut, resident Nicole Young. Troopers responded to the crash near exit 13 at 6:35 p.m. and soon located Young, state police said in a press release. First responders treated her for life-threatening injuries at the scene before rushing her to UMass Memorial Medical Center. Read more: Pedestrian killed in car crash on highway in Sutton Young was declared dead at the hospital, state police said. The driver and passengers in the vehicle that struck her were not injured in the crash. It is unclear if the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with police or if they will face charges. Authorities also have not provided an explanation for why Young was walking on the highway at the time of the crash. Read more: Oxford man charged with Rhode Island man in child sexual exploitation case Thompson is located in the northeastern-most corner of Connecticut on the Massachusetts and Rhode Island borders. The town is about 20 miles from Sutton, and I-395 connects it to Massachusetts. State police are still investigating the crash. No further information has been released. Authorities are investigating a Fall River shooting from earlier this month as a homicide now that the victim has died after nearly a week in the hospital, the Bristol County District Attorneys Office announced Friday. Fall River resident Joshua Medeiros, 34, was shot the evening of Feb. 9 near the intersection of Nashua and Blackstone Streets, the district attorneys office said in a press release. He died Thursday afternoon in Saint Lukes Hospital in New Bedford. Fall River police and the district attorneys office are investigating the shooting. No further information has been released. A woman who is under investigation over hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from a Catholic parish where she worked also is accused of stealing more than $500,000 from another Buffalo area employer. A local audiologist alleged on Friday that Lisa Noble who is accused of stealing $465,000 from St. Amelia Church as its business manager stole from his Audiology Service Associates business when she was his business manager. Dr. David T. Nelson said he recently shut down his 30-year-old company because of the theft. He has informed employees and patients that Audiology Service Associates is permanently closed. I hired Lisa. I trusted her. I considered her my best friend. She basically stole everything we had, Nelson told The Buffalo News. Because of that, we had to close both of our offices eight people lost their jobs. Noble, also known as Lisa Prynn, has been identified by church and law enforcement officials as the person suspected of stealing $465,000 from St. Amelia Church in the Town of Tonawanda. Noble, 43, is believed to have left Western New York to avoid prosecution for thefts from the church and Nelsons audiology business, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the case who requested anonymity. At one time, Noble was close to reaching agreement on a plea deal on both theft cases with the Erie County District Attorneys Office, said Michael T. Dwan, a defense attorney who represented her last year. We had two meetings scheduled last fall to finalize the plea agreement, and Lisa missed both of them, Dwan said. I have not heard from her since a day or two before Thanksgiving. I have no idea where she is now, and its my understanding that the DAs Office has no idea either. When asked if Noble appears to be on the run, Dwan said, Yes. Dwan added that the DAs Office sent him a letter about a month ago, informing him that Noble was about to be indicted in connection with embezzlements from St. Amelia Church and the audiology office where she worked. District Attorney John J. Flynn said he could not comment when asked if Noble is under indictment. Under state law, if she was under grand jury indictment, I would not be able to tell you until the information was unsealed, Flynn said. He did confirm that his office is investigating very substantial thefts from St. Amelia Church and Audiology Service Associates. Noble, who has lived in Lockport, Gasport and North Tonawanda, according to public records, could not be reached to comment. A reporter has tried reaching her on three phone numbers publicly listed for her. The numbers are no longer in service. A history of thefts In 2009, a Niagara County judge sentenced Noble then known as Lisa Prynn to 18 months to three years in state prison for felony grand larceny. She was accused of stealing $2,000 from Beacon Center, a Lockport drug treatment facility where she worked as a billing specialist. Prior to that, Prynn had stolen $12,000 from three companies where she had worked in three counties, according to a prosecutor in the Niagara County case. Nelson and St. Amelia officials told The News that they were unaware of Nobles previous criminal convictions when they hired her as a business manager. Nelson said Noble worked for him for nine years before he fired her in September 2022, after discovering she had stolen from his business. Noble was hired at St. Amelia one of the regions largest Catholic churches in March 2023. Church officials said they fired her six months later after learning she had stolen from them, too. In a court document, an attorney for Nelson accused Noble of fraud and concealment, saying she regularly and surreptitiously stole from Nelsons company after being hired to a position of trust. I did not run a background check on her when I hired her. She seemed so nice and trustworthy. I was going through a difficult divorce at the time, and she told me she was dealing with some domestic violence issues, Nelson said. We immediately became like soulmates. I fell for her. My business has fallen apart because of her dishonesty and my stupidity. Nelson said he liked Noble so much that he kept her on in his company, even after he caught her misusing a company credit card in 2015. One of Nelsons court filings was a letter that Nelson said was handwritten by Noble in 2015. In the letter, his employee acknowledged that she had been dishonest about her criminal past when Nelson hired her, and also acknowledged that he had caught her stealing. I told her if I caught her stealing again, I would prosecute, and I did, the audiologist said. Weeks after Nelson fired her in 2022, Noble filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of sexually abusing her. Nelson said those allegations are completely false. He filed counterclaims in court accusing Noble of embezzling from him. The lawsuit is still pending, but the New York City attorneys who filed Nobles lawsuit dropped her as a client and withdrew from the case last month. Nelson said he has been working for more than a year to provide information about the thefts from his business to the DAs Special Prosecutions Bureau. He said he believes Noble used several schemes to steal well above $500,000. The DAs staff has been helpful, but I wish they had arrested Lisa sooner, before St. Amelias Church hired her, Nelson said. Accused by church On Jan. 28, officials at St. Amelia took the unusual step of mentioning Noble by name in a church bulletin item titled St. Amelia Fraud Case Update. The item revealed that there was a grand jury hearing to help bring formal charges against Lisa Noble, adding that Noble broke protocol following her training which led to her being able to misuse funds at St. Amelias. St. Amelia officials said Buffalo Catholic Diocese personnel ran a background check on Noble before she was hired, but said the check turned up no illegal activities because Noble had been convicted and imprisoned under the name of Lisa Prynn. Weve heard that she is in another state, maybe even another country, said the Rev. Sebastian Pierro, former pastor at St. Amelia. My mistake Dwan said Noble seemed like a lovely person during the months he represented her. From my contact with her, she was a lovely person who was extremely concerned over her daughter and her boyfriend, Dwan said. I never heard her say a negative thing about any other person and never saw her try to shift responsibility to anyone else for her situation. He urged Noble to contact him. I hope shes OK, he said. Nelson recently put a message on his answering machine at Audiology Service Associates telling patients that the company is permanently closing its doors due to unprecedented circumstances, as well as staffing and financial losses. He was asked what advice he would give to any business owner or charitable organization that was looking to hire any employee that would be handling money. What I have learned is, even if you have a small business, even if you like the person or know the person, even if the person is a family member, conduct a full background check, Nelson said. That was my mistake. Bay Staters can expect a breezy Sunday ahead of a sunny Presidents Day and February vacation week, according to the National Weather Service. Southeastern Massachusetts is predicted to see significant winds, with the strongest expected on Nantucket. The weather service has issued a wind advisory for the island from 1 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, as 20 to 30 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph are predicted. Read more: Wind advisory for Nantucket County for Sunday On Nantucket, gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, and tree limbs could be blown down, resulting in a few power outages, according to the weather service. Residents are advised to secure outdoor objects and use caution when driving, especially if their vehicle is tall. Wind gusts up to 45 mph are expected on Marthas Vineyard and the Cape, and the South Shore and South Coast are expected to experience wind gusts up to 35 mph, according to the weather service. The rest of the state is predicted to see wind gusts of 15 to 30 mph. Winds gusts on Sunday will be strong in southeastern Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service The weather service has also issued a gale warning for waters around the Cape and Islands from 11 a.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday, as southwest winds of 20 to 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots and waves of 5 to 8 feet are expected. These conditions could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility, so the weather service recommends that boaters in this area stay in port. Highs across the state Sunday are expected to reach the mid to high 30s, except in Berkshire County, where temperatures will only reach the high 20s and low 30s, according to the weather service. Lows overnight Sunday are predicted to reach the mid 20s before reaching into the mid to high 30s again on Presidents Day. Most of Massachusetts will see highs in the mid 30s on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service Monday night is expected to be cooler, hitting lows in the mid to high teens, but the rest of the week should see lows in the mid to high 20s, according to the weather service. Highs during the day are predicted to stay in the mid to high 30s on Tuesday before reaching into the low 40s on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Bay Staters can expect to see mostly sunny skies this week, up until Friday when rain is likely, according to the weather service. Some parts of Massachusetts could see snow mixed with rain Friday night and on Saturday. A Central Massachusetts woman was killed in a snowmobile crash in New Hampshire over the weekend the latest in a slew of serious snowmobile crashes in that area of the state, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department announced Saturday. The Friday crash killed 39-year-old North Brookfield resident Shawnee Hollis, the department said in a press release. Inexperience with snowmobiles was a leading factor in the crash. At the time, Hollis and three friends were each riding their own snowmobile on a trail in Milan near the border of Berlin, the department said. Hollis failed to navigate a downhill left turn and hit a tree 13 feet off the right side of the trail. Authorities responded to the crash around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and a conservation officer and two Berlin officers had to hike from the end of Spruceville Road in Milan to reach the crash site, the department said. First responders tried to have Hollis flown to a hospital, but were unable to secure transport. They ended up taking Hollis back to the road in a UTV, after which she was brought by ambulance to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, the department said. She was eventually transferred to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon where she died at 1:45 a.m. on Saturday. In late January, 56-year-old Littleton resident Stacey McGarry died after crashing a rented snowmobile in Berlin. Inexperience was also a factor in this crash, which killed a soon-to-be bride. A little over a week ago, 41-year-old Methuen resident Eloara Machado was so severely injured in a snowmobile crash in Milan that she had to be airlifted to a hospital. This was her first time riding a snowmobile, officials said, and inexperience was the primary cause of the crash. Notably, McGarry and Machado both rented snowmobiles from Northeast Snowmobile and ATV Rentals in Gorham. It is unclear whether Hollis was riding a rented snowmobile. Other Massachusetts residents have been seriously injured in snowmobile crashes in other parts of New Hampshire in recent weeks. Additionally, earlier this month, a Pittsfield man was killed in a snowmobile crash in New York. A Massachusetts man and a Rhode Island man are facing charges stemming from allegations that they filmed themselves sexually exploiting a minor in 2022, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office announced Friday. Oxford resident Michael Lamountain, 41, and Woonsocket resident Jalen Latimer, 25, are both facing a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release. Prosecutors allege that on July 7, 2022, Latimer traveled to Oxford, where he and Lamountain sexually exploited a minor and filmed the assault. Lamountain was arrested in connection with the assault in August 2023 and was soon charged in Worcester Superior Court, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Those charges include rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child, depicting minors in sexual conduct, human trafficking of a minor, possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and intimidation of a witness. Latimer was arrested in connection with the assault in February 2024 and was also charged in Worcester Superior Court, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Those charges include rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and battery of a child, human trafficking of a minor and depicting a minor in sexual conduct. Read more: Boston police ask public to help identify Roxbury shooting suspect Both defendants have been in state custody since their arrests and were arraigned on the new charges in federal court in Worcester on Friday, the U.S. Attorneys office said. A charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for 15 to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. They had gathered in the desert, not far from the Gaza Strip, with thousands of other young people eager to party. But as the sun rose on Oct. 7, Daniel and Neria Sharabi found themselves under fire and thrust into battle. The Israeli brothers are survivors of an attack by Palestinian terrorists at a music festival, the deadliest site of the militants incursion into Israel on the morning of Oct. 7. For hours, they treated the wounded and fought off their attackers with weapons found in an Israeli tank, holding out until help arrived. A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car on a highway in Sutton Saturday evening, according to police. State police troopers responded to Route 146 north at exit 13 around 6:35 p.m. and found the pedestrian seriously injured, Sutton police confirmed. They were rushed to UMass Memorial Medical Center where they were declared dead. State and local police, as well as the Worcester County District Attorneys Office, are investigating the crash, Sutton police confirmed. It is unclear if the driver stayed at the scene or if charges will be filed. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation posted on social media that the highways two leftmost lanes were closed for two hours as a result of the crash. No further information, including the victims identity, has been released. AMHERST The customer might always be right, but an Isenberg School of Management researcher has found that hostile posturing is doing harm to employees. Research from University of Massachusetts Amherst Associated Professor Melissa Baker, chair of Isenbergs Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, determined that incivility from ill-behaved customers, and company policies that support them, is doing damage not only to the mental health of employees but also their ability to serve other customers. REACTION CONNACHT COLLEGES SENIOR C FINAL The beaming smile across his face said it all - the sparkle in his eyes betrayed the emotions bursting towards the surface and the celebrations all around him signified how special his side's victory had been. Ballyhaunis Community School's senior manager David Mitchel was immersed in utter joy when he spoke to The Mayo News following his side's victory in Saturday's Connacht Senior C final in Bekan. His team had been five points adrift with time ticking away but three goals going down the straight unleashed scenes of wild delight when the final whistle sounded and Gortnor Abbey were defeated. It feels surreal. I cant really put words to it at the minute. Its been a long road. Its been three long years building this team. We were re-building after Covid, and the lads were just incredibly good. Im so proud of each and every one of them. They were under the cosh, five points down in the second half. I have to say, we were under the cosh a few times before, and it stood to us up in the final I think. I just couldnt be prouder of them; they're just a great great bunch of lads. Mitchell and his mighty young men will now advance to take on the Ulster champions in the All Ireland semi-final. The boys in red and black can hardly wait. A full match report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News The new President of the IFA has given a commitment to hill farmers in Achill that he will raise the issue of farmers being penalised as a result of commonage fires directly with the Minister for Agriculture. A number of hill farmers in the Valley on Achill Island have lost an average of 1,000 each in payments as a result of gorse fires on commonage last spring even though gardai confirmed that the fire is not being investigated as a criminal act. The issue was raised with Francie Gorman, the new President of the IFA at a meeting with farmers in Achill on Thursday afternoon. He was informed that farmers were being automatically penalised for fires without proof they had anything to do with it. Addressing the farmers, Mr Gorman said that gorse fires are a major issue in his own county of Laois and it is not right that farmers are being penalised. Burning is an issue I will have to raise with the Minister and the Department of Agriculture because it is not good enough. It is not just an issue here it is an issue in Co Laois and in Co Kerry and anywhere you have commonage. For me it is just not good enough that farmers are being found guilty straight off and their payments held up. It is a huge issue and is something we will have to try and address, he said. A delegation of Achill farmers who were penalised as a result of gorse fires met with the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue in November but they felt nothing of value came from it. No farmer is out to burn commonage, said Newport-based IFA Hill Chairman Pat Chambers who led the delegation. The department should say they are not going to penalise any farmer who is not responsible for the fires. They [farmers] are the ones putting them out, he told the meeting. Roy O'Brien, the regional development officer with the IFA said at the moment the only way affected farmers are to receive their payments is to lodge an appeal with the department. I know you are not starting the fires...[but] to get that through to a department individual is like knocking dead against that door but that is what you have to do, he said. Brendan Golden, IFA Connacht Chairperson also agreed with a suggestion that the local IFA should log gorse fires when they happen to show farmers were not responsible. The meeting in Ted's Bar in Cashel covered a wide range of topics which are affecting farmers in Achill with some concerned that production agriculture will be compromised in favour of environmental farming. IFA President Francie Gorman presents Achill farmer Tom Fadian with honourary life membership of the IFA Another issue raised was the future extension of the Greenway through Achill towards Keel which is expected to go through a large sway of commonage on the Mission estate which has over 500 landowners. Questions were asked of who would be entitled to a 'goodwill payment' agreed to farmers affected by greenways. Roy O'Brien said that landowners will have to show proof of title to avail of any payments and without it they will not receive any. You have to come in with your folio to show you have a share of it [commonage] and unless you produce that there will be no money issued. It is about proof of ownership and that includes shares of the commonage and rented shares are no good, he said. Susan Csizmar was worried about driving 10 miles in blustery, snowy conditions Sunday morning from Wheatfield to St. Andrew Church in the Town of Tonawanda. But the church at the corner of Sheridan Drive and Elmwood Avenue has been her spiritual home since the early 1970s, and when it was announced Friday that it would be closing at the end of June, Csizmar just knew she had to join her longtime parish family for worship. St. Andrew's church, school in Tonawanda to close The diocese said it made the decision with parish leadership to close the church and St. Andrew's Country Day School, at Sheridan Drive and Elmwood Avenue, because they "have been plagued by financial challenges over the last few years." When I looked at the snow, I said, Somehow, Im going to get there, she said. Csizmar was among 200 parishioners in the pews for 9 a.m. Mass. Afterward, she gathered with a few friends to grieve the pending loss of a Catholic church and its grammar school, both of which have been mainstays in the Town of Tonawanda for many decades. Were all heartbroken and shell-shocked, said Csizmar, who joined the church with her husband shortly after they were married. She also taught at St. Andrew Country Day School for 27 years until her retirement in 2012. The Diocese of Buffalo in a news release on Friday said financial challenges for the parish and school over the past few years had reached an untenable stage in recent months. A diocese official said at a meeting with parishioners a few weeks ago that the parish had about $100,000 in liquid assets and $450,000 in short-term liabilities and did not have much time to rectify the imbalance, according to a parishioner who attended the meeting. Some parish members said they were aware financial struggles at the school could force its closure, but they didnt anticipate the parish closing, as well. Csizmar said parishioners were told we were going to get a chance to right the ship. A sign outside the school building still reads: Find Your Place at St. Andrews. Immediate Openings. And the church bulletin on Sunday included ads for an open house at the school later this month and for a meat raffle fundraiser in May. Now parishioners will be forced to find a new house of worship and 83 students enrolled at the school will be searching for a new school. Some families already have sought to transfer their kids to other nearby Catholic schools. We all have to make a choice of where to go, said Linda Pluff, a longtime Eucharistic minister and former member of the St. Andrew Parish Council. Where we worship is a personal choice, but who we worship is the same. Gerry Pastor and her husband, Chuck, have been part of the parish for more than 70 years. They attend Mass weekly and raised two kids who were baptized in the church and celebrated first communions and other spiritual milestones there. Our life has been here the whole time, she said. Chuck Pastor said he understood that the decision was probably difficult for Bishop Michael W. Fisher and was made for financial reasons. But, he added, Its hard not to take it personally. The Buffalo Diocese is in no position to assist struggling parishes as it approaches four years since filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid hundreds of lawsuits accusing priests and other diocese employees of sexually abusing minors many years ago. Sex abuse lawsuits against Buffalo Catholic parishes remain on hold Chief Judge Carl L. Bucki of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of New York said the pause in litigation was necessary to consider more fully whether a diocese reorganization plan can protect parishes, schools and other affiliated Catholic entities from sex abuse lawsuits. Fisher said in a statement to parishioners last fall that the diocese was committed to a collective contribution of at least $100 million toward a settlement with abuse victims. As much as half of that would come from parishes, schools and other Catholic entities, according to court papers. The bankruptcy process so far has cost the diocese more than $13.8 million in legal and professional fees and prompted some disgruntled Catholics to stop giving or to change the way they contribute. The diocese reported net assets of $42.9 million in its most recent monthly operating statements for the month ending Nov. 30, 2023. That was down $4 million from Nov. 30, 2020. Citing growing financial constraints and a diminishing number of priests, diocese officials in 2021 began implementing a plan called Road to Renewal that groups multiple parishes into families. Those families of parishes share a single pastor and are expected to work together on planning and developing spiritual outreach, Mass schedules, other sacramental ministries and administrative affairs. St. Andrew Church is part of family No. 17, which also includes St. Paul in Kenmore, Blessed Sacrament, St. John the Baptist and St. Timothy in the Town of Tonawanda, and St. Stephen in Grand Island. Csizmar said she will continue attending Masses at St. Andrew until it closes, and then will probably find a parish nearer to her home. Still, it wont be the same, she added. What am I going to do? I walk in and wave at everybody, she said. by Tanya Gazdik , February 15, 2024 Besides being Valentines Day, Feb. 14 was also Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. Between Ash Wednesday and Easter, Christians are encouraged to give up indulgences. The 40-day religious period is an observance of the time Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert. Catholics in particular generally abstain from eating meat on Lenten Fridays. Popeyes and Wendys hope to attract some of those customers by bringing back its fish sandwich offerings, and Popeyes is also offering a shrimp box. First introduced back in 2021, Wendys crispy panko fish sandwich rejoined the menu on Monday, according toPeople. Meanwhile, Popeyes brought back two limited-time fish dishes: the flounder fish sandwich and the shrimp tackle box. advertisement advertisement While you may expect Chick-fil-A, the most outwardly religious of all the major fast-food chains, would offer its customers a fish sandwich during this time, it states in its FAQ that it isnt offering a seasonal fish entree this year but has vegetarian-friendly meal options including biscuits, salad and desserts, according to Today. Burger King, White Castle, Bojangles and Arbys also have fish options. And Taco Bell and the other Mexican fast food restaurants have many vegetarian entrees. Practically all of Long John Silvers menu is fish, and the restaurant is offering deals, according toUSA Today. Subway is also offering deals on its veggie and tuna options. Church's Texas Chicken told USA Today it is adding multiple fish and shrimp choices starting this month for a limited time. And Red Lobster is bringing back Lobsterfest just in time for Lent, according toMarketing Daily. McDonalds, which keeps its Filet-O-Fish on the menu year-round, is offering a deal during the Lent season. Customers will be able to get a second fish sandwich for $1, with purchase of a Filet-O-Fish, according to cleveland.com. According to another USA Today story, McDonalds sold about 300 million Filet-o-Fish annually, as of 2023. Of those 300 million, about 25%, or around 75 million sandwiches, are sold during the 40-day period of Lent. That's over 1.8 million sandwiches per day. It was actually an older tradition practiced by Catholics and other Christians not to eat meat on Friday year-round that inspired the invention of the sandwich. McDonald's only sold burgers and fries at that time, so business was suffering once a week, especially in areas with a high Catholic population, according to Chowhoud. "Thats what inspired one McDonald's franchise owner to create a sandwich that could draw in religious customers. Highlights: Long COVID-19 affects a significant percentage of individuals, even those with mild initial infections, with symptoms lasting beyond three months Ongoing research aims to uncover the underlying causes of long COVID-19 and develop effective treatment options Managing symptoms such as extreme fatigue and cognitive difficulties remains a key focus for medical professionals assisting long COVID-19 patients Long COVID-19 persists beyond three months, impacting even those with mild initial infections, urging ongoing research for effective treatments. #longcovid #pandemicresearch #medindia Advertisement Symptoms of Long COVID-19 Advertisement Global Impact of Long COVID-19 Trusted Source Post COVID-19 condition (Long COVID) Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Long COVID-19 affects not only those who had severe infections but also individuals who experienced mild or moderate symptoms, highlighting the complexity of the condition. Advertisement Comprehensive Approach to Treat Long COVID-19 What Causes Long COVID-19? Trusted Source Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations Go to source Trusted Source Need to Address Physical, Psychological and Emotional Symptoms of Long COVID-19 Trusted Source Multidisciplinary Center Care for Long COVID Syndrome-A Retrospective Cohort Study Go to source Trusted Source Post COVID-19 condition (Long COVID) - (https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition) Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36639608/) Multidisciplinary Center Care for Long COVID Syndrome-A Retrospective Cohort Study - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37220832/) In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic , a puzzling phenomenon has emerged, leaving many individuals grappling with a prolonged and debilitating array of symptoms long after their initial infection. Among them is Heather Marti, a university program administrator from West Virginia, whose life took a harrowing turn following her contraction of COVID-19 in August 2021.Marti's experience epitomizes the bewildering complexities of long COVID-19, marked by agonizing muscle pain, gastrointestinal distress, migraine-like headaches , brain fog, and profound mental fatigue reminiscent of a traumatic brain injury . Describing her ordeal, Marti paints a vivid picture, "All of the wires in my body are crossed if you turn the water faucet on, the door would open. There isn't a system in my body that has not been impacted." Heather Marti's plight is not an isolated one. As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fourth year, a growing cohort of individuals, commonly referred to as "long-haulers," continue to grapple with the lingering effects of the virus.According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10-20% of COVID-19 patients experience long COVID-19, characterized by the persistence or emergence of symptoms three months after initial infection, lasting for at least two months (). This staggering statistic underscores the magnitude of a global health crisis that extends far beyond the acute phase of the disease.In Europe alone, WHO estimates suggest that at least 17 million individuals have joined the ranks of long-haulers in the pandemic's first two years, highlighting the urgent need for a deeper understanding of this enigmatic condition.Melissa Heightman, a pioneer in the field of long COVID-19 research, spearheaded one of the first specialist clinics at University College London Hospitals in the UK. Heightman underscores the multifaceted nature of long COVID-19, cautioning against the expectation of a simple cure or silver bullet. Instead, she emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses the myriad factors contributing to the condition. Heightman's sentiments echo the sentiments of experts worldwide, who are grappling with the elusive nature of long COVID-19 and the diverse array of symptoms it presents.For researchers like Walter Koroshetz, co-chair of a nationwide research program at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), uncovering the biological mechanisms behind long COVID-19 represents a formidable challenge. The NIH's Recover Initiative, a landmark study involving nearly 30,000 participants, aims to shed light on the underlying causes of long COVID-19 and explore potential treatment modalities. Koroshetz highlights a critical revelation gleaned from the research: the realization that many long COVID-19 sufferers, including those with mild or moderate infections, were never hospitalized or admitted to intensive care units. This unexpected finding underscores the indiscriminate nature of long COVID-19, transcending the boundaries of disease severity and affecting individuals across the spectrum of COVID-19 illness.Emerging hypotheses suggest that long COVID-19 may stem from a persistent immune response triggered by remnants of the virus lingering in the body (). Studies indicate that fragments of the virus may evade eradication, leading to a chronic activation of the immune system and the perpetuation of symptoms. In response to this paradigm, researchers are exploring novel treatment approaches, ranging from extended antiviral drug regimens to immune-modulating therapies such as intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) and metabolic drugs like Metformin . These interventions aim to target the underlying mechanisms driving long COVID-19, offering hope to those grappling with its relentless grip. Yet, the journey to unravel the mysteries of long COVID-19 extends beyond the realm of virology and immunology.Heightman and her colleagues at UCLH are focused on providing comprehensive support to patients, addressing not only the physical symptoms but also the psychological and emotional toll of the condition (). Techniques to manage fatigue , disordered breathing, and the psychological impact of long COVID-19 are integral components of their holistic approach to care.As researchers continue to unravel the intricate web of long COVID-19, questions linger about its broader implications for public health and healthcare systems worldwide. Ziyad Al-Aly, R&D chief at Veterans Affairs St Louis Health Care System, warns of the enduring impact of COVID-19 on chronic disease risk, citing evidence linking COVID-19 infection to an increased incidence of heart disease, stroke , and diabetes. Al-Aly's research underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the long-term health consequences of the pandemic, urging policymakers to prioritize investments in healthcare infrastructure and research.In the quest for answers, hope springs from the promise of scientific inquiry and the resilience of the human spirit. While the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, the collective efforts of researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients alike offer a beacon of hope in the fight against long COVID-19. As we navigate the complexities of this unprecedented health crisis, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to understanding, compassion, and solidarity. Together, we can overcome the challenges posed by long COVID-19 and pave the way for a brighter, healthier future for all.Source-Medindia Trusted Source The social anatomy of climate change denial in the United States Go to source Trusted Source 14.8% of Americans persist in denying the reality of climate change, aligning with earlier national studies. #climatechange #globalwarming Advertisement Advertisement Climate Change Denial: A Warning Signal for Dismissing Science-Based Health The social anatomy of climate change denial in the United States - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-50591-6) Leveraging social media data and AI for a nationwide evaluation, a recent study discloses that approximately 15% of Americans reject the reality of climate change. (Scientists have long warned that a warming climate will cause communities around the globe to face increasing risks due to unprecedented levels of flooding, wildfires, heat stress , sea-level rise and more. Though the science is soundeven showing that human-induced, climate-related natural disasters are growing in frequency and intensity sooner than originally anticipatedclimate change is still not wholly accepted as true in the United States.The researchers used Twitter (now X) data from 2017 to 2019 and AI techniques to understand how social media has spread climate change denialism, analyzing the data to estimate climate change belief and denial rates.The study, scheduled for online publication in the journalalso identified key influencers, such as former President Donald Trump, and how they spread and cement misinformation about climate change by leveraging world and weather events."Prior to the advancement of AI and social media data, this work relied on expensive and time-consuming surveys," said study senior author Joshua Newell, professor and co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at U-M's School for Environment and Sustainability.Using ChatGPT's Large Language Model, the researchers classified more than 7.4 million geocoded tweets as 'for' or 'against' climate change and mapped the results at state and county levels. They then used statistical models to determine the typical profile of someone who does not believe in climate change and performed network analysis to identify the structure of the social media network for both climate change belief and denial.Analysis of the geocoded tweets revealed that belief in climate change is highest along the West Coast and East Coast, and that denialism is highest in the central and southern parts of the country, with more than 20% of the populations of Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama and North Dakota consisting of people who do not believe in climate change.The researchers also revealed that belief in climate change can vary substantially within states. For example, in California, where less than 12% of the population does not believe in climate change, northern California's Shasta County had climate change denial rates as high as 52%.Similarly, the average percentage of deniers in Texas is 21%, but at the county level, this ranges from 13% in Travis County to 67% in Hockley County.The findings show that political affiliation plays the most influential role in determining whether a person believes in climate change or not, with a high percentage of Republican voters having the strongest correlation with climate change deniers.In addition, thesuggesting a broad skepticism of science. Other variables that they found to influence climate change opinion include level of education, income and the degree to which the regional economy is reliant on fossil fuels to produce energy."What this indicates is that communities with a high prevalence of climate change deniers are at risk of discounting other science-based health or safety recommendations," said study lead author Dimitrios Gounaridis, a research fellow at U-M's Center for Sustainable Systems.In addition, it maps out how denialists and climate change believers have formed mostly separate X communities, creating echo chambers that do not interact with each other.The findings show Trump as having the biggest influence, as well as three influential groups that heavily retweeted himThe Daily Wire, Breitbart and Climate Depotin addition to conservative political commentators such as Ben Shapiro."During the 2017-2019 study period, the most heavily retweeted post includes one by Trump that questions climate change due to unusually cold weather in the U.S., and another where he casts doubt on a U.N. climate report," Newell said. "In almost half of the tweets analyzed, the most common refrain was that 'climate change was not real.'"Other frequent explanations were that humans are not the primary cause and that climate change experts are unreliable.Newell said that, although there's a broad awareness of the fact that social media users like Trump can be influential, it was striking just how influential a role some individuals play in shaping and cementing public opinion on crucial issues such as climate change."What is scary, and somewhat disheartening, is how divided the worlds are between climate change belief and denial," he said. "The respective X echo chambers have little communication and interaction between them."Newell notes that the study did not analyze newer social media outlets, such as Truth Social, a primary channel for Trump's recent social media posts."Influencers like Trump are creating their own echo chambers outside of X, which in many ways is even more concerning," he said. "People tend to selectively credit or discredit evidence based on their beliefs, which is how fake experts come to serve as credible messengers.""This is the basis of the theory of identity-protective cognition, which helps explain, for example, why Republican voters are more likely to believe tweets from Trump on climate change rather than other, more reliable sourcesit is identity-affirming."With election season in full swing, the study's authors suggest that social media companies should flag misinformation when it appears on their platforms and consider banning users who persistently spread falsehoods."The information revealed in this study provides a basis for developing strategies to counter this knowledge vulnerability and reduce the spread of mis- or disinformation by identifying the communities most at risk of not adopting measures to increase resilience to the effects of climate change," Newell said. "We learned that a relatively small number of individuals are highly influential in spreading misinformation about climate change.""Social media companies have banned users for this type of behavior in the past, and for other topics, such as when then-Twitter banned Trump because of tweets maintaining election fraud and supporting the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6 (his account has since been restored). For the safety of others, these companies should consider developing similar policies to limit the spread of climate change misinformation."Source-Eurekalert One Buffalo home is asking nearly $6,000 for two nights at its Airbnb rental in April, which it bills as a Solar Eclipse Destination Experience. The Westin Buffalo hotel on Delaware Avenue is charging $715 for a room on the day of the total solar eclipse roughly 2 times what it normally charges on a Monday. And the Motel 6 on Maple Road in Amherst is charging $405 for a room on the day before the eclipse and $210 the day of the eclipse. The same room goes for just $60 later in the month. Western New York will be in prime viewing territory for the total solar eclipse taking place April 8, and visitors are paying high yes, even astronomical prices for lodging in the region. The total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and so is the demand hotels are seeing because of it. Weve never seen anything like it, said Sara Harvey, a spokesperson for tourism bureau Destination Niagara USA. People have been planning for years. Hotels opened their April reservation books early to accommodate eclipse seekers, and some have had rooms booked a year in advance. Many hotels are booked solid while others have just a few rooms remaining. Its a welcome chunk of business during tourisms slow season. Anything that brings people to the area, especially at a time when its normally a little slower, its something to celebrate, Harvey said. In some cases, demand has hotels, motels and Airbnbs charging more than five times their usual rates for the event. Its a huge boon for the economy locally with people spending nights at hotels, especially at these high rates, she said. The eclipse is set to reach totality after 3 p.m. April 8, which is a Monday. Many travelers are checking in the day or weekend before the eclipse, and some hotels have required a multiple-night stay in order to book during the eclipse. The Sheraton on Third Street in Niagara Falls, which typically charges about $80 to $100 for a similar night, is charging $1,800 each night on eclipse Sunday and Monday, according to its official website. It has already sold out of special two-night hotel packages, which include breakfast, a bottle of wine and eclipse viewing glasses, with prices beginning at $899 per night. The Buffalo Airport Hotel on Genesee Street in Cheektowaga has a special hotel package for April 8, with an eclipse viewing party, live music and early check-in for $428, plus $34 for each additional party guest. Airbnbs in the region are going for thousands of dollars per night. One four-bedroom home in Buffalo, billed a Solar Eclipse Destination Experience, is asking nearly $6,000. A camper near Highmark Stadium is renting for $350 on Sunday. Most Airbnbs have sold out as well, except for single rooms available in peoples homes, tourism professionals said. This kind of event brings people from all over the world, said Matt Chiazza, general manager of the Reikart House hotel in Amherst. The eclipse will be an all-hands-on-deck occasion at area hotels, he said. I have no doubt that the entire citys going to be sold out for that event, he said. Its an especially welcome chunk of business during tourisms slow season, and falls at the perfect time after the slow Easter week, he said. Its almost like Mother Nature coordinated with Buffalo on this whole thing, Chiazza said. Aprils always funny because you never know when that last snowstorm happens right before the weather breaks. So its definitely nice to have it happen during a month where its a little tumultuous as far as occupancies are concerned. The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to Western New York, including droves of science and nature enthusiasts. I think its going to be a different type of clientele than we probably would get, Chiazza said. So its an opportunity to welcome a whole new crowd of people to Buffalo that may not have been here to experience our food and architecture and what we have to offer. The premium hotel rates can be a steep price to pay for a roughly three-minute celestial spectacle, but the regions tourism and hospitality people are working hard to push visitors to other local attractions while theyre here. Whats really great about this is that people are going to be doing lots of things while theyre here, so eating in restaurants, going to breweries, going to different attractions, said Patrick Kaler, president and CEO at tourism bureau Visit Buffalo Niagara. And whats great about all of that, too, is that so many of our attractions have really thought about their programming for the days leading up to it and the days after. Niagara Falls State Park, which is hosting NASA for the event, may be the most popular destination on the globe the day of the eclipse. Watching the solar eclipse there was ranked in the top 20 travel experiences in the world for 2024 by National Geographic. Prices are reflecting that. These will probably be the highest-rated rooms across the entire country and across the region for this event, Kaler said. Its a phenomenon because people travel for this. Local attractions and cultural centers are offering special events to cater to the crowds, such as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, which is putting on an added concert. Some attractions are jump-starting their season, which typically runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, to capitalize on the traffic. Many local campsites, which typically dont open until May, will be open for the event. Weather permitting, the Maid of the Mist is hoping to launch early to capitalize on the traffic. Between big box stores and hole-in-the-wall bars, Michigan sold more than $1.8 billion in liquor to commercial organizations, with one national franchise taking the top four spots in total sales, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Total Wine and More, which recently opened four stores in Michigan, brought in more than $39 million of the More liquor alone for 2% of the total sales among the over 12,000 purchasers. Further, all four three in Southeast Michigan and one in Grand Rapids saw hundreds of thousands of dollars more in sales compared to 2022; Total Wine and Mores top store in Novi brought in an additional $1.2 million last year. These numbers are based on spirits sales, and not other alcohol like wine or beer, from the state of Michigan to establishments. They are not a measure of how much businesses made through the sales to customers, as prices for individual items are marked-up and the increases are not included in this report. RELATED: Michigan liquor sales up slightly in 2023; see what counties sold the most The rest of the top 20 sales generators are dominated by big box stores. COSTCOs around the state occupy the fifth through 12th highest sales returns statewide, and Meijer finished at 13th, 17th and 20th. Meijer, which has the most stores in the state of all big boxes, ended with the highest amount of total sales, but COSTCO, with more than 100 fewer stores in the state than Meijer, averaged almost $2 million more in sales per store. RELATED: The 25 Michigan bars with the highest liquor sales in 2022 On-premises establishments, like bars, restaurants and venues, brought in more than $263 million of the $1.8 billion in sales last year. Little Caesars Arena, home to the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons and a major concert venue, took the top sales spot with almost $1.2 million in 2023. With the exception of The B.O.B. in Grand Rapids, which finished sixth in total sales, the top 30 establishments by total sales were all in Southeast Michigan, the most populated part of the state. Below is a searchable database of all on-premises locations by liquor sales, and its location. Below is a county-by-county map of total sales, shaded by dollars spent per county population of residents 21 years and older, with white dots plotting each countys top selling bar. Rollover / click on all areas to get the underlying data. Slicing up the on-premise establishments by type, event venues bought millions of dollars of liquor from the state. Little Caesars Arena was the single-leading event venue in terms of sales, but Ford Field, home to the Detroit Lions, was difficult to total because many different bars operate in the stadium. That said, Levy Restaurants, which owns the popular Bar 35 locations at the stadium, came in second on its own with more than $710,000 in sales. RELATED: Liquor superstores ring up multi-million dollar footprint in Michigan Casinos were also big sellers of liquor, though the amounts among the 26 in Michigan vary. The MGM Grand in Detroit was the only casino to bring in more than $1 million, while Four Winds in Dowagiac finished last, reporting a little more than $15,000. Below is a searchable database of all on- and off-premises stores sales, theyre ranking in total sales, and their city and county location. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico legislators would create a unique educational endowment of at least $50 million to help Native American communities create their own student programs, including efforts to teach and preserve Indigenous languages, under a proposal endorsed Thursday by the state House. The bill from Democratic legislators with ties to tribal communities including the Navajo Nation and smaller Native American pueblos won unanimous House approval on a 68-0 vote, advancing to the state Senate for consideration. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently voiced support for the initiative. Sponsors say the endowment would help reverse the vestiges of forced assimilation of Native American children, including the legacy of at U.S.-backed boarding schools, and fulfill the states commitment to Native American students in the wake of a landmark state court ruling. What this does is it pushes back against 200-plus years of federal policies that sought to erase Native Americans from this nation and says, Well, we know how to school, to teach our children best, " said Rep. Derrick Lente, a resident and tribal member of Sandia Pueblo and lead cosponsor of the initiative. They know that language is important. New Mexico is home to 22 federally recognized tribal communities, and the Oklahoma-based Fort Sill Apache Tribe also has land holdings in southern New Mexico near Deming. The U.S. Census indicates that Native Americans make up about 11% of the state population, both on and off reservation lands. An appropriation from the state general fund would establish the tribal education trust fund, with annual distributions to tribal communities set at roughly 5% of the funds corpus about $2.5 million on a balance of $50 million. Under an agreement that Lente helped broker, tribes would determine how the money is divvied up among Native American communities using a unanimous consensus process of consultation, collaboration and communication ... with the option of appointing peacemakers in the event of a dispute regarding the formula. New Mexico lawmakers currently have a multibillion-dollar budget surplus at their disposal a windfall linked to oil and natural gas production as they craft an annual spending plan and search for effective strategies to raise average high school graduation rates and academic attainment scores up to national averages. At the same time, state lawmakers have been under pressure for several years to resolve a 2018 court ruling that found New Mexico has fallen short of its constitutional duty to provide an adequate education to students from low-income households, Native American communities, those with disabilities and English-language learners. More important than the money of $50 million is the idea that a trust fund be established, and sovereign nations be named as the beneficiaries on behalf of their children, said state Rep. Anthony Allison of Fruitland, who is Navajo. Our dream is that this is just the beginning, and that future generations will benefit from our dreams and our vision on their behalf. Lente said he continues to push for a larger, $100 million contribution by the state to the endowment. __ By MORGAN LEE Associated Press WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI The farmhouse had secrets within its walls. As crowbars gutted its plaster down to the studs, the home revealed traces of its 165-year history on a dirt road in southwestern Washtenaw County. There was a scrap of an 1873 newspaper, likely read by the Methodist minister who built the house with his fifth wife after returning from the California gold rush. There were charred clapboards from a fire that nearly claimed the home several years later, were it not for the timely arrival of a neighbor and a troupe of schoolboys. There were generations of hidden wallpaper. All those secrets are now documented and preserved as part of a unique project meant to honor the two families who called the farmhouse in Manchester Township home for generations. Their story on the land has come to an end, but another is beginning. One day soon, if all goes as planned, wildflowers will grow where the homes fieldstone foundations once stood, open to all as part of a new nature preserve. The Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse on Noggles Road in Manchester Township, pictured in about 1960.Provided by Sybil Kolon Thats thanks in large part to Sybil Kolon, who grew up spending summer weekends at the house and the surrounding farm, purchased and remodeled by her grandfather Louis Kolongowski, a Detroit electrical contractor, in 1948. She and her husband still live down the road and are planning to donate the 76-acre property some 30 miles from Ann Arbor to Legacy Land Conservancy, Michigans first local land trust. It will become the Iron Creek Preserve. My thing was always trying to connect people to nature because people are not going to take care of it, unless they know and care about it, Kolon said. Sybil Kolon stands in the fieldstone foundation of the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse on Noggles Road in Manchester Township on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Kolon's grandfather purchased the farmhouse in 1948, and now she and her husband are donating the property to the Legacy Land Conservancy for a new nature preserve, following the deconstruction of the farmhouse.Lucas Smolcic Larson | MLive.com The layers of the onion tell decades of history Kolon at first planned to preserve the farmhouse, a modest family abode she hoped could become a museum. But it was in rough shape after more than a decade without occupants, with mold growing inside, and its well and septic system failed. So she found an alternative that didnt involve bringing in the wrecking machines deconstruction. What better way to connect people to the land than to connect them to the stories of people who were out here and the indigenous people before them, she said. Beginning in October, contractors with the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit began disassembling the house by hand, saving everything they could, from doors to light fixtures and timber. On Dec. 12, 2023, crews with the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit stand on hand-hewn wooden beams dating back to the original construction of the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse on Noggles Road in Manchester Township in about 1859.Provided by Sybil Kolon The Detroit nonprofit aims to create jobs, while offering low-cost building materials for reuse, keeping them out of a landfill. Antique lumber like that taken from the farmhouse has been repurposed in Meijer fresh market displays, according to Chris Rutherford, the organizations executive director. The homes 165-year-old hand-hewn oak beams could take on new life as mantle pieces or tables, Kolon added. Working alongside the home disassemblers was Marian Feinberg, an Eastern Michigan University graduate student in historic preservation who documented the entire process. She also helped organize weekly public workshops at the site as the farmhouse was stripped bare, working with the Manchester Area Historical Society on the Deconstructing the Past project that reframed the homes demise as a learning opportunity. As we began to peel away the layers of the onion, we were able to tell the story about the types of building materials that were used, the various types of building methods that went into the structure, she said. Taking each piece apart by hand revealed some unpleasant surprises, like a mass of black ants that poured out when one section of wall was removed, Feinberg said. But other secrets were more historically interesting, like the fire, corroborated by historic newspaper clippings. The house told us the story, Feinberg said. Crews also found a belt hanging inside the homes walls, potentially left as a spiritual offering by its earliest inhabitants, the Suttons. Nearby was the more than 150-year-old scrap of the American Wesleyan, a weekly religious publication, likely from Richard Sutton, a Methodist minister born in England who built the home in around 1859. Scraps of the American Wesleyan, a weekly religious publication, dated 1873 found during the deconstruction of the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse on Noggles Road in Manchester Township, pictured on salvaged materials on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.Lucas Smolcic Larson | MLive.com His descendants still live in the Manchester area. Much about Suttons life is known, in part because his trip on a wagon train to California in 1853 was documented in near-daily letters sent home and later compiled into a family chronicle, said Laura Sutton, his great-great-granddaughter. There were stories of panning for gold and preaching to miners in the Oregon territory. And, after his third wife died back in Michigan, a grief-stricken union with a woman identified as Sister Houghton, who became his fourth bride. All was well with the marriage until a man recently released from prison showed up claiming to be Houghtons husband. Two separate trials failed to substantiate his bigamy allegations, but Sutton soon had the marriage annulled and returned to Michigan, Laura Sutton said. It was there that he met Ann Mathews, a woman 25 years his junior from the Irish Hills. Together, they built the farmhouse on Noggles Road on land her family owned, and had seven children. One of them was Laura Suttons great-grandfather, Grant Sutton, who stayed on the family farm and raised her grandfather Harry Grant Sutton there. It was only after Grant Suttons death in 1937 that the family left the farm, finally selling it in 1947. Grant Sutton and his family at the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse in a photo taken around 1902. Grant Sutton was the son of Richard Sutton, an English immigrant and minister who with his fifth wife originally built the farmhouse in about 1859 on Noggles Road in Manchester Township.Provided by Sybil Kolon Soon after, the Kolongowskis purchased the property, and moved from Detroit. There, Kolon can remember her grandfather growing corn and raising chickens, ducks and geese, while hosting Sunday visits from her and her 26 cousins. Theres really been only two families that have actually lived on that farm, Laura Sutton said. I think my ancestors would be pleased that its going to stay a preserve, because parts of it are quite beautiful. From farm to nature area In early February, all that was left of the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse was its foundation, chunky stone walls built into the earth. They will be removed, the hole filled in and an area nearby fashioned into a small parking lot for guests of the eventual Iron Creek Preserve, named for the brook that runs through the land, Kolon said. The fieldstone foundation of the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse on Noggles Road in Manchester Township on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. The deconstruction of the farmhouse, dating to roughly 1859, will pave the way for the surrounding property to become a nature preserve.Lucas Smolcic Larson | MLive.com The Legacy Land Conservancy plans to erect a small monument with signage honoring the history of the Suttons and Kolons ancestors, said Kyler Moran, preserve stewardship manager with the conservancy. In our management of the property, we will really be standing on the shoulders of giants in that (Kolon) has worked with local community members and her family a long time and put in countless hours of effort into getting the property to the state that it is in now of ecological health and significance, he said. The nature area will take advantage of existing trails, winding through fields and forest that covers the property. More may be developed in the future, Moran said. The 76-acre wooded property surrounding the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse on Noggles Road in Manchester Township on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. The land, on the Iron Creek, is being donated to Legacy Land Conservancy by Sybil Kolon and her husband to become a nature preserve.Lucas Smolcic Larson | MLive.com Theres currently no timeline for the opening of the property to the public. After the land donation, Legacy still needs to raise roughly $476,000 to fully open the preserve, and reaching that goal will dictate when exactly it opens, Moran said. Kolon hopes that time will come this fall. In the meantime, shes staying busy, working with Feinberg, the historical society and Legacy to highlight the historic aspects of the farmhouse and the property. In her home, she has mason jars filled with century-old nails, wallpaper samples and sheep shears recovered from the farmhouse. Nails collected during the deconstruction of the Sutton/Kolongowski farmhouse on Noggles Road in Manchester Township, pictured on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, are sorted by the date they were used, with some dating back to the home's original construction in about 1859.Lucas Smolcic Larson | MLive.com Some of the materials from the family home may end up in a small museum in Manchester run by the local historical society, she said. A wrap-up presentation on the deconstruction is also planned in late February or early March, Feinberg said, adding she hopes to put together a how-to manual for similar historical work. I hope that this is a case study for the types of work that can be done in the future for houses, trying to slow projects down just a little bit in order to use them as an opportunity rather than just demolishing them, she said. In that way, a particular slice of history wont be lost. This project could live for a long time, Kolon said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. WAYNE COUNTY, MI A search is underway to locate a stolen trailer that contains several boxes of gifts collected for the Toys for Tots holiday charity organization, Dearborn police said. The white 1986 Continental eight-foot enclosed trailer was reported stolen Feb. 12 from a parking lot in the 4100 block of Maple Street. The Michigan license plate affixed to the trailer is D908342, and the vehicle information number for the trailer is 411530. The trailer is dented in the front and has a silver panel by its tongue, and does not have a side entry door, police said. The trailer is used for the storage and transportation of donated toys that bring joy to countless families and their children during the holiday seasons, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said. We ask the community to help in any way possible in this investigation to help us locate it, as quickly as possible. Anyone with information about the trailers whereabouts is asked to call the Dearborn Police Department at 313-943-2289. 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. WATERFORD TWP., MI Speaking on the state of the auto industry and not shying away from his recent legal battles, former President Donald J. Trump spoke to a large crowd Saturday, Feb. 17, at a southeast Michigan airport, encouraging those in attendance to vote for him in the February presidential primary and the November general election. Trump, the nations 45th president and current frontrunner in the Republican presidential primary, spoke for nearly an hour and a half at the Contact Aviations Elite Jet Center in Waterford Township as part of a Get Out the Vote rally. He opened his speech by referring to Michigan as Americas heartland and called the crowd a group of hardworking patriots and continued to stress his disdain for electric vehicles in a state known for its prominence in the auto industry. Crooked Joe (Biden) has ordered a hit job on Michigan manufacturing with his insane electric vehicle mandate, Trump said before calling out auto workers in the crowd, asking them to raise their hands. A vote for Biden is a vote to send tens of thousands of Michigan jobs to China and other places that we dont want them to go, Trump went on to say. A vote for Trump is a vote to keep those manufacturing jobs in America. The visit was Trumps first to the state since September 2023, when he spoke at a Clinton Township auto supplier during the United Auto Workers strike. It also occurred 10 days ahead of the Feb. 27 primary, where voters will have the opportunity to cast their vote for Trump after the Michigan Court of Appeals rebuffed challenges from critics who contend his role in the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol bars him from the office. In a 3-0 decision in December 2023, the appellate judges ruled that who appears on the primary ballot is determined by the political parties and individual candidates. Early voting in Michigan has already begun across the state. The former president made it seem as though a victory in the primary is a sure thing when speaking with his supporters, emphasizing the importance of the November general election. Were not worried about the primary, he said. What we want to do we got to win that (the primary, well get a lot of votes, and we want to send a signal but we want to win November. Related: Trump supporters rally hours ahead of Waterford Township speech Trump didnt shy away from his legal troubles, referring to a recent ruling against him in a New York lawsuit a weaponization of this horrible legal system. The ruling at the center of much of Trumps Saturday remarks came down Friday and involved a New York judge ordering the former president to pay $355 million in penalties. The ruling was made following claims Trump lied about his wealth. He called the case a complete and total sham, and said it drew parallels to a political prosecution, drawing cheers from the audience. If this persecution of political opponents continues, no one will want to do business with the United States of America any longer, he said. We will truly become a third world country. WATERFORD TWP., MI Speaking to a large audience of supporters at an election rally Saturday, former President Donald J. Trump called out former Rep. Pete Hoekstra as the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. I actually recommended him. I said, Do you think you could ever get this guy Hoekstra? Hes unbelievable, Trump said after acknowledging the former congressman as the party leader. He was incredible, everything he did, Trump continued. In Congress he was incredible and then he was an unbelievable ambassador. Everybody thought he was just about the best. Related: RNC recognizes Pete Hoekstra as Michigan GOP chair; Karamo ignores decision The announcement, which came at a Get Out the Vote rally in Oakland County on Feb. 17, garnered loud cheers and mild boos from the audience. It came after a growing split in the state Republican party reached a breaking point in early January with the partys state committee voting to remove Kristina Karamo as its chair. This month, a special committee convened by the Republican National Committee named Hoekstra as the rightful chair of the party. Karamo has not recognized the decision. Related: Trump attacks Biden policies, dismisses legal issues in Oakland County speech The move isnt necessarily shocking as Trump previously supported Hoekstra, posting on social media that Pete will make the Republican Party of Michigan great again and has my complete and total endorsement to be its chairman. Hoekstra, a former congressman, was ambassador to the Netherlands under Trump and had supported Trumps first run for the presidency. In late 2022 he also considered running to lead the party but decided against it. Teams that have success look back at certain points of the season, a few key games, and realize their importance. For the Detroit Red Wings, Saturdays 5-0 victory at Calgary looks like one. Two Buffalo men were shot inside a speakeasy in the Lovejoy neighborhood about 4 a.m. Sunday, Buffalo police said in a news release. Detectives said the two men were injured by gunfire during a "dispute or altercation" on the 1100 block of East Lovejoy Street. The men, ages 34 and 49, were taken in civilian vehicles to Erie County Medical Center where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries, the release said. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call or text the Confidential TIPCALL Line at 716-847-2255. This is the third of four columns observing Black History Month. John Brown Russwurm and Samuel Eli Cornish were the co-founders of Freedoms Journal, the first Black newspaper in America. Historians have documented that it is one of the most preserved Black newspapers. On March 16, 1827, Russwurm and Samuel Cornish published the first issue of the paper. It was a historic step. It led the way for other Black newspapers to publish. There were dozens of Black newspapers owned and operated by Blacks before the Civil War. They were published in New York City and other areas of the state. They spread up to Boston, Baltimore, and west to Cleveland and even to San Francisco. Russwurm was born on Oct. 1, 1799. He was not native to America, but was born in Jamaica, the son of a white Englishman and an enslaved woman. He moved to Quebec as a child with his father and then to Maine, where he later attended Bowdoin College. In 1826, he became the second African American in the United States to earn a college degree. The next year he moved to New York and met Cornish, an African American Presbyterian minister and editor. They were inspired to start a newspaper because of the negative stereotypes of Black men and women in the white press. Freedoms Journal took direct aim at these papers. One man in particular was quite offensive to Blacks Mordecai Noah of the New York Enquirer. He attacked the free Blacks in New York consistently. Freedoms Journal published its paper with these words on the cover: We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentation of things which concern us deeply. Freedoms Journal was strongly abolitionist and sought to give Blacks pride in their communities. It included biographies, poetry, sermons, birth, death and marriage announcements. It was published every Friday. The paper was supported by several abolitionist organizations and Black church groups. The paper lasted for two years until 1829. However, when the paper ended it was due to the controversial issue of colonization in Africa. Russwurm and Cornish held opposing views. The paper was still dedicated to the eradication of slavery and equal rights for Blacks. It carried accounts of court trials where Blacks did not receive justice due to unfair laws. The idea of the American Colonization Society continued to be a controversial issue between the two editors. At first, Russwurm was opposed to the idea that Blacks should be returned to Africa. However, the American Colonization Society began to grow. It had the support of state legislatures. The U.S. government made a donation of $100,000 to the cause of resettling Blacks in Africa. The American Colonization Society established a settlement on the west coast of Africa called Liberia. The countrys name meant Freedom. Its capital city was named Monrovia, after President James Monroe. Russwurm was appointed to the post of colonial agent of Liberia. However, he experienced some disappointments. He soon learned that he really did not have any power. Free Blacks in America were angry with Russwurm because of his turn to the American Colonization Society. Many whites in the society saw it as an opportunity to get rid of Blacks in this country. Author Mary Sagarin in her book stated: The names of the founders of the society included a justice of the Supreme Court named Bushrod Washington, Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star-Spangled Banner, and Henry Clay, who helped work out the compromise by which Missouri entered the Union as a slave state. Clay praised the Societys efforts to get rid of free blacks. Of all classes of our population, free blacks are the most vicious. Russwurm found that whites were still in control and Blacks had to struggle to get equality. Russwurms life was as complicated as the times in which he lived. Historian and scholar Dr. Molefi Asante included him in his book called The 100 Greatest African Americans. John Hope Franklin wrote of his work in From Slavery to Freedom. Microfilm copies of Freedoms Journal can be found in the Schomburg Museum in New York. Russwurm died on June 9, 1851, at the age of 51. The legacy of Russwurm and Cornish continues to remind us of the importance of a free press in advocating for justice and equality. Eva M. Doyle is a columnist for the Criterion. She is celebrating 45 years of writing the Eye On History column. Commentary: How to avoid lose-lose? True multilateralism gives answer Xinhua) 11:10, February 18, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- In the newly released Munich Security Report 2024, the West expressed concerns about the advent of "lose-lose dynamics," where many governments are no longer focusing on the absolute benefits of global cooperation. Such concerns deserve serious consideration. However, of greater importance is the imperative for the West to reflect on its role in prompting a lose-lose situation on the global arena. It is not the first time that the West has found itself grappling with uncertainty and unease. The eruption of conflicts including the Ukraine crisis and the Gaza crisis, and their subsequent spillover effects, have unsettled the West for years. Such unease has colored several recent Munich Security Conferences with a tinge of pessimism. Indeed, the West is largely responsible for the instability and outbreak of hostilities that have shattered world peace. Historical legacies of colonialism, interventionism, and geopolitical maneuvering have left indelible scars on regions and civilizations around the world, exacerbating grievances and perpetuating violence and instability. The report correctly highlights the disturbing growth of zero-sum mentality in global affairs. However, it is critical to acknowledge that the West, despite its professed devotion to liberal ideas and democratic principles, is gravely bound by the shackles of the Cold War mentality that stifles growth and perpetuates divisions. The Cold War mindset, which stems from decades of geopolitical rivalry and ideological confrontation, continues to have a strong influence on Western policies and strategic thinking. The binary mindset of "us versus them," defined by bloc politics and zero-sum games, continues to shape notions of friend and foe, ally and opponent. In the report, the authors also noticed a disturbing trend: countries are increasingly defining their success in relative terms, rather than prioritizing the collective well-being of the international community. China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind stands in stark contrast to the West's preoccupation with countering perceived threats and preserving its own dominance. Considering China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and a series of Western plans at the BRI's heels, the fact is self-evident. Whether it be the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment by the Group of Seven, or the "Build Back Better World" plan by Washington, or the Global Gateway Initiative by the European Union, the Western brand-building exercise is, in Reuter's comment, only aimed at improving "relationships with developing countries to prevent them from falling into China's arms." It is no surprise that the West's response to the BRI has been vague and met with little excitement in the Global South. The Global South received special attention in this year's security assessment. Since last year, the Munich Security Conference has placed a greater emphasis on Global South countries. One contributing element is the recognition of the Global South's weak support for the West's approach to Ukraine. As such, some statements in the report may appear to champion the cause of the Global South, but fundamentally, they are still tightly bound by the Western tradition of bloc politics. To overcome the current impasse that governments are "increasingly concerned that they are gaining less than others," the report proposed such a solution -- while transatlantic partners and "like-minded states" must invest in defense and deterrence, they should restrict the pursuit of mutual benefits to "politically like-minded states." This obsession with bloc confrontation demonstrates that the Western world is the de facto creator of the lose-lose situation. In the global context, China sticks to genuine multilateralism and fosters a new paradigm for international relations that prioritizes cooperation and mutual benefit. China's proposals in recent years, including building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, have all contributed impartial solutions to global challenges. While the West intends to make "politically like-minded" friends to avoid the lose-lose situation, true multilateralism, which China firmly stands by, is proving more persuasive. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Bill Cunningham, the Canadian broadcast journalist who covered the Vietnam War for the CBC and helped name its flagship program, has died. He was 91. (Family of Bill Cunningham - image credit) Bill Cunningham, the Canadian broadcast journalist who covered the Vietnam War for the CBC and helped name its flagship program, has died. He was 91. An obituary posted on Saturday said he passed away peacefully in Toronto on Jan. 31. A native of Yarmouth, N.S., Cunningham began working as a correspondent for the CBC in the mid-1950s. In 1966, he became the executive producer of CBC's national news program, The National, whose name he coined. "Bill decided more than 40 years ago that the show needed a title with more oomph and half the verbiage of The CBC National News," his obituary reads. After leaving the CBC in 1974, Cunningham worked at Global and CTV before returning to the national broadcaster to finish his journalism career. (CBC) When the United States invaded Vietnam in 1965, Cunningham served as the CBC's foreign correspondent in the war zone. "The Americans were spending a fortune out there. They had huge news bureaus and a number of correspondents. Their spin on the story was obvious; it was coming in every night on the American nets [networks]," Cunningham told CBC News in 2002. "I saw my role as to try to almost counter-punch their coverage, to say what's going on here, why it's happening, where's it going, how it's going." Cunningham recalled to the Ryerson Review of Journalism the time he, a camera operator and an American reporter were detained by North Vietnamese troops in Cambodia. Cunningham went on patrol with the 199th Infantry Brigade of the U.S. army during the Vietnam War. (CBC) "I took out my passport, told my American friend to shut up and told the officer that we were all Canadians. I deliberately lied because if my buddy was exposed as an American, they would kill him and then have to kill us." After leaving the CBC in 1974, Cunningham worked at Global and CTV before returning to the national broadcaster to finish his journalism career. Cunningham won multiple awards for his work, including a Gemini lifetime achievement award and an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), according to his obituary. He is survived by his wife Agi, brother John Cunningham, son Tim Cunningham, daughter Kathy Cunningham McPherson and grandchildren Carter and Lexi McPherson. Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. (NYSE:BNRE Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 14,800 shares, a decrease of 10.3% from the January 15th total of 16,500 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 7,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Reinsurance by 5.4% in the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 37,449 shares of the companys stock worth $1,267,000 after buying an additional 1,921 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. bought a new position in shares of Brookfield Reinsurance in the 3rd quarter worth about $138,000. Barclays PLC bought a new position in shares of Brookfield Reinsurance in the 2nd quarter worth about $56,000. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. lifted its position in Brookfield Reinsurance by 85.1% in the 3rd quarter. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. now owns 235,797 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,404,000 after purchasing an additional 108,404 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wintrust Investments LLC bought a new stake in Brookfield Reinsurance in the 2nd quarter valued at about $229,000. 49.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Brookfield Reinsurance alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, TheStreet upgraded shares of Brookfield Reinsurance from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Brookfield Reinsurance Stock Down 0.4 % NYSE BNRE traded down $0.15 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $40.26. 3,293 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,343. Brookfield Reinsurance has a 12 month low of $28.30 and a 12 month high of $41.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $420.72 million, a PE ratio of 143.79 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a 50 day moving average of $39.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.39. Brookfield Reinsurance Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.79%. This is an increase from Brookfield Reinsurances previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 12th. Brookfield Reinsurances dividend payout ratio is 100.00%. Brookfield Reinsurance Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides annuity-based reinsurance products to insurance and reinsurance companies in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Direct Insurance, Reinsurance, and Pension Risk Transfer (PRT). The Direct Insurance segment offers a range of insurance products and services including life insurance, annuities, property and casualty insurance, health insurance, credit insurance, and pension products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Reinsurance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Reinsurance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Beachbody Company, Inc. (NYSE:BODY Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 164,600 shares, a decline of 6.2% from the January 15th total of 175,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 43,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.8 days. Approximately 4.7% of the companys shares are sold short. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Beachbody Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Beachbody by 90.6% in the 1st quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 53,571 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 25,468 shares during the last quarter. Perritt Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Beachbody during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in Beachbody by 192.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 67,007 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 44,101 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC raised its stake in Beachbody by 68.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 82,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 33,564 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC raised its stake in Beachbody by 120.4% during the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 74,130 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 40,491 shares during the last quarter. 59.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Beachbody alerts: Beachbody Stock Performance Shares of BODY traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $9.02. The company had a trading volume of 9,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 27,862. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.76. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $9.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $4.36. Beachbody has a 52 week low of $6.31 and a 52 week high of $44.50. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have weighed in on BODY shares. Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Beachbody in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Roth Mkm started coverage on Beachbody in a research report on Friday, January 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BODY Beachbody Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Beachbody Company, Inc operates as a health and wellness platform that provides fitness, nutrition, and stress-reducing programs in the United States and internationally. The company operates Beachbody on Demand, a digital subscription platform that provides access to a library of live and on-demand fitness and nutrition content; and Beachbody on Demand Interactive (BODi) for live fitness and nutrition programs. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Beachbody Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Beachbody and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 31,510,000 shares, an increase of 7.5% from the January 15th total of 29,310,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 15,940,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days. Approximately 0.9% of the companys stock are sold short. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Barclays A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BCS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Barclays by 1,934.9% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 168,265 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,330,000 after purchasing an additional 159,996 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in Barclays by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,299,509 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,166,000 after acquiring an additional 175,029 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Barclays by 33.8% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 22,110 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $175,000 after purchasing an additional 5,580 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in Barclays by 1,026.8% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 265,893 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,101,000 after buying an additional 242,296 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Barclays by 171.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 29,371 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $232,000 after buying an additional 18,545 shares during the period. 3.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Barclays alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Bank of America downgraded shares of Barclays from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $190.00. Barclays Stock Up 1.4 % Shares of Barclays stock traded up $0.10 on Friday, reaching $7.47. The stock had a trading volume of 14,513,082 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,418,405. Barclays has a 1 year low of $6.23 and a 1 year high of $8.63. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $7.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 1.45. Barclays Company Profile (Get Free Report) Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through two segments, Barclays UK and Barclays International divisions. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Barclays Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barclays and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 973,100 shares, a decline of 8.2% from the January 15th total of 1,060,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 414,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.3 days. Currently, 3.3% of the companys shares are sold short. Beazer Homes USA Trading Down 3.6 % Beazer Homes USA stock traded down $1.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $29.37. 304,542 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 411,876. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $28.75. Beazer Homes USA has a 12-month low of $13.56 and a 12-month high of $35.93. The firm has a market cap of $926.62 million, a PE ratio of 5.82 and a beta of 2.26. The company has a current ratio of 13.95, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. Get Beazer Homes USA alerts: Beazer Homes USA (NYSE:BZH Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The construction company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $386.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $420.71 million. Beazer Homes USA had a net margin of 7.26% and a return on equity of 14.09%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 13.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.80 EPS. Research analysts expect that Beazer Homes USA will post 4.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently commented on BZH. Wedbush raised their target price on Beazer Homes USA from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. StockNews.com cut Beazer Homes USA from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Beazer Homes USA Hedge Funds Weigh In On Beazer Homes USA Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. USA Financial Formulas raised its position in shares of Beazer Homes USA by 4,947.1% during the 4th quarter. USA Financial Formulas now owns 858 shares of the construction companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 841 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in shares of Beazer Homes USA by 83.4% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,007 shares of the construction companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 1,367 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Beazer Homes USA by 159.7% during the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,070 shares of the construction companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 658 shares in the last quarter. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Beazer Homes USA during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new stake in shares of Beazer Homes USA during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.07% of the companys stock. About Beazer Homes USA (Get Free Report) Beazer Homes USA, Inc operates as a homebuilder in the United States. It designs, constructs, and sells single-family and multi-family homes under the Beazer Homes, Gatherings, and Choice Plans names. The company also sells its homes through commissioned new home sales counselors and independent brokers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Beazer Homes USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Beazer Homes USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 8,620,000 shares, an increase of 6.9% from the January 15th total of 8,060,000 shares. Approximately 6.5% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,380,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 6.2 days. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently weighed in on BJ shares. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $74.00 to $72.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of BJs Wholesale Club from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $79.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Monday, November 6th. Gordon Haskett lowered shares of BJs Wholesale Club from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $70.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Roth Mkm restated a neutral rating and set a $63.00 price target on shares of BJs Wholesale Club in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their price target on BJs Wholesale Club from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Ten 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, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $70.76. Get BJ's Wholesale Club alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on BJs Wholesale Club Insider Activity at BJs Wholesale Club Hedge Funds Weigh In On BJs Wholesale Club In other news, SVP Joseph Mcgrail sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.87, for a total transaction of $65,870.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 10,464 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $689,263.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . 2.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. FMR LLC raised its position in BJs Wholesale Club by 39.7% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 16,013,702 shares of the companys stock worth $1,142,898,000 after acquiring an additional 4,548,963 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in BJs Wholesale Club by 1.2% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,142,318 shares of the companys stock worth $923,666,000 after buying an additional 139,425 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in BJs Wholesale Club by 13.0% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,136,282 shares of the companys stock worth $342,385,000 after acquiring an additional 590,113 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of BJs Wholesale Club by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,445,807 shares of the companys stock valued at $300,581,000 after buying an additional 147,014 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 10.3% during the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,940,441 shares of the companys stock valued at $281,229,000 after acquiring an additional 369,317 shares during the period. 98.60% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. BJs Wholesale Club Stock Down 0.1 % BJs Wholesale Club stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $68.73. The stock had a trading volume of 987,978 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,088,106. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $66.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $67.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.23. BJs Wholesale Club has a 12-month low of $60.33 and a 12-month high of $78.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. BJs Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 17th. The company reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $4.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.90 billion. BJs Wholesale Club had a return on equity of 43.26% and a net margin of 2.61%. BJs Wholesale Clubs revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.99 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that BJs Wholesale Club will post 3.86 EPS for the current fiscal year. About BJs Wholesale Club (Get Free Report) BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates warehouse clubs on the eastern half of the United States. It provides perishable, general merchandise, gasoline, coupon books, promotions, and other ancillary services. The company sells its products through the websites BJs.com, BerkleyJensen.com, and Wellsleyfarms.com, as well as the mobile app. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brookfield Co. (NYSE:BN Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 12,890,000 shares, a decline of 6.9% from the January 15th total of 13,850,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,310,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.6 days. Currently, 1.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. TheStreet raised Brookfield from a c rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Brookfield from $52.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. CIBC upped their price target on Brookfield from $46.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Brookfield from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price target on Brookfield from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Brookfield presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $47.45. Get Brookfield alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on BN Brookfield Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE BN traded down $0.18 during trading on Friday, reaching $40.35. The stock had a trading volume of 2,473,644 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,769,661. Brookfield has a fifty-two week low of $28.25 and a fifty-two week high of $41.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.15. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $39.49 and its 200-day moving average price is $35.32. The company has a market cap of $66.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 65.08 and a beta of 1.50. Brookfield (NYSE:BN Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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 analyst estimates of $1.15 billion. Brookfield had a return on equity of 3.22% and a net margin of 1.18%. Brookfields revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.12 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Brookfield will post 3.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. Brookfield Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.79%. This is an increase from Brookfields previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 12th. Brookfields payout ratio is 45.16%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Brookfield news, major shareholder Gp Ltd Bcp sold 354,813 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.08, for a total transaction of $738,011.04. Following the sale, the insider now owns 28,533,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $59,349,854.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Brookfield news, major shareholder Gp Ltd Bcp sold 354,813 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.08, for a total transaction of $738,011.04. Following the sale, the insider now owns 28,533,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $59,349,854.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Ocm Growth Holdings Llc sold 237,635 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.69, for a total value of $3,015,588.15. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,504,533 shares in the company, valued at approximately $209,442,523.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 6,545,283 shares of company stock worth $22,555,512 in the last ninety days. 11.00% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Brookfield A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BN. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,391 shares of the companys stock valued at $298,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 9,942 shares of the companys stock valued at $400,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 32.3% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,349 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 329 shares during the last quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 7,334 shares of the companys stock valued at $294,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Retirement Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 80,512 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,709,000 after purchasing an additional 389 shares during the last quarter. 58.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Brookfield (Get 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 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. Crane (NYSE:CR Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 626,200 shares, a decline of 5.9% from the January 15th total of 665,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 245,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.6 days. Currently, 1.1% of the companys shares are sold short. Crane Stock Performance CR stock traded down $1.00 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $122.00. 248,950 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 274,877. Crane has a 52-week low of $67.28 and a 52-week high of $127.83. The stock has a market cap of $6.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.06, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stocks 50-day moving average is $117.07 and its 200 day moving average is $101.45. Get Crane alerts: Crane Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $0.205 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This is a boost from Cranes previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.67%. Cranes dividend payout ratio is 22.22%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CR has been the topic of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Crane from $124.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. CJS Securities began coverage on shares of Crane in a research note on Monday, October 30th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Vertical Research began coverage on shares of Crane in a research note on Monday, November 20th. They issued a hold rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Crane from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $107.83. Read Our Latest Research Report on Crane Insider Buying and Selling at Crane In other Crane news, CEO Max H. Mitchell sold 22,542 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.45, for a total value of $2,399,595.90. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 322,628 shares in the company, valued at $34,343,750.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Crane Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Crane by 97.2% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,031,020 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $584,384,000 after acquiring an additional 3,959,145 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors bought a new position in shares of Crane during the second quarter worth $168,567,000. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Crane by 93.0% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,666,141 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $193,106,000 after acquiring an additional 1,285,048 shares during the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL boosted its position in shares of Crane by 77.0% during the second quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 2,410,330 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $180,078,000 after acquiring an additional 1,048,595 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Crane by 110.6% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,440,120 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $102,501,000 after acquiring an additional 756,198 shares during the last quarter. 85.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Crane Company Profile (Get Free Report) Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company has three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials. The Aerospace & Electronics segment supplies critical components and systems, including original equipment and aftermarket parts, primarily for the commercial aerospace, and the military aerospace, defense, and space markets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Crane Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FLEX LNG Ltd. (NYSE:FLNG Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,670,000 shares, an increase of 9.9% from the January 15th total of 1,520,000 shares. Approximately 5.5% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 348,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.8 days. Institutional Trading of FLEX LNG Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Spire Wealth Management increased its stake in FLEX LNG by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 17,385 shares of the companys stock worth $524,000 after acquiring an additional 1,008 shares during the last quarter. Swiss National Bank increased its stake in FLEX LNG by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 65,449 shares of the companys stock worth $2,000,000 after acquiring an additional 1,606 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in shares of FLEX LNG by 509.6% during the 2nd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 68,355 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,088,000 after purchasing an additional 57,142 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC increased its position in shares of FLEX LNG by 11.0% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 45,695 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,395,000 after purchasing an additional 4,534 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Naples Global Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of FLEX LNG by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Naples Global Advisors LLC now owns 48,750 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,470,000 after purchasing an additional 1,050 shares during the last quarter. Get FLEX LNG alerts: FLEX LNG Stock Performance Shares of FLNG stock traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $26.82. 381,421 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 416,977. FLEX LNG has a 12-month low of $25.70 and a 12-month high of $35.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 2.89 and a quick ratio of 2.86. The company has a market cap of $1.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.03 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $29.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $30.09. FLEX LNG Cuts Dividend FLEX LNG ( NYSE:FLNG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $97.23 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $98.38 million. FLEX LNG had a return on equity of 15.86% and a net margin of 32.35%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.02 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that FLEX LNG will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be paid a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. FLEX LNGs payout ratio is 134.53%. About FLEX LNG (Get Free Report) Flex LNG Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) worldwide. The company owns and operates vessels with M-type electronically controlled gas injection LNG carriers; and vessels with generation X dual fuel propulsion systems. It also provides chartering services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for FLEX LNG Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FLEX LNG and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 12,560,000 shares, a decrease of 7.1% from the January 15th total of 13,520,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,650,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.7 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in GPK. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 85.7% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,419,429 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $730,979,000 after acquiring an additional 14,040,222 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 2.0% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 29,127,808 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $574,983,000 after acquiring an additional 566,205 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 5.2% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,681,314 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $282,540,000 after acquiring an additional 628,663 shares in the last quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 10.3% in the third quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 12,207,562 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $271,984,000 after acquiring an additional 1,138,587 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC raised its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 67.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,133,955 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $225,785,000 after acquiring an additional 4,074,508 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.67% of the companys stock. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes GPK has been the topic of several recent research reports. Raymond James cut shares of Graphic Packaging from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, November 27th. StockNews.com raised shares of Graphic Packaging from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Graphic Packaging from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Graphic Packaging has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.00. Graphic Packaging Trading Down 0.8 % GPK stock traded down $0.20 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $24.67. 3,403,267 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,769,019. The company has a quick ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.16, a PEG ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.84. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $23.15. Graphic Packaging has a 12-month low of $20.07 and a 12-month high of $27.56. Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packagings payout ratio is 18.10%. Graphic Packaging Company Profile (Get 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. Further Reading 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. Masonite International Co. (NYSE:DOOR Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 317,900 shares, a drop of 10.1% from the January 15th total of 353,700 shares. Approximately 1.5% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 401,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.8 days. Masonite International Stock Down 0.0 % NYSE DOOR traded down $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $129.72. The stock had a trading volume of 1,187,429 shares, compared to its average volume of 790,580. The company has a market capitalization of $2.84 billion, a PE ratio of 18.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.55. The companys 50-day moving average price is $94.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $93.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a current ratio of 2.97. Masonite International has a 12 month low of $76.87 and a 12 month high of $130.80. Get Masonite International alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masonite International A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,366,249 shares of the companys stock worth $200,327,000 after acquiring an additional 120,448 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,560,490 shares of the companys stock worth $159,857,000 after acquiring an additional 64,806 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 11.6% during the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,222,091 shares of the companys stock worth $125,191,000 after acquiring an additional 127,318 shares during the last quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 41.5% during the 4th quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 865,855 shares of the companys stock worth $73,303,000 after acquiring an additional 253,981 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 780,024 shares of the companys stock worth $66,038,000 after acquiring an additional 18,335 shares during the last quarter. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently issued reports on DOOR. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Masonite International from $123.00 to $116.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Oppenheimer began coverage on Masonite International in a research report on Friday, January 19th. They set an outperform rating and a $115.00 target price for the company. Benchmark decreased their target price on Masonite International from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Masonite International from $106.00 to $87.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Masonite International from $122.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $105.33. View Our Latest Stock Report on Masonite International About Masonite International (Get Free Report) Masonite International Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes interior and exterior doors for the new construction and repair, renovation, and remodeling sectors of the residential and non-residential building construction markets worldwide. It offers molded panel, flush, stile and rail, steel, and fiberglass residential doors, as well as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and architectural interior doors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Masonite International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Masonite International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A proposed charter school with curriculum from the conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan is in the early planning stages in the State College area. Four parents, including former State College Area school board candidate Michelle Young, held an informational meeting for the Nittany Mountain Classical Academy Tuesday night at Boalsburg Fire Hall to explain the charter process and test community support. Nearly 30 parents and community members attended, including former candidates for State College Area school board Barry Fenchek and Megan Layng, and former board member Laurel Zydney. Having talked to a lot of folks over the last four years and being in contact with a significant number of parents within just the State College school district, I think there has been a real interest and need for alternatives, Young said. And Hillsdale, this charter school would be an alternative. Hillsdale College, a conservative Christian College, has expanded its network of charter schools in recent years, often causing political battles in communities where schools are proposed. Its 1776 Curriculum includes an emphasis on American exceptionalism, with critics saying it downplays racism and is politically motivated. Charter schools in the program are not owned or managed by the college and Mark Parfitt, one of the organizers who presented during the meeting, emphasized that the charter has no affiliation or agreement with Hillsdale at this time. The charters long-term plan is to open for K-12 for all Centre County students, but for the first year, its likely that only a few grade levels would be offered. We believe the greatest community demand is in the secondary side of education, so 6-12, Parfitt said. Parfitt could not say where the charter would be located but has been in talks with local property owners to look at short-term and long-term leases. Theyre looking to establish the charter within State College Area School District, but once established, they could file a charter in other Centre County districts to act as a regional charter. Story continues For a new charter school to be established in Pennsylvania, a charter must offer something other charter schools or public schools in the area cannot. Parfitt argues that Hillsdales curriculum focus on civics and Western-focused classical education is something that cannot be found in other area schools. The new charter school would appeal to families within SCASD who are searching for an alternative, as well as home-school and cyber charter students, Parfitt said. SCASD, to their credit, does a really good job serving the top and the bottom academically, Parfitt said. So if you excel at SCASD they really take care of you. If you need a lot of extra assistance, they take care of you. The middleyour average student at SCASD? Its sink or swim. Hillsdale College charter program To apply to be a Hillsdale College Member School, a charter board must establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, raise $10,000 and show strong community support for a new charter. Parfitt said becoming part of the Hillsdale program could cut the charter establishment process by several years, but that isnt the only appeal. The Hillsdale curriculum would be unique in the State College area and provide something other charters and public schools in the area do not, he said. According to the Hillsdale website, the classical education curriculum focuses on the centrality of the Western tradition in the study of history, literature, philosophy, and the fine arts. If accepted to the program, the Nittany Mountain Classical Academy organizers would have to work with Hillsdale College to adjust the curriculum to fit Pennsylvania state standards. So if we get accepted, thats where we get into the nitty-gritty and rework the curriculum, Parfitt said. I mean, obviously, to participate in the program, we have to work within their framework. But one thing that I do stress is the board the governance for the charter school is a local board. Nittany Mountain wouldnt be the first Hillsdale College charter program working to get established in Pennsylvania. In January, West Chester Area School District denied the Valley Forge Classical Academys charter application for the second time, leaving the charter with no option but the states charter appeal board. In Bucks County, 1776 Curriculum used by Hillsdale and introduced in Pennridge School District last year led to protests and widespread criticism from parents and teachers. Charter approval process The State College area has several brick-and-mortar and cyber charters, including Young Scholars of Central PA serving students from K-8, Centre Learning Community serving grades 5-8, and PA Cyber Charter. Charter schools are independently run but funded through public school districts. For every student that enrolls in a charter school, their home district sends the per-student tuition to the charter school, minus some transportation and maintenance costs. This method of charter school funding has drawn criticisms from educators across Pennsylvania for stranded costs, the difference between the charter tuition payment per student and the amount of money a district saves when a student leaves. These stranded costs can be thousands of dollars depending on the districts per-student spending and charter growth. Educators across the state and in Centre County have lobbied for charter reform. In 2021, all Centre County school boards passed a joint resolution calling for a new funding formula to calculate charter tuition payments. When a new charter school wants to open, founders apply to the home school district where its located and the district decides whether to grant the charter. If the district rejects the charter, the charter can go to the Charter Appeals Board, which can overturn the district decision and grant the charter. Parfitt expects that the State College Area school board would deny the charter. We expect them to deny charter schools, Parfitt said. Weve baked that into the plan. If they say yes, thats great, that would be awesome news. But were pretty convinced they will deny it twice. So our entire process is going to be built with charter school appeal boards in mind. From 2021 to August 2023, the appeal board issued 12 charter decisions, siding with the charters only twice, according to reporting from the Philadelphia Inquirer. While State College Area School District declined to comment, board president Amy Bader said the school board would follow the charter process as outlined by Pennsylvania law. The school board takes its responsibility of oversight very seriously and, like any other issue, would thoroughly evaluate any charter application and follow the law, Bader wrote in an email to the CDT. Next steps Parfitt cautioned that the charter process would likely take several years and would need both financial and volunteer support throughout. During the meeting, organizers including Young and Parfitt encouraged attendees to spread the word about the charter as well as contact them for volunteer positions. He said it was unlikely the group would host another public meeting until September once the group knows the status of the Hillsdale charter program application but would continue to post updates on the Nittany Mountain Classical Academy website. Every single person counts Parfit said. Everybody might have a unique reason for participating. But were trying to be as inclusive as we can and we welcome every talent we can bring into this operation. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Currys store Electrical goods retailer Currys has rejected a takeover approach from US investment firm Elliott. Currys, which operates more than 800 stores globally and employs 28,000 people, said the offer valued the business at about 700m. But the proposal "significantly undervalued" the company, Currys said. Elliott has a reputation as an activist investor, meaning it pursues companies in order to take them over and change how they are run. In 2018, it bought UK book shop chain Waterstones for an undisclosed amount. Elliott has said it is now considering whether or not to make a formal offer for Currys, and under UK takeover regulations it has until 16 March to decide. Like many High Street businesses, Currys has been struggling with falling sales as customers cut back on spending. Last month, the company said like-for-like sales - which strip out the impact of store openings and closures - fell 3% over the key Christmas trading period. Despite this, cost-cutting measures meant that Currys increased its profit forecast for the year. However, shares in Currys have fallen by more than a third over the past year and on Friday they closed at 47.08p, valuing the business at about 534m. In a statement, Currys said that its board had considered the "unsolicited" proposal from Elliot and "concluded that it significantly undervalued the company and its future prospects". As well as the Currys stores in the UK and Ireland, the business trades under the Elkjp brand in the Nordic region. Last November, the company announced a deal to sell its Greek business - which trades under the Kotsovolos brand - for 175m. As former President Jimmy Carter marked one year in hospice care on Sunday, his family celebrated his resolve and expressed gratitude for the support theyve received. After a year in hospice, on a daily basis we have no expectations for his body, but we know that his spirit is as strong as ever, Jason Carter, Jimmy Carters grandson, said in a video that aired on CBS Sunday Morning. Now 99, Jimmy Carter is the oldest living US president in history. He has survived metastatic brain cancer, liver cancer, and a number of health scares, including brain surgery after a fall in 2019. He entered hospice care in February 2023 after a series of hospital stays. In hospice, an interdisciplinary team of professionals who specialize in end-of life-care address the whole person. They work to help manage pain and the persons physical needs, as well as their mental and spiritual distress. Hospice also helps the family and coordinates care. There is no time limit on how long a person can receive hospice care. Many patients choose to receive care at home or in other familiar environments. One year after entering hospice care, President Carter continues to be at home with his family. The Carter Family is grateful for the many expressions of love they have received and the continued respect for their privacy during this time, the Carter family said in a statement Sunday. The family is pleased that his decision last year to enter hospice care has sparked so many family discussions across the country on an important subject. Carters wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, died in November at the age of 96. As first lady, she worked tirelessly on behalf of mental health reform and professionalized the role of the presidents spouse. The former president is widely revered for his championing of human rights. His brokering of the Camp David Accords in 1978 with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin remains central to his legacy. Story continues A peanut farmer and US Navy lieutenant before going into politics, Carter, a Democrat, served one term as governor of Georgia before serving as president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. In his post-presidency years, Carter founded The Carter Center along with his wife in hopes of advancing world peace and health. The couple traveled to hot spots around the world, including Cuba, Sudan and North Korea, monitoring elections and working to eradicate Guinea worm disease and other neglected tropical diseases. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. CNNs Carma Hassan, Erica Henry, Michelle Shen, Keith Allen and Julia Manchester contributed to this story. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com 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 Udita Jhunjhunwala is an independent film critic, lifestyle writer, author and festival curator. She can be found on Twitter @UditaJ and Instagram @Udita_J Danish Khan is a London-based independent journalist and author of 'Escaped: True Stories of Indian fugitives in London'. He is researching Indian capitalism at University of Oxford. A pedestrian makes their way down a snow-covered path in Kingston, Ont., in 2021. Environment Canada has issued snow squall warnings and advisories for the region. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press - image credit) Heavy winds off Lake Ontario could bring blowing snow and near-zero visibility to the Kingston, Ont., area, Environment Canada says. The agency has issued snow squall warnings for a swath of eastern Ontario that includes Kingston, Greater Napanee and Prince Edward County. As much as 20 centimetres of snow could fall in those areas by Sunday afternoon, Environment Canada said. Coupled with winds of up to 80 km/h, visibility "will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow," its warning said. This map from Environment Canada shows snow squall warnings in red and advisories in grey for a swath of eastern Ontario on Feb. 17, 2024. This map from Environment Canada shows the extent of snow squall warnings and advisories across eastern Ontario as of 7 p.m. Saturday. (Environment Canada) Anyone who's travelling should prepare for conditions that could quickly deteriorate, Environment Canada said. Other parts of the region were under weather advisories rather than warnings as of Saturday evening. According to Kingston's forecast, the snow should taper off Sunday night, with clear skies arriving on Monday. Staff check the quality of durians at a warehouse in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Linh Dan Increased world demand but limited supply has continued to push up prices of rice and durian, while coffee prices have set a record. Since the beginning of the year, domestic and world coffee prices have continuously created new peaks. At the end of Feb. 17, a kilogram of raw coffee cost VND80,100 (US$3.26), an increase of VND1,400 from the previous day, a record high. Vietnams rice export price currently remains at $640 per ton, equivalent to last year's peak. The price of Vietnamese durian increased by 20% at the beginning of the year compared to the end of 2023. Businesses are looking to purchase monthong, a Thai durian variety that is also grown in Vietnam, at VND200,000 per kg, equal to the previous peak a year ago. Managing the largest durian, coffee and pepper granary in Vietnam, Vu Duc Con, deputy director of the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said 2023 was a good year for many agricultural products as prices continuously set new peaks. Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said, "This year, in addition to China's large demand, the impact of El Nino and the prolonged Red Sea crisis will reduce the number of fruit and vegetables in Asian countries, and West Africa and rising transportation costs further push up commodity prices." Vina T&T Group CEO Nguyen Dinh Tung added that prices of many agricultural products will continue to increase before balancing out in the middle of the year. "With durian, in the near future, China will allow Vietnam to export more frozen products to this country, so the price will continue to increase," he said. In February and March, when countries like Thailand and Malaysia entered the off-season of durian, Vietnamese durians will continue to be sold at high prices. With rice products, according to export businesses, global prices may not cool down because of a supply-demand imbalance. Raw coffee is also forecast to exceed VND80 million per ton this year. According to the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, importers around the world are looking to Vietnam to buy coffee. Last year, businesses almost emptied their warehouses for export. This was also the first time in history that by June 2023, people had no coffee to sell. A report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also predicts that commodity prices will change many times this year. In January, prices of most products tended to increase compared to November. Of which, coffee increased by 4-9%, rice by over 6%, mango by 8%, raw shrimp by 4% and raw fish by up to 6.7%. The ministry has set a target of total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products at $54-55 billion. Reporter Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis takes the stand as a witness during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool/Getty Images/TNS) Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the Lorain County Fairgrounds on June 26, 2021 in Wellington, Ohio. Trump was in Michigan Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, urging his supporters to vote early in the Feb. 27 primary. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/TNS) The Thai Thai Healthy Cuisine restaurant in Tamuning where the shooting took place. Chickens raised at a farm in Ha Nam Province in northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the farm Vietnam expects to increase its agricultural exports to China as the neighboring country agreed earlier this year to review regulations permitting the official export of Vietnamese poultry meat, according to the Agency of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The agency cited statistics by the General Department of Vietnam Customs showing that Vietnam shipped abroad 22,450 tonnes of meat and meat products worth US$110.35 million last year, up 19% in volume and 30.4% in value from 2022. The products were delivered to 28 markets around the world, with Hong Kong, China, Belgium, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Cambodia, France, and the U.S. among the biggest importers. Vietnam exported 4,770 tonnes of poultry meat and edible by-products valued at $12.04 million, representing year-on-year increases of 136.1% in volume and an 214% in value. China, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, South Korea, and Hong Kong were the main buyers. At present, Vietnam ships two products of the livestock industry to China, including bird's nests and milk, under official export according to the protocol on exporting bird's nest signed in 2022 and another on exporting milk signed in 2019 between the two countries. THE beleaguered Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has been plunged into further turmoil as internal divisions and bitter infighting have come to the fore, following the submission of the list of Senators and Proportional Representation candidates to replace those that were recalled by the partys interim secretary-general, Mr Sengezo Tshabangu. A couple of weeks ago the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) gazetted the CCC list which saw Mr Tshabangu as one of the candidates nominated to fill vacancies in the Senate under Matabeleland North Province. Other candidates nominated to fill vacancies in the Senate include lawyer Kucaca Phulu, Lilian Mlilo, Linda Sibanda and Collet Ndhlovu all from Bulawayo. Maxwell Mdhluri comes in for Manicaland while Sam Chapfudza fills in the Masvingo vacancy. In Matabeleland North, Mr Tshabangu, Teresa Kabondo and Grace Mampande complete the Senate list. The list has, however, ignited controversy within the party, leading to intense name-calling and bitter accusations among its ranks. Some members have even gone as far as boldly threatening that they would send lightning to their rivals. In a WhatsApp voice note which emerged last week, former Pumula legislator, Mr Albert Mhlanga claims to be part of the initial group with Mr Tshabangu that approached former leader Mr Nelson Chamisa and took him to task on the imposition of candidates to represent the party in last years harmonised elections. It is the same group that initiated the recalls from Parliament, claiming they were targeting people they believed had been imposed by Mr Chamisa. In the voice note, Mr Mhlanga accuses lawyer and former Nkulumane MP, Mr Phulu of imposing himself on the list of Senators and also hijacking their movement. I hope I find you well honourable lawyer Phulu, I remember you once tried to call me and I ignored your call because I was so angry and I was going to tell you off. I always tell you of this tendency of yours, where you go behind my back, you claiming its (Tendai) Biti, but I know its you, to ensure I do not get onto the list of Senatorial candidates. I do not know why you are fighting with me but I am also prepared to take these three years fighting with you, be prepared for that fight. How we fight, I do not know. You might be a lawyer and win every legal battle in court but you will never win the Mhlanga war, with my little money I am prepared to buy lightning from anyone selling it and that lightning strikes you, said Mr Mhlanga in the voice note recorded in isiNdebele. Contacted for comment, Mr Mhlanga confirmed that indeed it was him in the voice note, saying he stood by the sentiments. He accused Mr Phulu of hijacking their project and then sidelining them so that he could bulldoze his way back to Parliament for personal gain. We are the CCC whose leader is Mr Chamisa, the idea we had after the controversy surrounding the partys primary elections was to engage Mr Chamisa and come up with some form of solution. When that failed we decided to formalise the party, where together with the likes of Mbuso Siso and Collet Ndhlovu, to mention but a few, decided to work on issues like the party constitution. Phulu was approached and he flatly refused to be a double candidate or even to be our lawyer. We then got our own lawyers to represent us, when Phulu realised that we were scoring legal victories he requested to assist the lawyers, that is how he got into the picture, said Mr Mhlanga. The former legislator further claimed that after Mr Phulu got himself into the legal team, he then sidelined them and was now only dealing with Mr Tshabangu. It was honestly shocking. They were now always in court without even consulting us, they were recalling people willy nilly, which was not what our intentions were. Mr Phulu made sure he separated us from Mr Tshabangu, even the Senate and Proportional Representation list, these were all drafted by Phulu, where he made sure he bulldozes his way to Senate and ignoring the list which we had all drafted. This is not the first time that Mr Phulu has done this, when we formed the MDC-Alliance, he did exactly what he is doing now, that shows you the person he is, which is why I am saying better he be struck by lightning, that is how angry I am, said Mr Mhlanga. Mr Phulu on the other hand distanced himself from the accusations that were levelled at him by Mr Mhlanga, saying he was not aware what he was talking about. Yes I heard Mr Mhlangas voice note but to be honest, I dont even know what Mhlanga is talking about, if I knew, maybe I would give an informed comment but he is just babbling and saying nothing at all. His accusations do not even make any sense at all, he said. Meanwhile, the CCC held a Press conference in Bulawayo yesterday where it was announced that Mr Welshman Ncube was the leader of the party for the next 90 days. He will rotate with Mr Tendai Biti who will do another 90 days with Lynette Karenyi-Kore following after, in a rotational format until congress to elect a substantial leadership following the resignation of Mr Chamisa from the party. Insiders accused the new leadership of grabbing power from the Mr Tshabangu team that had pushed Mr Chamisa out of the picture. Mr Tshabangu was part of the interim leadership of the party, announced recently, but was not included in the new set up announced yesterday. The leadership committee of the party that was initially announced by the Mr Tshabangu team has Dingilizwe Tshuma, former legislator for Entumbane-Njube constituency in Bulawayo as chair, Mhlanga (former Pumula MP, Bulawayo deputy mayor and committees deputy), Tshabangu (secretary-general), Khaliphani Phugeni (information), Sikhululekile Moyo (interim chairperson for women), Nomvula Mguni (ex-proportional representation MP), Mbuso Siso (treasurer) and Benoni Ncube (youth). Breaking News via Email Conor here: The following report details the conditions temporary agriculture workers face. Meanwhile, the world is facing a major hunger crisis, Americans are paying more than ever for food, and the US is still facing a shortage of agriculture workers. But food companies are making record profits. By Sky Chadde who has covered the agriculture industry for Investigate Midwest since 2019 and spent much of 2020 focused on the crisis of COVID-19 in meatpacking plants, which included collecting and analyzing data on case counts. Originally published at Investigate Midwest. No smoke detector. No fire extinguisher. No emergency exit. In October 2022, an inspector ticked off problems in the white, single-story house in a rural town in western Nebraska. Three farmworkers the low-paid laborers that power the agriculture industry were scheduled to arrive in town soon. They would corral cattle in the cold. Their employer intended to keep them in the white house, but it was unlivable, according to the inspector. Along with no fire prevention measures in place, mold flowered in the basement, and water pooled in the drains. State records are unclear whether the employer addressed the inspectors findings. But, across the country, when farmworkers arrive at employer-provided housing, they often face similar problems, according to Investigate Midwests review of more than 6,600 inspections of H-2A housing and migrant labor camps from 19 states. The analysis found: FAULTY FIRE PREVENTION. Inspectors in nine of the 19 states noted dead smoke detectors, empty fire extinguishers and blocked or nonexistent emergency exits. Some inspectors asked employers to provide emergency exit signs in English and Spanish, the language most farmworkers are fluent in. In all, inspectors identified more than 300 problems related to fire prevention in just 2022, according to Investigate Midwests analysis. In one incident in 2021, two men perished in a fire in employer-provided housing in North Carolina. The cause of the fire is unclear. The state inspected the trailer before workers arrived, but the inspection offered no details on the condition of its smoke alarms. A survivor of the fire told Investigate Midwest he could not remember alarms sounding. The employer could not confirm whether the alarms worked, according to a fire investigation report. LEAKS CONTRIBUTING TO MOLD OR MILDEW. Inspectors in eight states identified leaky fridges or toilets, or standing puddles of water. In a New York house, water seeped from the upstairs kitchen into a bedroom. Mold grew in the bathroom. Some 200 inspections identified leaks or mold or mildew. Mold can lead to itchy eyes or skin and breathing issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MISSING FIRST AID KITS. In nine states, inspectors recorded either missing first aid kits or kits that had insufficient supplies. Providing a first aid kit to H-2A workers is a federal requirement, yet inspectors had to remind employers of this about 100 times in 2022, according to the records. Agriculture work often exposes workers to danger, such as excessive heat and pesticides that can irritate the eyes and skin. The figures above represent a small sample of the total number of inspections in a year. In some instances, the issues were fixed during follow-up inspections or on the spot, as some inspection documents showed. Problems can persist, though. For example, in 2021 in southern Michigan, an inspector visited a grouping of houses along a rural highway. He noted an empty fire extinguisher, no batteries in the smoke detectors and a broken GFCI outlet. The inspector told the employer the critical violations needed to be rectified before workers arrived. A follow-up inspection, months later, would confirm the fixes. But in the previous two years, inspectors had identified similar issues, records show. In all, only six inspection records in the 19 states explicitly stated dwellings were in good condition. Many people working in the American agriculture industry have the potential to face substandard housing. There are roughly 1 million farmworkers in the U.S., according to federal data. About a third of them arrive in the U.S. on H-2A, or temporary agriculture labor, visas. They detassel the corn that allows major seed and pesticide companies, such as Bayer and Corteva, to produce more efficient seed varieties to market to farmers. They pick and package the vegetables that consumers purchase conveniently at grocery stores. And, more commonly now, they build massive barns for the livestock industry. The federal government requires all states to inspect H-2A housing annually, though only some states inspect known migrant labor camps. Understanding the quality of farmworker housing proved difficult. Starting two years ago, Investigate Midwest attempted to obtain farmworker housing inspections from every state but was stymied. The U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees the H-2A program, said it could not provide detailed inspection information. Several states just denied requests for inspections. Some states said inspections were only maintained on paper, leading to requests for hefty copying fees. When states did supply their records, sometimes critical information, such as the employers name and the inspectors comments, was redacted making it difficult to link repeated issues to specific companies. (Investigate Midwest successfully challenged the redactions in Illinois.) Chronic Housing Complaints Farmworkers have complained of substandard housing for decades. In 1960, television viewers saw farmworkers living in horrifying conditions on the CBS broadcast, Harvest of Shame, which was produced by Edward R. Murrow. Since then, advocacy groups, government agencies and news organizations have documented consistently unsafe housing. In 2019 and 2020, the organization Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc., or CDM, spent months interviewing 100 workers in Mexico. They had been hired to work in the U.S. through the H-2A program over the past four years. Nearly half reported overcrowded and/or unsanitary conditions, according to the organizations report. One worker told the organization his employer-provided housing was infested with rats and had a broken refrigerator, so food quickly spoiled. Another worker relayed living in an iron chicken coop. At minimum, all states must inspect employer-provided H-2A housing before the dwelling is occupied. Only some states inspect after workers arrive. In its report, CDM said inspections while workers are present is essential housing that appears to be adequate prior to occupation may quickly become overcrowded, unsanitary, and unsafe once occupied. That was the situation in 2018 in Missouri, which only inspects H-2A housing prior to occupancy. A Florida labor contractor had bought two houses for workers who would pick watermelons in the states Bootheel that summer. When the inspector visited, she approved both houses. Her only notes: Large trash container for weekly pickup. 3 smoke alarms. Will take workers to local laundry mat (sic) once a week. Soon, though, federal investigators descended on the labor contractor after two workers complained about their treatment. When investigators toured the houses two months after the state inspection they found unsafe, deteriorating and unsanitary conditions. Trash had piled up inside and out. A toilet leaked so much water pooled under the floor. Milk was stored in the freezer because the fridge failed. After the federal investigation became public, Missouri officials with the states department of economic development told Investigate Midwest an inspection report is a snapshot in time. Flailing System to Inspect Houses Half a century ago, the government created a system to address poor farmworker housing, among other indignities. But the system has struggled to perform its basic duties, Investigate Midwest has reported. Inspecting houses often means spending hours driving to rural areas, and developing relationships with farmworkers who could blow the whistle on poor housing takes time. You cant just put somebody in that seat, a former inspector told Investigate Midwest. But staff turnover has plagued the program. One of its basic tenets is outreach to farmworkers, which many state inspectors fail to perform on a yearly basis, according to internal program reports. Federal Data Lacking The U.S. Department of Labor maintains detailed and readily available records on the H-2A visa program. On its website, the labor department has collated how many hours will be worked on each day of the week, the education level employers require for workers, and even the middle initials of the lawyers who fill out the H-2A paperwork for employers. Little is available on housing quality. The federal data shows where workers will live, how many people will stay there with them and whether theyll stay in a house, motel or barracks. But the records only capture whether a state inspector decided the location met the federal standard there are no details as to what problems inspectors might have encountered. The federal government collects the housing inspections performed by each state, but its unclear what happens after that. State officials either report and/or upload the records through a U.S. labor department computer application, but the federal agency does not have a mechanism in place to search through the records, it told Investigate Midwest. When Investigate Midwest requested housing inspections from the agency, the request was denied because the request could not be completed. According to the labor departments data on its website, a majority of farmworker housing meets federal standards. In recent years, more than 95% of inspected H-2A dwellings hit the mark. That figure obscures a more complex reality. In Michigan in 2021, for example, about 97% of inspected dwellings met federal standards, according to the federal labor departments data. Yet that same year, state inspectors detected problems at two-thirds of farmworker housing, according to Investigate Midwests analysis of state records. And 10% had what the state considered critical violations dead smoke detectors, blocked emergency exits, leaks. Housing quality is a major determinant in a persons health, and studies have linked substandard housing to poor health in farmworkers. Lack of housing and poor housing can be a significant source of stress for farmworkers, the American Public Health Association, an organization that publishes studies on public health, said in a policy statement. Farmworkers who depend on their employers for housing are especially vulnerable since expressing concerns with housing quality could result in both job and housing loss. As Project Ukraine continues to collapse, European countries are losing their enthusiasm to host Ukrainian nearly six million refugees and in many cases, are now nudging them to return to their war-torn country. Estonia appears to be the most zealous in this regard, talking about some sort of repatriation agreement with Ukraine, but it looks like Tallinn was informed that would be problematic. The EUs Temporary Protection for Ukrainians In September, the EU extended its Temporary Protection Directive by one year, until March 4, 2025. In theory, it allows Ukrainians to get work, plus access to education, housing and medical assistance, but it is temporary. As Zeynep Sahin Mencutek, a senior researcher at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, wrote shortly after the war began: Temporary protection status makes a huge difference. It means they live with constant ambiguity about their future and it makes for challenging encounters with local people and officials of the hosting state. Temporary protection means that migrants live under the constant fear of repatriation when the host state or the EC decides the country of origin has become safe and secure What we have learned from past use of temporary protection schemes is that they serve the interests of the host states, not those of the people fleeing danger. Temporary protection makes it easier for states to repatriate asylum seekers because they do not grant refugee status and do not commit to hosting or integrating asylum seekers permanently. Mencutek also notes how temporary protection in Europe has been (mis)used in the past: In 1997, however, Germany lifted this temporary protection status and repatriated 300,000 people to Bosnia, even though the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that conditions were not right for return. Other countries followed, resulting in the return of 700,000 people overall to Bosnia. Nowadays, European economies are in tatters and look to be entering another round of austerity. The large presence of Ukrainian refugees has in some cases drawn backlash from local populations, and some of the first budget cuts are programs to assist Ukrainian refugees. With todays crop of European politicians, some (like those in Estonia) may believe that getting Ukrainians to return home could help change the direction of the war. The EU could help relieve one of these problems by returning fighting-age Ukrainian males whove fled the country back to Ukraine. Ukrainian draft laws list the minimum age of conscription as 27. While their notion of maintaining a healthy young male population to prevent https://t.co/b1PASSWRX5 Patrick Fox (@RealCynicalFox) February 2, 2024 The Ukrainian military continues to struggle to mobilize an additional 450,000 to 500,000 men, and the defense ministry is begging Ukrainian men living abroad to return home to fight. While the EU extended its temporary protection, Ukrainians might also warrant protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention, supplemented by its 1967 Protocol. As UNHCR states,the core principle of the 1951 Convention is non-refoulement, which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. Nevertheless, some politicians are discussing possibilities for a safe return to areas of Ukraine that have been less affected by Russian attacks. (Who knows what the rules-based international order rules say about such a scheme?) The government in Kiev has floated the idea of drafting citizens abroad, but quickly walked it back as theres no mechanism to do such a thing. They might try other desperate tactics, though: Ukraine Defense Minister: All persons liable for military service will receive a summons, regardless of whether they are abroad or not and the possibility of sending subpoenas to smartphones is already being developed. The bill on military conscription includes penalties for pic.twitter.com/q0V50WXkQB Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) December 24, 2023 Zelensky recently talked about all the incentives to encourage their return: cash payments, subsidized mortgages, startup business loans. Ukraines Parliament is also discussing helping soldiers to freeze their sperm for their wives in case they die in combat. Zelensky is also pushing the idea of multiple citizenship, which would allow Ukrainians to keep visiting. That could be a risky trip considering some of the governments conscription tactics. Posted with permission from a conversation with a friend who fled Ukraine. Conscription is destroying families. pic.twitter.com/FYMBgyiEq8 Carl Beijer (@CarlBeijer) February 4, 2024 Mobilization in Ukraine must be tough: if you dont get out of the car, you should be shot in the knee. This must be the only way otherwise we will not win, the commander of the Ukrainian 118th brigade Stuzhenko about the powers of conscription officers during mobilization. pic.twitter.com/z2uQnczeEV Edgea (@OCZSILV) January 31, 2024 Ukraine is getting increasingly desperate. UKRAINIANS WHO DODGE DEATH VIA WAR TO HAVE THEIR ASSETS FROZEN * pic.twitter.com/8sHsFTVcE6 The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) February 8, 2024 Just how desperate will EU countries get along with them? Some countries are already encouraging Ukrainians to return through other means less generous benefits in the host country and a one-time payment to purchase a ticket. Heres a breakdown of Ukrainian refugees by EU country: And heres a look at what some countries are doing to get Ukrainians to return home. Norway Last year, Oslo was the first to adopt a plan to pay Ukrainians to go home, handing out 17,500 kroner ($1,200) to anyone ready to depart. Oslo is also scaling back benefits for refugees. From LSE EUROPP: In early December, the government implemented restrictions on the rights that displaced individuals from Ukraine had previously enjoyed. Norway became the first country in Europe to introduce limitations on free travel between Ukraine and Norway for those with temporary protection. This means a Ukrainian mother in Norway may no longer be allowed to meet her husband and her children may be unable to see their father, who might be fighting on the frontline and not allowed to leave the country. Other changes included limitations on child benefits during the first year and a lowering of accommodation standards for new arrivals. On 29 January, the government announced further restrictions for displaced individuals from Ukraine. Finland Helsinki is paying 5,300 euros if the application is submitted within 30 days after notification of a negative asylum decision or withdrawal of the application by the applicant. After 30 days, the amount is reduced to 2,000 euros. Estonia Roughly 7,000 mobilization-aged men from Ukraine have applied for temporary protection in Estonia, but Tallinn is the most enthusiastic about sending them back home and into the meat grinder, repeatedly expressing interest in signing a deal with Ukraine for the repatriation of relevant refugees. From Estonian Public Broadcasting: If Ukraine needs it, then Estonia can manage to find and repatriate this person to Ukraine, said Minister of the Interior Lauri Laanemets (SDE). We know in essence where these individuals are located and what they are doing. A lot the majority of them work; they have places of residence in Estonia. No agreement has been signed yet, apparently due to international law, much to the annoyance of Estonian officials like Laanemets. Czech Republic Provides an undisclosed amount to refugees with temporary protection status if they leave for Ukraine. The country has also reduced state contributions for Ukrainian refugees. Ireland Dublin recently cut Ukrainian refugee welfare rates from 220 euros a week to 38.80 euros a week, while they are staying in state accommodation. New arrivals are only permitted to access state-provided accommodation for 90 days, after which they must find their own. Poland New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to keep supporting Ukraine, but its unclear if that extends to refugees in Poland. As of now, Warsaw is extending the temporary protection only until June 30 of this year, and benefits are expected to be dramatically scaled back. Warsaw had already halved support earlier in 2023. UK Thousands of Ukrainian families face homelessness as the countrys Homes for Ukraine program, launched with much fanfare in the spring of 2022, is being quietly phased out. Tens of thousands of British families, for the derisory sum of 350 pounds a month, hosted Ukrainian refugees for six-month periods, but the government did nothing to find permanent housing for the population, and looks like time for many has run out. Its now a choice of returning home, going somewhere else, or living on the streets. Germany German officials say they will not be deporting any Ukrainians. From the Kyiv Post: The Minister of Justice of Germany, Marko Buschmann, has affirmed that Germany will not compel Ukrainian refugees to serve in the Armed Forces or deport them to Ukraine, as reported by Deutsche Welle. Forcing people to engage in military service against their will is not our approach, Buschmann stated. At the same time, however, Germany did just enact a law intended to enable easier and swifter expulsion of failed asylum seekers. The new measures include longer periods of pre-deportation custody in order to give authorities more time to complete the process before having to release an individual. Police will also have extended powers to search for those ordered to leave, and access their property, such as phones. It should be noted there are exclusion clauses in the Refugee Convention: (a) he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes; (b) he has committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of refuge prior to his admission to that country as a refugee; (c) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Theres also this nugget from Deutsche Welle: Smugglers and other kinds of criminals, including those without convictions but suspected of criminal associations, could face faster deportations, as part of efforts to more consistently and more quickly act against dangerous individuals, said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. Considering how gung-ho Berlin is about Project Ukraine, would it be surprising if some Ukrainians of fighting age get swept up in such efforts? Regardless, Germany is reeling from its energy crisis, is in a recession, and has decided to spend more on Project Ukraine and militarization while cutting social programs meaning it might not be a very attractive location for Ukrainian refugees for much longer. In September, Berlin announced that it will cut spending on refugee aid sent to states by nearly 50 percent and, according to Reuters, entirely halt its contribution to the costs of caring for and integrating the 1.08 million Ukrainian refugees. Whether its Project Ukraine fatigue, budgetary constraints, or delusions that getting Ukrainians to return will make a difference in the war, the West that destroyed Ukraine in an effort to weaken Russia is now slowly moving towards sending Ukrainians back to the wreckage or however much Russia decides will be left of it. Are You Kinda Healthy and Over 30? Apply to Join NASAs Simulated Mars Mission Gizmodo Plane Passengers Horrified as Maggots Rain Down From Luggage Compartment Futurism Lawmaker raises new flap over U.S.-funded virology research that critics call risky Science Breathing Space New Left Review. On anti-utopian architecture. Climate/Environment #COVID-19 High-risk patients alarmed by CDCs plan to ease covid isolation guidance Washington Post Prevalence of Immunosuppression Among US Adults JAMA. In this study using the 2021 NHIS, an estimated 6.6% of US adults had immunosuppression. This rate of immunosuppression was higher than the previous national estimate of 2.7% using the 2013 NHIS. Africa China? Syraqistan European Disunion New Not-So-Cold War Imperial Collapse Watch Do you want to see what total institutional failure looks like? Let me walk you through the US Armys failed 40-year effort to develop a new light scout helicopter that finally ground to a halt last week, after developing and canceling the helicopter we need today 20 years ago. pic.twitter.com/Boo8Cfzbm4 Armchair Warlord (@ArmchairW) February 17, 2024 Army moving towards new Javelin launcher fielding in 2025, software glitch fixed Breaking Defense Territorial Labor and the Political Economy of American Empire Law and Political Economy Project From Individual to Society: New Insights on Mental Health Cares Role in Social Justice Mad in America South of the Border Russia Claims Ecuador Has Agreed to Cancel Weapons Swap With US Bloomberg Trump Fani Willis testimony evokes long-standing frustrations for Black women leaders AP Atlanta Prosector Fani Willis Sent Black Educators to Jail Black Agenda Report. From August, still germane. 2024 AI Reddit Is Licensing Content To An Unnamed AI Company PC Mag AI cannot catch covid or get long covid. This could very well be the plan. Noha Aboelata, MD (@NohaAboelataMD) February 17, 2024 Healthcare? Quest Diagnostics pays $5M after mixing patient medical data with hazardous waste The Register Antitrust Cancer Patients Caught in the Crosshairs of Hospital Consolidation MedPage Today Police State Watch New bill would let defendants inspect algorithms used against them in court The Verge The Bezzle Supercomputers and AI Unlock Secret Materials for Next-Gen Carbon Capture SciTech Daily Our Famously Free Press Class Warfare Business, labor fight over California law few know about Cal Matters Labor Action Tracker, Annual Report 2023 Cornell University ILR School, University of Illinois LER School, the number of work stoppages increased by ~9% (433 to 470) between 2022 and 2023, the number of workers involved in work stoppages increased by ~141% (224,000 to 539,000). Take Shelter Atmos Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Armenia and Azerbaijan on the brink of a FULL-SCALE WAR following alleged provocations Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is warning that Azerbaijan is planning a "full-scale war" that could see large swathes of Armenia being invaded. There is almost a century's worth of conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, and tensions have increased in recent months after Baku unconquered the ethnic Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh, known to Armenians as Artsakh, following a lightning military offensive in September. (Related: U.S. must be careful in mediating Azerbaijan blockade of Armenian breakaway state or be accused of complicity in genocide, experts caution.) "Our analysis shows that Azerbaijan wants to launch military action in some parts of the border with the prospect of turning military escalation into a full-scale war against Armenia," said Pashinyan during a meeting of his government. "This intention can be read in all statements and actions of Azerbaijan." "Azerbaijan continues to pursue a policy of 'give me what I want through negotiations, otherwise I will take it by war,'" added Pashinyan. The Armenian government has urged Azerbaijan to refrain from "destabilizing actions." The statements by Pashinyan and the Armenian government come just two days after four Armenian soldiers were killed by Azerbaijani fire in the biggest skirmish since last year. The Armenian Defense Ministry confirmed in a statement that four soldiers were killed and another wounded at a combat post in the southern province of Syunik. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry claimed in a statement that its attack on the Armenian position was retaliatory, due to an Armenian "provocation" that wounded one of its soldiers. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. Yerevan has denied this allegation, and Baku said it has no intention of further escalation. "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," said the ministry in its statement. In a statement, the Armenian Foreign Ministry alleged that this is part of Azerbaijan's continued attempts to look for a "pretext" to attack internationally recognized Armenian territory, accusing Baku of deliberately jeopardizing the process toward normalizing relations between the two nations. "The Azerbaijani leadership is consistently trying to thwart the efforts of actors interested in the stability and security of the South Caucasus to resume negotiations aimed at resolving relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan," said the ministry. Azerbaijan denies having claims to Armenian land Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who last month won re-election for a fifth consecutive term in an election described by poll observers as "not competitive" and "held in a restrictive environment" claimed that it was Armenia, not Azerbaijan, that had outstanding territorial claims on the other nation. "We have no territorial claims to Armenia, and they should give up their claims. Talking to us in the language of blackmail will cost them dearly," threatened Aliyev, who added that peace can only be achieved if Armenia changes its constitution. Aliyev's government asserts that the Armenian constitution contains "territorial claims against Azerbaijan," with portions of the constitution that allude to reunifying Armenia with the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Pashinyan responded by stating that Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity of all neighboring countries, adding that it rejects any attempts by outsiders to change the country's internal legal system. An analysis by CivilNet notes that, since 2020, Azerbaijani forces have occupied roughly 215 square kilometers (83 square miles) of internationally recognized Armenian land and continue to refuse to relinquish their control over this territory. Watch this video of American vlogger Patrick Lancaster reporting from Yerevan about how Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: FORGED IN FIRE: Russia-China ties reach "unprecedented" level amid tensions with the West. U.S. strike in Baghdad kills commander linked to deadly Jordan attack. Fake intellectuals working for think tanks funded by the arms industry are driving support for war after war after war. Sources include: Express.co.uk RFI.fr GreekCityTimes.com Reuters.com AlJazeera.com KyivIndependent.com CivilNet.am Brighteon.com Biden must be removed, says WV attorney general: Hes an elderly man with poor memory who mishandled classified documents West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is begging Vice President Kamala Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment and declare President Joe Biden unfit for office due to his cognitive decline. In a letter to Harris, Morrisey addressed a recent report by U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) special counsel Robert Hur who described Biden, 81, as being an "elderly man with poor memory." That report, Morrisey told Harris, "paints a clear picture of a president who is not up for the job," adding that Biden's "cognitive decline is of great concern to Americans, especially during these times that our nation is falling crisis after crisis both here and abroad." "We need a president who is mentally fit," Morrisey said. While Hur advised against prosecuting Biden for his many crimes, including the mishandling of classified documents, his report did take into account Biden's many faux pas and word salad episodes in front of political figures and world leaders who witnessed the president making a fool of himself. (Related: Did you know that Biden's illegal aliens are now taking up residence with American host families?) President Harris? For those unfamiliar with it, the 25th Amendment was adopted in 1965 following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, clarifying the succession of power in the event of a sudden death or resignation of a U.S. leader. In the case of Biden, it allows for Harris, his vice president, to take over if he is no longer able or fit to hold office. Under Section 4 of the amendment, which is what Morrisey specifically addressed to Harris, the vice president and presidential cabinet have the authority to remove a sitting president if he is deemed physically incapable of performing his duties but refuses to leave. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Learn about our free, non-commercial AI / LLM project here. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. The 25th Amendment has yet to be invoked, which means this would be the first time, assuming Harris takes Morrisey up on his advice. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Harris indicated that she is "ready to serve" if something were to happen to Biden rendering him unable to continue occupying office. The only problem is that Harris is wildly unpopular, a recent NBC poll indicating that just 28 percent of registered voters have a positive opinion of her 53 percent, meanwhile, have a negative view of her. Even so, Harris told the Journal that she believes herself to be a popular and proven leader in her own mind, suggesting she has nothing to prove and that her track record speaks for itself. In typical demented form, Biden is lashing out in anger over the suggestion that he is too old and mentally unfit to continue being president. "I am an elderly man and I know what I am doing," Biden fumed in response to Hur's description of him. Ironically, at the same press conference where Biden yelled this, he confused Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi with the leader of Mexico. A recent ABC News / Ipsos poll found that as many as 86 percent of U.S. voters believe that Biden is too old to serve another term in office. "I'm looking forward to Kamala's state of the union address," wrote a commenter mockingly. "The word salads will be spectacular." "So they want to replace a senile Joe Biden with a stupid Kamala Harris," wrote another. "Sure, that will work out just fine ... not." "The U.S. needs to put a ceiling on the presidential age, or force 70+ candidates to take a cognitive test to ascertain mental soundness and ability," said another. The latest news about Biden's cognitive decline and what it means for America can be found at BrainDamaged.news. Sources for this article include: RT.com NaturalNews.com Britain is running short of tea due to supply chain disruptions caused by Red Sea Houthi attacks Houthis of Yemen have been hijacking commercial ships that are Israeli- and United States-owned in the Red Sea, attacking them with drones, missiles and speed boats as a response to the war in the Gaza Strip. Due to this, some vessels have started taking longer routes to avoid the attacks and this move has sent prices skyrocketing. Now, the United Kingdom is being hit by a potential shortage of the nation's favorite brew because of this. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it had seen "temporary disruption" to some black tea lines, and an industry source said there had been some delays to flavored lines. The tea aisle in the markets can be seen half empty. BRC spokesperson Tom Holder said that the Red Sea attacks had led to some delays, but that he did not expect them to last long. "It is a blip," he said, adding that he expected companies to adjust their orders to account for the lengthened shipping times. He said shortages had probably been exacerbated by people panic-buying tea, somewhat like the toilet paper shortages at the start of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. A Sainsbury's in Manchester had a notice that read: "We are experiencing supply issues affecting the nationwide supply of black tea. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to be back in full supply soon." More warnings are in place in stores across the United Kingdom. Sainsbury's executives reassured customers that any shortages were only temporary and that the impact on consumers was expected to be "minimal." Top black tea brands have almost gone out of stock. Yorkshire Tea and Tetley Tea, two of the most popular tea companies in Britain, said in statements that they were monitoring the situation to ensure they could maintain supplies of black tea, but that orders were being fulfilled. "This is a critical period which requires our constant attention," Tetley said in a statement. It said that it had implemented measures in recent months to mitigate any disruption to supplies because of shipping issues. Non-black teas such as Twining's Lemon Green Tea and Peppermint are currently unaffected. Thanks to your generous support, we are building the infrastructure of human freedom and actively donating our technology to independent publishers, authors and home schooling organizations. Learn about our game-changing non-commercial AI project here. Support our ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance human knowledge by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com. According to observers, in a nation where people are morning-and-night tea drinkers, the imminent shortage is already causing a stir. Britons drink about 100 million cups of tea each day, according to the U.K. Tea and Infusions Association. The largest share of tea imports to Britain from outside the European Union comes from sub-Saharan Africa, followed by Asia and Oceania, according to Statista, a market research provider. "If an actual shortage of tea hit? In my office, it would be outrage," Eirann Carney, 23 years old, a shopper in London, said. "Honestly I think people would not go in." Food shortages have been haunting the U.K. since the Ukraine-Russia war erupted The impending tea shortage is not the first since conflicts all around the world have started. It came after widespread egg shortages across the country last year. This was blamed on a bird flu outbreak and rising costs for feed and energy. The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war also affected the supplies as the region is a major producer of wheat which is a main ingredient of chicken feed. All major British supermarkets imposed a limit of a maximum of two or three boxes of eggs per customer as many shoppers faced empty shelves. According to reports, tea drinkers from Britain have so far largely avoided tea shortages in the past. But Twinings already reported suffering "challenges" with sourcing its lapsang souchong blend last April which led to it being replaced with an imitation that angered some fans. Last summer, Tetley also narrowly avoided a tea shortage crisis after workers in the GMB Union accepted a new pay deal that called off planned strike action for 200 workers at Tata Consumer Products Limited in Teesside, the only producer of Tetley tea bags for the U.K. and Canada. But as the Houthi rebels continue the attacks, it may not only be tea, which is largely produced in Asia and East Africa, that would go out of stock or come with high price tags. It would not be a surprise that other raw materials or by-products imported from the said regions are the same. This is unless the freight and shipping companies also become creative in how they sail in the Red Sea to dodge any danger of the rebel attacks. (Related: Commercial ships in Red Sea get creative to avoid being targeted by Houthi rebels, announcing things like, "All Crew Muslims.") Head over to SupplyChainWarning.com to read more stories about shortages and disruptions of food supply. Sources for this article include: Mirror.co.uk NYTimes.com Telegraph.co.uk Sen. Ron Johnson and Elon Musk explain why Ukraine will lose the war in X discussion about Ukraine spending bill In a Spaces discussion on the social media platform X hosted by venture capitalist David Sacks, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) and Elon Musk talked candidly about why they oppose the war in Ukraine and why Ukraines chances of winning the war are so abysmal. They were joined by Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Sen. Johnson said: "We all have to understand that Vladimir Putin will not lose this war. With four times the population of Ukraine and a far bigger industrial base, he believes Ukraine doesnt stand a chance. "Russia can produce 4.5 million artillery shells per year. We're not even up to 1 million per year. The average age of a Ukrainian soldier right now is 43 years old," he noted. He added that around 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, so those who say they are concerned about the Ukrainian people should also want the war to end. The country faces almost total destruction if the war continues. Of course, Russians are also dying, as are civilians on both sides. Anyone who expects a victory for Ukraine, according to Senator Johnson, is living in a fantasy world. Elon Musk agreed with Senator Johnson. "As you said, there's no way Putin is going to lose. If he backs off, he will be assassinated. And 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" he said. He also responded to previous charges that he is a Putin apologist, pointing out how his businesses have indirectly worked to undermine Russia. For example, he said that SpaceX has been instrumental in taking clients from Russias space launch business, while the Starlink internet service they have provided to Ukraine has been vital for the countrys communications. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. They made it clear that they dont think the $95 billion spending package containing $60 billion for Ukraine that recently passed a Senate vote will do much to change the situation. According to Sen. Johnson, the money will just needlessly add fuel to the flames of a bloody stalemate. Musk concurred: The really important thing to keep in mind here is that this spending does not help Ukraine. Prolonging the war does not help Ukraine. This is very important to appreciate. He said that while its nice that America wants to help, prolonging the war only means that more people are going to die. Musk has made similar comments on X in the past, expressing his doubts that Ukraine can win the war and calling out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for repeatedly asking for aid. Sen. Vance warns aid package text paves the way for potential Trump impeachment Sen. Vance said the aid package, which also includes funding for Taiwan and Israel, along with humanitarian aid for Gaza, needs to be killed. The lawmaker sent a memo to his Republican colleagues in Congress pointing to an impeachment time bomb for the next Trump presidency if he tries to stop funding the way in Ukraine that is hidden within the text of the funding bill. While the bill guarantees federal funding for Ukraine through September 2025, Trump has stated publicly that he will end the war within 24 hours of taking office. This would also naturally end the funding, which provides the grounds to impeach him, Vance believes. It would effectively prevent him from making his own decisions about federal funding for Ukraine. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com MSN.com Fortune.com Kevin OLeary slams Trumps civil ruling as un-American and a shock to the entire real estate industry In a scathing rebuke of a New York Judges decision to fine Donald Trump a staggering $355 million, the entrepreneur and media personality Kevin OLeary minced no words, denouncing the ruling as unjust, appalling and ultimately un-American. (Article by Mary K. Jacob republished from NYPost.com) Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engorons Friday ruling not only slapped Trump with that hefty fine, but also with a temporary ban from conducting business in his native New York. OLeary, known for his role on Shark Tank, lambasted the decision, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent for the entire real estate industry. OLeary had previously been critical of the months-long fraud case in the media, saying on CNN recently that, I dont think this thing will ever survive appeal regardless of what the fine is. This doesnt even make sense. That fact that he was found guilty, you might as well find guilty every real estate developer on Earth, OLeary said in an exclusive interview with The Post. 3 Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary has slammed a New York judges ruling in Donald Trumps civil fraud case.ABC via Getty Images The judges decree bars Trump from assuming any officer or director positions in New York for three years, a move OLeary sees as detrimental not just to Trump, but also to the broader business landscape. I dont understand where someone got hurt What developer doesnt ask for the highest price valued for any building they built? OLeary said. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Learn about our free, non-commercial AI / LLM project here. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. 3 Donald Trump cited Judge Engorons ruling as purely political.Steven Hirsch for NY Post Predicting an overturn on appeal, OLeary cautioned against the lasting repercussions this ruling might have on American business. Its not healthy for the country, he emphasized. I want this reviewed and appealed and turned over because its wrong for everybody that participates. He later added, If this judgment sticks. Every developer must be jailed. They must be found guilty. They must be put out of business. You cant do this to one another. Its not about Trump. Its appalling. Its unjust. I would go as far to say its un-American, OLeary added. Dubbing New York a loser state in the wake of the ruling, OLeary also pointed out the potential exodus of businesses from the state if the decision holds. Were just stunned. You have no idea. The shock wave sent through the real estate industry. Insane, he said. 3 New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron.Steven Hirsch for the N.Y.Post The ruling didnt spare Trumps two eldest sons either, who were slapped with a two-year business ban and ordered to pay $4 million each. In response, and during the 2024 election cycle, Trump slammed the judgment as nothing short of an election interference witch hunt, decrying what he perceives as a biased and politically motivated assault on the justice system. Read more at: NYPost.com Michael Yon joins Mike Adams IN STUDIO with bombshell revelations about NGOs orchestrating MASS INVASION of America War correspondent and former Special Forces soldier Michael Yon is back with Mike Adams , this time in-studio, to discuss breaking news of the day, including the ongoing border war between the United States and Mexico. Yon spilled the beans about the organized crime syndicates in government and non-government that are funding the border invasion. The latter, known as non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, are largely behind the migrant crisis, bringing in cash from often unknown sources to facilitate the illegal takeover. According to Yon, there are hundreds of NGOs working behind the scenes to destroy America with this invasion. They exist both in cities and the jungle, and it is almost as if they were all called up a few years back and told to strike when the iron is hot, which appears to be now. "There are so many of these," Yon explained. "It's just over the top. I can't keep track of them all. And every country I go to has different ones." Be sure to watch the full video interview with Yon, in studio, below: (Related: American host families are now taking in illegals off the streets to live in their homes "How many are coming? We knew nothing!") Yon helped defeat Senate immigration bill To his credit, Yon played an instrumental role in stopping the infamous, pork-laden Senate immigration bill from being passed by Congress a good thing, seeing as how it would have ushered in millions more illegal aliens every single year. Yon also explained that Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas is now putting more pressure on Mexico to help stop the border invasion by inspecting all vehicles coming up from Mexico. Doing this, Yon says, will help force Mexico's hand on the matter. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Learn about our free, non-commercial AI / LLM project here. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. "It's the United States invading the United States, not Mexico," Yon clarified, describing the illicit forces from within that seek to destroy the host country to which they are acting as parasites. "We're the ones funding it. We are the ones keeping the border open. We're the ones throwing corn on the ground. And it will continue as long as this government is in power." Yon seems to believe that America has "crossed the Rubicon," so to speak, in terms of letting it all go too far. Eventually, and in many ways currently, it will manifest as war on American soil to fight back against the illegal onslaught and the crime it is bringing into the country. "You're going to end up having to fight one way or the other," Yon wans. "The crime is dramatically increasing." "A lot of these people have no rules from the countries that they came from. You should see them coming through the Darien Gap. There are a lot of those feral types from, for instance, Venezuela, people released from prisons and that sort of thing." Yon is certainly what many would consider to be an expert on the subject of immigration, including that of the illegal variety. He is a world traveler, of sorts, who has seen it all. Last time Yon appeared on the Health Ranger Report, he did so remotely from Panama City. And before that, he was in El Salvador. He is seeing firsthand the routes the migrants are taking, as well as the methods they are using, with the help of shadily-funded NGOs, to bust through South and Central America as they venture towards the United States. Once these people reach America's southern border, though, they are now encountering the blockades Texas is installing, which are driving much of the controversy in the illegal immigration fight. Be sure to check out our latest news coverage about the migrant invasion of America at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: Brighteon.com NaturalNews.com The southern region has been heating up over the last few very sunny days, with noontime temperatures hovering around 36-37 degrees Celsius. The heat has caused waves of dehydration and fatigue throughout the city's population. Normally, the region begins experiencing heat waves starting mid-February, according to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center. However, the heat is coming earlier this year, and to a wider area, due to the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon. Le Dinh Quyet, head of the forecast department of the center, said that this new El Nino period would see stronger heat waves compared to the previous two periods, one in 2016 and the other in 2020. The highest temperature recorded in February 2016 was 37 degrees Celsius, and by Feb. 15 this year, the highest temperature recorded in Bien Hoa, around 30 km from HCMC, was already 38 degrees. More long-lasting heat waves are expected in the coming time, especially between March-April. Quyet said stronger heat waves and less rain may cause droughts and salt intrusion in agricultural areas. Mekong Delta localities will also face the risks of erosion as canal water levels drop. Nguyen Ngoc Huy, a weather expert, said climate change has also contributed to abnormalities in southern Vietnam's weather patterns this year. Several weather stations across the world have forecast that temperatures in the first four months of this year will be 0.7-1.5 degrees higher than the average temperatures recorded over the last decade. "The number of sunny days in the south will be higher than in previous years, with more rains and floods expected in the latter half of this year compared to previous years," said Huy. Obamas CIA ginned up the entire Trump-Russia conspiracy, say Matt Taibbi: WATCH After his investigative partner Michael Shellenberger appeared with Jesse Watters onthis week to break the news, journalist Matt Taibbi ofalso joined Watters to further delineate on the bombshell allegations concerning the Obama regime's efforts to impede Donald Trump from getting elected in 2016. In case you missed it, we covered Shellenberger's interview with Watters in an earlier article, and now you will get to hear what Taibbi had to say about what was uncovered. We now know that Barack Obama's CIA worked with two-time failed presidential wannabe Hillary Clinton's foreign agents in London to contrive the Russian collusion the hoax. This ultimately led to the FBI investigation Trump and his campaign with illegal wiretapping, a sting on Michael Flynn, and later the Comey firing after Trump found out about the whole thing. "And then Comey leaks the memos which triggers the Mueller investigation," Watters explains in the below segment. "Now the Mueller investigation was designed to cover up for Obama and Hillary and tee up impeachment. It failed on impeachment, but the coverup worked until now." Biden's impeachable offenses against Trump Based on the information they obtained through investigations, Shellenberger and Taibbi determined that this whole thing was a "broad political espionage campaign" involving many sectors of the D.C. swamp. Why none of it came up in the Durham investigation has to do with the fact that said investigation "was limited to a few areas and that he wasn't looking in this particular direction," Taibbi told Watters. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. In essence, the D.C. establishment's intelligence community cooked the books, so to speak, inventing a false narrative about Russia using some kind of influence campaign to get Trump elected. It turns out the whole thing was faked by Obama, Hillary, et al. to try to stop Trump from winning. "It's a WMD (weapons of mass destruction)-style story," Taibbi said. "They suppressed dissenting opinions and created a false narrative." Concerning the binder that Shellenberger spoke about prior, Taibbi revealed that there could actually be as many as three binders somewhere out there. The full extent of what they contain remains unknown, but Taibbi did confirm that a report was compiled about the intelligence community's assessment of what happened. That report allegedly never left the ground of Langley. "It's a 17- to 20-page report that was confirmed by multiple sources," Taibbi explained. Beyond that, there could be binders out there as many reports are now claiming. And Taibbi says that there is certainly a lot more details about what went on in the Russian collusion hoax that are hiding out there unknown to the public. "There are thousands of hours of investigation and their conclusions have not yet been declassified," he added. This explains why the powers that be do not want Trump to return to the white house in 2025 because if he does, he will absolutely blow the lid on everything and they cannot let that happen or else they are toast. Watters and Taibbi also addressed another pertinent matter that could spell an end to Biden's presidency. "Redacted FOIA documents suggest that Biden has been conspiring against Donald Trump with the intelligence community to prosecute the former president in federal court, which would be an impeachable offense," Watters revealed. "Commenting on the matter, one viewer wrote that it is obvious Biden "is rotten to the core," adding that he hopes Taibbi and Shellenberger's hard work will pay off and lead to justice someday. As the Russian collusion hoax continues to be exposed and unravel, we will keep you abreast of the latest at Trump.news. Sources for this article include: YouTube.com NaturalNews.com Opposition to mRNA injections now considered a CRIME in France, violators face 45,000 euro fine and 3 years in prison for questioning the science The French government just passed a law to fine and imprison people for refusing to get injected with mRNA (modRNA) "vaccines." All opposition to mRNA-LNP (lipid nanoparticles) injections in France is now considered to be "sectarian aberration." Violations carry with them a penalty of 45,000 euros and up to three years imprisonment. "It will not tolerate any criticism of the therapeutic treatments which will be recommended or made obligatory by the state," tweeted Dr. Kat Lindley. "Any person who dares to openly criticize these therapies will be liable to fines and imprisonment." Known as Article 4, the highly illiberal law prohibits residents and citizens from saying anything bad about "therapeutic" treatments like mRNA shots that are either mandatory or just recommended by the French government. "Already, renowned doctors are being targeted, whom this article will silence," said a French X account called Annie Arnaud. "France is taking a totalitarian run. Macron and his henchmen are followers of the WEF (World Economic Forum) and globalist policies." "It is a catastrophe for the country where a majority of citizens no longer obey vaccine propaganda. Social unrest ahead." (Related: Did you know that mRNA injections cause cancer?) Medical fascism on the rise Some accounts are saying that Article 4 was proposed but not actually passed, so it remains to be seen if any enforcement comes about because of this alleged ruling. Even so, the fact that there are politicians out there who believe in this type of medical fascism is concerning in and of itself. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. "It's nonetheless a very important warning to everybody about how extreme fascist members of the WEF and other globalists try to push their insanely sick ideas through everywhere, in all free countries," one account wrote. "That's also the reason for the current mix of mass murder of the old freedom keeping cultures, the individuals holding these cultures of freedom, mass murder via poisons and in every other way, and combined with the replacement by totalitarian immigrants that is taking place, and combined with floating extreme fascist legislation everywhere. This massive push started with the extreme covid measures. They weren't temporary, they were meant to be fully implemented from that moment on and forward. That's also why the "emergency measures" have been kept for years after any "emergency" in order to condition populations to extreme fascist measures." Another person wrote that it is critical for We the People, no matter in which country we live, to speak up and speak out against this type of thing. Not only that, but naming and calling out each and every medical fascist in government who promotes this kind of thing will likewise deter government abuses of power. Another account wrote that Article 4 actually was adopted "in a 2nd vote," which means France is now a medical dictatorship where residents and citizens have to take the prescribed "medicine" the government gives them and do it with an approving smile. Meanwhile, France is accusing Russia of fomenting a disinformation campaign concerning its government in this key election year. The nation's authorities say Russia has been running a longstanding online manipulation campaign against Western backers of Ukraine, which of course include France. France's foreign ministry issued a statement about how 'no manipulation attempt will distract France from its support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression." If the vaccine industry has to force people to take its products behind the barrel of a gun in order for them to sell and make Big Pharma, it is probably time to reevaluate what it means to provide "health care" and probably stop using that term altogether. Learn more at BadMedicine.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com APNews.com Risky scientific experiments in our air and water are being carried out in the name of climate change From injecting reflective particles into our skies to pouring chemicals into the ocean, scientists have been interfering with the environment in the name of stemming so-called climate change. However, instead of helping the planet, these measures are largely untested and could well cause untold harm. For example, researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute of Massachusetts plan on pouring 6,000 gallons of a liquid solution containing the lye component sodium hydroxide into the ocean this summer. The idea is to reduce the acidity of a patch of water on the surface around 10 miles south of Martha's Vineyard so it can absorb 20 metric tons of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and store it there in the ocean. The $10 million project will be funded by taxpayers. Another questionable effort that is currently underway is marine cloud brightening in Australia, where researchers on a ship by the Whitsunday Islands are using high-pressure nozzles to spray a mixture of seawater into the air. They are aiming to brighten the clouds hovering at a low altitude over the ocean in hopes of helping them to reflect sunlight away from the planet. This, they believe, will cast a shadow on the ocean's surface, reducing the temperature of the water in the Great Barrier Reef area and potentially stemming the mass coral die-offs that have been taking place there. It is part of a $65 million project being led by Southern Cross University. Solar radiation management (SRM) projects are being explored to cool the atmosphere by reflecting sunlight in much the same way as a volcanic eruption via stratospheric aerosol injection. The concept was inspired by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, which resulted in the biggest eruption cloud ever measured. This sent ash and sulfur into the upper atmosphere, which had the effect of reducing the temperature by almost a full degree Fahrenheit for a year. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. Long-term effects of solar radiation management are unknown However, not much is known about the long-term effects of solar radiation management, which could prove wasteful and unhelpful at best but has the potential to cause unforeseeable damage. Some scientists believe that deploying sulfur into the stratosphere on a wide scale could turn the sky from its comforting blue to a milky white shade, while others think it could change global weather patterns in unpredictable ways, possibly exacerbating monsoons, droughts and other extreme weather events. A group of more than 400 scientists and academics have been calling for the creation of a non-use agreement for solar radiation management. Even one of the top researchers in the field, David Keith of The University of Chicago, acknowledges that we cant predict what effects it might have. He said that although it would likely have the cooling effect they seek, thats not to say that its a good idea. He said that it could harm the ozone layer or affect human health, in addition to impacting extreme weather events. Indeed, some models have indicated that releasing aerosols in the northern hemisphere could spur devastating droughts in sub-Saharan Africa. Other concerns that have been cited include its effects on the spread of malaria, the loss of different species of mammals in certain regions, and its influence on rainfall patterns. There are also serious concerns about how long this technology would need to be used and what would happen if it is ever stopped. Not surprisingly, one person who is in favor of the concept is Bill Gates, who has provided financial backing for solar geoengineering research programs. Sources for this article include: MishTalk.com FT.com DailyCaller.com TORCHED EM: Missouri secretary of state candidate uses flamethrower to burn GROOMING books in viral video A Republican candidate for the secretary of state position in Missouri has got a viral video circulating all over social media. Twenty-four-year-old Valentina Gomez has posted a clip where she used a flamethrower to burn LGBTQIA-inclusive books as part of her campaign. "When Im secretary of state, I will burn all books that are grooming, indoctrinating, and sexualizing our children. MAGA. America First," she captioned the post. "These books come from a Missouri Public Library. When I am in office, they will burn," she said in the video. The social media post ended with a picture of her holding a large gun cut to her campaign poster, where she described herself as "a woman on a mission." When Im Secretary of State, I will ?BURN?all books that are grooming, indoctrinating, and sexualizing our children. MAGA. America First?? pic.twitter.com/m8waKi3yhP Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForSOS) February 6, 2024 The said video was censored on Instagram and X. A note saying "may violate X's rules against Hateful Conduct," appeared on the post but it was removed on Wednesday, according to NBC News. It has 2.8 million views, 2,700 reposts and more than 6,000 comments as of press time. The books in the video were reported to be "Naked: Not Your Average Sex Encyclopedia," written by Myriam Daguzan Bernier and "Queer, 2nd Edition: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens" by Kathy Belge and Marke Bieschke. "Queer" co-author Bieschke reportedly reacted: "She is burning my book in public to get votes, not fascist or scary at all!" Moreover, Belge said in a statement to the Hill that it shouldn't come as a surprise that "extremism is on the rise." "Book banning is dangerous and book burning takes it to a whole new scary level," she also wrote. "All Americans should be concerned that a candidate for public office not only thinks book burning is acceptable, but that it is something that will help her get elected." Thanks to your generous support, we are building the infrastructure of human freedom and actively donating our technology to independent publishers, authors and home schooling organizations. Learn about our game-changing non-commercial AI project here. Support our ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance human knowledge by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com. Bernie, "Naked's" author, has yet to comment on Gomez's viral video. Maicoll Gomez, the secretary of state hopeful's campaign director said that the video's "message is simple." "You want to be gay? Fine, be gay. Just don't do it around children," she said in a statement. The candidate insisted on stopping the placement of books in libraries about the "left and gay ideologies" because children need to learn mathematics, and science, develop their people skills and get fit while protecting their innocence. They should "not be learning the ideologies that the radical left loves to push on children. I am against all drag shows around children, pride flags in classrooms, teachers with pronouns, people wanting to change genders, and people who cant even define what a woman is," Gomez said. "If genitals dont define gender, how does removing them affirm it? I only fear God." Her post is similar to one made by Missouri state senator and 2024 GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Eigel. He and state Senator Nick Schroer were seen firing flames at cardboard boxes and books during the St. Charles County Freedom Fest event outside St. Louis on September 15. "In the video, I am taking a flame thrower(sic) to cardboard boxes representing what I am going to do to the leftist policies and RINO corruption of the Jeff City swamp," Eigel said. "But let's be clear, you bring those woke pornographic books to Missouri schools to try to brainwash our kids, and I'll burn those too on the front lawn of the governor's mansion." Gomez's video sparks outrage from LGBTQIA and human rights activist groups Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis was instantly critical of Gomez's post, as per a statement sent to the news site The Advocate. "Attention-seeking candidates like this are not great at reading the room: voters have resoundingly rejected book bans and candidates promising to ban books," Ellis said. "Encouraging violence and spreading disgusting rhetoric are two very real ways that endanger innocent people and children. They also prove you have zero grasp on actual problems in your state or ideas to solve them." Meanwhile, Human Rights Campaign's Brandon Wolf said that book burning has a long, dark history in the U.S., calling what Gomez did as a desperate attempt to drum up attention and MAGA hysteria from a fringe political candidate. "But the anti-LGBTQ+ smears being hurled by Gomez are the same smears that have had devastating consequences across the country, inflaming violence and harassment against LGBTQ+ people," Wolf said. According to an October Ipsos report, 78 percent of voters indicated they would be less likely to be inclined to support a candidate who supports book bans. Ipsos also reported last June that 52 percent of Republicans oppose book bans. (Related: FASCISM RUN AMOK: Canadian libraries engaging in mass BOOK BURNINGS to purge history and truth from people's minds.) LeftCult.com contains more news on woke and gay ideologies now being imposed on children. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk TheHill.com Advocate.com IPSOS.com Senates $95B foreign aid BOONDOGGLE loaded with aid for everyone else except Americans and the border and Republicans are still demanding MORE money for Israel In lieu of an earlier bipartisan deal that was rejected by Republicans, the Senate just passed a massive foreign aid bill to send $95 billion to Ukraine and Israel while providingto secure America's wide-open southern border. The bill, which was passed in a rare, all-night session in a 70-29 vote, includes $61 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars for Ukraine, $14 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars for Israel, and oh, why not? another $4.83 billion to support U.S. "partners" in the Indo-Pacific region of the world, including Taiwan. Another $9.15 billion in "humanitarian assistance" was also earmarked for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine, and other places throughout the world where Western-backed forces are waging some kind of war. The House will now have to vote on the legislation, which Speaker Mike Johnson warned will likely result in a no vote by Republicans unless at least some money is added to secure America's southern border. "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, adding that the Senate "failed to meet the moment." "America deserves better than the Senate's status quo," Johnson added, pretending to not be part of the same status quo that he criticizes. (Related: A lot of the U.S. tax money being funneled into Ukraine is being used for wasteful excesses like politicians' salaries and vacations and probably a new yacht or two for Zelensky and his family.) Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Learn about our free, non-commercial AI / LLM project here. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. Zelensky celebrates $61 billion windfall The previous bill rejected by the House included $118 billion for Ukraine and Israel, as well as a handful of change for the border crisis. Republicans said the border crisis funds were not enough, so they voted no on that one. Senate Republicans for some reason agreed to the latter $95 billion bill with zero funding to secure the border because they said they fear that Russian President Putin would be "emboldened," to quote one media source. Twenty-two Republicans in the Senate voted to pass the $95 billion bill, while two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Markley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, voted to reject it. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Independent also from Vermont, also voted no on the latest bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the bill's passage, stating that it has been "years, perhaps decades" since both sides of the political aisle agreed to send this gargantuan amount of money overseas to foreign entities while leaving Americans in the cold. Schumer described the bill as greatly impacting "not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of western democracy." Ukraine President Zelensky also celebrated the windfall he will now receive, stating that he is "grateful" to every senator who voted to send $61 billion to his corrupt nation. "For us in Ukraine, continued U.S. assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror," Zelensky tweeted on X. "It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war." Senate Minority Leader, ugly turtle impersonator, and political fossil Mitch McConnell was also overjoyed by the vote, stating 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?" he said. "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." The American Congress is about as corrupt, and morbidly old, as it gets. Learn more at Treason.news. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com Texas electricity grid BARELY produced enough energy to meet demand during Winter Storm Heather in January The Texas grid was barely able to produce enough energy to meet the demand during Winter Storm Heather from Jan. 13 to 16. Improvements have been made to the reliability of natural gas generation since Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. These updates have all helped prevent another grid collapse. But Texas was also lucky because Heather was not nearly as bad as Uri was in 2021. During the 2024 storm, Texans used a wintertime record amount of electricity at 78,138 megawatts (MW) on the morning of Jan. 16. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) data revealed at the time that the system had 5,229 MW in physical responsive capability (PRC). ERCOT begins sending alerts when operating reserves drop below 2,500 MW. At 1,500 MW, ERCOT conducts "controlled outages" or rolling blackouts. According to Bill King, a contributor from RealClear Wire, Texas had about seven percent left in reserves during the worst of the storm. The amount of reserves as a percentage of the total demand often varies, even within a day, but it is usually within the 10 to 20 percent range. And even though the state wasn't in any danger of the grid failing this time, King suggests that it is likely that if Heather was as bad as Uri, there was a chance the grid would have failed again. Texas has the most diverse fuel mix in the U.S., and people may be surprised to know that the state generates the highest level of renewables in America, with wind and solar contributing over 30 percent of total generation. (Related: Americans can expect a very different winter this year thanks to El Nino.) Thanks to your generous support, we are building the infrastructure of human freedom and actively donating our technology to independent publishers, authors and home schooling organizations. Learn about our game-changing non-commercial AI project here. Support our ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance human knowledge by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com. The Texas grid was initially intended to perform in the summer heat, which is when demand peaks are usually limited to several hours in the late afternoon and early evening. In winter, when there are long periods of extreme cold, demand peaks can last longer. During Uri, the demand peak lasted for several days. Energy sources like wind and solar perform better during summer. Most of the time, renewables do not perform well during winter storms. Due to the poorer performance of renewables and longer periods of high demand, the Texas grid is at greater risk of disastrous failure during winter. The contribution of wind and solar was almost zero for several hours during Heather and for several days during Uri. Texas might need to secure adequate energy for extreme weather conditions In a market-based system like ERCOT, the competitive problem for natural gas is more challenging when wind and solar are producing a lot of electricity. This is because both wind and solar have high upfront capital costs, but the marginal input costs are nearly zero. Even when electric prices are low, wind operators are motivated to continue to produce because their primary government subsidiary is based on the amount of electricity produced. In some cases, wind operators will continue to produce at even negative market prices, like when the grid is oversupplied with electricity since they still collect the production tax credit. Meanwhile, natural gas generators, which have significant fuel and operating costs, cannot afford to continue to produce when the price is lower than the input costs. Because of this, there is very little incentive to invest in natural gas generation in Texas. The state recently offered a package of incentives to build additional natural gas generation, including low-rate loans. But no one was interested. King advised that if Texas wants to secure adequate dispatchable power for extreme weather conditions, the state must first subsidize it with taxpayer money or require it by regulation, which would eventually increase rates. King explained that the other option is to build storage capacity for the electricity. For now, this means batteries. At one point during Heather, batteries were contributing over 1,000 MW. The all-time record for battery contribution to the grid was 2,172 MW in February 2023. Currently, batteries only have a small contribution. However, there is a steady growth in battery storage as electricity users are becoming more wary of the grids reliability. That number could also continue to grow. The current cost of battery storage is very high, but King thinks it might come down over time. Thanks to cheap natural gas prices and wind and solar energy, Texans have some of the lowest electricity prices in the country, which run 18 percent below the national average. However, that low cost comes at a price and the state can't fully rely on its grid, and these savings are often wiped out when a storm like Uri costs Texas billions of dollars in damage. While the Texas grid survived winter storm Heather, the long-term issue of building a reliable grid in Texas is an ongoing challenge for the state. Watch the video below as mainstream media hypes a record-breaking winter blast on the West Coast. This video is from the Neroke-5 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: GRID DOWN ALERT: North America at risk of blackouts during cold weather events, regulator warns. Survival tips for preppers: Winter emergency preparedness checklist. Texas facing ANOTHER power grid collapse amid intense winter weather spell. Sources include: RealClearWire.com ElectricChoice.com Brighteon.com Ukrainian forces withdraw from key Donbass city commander-in-chief Ukrainian troops have been ordered to leave the city of Avdeevka, Kievs newly-appointed commander-in-chief has said, claiming the decision was intended to preserve the lives and health of soldiers following months of desperate attempts to hold onto the frontline town near Russias Donetsk. (Article republished from RT.com) General Aleksandr Syrsky announced the pull-out in a statement shared to social media in the early hours of Saturday morning, arguing that the withdrawal was part of measures to stabilize the situation and maintain our positions. Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines, he said. The order follows reports that Ukrainian troops in the area were almost fully surrounded and faced near-constant attacks in recent days, with one local commander saying fighting in the area was several times more hellish than the hottest battles of this phase of the war. He was referring to the earlier struggle over the city of Artyomovsk (also known as Bakhmut in Ukraine), which fell to Russian troops last year following a lengthy siege. The decision to leave Avdeevka came less than 24 hours after the head of Ukrainian forces in the southern part of Russias Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions, Aleksandr Tarnavsky, claimed that the situation in the city was difficult but under control on Friday. Tarnavsky confirmed the withdrawal on Saturday morning, calling it the only correct solution while claiming that all troops had pulled back to pre-prepared positions, where they would dig in for defensive operations. Earlier this week, the deputy head of the 3rd Assault Brigade a Western-armed formation consisting of many fighters from the neo-Nazi Azov regiment said parts of his unit sent into Avdeevka as reinforcements had been encircled, describing the situation as critical. The Washington Post reported around the same time that Kievs forces had already been forced to pull back from the city, citing Ukrainian military sources. The paper added that a total collapse of Ukrainian positions around Avdeevka was just a matter of time. Read more at: RT.com Ohio Sen. Vance warns of an IMPEACHMENT TIME BOMB clause against Trump buried in Ukraine aid bill Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) has warned that the $95 billion aid package passed by the Senate contains an "impeachment time bomb" clause that could sabotage the second term of former President Donald Trump if he wins the 2024 presidential election. The senator from the Buckeye State issued this warning in a Feb. 12 memo sent to Republican members of Congress. According to Vance, the clause would be triggered if Trump attempts to stop funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia something the former president did in his first term. He also pointed out that it dedicates the same dollar amounts to Ukraine that were frozen by Trump during his term, which Democrats subsequently cited during one of their impeachment efforts. The $95 billion aid package includes $1.6 billion for the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program under the Department of State, and $13.7 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) under the Department of Defense. The funds for the FMF and USAI are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025, almost a year into a possible second term for Trump if the election isn't rigged. However, the House of Representatives under the leadership of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) accused him of freezing these aforementioned funds in its 2019 impeachment proceedings. At the time, Trump froze $250 million earmarked for the USAI and $141 million earmarked for the FMF. "Trump had allegedly paused these funds because he wished to see the corrupt nexus between the Biden family and Ukraine investigated," Vance continued. However, Democrats at the time saw things differently. They accused Trump of having "abused his power, with the aim of interfering with the U.S. presidential election" the following year. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. The senator also pointed to Trump's promise of solving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war at the soonest. "He has stated that he would resolve the war in 24 hours," Vance wrote. "If Trump were to withdraw from or pause financial support for the war in Ukraine in order to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion, it would amount to the same fake violation of budget law from the first impeachment, under markedly similar facts and circumstances." Democrats desperate to prevent another Trump term The Senate approved the $95 billion aid package in a 67-27 vote on Feb. 11. Its current version would allocate $60.1 billion to Ukraine, $14.1 billion to Israel, $10 billion to Taiwan, $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid to Palestine and $2.44 billion for anti-Houthi operations around the Red Sea. But Vance noted that the FMF and USAI funds "are the exact same accounts [he] was impeached for pausing in December 2019. Every single House Republican voted against this impeachment resolution." "Partisan Democrats would seize on the opportunity to impeach him once again. The Washington Post has reported that tying Trump's hands on foreign policy is very much top of mind for Biden administration officials, who are openly boasting about their plans." Vance ultimately concluded his memo by pointing out that the impeachment clause "represents an attempt by the foreign policy blob [and] Deep State to stop Trump from pursuing his policy and if he does so anyways, to provide grounds to impeach him and undermine his administration." (Related: Roger Stone warns Democrats will do everything to try to stop Trumps imminent victory.) "All Republicans should oppose its passage," the Ohio senator exhorted. X owner Elon Musk replied to Vance on the platform, writing: "This is insane." "Now, as Trump has suggested he would once again halt funding, Democrats seem poised to launch another impeachment should he win re-election with funding set to expire well into his potential second term," YourNews remarked. "Democrats' attempt to preemptively hamstring Trump's second term shows they are panicked and preparing for the eventuality he wins re-election." Watch Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance explains the impeachment time bomb clause buried in the Ukraine aid bill on "The Charlie Kirk Show" below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump: COMPROMISE with Russia could have helped Ukraine avoid war. Steve Bannon describes Zelensky's U.S. visit as CATASTROPHICALLY BAD. Executive branch warns U.S. is OUT OF MONEY, almost out of time to help Ukraine. Congress abandons Ukraine aid in temporary funding bill to avert government shutdown. Border Patrol agents slam proposed Senate bill that guarantees entry of 1.5M illegals and directs majority of funds to Ukraine and Israel. Sources include: YourNews.com Brighteon.com Vietnamese students in the U.S., Feb. 10, 2024. Photo by Le Thuy Duong Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia in that order top the list of Southeast Asian countries with students abroad. The 2024 Key Trends in Southeast Asia report by Acumen, an international education consultant, showed that more than 350,000 students from Southeast Asia were studying abroad in 2022, making it the third largest region globally for outbound student mobility after China and India. Within the region, Vietnam had by far the largest number of outbound students, 132,000, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia with 56,000 each and Thailand with 32,000. The top two destinations for Vietnamese students were Japan with over 44,100 and South Korea with nearly 25,000, the report, which used data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said. Students from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand mostly chose the U.K. and Australia. In the U.S. too, Vietnamese students led Southeast Asia at over 23,100. Other top countries for Vietnamese studying abroad were Australia (14,100) and Canada (9,000). China is not listed in the UNESCO data but is also a top destination for Southeast Asian students. The Chinese government has not released international student data after 2019, when the country received 28,600 students from Thailand, 15,000 from Indonesia, 11,300 from Vietnam, and 9,500 from Malaysia. Acumen's report shows western countries face more competition from Japan, South Korea and China in attracting Southeast Asian students. Japans goal is to increase its international enrollment to 400,000 by 2027, and South Korea's is 300,000, and both East Asian powerhouses promise more job opportunities for foreign graduates. Asian destinations are usually cheaper for Southeast Asians due to geographical proximity even as more and more universities in East Asia are being ranked among the global elite. In the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, there are 33 Asian universities in the top 200, five more than last year. ICEF Monitor, an international education information site, said Vietnam is among the top 10 countries in terms of student mobility. Vietnamese rank among the top five international students in the U.S., top two in Japan, top six in Australia, and top in Taiwan, it said. There are many reasons why Vietnam has become a "hotspot" for recruitment by global education institutions, it said, pointing out that more than a quarter (28%) of Vietnam's population is aged between 16 and 30, its university enrollment rate has increased from 10% in 2001 to 29%, and education is a top concern for families. According to a 2018 HSBC survey, spending on education accounted for 47% of total household expenditure. Its middle class is the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia, meaning more families could afford to send their children abroad to study, the bank said. Gurmeet Choudhary kicks off a healthy Sunday with celery juice Mumbai, Feb 18 Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, known for his portrayal of Lord Rama in the television series 'Ramayan,' is currently shooting his latest project in Patiala, Punjab. He has offered a glimpse into his Sunday routine, kicking off the day with nutritious celery juice. With a glass of celery juice in his hand, he indulges in a refreshing sip, setting the tone for a rejuvenating day ahead. The post is captioned: Good morning #patiala. There is also a sticker which reads: Celery juice crew. On the work front, Gurmeet last featured in a 2021 movie The Wife. The horror film which was released on OTT, stars Sayani Datta alongside Gurmeet. The actor also starred in a music video titled Tere Mere sung by Asees Kaur and Stebin Ben. (IANS - Posted on 18 February 2024) Gurmeet Choudhary kicks off a healthy Sunday with celery juice Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Aishwarya Sakhuja revisits her college in Delhi; poses with Imtiaz Ali, Tisca Chopra Mumbai, Feb 18 Actress Aishwarya Sakhuja paid a visit to her alma mater -- Hindu College, on its 125th foundation day, as a special guest, and reminisced about the beautiful memories of the college, which helped in shaping her past, present and future. In the photos, Aishwarya can be seen wearing a blue saree, and posing with alumnis like -- filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actors Tisca Chopra, Rajesh Kumar, and Kranti Prakkash Jhha. The actress penned a heartwarming note, which read as: I never ever thought that this day would arrive. Going back to your own college as a guest after you have collected a set of experiences of your own and to be told that they count by your own alma mater is truly overwhelming. Thankyou Hindu College for shaping my past present and future. I shall forever remember this evening @hindu.college. #hinducollege #125years #college #delhi #memories #alumni, she added. For the unversed, Aishwarya and Rajesh have shared the screen space in the sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Take 2. She played the role of Sonia, sister of Rosesh Sarabhai (played by Rajesh). Meanwhile, on the work front, she has been the part of stunt reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi 7, and Trideviyaan. She last featured in the show Junooniyatt, in which she portrayed the role of Dr Pari Ahuja. (IANS - Posted on 18 February 2024) Aishwarya Sakhuja revisits her college in Delhi; poses with Imtiaz Ali, Tisca Chopra Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Deepika Padukone to join galaxy of global stars at tonight's Battle of the BAFTAs New Delhi, Feb 18 Half an hour after midnight tonight (Indian Standard Time), curtains go up on the BAFTAs, the much-anticipated British Academy of Film and Television Awards, with Prince William being the guest of honour and Deepika Padukone one of the presenters. The glittering evening is being beamed live by Lionsgate Play for Indian audiences from 12:30 a.m. onwards. The race this year is between British-born Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer', which has got 13 nominations, including best film, best actor (Cillian Murphy) and best supporting actress (Emily Blunt), and Yorgos Lanthimos's brilliantly original 'Poor Things', which received 11 nods. Emma Stone is a frontrunner in the best actress race. Nolan, according to BBC.com, is favourite to pick up best director. "Hard to believe given his back catalogue -- which includes 'Dunkirk', 'Inception' and 'The Dark Knight Rises' -- but this will be his first Bafta win if he triumphs at the weekend," says BBC.com. If, as widely expected, Robert Downey Jr picks up the award for best supporting actor, it will be his second Bafta win -- a whopping 31 years after his best actor win for 'Chaplin' back in 1993, reports BBC.com. Other films hoping for a successful evening include French courtroom drama 'Anatomy of a Fall', nostalgic comedy drama 'The Holdovers', the Leonard Bernstein biopic 'Maestro' with Bradley Cooper playing the lead role, fantasy romance 'All of Us Strangers', black comedy thriller 'Saltburn' and 'Barbie' of course. "Some film fans were left disappointed after Margot Robbie missed the cut for a best actress nomination at the Oscars," notes BBC.com, "but the 'Barbie' star has a chance (albeit a slim one) at the BAFTAs in the same category." Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' has an impressive nine nominations and so does Jonathan Glazer's 'The Zone of Interest'. 'Euphoria', 'Saltburn' and 'Priscilla' star Jacob Elordi, says BBC.com, is one of the favourites to pick up the BAFTA rising star award and he's also nominated for best supporting actor in 'Saltburn'. He recently hit headlines when he was accused of grabbing a reporter's throat in Sydney and is not expected to attend on Sunday. Emerald Fennell's film was completely left out in the cold when the Oscar nominations were announced last month, continues BBC.com, so will the BAFTAs show more love to what has already arguably become a cult British classic? 'Saltburn' has got five nods, including best actor (Barry Keoghan) and best supporting actress (Rosamund Pike). It lost out on a best film nomination, but it wasn't the only one -- with just five spots available, 'Barbie' also missed the cut. "Perhaps there's an argument for BAFTA to expand the number of picture nominees, as the Oscars has done, to 10?" notes BBC.com German star Sandra Huller has the distinction of getting a nomination in two categories -- for best actress 'Anatomy of a Fall' and for best supporting actress in Jonathan Glazer's chilling Nazi drama 'The Zone of Interest'. "Seriously though, she absolutely deserves both," says BBC.com. Another one from BBC.com: "Fun (and unapologetically geeky) fact -- if 'Barbie' or 'Anatomy of a Fall' wins best screenplay, it will be a couple picking up the prize. Greta Gerwig wrote 'Barbie' with husband Noah Baumbach, while Justine Triet penned 'Anatomy of a Fall' with her partner, Arthur Harari. Who should you look out for? Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will be among those flying the flag for 'Barbie', which has five nominations. Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan ('Maestro'), and Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr ('Oppenheimer') will all be on the red carpet. Emma Stone ('Poor Things'), Colman Domingo ('Rustin'), Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Paul Giamatti ('The Holdovers') and Paul Mescal ('All of Us Strangers') are also expected. So are Saltburn stars Rosamund Pike plus Sandra Huller, who stars in both 'Anatomy of a Fall' and 'The Zone of Interest'. Prince William is BAFTA's president and will be attending the ceremony but without his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is still recovering after abdominal surgery. Former 'Doctor Who' star David Tennant will host the show this year. To quote BBC.com, "The Scottish actor certainly doesn't lack a sense of humour, but he won't be making any Ricky Gervais-style barbs at his A-list audience." Tennant said in his defence, "We want to have an evening that's a celebration and that won't make people feel uncomfortable and won't have people being roasted in any way, so it will hopefully be an evening of generosity and joy." The list of presenters include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Bollywood star Deepika Padikone, Hugh Grant, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Gillian Anderson and Andrew Scott (who missed out on a best actor nod for 'All of Us Strangers'). (IANS - Posted on 18 February 2024) Deepika Padukone to join galaxy of global stars at tonight's Battle of the BAFTAs Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! A woman and her two children traveling in a car were killed Sunday after it overtook on the right side, crashed into the head of a truck, lost control and was hit by another truck from the opposite direction. The scene after a car collided with two trucks and was thrown off Cam Lo - La Son Expressway in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Feb. 18, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh Phan Dinh Kieu, the car driver, was driving Phan Dinh Quy, Quy's wife Le Thi Hanh, and their 15-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, on Cam Lo - La Son Expressway in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. At around 10 a.m. when they were past the area that allows overtaking, Kieu overtook on the right side and hit a container truck moving in the same direction. The car swirled after the collision, crashed by a second truck moving in the opposite direction during the process, and was thrown off the expressway. The 9-year-old boy died on the spot. His mother and sister were rushed to hospital but succumbed to their injuries later. His father Quy and the driver Kieu escaped alive with scratches. [Shocking images. Viewers' discretion is recommended.] Woman, children die in expressway crashing spree Khoanh khac oto 7 cho vuot au gay tai nan lien hoan The moment a car overtakes on the right side and collided with two trucks on Cam Lo - La Son Expressway in Thua Thien Hue Province, Feb. 18, 2024. Video by Vo Thanh The car, a Ford Everest 7, was heavily smashed after the collisions as it lied seven meters below the expressway. Two more trucks were caught in the accident, blocking traffic. Glass debris and oil spills were found in 30-meter radius. Around 10 meters of the expressway fence were damaged. The car, a Ford Everest 7, is badly damage after the collisions. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh Traffic police had to direct vehicles to turn onto National Highway 1A and a provincial road. Hoang Hai Minh, vice chairman of Thua Thien-Hue, joined forces to inspect the site. He later visited the victims' family and supported them with VND15 million (US$611.50). Forces try to separate trucks caught in a series of crashes on Cam Lo-La Son Expressway in Thua Thien Hue Province, Feb. 18, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh The 98.3-km Cam Lo - La Son Expressway opened to traffic on Dec. 31, 2022 to connect Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue Provinces. It is one of five expressways in Vietnam that have two lanes and are 12 meters wide on most of their lengths. Some of their parts which have four lanes and are 23 meters wide allow overtaking. There are plans to widen all these expressways to four lanes after 2030. Cam Lo - La Son Expressway has seen several accidents since opening. Most recently on Dec. 18, 2023, two container trucks collided heads-on and caught fire, leaving one driver dead and two other people severely injured. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Snow flurries this morning will give way to partly cloudy skies during the day. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Spatial navigation and spatial memory play a central role in our lives. Without these abilities, we would hardly be able to find our way around our surroundings and would find it difficult to remember past events. However, the neuronal basis of spatial memory is far from being fully understood. A research group led by Prof. Dr. Lukas Kunz, who has recently joined the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), has gained new insights into this gap in knowledge. Together with scientists from New York and Freiburg, he has discovered that different types of nerve cells become active together during spatial memory and are coordinated by brain waves ("ripples"). The results have now been published in the journal "Nature Neuroscience". Associative memory ensures allows that different pieces of information are linked together. "In the context of spatial memory, associative memory enables us to remember the locations of certain objects in the spatial environment," explains Prof. Kunz, research group leader for Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience at the Department of Epileptology at the UKB. He is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Life & Health" at the University of Bonn. "For example, we can remember where in the house we put our keys". At older age or with in certain diseases such as Alzheimer's, however, this ability is limited. "It is therefore important to investigate that the neuronal basis of different forms of human memory is researched further," says Prof. Kunz. In the long term, this could help in the development of new therapies for memory impairments. Nerve cells play an important role in associative memory Nerve cells are active while information is being linked and retrieved from memory. To further investigate this phenomenon, the research groupers recorded the activity of individual nerve cells in the brains of epilepsy patients while they were performing a memory task on the computer. "In a virtual world, the test subjects had were asked to remember the locations of various objects," explains Prof. Kunz. The recordings showed that different types of nerve cells become became active during such a memory task. Some nerve cells reacted in particular responded to certain objects, while other nerve cells reacted activated in response to certain locations. The scientists observed that the exchange interactions between these different types of nerve cells became stronger over time increased when the test subjects participants remembered the right object in the right place and the right object. Brain waves occur simultaneously coordinate the nerve cells At the same time, in addition to place and object neurons, the researchers observed that in addition to place and object neurons, hippocampal brain waves ("ripples") that also become active occurred during the memory task, and thus presumably playing a crucial role in the formation and retrieval of associative memories. Ripples could be important for the connection of different types of nerve cells and the formation of complex memories. It will be exciting to further investigate this idea further in other tasks in future studies." Prof. Dr. Lukas Kunz, research group leader for Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience at the Department of Epileptology at the UKB In addition, it could also be interesting in the future to see study what happens show memory performance is modulated when ripples are suppressed or even triggered, providing insights into the causal relevance of ripples. Prof. Kunz intends to continue the findings that he gained with his colleagues at Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science in New York and the University Hospital of Freiburg at the Bonn siteUniversity Hospital Bonn. "The Department of Epileptology at the UKB is well-known for its excellent brain research. In particular, there is department has the unique opportunity to record the activity of individual nerve cells in the human brain in the video EEG monitoring unit -, which is the heart of every epilepsy center. This provides exciting insights into the functioning of the human brain, which is only possible at a few research centers worldwide," describes Prof. Kunz. At the same time, in his interdisciplinary research, he relies builds on close exchange with other researchers and medical doctors, which is very important and essential for the development of new research ideas. Self-monitoring of physical activity with an accelerometer and feedback is an effective tool to improve physical activity in elderly people requiring long-term support. The Kobe University study is the first to show that with simple and safe means the physical activity of this demographic can be improved, which is expected to help prevent serious illness and reduce costs for long-term care. Taking more steps and sitting less is well known as having a significant influence on a wide range of noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, orthopedic diseases and stroke. This is particularly problematic in senior citizens who depend on long-term care such as in day-care centers, as it is known that they take fewer steps and spend more time sitting than healthy people of similar age. The resulting higher risk of falling ill not only decreases health-related quality of life in these people, it also stretches already scarce resources in healthcare systems. And while it is known that self-monitoring can improve the physical activity even among the elderly, the effectiveness of this approach has not been shown for this high-risk demographic. The Kobe University research team of health scientists IZAWA Kazuhiro and KITAMURA Masahiro filled this gap by conducting a comparative analysis with 52 long-term care patients at a day care center in Japan on the effectiveness of self-monitoring of physical activity. They educated the participants on the importance of increasing physical activity and asked participants to wear accelerometers that record steps, sitting time and activity of various intensity. The 26 participants in the intervention group were additionally asked to record their progress in a calendar daily and received weekly feedback and advice. The results now published in the journal European Geriatric Medicine show that the intervention group took more steps, spent less time sitting and were more engaged in light physical activity. The authors write, "The results of this intervention promoting physical activity in this target population were novel to this study. Older people with long-term care needs have reduced mobility and activity compared to healthy older people, so increasing physical activity is not easy. However, goals such as increasing the number of steps can be easily understood and practiced, and reducing the time spent in sedentary behavior, such as by standing or taking a short walk, are activities that can be performed indoors and do not require high mobility." Since this was the first study to include not only on steps in the self-monitoring but also time spent sitting, it is possible that these two affected each other. The Kobe University researchers explain, "A previous study in healthy older people reported that moderate to vigorous physical activity increases when sedentary behavior decreases, which is somewhat similar to the findings in the present study." While traditional self-monitoring interventions have focused primarily on the number of steps taken, this study focused on both steps taken and sedentary behavior. As a result, we believe this may have facilitated their behavior change." Izawa Kazuhiro, Scientist, Kobe University While this study clearly shows the effectiveness of such simple measures as wearing an accelerometer, self-monitoring and receiving feedback on one's progress on the physical activity, its five-week period was too short to capture actual benefits on health-related quality of life. Izawa and Kitamura say, "The results of this study may serve as an important foundation for future research on promoting physical activity among older adults in need of assistance. In particular, self-monitoring interventions have been shown to contribute to improved physical activity and can be applied to care prevention strategies. Future studies should include larger samples, a broader range of activities and long-term follow-up to verify the sustained effectiveness of the intervention." ARIES Ganesha says today is going to be extremely fruitful for you. There will be discussions on some auspicious and significant programs in your house, which may lead to organizing a party. The day is favorable for those who invest in the stock market; hence, they can invest openly. However, you will be busy completing some long-pending work. You will easily navigate all avenues of earning money in your business today, leading to increased profits. Your happiness will know no bounds if you receive any ancestral property today. Lucky Colour: Purple Lucky Number: 11 TAURUS Ganesha says today will be a day of increased influence and glory for you, brightening your face and causing your enemies to engage in internal conflicts. Those facing unemployment may find some job opportunities today. Small businessmen should exercise caution before trusting any partners to ensure profitable outcomes. If you are planning to buy or sell any property, ensure thorough scrutiny to avoid future regrets. Spend your evening serving your parents. Lucky Colour: White Lucky Number: 8 GEMINI Ganesha says today will be a day of increased self-esteem for you. Despite enthusiastic efforts, you may feel upset due to not achieving desired outcomes, but your familys support will remain intact. Avoid making decisions solely based on the influence of others, as they may create problems for you later. You may receive respect from your in-laws. Students who havent applied for any examinations yet can do so today. Spend your evening resolving old grievances with your siblings and sharing your concerns with your spouse. Lucky Colour: Golden Lucky Number: 5 CANCER Ganesha says today you must control your speech. In adverse situations, exercise control over both your anger and speech to avoid potential costly consequences. You may receive some inauspicious news from a family member, causing worry. Control unnecessary expenses to avoid regret later, utilizing your savings if necessary to curb spending. Lucky Colour: Grey Lucky Number: 2 LEO Ganesha says today will bring worry for you. Concerns about your childrens future may lead you to save money. Be cautious of rivals in your business who may attempt to harm you. Postpone any planned trips to avoid potential losses or thefts. You may receive happy news from friends in the evening, and those in private jobs may receive promotions. Lucky Colour: Maroon Lucky Number: 4 VIRGO Ganesha says today, refrain from making hasty decisions to avoid future troubles. Seek solutions to your business problems by consulting your brothers. Be cautious of family members who may break your trust. Delayed payments may not come through today, and its wise to stay silent on neighborhood matters to avoid legal issues. Students will achieve desired educational results. Lucky Colour: Black Lucky Number: 1 LIBRA Ganesha says today you must control increased expenses to avoid unnecessary financial strain. Health issues may arise, so maintain a pleasant demeanor in assigned tasks to prevent future regrets. Spend your evening visiting a relative. Lucky Colour: Red Lucky Number: 10 SCORPIO Ganesha says today, success awaits in businesses where communication is key, but be cautious of business adversaries and avoid their advice. Exercise caution outside, as accidents are possible. Luxuries may lead to significant expenditures. Fulfill promises made to your father to avoid his disappointment. Lucky Colour: Orange Lucky Number: 3 SAGITTARIUS Ganesha says today will bring increased respect and honor. Social workers will find success in their chosen tasks, enhancing their reputation. Avoid risky business ventures today to prevent future regrets. Family atmosphere will be pleasant, and implementing sound business plans will yield immense benefits. You will gather resources successfully to meet daily needs. Lucky Colour: Yellow Lucky Number: 9 CAPRICORN Ganesha says today will be a normal day for you. Worries may diminish, leading to commendable decisions or actions. Organize a religious ceremony at home in the evening, followed by treating your family members. Students should avoid rushing into decisions today. Silence may be wiser than arguing with your mother. Lucky Colour: Blue Lucky Number: 7 AQUARIUS Ganesha says today will bring favorable benefits, leading to happiness and peace in the family. Success in work may lead to a lack of motivation at the workplace, but students may face some educational challenges. Receiving a gift from a relative will bring joy. Seek parental approval before planning an evening outing with friends. Lucky Colour: Green Lucky Number: 12 PISCES Ganesha says today will be a normal day for you. Business opportunities may arise, but exercise caution during travels to avoid accidents. Avoid arguments with family members to prevent prolonged conflicts. Timely help from friends will bring happiness, but be prepared to reciprocate when needed. Be wary of active enemies attempting to cause trouble. The BJPs two-day Mission 370 conclave ended with a bang on Sunday afternoon, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the opposition, particularly the Congress, while he differentiated between rajneeti and rashtraneeti. Here are the five big takeaways from the prime ministers hour-long speech: Other countries confident about our return In what seems to be brand new information, Prime Minister Modi said not only is India confident about his victory but so are foreign leaders. I have invites from foreign countries for talks in July, August and September. This means even other countries are confident of our return to power. They also know aayega toh Modi hi, he said. About foreign policy, he highlighted the difference between the pre-Modi era and during his tenure. No PM went to the UAE for 34 years before I went in 2015. Now, five Arab nations have rewarded me with their highest honour, he added. Southern push Recalling his week-long tour across the southern states, PM Modi actively reached out to the residents and recalled their affection. But, taking a subtle dig at those who look at it from a political prism, he said he got a lot of love from south India that pundits cannot calculate. He also mentioned Tamil Sangamam, which connected Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in a unique way. The PM fondly remembered how he visited places like Dhanushkodi and Rameswaram, each place with a Ram connect in the run-up to January 22 (the day of Ram Lalla idols pran pratishtha at the new Ayodhya temple). Jai Siya Ram Modi put great emphasis on the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, fetching the loudest noise from a crowd of more than 11,000 in a jam-packed auditorium. We showed courage to solve the works that had been pending for decades. By building Ram temple in Ayodhya, we ended the wait of five centuries he said. Just a while before his speech, the BJP passed a standalone resolution on Ram Mandir titled Jai Siya Ram. The resolution also connected it to the original copy of the Constitution that had Ram, Sita and Laxman while also saying Ramrajya was in the heart of (Mahatma) Gandhi. During his speech, PM Modi captured the overwhelming Ram-centric emotion of the cadre. Me versus Other PMs While Modi has touched upon many issues like women, the poor, other backward classes; one of the overwhelming macro themes of his speech has been the stark difference between his government and the governments of all prime ministers before him. I am the first PM who raised the concern of toilets from the Red Fort, he said, referring to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Pointing out another difference, he added, No one bothered to inquire about the welfare of lakhs of Vishwakarma families. No one bothered to think about the people living on the streets and the footpath. We made the PM Swanidhi Yojana for them. From health check-ups for 5 crore pregnant women to death penalty for crimes like rape, he cited the differences between India before and after 2014. Sins of the Congress The biggest sin of the Congress was that they did not back away from breaking the morale of our security forces. The Congress left no stone unturned to hurt Indias national security and strategic power, said Modi, in a sharp criticism of the Congress and connecting it to nationalism as well as national security. Reminding everyone about the Rafale campaign of the Congress in 2019, he said, They tried everything to prevent the Indian Air Force from getting the Rafale jets they raised questions about the surgical strike by our security forces. Modi also spoke about how the surgical strike was questioned and proof sought by the opposition. He did not merely attack the opposition, but virtually labelled them anti-India, in a way alleging they have worked against Indias national interest. But finally, Aayega toh Modi hi seemed to be the larger theme of his speech. He may not have started with it, but ended with that BJP workers from ministers to municipality have to bring home with. The fact that he is returning to the seat of power, is a given this was Modis concluding message with a subtle suggestion to not become complacent. Loong-themed cultural elements shine during Spring Festival Xinhua) 11:17, February 18, 2024 Members of a Tongliang Dragon Dance performing troupe perform "fire dragon dance" in a shower of molten iron in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Jan. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- On Feb. 14, during the Chinese New Year holiday, the Panlongcheng Ruins Museum in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province welcomed a steady stream of visitors. One exhibit that caught tourists' attention was a golden ornament adorned with inlaid turquoise, featuring an intricate Chinese dragon design embossed upon it. The artifact serves as compelling evidence of spiritual beliefs held by Chinese ancestors during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC). Dating back about 3,500 years, the Panlongcheng site has yielded a wealth of archaeological discoveries, such as walled palaces, royal cemeteries and craft workshops. Regarded as the root of today's Wuhan, the site was the center of the early Bronze Age civilization along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. As an important cultural heritage, Panlongcheng provides material evidence that both the Yellow River and Yangtze River belong to the same Chinese civilization. Throughout Chinese history, the image of the loong, or the Chinese dragon, has evolved continuously, yet its essence has been passed on through generations of Chinese people. At an exhibition currently underway in the National Museum of China in Beijing, over 200 pieces and sets of collections have been put on display, narrating the story and significance of the loong as a totem of Chinese culture. The exhibition, titled "A New Year Guarded by the Dragon: Exhibition for the Chinese New Year," delves into various perspectives spanning customs, rites, history, culture, art and lifestyle. This photo taken on Feb. 7, 2024 shows a view of the Dragon King Temple Park in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Management center of the Dragon King Temple Park/Handout via Xinhua) Xie Zhaoliang is an inheritor of the Tongzhou Canal Dragon Lantern craft and dance who leads his team in street parades, performing the double dragon dance. The majestic Chinese dragons, rising and coiling, bestow Lunar New Year's blessings upon local villagers amidst lively beats of drums and gongs. "By reviving the nearly 200-year-old Tongzhou Canal Dragon Lantern tradition during the Spring Festival, we are not only enhancing the New Year's atmosphere but also introducing younger generations to this cherished tradition," Xie said. The art of dragon dance from Beijing's Tongzhou District, also known as the dance of "Tongzhou Canal Dragon Lantern," has been showcased in schools and exhibited in museums. A newly opened museum dedicated to Grand Canal dragon dancing curates New Year's pictures, stamps and postcards featuring dragon dancing themes from home and abroad. Visitors can espy the tradition of praying for safety and prosperity through dragon dances while also gaining insight into the global influence of Chinese dragons. The imagery of the loong has adorned the streets of Beijing and Wuhan, with numerous international brands decorating their shop windows with Chinese dragons. Posters of the film "Wish Dragon" were spotted at a shopping mall in Wuhan. Directed by a foreign filmmaker, the movie draws inspiration from the story of his Chinese friend, presenting a heartwarming tale of personal growth and friendship. In Beijing, flash mob performances of dragon and lion dances have graced many cultural sites along the Central Axis. These revitalized dances wind through the streets, striving to preserve local traditions while enriching the Spring Festival celebrations for both locals and tourists. Loong-themed exhibitions, carnivals and creative cultural products are captivating tourists nationwide, injecting strong momentum into China's rebounding cultural and tourism market. From Feb. 10 to 13, the 174 key tourist attractions in Beijing collectively welcomed more than 9.6 million visitors, marking an impressive year-on-year increase of 80.4 percent. At Beihai Park, creative cultural products inspired by the Nine-Dragon Screen have garnered enthusiastic responses from tourists. These products convey good wishes, with rising dragons symbolizing flourishing careers and vitality, while coiled dragons represent pervasive happiness. In addition to enjoying the presence of the loong in the park, tourists can also immerse themselves in Chinese dragon culture by appreciating the creative cultural products, noted Zhang Mian, director of the Beihai Park research office. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Tribute to those who work far from home February 17, 2024 | 05:00 pm PT My family took a train trip to my hometown for this Lunar New Year. Besides the fact that air tickets were too expensive, my wife and I wanted our children to experience the north-south train journey, which was a big part of our younger years. I am from the northern province of Thai Binh. I moved to Saigon in 2006 to attend university, and back then, I only came home once a year for Tet. A train trip in those days took more than 40 hours, but it felt much longer because of how badly I wanted to arrive home. Memories from those trips are still ingrained in my mind. During one trip in 2009, I sat on the carriages hard wooden chair with a woman from the southern province of Binh Phuoc. After half the journey, she kept asking me where we were and how much longer until we reached Nam Dinh. She told me she had moved to Binh Phuoc to work when she was 20 years old, and had not come home for 25 years. She was traveling back that time because her mother was getting weak. She turned her face away once in a while during our conversation, hiding her tears. That night, I let her sleep on the chair, and I slept on the floor. Some of her tears dropped on my face. Any trip returning or leaving home is emotional the hometown is a holy place, unique to each person. A family of migrant workers from the Mekong Delta return to HCMC after the Lunar New Year holiday, Feb. 14, 2024. Photo by VnExpress Every time I came home, I would have loved to see a billboard at the entrance of town that read: "Welcome home!" And another on the other side that said "Have a safe trip" would have been nice as well. In 2011, my friend went to the U.S. to study. When she reached the security check, she turned to hug everyone and burst into tears. She was normally a tough person. Later that year, my family also went to the airport to receive my sister who was coming back from working in Cyprus after more than five years. Her eyes were all red when she landed, saying she had cried the whole flight home. My hometown Thai Binh is an agricultural province without many opportunities for other jobs. Thus, a lot of natives of the region have migrated far from home, myself included. My village alone has lost nearly 20 residents who have left home to work in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, mostly working in manual labor. They say life overseas has not been easy. Although they've been able to earn more than at home, the money has come in exchange for a lot of sweat, tears and even blood. Thoughts of their families and home have helped them overcome their troubles abroad, they say. Vietnam receives one of the highest totals of overseas remittances in the world. In fact, it's in the top 10 countries globally in terms of remittances from abroad. The figure reached a record US$16 billion last year. The total was more than $200 billion between 1993 and 2023, more than all the FDI disbursed to Vietnam since 1986. The remittances have helped increase foreign reserves and have directly boosted the economy. They are the contributions from millions of Vietnamese living overseas and hundreds of thousands of migrant workers. Having traveled across Vietnam, Ive seen many welcoming billboards put up by cities and provinces that cost billions of dong, but the messages were not very meaningful. There are also many billboards that serve as advertisements at airports, but not any that welcome Vietnamese coming home from overseas, or send farewell wishes to those leaving the country to work or study abroad. A billboard at a respectful location, with a message that pays tribute to the people who leave their hometown to work, and encourages them to follow the rules in their host countries, is not a bad idea. Such billboards could warm the hearts of those having to fight for a living far away from home. *Bui Vo is an investigator at the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam. Uploading selfies and photos of the inked finger on social media has become an important tradition on election days and is even encouraged to inspire others to vote. The semi-permanent dye used on voters fingers is proof that the individual has cast their vote and eventually helps the Election Commission of India prevent voter fraud. But how many of us have wondered when and where the practice started and what the ink or dye is made of? News18 explains. The use of the ink dates back to 1962 in India and since then it has been used in all Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. A mark of civic duty and democratic participation, the indelible ink mark, also known as electoral stain or electoral ink, is also used in local body polls. The ink is used under Rule 49K of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 that provides putting an indelible ink mark on the left forefinger of the elector as a safeguard against impersonation. It is a semi-permanent dye that helps the poll body prevent multiple voting, i.e. voting for more than once during an election. According to the EC, it eventually helps officials in maintaining the integrity and fairness of the voting process. The ink provides a visible mark that cannot be easily removed, making it more potent against voter fraud. It is an effective method for an election management body as the identification documents for citizens are not always standardised or institutionalised. WHO MANUFACTURES THIS INK? It is not a commonly available ink. It was developed by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi a constituent laboratory of CSIR in 1961. It was patented by CSIR-National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi. The NRDC issued the license and know-how to Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL), a Government of Karnataka undertaking, in 1962. An agreement for exclusive manufacturing of Indelible Ink between CSIR-NRDC and MPVL was entered to this effect. Since then, MPVL has been the sole authorised manufacturer of indelible ink in India for the Election Commission of India, an EC official told News18. Initially, the ink was filled in glass bottles and supplied, but with the advancement in technology, MPVL switched over to amber-coloured plastic containers, making it easily portable and convenient for election officials. The firm also exports the indelible ink to more than 30 countries, including Malaysia, Canada, Cambodia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Afghanistan, Turkey, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Madagascar, Nigeria, Singapore, Dubai, Mongolia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Denmark. The ink contains silver nitrate that reacts with the chemicals on the skin and nail to leave a semi-permanent mark. The ink dries up on the skin and leaves the black/purple mark in less than one minute and can stay for several weeks. This ink is skin safe and is resistant to water, detergents, soaps and other solvents. This ensures that a voter cannot easily erase the mark and vote again within a short timeframe. WHY IS IT APPLIED BEFORE VOTING? As soon as the identity of an elector is verified, the voters left-hand index finger will be marked with this ink. This is done so that by the time the elector leaves the polling station after casting their vote, there is sufficient time gap for the indelible Ink to dry up and develop a distinct indelible mark on the finger. CAN YOU REFUSE TO USE THE INK? If the voter refuses to allow the left index finger to be inspected or marked in accordance with the instruction, or they already have a mark, they will not be allowed to vote. The voter will also be barred from voting if they did anything to remove the ink mark. In case the finger has any oily or greasy substance, with an aim to neutralise the indelible ink mark, the officials will clean the finger first and then put the ink. As the country gears up for the next Lok Sabha polls, likely in a few weeks, it is yet again time for nearly 97 crore voters to flaunt that inked finger. With a spy camera, smartphone, mobile phone, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones and several other devices found in the cell of separatist leader Amritpal Singh in a major jail security breach in Assam, top security sources suspect the Waris Punjab De chief could be in touch with Khalistani groups. ALSO READ | Spy Cam, Mobile, Bluetooth Device Recovered from Khalistani Leader Amritpal Singhs Cell in Assam As his family members were regular visitors, their role is under the scanner, they said. His wife used to visit him every 15 days and possibly she was behind supplying these items to him." Singh and his nine associates are lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. The recovered devices have been for forensic analysis. They will look into who he was talking to and who is behind this," sources said. Giving information about the breach, Assam DGP GP Singh informed that all devices were seized and action has been initiated. On receipt of Information about unauthorised activities taking place in the NSA cell, additional CCTV cameras were installed in the public area of NSA Block. Inputs received confirmed unauthorised activities, based on which Jail staff searched the premise of NSA Cell early this morning, leading to the recovery of a smartphone with SIM, keypad phone, TV remote with keyboard, spy-cam pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphone & speakers and smart watch which were lawfully seized by Jail staff," the top cop said in a X post. After weeks of dramatic manhunt, the Punjab Police had arrested 29-year-old Singh from a gurdwara in Rode in April 2023 under the stringent National Security Act. In February last year, Singhs followers stormed the Ajnala police station to secure the release of an arrested associate. A Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) personnel was hacked to death by Naxalites at a village market in Chhattisgarhs insurgency-hit Bijapur district on Sunday, police said. The attack occurred around 9.30 am in a village under Kutru police station limits, where a CAF team was deployed for security at a market, a senior official said. A small group of Naxalites attacked company commander Tijau Ram Bhuarya, who was leading the CAF team, he said. The Naxalites hacked Bhuarya to death with an axe before fleeing the scene, he said. Bhuarya belonged to the 4th battalion of the CAF, he said. On being alerted about it, a police team rushed to the spot and launched a search in the area to trace the assailants, the official said. Farmer from Punjab, Haryana, and other parts of North India continued their protests on Sunday as their Delhi Chalo march, called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, entered Day 6. The agitating farmers have sought an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP), one of their key demands, ahead of their fourth round of discussions with the Centre on Sunday. Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai will meet with farmer leaders in Chandigarh for the fourth round of discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing farmers protest. The two sides met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but those talks remained inconclusive. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on February 13 morning began their Delhi Chalo march to press for their demands, amid heavy barricading at Haryana-Punjab border and entry points into the National Capital. However, most of them were stopped by security personnel at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjabs border with Haryana. The protesters have stayed put at the two border points since then. Over 200 farmers unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, are taking part in the march to press the Centre to accept their demands. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21. Here are the latest developments in the ongoing farmers protests The fourth round of talks between farmer leaders and the central government panel including Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai in connection with their demands to end the ongoing Delhi chalo protests at the Punjab-Haryana borders is underway in Chandigarh. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is also present at the meeting. #WATCH | Fourth round of talks between farmer leaders and Union Ministers, in connection with the ongoing protest, underway in Chandigarh; Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also present at the meeting.(Source: CMO, Punjab) pic.twitter.com/Xy8U5zJNUC ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024 Meanwhile, following a meeting of United Kisan Morcha in Ludhiana, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Punjab unit farmers said they will intensify the agitation if the government does not agree to their demands. We have a meeting on February 22. This govt has deceived us. If the government does not agree with our demands we will intensify this agitation, the farmers said. A big decision has been taken during the meeting of United Kisan Morcha in Ludhiana. Houses of BJP leaders will be surrounded on 20, 21 and 22 February. Trains, however, will not be stopped in view of Shri Guru Ravidas Jayanti, the SKM farmers further said during a press conference. 4th Round of Talks Between Union Minister and Farmer Leaders The two sides ministers and farmer leaders had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but talks remained inconclusive. Meanwhile, the suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24 on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs while the ban on internet services has been extended in Haryana, till February 19. Farmers Protest: Here are Top Updates of the Day The suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24. The ban on internet services has been extended in Haryana till February 19. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a black flag protest against Members of Parliaments (MPs) of NDA on February 21. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal asked the government to accept their demands before the model code of conduct for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections comes into force. Meanwhile, after a meeting with 32 organizations of Punjab under the banner of United Kisan Morcha in Ludhiana today, farmers of the SKM Punjab unit said there will be a meeting of farmers organisations at the national level in Delhi on February 22 during which, a decision will be made on carrying out a countrywide movement. On February 22, it has been decided to surround the houses of all the BJP leaders of the state. All toll plazas in the state will also be made free on these three days. However, on the appeal of the head of Dera Ballan, trains will not be stopped during this period in view of Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti, the farmers said in a statement. A heavy deployment of security has been assigned at the Singhu border as farmers ahead of the fourth round of talks. In Haryanas Kurukshetra, a panchayat was held on Sunday in which Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni and some Khaps took part to chalk out a course of action to support the protesting farmers from Punjab. The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) continued to hold protests at toll plazas in Punjab for the second consecutive day. The SKM has decided to immediately intensify agitation and it shall be done with multiple calls for massive actions in coordination with workers and all other sections of the people, said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha in a statement. Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leaders said on Sunday that the government had asked for some time to discuss the matter with the union ministers. Strict action will be taken against those who disturb law and order, said Haryana Police Chief Shatrujeet Kapur after visiting the Data Singhwala-Khanauri border point. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday announced that farmers will stage dharnas in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand on February 21 to press their demands. The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) took out a tractor march in Haryana. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on February 13 morning began their Delhi Chalo march in to press for their demands, amid heavy barricading at the Haryana-Punjab border and entry points into the National Capital. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21. A grand Hindu temple inauguration in the UAE. A maiden military exercise with Saudi Arabia. And a sweeping pardon from the Emir of Qatar in what would have otherwise been a devastating execution of eight retired Indian naval officers. All of this has transpired within just a few days. India is at the pinnacle of its diplomatic prowess in Gulf countries, and theres a common thread binding this trend together Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his personally managed relationships with the rulers of these prominent Muslim nations. ALSO READ | How PM Modis Abu Dhabi Visit Marks a Shift in India-UAE Relations and Strengthens Arabian Sea Ties At a time when the world is divided over the Israel-Gaza war and the monarchs of leading Islamic nations are on the edge to avoid the slightest of bad press, their solidarity with India has reached new heights. Just take a look at the BAPS temple in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This incredibly grand temple complex has come up right at the heart of the Arab world. The temple has been built at a cost of $84 million, on an area of 27 acres, on land donated by the Emirati President himself. In fact, it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who thanked UAEs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed al Nahyan for making it all happen. In his address to the diaspora in Abu Dhabi, Modi said that when he requested the possibility of a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, MBZ instantly agreed. The Emirati leader went on to instruct stakeholders that the temple should be built with glory and grandeur. So, the temple does not just serve its purpose, but it also looks the part, marking a first-of-its-kind in the entire region. This is indeed a grand gesture from the Emiratis who have remained unfazed by the Western medias narrative that Indian Muslims are an oppressed minority. Instead, the UAEs leadership has presented a glowing endorsement of PM Modi himself, at a time when India is headed for a national election. Under the crown prince, the UAE has taken a progressive turn. While it remains highly traditionalist and authoritarian from the outset, it is still relatively one of the most liberal countries in West Asia. Moreover, the UAE has positioned itself as anti-terrorism. And when it comes to India, the UAE has gone all in. The two nations are strategically aligned and are part of various regional groupings and projects, including the I2U2 and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). India can count on the UAE to be a trusted friend, come what may. The UAE does not pass running commentary on Kashmir or side with Pakistan against India. It is not just investing in Jammu and Kashmir, it also seems to recognise POK or Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as part of India. Trade between the two countries has reached $84 billion annually and it could reach $100 billion soon. This makes the UAE Indias third largest trade partner. Non-oil trade has crossed $50 billion, and Indian exports are rising. The UAE is also accepting payments for oil in the Indian rupee. It has accepted the UPI-based Rupay card, which is great news for Indians there. At the end of the day, the UAE recognises the great potential in India. India is not just the fastest-growing large economy in the world, but also an increasingly powerful player in global geopolitics. Moreover, at 3.3 million, Indians form more than one-third of the total population of the UAE. They have helped build this nation, while never once posing a challenge to its security or polity. So if youre looking for a pair of best friends on the world map, one of them is undoubtedly the duo of India and UAE. Moving on to Qatar, which is a whole different and challenging arena in comparison to the seamless grounds of the UAE. This is where another incredible breakthrough for PM Modi came from. Last year, Qatars courts sentenced eight former Indian navy officials to the gallows on charges of espionage. While the details of this matter were never revealed, it was leaked that these men allegedly passed on top-secret information regarding a Qatari submarine project to Israel. Now Qatar is infamous for punching above its weight as a geopolitical force. Unlike the UAE, the tiny nation of Qatar has a dark side. It is a little too close for comfort with terror groups. At the same time, it cannot be shunned by the leading powers of the world. So while Hamas leaders enjoy safe haven in Qatar, the Mossad chief can come in and go whenever he wants too. And while it hosts the USAs largest overseas base, it remained highly influential among the Taliban leadership. Ultimately, talks between the US and Taliban were hosted by Doha, Qatars capital. And even now, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has hinged on Qatar to expedite the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Qatar holds tremendous sway in the region and cannot be written off easily. The death sentence shook India to its core. Never in its history had it witnessed such a sensitive challenge. And yet, Indias diplomatic charm prevailed. It stayed largely muted on the front end, while deploying diplomatic tactics in the background. India dealt with the matter with utmost sensitivity, and sought to cause no damage to Qatars reputation. And soon the death sentence was commuted to a life sentence and the life sentence turned into release. Moreover, PM Modi stepped in personally and it is said that ultimately it was he who changed the Qatari Emirs mind. An unfortunate tragedy was ultimately averted. As this relief set in, PM Modi announced his visit to Qatar, along with his UAE trip which was planned much earlier. A favourable LNG deal was also signed with this gas-rich nation. This was an extension of a 25-year deal that was to expire in 2028 a $78 billion LNG deal securing a gas supply from Qatar for 20 years at rates lower than current prices. In total, India is estimated to have saved $6 billion, all while continuing on the path to transition to clean energy. From the fallout of the Russia-Ukraine war, it is known that Qatar has no dearth of customers. A very thirsty Europe has been standing right at its door for more than a year now. But it signed a deal with India keeping in mind the countrys growing geopolitical relevance and its booming market. For Qatar, not antagonising India makes sense. ALSO READ | PM Modi Thanks Qatari Emir For Release of 8 Jailed Indians, Discusses Bilateral Ties A little less talked about last week was Saudi Arabia, which just concluded a military exercise with India called Sada Tanseeq. This is a reflection of the soaring strategic ties between Riyadh and New Delhi. While not as progressive as the UAE yet, Saudi Arabias leadership is on a quest to promote deradicalisation. It also has a similar approach towards India and it is also a member of the IMEC. Trade is growing and so are people-to-people ties. A few decades ago, no one could have imagined any of these developments to be possible. India just did not have that kind of sway in West Asia. But it does now, after years of focused and nurturing diplomacy, and this has emerged as a major asset for New Delhi impacting both economic and security domains. Visitors to 62-year-old Ram Ratans paan shop in a small hamlet named Virpur in Mall Block of UPs Lucknow never return empty handed. Even when they dont buy anything, Ram Ratan leaves with them a word of caution. I am a burden. I cant walk or go out to earn money. My wound stinks. People dont want me in social gatherings nor do they want to visit my place. I made the mistake of not taking the medicine on time and it made my life worse than hell. I request you not to commit the same mistake and lead a normal, healthy life. Ratan is a patient of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), commonly known as elephantiasis because of the severe swelling and thickening of the skin it causes, particularly in the limbs. Its a very painful disease, even worse than cancer and conveying a word of caution is just a small attempt on my part to create awareness among the people towards elephantiasis, he says. Elephantiasis or lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like worms. The condition is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. These worms can block the lymphatic system over time, leading to swelling and thickening of the skin, particularly in limbs and genital areas. This results in the characteristic swelling and can cause disability, disfigurement, and social stigma. In several cases, the person is infected in childhood, causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system. The painful and profoundly visible manifestations of the disease lymphoedema, elephantiasis and scrotal swelling occur later in life and can lead to permanent disability. The intricate network of vessels, organs, and specialized cells is profoundly impacted by filariasis infection, with symptoms often manifesting 10-15 years after contracting the infection. These patients are not only physically disabled, but suffer mental, social and financial losses contributing to stigma and poverty. Treatment usually involves medication to kill the worms and manage symptoms, but advanced cases may require surgery or other interventions. Prevention focuses on controlling the mosquito population and avoiding mosquito bites in endemic areas. Of the total numbers of blocks in Lucknow, Mall Block, where Ratans village is located, is infamous for the number of active cases of lymphatic filariasis. It Was the First Time I Heard of Lymphatic Filariasis Ram Ratan says he led a normal life until 2004. But one day, when his left leg began to swell up, he was diagnosed with elephantiasis. Ratan says this was the first time he had heard of the disease. But he made the mistake of not taking the medicines on time. Over days, his leg grew bigger and more deformed. Today, his bloated foot and thick skin resembles that of an elephant. Its been 20 years since Ratan was diagnosed and living with the deformed and bloated leg has not been easy. Initially, I used to go out to work to meet the financial needs of my family. But this disease just made me immobile. I cant walk or ride a bicycle to go out to work. It also adds to the social stigma. People dont want to have me around. My wound stinks and I dont have any option but to live with this disease that has made my life hell. This disease has traumatized me mentally, physically and financially, Ratan tells News18. Ratan says the sole reason he is creating awareness among the people is doesnt want anyone else to suffer his fate. The Drive Against Lymphatic Filariasis Officials with the health department say of the 2,500 people who live in Virpur Village, at least 12 are lymphatic filariasis victims. As per records, there are 558 active cases of lymphatic filariasis in Mall Block. In the neighbouring Malihabad Block, this number is believed to be 153, while Kakori has 217 active cases. Overall, Lucknow has 2,546 active cases of lymphatic filariasis, whereas Uttar Pradesh has around 1,46,022 such active cases. Health department officials told News18 that under the National Health Mission, a gruelling drive has been launched across the Mall Block to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. We have undertaken the drive in the entire Mall block where the population is around 2 lakh. In the drive, we are covering all 67 villages which fall under Mall Block, with ASHA workers, Sanginis and auxiliary nurses are playing a crucial role. We have also roped in Gram Pradhans and some patients of elephantiasis in order to create awareness among the masses, said Dr Sandeep Pratap Singh, Superintendent, Community Health Centre (CHC), Mall Block, Lucknow. Singh, who is also part of the drive, said the team has been visiting each and every household and is administering drugs to all eligible individuals. We are visiting each and every house and administering doses to the people in the prescribed format. At the time of visits, we make sure that people consume medicines in front of us, said Kanchan Lata Singh, an ASHA worker who has been tasked with carrying out an anti-filariasis drive in Ranipara village of Mall Block. Suspicion and Superstition According to Kanchan Lata Singh, administering the doses to people is not an easy task and the team has faced local rejection and opposition. We are on the field and rejection and opposition are part of a drive. Many times people refuse to consume the medicine, saying there are no signs of illness. In such a situation, we have to make the person understand that even a normal or healthy-looking person can be a carrier of lymphatic filariasis. Sometimes the team is accompanied by an active patient to make the masses understand the severity of the disease once the infection sets in. This is the most effective way to make the masses understand the importance of the medicine. Such volunteers are indeed of great help as they can make people understand the importance of the drug, Kanchan Lata Singh says. She adds that possible side-effects are another reason people dont take the medicine. There are instances when the patient suffers anxiety, vomiting, and headache soon after the medicine is administered. Such reactions often become a reason for refusal for others, she adds. Frontline workers say superstition is another roadblock. Timely consumption of drugs is the only way to cure or avert this disease. But instead of consuming drugs, the patient often falls victim to superstition, which makes things worse. In one of the cases, the patient was asked to bury the leg in the ground for four days to cure elephantiasis. Similarly, another patient was asked by a quack to get the affected leg stung by a scorpion in order to cure the disease, a frontline worker told News18. Another myth says people who cross the land where an elephant had died are the ones who are infected. Another superstition says the disease is payback for sins of a past life. Target of Filariasis-Free UP by 2026 In a dedicated push to eliminate filariasis from the region, the Yogi Adityanath government has initiated the door-to-door administration of anti-filarial medications across several districts as part of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign, starting February 10, 2024. In line with the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this initiative aims to reach every household in the state in the battle against the debilitating disease. Within the first four days of the door-to-door campaign, around 20% people took the medicine. The campaign will run until February 28. The UP CM has urged the healthcare teams not to just distribute the medication, but also to educate the populace, emphasizing the importance of awareness in achieving the campaigns goals. The government has set an ambitious target to eliminate filariasis from the state by 2026, aligning with the central governments goal to achieve nationwide elimination by 2027. Globally, the target for eliminating this disease has been set for 2030. Officials with the health department said communities in areas such as Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, and Barabanki have displayed keen interest in learning about the potential side effects of the medication. They inquire about issues such as headaches, dizziness, and the medications efficacy on an empty stomach. However, the health teams are assuring the populace that the anti-filarial medication is entirely safe, despite occasional side-effects like headache, body pain, fever, vomiting, rashes, and itching, which typically subside on their own. In other areas like Lucknow, Unnao, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, and Hamirpur, initial hesitancy towards taking the medication has been observed among some individuals. However, after receiving information from the health teams, many have willingly come forward to receive the treatment. Dr Ramesh Singh Thakur, the state program officer for filariasis, revealed that the campaign aims to administer the medication to a total of 3,60,25,891 individuals. Impressively, within just four days, approximately 66.14 lakh people, constituting around 20% of the target population, have received the anti-filarial medicine. Currently, there are 51 districts in the state grappling with filariasis. The ongoing campaign is operational in 17 of these districts. Other than UP where there are more than 1,46,022 active cases of filariasis, the official record suggests that at the national level 680 million Indians are currently at risk of contracting the disease. The infection has been reported in 328 districts across 20 states and Union Territories. Till 2021, 5.27 lakh cases of lymphoedema and 1.78 lakh cases of hydrocele were reported from endemic districts. About 90% of the filariasis burden in the country is contributed by eight states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Hello readers, News18 evening digest brings you the latest updates: In Next 100 Days, Reach Out To Every Voter: PM Modi Tells Party Workers at BJP National Convention; UAE to Qatar, India is Winning in the Middle-East With Modi as the Defining Factor among other stories. In Next 100 Days, Reach Out To Every Voter: PM Modi Tells Party Workers at BJP National Convention Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the gathering on the second day of the Bharatiya Janata Partys National Convention in the national capitals Bharat Mandapam. READ MORE Finepoint | UAE to Qatar, India is Winning in the Middle-East With Modi as the Defining Factor India is at the pinnacle of its diplomatic prowess in Gulf countries, and theres a common thread binding this trend together Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his personally managed relationships with the rulers of these prominent Muslim nations. READ MORE Suhani Bhatnagars Dangal Co-star Sanya Malhotra Reacts To Her Death: She Was So Special Aamir Khans on-screen daughter in Dangal, Suhani Bhatnagar passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 19. While the exact cause of her death remains unknown, Suhani who used to live in sector 17, Faridabad was cremated at the Ajronda crematorium in Sector 15, as per reports. Suhanis father Puneet Bhatnagar has shared the cause of the death of her daughter with the media. According to him, Suhani developed swelling in her hands two months ago, which later spread to other parts of her body. READ MORE BJPs Mass Joining Alert Ahead of Polls! Several MPs, MLAs from Congress, BSP, AAP to Go Saffron by Feb 29 Beginning February 20, a barrage of sitting MPs and MLAs from opposition parties, including the Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to a senior BJP source. The joining will continue till the end of the month February 29, the source added. READ MORE India vs England 3rd Test Match Live Score, Day 4: ENG Batting in Tatters With 8 Wickets Down in Chase of 557 Englands chase is off to a terrible start as they have lost both their in-form openers in quick succession. At tea, they were 18/2 in chase of 557. READ MORE Commercial production at the Sapigen Biologix vaccine plant in Odisha, the first such facility in the state, will commence by May this year, officials said on Sunday. Chairman 5T and Nabin Odisha VK Pandian visited the facility. The plant at the Biotech Park in Andharua will have the capacity to produce 2.4 crore doses of different vaccines per day. At full capacity, this facility will be the biggest vaccine-producing plant in the country, the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said in a statement. Pandian visited all the sub-units and interacted with the management and employees. He instructed state government agencies to assist in the commissioning of the plant within the next 3 months. It is expected to produce over 15 vaccines for various diseases, including cholera and malaria. The Rs 1,500-crore vaccine plant will create direct employment for 1,500 people, with most of them being local recruits, the CMO said. The variety of vaccines produced in Bhubaneswar will be supplied to many parts of the world, it added. Led by Dr. Krishna Ella of Bharat Biotech Park fame, the project is in complete sync with the motto of HCM and Odisha that every life is precious. With vaccines from here, millions of lives will be safeguarded around the world. Pandian has assured all help from the government and also informed of the recently approved biotechnology policy, which has been approved by HCM Naveen Patnaiks cabinet. He expressed confidence that with this large anchor manufacturing plant, many other complementary biotechnology-related product companies will be attracted to the Odisha Biotech Park, bringing major investments and creating jobs in this specialty field. (with inputs from PTI) TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra, another prime accused named in the Sandeshkhali violence case, was arrested from a hideout in the Najat area of Basirhat on Saturday. Hazra was produced before a local court on Sunday and was later sent to police custody for eight days, police said. Hazra had been on the run since the women in Sandeshkhali levelled allegations of sexual harassment against him, while he was already a prime accused in the alleged land grab case. Shibu Hazra has been arrested from the Najat area of Basirhat in West Bengal. A total of 18 people have been arrested including Shibu Hazra, SP Basirhat said. The state police chief noted that addition of sections of rape were made to the FIR filed against Hazra earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Section 144 (prohibition of assembly of five or more people, unauthorised processions, or demonstrations) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been withdrawn from four areas of Sandeshkhali, including, Daudpur, Gopaler Ghat, Atapur, and Pulepara. Restrictions will continue in the rest of the 15 areas till noon on February 21. TOP POINTS On the instructions of the National general secretary, a three-member delegation of the All India Trinamool Congress Partha Bhowmick, Sujit Bose and Birbaha Hansda headed to Sandeshkhali on Sunday. Key accused in the Sandeshkhali violence, TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra, was arrested from a hideout in Basirhats Najat area on Saturday. A police official noted that he will be produced before a local court on Sunday. In view of the sexual harassment allegations against Hazra, by the women of Sandeshkhali, the state police chief said that sections of rape were also added to the FIR filed against him. Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, while speaking at the BJP National Convention 2024 in the national capital on Saturday, condemned the Sandheskhali violence and said, I consider such incidents to be a stain on the civilised society. This should be strongly condemned Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar noted that they will be reviewing the situation area-wise before deciding on removing prohibitory orders. There are some areas where Section 144 is not required in a day or two, we will remove the prohibitory orders so that normalcy returns, he said. Following the violence in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Paraganas, the West Bengal government on Saturday removed senior officer Sumit Kumar from the post of DIG (Barasat range) and made him DIG (Security). However, officials in the state government said that this was just a routine shuffle. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said the doors of Raj Bhavan will always be open for the tortured women of Sandeshkhali who feel unsafe in their own homes. He said that women can contact the Peace Room at Raj Bhavan by dialing 033-22001641 to lodge complaints. Governor CV Bose, following his recent visit to Sandeshkhali, describe the situation there as ghastly, shocking, and shattering. Meanwhile, a six-member team of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) on Saturday visited the politically troubled area to look into the complaints of child abuse there. Villagers had alleged that miscreants grabbed a seven-month-old baby from the mothers lap and threw it away. Advisor to the state child rights panel Sudeshna Roya told reporters that the team will assess the situation at ground zero level. Our duty is to give protection to every child in the state and also see their rights are protected, Roy added. Chairperson Tulika Das, on the other hand, who leads the six-member WBCPCR team said, We took suo motu cognisance to meet the family. We met the mother of the childthey wanted food, medical support and security. We have provided them all that. (With PTI inputs) Phan Thanh Quoc returned to Vietnam in late 2023 after exploring Ecuador, marking the 50th country he visited since quitting his programming job three years ago. Looking back on his travels, Quoc, also known as "Ke Du Muc" (The Nomad), sums up the experiences as "worthy." The 32-year-old started his journey to travel worldwide at the end of April 2021. After spending about six months exploring Nepal, India, Oman, and Sri Lanka, he returned to his home base in Ho Chi Minh City. Despite his initial plan to travel for a longer time, the regulations back then mandated another Covid vaccine within six months for continued international travel. In response, Quoc headed back to Vietnam to get his third shot. As a programmer, Quoc has the flexibility to work anywhere. However, in a moment of contemplation, he decided to quit his job to concentrate on traveling and exploring the world. After leaving his job and feeling a bit unsure about what to do next, Quoc's love for Vietnamese food took him straight to Hanoi. Then, he set off on a trip back to HCMC, enjoying the diverse regional cuisines all over Vietnam. Phan Thanh Quoc takes a photo with people in Burundi. Photo courtesy of Ke Du Muc Quoc expressed no regrets about leaving his job. Although he recently received an interview offer from Microsoft, he turned it down because his main focus is on exploring the world. Thanks to the money he saved before quitting, travel expenses weren't a worry for Quoc when he started traveling. He started his journey slowly, driven by a desire to understand each place rather than merely ticking them off a list. In some locations, he said he didn't take any photos to fully immerse himself in the experience. In 2023, Quoc visited around 15 countries, including El Salvador, Mongolia, Belize, Panama, and Ecuador. Mongolia left a lasting impression for Quoc, as he experienced the nomadic lifestyle by riding horses for the first time, and spending a week in the Terelj Steppe in July. He went deep into the steppe where there were mountains and grassy areas with no phone signal. At night, the temperature reaches about 0 degrees Celsius. With limited resources, Quoc had to rely on water from the Tuul River, either boiled or filtered using a handheld tool. While wandering in the area, he learned how Mongolian nomads, despite lacking modern amenities, adeptly use nature for sustenance. On this trip, Quoc had a bit of trouble when a horse trod on him while he was checking his camera's memory card. The card got trampled, and he ended up losing many pictures from the 7-day trek across the Terelj steppe. For Quoc, every journey, whether smooth or challenging, carries valuable experience. In addition to acquiring knowledge and survival skills, Quoc met many people with captivating stories. These interactions helped him grasp the real meaning of each journey and life in general. During his trip to the Amazon jungle, he connected with indigenous people who maintained a primitive lifestyle. Having only interacted with modern society for about 40 years, they still harbor a dislike for it. They feel sad because their home, the forest, has been destroyed. Rejecting government support, their desire is simple - to live in peace. "Their happiness is strange. I believe those who know less might be happier in our society," he said. Phan Thanh Quoc (L) and a friend he made on his way named Sunghwan share a meal in Mexico. Photo courtesy of Ke Du Muc Last September, Quoc met a man named Sunghwan from Korea while traveling in Mexico. Sunghwan had never traveled alone before his Mexico trip, but he decided to try something new after facing some challenges in his life. They became good friends after a few chats and began exploring various Mexican cities together. Even now, Sunghwan keeps Quoc updated about the places he visits, with the latest being a photo from Argentina. Through his journeys and meeting people, Sunghwan realized the importance of living at a slower pace and listening to himself. When Quoc reflects on trips to African countries like Kenya and Burundi, he still feels a bit stressed due to the lack of comfort and fears of potential theft when walking the streets. Despite these concerns, he chose to stay because he wanted to truly understand how people cope with difficult circumstances. "Maybe it's because when I was a child, my family was poor, so we knew how to endure hardships," Quoc said. Phan Thanh Quoc snapped a photo of himself while taking in the views of Guanajuato, Mexico. Photo courtesy of Ke Du Muc In between challenging trips, Quoc frequently selects a few places to unwind and recharge. After his African adventure, Quoc opted for Myanmar as his next destination. Despite power outages at the resort where he stayed, he discovered relaxation in the local daily life. Reflecting on life after quitting his job, Quoc describes the feeling as being free. Since technology has always been his childhood dream, he is not disinterested in his programming job. However, Quoc finds it challenging to pursue both hobbies. Currently, earning money while on the go is a common practice, with a rising trend in "digital nomadism" individuals working remotely, allowing them the freedom to travel while still fulfilling job responsibilities. Quoc encourages young people to pursue their dreams while underscoring the importance of preparation and having backup plans for significant undertakings, such as global travel. This year, Quoc is thinking about going back to Mongolia because a week on the steppe wasn't enough for him to really understand life there. Security forces have been put on an alert in Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Jammu on Tuesday. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range VK Birdi chaired a meeting with top security officials aimed at reviewing and strengthening security arrangements. PM Modi will be visiting Jammu on February 20 and will inaugurate and lay the foundation of various projects while addressing a public rally on the same day. Recognising the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between security needs and the smooth conduct of events, IGP Kashmir directed officers to ensure heightened vigilance, particularly during night hours to mitigate the risk of terrorist threats. Earlier this month, two non-locals from Punjab were killed in the Shalla Kadal area of Srinagar following which a terror associate was arrested. The meeting aimed to comprehensively review and strengthen security arrangements in anticipation of visits by VVIPs to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as other events in offing, police said. Police noted that during the meeting, a comprehensive briefing was given by participating officers on the security plans devised in the backdrop of upcoming events. Recognizing the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between security needs and the smooth conduct of events, IGP Kashmir directed officers to ensure heightened vigilance, particularly during night hours, to mitigate the risk of terrorist threats, officials said. Emphasizing the imperative to bolster intelligence gathering and anti-terror operations, IGP Kashmir urged officers to minimize the risk of untoward incidents by strengthening security at vulnerable points, especially during significant events. Special attention was given to enhancing security along the National Highway, tunnels, minority pickets, and other critical pockets, the police said. During the last few years, minorities and non-locals have been targeted by Pakistan-based terror groups. The IGP has issued specific directives to intensify security and surprise naka measures in both uptown and downtown areas of Srinagar, with 247 patrolling and increased presence at entry and exit points of the district. The IGP also stressed the importance of briefing personnel to take care of SOP, considering the heightened security concerns during events, the Kashmir police zone said. Additionally, the IGP Kashmir Zone emphasized the critical need for thorough monitoring of vulnerable areas and prompt action against suspicious activities. Special instructions were given to border district heads to maintain strict vigilance along the LoC and hinterland to prevent potential terror activities. Birdi reiterated the importance of collective vigilance and proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the Kashmir valley. The meeting was convened at PCR Kashmir and was attended by senior officers of various security agencies including police, Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, CISF besides state and Central intelligence agencies. In an embarrassment for the Uttar Pradesh Police, an admit card bearing the name and photograph of actor Sunny Leone for the examination for the post of Police Constable went viral on Saturday. Sources with the UP Police cyber cell said the matter is under investigation. Around 48 lakh aspirants on February 17 took the UP Police Recruitment Boards exam for 60,244 posts. The matter came to light when one seat at Srimati Sone Shri Smarak Balika Mahavidhyala in Kannauj district remained vacant during the first meeting. On inquiring, the invigilators found that the roll number was allotted to an applicant named Sunny Leon, as per the admit card issued by Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board. ASP Amit Kumar Anand, Kannauj, said, On investigation, it was found that the form in the name of the actor was filed from Kasganj district. The Kasganj Police is investigating the matter. The UP Police is looking into how come the admit card got issued. Of the total 48 lakh candidates, around 15 lakh were women. Born in Canada to Sikh parents, Leone had a successful career in the US adult film industry. She later moved to India and participated in Big Boss. Leone has acted in films like Jism 2, Jackpot, Shootout at Wadala, Ragini MMS 2, Vadacurry, Hate Story 2, among others. The actor married Daniel Weber in 2011 and has three kids Nisha, Asher and Noah. They adopted Nisha a few years ago and welcomed Noah and Asher to their lives in 2018 through surrogacy. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian has banned the production and sale of cotton candy in the state (panju mittai) after a lab test confirmed the presence of cancer-causing chemicals. The Food Analysis Laboratory collected samples from several beaches and other areas in Chennai. The test found Rhodamine-B, as an artificial colouring agent, in various samples of cotton candy and other coloured sweets, terming them unsafe and substandard for consumption. The minister noted that with the presence of Rhodamine-B, the state bans the sale of cotton candy and makes it punishable under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006. He said that the use of Rhodamine-B as a food additive in manufacturing, packaging, import, sale of food, or serving food containing it at weddings and other public events would be punishable under the Act mentioned above. He also added that the Commissioner of Food Safety has directed the personnel to take strict action as per the Act. Further, directives are issued to conduct thorough inspections and take strict actions against violators. Before Tamil Nadu, the Union territory of Puducherry banned the sale and production of cotton candy. HEALTH CONCERNS P. Satheesh Kumar, designated officer, Food Safety Department said that Rhodamine-B is a dye that have industrial uses. It is used in leather colouring as well as paper printing. It cannot be used for food colouring, and has immediate and long-term health hazards, quoted The Hindu as saying Kumar. Kumar also confirmed that consumption can cause fullness of the stomach, itching and breathing problems, adding that if consumed for long duration, the dye can stay upto for 60 days and if not excreted, it can get deposited in kidney, liver and intensine. Kumar said that long consumption can disprut kidney function and cause irrevisble damage. In an attempt to instigate agitating farmers against the government ahead of the scheduled talks between the two parties on Sunday evening, Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has released a video offering them weapons to attack police officials in Haryana and Punjab. In the latest video, the founder of the banned United States-based outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), urged the farmers agitating at the Shambhu and Khanauri points along Punjabs border with Haryana to attack police officials using arms available at the Kartarpur border and create pressure on the Centre to fulfil their demands. He said, Arm yourself to fight Indian bullets. Weapons are available at the Kartarpur border near Pakistan. According to top intelligence sources, it is an attempt to provoke innocent farmers. Official sources said, Farmers are within their legitimate right to protest. None of the farmers will listen to SFJ. The Centre is committed to solving all farmers problems and talks are on. Farmer from Punjab, Haryana, and other parts of North India continued their protests on Sunday as their Delhi Chalo march, called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, entered Day 6. The agitating farmers have sought an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP), one of their key demands, ahead of their fourth round of discussions with the Centre on Sunday. Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai will meet with farmer leaders in Chandigarh for the fourth round of discussions to resolve the ongoing farmers protest. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on February 13 morning began their Delhi Chalo march to press for their demands, amid heavy barricading at Haryana-Punjab border and entry points into the National Capital. However, most of them were stopped by security personnel at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjabs border with Haryana. The protesters have stayed put at the two border points since then. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21. On the day the main accused in the Sandeshkhali violence, TMC leader Shibu Hazra, was arrested after gang-rape charges were added to one of the cases where he was an accused, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue of Sandeshkhali at the national level in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhis Bharat Mandapam. Over the last week, the BJP has successfully kept the Sandeshkhali pot boiling. It was West Bengal BJP President Susanta Majumdar, who took a local train after being stopped from entering the village and sat on a dharna. He was detained and released later in the night. But instead of going back to Kolkata, he camped in a lodge in Taki overnight so that he could make a fresh attempt the next day. It proved to be an ugly face-off where the BJP alleged police brutality that resulted in Majumdar suffering a fall fainting. As a result, he had to be admitted to a hospital. Next, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari took charge of leading the agitation. Adhikari was on his way to the restrictive area along with three other BJP MLAs when police stopped his vehicle at Rampur village near Sandeshkhali. He was accompanied by two women BJP legislators Chandana Bauri and Tapasi Mondal. #WATCH | West Bengal: BJP MLAs along with party leader Suvendu Adhikari held a protest over the violence in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. pic.twitter.com/alnG9rj7CN ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024 After being stopped, Adhikari moved Calcutta High Court. The prayer was mentioned before the court of Justice Kaushik Chanda, who is likely to take up the matter for hearing on Monday, Adhikaris advocate Rajdeep Majumdar said. He has sought direction from the state government to allow him to visit unrest-hit Sandeshkhali after he was prevented by West Bengal Police from going there for the second time on Thursday. Meanwhile, BJP chief JP Nadda sent an all-woman high-level team to Sandeshkhali. But they, too, were stopped from entering Sandeshkhali. The BJP team, led by Union Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi, returned to Kolkata and met Governor CV Ananda Bose. Meanwhile, Majumder, who was released from the hospital on Saturday evening, had to give the on the first day of BJPs National Council Meet a miss. But he took a flight straight to Delhi where he will attend Day 2 of the BJPs mega conclave. On Day 1, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who moved the political resolution at the partys National Council Meet, named Sandeshkhali calling it tyranny and a stain on civilised society. While praising the Bengal BJP for raising the issue in the face of intimidation, Singh said, Whatever has happened in Sandeshkhali and the bravery with which our workers are fighting against this oppression and tyranny, I want to congratulate them. I consider such incidents to be a stain on the civilised society. This should be strongly condemned. The horror incident is also mentioned in the resolution that calls it barbaric and painful. It also says, The way the dignity of women was violated by her leaders and her party under the protection of a woman Chief Minister, that can not be a sign of a civilised society. Earlier, the Bengal Police rubbished charges of sexual assault in Sandeshkhali and threatened legal action calling it willful misinformation. However, with TMC strongman Shibu Hazra arrested on the charge of rape and the BJP mentioning the incident in its first resolution, the pot on Sandeshkhali continue to burn. Now, all eyes will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modis concluding remark in the BJP conclave on Sunday. Opposition political parties, including the BJP, CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress, have been holding protests over alleged atrocities on women at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district for more than a week. Even as Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan escaped arrest, since February 7, villagers spearheaded by local women have held violent protests against alleged harassment and exploitation by local TMC leaders. Shahjahan is accused of numerous crimes ranging from money laundering to harassment. He is still absconding. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs birth anniversary, also known as Shiv Jayanti, isnt just a state holiday in Maharashtra its a vibrant celebration of courage, justice, and cultural pride resonating across India. Every year, on February 19 though the exact date varies based on the Hindu lunar calendar- the nation remembers the visionary king who established the Maratha Empire and carved a path towards Swarajya, self-rule for his people. ALSO READ: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2024: Shiv Jayanti Wishes, Quotes, Images and WhatsApp Status to Share on 19 February This year marks the 394th birth anniversary of Chhratrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Banks in Maharashtra will be closed today on Monday, February 19, but it will operate as usual in other states. FROM FORT WALLS TO EMPIRE BUILDER Born in 1630 within the formidable Shivneri Fort in Pune, Shivaji Maharaj displayed exceptional leadership and valour from a young age. Fuelled by his mother Jijabais teachings and the dream of Swarajya (self-rule), he carved his path. He strategically seized forts, employed innovative warfare tactics, and built a powerful navy, laying the foundation for the Maratha Empire. SHIVAJI JAYANTI: HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE Social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was the first to initiate the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti in 1870, after he discovered his tomb in Raigad Fort. Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti was first celebrated in Pune, as the Raigad Fort lies 100 kilometres away from the place. After Jyotirao Phule, great freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak continued the tradition of celebrating the day. The freedom fighter is also credited for highlighting the contributions of the Maratha King among the public during the freedom movement. BEYOND MAHARASHTRA, AN ALL-INDIA ICON Shivaji Maharajs legacy transcends state borders. Revered not just in Maharashtra but across India, he is celebrated for his progressive ideas, religious tolerance, and unwavering commitment to justice. He championed education, encouraged regional languages like Marathi and Sanskrit, and established a strong administrative system. His policies were inclusive, respecting all faiths and communities. A DAY OF REVELRY AND REMEMBRANCE Shivaji Jayanti comes alive with a kaleidoscope of colours and infectious energy. Grand processions snake through cities in Maharashtra, echoing with patriotic songs and energetic dances. Performances depicting war scenes and showcasing his legacy enthrall audiences. Statues are adorned with flowers, devotional songs fill the air, and people from all walks of life come together to pay homage. MORE THAN JUST A FESTIVE DAY Beyond the pomp and show, Shivaji Jayanti serves as a potent reminder of his values. His principles of good governance, respect for all faiths, and unwavering courage in the face of adversity continue to inspire generations. Educational institutions organize lectures and competitions to educate the youth about his life and achievements. Social initiatives aimed at promoting unity and equality echo his vision of a just society. A LEGACY THAT ENDURES The spirit of Shivaji Jayanti extends beyond a single day. Its a call to action, urging individuals to embody his ideals, stand up for justice, and work towards a better future. As the nation remembers its valiant Maratha king, his legacy continues to be a beacon of hope, reminding us that even the most audacious dreams can be achieved with courage, determination, and unwavering belief. While Maharashtra stands as the heart of the celebrations, states like Karnataka and Goa also observe Shivaji Jayanti with fervour. Delhis culinary scene is a vibrant tapestry of flavours from around the world, and when it comes to Japanese cuisine, the city boasts some truly exceptional spots that promise an unforgettable dining experience. From sleek and sophisticated to cozy and casual, heres a tantalizing tour of the best Japanese restaurants in Delhi, guaranteed to satisfy your cravings and ignite your taste buds! Adrift Kaya View this post on Instagram A post shared by ADRIFT Kaya New Delhi (@adriftkaya_newdelhi) Prepare to embark on a culinary journey like no other at Adrift Kaya! Tucked away in a bustling corner of Delhi, this hidden gem is a haven for Japanese food enthusiasts. Picture yourself seated in a sleek, modern setting, with the aroma of freshly prepared sushi filling the air. From their perfectly crafted nigiri to their mouthwatering ramen bowls, each bite at Adrift Kaya is a symphony of flavours that will transport you straight to the streets of Tokyo. Cost for two: 5,000 + taxes Location: JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity Asset Area 4, Hospitality District, near Indra Gandhi International airport, New Delhi Guppy View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guppy Delhi (@guppydelhi) If youre looking for a lively atmosphere and innovative Japanese cuisine, look no further than Guppy by Ai. This funky hotspot combines traditional Japanese flavours with a modern twist, resulting in dishes that are as Instagram-worthy as they are delicious. Dive into their vibrant sushi rolls, indulge in their crispy tempura, and dont forget to save room for their indulgent desserts you wont be disappointed! Cost for two: 2,000 + taxes Location: Block 13, Lodi Colony, New Delhi Megu View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lavina Kharkwal (@highonwines) Step into luxury at Megu, located in The Leela Palace. This opulent restaurant is a feast for the senses, with its elegant decor and impeccable service setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Savour their delicate sushi platters, and let their expertly crafted cocktails transport you to a world of indulgence and sophistication. Cost for two: 6,500 + taxes Location: The Leela Palace, Africa Ave, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110023 Sakura View this post on Instagram A post shared by Travel Trade Insider (@traveltradeinsider_official) For a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine in a serene setting, Sakura is the place to be. Nestled amidst lush greenery, this tranquil oasis invites you to unwind and savour the authentic flavours of Japan. From their tender teriyaki to their savoury yakitori, each dish at Sakura is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Japan. Cost for two: 4,500 + taxes Location: The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa, Bangla Sahib Road, Gole Market, Sector 4, Connaught Place, New Delhi Wasabi by Morimoto Prepare to be dazzled at Wasabi by Morimoto, where culinary artistry meets unmatched elegance. Helmed by the legendary chef Masaharu Morimoto, this upscale restaurant is a celebration of Japanese cuisine at its finest. From their delicate sashimi to their decadent desserts, each dish at Wasabi is a work of art that will leave you craving more. Cost for two: 3,500 + taxes Location: The Taj Mahal Hotel, No.1, Maan Singh Rd, near Khan Market, India Gate, New Delhi Kylin Experience View this post on Instagram A post shared by KylinAtHolidayInn (@kylinatholidayinn) Dive into a world of flavour at Kylin Experience, where every dish tells a story. This chic and stylish restaurant is a favorite among Delhiites for its vibrant atmosphere and delectable Japanese fare. Whether youre sharing a plate of sushi with friends or enjoying a solo ramen feast, Kylin Experience promises an unforgettable dining experience. Cost for two: 3,500 + taxes Location: Holiday Inn, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi In conclusion, Delhis Japanese restaurants offer a diverse and exciting array of dining experiences, each one guaranteed to delight and inspire. Whether youre craving classic sushi rolls or adventurous fusion dishes, these culinary hotspots have something for everyone. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your chopsticks and get ready to savour the flavours of Japan right here in Delhi! Deepika Padukone has been grabbing headlines after there was a report saying that she has joined the popular web series The White Lotus Season 3. However, there was no confirmation from either side but the news was trending. And now there is a fresh update that the actress has opted out of the series. Bollywood Hungama has mentioned in its report that Deepika Padukone is not part of season 3 due to personal reasons. Bollywood Hungama report says that the first season was shot in Maui; the second season was shot in Sicily. The third season of The White Lotus is to be shot in Thailand. But will Deepika join the cast and crew in Thailand later this year? A close friend of the Fighter actress informs me that she is likely to opt out of The White Lotus Season 3 for personal reasons. But we are still waiting for the confirmation of the news. However, during a press conference for Fighter, the actress was asked about her next projects. Siddharth quipped, Lotus 3 wheres now space? Lotus 3 is coming. Deepika laughed at his answer while giving a puzzled expression. Deepika quickly said, If Siddharth Anand makes Fighter 2 The filmmaker replied, Kaise karenge? Abhi Fighter 2 band kara di aapne, Lotus 3 kar rahi hain, pata nahi kya kya kar rahin hain White Lotus 3. Deepika then continued to laugh as she looked directly at Siddharth. The filmmaker said, Kab time milega, Deepu? The speculation started after a screenshot emerged on Reddit, featuring her mother-in-law Anju Bhavnanis X (formerly Twitter) account. The account had liked three posts about Deepikas rumoured appearance on the show. The post quickly went viral on the microblogging site. Deepika Padukone was seen in a Hollywood film XXX: Return of Xander Cage with Vin Diesel. Meanwhile, Deepika will next be seen in Kalki 2898 AD. The film will be headlined by Prabhas and will feature Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan in key roles. She also has The Intern with Amitabh Bachchan. For the unversed, the Hollywood slice-of-life dramedy had released in 2015. Rene Russo, Anders Holm, Andrew Rannells, Adam DeVine and Zack Pearlman also featured in it. Aamir Khans daughter Ira Khan is enjoying the exciting new phase of her life with her husband, Nupur Shikhare. The couple officially registered their marriage on January 3 and celebrated their union with a lively destination ceremony in Udaipur. A star-studded reception hosted by Aamir Khan in Mumbai followed the grand event. Even since then, the couple never shy away from sharing wholesome pictures on social. Maintaining that trajectory, Ira Khan shared an unseen snap from her Mehndi ceremony. On Sunday, Ira Khan took to her Instagram handle to drop a couple of pictures. In them, Ira and Nupur can be seen seated comfortably in a lawn, exchanging smiles and laughter with one another. The second snap also featured Nupur pouting his face, as if giving a kiss to Ira. She captioned the post, Hi cutie (kiss emoji) I love you. Not only Nupur reacted with I love you too but he also shared it on his Instagram stories with the caption, How I love this. Take a look: Previously while jetting off to Bali, Ira Khan shared a heartwarming moment on her Instagram Stories and expressed her joy as she and her husband, Nupur Shikhare, navigated the immigration line together. Her caption read, We go through the immigration line together now. She also provided a sneak peek of their journey during the flight. Ira Khan and Nupur Shikares wedding was truly a dreamy affair. Earlier, Ira provided a glimpse into their magical wedding by sharing a teaser on her Instagram. The video beautifully captures poignant moments, from Aamir Khan getting emotional to Ira delivering her heartfelt vows. In her caption, Ira said, This is only a teaser but neither Ethereal nor us could wait. We wanted to celebrate in the mountains, with the people we love. And we did. It was stunning when we were there but we didnt realised we were getting married in Rivendell. Nupur, now we have to watch the third Lord of the Rings) It is difficult to put all the love and feelings of that day into words. Thankfully, we have this video instead. Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare got engaged in 2023. Notably, Nupur Shikhare is a renowned professional trainer known for his expertise. He has collaborated with celebrities, including Aamir Khan, Sushmita Sen, and others. Rajkumar Santoshi, who is all set to kick off Lahore 1947 with Aamir Khan, Sunny Deol, and Preity Zinta, has been sentenced to two years in prison for a cheque bounce case. The court has ordered the filmmaker to pay double the amount owed to the complainant. According to a report by news agency ANI, Jamnagar resident and owner of Shreeji Shipping, Ashok Lal, lent Rs. 1 Crore to Santoshi for a film in 2015. The director repaid the loan with 10 cheques of Rs. 10 lakhs each, which bounced in December 2016. Despite efforts to contact Santoshi, Lal filed a case under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Now, the filmmakers lawyer has issued a statement saying the court has stayed its judgement for 30 days and granted him bail. The statement from Rajkumar Santoshis advocate, Binesh Patel states that they will appeal against the magisterial courts judgement. First of all, the court has stayed its judgement for 30 days granted Mr Santoshi bail after we sought time to appeal against the judgement at a higher forum, Patel said, adding, The prosecution didnt produce any documentary evidence to prove that Mr. Santoshi had taken money at all. The prosecution itself has admitted that a third party had collected the said money from the complainant. In-retuen the third party had provided altered eleven cheques of Rs.10 lakh each, which Mr. Santoshi was not aware of it. The magisterial court overlooked these facts and ruled against us. Therefore, on the ground of invalid and false claims, alterations happened in the cheques, the fact that the complainants do not want to present or call-in the said third party who had collected the money, about Mr.Santoshi does not know. So we shall appeal at a higher forum with the above highlighted points and even more (sic). Meanwhile, on the work front, Rajkumar Santoshi, Sunny Deol and Aamir Khan will come together for the first time in Lahore 1947. Stranded Taiwanese tourists arrive at Phu Quoc International Airport on Feb. 14, 2024 to fly home. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Dung Taipei-based We Love Tours company was slapped with a fine of NT$810,000 (US$25,850) for stranding almost 300 Taiwanese tourists on Phu Quoc Island due to a payment dispute. The fine was imposed by Taiwans Tourism Administration on Saturday after the company was found guilty of violating Taiwan's Act for the Development of Tourism and Regulations Governing Travel Agencies, Focus Taiwan reported. A day earlier, the company was suspended for three months starting from Feb. 16. The 292 visitors had booked a four-day tour to the island through the company and flew in by charter flight on Feb. 9. When they arrived at Phu Quoc International Airport, there were no vehicles or hotels waiting for them due to the payment dispute with local partner Winner International Travel Company. After Phu Quoc authorities and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office stepped in, the Taiwanese company was ordered to make full payment by Feb. 26 and the Vietnamese company was told to continue hosting the tourists. The tourists returned home on Feb. 14 as scheduled. Winner International Travel Company was also fined for "violating regulations when providing travel services", although the fine amount has not been announced yet by the Tourism Department of Kien Giang Province. According to Taiwan News, We Love Tours said Saturday that due to its financial troubles, it was unable to compensate hundreds of travelers who were left stranded in Phu Quoc during the Lunar New Year holiday. Investigations found that the company has faced financial difficulties and has debts of over NT$10 million ($318,700), according to Focus Taiwan. Sidharth Malhotra is gearing up for his next release Yodha. The film has been grabbing headlines after its poster was released recently. Today, Karan Johar took to his social handle and unveiled another new poster. He also shared the information about the teaser release. It will be released tomorrow, i.e February 19. Karan Johar shared the poster which features Sidharth Malhotra holding a gun. He has black lines on his face. All aboard this turbulent ride ahead!!! #Yodha teaser out TOMORROW AT 1pm!, the post caption reads. Last week, Karan revealed that Yodha has already made history by becoming the first-ever Hindi film poster launch at 13,000ft. In a video shared by the filmmaker, the team was seen going skydiving in Dubai to unveil the poster. Check out here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) In the video, the team was seen jumping off a flight with the poster in his hand. With the help of his team, he unveiled the poster. Sharing the video, Karan wrote, Airdropping the adrenaline-fueled ride onto your screens like never before! Gear up, #YodhaTeaser out on Feb 19. Sidharth Malhotra took to his Instagram handle and shared a new poster ahead of the teaser release. In the poster he is seen holding gun while a flight is seen taking off from behind him. Speaking about the film, Karan said in a statement, A special film like Yodha deserves a historic moment, one that makes waves through time. Its an out-and-out actioner. At the same time, its edgy, its slick, and most importantly, its infused with the right amount of drama and thrill. Sid perfectly embodies the demeanour of an action hero. With YODHA, he has gone full throttle as the action hero of new India. Sidharth added, This high-flying poster launch is just the beginning and it really sets the tone for the thrilling action to come. Without revealing too much Id like to say that the audience is in for more such surprises before the release of Yodha, and I cannot wait to see how fans react to whats in store. This film marks a long association of mine with Dharma Productions, starting with Student of the Year to Shershaah and now Yodha. Each of the films we have worked on has resonated with both the classes as well as the masses, and Yodha will undoubtedly take this legacy forward. Yodha is set to release on March 15. After gaining prominence in the Telugu film industry, Nithiin faced struggles before regaining momentum with a special appearance in the 2019 hit Gaddalakonda Ganesh followed by the successful Bheeshma, which received praise from various sources. Previously, he took on the role of a blind pianist in Maestro, originally portrayed by Ayushmann Khurrana in the Hindi film Andhadhun. The Telugu remake Maestro was directed by Merlapaka Gandhi and produced by Sudhakar Reddy and Nikitha Reddy under the Sreshth Movies banner, with B Madhu as the presenter, hit screens in 2021. But did you know that Keerthy Suresh turned down this film? She declined the opportunity to star alongside Nithiin in Maestro due to her reluctance to perform intimate scenes, including liplocks, which are crucial to the storyline. Director Merlapaka Gandhi, who aimed to replicate the originals intensity in the Telugu adaptation, chose iSmart Shankar actress Nabha Natesh. Besides, Keerthy Suresh was recently approached by a Tamil director who presented a script requiring liplock scenes. However, she declined the project due to her steadfast policy against on-screen kissing. Keerthy began her journey in the film industry as a child artist. Despite completing her studies in fashion design, she continued her career in acting. She made a notable comeback with a leading role in the 2013 Malayalam film Geethaanjali, for which she received the SIIMA award for Best Female Debut. Following that success, in 2014, she starred alongside Dileep in the commercially successful movie Ring Master. Keerthy Suresh then expanded her repertoire by venturing into Tamil cinema, with her debut in Idhu Enna Maayam (2015), a romantic comedy directed by AL Vijay and co-starring Vikram Prabhu. Although the film wasnt a blockbuster, it marked her entry into the Tamil industry. Her Telugu debut was initially scheduled for Ainaa Ishtam Nuvvu in 2015, but the release was postponed until 2020 under the new title Janakitho Nenu. It is not common for a political party to bring a resolution at its mega organization meeting against its opponent. But the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), at its national convention on Sunday, will be passing a resolution targeting the Congress, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive (INDI) alliance and their frustration", while predicting their resounding defeat in 2024. Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved this resolution. ALSO READ | Those Who Called Lord Ram Imaginary Are Now Chanting Jai Siya Ram: In Rewari, Modi Attacks Cong BJP Desh Ki Aasha, Vipaksh Ki Hatasha is the title of the resolution. BJP sources said it will be a scathing indictment of the Congress and the INDI alliance on account of their negativity, corruption, direction-less leadership and infighting. The resolution will highlight how the Congress is arrogant and is suffering from the phobia of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is practising hollow idealism, while its entire top leadership is involved in the liquor scam. The resolution could also target the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for its remarks on Sanatan Dharma, which are hurting the countrys core traditions, and how the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has harboured violence against women in the state, like in the recent horrific incidents in Sandeshkhali. Sources say the BJP could highlight how arrogant leaders of the Congress like Rahul Gandhi badmouth the country abroad and invite foreign interference in Indias affairs. The ruling party could also say that the Congress has always boycotted or opposed the glorious events in the past 10 years such as the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), India getting its first tribal president in Droupadi Murmu and the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The corruption-laden and scam-filled United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era could also be highlighted by the BJP in its second resolution, along with current cases of corrupt activities ailing the Congress such as the recovery of huge cash in Jharkhand or the case of Mahadev App. The BJPs resolution could highlight the way the Opposition has not let Parliament run and has not played a constructive role. The BJP may ask that while the Congress targets investigative agencies, it does not act against the corrupt in its ranks. The BJPs resolution will also highlight how the INDI alliance parties were practising the politics of frustration" after realizing that they had no chance of winning against the Modi-led BJP. The resolution could also show how these opposition parties such as Congress, the DMK, RJD, Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party are typical examples of dynastic politics and that they were allying out of opportunism to take on the BJP. Sources say the resolution would also highlight how regional parties have realized the futility of the INDI alliance and are exiting the same in West Bengal and Punjab, while those from the tukde-tukde gang of 2019 are now advisors to Congress. The resolution could further say that Congress tried to deny the existence of Lord Ram and did not understand the national significance of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. It could be said that while the entire country was celebrating the day, the Congress and its allies remained away due to unprincipled politics. The BJP could further say that Congress is not able to accept the truth of the construction of Ram Temple. The resolution will say Congress has slid to such an extent that its recovery is impossible. ALSO READ | BJP Attacks Rahul over Blatant Lie, Points Out Modis Caste Got OBC Status from Gujarat Govt in 1994 The BJP could also highlight specific examples such as Congress leader DK Suresh asking for a separate country for South India, Congress expelling a Hindu saint Pramod Acharya after he attended Ram Temple ceremony, Congress leaders going to Pakistan and speaking against India, and Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary seeking Pakistans acceptance of abrogation of Article 370 in J&K. It could also highlight how Pakistan cited the statement of Rahul Gandhi (in favour of Article 370) in its dossier to the UN. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fixed a target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400 seats for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and predicted that the Congress would drop below 40 seats. The INDI alliance parties came together a few months ago, but they have not been able to make any headway. Their main partner, Nitish Kumar, has left their side and joined the NDA. Jayant Chaudhary of the RLD has also left the side of INDI and joined the NDA camp. Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal have refused to tie up with the Congress in West Bengal and Punjab, respectively. What is even left of the INDI alliance?" a senior BJP leader told News18. The BJP will say that Congress has never been able to tolerate a poor chaiwala like Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister. WHAT THE FIRST RESOLUTION SAID The BJP highlighted its 10-year-record of Viksit Bharat and Modi ki Guarantee in the first political resolution it presented at the national convention on Saturday. Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, India has emerged as a strong and capable nation with the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047," it read. The first resolution mentioned how the last 10 years have seen the realization of the Ram Rajya and people of the nation have seen Modis Guarantee reaching every home, including 25 crore people coming out of poverty. The BJP also said new dimensions of electoral successes were achieved in the past 10 years as part of the victory march of the party. The resolution mentioned the revocation of Article 370 in J&K, construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, abolition of triple talaq, implementation of GST, Citizenship Amendment Act, inauguration of a new Parliament House and installing a Sengol. ALSO READ | Congress Remembers Villages, Poor People and Farmers Only During Polls: PM Modi The resolution said tasks earlier considered impossible, like the Womens Reservation Act, were also passed in the Modi governments tenure, and it also mentioned the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. It also mentioned the countrys recovery from the Covid pandemic. Today, when our PM Modi speaks, the whole world listens. Not only did the countrys economy break all records, it became more secure and decisive than before, it added a chapter in global leadership. Even a millennium from now, people will continue to discuss with fervor this timeless era under leadership of Modi," the resolution read. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday said the party cadre stands united in the Baramati constituency, a remark coming amid speculation about a potential face-off between his wife and sitting MP Supriya Sule. Speaking to reporters after attending a party event at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, he also said candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be selected carefully after considering various aspects. No rift. Harmony prevails in the NCP rank in Baramati, Pawar said responding to a query. Notably, speculations are rife that Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra Pawar may be the NCP contestant from Baramati, the Pawar family stronghold, against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar. Candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be selected after careful consideration, Ajit Pawar said. The Ajit Pawar-ld NCP is part of the Mahayuti government, which also comprises Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP. Ajit Pawar ruled out any discord between himself and BJP leader Harshvardhan Patil, amid speculation that the latters daughter is set to make her political debut. Discussions will be held with BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis, Chandrashekar Bawankule, and Harshvardhan Patil in this regard, he said. He said the state governments decision to provide free education to female children from families with an annual income of up to Rs 8 lakh aligned with the principles of social justice which underscores Maharashtras commitment to inclusive progress. NCP leader Praful Patel said the world and India are changing for the better and appealed to party workers to embrace this change. NCPs Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare said the party visualises a progressive and inclusive Maharashtra. In a big development in the Chandigarh vote-count row, the Supreme Court on Monday sought ballot papers used in the January 30 Chandigarh mayoral polls, allegedly rigged by returning officer Anil Masih and ruled that he should be prosecuted. Hearing the petition on the alleged irregularities in the election, a day after three AAP councillors switched over to the BJP, the top court said that the horsetrading is a serious matter. The apex court further instructed Masih to present himself on Tuesday as well. Heading the three-juge bench, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud ordered that the ballots secured before Punjab and Haryana High Court should be presented before the apex court on Tuesday, February 19. Meanwhile, BJP Mayor Manoj Sonkar resigned from the post on Sunday night, hours before the Supreme Court was set to hear the matter. The three Aam Aadmi Party Chandigarh councillors Punam Devi, Neha Musawat and Gurcharan Kala joined the BJP in the presence of party National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, in Delhi on Sunday night. #WATCH | Three Aam Aadmi Party Chandigarh councillors Punam Devi, Neha Musawat, and Gurcharan Kala joined the BJP in the presence of party National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/icgDDMbdi1 ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024 Chandigarh councillors Punam Devi, Neha Musawat, and Gurcharan Kala have joined BJP today. They are unhappy with the behaviour of their party with them. BJP will respect them and they will help in the development of Chandigarh Vinod Tawde said. Neha Musawat, who joined the BJP, said, AAP party made false promises to us. Today after getting inspired by the works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have joined BJP #WATCH | Delhi: Neha Musawat, who joined the BJP today, says, AAP party made false promises to us. Today after getting inspired by the works of PM Modi, I have joined BJPShe was Aam Aadmi Party Chandigarh councillor. https://t.co/nQZTWeFdeC pic.twitter.com/c00mk2hkG4 ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024 Gurcharan Kala also noted he joined the BJP after getting inspired by PM Modis work. I belonged to BJP and I will also be with BJP I have joined the party after getting inspired by the works of PM Modi the former AAP councillor said. Chandigarh Mayoral Polls Row Manoj Sonkar of BJP had won the Chandigarh mayoral elections on January 30, after eight votes of the INDIA bloc were declared invalid. The Congress-AAP alliance had alleged tampering with ballot papers by the presiding officer, a charge which was rubbished by the BJP. It was alleged by the opposition that Sonkar had won after presiding officer Anil Masih scribbled on ballot papers and invalidated eight votes of the Congress-AAP combine by himself, an act which was purportedly caught on camera. Following the polls, the Congress-AAP alliance approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking cancellation of the result and holding the Chandigarh mayor elections again. On February 5, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the presiding officer in the Chandigarh mayoral polls saying it is evident that he defaced the ballot papers. The apex court made the remarks while hearing an AAP councillors plea challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh. Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. We are appalled. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of the Returning Officer? CJI DY Chandrachud said. A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud asked the presiding officer to appear on the next hearing date, February 19. Speculations are rife that Congress veteran Kamal Nath might join the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday. This would be a major blow to Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The saffron partys sources on Saturday told News18 that Kamal Nath is likely to join their party in the next 48 hours. This came in the backdrop of Kamal Naths son, Congress leader Nakul Kamal Nath, hint at a possible political switch after dropping the partys name from his social media bio. On speculations of whether he will join the BJP, the Congress veteran said he will inform if anything happens. Meanwhile, his colleagues from the grand-old party rejected the reports. Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma, however, hinted that persons decision might change because of insult and self-respect. Meanwhile another leader, BK Hariprasad, said some leaders are looking for a greener pasture PREVIOUS BLOWS TO CONGRESS ASHOK CHAVAN Just last week, former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan resigned from the grand-old party and joined the BJP. A day later, Chavan even filed his Rajya Sabha nomination. Chavans resignation was another blow to the Congress before the upcoming general elections. The former Maharashtra CM was reportedly unhappy with the Congress decisions in the state. BABA SIDDIQUE Former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique, on February 8, resigned from the Congress party after 48 years of association and joined Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party two days later, February 10. After joining NCP, Siddique said, Now it is done. Ab kya rona, jab chidiya chug gayi khet. It was done with dhol, not quietly. When you are not being listened to, you should move to the side I have a lot to say, but someone should answer. I am sad but happy too. I am sad because I am not thick-skinned. While he thanked everyone who has been a part of his journey, he also said that theres a lot of that he would have liked to express but some things are better left unsaid. MILIND DEORA Earlier in January, Milind Deora exited the grand-old Congress party and joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on the same day. After resigning from Congress primary membership, Deora said he was going on a path of development. Joining the Shinde faction, Deora said he was loyal to the Congress during its most challenging decade but now it is different. The former minister went on to say that he believes in the politics of GAIN Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. Amid uncertainties over Congress leader Kamal Naths next step following speculation of him and his son, Nakul Kamal Nath joining the BJP, party colleague Jeetu Patwari called it a conspiracy against the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Congress sources on Sunday said Kamal Nath assured them he wont leave the party. Its a conspiracy against Kamal Nath. I spoke to him he said he is a congressi and will remain one. When the time comes Kamal Nath will himself come out with clarity over it, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari said. Once again, it was shown how BJP misuses the media to question the faith of anyone. I have talked to Kamal Nath, and he told me that all these speculations are just conspiracies, and he is, was, and will be a Congress leader, he added. VIDEO | Heres what Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitendra Patwari (@jitupatwari) said regarding the reports of former CM Kamal Nath switching to BJP.Once again, it was shown how BJP misuses the media to question the faith of anyone. I have talked to Kamal Nath, and he told me pic.twitter.com/9z4ZRZPodL Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 18, 2024 However, earlier in the day, Congress sources said while Kamal Nath himself might not join the BJP, his son and some other party leaders might. Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma, who is also a close aide of Kamal Nath, also said he has not thought about anything like that. I had a discussion with him (Kamal Nath). He said that right now his focus is on how the caste equations will be on 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said that he has not thought about anything like that (of leaving the party) Verma said. #WATCH | Delhi: After meeting former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma says, I had a discussion with him (Kamal Nath). He said that right now his focus is on how the caste equations will be on 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said that he pic.twitter.com/LPmTaGNSvX ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024 The latest development comes a day after Kamal Nath said, I will inform if anything like this happens, to rumours of him and his son Nakul Kamal Nath joining the Saffron party. While most party colleagues had rejected the said reports, one of Naths aides, Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma, on Saturday hinted towards insult and self-respect being the driving factor behind the change in a persons decision. Three things work in politics- respect, insult and self-respect, when these are hurt a person changes his decisions. When such a top politician who has done a lot for Congress and the nation in the last 45 years, thinks of moving away from his party, then all three factors work behind it. No decision has been taken that Kamal Nath ji is going, right there is just speculation Verma said. Another party leader BK Hariprasad, while refusing to comment on Kamal Nath, said some leaders are looking for a greener pasture. I cant say on Kamal Nath, but some leaders looking for a greener posture, they are leaving the Congress party. That doesnt make any change. Millions of workers are strongly behind the Congress party Well, they (Kamal Nath) are the most greedy leaders, they are leaving the party for the greed of power the Congress leader said. I am the only kamal in the Congress, joked Kamal Nath once, referencing his name which in Hindi means lotus, the election symbol of the rival BJP. If the current buzz is proven true and Nath ends up quitting the party he has been associated with for decades to join the ruling BJP, it would mean the end of the Congress association with one of the oldest old-school leaders. Kamal Nath, first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980, has the distinction of being seen in proximity with and in every picture of the Gandhis, from Indira Gandhi to Sanjay Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi and now her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Nath, in fact, was one of the closest leaders to Sanjay Gandhi along with Ambika Soni in what came to be known as the Young Turks club. In 2004, when Sonia Gandhi decided to stitch together an alliance to take on the BJP, Kamal Nath played a critical role. He was the one who reached out to the DMK and it was thanks to him that film stars like Govinda joined the Congress then. The good equation he shared with many other political parties as well as corporates made him the natural choice to become the Parliamentary Affairs Minister whose primary role is chalking out the floor strategy in the House. Nath was also chosen to be the Commerce Minister. It was easy to get funds with Kamal Nath by the partys side. A drive to the Chhindwara Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, which has elected Kamal Nath nine times and is now represented by his son Nakul Nath, shows why the party veteran is invaluable to the state unit of the Congress. Naths sprawling white house in Chhindwara stands out like an island. Huge crowds are always gathering outside and the area itself has seen much development. The rest of Madhya Pradesh may have turned saffron, but Naths bastion has remain untouched. Sensing that the Congress wont be back at the Centre anytime soon, Nath immersed himself in state politics. Despite Sonia Gandhis persuasion to take charge and firefight the BJP at the Centre, the Congress veteran refused. He became the 18th Chief Minister of the state in 2018, but his government didnt last long. There are many reasons why the old ties could have soured. Kamal Nath is believed to have wanted a Rajya Sabha seat, but it was given to party rival Digvijaya Singhs close aide Ashok Singh instead. Battling poor health, Kamal Nath also wants to ensure that his son Nakul Nath is in good hands. Sources say he has doubts on whether Nakul could win on a Congress ticket. He is uncertain how the Congress will fare in subsequent elections. Its now apparent that Kamal Nath doesnt share with Rahul Gandhi the equation he shared with the latters parents Rajiv and Sonia. For the BJP, this Kamal by its side would be a big blow to the Gandhis. For Kamal Nath, switching sides would mean this Kamal would now have a new Nath (god or leader). Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the gathering on the second day of the Bharatiya Janata Partys National Convention in the national capitals Bharat Mandapam. Speaking at convention earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the only authorised and official slogan will be Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar. 100 DAY TASK FOR PARTY WORKERS Fixing a 100 day task for the BJP workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the task is to reach every new voter, every beneficiary in the next 100 days. We have to achieve everyones trust, he said. When everyones efforts are involved, the maximum seats to serve the people of the nation will also be won by the BJP, the prime minister said. VIKSIT BHARAT SANKALP IS THE DREAM PM Modi pointed out that Viksit Bharat Sankalp is the dream, adding that, the next five years are crucial for achieving that dream. We have to work hard in this time to take a large leap, the prime minister said. But before all this, PM Modi said, BJPs return for a third-term is crucial. There are echoes of NDA sarkaar, 400 paar. To make this a reality, BJP must secure over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he added. WORKING FOR RASHTRANITI, NOT RAJNEETI PM Modi said that ten years of clean image and bringing 25 crore people out of poverty was not an easy feat to achieve. A senior leader once told me I had done enough as PM and CM, I should rest. But I am working for Rashtraniti, not Rajneeti, he said. PM Modi said that he lives on the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and takes inspiration from him. Im not asking a third term for myself, I live for the future of all, the PM said. I am not someone who lives for my own happiness. I am advocating for a third term for BJP not for political gains, but for the benefit of India, he said, adding that, My efforts are dedicated to the people of India. The dreams of Indians are my commitments. My efforts are dedicated to the people of India. The dreams of Indians are my commitments. PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO COME FOR WOMEN The prime minister said that he was the first PM to raise the concerns of toilets from Red Fort, the first PM to bring forward womens issues and said that the BJP is bringing together the power of women, youth, poor and the farmers in building a Viksit Bharat. In the times to come, there will be plenty of opportunities for mothers, sisters and daughters, PM Modi said, adding that Mission Shakti will create a complete ecosystem for the protection and empowerment of women power in the country. He said that 15 thousand women Self-helf Groups (SHGs) will get drones. Now Drone Didi will bring scientificity and modernity in farming. Now 3 crore women in the country will be made Lakhpati Didi, the prime minister added. 10 YEARS CHARACTERISED BY BOLD DECISIONS, FUTURISTIC POLICIES PM Modi said the past ten years have been characterised by bold decisions and futuristic policies. We have dared to complete tasks that had been left unfinished for decades. Whether it was the construction of the Ram Mandir, the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, the abrogation of Article 370, or the implementation of the New Education Policy, these changes were long-awaited by the people of India, he added. NO OTHER PARTY WILL PROMISE A VIKSIT BHARAT PM Modi took a sharp jibe at the Opposition and said that even though they dont know how to fulfill their promises, they still dont hesitate to make false commitments. Despite this, they lack the courage to make one promise no opposition party will promise you a Viksit Bharat. Nor do they question us about it. These parties have acknowledged that they cannot lead India to development, he said. He said that BJP is the only party and NDA is the only alliance that aspires to make India developed by 2047. INDIA STANDS AS 5TH LARGEST ECONOMY It took India 60 years to reach a $1 trillion economy milestone, the PM said, adding that 10 years of his government has propelled it to a $3 trillion economy. He pointed out that the previous (UPA) government failed to take India from the 11th to the 10th largest economy in the world and in comparison, the BJP brought India to the top five. Today, India stands as the 5th largest economy, and our infrastructure budget has surpassed Rs. 11 lakh crore, he said. ONE INDIA-BEST INDIA REFLECTS IN GOVERNANCE PM Modi also noted that the spirit of One India-Best India is visible in the governance. North-East was completely ignored in the earlier governments. But we do not work for votes and seats, he said. He further added, For us, every corner of the country should be prosperous and developed, this is our feeling. In this regard, PM Modi noted that the Cabinet has a record number of ministers from North East. For the first time, a woman has become an MP in Rajya Sabha from Nagaland. We are proud that for the first time we have given a place to a person from Tripura in the Council of Ministers, he said, adding that For the first time in our government, Arunachal Pradesh has got a cabinet minister. He also highlighted the saffron partys culture which ensures record OBC representation in the ministry. Our government is for everyone. Everyones support, everyones development is reflected in our work only, the prime minister said. INDIAS GROWING RELATIONS WITH THE WORLD Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that today, every country in the world is keep on building deeper relations with India. From a governments standpoint as well, PM Modi referred to how he has invitations from other nations for talks in July, August and September, which is well after the Lok Sabha elections. This means that various countries of the world are also completely confident about the return of BJP government, the said, adding that Every country and power in the world knows that only Modi will come. PMS SLAM ON CONGRESS Taking a hit at the Congress, the prime minister said that the grand-old party has become so desperate that it does not even have the courage for principled and ideological opposition. Therefore, abuses and false allegations against Modi have become their only agenda, he added. WHAT AMIT SHAH SAID Home Minister Amit Shah hailed PM Modis work in creating such an identity for the nation that the people feel pride, not just within India, but on a global scale. He said that the pride of the nation goes around the world. When people from India go anywhere in the world, the people there say that you have come from Modis India, Shah highlighted. Shah attacked the Congress and the INDI Alliance for its dynasty politics and said those who cant foster democracy within their party cannot protect the democracy in the nation. However, he said, the paradigm shift in India, under PM Modis leadership is clearly visible. He said that the prime minister freed the nation from corruption, casteism, dynasticism, among other things, adding that he established the politics of performance. Lauding PM Modis efforts towards the people of all castes, tribes and genders, Shah said, Modi ji is like the flame of a lamp, which burns itself to dispel the darkness. RESOLUTION AT NATIONAL CONVENTION The saffron party also proposed a second political resolution named BJP Desk Ki Aasha, Vipaksh ki Hatasha. The resolution was proposed by Home Minister Amit Shah and seconded by Union Minister Arjun Munda. Meanwhile, the national convention passed a revolution on the Ayodhya Ram Temple, asserting that it indicated the establishment of Ram Rajya in the nation for the next 1,000 years. The construction of a grand and divine temple of Lord Shri Ram at his birthplace in the ancient holy city of Ayodhya is a historic and glorious achievement for the country, the resolution said. It said that every aspect of Indian civilisation and culture hold the presence of Lord Shri Ram, Sita and Ramayana. Our Constitution, dedicated to our democratic values and justice for all, has been inspired by the ideals of Ram Rajya, it said. The idea of Ram Rajya was also in the heart of Mahatma Gandhi who used to say that it is the idea of true democracy, the resolution said. It was visible from the very beginning, but now its official. On the second day of its national council, the BJP officially brought in a resolution on the newly inaugurated Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya calling it a cultural renaissance and how Ram was mentioned in the original copy of the Constitution as well. In a speech, union home minister Amit Shah hit out at the Congress for its role in creating roadblocks for the construction of the temple. Calling it a historic and glorious achievement for the country, the standalone resolution stated that the temple has laid the foundation of Ramrajya for the next 1,000 years. It said in his heart, Mahatma Gandhi also believed and wanted Ramrajya. Lord Ram, Mata Sita and Ramayana are present in every aspect of Indian civilisation, the resolution stated. It further said the original copy of the Constitution had Ram while Ramrajya was also in the heart of Gandhi. Even in the original copy of the Constitution of India, on the section of fundamental rights, the picture of Lord Shri Ram, Mata Sita and Lakshman Ji after returning to Ayodhya after victory, is a proof of the fact that Lord Shri Ram is the source of inspiration for the fundamental rights, it said. The BJPs Ram Mandir resolution said this is the beginning of a new kaalchakra while hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his role in making it a reality. The resolution states how January 22, when the Ram Lalla idols pran pratishtha took place in Ayodhya, was celebrated as a national festival. While calling the temple a marker of national consciousness, the BJP reminded how after the Supreme Court decision in 2019, the prime minister immediately formed a trust for it. January 22 was the day of accomplishment of Ram devotees, renaissance of Indias culture, said the Ram Mandir resolution. It also said the nation freed itself of the slave mentality. Hailing Prime Minister Modis role in the inauguration of the grand temple, the BJP resolution stated how the PM worked to connect spiritual heritage with the unity of the country. Vinfast has brought almost all of its popular EV models, including VF 5, VF 6, VF e34, VF 7, VF 8 and VF 9, to the Indonesia International Motor Show 2024. (Photo: dantri.com.vn) The auto maker brought almost all of its popular EV models, including VF 5, VF 6, VF e34, VF 7, VF 8 and VF 9, to the show, making its endeavour to enter international markets, especially right-hand drive markets. VinFasts display area with a range of right-hand drive EVs in segments A - E attracted thousands of visitors to the motor show. The visitors said the cars have beautiful designs, American and European styles, and diverse and eye-catching colors that are different from other EV brands from Asia with old designs. Indonesian President Joko Widodo and other Indonesian officials visited VinFasts display area, signed on the VinFast VF 5 and test-drove the car. During his working visit to Vietnam, President Widodo visited the VinFast factory in Hai Phong on January 1, 2024 and said he would create conditions for the Vietnamese EV maker to soon complete production and business investment procedures in the Indonesian market. VinFasts EV appearance at the show grabbed international headlines. Many Indonesian newspapers and specialized sites such as JawaPos, Maketeers, Gatra, CNN Indonesia, Jakarta Globe, Detik, and Otodriver made wide coverage of the event. In its article, Wapcar even revealed that VinFast would build its Indonesia factory in Bekasi city, West Java, and before this factory officially takes shape, VinFast would import complete vehicles from Vietnam. The site also Wapcar also revealed that the Indonesia factory would not only produce cars for Indonesia but would also export its products to other countries, including Malaysia. Meanwhile, Otomotif also disclosed that Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita had a meeting with VinFasts board of directors to discuss the firms investment in Indonesia./. (Reuters) -Microsoft-backed OpenAI has completed a deal that values the artificial intelligence company at $80 billion or more, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the deal. The company would sell existing shares in a so-called tender offer led by venture firm Thrive Capital, the report said. Under the deal, employees will be able to cash out their shares of the company rather than a traditional funding round which would raise money for the business, the report added. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. It agreed to a similar deal early last year. The venture-capital firms Thrive Capital, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz and K2 Global agreed to buy OpenAI shares in a tender offer, valuing the company at around $29 billion, the report said. The launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022 has kicked off buzz around AI, prompting companies to explore ways to harness the power of the technology. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also been reportedly in talks to raise funds for a chip venture as he looks to boost the world's chip building capacity to drive new AI-related tools. More than 400 people were detained in Russia while paying tribute to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died at a remote Arctic penal colony, a rights group reported. The news of Navalnys death on Friday reverberated across the globe, and hundreds of people in some Russian cities paid tribute to President Vladimir Putins fiercest foe. Police reportedly detained 401 people in over a dozen cities, by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. More than 200 arrests were made in St. Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, the group said. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church, a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church. Take a look at how a pack of policemen in full gear brutally capture one unarmed woman who came to mourn Navalny pic.twitter.com/Hsp963ZlEe OVD-Info English (@ovdinfo_en) February 18, 2024 Voitenko was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organising a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct, but was later hospitalised with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Courts in St. Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said late on Saturday. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. Read More: Who Was Alexei Navalny? Russian Opposition Leader Survived Poison Attack But Died In Prison The news of Navalnys death came a month before a presidential election in Russia. Navalnys team said Saturday that the politician was murdered and accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body, with Navalnys mother and lawyers getting contradicting information from various institutions where they went in their quest to retrieve the body. Theyre driving us around in circles and covering their tracks, Navalnys spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, said on Saturday. Only an hour ago, the lawyers were informed that the investigation had been concluded and that something criminal had not been established.They literally lie every time, driving us around in circles and covering their tracks. (@Kira_Yarmysh) February 17, 2024 Everything there is covered with cameras in the colony. Every step he took was filmed from all angles all these years. Each employee has a video recorder. In two days, there has been not a single video leaked or published. There is no room for uncertainty here, Navalnys closest ally and strategist Leonid Volkov said Sunday. A note handed to Navalnys mother stated that he died at 2:17 p.m. Friday, according to Yarmysh. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at the penal colony Saturday that her son had perished from sudden death syndrome, Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X. Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Navalny felt sick after a walk Friday and became unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometers northeast of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he couldnt be revived, the service said. (Witha agency inputs) Marco Troper, the 19-year-old son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, was found dead in his dormitory at the University of California this week. US authorities responded to reports of an unresponsive student at the Clark Kerr dorms on the UC Berkeley campus, where Troper was discovered. Despite efforts by the Berkeley Fire Department to administer life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead. Berkeley Fire Department notified UCPD that they were attempting life-saving measures on the victim, the University of California Police Department explained in a statement, according to the New York Post. UCPD responded, and Berkeley Fire Department pronounced the person deceased. The exact cause of Tropers death remains unknown at this time, and campus police have indicated that there are no signs of foul play. However, Tropers grandmother, Esther Wojcicki, suspects that he may have died from a drug overdose. He ingested a drug, and we dont know what was in it. One thing we do know, it was a drug, she told media outlet SFGATE. The family is awaiting a toxicology report to shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death, according to US media reports. Described as a loving and math genius by his grandmother, Troper was a freshman majoring in mathematics and had just begun his second semester at UC Berkeley. Despite his academic pursuits, Troper was actively engaged in campus life, with a strong circle of friends in his dorm at Stern Hall and his involvement in the Zeta Psi fraternity. Tropers grandma Esther took to Facebook to express the familys devastation. She fondly remembered Troper as the most kind, loving, smart, fun, and beautiful human being. He had a strong community of friends from his dorm at Stern Hall and his fraternity Zeta Psi and was thriving academically. At home, he would tell us endless stories of his life and friends at Berkeley. Marcos life was cut too short. And we are all devastated, thinking about all the opportunities and life experiences that he will miss and we will miss together. Marco, we all love you and miss you more than you will ever know, she wrote. The prospects for a new pause in Israels war with Hamas are bleak amid PM Benjamin Netanyahus refusal to hold off on a threatened assault on the Gaza city of Rafah. Despite a direct appeal from US President Joe Biden earlier this week, Netanyahu insisted the operation would go ahead regardless of whether further releases of Israeli hostages were agreed with Hamas. Netanyahu said that foreign countries calling on Israel to spare the city, where over a million Palestinians have sought refuge, were effectively telling the country to lose the war against Hamas. Truce efforts had intensified this week as Qatar and fellow mediators Egypt and the US scrambled to secure a ceasefire before Israeli troops enter the last major population centre in the Gaza Strip. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who has met with negotiators from both Israel and Hamas this week, said efforts for a ceasefire had been complicated by the insistence of a lot of countries that any new truce involve further releases of hostages. The pattern in the last few days is not really very promising, he said at the Munich Security Conference. His assessment came as Hamas threatened to suspend its involvement in truce talks unless relief supplies are brought into the north of the Gaza Strip. Negotiations cannot be held while Negotiations cannot be held while hunger is ravaging the Palestinian people, a senior source in the Palestinian militant group told AFP. Earlier, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh reiterated the groups demands, which Netanyahu dismissed as ludicrous. They include a complete pause in fighting, the release of Hamas prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, with Qatar-based Haniyeh saying Hamas would not agree to anything less. Netanyahu also rejected moves by some Western governments towards unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, without waiting for a negotiated peace deal between the two sides. After the terrible massacre of October 7, there can be no greater reward for terrorism than that and it will prevent any future peace settlement, he said. The hawkish premier was speaking as thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv, accusing his government of abandoning Israeli hostages. Israel said it had taken 100 people into custody at one of Gazas main hospitals Saturday after troops raided the complex, with fears mounting for patients and staff trapped inside. At least 120 patients and five medical teams are stuck without water, food and electricity in Nasser Hospital in Gazas main southern city of Khan Yunis, according to the health ministry. Israel has for weeks concentrated its military operations in Khan Yunis, the hometown of Hamass Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, the alleged architect of the October 7 attack that triggered the war. Intense fighting Fierce combat is underway around Nasser Hospital, one of the Palestinian territorys last major medical facilities that remains even partly operational. The power was cut and the generators stopped after the raid, leading to the deaths of six patients due to a lack of oxygen, according to Gazas health ministry. The Israeli army said troops entered the hospital on Thursday, acting on what it said was credible intelligence that hostages seized in the October 7 attack had been held there. It later acknowledged it had found no firm evidence that they had. The army has insisted it made every effort to keep the hospital supplied with power, including bringing in an alternative generator. The raid has been criticised by medics and the United Nations. The Gaza war began with Hamass October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians. Militants also took about 250 people hostage, 130 of whom are still in Gaza, including 30 who are presumed dead, according to Israeli figures. Israels retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed at least 28,858 people, according to the territorys health ministry. (With agency inputs) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar defended Indias all-alignment approach to diplomacy on Saturday, saying that the country should be admired for its ability to foster relationships globally, including with Russia and the United States. However, he advised against labeling India as an unsentimentally transactional nation. Jaishankar made these remarks at the Munich Security Conference in response to a question about whether Indias Western partners approve of its purchase of Russian oil during the Ukraine conflict. Sitting at the panel beside US State Secretary Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, he said, If Im smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me. No, you shouldnt be criticising. Is that a problem for other people? I dont think so. Weve tried to explain what are the different pulls and pressures, which countries have. Its very hard to have a uni-dimensional relationship, Jaishankar said in response to the question if New Delhi can pick and choose alliances with countries like Russia and the US. EAM Jaishankar was again asked the same question of buying Russian Oil at Munich Security Conference in front of US secretary of state Antony Blinken.Jaishankar: I am smart enough to have multiple alliances. You should be admiring me. S Jaishankar is Captain Cool of politics pic.twitter.com/MIid1KHfxC Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) February 17, 2024 Not unsentimentally transactional Elaborating on the question of the alliance, Jaishankar said Indias approach is not unsentimentally transactional. We get along with people. We believe in things, we share things and we agree on something. I think its very important today, not to reduce the entire complexity of our world into very sweeping propositions. I think that era today is behind us. So I agree very much with what Tony said, which is good partners, provide choices. Smart partners, take some of those choices, he added. On the question of whether the rise of BRICS can pose a challenge for Western countries, Jaishankar mentioned that about 30 countries are willing to join BRICS, seeing value in it. There must be something good with that, he said. Its important today to make a distinction between being non-West and anti-West. I would certainly characterise India as a country which is non-Western, but which has an extremely strong relationship with Western countries that is improving, he added. Israel-Hamas Conflict When asked to speak on the question of the Israel-Hamas war, Jaishankar said Number one, we must be clear that what happened on October 7th was terrorism. No caveats, no justification, no explanation. It was terrorism. Number two, as Israel responds, it is important that Israel should be, should have been very mindful of civilian casualties, that it has an obligation to observe international humanitarian law, he said. Number three, the return of hostages is today imperative. Number four, there is a need for a humanitarian corridor, a sustainable humanitarian corridor to provide relief. And eventually, there has to be a permanent fix, a long-term fix, otherwise, were going to see a recurrence, he added. Jaishankar further said that India has long believed in a two-state solution, a position the country has maintained for several decades. A viral remark by a leader of Nawaz Sharifs party has drawn condemnation, underlining the inflammatory rhetoric in Pakistans political landscape after the controversial February 8 elections. In a video whose date News18 could not verify, PML-Ns Secretary of Information, Marriyum Aurangzeb, can be heard saying PTI chief founder Imran Khan and his party members should have been beheaded in 2014. When the Chinese president was arriving in Pakistan, this fitna should have been addressed at that time. His head should have been beheaded, the PML-N leader was quoted as saying by Pakistans The Express Tribune. Let the world know that Secretary Information for Nawaz Sharifs PMLN, Mariyum Aurangzeb has called for Imran Khans beheading LIVE on state television channel.This is not the first time members of PMLN have brazenly advocated for Imran Khans murder. Imran Khan has already pic.twitter.com/OHxWlwOu1B PTI (@PTIofficial) February 17, 2024 Let the world know In a statement on its social media handle, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) responded strongly and said, Let the world know that Secretary Information for Nawaz Sharifs PMLN, Mariyum Aurangzeb has called for Imran Khans beheading LIVE on state television channel. This is not the first time members of PMLN have brazenly advocated for Imran Khans murder. Imran Khan has already survived multiple assassination attempts since the conspiracy of regime change operation in April 2022, and is currently under illegal incarceration for 196 days. Despite unprecedented state fascism, oppression & rigging, Imran Khans PTI-backed candidates won 180/266 National Assembly seats, securing a two-thirds majority, while PMLN only won 17 seats, the party added. Marriyums comments in the video were also condemned by prominent civil society members. Pak journalist Kamran Yousaf urged everyone to express their opinions without resorting to such inflammatory language. Social media commentator Imran Afzal Raja went on to label PML-N a terrorist party. This row comes as the recently held polls did not return a clear majority for anyone, but independent candidates backed by Khan won 92 out of 264 seats. Khan ruled out alliances with the three largest parties, which means his candidate currently lacks the numbers to form a government. Meanwhile, PMN-L and PPP are in talks to conjure the required numbers to form a government at the federal level. Former Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday revealed the power-sharing formula he was offered in which the prime ministers post would be shared between his party and former premier Nawaz Sharifs PML-N, with which it formed a post-poll alliance. Four-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bhutto-Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) held a meeting on Saturday that made a lot of progress while discussing several issues but did not make any announcements on a coalition government. The two parties had formed a post-poll alliance earlier this week. Independent candidates a majority backed by 71-year-old jailed former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: won 93 of the 265 National Assembly seats contested in the February 8 election. The PML-N won 75 seats, while the PPP came third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has also agreed to support them with their 17 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. Addressing a rally in the Thatta city of the Sindh province, the 35-year-old PPP Chairman Bilawal revealed the power-sharing formula offered to his party, which he refused, the Dawn newspaper reported. I was told that let us be the prime minister for three years, and then you can take the premiership for the remaining two years, he said. I said no to this. I said I do not want to be a prime minister like this, Bilawal said. If I become the prime minister, it would be after the people of Pakistan elect me, he added. Asserting that the country needed a political party that talked about the peoples problems, the former foreign minister said the brewing economic and political crisis had divided society. What should happen is that politicians and all political parties, rather than focusing on their personal benefit, should think about the people of this country, he was quoted as saying. His remarks came a day after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha alleged that the candidates who were losing the elections were made to win in the city. Before resigning from his post, he claimed that 13 candidates from Rawalpindi were forcefully declared winners. Chattha resigned from his office after accepting responsibility for the manipulation of poll results. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the frontrunner to be the next secretary-general of NATO, said on Saturday that Europe should stop whining about Donald Trump and focus instead on what it could do for Ukraine. Former U.S. President Trump has sparked outrage in Europe, saying that if re-elected in November he would not defend NATO allies who fail to spend enough on defence. We should stop moaning and whining and nagging about Trump, Rutte told the Munich Security Conference. He added: Its up to the Americans. Im not an American, I cannot vote in the U.S. We have to work with whoever is on the dance floor. He said Europe should in any case be spending more on defence and ramping up ammunitions production, not just because Trump might come back. He said Europe needed to increase its support for Ukraine because it was in its interests. Rutte, who unexpectedly announced his departure from Dutch politics in July, has said he does not know if he is being considered a front-runner to lead NATO and would not start a personal campaign. And all that whining and moaning about Trump. I hear that constantly over the last couple of days. Lets stop doing that, Rutte said, adding that after talking with U.S. politicians in Munich he was cautiously optimistic that a U.S. military aid package that has stalled would eventually pass. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been in post since 2014 and is due to step down in October 2024. His term was extended in July for a fourth time, as the alliances 31 members opted to stick with an experienced leader rather than try to agree on a successor with Russias war in Ukraine raging on NATOs doorstep. Before NATO decided to stick with Stoltenberg, diplomats said Rutte would have been a strong candidate to succeed him, but the Dutchman had insisted he was not available at that time. The Talibans Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday announced that its representatives would not attend the upcoming meeting in Doha. National and Regional special envoys to Afghanistan are set to convene a two-day meeting in Doha on Sunday. This is the second UN meeting of its kind in less than a year. The meeting is a follow-up to talks held in Doha in May 2023, to which no Afghans were invited. But this time, both Afghan civil society members and the Taliban authorities have been invited to the upcoming meeting. The Taliban group in its statement cited the United Nations failure to accept their conditions to be the reason behind their absence from the meeting. The group is upset due to the freeze of aid to the conflicted regions and demands more relief The purpose of this meeting, hosted by the United Nations, is to put everyone who is an immediate responder to Afghanistan on the same page On the other side, the world community wants relaxation for women and childrens rights in Afghanistan This statement will be a cause of concern for the UN and other countries according to highly placed sources in the Taliban government. On Saturday, the foreign ministry said it had reiterated its conditions to the United Nations. If the Islamic Emirate is to participate as the sole official representative of Afghanistan and if there exists an opportunity to hold frank talks between the Afghan delegation and the UN about all issues on a very senior level, then participation would be beneficial, a ministry statement said. An American man, who spent 37 years in prison for a 1983 rape and murder he did not commit, is now set to receive $14 million from the city of Tampa, Florida as compensation for all those lost years. Robert DuBoise, who was 18 when the crime occurred, was initially sentenced to death for the killing of 19-year-old Barbara Grams, according to The Associated Press. Though his sentence was later reduced to life in prison, it wasnt until 2018, with help from the Innocence Project organisation, that prosecutors agreed to give the case another look. DNA testing that was not available in the early 1980s pointed toward two other men in the slaying, leading to DuBoises release from prison in 2020. DuBoise later sued the city of Tampa, police officers who investigated the case and a forensic dentist who had testified that his teeth matched a purported bite mark on the victim. The lawsuit was settled on January 11 but the Tampa City Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve it and officially award the $14 million to DuBoise, now 59. Council members said the money is the least the city could do for him. This was a big wrong, said council member Luis Viera. I hope and pray this settlement will give him some measure of comfort. Mr. DuBoise suffered DuBoise, who did not attend Thursdays meeting, was represented in the case by the Chicago-based Loevy & Loevy civil rights law firm, which has handled numerous wrongful conviction cases around the country. The settlement is not only an acknowledgement of the harm that Mr. DuBoise suffered, but also an opportunity for him to move on with his life, the law firm said in a statement. In a brief phone interview after the vote Thursday, DuBoise said thats exactly what he is doing. He said he works as maintenance director at a Tampa-area country club and does other repair work. Hes planning to buy a house. It means to me its finally over. Im glad I dont have to spend any more years of my life pursuing this, he said. Money, houses, cars, none of that stuff can ever restore what I lost. I dont feel bitter about anything. I dont want to waste my time with bitterness and pity parties. Advances in technology Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement that in the years since the DuBoise case, detectives undergo better training and that advances in technology have made great strides in how such investigations are handled. We recognize the profound and lasting effects of this case, especially on Mr. DuBoise nearly four decades later, Bercaw said. DuBoise and his law firm will get $9 million this year, $3 million next year and $2 million in 2026, according to city documents. Grams was sexually assaulted and beaten to death in August 1983 as she walked home from her job at a Tampa restaurant. A medical examiner concluded a wound on her cheek was a bite mark, leading investigators to take bite samples from a number of men including DuBoise. Notably, the wound impression was made using beeswax. The forensic dentist determined the bite came from DuBoise, even though he didnt know Grams but frequented the area where her body was found. Dentist testified The dentist testified as part of DuBoises lawsuit that he no longer believes bite marks can be matched directly to a person, according to the city council resolution about the settlement. Decades later, the DNA testing pointed to Amos Robinson and Abron Scott, both of whom are serving life prison sentences for a different killing. They are both awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges in the Grams case. A prison informants testimony that DuBoise confessed to killing Grams was also later discredited. The city denied in the settlement that any of its police officers were guilty of intentional wrongdoing, as DuBoise had contended in the lawsuit. DuBoise walked out of a Florida prison in August 2020. I prayed to God every day and hoped for it, DuBoise said moments after his release. At a court hearing a month later in which the case was finally dropped, DuBoise said hes had a hard time trusting the judicial system because Ive had a lot of roadblocks thrown in my path. Now, he said he believes justice has been done. There are really true-hearted people in these offices now, DuBoise said. Its been amazing. Im just very grateful to all of you. (With agency inputs) Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in study abroad. (Source: UNESCO) Demographics, income growth, supply-side constraints, as well as relentless demand from parents for high-quality education are all factors meaning that Southeast Asia will continue to loom large as an important diversification market for international institutions, it wrote. Acumen cited UNESCO statistics saying during the 2021 - 2022 period, Vietnam saw more than 132,000 students head abroad, followed by Malaysia and Indonesia (over 56,000 each) and Thailand (32,000). The top two destinations for Vietnamese students were Japan with 44,100 students and the Republic of Korea with nearly 25,000. Meanwhile, Indonesians, Malaysians, and Thais travelled most to either the UK and Australia. In the United States market alone, the number of Vietnamese students topped Southeast Asia with more than 23,100 students. According to Nikkei Asia, Vietnam has been among the top 10 sources of international students for more than a decade in the US. In 2022 alone, Vietnamese students constituted the fifth largest group of foreign students in this market. Meanwhile, ICEF Monitor, the leading institution in international education, reported that Vietnam is one of the top 10 markets in the world in terms of students heading abroad. Indeed, it is placed among the top five in the US, second in Japan, sixth in Australia, and first in Taiwan (China)./. A riot broke out on the streets of the Hague on Saturday, as clashes erupted between miscreants and police. Media reports said that a large mob of Eritrean migrants broke into the Opera House building and threw bricks and rocks at police officers. Video footage captured dozens of rioters surrounding the venue as multiple police vans arrived at the scene, according to UKs Daily Mail. The aftermath of the violent clashes revealed a scene of chaos, with several smashed windows and vehicles engulfed in flames, leaving the streets resembling a war zone. Eritrean African immigrants burn down The Hague, Netherlands. We need mass deportations now. https://t.co/JbABEs1LL4 pic.twitter.com/q9i78gRIx2 RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) February 17, 2024 Eritrean Migrants The riot stemmed from a fight between two factions of Eritreans, according to The Hague Municipality spokesperson Robin Middel. He said that a group supportive of Eritreas government was holding a meeting at the Opera when they were ambushed by Eritreans opposing the regime. Shards of glass littered the streets, and tear gas filled the air as police officers, clad in riot gear, attempted to contain the violence. The officers barricaded the entrance to the building and tackled a fire that had erupted inside, even removing what appeared to be a fuel canister from the premises. Eritreans in The Hague. pic.twitter.com/RnbASFWSfE Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) February 17, 2024 Really sick of it Geert Wilders, the Dutch right-wing leader and frontrunner for the post of Prime Minister condemned the violence. The Netherlands is really sick of it. Why is half the world allowed in here to tear down our country, fight mutual feuds, throw stones at police officers and set their cars on fire? I want to become the prime minister who finally puts things in order, he said in a post on X. A Netherlands-based journalist, who documented the events, said the rioters attempting to breach the Operas entrance while the fire brigade struggled to extinguish the flames, the Daily Mail said. The severity of the riot resulted in extensive damage to the Opera Hall. The clash between the Eritrean groups adds to a series of violent incidents at Eritrean events across Europe, the British newspaper said. The underlying tensions stem from discontent with the Eritrean government, led by President Isaias Afwerki, prompting tens of thousands to flee to Europe. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed bilateral ties and global matters, including the situation in West Asia and reformed multilateralism, at a premier security conference in Germany on Saturday. Jaishankar is in Germany to attend the prestigious Munich Security Conference, which is the worlds leading forum for debate on international security. Jaishankar, who held talks with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Portugal, Poland, and Belgium, also had a brief interaction with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the conference. This comes as the two sides are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in Ladakh. Both countries have completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. Last month, Jaishankar said it was necessary to acknowledge that China will influence Indias neighbouring countries, and it must not be scared of such competitive politics. VIDEO | External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) had a brief interaction with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi earlier today on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.#MunichSecurityConference pic.twitter.com/GLMdBnEDp4 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 17, 2024 In Munich, Jaishankar also held a productive conversation with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud on the sideline of the conference. Discussed connectivity, the West Asia situation, and our strategic partnership, Jaishankar posted on X on Saturday. He held a big picture chat with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide and spoke about the imperative of reformed multilateralism and a more equitable world order. Jaishankar said it was a pleasure to meet his Portugal counterpart Joao Gomes Cravinho in Munich. Shared views on recent global developments, he posted on X. Jaishankar held a deep discussion on the Russia-Ukraine conflict with his counterpart from Poland Radosaw Sikorski. Also exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation in different domains, Jaishankar posted on X. He also met his Belgian counterpart, Hadja Lahbib. Glad to work with the Belgian Presidency of the EU, as well as in advancing our bilateral ties, Jaishankar said on X. He also held a warm conversation with Friedrich Merz, the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany. Recognise his strong support for deeper India-Germany and India-EU relations, Jaishankar said. He also held a meeting with German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner. Appreciate his insights and assessments, Jaishankar said on X. He held a useful exchange of views on contemporary politics with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He joined his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal, Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission EU fit for Digital Age and Commissioner for Competition and Meghan OSullivan, former US deputy national security adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan for a discussion. The session was titled Vishwa Mitra: Bridging the Divide and hosted by Observer Research Foundation, an independent global think tank. A lively discussion on the world order; past, present and upcoming, Jaishankar posted on X. He also spoke to two leading German dailies Handelsblatt and Die Zeit. On Sunday, Jaishankar wrote on X that he met Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and exchanged views on the current situation in Gaza. (With agency inputs) A MAJOR shake-up to eliminate corrupt activities in the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property is underway, The Sunday Mail has learnt. This follows a series of complaints and accusations of malpractices reported against the department. Cases involving fake, stolen or duplicate title deeds have been on the increase over the past few years, with some homeowners claiming to have lost properties resultantly. The Sunday Mail has since established that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Police Anti-Corruption Unit are presently looking into a number of complaints over the conduct of officials at the Deeds Office. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Mrs Vimbai Nyemba confirmed that measures to clean up the department, which falls under the ministry, were underway. Following allegations and complaints of corrupt and fraudulent activities in the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property, investigations have been initiated into the records and information unit, she said. The supervisor has been implicated in a case involving the fraudulent sale of a property. As a result, a criminal case has been opened against this employee and the case is ongoing in the courts, said Mrs Nyemba. She confirmed that her office had been inundated with complaints against officials at the Deeds Office. The Government, Mrs Nyemba said, is now taking a number of measures to reform the department. In response to these complaints, the department has taken action to address the issue by implementing measures aimed at curbing fraudulent and corrupt activities among employees, she added. These measures include staff rotations across different sections, random searching of all staff members, collaboration with stakeholders such as the Registrar-General for authentication of IDs and working closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to address any suspected cases of corruption. Additionally, the department has implemented thorough interviewing procedures for clients seeking replacement of documents and those entering the office. The new measures, Mrs Nyemba said, are meant to prevent fraudulent activities. These measures are intended to ensure transparency, accountability and the prevention of any further fraudulent or corrupt activities within the department. The department is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, and these steps have been taken to restore public trust and confidence in the Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property Department. Recently, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwes Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) raised concern over the shambolic state of record-keeping in the department, which it says creates loopholes that could be used for money laundering. In a recent interview, FIU director-general Mr Oliver Chiperesa said: Sadly, those tasked with running our companies registry have over the years let us down, and it is about time something drastic is done to ensure efficiency and effectiveness at our companies registry offices. The unit believes chaotic record-keeping in the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property could compromise Zimbabwes listing as a low-risk country for money laundering and financing of terrorism by the Financial Action Task Force, a development that could see the country being penalised by the global financial crimes watchdog. A supervisor at the Deeds Office, Ms Lynna Mlambo, is currently before the courts over her alleged involvement in a murky deal that saw former Education Minister Dr Dzingai Mutumbuka claiming he was defrauded of his Chisipite house. Sunday Mail: Remington began in the blue-collar village of Ilion two centuries ago, and generations have turned out rifles and shotguns at the massive firearms factory in the heart of New York's Mohawk Valley. Now, residents are bracing for Remington's exit, ending an era that began when Eliphalet Remington forged his first rifle barrel nearby in 1816. The US' oldest gunmaker is closing the factory in its original home next month, citing the steep cost of running the plant. Remington's recent history has been marked by a lawsuit after the Sandy Hook massacre and bankruptcy filings that led to new ownership of Ilion's plant, where the workforce has dwindled from about 1,300 workers more than a decade ago to around 300. Remington is consolidating operations in Georgia, a state friendlier to the firearms industry, per the AP. The current owners of Remington Firearms, RemArms said that Georgia offered an environment that better "supports and welcomes the firearms industry." CEO Ken D'Arcy added that the industry was concerned about New York's "legislative environment." Remington isn't the first: Smith & Wesson opened its new Tennessee headquarters in October after being based in Springfield, Massachusetts, since 1852. But the move stings for the village of 7,600 people, who face dramatic revenue loss and a vacant, sprawling factory. "When Remington leaves, it's ... going to be like part of your family has moved off," says Jim Conover, who started at Remington in 1964 packing guns and retired 40 years later. Ilion officials hope the Remington plant site can host a mix of manufacturing, retail, and residential units, but its fate remains unclear. It was listed for sale last month for $10 million. For some families, jobs there are practically a birthright. "My mom worked there. My dad worked there," says furnace operator and technician Frank "Rusty" Brown. "My wife works there with me now." So do his two daughters and son-in-law. "So it's a double hit for me and my wife: two of us out of a job." Much more here. (More Remington stories.) A Democratic critic of Israel's offensive in Gaza, and the Biden administration's role in it, wants constituents to send a signal in her state's presidential primary. In a video posted by the Listen to Michigan campaign, Rep. Rashida Tlaib urges Dearborn primary voters to punch "uncommitted" on Feb. 27 instead of choosing President Biden. She says members of the campaign feel ignored by the government, the Hill reports. "If you want us to be louder, then come here and vote uncommitted," Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, says in the video. "We want to stand up for every single life killed in Gaza," she adds. At Listen to Michigan's launch earlier this month, organizers said they didn't consider withholding a vote for Biden equal to supporting Donald Trump. "It's essentially the Biden administration that is handing the White House over, because we've been abandoned by Biden," said Layla Elabed, the group's campaign manager and Tlaib's sister. She said there would have to be "a policy around a permanent cease-fire and a re-evaluation of military funding to Israel" before her allies would even talk to the Biden team about supporting the president's reelection, per NBC News. "This is beyond an election," Elabed said. "This is humanitarian politics that I feel largely the Democratic Party has abandoned." Administration officials went to Dearborn to meet privately with Muslim and Arab American activists and local leaders, per NBC. "The meeting was very tense at different times," said Abbas Alawieh, a participant who said two attendees had relatives in Gaza. "There was crying at different times, there was yelling at certain times." White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, per the Wall Street Journal, "We're going to listen and hear what leaders of that community have to say." (More Rashida Tlaib stories.) A bipartisan delegation of US senators made an official visit to Hungary's capital Sunday and called on the nationalist government to immediately approve Sweden's request to join NATO. Hungary is the only one of NATO's 31 members not to have ratified Sweden's bid. The Hungarian government faces mounting pressure to act after delaying the move for more than 18 months; admitting a new country to the military alliance requires unanimous approval. The senators announced they would submit a joint resolution to Congress condemning alleged democratic backsliding in Hungary and urging the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban to lift its block on Sweden's trans-Atlantic integration, the AP reports. "With accession, Hungary and your prime minister will be doing a great service to freedom-loving nations worldwide," Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said during a news conference at the US Embassy in Budapest. The resolution was authored by Tillis and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Joining them in Budapest was Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy. Earlier this month, Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised the prospect of sanctioning Hungary for its conduct and called Orban "the least reliable member of NATO." The resolution, obtained by the AP, points out Hungary's failure to keep promises not to be the last NATO ally to sign off on Sweden's membership. Orban has said that he favors making Sweden part of NATO but that lawmakers in his party remained unconvinced because of "blatant lies" from Swedish politicians about Hungary's democracy. But in a speech on Saturday, Orban indicated that Hungary's legislature might soon relent. On Sunday, Shaheen called it disappointing that no members of the Hungarian government had accepted invitations to meet the delegation but said she's hopeful Sweden's accession would be submitted for ratification on Feb. 26 when Hungarian lawmakers reconvene. Murphy said the government's refusal to meet was "strange and concerning." Hungary's foreign minister said Friday that he welcomed the senators' visit but that it was "not worth trying to exert pressure on us, because we are a sovereign country." (More Hungary stories.) Oppenheimer won seven prizes, including best picture, director and actor, at the 77th British Academy Film Awards in London on Sunday, cementing its front-runner status for the Oscars next month. Gothic fantasia Poor Things took five prizes, the AP reports, and Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest won three. Christopher Nolan won his first best director BAFTA for Oppenheimer, and Cillian Murphy won the best actor prize for playing physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Murphy said he was grateful for the opportunity to play such a "colossally knotty, complex character." The film led the field with 13 nominations. It won the best film race over Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, Anatomy of a Fall, and The Holdovers. Barbie was not nominated, nor was director Greta Gerwig. Oppenheimer also won for editing, cinematography, and musical score, as well as the best supporting actor prize for Robert Downey Jr. Emma Stone was named best actress for playing the wild and spirited Bella Baxter in Poor Things, a steampunk-style visual extravaganza that won prizes for visual effects, production design, costume design, and makeup and hair. Da'Vine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress for playing a boarding school cook in The Holdovers and said she felt a "responsibility I don't take lightly" to tell the stories of underrepresented people like her character, Mary. The Zone of Interesta British-produced film shot in Poland with a largely German castwas named both best British film and best film not in English, a first, and also took the prize for its sound, which has been described as the real star of the film. Jonathan Glazer's unsettling drama takes place in a family home just outside the walls of the Auschwitz death camp, whose horrors are heard and hinted at rather than seen. The Ukraine war documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, produced by the AP and PBS Frontline, won the prize for best documentary. "This is not about us," said filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, who captured the harrowing reality of life in the besieged city with an AP team. "This is about Ukraine, about the people of Mariupol." (More BAFTA stories.) People around the worldincluding Russians in dozens of cities and world leaders at a conference in Germanypaid tribute Sunday to Alexei Navalny. The Russian opposition leader's death at age 47, while detained in a penal colony, was announced Friday. The government detained some of the mourners, the AP reports. The global reaction included: Labour Party reacts Following Luxon's speech, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Luxon's $200b transport shortfall claim was "nonsense". "If we have a $200 billion hole, their hole is much bigger," he said. Hipkins also criticised Luxon's vision for the country. "I believe that the current Government are doing everything that they can to make the country more fragile, to make New Zealand a more divided place, and to make the vulnerable in our communities more isolated." Green Party reacts Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said Luxon's speech was a "buffet of buzzwords". "Christopher Luxon is obsessed with cutting, cancelling, and disestablishing things but he has no plan to build, invest, or create a better Aotearoa," she said. She took aim at the Government's planned changes to benefits, which could see thousands more children slip into poverty, according to official advice. Davidson also said Luxon was "complaining" rather than "proposing solutions" for issues like climate change and poverty. "He didn't mention Te Tiriti o Waitangi, presumably because he knows the social division being sown by his coalition partners is harmful and unpopular." 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. BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China has boosted its biological breeding industry through scientific and technological methods, contributing greatly to the country's steady supply of grain and other major agricultural products. In recent years, China has solidly pushed forward its seed industry revitalization, and has achieved a number of breakthroughs. China has independently bred three new white-feather broiler chicken varieties, thereby ending its previous complete dependence on imports, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The market share of these new varieties reached 25.1 percent in 2023 and they were exported abroad for the first time last year. China last year also successfully cultivated a new oilseed rape variety with a growth period of only about 169 days. This short growth cycle enables farmers to fully utilize the winter fallow fields in southern China by planting oilseed rape without delaying the planting of early season rice the following year. In addition, China has managed to establish an independent and complete bio-breeding research and development system, and has secured independent intellectual property rights and core technologies concerning important genes and genetic features, such as insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, drought resistance, salt tolerance, and improved nutritional quality. Recently, the country's 37 genetically modified corn varieties and 14 genetically modified soybean varieties passed preliminary examinations, according to the ministry. This marked a pioneering step for the industrialization of bio-breeding. These genetically modified crops showed both outstanding herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant traits. They could also see a 10 percent rise in yields, demonstrating great development potential. As the "chips" of agriculture, seeds are crucial to the development of the industry. Accelerating the promotion and application of transgenic technology is an inevitable choice for increasing future international competitiveness and optimizing industrial division, and is also a key way to ensure the country's food security and boost the sustainable development of agricultural science and technology. The contribution rate of improved varieties to the increase in grain yield currently exceeds 45 percent, according to official statistics. As a core focus area for the development of the seed industry, sci-tech innovation will help improve China's agricultural sci-tech level and narrow the production capacity gap between China and some leading foreign countries. "The core goals in the future are to increase production and improve the quality of seeds, reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and decrease losses caused by natural disasters," said Li Jiayang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Editor: WXL TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani yesterday held talks with Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle Corporation, during the Munich Security Conference. The meeting delved into potential areas of collaboration between Bahrain and Oracle Corporation, particularly in IT investment. They explored avenues to leverage the companys expertise in IT, specialized research, education, and training to advance economic growth and sustainable development initiatives. Additionally, they exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. The original South Korean researchers of the LK99 room temperature and room pressure superconductor appears to have a withdrawn abstract. This could mean the presentation is withdrawn. UPDATE The abstract and talk were restored. There was a fake withdrawal by someone pretending to be lead researcher Hyun-Tak Kim. The abstract of Hyuntak Kim APS march meeting has been withdrawn. But we don't know yet if this means "meeting withdrawal" or not. pic.twitter.com/rjhZX3AP6I sejong (@gimjiun79102152) February 17, 2024 Three months ago there was the announcement of the LK99 presentation. It would be good to have the information presented and discussed but if APS was having a dispute with the LK99 researchers then the koreans could choose to present elsewhere. On March 4, 2024, most of the original team of South Korean LK99 Room Temperature and atmospheric pressure superconductors researchers will have a short 12 minute presentation at the American Physical Society conference. Abstract: A16.00002 : Partial levitation, type-II-superconductor characteristic, at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in PCPOSOS 8:12 AM8:24 AM Presenter: Hyun-Tak Kim (College of William and Mary) Authors: Hyun-Tak Kim (College of William and Mary) Sukbae Lee (QERC in Korea) Sungyeon Im (QERC in Korea) SooMin An (QERC in Korea) Keun Ho Auh (QERC in Korea) Collaboration: College of William & Mary, Quantum Energy Research Center in Korea We synthesized materials, Pb10-xCux(P(O1-ySy)4)6O1-zSz (PCPOSOS), called PCPOSOS, which exhibit superconducting behavior at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. These materials displayed characteristics of a superconductor, including zero resistance, the Meissner effect, and partial levitation when placed on a magnet (arXiv: 2307.12037). The partial levitation is caused by an inhomogeneity in the magnetic field of the magnet and occurred within the range of critical magnetic fields, Hc1 and Hc2. That is, the magnetic field of the magnet increased with going from center to the edge of magnet. The magnet had approximately 2000G at the center and approximately 3,000G at its edge. The levitation occurred near center. This indicates the center of the magnet is close to Hc1. It disappeared between center and the edge near Hc2, with Hc1 being much smaller than Hc2, because the magnetic moment at Hc2 is much smaller than that at Hc1. When the magnet is slightly moved, the levitation returns to its original position. This phenomenon is analyzed as flux pinning, which is typical of a type-II superconductor. Moreover, the quantum-locking phenomenon, characteristic of a Type-I superconductor, may appear. However, we interpret PCPOSOS as a Type-II superconductor. We will show two videos of levitations and two videos of magnets. Nextbigfuture observes that there does not look like there will be thin film LK99 results at the March, 2024 presentation. China Research and Other LK99 Research is Still Developing Chinese universities and research labs have published experimental evidence in support of LK99 as a room temperature superconductor. The amount of superconducting material that is made in pile of LK99 powder is small. The LK99 needs to have precisely located copper and phosphorous. This leaves one dimensional molecular chains of superconducting material. All previous superconductors have been found to absorb microwaves. It is the nature of superconducting material that they exclude magnetic fields and thus the electronic and magnetic behavior is observed based on interaction with microwaves. The US military (Air Force Research Lab) gave some small funding to Chapman University to work on thin film LK99. Thin film LK99 is the only form of the materials with reported superconducting levels of low resistance. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The outstanding performance of Azerbaijani judokas at the 2024 Judo Grand Slam Baku, winning two gold medals on the second day of the competition, shows the impact of President Ilham Aliyev's support and dedication to judo, Trend reports, referring to the Euronews TV channel's report. "An exceptional performance of the Azeri judoka at the Baku Grand Slam, where they won two gold medals on the second day. President Ilham Aliyevs keen interest in judo has contributed significantly to elevating the nation's standing in the world of judo. At -73kg, local hero and world number one Hidayat Heydarov set out to win at home for the third year in a row and fourth time overall. A bit of quick thinking saw him overcome Abubakr Sherov of Tajikistan in the final," the report says. According to the information, Azerbaijan Judo Federation President, Rashad Nabiyev awarded the medals. This is the fourth time I have won this Grand Slam, Im loved a lot by the kids, and god willing I will bring them an Olympic Gold medal, said Heydarov. At -63kg another world ranked number one, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard was also looking for glory. However, after an exhausting tactical battle, it was a delighted Lubjana Piovesana of Austria who summoned the power to throw for ippon and claim victory. IJF Vice President, Laszlo Toth was on hand to award the medals. Shes beaten me three times before, so, and always in fights quite like this, so I think shes a really great judo player, I think shes number one in the world just now and to have her as a friend is really nice, said Piovesana. At -70kg was a battle between two former World Champions: Marie Eve Gahie and Barbara Matic. Matic sensationally dropped under her opponent to score ippon and win the contest. She was awarded her medal by Fabrice Caquin, CEO of Selerys. The -81kg final was an all Azeri affair, as compatriots Omar Rajabli and Zelim Tckaev faced off for the title. Tckaev ultimately scored ippon and secured his second Grand Slam win. Michael Michaely, Cedco Hungary Chairman awarded the medals. Throughout the event in Baku, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation's "I Promise" campaign engaged with over 4,000 children, teenagers and athletes who signed pledges against bullying, symbolized by wearing special bracelets. As the ongoing African Union summit gathers steam, President Bola Tinubu and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday. Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale said their discussions were quite fruitful especially as they centred on comprehensive strengthening of bilateral ties in all fields. The Brazilian President said Nigeria and Brazil once had a trade volume of more than $10 billion in the past, which has now plummeted to $1.6 billion, emphasizing that he is determined to strengthen bilateral relations. But wooing his colleague to tap into the Nigerian investment space, Tinubu emphasized the strength of Nigerias economic potential and influence, saying the country is witnessing a leap forward, despite some short-term reform pains, as his administration is removing all encumbrances to business. He further explained that his administration is investing in critical sectors of the economy like healthcare, education, and agriculture to ensure the welfare of all Nigerian citizens and to create sustainable economic prosperity for future generations. We have a very vibrant population of young Nigerians who are trainable, dependable, and should be empowered. The economic potential of Nigeria is enormous. We are ready to break all the walls standing in our way to progress. We are ready to fight corruption from top to bottom. We are ready to invest in critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, infrastructure, and others. I have one of the most dedicated teams in agriculture, he said. Assessing Nigerias natural and human resource wealth akin to Brazils, President Lula da Silva said Africas largest economy and South Americas largest economy have a long and interesting history together. Lula da Silva said, I am back to try to restore; to reclaim our good relations with Nigeria. I can not imagine that a country of 216 million people and another of 213 million people do not have strong relations. Mr. President, I am 78 years old. You are 71. What keeps me energetic is that I fight for a cause. The cause of my nation and people. A great cause is the elixir of sustained vitality for experienced leaders. Nigeria and Brazil need stronger relations from the academic viewpoint; from the cultural viewpoint; from the commercial viewpoint; from the agricultural viewpoint; from the industrial relations viewpoint, and from trade relations viewpoint. It is meaningless that there are no direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo and vice versa. I can not understand that. We have to sit at a table and find a solution for that. In aviation, there are many areas of potential collaboration with our manufacturers who seek to have a greater presence in Africa. I only have three more years left of my term, Your Excellency, to do everything I have not done yet. The time is very short. I am in a hurry to make my contributions to improve these relations with Nigeria. To make this happen, we have to put our ministers to work, he said. Responding, President Tinubu said Nigeria is ready to deepen ties with Brazil, noting that it is a legacy of what can be done together to change the future for countless millions of our citizens. We are stopping at nothing to remove all encumbrances to business. Red tape is being shredded around us. There is nothing we will not do to manifest the great potential of our nation. We are fighting corruption from the bottom to the top. We will prevent it, and we will remediate. We are very aware of your progressive legacies of social security provision, infrastructure, and reforms in Petrobras. We are in the process of implementing similar reforms in the NNPCL. We are focusing on investment in new production and new energy sources. We are investing in research, and we are removing obstacles to further partnerships in all areas of operation. There is an opportunity for both companies in partnership, the President said. While identifying solid mineral exploration, agriculture, education, and healthcare as areas of immediate concern, President Tinubu emphasized that the will of the two leaders to collaborate is firmly established. I agree that our countries must now have direct air links. I will form a committee of cabinet members who will work directly with your cabinet ministers, and they will urgently form a joint plan of action for the benefit of our two great countries. We may have missed opportunities in the past, but we now look ahead. Brazil and Nigeria share similarities. Let us forget old mistakes. The phenomenal growth achieved by Brazil in agriculture is exemplary. We will work with you to mechanize our food production systems to enhance quality and quantity of output. I will work with you to re-energize Nigerias relations with Brazil across the board, the President stated. The leaders of the largest democracies in Africa and South America, respectively, agreed to work out the modalities for a state visit to Brazil by President Tinubu after President Lula da Silva extended an invitation, which the Nigerian leader warmly accepted. Former Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, reality show winner, Josephine Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, on Saturday escaped a kidnappers attack in Delta State. The reality star made this known in a post on her official X account on Saturday evening. Narrating her experience, she said the kidnappers hijacked four cars in front of the vehicle she rode in and abducted the occupants. She wrote; So I got to Delta State today (GIG) we were moving in convoy and suddenly one of the cars drifted off the road, which led to a very minor accident, so we all had to stop to see what could be done, but since it was getting late my car and one other decided to continue the journey. Omo that was how the passengers of the 4 cars to the one I was in were kidnapped they carried them out of their cars and left both cars empty in the middle of the road see the way cars were turning and riding one way back omo i just dey shiver. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Vice President of the Republic of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz has congratulated Ali Asadov on his appointment as Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan told Trend. "I extend heartfelt congratulations on your reappointment as Prime Minister following the presidential elections in Azerbaijan on February 7, 2024. I hope that President Ilham Aliyev's historic election victory, securing the largest number of votes in Azerbaijan's history, will bring benefits to the people of Azerbaijan, enhance relations between our nations, and positively impact our entire region. The election, held for the first time across all sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, has a historical significance. I am confident that in the forthcoming era, we will enhance our already excellent cooperation and relations to unprecedented heights. I'd like to express my gratitude once more for the warm hospitality you showed me during my visit to your country on December 20, 2023. Furthermore, I look forward to the satisfaction of hosting you in our country for the upcoming meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation that we will be organizing in the near future," the congratulatory message reads. In conclusion, the Turkish Vice President extended his best wishes for the success of the Azerbaijani government under the chairmanship of Ali Asadov and conveyed his heartfelt wishes for the welfare of the Azerbaijani people. Clem Agba, immediate past minister of state, budget and national planning, says votes of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not count during the partys governorship primary election in Edo state. Agba, a governorship aspirant, lost out to Dennis Idahosa, a house of representatives member, in the exercise that was held on Saturday. In a statement, the former minister said the primary election fell short of the minimum standard of democratic elections. The aspirant said based on the authentic turnout of voters during the exercise, he won the primary election. I strongly believe that thousands of loyal party members were disenfranchised. Based on the authentic turnout, we clinched victory. The result so far announced is a ridicule and undermines the principles of democracy and fair play, he said. The votes of the people did not count, the processes of election were compromised and the strength and unity of our party greatly undermined. While I remain a loyal party member, I will not be part of a process that robs the mass of our loyal party members of their inalienable right to vote. What has taken place in Edo State negates all that even our political leaders have taught us over the years about democracy, the will of the people, one man, one vote and justice and fair play. I want to thank everyone that has supported me for your unwavering commitment and belief in our vision and qualification. Your passion and dedication have been the driving force behind our campaign, and I am truly grateful. As we move forward, remember that our journey is far from over. We will continue to fight for a better future for Edo State, a future where every citizen can thrive and succeed. Our resolve is unbreakable, and our commitment unwavering. Agba said he would not rest until justice is served and the peoples will is honoured. The governorship primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State ended in crisis as two aspirants were declared winners. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has slated September 21, 2024, for the governorship election in the state. Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who was the chairman of the election committee, had earlier, at Protea Hotel, declared Dennis Idahosa the winner of the election with 40,453 votes, while Senator Monday Okpebholo reportedly polled 100 votes. This was after thugs invaded the Lushville Hotel collation centre at the time the collation of results was ongoing by the various local government returning officers. The hoodlums reportedly disrupted the exercise and attacked journalists, electoral officers, and party faithful at the hotel. They ended up chasing the electoral officers out of the venue. However, Dr Ugbaja Stanley Uzoamaka, the State Returning Officer for the primary election, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo the winner with 12,145 votes and added that Honourable Dennis Idahosa scored 5,536 votes. Uzoamaka said a total of 42,381 delegates who were financial members of the party were vetted during the revalidation exercise. He added that 29,881 delegates were accredited for the primary, while the total votes were still from 29,881 delegates. Speaking with newsmen, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadia, described the announcement of Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the primary by Governor Hope Uzodinma as null and void and with no political effect. Uwadia said, in line with the party constitution, that Governor Uzodimma was just the chairman of the electoral committee and not the returning officer. He opined that the only person who is constitutionally empowered to announce the results of the primary is the electoral officer and not the chairman of the committee. He disclosed that five members of the party who were attacked and wounded are currently receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals. In his acceptance remarks, Senator Monday Okpebholo, commended the delegates for the primary, noting that the exercise was peaceful across the 192 wards in the 18 local government areas before thugs were allegedly sponsored to invade the collation centre. The Federal Government has announced a 24-hour closure on the Third Mainland Bridge for Iyana Oworonshoki-Lagos Island-bound traffic from midnight on Sunday, February 18 to midnight on Monday, February 19. Mrs Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, said this in a statement on Saturday night. She said the emergency measure followed the governments decision to fix an important section of the bridge undergoing comprehensive repairs. She said motorists coming out of the Island and heading towards Oworonshoki would have full access to the bridge throughout the 24-hour closure. Notification of 24-hour Closure of Iyana-Oworonshoki Lagos Island Bound Traffic From 12.00am on Sunday, February 18th to 12.00 am on Monday, February 19, 2024. The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works wishes to inform the motoring public that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos will not be available for 24 hours for motorists from Iyana Oworonshoki- Lagos Island bound. Traffic resumes on Monday by 12.00 am on this bound. However, motorists coming out of the Island and heading towards Oworonshoki will have full access throughout the 24-hour closure. The temporary 24 hours closure of the Iyana Oworonshoki- Adeniji Adele bound traffic is to enable the ministry to carry out effective repairs on an important section of the bridge, she said. Kesha advised motorists to use alternative routes, obey traffic regulatory officers and be patient with the government as it continued repairs on the important infrastructure. Consequent upon the above, Lagos Island Bound Motorists are hereby advised to use alternative routes, she said. She listed the alternative routes to include Ojota-Ikorodu Road-Funsho Williams Avenue-Eko Bridge-Apogbon-CMS. Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the allegations against Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are so numerous that the federal government does not know which charges to pin on him. Akpabio made the remarks on Sunday during a thanksgiving service organised by Barinada Mpigi, senator representing Rivers south-east senatorial district. The number three citizen also blamed the economic hardship sweeping through the land on the policies and actions that "they took". He did not specify who "they" entails .Akpabio further said the prevailing hunger and economic hardship are consequences of almost 60 years of rot. He appealed to Nigerians to be patient, while promising that the current administration will deliver on the promises they "campaigned and danced" around the country for. "So the kind of debt and the economic mess that we are in... and lots of people do not understand," Akpabio said. "I remember President Obama saying you cannot know Washington until you get to Washington. So by the time we went in to look at the economic situation of the country, it was terrible. "So you know that the former governor of central bank, we don't even know what to charge him with. "Whether to charge him for putting foam on top of a pail, or to charge him for illegal possession of firearms, or to charge him for printing notes without income. I don't know what we're going to charge him with. "But what we know is that yes, there is hunger today because of the kind of policies and actions that they took and we recognise that, and I think every political party should recognise that there is hunger and we're battling to ensure that Nigerians can sleep with their eyes closed. "There is insecurity. We're battling to ensure Nigerians can eat three square meals a day. "But rest assured that we campaigned for this job, we campaigned and danced around the country. We will not let you down. "We will get to the bottom of it. All we need is patience. The rot that has happened in Nigeria for so many years, for almost 60 years, cannot be solved in six months. So what we need is patience... patience from all quarters." The event, which took place in Koroma, Tai LGA of Rivers, was also attended by Dave Umahi, minister of works; Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the Rivers house of assembly; and other dignitaries. BACKGROUND Emefiele was suspended on June 9, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu, who also ordered a probe into his tenure as governor of the apex bank. He was subsequently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and on July 25, he was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on "illegal possession" of firearms, at a federal high court in Ikoyi. He was later granted bail in the sum of N20 million. However, he was rearrested by the DSS on the court premises on the same day. In August, the court struck out the suit after the federal government filed an application to withdraw the charge of "illegal possession of firearms" against him. A fresh 20-count charge was then filed before the federal capital territory (FCT) high court by the federal ministry of justice. He was subsequently arraigned at the FCT high court in Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on procurement fraud, and remanded at the Kuje correctional facility. On November 8, Emefiele was granted bail and released, after spending 151 days in detention. On January 18, the federal government amended the criminal charges filed against him. The charges, formerly six counts, were increased to 20 counts. The amended charges border on alleged breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony. Comedian and actor Lawrence Oluwaseyitan Aletile, popularly known as Seyi Law, has reiterated his support for President Bola Tinubus administration. Seyi Law, a vehement supporter of Tinubu, in a message on his verified X handle, urged Nigerians to support the Tinubu-led administration, noting that things would get better. The comedian made an allusion to the tale of Moses in the Holy Bible, stating, I would rather stay with a Moses through the wilderness to Canaan than eat meat and drink wine in slavery in Egypt at the expense of my childrens future. Seyi Law, who compared Tinubu to the Biblical Moses, stated that he would rather have we reset, rebuild, and sustain our future than live on a better now by borrowing our future. He noted I want to see people-driven and engaged policy in agriculture, energy, and health. I am hopeful. Seyi Law pledged his everlasting support for the president, stating that despite the outcry against Tinubu, if another election were held tomorrow, I would still vote for Asiwaju Bola. "I would rather stay with a Moses through the wilderness to Canaan than eat meats and drink wine in slavery in Egypt at the expense of my children's future." SEYILAW. While a lot of Nigerians kill the optimism of others with hate and urge for immediate gratification, it is sad SEYILAW (@seyilaw1) February 17, 2024 He wrote, I would rather stay with a Moses through the wilderness to Canaan than eat meats and drink wine in slavery in Egypt at the expense of my childrens future. SEYILAW. While a lot of Nigerians kill the optimism of others with hate and urge for immediate gratification, it is sad that our government agencies are not communicating government agendas, efforts, and actions effectively. I am not one to judge anyone for their anger towards the government. After all, they were voted to serve the people. I am maybe only privileged to be better informed. I know everything doesnt rest at the centre, and I should be able to make demands from the state government. Your allocations have increased, and to take steps towards a better transportation system not to talk of subsidizing it for your citizens is a mountain youre finding hard to climb. The state governors are absolutely shameless. It is easy for any government at the centre to please the multitude by reverting back to full subsidy on fuel and exchange rates, but I would rather we reset, rebuild, and sustain our future than live on a better now by borrowing our future. I want to see certain people-driven and engaging policies in agriculture, power, and health sectors. I am hopeful. I will criticise constructively and condemn unworthy acts. To those still cursing in my mentions, if another election was held tomorrow, I would still vote ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reacted to the statement by the PDP Governors Forum, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign. In a statement on Sunday, the Minister reminded the Governors to roll up their sleeve and do the work they were elected to do. He insisted that this is not the time for distraction instead it is time to prepare for work, support and complement the hard work of the President and his administration. He cautioned the PDP Governors not to seek through the back door of intimidation, what they have consistently failed to achieve by democratic means, since 2015. The statement reads in part: The call is nothing but an attempt at distraction by people who should instead be busy supporting the Presidents efforts at bringing economic relief to the Nigerian people. It is our considered view that the PDP and its Governors should not be seeking, through the back door of intimidation, what they have consistently failed to achieve by democratic means, since 2015. Those who could not bring transformational change when they had a lengthy chance to, should not seek to interrupt or distract those who are busy at work on the presidential vision that Nigerians elected them to implement. The administration of President Bola Tinubu has also, since inception, generously extended financial support to all the State Governments, regardless of partisan affiliation. In addition, the removal of the petrol subsidy which, incidentally, was one of the main planks of the PDP presidential campaign has swelled the revenues of all States, including the PDP States. To whom more has been given, more is therefore expected. The President and his administration recognise the unfinished business of revamping our national economy kick started by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through programmes focused on large-scale infrastructure, social welfare, prioritizing the equipping and welfare of the military and security agencies, and reclaiming Nigerias strategic place in the comity of nations. Boko Haram and its affiliates, on the ascendancy in 2014/2015, have since been decimated, and similar bold gains are now being made with bandits and other criminals. Nigerians have not forgotten that it was the APC administration that cleared several liabilities left behind by the PDP government, such as subsidy claims by oil marketers, Paris Club Refunds, unpaid pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears owed various categories of pensioners from liquidated and existing State-Owned Enterprises. Major oil sector reforms that the PDP touted for years but could not deliver, passage of the PIB, new refineries, as well as the revamp of existing ones, and so on are the very real and continuing legacies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). All of these have been accomplished without access to the oil windfall that the PDP government enjoyed for much of the time that it was in power, and also against the backdrop of the most devastating global shock since the Second World War: the COVID-19 pandemic. We must continue to state these facts so Nigerians will know where we are coming from, and appreciate what is being done in its full context. President Tinubu is not and will never be overwhelmed by the current challenges the country is facing. He will not abdicate his responsibilities. He will courageously continue to wrestle with the challenges and surmount them, laying a durable foundation for the new Nigeria that is emerging. He has also never shied away from acknowledging the pain of ongoing reforms, and has seized every opportunity to assure Nigerians that inside the pain of the reforms lie the seeds of lasting prosperity and national development. To the PDP Governors, let us reiterate: This is not the time for distraction. It is time instead for the rolling up of sleeves, to support and complement the hard work of the President and his administration. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday, expressed confidence that his political camp would defeat any opposition in the 2027 elections. The former Rivers State Governor who has been in a face-off with his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, stated this during a thanksgiving service by a federal lawmaker, Senator Barinada Mpigi in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area of the state. The FCT Minister claimed that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are united in Rivers State ahead of the next general elections. He said, With the forces we have I dont know of anybody who can challenge us. I can tell you it is like tomorrow is 2027. For me it is still very far, I cant wait. The two leadership of the party, APC is here, PDP is here; where can you find that leadership unity? Which state? It is only in Rivers that you can find that unity. And that is what many people dont like. When they see people united and working together, they find how to make sure they are divided but since we know, we have refused to be divided. This is the only state where the leading party will win for president, the opposition party will take national assembly in election that was done the same time, same minute and same hour. That is uncommon, Wike said. Recall that Rivers State was recently in a political crisis following alleged moves by Wike to impose decisions on the current administration. The agitation for a return to the parliamentary system got a boost last week when the House of Representatives passed, for first reading, a bill seeking to transform the presidential system of government to a parliamentary system. The bill, sponsored by 60 lawmakers, is titled, The Bills proposing constitutional alterations for a transition to parliamentary system of government. Briefing newsmen after plenary, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Abdussamad Dasuki, said the proposed alterations, when passed, would significantly impact the national political landscape. Throwing its weight behind the proposed return with a warning that Nigeria will be damaged irretrievably if she did not dump the current presidential system, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, led by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, said it will curb excesses and wastages in Nigeria. The other Afenifere group, led by Pa Fasoranti, also backed the move but said the commendate date should be 2027 rather than 2031 as proposed by the lawmakers. National Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere group, Gboyega Adejuwon, warned that failure to revert to the parliamentary system of government would damage irretrievably the economy of Nigeria. Adejuwon said: We of the Afenifere believe that the econometrics of restructuring is to have a fundamentally parliamentarian institution. All the achievements that we can hold on to will be the achievements of the First Republic. All the success we recorded was that we didnt have to spend too much money. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo only needed to contest in his Ikenne Constituency to be a member of the Western House of Assembly. He may have campaigned for his political party everywhere but he didnt have to go and seek votes in Ijebu-Ode. This simply means that the cost of electioneering is reduced. It is different from what you have today that someone who wants to be governor will have to campaign the length and breathe of the state and in every constituency. So, what we want is that reset button back to the way we were in the First Republic. What this simply means is that if someone is spending billions of naira to contest, that money has to be replaced from where it was taken from. Thats the way it works and government treasury suffers for it. So, to reduce the cost of running elections, to ensure there is accountability, to provide for a level-playing field and to have the right kind of people attracted, parliamentary system is it. You have the right kind people but they are disadvantaged. So, parliamentary system of government is the best. Apart from that, in the parliamentary system of government, there wont be duplication of offices. If we are going to be truthful in this country, there is too much waste in the system and that simply means we have to plug it. The excesses, at the end of the day, would damage, irretrievably, the economy of this country if we are not careful. The best that can happen is for us to go back to the parliamentary system of government. We disagree with commencement date Fasoranti group But while the Fasoranti-led Afenifere faction backed the National Assembly for waking up to the reality of the need to cut costs of governance and restructure the political system in Nigeria, it disagreed on the take-off date. The organisation, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, was, however, quick to add that while the proposed change in the political system from presidential to parliamentary is okay, what the country needs now is not just a shift from one system of government to another, there is the fundamental need to have the country returned to the type of arrangement we had before the military incursion in 1966. The statement applauded the call for parliamentary system of government but disagreed on the commencement year, saying it took exception to the proposed amendment taking effect from 2031. No. This should not be. All legislative works regarding restructuring along with the shift from presidential to parliamentary must take place within the first two or three years of this administration. The new law can be test-run in states elections that will take place in 2026 while the 2027 general elections must be conducted on the basis of a constitution proclaiming United Regions of Nigeria under a parliamentary system of government. Such a system should be one that confers powers to the constituent parts on matters affecting their respective areas. Presidents Day 2024 is on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Although it was originally created to celebrate President George Washingtons birthday after his death, other presidents born in February had their own respective days. The day became known as Presidents Day when it became part of the 1971 Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which was an attempt to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. Presidents Day in its current form is a day dedicated to celebrating all U.S. presidents, past and present. Here is everything you need to know about whats open and whats closed on Presidents Day 2024. Yes, Presidents Day is the third federal and state holiday of the year. It is one of several holidays in which the date changes each year in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Others include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day. No, all United States Postal Service offices will be closed. There will be no regular mail delivery on Presidents Day. Only Priority Mail Express will be delivered. FedEx and UPS will be delivering, though. FedEx Express and FedEx Ground Economy will be on a modified service schedule. UPS operates on a normal schedule. Most banks will not be open. The following banks are scheduled to be closed on Presidents Day: There is only one major bank that is scheduled to stay open on Presidents Day: The New York Stock Exchange will be closed on Monday. Nasdaq trading and bond markets also will be closed. Most supermarkets will be open. Shoppers should ultimately check with their local supermarket for specific information. The following major supermarkets will be open with regular hours on Presidents Day: Most chain restaurants should be open on Presidents Day, including McDonalds and Starbucks, according to HolidayShoppingHours.com. For local, non-chain restaurants, patrons should ultimately check with the restaurant for specific information. All major retail stores and malls should be open, along with most shopping centers, according to HolidayShoppingHours.com. To see a list of some of the more popular store opening and closing times, click here. In honor of George Washington and Abraham Lincolns birthdays, there are several star-spangled sales happening now. We scoured the web to find the best offers on everything from housewares and mattresses to tech and fashion: Most schools are closed on Presidents Day 2024, which is a federal holiday. In New Jersey, most schools are closed on Presidents Day, and some are closed on the Friday before the holiday. It is up to the public district or private school to decide, however, so we recommend checking with your local school to see if it is open or closed. The most accurate information likely will be on the school or districts website. A full directory of public school districts, non-public schools and their websites is available here. Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) offices will not be open on Presidents Day. Online processing of some documents are available on Motor Vehicle Commissions website. Additionally, all New Jersey state offices and courts will be closed. NJ Transit will operate on either a weekday, Saturday or holiday schedule depending on your route. Riders should use NJ Transits online trip planner to double-check arrival and departure times. PATH will operate on a modified weekend schedule with supplemental service throughout the morning commute, while SEPTA will operate on a regular weekday schedule. The next federal holiday is Memorial Day on Monday, May. 27. For more information about the history of Presidents Day, check out the video below: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. With roughly a half billion dollars of civil penalties clawing at his bank accounts, former President Donald Trump unveiled a new fund-raising scheme on Saturday: Trump Sneakers. Word is, that when you make a cut on the basketball court, they squeal louder than Trump after a court ruling. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. A meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye is scheduled, Vice President of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz said this in a congratulatory message addressed to Ali Asadov on the occasion of his appointment as Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. "I also look forward to welcoming you to our country for the upcoming meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, which we are arranging in the near future," Yilmaz said. The Azerbaijani side of the Commission is co-chaired by Prime Minister Ali Asadov. United States of Scandal with Jake Tapper is premiering on CNN on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. You can watch live as it airs on DIRECTV Stream (free trial) or Sling TV (half off first month). The series will take a look at various political scandals which rocked the US. The first episode will focus on former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of attempting to sell the Senate seat of Barack Obama after he successfully became President. Heres the information youll need to watch a free live stream of United States of Scandal online without cable. How to watch United States of Scandal without cable If you have a cable subscription, you can watch CNN by logging into its website via your cable provider. If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, you can live stream United States of Scandal on DIRECTV Stream (free trial) or Sling TV (half off first month). When is United States of Scandal on? CNNs United States of Scandal airs on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. on CNN. It will air before a second new episode of the series. What channel is CNN? You can use the channel finder on your providers website to locate it: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish. Other programs on CNN include The Lead with Jake Tapper, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett OutFront, Anderson Cooper 360, CNN Tonight, and CNN Newsroom. How to watch United States of Scandal online on-demand If you missed United States of Scandal or want to binge watch other CNN events as they become available, check out DIRECTV Stream (free trial) or Sling TV (half off first month). What is United States of Scandal about? According to the official description of the CNN events first episode: Jake Tapper speaks with the still-defiant former governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich to try to decode truth from spin in this tale of one of the most corrupt politicians from Americas most corrupt state. Heres a look at some of CNNs coverage of a very recent political scandal, courtesy of its official YouTube channel: RELATED STORIES ABOUT TV STREAMING PLATFORMS Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joseph Rejent covers TV, writing about live television, streaming services and cord-cutting. He can be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High 37F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snowfall around one inch.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Hamas accuses Israel of obstructing efforts to reach ceasefire in Gaza Xinhua) 11:21, February 18, 2024 GAZA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday accused Israel of impeding efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. In a press statement sent to Xinhua, Haniyeh said that his movement responded to efforts of mediation "all the time in a positive spirit and high responsibility" in order to "stop the aggression against our people, end the unjust siege, and allow the flow of aid and reconstruction." "We showed full flexibility in dealing with these issues, but it is clear so far that Israel continues to procrastinate in the negotiations," he added. "The Palestinian factions will not accept anything less than a complete cessation of aggression, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, the lifting of the siege, the return of the displaced, especially to the north of the Gaza Strip, an end to the starvation policy, and a commitment to reconstruction," said the Hamas leader, stressing that these are "humanitarian requirements and a matter of consensus in the United Nations, human rights institutions, and the decision of the International Court of Justice." Haniyeh also noted that his movement "will work by all means available to stop the bloodbath carried out by the enemy against our defenseless people." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. NATO supports efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Special Representative of Special Representative of NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina wrote on his X page, Trend reports. Colomina noted that it is very important that a high-level meeting was again organized between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the parties agreed on the need to continue negotiations on a long-term peace agreement. NATO strongly supports the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, he noted. The global supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were a wake-up call to Americas alarming overreliance on imports of a broad range of critical products and materials. In the harrowing months that brought shortages and price spikes of essential goods everything from personal protective equipment for first responders to computer chips for cars bipartisan consensus formed around taking decisive action to bring critical industries home and reenergize our industrial base. The most acute months of crisis are over. Theres some critical progress worth celebrating in our efforts to shore up our supply chains a reshoring of semiconductor manufacturing and surging investments in battery production are two notable examples. However, with too many essential products and materials, our efforts to ramp up domestic production have fallen short. In fact, for some essential supply chains, deeply concerning trends are moving from bad to worse. There is no more troubling example than the nations mineral supply chains the front end of our national, economic and food security. U.S. mineral import reliance has never been greater, and our dependence on geopolitical rivals notably China or unstable nations for our mineral imports is spiraling out of control. The problem isnt a lack of domestic resources the United States has vast mineral reserves but a somewhat incoherent and often counterproductive policy. Instead of leaning into our domestic mineral potential and fixing a duplicative mine-permitting system, which is handcuffing our ability to meet demand, we continue looking overseas for the minerals we could produce at home. Were even backsliding on important policies aimed at supporting domestic production. Consider an effort to open our fertilizer supply chains to increased competition from state-backed phosphate producers in Morocco and Russia. While not given the same kind of attention as rare earth or battery minerals, fertilizer supply chains are the very foundation of our food security. And our domestic fertilizer industrial base is under alarming pressure. The U.S. government put a countervailing duty to offset illegally subsidized phosphate products from Russia and Morocco, but theres mounting pressure to lower it. This misguided effort, sold as a vehicle to reduce costs for American farmers, could hand our fertilizer supply chains to Russian oligarchs and a state-backed phosphate producer in Morocco with labor and environmental standards that pale in comparison to ours. Allowing Russian and Moroccan entities to seize our fertilizer supply chains could make rebuilding them domestically difficult, if not impossible. This is the opposite approach of what we should be doing to fortify our supply chains. Weve seen these mistakes before. The United States was once the worlds largest rare-earth producer, but we allowed Chinese companies to swallow that industry. China now controls 70% of the worlds rare-earth production and has placed itself directly in the center of countless critical supply chains essential to our economic and national security. Were now scrambling to undo the damage caused by our policy failures. We cant make those mistakes again. We must move now to secure our economic and national security by building reliable and lasting domestic mineral supply chains under world-leading environmental and labor standards. We must focus on ramping up production at home instead of deepening our mineral import overreliance. Continuing to offshore our mineral supply chains is policy malpractice. This is a moment to reshore and reinvest in American workers and industry, not let critical parts of our industrial base slip through our fingers. Bishop Noll Institute educator Jose Arteaga was sworn in as the newest member of the East Chicago School Board at a special board meeting on Thursday. Arteaga was appointed to the school board by Lake County Circuit Judge Marissa McDermott last Friday after the board failed to pick a candidate. He succeeds Vanessa Hernandez-Orange, who stepped down last year to take an at-large seat on East Chicago Common Council. The former board member said a few remarks before Arteaga took the oath of office. Hernandez-Orange initially said she was going to comment on the appointment process and the apparent lack of commitment from two of the current board members, but that they were "not deserving of time." She was seemingly referencing board members Jesse Gomez and Pattie Jo Gibson-King, who walked out of a meeting on Jan. 8 after the board failed to elect a president, vice president and secretary. They were also not present during the first round of interviews days later. Hernandez-Orange then gave some advice to her successor, telling him not to be influenced by other board members, to do research, to ask questions and to serve with empathy and passion for children and staff members. Former common council member Debra Bolanos congratulated Arteaga but also seemed to criticize Hernandez-Orange for her remarks. "This is a joyous occasion," Bolanos said. "There's no need for negativeness, we have to stay on the path of positiveness." The current school board members also congratulated Arteaga and gave him some pieces of advice for his new role. "It's nice to have an educator on board," Gomez said. Board President Joel Rodriguez gifted Arteaga a copy of "Becoming a Better Board Member" from the National School Board Association. The next East Chicago School Board meeting is set for Feb. 20. GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week The Indiana Supreme Court has authorized the estate of a LaPorte man killed by a drunk driver to pursue a negligence claim against two restaurants that allegedly overserved the driver, even though state law generally limits the civil liability of alcohol retailers. In a first of its kind decision, the state's high court said common-law negligence claims are not automatically precluded by Indiana's Dram Shop Act, so long as the negligence allegation matches the requirements of the 1986 law, including actual knowledge of visible intoxication and specific proximate causation. The 5-0 ruling resolves more than three decades of conflicting decisions among various three-judge panels of the Indiana Court of Appeals on this issue. It also clears the way for the estate of Nathan Blount to proceed to trial against Wings, Etc. Grill & Pub and El Cantarito restaurant for their alleged roles in Blount's March 13, 2021, death. According to court records, an intoxicated Eric A. Adair, now 27, was driving about 70 mph on U.S. 35 at Nicomas Path, southeast of Michigan City, when he crossed the center line and struck Blount's vehicle head-on. Records show both drivers had to be extricated from their vehicles following the mid-afternoon crash. Blount, 32, a father of four children, was flown by helicopter to a South Bend hospital for treatment of lower body injuries and died early the next day. Adair subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, a level 4 felony. He's currently incarcerated at the Westville Correctional Facility after being sentenced to 6 years in prison. Records show Blount's estate filed wrongful death complaints against the two restaurants that allege the restaurants "knew or should have known" Adair was "visibly intoxicated at the time" they served him alcohol, in violation of the Dram Shop Act. The estate's second claim against the restaurants allege they were negligent by failing to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances when they furnished alcoholic beverages to Adair, allowed him to drive away from their premises when they knew or should have known that he was intoxicated, failed to notify law enforcement that Adair drove away intoxicated, and failed to obtain alternative transportation for him, according to court records. The restaurants sought to dismiss the negligence claim by arguing the Dram Shop Act is the only path to civil liability against a business that furnishes alcoholic beverages to someone who later causes injury. The high court ruling to the contrary will allow a trial to determine assuming the case isn't settled out-of-court whether Blount's estate is entitled to damages on its Dram Shop Act and negligence claims. Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks Brown County State Park Chain O' Lakes State Park Charlestown State Park Clifty Falls State Park Falls of the Ohio State Park Fort Harrison State Park Harmonie State Park Lincoln State Park McCormick's Creek State Park Mounds State Park O'Bannon Woods State Park Ouabache State Park Pokagon State Park Potato Creek State Park Prophetstown State Park Shades State Park Shakamak State Park Spring Mill State Park Summit Lake State Park Tippecanoe River State Park Turkey Run State Park Versailles State Park White River State Park Whitewater Memorial State Park As Jesus watched from a crucifix on the wall, two older women patiently waited for guests to arrive at the dining hall of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Its still early, one of the women told me as she took my money. Would you like to buy a 50/50 raffle ticket? the other one asked. A dollar for one, or six for five. Im a sucker for old women selling losing raffle tickets at old churches. I handed her five dollars and shrugged. She handed me the raffle tickets and sweetly smiled. All the money we make goes for a new roof, she said. I had no idea what she was talking about, though I noticed that the Lake Station church and school appeared much older than her. The churchs congregation hosted a fish fry fundraiser on Ash Wednesday, which just happened to be Valentines Day. Most parishioners who helped host the event had an ashen cross marked on their forehead, a public sign of repentance in biblical times. St. Francis dutiful parishioners may be sinners in the eyes of God, but they all looked like angels to me that day. Fried fish or baked fish? one older woman asked guests near the kitchen. Would you like hush puppies or green beans? one older man asked. A menu on the wall also offered French fries and cole slaw. Each dinner was $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 12, and a dazzling buffet of homemade desserts for only $1. I handed a woman a $10 bill and filled a carryout bag with 10 different treats. Everything was simply divine. I was in heaven. An Irish version of a Beach Boys song wafted from the speakers. Volunteers waited for the rush of dinner guests after mass ended that day. The smell of fish and warmth and hospitality gently swirled throughout the banquet hall next to the school. It was priceless. (Watch a video at NWI.com.) The scene looked straight out of central casting for a Hollywood movie titled, Fish Fries for Jesus. These weekly dinners, typically on Fridays through the Lent season, are as common as prayers in our Region. Participating churches and dining halls are filled with the aroma of fried foods and devout church responsibilities. If guests didnt bring smartphones, it felt as if it was 1954, not 2024. It could be a long wait, an old woman whispered to me at St. Michaels Byzantine Catholic Church in Merrillville. Our exchange took place on a Friday evening during the churchs weekly Lenten season fish fry dinner a couple of years ago. Its a tradition thats been taking place at this church for generations, similar to so many other churches and organizations in our region. The churchs basement cafeteria was crowded with guests, most who looked like theyve been attending this annual ritual since their youth. We may be out of perch, our server said with the solemnness of a priest giving last rites. If we are, theyll give you more shrimp. She arrived at our table with a pen, a notepad and a look of fatigue. Her name is Roni, a short woman who didnt waste words. I didnt care. I dont eat seafood. I also dont practice Catholicism, nor do I sacrifice anything for Lent. Do you still have pierogis? I asked eagerly. She nodded. I exhaled. My meal came with a free pop. This word is a very Region way to call soda pop or canned beverages, only adding to the authenticity of the dining experience here. If you leave a tip for your server, it goes to the church, an old woman told me. Thanks for joining us! As I left St. Michaels, I left the woman with a sinful pun, using my limited knowledge of the Catholic Church Perch be with you! The history of these kind of church-hosted, God-blessed fish fry fundraisers dates back to the 19th century in the Midwest, especially in Great Lakes communities where fish was always plentiful and inexpensive. Its more about a deep-fried sense of community than it is about religious dogma. At St. Francis, an old man ambled to his table with a fish dinner, removed his cap, gave the sign of the cross and waited for his grandchildren to join him before eating. It was a sweet gesture that likely has been playing out for decades in his family. I wondered if his grandchildren would someday continue the fish fry tradition. Would they still attend church? Would they volunteer their time for God? Would they put on an apron, work in an old kitchen and dip cold fish into hot oil, a different sort of baptism that has spanned centuries? I hope so. Well be here every Friday, a woman said as I left. Ill be back, I told her. GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week About a year ago, Erdem Moralioglus husband, the architect Philip Joseph, 45, told him to stop buying busts. The British Turkish fashion designer, 46, didnt listen and has continued to populate their London home with figures purchased from flea markets and small auction houses. These roommates, as Moralioglu calls them, are situated among the couples portrait paintings (The dourer and more melancholic, he says, the better) and contemporary photographs by Rineke Dijkstra, Nan Goldin and Candida Hofer. Many of the busts are by unknown artists and share a common aesthetic: attenuated features and graceful lines. Its no coincidence that Moralioglu a purveyor of romantic silhouettes made from sumptuous fabrics begins each design sketch with a face. The pieces that Im attracted to have a slight illustrative quality to them, he says. Theres a strange correlation between the way I draw and the way some of the busts look. The collection: Wood, plaster, terra-cotta, marble and bronze busts, between 10 and 18 inches tall, largely from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Number of pieces in the collection: About 25. First purchase: A bronze bust by the German artist Wilhelm Lehmbruck, active during the 1910s. A contemporary of the Modernist Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi, Lehmbruck was best known for making elongated figures whose downcast eyes and bowed heads embodied the despair of wartime. I bought it 12 or so years ago at a local auction in Newcastle, England, he says. Now I have four by him. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Senior Managing Director of the World Bank Axel van Trotsenburg in Munich, at the latters request, Trend reports. Axel van Trotsenburg offered his congratulations to Azerbaijan on hosting of COP29, emphasizing that it is a manifestation of the country's support for green transition and combating climate change. He noted that the World Bank is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in this regard. The head of state expressed his gratitude for the congratulations. During the conversation, they hailed the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Bank. It was emphasized that Azerbaijan's current external debt, standing at around 7 percent, is a highly positive indicator, and overall economic indicators exhibit a very positive trend. With COP29 focusing on climate finance, they noted that within the framework of this significant event, there are ample opportunities for cooperation between the World Bank and Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev provided information about the renewable energy projects underway in Azerbaijan, highlighting their primarily national and regional nature. In this regard, he touched upon the Caspian Sea underwater electric cable project and Azerbaijans increased renewable energy potential in the Caspian Sea, which now exceeds 157 gigawatts. The Azerbaijani leader noted that the country is poised to become a green energy exporter in the near future, describing all of these developments as positive steps. Nikki Haley on Saturday called Aleksei A. Navalny, the outspoken Russian opposition leader, a hero and amped up the pressure on former President Donald J. Trump to respond to the news of his death. She said Mr. Navalny had died at the hands of President Vladimir V. Putin and that Mr. Trump needed to answer to that. Speaking with reporters outside her rally at a park in Irmo, S.C., Ms. Haley praised Mr. Navalny for calling out Mr. Putin for corruption and fixing elections. She said he had fled his country only to return to fight the good fight. And then he was arrested, and now Putin has done to him what Putin does to all of his opponents he kills them, she said, before turning to Mr. Trump, her rival in the G.O.P. primary. And Trump needs to answer to that. Does he think Putin killed him? Does he think Putin was right to kill him? And does he think Navalny was a hero? Ms. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and a United Nations ambassador under Mr. Trump, has been running on her foreign policy experience and has long criticized her former boss over what she has described as his love of dictators and authoritarian leaders. She has only continued to ratchet up the criticism of him as they head into a primary showdown in her home state on Feb. 24. Former President Donald J. Trump vented about his latest legal defeat to freezing supporters at a Michigan rally on Saturday night, a day after a New York judge fined him nearly $355 million plus interest in his civil fraud case. The Republican front-runner for his partys presidential nomination, Mr. Trump denied that he had conspired to manipulate his net worth, which he was found liable of by Justice Arthur F. Engoron in a ruling that could wipe out Mr. Trumps entire cash stockpile. This judge is a lunatic, he said in his opening salvo at his rally, held inside an airport hangar in Oakland County about 30 miles from Detroit. Mr. Trump used a similar line of attack against Letitia James, New Yorks attorney general, who had accused him of exaggerating his wealth in the lengthy case. Barred by the judge for three years from serving in top roles at any New York company, including portions of his own Trump Organization, Mr. Trump cast aspersions on the justice system and said he had been persecuted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel insisted on Saturday that Israel would not bow to international pressure to call off its plan for a ground invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza that is now packed with more than a million Palestinians. Many of the people now in Rafah are displaced and living in schools, tents or the homes of friends and relatives, part of a desperate search for any safe refuge from Israels military campaign, which has dragged on for more than four months. Their lives are a daily struggle to find enough food and water to survive. Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are basically telling us: Lose the war, Mr. Netanyahu said at a news conference in Jerusalem on Saturday evening. Its true that theres a lot of opposition abroad, but this is exactly the moment that we need to say that we wont be doing a half or a third of the job. About the same time as Mr. Netanyahu addressed the news conference, thousands of anti-government protesters filled a central thoroughfare in Tel Aviv the largest protest against the prime minister in months. They filled the same street where mass protests against Mr. Netanyahus efforts to weaken the countrys judiciary riled the nation before the start of the Israel-Hamas war. It was just 10 days after the Oct. 7 attack in Israel when the artist Zoya Cherkassky posted a drawing on her Instagram account. The drawing, 7 Oct. 2023, depicts three generations of a family seemingly in hiding, the mother covering her babys mouth to keep it quiet; all stare desperately at the viewer, their horror unmasked. Above them a solitary lightbulb emits jagged illumination a direct quotation from Picassos Guernica, the totemic Modernist depiction of wars horrors. Shocked and terrified, like other Israelis, by Hamass early-morning attack, in which Israeli officials say militants killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped approximately 240, Cherkassky left Israel and flew to Munich with her daughter, Vera, 8, the next day. (Cherkasskys husband stayed behind.) From Munich they traveled to Berlin, where she once lived and has family. Then Cherkassky, who tends not to leave her home near Tel Aviv without colored pencils, began to draw. Volkswagen Group is reviewing the future of its joint venture in the Xinjiang region of northwestern China and another German industrial giant is starting to sell its stakes there following new international scrutiny of forced labor using predominantly Muslim ethnic groups. Volkswagen said last week that it was in discussions with one of its main joint venture partners in China, the state-owned Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, in the wake of allegations of human rights violations at their joint venture in Xinjiang. The companies are examining the future direction of the J.V.s business activities in Xinjiang, VW said, adding that various scenarios are currently being examined intensively. BASF of Germany, the worlds largest chemical company, disclosed on Feb. 9 that it began moving late last year to divest its stakes in two manufacturing joint ventures in Xinjiang. On Fridays at 10 a.m., Richard Bement and Zach Ahmed sign on to their weekly video chat. The program that brought them together provides online discussion prompts and suggests arts-related activities, but the two largely ignore all that. We just started talking about things that were important to us, said Mr. Ahmed, 19, a pre-med student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Since the pair met more than a year ago, conversation topics have included: Pink Floyd, in a long exploration led by Mr. Bement, 76, a retired sales manager in Milford Township, Ohio; their religious faiths (the senior conversation partner is Episcopalian; the younger is Muslim); their families; changing gender norms; and poetry, including Mr. Ahmeds own efforts. Theres this fallacy that these two generations cant communicate, said Mr. Bement. I dont find that to be true. Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolans blockbuster movie about the development of the atomic bomb, swept the board at the EE British Academy Film Awards in London on Sunday. The movie won seven awards at Britains equivalent of the Oscars, including best film, best director for Nolan and best leading actor for Cillian Murphy for his portrayal of the physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. It beat four other nominees to the best film prize, including Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimoss take on a Frankenstein story and The Holdovers, Alexander Paynes comedy about a boarding school teacher stuck looking after a student over the holidays. It also beat Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorseses three-and-a-half-hour epic about the Osage murders of the 1920s, and Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triets multilingual courtroom drama about a woman accused of murdering her husband. In the days leading up to the awards, commonly known as the BAFTAs, most British movie critics predicted that Oppenheimer would win big. Tom Shone, writing in The Times of London, said that Nolans magnum opus was an instant classic. Sometimes the front-runner is the front-runner for a reason, he added. Write down a phrase you find abhorrent something you yourself would never say. My students looked startled, but they cooperated. They knew I wouldnt collect this exercise; what they wrote would be private unless they chose to share it. All that was required of them was participation. In silence they jotted down a few words. So far, so good. We hadnt yet reached the hard request: Spend 10 minutes writing a monologue in the first person thats spoken by a fictitious character who makes the upsetting statement. This portion typically elicits nervous glances. When that happens, I remind students that their statement doesnt represent them and that speaking as if theyre someone else is a basic skill of fiction writers. The troubling statement, I explain, must appear in the monologue, and it shouldnt be minimized, nor should students feel the need to forgive or account for it. Whats required is simply that somewhere in the monologue there be an instant even a fleeting phrase in which we can feel empathy for the speaker. Perhaps shes sick with worry over an ill grandchild. Perhaps hes haunted by a love he let slip away. Perhaps shes sleepless over how to keep her business afloat and her employees paid. Done right, the exercise delivers a one-two punch: repugnance for a behavior or worldview coupled with recognition of shared humanity. For more than two decades, Ive taught versions of this fiction-writing exercise. Ive used it in universities, middle schools and private workshops, with 7-year-olds and 70-year-olds. But in recent years openness to this exercise and to the imaginative leap its designed to teach has shrunk to a pinprick. As our countrys public conversation has gotten angrier, Ive noticed that students approach to the exercise has become more brittle, regardless of whether students lean right or left. Each semester, I wonder whether the aperture through which we allow empathy has so drastically narrowed as to foreclose a full view of our fellow human beings. Maybe there are times so contentious or so painful that people simply withdraw to their own silos. Ive certainly felt that inward pull myself. There are times when a leap into someone elses perspective feels impossible. ARTS & LEISURE An article last Sunday about photographs taken by Paul McCartney misidentified the member of the British royal family who met with the Beatles in 1963. The Beatles met the Queen Mother (and Princess Margaret) that year; they met Queen Elizabeth II in 1965. METROPOLITAN An article on Feb. 11 about comedians who are addressing the topic of global warming with humor misstated the role that Yellow Dot Studios plays in the development of the comedic material on its website. Although it produces a majority of the content, some of the videos are produced by outside artists and groups. An article on Feb. 11 about migrants from Latin America who are crossing into the United States along the northern border misstated the political party of David Favro, the Clinton County sheriff. He is a Democrat, not a Republican. VOWS A picture caption with an article last Sunday about the wedding of Yuna Yang and Christopher Seck described incorrectly a tea ceremony that figured in the wedding celebration. The ceremony was Korean, not Chinese. A Ukrainian man pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to his leadership role in two cyberattack schemes that caused tens of millions of dollars in losses and temporarily crippled a Vermont hospital in 2020, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors said that Vyacheslav Igorevich Penchukov, 37, was a leader for an organization that in May 2009 began to infect thousands of computers at corporations with malicious software, and that he helped lead a separate malware scheme that began around November 2018. Mr. Penchukov, of Donetsk, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Nebraska to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense that violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was arrested in Switzerland in 2022 and was extradited to the United States in 2023. A lawyer for Mr. Penchukov could not be found because the court file was sealed. The Justice Department said that Mr. Penchukov helped lead a wide-ranging racketeering enterprise and conspiracy that installed malicious software known as Zeus onto thousands of business computers, starting in 2009. The malware allowed the enterprise to collect information used to log into online banking accounts, including passwords and personal identification numbers. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The military oath-taking ceremony for young soldiers was held in the Combined Arms Army, Trend reports with the reference to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. At the ceremony, the blessed memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, and Shehids was honored. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed. The young soldiers joining the Army solemnly took the military oath and promised to be loyal to the Motherland. The speakers at the event congratulated the youth on taking the military oath, wished them to be brave, disciplined and honorably fulfill their military duty to the Motherland. Deputy Commander of the Combined Arms Army, Major General Mahammad Hasanov stated in his speech that classes and lessons will be conducted with young soldiers, who took the military oath, in accordance with their specialization, as well as that intelligent and professional commanders will apply all their knowledge and experience to train soldiers into highly capable defenders of the Motherland. The military oath-taking ceremony ended with a solemn passage of personnel in front of the podium to the accompaniment of a military march. A man barricaded in his home outside of Minneapolis with seven children and other family members opened fire early on Sunday during attempted negotiations with law enforcement officials, killing two police officers and a paramedic, the authorities said. The shooting took place just before 2 a.m. in the city of Burnsville, about 16 miles south of Minneapolis. The police received a call from a resident inside a home about an armed man barricaded with family members, including the children, ages 2 to 15, Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He spoke at an emotional news conference on Sunday evening during which community leaders held back tears as they described the day as being among the most difficult Burnsville, a city of about 64,000 people, had ever experienced. President Biden has not had a lot of fun perusing polls lately. He has a lower approval rating than every president going back to Dwight D. Eisenhower at this stage of their tenures, and he trails former President Donald J. Trump in a fall rematch. But Mr. Biden can take solace from one survey in which he is way out in front of Mr. Trump. A new poll of historians coming out on Presidents Day weekend ranks Mr. Biden as the 14th-best president in American history, just ahead of Woodrow Wilson, Ronald Reagan and Ulysses S. Grant. While that may not get Mr. Biden a spot on Mount Rushmore, it certainly puts him well ahead of Mr. Trump, who places dead last as the worst president ever. Indeed, Mr. Biden may owe his place in the top third in part to Mr. Trump. Although he has claims to a historical legacy by managing the end of the Covid pandemic; rebuilding the nations roads, bridges and other infrastructure; and leading an international coalition against Russian aggression, Mr. Bidens signature accomplishment, according to the historians, was evicting Mr. Trump from the Oval Office. Bidens most important achievements may be that he rescued the presidency from Trump, resumed a more traditional style of presidential leadership and is gearing up to keep the office out of his predecessors hands this fall, wrote Justin Vaughn and Brandon Rottinghaus, the college professors who conducted the survey and announced the results in The Los Angeles Times. When Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Germany for the Munich Security Conference last year, she made an unequivocal promise. The United States, she said, will continue to support Ukraine, and we will do so for as long as it takes. When Ms. Harris returned to the same forum and took the same stage this past week, her message sounded similar but there was one important difference. You have made clear that Europe will stand with Ukraine, she told the gathered leaders, and I will make clear President Joe Biden and I will stand with Ukraine. Not the United States this time, but she and Mr. Biden. It was a personal pledge that she could make on behalf of herself and her president, but she could not be so definitive about her country. For those watching for clues, it was a seemingly subtle shift in wording that spoke volumes. Neither Mr. Biden nor Ms. Harris can promise with any degree of certainty anymore that America really is in the fight with Ukraine for the long haul. House Republicans are blocking $60 billion in security aid even as Ukrainian troops short of ammunition and weaponry just have had to withdraw from the city of Avdiivka. And an election less than nine months away could return to office former President Donald J. Trump, no friend of Ukraine or NATO but an open admirer of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Representative Michael R. Turner defended his decision to hint publicly about classified intelligence that Russia is moving to deploy a new space-based nuclear weapon. They needed to know this information, Mr. Turner, an Ohio Republican and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said in an interview on NBCs Meet the Press that aired Sunday. He added: I was concerned that it appeared that the administration was sleepwalking into an international crisis. But it looks like now theyre going to be able to take action. Mr. Turner, who has been aligned with President Biden in approving aid for Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression, faced anger from the White House after his committee issued a cryptic statement on Wednesday calling for the release of classified material without mentioning what it was. Current and former U.S. officials later said the intelligence related to a space-based nuclear weapon designed to take down U.S. satellite networks crucial for defense and civil infrastructure. Some of Mr. Turners Republican colleagues, including Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee, doubted his motives and said that the Intelligence Committees statement was written to ensure additional funding to Ukraine. In 2021, as the first Halloween decorations were coming out in Omaha, Neb., a mechanic named Dan Osborn led 500 of his fellow union members out of the Kelloggs cereal plant on F Street and onto the picket lines. The strike, which involved over 1,400 workers across multiple plants, would last for a difficult 77 days, through brutal storms and imported strikebreakers and the threat of summary dismissals, which drew the attention of President Biden. A first contract was soundly rejected by the union, then a second finally ended the walkout, just before Christmas. Now Mr. Osborn, 48, is trying to do something considerably harder: win a United States Senate seat as an independent in the deep-red state of Nebraska. Mr. Osborns long-shot bid to defeat Deb Fischer, Nebraskas Republican senior senator, in November, or even come close, will test whether the rising power of an energized union movement can translate to high elective office during an election year when working class voters will likely decide the next president, and the direction of the country. A senior Pakistani official confessed on Saturday to helping manipulate results in the countrys elections a startling claim strengthening a sense that the vote was among the least credible in Pakistans history, and deepening the turmoil that has seized the country ever since people went to the polls this month. The official, Liaquat Ali Chatha, is a top administrative official in Punjab Province overseeing Rawalpindi, a garrison city where the military has its headquarters, and three adjacent districts. He said he would resign from his position and turn himself in to the police. We converted losers into winners, reversing margins of 70,000 votes of independent candidates for 13 national Parliament seats, he said at a news conference on Saturday, referring to moving votes from independent candidates aligned with Imran Khan, the former prime minister whose party the military had sought to sideline ahead of the vote. He suggested other high-ranking officials had been a part of the scheme, and said he was unable to sleep at night after stabbing the country in its back. Mr. Chathas admission came just over a week since Pakistanis went to the polls for the first time since Mr. Khan fell out with the military and was ousted by Parliament in 2022. Most had expected an easy victory for the party backed by the countrys powerful military, but instead, candidates aligned with Mr. Khan won more seats than any other party, though they fell short of a simple majority. Thailands ousted former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, a leader once seen as a threat to the countrys wealthy elite, was released on parole on Sunday, after spending only a fraction of his original eight-year prison term in detention in a hospital. Mr. Thaksin, who was removed in a coup and spent years in exile, made a stunning return to Thailand last year. He had been convicted in absentia on charges of corruption and abuse of power, and promptly sentenced when he was back in the country. But days later, the king commuted Mr. Thaksins sentence to one year, fueling speculation that he had struck a deal with powerful royalists. Last week, the authorities said he would be paroled soon. A billionaire businessman, Mr. Thaksin remains one of Thailands most influential politicians. Analysts say he is unlikely to formally re-enter politics but could still play a significant role behind the scenes in the governing political party, Pheu Thai, the third incarnation of one of Mr. Thaksins political parties. On Sunday morning, television footage showed Mr. Thaksin, in a neck brace, leaving the Police General Hospital in a car, along with his two daughters. A banner with the words Welcome home and Weve been waiting for this day for so, so long was seen hanging at the front gate of his house in western Bangkok. As the leaders of the West gathered in Munich over the past three days, President Vladimir V. Putin had a message for them: Nothing theyve done so far sanctions, condemnation, attempted containment would alter his intentions to disrupt the current world order. Russia made its first major gain in Ukraine in nearly a year, taking the ruined city of Avdiivka, at huge human cost to both sides, the bodies littered along the roads a warning, perhaps, of a new course in the two-year-old war. Aleksei A. Navalnys suspicious death in a remote Arctic prison made ever clearer that Mr. Putin will tolerate no dissent as elections approach. And the American discovery, disclosed in recent days, that Mr. Putin may be planning to place a nuclear weapon in space a bomb designed to wipe out the connective tissue of global communications if Mr. Putin is pushed too far was a potent reminder of his capacity to strike back at his adversaries with the asymmetric weapons that remain a key source of his power. In Munich, the mood was both anxious and unmoored, as leaders faced confrontations they had not anticipated. Warnings about Mr. Putins possible next moves were mixed with Europes growing worries that it could soon be abandoned by the United States, the one power that has been at the core of its defense strategy for 75 years. Hungary, the last holdout blocking Swedens entry into NATO, thumbed its nose over the weekend at the United States, declining to meet with a bipartisan delegation of senators who had come to press the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban to swiftly approve the Nordic nations entry into the military alliance. The snub, which Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, described on Sunday as strange and concerning, represented the latest effort by Mr. Orban, a stalwart champion of national sovereignty, to show he will not submit to outside pressure over NATOs long-stalled expansion. Despite having only 10 million people and accounting for only 1 percent of the European Unions economic output, Hungary under Mr. Orban has made defiance of more powerful countries its guiding philosophy. Hungary before all else, Mr. Orban said on Saturday at the end of a state of the nation address in which he said Europes policy of supporting Ukraine had failed spectacularly. Legislators from Mr. Orbans governing Fidesz party and government ministers all declined to meet with the visiting American senators, all of whom are robust supporters of Ukraine. In Munich, world leaders were left hushed and hollow-eyed, their annual security conference suddenly transformed into a wake. In London, demonstrators projected a giant image of Aleksei A. Navalny on to the facade of the Russian embassy. In Washington, an angry President Biden called a news conference to declare, Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalnys death. Rarely has the death of a single man summoned such a cascade of grief, anger and demands for justice. While many feared the worst for Mr. Navalny when he returned to Russia in early 2021 from Germany, where he had recovered from being poisoned, the news that he was gone still landed with a thunderclap. Governments, however cruel and repressive, often spare dissident figures, if only to avoid creating martyrs. In life, Mr. Navalny was often compared to Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who languished in prison for 27 years before emerging to lead a democratic South Africa. In death, Mr. Navalny now draws comparisons to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader who fought for racial justice and whose assassination in 1968 was a catalytic event in America. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov has arrived on a visit to the USA, The Ministry of Energy told Trend. According to the information, during the visit it is planned to hold discussions and a number of meetings on the prospects for the development of bilateral energy cooperation, projects implemented by Azerbaijan in the direction of ensuring international energy security and other topics. Earlier, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mark Libby said that Azerbaijan offers an energy source that signifies diversification and security. "Europe and other allies want to minimize their dependency on Russian gas, and Azerbaijan supplies a source that represents diversification and security via that diversification. There is a lot of work to be done to extend the current infrastructure, notably in terms of Azerbaijan's role in facilitating the transit of energy resources from central Asia. Green and renewable energy sources, such as wind and hydrogen power, show potential, demanding investment, legal changes, and strategic planningall areas where the US government and commercial sector may engage with Azerbaijan," the ambassador said. Even from a few miles away, the death rattle of another Ukrainian city echoed through the mist and fog. Russian warplanes were dropping more thousand-pound bombs on Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, reducing an already battered city to rubble and ashes. Since Jan. 1, President Vladimir V. Putins forces have dropped around one million pounds of aerial bombs on an area encompassing just 12 square miles, according to estimates by Ukrainian officials and British intelligence. Avdiivka fell to the Russians on Saturday, after some of the most horrific and destructive fighting of the two-year-old war. In the end, Russias superior firepower and manpower overwhelmed Ukrainian forces over many months, even as Russia incurred a staggering number of casualties. The Ukrainians withdrew under withering bombardment, fighting intense battles across ruined streets to break out of Russian attempts to encircle them. Russian warplanes bombed the hulking coke-processing plant on Avdiivkas northern outskirts, using incendiary munitions to blow up fuel tanks at the plant, unleashing a toxic smog, according to Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the plant. With the Russian militarys capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka on Saturday, the front line has shifted substantially, setting the stage for the wars next grueling chapter as Ukrainian forces retrench and Russian troops reform for future assaults. Ukraines defeat in the embattled city, under attack since 2014, when Russian-backed separatists fought government forces for control of the countrys east, comes at an especially perilous time. As Russias full-scale invasion enters its third year, Ukrainian forces are low on ammunition and facing an increasing shortage of troops. In the retreat from Avdiivka, these problems are exacerbated by the flat and unforgiving terrain outside the city. Without dominant hills, larger rivers or extensive fortifications of the kind it built around Avdiivka over the better part of a decade, Ukraine will probably have to cede more ground to hold back Russian units. They dont have a well-established secondary line to pull back to, said Michael Kofman, a Russia expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said in a telephone interview. Much depends on whether Russian forces can keep pushing or if they run out of momentum. Brazils president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, drew the ire of Israeli authorities on Sunday after he compared Israels actions in the war against Hamas to the Holocaust, in which Nazis killed six million Jews in a systematic roundup in Europe during World War II. What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments, Mr. Lula told reporters during the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. But, he then added, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews. In the summits opening speech on Saturday, he said it was necessary to condemn both the Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians and Israels disproportionate response. The Gazan Health Ministry says that more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels invasion of Gaza following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 strike on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials. Mr. Lulas statement outraged Israeli officials. The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, said in a statement on social media in Hebrew that the remarks were shameful and egregious. He said that Brazils ambassador will be called in to his office on Monday for a reprimand, adding that no one will harm Israels right to defend itself. The United States struck five Houthi military targets, including an undersea drone, in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Saturday, the U.S. military announced on Sunday. The use of the underwater drone is believed to have been the first time that Iran-backed Houthis had employed such a weapon since they began their campaign against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on Oct. 23, the militarys Central Command said in a statement. American military officials provided few details of what they called an unmanned underwater vessel, but the Houthis have received much of their drone and missile technology from Iran. In addition to the underwater drone, the Houthis were also using a remotely piloted boat, the statement said. The United States struck both the surface drone and the submarine drone and launched other strikes against anti-ship missiles, the military said in its statement, but provided no precise details on the location. A MAJOR facility which will demonstrate modern building methods is being planned for Mount Lucas. The National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) will be built by Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) at the National Construction Training Centre. It's the first of its kind ever in Ireland, said centre manager John Kelly. There are different types around the world but this will be the first one in Ireland and it will be great to have it in our locality because it will provide jobs and more importantly it will provide a sounding board for the industry and the idea is we will provide pads and industry will come in and build the houses for us. It's a partnership approach which will make it successful. The demonstration park will comprise a number of different types of houses and dwellings, from standard two-storey houses to a three-storey apartment block with a retail unit on the ground floor. The buildings will showcase a range of modern construction methods and the project is being developed in conjunction with Technological University Dublin and the University of Galway. Mr Kelly said the demonstration park will be a fully immersive environment for students and trainees. The buildings will be of light gauge steel, timber frame and possibly ICF (Insulated Concrete Formwork) with the focus on modern methods. The colleges the LOETB is twinning with will focus on research and development while the practical applications will be on display in Mount Lucas. The demonstration park will be a dramatic improvement on construction shows and expos where cut-outs are often used. Here you'll be able to go in the front door and through the whole house and interact with it fully, said Mr Kelly. In addition to the demonstration buildings, the project will involve a nearly zero energy building (NZEB) and retrofitting training unit, similar to the facilities already in place in Mount Lucas. A third important element will be student accommodation and it is anticipated that learners will be travelling from all over the country to the site. Along with the third level institutions, the LOETB will deliver the project in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Further and Higher Education, and Solas, the funding body. A document prepared by an architect for a planning application indicated that a water feature could run through part of the complex of buildings, mimicking the form of a canal, a relatable landmark across the Midlands. A pre-planning meeting was held remotely with Offaly County Council last year. The existing facilities at Mount Lucas include NZEB and retrofitting training units, scaffolding training, utilities training, tower crane training and driving training using simulators. There is currently a focus on fitting external insulation in the home retrofitting facility but there is also an example of a heat pump which gives an on-the-spot illustration of the technology. Training at the centre is fully funded, resulting in no cost to employees' companies and the LOETB continually works with industry to develop courses which suit particular needs. Along with identification of a gap in retrofitting skills, it was recognised that a deficit existed in skills required for utilities development, especially public water infrastructure. The LOETB worked with the civil engineers' association, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and Uisce Eireann (Irish Water) to develop a utilities traineeship. The course covers everything from small domestic piping that goes into a house up to large scale pipes and waste water treatment, with trainees attaining an accredited award which never existed in Ireland before. Both employed people and school leavers can take the course. We can train you from very green, all the way up, commented Mr Kelly. We try to replicate what you see in the real world out there. The feedback has been extremely positive from the civil engineers body, CIF and Uisce Eireann. The 33-acre construction training campus site was originally owned by Bord na Mona and adjoins the energy company's Mount Lucas wind farm. The land is now fully controlled by the LOETB and there are plans to enlarge the site. There are a number of vehicles used for training, as well as the crane, which is operated by Aidan Smyth, and the LOETB also has an articulated truck which functions as a mobile training unit and travels the country, bringing courses to students. The on-site simulators (similar to a flight training simulator used for airline pilots) include a digger, an articulated dump truck and a crane. Gardai at Mullingar have renewed an appeal in relation to a crash in the Midlands after a young girl injured in the incident died in hospital. They say they continue to investigate the serious single-vehicle road traffic collision that occurred shortly before 4pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024, on the M6 eastbound between Junction 4 (Tyrellspass) and Junction 3 (Rochfortbridge) in Co Westmeath. A six-year-old girl, who was a passenger in the car and suffered serious injuries, was pronounced deceased at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street on Saturday, February 17, 2024, gardai confirmed. The Coroner has been notified, and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem examination. Two other occupants in the car at the time, a man in his 40s and a boy aged 9 years, escaped serious injuries. Gardai in Mullingar are renewing their appeal for witnesses. Those with camera footage (including dash-cam) from the M6 between Junction 3 and Junction 4 at the time of the collision are urged to provide this footage to investigating Gardai. Anyone with information is requested to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. The blight of dereliction is very evident in towns and villages across Offaly Dereliction is now a major issue in virtually every town and modestly sized village in rural Ireland. Certainly the current Government has taken steps to tackle dereliction and to revitalise town centres. For instance, this month alone details of a new programme, THRIVE the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme which provides funding for the renovation of heritage buildings, has been announced. And just last Wednesday, February 7, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced a 4.5 million package to support rural towns and villages. As part of a suite of measures, a new Town Team Support Fund will be established to build and develop a network of Town Teams nationwide. Under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, up to 50,000 will be invested in supporting the development of projects designed to breathe new life into rural communities. And additional funding will be provided for projects submitted by counties in the North West recognising the specific challenges facing the region. Furthermore, towns will also be provided with up to 30,000 in funding to develop their own Town Centre First (TCF) Plans. These have already proven to be crucial in terms of helping other towns and villages to generate investment and tackle issues such as vacancy and dereliction. As welcome as these schemes are they are not tackling one major issue the absence of real, accountable local government structures. Historically Ireland has always been one of the most centralised states in Europe. This situation accelerated dramatically since 2011 when the then administration was forced to take drastic measures to bring the public finances back under control. Under local government reform measures all the country's town councils, including three such bodies in Offaly, were abolished while court service changes resulted in the closure of many district courts, including those at Birr and Edenderry. Agency rationalisation and alignment programmes mean that the number of local and regional bodies has been cut in half a recent study identifies 130 local and regional public bodies currently in operation in Ireland, down from 360 in 2007. The number of local authorities have been reduced from 114 to 31 - mainly due to the abolition of town councils. Eight regional authorities and two regional assemblies have been replaced by three new regional assemblies. Many of these changes are welcome and have resulted in greater efficiencies particularly in the areas of tourism and enterprise promotion at county level. However, other so-called reforms, in particular the abolition of town councils, have resulted in a dilution of local democracy while saving the taxpayer very little money, In Offaly, town councils were abolished in Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry and similar developments took place in counties across the country. Virtually everyone can agree that the citizens of Offaly were served well by these councils and their elected members over the course of their century long existence. Town councils and their members were very much in touch with the needs of their towns' citizens, much more so than county councils could ever be. One could but not ask if it is unstated Government policy to concentrate services in larger urban areas and county towns to the detriment of other urban areas. If so, the decline of once thriving towns and villages throughout the country will continue, changing the urban landscape of Ireland dramatically. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have agreed on another 1.11 kilometers of the common section of the state border, Trend reports, referring to the press service of the Kyrgyz government. The parties reportedly conducted joint field surveys and reached an agreement on 1.11 kilometers of the borderline. Government delegations from both countries convened in Buston, Sughd Region, Tajikistan, from February 11 to 18, 2024, culminating in the signing of a relevant protocol. Moscow: Alexei Navalny's supporters on Saturday accused Russian authorities of being "killers" who were "covering their tracks" by refusing to hand over his body, as the Kremlin stayed silent despite Western accusations and a flood of tributes to the late opposition leader. The 47-year-old Kremlin critic died in an Arctic prison on Friday after spending more than three years behind bars, prompting outrage and condemnation from Western leaders and his supporters. In this file photo from February 29, 2020, Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally to mark the 5th anniversary of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov's murder and to protest against proposed amendments to the country's constitution, in Moscow. Photo: Reuters/Shamil Zhumatov His death, which the West has blamed on the Kremlin, deprives Russia's opposition of its figurehead just a month before elections poised to extend President Vladimir Putin's grip on power. On Saturday, Navalny's mother, Lyudmila, and his lawyer were refused access to his body after arriving at the remote Siberian prison colony where he had been held, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said. "It's obvious that the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei's body, hiding it even from his mother," Navalny's team said in a post on Telegram. "They don't want whatever method they used to kill Alexei to come out," Yarmysh said in an online broadcast, in his backers' strongest accusation yet of foul play. An attendee holds a placard during a tribute rally to Alexei Navalny at Place du Trocadero in Paris . Photo: AFP Across the country, Russian police on Saturday moved swiftly to break up small protests in honour of the Kremlin critic, arresting more than 400 people in 36 cities, the OVD-Info rights group said. "Alexei Navalny's death is the worst thing that could happen to Russia," said one note left among the flowers at a makeshift memorial in Moscow. Silence from Kremlin After initially pushing back at accusations they were to blame, there was no comment from the Kremlin on his death on Saturday, despite an angry chorus of condemnation from Western leaders. G7 foreign ministers meeting in Munich held a minute's silence for the leader on Saturday, while US President Joe Biden explicitly blamed Putin. Putin, 71, has not commented. In the past, on the rare occasions when he has been asked about his most vocal critic, the Russian leader famously avoided saying Navalny's name. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference hours after news of her husband's death, Yulia Navalnaya said Putin and his entourage would be "punished for everything they have done to our country, to my family and to my husband". She called on the international community to "unite and defeat this evil, terrifying regime". Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov said Navalny's death was "murder" and that he was "tortured and tormented" for three years in prison. Tributes continued to pour in on Saturday, as supporters staged anti-Putin protests and pop-up tributes to Navalny around the world. In a video posted by the independent Sota outlet from Moscow, a woman could be heard screaming as a crowd of police officers detained her, to chants of "shame" from onlookers. On a bridge next to the Kremlin, hooded men were seen scooping up flowers into bin bags that had been laid at an unofficial memorial to Navalny ally and slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. Russian courts on Saturday started issuing short-term jail sentences of up to 15 days for those detained at the commemorations, rights groups reported. Navalny died on Friday when he lost consciousness after having "felt bad after a walk", Russia's federal penitentiary service said. One of his lawyers, Leonid Solovyov, told the Novaya Gazeta newspaper that Navalny was "normal" when another lawyer saw him on Wednesday. In footage of a court hearing from his prison colony on Thursday, the day before his death, Navalny was seen smiling and joking as he addressed the judge by video link. Navalny's mother and lawyer were told on Saturday he died of "sudden death syndrome" -- a vague term with no specific medical meaning. "There's no such thing ... that can't be the cause of death," his spokeswoman Yarmysh said. Anti-corruption campaigns Navalny, who led street protests for more than a decade, became a household name through his anti-corruption campaigning and electric charisma. His exposes of official corruption, posted on his YouTube channel, racked up millions of views and brought tens of thousands of Russians onto the streets, despite harsh anti-protest laws. He was jailed in early 2021 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he was recovering from a near-fatal poisoning attack with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent. A subsequent investigation by his team and several media outlets said a Russian FSB hit squad was behind the attack. Upon his return he was hit with a barrage of charges, including a 19-year prison sentence for "extremism", widely condemned by rights groups and seen in the West as retribution for his opposition to the Kremlin. His decision to go back despite knowing he would face jail brought him global admiration. "I'm not afraid and I call on you not to be afraid," he said in an appeal to supporters as he landed in Moscow, moments before being detained. His arrest spurred some of the largest demonstrations Russia had seen in decades, and thousands were detained at rallies nationwide calling for his release. 300 days in solitary confinement From behind bars, Navalny became a staunch opponent of Moscow's full-scale military offensive against Ukraine. He was forced to watch on, helplessly, as the Kremlin dismantled his organisation and locked up his allies. Dozens of his top supporters fled into exile and continued to campaign against the offensive on Ukraine and repression inside Russia. Late last year, Navalny was moved to a remote Arctic prison colony nicknamed "Polar Wolf" in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets region in northern Siberia. He said in January that his daily routine included prison walks in freezing temperatures. Since being jailed, he spent more than 300 days in solitary confinement, where prison authorities kept him over alleged minor protocol infringements. In a documentary filmed before he returned to Russia, Navalny was asked what message he wanted to leave to the Russian people should he die or be killed. "Don't give up. You mustn't, you can't give up," he said. "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. Therefore, don't do nothing." I am today publicizing what I think ranks among the stupidest remarks I've ever heard in my life, even though I grew up with an intellectually challenged younger brother who said a lot of stupid things, many of them aimed at me and some of them racist. The remark that so amazed me was, "The Jews and the Nazis deserved each other [during WWII]. It was said as the crowning statement of a series of bigoted remarks, in an omniscient tone of voice, almost singsongy, that he uses whenever discussing Jews, always derogatorily. He justifies such remarks by claiming to have run them by Jews, in isolated instances, who agree with him. Now from what I know, this person did not live among Jews for any extended length of time to have drawn such conclusions-- not that that would justify such bigotry, but perhaps ground it more justifiably. At one point he listed several books to justify his offensive remarks. Books. Should I have investigated eacht one? Was I lazy? I didn't have the stomach for it. There's no arguing with this brand of offense. A friend told me that this sort of "well-read" person is common. These days I wouldn't refute that. I have, by the way, already related to readers my own background-- Child of the Holocaust on both sides of the family, with at least five close relatives having been murdered at Auschwitz (I was named for one of them). My grandfather was taken to Dachau, a work camp, where he survived for three months before a very wealthy British relative bribed the Nazis to release him. He never discussed his heinous experience but chain-smoked himself to death for 15 years. As a child I'd stare at the tattooed numbers on his wrist as we played Scrabble together but even at 8 knew not to question him about it. So I've been accused of being overly sensitive about this issue of anti-Semitism. Or should I say anti-Jewishness since anti-Semitism encompasses all Semites-- that is our Arab brethren, and it is discussions of the Gaza atrocities that provoke the abhorrent comments cited above. I grew up in a minor key, surrounded by first-generation victims of anti-Jewishness. We celebrated Jewish holidays but my takeaway was the tragedy of being Jewish. My other grandfather told me about bullying he received from anti-Jewish Lithuanians as a child. So my early adulthood was spent exploring other religions after I had the lightening realization, or so I thought, that I didn't have to be Jewish. Well, I realized eventually, you can shed the religion but not the tragic culture. (Quakerism made the most sense to me.) There's more about my alienation, but this entry is about the stupidity of people who don't understand that EXTREMISM and testosterone-induced resorting to VIOLENCE as a political solution are at fault, certainly not Judaism or Jews. At age 24, I impressed a Protestant minister when in the course of a soul-searching conversation I told him that to be Jewish means to have suffered. Chosen people? For what? There are positive answers and I hope that somehow I have exemplified and actuated one of them, to be a light among people and to do good. I asked another Protestant minister how I can justify an existence I owe to the atrocities perpetrated by Hitler. He told me that this lent great significance in my life. I've had a multitude of experiences among clergy and people of other religions and married [subsequently divorced] a man with a Protestant upbringing. I used to ask Christian friends if they'd shelter me in the event of another Holocaust. What could they answer but yes? Well I didn't mean to plunge into too much introspection and too many confessions, but there it is. To be Jewish, for me, means to have suffered, among other things but chiefly. And so anti-Jewishness rankles profoundly. I hope that my claim that it is entirely groundless is convincing. The present horrors occurring in Gaza and Israel are largely the fault of a would-be Moses, Netanyahu, the embodiment of testosterone and extremism run amok. Violence committed against innocent people is dead wrong and totally unjustifiable. If there were a way to eliminate politics from the world "? Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Palestinians sheltering in Rafah, the last remaining 'safe-place' in Gaza, are awaiting extermination at the hands of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the IDF orders to 'evacuate' over 1 million people. In this case, the term evacuate means exterminate. There is nowhere to go. Some have wondered if they might be forced to walk to the north of Gaza, but that area is bombed to the ground by the IDF. Any remaining structures that could have been used to shelter have been demolished by the IDF engineering unit, after setting demolition explosives and bringing the buildings down to rubble. The US, Egypt and Qatar worked on a draft proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas representatives, but Netanyahu rejected the proposal without offering a counter-proposal. While leaders around the world, including the western democracies, have pressed US President Joe Biden to get a ceasefire approved with Israel for Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has come up empty-handed after meeting with Netanyahu. If the US can't stop Israel, maybe the International Criminal Court (ICC) can? Karim A. A. Khan is the Prosecutor of the ICC, serving a nine-year term beginning in 2021. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, of a Pakistani father and a British mother. Khan is a Muslim, but has never lived under a brutal military occupation, or siege. Khan has been born, and lived his entire life, in a free, western and democratic society. He has no experience living under the Israeli occupation of Palestine, which denies all human rights to six million people. On November 17, 2023, Khan issued a statement that five states: South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Comoros, and Djibouti, had referred information concerning war crimes committed by Israel. South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor asked Khan why he was able to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin, but not for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On December 6, 2023, Khan issued a statement after a trip to Palestine and Israel. He made points concerning Israeli actions in Gaza, and Israeli settler extremism in the Occupied West Bank, but the statement was mere words, and the victims are waiting for real justice. On January 24, 2024, French lawyer Gilles Devers, along with a legal army composed of human rights groups and more than 600 lawyers, presented evidence of genocide by Israel to Khan at the ICC. A 56-page lawsuit arrived at the prosecutor's office last November demanding the opening of an investigation into crimes by the Israeli army in Gaza since Oct. 7, that have killed more than 25,000 people, mainly women and children. The Jordan Bar Association and the Arab Lawyers Union participated in the submission of the case to the ICC of crimes including genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. The international team includes the Jordanian, Palestinian, Algerian, Tunisian, and Mauritanian Bar Associations, as well as the National Union of Algerian Judges. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) February 18, 2024: Recently I commented on the prolific American diocesan priest and renowned peace activist Father John Dear's impressive new 2024 magnum opus The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence (Orbis Books) in my OEN article titled "John Dear on the Synoptic Gospels and Bottom-Up Nonviolence" (dated January 31, 2024): Click Here Today, I want to comment on Father John Dear's earlier book The Questions of Jesus: Challenging Ourselves to Discover Life's Great Answers (Image Books/ Doubleday/ Random House, 2004). Disclosure: Over my years of teaching at the University of Minnesota Duluth (1987-2009), I regularly taught an introductory-level survey course on the Bible - in which I regularly lectured/commented on two of the four canonical gospels (usually Mark and John). This explains why I am interested in Father John Dear's two books about how Jesus is portrayed in the canonical gospels. In addition, I helped arrange to have the historical Jesus expert John Dominic Crossan visit the University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday April 7, 1995, and Saturday, April 8, 1995. On Friday evening, he presented a free public lecture on "Jesus the Peasant" to an overflow crowd on campus. On Saturday, he presented a day-long workshop on "The Quest for the Historical Jesus" to about 75 people who paid to attend it. His visit to Duluth in early April coincided with the recent release in March of his then-new book Who Killed Jesus? Exposing the Roots of Anti-Semitism in the Gospel Story of the Death of Jesus (HarperSanFrancisco). For further discussion of the prolific Crossan, see my 9,000-word 2022 review essay "John Dominic Crossan on the Historical Jesus's 93 Original Sayings, and Walter J. Ong's Thought" that is available online through the University of Minnesota's digital conservancy: https://hdl.handle.net/11299/226607 End of disclosure. Now, in Father John Dear's thought-provoking book The Questions of Jesus, he says, "In the end, I found 307 questions [put on the lips of Jesus by the four evangelists in their respective narrative portrayals of him]" (p. 2). Critical biblical scholars maintain that the four canonical gospels were written by anonymous evangelists decades after the death of the historical Jesus. In addition, in Franciscan Father Richard Rohr's "Foreword" in Father John Dear's book The Questions of Jesus (pp. xxi-xxiv), he says, "I am told, for example, that Jesus only directly answers 3 of the 183 questions that he himself is asked in the four Gospels" (p. xxi): 307 + 183 = 490 questions in the four canonical gospels. Question: Why did the four anonymous evangelists feature 490 questions over their four canonical gospels? Now, in Father John Dear's thought-provoking book The Questions of Jesus, he reprints the questions put on the lips of Jesus by the four evangelists in 230 passages from their four gospels in an "Appendix" (pp. 293-306): (1) John [50 passages; pp. 293-295]; (2) Mark [52 passages; pp. 295-298]; (3) Luke [66 passages; pp. 298-302]; (4) Matthew [62 passages; pp. 302-306]. Father John Dear does not explain the order he uses (John, Mark, Luke, and Matthew) for listing the pertinent passages. Critical biblical scholars consider John's Gospel to be the Fourth Gospel written and Mark's the first written. In sum, the four canonical evangelists taken together portray Jesus as posing 307 questions contained in 230 passages in their canonical gospels. Critical biblical scholars maintain that the anonymous synoptic evangelists of Mark, Matthew, and Luke used certain sources in common. Consequently, certain passages in the three synoptic gospels are similar, including certain questions posed by Jesus in them. Granted, the historical Jesus was an itinerant oral preacher and teacher. On the one hand, it is not unlikely that an itinerant oral teacher might pose questions as part of his thought-provoking oral teaching. Evidently, the historical Jesus did use thought-provoking parables as part of his oral teaching. On the other hand, it is unlikely that all four of the canonical evangelists fabricated such a pronounced pattern of Jesus posing questions without any basis in the practice of the historical Jesus. In any event, Father John Dear surveyed the 307 questions that he had found, looking for common themes. In the end, he settled on 19 common themes for his book of meditations, each with some subdivisions featuring passages in which the evangelists put certain questions on the lips of Jesus: (1) "Invitation" (pp. 5-10; with three subdivisions); (2) "[Jesus's] Identity" (pp. 11-40; with fourteen subdivisions); Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). "I will assert myself as a leader on the School Board and shift its functioning toward one of holding Carvalho accountable" -- - BD1 Candidate Kahllid Al-Alim Kahllid Al-Alim on his Twitter feed (Image by Kahllid Al-Alim) Details DMCA Al-Alim's answers to five questions about the governance of the District are provided below. They are presented exactly how he provided them except for some minor formatting edits. For the introduction to this subject and answers from other candidates, please see the article LAUSD Candidate Forum: Governance. Would you agree with the statement: "The elected LAUSD Board is responsible for setting policy. The job of the Superintendent is to ensure that the bureaucracy follows this policy."? YES Do you agree with the statement: "The bureaucracy of the LAUSD is too big to be managed effectively."? YES Do you think that the evaluation of the Superintendent's job performance is something that the school board should do in full view of the public? YES Should the number of Board Districts be increased beyond the existing seven? YES If elected would you introduce the proposed "Board Meeting Accessibility to the Public" resolution? YES Do you have any other thoughts that you would like to express about this subject? The LAUSD School Board has not done nearly enough to hold the Superintendent accountable. I'm an LAUSD parent AND a Community Organizer. I have experience organizing folks. I will assert myself as a leader on the School Board and shift its functioning toward one of holding Carvalho accountable, making Board meetings accessible to teachers, families and students, AND involving myself directly in making sure we are serving our kids. I will not allow a bureaucracy or a Superintendent to undermine what our children and families deserve. Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. On February 16, the Russian Federation's Federal Penitentiary Service announced the death in custody of a prisoner at its FKU IK3 "corrective colony." The prisoner -- one Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny -- "fell ill after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness," according to an official statement, and could not be resuscitated by medical staff. US president Joe Biden's blunt statement fairly summarizes western regimes' political responses to Navalny's death: "Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. Putin is responsible." Navalny spent the final years of his life in and out of prison. According to the Russian regime, he was incarcerated for crimes ranging from embezzlement to fraud to money laundering. According to his supporters in Russia and elsewhere, he was a political prisoner whose anti-corruption work and campaigns for public office represented a threat to Vladimir Putin's rule. Maybe he was one or the other, or both, or neither. But I've always found his status as a darling of western Putin opponents puzzling. Navalny's rise to prominence in Russian politics came from his support for a Russian nationalism to the right of Putin's, starting with his advocacy of the 2006 "Russian march," an annual far-right gathering banned that year in Moscow, and his opposition to freedom of immigration to Russia. He supported Russia's intervention against Georgia on behalf of, and supported Russian recognition of, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in 2008. As late as 2012, at the height of his public influence, he preached that "Russian foreign policy should be maximally directed at integration with Ukraine and Belarus." His stated views moderated later on, but seemingly more as a function of courting western support and styling himself "the anti-Putin" than as a genuine change of belief. There's no particular reason to believe that, had he replaced Putin as president at some earlier point, we'd have seen much difference in Russian foreign policy going forward. Which of course, tells us nothing about whether he was 100% genuine political prisoner, or 100% criminal con man who cast his prosecution as political persecution in an effort to avoid punishment, or some mix of those things. But it does raise the question of why the US regime chose him as the face of a nascent Russian opposition to support in its foreign political meddling. Were there no other opposition figures with more personal credibility and with, or willing to adopt, sufficiently "pro-western" views? Was it just about who could be most loudly "anti-Putin?" Inquiring minds want to know. I don't welcome Navalny's death. I don't welcome anyone's. But I do hope that a genuine, organic, anarchist or near-anarchist political opposition, rather than yet another west-backed ringer, can fill the vacuum his death leaves. We could use such an opposition in America, too. Biden insists 'my memory is fine' as he angrily criticizes Special Counsel report President Biden on Thursday addressed the nation in a primetime speech regarding the release of a Special Counsel report that ... (Image by YouTube, Channel: FOX 32 Chicago) Details DMCA US President Joe Biden responding to a report of his memory decline Apparently, Russian journalist Dmitry Kiselyov has requested to interview US President Joe Biden. Since American journalist Tucker Carlson interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month Kiselyov reasoned "Russian's would appreciate the opportunity to hear Biden's take on 'how to stabilize the international situation, restore trust, and renew cooperation between the United States and Russia' amid the crisis ties between the two powers". [1] Kiselyov sent a letter addressed to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on February 15. Thus far the White House hasn't responded to the request. Thus far no US newspaper has reported on the request. The take from here is I wouldn't hold my breath expecting Biden to respond favorably to the interview request. Here's why: With the presidential election in November Biden doesn't want to be seen as catering to the Russians in any way. Biden's invested so much in money and weapons supporting Ukraine while demonizing Putin and Russia he'll be afraid he'd look "soft" granting such an interview. Then there's Biden's cognitive ability that has clearly diminished. A one to one interview without his handlers able to control his responses Biden's feebleness would be there for all to see. Carlson's two hour interview with Putin "has garnered more than 46 million views on his X account, a million views on You Tube in the first hours since its release." That Biden would agree to sit in a one to one interview for two hours with a Russian journalist is hard to imagine. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 19. Number of Uzbek tourists visiting Tajikistan amounted to 806,000 in 2023, Trend reports. According to Tajikistan's Committee for Tourism Development, the tourist flow from Uzbekistan has increased by 15 percent year-on-year. As a result, Uzbeks became the leaders in the number of tourists who visited Tajikistan last year. In addition, Tajikistan was frequently visited by Russians last year. Number of Russian tourists reached 262,400 travelers (almost 93 percent more over year). The growth of tourist flow was also high from Kazakhstan - to 31,500 people (up 31.8 percent), from Turkiye - to 10,800 people (61.2 percent). A particularly impressive increase in the number of tourists was registered from China - 13,000 citizens visited Tajikistan last year. This is almost 5 times more than a year earlier. Meanwhile, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Uzbekistan reached 4.9 million from January through October 2023. According to the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRS) in Uzbekistan, the influx of tourists has nearly tripled over the last three years, considering that the count stood at 1.8 million in 2021. Another strong outing in the circle for Oregon softballs pitchers was spoiled by a lack of clutch hitting. Taylour Spencer allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings, but the No. 14 Ducks went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position in a 2-0 loss to No. 25 Texas A&M Sunday morning at the Campbell/Cartier Classic in San Diego. Kai Luschar, Hanna Delgado and Paige Sinicki each had two hits for Oregon (6-5), which got the lead off batter aboard in six of seven innings and stranded eight on base. The Ducks had a runner on third with less than two outs in the first and second innings but came up empty. Texas A&M (9-0) broke a scoreless tie with two outs in the fourth via an interference call that allowed a run to score. A solo home run by Julia Cottrill in the sixth was the only other run scored off Spencer (2-1) and Morgan Scott record the final two outs for UO. Oregon returns to Eugene before heading to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic to face UCF, Baylor, Notre Dame, Long Beach State and Nebraska beginning Thursday. The Arizona Legislatures top two Republicans have challenged Democratic President Joe Bidens creation of a new national monument last summer just outside Grand Canyon National Park, alleging he exceeded his legal authority in making that designation under a century-old law that lets presidents protect sites considered historically or culturally important. In a lawsuit filed Monday against Biden, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma alleged Bidens decision to designate the new monument under the 1906 Antiquities Act wasnt limited to preserving objects of historic or scientific value and isnt confined to the the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected. The monument designation will help preserve 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park. The monument, called Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni, turned a decadeslong vision for Native American tribes and environmentalists into a reality. Republican lawmakers and the uranium mining industry that operates in the area had opposed the designation, touting the economic benefits for the region while arguing that the mining efforts are a matter of national security. Bidens maneuver is incredibly disingenuous, as it has nothing to do with protecting actual artifacts, Petersen said in a statement. Instead, it aims to halt all mining, ranching, and other local uses of federal lands that are critical to our energy independence from adversary foreign nations, our food supply and the strength of our economy. The White House and the U.S. Department of the Interior declined to comment on the lawsuit. Mohave County and the northern Arizona communities of Colorado City and Fredonia also sued the Biden administration as part of the challenge. The lawsuit says Mohave County and Colorado City will see a loss of tax revenue due to reduced mining activity and that the land-use restrictions that come from a monument designation will reduce the value of surrounding land, including State Trust Land, which produces incomes that benefits Arizonas public schools and other beneficiaries. The Interior Department, reacting to concerns over the risk of contaminating water, enacted a 20-year moratorium on the filing of new mining claims around the national park in 2012. No uranium mines are operating in Arizona, although the Pinyon Plain Mine, just south of Grand Canyon National Park, has been under development for years. Other claims are grandfathered in. The federal government has said nearly a dozen mines within the area that have been withdrawn from new mining claims could still potentially open. Just days after Biden made the designation in northern Arizona, a federal judge in Utah dismissed a lawsuit challenging the presidents restoration of two sprawling national monuments in the state that had been downsized by then-President Donald Trump. The judge said Biden acted within his authority when he issued proclamations restoring Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in 2021. Both monuments are on land sacred to many Native Americans. __ By JACQUES BILLEAUD Associated Press Oregonians should cautiously cheer the news that lawmakers have added campaign finance reform to their agenda for the short legislative session. Voters have made it clear for years that they support statewide limits on campaign contributions, but legislators in recent sessions have been unable to answer the call. Turns out, its tough for politicians to turn off the spigot of unlimited cash landing in their campaign accounts. But the specter of competing campaign finance measures this November one from good-government groups and another from labor unions is spurring lawmakers last-minute effort to land a bill, as OPBs Dirk VanderHart reported. This is, mostly, a good thing. Legislating by ballot measure is difficult to get right, particularly on such complex matters as campaign finance reform. And asking voters to pick through the intricate details of two rival initiatives sticks the public with the difficult work that lawmakers are supposed to do. There is very little time, however, to get this done, and Oregonians should watch carefully what emerges. Labor groups and businesses the donors who have the most to lose from the initiative developed by good-government groups got the ball rolling with negotiations amongst themselves, VanderHart previously reported. While discussions have expanded to include longtime campaign finance reformers, there remain plenty of reasons to worry that legislators biggest donors will continue to drive the conversation. The discussions have not yet resulted in public release of a legislative concept or a bill. But if legislators are serious about getting this done, they need to commit to some basic principles that protect Oregonians and deliver on the goal of true campaign finance reform. Among them: Dont reward big donors with big loopholes: Previous bills in the Legislature included provisions that would have allowed labor unions to continue to make massive donations. While those bills didnt advance, the competing initiatives aimed at the November ballot show how that dynamic continues today. As The Oregonian/OregonLives Carlos Fuentes detailed in a recent story, Initiative Petition 9, developed by Honest Elections Oregon and backed by good government groups, includes varying levels of donation caps, including limits on labor unions and member organizations of $10,000 cash and $10,000 of in-kind services per candidate for statewide office per election. But Initiative Petition 42, developed by labor unions, uses a different formulation that would not only significantly increase the caps up to $30,000 in cash and 36 full-time equivalent months of in-kind personal services per statewide candidate per election but $20,000 of that cash does not even have to come from members. It can be from any source at all. And while Honest Elections Oregons initiative includes specific language to prevent people from using multiple membership organizations to skirt contribution limits, the unions initiative does not include such language. Embrace transparency: In recent years, several states, such as Arizona, have sought to step up up disclosure requirements to force campaigns to reveal their largest funders in political advertising. The requirements call for naming the original sources of donations over a certain threshold, rather than allowing them to hide behind innocuous sounding political action committees. Such strong requirements are one way to shed light on so-called dark money groups whose independent expenditures are not subject to campaign contribution limits and can dominate the airwaves with commercials. Legislators should ensure that all such advertising is subject to strict disclosure requirements. Voters deserve information that can help them understand who are the big donors paying to influence them for or against various candidates or policies. Lawmakers should side with transparency as opposed to allowing political influencers to keep their identities disguised. Know when to throw in the towel: If theres not broad agreement that ushers in true reform, legislators should not press ahead. While a November ballot with dueling measures poses a number of challenges, it still gives voters a chance to adopt significant changes that get big money out of politics. Locking in the status quo wont win Oregonians anything and give the false impression of reform when the underlying circumstances havent changed. In fact, the November ballot includes one example of how legislators talk big on election reforms that wont live up to the hype. Lawmakers last year approved sending a measure to voters this November asking them if they want to switch to ranked choice voting for statewide and federal positions. Ranked choice systems have become a popular reform around the country credited with elevating candidates who appeal to the broader, more moderate vote rather than playing to extremes. But if voters approve the measure, it will have limited effect in Oregons partisan elections. Thats because legislators did nothing to change Oregons closed-primary system, in which Democrats and Republicans may bar anyone who isnt registered with their party from casting a vote for their party nominee. That means nearly 1.2 million Oregonians who are not registered with either of the two major parties will have no vote ranked choice or otherwise in deciding which candidates for federal or partisan statewide offices will advance to the general election. Nonaffiliated voters, by the way, handily outnumber either Democrats or Republicans. Certainly, legislation by ballot measure is tough to get right. But at times, it may be the only way to do so. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: The recent storm in January brought a lot of destruction to neighborhoods in Oregon. It is very frustrating to find that we will not even be able to deduct these very expensive repairs from our income taxes because the storm wasnt declared a federal disaster. My neighborhood looked like a war zone after the storm because so many trees fell. Our water main froze, and we lost a 100-foot-tall ponderosa pine, causing destruction in our yard as it uprooted. We are currently facing $25,000 to $30,000 in repairs. Almost none of this will be covered by our insurance because it doesnt cover damage from an external water source, and unless the tree hits your house, you are out of luck. We have had no assistance from the state to help with these repairs. Now I am learning that we wont even be able to take a deduction on our taxes next year because the storm didnt meet the requirements of a federal disaster. It is certainly a disaster for my neighborhood. While the state government is in session, the very least that could be done is to develop a state sponsored low-interest loan that people could use for repairs. Its been very disappointing to not hear from the governor or our representatives about assistance with property repairs. A lot of people were impacted by this and have been surprised to learn that homeowners insurance covers very little of the destruction if your house isnt impacted. Barbara Gicking, Portland Corrected: This letter was updated to take out a line calling for the Legislature to create a deduction for state income taxes to cover casualty losses from state-declared disasters that dont receive federal disaster designation. Legislators last year passed House Bill 2812 already creating that deduction from state income taxes for tax years 2020 to 2025. To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Turkish Armed Forces have neutralized two PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense says, Trend reports. The ministry reported that the terrorists were neutralized in the Pence-Kilit operation area. Turkish soldier Salih Ay was killed as a result of a clash with terrorists in the Pence-Kilit operation area on February 17. Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has been recognised in Avance Media's list of 50 influential young Ghanaians. Throughout his tenure as a lawmaker, George has made significant contributions that have positively impacted numerous lives across the country. As a second-term MP, his focus remains on enhancing the human capital within his constituency and fostering overall development for the betterment of his constituents. In a media interview, Mr George expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment, viewing it as both validation of his efforts and motivation to continue his work. Among the other notable individuals on the list are Gary Al-Smith from the Multimedia Group, as well as Ibrahim Mahama and Efua Asantewaa, known for their achievements recognised by Guinness World Records. Additionally, figures such as Abubakar Fatimatu, the Minister-designate for Information, Official Starter, Jordan Ayew, Inaki William, and several others have been recognised as part of the league of the 50 most influential young Ghanaians. Avance Media's mission is centered on driving innovation and transformation and implementing practical strategies to empower brands with confidence. 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 Tanzania's founding father Julius Nyerere has been honoured with a statue outside the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Nyerere led what is now Tanzania from independence in 1961 until 1985. Known as Mwalimu, Swahili for teacher, he was a committed pan-Africanist and hosted independence fighters opposed to white minority rule in southern Africa. He played a key role in the creation of the Organisation of African Unity, which later became the African Union. Unveiling the statue at a ceremony attended by numerous African heads of state, AU Commission leader Moussa Faki Mahamat said: "The legacy of this remarkable leader encapsulates the essence of Pan Africanism, profound wisdom, and service to Africa." He recalled Nyerere's own comments at the inaugural OAU summit in 1963. "Our continent is one, and we are all Africans." But when he became prime minister of what was then Tanganyika in 1961, his first task was to unite the new country, made up of more than 120 different ethnic groups, including Arab, Asian and European minorities. He managed to do this, by promoting the use of Swahili as a common language and through his vision of "African Socialism" or ujamaa (familyhood). In 1964, Tanganyika united with the Zanzibar archipelago to form Tanzania. It later became a one-party state. Nyerere defended the absence of multi-party elections by declaring that Tanzanians had far more freedom under him than they had ever had under British rule, and that the one-party system was vital for stability. 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 In a heartwarming display of compassion, Ghana Posts Vals on Wheels campaign went beyond the usual Valentines Day celebration as the team embarked on a mission to deliver more than just parcels to Ghanaians. They delivered love, hope, and a sweet surprise to the young souls at the Borstal Institute for Juveniles now called the Senior Boys Correctional Centre in Accra. The Correctional Centre, nestled amidst the bustling city, houses young individuals who have often been overlooked by society. These juveniles, convicted of various offenses, find themselves in a challenging environment where they are stigmatized. However, their world brightened on Wednesday when the Ghana Post team arrived with a special delivery - over 300 bars of chocolate and a cash gift - to put smiles on their faces. Led by the Chief Commercial Officer of Ghana Post, Kwesi Owusu-Abrokwa, the team which also included top management members such as the General Manager in charge of Human Resource, General Manager in charge of Business Development and Head of Legal, interacted with the juveniles. The team from Ghana Post was received by the Deputy Director of Prisons who oversees the facility, Madam Millicent Owusu. While expressing gratitude for the warm reception, the Chief Commercial Officer of Ghana Post, Kwesi Owusu-Abrokwa used the opportunity to encourage the juveniles not to lose hope. Society hasnt forgotten about you, he assured them. Your dreams are still within reach. He also emphasized the importance of diligence in academics and promised support for those who showed excellence. But Ghana Posts kindness didnt stop at chocolates. Mr. Abrokwa also gifted the facility an undisclosed amount of money. This financial aid, he indicated was to support their academic needs including the purchase of books, pens, and other essentials. On her part, Madam Millicent Owusu expressed her heartfelt gratitude. According to her, These children often feel forgotten, but today, Ghana Post reminded them that they matter. She pledged to ensure that the academic support reaches those who needed it most. She entreated Ghana Post to visit often and appealed to the company to cater for the academic welfare of certain brilliant students. She urged management to also draw the attention of corporate institutions they deal with to the plight of the juveniles at the facility. 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 Rt. Hon, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has stated that, the January, 2024 Standing Orders of Parliament offers an opportunity to address the evolving needs of Ghana's dynamic and hybrid parliamentary democracy. According the Rt.Hon. Speaker, the processes and procedures in the House is challenged, with time and practice exposing the gaps and deficiencies in the November 2000 Standing Orders. He further indicated that, the present composition of the House has brought those gaps and deficiencies into sharper focus even though, those deficiencies surfaced as far as the early 2001. "We must start aligning the conduct of business in the House with the evolving and changing trends and requirements of our Parliament. We need to know how to apply and cope with the January 2024 Standing Orders which has replaced the 2000 Orders. These are some of the reasons we are here today. As we say in Africa, "When the drummers alter their beats, the dancers must adjust their steps, he added. The Rt.Hon. Speaker made this statement in his opening address at the orientation workshop for Members of Parliament and Procedural Staff on the new Standing Orders in Ho, over the weekend. He stated that, the attendant composition of the House has brought to the fore several challenges with the old Standing Orders. These led to diverse interpretations of some procedures and practices, constant and acerbic verbal one-upmanship on the floor of the House, increased tensions, near fisticuffs, and eventually, including the pronouncement of the Supreme Court regarding the November 2000 Standing Orders. The current Standing Orders of Parliament which came into effect on the 2nd of January 2024 assures for effective and efficient performance of Parliament and Parliamentarians. The Speaker indicated that, the Parliament of Ghanas Standing Orders are deeply rooted in the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and drawing on the Darwinian concept of a "living organism. "It is a dynamic document that continues to evolve and therefore, the metaphorical representation of a "living Constitution" is a testament to its capacity to adapt to society's ever-changing needs, reflecting the evolution of laws, policies and preferences," he said. He borrowed the words of Laurent Fabius, the former Prime Minister of France, "The revision of legal documents may not be without imperfections, but at least it won't be rigid. It will be a necessary step towards building the institution and country we desire." He advised Hon. Members of Parliament, to approach their work with diligence and innovation, given the fact that Parliament is confronted with an increasing level of public distrust, which must be tackled through their approach to work. To him The 2020 general elections presented incontrovertible evidence of this and alerted us to the potential future shifts and turns in our country's socio-political landscape. The Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Hon Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin in his remarks on behalf of the Majority Leader indicated that, the only weapon for an MP is the rules book (Standing Orders) and cited himself as example that, when he entered the chamber in 2013 and found himself fumbling, the only saviour was the rules book. He therefore, advised his colleagues that, the only way to survive and stand on your feet and make meaningful contributions on the floor of the chamber in the midst of all intimidation is to stand firm and indicate that, you are within the rules. He was therefore of the opinion that his colleagues should not take the rules for granted. For the outgoing MPs, do not forget about the rules book as you are likely to come back and for those who would be retained, take the rules seriously. He advised. The Minority Chief Whip and MP for Adaklu, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza congratulated the Rt. Hon. Speaker for spearheading the revision of the Standing Orders and bringing it into operations. He was of the opinion that, the orientation will address members concerns and bring them up to speed on the new provisions and the rationale behind them. He entreated his colleagues to commit their attention to all the facilitators. In his welcome remarks, the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, indicated that, since the commencement of the previous Orders, Parliaments have been confronted with contemporary challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic; institutionalization of mechanisms to promote the Open Parliament Concept; the hung nature of the Eighth Parliament, which is the first of its kind since the inception of the Fourth Republic, presented a number of novel situations and challenges that were not clearly provided for under the previous Standing Orders. He mentioned some of the practices and procedures that has been introduced in the new Orders which includes the recital of the National Pledge on the first day of Sitting for each week, the conduct of a roll call of Hon. Members of Parliament, at each sitting of the House, at the behest of the Rt. Hon. Speaker. He added that, Parliamentary Committees have increased from thirty-one (31) to forty-four (44) to emphasise the new focus and direction of the House, as part of efforts to expand and improve parliamentary oversight of activities of state actors. 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 Henry Nana Boakye has eulogized the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, following the recent ministerial reshuffle by President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The Minister has been replaced by the Member of Parliament for Bantama and Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye with the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, reassigned to the Works and Housing Ministry. Hon. Oppong Nkrumah's Deputy, Fatimatu Abubakar has been penciled for Information Minister. As Hon. Amoako-Atta exits the Roads and Highways Ministry, Henry Nana Boakye asserts he is very proud of the Minister's works. Though some Ghanaians have expressed disappointment in Hon. Amoako-Atta, Nana Boakye says the Minister is the best ever. "For me, he is the best Road Minister under the 4th Republic", he touted, arguing that the government has constructed an unprecedented number of roads under the leadership of Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Atta. "When take Accra alone, the roads we have constructed, no government has ever done such number of roads ever before", he expounded while speaking on Peace FM's Friday edition of "Kokrokoo" morning show. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The legendary Irish rock band U2 gave a concert in Las Vegas, USA. The band's frontman Bono, who has been actively supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia since the first days of the full-scale invasion, addressed the audience and the US authorities with a call to "give Ukrainians everything they need." ADVERTISIMENT Bono reminded that very soon, on February 24, 2024, the full-scale terrorist war in Ukraine will be two years old. The rocker noted that today Ukrainians are fighting for the freedom of the whole world, and if we stop helping, Russia's aggression will take over the next countries. The corresponding video from the concert was posted on the Telegram channel of the United 24 fundraising platform. On stage, Bono said: "America, you are so generous! But let's give these people everything they need. Because they are fighting for our freedom, not just theirs. Next week it will be two years since Putin invaded Ukraine in an attempt to destroy the hard-won freedom of 41 million people. Poland, Lithuania, and East Germany may be next. Who knows where this man can go next. Or not go," Bono said. ADVERTISIMENT The rocker added that the Ukrainian people are fighting for their freedom and basic right to exist at great cost, and urged not to hesitate to support them. "For these people, 'freedom' is not just a word from a song. For these people, 'freedom' is the most important word in the world. So important that Ukrainians are fighting and dying for it," the musician added. As a reminder, in early May 2022, the legendary rock band came to Kyiv to support Ukrainians in the war against Russia. The musicians performed for the residents of the capital right in the subway at Khreshchatyk station. After the impromptu concert, Bono visited the dilapidated Bucha. There, the artist met with the rector of the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle, who told him about the atrocities of the Russian occupiers in the city. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously wrote, Bono wrote a poem dedicated to St. Patrick's Day, in which he called Putin a psychopath and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a saint. The author's work was read by a speaker at the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon in the Capitol. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has lashed out at the presidential candidates of the various political parties for their delay in announcing their Running Mates. Dwelling on the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, whose flagbearers, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and John Dramani Mahama are yet to select their Running Mates, Mr. Pratt found this very annoying. Regarding the NPP, notable names such as Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Dr Yaw Adutwum, out-going Minister for Education and Mr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency have popped up as potential candidates for the Running Mate position. As to who becomes Running Mate to former President John Dramani Mahama, the former Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah and Togbe Afede XIV, the President of Asogli Traditional Council, have been marked for the position. Reacting to the issue during Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Mr. Pratt expressed disgust over the flagbearers' seeming inability to declare their partners into this year's December elections. "This delay and antics that the presidential candidates are doing doesn't impress me. Truthfully, I don't like it at all. Name the person and stop the delay. If you can't make up your mind about your campaign team and Running Mate early, what will motivate us to believe when you come into power, you can make up your mind about the key issues about the economy and so on in time. So, for me, this thing is annoying", he exclaimed. 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 Renowned fashion designer and creative director of Poqua Poqu, Pokua Poku-Mouhtiseb has passed on. She is said to have died at the Lister Hospital on Wednesday, February 14 through labour complications. The news of the death of Pokua started trending on social media on Thursday morning when a number of her friends including New Patriotic Partys Afia Akoto shared tribute in her memory. Shes survived by her husband, Mr Mouhtiseb and three children. Poqua Poqu, the fashion label brands itself as an affordable luxury womens fashion brand. The label was established in 2011 with an aim to provide multifunctional apparel for the trendy, stylish and sophisticated woman. The brand boasts of customers in high standing in the society including Anita Erskine, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Ayesha Bedwei Ibe, Shirley Emma Tibilla, Claudia Lumor Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE, Menaye Donkor among others. Pokua had her primary school education at Martyrs of Uganda R/C JHS and proceeded to Achimota School for her secondary education. She had her university education at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University of Hull in England. https://www.instagram.com/poquapoqu/?hl=en 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 With Ash Wednesday come and gone, the Lenten season has officially started. And all practicing Christians will have to wait till the end of March to celebrate Lents official end, Easter. By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Tia Goldenberg, The Associated Press RAFAH, Gaza Strip Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight and into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft U.N. cease-fire resolution. The U.S., Israels top ally, instead hopes to broker a cease-fire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back, calling Hamas demands delusional and rejecting U.S. and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. His Cabinet adopted a declaration Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it said would grant a major prize to terror after the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until total victory over Hamas and to expand it to Gazas southernmost town of Rafah, where more than half the enclaves population of 2.3 million Palestinians has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. The head of the World Health Organization, meanwhile, said Nasser Hospital, the main medical center serving southern Gaza, is not functional anymore after Israeli forces raided the facility in the southern city of Khan Younis last week. An airstrike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive over the past two months. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. In Gaza City, which was isolated, largely evacuated and suffered widespread destruction in the initial weeks of the war, an airstrike flattened a family home, killing seven people, including three women, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative of the deceased. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. UN SAYS RAIDED HOSPITAL NO LONGER FUNCTIONING Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the U.N. health agency, said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said there are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other hospitals. Israel says it has arrested over 100 suspected militants, including 20 who it says participated in Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, without providing evidence. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel were among those arrested, as well as patients in hospital beds who were taken away in trucks. Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the ministry, said soldiers beat detainees and stripped them of their clothes. There was no immediate comment from the military on those allegations. A man looks at graffiti that reads, in Hebrew, "revenge, death to Arabs," allegedly sprayed by Jewish West Bank settlers in the Palestinian West Bank village of Turmus Ayya, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Village residents claimed that settlers raided the outskirts of the village overnight, setting fire to a car and spaying graffiti on the walls of homes. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)AP The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israels defenses and attacked communities across southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. The toll includes 127 bodies brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours, it said Sunday. Around 80% of Gazas population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. In the occupied West Bank, a shootout erupted when Israeli forces went to arrest an armed suspect in the town of Tulkarem. The military said the suspect was killed and a member of Israels paramilitary Border Police was severely wounded. It described the target of the raid as a senior militant involved in recent attacks. The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed. US OPPOSES ANOTHER CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION Algeria, the Arab representative on the U.N. Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washingtons own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted. It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities in jeopardy, she said. The U.S. has used its veto on similar previous resolutions with wide international support, and President Joe Biden has bypassed Congress to rush arms to Israel while urging it to take greater measures to spare civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release, but theres a wide gap between Israel and Hamas demands and Qatar said Saturday that the talks have not been progressing as expected. Hamas has said it will not release all of the remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It is also demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top militants. Netanyahu has publicly rejected both demands and any scenario in which Hamas would be able to rebuild its military and governing capabilities. He said he sent a delegation to cease-fire talks in Cairo last week at Bidens request but doesnt see the point in sending them again. Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to a hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)AP In an interview with Israels Kan public broadcaster on Saturday, Netanyahus national security adviser said that military pressure and sticking to a strict line in the negotiations could lead Hamas to drop its absurd demands that nobody could accept. Tzachi Hanegbi said the U.S. supports Israels campaign to destroy Hamas capabilities and has not pressured Israel to end the war or withdraw troops from Gaza. Netanyahu has pushed back against international concern about a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, saying residents will be evacuated to safer areas. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. The Israeli leader is also opposed to Palestinian statehood, which the U.S. says is a key element in its broader vision for normalization of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, as well as Arab investment in Gazas postwar reconstruction and governance. Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war By Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel (TNS) ORLANDO, Fla. NASA was riding a high after the overall success of Artemis I when the uncrewed rocket made a test run to the moon and back in 2022, so the message remained full steam ahead to push for a crewed Artemis II flight in 2024 and the return of humans to the moon in 2025. But under the surface were issues, and the sheen of success hit reality, prompting NASA to delay Artemis first human spaceflight until no earlier than September 2025, and then pushing the moon landing until at least one year later. A big driver of that delay was a NASA-driven, lessons-learned initiative that is closely examining the things that worked well with Artemis I and those that needed fixing across not just NASA departments and other government agencies, but also with commercial partners like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Leading the lessons learned program since Artemis I for NASA has been Janet Karika, principal adviser for space transportation and a former NASA chief of staff, who led a discussion on the efforts during a panel held Jan. 31 at the SpaceCom conference at the Orange County Convention Center. She said the key issue is a continued effort by NASA to battle a culture of organizational silence the notion that workers and managers feel the pressure to ignore warning signs in favor of budgets and deadlines which was a leading factor in both the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters that led to the deaths of 14 astronauts. It happens. And we all know it happens, she said. So we will talk about organizational silence, but how many of us still see it in our organizations? Im not going to say anything, Is anybody else saying anything? Im not raising my hand, it is still around. The specter of those tragedies gets hammered home each year because of the anniversary time frame among both shuttle disasters and the Apollo I fire that killed three astronauts in 1967 that NASA pays deference to each year, as all three happened between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2. During this Week of Remembrance, Im telling you, call it out. If you have to tell somebody, Youre not creating a tremendously open environment right now. That is important because its a real thing that lives and breathes at NASA, Karika said. She credited panelist Zudayyah Taylor-Dunn, chief knowledge officer within both NASAs space operations and exploration systems directorates, as leading an organization within NASA to make sure all of the players across 10 space centers and five mission directorates are talking with one another. So as the engineers and scientists solve problems, the organization is designed to make sure safety outweighs the pursuit of success. Creating a safe space to fail Its a message that has to come from the top down, she said. Creating a safe space to fail. That is so pivotal to foster that environment, Taylor-Dunn said. If you dont do that, then were not communicating our best. So theres something that could be left unsaid, and then we have a failure. So you need to be able to create that safe space and protect that safe space. One of the biggest lessons learned among all the players was a lack of communication. Because of that, for Artemis II and beyond, NASA created last year the new Moon to Mars Program Office, which as one of its biggest requirements has each team buy into one shared schedule. Lorna Kenna, vice president and program manager with Jacobs Space Operations Group, which is the primary contractor with Exploration Ground Systems based at Kennedy Space Center, said a lack of schedule sharing led to some of the biggest headaches as the EGS teams tried to juggle for the first time a new launch system. Artemis I didnt go as originally planned, and what you see within a program is individual stakeholders will make risk trades based on what may be an overly optimistic schedule, she said. And so at Kennedy, for instance, when we saw where we made decisions about not replacing critical ground support equipment, because we were just this close to launch What we found was we limped along with hardware that should have been replaced early in the program. So now EGS along with the Space Launch System rocket prime contractor Boeing and the Orion spacecraft prime contractor Lockheed Martin are in lockstep with how they are running up against deadlines. For Artemis III and beyond, that list of partners grows with spacesuits built by Axiom Space, human landing systems provided by SpaceX and Blue Origin and the contractors working with the planned lunar space station called Gateway. Schedule realism, I will tell you right now is a huge part of some of our lessons learned, Karika said. Everybodys coming together, and were talking all the frenemies Weve got just everybody in the room, and were all talking about how to get this mission done. Those discussions led to what is now at least a 10-month delay for Artemis II, and now gives more breathing room for the complicated facets of Artemis III to hit the target. Jacobs, for instance, gets more time to put a working mobile launch tower in place, and one that wont sustain as much damage as it did from the first launch. 8.8 million pounds of thrust leaving the launch pad tends to leave a mark, Kenna said, noting the designs for the tower were based on suppositions of just what might happen when what became the worlds most powerful orbital rocket to launch actually came to fruition. Another issue as the rocket prepped for liftoff at Kennedy Space Center was the lack of access to parts of the fully stacked 312-foot-tall SLS topped with Orion while it was at on the launch pad. In 2022, some of those issues forced teams to have to roll it back to the Vehicle Assembly Building just so they could get to the problematic parts of the rocket. Theres a lot of wear and tear on the whole system to take all of the umbilicals off, to get configured to bring the crawler underneath and roll it back, said panelist John Shannon, Boeing Exploration Systems mission area vice president. So really having that late hardware access to the pad I think is going to be a requirement for future missions. Artemis II crew members (left to right) CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman depart the astronaut crew quarters in Neil Armstrong Operations and Control Building toward the Artemis crew transport vehicles before moving to Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, to test the crew's timeline for launch dayNASA Shannon did say some of the lessons learned leading up to the first launch will translate to a better flow for the future. That included supply chain issues related to not just the pandemic, but also because of a lack of vendors that became limited after the space shuttle program shut down. And despite SLS taking nearly a decade since the program was announced to actually taking flight, he had confidence because of the robust testing of the engine parts. Even though there was a lot of schedule pressure, especially in the last couple of years, NASA never backed off on the requirement to do full testing on the vehicle, he said. It takes an effort of will to do that. Its easy to skip testing as you get into the crunch time But NASA realized that this is really the one chance you have to collect a lot of data to understand the performance of this vehicle. And while NASA and its three main contract partners that put up Artemis I have had a decade working together leading to a certain level of comfort, future missions are going to need even more communication as new players join the team. Its trust building, but Im not sure we have 10 or 15 years to do that, as were adding the new folks, said Paul Anderson, Lockheed Martin Spaces deputy program manager for Orion. Weve got to get leaders on the Artemis program to continue this where we can enable this spirit of cooperation. 2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Dauphin County Democratic Committee voted Saturday to declare an open primary in the Democratic Partys race to identify challenger to incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Perry for Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District seat this fall. Five of the six candidates on the April 23 primary ballot Rick Coplen, Shamaine Daniels, Blake Lynch, Mike OBrien and Janelle Stelson turned out to compete for the partys nod; or at the very least, to make sure none of their opponents captured it. Kid Rock took to social media this week with some heartbreaking news. My Dad, Bill Ritchie Sr, moved on to be with Jesus yesterday, he posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday. He was an incredible father, grandfather, great grandfather, and so much more, none shy of being quite the character! My Dad, Bill Ritchie Sr, moved on to be with Jesus yesterday. He was an incredible father, grandfather, great grandfather, and so much more, none shy of being quite the character! Thank you for your condolences in advance. God Bless you and I love you Pop! -Bob Ritchie KidRock (@KidRock) February 16, 2024 He closed the post by thanking everyone for their condolences. God Bless you and I love you Pop!, he wrote before signing off with his real name, Bob Ritchie. The Detroit Free Press remembered Bill Ritchie as a prominent metro auto dealer who later became a close adviser to his son, Kid Rock. The paper said Bill Ritchie after a 14-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 82. It noted that Kid Rock credited him with instilling a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in him. Im sorry to hear about your dad, one person wrote on X while tagging Rock. Its really tough to lose a parent. Ive been there. So sorry for your loss, another wrote. Praying for you and your family. (Kid Rock) Sincerely sorry for your loss! another person wrote. I know the feeling! Sending you condolences and prayers! XOXO. May God Bless your family and your Dad! And there were plenty more responses like that with fans sending condolences on X. The famous Ukrainian comedian and director, star of the comedy program Masks Show, Borys Barsky continues to speak Russian, using it not only in everyday life but also in the public sphere, including interviews. The arguments he uses in his own defense are fairly standard: "many soldiers at the front speak Russian," "you can't impose a language," "when I speak Ukrainian, I'm not as sincere," and so on. In addition, Barsky is convinced that the Russian language is the "heritage of Odesa," where he comes from and where he has lived all his life. ADVERTISIMENT Such comments by the actor provoked a discussion online. Some people were sympathetic to the comedian's words, while others were outraged by his "lame excuses." They were made in an interview for the YouTube channel Goncharova Podcast. So, Barsky shared: "I have a Ukrainian family. And we have been bilingual all our lives. We understood each other perfectly. This is not a problem. The problem is a little different. You need to judge a person by their actions, not by the language they speak. Many people on the front line speak Russian. Secondly, you cannot impose it. It must be sincere and come from the heart. In 2004, I went to rallies and admired this language. No one imposed it on me. This is not Putin's language. I communicate a lot with journalists from Estonia, Denmark, Holland, and France. I communicate with them in Russian. It's easier for them. For Odesa, it is a tradition, a cultural heritage. I don't see a problem here. What is the problem? Is it rejection? In rejection? Well, scold me for that." ADVERTISIMENT The interviewer disagreed with the celebrity's words, but drew attention to one particular point-the military. Tetiana Honcharova said: "Comparing yourself to the guys on the front line is not an argument." Barsky, meanwhile, continued to prove that he knows his native language well, but when he speaks it, he feels insincere and insecure. He explains that this is due to his lack of experience. At the same time, the comedian hopes that future generations will no longer use Russian. "I had an A in Ukrainian at school. I knew it very well. But I had no communication. Not enough communication. I can speak Ukrainian, but I need to turn on the translator in my head. And it's not really easy. I will speak like a Google translator. There will be no soul, no sincerity in it. I am often asked to record some greetings in Ukrainian. I realize that it would be much more sincere and heartfelt if I wrote it in the language I speak. This is not an excuse. Well, I believe that the history of Odesa cannot be erased. I am a dinosaur generation. But let's wait until I'm extinct," the artist commented. ADVERTISIMENT However, many of his compatriots did not like his comments. The video generated a lot of thoughts on the language issue. Some people supported Barsky, while others criticized him, noting that by the 10th year of the war with Russia, it would be possible to recover the native language and start speaking it at least in public. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZ.UA also wrote that Boris Barsky has a sister in the aggressor country. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, she tried to prove to her relative that "ordinary people are not to blame for anything," but the actor sharply replied to the woman, saying that Russia was sending "meat" to Ukraine and would definitely lose in this war. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! It was a busy day at Le Palais des Congres in Paris. The second 25,000 NL Holdem tournament of the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris attracted a respectable field of 62 entries. They battled until deep in the Parisian night but after 14 hours of play, play was paused with three contestants left to continue the next day. The tournament was planned to only last one day, but with such a big turnout that proved to be impossible. When the trio bagged at the end of the night, Tamas Adamszki had the most chips in his stack, bringing 2,765,000 chips back into Day 2, good for 28 big blinds. Online phenom Niklas Lena900 Astedt is also still in contention to secure another PokerStars trophy with 2,180,000 chips, while Daniel Dvoress, who also cashed in the first 25,000 NL Hold em tournament of EPT Paris, bagged the shortest stack with 1,255,000 chips. Five others have already received a piece of the prize pool. Mike Watson, like Dvoress, also cashed in back-to-back 25,000 buy-in tournaments, while the likes of Joris Ruijs and Enrico Camosci also saw a return on their hefty investment. Meanwhile, the returning three are assured of 211,400, with 444,840 waiting for the eventual champion. End of Day 1 Results Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds Prize 1 Tamas Adamszki Hungary 2,765,000 28 2 Niklas Astedt Sweden 2,180,000 22 3 Daniel Dvoress Canada 1,255,000 13 4 Johannes Straver Netherlands 160,400 5 Mike Watson Canada 124,000 6 Joris Ruijs Netherlands 94,800 7 Enrico Camosci Italy 72,900 8 Viacheslav Buldygin Russia 58,300 Day 1 Action The day started with a modest 16 players on the clock, but that count grew steadily throughout the day, eventually setting the massive prize pool of 1,458,240 in stone when late registration closed after the dinner break. However, players such as PokerStars Ambassador Sam Grafton, Juan Pardo, and Sirzat Hissou would not make it that far as they all fired two unsuccessful bullets early on. Adrian Mateos, Jesse Lonis, and Sam Greenwood all knew deep runs in the previous 25,000 buy-in tournament at EPT Paris, but bowed out soon after dinner this time around. Thomas Boivin met his end at the final two tables, and so did Stephen Chidwick, who failed to defend his title from the day before. Eventually, Chris Brewer finished in tenth place as the tournament reached a final table of nine players, of which eight would get paid. Santhosh Suvarna was soon left with crumbs after doubling up Watson and was nearly forced all in from the big blind not much later. He met his demise while Adamszki won a big side pot with a set of jacks to take over the chip lead. Viacheslav Buldygin was then the first person headed to the payout desk to collect his min-cash of 58,300 when his king-ten could not beat the king-queen of Johannes Straver. Santhosh Suvarna Camosci was next to go when he shoved his king-jack into the pocket queens of Astedt and failed to improve, while Ruijs was allowed one double-up before falling to Astedt as well but a few hands later. They went all in in the blinds, and although Ruijs turned a straight, Astedt rivered a full house to rake in the pot and tie for the chip lead with Admaszki. Meanwhile, Watson had spent the majority of the final table short-stacked and finally fell in fifth place when Astedts inferior ace paired its kicker after a preflop all-in while Watson failed to do so in return. The final elimination of the night ended up being former chipleader Straver. He jammed all in over an open of Astedt but chose bad timing as Astedt immediately called his pocket nines and held against the ace-three of Straver. Johannes Straver The final three then played for another 40 minutes, where the chips flew around the table and the chip lead changed multiple times. Ultimately, however, Adamszki ended up with the most chips as the trio comes back tomorrow, February 18, to finish out the rest of the tournament. Blinds will restart at 50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 big blind ante. Tune back in to PokerNews then to see who will capture the trophy and the humongous first-place prize, as well as all to follow the other tournaments going on in the French capital. Trump tried to hawk his $400 sneakers at Sneaker Con and was loudly booed by the audience who made it clear how they feel about the former president. Video: Trump getting booed at Sneaker Con while trying to sell Trump Shoes for $399.00. pic.twitter.com/ieMjb7FCVp Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 17, 2024 To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Trump responded by the boos by saying that there is a lot energy in the room, which was true, and all of the energy was negative toward him. Here are the shoes that Trump was trying to hawk: Those shoes are ugly and cheap looking, but Trump is desperate for cash so there will probably be many more of these appearance where the snake oil salesman will show up in a town to hawk whatever grifter product that hes got going at the moment. Donald Trump usually avoids any place where the crowd is not likely to devoted MAGA, and the reception that he got a Sneaker Con shows why he avoids Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in his Pennsylvania campaign stops. Trump is not welcome on either side of the state, which is why he sticks to the red rural middle when he visits the Keystone State. If Trump continues to try to show his face at events that arent heavily managed or full of his fans, expect more boos to come. 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. Trump came unglued at his Michigan rally and started ranting about being fined $355 million in the New York fraud case. What Did Trump Say At His Michigan Rally? Trump said: We havent done anything wrong. Weve done nothing wrong. This last case is we havent done anything wrong. How about 12 weeks ago, a woman, Im saying, who the hell is she? Who is the woman? Its so unfair. Whats happening in our country? Our court system is a mess. Whats happening in our country? They have to straighten it out. All you see is bitterness and revenge and hatred. Judge Engoron just fined me $355 million for doing everything right. 355. And these repulsive abuses of power are not just an attack on me. Theyre really an attack on you and all Americans. Its a disgusting, its a disgusting thing. I deal with the bank. The bank is happy. Theres no victims. Theres no anything. 355 million. I paid off a mortgage for a tiny fraction of that amount. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. I borrowed money and they wanted me to borrow the money. I didnt even need the money they want because thats what they do. They loan money and they like to loan it to good people. So they loan me money and they, they charge me a fine in New York State. Nobodys going back to New York State. A lot of people are leaving a lot of businesses, but they fined me $355 million. Its the law, nothing like this has ever happened. This judge is a lunatic and if youve ever watched him and the attorney general may be worse, may be worse. You ever watch her? I will get Donald Trump her campaign. I will get Donald Trump. I promise I will get him. She knows nothing about me. Nothing about me. Video: Trump said about his fraud fine, So they loan me money and they, they charge me a fine in New York State. Nobodys going back to New York State. A lot of people are leaving a lot of businesses, but they fined me $355 million. pic.twitter.com/c2RDC22kYF PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 18, 2024 Trump makes it sound like he was innocently minding his own business, and the banks threw a bunch of money at him, and now New York is fining him $355 million. The fraud that occurred involved Trump inflating the value of his assets to get loans. He would inflate the value of his assets to get loans while deflating the value of the same assets to avoid paying taxes. The $355 million verdict clearly bothers him, as Trump went off on a screed that attacked the judge, the DA, the city of New York, and even E. Jean Carroll. Donald Trump isnt taking the $355 million judgment against him well. If Trump reacts this poorly to a civil fine, imagine how he will react to being a criminally convicted felon. Things are bad for Trump, but they could get even worse as the criminal cases unfold. 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. Donald Trump already owes E. Jean Carroll almost $90 million, but that didnt stop him from defaming her again at his rally in Michigan. Trump said, We havent done anything wrong. Weve done nothing wrong. This last case is we havent done anything wrong. How about the one 2 weeks ago, a woman, Im saying, who the hell is she? Who is the woman? Its so unfair. Video: Trump said about his fraud fine, " So they loan me money and they, they charge me a fine in New York State. Nobody's going back to New York State. A lot of people are leaving a lot of businesses, but they fined me $355 million." pic.twitter.com/c2RDC22kYF To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 18, 2024 E. Jean Carroll has already sued Trump twice and won. A court has determined that Trump not only knew Carroll, but that he raped her. Donald Trump should stop talking about E. Jean Carroll, who told Rachel Maddow in an interview, He was a phantom. It was the people around him who were giving him power. He himself was nothing. It was an astonishing discovery for me. Hes nothing. We dont need to be afraid of him. He can be knocked down. E. Jean Carroll isnt afraid of Donald Trump, but Donald Trump should definitely be afraid of E. Jean Carroll. 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. While campaigning for President Biden and Sen. Jackie Rosen in Nevada, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) called President Biden a tough motherf*cker. Fetterman was speaking at the Washoe Democratic Party Crab Feed when he said: Biden is our guy. Biden is the only American whos ever beat Trump in an election. The only one. Biden is one tough motherf I was proud to stand with him and campaign with him, and we sent Dr. Oz back to New Jersey. The choice in this election couldnt be more stark Its about Public Service versus Grifting, secured border versus exploiting the border, NATO versus Russia, progress versus revenge, president versus dictator, honorable versus profane, decency versus sleaze order versus chaos, truth versus lies, good versus evil. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Fetterman has been defining the 2024 election and hammering home the message that 2024 is a choice between good and evil and decency versus sleaze. As far as Biden being tough is concerned, a person doesnt last as long in national politics as Biden has without being tough. People should never confuse age with weaknesses. There is a reason why Republicans are trying to play up Bidens age as an issue, and that is because Joe Biden, at his core, is a tough guy. Biden is an old-school political fighter. He really does believe in bipartisanship and cooperation, but there is a strain of blue-collar fighter in President Biden that a blue-collar senator like John Fetterman can see, Sen. Fetterman has become one of the Democratic Partys best surrogates. He delivers messages in a clear, blunt, and honest way that people can understand. One of the reasons why Trump fears Biden so much is that Trump pretends to be tough, but Joe Biden is the real deal. President Biden is the person who goes to church every weekend, spends time with his family, and seems to have an unwavering belief in the promise and potential of America. The President is also a tough guy, and voters shouldnt forget it as they make their decision in 2024. 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. The following is an opinion piece by PoliticusUSAs Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jones. The hearing into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been conducted in a way that is very familiar to women in power and even more so to women of color: It has been focused on humiliating her by delving into her romantic life to portray her in a manner consistent with a racist stereotype of Black women as a Jezebel, with a focus that has nothing to do with the Trump RICO case. This tactic is not new and it is sadly familiar to women. While it is a frequent scheme by Trump throughout his life, it is not specific to him. Rather, Trumps misogyny and misogynoir merely exploits existing bias in our culture. They dragged Special Counsel Nathan Wade in to be questioned intensely about his since ended relationship with the Fulton County DA. Harry Litman pointed to these questions, like When did you first sleep with her? as tawdry. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. It can be argued in good faith that this relationship needed to be addressed. It can be argued that it wasnt great for Willis to engage in a relationship with the Special Counsel. It can also be argued and is a fact that work relationships should be disclosed to superiors. But it cannot be argued in good faith that questions about when he first slept with her are relevant. These were asked to suggest a sexual scandal should compel more attention than the actual charges against Donald Trump of election interference. The only pertinent matter that could have disqualified her would have been if kickbacks were involved, but her testimony dispelled any such accusations. To that issue, Willis was interrogated about a dinner paid for by Wade by the same people defending Supreme Court Clarence Thomas wildly corrupt grift, including 38 undisclosed trips billionaires paid for by billionaires some with cases in front of the court. Just one of those trips is estimated to have potentially exceeded $500,000. The DA rightfully pointed out that she is not on trial, as she was being treated like her relationship was more concerning to the public than the actual defendants attempt to steal an election and overturn U.S. democracy. An absurd but often successful gambit when aimed at a woman with power and especially a Black woman. Youve been intrusive into peoples personal lives. Youre confused. You think Im on trial, Willis testified. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. Im not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial. Watch: Willis: Youre confused, you think Im on trial, these people are on trial for stealing an election in 2020. Im not on trial. pic.twitter.com/YgARkEgJB6 Acyn (@Acyn) February 15, 2024 The online discussion surrounding Fani Willis during her testimony became about her romantic life, with pundits fretting about how aggressive she was, and how she was unprofessional by doing something men in power have been doing seemingly forever. That is to say, most people fell for it. They fell into it. They were easily baited into commenting on how even though this had nothing to do with anything, it didnt reflect well on her (it being acting like a white man with power). White, conservative women in Congress are allowed to grope their partner in public and have rampant rumors about their extra-marital affairs, and yet they are championed by some of the same people calling Fani Willis a Jezebel. A partisan divide in standards for women is accepted in our culture, primarily because Republican women are working to uphold the patriarchy. (See then V.P candidate Sarah Palins hacked emails which gatekeepers said would be not decent to report on; contrast with Hillary Clintons campaigns hacked emails which the press feasted on.) They are not, say, Black women holding Donald Trump (ultimate representative of unearned entitlement of white men) to account for his attempt to steal an election or for massive fraud against the state of New York. Donald Trump is the embodiment of white patriarchy trying to hold onto power by any means, and so its hardly a surprise that he is followed by people who easily buy into hateful tropes about people they dont think should even be allowed to have power. But its not just the MAGA crowd who buy into these harmful stereotypes; but rather our whole culture. This isnt to suggest that Willis was smart to engage in a relationship with the Special Counsel; but rather that the point of raising it in the sexual manner it was raised was to inject a very specific portrayal of her, one that is usually successful. Revenge porn is weaponized against women because it is effective (see former Rep. Katie Hill, who was driven from office by it). It humiliates and denigrates a woman in the eyes of the public, in a manner it would not if it were a man. Men are entitled to be sexual and to make mistakes, women are not and women of color are doubly not. I pointed out during the hearing that this humiliation was a purposeful effort meant to intimidate her. The sexualization of a woman in power immediately turns her into an object of male gaze, removing her authority in the eyes of the uninitiated public. For Black women, this comes with an even more powerful connotation meant to strip them of command. The portrayal of black women as lascivious by nature is an enduring stereotypeThis depiction of black women is signified by the name Jezebel, the Jim Crow Museum explains in The Jezebel Stereotype. Just how dangerous is the Jezebel stereotype? It was used to justify the rape of Black women slaves. Or rather, to claim that rape didnt even exist because all Black women wanted relations with white men. Its also the dominant image of Black women in our culture; when given the current state of affairs, the dominant image of Black women in our culture should be that of a heroine saving democracy. The Jezebel has replaced the Mammy as the dominant image of black women in American popular culture. The black woman as prostitute, for example, is a staple in mainstream movies, especially those with urban settings. The black prostitute and the black pimp supposedly give these movies cutting edge realism A half century after the American civil rights movement, it is increasingly easy to find black women, especially young ones, depicted as Jezebels whose only value is as sexual commodities. Remember, if she is a sexual object, she is less than. She is without power. Heres Trump in August of 2023 already deploying this tactic against Willis: Trump claims Fani Willis is racist against white people like him and spreads rumors about her sex life pic.twitter.com/DJu4XWCang Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2023 Why is he going for her sex life? Because it works. Its not just Willis. Southern Baptist Convention pastors started calling Vice President Kamala Harris a Jezebel two days after she took office.But one example is a pastor tweeting and telling on himself: I cant imagine any truly God-fearing Israelite who wouldve wanted their daughters to view Jezebel as an inspirational role model because she was a woman in power. Lisa Sharon Harper is quoted in Religion News explaining that the Jezebel trope is specifically a window into the beliefs of white Southern men, and since this attack is being waged on Willis in Georgia, this is even more impactful. They legitimize their own racist, white supremacist worldview by placing it on top of a biblical reference, Harper said. This could be a way of white men trying to put Black women back in their place, which is under them. Putting a Black woman in her place, which is under the white man. Pennsylvania Attorney General candidate Keir Bradford-Grey, who if elected would be the first woman of color to ever serve in statewide executive office in the state and has more than 20 years experience as a state and federal defender, told the Associated Press that the questions probing Willis personal life in the investigation were disgusting and had disturbing implications for Black women in leadership roles, adding, I cant imagine a world where we have to continue to be treated like this as we seek leadership roles, and we do them well. This is not to suggest that when a woman fails to do her job properly she should not be held accountable. But when attempts are made to sexualize women in positions of power, and it happens so reliably it might not be something youve even thought about before, we all need to be better than we have been taught to be. When the focus is not on her job performance, but rather as a sexual being (i.e., does she meet male approval in her looks, does she present as feminine enough or is she shrill, who has she slept with and how can that be used to demean her, why has her husband left her, etc.) her power is being attacked through cultural misogyny. Fani Willis is a powerful woman who is doing her job to hold to account a former president known for intimidation and harassment. When Black women are being dragged down into this established Jezebel stereotype, we need to see it for what it is, call it out, and deny it the power it seeks. Scottie Scheffler has become the first player in the 50 years of The Players Championship to win back-to-back. This was the hardest. Not only was he dealing with neck pain all week, he started the final round five shots behind. Scheffler closed with a 64. That matches the lowest final round by a winner. He also tied a Players Championship record with a five-shot comeback. U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, British Open champion Brian Harman and Xander Schauffele all finished one shot behind. All of them had their chances over the final three holes to force a playoff. Read moreScheffler goes back-to-back in Players Championship in Sunday thriller at Sawgrass An Augusta man who'd been missing for more than a month was found dead Saturday evening near the intersection of Silver Bluff Road and Atomic Road, according to a statement from the Aiken County Coroner's Office. The deceased was identified as Demon Antwan Parrish, 31, and plans are for an autopsy in Newberry to determine the cause of death. His death has been deemed suspicious. Coroner Darryl Ables said the property owner found the body at 6:05 p.m. Feb. 17 in a wooded area on the 3500 block of Silver Bluff Road. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office and Richmond County Sheriff's Office are engaged with Ables' office in the investigation. Parrish was last seen Jan. 8 on Mill Street in Augusta and was wearing pink sweatpants and a black jacket, according to a media release the Richmond County Sheriff's Office issued last month. He was last active on social media the following day and was reported missing Jan. 10 The office announced Jan. 19 that Caleb "Honcho" White, 21, is wanted for questioning in Parrish's disappearance. He is also wanted on a charge of theft by receiving stolen property. Explainer: What to know about Israel's imminent Rafah assault and global opinion Xinhua) 14:17, February 18, 2024 People leave their homes after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) The international community has widely criticized the Israeli intention to invade Rafah. JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. Since the onset of the latest escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel has been urging civilians in the Strip to evacuate to safe areas in southern Gaza, as its military operation began in the northern part of the Strip. As a result, more than one million people, or more than half of Gaza's total population, poured into Rafah to seek shelter, most living in tents. But Rafah could soon become a battlefield. Israeli army and special forces jointly raided Rafah on Monday morning and rescued two hostages who were abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which was seen as a rehearsal for ground invasion. Israel has vowed to fight against Hamas until "all goals" -- eliminating Hamas, releasing all hostages and ensuring that Gaza doesn't pose a threat to Israel anymore -- are achieved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier this month that it's impossible to achieve these goals "by leaving four Hamas battalions in Rafah," calling on the Israel Defense Forces and security agencies to formulate a plan for ground operations in Gaza's southernmost town. Israel's Wartime Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz also warned on Friday that the fighting would continue during Ramadan -- the Islamic holy month of fasting, which starts on March 10 this year -- if the hostages are not returned. A boy sells goods beside the ruins in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Israel will keep in touch with Egypt, which borders Rafah, and other countries and evacuate residents in Rafah before launching ground operations into the city, according to Gantz. The international community has widely criticized the Israeli intention to invade Rafah. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that "indiscriminate bombing of densely populated areas may amount to war crimes" under international humanitarian law. Regional countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, voiced deep concern over the potential invasion on Monday. Egypt's State Information Service stressed in a statement on Friday that Egypt rejects any forced or voluntary displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to its outside, especially to Egyptian territories. A military action in Rafah "would worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance," Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement on Friday. During a joint press conference on Friday with Jordanian King Abdullah II, French President Emmanuel Macron warned against a forced and massive displacement of the population, which would be another serious violation of international law and pose a significant risk for regional escalation. An Israeli military offensive in Rafah would be a "turning point" for the conflict in Gaza, said Macron. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who just visited Israel this week to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, said the enclave is on the "brink of collapse" due to the humanitarian situation. People in Rafah "cannot simply vanish into thin air," she said. U.S. President Joe Biden, who had two phone calls with Netanyahu in the past week, told reporters on Friday that he had urged Netanyahu to protect civilians in the planned operation in Rafah while "hoping that the Israelis will not make any massive land invasion." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris also told Israeli President Issac Herzog on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference that her country opposes a military operation in Rafah without a credible and executable plan to ensure the safety of civilians there. However, despite calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Biden administration is preparing to send a new package of weapons to Israel, which is estimated to be worth tens of millions of U.S. dollars, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, citing anonymous U.S. officials. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) In the pursuit of youthfulness and slimness, beauties resort to various methods: makeup contouring, cosmetic procedures, and various haircuts. However, there is another, simpler way to emphasize natural beauty and hide structural imperfections of the skin and face oval - hair coloring. ADVERTISIMENT Celebrity stylist and hairdresser Jay Birmingham told The Sun about this. According to him, the right choice of shades on the hair directly affects the appearance (to see the photo, scroll to the bottom of the page). "Contouring means using light and shadow to highlight some parts of the face (by brightening them) and make others less visible (by darkening them). Using this concept as a basis for hair coloring can help you highlight your cheekbones and make your face look thinner," the stylist shared. To successfully apply this technique, he advised choosing one color palette, in which to choose darker and lighter shades and distribute them evenly on the strands. ADVERTISIMENT For example, lovers of cold blonde are advised to make a smooth transition to the same cold undertone, but in a darker color, and beauties with a warm shade are advised to pay attention to "warm chestnut." "To make your face look thinner, place the darkest strands next to it. This will emphasize the cheekbones and jawline, giving the face oval additional structure. If you're worried about a too wide forehead, dye your roots and bangs dark, and make the ends of your hair as light as possible," said Jay Birmingham. Such techniques are not new in the fashion world. The most famous coloring among them is balayage, when the shades smoothly shimmer together. A nice bonus of this coloring is visually thicker hair and a "fresh" appearance. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel. Don't fall for fakes! Saturday afternoon on Hampton Avenue brought an abundance of slow, colorful, upbeat traffic, with Aiken's 24th annual Black History parade rolling from American Legion Post 212's headquarters to Perry Memorial Park. This year's procession was in memory of Sonny Ford, an Aiken Department of Public Safety officer who died in 2013 at age 54. Ford's image appeared several places in the parade, and the grand marshals were his widow, Wanda Ford, and his son, Chris Ford, both riding near the front of the procession, which lasted about 90 minutes. Candy flew and the corner of Hampton Avenue and Kershaw Street proved to be a profitable site for Brielle Roland, 7, who had her pockets stuffed by the end of the parade. Brielle gave the occasion a blue-ribbon review, proclaiming, "This is the best day of my life." Cowboy hats were a major part of the scene, with the theme for this year's parade being "Doing it Western Style Riding High in the Community for Unity." Ford, remembered in part for his time as a resource officer at South Aiken High School, sometimes had a lofty perch in Aiken parades as a horseman (astride "Doc, his beloved horse," as described in a parade display) and a member of the National 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association. Hundreds of other spectators helped line the route and got an eyeful of creations from such groups as the Center for African American History, Art, and Culture; Mt. Harris Missionary Baptist Church; Tall Pines STEM Academy; Glam Stars Institute of Dance; and the Aiken NAACP Youth Council. Top honors went to the senior citizens of Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, and second place went to King David Lodge #4/Hope Chapter #4 of the Order of the Eastern Star. There was a tie for third place, with Umoja Village and the youth of Mt. Anna Baptist Church sharing the honor. Volunteers and members of fraternities, sororities and law enforcement came together to support those in need with a food distribution. As a way to address food insecurity in the community, local agencies such as Area Churches Together Serving, Golden Harvest Food Bank, the Black Historical Committee of Aiken and the Aiken Department of Public Safety gave away hundreds of bags of food during a free distribution event Friday. The event, which is in its third year, had over 50 volunteers who helped to distribute meat, rice, potatoes, pasta, oatmeal, milk and other non-perishable foods. The bags people received should last for about a month. The event is usually held at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, but due to renovations, it was held at Aiken Department of Public Safety headquarters. The distribution was held in conjunction with the Black Historical Committee of Aiken, which organizes the Black History Parade. Every year, we try to give back to the community with a day of service," said Dr. Cheryl Cummings with the Black Historical Committee of Aiken. Cummings, the event organizer, said it continues to grow each year. She remembers how the first year there were about 100 or so cars. The following year there were about 200. She said this year, the distribution would have exceeded over 200 people. We keep doing it because we know there is a whole lot of food insecurity and want to give back to the community, she said. Cummings said the past two years, the food distribution was held in honor of long-time member of the Black Historical Committee of Aiken Betty Giles because of her commitment to giving back . We would continue her legacy and have food distribution," said Anthony White, who serves as the president of Black Historical Committee of Aiken. This year's distribution event was held in honor of late Cpl. Sonny Ford. Suzanne Jackson, who serves as the executive director of ACTS, said it is very meaningful to provide food for the community and honor Black History Month. From here, officers will be able to monitor every corner of the detention center through some 400 cameras and control every door in the building, including those outside the detention center proper. There will be no need for an officer to manually work the locks and physically accompany an inmate to recreation. The practice will switch from one of direct supervision to one of indirect supervision, a switch that Rowland heralded for the increased safety it will give his detention officers, 70% of whom, he said, are women. Safety is being built into the facility for inmates and maintenance workers, too. Each cell is built as one unit the bed is a welded extension of the wall; the clothes hooks hold only so much weight before they simply angle downward. The cells were built off site and then slid into place, just like a LEGO, Rowland said. A maintenance hallway runs behind each group of cells: the prisoner doesnt have to be moved for maintenance to get done on the cell. More space, more tech, more efficiency The whole of Edgefield Countys future Law Enforcement Center jail, Sheriffs Office, investigations, magistrate court, records and dispatch is 67,000 square feet. That square footage, plus the tech upgrades coming into that space, is allowing for better efficiency across all divisions. The total evidence space [currently] for all evidence guns, narcotics, crime scene, everything is not as big as this room, Rowland said, stepping into the skeleton of the room that will be solely for processing what deputies bring in before its moved to actual storage. Narcotics storage will be in a ventilated safe. Having a vehicle bay will be a first for the Edgefield County Sheriff's Office, which Rowland said has relied on local dealerships to lend a car lift. GiS data will feed into dispatch monitors, and dispatch will be able to guide responding officers to the scene not only with directions but by describing the way, a huge benefit for poorly lit and hard to find rural areas, Rowland said. With the Cooper River Bridge Run mere weeks away, two of the thousands of contributors who chipped in on the building of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from 2001-2005 hearkened back to the efforts that went into making the structure an iconic masterpiece. Read more'Built to last forever': Workers recall Ravenel Bridge construction SUMMERVILLE Exercising their right to free speech yet focused on repressing that right for their neighbors, a group calling itself the Concerned Citizens for Education want more than 150 books removed from school shelves in Dorchester District Two. The effort, if successful, would amount to the largest book ban attempt in South Carolina over the last decade, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Residents backing what the ACLU calls "the freedom to read have challenged a recent 4-3 school board vote to overturn a motion from board member Justin Farnsworth to send the ban request back through the process outlined in district policy. The premise of the motion was that following district policy would keep the request from taking up media specialists time. Policy IJL (Library Materials Selection and Adoption) contains the boards official recognition that the final decision regarding what material an individual student may access belongs to that students parents or guardians. At no time will the wishes of one childs parents to restrict his/her reading or viewing of a particular item infringe on other parents rights to permit their child to read or view the same material, district policy states. That a book challenge can only be made by a parent or guardian is another policy stipulation. Identified as a person who is not a parent or guardian of a district student, Dorchester County resident Nancy Warner allegedly emailed a book ban request to the superintendents office in December. The request included a spreadsheet of 572 book titles she wanted banned from district libraries, said ACLU spokesperson Paul Bowers. The board narrowed the list down to books that actually can be found on school shelves. On Feb. 12, Kassidy Krawzak, an eighth-grade student at East Edisto Middle School, challenged the school board and an auditorium crowded with book ban supporters. When I was in third grade, my teacher had a vegetable tasting day for us. We each brought in a vegetable from home and shared it with our classmates. I remember coming home, excited, and announcing to my mother that I had fallen in love with rutabaga. After a startled moment or two, she sm Read moreStevens: For the love of rutabaga and our children While the Poles are blocking the import of Ukrainian grain, Russian grain is entering the country in large volumes. As much as 12 million tons of products were imported from the terrorist country of the Russian Federation. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, only 4.3 million tons of Ukrainian grain entered the country. This was reported by the National Security and Defense Council's Center for Countering Disinformation. "How much Russian grain was imported to Poland in 2022-2023? 12 million tons. How many millions of tons did Ukraine import? 4.3 million tons," said Alina Bondarchuk, head of the Center's Disinformation Collection and Monitoring Department. She also added that the farmers' actions in Poland are financed by the Kremlin. It should be noted that the border with Ukraine is being blocked not only by farmers, but also by truckers who are against the EU's preferential conditions for trucks from Ukraine. The State Customs Service said that on Sunday, February 18, truck traffic will be blocked in two directions at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint. Farmers from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France are going to join the protest of Polish farmers. ADVERTISIMENT Yesterday, the queue to enter the Yagodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint was 550 trucks long. As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Ukraine may ban the import of food from the neighboring country due to the blockade of its borders by Polish farmers. This may be a response to the deterioration of relations and protests. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Over the weekend, a wave of criticisms swept through social media following the release of Prince Onyenwere, a Nollywood costumier accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in Delta State. Nigerians accused the Delta State Police Command of compromising after granting bail to the costumier, who allegedly raped the girl on a movie set in January. After being subjected to severe beating for his actions, the suspect was subsequently handed over to the police for investigation. In response to the backlash over his release, the Delta State Police Command addressed the situation, revealing why Prince Onyenwere was released from detention barely two months ago. Delta State Police spokesperson Bright Edafe stated on his Instagram page on Saturday that the suspect was released due to the forgiveness extended by the victims mother, Austine Timi, and her family. Mr Edafe explained that Ms Timis decision to withdraw the case and her failure to present her daughter contributed to the suspects release. READ ALSO: Mr Edafe wrote: Regarding the alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl by the actor Prince, I want members of the public to read how the mother of the victim compounded the entire case stating that she and her family has forgiven the suspect. She refused to show up with the victim. Attached are screenshots of text messages and an affidavit. On the premise of that, charging the suspect was granted a temporary bail with the hope that the family will do the right thing. The mothers statement A statement from Ms Timi, shared on Mr Edafes Instagram and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, revealed that she the victims mother expressed her decision to withdraw her complaint, opting to let go of the matter. According to the statement, the victims mother conveyed that pursuing the case could inflict irreparable trauma on her daughters psyche and reasoning consciousness, potentially leaving a lasting stigma on her image. Furthermore, she stated that Prince Onyenwere had shown remorse for his actions, thus prompting her to discontinue the investigation into the case. She explained that she chose to drop the case to allow the costumier to start anew. The statement signed before the Commissioner for Oaths on 18th February read: I, AUSTIN TIMI (FEMALE) Christian, a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, resident at Warri, Delta State of Nigeria, do at this moment make an oath and as follow: That I am deponent herein. That l am the mother of EBITIMI AUSTINE (FEMALE). On the 29 day of January 2024, I reported a case of rape at GRA Police State against my daughter EBITIMI AUSTINE by one C. Prince (MALE). I am withdrawing my earlier complaint because I have decided to let go of the matter as a continuation of the case may cause irreparable trauma on the victims psyche and reasoning consciousness and may remain a stigma on her image forever, coupled with the fact that the said C. Prince (MALE) has shown remorse for his wrong deed. Thus, I want the Police Authority to discontinue the case investigation. I wish to discontinue the prosecution of the matter against the suspect so that he can have the opportunity to turn a new leaf, and I am not prepared to press further charges against the suspect nor come to court to testify. I make this affidavit for the information of the GENERAL PUBLIC, law enforcement agents and to WHOM IT MAY CONCERN to please take note. And that I make this solemn declaration, conscientiously, believing same to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge and following the oath law of 2006 of Delta State. Find the link to the Instagram post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3cIHLBq2DG/?igsh=dG9laHB0c25pZ3du Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis (Indian hemp), at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos. This was contained in a statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed in giant loudspeakers tucked in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America. He said the giant wooden boxes dressed as sound speakers were seized by NDLEA officers at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) import shed of the Lagos airport. Mr Babafemi stated that when they were opened, the sound boxes were stuffed with 60 bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, Loud, weighing 33.5 kilograms. At least three suspects: a freight agent, Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager, Babalola Ayodeji, and the receiver of the consignment, Taiwo Olusegun, have been arrested. They were intercepted in follow-up operations between Thursday, 15, and 16 of February. Afeez was arrested at the airport, and Ayodeji was nabbed at his office on Allen Avenue, Ikeja. Taiwo was traced to his residence at 13 Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, where he was picked up on Friday, Feb. 16, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu extends warm felicitations to former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on the occasion of his birthday on 16 February 2024. President Tinubu commends the exemplary leadership and remarkable contributions of the accomplished administrator to the nation throughout his illustrious career in the public service as a two-term governor under the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). President Tinubu expresses confidence that Mr El-Rufais commitment to national service will continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration for many, especially the younger generation aspiring to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria. He wishes the former governor continued success, good health, and fulfilment in all of his endeavours. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) February 16, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Asue Ighodalo, a frontline aspirant in the forthcoming Edo governorship primary election for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he will redefine governance with a focus on accountability and transparency. Mr Ighodalo, an investment banker and a commercial lawyer, said this while answering questions from newsmen on Sunday in Benin. The governorship aspirant said if elected, he would run an inclusive government and ensure that every sector of the economy was touched. Mr Ighodalo, a former chairman of Sterling Bank Plc and Nigerian Breweries, also said he would bring development to the 18 local government areas of the state. Having worked closely with the Edo State Government since the time of former Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, till now, I have come to understand the socio-political dynamics that will massively transform the state to the next level, he said. He said that as Chairman, Board of Trustees, Alaghodaro Economic Summit the Edo think-tank team, the economy of the state grew steadily at a very fast rate, with over 140 per cent in the last seven years. And as governor, I will take deliberate steps to grow the states economy to a higher level, regardless of the challenges of Nigeria. If the economic summit under my watch attracted new investments from new investors worth 4 billion dollars sourced from Nigeria and from joint partnerships, we will do much more, with me as governor because the state has the capacity. Edo must set out at dawn to make progress and pull other parts of Nigeria and other regions up. We must continue to show through Edo that there is great hope for Nigeria. The state can drag Nigeria out of its untapped potential and re-direct it to a point of development. According to Mr Ighodalo, the Edo story tells us we are not a state that lacks the capacity to do well. He commended INEC for directing that political parties and their aspirants should pull down their campaign billboards, posters and jingles being aired on television and radio stations in the state. INECs State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, gave the directive on Friday at an Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting in Benin. Mr Onuoha had said the directive became imperative to remind political actors in the state that the ban on election campaigns had not been lifted. If you look at the Edo election timetable, it says that the commencement of campaigns in public by political parties will be on April 24. But what is happening in this state right now is that all the political parties are campaigning in public not private. If you go round the town, you see campaign billboards, posters and jingles of aspirants, not even candidates. We have held a meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC) in Edo on this issue but they have clearly not stopped. So I thought I should bring the issue here for us to proffer collective solutions so that nobody will be accused of supporting party A or B, he said. According to him, We are going to hold a press conference to inform the general public and the political parties that what is happening is in total violation of the electoral law. And INEC will not fail to sanction any party which goes ahead to campaign after the warning, he added. However, Mr Ighodalo said INECs warning was apt and timely, saying, It is a good sign that the nations political umpire is ready to weep into line anyone who flouts the electoral laws ahead of the 21 Sept governorship election. The PDP governorship hopeful said he had asked his campaign team to immediately comply with the directive. (NAN) KOO/EMAF Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print It was a groundbreaking moment for Nigeria and the African continent when Brigadier General Gabriel Olufemi Esho made history as he was officially appointed as the Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). This prestigious position not only marks a personal achievement for Brigadier General Esho but also signifies a significant milestone for Nigeria, as he becomes the first Nigerian to hold such a position within MINURSO. In a colorful ceremony, Brigadier General Esho took over from Commodore Faustina Boakyewwa Anokye from the Ghana Navy. Brigadier General Esho hails from Ondo State in western Nigeria. From a young age, he showed great determination and an unwavering commitment to serving others, which led him to pursue a career in the military. After graduating from the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 46th Regular Course with a bachelors degree in Mathematics and a masters degree in Strategic Studies, his dedication and exceptional leadership qualities quickly garnered attention. Throughout his career, Brigadier General Esho displayed fierceness, resilience, and a remarkable grasp of strategic military operations. His ability to think on his feet and a deep understanding of complex regional dynamics made him a natural choice for various peacekeeping missions across Africa. His stellar track record soon captured the attention of the United Nations, which recognized his incredible potential and appointed him to MINURSO. MINURSO was established by the UN Security Council in 1991 with the primary objective of overseeing the referendum on self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. The mission has long been regarded as one of the most challenging, yet crucial, peacekeeping operations in the world. Brigadier General Eshos appointment as Deputy Force Commander not only recognises his exceptional military skills but also highlights the UNs commitment to diversifying its peacekeeping forces. As Brig Gen Esho assumes his role, his priority will be to strengthen the missions mandate and ensure the safety and well-being of the local population in Western Sahara. His vision for MINURSO includes actively engaging with the Sahrawi people, fostering dialogue, and promoting trust within the communities. Brig Gen Esho firmly believes that sustainable peace can only be achieved through understanding and collaboration. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Brigadier General Esho expressed deep gratitude for the support he has received. He emphasized the importance of diversity within global peacekeeping missions, stating that representation is essential for meaningful and lasting change. Undoubtedly, his appointment will serve as an inspiration to aspiring Nigerian military personnel and young individuals across Africa. As the first Nigerian to stand tall in the role of Deputy Force Commander in MINURSO, Brigadier General Esho is undeniably a trailblazer. His appointment not only embodies Nigerias commitment to global peace and security but also paves the way for a more inclusive and representative future for peacekeeping missions worldwide. READ ALSO: Nigerian Army arrests soldiers filmed assaulting civilian With Brigadier General Esho at the helm, MINURSO will undoubtedly see a renewed spirit and an empowered force working towards peace and reconciliation in Western Sahara. The highlight of the event was the transfer of baton/handing over between the outgoing and in-coming DFC which was witnessed by the Head of Mission and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr Alexander Ivanko, Force Commander Maj Gen MD Fakhrul Ahsan and other top management staff of the Mission as well as military observers and civilian staff. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has called for aggressive military operations against bandits across the state, following attacks in Igabi and Kauru LGAs in which some citizens were killed and others kidnapped. Terrorists carried out simultaneous attacks on communities in Igabi and Kauru local government areas of Kaduna state on Friday. According to reports from the government, many were feared killed or kidnapped in Gwada and Kerawa of Igabi and Kwassam, Kurera and Kan Makama in Kauru Local Government Area. The Governor also sent his condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in the attacks. Governor Sani, represented by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, visited scenes of the attacks in Gwada and Kerawa in Igabi LGA on Saturday. According to the government statement on Saturday, the delegation was on an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in the areas. READ ALSO: Mr Aruwan was accompanied by the Garrison Commander, One Division Nigerian Army, Muhammad Kana, a brigadier general, alongside other military commanders and security forces working in the general areas. We are here on behalf of Governor Uba Sani to first of all condole with you over the lives lost in Kerawa and Sabon Birni Wards in Igabi LGA and also Kwassam, Kurera and Kan Makama communities in Kauru LGA. May Almighty God grant the deceased eternal rest, and grant a speedy recovery to the injured. I want to assure you that we are also here for an assessment of the security situation and as you can see, troops are presently carrying out operations in these locations, to which you have attested. The Governor of Kaduna State is not relenting in his efforts, and he is also working towards sustained aggressive military operations in the frontline locations and emerging fronts like Kauru LGA. The delegation met with traditional leaders, led by the Acting District Head of Sabon Birni, Ahmed Aliyu, as well as religious and community leaders from Dunki, Gwada, Bina, Maraci, Tami, Karshi and Kerawa, during which issues critical to the improvement of the security situation were discussed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria is ready to host the African Central Bank in line with the vision of the Abuja Treaty. Addressing leaders at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday, President Tinubu said his administration will engage the African Union Commission in collaboration with member states to ensure that the bank takes off as scheduled in 2028. The president affirmed that Africas success in conclusively addressing its challenges hinges on the firmness of its resolution, built on a foundation of deep-rooted solidarity, if it is to avoid perpetuating existing problems and creating new ones. As a continent and as individual nations, we face strong headwinds and difficult hurdles threatening to complicate our mission to bring qualitative democratic governance and economic development to our people. Many of these obstacles, such as climate change and unfair patterns of global trade, are largely not of our making. However, some of the pitfalls, including coup-birthed autocracies and the deleterious tinkering with constitutional tenure provisions, are developmental cancers we as Africans are giving to ourselves, he stated. Speaking on the military takeovers in the Republics of Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and the exit of three of these nations from ECOWAS, the president said disagreements over the unconstitutional changes of government should not mean a permanent rupture of the abiding lines of regional affinity and cooperation. The drive for a peaceful, strong, and united West Africa is bigger than any one person or group of people. The bonds of history, culture, commerce, geography, and brotherhood hold deep meaning for our people. Thus, out of the dust and fog of misunderstanding and acrimony, we must seize the chance to create a new people-centric era of trust and accord. To all who care to listen, I declare that if you come to the table to discuss important matters in good faith, you will find Nigeria and ECOWAS already sitting there waiting to greet you as the brother that you are, President Tinubu said. On education, which is the theme of this years summit, the president said education is the core ingredient in the process of evolving creative solutions to the unique challenges long confronting the continent. In helping to achieve the Agenda 2063 objective of a peaceful, united and prosperous Africa, I consider African education, not only in the narrow context of the benign use of science and technology to improve the material standards of our people, but also in the nuanced appreciation of the fact that Africa must also become better educated in the humane art of democratic practice, diplomacy, and conflict resolution without violence. This years theme encourages us to remodel our educational systems to fit these goals. In Nigeria, my administration is devoting ample resources to education at all levels. From redesigning our school feeding programmes and academic curricula to making ourselves an Information and Communication Technology hub, through which we shall bring more youths into the classroom and furnish them with the tools required to flourish in the global economy of the 21st century, he said. READ ALSO: Tinubu urges AU leaders to allow Nigeria host African Central Bank The president used the occasion to extend invitation to the Africa Counter-Terrorism Summit scheduled to take place in April 2024, in Abuja, stating that the summit aims to expand discussions beyond military and law enforcement remedies to comprehensively tackle the root causes of violent extremism, such as poverty, inadequate political access, and the propagation of hateful ideologies. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Tragedy struck at Ogbo Ogwu Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday, when a trader was shot dead under controversial circumstances. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday. A video clip circulating on Facebook showed when the victim was being rushed to a hospital by other traders and sympathisers. But the yet-to-be-identified trader was said to have died shortly after he was rushed to the hospital. Some of the traders were heard accusing personnel of the Special Anambra State Anti-touting Squad (SASA) of shooting the trader to death while they were carrying out an operation in the area. Anambra govt speaks Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has refuted claims that personnel of its anti-touts security outfit shot dead the trader. Paul Nwosu, the state Commissioner for Information, in a statement on Saturday night which was forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES, said the anti-touts security personnel were carrying out an operation near the market to arrest some touts extorting residents in the area when some of them ran into the market to evade arrest. Mr Nwosu claimed that some shop owners in the market attacked the anti touting security outfit agents with acid after the personnel pursued the touts into the market. The commissioner said four out of the seven-man anti-touts security operatives sustained life threatening injuries from the acid attack. As if the acid attack was not effective, the market security personnel started shooting at the unarmed SASA officials. When it was obvious that SASA could not arrest the touts in the market as a result of the life threatening attack against them, they retreated, he said, adding, It was at this point that the Nigerian Navy intervened to arrest the ugly situation. Mr Nwosu claimed that the trader was hit by a stray bullet from gunshots fired by the market security personnel during a shoot-out with personnel of the Nigerian Navy. The commissioner said the cartridges found around the trader were those of pump action rifles usually used by vigilante groups and market security personnel. The cartridges dont fit into the model of service rifles used by the Nigerian Navy, he said. SASA does not carry firearms and couldnt have shot the young man for whatever reason. Moreover, SASAs brief is not to kill, but to arrest touts who are extorting money from hard working Ndi Anambra. And where arrests are made, the suspects are made to face the law, the commissioner added. Mr Nwosu said it was unfortunate that a suspected violator of the law fleeing from arrest was given protection by a legitimate market whose leadership was recognised by the state government. He added that the incident was strange because the market leaders were among the many individuals who called on Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State to fight touting and extortion in the state. (The Anambra State) Government is calling on the police to thoroughly investigate what led to this unfortunate incident and ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are made to face the wrath of the law, he stated. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to a message seeking his comments. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A female lawyer in Anambra State, who was declared wanted for alleged abuse of her 11-year-old house girl (name withheld) in the state, has surrendered to the police. The lawyer, Adachukwu Cukelu-Okafor, was said to have used a broken bottle, knife and electric iron to brutalise the child who began staying with her on 5 January. The incident happened in Akpaka, Onitsha in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, after Mrs Cukelu-Okafor, reportedly accused the house maid of touching her daughter. Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State had, days after the incident, said his administration had begun the prosecution of Ms Cukelu-Okafor over the abuse of the house help. The lawyer later reportedly went into hiding which prompted the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in Anambra State, Ify Obinabo, to declare her wanted. PREMIUM TIMES reported that, following Ms Cukelu-Okafors disappearance, Nigerias Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, placed a N2 million bounty on her. Surrendering to the police Ms Cukelu-Okafor surrendered herself to the police in Awka, the Anambra State capital, according to a statement, on Friday, by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in Anambra. The statement did not indicate when the lawyer surrendered to the police. Mrs Obinabo, according to the statement, said the lawyer will be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka within the following week. The commissioner said she visited the survivor and that she is set to be discharged from a hospital. She said the survivor appreciated the state government for caring for her and appealed that the lawyer be prosecuted. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ebonyi Ministry of Health disclosed that Lassa Fever killed 10 persons in the state from 4 January to 16 Feb. The Disease Surveillance Notification Officer of the ministry, Sampson Orogwu, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abakaliki. Mr Orogwu stated that 25 persons were infected, including two healthcare workers. He added that 16 out of the 25 infected persons are males, while nine are females. The dead include a pregnant woman and two children. The affected local government areas include Onicha, Ikwo, Ezza North, Ebonyi, Izzi, Ohaukwu and Abakaliki with Hausa quarters and Nkaliki areas in Abakaliki recording the highest number of cases. He, therefore, urged residents to report suspected cases to the ministry as treatment is free. The State Epidemiologist, Ogbonna Nwambeke, also in the statement, said the state government had been collaborating with relevant partners to check the spread of the disease He said We call for the provision of logistics to increase surveillance and community engagement against risk factors. People are also advised to stop bush burning, avoid eating rats and not to touch any surface touched by an infected person. We also advise people to maintain a high level of personal and environmental hygiene such as covering their food and utensils properly. Mr Nwambeke appreciated the state governments provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to health workers at the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre to secure their lives and to save others. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. Its common in West Africa. Most people get mild symptoms, like fever and headache. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The world-famous Australian actress Margot Robbie made Barbiecore the most trendy aesthetic last year. However, it's obvious that the star of the cult movie herself is tired of constantly appearing on the red carpet in pink outfits. So, at the EE BAFTA Film Awards party, which took place on February 17 at the National Gallery of London, the celebrity appeared in a black outfit with a touch of daring and glamor. ADVERTISIMENT Margot Robbie decided to make a shiny leather coat the accent element of her outfit. OBOZ.UA has collected photos of the 33-year-old beauty in her new look. Margot Robbie decided to surprise the paparazzi and everyone present at the event with her "non-pink" look. However, she did not deprive herself of the glamor inherent in a typical Barbie doll. To do this, the actress chose a black strapless short dress completely decorated with sequins. The top of the piece had an interesting V-neckline and was decorated with white sequins, similar to the elements of the British flag. ADVERTISIMENT The shimmering mini was complemented by trendy black mules with low heels, as well as a small black handbag on a gold chain from the fashion house Chanel. Margot has been the official ambassador of it since 2018. The accent, as we have already noted, was a black leather raincoat with a shiny effect. Robbie needed it because of the rather windy weather outside. Still, it also became a good addition to the overall picture when the actress posed in the National Gallery of London with her husband, film producer Tom Ackerley. ADVERTISIMENT The whole ensemble was completed with seductive red lipstick and loose white curls. Interestingly, the director of the movie Barbie, Greta Gerwig, appeared at the event in a Barbie costume. She chose a discreet tweed dress in a bright pink hue. It should be noted that the EE BAFTA nominees' party was organized with the support of Bulgari, an Italian jewelry house and one of the three largest jewelry companies in the world. The event took place at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square the day before the awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A Catholic priest in Nigeria, John Oluoma, has said that the prosperity gospel is a scam and satanic and that Christians should discountenance it. Mr Oluoma, otherwise known as Fada Oluoma, stated this in a Facebook post on Saturday where he rhetorically asked why the Nigerian economy, for instance, has continued to deteriorate despite all the crossover and January prayers, decrees and prophecies. Whats the essence of doing all these spiritual exercises if they are not working? said Mr Oluoma whose bio on Facebook says he is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigerias capital. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with prayers, fasting, prophecies and decrees, he said. There could be everything wrong with the motive and kind of prayers, fasting, prophecies and decrees. Whats prosperity gospel? Encyclopaedia Britannica describes the prosperity gospel as the teaching that faithexpressed through positive thoughts, positive declarations, and donations to the churchdraws health, wealth, and happiness into believers lives. It is also referred to as the health and wealth gospel or name it and claim it. Central to this teaching are the beliefs that salvation through Jesus Christ includes liberation from not only death and eternal damnation but also poverty, sickness, and other ills. Adherents believe that God wants believers to be richly blessed in this life and that physical well-being and material riches are always Gods will for the faithful. Illness and poverty are seen as curses that, through atonement, can be broken with faith in Jesus, it added. Prosperity gospel is a global movement common among Protestant Christianity. It began in the early 20th century and has continued to gain ground in different parts of the world. Globally, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, and Kenneth Hagin are among the well-known prosperity preachers. David Oyedepo, a Nigerian cleric and bishop of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, is among the globally recognised prosperity preachers. Another Nigerian cleric, Matthew Ashimolowo, the senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, London, is also top on the list of prosperity preachers in the world. Israels wealth not from prayers Mr Oluoma, the Catholic priest, said Israel which Christians all over the world refer to as the Holy Land never prospered economically at any point by prayers, prophecies and decrees. He said, The peak of Israels economic prosperity in the Old Testament period was the monarchy, its the 8th Century BC. They were so prosperous that they became immoral, and thats the period of the rise of prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah Elisha, Amos and the rest. God raised prophets to warn them of the danger of materialism, not to make them prosperous. Continuing, the Catholic priest said, How this generation of Nigerian Christians bought the gospel of prosperity and cling tightly to it despite the contradictory evidence should be the most sophisticated type of delusion for study. Prosperity gospel and its overt and subtle corollaries is a hoax, a scam and a satanic idea. Mr Oluoma quoted some lines from the Beatitudes Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God (Luke 6:20) and a verse from the Bible, Mark 10:21-25, where Jesus talked about how difficult it could be for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Apparently, referring to Jesus, he said, How could the man who said all these and lived by them make you wealthy because someone else made such prayer and decrees in his name? He never made any of his followers financially prosperous. Those like Mathew who were wealthy became poor by following him. Then someone tells you today that by uttering decrees and prayers in his name you will become financially prosperous and the Naira will become equal to a dollar, and you believe? You are just delusional and ignorant. The priest said his comment does not mean that Nigerians should stop praying. Should we stop praying? Nope, the effects of the genuine prayers and fasts and other pieties we do are showing. The fact that the majority are still hard working and not resorting to banditry, armed robbery, prostitution and other destructive vices to make a living despite the hardship is a grace from those prayers. The fact that the majority still believe in God, love God and people, and spread love and hope in the midst of the economic woes are the effects of the genuine prayers and pieties offered here. Genuine prayers and pieties are working, only the useless ones are not. Fake and false prophecies do not work, have never worked and will never work, he added. Its hypocrisy to attack prosperity gospel Joseph Prince, a 60-year-old Singaporean evangelist and the senior pastor, New Creation Church in Singapore, is among the global faces of the prosperity gospel. Mr Prince, in 2021, defended the prosperity gospel. He said those who were attacking it were just being hypocritical. The wrong teachings of prosperity that produce materialism, greed, avarice, we are all against that. But those that are against prosperity as a whole are negating the scripture Theres some hypocrisy here because many of them are prospering. They have more than one car, they live in expensive homes, they send their children to the best schools, and they want their children to succeed. But all the while they are coming against prosperity. So, the question I want to ask is who do they give credit to for their own success and prosperity? To themselves, they are smart? No, God wants to get all the glory, he said. Repentant prosperity preacher A repentant prosperity preacher in Nigeria, Abel Damina, said many of his fellow Nigerian pastors have constantly attacked him for preaching that pastors were using prosperity messages to extort. My problem began with organised religion the moment I said theres nothing like seed and tapping by giving money. All hell broke loose how can Dr Damina say you dont need to give money to be blessed, you dont need to give to God for God to multiply your money? How can Dr Damina be attacking our business empire? How can he be driving our customers away? We have been feeding on the ignorance of gullible Christians, Mr Damina, who is the pastor of the Uyo-based Power City International, said in a video clip posted on Facebook. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, and had fruitful discussions on comprehensive strengthening of bilateral ties in all fields. Speaking at the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the strength of Nigerias economic potential and influence, saying the country is witnessing a leap forward, despite some short-term reform pains, as his administration is removing all encumbrances to business. The President further explained that his administration is investing in critical sectors of the economy like healthcare, education, and agriculture to ensure the welfare of all Nigerian citizens and to create sustainable economic prosperity for future generations. We have a very vibrant population of young Nigerians who are trainable, dependable, and should be empowered. The economic potential of Nigeria is enormous. We are ready to break all the walls standing in our way to progress. We are ready to fight corruption from top to bottom. We are ready to invest in critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, infrastructure, and others. I have one of the most dedicated teams on agriculture, he said. Assessing Nigerias natural and human resource wealth akin to Brazils, President Lula da Silva said Africas largest economy and South Americas largest economy have a long and interesting history together. The Brazilian leader said Nigeria and Brazil once had a trade volume of more than $10 billion in the past, which has now plummeted to $1.6 billion, emphasising that he is determined to strengthen bilateral relations. I am back to try to restore; to reclaim our good relations with Nigeria. I can not imagine that a country of 216 million people and another of 213 million people do not have strong relations. Mr. President, I am 78 years old. You are 71. What keeps me energetic is that I fight for a cause. The cause of my nation and people. A great cause is the elixir of sustained vitality for experienced leaders. Nigeria and Brazil need stronger relations from the academic viewpoint; from the cultural viewpoint; from the commercial viewpoint; from the agricultural viewpoint; from the industrial relations viewpoint, and from trade relations viewpoint. It is meaningless that there are no direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo and vice versa. I can not understand that. We have to sit at a table and find a solution for that. In aviation, there are many areas of potential collaboration with our manufacturers who seek to have a greater presence in Africa. I only have three more years left of my term, Your Excellency, to do everything I have not done yet. The time is very short. I am in a hurry to make my contributions to improve these relations with Nigeria. To make this happen, we have to put our ministers to work, he said. Responding, President Tinubu said Nigeria is ready to deepen ties with Brazil, noting that it is a legacy of what can be done together to change the future for countless millions of our citizens. We are stopping at nothing to remove all encumbrances to business. Red tape is being shredded around us. There is nothing we will not do to manifest the great potential of our nation. We are fighting corruption from the bottom to the top. We will prevent it, and we will remediate. We are very aware of your progressive legacies of social security provision, infrastructure, and reforms in Petrobras. We are in the process of implementing similar reforms in the NNPCL. We are focusing on investment in new production and new energy sources. We are investing in research, and we are removing obstacles to further partnerships in all areas of operation. There is opportunity for both companies in partnership, the President said. While identifying solid mineral exploration, agriculture, education, and healthcare as areas of immediate concern, President Tinubu emphasized that the will of the two leaders to collaborate is firmly established. I agree that our countries must now have direct air links. I will form a committee of cabinet members who will work directly with your cabinet ministers, and they will urgently form a joint plan of action for the benefit of our two great countries. We may have missed opportunities in the past, but we now look ahead. Brazil and Nigeria share similarities. Let us forget old mistakes. The phenomenal growth achieved by Brazil in agriculture is exemplary. We will work with you to mechanize our food production systems to enhance quality and quantity of output. I will work with you to re-energise Nigerias relations with Brazil across the board, the President stated. The leaders of the largest democracies in Africa and South America, respectively, agreed to work out the modalities for a state visit to Brazil by President Tinubu after President Lula da Silva extended an invitation, which the Nigerian leader warmly accepted. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) February 18, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Government has told the governors elected on the platform of the opposition PDP not to distract the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The PDP governors had called on President Tinubu to resign in the face of the current excruciating economic challenges facing the country. The FG spoke through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement released on Sunday. Mr Idris said the PDP governors should instead be supporting the Presidents efforts at bringing economic relief to the citizenry rather than calling on him to resign. Those who could not bring transformational change when they had a lengthy chance to, should not seek to interrupt or distract those who are busy at work on the presidential vision that Nigerians elected them to implement, a part of the statement read. The statement noted President Tinubu is not and will never be overwhelmed by the current challenges the country is facing, stating that He will not abdicate his responsibilities. He will courageously continue to wrestle with the challenges and surmount them, laying a durable foundation for the new Nigeria that is emerging. Read the full statement below: PDP Governors: Its time to do the work you were elected for The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, notes the statement by the PDP Governors Forum, directing a call for resignation at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. The call is nothing but an attempt at distraction by people who should instead be busy supporting the Presidents efforts at bringing economic relief to the Nigerian people. It is our considered view that the PDP and its Governors should not be seeking, through the back door of intimidation, what they have consistently failed to achieve by democratic means, since 2015. Those who could not bring transformational change when they had a lengthy chance to, should not seek to interrupt or distract those who are busy at work on the presidential vision that Nigerians elected them to implement. The administration of President Bola Tinubu has also, since inception, generously extended financial support to all the State Governments, regardless of partisan affiliation. In addition, the removal of the petrol subsidywhich, incidentally, was one of the main planks of the PDP presidential campaignhas swelled the revenues of all States, including the PDP States. To whom more has been given, more is therefore expected. The President and his administration recognise the unfinished business of revamping our national economy kickstarted by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through programmes focused on large-scale infrastructure, social welfare, prioritizing the equipping and welfare of the military and security agencies, and reclaiming Nigerias strategic place in the comity of nations. Boko Haram and its affiliates, on the ascendancy in 2014/2015, have since been decimated, and similar bold gains are now being made with bandits and other criminals. Nigerians have not forgotten that it was the APC administration that cleared several liabilities left behind by the PDP government, such as subsidy claims by oil marketers, Paris Club Refunds, unpaid pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears owed various categories of pensioners from liquidated and existing State-Owned Enterprises. Major oil sector reforms that the PDP touted for years but could not deliver passage of the PIB, new refineries, as well as the revamp of existing ones, and so on are the very real and continuing legacies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). All of these have been accomplished without access to the oil windfall that the PDP government enjoyed for much of the time that it was in power, and also against the backdrop of the most devastating global shock since the Second World War: the COVID-19 pandemic. We must continue to state these facts so Nigerians will know where we are coming from, and appreciate what is being done in its full context. President Tinubu is not and will never be overwhelmed by the current challenges the country is facing. He will not abdicate his responsibilities. He will courageously continue to wrestle with the challenges and surmount them, laying a durable foundation for the new Nigeria that is emerging. He has also never shied away from acknowledging the pain of ongoing reforms, and has seized every opportunity to assure Nigerians that inside the pain of the reforms lie the seeds of lasting prosperity and national development. To the PDP Governors, let us reiterate: This is not the time for distraction. It is time instead for the rolling up of sleeves, to support and complement the hard work of the President and his administration. Rabiu Ibrahim Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation February 18, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Abubakar Suleiman, the managing director/chief executive officer of Sterling Bank, on Sunday, shared advice on how to thrive amidst Nigerias economic hardship and cost of living challenges. President Bola Tinubu on 29 May 2023 announced the removal of the petrol subsidy, a policy decision with adverse effects on the cost of living and general economic well-being of the populace. The situation was compounded by the Central Bank of Nigerias move to consolidate the foreign exchange market, leading to massive depreciation in the value of the naira. Reflecting on lifestyle and socioeconomic tips originally shared during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Suleiman in a post on X emphasised the enduring relevance of remote work for fulfilment amid the prevailing challenges. I just realized that the same advice I tweeted during COVID is perfectly suited for 2024. For thou shall work remotely & still be fulfilled, he tweeted. First you must conserve, be it energy, resources, food .. theres less room for waste. Time to shrink your spending because the pie (GDP) is shrinking, the time to be expansive will come. Buy only what you really need. All the extras can wait, save your gunpowder. We cant spend our way out of this, we will have to produce our way out. He urged individuals to prioritise local purchases and reassess foreign currency commitments amid dwindling access to imports. Entrepreneurs were urged to pivot towards essential goods and services, towards mitigating risks associated with currency volatility by sourcing locally. READ ALSO: Rethink your business if people are cutting luxuries, is that what you are selling? Move toward essentials, things people cant live without. Beware of the risk of currency volatility, dont be caught exposed. Source locally, he wrote. The banker also encouraged employees to explore remote work opportunities, emphasising the potential to sustain businesses and retain jobs. Furthermore, he advised individuals to maintain a balanced approach to financial planning, investing in earning assets and extending support to others where possible for mental well-being. On the health front, he emphasised the importance of fitness and engagement with loved ones and work, foreseeing a prolonged adjustment period post-pandemic. He also stressed the need for continuous learning, particularly in leveraging technology for various aspects of business operations and customer engagement. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, Sylvanus Namang, has been shot dead. Mr Namang was killed on Saturday, in Pankshin town, Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State. The APC chairman in Plateau, Rufus Bature, confirmed the murder to PREMIUM TIMES. He described the deceased as a dependable ally who was deeply committed to the development of the APC at the grassroots and state levels. Mr Bature siad the party is preparing an official statement on the incident. Our correspondent gathered that Mr Namang was gunned down outside his hotel room at about 7:30 p.m on Saturday. The police have yet to speak on the murder and the motive is not yet known. Plateau, like many other states in Nigeria, has witnessed different attacks by armed persons in recent weeks. The attacks by diverse armed groups have persisted despite the efforts of security agencies. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Former governor of Plateau State, who is the senator representing Plateau South District, Simon Lalong, has expressed shock over the murder of the state Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sylvanus Namang. Mr Namang was one of two men killed when some unidentified gunmen attacked a pub in Pankshin Local Government Area of the state on Saturday. He was reported to have travelled to the area to attend a funeral. Mr Lalong said he was devastated by the news of the killing of the APC spokesperson, who he described as a journalist, politician and community leader. READ ALSO: In a statement by his media adviser, Makut Macham, the former governor said the killing was unfortunate and condemnable, urging the security agencies to bring the killers to justice. He said Mr Namangs death was a big loss to his family and the APC in the state and nation at large. The senator said Mr Namang was an accomplished journalist and media manager who rose to the peak of his career before taking part in active politics where he gave the APC sound visibility upon taking over as State Publicity Secretary. The former governor commiserated with the family of the deceased and assured them that the APC family would do everything possible to unearth those behind his murder and ensure they face justice. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print WEIFANG, China, Feb. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from the Shandong office of Hong Kong Business Daily. Recently, the story of a Chinese girl playing the erhu and spreading traditional Chinese culture on the streets of Milan, Italy during her spare time has been reported by the media. This girl is currently pursuing a master's degree in architecture at Politecnico di Milano. She has been trying street performances since April 2023. Every time she performs with a Chinese style, she attracts many people to stop and watch, building a bridge of communication between China and Italy through music. She is Zheng Xiaohui from various cities in Weifang. Zheng Xiaohui graduated from Xi'an Jiaotong University with a bachelor's degree and went to Milan, Italy to study abroad in 2021. Zheng Xiaohui said that when she was studying in Xi'an, she had always wanted to try street performances, but it never came true. After arriving in Milan, Zheng Xiaohui saw some exciting performances by street artists and found that the street art culture here is very popular and popular among the people. "Especially when I saw a violin artist performing on a square in Rome online, the audience formed a large circle and danced gracefully to the music, which made me feel the charm of street art," Zheng Xiaohui said. In 2023, Zheng Xiaohui successfully applied for a performance spot by the Milan Canal, officially starting her street performance. At that time, it happened to be Milan Design Week, and there were many tourists. Zheng Xiaohui used a small sound system, which was not very loud and still attracted many people to stop and watch. Even passersby came to experience playing the erhu, which was a very interesting experience for Zheng Xiaohui. With more and more people seeing Zheng Xiaohui's performance, she has more opportunities to showcase traditional Chinese culture. For example, musicians from the Paris Opera House invited her to perform with cellists at the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris. Zheng Xiaohui also appeared at the 2023 Milan Fashion Week with her erhu, and her performance videos have also appeared on social media platforms in multiple countries. "I am very happy that China's erhu has shown its unique charm on the international stage," Zheng Xiaohui said. She hopes to meet more friends who love Chinese folk music and traditional Chinese culture through her performance. WEIFANG, China, Feb. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from the Shandong Office of Hong Kong Business Daily. Recently, an art feast for the Spring Festival in the the Year of the Loong was held in Arras, France. This evening party has become a platform for Chinese New Year celebrations in France, as well as a window for French people to understand China's development and culture. At the evening party, local French students and overseas Chinese played the flute, performed songs and dances, and recited poetry together... From classical dance to modern music and traditional opera, each program showcased the diverse charm of Chinese culture. Chinese culture has been passed down for thousands of years, blooming with charming radiance in France. In addition, a special exhibition titled "Weifang Intangible Cultural Heritage Overseas Tour" was held on site, hosted by the Weifang Municipal Government Information Office. On each booth, Weifang has a dazzling array of intangible cultural heritage works, including Spring Festival couplets, Paper Cuttings, kites, and New Year pictures. The person in charge of the booth introduces the folk customs and production technology behind the works to foreign friends on the spot, and warmly invites visitors to experience Weifang's traditional culture. "Try it, you will find it is very simple." Zhang Songzheng patiently guides visitors to learn traditional Chinese Paper Cuttings. It is reported that he comes from Shanghai, studied in Lille, and currently resides in Alaska. On the booth next to him, local people are watching tea ceremony performances and appreciating calligraphy works. After the evening party, Alaska researchers and one of the organizers of the Student Union, Wink Mway, said, "It's great to see young people interested in China's language and culture. Young people are a guarantee of good cooperation between China and France." In recent years, more and more overseas students and local people have participated in the activities of the French Spring Festival Gala. The the Year of the Loong Gala not only comforted the homesickness of overseas students and Chinese, but also demonstrated the attitude and feelings of a new generation of young people. The United States cannot offer Ukraine any Plan B, except for financing a package of additional military assistance. The scale of the assistance needed is very significant. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Ukrinform reports. She noted that due to the rapid developments in the US Congress, Ukraine and European partners did not have the opportunity to regroup. "And the agreements on the distribution of aid were formed in Ramstein for months," the Vice Prime Minister said. "Those allies who have other obligations cannot quickly regroup and provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons that were planned as support for the United States," Stefanishyna explained. She noted that Ukraine also has only a plan "A" - to survive and withstand "in impossible conditions." The official expressed her belief that this will certainly happen. At the same time, she noted that Ukraine is drawing conclusions about its reliability and has several parallel processes, even while realizing that it has firm guarantees from its allies. ADVERTISIMENT Stefanishyna also noted that Ukraine and the United States may sign a security agreement before the NATO anniversary summit in Washington in July, but our country is currently focused on the Congressional vote on the aid package, as it is a matter of survival. "The relevant negotiations were held at the level of the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva. As you know, Andriy Yermak is in constant contact with Jake Sullivan (US National Security Advisor - ed.). That is, from a tactical point of view, the negotiations have been held, and a declaration has been strategically adopted. This decision can be made earlier," Stefanishyna said. However, she noted that first we need to survive. Issue No. 1 is the protection of Ukrainian cities with air defense systems. First of all, we need shells for Patriot systems. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that Washington had no plan in case Congress blocked aid to Kyiv. The White House has only one plan A - to support Ukraine and provide it with everything it needs. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - At the Munich Security Conference, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held telephone talks with US leader Joe Biden. The interlocutors also emphasized the importance of the US Congress's prompt adoption of a bill on additional funding for the Ukrainian Defense Forces. - The US President disclosed the details of the conversation to journalists. He assured his interlocutor that he would make every effort to ensure that Congress approves aid for Ukraine. Biden also noted that it was no secret to him that the Defense Forces had withdrawn from Avdiivka, in part because of the lack of ammunition. ADVERTISIMENT 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 Muzaffarnagar : , Feb 18 (IANS) The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has announced that a tractor march would be held at all district headquarters of Uttar Pradesh on February 21. Farmers would park their tractors on highways going towards Delhi on February 26 and 27 in support of protesting farmers and their demands, including minimum support price. Addressing a Mahapanchayat at its headquarters in Sisauli, Muzaffarnagar, on Saturday, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait appealed to farmers to show their full strength during the tractor march on February 21. Addressing a huge gathering of farmers, Tikait made a scathing attack on the ruling BJP government and said, "It is a battle to protect 'nasal and fasal' ( generation and crop)." Tikait appealed to farmers to show their full strength during the tractor march on February 21 and then park tractors on highways from Haridwar to Delhi on February 26 and 27 without disturbing traffic. The farmer leader accused vested interests of hatching a conspiracy to take over 'roti' through the ruling government because they had understood that the business of 'roti' was more profitable. People ate 'roti' 700 times a year while gold was worn by women barely 17 times a year on festivals and during celebrations. He warned farmers that the government may try to break the unity of farmers but they should be ready to foil any such attempt. Tikait claimed that he was also approached and asked what he wanted but he said the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha should be contacted instead of an individual . The BKU leader asked the gathering to be ready to spend one-year earnings on the movement because it was a battle of farmers' survival. Gaza, Feb 18 : At least 40 Palestinians were killed and many others injured in Israeli airstrikes that targetted residential homes in the central Gaza Strip, the media reported. Palestinian medical sources told Xinhua news agency on Saturday that Israeli warplanes launched a series of violent raids on several homes in the areas of Nuseirat, Al-Zawaida, and Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, killing dozens of people and wounding many others. The sources added that civil defence crews were able to recover 40 bodies, while dozens remained under the rubble, noting that the dead and wounded were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir el-Balah, Xinhua news agency reported. The Ministry of Health, run by Hamas in Gaza, announced that the number of Palestinian deaths had risen to 28,858 since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. Israel is launching a large-scale military war on the Gaza Strip for the fifth month in a row after Hamas carried out a sudden and unprecedented attack on the Israeli towns adjacent to the Strip, killing about 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostages. Jaishankar's brief interaction with Chinese counterpart in Munich. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 18 : External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had a brief conversation on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The interaction took place on Saturday when Jaishankar was going to the stage for a panel discussion and Wang was walking down the podium The impromptu interaction comes after months of no communication between the two countries. Last time the two leaders met in Indonesia on the sidelines of ASEAN meet in July 2023. The Security Conference, an annual conference on global security issues, began in Munich on Friday. Jaishankar has already met UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Peru Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea on the sidelines of the conference. Manchester, Feb 18 : Manchester City fell behind in the title race when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea. Raheem Sterling got on the scoresheet against his former side and Chelsea, after missing a few chances to double their lead, conceded a late equaliser to Rodri on Sunday night. City had a number of opportunities to score themselves, with Erling Haaland, their top scorer, missing from a match-high total of nine shots. It means that after victories for Liverpool and Arsenal earlier in the day, City dropped to third, four points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a match fewer. Haaland missed a great chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute but headed over Julian Alvarezas cross, Premier League reports. Nicolas Jackson then had a better chance for Chelsea 10 minutes later when Malo Gusto sent in a low cross, but the strikeras first touch was poor and Ederson collected the loose ball. Chelsea managed to break the deadlock three minutes before half-time in similar fashion to Jacksonas miss. Jackson this time sprinted down the right before squaring the ball to Sterling, who cut inside past Walker and found the far corner against his former side. Jackson almost turned the ball into his own net soon after from a corner, but Axel Disasi was on hand to clear the ball off the line. It meant that City trailed at home at half-time for the first time in 13 months. De Bruyne went close for City very early in the second half, but his free-kick whistled over. Chelsea were also a threat and a well-worked move had Gusto sliding the ball across the six-yard box, but Sterling saw his shot saved well by Ederson, who did well to stop Ben Chilwellas follow-up shot with his legs. City started to lay siege to the Chelsea goal and Haaland saw a close-range shot blocked by Levi Colwill. Then Djordje Petrovic made a brilliant save at his near post to keep out Haaland after his strike was deflected by Disasi. Chelsea then broke down the right again and Gallagher set up Christopher Nkunku, but the substituteas shot was blocked before Jackson and Enzo Fernandez got in each otheras way with the follow-up. Guardiola had his head in his hands after Haaland squandered another great chance. De Bruyne found his team-mate with a brilliant left-footed cross, but Haalandas header from eight yards inexplicably went over. But Cityas constant pressure paid off as Rodri, once more, came up clutch with their 27th shot. After Walkeras effort had been blocked, the ball fell to the Spaniard and his powerful drive from just inside the area was deflected past Petrovic in the 83rd minute. City pushed for a winner but their appeals for a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time after the ball struck the arm of Colwill went unheeded and they had to settle for a point. Chelsea return to 10th on 35 points after Wolverhampton Wanderers briefly overtook them earlier in the day. Tel Aviv, Feb 18 : Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his country wont capitulate to any pressure against the army entering Rafah area in Gaza to smoke out Hamas militants. Netanyahu has said that to prevent Israel from a ground operation in Rafah would mean losing the war against Hamas. The statement of the Israeli Prime Minister's office came amid growing pressure from the international community against Israel's ground operations in Rafah. The U.S. and several of Israelas Western allies have warned Jerusalem that an offensive in Rafah in the current conditions would be catastrophic. Israel, which has said will draw up a plan for civilians to be evacuated before it enters Rafah, believes that it cannot effectively curtail Hamas without taking Rafah, which sits on Gazaas border with Egypt. At least some of the 134 hostages remaining in Gaza are thought to be in the city. Hamas leadership is also believed to be sheltering there. Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he wont allow the war to be lost. Rafah is the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the Gaza strip. Netanyahu said that he had told US President Joe Biden that Israel will fight until atotal victory" and that includes action in Rafah. The Israeli Prime Minister, however, said that IDF operation in Gazaas southernmost city will come only after civilians there are evacuated to safe areas. He also said that a quarter of Hamas was intact in a defined territory and that Israel cannot allow such a thing to happen. He further said that even if a hostage deal was reached, Israel would eventually enter Rafah, adding that there is no alternative to total victory, that without destroying the Hamas battalions in Rafah, there wont be total victory. Washington, Feb 18 : Former US President Donald Trump has launched a sneaker line, a day after a New York judge fined him and his companies nearly $355 million in the civil fraud case. The former president unveiled "Trump Sneakers" at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia. He placed a pair of gold sneakers, which a new website priced at $399 and named the "NEVER SURRENDER HIGH-TOP SNEAKER", on the podium as he spoke, media reports said . "This is something I've been talking about for 12 years, 13 years, and I think it's going to be a big success," said Trump, the frontliner in GOP nominations in a potential rematch between him and President Joe Biden for 2024 presidential elections. By Saturday night, the $399 sneakers were listed as sold out on the website. There had been 1,000 pairs of the sneakers available for purchase, according to the site. The former president is also selling two versions of sneakers that have "T" and "45" on the sides for $199, according to the website. Cologne and perfume are for sale at $99 each. According to the website, the products are "trademarks of CIC Ventures LLC. Trump Sneakers are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals. 45Footwear, LLC uses the Trump name, image and likeness under a license agreement," CNN reported. Chandigarh, Feb 18 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has expanded the Internet suspension to 20 police stations in seven districts from earlier 11 police stations in three districts. The new orders will be in effect till midnight of February 24. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had taken exception to the Centre issuing orders for Internet suspension. The CM had said that he had taken up the matter and sought to revoke the suspension He had said that he had taken up the matter and sought to revoke the suspension. On February 15, the Ministry had ordered the suspension of telecom services in Shutrana, Khanauri and Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab in the wake of Bharat bandh call by farmer unions. Ukraine may not be able to withstand the pressure of the Russian army, despite all the motivation of its defenders. This is because of the shortage of ammunition, which "is unlikely to be resolved this year." ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in an article by the German publication Der Spiegel. In it, the journalists focused on the theses that were presented at the Munich Security Conference on February 16-18. It is noted that at the event, which was attended by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the heads of intelligence services of many countries discussed the difficult situation in which the Ukrainian Defense Forces are currently facing. Among the key theses voiced at the conference, the publication highlighted the following: - the Ukrainian army will have to go only on the defense and try to hold the front without losing too many soldiers; - the Russians are able to deliver fresh equipment and troops to the front line when Ukraine is short of ammunition. Der Spiegel also emphasized how German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dodged the question of providing Ukraine with German-Swedish Taurus air-to-surface cruise missiles with a range of more than 500 km. ADVERTISIMENT "Until the European defense industry gains momentum, we will pay with our lives," the newspaper quoted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as saying. He also asked U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for long-range ATACMS missiles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. "They are urgently needed to cut off the Russian army from supply routes," the Foreign Minister warned. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Czech President Petr Pavel said that Prague had found 800 thousand pieces of ammunition abroad that it could transfer to Ukraine. He emphasized that the country could deliver them in a matter of weeks, but it needs to secure rapid funding from the United States, Germany, Sweden and other partners. At the same time, Denmark has expressed its readiness to transfer all of its artillery to Ukraine. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also called on other European countries to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with air defense equipment and ammunition. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! New Delhi, Feb 18 : The BJP on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Ram temple in Ayodhya and also passed a resolution on it amid chants of Jai Shri Ram, on the second and final day of the party's national convention. Presenting the proposal, BJP national president J. P. Nadda said that the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi is moving towards the establishment of Ram Rajya. Nadda said the Prime Minister is working to uplift spiritual and cultural consciousness. In 2019, after the Supreme Court verdict, the central government led by Prime Minister Modi formed Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust which led to speedy completion of the temple work. Nadda also mentioned about the strong penance observed by the Prime Minister before the 'pran pratishta' ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple. Kanpur, Feb 18 : A fresh FIR has been filed against expelled BJP leader Priyaranjan Ashu Diwakar, main accused in the suicide case of Kanpur farmer Babu Singh. The new FIR has been filed for threatening the family members of the deceased farmer. Singh's daughter, Ruby, had lodged a complaint at Chakeri police station, alleging that Diwakar was mounting pressure on the family to "settle" the case. She said that on February 15, she was returning home when unidentified persons stopped her and threatened that Diwakar had been granted bail, and if her family did not settle the case, she would be attacked with acid. Commissioner of Police Akhil Kumar said a case had been registered and the matter was being investigated. Singh, who died after jumping in front of a train on September 9, 2023, alleged in his suicide note that Diwakar had usurped his land. On a complaint by his wife, police had registered a case of cheating, land grabbing and abettment to commit suicide against Diwakar and five others. Mumbai, Feb 18 : Actress Aishwarya Sakhuja paid a visit to her alma mater -- Hindu College, on its 125th foundation day, as a special guest, and reminisced about the beautiful memories of the college, which helped in shaping her past, present and future. Known for her work in 'Saas Bina Sasural', 'Main Naa Bhoolungi', Aishwarya took to her Instagram and shared several pictures from her visit to Hindu College. In the photos, Aishwarya can be seen wearing a blue saree, and posing with alumni's like -- filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actors Tisca Chopra, Rajesh Kumar, and Kranti Prakkash Jhha. The actress penned a heartwarming note, which read as: "I never ever thought that this day would arrive. Going back to your own college as a guest after you have collected a set of experiences of your own and to be told that they count by your own alma mater is truly overwhelming." "Thankyou Hindu College for shaping my past present and future. I shall forever remember this evening @hindu.college. #hinducollege #125years #college #delhi #memories #alumni," she added. For the unversed, Aishwarya and Rajesh have shared the screen space in the sitcom 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Take 2'. She played the role of Sonia, sister of Rosesh Sarabhai (played by Rajesh). Meanwhile, on the work front, she has been the part of stunt reality show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 7', and 'Trideviyaan'. She last featured in the show 'Junooniyatt', in which she portrayed the role of Dr Pari Ahuja. Deepika Padukone to join galaxy of global stars at tonight's Battle of the BAFTAs. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 18 : Half an hour after midnight tonight (Indian Standard Time), curtains go up on the BAFTAs, the much-anticipated British Academy of Film and Television Awards, with Prince William being the guest of honour and Deepika Padukone one of the presenters. The glittering evening is being beamed live by Lionsgate Play for Indian audiences from 12:30 a.m. onwards. As the world of showbiz prepares for the BAFTAs, which may not be up there with the Oscars, but are nonetheless counted among the world's top four film awards, here's a curtain-raiser to bring you up to date on the event. The race this year is between British-born Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer', which has got 13 nominations, including best film, best actor (Cillian Murphy) and best supporting actress (Emily Blunt), and Yorgos Lanthimos's brilliantly original 'Poor Things', which received 11 nods. Emma Stone is a frontrunner in the best actress race. Nolan, according to BBC.com, is favourite to pick up best director. "Hard to believe given his back catalogue -- which includes 'Dunkirk', 'Inception' and 'The Dark Knight Rises' -- but this will be his first Bafta win if he triumphs at the weekend," says BBC.com. If, as widely expected, Robert Downey Jr picks up the award for best supporting actor, it will be his second Bafta win -- a whopping 31 years after his best actor win for 'Chaplin' back in 1993, reports BBC.com. Other films hoping for a successful evening include French courtroom drama 'Anatomy of a Fall', nostalgic comedy drama 'The Holdovers', the Leonard Bernstein biopic 'Maestro' with Bradley Cooper playing the lead role, fantasy romance 'All of Us Strangers', black comedy thriller 'Saltburn' and 'Barbie' of course. "Some film fans were left disappointed after Margot Robbie missed the cut for a best actress nomination at the Oscars," notes BBC.com, "but the 'Barbie' star has a chance (albeit a slim one) at the BAFTAs in the same category." Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' has an impressive nine nominations and so does Jonathan Glazer's 'The Zone of Interest'. 'Euphoria', 'Saltburn' and 'Priscilla' star Jacob Elordi, says BBC.com, is one of the favourites to pick up the BAFTA rising star award and he's also nominated for best supporting actor in 'Saltburn'. He recently hit headlines when he was accused of grabbing a reporter's throat in Sydney and is not expected to attend on Sunday. Emerald Fennell's film was completely left out in the cold when the Oscar nominations were announced last month, continues BBC.com, so will the BAFTAs show more love to what has already arguably become a cult British classic? 'Saltburn' has got five nods, including best actor (Barry Keoghan) and best supporting actress (Rosamund Pike). It lost out on a best film nomination, but it wasn't the only one -- with just five spots available, 'Barbie' also missed the cut. "Perhaps there's an argument for BAFTA to expand the number of picture nominees, as the Oscars has done, to 10?" notes BBC.com German star Sandra Huller has the distinction of getting a nomination in two categories -- for best actress 'Anatomy of a Fall' and for best supporting actress in Jonathan Glazer's chilling Nazi drama 'The Zone of Interest'. "Seriously though, she absolutely deserves both," says BBC.com. Another one from BBC.com: "Fun (and unapologetically geeky) fact -- if 'Barbie' or 'Anatomy of a Fall' wins best screenplay, it will be a couple picking up the prize. Greta Gerwig wrote 'Barbie' with husband Noah Baumbach, while Justine Triet penned 'Anatomy of a Fall' with her partner, Arthur Harari. Who should you look out for? Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will be among those flying the flag for 'Barbie', which has five nominations. Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan ('Maestro'), and Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr ('Oppenheimer') will all be on the red carpet. Emma Stone ('Poor Things'), Colman Domingo ('Rustin'), Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Paul Giamatti ('The Holdovers') and Paul Mescal ('All of Us Strangers') are also expected. So are Saltburn stars Rosamund Pike plus Sandra Huller, who stars in both 'Anatomy of a Fall' and 'The Zone of Interest'. Prince William is BAFTA's president and will be attending the ceremony but without his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is still recovering after abdominal surgery. Former 'Doctor Who' star David Tennant will host the show this year. To quote BBC.com, "The Scottish actor certainly doesn't lack a sense of humour, but he won't be making any Ricky Gervais-style barbs at his A-list audience." Tennant said in his defence, "We want to have an evening that's a celebration and that won't make people feel uncomfortable and won't have people being roasted in any way, so it will hopefully be an evening of generosity and joy." The list of presenters include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Bollywood star Deepika Padikone, Hugh Grant, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Gillian Anderson and Andrew Scott (who missed out on a best actor nod for 'All of Us Strangers'). New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked BJP leaders to reach out to every new voter and win every one's trust in the next 100 days for NDA to secure 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. At the BJP's national convention in New Delhi, outlining the poll strategy, the Prime Minister said: "Next 100 days are crucial to reach out to every voter, every beneficiary." The BJP will have to cross the mark of 370 seats so that the NDA secures victory on 400, he added. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah drew parallels between Lok Sabha polls and the Mahabharata war, saying here are also two factions -- the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which is working for country's development and the India bloc under the Congress which is "mother of corruption". The BJP hailed Prime Minister Modi for the Ram temple in Ayodhya and also passed a resolution on it amid chants of Jai Shri Ram. Presenting the proposal, BJP national president J. P. Nadda said that the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi is moving towards the establishment of Ram Rajya. Amaravati, Feb 18 : With its three state capitals plan not taking off even after four years, Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSRCP has added a new twist to the capital saga a few weeks ahead of polls. YSRCP leader Y.V. Subba Reddy's statement that Hyderabad should continue as the joint capital of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana until Andhra Pradesh had a capital of its own came a few weeks ahead of the simultaneous elections to the Assembly and Lok Sabha. Subba Reddy, the uncle of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, is a senior leader of the party. Political observers feel that he may not have said something on his own. The statement is being seen as an attempt to change the course of the debate as the opposition TDP-Jana Sena combine have launched a scathing attack on the Jagan government for keeping the state without a capital. Under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, Hyderabad was to be the joint capital of the two Telugu states for 10 years, from June 2, 2014 till June 2, 2024, after which it would be the capital of Telangana alone. Hyderabad is located inside its territory of Telangana but the then Congress-led UPA government agreed to make it a joint capital of both the states to pacify those in the residuary state who were agitated over losing the city which was the capital of the combined state since 1956. The 10-year period was also aimed at giving Andhra Pradesh an opportunity to build its own capital. After many twists and turns, the residuary state remains without a capital city. In 2016, eight years before the deadline, then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu had shifted the seat of governance to Amaravati, where the foundation stone for the new capital was laid on October 6, 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Naidu had grand plans of developing Amaravati as a world-class city and had successfully convinced farmers in 29 villages of the region to give their lands under land pooling. The TDP government had also undertaken the works on some components of the mega project. However, the defeat of TDP in the 2019 elections changed everything. Jagan, who as the leader of opposition had backed Amaravati as the state capital, dumped it a few months after coming to power. On December 17, 2019, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had announced in the state Assembly that his government will develop three state capitals to ensure decentralised development. The YSRCP government mooted Visakhapatnam as administrative capital, Kurnool as judicial capital and Amaravati as legislative capital. Farmers of Amaravati, who had given 33,000 acres of land for the capital, were up in arms. They, along with leaders of different political parties and people's organisations, knocked on the doors of the court. Even after four years the issue of three capitals is in legal tangle and the Jagan could not even shift his office to Visakhapatnam despite repeated announcements. With elections drawing closer, Chandrababu Naidu has stepped up attacks on Jagan for 'killing' capital city Amaravati and also failing to deliver on three capitals. Subba Reddy's statement is an apparent attempt by YSRCP to divert the attention from this by triggering a new debate. However, there are not many takers within YSRCP for extending Hyderabad's status as joint capital beyond June 2, 2024. Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana differed with Subba Reddy's views. He believes that it is not possible for Hyderabad to continue as the joint capital. The opposition parties have also come down heavily on YSRCP. TDP national president Chandrababu Naidu taunted Jagan, saying he now wants Hyderabad as the fourth capital. "Speaking in Assembly, Jagan supported Amaravati as the capital. He backtracked and said three capitals will be developed. Now he is saying Hyderabad will be the fourth capital," the former chief minister said. TDP's Andhra Pradesh unit president K. Atchen Naidu claimed that YSRCP leaders want to retain Hyderabad as joint capital due to the illegal assets they owned in the city. "YSRCP leaders have illegal assets and properties in Hyderabad and they want to protect the same by retaining the city as the joint capital," he said. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Y.S. Sharmila has been slamming the government headed by her brother Jagan for not developing a proper state capital even after five years. On Hyderabad as a common capital issue, she alleged that it is the YSRCP's trick to hide its failures and confuse people as it knows that defeat in elections is certain. The Andhra Pradesh High Court on December 23, 2023 granted a stay on the government's plan to shift the chief minister's camp office and that of all his cabinet colleagues to Visakhapatnam on the pretext of reviewing the developmental programmes in north coastal Andhra region. The stay was granted on a batch of petitions filed by Amaravati farmers. The Jagan government was hoping to shift some key offices to Visakhapatnam before elections to send across the message that it is on course to develop three capitals. The larger issue of three capitals is also not likely to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court before April. On March 3, 2022, Andhra Pradesh High Court had directed the state government to develop Amaravati as the state capital in six months. A bench of three judges had pronounced the judgment on 75 petitions filed by Amaravati farmers and others challenging the government's move on three capitals. Later, the Supreme Court while hearing the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the state government, gave a stay on the High Court's directions to develop infrastructure in Amaravati within a stipulated time-frame. The apex court, however, did not stay the other part of the judgement, which declared Amaravati as the state capital and the law on three capitals was not valid. Last month, a division bench of the Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea to take up an urgent hearing on SLP. The bench said it would take a decision only after hearing the arguments of both the sides comprehensively in April. Lucknow, Feb 18 : Prajakta Swarup, a Class 10 student, underwent a major brain surgery for a clot that led to swelling of nerves, last week. The girl had been staying up all night preparing for her board examinations. Her mother had been giving her steaming cups of coffee to help her stay awake. Prajakta collapsed one evening and was hospitalised. Her parents later found a bottleful of pills in her drawer and when they handed them over to the doctor, they were shocked to learn that their daughter had been on anti-sleep pills. "Shocking though it may sound, an increasing number of students, today, are taking these anti-sleep pills that help them stay awake during examinations. This is a very dangerous trend and the drugs are being smuggled in from countries like Bangkok. These drugs can have dangerous side effects, especially if taken with an overdose of caffeine -- too many cups of coffee -- as it happened in Prajakta's case," said a leading neurosurgeon Dr Sharad Srivastava. According to the doctor, these drugs are being sold over the counters with names like 'chuniya' and 'meethi'. "These are variants of Modafinil that is said to improve memory, and enhance one's mood, alertness and cognitive powers. The drug has a smoother feel than amphetamines and enables the user to stay awake and alert for 40 hours or more at a stretch. Once the drug wears off, you just have to catch up on some sleep," said another medical practitioner who did not wish to be named. A chemist, Surinder Kohli, admitted that the sale of anti-sleep pills, memory enhancers has shot up for the past one month. "Customers are ready to pay any amount for these drugs. They also buy energy drinks to ward off fatigue," he said but parried questions about the legality of over-the-counter selling of these drugs. Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil, among others, is mainly used in treatment of disorders such as narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, idiopathic hypersomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea. A senior police official made a shocking revelation when he said, "It is terrorists who are now using these anti-sleep drugs to stay awake during combat hours. It was first found during the 26/11 attacks that the terrorists carried drugs in the backpacks. Most of us do not know details about these drugs and there have been no complaints so far from the common people, so no action has been taken." Dr R K Saxena, a well-known psychiatrist, said that the increasing trend of students using anti-sleep pills during examinations was actually a result of growing stress and peer pressure. "There is immense pressure on children to score high percentages so that they can get admissions in good colleges. The children are berated if they get even half a per cent less than their friends. The pressure to score 98 and 99 per cent in board examinations is slowly killing them. Parents should accept the fact that such high percentages can be unrealistic and not every child can score these marks," he said. Dr Saxena said that in today's world, parental guidance was almost non-existent, especially in cases where both the parents were working. "Parents do not have the time to watch changes in their child's behaviour and counsel her or understand the pressure that he feels. The child is left on his own and starts taking these drugs on the recommendation of friends," he said. Prajakta's parents now admit that they did not realise the kind of pressure their daughter was facing. "She kept telling us that she wanted high scores in examinations so that she could get admission in a good college in Delhi because that is where her friends would be going," her father said. Teachers, meanwhile, blame the parents as well as students for not maintaining a consistent study pattern. Pushpa D'Souza, a retired teacher from an English medium girls' school, said, "Students do not study all year through. They bunk classes and the parents remain blissfully unaware. If the parents monitor their children's study pattern throughout the year, the examination tension will ease to a considerable extent. The student, on the other hand, blame parents for pushing the envelope. Suniti, who is Prajakta's classmate, said rather indignantly, "It is the parents who keep reprimanding us and pushing us to get top scores. They compare us with their friends' children and tell us that we are good for nothing. What else can we do in such a situation?" (Some names have been changed/withheld on request.) New Delhi, Feb 18 : Political corridors of Bihar have found a new electoral buzzword 'Doors open' and all leading parties of the state, including Nitish-led Janata Dal (United), Lalu Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party are playing it up for political posturing. In latest development, JD(U) legislator Gopal Mandal's comments on the doors open row on Sunday, brought fresh attention to the 'swaying' politics of Bihar. Speaking to reporters, the JD(U) MLA said that doors always remain open in politics but Nitish Kumar is here to stay in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and he won't switch sides to Mahagathbandhann. The motormouth JD(U) legislator further said, "Doors are always open, if and when the need arises, switchover game could begin." When queried further on Lalu's olive branch to Bihar CM, the ruling party MLA replied, "let the government run till 2024 elections, we will see after that." Gopal Mandal's remarks are set to give fresh fillip to the 'powerplay' in Bihar. Notably, RJD chief Lalu Yadav, after JD(U) broke ties with RJD and formed government with BJP, had told newsmen that his doors are always open for 'old friend' Nitish Kumar. For the unversed, the term 'doors open' was first coined by Union Minister Amit Shah during a political rally in Bihar. Last year, tearing into the then 'mahagathbandhan' over creaking law and order situation and Nitish not walking out of the alliance, Home Minister had declared that BJP will contest Bihar elections alone as doors have been shut for Nitish Kumar. Kolkata, Feb 18 : The people, especially the women of Sandeshkhali, raised 'thief-thief' and 'rapist-rapist' slogans as arrested Trinamool Congress leader Shibu Hazra, who had been booked under charges of rape and attempt to murder, was brought to a district court on Sunday. As the police brought Hazra within the premises of Basirhat Sub-division Court on Sunday afternoon, a large number of people assembled there, mostly from Sandeshkhali, expressed their fury by shouting slogans and condemning the arrested accused. Meanwhile, there was a celebration mood since morning over Hazra's arrest in Sandeshkhali, where the local women were seen exchanging sweets with each other. At the same time, they claimed that only half of the path had been crossed following the arrest of Hazra. According to them, peace at Sandeshkhali will be actually restored after Hazra's political mentor and absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the mastermind behind the January-5 attack on ED and CAPF personnel, is arrested. "Today we are celebrating with sweets. The day Shahjahan will be arrested, there will be a full-fledged picnic," a local woman was heard saying. Shahjaahan is absconding after the incident. However, from the underground, he had been approaching different courts through his counsel for anticipatory bail. ED, on its part too has moved the court seeking to be a party in the case of Shahjahan seeking anticipatory bail. Mumbai, Feb 18 : Comedian-musician Munawar Faruqui, who had won the trophy of 'Bigg Boss 17', recently attended a fan meet up, and talked about spreading love among the hate, and internet trolling. A video shows Munawar greeting his fans at the Mumbra fan meet-up. He was seen wearing a red T-shirt, blue jacket, black jeans. Munawar, who comes from the Dongri area of Mumbai, addressed the humungous gathering, and said: "I want to say something to you all. So many young audience, along with family audience is present here. Nafrat na bahut asaan hai, mushkil kaam hai kisi se pyaar karna. Mai experience se bata raha hu, sach me pyaar karna bahut mushkil hai. (It is easy to hate someone, but the difficult thing is to love somebody. I am telling you from experience, it is very difficult to truly love)." The 32-year-old had faced several hiccups during his stint in the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss 17', as all his personal details were out in open. Speaking about the online trolling and hate, the winner of 'Lock Upp 1' further said: "Mahaul chahe jaisa bhi hai, mujhe bhaichaare dikhte hain, mujhe logo ke beech me pyaar dikhta hai. Or chahe ham zameen me ho, ya internet par ho, hame ek cheez bahut ache se dhyan rakhna padega ki nafrat na failaye kahin bhi. Ham pyaar ki baat kare aur pyaar failaye (No matter what the environment is, I see brotherhood, I see love among people. And whether we are on the ground, or on the internet, we have to be very careful- not to spread hatred anywhere. Let's talk about love and spread love)." Munawar, who is known for his album 'Madari' further encouraged the youth by telling them to get rid of any kind of addictions in their lives. "Aj jab young generation yahan par hai to mai request karna chahunga ki nasho se door raho, drugs se door raho. (Today, when the young generation is here, I would like to request that they must stay away from intoxicants, and drugs). Promise me you will leave all the addictions. Nasha sirf barbaadi hai (addictions are just a waste)," he added. Munawar then clicked a group selfie with the huge crowd, while the fans loudly cheered for him. Meanwhile, on the work front, Munawar has teamed up with actress Hina Khan for a music video titled 'Halki Halki Si'. The song is sung by Asees Kaur, and Saaj Bhatt. The lyricist and music composer is Sanjeev Chaturvedi, while the video is shot by A Tru Makers Film. Presented by Anshul Garg, the teaser of the song will be released on February 20. In the morning, Ukrainian soldiers shot down another enemy military aircraft. A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was destroyed. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk. In addition, the defenders destroyed 12 enemy kamikaze drones and one missile. "Good morning, Ukraine! The Muscovites are humiliated again. Today, around 6:00 a.m., another Su-34 joined the collection!" he said. Oleshchuk also said that the defenders shot down 12 Shahed drones and one X-59 missile launched by the occupiers. "I thank the Air Force units for their successful combat work! Have a good day!" the Air Force commander added. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Mumbai, Feb 18 : Google India on Sunday said there is immense potential with the surge of AI for a country as vast as India as AI can be the catalyst that turns the advantage into actual cutting-edge enterprise for the entrepreneurs. At the inaugural edition of 'Mumbai Tech Week', Sanjay Gupta, Country Head & VP, Google India, said that the resurgent ambition of India, on the world stage as well as socially, "provides just the right temperature for India to embrace this technology and create examples for the world." "As Google, it's definitely a future that we're committed to building together with India," Gupta told the gathering. Generative AI has caught the popular imagination in the last one year. "But its tremendous capabilities are far greater than what the popular discourse has been about. AI, today, has the potential to translate content into hundreds of languages in a short time. English need no longer be the internet's primary language," said Gupta. It can turn text to video in seconds, surmounting the challenge of literacy. "And the most profound part for me is that these possibilities will be equally available for a large, asset-heavy business, or a single room startup with just 2 laptops and some ambition as their starting capital," Gupta added. He said that the discourse around Indian startups is quickly becoming less about valuations and more about long-term value creation. "Digital Public infrastructure like UPI and CoWin have become global case studies for the ingenuity with which they made tech work for the user, rather than forcing the user to work with the tech," he noted. Rajkot, Feb 18 : Local lad Ravindra Jadeja shone at his home ground with a five-wicket haul to help India hammer England by 434 runs in the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium here on Sunday. It was another day of domination for India, where Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a phenomenal unbeaten double-century, the second of his Test career, while Shubman Gill (91) and Sarfaraz Khan (68 not out) made fifties as the hosts declared their second innings on 430/4, giving England a massive target of 557. In reply, England crumbled under the pressure of runs and were all out for 122, with Jadeja taking 5-41 as India registered their biggest win by runs in Tests to go 2-1 up in the five-match series. From 33/3 on Day One, India have now gone on to win at Rajkot with a day to spare. It is also Englandas second-biggest defeat in Tests, with their implosion coming under the bright sunshine of Rajkot. Chasing 557, England were off to a watchful start, in complete opposite of their aggressive nature. Zak Crawley took two boundaries but was involved in a horrible mix-up as Ben Duckett went in pursuit of a single after pushing the ball to mid-wicket. Crawley sent Duckett back, but it was too late as Mohammed Siraj fired in a throw and wicket-keeper Dhurv Jurel rushed towards the stumps and collected the ball in motion to break the stumps quickly. At the stroke of tea, Crawley was trapped LBW by Jasprit Bumrah by a sharp nip-backer, which England couldnat overturn on review. Post-tea, England continued to fall like nine pins. Ollie Pope tried a cut shot off Jadeja but was caught at first slip. Jonny Bairstow tried to sweep off Jadeja but was trapped plumb LBW. Joe Root battled for 40 balls before missing Jadeja on the sweep and was trapped LBW. Capitan Ben Stokes was beaten on the sweep against Kuldeep Yadav and became the third batter in the innings to be trapped LBW. Rehan Ahmed went for a big shot down the ground off Kuldeep but found long-on. Ben Foakes and Tom Hartley put some resistance with a 32-run standoff 67 balls for the eighth wicket, but the former gave a thick edge on a cut to an impressive Jurel behind the stumps. Ravichandran Ashwin came back to take Tom Hartleyas inside edge to the stumps and Jadeja ended the match by ending Mark Woodas cameo of 33 off 15 balls when the batter holed out to long-off to complete a dominating win for India. Brief scores: India 445 & 430/4 dec in 98 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 214 not out, Shubman Gill 91; Sarfaraz Khan 68 not out; Tom Hartley 1-78, Rehan Ahmed 1-108) beat England 319 & 122 all out in 39.4 overs (Mark Wood 33; Ravindra Jadeja 5-41, Kuldeep Yadav 2-19) by 434 runs Hyderabad, Feb 18 : The Telangana State Anti-Narcotic Bureau (TSNAB) has directed the makers of upcoming Telugu movie 'Ganja Shankar' to change its title by omitting Gaanja (cannabis) from it. With regard to the film's title and the trailer uploaded on YouTube, TSNAB has told actor Sai Dharam Tej, producer and director of the film that if any objectionable scenes in connection with Gaanja/narcotics and psychotropic substances are included, legal action will be initiated against them under NDPS Act. TSNAB Director Sandeep Shandilya issued notices to actor Dharam Tej, who plays the main character in the movie, producer S. Nagavamshi and director Sampath Nandi. TSNAB believes that the film's title and the scenes included in the trailer seem to be glorifying drug consumption and sales, thus potentially violating NDPS Act. "We believe that the movie 'Gaanja Shankar' potentially inciting or abetting the crime of narcotics consumption, is inviting penal consequences to the movie makers," reads the notice. The TSNAB Director asked the actor and makers to refrain from depicting any scenes where consumption, sale, peddling and supply of narcotic Gaanja is glorified and shown as a heroic act, and to abstain from propagating such practices which have deleterious effects on the young generation, Referring to the trailer, the notice mentions that the leafy vegetables business done by the protagonist is Gaanja. Under Section 8 of NDPS Act, no person shall cultivate the opium poppy or any cannabis plant. It also refers to section 29 which provides for punishment for abatment and criminal conspiracy. The Director mentioned that the government of Telangana is taking all steps to curb the menace of drugs, especially among the students and youth. "In your movie, depicting the protagonist as Gaanja business man and glorifying his acts, and the title itself 'Gaanja Shankar' will create a negative impact on the viewers, especially students and youth," he said. Chennai, Feb 18 : Tamil Nadu police on Sunday arrested three people from state's Nagapattinam district and seized over 364 kg of ganja from their possession which was meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh. The arrested persons have been identified as K.Sathiyaseelan(37) who hails from Velankanni ,M.Mahendran (38) from Naluvedhapathi and T. Sugumar (29) of Pushpavanam. Nagapattinam Superintendent of Police, Harsh Singh told IANS that the accused were planning to smuggle ganja to Sri Lanka through the sea route using the fibre glass boat that was seized. Vettaikaraniruppu police have registered a case against the three accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Chennai, Feb 18 : Tamil Nadu Police on Sunday arrested three people from state's Nagapattinam district and seized over 364 kg of ganja from their possession which was meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka. The arrested persons have been identified as K.Sathiyaseelan (37) who hails from Velankanni, M.Mahendran (38) from Naluvedhapathi and T. Sugumar (29) of Pushpavanam. Nagapattinam Superintendent of Police, Harsh Singh told IANS that the accused were planning to smuggle ganja to Sri Lanka through the sea route using the fibre glass boat that was seized. Vettaikaraniruppu police have registered a case against the three accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Chandigarh, Feb 18 : The Anti-Gangster Task Force of the Punjab Police on Sunday shot dead gangster Kala Dhanaula in the state's Barnala town after an encounter, officials said. Gurmeet Singh Mann, a.k.a. Kala Dhanaula, was a notorious history-sheeter. He was wanted in more than 40 cases besides one case related to an attack on a Congress leader. He was the head of the Kala Dhanaula gang. His three accomplices have been arrested at the crime scene, an official told IANS. Two policemen were injured in the encounter. --IANS vg/pgh New Delhi, Feb 18 : Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, a traditional stronghold of the Gandhis, is all geared up for intense action and political fireworks on February 19, with the same-day arrival of Rahul Gandhi and Smriti Irani, two bigwigs of BJP and Congress party. Rahul Gandhias Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra reached Prayayag in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening and on Monday he will head to Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency that sent him to Parliament thrice in 2004, 2009 and 2014. On the other hand, Union Minister Smriti Irani, who outsmarted Rahul in the 2019 poll battle, is also reaching her constituency as part of her four-day tour. Notably, the two leaders or their convoys are unlikely to cross paths during Amethi visit. This is probably for the second time after 2019 Lok Sabha elections that the two leaders will be in the town, at the same time. Last time, they were in city during 2022 Assembly elections, when both leaders added vigour to the respective parties campaign. After losing 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul almost aabandoneda his erstwhile three-time Parliamentary constituency. This visit is probably his second after 2019. Smriti Irani has been a regular visitor here, often holding achaupalsa to hear peopleas grievances and also to address their daily problems. On February 19, Union Minister Smriti Irani will land at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at around 9 a.m. and will then head to Amethi via road. Four-day trip to Amethi will see the Union Minister holding numerous meets with villagers and city residents, for getting first-hand account of their daily travails while impressing upon them about Modi governmentas schemes bringing a turnaround in peopleas lives. On the other hand, Rahul Gandhias Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will reach Amethi via Kohra village at around 3 p.m. The Yatra, crossing through the city, will assemble at Amethias Chowk Bazaar, where Rahul will put garlands on the bust of Mahatma Gandhi as well as Rajiv Gandhi. During the Yatra, Rahul will also meet and interact with many locals and walk with pedestrians while take a brief halt at party office in Gauriganj. Reports suggest that Priyanka will also join Rahul in Amethi, in a bid to amplify and add strength to his footmarch. Rahulas Yatra will further leave for Rae Bareli on February 20. The Yatra will eventually move to Rajasthan from UP. Notably, Amethi has been one of the biggest strongholds of Congress and among the most asafe seatsa for Gandhis. Rahul Gandhi got elected to Parliament from this seat, thrice only to get defeated by BJP leader Smriti Irani in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. With Rahul Gandhi and Smriti Irani, both arriving in Amethi together, this could set the stage for fresh political bickering between the two parties. -IANS mr/uk New Delhi, Feb 18 : Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaaf's (PTI) Prime Ministerial candidate Omar Ayub Khan on Sunday said that his party will form the government in the Centre and provinces, media reports said. Earlier, following the allegation rigging against the Pakistan Election Commission and a fractured mandate, the PTI had said that the party will sit in opposition. Dawn newspaper quoted Ayub as saying that the crackdown against the PTI is still continuing. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said, "Even now, police are picking up our workers and leaders and pressuring them. This was not the job of any caretaker setup. They exceeded their mandate." Pakistani and international media has reported that the general election, held on February 8, were massively rigged by the country's establishment after the common people had voted for Imran Khan-led PTI. --IANS int/dan Kolkata, Feb 18 : West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state on March 7 and will address a rally at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. The trouble-hit Sandeshkhali falls in North 24 Parganas district. He said that although the state BJP unit wanted a rally to be addressed by the Prime Minister at Sandeshkhali North 24 Parganas district, but later the plan was called off in anticipation that the state administration and the ruling Trinamool Congress might create hurdles for that. "Instead it has been decided that the rally will be conducted at Barasat in the same district which will be addressed by the Prime Minister," Majumdar told newspersons here from New Delhi, where he is now to attend the party's National Convention. Meanwhile, state BJP sources said that the proposed rally will be extremely crucial for them since the Prime Minister is expected to refer to the recent incidents of the protest by local women at Sandeshkhali. Majumdar said that the Prime Minister is coming to the state to ensure the protection of the women of Sandeshkhali. He claimed that the common women throughout the state have been shaken by the reports of sexual harassment against the local women at Sandeshkhali. "Earlier my mother used to call me and only ask whether I am physically fine and whether I have taken my meals in time. These days she is always asking me how Sandeshkhali is," Majumdar said. Meanwhile, the North 24 Parganas, on Sunday evening, announced the withdrawal of Section 144 from four out of the 19 places at Sandeshkhali. The restrictions will continue in the remaining 15 places for some more time. Mohali: Farmers sit on a road during a protest over their various demands. Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, Feb 18 : A team of three Union ministers on Sunday evening arrived in Chandigarh to hold a fourth round of talks with farmer leaders. Official sources said the Central ministers a" Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai, first started an informal meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at a hotel in Sector 17. After the meeting, they will start deliberations with the farmer leaders regarding the ongoing protest. The Punjab unit of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting farmer organisations, gave a call for day and night mass protest against MPs, MLAs and district presidents of the BJP from February 20 to 22. The previous round of talks largely remained inconclusive as they failed to address the farmers' demands for a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) of their crops. Protests have been going on because the third round of talks was inconclusive despite Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann playing the role of intermediary between farmers and Union ministers. After the last round of talks that ended early February 16, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said: "We have had discussions in a positive manner on various issues. We will have a fourth round of talks next Sunday." Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday said the Centre should bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, a key demand of farmers currently camping at the Shambhu and the Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border. Meanwhile, the ban on Internet services has been extended for two more days in Haryana till February 19. The government had earlier extended the suspension of mobile internet till February 15. --IANS vg/pgh The first information that the Ukrainian president was preparing to fire Valerii Zaluzhnyi appeared in January 2024. At the time, the Kremlin was beside itself with joy. ADVERTISIMENT This opinion was expressed by journalists of The Washington Post. According to the documents obtained by the publication, the Kremlin has been trying to organize such a split for a long time. It is noted that the aggressor country has long planned to intensify the conflict between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy saying "he intends to fire him." This happened after a meeting of high-ranking Russian officials and experts that took place in 2023, according to internal Kremlin documents. In addition, according to Western journalists, the Russian dictator's administration ordered a group of its political strategists to use social media and fake articles to push the theme that Zelenskyy is "hysterical and weak." "The Ukrainian president is afraid that he will be pushed out of power. That is why he is getting rid of the most dangerous people," they noted. ADVERTISIMENT According to the WP journalists, the Kremlin's instruction led to massive publications on social media. There were also a number of fabricated articles created by troll farms not only in Ukraine but also across Europe. They tried to exploit the tension between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy. Such data was published by one of the European intelligence agencies. The files, which include more than a hundred documents, were handed over to WP by a source that is not disclosed. This was necessary to expose the scale of propaganda aimed at the President of Ukraine in order to divide and destabilize our society. These are exactly the actions that Moscow called IPSO, "information and psychological operations". The documents show how in January 2023, the Kremlin's first deputy chief of staff, Sergei Kiriyenko, instructed a group of officials and political strategists to create a presence on Ukrainian social media to spread disinformation. ADVERTISIMENT The efforts were based on a previous project. It was overseen by a longtime aide to the dictator. It is noted that the goal of this project was to undermine support for Ukraine, including in France and Germany. After Ukraine pushed back Russian troops in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions, and Kyiv began talking about a large-scale spring counteroffensive in the east and south, Kiriyenko assembled a second team focused on destabilizing Ukraine itself. It was this team that formulated four key goals for the Ukrainian propaganda group: discrediting Kyiv's military and political leadership, splitting the Ukrainian elite, demoralizing the Ukrainian military, and disorienting the Ukrainian population. The team's success was to be measured by key indicators: they were to "lower the ratings of key personnel in Zelenskyy's office, the government, and the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," as well as increase the public's belief that the government was working only for itself. ADVERTISIMENT The documents show that progress was monitored at weekly meetings in the Kremlin, where political strategists presented the most popular posts from Ukrainian social media, calculating the overall distribution of their results. They also conducted weekly polls on the level of trust in Zelenskyy and the military leadership. By early March 2023, dozens of bots were posting thousands of messages and nearly forty thousand comments on social media every week. According to the documents, they received approximately seven hundred US dollars for writing one hundred comments a day. Most of the strategists' reports to their political superiors focused on the volume of content created and the total number of views. However, for the first five months, they provided no evidence that these efforts had any impact on Ukrainians. Still, polls conducted by the Kremlin showed that trust in Zelenskyy remained consistently high. ADVERTISIMENT By August 2023, however, Kremlin polls showed that this figure had declined slightly. The accuracy of these polls cannot be assessed, and it is unclear how the Russians conduct them in Ukraine. However, the occupier's strategists were aware of the complexity of their task. "We have to enter the Ukrainian media landscape from scratch. The pro-Russian segment has been completely purged from the media and social networks," the April 2023 report said. The Kremlin strategists advised to develop the Telegram channel network, noting that its audience in Ukraine had grown by tens of hundreds of percent over the past year. In their opinion, this was the most effective way to penetrate the Ukrainian media space. "Telegram has become the most important source of news, even more important than mainstream media. It cannot be blocked," a senior European security official said. ADVERTISIMENT Kremlin strategists also emphasized the need to avoid blatant pro-Russian propaganda in order to build audience trust. In the first week of May, a Facebook post claiming that Valerii Zaluzhnyi could become the next president of Ukraine received 4.3 million views. The Kremlin then issued orders to create similar posts, or "augmented reality," a term used by Russian officials to refer to fake news. These included reports that Western leaders were looking for a replacement for Zelenskyy and that Zaluzhnyi intended to stop the counteroffensive. In addition, Russian political technologists have spread numerous articles in Ukraine through social media. In May, one of them was titled "Zelenskyy holds on to the throne. Democracy is being eliminated in Ukraine". Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Chennai, Feb 18 : Four persons have been arrested in Chennai for their alleged involvement in an attempt to murder case, the police said on Sunday. The police said that they arrested two persons on Saturday while two others were arrested on Sunday. They allegedly are members of a gang, led by one Rajesh. A police officer told IANS that a group of four men attacked Yogesh (26) -- member of rival gang -- on Friday near Chettikulam ground in New Washeanpet. Police said that Yogesh was attacked with machetes and sickles and was grievously injured. "The gang escaped after the assault while the local people took Yogesh to the nearby hospital. He has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital," the police said. Police said that Yogesh is a member of another gang and had murder and attempt to murder cases already lodged against him. "In September 2023, Yogesh along with his gang members had attacked Sasidharan -- a member of a rival gang. Following his treatment, Sasidharan and his gang members led by Rajesh alias Dorai Rajesh plotted an assassination against Yogesh," police said. Police said that Rajesh (35) -- a resident of Kaladipet -- the leader of the gang was arrested on Saturday and upon interrogation he revealed the whereabouts of other members of his gang. "U. Raghupathy (29) was arrested from Royapettah; S. Dineshan (23) and V.Sasitharan (24) were arrested from Tiruvattiyur," the police said. Police said that all the four accused have been sent to judicial custody. Stalin urges PM Modi to intervene to get Tamil fishermen released from Sri Lanka. Image Source: IANS News Chennai, Feb 18 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and ensure the release and repatriation of Tamil Nadu fishermen who have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. "These fishermen are not only Tamils but also proud Indians. The continued detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is deeply distressing and a major matter of concern," the Chief Minister wrote on X. He said that there has been a steep increase in arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen since the past two days. The Chief Minister said that the fishermen were treated as habitual offenders, which has led to their prolonged detention. He said that the livelihood of the fishermen has been threatened. "Sri Lankan Navy has impounded several costly mechanised boats and these impounded boats have been nationalised by the Sri Lankan government," the Chief Minister said. Imphal, Feb 18 : The Manipur government on Sunday asked its employees to attend offices and perform their official duties and warned that in case of any violation of the government orders, the person concerned would be booked and prosecuted under relevant the law. The government order came after the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) -- an apex body of tribals in Manipur -- issued a 'public notice' announcing that all state government offices located in the Churachandpur district will remain closed on Monday, February 19 until further notice. Manipur government Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi on Sunday in an order directed all government employees to attend offices and in case of any violation of the orders, the person concerned without any exception shall be booked and prosecuted under relevant provision of law of land for the time being in force. "No work, no pay' norms shall also be enforced by all the state government offices/institutions against those employees who do not attend their official duty without authorised leave. All Central and state government authorities and management authorities of institutions/ establishment/autonomous bodies are also advised to ensure strict attendance of staff and students as usual," the order said. The Chief Secretary said that all District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of all districts shall take up necessary action to enforce the orders. The ITLF in a 'public notice' notice said that 24 hours have passed since ITLF have given an ultimatum to cancel the suspension order of the head constable Siamlalpaul and the replacement of Churachandpur district Superintendent of Police Shivanand Surve and the Deputy Commissioner S. Dharun Kumar. "All state government employees from Churachandpur district should abstain from going to office. If anyone is seen at the office, they would be held accountable if something unfortunate were to happen to them. Financial, medical, and educational institutions would be exempted. There will be no burial of the two martyrs from the Wall of Remembrance Massacre until an amicable agreement is arrived," the ITLF said in its 'public notice' notice. Seven Manipur Rifles personnel were suspended on February 16 for negligence in duty following the looting of arms and ammunition by a mob from Manipur Police Training College (MPTC) at Pangei and the 5th Battalion of Manipur Rifles complex in Chingarel on February 13. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had said that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to find out if there was some 'hidden agenda' behind the mob attack on the offices of Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police on February 15 in Churachandpur district. Without naming the MLA, the Chief Minister said the police will book a Churachandpur legislator on charges of inciting violence in the district. Two persons were killed and over 40 others were injured in Churachandpur after security forces fired at a mob that stormed a government compound, which houses the offices of the SP and DC late on February 15 night. 4th round of talks between Union Ministers, farmers end with Centre proposing 5-year deal to buy pulses & cotton at MSP. Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, Feb 19 : The fourth round of meeting between three Central ministers and farmer leaders ended here in the early hours of Monday after over four hours of deliberations with Union Minister Piyush Goyal saying they proposed a five-year deal with the farmers to buy pulses and cotton at minimum support price (MSP). However, farmers told the ministers that they would get back after discussion at 10 a.m. on Monday. Saying that the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere, and they had reached consensus to some extent, he said: "With new ideas and thoughts, we had a positive discussion with the Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Union and other farmer leaders. The farmers' union representatives have given some positive suggestions which will benefit the farmers of Punjab, Haryana, as well as the farmers, the economy and consumers of the country. "We have together proposed a very innovative, out-of-the-box idea. The government proposed cooperative societies like NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will form a contract for the next five years and buy products from the farmers on MSP. There will be no limit on the quantity," he told the media after the talks. For procurement of cotton, Goyal said: "We proposed the Cotton Corporation of India will enter five-year agreement with farmers to buy cotton crop at MSP." Besides Goyal, the other Union Ministers who held talks with the ministers were Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai. They first had an informal meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at a hotel in Sector 17 before starting deliberations with the farmer leaders regarding the ongoing protest. The Punjab unit of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting farmer organisations, gave a call for day and night mass protest against MPs, MLAs and district presidents of the BJP from February 20 to 22. The previous round of talks largely remained inconclusive as they failed to address the farmers' demands for a legal guarantee from the MSP for their crops. After the last round of talks that ended on February 16, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said: "We have had discussions in a positive manner on various issues. We will have a fourth round of talks next Sunday." Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday said the Centre should bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, a key demand of farmers currently camping at the Shambhu and the Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border. Meanwhile, the ban on Internet services has been extended for two more days in Haryana till February 19. The government had earlier extended the suspension of the mobile Internet till February 15. Yellow River Airport, Yellow River, Papua New Guinea [ XYR / ] If you are planning to travel to Yellow River or any other city in Papua New Guinea, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Yellow River Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Yellow River Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Papua New Guinea. Yellow River Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Yellow River Airport Info: Yellow River Airport IATA Code: XYR Yellow River Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : -3.88333 Longitude : 141.783 City : Yellow River Country : Papua New Guinea World Area Code : 804 Airport Type : Small Yellow River Airport Address / Contact Details : Yellow River (XYR), Papua New Guinea Timezone : Pacific/Port_Moresby Yellow River Airport Timezone : GMT +10:00 hours Current time and date at Yellow River Airport is 23:30:59 PM (+10) on Monday, Mar 18, 2024 Looking for information on Yellow River Airport, Yellow River, Papua New Guinea? Know about Yellow River Airport in detail. Find out the location of Yellow River Airport on Papua New Guinea map and also find out airports near to Yellow River. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Yellow River Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Yellow River Airport, airlines operating to Yellow River Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Papua New Guinea. Scroll down to know more about Yellow River Airport or Yellow River Airport, Papua New Guinea. Yellow River Airport Map - Location of Yellow River Airport Load Map Papua New Guinea - General Information Country Formal Name Independent State of Papua New Guinea Country Code PG Capital Port Moresby Currency Kina (PGK) 1 PGK = 0.262 USD 1 USD = 3.821 PGK 1 PGK = 0.24 EUR 1 EUR = 4.166 PGK More PGK convertion rates Tel Code +675 Top Level Domain .pg This page provides all the information you need to know about Yellow River Airport, Papua New Guinea. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Papua New Guinea or traveling to Yellow River Airport. Details about Yellow River Airport given here include Yellow River Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Yellow River Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Yellow River Airport Location of Yellow River Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Yellow River Airport Time Zone and Current time at Yellow River Airport Address and contact details of Yellow River Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Yellow River Airport on Google Map. General information about Papua New Guinea where Yellow River Airport is located in the city of Yellow River. General information include capital of Papua New Guinea, currency and conversion rate of Papua New Guinea currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... XYR - Yellow River Airport IATA Code The United Kingdom and the United States plan to send artificial intelligence drones to Ukraine. Top-notch UAVs can help the Ukrainian army attack some Russian targets. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, Western experts are confident that drones will help compensate for the shortage of artillery ammunition. This was reported by Bloomberg. The United Kingdom is working with countries, including the United States, to provide Ukraine with thousands of new drones with artificial intelligence. We are talking about UAVs that attack enemy targets in swarms and allow for the destruction of several objects in one attack at once. Western military strategists who are developing this technology believe that it could allow Ukraine to attack certain Russian positions with unmanned systems. The West also predicts that the drones could be sent to Ukraine within a few months. However, they warned that the timeline could be shifted. It is worth noting that drones are becoming increasingly important in the Russian-Ukrainian war. The terrorist state of Russia has been ramping up its own production of combat drones to support the invasion and has also been receiving significant supplies from its ally Iran. ADVERTISIMENT In turn, Ukraine's coalition of allies has pledged to supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 1 million drones within a year, and the military said it used naval drones to destroy a Russian warship in the Black Sea. Analysts also note that the emphasis on drones comes as Ukraine is facing a shortage of artillery, a situation that could become so critical in the coming months that the military may have to decide to focus on a narrower war front. It should be borne in mind that although the new capabilities of drones do not replace the urgent need for shells, they can help to partially mitigate the shortage of shells and create a new dynamic on the battlefield. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Property details: No Reserve Auction. Build a mobile home or live on an RV here on this 1.09-acre land lot in Apache County, Arizona. Petrified Forest Estate Unit 2 Lot 63, Sun Valley. Parcel Number 211-25-063. There is a dirt road across the lot, which enhances the value of this land(N7161). Please see all the pictures. This lot is close to the town of Sanders. Access via dirt roadbeautiful real estate lot. The title will transfer via a special warranty deedno back taxes or liens.Please add $450 for the cl... Price: $ 1,225 Seller State of Residence: Arizona Property Address: Adamana Road Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 86502 Zoning: A-General City: Sanders State/Province: Arizona Location: 865**, Chambers, Arizona You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Arizona Rap legend Snoop Dogg is mourning the death of his brother, concert tour manager and record producer Bing Worthington. ADVERTISEMENT "Always made us laugh u bac with moms," the hip-hop artist, 52, posted on Instagram Friday, along with a short video of him and his family in a cemetery. Worthington, who frequently collaborated with Snoop, died Thursday at the age of 44. Their mother Beverly Tate died in 2021. She was 70. "The cause of death will be pending the results of the toxicology and autopsy report," Sgt. Frank Gonzalez of the Orange County Sheriff's Department in California said in an email to NBC News Friday. Political circles were abuzz on Saturday amid speculation that former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath may join the Bhartiya Janata Party. IMAGE: Congress leader Kamal Nath. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo The development comes amidst Kamal Nath along with his son Nakul Nath, who is Chhindwara MP reached Delhi on Saturday. The speculation turned rife after a post shared by former Congress leader and BJP state spokesperson Narendra Saluja showed a picture of Kamal Nath with Nakul Nath captioned as 'Jai Shree Ram'. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Kamal Nath's side. On being asked about his plans to switch sides, Kamal Nath rejected all the claims, saying the media would be informed 'if there is something'. "Why are you all getting excited? It is not about denying. I will inform you all if there is something like that," said Kamal Nath on Saturday, while speaking to the media. Earlier on Friday while addressing a press conference in Bhopal, BJP state president V D Sharma also reacted over speculations and said that they have kept their doors open. When asked about speculations of the Congress veteran joining the BJP, Sharma said, "So today I am telling you the environment, we have kept our doors open because there are people in Congress who feel that Congress boycotts Lord Ram, India has Ram in its heart. When Congress insults him, then some people are pained by this, who are upset, and they should get a chance." "If those whose names you are taking have pain in their hearts, then they are also welcome," Sharma said. Meanwhile, on Saturday veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh sought to play down the reports saying that he had spoken to Nath on Friday night and he was in Chhindwara. "Kamal Nath is in Chhindwara...I had a conversation with Kamal Nath last night. He is in Chhindwara. The person who started his political career with the Nehru-Gandhi family and he stood together when the entire Janata Party and the then central government were sending Indira Gandhi to jail. How can you expect that person (Kamal Nath) to leave Sonia Gandhi and Indira Gandhi's families. You should not expect it," Singh told reporters. All India Congress Committee in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Jitendra Singh also said that he did not think that Kamal Nath would leave the Congress party and would be joining any other party. "The way he (Nath) has worked in the organisation since the time of Sanjay Gandhi (Son of Indira Gandhi) till now and the way he has a long relationship with the Congress, I do not think that he will leave the Congress and join any other party," Jitendra Singh said. Ukraine expects to receive the latest drones from France in the coming weeks. These kamikaze drones are currently in an experimental phase. ADVERTISIMENT French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecorneau said this in an interview with Journal du Dimanche. Ukraine will be one of the first countries to receive these drones. "In the coming weeks, Ukraine will be one of the first countries to receive these drones. This also presents an opportunity for combat testing of this new generation of equipment," Lecornu said. The minister did not disclose the specific technical characteristics of these drones, but indicated that the project was launched almost immediately after his appointment in May 2022 and is currently in the experimental stage. He also noted that since the start of the full-scale aggression, France has trained 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers. In addition, another 7,000 to 9,000 soldiers will be trained in 2024. Earlier it was reported that France would provide Ukraine with a new military aid package. It includes, in particular, artillery shells, CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems and air defense enhancements. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA reported, on February 16, Zelenskyy visited Germany and France. As a result of the visits, bilateral agreements were signed on security guarantees for Ukraine, which will be in effect until Ukraine joins NATO. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party cadre to work with renewed vigour and confidence for the next 100 days to reach out to new voters and win their confidence to ensure the party's return to power in the Lok Sabha elections with a stronger mandate. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the BJP national convention in New Delhi. Photograph: @BJP4India/X Addressing the BJP national convention in New Delhi, Modi said the nation will now have to dream big and make big resolutions to make India a developed country by 2047. "The next five years are going to be crucial. We have to take a big leap towards 'Viksit Bharat'. The first imperative is to ensure the return of the BJP to power in strong numbers," the prime minister said. The two-day convention of the BJP was attended by nearly 10,000 members of the party from across the country. In his 65-minute speech at the Bharat Mandapam, Modi slammed the opposition, particularly the Congress, saying it lacked the courage to take on the BJP ideologically or on the basis of principles. "The Congress is demoralised... therefore, abusing Modi and levelling false allegations against me have become the single-point agenda of its leaders," he added. The prime minister said that even opposition leaders are now raising slogans in favour of more than 400 Lok Sabha seats for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "But, for NDA to cross 400, the BJP will have to cross the milestone of 370," Modi said. He said every country across the world is now keen to forge a deeper relationship with India. "Elections are yet to take place, but I already have invitations from different countries for July, August and September. This means that several countries across the world are also completely confident about the return of the BJP government," he said. Modi said that every country across the world knows "aayega toh..." as the gathering shouted "...Modi hi. Aayega toh Modi hi." The prime minister said fulfilling the dreams of crores of women, poor and youth is his mission. "We rid the country of mega scams and terror attacks, and made efforts to improve the living standards of the poor and the middle class," he said. Modi said he is seeking a third term not to enjoy power but to work for the nation. "If I had thought of my home, it would not have been possible to build homes for crores of people," he said. He said 10 years of unblemished governance and pulling 25 crore people out of poverty were no ordinary feats. "A senior leader once told me I had done enough as PM and CM, I should rest. But I am working for 'rashtraniti', not 'rajneeti'," he said. The prime minister said he lives by the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and takes inspiration from him. "I am not someone who lives for his own happiness. I am advocating for a third term for the BJP not for political gains but for the benefit of India. My efforts are dedicated to the people of India. The dreams of Indians are my commitments," Modi said. He said he is the first prime minister to raise the issue of toilets and speak about dignity for women from the Red Fort. The BJP is bringing together the power of the youth, women and farmers in building a "Viksit Bharat", Modi said. "We asked those who were not acknowledged by anyone, and not just that, we have also worshipped them," he said. In the times to come, there will be plenty of opportunities for "our mothers, sisters and daughters", the prime minister said. He said Mission Shakti will create a complete ecosystem for the protection and empowerment of women in the country and added that 15,000 women self-help groups will get drones. "Now, 'Drone Didi' will bring scientific temperament and modernity to farming. Now, three crore women in the country will be made 'Lakhpati Didis'," the prime minister said. He also said that the BJP ended the five-century wait of people and constructed the Ram temple in Ayodhya. "The religious flag has been hoisted in Pavagadh, Gujarat, after 500 years. After seven decades, we opened the Kartarpur Sahib Highway. After waiting for seven decades, the country has got freedom from Article 370," the prime minister said. He said the spirit of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (One India-Glorious India)" is visible in governance. "The Northeast was completely ignored by earlier governments. But we do not work for votes and seats. For us, every corner of the country should be prosperous and developed, this is our belief," Modi said. He said his Council of Ministers had a record representation of leaders from the Northeast. "For the first time, a woman has become a member of the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland. We are proud that for the first time we have given a place to a person from Tripura in the Council of Ministers," he said."For the first time in our government, Arunachal Pradesh has got a cabinet minister," Modi said. "Our government is for everyone. 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is reflected in our work ethics," the prime minister said. Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Sunday evening sought to dispel speculation about Kamal Nath's possible switch to Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that the senior Congress leader had told him that he was not going anywhere. The BJP misuses the media and questions the integrity of a person and this has come to light. I had a talk with Kamal Nath ji who told me that the reports floating in the media were part of a conspiracy. He told me that he was a Congressman and will remain in Congress, Patwari told PTI. His relationship with the Gandhi family is unshakable. He has lived with the ideology of Congress and will remain with it till the end. This is what he told me, the Congress leader said. Asked why Nath was not himself putting forth his side, Patwari said that the former MP chief minister would speak at the right time. What I said was on his behalf, he claimed. Nath and his son and Chhindwara MP Nakul Nath arrived in the national capital on Saturday afternoon, while Nakul Nath dropped Congress from his bio on social media. Around half a dozen Madhya Pradesh MLAs loyal to Kamal Nath reached Delhi on Sunday, accentuating the speculation that the father-son duo was set to join the ruling BJP. In MP capital Bhopal, Nath's Congress colleague Digvijaya Singh expressed confidence that his old friend won't forsake the party from where he began his political journey. Around half a dozen Madhya Pradesh MLAs loyal to senior Congress leader Kamal Nath reached Delhi on Sunday amid speculation that he and his MP son Nakul Nath are set to join the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party. IMAGE: Political circles were abuzz amid speculation that former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath with his MP son Nakul may join the Bhartiya Janata Party. Photograph: @OfficeOfKNath/X Three of these MLAs are from Chhindwara, while another three from the region are set to leave for Delhi, sources close to the veteran leader said. Nath, a nine-time MP from Chhindwara and currently MLA from the seat, is a former chief minister who was removed as the party's state president following the Congress' dismal performance in the November Assembly polls. These MLAs were not answering calls, with some Congress insiders claiming Nath loyalist and former state minister Lakhan Ghangoriya was also camping with them in Delhi. Deepak Saxena, former MP minister and Nath loyalist told reporters in Chhindwara he was hurt by the way the latter was removed as state unit chief following the Assembly debacle. "We want our leader to be accorded all respect. Whatever decision he takes, we will be with him," Saxena said. Another Nath loyalist, former state minister Vikram Verma, wrote 'Jai Shri Ram' in his X profile. "I will follow Kamal Nath," Verma, a former MP, had told reporters on Saturday. Efforts were on by the Nath camp to get the support of 23 MLAs so that anti-defection laws don't apply to them, party insiders claimed. The Congress has 66 seats in the 230-member Assembly. "In case one-third of the MLAs switch over, then anti-defection laws will not apply," MP High Court advocate Rakesh Pandey told PTI. Incidentally, in March 2020, another senior leader, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and several MLAs loyal to him had switched over to the BJP, which brought down the Congress government led by Nath The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance in Jharkhand is "strong" and there is no threat to the coalition government in the state, Chief Minister Champai Soren said on Sunday, amid reports of resentment brewing among a section of Congress legislators over the induction of four party MLAs as ministers. IMAGE: Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren meets Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. Photograph: @kharge/X Soren, who is in the national capital, made the remarks before meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. After meeting Kharge, he told reporters that it was a courtesy meeting with the Congress president after taking charge as the chief minister. On a section of Congress MLAs being disgruntled over the recent cabinet formation, Soren said it was the internal matter of the Congress. In a post on X after his meeting with Soren, Kharge said, "Today, along with Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Champai Soren ji and leaders of Jharkhand Congress, we again resolved to fight the dictatorial government (Centre)." "We will continue our journey of progressiveness, public welfare and social justice in Jharkhand," Kharge said. Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Pranav Jha, among others, were present during Soren's meeting with Kharge. Asked about the meeting, Mir also told reporters that it was a courtesy call. Asked about the section of disgruntled Congress MLAs being in Delhi, Mir said they did not have any problem with the government but had some specific issues, some related to their respective constituencies, which they would raise with the party leadership and sort out. Earlier in the morning, Soren said, "There's no issue, our alliance is strong." On being asked about disgruntled Congress MLAs reaching Delhi, he had told reporters, "This is an internal matter of the Congress, they will resolve it. I have nothing to say about that. There is no conflict between the JMM and Congress, and everything is absolutely fine." As many as 12 MLAs of the Congress have threatened to boycott the upcoming state assembly session from February 23 and head to Jaipur if the ministers are not replaced with new faces. The JMM-led alliance in the state has 47 MLAs (JMM-29, Congress-17 and one RJD) in the 81-member assembly. Unhappy with the Congress' decision to give ministerial berths to Alamgir Alam, Rameshwar Oraon, Banna Gupta and Badal Patralekh again, the disgruntled section of Congress legislators went into a huddle Saturday at a Ranchi hotel, where JMM's new minister Basant Soren, the youngest son of party supremo Shibu Soren, reached to persuade them to change their decision. "There is no confusion...we are all united," Basant Soren said after meeting the MLAs. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said that "an incident was made to happen" in Sandeshkhali and blamed it on the Bharatiya Janata Party for having it scripted along with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the media. IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting in Birbhum. Photograph: ANI Photo Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, also said that not a single woman in Sandeshkhali has lodged any FIR and it was she who had directed the police to initiate a suo motu case in this connection. Since the first week of February, villages in Sandeshkhali area in North 24 district have witnessed protests over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing by TMC leaders. "An incident has happened (in Sandeshkhali). It was made to happen. First, they (BJP) sent the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and then ED's friend, the BJP entered Sandeshkhali along with some media which started creating hullabaloo, Banerjee said. The BJP is trying to create disturbance in West Bengal, the chief minister alleged while speaking at a public distribution programme organised by the state government at Suri in Birbhum district. "Not a single woman (from Sandeshkhali) has lodged any FIR. It was me who directed the police to lodge a suo motu case. Our block president has been arrested," she said. The TMC supremo attacked the BJP, questioning whether the party has taken any action against any of its tainted leaders. The police have so far arrested 18 people including local TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar in connection with the incidents of violence at Sandeshkhali. They have also added sections of 'gangrape' and 'attempted murder' against three of the prime accused, one of whom is still absconding. The sections were added after a victim woman recorded her statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC. Banerjee said that she would be sending her officers to Sandeshkhali who would talk to the locals there to find out if the complaints were genuine. "In Bengal, if people are tortured, we take action. I am sending officers who will listen to the people and if it is found that someone has taken things from them, they will get back everything. It's my promise," the chief minister said. Referring to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) under which several TMC leaders including former ministers were arrested, Banerjee claimed that they were put behind bars to help the BJP win elections. "There is one PMLA... You can have complaints against anyone and for that purpose, you collect evidence, talk to witnesses, prepare a chargesheet, and let the judiciary function in its own way. But keeping someone in jail year after year without any proof... you think of winning the election in this manner," she said. Referring to the Emergency period of 1975-77, Banerjee stated that even prime minister Indira Gandhi could not win the election after putting over 2,000 people in jail. "Today also, if someone thinks the same thing by threatening people, using the CBI, ED and Election Commission and putting people in jail, I would say that we also have the right to oppose that," she opined. Stating that four children died after being buried by earth in a BSF trench at Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district recently, the TMC boss asked the BJP how many teams were sent there. She asked: "How many teams were sent when Dalits and SC-ST people were tortured? How many teams were sent after the Bilkis Banu case?" Her questions came after the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes visited Sandeshkhali. The BJP, the Congress and Left parties also tried to reach the area but were stopped by the police. Banerjee also referred to the ongoing agitation of the farmers in Haryana, Punjab demanding the government's guarantee on MSP, Banerjee said that cultivators in Bengal do not face any problem. "I salute farmers' protest. I condemn the attacks on them. In Bengal, farmers are our 'annadatas' who provide us with food. But look at the way they are being treated by them (BJP). Look at how Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana are burning. I sympathise with our farmers," she said. Baramati MP and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar working president Supriya Sule on Sunday responded to swirling speculation about her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar being nominated against her in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, stressing that there is nothing personal. IMAGE: NCP-Sharad Pawar working president Supriya Sule with her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar. Photograph: Supriya Sule on Instagram Sunetra Pawar is the wife of Sule's cousin and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the rival faction of NCP. Speaking to reporters on her home turf Baramati in the state's Pune district, the three-term MP said her battle is ideological and not personal. Ajit Pawar, a seven-time MLA and one-term MP from Baramati, and several senior legislators broke away from the Sharad Pawar-founded NCP last year and aligned with the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to join the state government. Recently, the Election Commission allotted the party's name NCP and its clock' symbol to the group headed by Ajit Pawar. On February 15, Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar held that the Ajit Pawar-led group was the real NCP. Asked about the speculation that Ajit Pawar could pit his wife against her in Baramati, Sule said, "For me, it is an ideological fight. There is nothing personal. (Sharad) Pawar Saheb has stood for a certain ideology and we are committed to it. How can this be a family fight," she asked. Anyone can contest elections from any place in a democracy, she said. "I had said yesterday (Saturday) that if they have a strong candidate, then I am ready to debate with that person. They can decide the topic, time, and place. I'm ready," she asserted. Ajit Pawar had launched a scathing attack on Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, though without naming them, over the past few days and even said that development work doesn't happen by getting awards for speeches In Parliament. Sule has won the best parliamentarian award more than once. A panel of Union ministers will hold a fourth round of talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh on Sunday over their demands, including loan waiver and bringing an ordinance on giving legal guarantee to a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. IMAGE: Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU) Ugraha supporters take part in a sit-in protest in front of Former Punjab CM and BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh (retd) over their various demands, in Patiala on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The meeting comes amid thousands of farmers staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border with layers of barricades and a large number of security personnel halting their march to the national capital. The two sides -- ministers and farmer leaders -- had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but talks remained inconclusive. Besides loan waiver and a legal guarantee for an MSP, farmers of the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, which entered is sixth day on Sunday, are also demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, and withdrawal of police cases. There was no report of any confrontation between the protesters and Haryana security personnel on Saturday. The farmer leaders have asked the protesters to maintain calm at the borders. Multiple layers of barricades and concrete blocks have been put up and security personnel deployed at Delhi's borders with Haryana also in view of the protest. Farmer leaders, including from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha that had called for the march, will be meeting Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai at 6 pm on Sunday in Chandigarh -- the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. On Saturday, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher had said the entire country is looking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing the farmers' demands and expressed hope that the farmers will get "good news" after the Sunday's meeting with the Centre. "Now the ball is in the government's court," he had said and added that the Centre has a right to take 'political' decisions. "If the government wants resolution of the farmers' protest, then it should bring an ordinance with an immediate effect that it will enact a law on MSP, then discussion can proceed further. It (Centre) can bring the ordinance overnight, if it wants to," Pandher had added. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march along with Pandher, had also said that the government should bring an ordinance for "giving something to people of the country'. The Haryana government on Saturday had extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts by two more days till February 19. On Saturday, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) took out a tractor march in Haryana while BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) held dharnas outside residences of three senior BJP leaders in support of the farmers protesting at the borders of Punjab and Haryana. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday had said that the Modi government was fully cognisant of farmers' issues, adding that the ongoing talks between the farmers and the Centre will definitely lead to an effective redressal. Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur on Saturday had visited the Data Singhwala-Khanauri border point where farmers have been camping since their 'Delhi Chalo' march was stopped by security personnel. He had said that strict action would be taken against those who disturb law and order. BURLINGTON An illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was carrying a loaded shotgun when he got into a scuffle with U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Orleans County last fall, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison on Friday. Ciro Temich-Ramirez, 35, of North Carolina received the prison term in U.S. District Court for after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by an individual who was unlawfully in the United States. Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford noted it is extremely rare for the U.S. Border Patrol in Vermont to find people with loaded firearms. The incident was less than a mile from the international border on Sept. 30. The judge said the case escalated when Temich-Ramirez opted to get into a physical confrontation with the Border Patrol instead of just surrendering peacefully. "Just surrender," said Crawford, noting the tussle could have turned worse. "It's the firearm that escalated the incident," the judge said. "It escalated it considerably." Following a brief conversation, a physical altercation ensued between the initial responding agent and Temich-Ramirez. Additional federal agents responded and, after restraining Temich-Ramirez, they found a shotgun in his car. Law enforcement said they also found methamphetamine, brass knuckles, a knife and ammunition, including a 30-round AR-15 magazine and 103 rounds of shotgun ammunition. The federal sentencing guidelines, which are advisory, had suggested a prison penalty between 10 and 16 months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig called the incident "incredibly dangerous conduct" and noted the defendant wasn't interested in surrendering. Stendig said he was willing to go with a 10-month sentence. He said it was unclear why Temich-Ramirez thought he needed protection. "He did not go quietly," Stendig said. He said in his sentencing motion that a prison term and deportation "would send a message to other aliens that illegally entering the United States entails risks greater than simply being sent back." Assistant Federal Defender Sara Puls had proposed a sentence of time served since his arrest about 4 months ago. She said Immigration officials have filed a detainer against him in an effort to have Temich-Ramirez removed from the country once his prison term is up. Puls said her client disputed some claims about the scuffle made by the Border Patrol to the U.S. Probation Office. She asked that a paragraph be removed from the presentence investigation report, but Crawford said it would stay. Stendig said he would stand by the sworn affidavits from the Border Patrol. Temich-Ramirez, when given a chance to speak, did not try to change the record about the confrontation. He simply said he was sorry. Crawford also agreed to recommend Temich-Ramirez serve the remainder of his sentence at the federal prison in Berlin, N.H. He also assessed $100 in court costs. As part of the case, the government sought a forfeiture notice that covers the shotgun and all the ammunition that was seized, records show. As part of the plea agreement two other charges were dropped: illegal possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance; and assaulting, resisting and interfering with a Border Patrol Agent in the performance of his lawful duties. The case began when the Border Patrol received a report of a possible illicit border crossing in North Troy about 2:20 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 30. A concerned citizen in North Troy flagged down Border Patrol Agent Todd Marrs to report that a suspicious Hispanic man was near Bear Mountain Road and Guay Farm Road and was taking pictures of the sky, records show. Marrs found Temich-Ramirez outside a blue Jeep Liberty with North Carolina registration plates near the intersection, Russell said. Temich-Ramirez was vague when questioned and denied he had any weapons, but Marrs could see a knife in his pocket, Russell reported. Temich-Ramirez was asked to turn around so Marrs could conduct a safety pat down, the Border Patrol reported. They said Temich-Ramirez opted to shove Marrs backwards and "a significant physical struggle ensued" between the two men. Temich-Ramirez repeatedly prevented Marrs from accessing his two-way radio to request backup support, Russell said. He said Marrs eventually gained control of his radio and summoned help. Supervisory Border Patrol Agent John Brooks arrived within minutes to help Marrs handcuff Temich-Ramirez, the Border Patrol said. Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge Mark Qualter arrived and helped secure the scene and the Jeep, Russell said. Qualter noticed what appeared to be a pistol in the driver's door of the Jeep, the Border Patrol said. The vehicle was subsequently searched. After the reported altercation, Temich-Ramirez told the Border Patrol he has been in the United States for about 20 years and had illegally crossed in from Mexico, records show. Temich-Ramirez, when asked the purpose of his visit to Vermont, said he just started driving after having a fight with his wife and didn't realize that he was so close to the U.S.-Canada border, Russell said. The gun was bought by his wife, who wa a U.S. citizen. It was illegal for Temich-Ramirez, who said he was born in Veracruz, Mexico, to buy a gun in the U.S., officials said. It was one of two physical attacks in Vermont on a Border Patrol Agent along the U.S.-Canada boundary within 10 days, records show. Another illegal immigrant from Mexico, armed with a knife, was charged with assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and knowingly bringing illegal immigrants into the country near Bullard Road in Highgate on Sept. 21, 2023. Robert N. Garcia, the U.S. Border Patrol Chief for the Swanton sector, turned silent when the media sought comments in Vermont about officer safety for the Border Patrol agents working the rural 300-mile border stretch he supervises. Temich-Ramirez maintained he had the shotgun because he sometimes slept in his car and he thought it could be dangerous, the Border Patrol said. He said he was aware that it was illegal for him to have the shotgun and it was illegal for him to buy a firearm, the Border Patrol reported. Temich-Ramirez said the illegal drugs found in plastic baggies in his Jeep were "crystal" and that he uses it because he does strenuous roofing work and that his back hurts, Russell said. Temich-Ramirez said he last used some between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the case and determined that the shotgun had been manufactured outside Vermont, part of the reason his possession of it is a felony, the Border Patrol said. Germany continues to collect information about Russia's war crimes in Ukraine. So far, more than 500 testimonies have been collected, and more than 160 witnesses have been interviewed. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, DW reports. He also expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin would sooner or later be brought to justice for everything he has done against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The German Ministry of Justice reported that it had already collected more than 500 testimonies about Russia's war crimes in Ukraine. More than 160 witnesses have been interviewed. "We want to persuade victims and witnesses of traumatic events to share with the police what they have experienced," emphasized Buschmann. The German Minister of Justice also reminded of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Putin on charges of abducting Ukrainian children. Therefore, collecting evidence of Russia's war crimes is extremely important for the triumph of justice. ADVERTISIMENT "Any photo and any video, for example, on a smartphone, can help the investigation. Anyone who deletes such materials only helps Russian war criminals," Bushman said. The newspaper also writes that next week the German Ministry of Justice will hold a conference on international law, an important item on the agenda of which will be the increase in attacks by Russian drones on civilian targets in Ukraine. The German Justice Minister is convinced that this multiplies Russia's war crimes. "If a Russian drone is aimed by a soldier at a residential building with civilians in it, it is a war crime," Bushman said. In addition, the Justice Minister said that Germany is working to expand international cooperation with Ukraine, Poland, and the United States. In particular, he believes it is important to strengthen contacts with the new Polish government, as this country borders on Ukraine and has received a huge number of refugees from the war-torn country. ADVERTISIMENT Bushman believes that Putin should be held personally responsible for the war crimes of the Russian army in Ukraine. "If someone gives an order to deliberately violate international law, he is potentially a war criminal," said the German Justice Minister, expressing hope that the Russian dictator will eventually be brought to justice. Earlier, The Guardian reported that the ICC opposes a special tribunal for Russian war crimes and blocks Ukraine's efforts. The Hague claims that it has no jurisdiction over Russia because it is not a party to the Rome Statute. The author also stated that some G7 countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, and France - are not enthusiastic about the international tribunal. They believe that such a tribunal could set a precedent that other world leaders would be indicted by other future tribunals. ADVERTISIMENT Experts say the property will never sell at a court-ordered starting price of US$90 million. Many Burmese consider it a symbol of the countrys democracy movement, where Aung San Suu Kyi lived under house arrest for almost 15 years. They recall her giving political speeches from behind its fence. Granted freedom in 2010, Suu Kyi received U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the compound. In March, the historic lakeside home and its two acres of land in the heart of Yangon will be auctioned at a starting price of more than 300 billion kyats, or about US$90 million a figure observers say no one will pay. Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, or NUG former civilian leaders now in exile or hiding has vowed to take legal action against anyone who might purchase the compound, saying it should be protected as a place of cultural heritage. The NUG accused the junta of selling the house as part of a vendetta against Suu Kyi, the head of the deposed National League for Democracy and the countrys former de facto leader whose government the military overthrew in a February 2021 coup. Under the law, Suu Kyi has the right to purchase the home at the reserve price before it goes to auction. Aung San Suu Kyis residence in Yangon is seen Nov. 14, 2014. (Image from pool video via Reuters) But Suu Kyi, 78, is now in prison, sentenced by the junta to 33 years on 19 charges. That was later reduced to 27 years. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was initially put in solitary confinement in Yangons Insein Prison, but it's not clear where she is currently being held. Last month, her son Kim Aris, who lives in the United Kingdom, received a letter from her the first public communication from her since late 2022. Aris didnt have much to say about her health based on the letter, but she is believed to be suffering from medical and dental problems. A Yangon based lawyer who, like others interviewed for this report, declined to be named due to security concerns, told RFA that if Suu Kyi refuses to purchase the home and it goes to auction, the junta is unlikely to find a bidder. The floor price for the auction is very high, but this is not a house owned by an ordinary citizen, he said. Since it is a part of the historical heritage of the country, it will be very difficult for anyone to buy this grand residence, so it has little chance for success at auction. The lawyer said that if the reserve price is not met, the court will proceed with the sale of the property on the open market in accordance with the law. Family dispute The lakeside home was awarded to Suu Kyis mother, Khin Kyi, after her father, independence activist Gen. Aung San was assassinated in 1947. But ownership of the historic property has long been disputed by Suu Kyi and her elder brother Aung San Oo. Aung San Suu Kyi smiles as she talks to journalists during a press conference at her lakeside residence March 14, 2012, in Yangon. (Khin Maung Win/AP) On Aug. 22, 2022, the junta-controlled Union Supreme Court declared the house would be auctioned under Aung San Oos appeal. In mid-January, a source close to the Kamayut District Court told RFA Burmese that an order had been issued allowing the junta to sell the property at an auction set for March 20. In recent days, an auction order issued by the Kamayut court was posted at the residence at No. 54, University Avenue in Yangons Bahan township, confirming the date and reserve price. Similar notices later appeared at the court and revenue offices of regional and district levels. A real estate agent told RFA that the reserve price is too high compared to other properties on the townships Inya Lake that offer similar scenic views. One exception is that the house is situated in a good location, he said. However, no one will buy it because of the high price and the fact that it is a significant landmark. People row past Aung San Suu Kyis residence on Inya Lake in Yangon on May 7, 2009. (Khin Maung Win/AP) However the auction plays out, the NUG is adamant that the property shouldnt be sold to a private owner. "This land and house belonged to national leader Bogyoke Aung San and his wife Khin Kyi. The property is related to the current State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, said NUG Prime Ministers Office spokesperson Nay Phone Latt, using an honorific to refer to the independence leader. The NUG has already declared it as an interim national heritage site, and has clearly stated that those who sell and buy the property, and those who are involved in trying to privatize it, will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Male students who enrolled in Taliban-run religious schools say that sexual and physical abuse has led some to end their pursuit of an education in Afghanistan. The students, all of whom were aged 10 to 17 and spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on condition of anonymity out of fears of repercussion, described numerous instances in which they and fellow classmates were pressured to engage in sexual acts with teachers and subjected to corporal punishments. The reported cases took place in western and southwestern Afghanistan at Taliban-run madrasahs, part of the network of religious schools that the extremist group has expanded significantly as part of its drive to foster religious education more in keeping with its hard-line Islamist views. One 16-year-old student, a resident of Farah Province, described being propositioned by a teacher at the madrasah he attends. "One day at school a Taliban member who teaches there made an inappropriate offer, but I did not accept it," the boy told Radio Azadi, using inexplicit language to describe sexual abuse, a culturally taboo topic in Afghanistan. "When the lessons were over, he bothered me again." The boy said he reported the incidents to a "qari," a person who has memorized the Koran and serves as a religious authority at the school, to no avail. "I told the qari that the teacher was doing bad things to me, and the qari told him not to do these things, that he was a teacher," the boy said. "The teacher admitted doing it, but it had no effect. He has continued to do bad things and made sexual requests to numerous students at the school." Another student in southwestern Afghanistan, a 17-year-old in the 10th grade, gave a similar account of his experience during his six months studying at a Taliban-run madrasah. "A Taliban member who teaches at the school proposed having a relationship with me and said some other things that I did not accept," the boy said. After being refused, the teacher swore and issued threats, the boy said, adding that his fellow students have faced similar treatment. "He also harassed several of my classmates, and one of them left the school," the boy said. "He told me I should not go to school anymore because the same teacher is harassing me." The boy said the experience has left him "damaged" and unsure of whom he can confide in. "I can't tell my family," he said. The Taliban has come under widespread criticism for the severe restrictions it has placed on the daily lives of the Afghans since seizing power in August 2021. In its pursuit to impose its extreme interpretation of Islam, the Taliban has restored many of the draconian rules it was infamous for during its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. The ban on the education of girls past the sixth grade, and the erasure of women's role in society stand out among the measures the Taliban has taken. But other steps -- including prohibitions on music and idolatry through art, and pressure against students and teachers -- have affected all walks of life regardless of sex. Since the Taliban returned to power, many educators have left the country, while female teachers have been left at home without work due to restrictions on women's freedom of movement and their ability to teach males. Meanwhile, the Taliban has steadily worked to replace secular state schools and informal madrasahs with a system of religious schooling. The system does allow for girl students, including those of university age, but critics say it falls far short of the standards of modern education for girls and boys alike and often promotes extremism. According to a report on Afghanistan issued by the United Nations in February, the Taliban has established 6,836 madrasahs for males and 380 for females and was expected to finalize a standardized religious curriculum in time for the new school year beginning this month. The recruitment of madrasah teachers is also in full swing, according to the report, following a decree by the Talibans spiritual leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada to have 100,000 new madrasah teachers in place. In December, Human Rights Watch gave a stinging assessment of the state of education in general, saying that in addition to the obstacles to the education of girls and women, the Taliban had "also inflicted deep harm on boys' education" in Afghanistan. "Many boys were previously taught by women teachers; the Taliban has prohibited women from teaching boys, depriving women teachers of their jobs and often leaving boys with unqualified replacement male teachers or sometimes no teachers at all," HRW said. "Parents and students said that corporal punishment, which has long been a problem at Afghan schools, has become increasingly common. The curriculum in many schools appears to be under revision to remove important school subjects and promote discrimination." The rights watchdog said the circumstances had "led many boys to leave school altogether" and "left boys struggling with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression." Shortly after the Taliban regained power, the United Nations highlighted the dire situation for children in Afghanistan, including exposure to sexual violence and increased risk of students dropping out of school. Difficulties in ensuring the protection of children are exacerbated, according to the UN, by the Taliban's refusal to consider people below the age of 18 to be children, as is the international standard, instead using the onset of puberty as the basis for adulthood. Younger madrasah students in western and southwestern Afghanistan below or at the age of puberty said they were not spared physical abuse and sexual harassment from teachers. One young man who spoke to Radio Azadi said he recently learned that his young brother was being subjected to sexual abuse at a madrasah in western Afghanistan. The young man said his brother was being assigned extracurricular "homework by a teacher, or to put it bluntly, he was being asked for sex, [the teacher] fondled his hands and feet and kissed him." As a result, the young man said he told his brother not to go to school anymore. Fear of sexual harassment and sexual and physical abuse were cited as a common factor leading boys in western and southwestern Afghanistan to give up their studies. "Some teachers harass our students and make immoral requests," said one 14-year-old boy who also described common methods of corporal punishment at his madrasah. "They strike our faces or beat our hands and feet under the pretext of disciplining us for not learning our lessons properly." The boy said many students were studying hard in fear of being taken to a special room for punishment, and that "some even drop out of school." Another student, aged 10, said his teacher separated him and other students from their class to beat the soles of their feet. Afterward, he told Radio Azadi, he stopped going to class because he was afraid. And upon hearing about the incidents, his and his classmates' parents "did not allow us to go to school." The Taliban authorities did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations of abuse at madrasahs it has established. And efforts to speak to individuals aware of the situations at madrasahs in other areas of Afghanistan were met by refusals to comment due to fear of reprisals. A women's rights activist who asked that her name not be published told Radio Azadi that families have no avenue to lodge complaints about the abuse their children encounter at Taliban-run madrasahs because they, too, would face threats. The activist said that not only had she been made aware of sexual harassment against both girls and boys at Taliban-run madrasahs, but the curriculum also serves to "increase the level of extremism in the country." Reducing the risks of both threats, she said, would require greater oversight by the Taliban authorities and ideally, she said, a reduction in the number of madrasahs. Najib Amini, a civil society activist in western Afghanistan, said that for now, the onus falls on families to be aware. "Children are subjected to sexual abuse in madrasahs established under the Taliban regime," Amini said. "Families have an important and essential role in this regard. If they do not want their children to be abused in schools, if they want their children to get a basic education...then they should not send their children to madrasahs under the control of the Taliban." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Azadi Vladimir Putin has claimed a fifth presidential term with a landslide victory in a tightly controlled election that has been condemned by the West as neither free nor fair as the Russian leader seeks to prove overwhelming popular support for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive policies. With 99.75 percent of ballots counted, Putin won another six-year term with a post-Soviet record of 87.29 percent of the vote, the Central Elections Committee (TsIK) said on March 18, adding that turnout was also at a "record" level, with 77.44 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. The 71-year old Putin -- who has ruled as either president or prime minister since 2000 -- is now set to surpass Soviet dictator Josef Stalins nearly 30-year reign to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries. "This election has been based on repression and intimidation," the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told journalists in Brussels on March 18 as the bloc's foreign ministers gathered to discuss the election, among other issues. The March 15-17 vote is the first for Putin since he launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that has killed tens of thousands of Russians and led to a clear break in relations with the West. In holding what has widely been viewed as faux elections, Putin wants to show that he has the nations full support, experts said. The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located. Moscow illegally annexed the regions since launching the invasion, though it remains unclear how much of the territory it controls. The Kremlin's goal "is to get as many people as possible to sign off on Russia's war against Ukraine. The idea is to get millions of Russian citizens to retroactively approve the decision Putin single-handedly made two years ago," Maksim Trudolyubov, a senior fellow at the Kennan Institute, wrote in a note ahead of the vote. In remarks shortly after he was declared the winner, Putin said the election showed that the nation was "one team." But Western leaders condemned the vote, with the White House National Security Council spokesperson saying they "are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him." British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said "this is not what free and fair elections look like," adding in his message on X, formerly Twitter, that illegal elections have also been held on occupied Ukrainian territory. The French Foreign Ministry said Putin's reelection came amid a wave of repression against civil society. It also praised in a statement the courage of "the many Russian citizens who peacefully protested against this attack on their fundamental political rights." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Putin has become "sick with power" and he is just "simulating" elections. "This imitation of 'elections' has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up in the dock in The Hague [at the International UN Tribunal for War Crimes]," Zelenskiy said on X. Putin's allies were quick to heap praise on the Russian leader for his election success. China, one of Russia's most importants allies, congratulated Putin, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian saying President Xi Jinping and the Russian leader "will continue to maintain close exchanges, lead the two countries to continue to uphold long-standing good-neighborly friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called Putin's victory "decisive," the state news agency IRNA reported. WATCH: Leading psychiatrists discuss how excessive power can impact brain functioning and what the impulse for total control reveals about the mind and personality traits of authority figures. Putin was opposed by three relatively unknown, Kremlin-friendly politicians whose campaign was barely noticeable. The main intrigue was whether Russians would heed opposition calls to gather at polling stations at noon on March 17 to silently protest against Putins rule. Russian media had reported in the months leading up to the election that the Kremlin was determined to engineer a victory for Putin that would surpass the 2018 results, when he won 77.5 percent of the vote with a turnout of 67.5 percent. The Kremlin banned anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin from the ballot after tens of thousands of voters lined up in the cold to support his candidacy. Nadezhdin threatened to undermine the narrative of overwhelming support for Putin and his war, experts said. Independent election observers were barred from working at this years presidential election for the first time in post-Soviet history, experts said. Russian elections have been notorious for ballot stuffing and other irregularities. The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located. The United States called the elections neither fair nor free. 'Noon Against Putin' With options to express resistance severely limited by the lack of competition and repressive laws, opposition leaders called on voters opposed to Putin to gather near polls at noon to show the Kremlin and the country that they were still a force. Russia's opposition movement suffered a serious blow last month when Aleksei Navalny, Putins fiercest and most popular critic, died in unclear circumstances in a maximum-security prison in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism widely seen as politically motivated. Long lines formed at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones at the designated time for the "Noon Against Putin" protest, including in Novosibirsk, Chita, Yekaterinburg, Perm, and Moscow among other Russian cities. "We're not really expecting anything, but I'd somehow like to make a record of this election for myself, tick the box for myself, so, when talking about it later, I could say that I didn't just sit at home, but came and tried to do something," said one Russian who came to vote at noon. "The action has achieved its goals," Ivan Zhdanov, the head the Anti-Corruption Foundation formerly headed by Navalny, said in a YouTube video. "The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin." The Moscow prosecutor's office had earlier warned of criminal prosecution against those who interfered with the vote, a step it said was necessary due to social-media posts "containing calls for an unlimited number of people to simultaneously arrive to participate in uncoordinated mass public events at polling stations in Moscow [at noon on March 17] in order to violate electoral legislation." Lawyer Valeria Vetoshkina, who has left the country, told Current Time that if people do not bring posters and do not announce why they came to the polling station at that hour, it would be hard for the authorities to legitimately declare it a "violation." But she warned that there were "some basic safety rules that you can follow if you're worried. The first is not to discuss why you came, just to vote. And secondly, it is better to come without any visual means of agitation: without posters, flags, and so on." Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission (TsIK), on March 16 said there had been 20 cases of people attempting to destroy voting sheets by pouring liquids into ballot boxes and eight incidents of people trying to destroy ballots by setting them on fire or by using smoke bombs. Russians living abroad also took part in the "Noon Against Putin" campaign, with hundreds of people lining up at 12 p.m. outside the Russian embassies in Sidney, Tokyo, Phuket, Dubai, Istanbul, Berlin, Paris, and Yerevan among other capitals. "It's not an election. It's just a fake. And so we're here to show that not Russians elect the current leader of Russia, that we [are] against him very severely, and that lots of people had to flee their country to be free," said Anna, a Russian citizen living in Berlin and who gathered outside the embassy in the German capital. Putin was challenged by Liberal Democratic Party leader Leonid Slutsky, State Duma deputy speaker Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, and State Duma lawmaker Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, none of whom opposed the war. The Russian leader had the full resources of the state behind him, including the media, police, state-owned companies, and election officials. The European Union is doing the maximum to arm Ukraine, EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell told RFE/RL on February 18. "We have to do more, I know," Borrell acknowledged, adding that there is already "a very intense flow of our ammunition going to Ukraine." The bloc's top diplomat spoke on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference. A court in Kyrgyzstan ordered the closure of Kloop Media on February 9. The courts ruling came after a series of state-selected experts testified on court that Kloops reporting was having a negative psychological effect on Kyrgyzstans people. The ruling against Kloop sends a chilling message to independent outlets and journalists, who were already bracing for the possible adoption of two draft lawsone on media, the other on NGOsthat would give Kyrgyz authorities even greater latitude to limit independent journalism. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss the courts decision against Kloop and what it means for media freedom in Kyrgyzstan are guests Gulnoza Said, the Europe and Central Asia coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists and Muzaffar Suleymanov, program officer in the Eurasia Department at the Swedish-based organization Civil Rights Defenders. MUNICH -- If the Munich Security Conference last year felt optimistic, with Ukraine not only capable of resisting Russia's full-scale invasion of the country but also pushing back, with budding hopes that the summer offensive of 2023 would be a roaring success, this year's event in the Bavarian capital felt like the polar opposite. Taking place over the weekend of February 16-18, the conference -- often billed as the world's leading forum for debating international security policy -- was supposed to bask in the glory of its 60th edition. Instead, it seemed as if the bad news never stopped. All the talk leading up to the event was about a recent comment by Donald Trump, the front-runner for the U.S. Republican presidential nomination, who questioned defending NATO allies who failed to spend enough on defense from a potential Russian invasion. This, combined with the inability of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a $60 billion Ukraine aid package and instead go into recess until the end of the month, made people at the conference loudly question whether Washington was still committed to both Ukraine and transatlantic relations in general. But this was just the start. More And More Bad News During the same weekend, Ukraine announced the strategic withdrawal of its troops from Avdiyivka, a city it had defended from Russian attacks for months. And then, on the first day of the gathering, news emerged that Russia's foremost opposition politician, Aleksei Navalny, had died in a Siberian prison. The Kremlin opponent's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, was present in Munich. Just hours after the news broke, she took the main stage at the conference and, in the most poignant moment of the entire weekend, laid the blame on the Russian president. "I want [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and everyone around him, his friends and the government, to know that they will be held accountable for what they did to our country, to my family, and my husband," she said, before adding, "That day will come soon." From then on, it felt that most of the panel discussions, roundtables, and chit-chat in the corridors of the venue really circled around the two persons who weren't present: Putin and Trump. So it was left to the people actually present in Germany to put on a brave face, starting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who noted dryly with a not-so-subtle hint at the U.S. Congress that "dictators don't go on vacation." Possibly aiming at those who want Kyiv to negotiate with Moscow, he added, "Don't ask Ukraine when the war is over; ask yourselves why Putin can continue." He then outlined a number of things that the West could do to help Ukraine -- most of which won't be delivered any time soon. Take, for example, Western sanctions on the Russian nuclear industry, which Zelenskiy said he hoped for. While the EU is poised to impose more sanctions on the Kremlin in the coming days, it will be a rather symbolic package without hitting Russian economic sectors. Or take the confiscation of frozen Russian assets in the West, which he also alluded to. While work is under way in the EU to use some of the proceeds of those frozen funds to help Ukraine, it is unlikely to move much beyond that. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the majority of Russian assets in the bloc, told the Munich crowd that his country cannot "do it on its own" and that a G7 framework was necessary. An EU official told me afterwards that there wasn't much appetite in the group of leading industrial nations for this now. Zelenskiy was asked about Ukrainian NATO membership, with the military alliance holding a key summit in July in Washington, but even he admitted that not all members were ready to extend such an invitation -- something that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in a separate discussion hammered home matter-of-factly: "As long as war is raging, Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO. We cannot overpromise." Instead, Kyiv will focus on signing so-called "security pacts" with key Western allies, which essentially means assurances of a steady stream of arms in the future. Zelenskiy came to Munich directly after inking such deals in both Berlin and Paris. A Ukrainian official told me that pacts with France and Germany were worth billions, but they will be "staggered," meaning that they won't cover the immediate military aid Kyiv is craving right now. When German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked if Germany was ready to provide Ukraine with the long-range Taurus cruise missile, he was simply noncommittal, saying that the "right moment was needed." Eyes Across the Atlantic So what about the specter of a Trump presidency next year? Zelenskiy simply responded that he would take him to the front lines and show that the war was real. Rutte berated the crowd, arguing that "we should stop moaning and whining about Trump" and that "we have to work with whoever is on the dance floor," while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell simply noted that, "I am happy underneath the American [security] umbrella, but the umbrella might not be open all the time." The crowd of U.S. politicians in Bavaria, especially Democrats, were understandably less enthusiastic about a return of Trump. Hillary Clinton, who was defeated by Trump in the 2016 presidential race, warned at a side event organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation to take Trump "literally and seriously" and continued, "He will be an absolute authoritarian leader if given the chance to be so." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, with Trump's recent NATO comments clearly in mind, noted: "Imagine we went easy on Putin, let alone encouraged him. History offers a clue: If we stand by, they will keep going. And in the case of Putin, that means all of Europe will be threatened." The problem appeared to be that while everyone seemed to agree that Russia might continue to attack other European countries in the near future if successful in Ukraine, concrete action on the ground tells a different story. Part of it seems to be that the general public in the West doesn't appear to take the threat from Moscow seriously. The Munich Security Report (perhaps aptly this year titled Lose-Lose?), published in the days before the conference, notes that the perceived threat from Russia has abated compared to last year, when respondents in 5 out of 7 G7 countries saw the Kremlin as the No. 1 threat. This year it was only No. 2. Interestingly, German citizens now only see Russia as the seventh-greatest concern, and Italians see it as the 12th. The trick then by politicians, especially in Europe, is how to try to "sell" the need to help Ukraine to what appears to be an increasingly skeptical audience. It's Just Business And here, a new strategy may be emerging: Use the war in Ukraine as a pure business opportunity. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the need to "expand the transatlantic industrial base" to refill arms stocks in the alliance and to send stuff to Ukraine, saying this would mean highly skilled jobs. Being in Munich, after all, he pointed to the building of a new high-tech production line in Bavaria to produce Patriot missiles as an obvious example. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was even more open in her sales pitch, saying that she, in early March, would propose a new military-industrial strategy for the bloc in which more money would be invested and joint procurement between European countries would be encouraged by offering "off-take agreements," meaning that there will be an advanced commitment to buy even if the product isn't ready yet. More importantly, she pointed out that "we want a return on our taxes" -- essentially saying that the good jobs must be in Europe, even though not necessarily provided by EU companies. She added that the move is fully aligned with NATO and that Ukraine will be integrated into the bloc's defense program. When I later asked an EU official why this is happening only now, two years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I got the sad but telling reply: "The truth is that Europeans didn't expect the war to last so long, maybe just a few weeks, so why build a factory? But now there is a sense that this is an opportunity." This also goes quite some way in explaining why Europe is struggling to provide Ukraine with ammunition now. The EU optimistically pledged in March last year to deliver 1 million 155 mm artillery shells to the country in a year. Nearly 12 months later, the bloc has provided 524,000 rounds and now promises to reach 1.1 million by the end of this year instead. But there is more "EU spin" on the story. One senior EU official who wasn't authorized to speak on the record briefed journalists on background, saying that there is a difference between donating and selling and that the abovementioned figure is just donating. The official also admitted that nobody knows how much ammunition the bloc has sold to Kyiv, as it is an "opaque system" with a lot of confidential information. That in itself is, however, not the end of the process, as various European countries have tinkered with standards in recent decades so that there isn't any uniform 155 mm shell that fits the artillery -- perhaps most amusingly summed up by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who said that "politicians tick the box and get credit when there is agreement to send something to Ukraine, but on the ground it becomes a massive technical problem to send the right ammo to the right cannon." And outside the merry diplomatic speed-dating at the Munich Security Conference, a Ukrainian official described the situation on the front line as absolutely dire, with the army shooting "with nothing," meaning less than 2,000 rounds per day compared to Russia's 10,000. The predicted result of this is losing more Ukrainian soldiers and eventually more territory. It was quite telling that Zelenskiy, when asked by the audience at the conference about the possibility of lowering the draft age from the current 27, elegantly dodged the question. And this was, in many ways, how the Munich Security Conference this year shaped up: high in rhetoric but lacking in concrete news and outcomes. While everyone spoke affectionately and emotionally about the loss of Navalny, pointing the finger solidly at the Kremlin, quite a few leaders quickly dismissed the need to punish Russia with new sanctions over the event. At least some believed that his tragic fate would spur U.S. lawmakers into passing the Ukraine supplement -- with some optimistically suggesting a vote will soon reach the floor -- but only in March, after the recess, naturally. ASHGABAT -- Old, wooden benches that dot the courtyards of many Soviet-era apartment buildings in the Turkmen capital have long been meeting points where neighbors gather to chat or get fresh air. But the authorities in Ashgabat are removing the benches, depriving locals of one of the most popular spots for socializing. Residents from several Ashgabat neighborhoods told RFE/RL that municipal workers recently began dismantling benches from their courtyards and taking them away in pickup trucks. Authorities in the strictly controlled Central Asian state, where individual rights and freedoms are severely curtailed, have not offered a public explanation. Officials did not respond to RFE/RL's request for comment. But a municipal worker, who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, said one of the reasons was to prevent people from gathering in large numbers. "The courtyards of residential buildings are the place where neighbors usually gather and talk to each other. We have been instructed to remove the benches, so people don't sit and create a crowd," the worker said on February 12. In 2020, the authorities launched a similar campaign and removed benches and tables from courtyards in residential areas across the city. Another municipal worker, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the move was aimed at improving the look of the city. In the past, the authorities have removed satellite dishes and old air-conditioning units on the exteriors of apartment buildings and ordered residents not to dry their laundry on their balconies. The decision to remove the courtyard benches has been criticized by residents. "The authorities are increasing their control over people, and want to prevent people from getting together," said a resident who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity. Many residents of Ashgabat, a city of nearly 1 million people, live in Soviet-era apartment complexes that are locally known as mikrorayons. 'Police Eavesdrop On Conversations' The Turkmen government has in the past two decades invested millions of dollars from its gas revenues to build marble-clad public and commercial buildings, monuments, and apartment complexes. But the new luxury residential blocks are largely occupied by high-ranking officials and wealthy people, and are beyond the reach of most ordinary Turkmen, who struggle with rampant poverty and unemployment. The authoritarian government in Ashgabat does not tolerate dissent, and is wary of people gathering in large numbers. On January 27, a group of people were queueing outside a pharmacy in Ashgabat when police officers arrested a man who was allegedly complaining to the others about the growing economic problems in Turkmenistan, according to eyewitnesses. "The man also said the government didn't care about people's problems," an eyewitness, who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, said at the time. The eyewitness added that the police were apparently tipped off by a passerby who had heard the conversation outside the pharmacy. In 2019, there were reports of plainclothes police eavesdropping on conversations of people waiting in long lines outside banks and ATMs as Turkmenistan experienced a severe cash shortage. Undercover officers have also reportedly snooped on people waiting in long lines for subsidized food outside government stores amid ongoing food shortages in the country. Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RLs Turkmen Service An exhibition of permanent love (People's Daily App) 16:13, February 18, 2024 The Hai Museum of Art in Shanghai is hosting an exhibition of 19th-century European artists. The exhibition, organized by the museum in cooperation with the Rodin Art Center (the Chinese branch of the Rodin Museum), also celebrates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. (Video source: Shanghai Daily) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Russian propagandists released a "victory" video from the destroyed Avdiivka. The war criminals in the footage claimed that they were "clearing" the city, as small groups of Ukrainian soldiers, including the wounded, allegedly remained there. In general, the occupiers reported that they were 100% in control of the city. ADVERTISIMENT The corresponding footage with the caption "Avdiivka has returned home" was published in the Telegram of the "People's Militia of the DPR". They show that there is not a single surviving building in the city - it is a complete ruin. The occupiers noted that the war criminal who led the operation to capture the city was Russian Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev. "A few words to the enemy? Death to the heroes, peace will be adequate," the invader, an officer of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps with the call sign "Hermes" cynically stated in the footage. ADVERTISIMENT He also called on the Ukrainian military not to return to Avdiivka, but to go to "their wives and children". "This is our land, we will defend it to the end," the terrorist said. Also in their story, the propagandists showed a local "waiter" named Aleksey, who, standing in the middle of the ruins in the destroyed city, pretended to "feel joy and freedom." ADVERTISIMENT "Thank you, Russia, we are home," the traitor said. As a reminder, the Special Forces fighters showed unique footage of the battle for Avdiivka in Donetsk region. Only the Special Operations Forces operators performed a number of tasks in that hell: reconnaissance and surveillance, providing fire support for infantry, FPV drones and drops, adjusting artillery and aircraft, assault operations, snipers, mining, etc. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - Tavria reported that 17 thousand Russian soldiers were killed during the capture of Avdiivka. The total Russian losses during the occupation of the city amounted to 47 thousand soldiers. ADVERTISIMENT - Military correspondent Bohdan Myroshnikov believes that the capture of Avdiivka by the Russian occupiers does not mean that the enemy will be able to advance as rapidly in this area. The occupiers will be forced to disperse their forces, and they will also face a number of natural obstacles that can "break their teeth." Royal Enfield posted significant growth in domestic markets while exports suffered both YoY and MoM decline Total Royal Enfield sales in the past month stood at an impressive 76,187 units out of which the company sold 70,556 units in domestic markets while 5,631 units were exported. It was the 6th best-selling two wheeler OEM after Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj and Suzuki. In domestic markets, it was the RE 350cc portfolio that led the list while in terms of exports, the 650 Twins reported the highest numbers. Royal Enfield Sales Breakup Jan 2024 In domestic markets, sales stood at 70,556 units in January 2024, up 4.22 percent from 67,702 units sold in January 2023. This was a volume growth of 2,854 units. MoM sales also improved by 23.15 percent from 57,291 units sold in December 2023. It was the companys 350cc models, which included the Classic, Bullet, Hunter and Meteor that commanded the highest sales. Out of these, the Bullet 350 is a recent addition but climbed to a No. 2 spot taking over the Hunter and Meteor by significant numbers. Classic 350 sales were up 7.19 percent YoY to 29,013 units in January 2023 from 26,134 units sold in January 2023 to command a 39.70 percent share on this list. It was also a MoM growth of 31.93 percent from 21,234 units sold in December 2023. Bullet 350 has also shown off both YoY and MoM growth to 15,590 units last month, up 12.21 percent YoY and 23.66 percent MoM from 13,893 units and 12,607 units sold in January 2023 and December 2023 respectively. RE Hunter 350 (13,536 units) and Meteor 350 (7,419 units) have both posted YoY decline in sales by 18.33 percent and 2.66 percent respectively. It was however a MoM growth by 15.64 percent and 22.20 percent. The new RE Himalayan 450, launched in November 2023 has been well received in Indian markets, though the same cannot be said about its exports. Himalayan sales improved by 33.25 percent YoY to 3,330 units as against 2,499 units sold in January 2023. However, it posted a marginal de-growth of 2.23 percent on a MoM basis from 3,406 units sold in December 2023. There were also the 650 Twins that have seen its domestic sales grow by 129.80 percent YoY to 2,252 units from 980 units sold in January 2023 while MoM sales were higher by 38.58 percent over 1,625 units sold in December 2023. The RE sales list was trailed by the Super Meteor of which 416 units were sold last month, dipping 35.30 percent MoM from 643 units sold in December 2023. RE Exports Suffer Setback in January 2024 Royal Enfield exports have dipped both on YoY and MoM basis by 20.60 percent and 7.63 percent respectively. There were 5,631 units exported last month as against 7,044 units shipped in January 2023 while there were 6,096 units exported in December 2023. Globally, it is the 650 Twins that sees highest demand with 1,858 units sold last month, an 11.57 percent YoY de-growth from 2,101 units exported in January 2023. However, its MoM performance improved by 16.34 percent from 1,597 units shipped in December 2023. The Meteor 350 has also seen increased YoY growth by 86.10 percent to 1,178 units though its MoM sales dipped by 6.51 percent. Classic 350 exports also fell 23.20 percent YoY and 19.54 percent MoM to 1,165 units while the relatively recent addition of Super Meteor saw 550 units shipped last month relating to a Mom de-growth of 2.48 percent from 564 units shipped in December 2023. Every other model in the company portfolio has shown off a decline in exports with Hunter 350 down 73.15 percent to 486 units last month from 1,810 units exported in January 2024. MoM exports also fell by 25.91 percent from 656 units shipped in December 2023. Hunter (486 units), Bullet 350 (233 units) and Himalayan (161 units) also posted MoM decline in exports. The first American-made F-16 fighters will appear in Ukraine in June 2024. At the same time, 12 trained pilots to fly these aircraft are expected to arrive in the country by the end of the US fiscal year, which is usually September. ADVERTISIMENT These plans of Western partners, announced on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, were reported by Foreign Policy. It is noted that the information about combat aircraft for Kyiv was provided to journalists by European officials. "I think we will see them in Ukraine in June," Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said, referring to a time frame confirmed by another European official present in Munich, the article says. As a reminder, after the 19th meeting of the contact group on Ukraine's defense in the Ramstein format, the head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov, predicted that Western F-16 fighters would appear in Ukraine in the spring. He emphasized that this issue has already been resolved. According to the chief Ukrainian intelligence officer, during the meeting with partners, issues related to the technical component, as well as the transfer process, infrastructure readiness and maintenance of these aircraft were addressed. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA: - Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte said that Ukraine will receive at least twenty-four F-16 fighter jets. The coalition led by his country is trying to deliver them as soon as possible. - Yuriy Ignat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, said that the occupiers were nervous about a photo of an F-16 with Ukrainian insignia that was posted online. At the same time, he added that after arriving in Ukraine, F-16 fighters will become a desirable target for the occupiers. Vuoi aiutare? La Comunita di Sant'Egidio e un soggetto collettivo. Ogni sua attivita e frutto di un lavoro comune, della sinergia di uomini e donne di eta e condizioni diverse, che, in maniera volontaria e gratuita, offrono cio che vogliono e possono. Chiunque voglia contribuire e benvenuto. The army of the aggressor country, Russia, has lost more than 1,300 armored vehicles and five aircraft in the four months of the offensive in the Avdiivka sector. In addition, almost fifty thousand occupants "demilitarized" on the outskirts of Avdiivka in fulfillment of Putin's task to capture it. ADVERTISIMENT The losses of Russian troops were announced by the joint press center of the Tauride Defense Forces. They cover the period from October 10, 2023, to February 17, 2024. "In the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders inflicted huge losses on the enemy with their courage, resilience and heroism and destroyed a significant reserve of Russian occupants, which they planned to use in other parts of the front for offensive actions," the military said. It is noted that during the four months of the active phase of the Avdiivka defense operation (10.10.2023-17.02.2024), a total of 47,186 soldiers from the ranks of Putin's army were eliminated in the Avdiivka direction. ADVERTISIMENT In addition to this amount of manpower of the Russian Armed Forces, the defenders destroyed: - 364 tanks; - 248 artillery systems; - 748 armored combat vehicles; - five airplanes. These statistics of Russian losses do not take into account how many Ukrainian soldiers shot down drones near Avdiivka, burned down various vehicles and special equipment, neutralized control points, ammunition depots and other important enemy targets. "I thank each and every soldier for their resilience, courage and heroism! For each destroyed occupant, for each burned tank and armored vehicle! The fight goes on!" said Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops. ADVERTISIMENT According to Dmytro Likhovyi, a representative of the Tavria unit, the Russian army lost more than 47,000 soldiers during the capture of Avdiivka, 17,000 of whom were killed. Shortly before the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Avdiivka, soldiers of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade were sent to help them. During the time they were defending the city, they also inflicted significant losses on Russian troops: they eliminated 1,500 invaders, destroyed 20 units of Russian military equipment and more. As reported by OBOZ.UA, military correspondent Bohdan Myroshnikov told what will happen to the Russian army after the capture of Avdiivka. For his part, officer of the 59th Separate Mechanized Brigade Serhiy Tsehotskyi emphasized that Avdiivka had fully fulfilled its task in the defense operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the decision to withdraw Ukrainian units was correct. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Business spotlight Fillmore storefront that once cashed checks now boosts Black businesses Craig Lee/The Examiner Cianni Jackson is the owner of CIK Apparel, which displays its products at In The Black, at 1567 Fillmore St. The location, which once was home to a check-cashing business, now hosts Black-owned businesses with retail space. Getting laid off last year from her well-paying job as a payroll and benefits manager at a software company was a shocker for Cianni Jackson, a single mother of three children between the ages of 11 and 15. But that pink slip prompted Jackson to throw herself full-time into pursuing her passion, and now shes running her own business, a San Francisco apparel company that designs and sells products that celebrate Black and Afrocentric pride. I think me getting laid off was the push I needed to focus on my business completely, she said. Also central to whatever Jacksons success has had so far, however, has been In The Black, a city-supported business incubator and accelerator program. It operates a storefront that was once a check-cashing outlet in the Fillmore district where today, Black entrepreneurs such as Jackson sell their wares. We would always walk past there on the way to school, said Jackson, who grew up near the check-cashing outlet. To see it transformed from a check-cashing place that was pulling money from the community in such a horrible way is just a really remarkable experience. Launched a little over a year ago, In The Black took over a storefront underneath The Fillmore performance hall at the corner of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, where it has featured products from multiple entrepreneurs, including colorful dresses with African-themed prints and beauty products. Jacksons designs included her signature Black Girl Magic hoodie sweatshirts and a camouflage jacket with patches, one of which stated, No justice, no peace. The San Francisco Housing Development Corporation runs the program. Twenty-two vendors had made more than $200,000 through sales in the store and other marketplace opportunities coordinated by In The Black, officials with the nonprofit said this week. In The Black was the brainchild of Pia Harris, the nonprofits interim chief operating officer, and her staff. It grew out of the Minding My Black-Owned Business program, which has provided three-month courses in business fundamentals and graduated 97 businesses in various industries in its first two years. Once entrepreneurs completed the training, Harris organization gave them grants of $7,500. The City provided additional grants ranging from $10,000 to $15,000. Jackson went through the program and then enrolled in an advanced financial-literacy class the nonprofit offers that focuses on planning and tax preparation. Program graduates and other local Black entrepreneurs can sell products through In The Blacks physical store, which charges most of them less than $650 monthly rent plus 3% of sales for transaction fees. They can also sell through In The Blacks website and keep all but 10%, minus packaging and shipping, which store staff members manage. To get more people in the store, In The Black has increasingly hosted events, like poetry readings and cooking demonstrations. It has partnered with other organizations to provide its entrepreneurs with pop-up selling opportunities around The City. Jackson pays $650 monthly to be in-store, which she said she considers a relatively good deal. Having a place in San Francisco where rent is affordable is not an opportunity that comes along often, she said. Craig Lee/The Examiner Cianni Jackson, owner of CIK Apparel: Having a place in San Francisco where rent is affordable is not an opportunity that comes along often. Funding for In The Black came from the Dream Keeper Initiative, a program launched in 2021 to invest $60 million annually into local Black communities. The initiative has been strongly supported by Mayor London Breed who grew up in the Western Addition, including the Fillmore and by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. In the Black is an example of the great things we can accomplish when our small business owners are given support and resources to succeed, Breed said. This kind of effort is exactly what we need to do to provide economic opportunities and to build community pride in the Fillmore. The San Francisco Housing Development Corporation spent $970,000 to remake the former check-cashing venue into an open, light-filled retail store. The space needed major mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades, a new bathroom, and asbestos removal, said Jessica Mataka, interim program director for the organizations economic development team. The City contributed $220,000 toward the build-out costs, she said. In addition, The City has awarded $622,151 over the past two years for In The Blacks ongoing operations. Mataka said that money had not all been spent. Mataka said the cost of preparing the store illustrates how difficult it can be for a Black entrepreneur or any small business owner to open a commercial retail space in San Francisco. Our call to action is if you want to support Black-owned businesses and see Black-led retail spaces succeed in San Francisco, come shop at the store and visit us online, Mataka said. In a competitive retail and online-retail landscape, we really need supporters to show up. City officials said they have been pleased with In The Blacks achievements so far. The City sponsored another incubator in the Bayview that provides a kitchen for Black and Latino culinary entrepreneurs. Another culinary incubator is also expected to start construction soon in the Fillmore, and a third retail incubator program is in the works for the Mission district. In The Black marketplace in the Lower Fillmore reflects what the Dream Keeper Initiative was meant to achieve, said Diana Ponce De Leon, director of Community Economic Development in the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Other programs supporting Black ventures that have received Dream Keeper funding include a 14-week digital marketing training program run by En2action, the Transgender Cultural Districts Entrepreneurship Accelerator program, and the SF Black Wall Street Foundations Black Millionaire Development Program supporting entrepreneurs. Sheryl Davis, executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, which oversees the Dream Keeper initiative, said she once lived close to the Fillmore check-cashing business and remembered it as a forbidding establishment. It just felt unwelcoming, and to see it now as this community space where folks go, and there are people that grew up in the neighborhood that now have their own space (to sell) in there its pretty impressive and inspiring, Davis said. Like Jackson, Harris grew up in the Fillmore. The two knew each other when they were in high school together. I have a prom picture of her, Harris said. Harris said it makes her feel good knowing that children today walking past the In The Black Store can see the fruits of the labors of local Black entrepreneurs to encourage them to go after their own dreams rather than look at what many saw as a predatory financial institution. Harris said she wants Black businesses in the Fillmore again to be as numerous as they were in the 1940s, before much of the areas African American population was displaced by city urban renewal projects in the 1950s and 60s. Were really trying to develop the Fillmore and bring it back to being the Harlem of the West, Harris said, referring to a widely used nickname for the neighborhood that recalls its heyday. Davis said that In The Black provides a safe space where Black people can shoot for the stars without fear of failing. Troy Mathews, owner of Free Play Music Group, made some money on his urban-streetwear clothing line for a time, but then was losing money on the rent at the In The Black store, so he gave half his inventory to the program to sell to cover costs and took half with him. Being in the store, it was a great experience, you know, but it also was a learning lesson, said Mathews, a hip-hop artist and a music promoter. When its good, its good but when its bad, you got to be able to weather the storm somehow. For Jackson, replacing the income she got from her former job has been no small challenge. Sometimes, she said, she has not broken even for the week. Still, Jackson keeps at it. In addition to selling through the In The Black store, she has gone to pop-up events that In The Black helped coordinate. Last year, In The Black partnered with the nonprofit Foodwise for three dates at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market at the Ferry Building, and a half-dozen events were scheduled for 2024. Jackson said she also had good sales at a recent NightLife event on a Thursday at the California Academy of Sciences. Eventually, Jackson said, she wanted to have her own storefront, but with commercial rents so pricey, she was focusing on increasing her online sales. And despite the obstacles, Jackson remained inspired. Its an amazing feeling, she said, to see someone wearing something that you have put your creativity, your blood, sweat and tears into. On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Wang Yi. During the conversation, the Chinese foreign minister officially denied that China was supplying weapons to the Russian Federation for the war in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT According to Wang Yi, China is committed to the principle of political solutions to problems in hot spots, so refusing to sell lethal weapons to warring parties is a "principled position" for Beijing. The meeting between Kuleba and Wang Yi, as well as the content of the conversation, was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese foreign ministry noted that the meeting between Wang Yi and Kuleba on the sidelines of the Munich conference was held at Ukraine's request. During the conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that China and Ukraine "have been strategic partners for many years, and there is a traditional friendship between the two peoples." He also expressed hope for the further development of China-Ukraine relations to the benefit of both countries "regardless of how the international situation changes." ADVERTISIMENT Among other things, the head of Chinese diplomacy denied that China was supplying arms to Russia. "Wang Yi highlighted China's principled position on the Ukrainian issue, emphasizing that China adheres to political solutions to problems in hot spots, insists on promoting peace and negotiations, does not add fuel to the fire, does not seize opportunities, and does not sell lethal weapons to conflict areas or parties to the conflict. We will continue to play a constructive role in ending the war and restoring peace as soon as possible. Even if there is only a glimmer of hope for peace, China will not give up its efforts," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. ADVERTISIMENT In return, Kuleba, according to the Chinese side, assured Wang Yi of Ukraine's readiness to maintain "friendly relations" with China and develop relations between the two countries. The Ukrainian foreign minister also noted China's influence on world politics and, according to China, assured that our country "highly appreciates China's position paper on the political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine." According to Kuleba, quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Ukraine hopes that China "will continue to play a unique and constructive role in promoting peace." As reported earlier, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in Munich called on China not to support Russia, which continues its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. He said this during a meeting with Wang Yi. ADVERTISIMENT Borrell also called on Beijing to join the Ukrainian Formula for Peace by joining the Global Peace Summit. The diplomat confirmed that the European Union is determined to support Ukraine with both military assistance and funding. Chinese-focused stocks paced gains on the FTSE-350 at the end of the week with investors continuing to push them higher on the back of better news-flow on that economy. That was despite the skepticism of some strategists regarding the staying power of any rally. Thus, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped 2.5% overnight, ahead of the reopening of Chinese markets during the following week following the Lunar New Year holidays. Official reports indicated that over 61m rail trips were made during the first six days of the holidays, for a 61% surge on a year ago. Nevertheless, the year-on-year comparisons were distorted by the Covid-19 outbreaks in early 2023, when Beijing lifted restrictions on movements. Separately, Reuters reported that Beijing had moved to kickstart construction activity through the whitelisting of 8,2000 projects by local authorities. Lenders' shares also fared well with those of NatWest Group spearheading gains on the back of its full-year numbers. NatWest posted a 20% increase in operating profit for 2023, surpassing analysts' estimates. The appointment of Paul Thwaite as chief executive on a permanent basis further fueled investor confidence, propelling the shares back to their late 2023 levels. A further plus for the sector was the back-up in government bond yields following the release of a stronger-than-expected reading for U.S. producer prices in January. Top performing sectors so far today Industrial Engineering 14,252.60 +2.89% Industrial Metals & Mining 6,186.19 +2.86% Industrial Transportation 3,927.33 +2.54% Banks 3,593.75 +2.50% Electronic & Electrical Equipment 9,964.03 +2.42% Bottom performing sectors so far today Telecommunications Service Providers 1,737.58 -0.88% Leisure Goods 23,765.74 -0.23% Food Producers 7,145.55 -0.18% Investment Banking and Brokerage Services 13,960.61 -0.13% Tobacco 27,353.01 -0.09% Dear Annie: Im writing in response to Worried in Louisiana, whose mother-in-law is in poor health and kept pretty isolated from the rest of the family by her sole caretaker, one of her daughters. Im a nurse and if I couldnt see my 96-year-old amputee mother, I would be calling the police immediately for a welfare check. The police can assess the living conditions and initiate extraction if necessary. There is no reason for her to be kept away from her family other than for nefarious purposes. Ive seen some crazy things working as a nurse, and this has red flags flying everywhere. Nurse on Alert Dear Nurse: Thank you for this suggestion. Others who felt similarly also recommended involving adult protective services. In the words of another wise reader, If the mother is OK, then no harm was done. But if shes being mistreated or neglected, this might save her life. How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology -- featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Authorities allege a 43-year-old man from Annadale sprayed graffiti in about 20 incidents of vandalism that damaged train cars at the Clifton station for the Staten Island Railway, businesses, rental vehicles and other properties on Staten Island. In a separate incident, sources said the suspect allegedly punched a person delivering food to a home in Graniteville last year. Peter Affrunti of Wendy Drive used the tags TOPIK, RTH and 1134 in Rosebank, Clifton and Stapleton, according to the criminal complaint and police. The incidents occurred before officers with the MTA Police Department confiscated a backpack with eight spray cans of paint while apprehending the suspect on Jan. 31 at about 10:50 p.m. on the 800 block of Bay Street near the Clifton train station. The suspect resisted arrest by walking away from an officer and pulling his arms away and tensing them in an effort to avoid being handcuffed, the complaint alleges. Affrunti allegedly sprayed graffiti on trains cars in the train yard at the Clifton station on Jan. 30 and last year on Nov. 15 and Oct. 30. He also allegedly spray painted his tag on the retaining wall, exterior walls and other portions of the Clifton substation at the yard on Nov. 26, Dec. 21 and Dec. 27. He also tagged a U-Haul truck at the rental business at 1050 Bay St. on Jan. 30 and marred the same brand of vehicles at undisclosed locations on Oct.11 and Sept. 15, the complaint alleges. It is what it is, the criminal complaint quotes Affrunti as saying to police. That is my social media. That is my tag name. The social media accounts are mine. The videos I post are of me. I did that. My tag name is TOPIK, my crew name is RTH. It stands for rough tough Huguenot. It has a lot of meanings. I put 1134 because it spells hell backwards. Additional alleged incidents in 2023 included: Nov. 3 and 5, Queen Ann Car Wash, 1025 Bay St., Rosebank; Oct. 1, Legacy African Market, 651 Bay St.. Stapleton; Sept. 29, Bubbakoos Burritos, 1145 Bay St., Rosebank; Sept. 28, Gentile Dry Cleaners, 1140 Bay St., Rosebank; Sept. 21 and 25, CVS Pharmacy, 1125 Bay St., Rosebank; Sept. 8, Kum Fung Kitchen, 838 Bay St., Clifton; Sept. 6, 850 Bay St., Clifton; Sept. 1, International Haircutting Salon, 988 Bay St., Rosebank. He has been charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and possession of graffiti instruments. Affrunti was arrested on Feb. 1 for the alleged assault that occurred on April 19, 2023, in the vicinity of Fahy Avenue and Longdale Street. The suspect allegedly punched a man multiple times in the face, neck and shoulders, causing bruising, swelling and pain to those parts of the body. Affrunti has been charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment in the alleged attack. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him and has been released on his own recognizance. He is due back in Criminal Court on March 15, according to public records. Attorney Michael Vitaliano, who is representing Affrunti, declined to comment at this time. CLEVELAND, Ohio Zubair Al Zubair boasted about marrying a princess and his vast business and family connections to world leaders. He had lots of cash and lived in an opulent Bratenahl mansion overlooking Lake Erie. He even served as East Cleveland Mayor Brandon Kings international economics adviser, giving back to his hometown. But that veneer of success and prominence came crashing down earlier this month with a federal indictment accusing Al Zubair of leveraging his many lies to trick two people into giving him $10 million for bogus businesses. Al Zubair wasnt a prince. He had no connections to any members of the royal family in the United Arab Emirates. Authorities say he lied, cheated and stole to get his fancy digs, a suite at Cleveland Browns Stadium, access to private jets, a gaudy collection of watches and a stockpile of guns. Court records indicate that Al Zubair even duped King, who unwittingly let him carry out one grift in his office and later gave Al Zubair the honorary adviser title. Al Zubair, 41, and his brother, Muzzammil, 30, now face nearly two dozen federal charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering and harboring a fugitive. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to their attorneys for comment. Former East Cleveland City Councilman Ernest Smith, who was a member of council at the time, said he had no idea the city handed out that title and had never heard of the brothers. But he said East Clevelands dire financial straits make it vulnerable to anyone dangling the promise of new business in a city that has been in fiscal emergency for 30 of the last 36 years. Thats what happens, I guess, when youre desperate, said Smith, who was recalled from his post in 2022. Youll believe anyone who you think might be able to bring in some money. Failed businesses, evictions The brothers grew up in East Cleveland, barely making an impression on neighbors. Most, however, knew Muzzammils father, a longtime youth coordinator at the citys rec center. Back then, their names were Zubair Razzaq and Muzzammil Muhammad, half-brothers who shared the same mother. They pretty much grew up poor, grew up here, said Justyn Anderson, a former assistant clerk of East Cleveland City Council. Their father worked in the rec center for years. He was well-known in the community. Zubair Al Zubair left East Cleveland in the early 2000s for Chicago, where he worked as a cab driver. He later opened a coffee shop, LITH Cafe, that quickly failed. In less than a year, he owed more than $9,000 in unpaid electric bills and $18,000 in unpaid rent, according to court records. Dmitriy Bushmakin bought the business after Zubair put it up for sale on Craigs List, the now shuttered classifieds website. Bushmakin said Zubair was smart and charming and remembered Al Zubair had befriended a group of Chicago artists. I got the impression the restaurant business was too small-scale for him, Bushmakin said. He was a bigger-scale thinker. He seemed like a decent guy, but I think his head was in the clouds with his projects. In 2008, Al Zubair left for the United Arab Emirates. He worked his way up to CEO at AWGAL Investments, a Dubai-based financial company. He helped launch chains of Wingstop and Mooyah Burger restaurants in the wealthy Middle Eastern country. Return to East Cleveland Al Zubair came home in 2020, and he teamed up with his brother to work on their own business Dubai Bridge Investments and began launching ventures that caught the FBIs attention. He started telling people that he married into a UAE royal family and that he had connections to massively wealthy and influential investors, rulers, politicians and rich family members across the globe. Al Zubair also struck up controlling romantic relationships with investors to make it less likely they would challenge his actions while he swindled them, prosecutors said. In 2021, as authorities say their schemes ramped up, the brothers changed their surnames to Al Zubair. Thats also the name of a massive business conglomerate based in the Middle East country of Oman called the Zubair Corp., a conglomerate of some 60 businesses and one of the largest in the country. The name change and Al Zubairs use of the self-referential title of His Excellency caused a stir in 2021 when Dubai Bridge Investments teamed up with ADM Energy, an oil and gas investment company, to buy a stake of an oilfield in Nigeria. Two months after the projects initial announcement, ADM had to walk back some of its initial information in a message to investors. ADM, in a statement, said Al Zubair was not connected to the Al Zubair family in Oman and that ADM had been advised that Al Zubairs use of the title His Excellency relates to social and cultural adoption rather than it having been awarded in connection with a senior governmental, or such other, position. ADM and its former CEO did not return messages seeking comment. The federal indictment does not list the ADM oilfield deal by name, but the timing lines up with the earliest scheme the brothers are accused of, the swindling of nearly $1 million from a former girlfriend of Al Zubairs who lived in the UAE. About a week after the initial announcement of the ADM-Dubai Bridge deal, Al Zubair reached out to the woman and told her that if she invested $4 million in an oilfield deal he was working on, she would make $9 million by the end of the year, according to the indictment. The woman wired him $860,875. The brothers lost some of the money in bad investments and pocketed the rest. The woman later asked repeatedly about her investment, but she was ignored, prosecutors said. About the same time, the brothers lied on applications for Small Business Administrations COVID-19 relief loans, saying they ran restaurants, according to the indictment. They received about $24,700, the court filing says. They turned around and spent the money on airfare, a high-end hotel in Cleveland, restaurants, purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue and the Cleveland Aquarium, the indictment said. Nela Park Not long after, in about July 2021, the brothers embarked on their most audacious scheme, according to the charges. They sought out the owner of a Chinese cryptocurrency mining business. With the practice outlawed in China, the woman was looking for new business opportunities. Cryptocurrency mining involves the complicated process of crypto deals. It takes hundreds or thousands of computers called miners, a cool environment and cheap electricity to make it profitable. Al Zubair told the woman that he owned Nela Park, the mass of buildings in East Cleveland that in 1913 became the first industrial park in the United States. He even took her on a tour of it on July 29, 2021. Six days later, Al Zubair set up a contract signing in Kings office in East Cleveland City Hall. King, Law Director Willa Hemmons and Chief of Staff Michael Smedley and others from the city stood by and watched the Chinese investor ink a $3 million contract with the brothers, the indictment said. The contract called for $1 million, then the rest after the project got rolling. But Al Zubair convinced the woman about a month later to pay the remaining $2 million, the indictment said. The brothers spent most of the money on themselves, according to prosecutors. Months later, Al Zubair dangled a new prospect: His family would pay her $33 million if she invested more in the project. She sent him $160,000, prosecutors said. He later leveraged his $33 million promise to try and convince her to send 2,000 more miners to East Cleveland, after she had already sent about 1,000. Al Zubair told her that he needed to display them to get public support from East Clevelands mayor and council, for Ohio congressional leaders and for Gov. Mike DeWine. They are for showing proof to mayor and governor to give excellent support and pricing for electricity and many other supports. This is how I get 33 million to arrive, Al Zubair said. Over the next month, he stole 1,067 miners and sold them to a Canadian company for $6.2 million, according to the indictment. When the investor pressed Al Zubair about the equipment, he sent her $800,000 and ignored her from there. Moving to Bratenahl The indictment indicates that as the brothers were wrapping up the cryptocurrency mining scheme, they used altered financial documents to make it look like they had more money than they did, using the records to get leases on fancy homes. They both struck out for the suburbs in March 2022. Al Zubairs younger brother rented a Pepper Pike home for $6,000 a month. There, he bought 31 guns and a dozen expensive watches, according to court records. Al Zubair moved into the $1.6 million Bratenahl mansion he rented from a Cleveland Clinic doctor. During his 17 months there, Al Zubair amassed some 52 guns and 27 expensive watches made by Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Phillipe and Richard Mille. And for two weeks in the summer of 2023, he stashed a fugitive drug dealer, Kelvin Bedell, in the mansion, authorities said. Back to East Cleveland Shortly after Al Zubair started living in Bratenahl, he went back to East Cleveland City Hall. This time, he signed a memorandum of understanding with King to become the citys official international economic adviser. The memo said King sought Al Zubairs help to attract foreign investors to revitalize the poorest city in Ohio because it was unable to do so on its own. The city would allow Al Zubair to raise money on its behalf, and it would give Al Zubair any financial, infrastructure and demographic data he needed to lure investors. The position was voluntary, and the position was to last until Aug. 3, 2025, the memo says. In East Cleveland, the indictment mentioning King and the suspected scammers use of City Hall left some angered. How the brothers came to use the mayors office for the $3 million contract signing and why King decided to give him a role in the city remains unclear. King did not respond to multiple messages. Neither did Hemmons. Kings chief of staff, Smedley, refused to talk about it, vaguely blaming the media, though he issued a statement on the social media site Nextdoor. Smedleys statement said that Muzzammils father introduced his son and sons half-brother to King. The longtime city employee told officials Al Zubair had married into the royal family in Dubai and wanted to help bring resources to their native city, according to Smedleys post. Attempts to reach Muzzammils father were unsuccessful. Smedley said that the brothers told city officials about the talks about the cryptocurrency business at Nela Park. The brothers even introduced them to the Chinese investor and an alleged princess, Smedley said. Their scheme was extremely elaborate, he wrote. He said the city never paid the brothers. Unfortunately, the circumstances wasnt what they presented, Smedley wrote. They were capable of swindling more than just East Cleveland, their scheme was international. I personally apologize for bringing bad publicity to the city and to our residents. Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here. SENECA FALLS, N.Y. -- An Upstate New York man is facing drunk driving and gun charges after colliding with a propane tanker truck Friday morning in the town of Seneca Falls. Chad E. Williams, 49, was driving southbound on State Route 5 in a red pickup truck around 9:43 a.m. when he collided with a propane tanker, according to a news release from Seneca Falls police. The truck sustained significant damage. Police did not report any injuries. Chad E. Williams, 49, was driving southbound on State Route 5 in a red pickup truck around 9:43 a.m. when he collided with a propane tankerProvided by Seneca Falls Police Williams was found to be driving while intoxicated and was charged with drinking alcohol while driving, police said. He was also found with a firearm, which he could not legally possess due to a prior felony conviction, they said. He was issued appearance tickets and released, police said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Delta flight, scheduled to fly from Amsterdam to Detroit, turned around mid-trip after maggots began to fall from overhead compartments, FlightAware is reporting. What was initially thought of as a prank turned out to be a travel nightmare for passengers on Delta flight 133 AMS-DTW, according to a FlightAware post cited by Cleveland.com, a SILive.com sister site. It all unfolded when a passenger saw about a dozen maggots land on the woman seated next to him, the report states. The Netherlands native who lives in Iowa told Fox2Detroit that the woman was freaking out. She was just trying to find or fight off these maggots. Flight attendants discovered that the maggots came from a passengers carry-on-bag, which had spoiled fish wrapped in a newspaper, the reports said. Delta apologized to its passengers in a statement to the news station: Their trip was interrupted due to an improperly packed carry-on bag. The aircraft returned to the gate and passengers were placed on the next available flight. The aircraft was removed from service for cleaning. By the time the maggots were discovered, according to FlightAware, the plane got as far as the United Kingdom, before making a complete U-turn and returning to Amsterdam. An airline spokesperson confirmed to Cleveland.com that the plane was interrupted due to an improperly packed carry-on bag. The aircraft returned to the gate and passengers were placed on the next available flight. Customers on the flight were compensated for the inconvenience, but no other details were offered. European countries should coordinate the production of advanced weapon systems to increase the effectiveness of assistance to Ukraine and ensure their own security. A decision needs to be made and a process needs to be established. ADVERTISIMENT This statement was made by German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economy Robert Habeck during the Munich Security Conference. This was reported by Ukrinform. "We need to identify the best systems and start producing them everywhere. The same type. We need to make a decision and establish a process. We need to do it now," the Vice Chancellor said. According to him, this has not happened yet for three reasons: national pride (some countries are proud of their technologies and do not want to allow European companies to participate in the production process); fear of job losses and their transfer to other countries; and the hope that the situation will soon normalize and therefore there is no need to invest in weapons. "The old days will not return, at least not soon. That is why we need to invest in the defense industry," Habeck emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT In his opinion, it could have been started two years ago, but there was a great hope for "eternal peace" in Europe after the end of the Cold War. Regarding assistance to Ukraine, Habeck reiterated his position that Germany is doing a lot, but still does not use all the opportunities. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Editors Note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders making waves, being seen, supporting our community and just making our borough a special place to live. Have a story for Inside Out? Email Carol Ann Benanti at benanti@siadvance.com. Capt. Zeita Merchant is shown with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. (Courtesy/Office of Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis)Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of Black History Month which began Feb. 1 and as a way to highlight the achievements and contributions made by African-Americans, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis recognized U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Zeita Merchant on her promotion to Rear Admiral on the floor of the House of Representatives. Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in Brooklyn, the New York Post reports. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, deputies responded to an apartment on 59 Logan St. at 4:43 p.m. on Feb. 16. A 43-year-old woman was killed in what appeared to be a murder-suicide.(Google Maps) Police received a 911 call of a crime in progress. Upon arrival, officers observed a 43-year-old woman and 40-year-old man, dead with gunshot wounds to their heads. A firearm was recovered near the dead man, police say. According to the Post, the lady victim was Luz Espinal, a mother of three and a well-liked member of the Queens community. Neighbors told the outlet, Espinal recently started dating a man who was allegedly controlling enough to make her scrub social media. 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 World leaders and Russian opposition activists wasted no time in blaming the reported death of Alexei Navalny on President Vladimir Putin and his government. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "It is obvious that he was killed by Putin." The outpouring of sympathy for Navalny's family and outrage at the Kremlin came from all over the world. Former world chess champion-turned-opposition activist Garry Kasparov said "Putin tried and failed to murder Navalny quickly and secretly with poison, and now he has murdered him slowly and publicly in prison." Navalny's associates stressed that they don't yet have independent confirmation of his death, which came in a report from Russia's prison officials. Investors will this week be seeking reassurance from Australias largest miners that there are no shocks in store from Chinas economy as it kicks back into gear following a week-long holiday for the Lunar New Year. These issues will come under intense scrutiny when BHP reports its half-year results on Tuesday, followed by Rio Tinto on Wednesday and then Fortescue. A woman photographs lanterns and decorations to mark Chinese Lunar New Year in a Beijing park. Credit: AP The share prices of all three miners started 2024 at record highs, with iron ore prices soaring through the $US140-mark on the promise of fresh stimulus measures in China. But these stocks retreated over the past month as worries returned about Chinas economic malaise and its impact on iron ore demand. It is a significant issue for BHP and Rio, which both count on China for more than half of their revenue. For Fortescue, the figure is closer to 90 per cent. Advertisement Eating outJust open Find baked-in charm along with unique treats at these new Melbourne bakeries From creating a bond with family overseas to offering a platform for entrepreneurs with a disability, three bakeries are proving theres power in flour. Emma Breheny February 19, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the Melbourne March hit list. See all stories . The power of baking is no exaggeration at three new Melbourne businesses with incredible people behind them. For Olivier Chan Chan, the owner of new bakery Motte in Newport, baking has been a bridge connecting him to family far away. Olivier Chan Chan has given up accounting to follow in his familys footsteps. Penny Stephens His brother in France and father in Reunion (technically a region of France) are bakers, as was his late Chinese-born grandfather. Olivier was the odd one out in the family during the 15 years he was an accountant. But in 2020 he took up the family trade. He hasnt looked back, going from delivering home-baked bread to baking wholesale orders in a ghost kitchen and, finally, opening his first shop in January. Pandan-coconut cake and ube-dyed Basque cheesecake feature alongside ham and cheese scrolls, carrot cake and double-baked custard croissants. The line-up reflects the influences Olivier has absorbed from friends, family and Melbourne itself. Advertisement Mango cream bun at Motte. Penny Stephens When he first started baking, Olivier did video calls with his French-trained baker dad to get the recipes right. Soon, hell master baguettes and sourdough loaves first-hand when the bakers of the family reunite in Melbourne. Open Mon-Sat 7am-2pm Shop G04, 455 Melbourne Road, Newport, motte.com.au In West Melbourne, Ginger Snap is a patisserie thats exclusively plant-based and also happens to be led by deaf man Brett Duncan, who opened the shop with sister Jess Colgan. Colgan also runs social enterprise All Things Equal, which creates hospitality jobs for those with a disability. Advertisement Brett Duncan of Ginger Snap Patisserie in West Melbourne. Jessica Roberts Ginger Snap is the culmination of Duncans two decades of experience in bakeries and pastry kitchens. He describes his first business as a statement of the limitless potential of those with a disability, as well as a way to freely express himself. Duncan, who has been vegan for eight years, creates dainty plant-based treats including three-bite Biscoff cheesecake rocher balls, finger-shaped raspberry and white chocolate entremets, and, soon, celebration cakes. You have to pre-order the goodies, except when monthly pop-up stalls take place out the front. Next up is vegan pizzeria Red Sparrow on March 16. Open for order pick-ups Wed-Sun from 8am Advertisement 114 Adderley Street, West Melbourne, gingersnap.com.au The Library Bakery is the second spot from the Baguette Studios team. Samantha Schultz Theres a fairytale element to The Library Bakery. Co-owner Aileen Seo, a pastry chef, had a childhood dream to open a bakery, which has come true not once but twice. The Library is the follow-up to North Melbournes Baguette Studios, which Seo also runs with her baker husband, Paul Kwon, and her chef brother, Jiho Sur. The trio needed a second space to keep up with demand for their Korean-meets-French creations at their first bakery, but The Library has also afforded them more space to dream big with pastry. The Book is Korean Australian bakery The Librarys signature item. Samantha Schultz Advertisement The signature item, dubbed The Book, is an open book of layered croissant dough, filled with salted peanut praline and peanut ganache. The yakgwa pastry combines Seos classical French training with a traditional Korean honey biscuit to create an extra sticky, chewy and pine nut-topped update to Frances kouign-amann pastry. Three types of sourdough and a baguette are also on offer. True to its name, The Library has a notepad and pencils near the counter for customers to contribute their story, says Seo, whether its a compliment about the baked goods or a request for an item theyd like to see on the shelves. Open Sat-Sun 9am-2pm (or until sold out) 457 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, instagram.com/tlb_melbourne Introducing Sandwich Watch a column dedicated to the essential Melbourne sandwiches you must try Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up The government ordered the shutdown of schools during COVID, disrupting the social and educational progress of children. The impacts are profound and ongoing. For more than two years, the Herald has been a vocal proponent of the need for a sweeping inquiry into how our nation responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal should not be to lay blame but to learn important lessons by asking uncomfortable questions about whether we should make different decisions when the next pandemic strikes. While a federal government inquiry is examining some national responses to the crisis, key policy measures imposed by states will not be properly scrutinised. Of the many responses to the pandemic, few had a greater impact than the mass closure of schools. In NSW, more than 1.2 million students either learned remotely or had minimal supervision in the school classroom for more than five months. We are beginning to understand the potential short, medium and long-term impacts. The Herald remains concerned our political leaders have not adequately studied the lessons of the pandemic and over coming months will probe a range of key decisions that wont fall directly under the federal inquiry because they were made by state governments. Todays piece by Lucy Carroll and Jordan Baker forms the start of a three-part series looking at the impact of COVID-19 on education. The forum discussions with nine expert panellists were broken up into two sessions: one examining wellbeing and behaviour of students, the second on academic and learning disruption. The panel includes Peter Shergold, chair of the states education regulator, and National Childrens Commissioner Anne Hollonds. Inspirational Navalny should never be forgotten Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size One can only hope that the humanity, courage and resilience of Alexei Navalny is recognised by his Russian compatriots as well as us observers in the Western world (Putin critic Alexei Navalny dead, says Russias prison service, smh.com.au, February 17). His commitment to exposing the Putin regime was inspiring. May he rest in peace and never be forgotten. Lorraine Hickey, Green Point Russias claims that Navalny died of sudden death syndrome is despicable, of course, and a flaccid attempt at the usual gaslighting propaganda for which the Kremlin is known. Im pleased to report that, like millions of others, I havent fallen for it. I admired Navalny, he was a brave man. His death is saddening and unsurprising. Marie Del Monte, Ashfield Navalny was serving 19 years in prison on multiple corruption convictions. He died on Friday apparently from a blood clot. His death in prison has certainly provided the Western media with a bonanza opportunity to precipitate an avalanche of Russophobia. Not a shred of proof, however. Norman Broomhall, Port Macquarie Alexei Navalny Its an open secret Putin wanted his most vocal critic, Alexei Navalny, in the terminology of the KGB, eliminated. So Navalny was poisoned. But he didnt die. Another attempt could not be made to eliminate him straight away because it would have made it too obvious. So throwing him in notorious Stalin-era jail was the next-best substitute until the time was right. That time has come. Navalny is dead. Nobody gets a prize for guessing who is responsible for the Russian freedom fighters death. Rajend Naidu, Glenfield Vale Alexei Navalny. This brave young man has died sooner than expected, but then, considering what he has been through, his determination kept him going remarkably. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland Advertisement Vale Alexei Navalny. This brave man has finally been silenced by this gangster regime. Like Lady Macbeth, the chief gangster will never wash his bloodstained hands clean. Will no one rid Russia of this bloodthirsty tyrant? Isabel Robinson, Alexandria When the deadly nerve agent put in his underpants and all manner of gross indignity and humiliation didnt silence him, they sent him to prison north of the Arctic Circle. They could have killed him using a handy sharp icicle, but then death by freezing leaves no marks or traces. The prison report just said he died after a walk in the Arctic winter. Really? What a barbarous end for a supremely brave man who dared challenge. Lance Dover, Pretty Beach Alexei Navalny, the hugely committed, brave anti-corruption campaigner who galvanised his countrys political opposition against a totally ruthless Putin, dies a martyr, and an enduring symbol of resilience and high moral convictions. As was seen by his voluntary return to Russia after almost dying from being poisoned. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood Alexei Navalnys death in a Russian jail is a sad ending for a brave man. He stood against the manipulations, lies and tyranny of a government more concerned with its own clutch on power than the truth, and the right of the world to know that truth. Paul Gannon, Coopers Shoot Same old rabble-rousing by Dutton on boats Peter Duttons claims that things have changed regarding refugees entering Australia are gold for the people smugglers (Police, Border Force investigate boat arrival in WA, February 17). That is all they need to encourage desperate people to get on boats to try their luck. The fact that sovereign borders regulations have not changed since 2013 is not on Duttons radar, but it should be on his conscience. David Roxburgh, East Ballina So asylum seekers have been found in remote Western Australia. What a gift for an opposition that is totally negative and has nothing to offer. I can see it totally consuming question time and Peter Dutton milking it for all its worth. David Atherfold, Avalon Beach Advertisement Another example of the danger and doubt Peter Dutton creates, this time by making unsubstantiated claims about Australias border policy. If theres a vulnerability in the system, it is giving oxygen to those who make assertions which have no factual basis. Lyn Savage, Coogee A group of the suspected asylum seekers with members of the Indigenous community where they first made contact. Here we go again with Peter Dutton, who was the minister responsible for immigration but asserted he had nothing to do with it. He now claims that the recent arrival of boat people in WA is the fault of the current PM. Apart from the hypocrisy and dog-whistling, surely people now accept that the real problem of illegal immigration is plane people and not boat people? Peter Allan Lowing, Port Moresby The Coalition is trying to re-run the issues that won them the 2019 election. 2019 was a rather placid time with everything going ok. Since then, we have had all the ravages associated with climate change, a pandemic and now a cost-of-living crisis. On Friday last week, a boat load of potential refugees land on our shores. This is a tasty morsel for the Coalition to feed on. The question is how much fear and loathing can the Coalition raise from the 2019 election scares in a country that has seen so much change. A barometer of this will apply at the Dunkley by election on Saturday week. If Peter Dutton fails to win then, I expect there will be a re-calibration of how they intend to fight the next election. Nostalgia might give way to reality. John Rome, Mt Lawley Peter Dutton has a fair bit to say regarding the recent boat arrival. He seemed to forget that under his watch as home affairs minister, a substantial number of illegal migrants arrived by plane. Peng Ee, Castle Cove Peter Duttons boat has come in. Les Shearman, Darlington Nuclear push ignores ugly truth Advertisement The leader of the opposition is on a hiding to nothing when he asserts electricity generated from small nuclear reactors is non-polluting (Dutton nuclear plan expensive, decades away , February 17). Dutton overlooks the half-life radioactive pollution that is created when refining and using uranium as the heat source to run steam generators necessary to produce electricity. The spent uranium then has a half-life extending into tens of thousands of years, and remains a highly dangerous pollutant. Find something else to champion, Dutton, something that will contribute to the betterment of our nation, not our destruction. Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie Peter Dutton is pushing nuclear as the answer to Australias power needs. Working backwards from his prime objective of discrediting the Albanese government, he cant endorse its renewables policy, so he has to come up with an alternative. The fact a viable nuclear program doesnt exist and would cost billions of dollars and take years to develop is a minor consideration. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill Yes, nuclear is more expensive and has a longer lead time. All the more reason to get started now. Generation is only part of the cost to consumers, and distribution infrastructure is already in place if we locate a nuclear facility on the site of a decommissioned coal-fired power station. Furthermore, it is not an either/or decision. Nuclear and solar/wind are perfect partners. As an enthusiastic solar user I can attest that solar/wind are cheap, and come with handsome credits in summer, but are unpredictable. Nuclear is more expensive but is reliable and safe. All that remains is to get the balance right, but planning needs to start now or we will still be having this conversation in 2044. Charles Pope, Morpeth Is Peter Dutton willing to have a nuclear reactor in his electorate, and is Barnaby Joyce prepared to have a nuclear waste dump in his electorate? Ron Russell, Leura Polite professors Professors Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims were much too polite when speaking out against blatant self-interest and the fossil fuel industry (We cant escape a carbon tax, which is good news, not bad, February 17). They could have named and shamed every former member of our state and national parliaments who secured employment in that industry post their parliamentary life. That, truly, is classic self-interest. Col Shephard, Yamba Credit: Matt Davidson Advertisement Ross Gittins is persuasive, as usual, endorsing Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims plea for a carbon tax to secure Australias economic future. If we do, our bottom line benefits enormously, allowing fast-tracking of cheap energy projects and marketing our advantage there to the world. If we dont, the Europeans and other countries will tax at their borders and get the benefits. He rightly points out the main barrier to this is politics. Dutton has already flagged hes going with the nuclear option, even though expert opinion has said its too costly and will take too long. But being wrong is unlikely to stop Dutton if he can make a populist argument and win votes. And that may frighten Labor enough to back off. So, once again the blood sport of politics means people dont get good policy. Whoever can solve that one should get a free pass to the prime ministership. Gary Barnes, Mosman Once again, Ross Gittins provides the much-needed answers to both protect and assist Australia as we transition towards renewables. As we try to minimise the potential trading losses earned from our historical overreliance on fossil fuels, we should lower the prices of carbon-free mining products to Australians and create a new carbon tax on fossil fuel exports that will help fund the federal governments spending promises. Most importantly, I hope the government will ensure all providers of these new alternative-energy sources are Australian-owned, or at least with very few foreign owners. Wiser and truer words have never been said. I nominate Ross Gittins for federal parliament, treasurer to boot. Sue Casiglia, North Ryde Partner-in-prime Tamie Fraser, wife of former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, rates an honourable mention in Tony Wrights homage to former prime ministers partners (Lots of history, no manual for PMs spouses, February 17). In the foyer of the Pavilion Hotel in Canberra is a plaque acknowledging that Tamie Fraser opened the hotel (then the Canberra International Motor Inn) on April 2, 1981. She is named on the plaque as Mrs Malcolm Fraser. She may have been a prime ministerial spouse of style but she was still not worthy of acknowledgement in her own name. John Ure, Mount Hutton Tamie Fraser being a real person in her own right Credit: The Herald & Weekly Times Ltd Arrested development The mayors are right in that virtually every local and regional centre in Sydney has run up against a development constraint (Mayors making their case to the premier, February 17). We have split land zoning and transport between state and local government, and given the major taxes to the Commonwealth; development is supposed to occur without the necessary access and landscape support. When the state does spend money on transport it is project, not system, focused for example, we get tens of billions wasted on the shemozzle of Rozelle and on devoting more of North Sydney land to a motorway that goes to the CBD. Planning is hierarchical, with the premier the key decision maker. Our state is made from too few ideas. Every local and regional centre in the state needs a yearly updated, integrated set of lane use (zoning), access (transport), landscape, funding and program plans. We need a continuous process of gathering community ideas from across the state for every set of centre plans. While our parliament and councils will remain arbiters of plans and funding, more ideas incorporated will allow us to address constraints, improve affordability and get better social outcomes. Peter Egan, Mosman Advertisement Two people on separate tours have been attacked by dingoes on Kgari, with rangers investigating the incidents. About 3pm on Saturday, an 18-year-old woman was walking to Lake Wabby as part of a tour group when she was bitten on the back of her left leg, the Department of Environment and Science said. In January, a girl was taken to hospital with significant leg wounds after being bitten by a dingo on Kgari. Credit: File image: Matt Dennien The woman was treated for puncture marks around her knee. Then about 8pm, another person on a separate tour was also reportedly bitten at the beachfront near Dilli Village. A heritage-listed Chinese temple built more than 150 years ago has been damaged by a fire that ripped through the South Melbourne building on Saturday night. A fire that started on the ground floor of the See Yup Temple spread to the first floor, badly damaging the historical buildings interior. Fire damage inside the See Yup Temple in South Melbourne. Credit: Penny Stephens Firefighters attended the Raglan Street building about 9.50pm, after receiving multiple reports of a fire from members of the public. Smoke was billowing from the second floor and roof by the time they arrived, Fire Rescue Victoria said. Senior Nationals MPs have leapt to the defence of deputy leader Perin Davey, after she admitted to drinking at a function in Parliament House before slurring her words during a Senate hearing. The Nationals whip Mark Coulton and former party leader Michael McCormack both defended Davey and the hosting of the partys regular staff drinks, just days after former party leader Barnaby Joyce was filmed slurring his words after a night out in which he mixed alcohol and medication. Coulton said the party would continue to put on staff drinks, which had been going on for several years, denying the sitting week event should have been reconsidered in light of Joyce being filmed lying on a Canberra footpath late at night. Im a teetotaller you dont go there to get on the turps, its a good way to catch up on whats going on, a good way for the staff to get together, Coulton said. I dont think well be changing that, its a non-event. Property prices in three pockets of south-east Queensland have more than doubled in the past five years as coastal havens and lush hamlets draw strong buyer demand. House prices in Surfers Paradise and Brisbanes Yeronga have increased by more than 100 per cent since 2018, Domain data shows, as have apartment prices in Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast. House prices in Surfers Paradise increased by 107.9 per cent over the past five years. Surfers Paradise clocked the largest upswing, its median house price increasing 107.9 per cent over the five-year period to a record $2.65 million. Coolum Beach apartment prices rose 106 per cent to $865,000, while Yerongas house median increased 104.8 per cent to almost $1,608,000 jumping 22.2 per cent last year alone despite the suburb being hit during major flood events. Washington: It seemed like the 2024 equivalent of a Sputnik moment: In a cryptic statement this week, a US lawmaker privy to US intelligence warned of a grave but unspecified security threat from Russia. One reporter asked the Pentagon if it was equivalent to the orbital weapon in the James Bond film GoldenEye. A Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle takes-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan. Credit: AP After days of uncertainty, President Biden offered the most detailed account yet on Friday of what the danger was. Russia has been developing an anti-satellite space weapon, but it doesnt pose a nuclear threat to those on Earth. In fact, Biden said, it may never go ahead. The international community overwhelmingly supports an independent Palestinian state as part of a future peace agreement. Netanyahus government is filled with hardliners who oppose Palestinian independence. Netanyahu wants Israel to achieve total victory over Hamas. In response to international concern over a Rafah offensive, he has said Palestinian civilians would be evacuated. Where they would go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. The suggested timing for the offensive came as the World Health Organisation chief said southern Gazas main medical facility, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, is not functional any more after Israeli forces raided it on Friday. A woman walks between dead bodies of Palestinians killed in the Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip, in front of the morgue at Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Sunday. Credit: AP Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on the weekend. In a post on X, he said about 200 patients remained, including 20 who needed urgent treatment elsewhere. Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant said at least 200 militants had surrendered at the hospital. He also claimed that Hamas was defeated in Khan Younis, and was largely leaderless in Gaza. He gave no evidence to support the claims. Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said there was no power, no oxygen and not enough staff to treat the patients remaining in Nasser Hospital. Its gone completely out of service. There are only four medical teams - 25 staff - currently caring for patients inside the facility, he said. Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike on a residential building in Rafah, Gaza Strip on Friday. Credit: AP The Israeli military said in a statement that hundreds of militants were hiding in the hospital and some had posed as medical staff. It released images of weapons it said were found along with medications that were transferred from Israel and intended for the more than 100 hostages abducted and held by Hamas. The military said it had arrested at least 100 suspects on the hospital premises. The packages of medicine that were found were sealed and had not been transferred to the hostages, the military said. Hamas dismisses Israeli allegations, saying they served as a pretext to destroy the healthcare system. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel were among those arrested, along with patients, leaving 150 patients without medical care. It said Israel refused to allow patients, including newborns, to be evacuated to other hospitals. The military says it was looking for the remains of hostages inside the hospital and did not target doctors or patients. It said the raid occurred without harming patients and medical staff, and in accordance with the values of the IDF and international law. The October 7 attack killed about 1200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of them believed to be dead. Most of the others were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. On Sunday it said 127 bodies were brought to hospitals in the previous 24 hours. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 123 aid trucks entered Gaza through Israels Kerem Shalom border crossing on Sunday and four trucks of cooking gas entered through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Thats well below the 500 trucks entering daily before the war. People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah on Sunday. Credit: Getty In the occupied West Bank, a shootout erupted when Israeli forces went to arrest an armed suspect in the town of Tulkarem. The military said the suspect was killed, and a member of Israels paramilitary Border Police was severely wounded. It described the target of the raid as a senior militant. The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed. The war in Gaza has threatened to ignite wider conflict in the region. The US Central Command said it conducted five self-defence strikes on Saturday against cruise missiles and drones in an area of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group. Loading US opposes a new ceasefire resolution Algeria, the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, and rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the draft will not be adopted and runs counter to Washingtons efforts to end the fighting. The US vetoed previous resolutions that had wide international support. The US, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release, but Qatar said Saturday the talks have not been progressing as expected. Hamas has said it will not release all remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It also demands the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top militants. Netanyahu has called Hamas demands delusional. Loading Israeli strikes across Gaza continued, killing at least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses. A strike in Rafah killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another killed five in Khan Younis, the main target of the southern Gaza offensive in recent weeks. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies. All those who were martyred were those whom the Jews asked to move to safe places, said a bystander after the Rafah strike, Ahmad Abu Rezeq. In Gaza City, which suffered widespread destruction early in the war, an airstrike flattened a home, killing seven people, including three women, according to relative Sayed al-Afifi. Israels military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas Holocaust outrage The Gaza war has destabilised the entire Middle East as Hamass military allies all Iran-backed paramilitary groups have targeted Israeli and US interests with missiles and drones. Israel has also bombed southern Lebanon in a battle with Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants, and the Yemeni Houthi rebels have choked global trade passing through the Suez Canal and Red Sea. Israel accused Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of trivialising the Holocaust and causing offence to the Jewish people on Sunday after he likened the Israeli war against Hamas militants in Gaza to the Nazi genocide during World War II. What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments. In fact, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews, Lula told reporters during the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Credit: Facebook The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said it would summon the Brazilian ambassador for a reprimand over the remarks, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as disgraceful and grave. This is a trivialisation of the Holocaust and an attempt to attack the Jewish people and the right of Israel to self-defence. Drawing comparisons between Israel and the Nazis and Hitler is to cross a red line, Netanyahu said in a statement. Brazils presidential palace and the foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement, the Brazilian Israelite Confederation said Lulas remarks were a perverse distortion of reality and offend the memory of Holocaust victims and their descendants and accused his government of an extreme and unbalanced stance on the conflict. Earlier on Sunday, Lula also condemned the suspension of humanitarian aid to the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), urging an investigation into errors without cutting off funding to help those affected by what he called a genocide. Its not a war between soldiers and soldiers, its a war between a highly prepared army and women and children, he said. UNRWA is facing a financial strain following Israels assertion that 12 out of its 13,000 staff members in Gaza were implicated in Hamass October 7 attack on Israel. Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses, while the United States said it would veto another draft UN resolution calling for a ceasefire. A man comforts another as people inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli air strikes in Rafah, Gaza. Credit: Getty Netanyahu also opposes Palestinian statehood, which the US calls a key element in a broader vision for the normalisation of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. Loading His cabinet has adopted a declaration saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the Gaza offensive until Israel achieves a total victory over the Hamas militant group and plans to expand it to Rafah, where more than half the enclaves 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge. In response to international concern about what would happen to the people in Rafah, the Israeli leader has said residents would be evacuated before a ground offensive began there. Where they would go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. Reuters, AP Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday dismissed the idea of holding early elections, while thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv for an anti-government protest. Netanyahu has seen his popularity plummet in opinion polls since Hamas October 7 attack that sparked the devastating war in Gaza. Protesters clash with police officers during a demonstration calling for a hostages deal and against the Israeli government in Tel Aviv, Israel. Credit: Getty Anti-government protests that shook the country for much of 2023 have largely subsided during the war. Still, demonstrators again took to the streets of Tel Aviv Saturday night calling for new elections, which are not scheduled until 2026. The crowd was much smaller than last years mass protests, numbering a few thousand, according to local media. Washington: President Joe Biden blamed Congress failure to approve emergency aid to Ukraine for the fall of Avdiivka, which handed Russia a significant battlefield victory after months of fighting for control of the city. Biden said he called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (US time) to let him know Im confident were going to get that money, while warning that more Ukrainian cities might fall if Congress doesnt approve the funding. President Joe Biden speaks with reporters as he leaves St. Edmund Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Credit: AP Theres so much on the line, Biden told reporters near his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The idea that now were running out of ammunition to walk away, I find it absurd. I find it unethical. So Im going to fight to get them the ammunition they need. Attempts to unlock emergency foreign aid to US allies have been stuck in a partisan deadlock in Congress for months, leaving Biden and Zelensky to make increasingly urgent appeals for Congress to move forward as Ukrainian supplies run low. Philadelphia: As he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination, former president Donald Trump made a highly unusual stop, hawking new Trump-branded sneakers at Sneaker Con, a gathering that bills itself as The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth. Trump was met with loud boos as well as cheers at the Philadelphia Convention Centre on Saturday (US time) as he introduced what he called the first official Trump footwear. Donald Trump launches his Never Surrender High-Top shoes at Sneaker Con Philadelphia. Credit: AP The shoes, shiny gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold as Never Surrender High-Tops for $US399 ($612) on a new website that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and Victory47 cologne and perfume for $US99 a bottle. He would be the 47th president if elected again. The website says it has no connection to Trumps campaign, though Trump campaign officials promoted the appearance in online posts. OpenAI in deal valuing it at $80 billion: media San Francisco, Feb 17 (AFP) Feb 17, 2024 OpenAI has concluded a deal with investors that reportedly values the California start-up at $80 billion or more, after a roller-coaster year for the inventor of ChatGPT. The agreement, reported by The New York Times but not yet confirmed by OpenAI, would mean the value of the company -- a world leader in generative artificial intelligence -- would have nearly tripled in under 10 months. The reported deal would have the San Francisco-based firm selling existing shares to investors led by Thrive Capital. It would permit executives and employees to sell shares at a highly favorable price, just three months after the firm survived a major crisis when company co-founder and chief executive Sam Altman was fired and then brought back only days later. OpenAI led a revolution in artificial intelligence when it placed its ChatGPT program online in late 2022. The immediate success of the interface sparked tremendous interest in the cutting-edge technology, capable of producing text, sounds and images upon demand. Microsoft, already an investor in the start-up, redoubled its involvement. The software giant has injected some $13 billion into OpenAI in the past few years. It is locked in fierce competition with Google to develop and roll out new tools using AI's generative abilities, to the point that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in January launched an investigation into the enormous investments by Microsoft, Google and Amazon in the specialized start-ups. OpenAI, founded as a non-profit in 2015, faced a major crisis last November. Its board fired CEO Sam Altman, one of Silicon Valley's more charismatic figures, accusing him of a lack of "transparence." In the following days, Microsoft tried to hire him, while both executives and a majority of OpenAI employees demanded that those behind Altman's ouster resign and that he be rehired. Within the week, Altman was back at work while several board members resigned. On Friday, OpenAI -- developer not only of ChatGPT but of image-generating DALL-E -- released a new tool named "Sora," which can create realistic videos of up to a minute on simple demand. According to the Times, OpenAI concluded a similar agreement early last year with venture-capital firms including Thrive Capital, Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, which valued the firm at $29 billion. At the prestigious film event last year, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who had abdominal surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children. The two ministers tell chief constables that the Government has confirmed that, where the facts support it so the conditions are met, section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 can be used by the police to direct protesters away from a residential dwelling, in order to prevent harassment, alarm or distress to the resident. The UK has led on sanctions, the issue now is the enforcement of those sanctions and if we do have the privilege to serve, that is the area in which I will look more closely to ensure that there is the proper co-ordination across both the Foreign Office and the Treasury. The war in Ukraine is the focus of The Observer as the nation pleads for more arms after they withdrew troops from Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. It is thought to be the first time that the prince would have seen his father alone since the Queen died in 2022 and it was understood he had wanted to share a heart to heart with his dad. Avdiivka, which is called Avdeyevka by Russians, has endured a decade of conflict. It holds particular symbolism for Russia as it was briefly taken in 2014 by Moscow-backed separatists who seized a swathe of eastern Ukraine but was then recaptured by Ukrainian troops who built extensive fortifications. KMOX's Nan Wyatt is slain at home Husband is questioned, police say KMOX radio personality Nan Wyatt was shot to death in her home in Twin Oaks in St. Louis County on Tuesday Evening, police said. The incident happened about 6 p.m., according to police. Police sources said Wyatt was found with gunshot wounds in the bedroom of her home. About 6:30 p.m., police found Wyatt's husband at an optical store on Telegraph Road, not far from the St. Louis County Police 4th Precinct station. One officer suggested that her husband was trying to find the station. He was being questioned by officers Tuesday evening. Wyatt has hosted the drive-time "Total Information AM," St. Louis' top morning radio show, since 1996 after holding several other jobs at KMOX and a brief stint at WBBM-AM in Chicago. She has been paired with Charles Jaco, Steve Jankowski, and most recently Doug McElvein. The show airs from 5 to 9 a.m. In 1998, Wyatt began appearing on "Donnybrook" Thursday nights on KETC (Channel 9), succeeding Anne Keefe. Wyatt was known for her in-depth political reporting. She's won several reporting awards, including the National Associated Press Award for Enterprise Reporting. She reportedly met her husband while in Chicago, where she hosted and afternoon radio show. Their son turned 7 on Friday. Getting married when youre an older adult comes with complications: You and your spouse may have assets from years of working, and you may have children from previous relationships. Tying the knot could affect your Social Security benefits if youre widowed or divorced. You will need to update estate documents and beneficiary designations, and you may even want to consider a prenuptial agreement. Working together to create a financial plan that incorporates your new family structure is essential. Here are the steps you should take if you walk down the aisle in your later years. 1. Talk to each other Before you marry at this stage of your life, have a frank conversation about money with your spouse-to-be and consider involving a financial professional. Working with a planner can really help because there can be some conversations that people arent used to having, says Jaymon Meikle, a certified financial planner in St. Joseph, Missouri. This is a time to set expectations: Are you keeping your money separate or commingling your funds? How will you divide expenses going forward? What will happen when one of you dies? Even if you arent combining finances, you must understand your partners financial situation so you can organize your tax planning, from tax bracket management to Roth IRA conversions. There has to be coordination, says Rob Schultz, a CFP in Encino, California. You cant do financial planning for one spouse and not consider the other spouses situation if theyre married. 2. Update your beneficiaries A new marriage is a significant change in legal and financial status, and your financial plan should incorporate it. That means, among other things, updating beneficiaries on all accounts, since beneficiaries trump anything you have in a will. What we do typically is we have all the beneficiaries laid out so nothing goes through probate, says David Demming, a CFP in Aurora, Ohio. Thats where we have the dialog: Who do you want to have these funds? Check both primary and contingent beneficiaries to ensure that you still agree with your choices and that there are no surprises. Someone has come to me after a death and we go through what theyre going to be receiving, Schultz says. And their current spouse had an ex-spouse as a beneficiary, and thats heartbreaking. 3. Weigh a prenuptial agreement You or your betrothed may be coming into the marriage with significant assets or property, and if you ever divorce, that can get sticky. A prenuptial agreement can outline what you owned before the marriage and what will happen should the marriage end. Usually theres a primary goal that drives what the focus of the prenup is, says Kaylin Dillon, a CFP in Lawrence, Kansas. If its to make sure you have protections in place for children from a previous relationship, that prenup is going to look very different than if your primary goal is to make sure that income from a family business remains separate property. If you have property, significant retirement assets, a pension, a business ownership or an ownership interest in a family business, or you have children from a previous relationship, its something to think about. Prenups are really flexible documents, Dillon says. Contract law leaves a lot of room for people to be creative. 4. Check with Social Security Marriage affects your Social Security benefits, so make sure you understand the ramifications of taking that step. If youre not yet 60, remarrying makes you ineligible for any survivors benefits if youre a widow or widower. If youre divorced, remarriage means you cant collect benefits based on your ex-spouse. Thats something to consider, especially if Social Security is going to be a significant portion [of your retirement] or something youre going to depend on, says Kassi Fetters, a CFP in Anchorage, Alaska. Your financial professional can advise on this, or you can call your local Social Security office for more information. 5. Ask about a trust One of the considerations of marrying later is whether and how youll leave assets to any children you may already have. If you die without a will, your assets will generally go to your spouse. A trust gives you more control over the inheritance you want to leave. Consider if two people Bob and Susan marry each other, and both have children from a previous marriage. If Bob predeceases Susan, the worry could be that shell take the inheritance and give it to her kids, Meikle says. You can lay things out in a trust so that Susan is still taken care of while shes alive, but then Bobs money will go to Bobs kids and Susans money will go to Susans kids. An estate attorney can assess your situation and recommend a trust that will accomplish your goals. Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today ST. LOUIS A federal judge has diagnosed a disease in the city of St. Louis. The symptom is secrecy. The prescription is sunshine. The outcome could lead to a healthier relationship between the citys police department and the community it serves, if only the judge can get the city to take its medicine. On Feb. 13, U.S. Magistrate Judge Shirley P. Mensah ordered the city to make public a controversial audit of police shooting investigations in the city between 2014 and 2018. The audit of the Force Investigative Unit was used by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to fire the units former director, Lt. Roger Engelhardt, in 2021. According to portions of the audit obtained by the Post-Dispatch from a law enforcement source, it alleges that there were mistakes, delays and sloppiness of some kind or another made in all 50 police shooting investigations during that time period. The audit takes aim at Engelhardt, accusing him of double dipping earning money from private employers while he was on the clock, and being paid by the police department. But the city has fought for years now to keep the audit secret. It was filed under seal in two police shooting lawsuits one filed by former police Officer Milton Green, and one filed by the father of Mansur Ball-Bey, who was shot and killed by police in 2015. The Post-Dispatch has filed a Sunshine Law request for the audit and been denied, with the city calling it a personnel record. But thats not what it is, Mensah said in her order issued last week. The document does not, on its face, appear to be a personnel file or personnel record. Notably, Defendants do not state whose personnel record it is, nor is it apparent to the Court, Mensah writes. Defendants have also not pointed to any information in the document that would be particularly sensitive or personal as to any particular employee, such as medical information or social security numbers. Although the FIU Audit certainly discusses the activities of various police personnel, that alone cannot turn the document into a personnel record that must be kept confidential. To the extent that the Force Investigative Unit audit is a personnel record at all, it would be related to Engelhardt, Mensah said, and so its worth noting that Greens and Ball-Beys attorneys Javad Khazaeli, Jack Waldron and Jermaine Wooten only knew about the audit because of a deposition Engelhardt gave in the Green case. In various court documents, and an interview, Engelhardt also has said he wants to see the full audit and have it made public, in part because it was used by the city to seek federal charges against him. Lt. Col. Michael Sack has testified in court documents that he gave the FIU Audit to the FBI, and Engelhardt twice met with the U.S. Attorneys office as the office asked Engelhardt to plead guilty to a crime related to his alleged double dipping. Engelhardt declined. He has not been charged with a crime. But Engelhardt would still like to see the full audit that the city is trying to keep secret. He said so in a filing in Greens case last week, asking U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Dueker to allow him to file a brief in the case related to the audit. I have been accused of a crime by officers and attorneys of the City of St. Louis, Engelhardt wrote. I have the right under the 6th Amendment to confront those accusers and have them held accountable if they have made this accusation with malice. I cannot do that if I am denied access to information which was the base of those accusations. Dueker denied Engelhardt the right to file a brief in the case. He previously reached the opposite conclusion that Mensah did relating to federal court rules on transparency, allowing the city to keep the FIU Audit secret. But Mensahs ruling will now lead to the audit being made public, unless, of course, the city appeals the decision. Then it will be up to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. A spokesman for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said the city had not yet decided whether to appeal. Mensah ordered the city to file a public version of the full FIU Audit with only victim addresses redacted by March 6. Federal court rules, and the public interest, demand it, she wrote. Defendants general, conclusory assertions, unsupported by any evidence or citations to the record, cannot suffice to overcome the strong presumption of public access to this record. Defendants have not pointed to any particular criminal investigation that would be compromised by the release of the FIU Audit, nor is it apparent to the Court after careful review of the document how its release could compromise any particular criminal investigation, Mensah wrote. The document at issue bears on the question of whether the City properly investigated officer-involved shootings. The public interest in this claim and in how the Court evaluated it is very high. FLORISSANT An employee was charged with shooting a man inside a Walmart here on Friday night. Police responded around 10:45 p.m. for a shooting call at the Walmart at 3390 North Highway 67 and found a man at the front of the store shot in the "lower extremities." His injuries are not life-threatening. Police arrested 23-year-old Larry Miller at the scene and confiscated his gun. He was charged Saturday with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Police said the shooting happened after a fight between Miller and the victim. Miller pulled a gun, authorities say, and shot the victim while the victim was running away. Shoppers were inside the store at the time, but no other injuries were reported. ST. LOUIS A Kirkwood man accused of running a red light and hitting and killing two tourists downtown early Wednesday has been released from custody on bail. Monte Henderson, 22, posted 10% of his $200,000 bond on Friday, court records show. He had been charged Thursday with two counts each of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the deaths of Laticha Bracero, 42, and her daughter Alyssa Cordova, 21, after police say he blew through a red light on Olive Street and hit them in a crosswalk after midnight Wednesday. Bracero and Cordova were in town from Chicago attending a Drake concert at Enterprise Center Tuesday evening. Police said Henderson was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee more than 70 mph on Olive Street when he ran a stoplight at 18th Street in the Downtown West neighborhood, hitting multiple vehicles and the two pedestrians. Judge Annette Llewellyn set bond Thursday at $200,000 or 10% cash. Henderson has no prior felonies, and Judge Llewellyn did not consider him a threat to society or a flight risk. But St. Louis police Officer Matthew Wieczorek, in the probable cause statement he filed in the case Thursday, said he did believe Henderson is a danger to the community and would not appear on a summons. Llewellyn, a former public defender, was one of former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardners first hires when she took office and headed the prosecutors diversion programs for a month before former Gov. Eric Greitens appointed her circuit judge in 2018. While traffic fatalities in the city have fallen back toward pre-pandemic averages, the crash Wednesday again refocused attention on the reckless driving incidents that have put city leaders under pressure to respond to pedestrian and motorist safety. And Hendersons release may again raise questions about pretrial detention policies in St. Louis Circuit Court. A year ago, a car crash that injured a teenage girl in town for a volleyball tournament an annual event that had downtown St. Louis streets and sidewalks packed with young athletes and their parents on Saturday amplified calls for Gardner to resign. Her critics pointed to the drivers many violations of his bond for other criminal charges at the time of the crash, questioning why prosecutors hadnt moved to have him jailed. Meanwhile, aldermen and Mayor Tishaura O. Jones a year ago approved a $40 million package for traffic-calming infrastructure, but those projects are still in the planning stages. And St. Louis police, which are grappling with some 300 vacant positions, made about half as many traffic stops in 2021 as they did in 2009 back when there were also just half as many traffic deaths on the citys streets. While the City has made significant investments in traffic and pedestrian infrastructure, reckless driving continues to be an urgent and immediate issue that directly affects the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors alike, Jones said in a statement the day after the crash on Olive Street. ST. ANN A St. Ann police officer on Saturday shot and injured a man who authorities say pointed a firearm equipped with a laser light at the officer during an emergency call for service. St. Ann police and EMS personnel responded around 8 a.m. for someone experiencing stomach pains at an apartment in the 4100 block of Parc Chalet Drive, officials said. Once inside, police said, a man came out of a bedroom and pointed a handgun equipped with a laser light at an officer in full uniform. In response, the officer fired one shot at the man, striking him in the right arm, North County Police Cooperative Maj. Ron Martin said in a news release. The injured man was taken to a hospital for treatment and transferred to police custody. Davion T. Swinson, 22, of the 3400 block of Hartford Street in the Tower Grove East neighborhood, was charged with attempted assault on a law enforcement officer. Officials believe Swinsons girlfriend may have lived at the apartment where the shooting happened. According to court records, Swinson allegedly pointed the laser light and firearm directly at the officer while telling his girlfriend to get out of the way. A judge set bond for Swinsons release at $500,000, cash only. In an interview on Sunday, Swinsons grandmother said they were in the process of hiring an attorney. She said the incident caught their family by surprise. She said her grandson is a musician without a criminal history. She said hed previously gone to the hospital a few times for stomach problems. The St. Ann Police Department requested the North County Police Cooperative to conduct the investigation of the officer-involved shooting. On Sunday morning, Maj. Martin said by telephone that its common for EMS and police to respond at the same time to sick calls. He said the incident was captured by body camera footage that would be released at a later date. He said they dont want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation. We still have some loose ends, he said. The shooting happened at Avion Place Apartments, which has several buildings on the eastern edge of St. Ann near Edmundson. Kevin Solis, who lives across the hallway from where the incident occurred, said in an interview that hed heard a lot of aggressive knocking beforehand. He said he opened his door and saw what looked like two paramedics and two men in plain clothing one dressed in gray, another in black standing in front of apartment No. 7. I wouldnt have recognized them as cops if they would have asked for my license, said Solis, 24. He said he later heard a loud bang coming from the apartment in question and saw police searching the area for possible contraband. A neighbor who lives one level below said in an interview that hed heard a lot of police radio chatter and screaming to get a woman out of the apartment. Police said the officer who fired the shot is 49 years old and has 28 years of police experience. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact North County Police Cooperative investigators at 314-428-7374 or 314-499-6090. Updated at 3 p.m. WASHINGTON House Republicans are critical of diversity and inclusion programs within the federal government and elsewhere, but they see recruiting women and minority candidates, along with veterans, as key to expanding their slim majority in November. Rep. Richard Hudson, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, recently listed for reporters a slew of candidates that he described as fitting the "formula for the GOP expanding their ranks in November. There was Prasanth Reddy, a cancer doctor who immigrated to the U.S. from India and joined the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He's running for a congressional seat in northeast Kansas. Then there was Alison Esposito, a gay former police detective running for a seat in New York. Another example Hudson cited was George Logan, whose parents came to the U.S. from Guatemala and is running for a seat in Connecticut. Also, there's Kevin Lincoln, an African-American and Hispanic mayor in Stockton, Calif., and Mayra Flores, who is making another run. She made history by becoming the first Mexican-born congresswoman, but she subsequently lost in the 2022 mid-terms. These are not run-of-the-mill generic Republicans," Hudson said. Republicans are hoping the gains they made in the 2022 midterm elections will continue with their latest slate of candidates. House Democrats have a sizeable advantage when it comes to minority voters and don't intend to cede any ground, announcing a $35 million investment last month focused on reaching out to voters of color through polling, organizing and ads. The contest to appeal to female and minority voters will certainly be one of the factors determining which party controls the House next year. Hudson noted that in the last presidential election, prognosticators were predicting that Republicans would lose seats. We beat 15 Democrats and every one of those we beat with a woman, a minority candidate or a veteran, Hudson said. Thats really been the playbook for the last two cycles. And so were using that same formula. When asked what she makes of the House Republican focus on recruiting females and minorities, the chair of the campaign arm for House Democrats was skeptical. I think they say a lot of things, but I think their actions really are what folks should look at, said Rep. Suzan DelBene, the chair of the campaign arm for House Democrats. And their actions have been the opposite. They mock diversity and equity, and they put forward policies that go against diverse communities across the county. DelBene is referring in part to the scores of policy mandates that House Republicans have included in spending bills. Most of the bills sought to prohibit taxpayer dollars from going to offices and programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion, which focus on ensuring fair treatment and participation of all people, especially those that have been subject to discrimination. It's not just House Republicans seeking to end such programs. Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have proposed some three dozen bills to restrict or require public disclosure of DEI initiatives, according to an analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural. Hudson sidestepped on whether the focus on attracting female and minority candidates as House Republican candidates clashes with efforts to clamp down on diversity and inclusion programs within the federal government and elsewhere. He described it as apples and oranges and saying I just haven't given a lot of thought to that. The motivation is we want our Congress to reflect America. And we believe that if we have dynamic candidates with compelling life stories, then they can win any district because they are not generic Republicans," he said. Hudson will see early test results on the GOP strategy as soon as Tuesday in a New York special election to replace Republican Rep. George Santos, who was booted from office by colleagues in December. Tom Suozzi is the Democratic candidate, seeking a return to the seat he held for three terms before making an unsuccessful run for governor. The Republican candidate is Mazi Pilip, an Ethiopian immigrant, former Israeli paratrooper and mother of seven. Hudson said she an example of the type of candidate he believes can break through to voters with a compelling life story. The emphasis on diversity that Hudson noted makes sense politically given the increased racial and ethnic diversity of U.S. voters. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Hispanics eligible to vote has increased by about 12% over the past four years and the number of Asian Americans eligible to vote has grown by about 15%. The number of Blacks eligible to vote has grown by 7%. Thats compared to an overall increase in eligible voters of 3%. Another example of the Republican outreach to women is Rep. Elise Stefanik's E-Pac, which was launched after the 2018 mid-terms to support and increase the number of women in Congress. The PAC's website notes that in the 2020 elections, 11 out of the 15 districts that flipped to Republicans were won by women endorsed by the PAC, and that it supported a record number of Hispanic women in the 2022 elections. Republicans have made gains in increasing their minority and female members, but still lag Democrats on most fronts. Republicans doubled their number of Black members in the House to four in the last election, while there are 55 Black Democratic members. The Hispanic and Latino ranks in the House include 15 Republicans and 37 Democrats. Women make up 126 members of the House, with 92 being Democrats and 34 being Republicans. The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024 1. West Virginia 2. Montana 3. Ohio 4. Pennsylvania 5. Arizona 6. Nevada 7. Wisconsin 8. Michigan 9. Texas 10. Florida Analysis: Pennsylvania moves up list of contested Senate seats in 2024 Many Americans believe the United States was founded as a Christian nation, and the idea is energizing some conservative and Republican activists. But the concept means different things to different people, and historians say that while the issue is complex, the founding documents prioritize religious freedom and do not create a Christian nation. Does the U.S. Constitution establish Christianity as an official religion? No. What does the Constitution say about religion? (N)o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. (Article VI) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. (First Amendment) If it says Congress, does the First Amendment apply to the states? It does now. Early in the republic, some states officially sponsored particular churches, such as the Congregational Church in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Within a few decades, all had removed such support. The post-Civil War 14th Amendment guaranteed all U.S. citizens equal protection of the laws and said states couldnt impede on their privileges or immunities without due process. In the 20th century, the Supreme Court applied that to a number of First Amendment cases involving religion, saying states couldnt forbid public proselytizing, reimburse funding for religious education or sponsor prayer in public schools. What does it mean to say America is a Christian nation? It depends on whom you ask. Some believe God worked to bring European Christians to America in the 1600s and secure their independence in the 1700s. Some take the Puritan settlers at their word that they were forming a covenant with God, similar to the Bibles description of ancient Israel, and see America as still subject to divine blessings or punishments depending on how faithful it is. Still others contend that some or all the American founders were Christian, or that the founding documents were based on Christianity. Thats a lot to unpack. Lets start at the top. What about the colonies? Several had Christian language in their founding documents, such as Massachusetts, with established churches lasting decades after independence. Others, such as Rhode Island, offered broader religious freedom. Its also arguable whether the colonies actions lived up to their words, given their histories of religious intolerance and their beginnings of centuries-long African slavery and wars on Native Americans. What about the founders? The leaders of the American Revolution and the new republic held a mix of beliefs some Christian, some Unitarian, some deistic or otherwise theistic. Some key founders, like Benjamin Franklin, admired Jesus as a moral teacher but would fail a test of Christian orthodoxy. Many believed strongly in religious freedom, even as they also believed that religion was essential to maintain a virtuous citizenry. Were the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution based on Christianity and the Ten Commandments? References to the Creator and Natures God in the Declaration reflect a general theism that could be acceptable to Christians, Unitarians, deists and others. Both documents reflect Enlightenment ideas of natural rights and accountable government. Some also see these documents as influenced, or at least compatible, with Protestant emphasis on such ideas as human sin, requiring checks and balances. In fact, believers in a Christian America were some of the strongest opponents of ratifying the Constitution because of its omission of God references. Were most early Americans Christian? Many were and many werent. Early church membership was actually quite low, but revivals known as the First and Second Great Awakenings, before and after the Revolution, won a lot of converts. Many scholars see religious freedom as enabling multiple churches to grow and thrive. Were Catholics considered Christian? Not by many early Americans. Some state constitutions barred them from office. How did that change? Gradually, but by the time of the Cold War, many saw Catholics, Protestants and Jews as God-believing American patriots, allied in the face-off with the atheistic, communist Soviet Union. Was it only conservatives citing the idea of a Christian nation? No. Many proponents of the early 20th century social gospel saw their efforts to help the needy as part of building a Christian society. During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed on national radio for Gods blessing in our united crusade ... over the unholy forces of our enemy. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that civil rights protesters stood for the most sacred values in our Judeo-Christian heritage. What do progressive Christians say today? Christian nationalism has traditionally employed images that advocate an idealized view of the nations identity and mission, while deliberately ignoring those persons who have been excluded, exploited, and persecuted, said a 2021 statement from the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, an umbrella group that includes multiple progressive denominations. What do Americans believe about this? Six in 10 U.S. adults said the founders originally intended America to be a Christian nation, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey. Forty-five percent said the U.S. should be a Christian nation, but only a third thought it was one currently. Among white evangelical Protestants, 81% said the founders intended a Christian nation, and the same number said that the U.S. should be one but only 23% thought it currently was one, according to Pew. In a 2021 Pew report, 15% of U.S. adults surveyed said the federal government should declare the U.S. a Christian nation, while 18% said the U.S. Constitution was inspired by God. One-third of U.S. adults surveyed in 2023 said God intended America to be a promised land for European Christians to set an example to the world, according to a Public Religion Research Institute/Brookings survey. Those who embraced this view were also more likely to dismiss the impact of anti-Black discrimination and more likely to say true patriots may need to act violently to save the country, the survey said. Sources: Pew Research Center; Public Religion Research Institute/Brookings; Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? by John Fea. 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. There was a moment during a recent meeting between the Post-Dispatch Editorial Board and a high-ranking Israeli diplomat that provided some jolting clarity to the global debate over the war in Gaza. We noted during the discussion that, as a board, we have consistently supported Israels right to defend itself. I appreciate that, but its part of the problem, responded Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, Israeli consul general for the diplomatic subdivision that includes St. Louis. Would you or anybody else refer to any other country in the world [as having] the right to defend themselves? he continued. No, you dont, because its so obvious that a country has the right to defend itself. But when it comes to Israel, its somehow being questioned. The same logic, of course, could apply to the often-used reference to Israels right to exist. When is that odd phrase ever voiced regarding any other country? Certainly, the response in the minds of many Americans today would be, What about Palestines right to exist? Which could stand as a thumbnail summary of a conflict that divides America today as few (if any) other foreign policy issues do. Its a legitimate debate to have, particularly in light of the massive civilian casualties that continue growing as Israel attempts to root out Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Whats not legitimate is the undertone of antisemitism that has infiltrated the debate in the U.S. online, on college campuses and even in Congress. Israel shouldnt be immune from criticism, but antisemitism should have no place in the conversation. A new survey by the American Jewish Committee finds that three-quarters of American Jews feel less safe due to rising instances of antisemitic rhetoric and action in the U.S. since Oct. 7 the day Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 Israelis and taking hundreds more hostage. In the first two months of the resulting war, as thousands of Palestinians and others died with Israels counter-offensive in Gaza, the Anti-Defamation League recorded more than 2,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S., including verbal and written harassment, hundreds of rallies featuring antisemitic rhetoric and dozens of reports of physical assault. Thats more than quadruple the number of such reported incidents for the same two-month period the previous year. On college campuses especially, its been awful, Ted Deutch, a former Democratic congressman from Florida who now serves as CEO of the American Jewish Committee, told us in a meeting this month via Zoom. Theres nothing progressive about marching in support of terrorism. Many of those young marchers would argue, of course, that they arent marching in support of Hamas terrorists, but against Israels continued bombardment of Gaza. That campaign has killed more than 25,000 Palestinians to date, according to the regions Ministry of Health. It is in fact important not to automatically label any criticism of Israels government and/or military tactics as antisemitism. Indeed, the Biden administration and other staunch supporters of Israel (including many American Jews and Israeli nationals) have rightly expressed increasing frustration with Benjamin Netanyahus government for the soaring Palestinian death toll and for its refusal to support the creation of a Palestinian state. But the more militant critiques from American progressives lately muddy the distinction between a valid democracy and a terrorist organization created to eradicate that democracy, with a founding charter steeped in antisemitic rhetoric reminiscent of Nazism. That American protestors so freely fling the word genocide at a people whose nation was literally founded by genocide survivors indicates, at the very least, a deep ambivalence toward a horrific chapter in not-so-distant history. And when well-known politicians like Congresswoman Cori Bush of St. Louis add their own inflammatory rhetoric like her recent, bizarre assertion that Israels Gaza campaign is somehow rooted in white supremacy it gives the patina of legitimacy to an antisemitic, terrorist cause. To be clear: Whatever criticism Israel may deserve for the humanitarian cost of its Gaza strategy, it remains a legitimate democracy that has been attacked by an avowed terrorist organization that takes children as hostages and uses the Palestinians it claims to protect as human shields. None of this is to express unreserved support for Israels historic failure to work toward a two-state solution, nor its relentless military tactics in the current conflict which have in fact created a humanitarian crisis and may ultimately hurt its own cause by seeding future generations of terrorists. But Israel and Hamas are not two sides of the same coin. To present it that way does, in fact, support terrorism in that it plays right into Hamas public relations strategy. Even indirect support for an organization whose stated foundational principle is to kill every Jew it can find is, in fact, antisemitic. I am disappointed in the attitude of Republican Missouri legislators regarding pregnancies due to rape or incest. ("Senate Republicans block rape and incest exceptions for Missouri abortion ban," Feb. 9.) State Sen. Sandy Crawford said, "God does not make mistakes. ... He allows that (rape) to happen." Really? Maybe she should revisit her religion lessons. God doesn't make mistakes but man does. God gave us the right to choose between good and evil and any man who has made the choice to rape made the choice to be evil. Forcing a rape victim to carry a pregnancy to term is wrong. Does Sen. Crawford, plan to help these girls and women through this traumatic future? Of course not. She and her cohorts won't even let Planned Parenthood help them. They offer nothing but despair. Eileen DiGerolamo St. Louis February 18, 2024: The U.S. Army has spent more than $11 billion on failed attempts to develop a new scout helicopter. The scout helicopter was meant to find targets for the larger and heavily armed AH-64 helicopter. Apparently, no one involved with this research and development effort bothered to find out how other branches of the U.S. military as well as foreign armed forces were dealing with this problem. Even though the U.S. Army has established a system (CALL) to document past failures and successes and that this CALL system was easily available, commanders and staff personnel often did not use it as they made mistakes that CALL had documented and warned about not repeating. Some problems are obvious, like using a wrench as a hammer when hammers are available. Other problems are more subtle but also result in failure. The key problem is inability to recognize that you have a problem. This often happens even when the solution is already visible, but some ignore that. This is what happened with the supporters of programs to develop a new scout helicopter. It takes effort, or an actual war, to demonstrate what new solutions work. Thats what happens in all wars and is happening now in Ukraine. The opportunity here is to find these solutions in peacetime. The first thing you should do is look around for how others coped with this or similar problems. That is often difficult to do but solutions have been found in the past. For example, in the mid-20th century Japan was seeking ways to break into American markets for manufactured goods. One thing Japanese did to help with this effort is compile databases on how American firms handled marketing, promotion, and sales chain problems the Japanese would encounter in a new foreign market. The Japanese database collected data worldwide, from all countries that had market economies. In doing this the Japanese found that there were many different ways to deal with the same problems or opportunities. It was also discovered that solutions developed in one country, say France, could be adapted and used successfully in the United States or Japan. This was important when making decisions on how to proceed with promoting or presenting a new product before that product is on the market and generating revenue. The U.S. Army had already developed such a database after the Vietnam War. This was an effort to assemble a database of mistakes made and opportunities lost as well as new ideas that worked, what didnt and why. The result was CALL or the Center for Army Lessons Learned. This was seen as a fundamental element in improving ground operations by analyzing past battles for what went right and what went wrong. The U.S. Army CALL system has been around since the 1980s, and U.S. commanders use it to determine what works in combat and what doesn't. This is more important than ever in the 21st century, where urban combat and counter-insurgency conflicts dominate. In urban warfare and counterinsurgency, the potential for mistakes to be made is exponentially larger than in conventional, large-scale warfare. Instead of keeping all this knowledge secret, the US Army takes the data collected and analyzed at CALL and supplies it to allied armies in the hope they will use this information. This sharing is more than just a gesture of goodwill. This does not always work, especially in countries where corruption and reluctance to change makes it difficult to make changes that will improve combat effectiveness. This cultural resistance was encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan but not in Ukraine, where the Ukrainians adapted while their enemy did not. CALL is divided into several major sections. The first collects data from previous engagements by interviewing and visiting units in the field. This section is tasked with discovering issues and areas of needed improvement in doctrine, training, and readiness. The Analysis Section deals with evaluating the data collected and assessing the methods needed to improve effectiveness and combat efficiency. Finally, the Information Integration Section is responsible for processing and distributing the suggestions and findings from the previous two departments. The CALL is sometimes seen by other branches of the Army as a group of desk-bound analysts, but their suggestions and changes implemented in counterinsurgency and urban warfare tactics played a major role in maximizing the effectiveness of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Persuading the local military to change was often less successful. Without something like CALL, doctrine and tactics rarely change. On-site CALL troops visited nearly every single major combat zone in Iraq and Afghanistan. CALL soldiers also spent significant time with Iraqi Special Forces and were an integral part of the development process for the country's military and police. Call analysts also report on who is accepting and acting on their advice and who isnt. The resistance to change was and remains a major problem in Iraq, Afghanistan and, we now know, in Russia. Because of CALL and similar efforts by the U.S. Army Special Forces, American military advisors headed overseas are given a briefing on the culture they will be dealing with and how to deal with various types of obstacles. The army maintains a database of lessons learned that can be searched by region as well as situation. A major contributor to this database is army Special Forces troops, whose training concentrates on local customs and traditions and how to work within that. Thats why the Special Forces are organized around regional specialization. Special Forces operators learn the languages and customs of one region and usually spend their entire career working in that region. This Special Forces technique was learned from World War II experience where many of the founding members of Special Forces in the early 1950s had worked for the Office of Special Operations (OSS), an organization created, in part, to deal with contacting, communicating with and supporting local resistance groups in German or Japanese controlled territory. The success of the OSS led to the creation of the CIA and Special Forces to deal with the Cold War. This conflict, which did not end until 1991, had begun in the late 1940s when it became obvious that Soviet Russia was going to continue taking control of other nations any way it could. It took decades before the American military and foreign service learned how to use these new intelligence and operational capabilities. Tradition slowed adoption of new ideas but by the 1980s the military services cooperated in creating SOCOM, Special Operations Command so that they all could benefit from what the OSS and Special Forces have developed. It took decades for most American military commanders to accept the findings and suggestions from CALL and SOCOM. Initially many senior American officers saw Special Forces and CALL operatives as a bunch of oddballs spouting nonsense. Another factor in the development of more effective tactics was the realization, during World War II, that when the enemy developed a new weapon or tactic, the speed with which you could analyze it and come up with an effective countermeasure was a matter of life or death as well as victory or defeat. The speed of analysis and quickness of response was expressed more vividly in the 1960s by John Boyd, a U.S. Air Force officer. Boyd demonstrated how the speed of assessing a combat situation, developing a plan, and executing it was decisive in all forms of combat. Boyd came up with the OODA (observe, orient, decide, and act) loop, which could be applied to air, naval and ground combat. This made sense to World War II veterans who had witnessed the OODA loop in action. It resonated with the Russians as well because superior speed with OODA was a German specialty which the Russians never mastered as well as the Germans did during World War II. By the 1980s some Russian theorists saw computers as a possible solution. Again, the West had a technological edge and from the end of the Cold War and into the 21st Century it was Westerners who made all this work in combat. Russia never caught up or caught on to how vulnerable it was to opponents who worked the OODA cycle faster than they did. This was demonstrated in Ukraine and Russian military and political leaders are still having a hard time accepting this OODA reality. This became a problem for American military advisors working overseas, who frequently had solutions for problems encountered by foreign commanders they were supporting, but the real problem was local culture and resistance to change, especially the American emphasis on high-speed warfare and the need to quickly adopt new tactics to prevail. Meanwhile Islamic terrorists were on the receiving end of many of these innovations and the survivors learned to adapt. The impact of high-speed warfare was demonstrated after September 11, 2001, when American forces used computerized data mining and analysis to speed up their OODA loops during counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and elsewhere. Sunni terrorists quickly learned that if an American raid was accompanied by intelligence specialists carrying biometric tools and communication links to huge databases of information on known terrorists and their organizations, there would quickly be additional raids. A few new names found on one raid would spawn additional raids and within 24 hours large terrorist operations could be rolled up. Microsoft contributed by developing a thumb drive that could quickly extract useful data from a laptop while rough but effective machine translation of many Arabic documents could quickly provide more leads, locations and who or what to look for. The Ukrainian military did not accept much change after Ukraine became independent of the Soviet Union, and Russia, in 1991. The Ukrainians had to accept the fact that they could not afford to maintain a large peacetime military. Russias seizure of Crimea and the eastern Ukrainian Donbas region in 2014 was a wakeup call. The Russians had used KGB tactics, developed during the decades of communist rule that often used subversion and surprise to overthrow vulnerable governments. This included most East European countries who spent four decades under communist rule and Russian influence because of these tactics. The Russians tried to use these methods in Ukraine after 2000 and ran into resistance from many Ukrainians. After 2014 more Ukrainians were willing to accept advice from the Americans, who sent special forces and military advisors versed in CALL knowledge and willing to share with Ukrainians who were prepared to adapt. Initially it was Ukrainian military leaders and eventually political leaders, like current Ukrainian president Zelensky, who was elected in 2019 to make needed changes. That included lots of reforms to the Ukrainian military. What happened in 2014 scared Ukrainians because they had agreements with Russia that were supposed to keep Ukraine intact. The Russians violated their written promises and the Ukrainians realized they had to prepare for the worst, which the Russians were openly discussing. The worst came in February 2022 when Russia invaded. The Ukrainians had changed and adapted while the Russians had not. The result was striking initial Russian defeats which many Russian leaders still dont understand. The most important lesson was that you dont invade a neighboring country expecting your attack if they are better prepared to deal with it. The Ukrainians had developed new tactics and used new weapons to defeat the invasion. Most Russian troops were not told they were conducting an invasion because their officers were assured that there would not be any effective resistance. There was effective resistance, and many Russian troops abandoned their armored vehicles and fled once they realized what they were up against. That resulted in about half the Russian tanks and other armored vehicles lost being abandoned intact by their crews in the first 90 days of the war. The Ukrainians quickly developed procedures to adapt their vehicles to their own use with new insignia and some new communications equipment. The Ukrainians also used their newly acquired tanks more effectively than their former owners. Ukrainians, like the Russians, still used the same Cold War era tanks as the Russians but were more aware of the vulnerabilities of these Russian designed tanks. For example, even the Russians didnt realize how vulnerable their tanks were to turret penetration by anti-tank weapons. Russia had made some changes to defeat the Western Cold War development of top attack anti-tank weapons. These weapons were not used against Russian attacks often enough, until 2022, to demonstrate that Russian tanks were extremely vulnerable because Russian tanks had been using autoloaders since the late 1960s. This replaced the human loader but put a dozen or more tank gun rounds in the turret at all times. If one of those rounds was detonated by an anti-tank weapon penetrating the turret, all those ready rounds exploded, destroying the turret and the tank as well as killing the entire crew. As soon as Russian tank crews understood this, they were quick to abandon their tanks as soon as enemy fire began blowing tanks up. Western tank designers were aware of this problem and never adopted the autoloader because of it. There was never more than one shell exposed in the turret at a time. The other shells were kept in a separate armored container with blow out panels. If those protected shells exploded the armored container quickly blew apart from the inside, leaving the crew unharmed and the tank reparable. The Russians officially called their invasion a special operation meant to liberate the Ukrainians from neo-Nazi and NATO influence. Most Russian troops soon realized that the Ukrainians were more enthusiastic and determined to defend their country from foreign invaders and wanted to join NATO to discourage Russian attacks. Government corruption and inept military leadership meant the Russian troops were poorly supplied with food, medical care, and ammunition. New recruits were not trained or paid the cash bonuses promised. Troop morale plummeted because of this and soon Russia found it could not obtain enough troops to keep the special operation going. The Ukrainians went on the offensive in late August and rapidly drove the Russians out of much of the Ukrainian territory they had conquered in 2014 and early 2022. The Russian government did not want to admit they were losing but were unable to convince enough Russian soldiers to resist or Russians and Ukrainian collaborators living in the occupied territories to stay. The civilians fled and Russian troop numbers dwindled. All this had nothing to do with foreign observers asserting that tanks were obsolete, and warfare had changed dramatically. Neither was true but the reality was less newsworthy, so the situation was not reported accurately. The Ukrainians kept attacking Russian logistics, especially key supplies for the troops, while improving their own. This was the key to victory but made for dull headlines. The Russians failed to note the extent and impact of Ukrainian military reforms since 2014. The Russians found that they were no longer fighting the same kind of Ukrainian military they had defeated in 2014. The Russians had ignored or misinterpreted those reforms and were still unable or unwilling to accept the effectiveness of the Ukrainian reforms. One reason for that is the Ukrainian reforms succeeded in converting the Ukrainian military's 2014 recycled Soviet model to one based on the more effective Western model. This transition happened gradually as the NATO military aid Ukraine requested after 2014 included trainers for existing Ukrainian units as well as new Ukrainian officers. The NATO trainers trained new Ukrainian combat battalions as well as newly recruited Ukraine officers. What the Russians didnt appreciate until the 2022 invasion started was that NATO training produced very different results than the training Ukrainian and Russian forces were used to getting. In 2014 the Ukrainian army was similar in skills and training to the methods Russia used. This was the old Soviet style of strict adherence to battle plans and discouragement of initiative among combat commanders. Western militaries approached these matters differently. Battle plans were created as estimates, not strict rules. Western commanders were trained to be flexible and adaptive in combat. As the NATO trainers did their work, the Ukrainian military was gradually reformed. Senior Ukrainian officers, all veterans of the old Soviet style of organization, command, and training, tolerated this new approach not because they understood it, but because Ukraine needed all the military aid it could get, and the Western combat unit and officer training seemed to work. When the Russians invaded, they and senior Ukrainian commanders were surprised at how effective NATOs retraining of the Ukrainian armed forces worked. The Russians were dismayed and somewhat mystified at the relatively poor performance of their troops. The Ukrainians were told the post-2014 Ukrainian troops and officers would be more effective because that had been the experience in similar situations since the 1990s. Another aspect of Western training and combat doctrine is that you rapidly modify your tactics and training as a result of recent, or ongoing combat experiences. NATO nations supplying Ukraine with vast quantities of weapons and equipment noted how the Ukrainians performed. For example, peacetime training standards called for months of training before troops were ready to effectively use Patriot Air Defense systems. The Ukrainians did it in weeks. The Ukrainians not only learned how to operate Patriot systems but also developed new uses. This surprised and pleased the Americans providing the equipment because the Ukrainians were making Patriot useful for all users. The Americans took notes and modified their performance specs and training methods. The Ukrainian experience was somewhat unique because the Ukrainians had decades of experience with tweaking and upgrading existing systems. When Ukraine became independent in 1991, they inherited large quantities of Russian Cold War era weapons and equipment. Ukraine had been arguably the center of weapons development, production, and upgrades while part of the Soviet Union. After 1991 they merged those skills with newly acquired Western marketing savvy. The Ukrainians modified and upgraded their Soviet era weapons to be more attractive to potential buyers. By 2014 Ukrainian had made all this into a sizable portion of their economy. The Ukrainian skills and speed with learning and modifying new Western weapons was, in hindsight, obvious. The Russians did not pay attention. The poor performance of the Russian military in Ukraine during its 2022 invasion was not a surprise to everyone. Journalists, politicians in general and the Russians were taken by surprise but military historians, the U.S. Army and the Ukrainian military were not. Thats because the American army finally realized, in the 1980s, that a fundamental problem in warfare was not paying attention to what had worked in the past and why. Those who possess this predictive capability also know that its best to keep quiet about what they know because the enemy will adapt once the shooting starts, and some foes do that rather quickly. Most do not because admitting you were wrong is something most senior military commanders resist. The Americans have CALL, which records mistakes as well as successes and helps users do what works and avoid what doesnt and do it all in a timely manner. Because of the Ukraine War CALL now has a lot of useful advice on the use and abuse of UAVs. The developers of a new Americans scout helicopter made contributions to CALL on how not to solve problems using older technology when cheaper new tech like cheap UAVs were available. WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Textron Aviation today announced the delivery of a new Cessna Grand Caravan EX Amphibian turboprop to Malaysian property developer, Ikhasas Sdn Bhd, via its subsidiary company Oriental Sky Sdn Bhd. The aircraft, to be managed and operated by local charter operator Systematic Aviation Services (SAS), will be used for passenger transport between the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and a new waterfront resort on Perhentian islands, off the northern east coast of Malaysia. This will be the countrys first amphibious airplane operation in recent history after it gained necessary approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to launch domestic operations in 2024. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240216837400/en/ Oriental Skys Grand Caravan EX Amphibian (Photo: Business Wire) The Cessna Grand Caravan EX Amphibian is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company. Ikhasas group managing director, Ir. Tan Chee Kian, said, Seaplanes will be the most convenient way to reach the Perhentian Islands. Currently, it takes a time-consuming 6-hour road journey followed by a one-hour ferry ride from the port in Kuala Besut. With our 11-seater aircraft, travelers will benefit from time savings as it will transport passengers from Kuala Lumpur to land directly in the waters near the beachside resort. At the same time, we preserve the islands pristine environment and natural forests which would otherwise be felled for airport construction. We are honored for Grand Caravan EX Amphibian to be selected. The versatility and excellent operating economics make it the perfect partner for Ikhasas to develop sustainable tourism. The comfortable cabin, large windows for sightseeing, and floats allowing it to take off and land anywhere are ideal for their missions, said Tony Jones, vice president, International Sales (Asia-Pacific). Malaysia is also an important market to Textron Aviation. Our products lead the installed base and make up over 40% of the countrys general aviation aircraft. Our customers in Malaysia use our products for a variety of operations including VIP transport, tourism, as well as other special missions such as air ambulances, and skydiving. About the Cessna Grand Caravan EX The Cessna Caravan platform has seen more than 3,000 aircraft delivered that are certified in 100 countries with nearly 24 million flight hours amassed worldwide since the aircraft was introduced. Caravans fulfill roles for multiple missions, ranging from flight training to recreation, commuter airlines to VIP transport, cargo carriers and humanitarian missions. The Grand Caravan EX aircraft is known for its dependable and efficient performance by regional airlines, charter operators, cargo carriers and special missions operators worldwide. The aircraft offers an impressive output of 867 horsepower and a rate of climb of 1,275 feet per minute. Endless Special Missions Possibilities When government, military and commercial customers want airborne solutions for critical missions, they turn to Textron Aviation. The companys aviation solutions provide the high performance and flight characteristics required to address the unique challenges of special missions operations. With unparalleled quality, versatility and low operating costs, Textron Aviation products are chosen for air ambulance, ISR, utility transport, aerial survey, flight inspection, training and a number of other special operations. About Textron Aviation We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special missions, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable, productive and flexible flight. For more information, visit www.txtav.com | defense.txtav.com | scorpion.txtav.com. About Textron Textron is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com. Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240216837400/en/ Media: Doug Scott +1.316.347.0116 [email protected] txtav.com Source: Textron Aviation Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. CoSupport AI, the company that develops AI solutions for customer support, received a patent for a multi-model message generation architecture in January 2024. The patent was issued in the U.S. by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. CoSupport AI team received the patent for the innovative approach to a message generation architecture a framework designed to generate text messages automatically. What This Patent Brings to Customer Support Teams The technology was developed as an AI solution for customer support and already exists in the core company product CoSupport Agent. The innovative heart of this technology, granted by a patent US11823031B1, lies in its unique approach to client request differentiation that makes it possible to reduce response time and provide relevant and context-oriented answers. By categorizing requests into three distinct types, the system activates relevant actions and allocates appropriate resources. Simple queries are quickly resolved using knowledge bases, bypassing the need for complex model engagement. Complex requests activate AI for detailed, context-rich responses. Technical issues are managed separately, optimizing resources for faster resolution. This strategic approach to categorizing queries highlights CoSupport AI's dedication to delivering fast, accurate, and affordable customer services, transforming response times to just milliseconds. Roman Lutsyshyn, a CEO of CoSupport AI and a patent inventor, expresses his enthusiasm for the invention of the AI solution for customer support agents: "Receiving this patent is a major milestone, epitomizing our commitment to pioneering AI solutions in customer support. Our patented technology lays a robust foundation, pivotal for creating AI solutions that deliver speed and precision of responses in customer support, as well as cost-efficiency of AI implementation. What Business Will Get From This Advantage Patented AI Technology AI solutions, while technically advanced, vary in terms of speed and contextual accuracy, and often necessitate substantial investment due to their complexity and computational demands. This impacts the cost-effectiveness of AI-driven customer support systems. CoSupport AI distinguishes itself with its patented technology, offering high performance and security while maintaining moderate costs. The CoSupport Agent features a patented architecture that enables it to respond to individual queries in milliseconds, significantly faster than ChatGPT's response time of 2-3 seconds. For conversations within message threads, it reacts in under 5 seconds, a notable improvement over ChatGPT's 15-second response time. The high precision of the CoSupport Agent is another key advantage. It is trained on specialized datasets that are focused on specific company products and services. This training approach ensures that the system has a deeper understanding of conversation contexts, enabling it to provide precise responses. This specificity sets it apart from the broader capabilities of large language models (LLMs). Furthermore, CoSupport AI's cost-effectiveness is a major benefit. Unlike the resource-heavy requirements of LLMs, CoSupport AI utilizes smaller models that are more economical to maintain. The pricing is transparent and straightforward, with customers paying once for a ready-to-use AI product, avoiding the complex pricing structures often associated with larger AI platforms. Data security is another area where CoSupport Agent excels. By training on anonymized client data and not requiring access to external databases, it greatly reduces data vulnerability. This approach minimizes the risk of personal data leakage, a common concern with typical LLM-based systems. Daria Leshchenko, CoSupport AIs cofounder, CEO of SupportYourApp, a female founder in Inc.s 2023 Female Founders 200 list, reflects on the company's prospects: "Being granted this patent is just the beginning of our exciting business journey. It inspires us to keep innovating and developing solutions that leverage our unique approach. This patent is more than a recognition; it's a commitment to our clients and a promise of continual innovation in the realm of AI-powered customer support. About CoSupport AI CoSupport AI is a software development company with a highly focused approach to creating AI-based Copilot solutions for Customer Support, offering comprehensive insights that drive business growth. The company was created in 2020 by Roman Lutsyshyn, who had dedicated a few years to studying and researching in the machine learning field before starting his own business. Three years of practice and research resulted in two major advancements. In the fall of 2023, the team introduced the beta version of the constellation of AI solutions for customer support; by the beginning of 2024, there were three products in the companys portfolio. In January 2024, the company was granted the patent US11823031B1 for its innovative approach to a message-generation architecture. Company HQ Los Angeles, CA, US. Contact Info: Name: Yevgen Nesterenko Email: Send Email Organization: CoSupport.ai Website: https://cosupport.ai Release ID: 89121825 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release that require attention or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we kindly request that you notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. Ensuring accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission. Kyzar Air Conditioning, established in 2005 in Florida, is a family-owned HVAC service provider offering quality AC repair, maintenance, and installation. Known for its honesty, affordability, and prompt service, Kyzar excels in customer satisfaction with a no-pressure approach and competitive pricing, making it a trusted choice for air conditioning needs. After first opening its doors in 2005, Kyzar Air Conditioning has established itself as a trustworthy company in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market in the state of Florida. It is a family-owned and operated company that takes great pleasure in providing exceptional air conditioning services to customers in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Wellington, and surrounding regions. Kyzar's unwavering dedication to quality, cost-effectiveness, and rapid reaction times has earned the company widespread recognition. This devotion ensures that the company is always prepared to deal with emergencies around the clock, and it has been backed by state licensing and comprehensive insurance. The journey of Kyzar Air Conditioning began with a vision to offer an unmatched air conditioning service that residents of Florida could rely on year-round. Understanding the state's unique climate and the critical role air conditioning plays in ensuring comfort, Kyzar has tailored its services to meet and exceed the expectations of its clientele. From routine maintenance to intricate installations and urgent repairs, Kyzar's team of skilled HVAC technicians delivers with precision and professionalism. Kyzar Air Conditioning distinguishes itself not only through its wide array of services but also through its ethical business practices. The company values honesty above all, avoiding deceptive sales tactics and the push for unneeded upgrades. Kyzar instead zeroes in on genuine customer needs, frequently securing rebates and discounts to ease the financial burden of new installations. This approach, respecting both time and budget, has not just built a dedicated following but also cemented Kyzar's status as a reliable provider in the air conditioning and heating sector. There are many advantages to selecting Kyzar Air Conditioning. Kyzar, which is a locally owned business in West Palm Beach, Florida, provides a more personal touch to its operations. The company is more familiar than anybody else with the local environment and the needs of its customers. It is clear that the company is dedicated to legality and safety, as seen by the fact that it is licensed and insured. This guarantees that every task is completed correctly, with no corners cut. Kyzar realizes the need to restore comfort to residents' homes, which is why the company provides a service that is both rapid and trustworthy. This service is essential for people who are experiencing problems with their air conditioning. When it comes to Kyzar's commitment to excellence, the outstanding ratings and reviews it has received from customers say volumes. Kyzar Air Conditioning ensures that consumers are fully educated and satisfied with their decisions by providing free estimates, competitive pricing, and a sales technique without any pressure. The customer satisfaction guarantee is the final component of our customer-centric approach. The guarantee serves to reinforce Kyzar's commitment to completing the task right the very first time and to meet the expectations of the customer completely. Serving as a leader in air conditioning for Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties, Kyzar Air Conditioning addresses all residential and commercial comfort needs. Whether it's a new AC installation, urgent repairs, or enhancing air quality through state-of-the-art filtration systems, Kyzar's team is equipped to handle challenges of any scale. Their services not only ensure a comfortable indoor climate but also contribute to the overall well-being of their clients by addressing airborne and surface allergens, bacteria, viruses, and mold. Kyzar Air Conditioning is the highest level of quality in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning sector. As a result of Kyzar's persistent dedication to providing quality service, reasonable prices, and complete satisfaction to its customers, the firm has become the most trusted provider of heating and air conditioning services in the state of Florida. By maintaining its position as the industry leader, Kyzar Air Conditioning continues to ensure that residents of Florida are able to take pleasure in the state's pleasant weather throughout the entire year. This is accomplished by using a team of highly qualified specialists and putting the customer's needs first. Contact Info: Name: Paolo Weston Email: Send Email Organization: Kyzar Air Conditioning Website: https://kyzarairconditioning.com Release ID: 89121723 In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. RapidClaims launches with significant funding to utilize AI in tackling healthcare claim denials, aiming to streamline medical coding and improve the financial health of providers. In a bold move to address the persistent challenge of claim denials plaguing the US healthcare system, RapidClaims has announced its official launch, backed by a substantial initial funding round. This innovative startup is set to transform the healthcare industry by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the complex medical coding and claim submission processes, which are critical factors contributing to the financial strain on healthcare providers. RapidClaims team: (L to R) Abhinay Vyas, Dushyant Mishra and Jot Sarup Sahni. The seed funding round, orchestrated by Together Fund, a notable global SaaS fund, along with contributions from other significant investors, underscores the confidence in RapidClaims' mission. The initiative is further supported by a group of industry experts and advisors from leading healthcare organizations, indicating a strong backing for RapidClaims' approach. Led by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in healthcare, data science, and technology scaling, RapidClaims aims to tackle the inefficiencies in revenue cycle management head-on. The company's focus is on medical coding automation, a critical area where errors and delays significantly impact claim denials. RapidClaims' AI-driven solution is designed to simplify the coding process, reducing the likelihood of errors and accelerating submissions, thereby minimizing the risk of denials. The company has already shown promising results with successful pilots shortly after its beta product launch, indicating strong potential for widespread impact. Dushyant Mishra, Founder & CEO of RapidClaims, highlighted the transformative role of AI in healthcare administration. "Our approach goes beyond automation. We aim to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of medical coding, which is fundamental in reducing claim denials and improving the financial health of healthcare providers," Mishra explained. RapidClaims has introduced a suite of products aimed at reducing the administrative burden on healthcare organizations. These tools are designed to support the entire spectrum of medical coding and claim management processes, demonstrating RapidClaims' comprehensive approach to tackling this industry-wide challenge. The involvement of Together Fund and other investors not only signifies a strong start for RapidClaims but also underscores the growing recognition of the need for innovative solutions in healthcare administration. As healthcare providers continue to face challenges with claim denials and administrative complexities, RapidClaims stands poised to lead the way in transforming revenue cycle management through AI. About RapidClaims RapidClaims is at the forefront of automating medical coding to assist healthcare organizations in reducing claim denials and streamlining their revenue cycle management processes. Utilizing advanced AI technology, RapidClaims aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical coding, addressing a critical pain point in the healthcare industry. About Together Fund Together Fund is an enterprise software-focused, operator-led fund initiated by industry veterans. Specializing in Seed and Series A investments across various technology sectors, Together Fund supports the development of innovative solutions with a founder-friendly approach. Contact Info: Name: Bilal Mahmood Email: Send Email Organization: RapidClaims Website: https://www.rapidclaims.ai/ Release ID: 89121696 Should you identify any discrepancies, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content provided in this press release or require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our responsive team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions to resolve identified issues diligently or guiding you through the necessary steps for removal. Our dedication lies in providing accurate and reliable information. Leading property management firms across the United States are setting new standards to property owners says Fast Guard Service HOLLYWOOD, Fla. , Feb. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In an era where the value of property and security has never been more paramount, the leading property management firms across the United States are setting new standards in delivering comprehensive peace of mind to property owners. These firms, recognized nationally for their excellence, go beyond traditional property management by ensuring not only the maintenance and operational efficiency of properties but also the safety and well-being of tenants. Comprehensive Property Care At the heart of their services, these top-tier companies offer meticulous oversight of property maintenance, ensuring that every aspect of the physical property remains in pristine condition. From routine upkeep to emergency repairs, property owners can rest assured that their investments are meticulously cared for, preserving their value and appeal. Rigorous Tenant Screening and Management Understanding the importance of reliable and respectful occupants, these firms employ thorough screening processes to secure tenants who not only meet financial requirements but also respect the property and community standards. This careful selection process is complemented by diligent rent collection and responsive tenant services, ensuring smooth operations and tenant satisfaction. Safety as a Priority With safety and prevention at the forefront, these property management leaders adopt innovative security measures to create secure living environments. Whether through the installation of advanced retractable gates, biometric entry systems, or the provision of physical security services, every measure is taken to safeguard properties against potential threats. Fast Guard Service, the premier security guard service provider in the nation, exemplifies this commitment to safety, offering round-the-clock security solutions that act as a powerful deterrent to criminal activity. Regular Inspections and Safe Environments Regular rental home inspections are a staple, guaranteeing that properties not only adhere to safety regulations but also provide a safe and welcoming environment for renters. These inspections are a critical component of property management, ensuring that any issues are promptly addressed and that the highest standards of habitability are maintained. A Commitment to Excellence The dedication of the nation's top property management companies to their dual rolecaring for properties and ensuring tenant well-beingsets them apart in the industry. Their comprehensive approach, which includes the oversight of maintenance, tenant relations, safety measures, and regular inspections, underscores a deep commitment to excellence and to meeting the goals of property owners. In partnership with Fast Guard Service, these leading firms demonstrate an unwavering commitment to security and peace of mind, offering services that extend well beyond the expectations outlined on their websites. Through their efforts, property owners across the nation enjoy the confidence that comes from knowing their properties are in the best hands. For more information on how these top property management companies can protect and enhance your property investment, contact Roderick Payne at 844-254-8273 or email [email protected]. About Fast Guard Service: Fast Guard Service is a premier security company offering a wide range of personalized security services. Known for its professionalism and excellence, the company prides itself on its ability to provide peace of mind to its clients through comprehensive security solutions. With a focus on quality and reliability, Fast Guard Service is dedicated to protecting what matters most to its clients. MEDIA CONTACT Roderick Payne 8442548273 Sales@fastguardservice.com This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/top-property-management-companies-in-the-nation-deliver-unmatched-peace-of-mind-to-owners-302064497.html SOURCE Fast Guard Service BEIJING (Reuters) -China's coast guard said on Sunday it will strengthen its law enforcement activities and carry out regular patrols around a small group of Taiwanese-controlled islands off the Chinese coast as tensions rise over the deaths of two Chinese nationals. Taiwan on Thursday defended the actions of its coast guard after two people on a Chinese speedboat, which got too close to a frontline Taiwanese island, died when their boat overturned while trying to flee a coast guard ship. Two others survived. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained in recent years about Chinese fishing boats and other vessels operating in Taiwan-controlled waters, especially around the Kinmen and Matsu islands which sit a short distance from China's coast. China has condemned Taiwan's actions and labelled the incident near Kinmen's Beiding islet "wicked". China's coast guard said in a short statement it will strengthen its maritime law enforcement forces and carry out regular law enforcement patrols and inspections in the waters around Kinmen and Xiamen, one of the Chinese cities Kinmen faces. This is to "further maintain the order of operations in the relevant waters and safeguard the safety of fishermen's lives and property", it added. Late on Saturday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the deaths had caused "strong indignation" in China, but that there were no off limits waters. "Fishermen on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been operating in traditional fishing grounds in the Xiamen-Kinmen maritime area since ancient times, and there is no such thing as 'prohibited or restricted waters'," it said. China's government had goodwill towards Taiwan's people, but will never tolerate Taiwan's disregard for the safety of Chinese fishermen, the office added. Taiwan's China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said Taiwanese forces will continue to enforce the rules on banning unauthorised Chinese access to Taiwan's waters around Kinmen, but that accusations from China of "rough expulsions" were untrue. However, ships which carry no name, have no certification or port registration carry out "continuous intrusions" and make dangerous moves when trying to flee lead to "unfortunate incidents" nobody wants to see, it added. Kinmen, along with Matsu, has been controlled by Taipei since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, when the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan after losing to Mao Zedong's communists who set up the People's Republic of China. Kinmen was the site of frequent fighting during the height of the Cold War but is today a popular tourist destination, though many of the islets which are part of the island group are heavily fortified by Taiwan's military and off limits to civilians. Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, says China has been using so-called grey-zone warfare, which entails using irregular tactics to exhaust a foe without actually resorting to open combat, including sending civilian ships into or close by Taiwanese waters. Separately on Saturday, a group of low-level Chinese officials from Shanghai arrived in Taipei to attend the city's traditional Lantern Festival at the city government's invitation. However, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters he would not meet the group, led by Xu Hao, head of the liaison department of the Taiwan Affairs Office's Shanghai branch. Last year, a deputy chief of the office's Shanghai branch went to Taipei for the same event, and was met by noisy protests at the airport. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Explore Grand Lantern Show in Zhengding (People's Daily App) 16:18, February 18, 2024 In the thousand-year-old ancient city of Zhengding in Hebei Province, a grand lantern show is unfolding to welcome the new year. The lanterns boast diverse and intricate designs, drawing inspiration from a rich array of sources. Explore the lantern show in Zhengding with Adrian to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. (Video source: Great Wall New Media) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) FILE PHOTO: Model of LNG tanker is seen in front of the U.S. flag in this illustration taken May 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Michael Bennet opposes President Joe Biden's decision to pause approvals of new exports of liquefied natural gas, saying on Sunday that it could undercut U.S. efforts to supply gas to Europe as it replaces Russian exports. Bennet's comments were a sign that Biden faces dissent from his fellow Democrats on the move, which attempts to balance his climate goals with support for Europe during Russia's war on Ukraine. Biden in late January paused new approvals for pending and future applications to export liquefied natural gas. The move cheered by climate activists could delay decisions on new plants until after the Nov. 5 election. The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives last week passed a bill that would strip away Biden's power to freeze approvals of the gas exports. The measure passed largely along party lines and faces uphill odds in the Democratic-run Senate. Bennet, whose home state of Colorado is a natural gas producer, called Biden's decision "short-sighted" during an interview on Fox News Sunday but did not say whether he would support legislation to reverse it. Russia has been a large oil and gas supplier to Europe, but since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Europe has increasingly purchased U.S. liquefied natural gas. "I think it's been very important for American liquefied natural gas to replace the natural gas that Russia was sending to Europe," Bennet said. "I believe one of the United States massive strategic strengths is our energy, our clean energy and our fossil fuels." A European Commission official said last week that Biden's decision will have no effect on U.S. supplies to Europe over the next two or three years. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) RABAT (Reuters) - The Moroccan navyy said it had rescued 141 African migrants on Sunday aboard a boat in distress sailing from Mauritania en route to the Canary Islands. The migrants, including three women and two children, left the Mauritanian coast on Feb. 10, the navy said. The number of migrants boarding rickety boats from West Africa and reaching Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean has risen seven-fold so far this year from the same period of 2023, Spanish Interior Ministry data shows. Mauritania has recently become a major point of departure for migrants headed to Europe, sending eight out of 10 of the dinghies that reached the archipelago in January, Spanish officials say. The Moroccan navy rescued 16,818 people at sea in 2023, up 35% compared to a year earlier, according to official figures. (Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; Editing by Angus MacSwan) FILE PHOTO: Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store speaks to the media after a bilateral meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan, on December 7, 2023. RICHARD A. BROOKS/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo By Gwladys Fouche OSLO (Reuters) -Norway has agreed to assist in the transfer of frozen tax funds earmarked for the Palestinian Authority (PA) that were collected by Israel, the Norwegian government said on Sunday, providing vital funding to the Western-backed entity. Under interim peace accords reached in the 1990s, Israel's finance ministry collects tax on behalf of the Palestinians and makes monthly transfers to the PA, but a dispute broke out over payments in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. The temporary solution will allow payments to resume and prevent a financial collapse for the PA, enabling it to pay salaries and provide essential services such as schools and healthcare, Norway said. "This is critical to promoting stability in the region and for the Palestinian Authority to have legitimacy among its people," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said. Under the solution agreed with Israel and Palestinian officials, Norway will serve as an intermediary for holding revenues that Israel has withheld since Oct. 7. "The Palestinian Authority is then willing to accept the other funds," Norway said. The portion of the revenue Norway will keep equals the portion that Israel estimates for Gaza, said a Norwegian foreign ministry spokesperson. Asked whether the PA retained control of where it spends the money it received, or whether it had committed not to send any money to Gaza, the ministry spokesperson said the questions should be directed to the PA. Accessing the revenue is key to the survival of the PA, which exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Several Western countries, including the United States, also want the PA to play a role in the administration of the Gaza Strip should the war come to an end. On Nov. 2, Israel said it would proceed with a tax revenue transfer to the PA in the West Bank but would withhold funds bound for Gaza, ruled by Hamas but where the PA helps cover public sector wages as well as medicine and social assistance programmes. But on Nov. 6, the PA said it wanted the money in full and would not accept conditions that prevent it from paying its staff. It is estimated to spend some 30% of its budget in Gaza. On Jan. 21, Israeli officials said the Israeli cabinet had approved a plan for frozen tax funds earmarked for the Gaza Strip to be held by Norway instead of transferred to the PA. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in OsloAdditional reporting by Terje SolsvikEditing by Nora Buli, Matthew Lewis and Michael Perry) FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis makes his speech during an audience with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings at the Vatican January 9, 2017. REUTERS/Alberto Pizzoli/Pool/FILE PHOTO VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis appealed on Sunday to Sudan's warring factions to put an end to a 10-month conflict that has seen millions displaced and prompted warnings of famine. "I ask again the warring parties to stop this war, which causes so much damage to the people and the future of the country", Francis said during his Angelus message. "Let's pray so that avenues of peace will soon be found for the future of beloved Sudan", he added. Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to end the civil war in Sudan that pits the country's armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In his traditional Sunday address, the pope also mentioned conflicts in Mozambique, Ukraine, Israel and the Palestinian territories. "Wherever there is fighting populations are exhausted, they are tired of war, which is always useless, inconclusive and will only bring death and destruction and will never lead to a solution to the problem," Francis said. (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Susan Fenton) FILE PHOTO: South Korea's Prime Minister Han Duck-soo arrives to attend APEC Leader's Dialogue during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, November 18, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. Lillian Suwanrumpha/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's prime minister pleaded on Sunday with doctors not to take people's lives hostage, a day before scores of trainee doctors are expected to quit to protest a plan to increase medical school admissions and the number of physicians. Trainee doctors at the country's five biggest hospitals, all in Seoul, have said they would tender their resignation on Monday, raising concerns about the impact on medical service as the system relies heavily on them for emergency and acute care. The Korean Medical Association, which represents doctors, and medical students have also opposed the government plan and pledged to take action, although they have not yet specified what they intend to do. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said if doctors leave their jobs or take actions that cause a vacuum in healthcare, the damage will fall on the public. "This is something that takes the lives and health of the people hostage and must not happen," Han said in a statement, referring to the planned mass resignation of trainee doctors. Doctors and medical students oppose the government plan, saying there are sufficient physicians and increasing the number of doctors would prompt unnecessary medical care and worsen the finances of the national health insurance plan. They also say the plan will not address the overburdening of large teaching hospitals and a lack of incentives for doctors to practice in essential healthcare services such as paediatrics, obstetrics and emergency medicine. However, the government says the country must start training new doctors immediately, with a projected shortfall of 15,000 in 2035. The government plans to raise medical school admissions by 2,000 students for the 2025 academic year and to add 10,000 doctors by 2035. Currently, about 3,000 students enter medical schools each year. The plan also aims to ensure there are enough doctors practising outside large cities and expand legal protection for the profession against malpractice suits and prosecution. The health ministry said 715 trainee doctors have submitted their resignation as of Friday. It has issued a back-to-work order, warning that refusing to comply will result in punishment. The mass resignation plan by trainee doctors at the five largest hospitals would involve about 2,700 doctors, about a fifth of the country's medical interns and resident doctors. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) British Foreign Secretary David Cameron walks on the day of his meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, in Warsaw, Poland, February 15, 2024. Dawid Zuchowicz/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS LONDON (Reuters) - British Foreign Minister David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands as part of his first South Atlantic and South American tour since assuming his current role, the foreign office said on Sunday. Argentina and Britain have a longstanding foreign policy conflict over the sovereignty of the British-run islands, where they fought a brief war in 1982. "The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion," Cameron said in a statement. The South American nation has sought to revive negotiations over Falklands sovereignty, but Britain has said that was not on the table as long as the islands' inhabitants wanted to remain British. The foreign ministry said Cameron would pay his respects to British personnel who lost their lives during the 1982 conflict and thank British military personnel serving on the Islands. Cameron is expected to then visit Paraguay and attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Brazil. (Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; Editing by Sharon Singleton) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Saturday condemned worsening violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), blaming it on M23, an armed group it said is backed by Rwanda. A statement from the U.S. State Department called on M23 to cease hostilities immediately and withdraw from its current positions around Sake and Goma. "The United States condemns Rwanda's support for the M23 armed group," the statement said. It called on Rwanda to immediately withdraw all of its military personnel from the DRC and remove surface-to-air missile systems, saying these threatened the lives of civilians, U.N. and other regional peacekeepers, humanitarian workers and commercial flights in eastern DRC. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels. The U.S. statement also called on the DRC to continue to support confidence building measures, including by ceasing cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda armed group. Clashes between the M23 rebels, army forces and self-defence groups that support them have escalated recently in the DRC, forcing entire communities to flee. South Africa said this week it would send 2,900 troops as part of its contribution to a force deployed by southern African regional bloc SADC to help Congo fight rebel groups. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Alistair Bell) Sailors assigned to the USS John L. Canley bring the ship to life during a commissioning ceremony, Feb. 17, 2024, at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. The ship is named for Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018 for his actions in 1968 during the Battle of Hue in Vietnam. (Jared Mancuso/Office of the Secretary of the Navy) The expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley, named in honor of a Vietnam-era Marine Corps medal of honor recipient, joined the active fleet Saturday when it was commissioned at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. The 784-foot ship is designed to deploy troops and equipment in regions where the U.S. doesnt have easy access to land bases and seaports, according to a Navy news release. Among the more than 1,200 people at the ceremony were: members of the Canley family; Marines who served with John Canley; family friends; shipyard and Navy employees; and ship crew members. Also at the ceremony: Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro; former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford; Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz; Canley commanding officer Capt. Thomas Mays; and Commander, Military Sealift Command Pacific, Capt. Micah Murphy. It is my firm believe that USS John L. Canley will serve as an example to everyone who serves on this ship, or passes in her wake, Del Toro said. The ship honors Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, a U.S. Marine who distinguished himself in 1968 in Vietnam during the Battle of Hue with Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Canley was awarded the Navy Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor, 50 years after the battle, making him the first living Black Marine to receive the nations highest military decoration for valor. The only previous Black recipients in the Marine Corps received the medal posthumously. On Jan. 31, 1968, with his company commander severely wounded as his unit made its way toward the besieged city of Hue in northern South Vietnam, then-Gunnery Sgt. Canley took control of Alpha Company, a job typically reserved for a commissioned officer. For the next six days, Canley would lead the 1st Marines unit as it charged into the city to pry it from the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces who had captured it during the unanticipated Tet Offensive. Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, the 298th Marine Medal of Honor recipient, attends a reception after the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House in Washington, Oct. 17, 2018. (Daisha R. Johnson/U.S. Marine Corps) In the midst of one of the most ferocious fights of the Vietnam War, Canley would organize assaults on enemy positions, killing countless enemy fighters as his team retook buildings in the city, according to award citations. Twice, the noncommissioned officer braved fire to scale a wall in full view of the enemy to pick up wounded Marines and carry them to safety. Canley died in 2022. The ship is the fourth in this ESB class, joining the USS Lewis B. Puller, USS Hershel Woody Williams and USS Miguel Keith. The Robert E. Simanek and Hector A. Cafferata Jr. are the next scheduled ships in the class. ESBs are highly flexible platforms that provide logistics movement from sea to shore supporting a broad range of military operations, the Navy said. The ESB variant is designed around four core capabilities: aviation; berthing; equipment staging area; and command and control. USS Canley will be part of the Forward Deployed Naval Force operating from Saipan, the Navy said. To anyone who had anything to do with the building of this ship, I say, The Marines are ready to get on it, and get to it! Ruiz said. Ships crew members of USS John L. Canley man the ship during the ships commissioning ceremony on Feb. 17, 2024, at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. (Military Sealift Command Pacific) The long glass is passed to the Chief Petty Officer of the Watch, setting the first watch of USS John. L. Canley during the ships Commissioning Ceremony, Feb. 17, 2024, at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. (Military Sealift Command Pacific) Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro participates in the commissioning of the USS John L. Canley on Feb. 17, 2024, at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. The ship is named for Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018 for his actions in 1968 during the Battle of Hue in Vietnam. (Jared Mancuso/Office of the Secretary of the Navy) The Navys newest ship, the expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley, joined the active fleet Feb. 17, 2024, when it was commissioned at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. (U.S. Navy) Contributing: Stars and Stripes reporter Corey Dickstein; The San Diego-Union Tribune; The Orange County Register Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 19, 2022. Zelenskyys blueprint for peace with Russia includes adherence to United Nations principles such as territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country and food and energy security. (THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said conditions are not right for peace talks to end Russias war on Ukraine as Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba had been seeking a weekend meeting. Ukraine has been pushing for a high-level summit to be held next month, though the date is likely to slip to April or May because of the lack of commitment from world leaders, according to people familiar with the plans. Switzerland has said its open to hosting, and its diplomats have been looking to assess interest from counterparts including in China. Chinas involvement is widely seen as particularly important given the influence Beijing is seen as having on Russia, a key diplomatic ally. There are not ripe conditions in place for parties to go back to the negotiating table, Wang said in an on-stage interview at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, without giving a reason. China has done a lot of constructive work and we will continue to play a positive role, he said, while emphasizing his country isnt solely responsible for resolving the crisis. Kuleba, who is also in Munich for the annual conference, was seeking to meet with Wang to convince him to take part in a meeting, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. A year ago, Wang told the same conference that China would soon publish a document on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. The 12-point position paper that transpired weeks later was largely met with skepticism by Western nations. Ukraines allies are keen for any high-level gathering to include a diversity of participants from emerging powers including Brazil, South Africa and India. Several countries, including China, have said they want Russia to also be at the table. Kyiv has so far rejected that suggestion until the terms of what it describes as a fair peace are widely endorsed. National security advisers from dozens of nations have held four meetings to prepare the ground for a higher level gathering, most recently in Switzerland, but those have made limited progress and China has only attended one. A smaller group of officials also met in December, Bloomberg previously reported. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyys blueprint for peace includes adherence to United Nations principles such as territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country and food and energy security. Samy Adghirni and Daryna Krasnolutska contributed to this report. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Viktor Orban Prime Minister of Hungary looks on before an interreligious service at the Metropolitan Cathedral after the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 10, 2023. (Marcos Brindicci/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for an overhaul of the countrys child support laws and institutions, in an effort to defuse an escalating political crisis that threatened to erode support for his party. This was like a nightmare, it has worn us out, Orban said of the presidents recent resignation, as he gave his annual state of the nation speech Saturday in front of a selected group of supporters. The crisis, which started in early February and led to the resignation of Hungarys first female president, Katalin Novak, strikes at the heart of the ruling partys conservative, family- and children-centric ideology. The scandal centers on a presidential pardon last year to a convict who pressured survivors of sexual abuse in a childrens home to withdraw their testimonies. The presidents clemency decision was rejected by an overwhelming majority of Hungarians, Orban said in his first remarks on the issue since Novaks resignation a week earlier. The nations unity was unravelled by her decision, so she could not have restored it anymore. The scandal left Orbans Fidesz party looking for a new candidate for the presidency, as well as to helm the campaign for the European Parliament, with the Budapest mayors job also in contention ahead of June elections. It also brought down the two most prominent female politicians in Orbans entourage, leaving the all-male Cabinet of ministers in charge. As a result of the revelations, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Budapest on Friday to call on the government to reform the countrys neglected child care system. But the protests organizers rejected affiliation to opposition parties, and Fideszs supermajority in parliament and a tight grip on the media and other institutions still leaves Orban at an advantage. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participates in panel at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17, 2024. (NATO) MUNICH By the time the senator from Ohio took center stage at the Munich Security Conference, some headliners were on their way home and the hall at Hotel Bayerischer Hof looked half-empty. For two days, U.S. and European officials had warned of the threat from Russia and touted enduring transatlantic solidarity, even as Republican lawmakers held up roughly $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. Now, with hours to go, a lone emissary from Trump country, Sen. J.D. Vance (R), was suggesting that the next U.S. administration could work with Russian President Vladimir Putin and pullback from Europe. The audience looked rapt and worried. With aid for Ukraine stalled and a U.S. election on the horizon, European leaders, officials and diplomats are increasingly aware of the need to engage former president Donald Trump and his allies on security, but they are struggling, mightily, to do so. For months now, much of Europe has been watching U.S. politics with numb dread, seeing President Bidens weakness at the polls and fearing a return to the years when Trump threatened the international order that left them prosperous and cozy under the U.S. militarys security blanket. With the largest European land war since World War II raging, Trumps flirtation with Russia and loose talk on NATO now feel like less of a warning than an open invitation for invasion. Europe is worried and outraged but not sure what to do next. In Munich, the specter of Trump and Trumpism loomed over panels about the war in Ukraine and European Union politics and dominated the behind-the-scenes chatter like never before. Americans tried to ease fears; few seemed sold. The mood grew even darker after the news of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys death in a Siberian prison. His wife, Yulia, was in attendance, as were many of his friends. European officials in Munich said they were paying closer attention than ever to granular polling numbers not just matchups of Biden and Trump in swing states, but also sifting through data about the likely outcomes of House and Senate races to try to predict Congresss inclinations. What they see in the presidential race does not give them much hope, many of them said. One person asked with concern whether Bidens health was likely to hold out until November. Another asked about the possibility of a contested Democratic convention. Most worried about the fate of U.S. aid to Ukraine. Democrats who want to support Ukraine asked European colleagues to talk to Republicans. I would urge you to put an enormous amount of pressure on every single House Republican whos here to give us a vote on Ukraine aid, and to make it clear how important it is, said Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Some are trying. A range of European officials and diplomats describe what might be considered a two-pronged approach to Trump-proofing: trying to sell MAGA America on the existing world order while also preparing for the possibility that it crumbles. Senior E.U. diplomats say privately that their embassies are working overtime to try to understand what is happening stateside and what type of comments or concessions might resonate with the Republican base. On a recent trip to the United States, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gave a speech at the Trump-friendly Heritage Foundation and visited a Lockheed Martin facility in Troy, Ala., to highlight how much allies buy from American weapons manufacturers. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna recently traveled to Arkansas to tout his countrys U.S. weapons purchases. He saw the trip as a way to explain what Europe is doing to defend itself and to make the case for continued U.S. engagement in NATO. His goal: to put facts on the table. We have to be practical, he said. In private conversations, European officials and diplomats often raise the idea of promising the Americans tougher action on China in return for supporting Ukraine and NATO though few venture concrete steps. They will probably need to do more to convince Vance and his colleagues. The problem with Europe is that it does not provide enough of a deterrent on its own, he said Sunday morning in Munich. I think the American security blanket has allowed European security to atrophy. America does not need to pull out of NATO or abandon Europe, he said, but must pivot to Asia. And as it does, he argued, Europe must step up. Though some of Europes security establishment might agree with that sentiment, few share his assessment of Russia. I do not think that Vladimir Putin is an existential threat to Europe, Vance said Sunday. And to the extent that he is, he continued, it shows that Europe has to take a more aggressive role in its own security. The senator told the crowd in Munich that he is open to working with Putin. The fact that he is a bad guy does not mean we cant engage in basic diplomacy and prioritize Americas interests, he said. Those words will do little to reassure Europeans who fear that a second Trump presidency would spell the end of NATO. At a campaign rally this month, Trump said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to NATO members that dont spend enough on defense. When the former and possibly future leader of the free world says that he would sit back and see how Russia would attack NATO allies, we have to rethink what U.S. commitment towards Europe and Ukraine could look like, said one European security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations between allies. We do have to hope for the best but must prepare for the worst, the official said, adding that such a scenario would include dropping support for Ukraine and letting Putin destabilize the region. In the days since Trumps remarks, European officials have privately discussed building a continentwide complement to NATO, one that would work in concert with U.S. security assurances, but could also serve as a credible alternative if U.S. guarantees are pulled. For now, those conversations are knotted in familiar disputes. France and Germany cant agree on who would foot the bill. Eastern Europe doesnt fully trust Western Europes resolve against Russian threats. And its not clear how they would build a nuclear shield over the continent and even if they did, they would fall far short of matching Russias arsenal in the worst-case event of nuclear war. Some wonder whether a Europe that makes itself ready to split from the United States would fuel a self-fulfilling prophecy, supercharging the transatlantic divorce rather than avoiding it. Some are focusing on how to lock in U.S. commitments ahead of the November elections. Senior U.S. policymakers say that, realistically, there is only so much they can do to curb the foreign policy decision-making of future administrations. But some of the structures they are discussing such as a long-term military assistance commitment to Ukraine would call for status reports and other actions that could make it more politically awkward for Trump to completely renege on U.S. promises. And there is also a sense that, even if Biden prevails, things will change. Hannah Neumann, a German member of the European Parliament, said there was no question that the Munich crowd preferred Biden, but most understood that the shift in U.S. sentiment goes deeper than Trump and would probably stick around. It is clear to everyone: Be it Trump or Biden, the countries in the E.U. must come together and step up their security game, she said. That is the homework. Israeli soldiers simulate close-quarters combat in terrorist tunnels. (Israel Defense Forces) Israeli forces arrested large numbers of people inside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, as Israels multiday raid of the complex the main hospital in southern Gaza continues into its third day. The Israel Defense Forces said early Saturday that its troops arrested about 100 people suspected of terrorist activity inside the hospital and killed terrorists around the area of the hospital. Gazas Health Ministry said the IDF had arrested a large number of medical staff from inside the Nasser Medical Complex, which it has turned into a military barracks. Gaza health officials said Friday that five intensive care patients had died because of a lack of oxygen, after the complex was left without electricity or water during the raid. The U.N. human rights office has expressed deep concern over the raid, saying it came after a week-long siege which cut off medical, food and fuel supplies to the complex, and appeared to be part of a pattern of attacks by Israeli forces striking essential life-saving civilian infrastructure in Gaza, especially hospitals. Israeli troops entered the complex Thursday, after issuing evacuation warnings for the hospital, where more than 5,000 people were sheltering the day before. At the time, they said they had credible intelligence that the bodies of hostages could be held at the hospital. No hostage bodies have been recovered so far, but the IDF said it had recovered weapons and medications with the names of Israeli hostages within the complex. On Saturday, it said its activities at the hospital were based on intelligence indicating that Hamas was carrying out military activity there. In a separate statement to The Washington Post on Saturday, the IDF also said it was well documented that Hamas uses hospitals and medical centers for its terror activities. International doctors volunteering there have said they saw no sign of militant activity on the premises, and critics have said Israels hospital raids have been disproportionate to any threat posed by militants who may have been operating there. Heres what else to know Twenty-two of Gazas 36 health facilities are not functioning at all, the World Health Organization confirmed to The Washington Post in an email Saturday, while 11 others are only partially functioning. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul came under criticism after appearing to imply that Israel had justification to destroy Gaza this week. If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, Im sorry, my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, Hochul said during a speech to a Jewish philanthropy event in New York on Thursday, before going on to say: Thats a natural reaction. She later apologized for a poor choice of words, saying in a statement that she regretted using an inappropriate analogy that I now realize could be hurtful to members of our community. The International Court of Justice on Friday declined South Africas request to introduce additional safeguards for Palestinians ahead of Israels planned offensive in the southern city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians are seeking refuge from Israeli bombardment. Instead, the ICJ said the perilous situation in Rafah required Israel to abide by its previous ruling last month, which included taking all measures within its power to prevent the crime of genocide and to allow more aid into Gaza. South Africa is pursuing a case against Israel in the ICJ, alleging it is committing and failing to prevent genocide in Gaza, accusations that Israel denies. The situation in Rafah is becoming increasingly dire, according to the U.N. humanitarian office, with people desperate, hungry, and terrified ahead of Israels anticipated attack. The office also said the number of aid trucks allowed to enter Gaza had declined drastically over the past week. President Biden told Netanyahu last week that the assault should not proceed without a credible and executable plan to protect civilians in Rafah. On Friday, Biden said he had pushed the Israeli leader over recent days to accept a temporary cease-fire in Gaza to allow the release of the remaining hostages. A U.N. relief worker is said to have appeared on video removing an Israeli mans body after he was shot at Kibbutz Beeri on Oct. 7, according to a Post analysis of information released by Israeli authorities. Israel has expanded its allegations against the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, asserting there are significant indications that more than 30 UNRWA workers were involved on Oct. 7. UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler said Israel did not detect that attack in advance, implying that all involved participated illicitly in ways that UNRWA also would have been unable to detect. Egyptian and Israeli officials denied speculation that Palestinian refugees would be pushed out of Rafah and into Egypt, after satellite imagery obtained by The Post showed Egypt clearing and building a wall around a plot of land along its border with Gaza. The State of Israel has no intention of evacuating Palestinian civilians to Egypt, Israels defense minister said. At least 28,858 people have been killed and 68,677 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates about 1,200 people were killed in Hamass Oct. 7 attack and says at least 235 of its troops have been killed since its offensive in Gaza began. Israeli soldiers simulate close-quarters combat in terrorist tunnels. (Israel Defense Forces) Israels days-long raid inside Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza has collapsed services and swept up scores of people including patients and doctors in mass arrests, the Gaza Health Ministry and a senior U.N. official said. The hospital in the city of Khan Younis is the largest in southern Gaza, but it is not functional anymore, the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Sunday, calling for access to the patients. He said a WHO team sent to deliver fuel and assess medical needs was barred from entering the facility on Friday and Saturday, despite reaching the hospital compound, where about 200 patients remain. The cost of delays will be paid by patients lives, he said, adding that at least 20 people needed to be urgently referred to other hospitals to receive health care. The raid is Israels latest military operation against a major health care facility in Gaza, where at least 28,985 people have been killed and 68,883 injured since the war began on Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The attacks have crippled the enclaves beleaguered medical system, forcing doctors and staff to treat trauma injuries on the floor, operate without anesthesia, and watch as critical patients die when the power goes out and their oxygen depletes. Seven patients at Nasser Hospital died after Israeli troops stormed the complex on Friday and a power outage shut off the oxygen, Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, said in a statement Sunday. Israel has turned the hospital complex into a military barracks and put it out of service, he said, adding that the Israeli military arrested 70 members of the hospitals staff. The Israel Defense Forces overran Nasser Hospital to recover the bodies of hostages it believed were being held there, spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, and to halt militant activity the IDF alleged was taking place on hospital grounds. Israeli forces have not yet found the bodies of any hostages but said on Sunday that they discovered medicine at the hospital bearing the names of Israelis who were abducted by Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also said Sunday that 200 terrorists had surrendered at the hospital, without offering details. A later IDF statement said hundreds of terrorists and terror suspects were apprehended and then transferred to undergo further investigations by security forces. Israels military has detained hundreds of Palestinians both combatants and civilians in Gaza and imprisoned them without charge inside Israel under a secretive legal framework. Some have been released and described ill-treatment and abuse at the detention centers. Qudra said Sunday that the IDF arrested Nasser Hospitals intensive care doctor, leaving no qualified physicians to follow up on critical cases. Dozens of immobile patients were also detained and moved to military beds inside trucks, then taken elsewhere, he said. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an IDF spokesman, said Sunday that to his knowledge, the hospital was up and running and that staff members were working on fixing a malfunction in the main generator, which wasnt due to our activity there. He added that fuel and oxygen were delivered to Nasser Hospital yesterday. Its in our best interest that the hospital will keep functioning, he said. Heres what else to know Israels government unanimously approved a declaration Sunday that says Israel will continue not to recognize a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he submitted the decision in light of remarks that have been heard recently in the international community about an attempt to unilaterally force a Palestinian state on Israel. The Biden administration and a handful of Middle East partners are rushing to introduce a peace plan between Israel and the Palestinians, including a timeline for the establishment of a Palestinian state. President Biden has had multiple calls with Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar in the hope of bringing a sustainable resolution to the conflict, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement. The update came in response to a U.N. Security Council resolution drafted by Algeria that called for an immediate cease-fire. She said that if the resolution were to come up for a vote, Washington would not support it. Netanyahu said further negotiations over a cease-fire to release hostages from Gaza were pointless given what he called Hamass delusional demands, which include Israels withdrawal from Gaza and the release of Palestinians from Israeli prisons. Clearly, we will not agree to them, he said Saturday. Masih reported from Seoul, Hassan from London, Hendrix from Jerusalem, Dadouch from Beirut and Lior Soroka from Tel Aviv. An aircraft launches from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during flight operations in the Red Sea, Jan. 22, 2024. (Kaitlin Watt/U.S. Navy) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran, eager to disrupt U.S. and Israeli interests in the Middle East but wary of provoking a direct confrontation, is privately urging Hezbollah and other armed groups to exercise restraint against U.S. forces, according to officials in the region. Israels brutal war on Hamas in Gaza has stoked conflict between the United States and Irans proxy forces on multiple fronts. With no cease-fire in sight, Iran could face the most significant test yet of its ability to exert influence over these allied militias. When U.S. forces launched strikes this month on Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, Tehran publicly warned that its military was ready to respond to any threat. But in private, senior leaders are urging caution, according to Lebanese and Iraqi officials who were briefed on the talks. They spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive conversations. U.S. officials say the message might be having some effect. As of Saturday, Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria hadnt attacked U.S. forces in more than 13 days, an unusual lull since the war in Gaza began in October. The militants held their fire even after a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killed a senior Kataib Hezbollah official. Iran may have realized their interests are not served by allowing their proxies unrestricted ability to attack U.S. and coalition forces, one U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The Biden administration has taken a similarly cautious approach with Iran. In launching dozens of strikes Feb. 2 retaliation for a drone strike last month that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan U.S. forces targeted Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria but did not strike inside Iran. U.S. diplomats, meanwhile, are pressuring Israel and Hamas to agree on a cease-fire in Gaza. During the negotiated pause in the fighting in November, attacks by Iran-backed groups dropped across the region. To emphasize the new directive, Iran has dispatched military leaders and diplomats across the region to meet with local officials and militia members. Iran is doing its utmost to prevent the expansion of the war and the escalation from reaching the point of no return, said an Iraqi official with close ties to Iranian-backed forces there. Days after Kataib Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack that killed the three U.S. Army reservists, an Iranian military commander landed in Baghdad last month to meet with the groups leaders. The commander pressured it to issue a statement suspending attacks on U.S. targets. The leaders were unhappy with the suspension, the Iraqi official said, but acceded to the request of the country that has trained and armed their forces. Still, the exchange might also have demonstrated the limits of Tehrans influence: After the U.S. strikes, the group reversed itself, pledging painful strikes and broad attacks. Its been a balancing act for Iran since Oct. 7, when Hamass surprise attack on Israeli communities near Gaza triggered the war there. The Iran-backed groups form the self-styled axis of resistance, a loose alliance of armed militias that includes Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria. Tehran uses them to spread its influence across the region and serve as a forward line of defense against the United States and Israel. Though theyre funded and trained by Iran, the groups operate independently and outside Tehrans formal security apparatus. The arrangement has allowed them to advance Iranian policy aims while insulating Tehran from direct responsibility and possible retaliation for their actions. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian praised the groups during a recent visit to Lebanon and promised continued support. He told reporters in Beirut that Israel sought to drown the United States in the swamp of war in the Middle East. But in private, Iranian emissaries have adopted a more measured tone. Theyve praised Hezbollahs sacrifices but cautioned that war with Israel would risk precious gains in the region. Iranian officials met with members of Hezbollah this month in Lebanon. One Hezbollah member summarized Tehrans message: We are not keen on giving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu any reason to launch a wider war on Lebanon or anywhere else. The axis of resistance, the Iranian officials told the Hezbollah leaders, is winning. The war in Gaza has shifted the worlds focus back on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and complicated plans for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to normalize ties with Israel. But those gains could be lost, the officials warned, if Israel opens another front in Lebanon. The Hezbollah member summarized the message: Netanyahu is squeezed in the corner now. Dont give him a way out. Let us not give him the benefit of launching a wider war because this would make him a winner. In Iraq, the message was slightly different. Renewed conflict in Iraq, the Iranian officials said, risked upsetting momentum behind talks on a U.S. military withdrawal from the country, according to the Iraqi official. Iran has long sought to push U.S. forces out of the region; Tehran would view a pullout from Iraq as a major victory. U.S. officials have expressed openness to withdrawing some forces from Iraq but privately add that the Iraqi government appears concerned about a full withdrawal and seems to want continued help countering the remnants of the Islamic State. The Iranian campaign appears to have been effective. While there are near daily deadly attacks across Israels border with Lebanon, Hezbollahs leader, Hasan Nasrallah, has stopped short of declaring war. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have refrained from launching attacks since Feb. 4, despite the U.S. strike Feb. 7 that killed senior Kataib Hezbollah official Abu Baqir al-Saedi. Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday that U.S. forces retain the right to self-defense if they are threatened or attacked. Asked if the militia attacks were over, he declined to speculate. Well see, he said. I dont want to predict the future. Were staying focused on the mission we were sent there to do. One Iran-backed group has given no indication of standing down. The Houthis in Yemen have disrupted global trade by harassing commercial shipping through the Red Sea, a key link between Asia, Europe and the Americas to protest the Israeli campaign in Gaza. Theyve launched at least 48 attacks since November, according to U.S. defense officials, including missile strikes, attack drones and uncrewed boats lade with explosives. The attacks have prompted shipping companies to avoid the area, adding time and money to costs. The Houthis launched two missiles into the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Monday and an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday. On Thursday, an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi territory struck the cargo ship M/V Lycavitos, causing minor damage, U.S. military officials said. U.S. forces have maintained a steady drumbeat of strikes on Houthi targets. Defense officials have cast them as self-defense, often against weapons that were staged to be launched. The longer the war in Gaza continues, the more difficult it could become for Iran and the United States to avoid escalation. Certainly, I welcome the fact that attacks have seemed to have stopped, said Kenneth Frank McKenzie, a retired Marine Corps general who oversaw U.S. operations across the Middle East as chief of U.S. Central Command from 2019 to 2022. But we know from hard experience that setting deterrence in the Middle East is something that has to be constantly revisited and refreshed, he said. Organizations have a short memory in the Middle East for things like this. He questioned whether the United States might have forestalled some of the attacks if it had responded sooner and more forcefully to them. Even if Tehran has directed its proxies to stand down, he said: It doesnt mean they control every one. Theres always going to be some guy that doesnt get the word. Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader and former federal minister Khawaja Asif has stressed that it was time political parties think beyond their personal benefits and work for the public. There can be no economic stability without political stability, he said at a press conference, lamenting that the current political behaviours were further promoting division in the public. Regarding the formation of the government, Asif said there was a development in the talks between the PML-N and PPP but stopped short of revealing the details. Regarding the Punjab government, he said PML-N had attained a comfortable majority in the province. Khawaja Asif has said the decision to nominate Shehbaz Sharif as the prime minister was that the latter had greater experience in dealing with the coalition government. But rest assured, Nawaz Sharif will remain our quaid and the coin will always be in his hand, he asserted. Former opposition leader in National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader Raja Riaz claimed that former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP-co chairman Asif Ali Zardari have finalised the terms of government formation. In an interview with a private news channel Raja Riaz claimed not to take the PPP and PML-N committees seriously as matters related to government formation have already been decided between former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP-co chairman Asif Ali Zardari. He revealed that all of them (PPP) would be seen in the cabinet along with PML-N and if they denied they wouldnt be able to form government in Sindh too. Riaz said that he accept his defeat in the recent election held across Pakistan however he questioned former interior minister Rana Sanaullahs defeat saying that he was PML-Ns strong candidate in election 2024. Commenting on the Maulana Fazlur Rehmans statements, Raja Riaz said that JUI-F chief held a meeting with him and informed him about support on no-confidence motion from several people. Now he revealed that Qamar Bajwa was behind the ouster of Imran Khan so he said the truth, Riaz added. It is pertinent to mention here that government formation in the centre suffered another blow as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) again categorically denied being part of the federal cabinet saying that the party would vote for the PML-Ns prime minister nominee. But the Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led partys members would not hold any ministry or portfolio in the federal cabinet either. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has constituted a three-member committee to hold talks with various political parties about the formation of the next federal government. The committee comprises Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and partys senior deputy conveners Mustafa Kamal and Farooq Sattar. An MQM-P spokesperson said the body would negotiate with political leaders for power sharing. A few days ago, the MQM- leadership had said that it would take federal ministries in the coalition government which would not only benefit Sindhs urban areas but also the entire country. On February 11, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and MQM-P had reached a consensus on basic points for political cooperation in the best interest of the nation and country. PML-N Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb had said an in-principle agreement was reached between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leadership in a meeting. They vowed to work together for the interest of the country and the nation, Marriyum had said. On the invitation of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, the MQM-P delegation led by Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui visited Nawazs residence at Jati Umra, Lahore. Tensions between Horn of Africa rivals Ethiopia and Somalia boiled over on Saturday on the opening day of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa. The two neighbours already at odds over a controversial maritime pact locked horns over Somalias claims that Ethiopian security tried to block its President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from accessing the summit venue. The feud is one of a litany of difficulties referred to by AU Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat in his opening address to the gathering in the Ethiopian capital. Faki painted a bleak picture and said leaders of the pan-African body had to step up and tackle the myriad conflicts, coups and political crises blighting the continent of 1.4 billion people. The 55-nation AU, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa, has long been criticised for being ineffectual and taking little decisive action in the face of numerous conflicts and power grabs. In a sign of the uneasy relations between two member states, Mogadishu accused Addis Ababa of outrageous conduct and a provocative act over the reported security incident and demanded a full AU investigation. Mohamud told reporters he had been blocked by Ethiopian security agents as he tried to enter a summit venue, a second time while accompanying Djiboutis President Ismail Omar Guelleh. A soldier with a gun stood in front of us and denied us access to this facility, he said after later attending the summit. Ethiopia insisted Mohamud was warmly welcomed and that the Somali delegation was blocked when its security detail tried to enter a venue with weapons. Mogadishu has accused Addis Ababa of violating its sovereignty over a January maritime deal with Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 in a move not recognised by the international community. Under the memorandum of understanding, Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometres (12 miles) of its coast for 50 years to landlocked Ethiopia, which wants to set up a naval base and a commercial port on the coast. Faki had earlier spoken of worrying trends in the Horn of Africa without directly referring to the maritime pact, but said respect for the sovereignty of all countries in the region was crucial. The commission chief also blasted a failure of African leaders to counter multiple unconstitutional changes of government. Gabon and Niger are absent from the summit following their suspension over coups last year joining Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso, which are also barred for similar reasons. Faki also voiced worries about the crisis in Senegal, set off by President Macky Salls last-minute move to push back this months elections in a country usually considered a beacon of democracy in West Africa. But he said he hoped for a spirit of consensus to organise inclusive, free and transparent elections as quickly as possible after the Constitutional Council overruled Salls move. Elsewhere, Sudan was bruised, torn, sinking into chaos, Faki said, while Libya was divided and exposed to external interference, the Sahel was facing a dangerous vacuum, and terrorism was diverting much-needed funds for social programmes to military spending. The Great Lakes region of central Africa was, he said, witnessing a worsening of eternal crises fuelled by the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Africa cannot remain arms folded and not work to promote genuine peace in the region, Faki added. A mini summit looking at ways to relaunch the peace process for the DRC was held on Friday on the sidelines of the main AU meetings but no breakthrough was reported. Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who initiated the gathering, met separately Saturday with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan rival Paul Kagame, the Congolese presidency said on X, adding that Lourenco would continue mediation in Luanda. Other issues faced by African nations include political instability, climate change, poverty, deficits in economic governance and marginalisation of women and young people in development and leadership, Faki said. Our main challenges have not diminished in importance. Beyond Africa, the deadly Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza was a hot topic on Saturday. Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, among the speakers, called for sanctions on Israel and urged African leaders to make their voice loud and clear. The bloc managed to avoid a crisis on another front by defusing tensions over the one-year rotating AU chairmanship, which was transferred Saturday from Comoros President Azali Assoumani to Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. The succession had long been blocked by an Algeria-Morocco dispute, underscoring internal divisions even as the AU seeks to have a stronger voice on the global stage, including in the G20 grouping which it joined in September. Friends and family turned up outside high-security Portlaoise prison after the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction, meaning the mobster is now a free man. There were premature celebrations for convicted drug dealer and Limerick gangland figure John ODonoghue who had a 10-year conviction for a machete attack on a 74-year-old man overturned this week. Friends and family turned up outside high-security Portlaoise prison after the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction, meaning the mobster is now a free man. However, those who gathered at the infamous lock-up left disappointed as the Sunday World has learned that ODonoghue was not released on Friday. He was still in there last night, a source told us. There are due to be raucous celebrations in his native Rathkeale when ODonoghue is released following his legal victory on Friday when the three-judge panel ruled that gardai had failed to seek out CCTV of the incident in 2017. Midlands Prison Portlaise Picture: Finbarr O'Rourke ODonoghue had been given a ten-year sentence in 2021 after being convicted by a jury of assault causing harm at Limerick Circuit Court. It was not the first time his supporters had gathered outside the prison. In April 2022 the funeral cortege of his best friend John Kealy stopped outside the prison gates on the journey to his final resting place in Rathkeale. The hearse bearing Kealys casket with his photo attached briefly blocked the road as mourners honked horns and cheered. A man in a video clip described John ODonoghue as Kealys best friend and, speaking to the casket, said: You came to see your best friend John ODonoghue, were outside the jail at Portlaoise, one of your best friends. When ODonoghue was handed down a ten-year sentence just five days before Christmas 2021 members of his family were visibly shocked. His appeal was heard last November, in which it was argued gardai had failed to look for CCTV in the area. ODonoghues legal team also argued that the jurys decision to find him guilty of assault but acquitting him of producing a machete was conflicting. Ms Justice Tara Burns said on Friday that the court would uphold ODonoghues complaint regarding the failure of the trial judge to direct an acquittal. She said this was on the basis of an unfairness arising in the investigation which deprived him of a reasonable prospect of a defence. Ms Justice Burns said it was an established duty of gardai to seek out and preserve CCTV. It seems to us that there were significant failings regarding the investigation into CCTV in this case and that a realistic prospect of a defence existed in relation to this missing CCTV, she said. During his two years behind bars it emerged in a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) case that ODonoghue is regarded as having been a significant player in a money laundering scheme. In evidence, John ODonoghue was described as a close associate of Mike Nash, who was named as one of three men running a car business set up to launder a drug gangs cash in Limerick. The senior investigating officer also described ODonoghue as being closely associated with Eds McCarthy, a leading figure in the McCarthy-Dundon gang. CAB officers at Bawn Motors in Limerick In the CAB case against Bawn Motors, it was highlighted how ODonoghue had established himself as a key figure in the international drugs trade and has extensive criminal contacts with the wider Traveller community. An affidavit revealed how ODonoghue took part in a meeting in January 2019 in a Rathkeale pub with Christy Keane, Dermot Plum McManus and others. I believe that this meeting was arranged to discuss criminal activity arrangements between ODonoghue and this grouping, stated the senior officer. Last month McManus got a three-year prison sentence for money laundering after unexplained cash was found stashed in his house It emerged after ODonoghues 2021 court case in Ireland that he had a conviction for drug dealing in the UK where he was caught by an undercover team from the National Crime Agency. A meeting with a contact in Salford was recorded in which he was heard discussing the price and delivery of drugs into the UK from the Netherlands. He pleaded guilty to facilitating drug trafficking deals for organised crime groups both in the UK and Ireland and was given a two-year suspended sentence. ODonoghue previously hit the headlines when he and his son Fred were convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour towards CAB officers searching his home in 2016. The raids were part of Operation Oakleaf and were carried out after Europol identified an organised crime group with connections to Rathkeale operating across Europe. Previously jailed for the attack, 28-year-old Tammy Sparks appealed her sentence, and it was replaced with a probation order A woman who trailed clumps of hair from her victims head during a road rage incident has been given probation for 18 months so she can take an anger management course. Previously jailed for the attack, 28-year-old Tammy Sparks appealed her sentence, and at the County Court of Appeal in Antrim on Monday, Judge Gerard McNamara replaced it with the probation order and resuspended another jail sentence for a similar attack. Sparks, from Loverock Close in Bangor, had entered guilty pleas to a total of six offences arising from the minor shunt on August 4 last year including careless driving, causing actual bodily harm, causing criminal damage, using disorderly behaviour, assaulting a police officer and breaching a suspended jail sentence. A prosecution lawyer told the court how police attended the scene of a minor road traffic collision at the Seven Towers roundabout on the Lisnevenagh Road. When they arrived, it was apparent that Sparks Audi Q2 had rear-ended a Jaguar. When they approached, Sparks was immediately aggressive and swung a punch at a police officer. The driver of the Jaguar told them how she pulled up at the junction but was struck by the Audi. When they got out to swap insurance details, Sparks began assaulting her by grabbing her by the hair and pulling out clumps of hair. Officers at the scene looked down and could see a large clump of hair lying on the ground, said the lawyer, adding that at the time Sparks was subject to a suspended sentence imposed in a different court but for a similar offence. In July 2022 at Newtownards Magistrates Court, Sparks was handed a four-month prison sentence suspended for three years along with a 400 compensation order after she entered guilty pleas to careless driving and causing actual bodily harm to a woman on May 6, 2021. Shantal Downey (23) had mixed alcohol with prescription medication A young woman found drunk and asleep on a chair in a hotel lobby hurled abuse at all and sundry when gardai woke her up. Shantal Downey (23) had mixed alcohol with prescription medication and had little or no recollection of the incident, a court heard. Judge Bryan Smyth applied the Probation of Offenders Act, leaving her without a criminal record after she admitted public order offences. Downey, with an address at Forest Hills, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and public intoxication. Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at the Gresham Hotel on OConnell Street at 7.30pm on January 30 this year. Gardai arrived at the premises and found the accused asleep and slumped in a chair in the lobby. When they woke her, Downey was extremely intoxicated and smelled strongly of alcohol, Garda Sergeant Tony Flanagan said. On waking, Downey began to verbally abuse all and sundry there, including the gardai, and was arrested and charged. The court heard while Downey had no previous convictions, the case was not suitable to be dealt with by way of a caution. On the night, staff had asked for an ambulance but it was the gardai who arrived, defence solicitor Yvonne Bambury said. The accused was on medication and at the time, she had also consumed alcohol. She had little or no recollection of what happened, but her immediate reaction afterwards was to return to the hotel to apologise to the manager, Ms Bambury said. She apologised profusely to the court. Defence lawyer Conor Coulter told the court his client knew her behaviour had been absolutely appalling A woman who assaulted bar staff and spat in the faces of two police officers has been sentenced to probation and community service. Staff at the Irish National Foresters Hall on North Street in Lurgan called the police on Patrice McCrory on February 19 last year after she started shouting and screaming and throwing things, attacking two female workers. When officers arrived, the 34-year-old was still causing a disturbance outside the bar. After one of them put her into the back of a PSNI car, she spat in his face as he put her seatbelt on. She spat in the face of another officer when they arrived at the police station. Patrice McCrory McCrory, from Dunbarton Street in Gilford, admitted all of the charges against her when she appeared at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday. She entered guilty pleas to two counts of common assault, two of assaulting police and one of disorderly behaviour. Defence lawyer Conor Coulter told the court his client knew her behaviour had been absolutely appalling. He said she wanted to apologise to the police and the women she assaulted. Patrice McCrory Mr Coulter added McCrory was particularly ashamed about attacking the bar staff because she has known these ladies almost all her life. District Judge Francis Rafferty handed the defendant a combination order of 12 months of probation and 80 hours of community service. He also ordered her to pay 100 compensation to each of her victims, allowing her six months to do so. The judge warned McCrory that if she failed to complete any aspect of either order, you will be brought back here and resentenced. Defence Forces support Garda operation after seizure of crystal meth valued at 33M Morris OShea Salazar worked with another Kerryman for the Sinaloans Gardai brought in a digger to aid in the search of a property near Tralee in Co. Kerry MEMBERS of the Defence Forces were drafted in to assist gardai yesterday afternoon as they carried out a major excavation at a property in Co. Kerry linked to an Irish member of the worlds most notorious drugs gang. The suspect was one of two people arrested on Friday over a 32.8 million crystal meth seizure at Cork Port the biggest ever seizure of the deadly drug in this country. The man has been described by international police as a close associate of Morris OShea Salazar, an Irish-Mexican citizen who heads the European operation of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Sunday World observed two army lorries and a jeep at the property yesterday as gardai embarked on a dig at the rear of the house close to Tralee in north Kerry. Morris OShea Salazar worked with another Kerryman for the Sinaloans Sources indicated that officers were searching for drugs and weapons as the investigation into Fridays meth seizure ramps up. Only last week, the Sunday World revealed how the Kerry man was identified in Spanish police files as a logistics and distribution manager for the Mexico- based Sinaloa Cartel. Today, we can reveal how the man, who we are not naming for legal reasons, has an extremely sinister past and has been described as a violent psychopath. Sources told the Sunday World how the suspect, who used the handle Cu Chulainn for encrypted communications with Sinaloa gang members, previously kicked a man within an inch of his life in a horrific attack. Such was the vicious nature of the assault, the victim was left on life support and with only a 50/50 chance of survival. In a separate incident, the thug, who was arrested on Friday along with a well-known Kerry businessman, also battered a woman unconscious. The criminal, who is in his 40s, has spent almost a decade of his life in prison in this country. The huge haul of crystal meth Its suspected he was the driving force behind Fridays drugs haul at Cork Port hidden in a container of soil-testing equipment. In Spanish police files exclusively obtained by this newspaper, the criminal is named as a close associate of fugitive Killorglin-based drug trafficker Morris OShea Salazar. Both he and OShea Salazar are named in the documents as being part of a gang who answered to infamous Mexican narco Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans son, Ivan, and who conspired to smuggle up to 6,000kg (480 million) of cocaine into Europe in just one year. The Kerry man is also alleged to have been selling grenades and Magnum guns at a price of 2,300. Two firearms were recovered during garda raids following Fridays seizure. Both he and OShea Salazar became the subject of heavy surveillance by Spanish police during a visit to the Balearics in the summer of 2020, where they were suspected of organising logistics and vehicle repairs at truck stops throughout Europe. Each member of the gang had their own unique identity on the encrypted Encrochat mobile phone network. Joaquin El Chapo Guzman The man arrested on Friday went under the handle Cu Chulainn, while OShea Salazar went by Sin City Gold. Such was the scale of the operation in which the pair were involved, they purchased a facility at Valencia port for use in their smuggling operations. The second individual arrested on Friday is a highly respected Munster-based businessman, whose arrest has caused shock in his home county. As well as running a number of commercial outlets in Cork and Kerry, the businessman is understood to have been very active in the community. Theres a lot of shock around at the moment, a source said yesterday. Its a bit like getting caught up in one of those Netflix shows. Theyll probably be making one of them out of all this yet. Gardai brought in a digger to aid in the search of a property near Tralee in Co. Kerry Both men remained in custody yesterday under section 50 of the Offences Against the State Act under which they can be held and questioned for a period of seven days. Section 15A and 15B of the Drug Trafficking Act direct a sentence of not less than 10 years for offences involving the import or export of drugs. According to sources, the crystal meth was being exported from Ireland and destined for Australia where illegal drugs are sold at much higher prices than in Europe. This is being controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico the drugs were due to be exported from Ireland, a source told the Sunday World. The Munster-based gang who have been working with the Mexican Cartel have been watched for a long time. It will be a huge blow to them, and while the operation is in its early stages, there can be no doubt that this has caused serious damage to their business. Multiple Garda units spent several hours searching a retail premises on Friday morning in Co. Kerry as part of detailed investigations into the drug seizure. A motor business was also raided as part of the operation on Friday night. In statement, a Garda spokesperson said: Following a joint operation at Cork Port between An Garda Siochana and Revenues Customs Service, a substantial drugs seizure was made. Gardai searching a property in Co. Kerry A number of follow-up searches were conducted in Kerry and Cork resulting in the arrests of two men. The men, both aged in their 40s are currently detained at Garda Stations in the Southern Region under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. A kilo of crystal meth is understood to cost around the equivalent of around 200,000 in Australia, meaning the Sinaloa Kerry based associates were due to make huge profits from the hundreds of kilos of the drug that was seized. Loyalist who supplied drug that killed twins to be quizzed by cops This is the first-ever picture of the UDA member suspected of supplying the deadly crystal meth which claimed the lives of the tragic ONeill twins last February. He was snapped with a white substance plastered across his nose and face just hours before the twins lost unconsciousness and died of a drugs overdose. But the Sunday World can today reveal that he is to be quizzed again by PSNI detectives who are anxious to discover exactly what happened the night the ONeill siblings died. It is believed the top loyalist will return from his bolthole in the UK next week. We have learned that when he is formally interviewed next week, it will be the third time he has been spoken to by police under caution. On February 3 last year, 37-year-old twins Stephen and Clare ONeill died side by side in Clares flat at Annadale Crescent in south Belfast. Three ambulances and two Fire Service vehicles crammed into the narrow street near the River Lagan as paramedics battled bravely to save them. A toxicology report later confirmed local fears that the twins had overdosed on a homemade narcotic mix, known on the streets as crystal meth. The UDA man This newspaper has been told that the UDA man pictured in this story is soon to be questioned by detectives investigating the twins tragedy. And as he is the only suspect in the case, he may soon be facing serious charges, including one of causing death by neglect. Friends of the ONeill twins believe the UDA man insisted on cleaning up the scene and disposing of almost a kilo of meth before making a phone call requesting emergency medical help for the seriously ill twins. Last week, we also revealed how the ONeill family have asked their lawyers to press for an inquest as part of a determined effort to discover the truth surrounding the two deaths. We believe as much as an hour and a half may have passed before a phone call was made to the emergency services. The ONeill family deserve to know the truth, a friend of the twins told us. This photograph of the veteran UDA man was taken shortly before the tragic twins lost consciousness and later their lives at a drugs and drinks party in Clares downstairs apartment. After arriving at the party, he consumed a few beers, sang and danced his way around the kitchen. And shortly before midnight, he left. But neighbours who were watching events unfold told the Sunday World that when he returned around 20 minutes later, he appeared to have a package stuffed inside his navy blue anorak. As revealed in this newspaper last week, the dealer walked straight into Clares kitchen, where he placed a large quantity of crystal meth believed to be around 1kg in weight and with a street value of around 40,000 on top of a microwave oven. He then invited those present to sample the drugs, although he didnt partake himself. However, when the others began to pass out as a result of the effects of the meth, the UDA man flew into a panic. He insisted on organising a major clean-up operation before sending for emergency help. It is understood that at 1.45am, the loyalist telephoned the emergency services requesting help for the twins, who were unconscious. Paramedics and police arrived within minutes, but it very soon clear that the twins were already dead. Despite the best efforts of the medical experts, Stephen and Clare failed to respond and they were pronounced dead at the scene. The crystal meth taken by twins Clare and Stephen ONeill Two other men who were unconscious, but still alive, were rushed to hospital where they underwent emergency treatment. The Sunday World has also learned that the 1kg package of crystal meth has never been recovered. Neighbours say that the UDA taxi driver may have vacated the premises before the arrival of the emergency services. He later reappeared at the scene wearing a house coat and giving the impression he was a concerned local. However, as police did their best to establish what had happened, they arrested the UDA man at 6am. Following an interview, he was released on police bail and fled Belfast soon afterwards. The Sunday World understands he was advised by a senior member of the UDA to leave the city as soon as possible for his own safety. And it is believed that after arranging for his car to be sold in Lisburn, he went to Scotland. He was later joined there by his partner. It is my firm belief in the power of forgiveness and reconciliation that guides me in this decision. The incident likely stemmed from the prevailing anti-migrant, anti-Muslim sentiment in Ireland, Shaykh Dr Muhammad Umar Al-Qadri said. Photo: Gerry Mooney Muslim cleric Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said he is willing to forgive the perpetrators of an assault in Dublin last week. The Chairperson of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council, who required medical attention following the incident said, While I hope the culprits are caught, I also hold the desire to communicate with them and offer forgiveness and prayers for their guidance. Speaking to the Irish independent about his offer to forgive those who perpetrated the attack, Shaykh Al-Qadri said, It is my firm belief in the power of forgiveness and reconciliation that guides me in this decision. He added that his commitment to peace and integration in Ireland remains unwavering. This incident, though unfortunate, will not deter me from my mission to foster understanding and harmony within our communities. The father-of-three said he had felt the love and compassion of the Irish community. It is truly heart-warming to witness how we come together in times of need, and I am immensely grateful for the kindness and strength that you have shown me. But he also acknowledged that the incident has left his community distressed, as it highlighted the vulnerability of ordinary migrants to such violence. The Imam, who lives in West Dublin, said that his wallet, which he had thought was lost in the attack, had been found and although his bank cards were cancelled, the most precious items in the wallet photos of his late parents were not lost. I had informed the gardai that my wallet was missing, leading to the incident being classified as a robbery and assault. But as the wallet had been recovered, he said the incident would now be treated as a serious assault case rather than a robbery and assault. Explaining what happened on Thursday evening, the Imam wrote on X that he had received a call from a man claiming to have Irish and Pakistani heritage who asked him to officiate at his marriage ceremony in Tallaght. After sending the man the necessary application form and receiving it back with the details filled in, Shaykh Al-Quadris assistant Imam prepared the marriage certificate. Shaykh Al-Quadri then made his way to the address in Tallaght on Thursday evening for the wedding gathering. On arrival at the address, he was told to go to another address. There he encountered two men who appeared to be Irish and had Irish accents. After opening the passenger door of his car for collection of the certificate, he said his memory becomes blank. When he recovered consciousness, he saw that a woman had come to his assistance. He later underwent a CT scan in Blanchardstown Hospital and was told by medical staff that he had no brain injury or broken jaw, but tissue damage had caused severe swelling and pain. His teeth were damaged too. The actions of the attackers likely stemmed from the prevailing racism and anti-migrant, anti-Muslim sentiments in Ireland, the Muslim cleric said. Federal prosecutors allege that the 76-year-old continues to lead the cartel from Mexico. Wanted drug lord Sinaloa Ismael El Mayo Zambada Garcia has been charged with conspiring to manufacture and distribute fentanyl in the US. Federal prosecutors allege that the 76-year-old, who co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel organisation along with now-jailed Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, continues to lead the cartel from Mexico as they announced that a fifth superseding indictment was filed against him at a Brooklyn court on Thursday. Zambada was previously charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise as well as murder conspiracy; money laundering conspiracy; cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl manufacture and distribution conspiracy; in addition to other drug-related crimes. Announcing the indictment, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said that federal prosecutors were determines to bring down the Mexican drug lord. As alleged, Zambada Garcia is charged with numerous drug offences, now including the manufacture and distribution of fentanyl, a deadly drug that was largely unheard of when he founded the Sinaloa Cartel more than three decades ago and today is responsible for immeasurable harm, he said. While Zambada Garcia continues to be a principal leader of the criminal enterprise responsible for importing enormous quantities of narcotics into the United States, this fifth superseding indictment demonstrates our firm resolve to bring him to justice, just as we did with his former co-conspirator El Chapo, and just as we will continue to do to all those who traffic drugs and seek to profit from the devastation inflicted on our communities. The Sinaloa cartel, also known as the Guzman-Zambada Organisation or Blood Alliance, is an international crime syndicate based in the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa. The US Intelligence Community considers the Sinaloa cartel to be the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organisation in the world. According to the National Drug Intelligence Centre, the Sinaloa cartel is primarily involved in the distribution of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cannabis and MDMA. It was co-founded by Zambada Garcia (El Mayo) and Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Loera, who was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn in February 2019 and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years. Following the arrests of El Chapo and his son Ovidio Guzman Lopez in 2016 and 2019, the cartel is now fronted by El Mayo and Guzmans other sons, Jesus Alfredo Guzman and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, as well as half-brothers Ovidio Guzman Lopez and Joaquin Guzman Lopez. They are commonly referred to as the Chapitos. It comes after members of the Defence Forces were drafted in to assist gardai yesterday afternoon as they carried out a major excavation at a property in Co Kerry linked to an Irish member of the Sinaloa Cartel. The suspect was one of two people arrested on Friday over a 32.8 million crystal meth seizure at Cork Port the biggest ever seizure of the deadly drug in this country. The man has been described by international police as a close associate of Morris OShea Salazar, an Irish-Mexican citizen who heads the European operation of the Sinaloa Cartel. Only last week, the Sunday World revealed how the Kerry man was identified in Spanish police files as a logistics and distribution manager for the Mexico- based Sinaloa Cartel. Today, we revealed how the man, who is not being named for legal reasons, has an extremely sinister past and has been described as a violent psychopath. Sources told this paper how he previously kicked a man within an inch of his life in a horrific attack and, in a separate incident, also battered a woman unconscious. The criminal, who is in his 40s, has spent almost a decade of his life in prison in this country. Its suspected he was the driving force behind Fridays drugs haul at Cork Port hidden in a container of soil-testing equipment. In Spanish police files exclusively obtained by this newspaper, the criminal is named as a close associate of fugitive Killorglin-based drug trafficker Morris OShea Salazar. Both he and OShea Salazar are named in the documents as being part of a gang who answered to infamous Mexican narco Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans son, Ivan, and who conspired to smuggle up to 6,000kg (480 million) of cocaine into Europe in just one year. The Kerry man is also alleged to have been selling grenades and Magnum guns at a price of 2,300. Two firearms were recovered during garda raids following Fridays seizure. The second individual arrested on Friday is a highly respected Munster-based businessman, whose arrest has caused shock in his home county. Both men remained in custody yesterday under section 50 of the Offences Against the State Act under which they can be held and questioned for a period of seven days. The 15-year-old, from Holycross, Thurles, was travelling as a passenger in one of the cars, with three other occupants on the R503 at Rearcross, near Nenagh when it collided with another car just after 6.45pm. Leah O'Meara (15) who died following a tragic collision at Rearcross, near Nenagh, on Thursday evening. Source: Facebook Teenager Leah OMeara, who was killed in a tragic two-car crash in Tipperary on Thursday evening, will be laid to rest this week. The 15-year-old, from Holycross, Thurles, was travelling as a passenger in one of the cars, with three other occupants on the R503 at Rearcross, near Nenagh when it collided with another car just after 6.45pm. Ms OMeara was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services. The three other occupants of that car a man in his 20s, a woman in her 20s, and a girl in her mid-teens and the woman driver of the second car were transported by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for assessment. Their injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening. A notice on RIP.ie reads: Reposing at her home on Monday from 4 pm to 7 pm. Removal on Tuesday Morning to Bothar Na Naomh Church, Thurles to arrive at 9.30 am for Requiem Mass at 10am. Interment in St. Patricks Cemetery, Thurles afterwards. Leah O'Meara (15) who died following a tragic collision at Rearcross, near Nenagh, on Thursday evening. Source: Facebook Katie OMeara paid tribute to her beautiful sister following the news of her tragic death. I love you so much unconditionally baby girl, she wrote on Facebook. Adding: I still just cant believe this is after happening to me, what am I meant to do now. How can I move forward without you, you where my whole world and more. Cllr Sean Ryan, Cathaoirleach for the Thurles Municipal District told the Irish Independent that the entire community is in shock following the collision, with a huge veil of sadness hanging over the town of Thurles. He offered his sincere condolences to Ms OMearas mother and father, Mike and Lisa, on the death of their daughter Leah, who he said was a very popular young girl in Thurles. Cllr Ryan said her tragic death is beyond comprehension and is extremely sad. These things are extremely tragic, particularly the loss of a child to any family. There has (sic) been a lot of accidents in the area and we lost four young people in Clonmel a few months ago. Now this on top of it. There has been huge sadness in the area, especially when children die, he said, following the death of Ms OMeara, who was a third-year student in Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed in Thurles. He stressed that the entire community is pulling together for Ms OMearas family who they all know very well and are thinking of them at this time. Ms OMearas death bring to 25 the number of people killed on Irish roads so far this year. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Additionally, anyone with camera footage (including dashcam) from the area at the time is requested to provide it to Gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station at 067 50450, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until "total victory" and to expand it to Gaza's southern-most town of Rafah Israeli strikes across Gaza overnight into Sunday killed at least 18 people, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft UN ceasefire resolution. The US, Israel's top ally, instead hopes to broker a ceasefire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back, calling Hamas's demands "delusional" and rejecting US and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until "total victory" over Hamas and to expand it to Gaza's southern-most town of Rafah, where more than half the enclave's population of 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. An air strike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in the southern city of Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive over the past two months. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. In Gaza City, which was largely evacuated and suffered widespread destruction in the initial weeks of the war, an air strike flattened a family home, killing seven people including three women, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative of the deceased. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Nasser Hospital, the main medical centre serving southern Gaza, is no longer able to function after Israel raided the facility late last week. In a post on X, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO team was not allowed to enter the hospital on Friday or Saturday "to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners". He said there are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other health facilities. Israel says it has arrested 70 suspected militants, including 20 who it says participated in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, without providing evidence. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israel's defences and attacked communities across southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. The war has killed almost 29,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. Around 80% of Gaza's population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. David Satterfield, the US Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues, said on Friday that Israeli strikes on Hamas-run police guarding aid convoys had caused them to halt the escorts, making it "virtually impossible" to deliver desperately-needed aid because of the threat of criminal gangs. He also said Israel has not presented specific evidence for its claims that Hamas is diverting UN aid. At the UN, Algeria, the Arab representative on the Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late on Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washington's own efforts to end the fighting and "will not be adopted". She added: "It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it - and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities - in jeopardy." Accepting the trophy he said: "Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much Bafta." Emma Stone and Emily Blunt arrive at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Margot Robbie and her husband Tom Ackerley pose at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Bradley Cooper attends the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. Picture date: Sunday February 18, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire Barry Keoghan poses at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Andrew Scott (left) and Paul Mescal attend the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. Picture date: Sunday February 18, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire Cillian Murphy and Andrew Scott pose as they arrive at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Christopher Nolan and wife Emma Thomas pose at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Cillian Murphy attends the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. Picture date: Sunday February 18, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire Cillian Murphy has won the leading actor Bafta for the biopic Oppenheimer. Accepting the trophy he said: "Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much Bafta." He paid tribute to "the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn't see in myself." The Irish actor said to Nolan: "Thank for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again." He also acknowledged his "fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies", adding: "I know it's a cliche to say, but I'm in awe of you." He said J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, was a "colossally knotty character", adding: "We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it's a privilege to be a part of this community with you all." 'The Irish people I'm always behind' - Andrew Scott at Bafta red carpet Christopher Nolan won the best director Bafta for Oppenheimer, his epic tale of how the nuclear bomb was created. Before accepting the award from actor Hugh Grant, Nolan hugged his Irish star Cillian Murphy who played physicist J Robert Oppenheimer. Nolan joked that his brother "beat him up here" by being in a chorus of a production 40 years ago. He paid tribute to Murphy and added to those who backed the film: "Thank you for taking on something dark". The director also acknowledged the efforts of nuclear disarmament organisations to bring peace. His co-star Robert Downey Jr won the best supporting actor prize for his role as Lewis Strauss, head of the Atomic Energy Commission. Collecting the trophy, the Iron Man star paid tribute to Nolan, saying: Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility. Robert Downey Jr (Ian West/PA) He said he owes the award to Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and star Cillian Murphy, as well as British influence. Oppenheimer also won the Baftas for best cinematography and editing. London-born director Nolans Oppenheimer, about the father of the atomic bomb, was the favourite on the night with 13 nominations while Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimoss surreal tale Poor Things has 11 nods. Murphy faced competition from fellow Irish man Barry Keoghan, who took on the role of a student at Oxford in high-society thriller Saltburn, and Canadian actor Ryan Gosling for blockbuster success Barbie. Barry Keoghan poses at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Paul Mescal was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his turn in All of Us Strangers where he starred alongside Andrew Scott. Paul Mescal arrives at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Sophie Ellis-Bextor was asked on the red carpet by the PA news agency how it would be received if Keoghan recreated his naked dance in Saltburn. She said him performing again to her hit Murder On The Dancefloor may be a bit much for the ceremony but she was looking forward to seeing him again. She also said she felt very complimented by director Emerald Fennell choosing her 2001 song for the film. Sophie Ellis-Bextor at the Royal Festival Hall (Ian West/PA) Saltburn actor Richard E Grant told PA that a number of grandmothers had written to complain about the film which contains explicit and sexual imagery. He said the women claimed they had been told to watch it as a family film before Christmas, and joked that their false teeth fell out so it was a great response. Actress Samantha Morton told PA that she sobbed during the interval of a London play when she found out she would receive the Bafta fellowship, the film academys highest honour. She added: I was going to see My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican, which is incredible, by the way, and its enough to cry out anyway. My family had got up (for) ice cream at the interval and I was just sobbing and I was like, people probably thought I had really bad news, but no, it was good news. Samantha Morton has been honoured with a Bafta fellowship (Ian West/PA) There are also nine nominations each for Martin Scorseses western Killers Of The Flower Moon and Jonathan Glazers Holocaust film The Zone Of Interest, as well as three nods each for How To Have Sex and Past Lives. Actress Mia McKenna-Bruce told PA that the goal of How To Have Sex was to start the conversation around the films themes to do with sex, consent and more. McKenna-Bruce, nominated for the Bafta Rising Star award, also said that if more people see it because of the Baftas it will make a wider difference. Britains Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, is attending the event his first high-profile royal engagement since his wife Catherines operation. At the prestigious film event last year, Prince William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who will not be attending this time as she continues her recovery. The Bafta film awards is hosted by Scottish actor David Tennant and will feature performances by Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. Jockey admits he gets a rush from show after suffering horrific fall Davy is gearing up to dance a tango on tonights Dancing With The Stars Brave champion jockey Davy Russell admits hes lucky to be able to perform in Dancing with The Stars having broken his neck in a horrific fall from a horse just over three years ago. The 44-year-old Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey came a cropper on Doctor Duffy at the Munster National in Limerick in October 2020. My horse gave a little left and right and he didnt hit the fence or fall. He got unbalanced and slid along the ground, the father-of-five recalls. The horse from behind had bumped into me and pushed me. I didnt prepare my body for a fall and all of a sudden, I got pushed from behind and I got more or less spear-tackled into the ground, head first. Davy at Cheltenham The top of my head hit the ground and compressed down. It crushed one vertebra, dislocated another and cracked another. They put me in a suction bed and I had movement in my toes, but none in my hands or my body. So I went to hospital. A doctor friend had been watching the race on TV and instantly knew from Davys fall that he needed help and rushed to Limerick hospital. It was very emotional when I saw him because it was during Covid, and I didnt have a familiar face to look at. I had no phone to contact anybody and lying there with nobody telling me anything and when he appeared into my eye line I got very emotional because it was just a familiar face, Davy recalls. Davy with dance partner Kylie Eventually, Russell moved to St Vincents hospital in Dublin where he got good news. I got an outrageously good surgeon who said Youre fine, youre in the 10 per cent category that we can fix it. Davy had questioned if his career was going to be over but after getting the good news decided to go back to racing. A lot of people questioned why I came back after breaking my neck; a lot of people had me gone, that I was finished, that I was 41 or 42 or whatever age I was, he says. The Youghal native is currently on a high after last weeks Dedication Week on Dancing With The Stars when he surprised everyone involved in the show and at home by topping the leader board and earning immunity for tonights show. I suppose I get an adrenaline rush walking down the steps of Dancing With The Stars, he smiles, adding he will be doing a tango tonight with partner Kylie Vincent. Kiwi Ruth Croft has once again won the 102km race at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB, reclaiming the title she last earned in 2021 on her previous visit to the Rotorua-based event. Ruth finished in 9:14:14, nearly 24 minutes faster than Americas Beth McKenzie in second place. Fellow Kiwi Nikki Everton completed the womens 102km podium in third. Though Ruths win was ultimately convincing, she says she was given a scare with about 15km to go when she received a split from the sidelines telling her that second placed McKenzie was just six minutes behind when in reality the gap was much bigger. Ruth Croft led the women's 102km race at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB from start to finish. Photo: Cameron McKenzie. Im feeling relieved, pleased I made it to the finish line, says Ruth. I started off probably a bit too hot and then paid for it in the middle, and then was able to rally in the end. "I got a split going into the 87km aid station, I was told I only had six minutes and that I needed to get moving and so I ran a bit scared until the redwoods but then I still had a bit left in the tank, so it was ok. Ruth, who hails from the West Coast of New Zealands South Island, spends most of her time training and racing overseas but has been back in her home country for the summer, with the opportunity to race in front of a home crowd at Tarawera and tick off a major goal ahead of 2025 too good to turn down. It was amazing, I dont race that much in New Zealand and its just so nice to be here and theres just so much support out on the course. "We did a few out and backs and loops today and everyone was just super supportive, says Ruth. One of the reasons I came back to race here is I wanted to qualify for UTMB 2025, and it just made sense. "Ive done Tarawera, this is my fourth time, its always nice to run on home soil and its good timing in the year as well. Its super special, theres no race like it that has the finish line welcoming like that. New Zealand's Ruth Croft took the win in the women's 102km race at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB - Photo: Cameron McKenzie. New Zealands Daniel Jones claimed victory in the mens race, defending his title from last year, giving the home crowd much to cheer about with the 102km races. Daniel beat Americas Justin Grunewald to the tape by more than 40 minutes, stopping the clock at 7:46:42. South African Matt Healy rounded out the mens podium in third. T102 RESULTS WOMEN Ruth Croft (NZL) 9:14:14 Beth McKenzie (USA) 9:38:03 Nikki Everton (NZL) 10:26:53 T102 RESULTS MEN Daniel Jones (NZL) 7:46:42 Justin Grunewald (USA) 8:25:57 Matthew Healy (ZAF) 8:58:43 For more information about Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB visit tarawera.utmb.world Seneca Fall, N.Y. -- An Upstate New York man is facing drunk driving and gun charges after colliding with a propane tanker truck Friday morning in the town of Seneca Falls. Chad E. Williams, 49, was driving southbound on State Route 5 in a red pickup truck around 9:43 a.m. when he collided with a propane tanker, according to a news release from Seneca Falls police. The truck sustained significant damage. Police did not report any injuries. Chad E. Williams, 49, was driving southbound on State Route 5 in a red pickup truck around 9:43 a.m. when he collided with a propane tankerProvided by Seneca Falls Police Williams was found to be driving while intoxicated and was charged with drinking alcohol while driving, police said. He was also found with a firearm, which he could not legally possess due to a prior felony conviction, they said. He was issued appearance tickets and released, police said. Chad E. Williams, 49, was driving southbound on State Route 5 in a red pickup truck around 9:43 a.m. when he collided with a propane tanker, police said.Provided by Seneca Falls police Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Onondaga, NY Construction is expected to begin in the new few months on a series of luxury townhomes and single-family homes in a new development off Onondaga Road in the town of Onondaga. The $5 million Woodridge Heights will be built in three phases on land off Onondaga Road in the Split Rock area of Onondaga, near Onondaga Community College, said Mark A. DeAngelis Jr., vice president and principal of Mark Antony Development and Mark Antony Homes. Rome, N.Y. An Oneida County man was found dead Sunday morning after a snowmobile crash in Rome, deputies said. The man was identified as Christian Kukowski, 55, of Rome, according to a news release from Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. Maciol said an initial investigation showed Kukowski was heading westbound on a trail along State Route 69 sometime between 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday. Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 8,003 Thanked: 49,252 Times View My Garage Qw34567890-=][poiuyfdsa Which is odd. You would expect that both rims accumulate similar amounts of dust brakes. So I checked the temperature of both brake discs after a short drive. The one on the right is a little warmer. So most likely the right brake is a bit sticky. Time to investigate! As usual, choke the opposite rear wheel, Jack and an axle stand on the other side. When turning the wheel it felt a bit sticky and I could also the pads touching the disc. With the wheel taken off, I checked everything. In all honesty, I could see now immediate problems. I pushed the caliper back and forth a bit, the guide pins are well-greased and everything moves freely as it should. In all honesty, I would say 9 out of 10 times when faced with sticky brakes it tends to be to the guide pins getting stuck. Not so in this case. So I took the main calliper body off. only held in place with two tiny bolts I could push the piston back easily by hand! Checked the pads and they have sufficient play as well. Took the pads off and the shims too. Cleaned everything once again. But in all honesty, everything was pretty clean to start with. I used my special spreader tool to get the piston out again. You always want to be careful doing that, if the pistons pop out of the calliper, you will have a problem! You will need, at least, to reset the piston and bleed the system. But with the spreader, I can control exactly how much the piston extends when I press the brake pedal. I also checked the brake fluid reservoir. It was a bit too high. When the fluid gets warm it expands a bit. Although the reservoir is supposed to be open to the air, when overfilled it might cause problems with the piston simply not retracting all the way. So I took some out, just to be sure. I put my special anti-seize paste on the pads again and re-installed everything. I checked and both the right and left wheels, seem to feel identical when I spin them whilst the car is on the jack stand. So fingers crossed on this one!! Next, I did some more work on the elusive alarm error I have been getting. Several times the Mini's alarm went off, for no apparent reason. In the last two week, I have had the Mini in the car wash twice. Both times I locked the car and put it on the alarm. Both times the alarm went off as soon as the car was being sprayed with water. So I am pretty sure it must be the interior motion sensor. Even so, I checked one more time, the engine hood sensor as well. Cleaned it, double-checked its position and working, seems fine. Next, I ran a full OBD scan with my fancy Autel Scanner. All ok, no codes, no errors, no nothing! So I took the roof trim that holds the interior light and the motion sensor out of the roof. Very fiddly job getting the motion sensor opened up and taken apart. Just for reference, the sensor model. I might have to get a new one. Interestingly it says R55, whereas my Mini is an R56. I cleaned all the connectors as usual, not sure if that will help. I had to glue some trim back in place before I could mount the trim back again. I have checked my factory manual and it appears that you might need to re-program the ECU or BCM when you change out the sensor. Not sure, but that could mean a trip to the BMW/Mini dealer as I don't have the equipment. Maybe I can find somebody willing to help. Here is something I found on the internet. You don't see it very often. It is from an old Lancia. Rear, inside wipers!! With our modern cars with good heating, AC and rear window heater we forget how much condensation you might get on the insides of the windows. In the old days, it was not uncommon to hand out towels to all your passengers, to keep wiping! Jeroen The other day I noticed something on the Mini. The right front rim had considerably more brake dust on it than the left one:Which is odd. You would expect that both rims accumulate similar amounts of dust brakes. So I checked the temperature of both brake discs after a short drive. The one on the right is a little warmer. So most likely the right brake is a bit sticky.Time to investigate!As usual, choke the opposite rear wheel, Jack and an axle stand on the other side. When turning the wheel it felt a bit sticky and I could also the pads touching the disc.With the wheel taken off, I checked everything.In all honesty, I could see now immediate problems. I pushed the caliper back and forth a bit, the guide pins are well-greased and everything moves freely as it should. In all honesty, I would say 9 out of 10 times when faced with sticky brakes it tends to be to the guide pins getting stuck. Not so in this case.So I took the main calliper body off. only held in place with two tiny boltsI could push the piston back easily by hand!Checked the pads and they have sufficient play as well.Took the pads off and the shims too. Cleaned everything once again. But in all honesty, everything was pretty clean to start with.I used my special spreader tool to get the piston out again. You always want to be careful doing that, if the pistons pop out of the calliper, you will have a problem! You will need, at least, to reset the piston and bleed the system. But with the spreader, I can control exactly how much the piston extends when I press the brake pedal.I also checked the brake fluid reservoir. It was a bit too high. When the fluid gets warm it expands a bit. Although the reservoir is supposed to be open to the air, when overfilled it might cause problems with the piston simply not retracting all the way. So I took some out, just to be sure.I put my special anti-seize paste on the pads again and re-installed everything. I checked and both the right and left wheels, seem to feel identical when I spin them whilst the car is on the jack stand. So fingers crossed on this one!!Next, I did some more work on the elusive alarm error I have been getting. Several times the Mini's alarm went off, for no apparent reason. In the last two week, I have had the Mini in the car wash twice. Both times I locked the car and put it on the alarm. Both times the alarm went off as soon as the car was being sprayed with water. So I am pretty sure it must be the interior motion sensor.Even so, I checked one more time, the engine hood sensor as well.Cleaned it, double-checked its position and working, seems fine.Next, I ran a full OBD scan with my fancy Autel Scanner. All ok, no codes, no errors, no nothing!So I took the roof trim that holds the interior light and the motion sensor out of the roof.Very fiddly job getting the motion sensor opened up and taken apart.Just for reference, the sensor model. I might have to get a new one. Interestingly it says R55, whereas my Mini is an R56.I cleaned all the connectors as usual, not sure if that will help. I had to glue some trim back in place before I could mount the trim back again.I have checked my factory manual and it appears that you might need to re-program the ECU or BCM when you change out the sensor. Not sure, but that could mean a trip to the BMW/Mini dealer as I don't have the equipment. Maybe I can find somebody willing to help.Here is something I found on the internet. You don't see it very often. It is from an old Lancia. Rear, inside wipers!!With our modern cars with good heating, AC and rear window heater we forget how much condensation you might get on the insides of the windows. In the old days, it was not uncommon to hand out towels to all your passengers, to keep wiping!Jeroen Last edited by Jeroen : 3rd February 2024 at 20:20 . Japanese scientists revealed plans to launch the world's first wooden satellite, LignoSat, this summer. Crafted from magnolia wood, known for its stability and resistance to cracking, this innovative spacecraft represents a shift in satellite construction, aiming at exploring the feasibility of using biodegradable materials in space. LignoSat, created by researchers at Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, is an important step toward reducing the environmental impact of space exploration. Satellite Made of Wood According to the scientists behind the satellite, the decision to explore wooden satellites "without harmful byproducts" arises from growing concerns over the environmental consequences of traditional satellite construction. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study found aluminum and exotic metals in 10% of sulfuric acid particles, dominant in the stratosphere. These metals matched alloys in spacecraft, confirming reentry vaporization. Aluminum, lithium, and copper levels surpass cosmic dust input. By contrast, wooden satellites like LignoSat are poised to address these concerns as they burn up upon reentry, leaving behind only biodegradable ash. Testing the Wood Extensive testing conducted by the Kyoto University team has demonstrated the remarkable durability of wood in space-like conditions. "Wood's ability to withstand simulated low earth orbit (LEO) conditions astounded us," Koji Murata, head of the space-wood research effort and member of the Biomaterials Design Lab at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture, explained. Wood samples subjected to rigorous experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) showcased minimal signs of deterioration, proving the material's resilience to the harsh realities of space. Moreover, magnolia wood emerged as the optimal choice for satellite construction, with its exceptional dimensional stability and resistance to environmental degradation. Also, previous studies conducted in earthbound labs demonstrated wood's surprising ability to withstand temperatures ranging from -150 to 150 degrees Celsius. Read Also: Martians Wanted: NASA Is Seeking Applicants for Simulated Yearlong Mars Mission The Satellite's Mission The satellite will undertake a series of experiments to assess its performance in orbit, particularly focusing on wood's susceptibility to deformation and dimensional changes. If successful, LignoSat could pave the way for a new era of sustainable satellite construction, addressing the pressing need for environmentally friendly space exploration initiatives. Despite the groundbreaking nature of this endeavor, challenges still need to be addressed, particularly concerning the logistics of the satellite's launch. While plans are in place for a summer launch, the final decision on the launch vehicle- whether it is an Orbital Sciences Cygnus supply ship or a SpaceX Dragon mission- remains pending. Nevertheless, researchers express confidence in the project's feasibility and anticipate LignoSat's operational lifespan to extend at least six months in space. As the countdown to LignoSat's launch begins, anticipation mounts within the scientific community. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: SpaceX Brings US Military's Hypersonic Missile-Tracking Satellites to Orbit, Testing Later This Year 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday in Munich. WOLFGANG RATTAY (REUTERS) The news on Friday of Alexei Navalnys death struck like an ominous lightning bolt in the rooms of the Bayerischer Hof hotel, the traditional venue of the Munich Security Conference, just as the forum was about to begin. Since then, many have thought about what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the next day: [Russian President Vladimir Putin] tried to send us all a clear message. This was a message of total confrontation with the West Western leaders had demanded that Navalnys physical integrity be respected and of total disregard for democracy. In this confrontation, Putin is not alone. Iran supplies Russia with drones. North Korea, ammunition. China does not provide weapons, as far as is known, but it does give Russian with an economic lifeline through trade, including technological products essential for the Russian war economy; and a political lifeline, through multiple top-level meetings and joint declarations that call for a new world order and claim that democracy and human rights are relative concepts. Ukraine has accused Beijing of helping Moscow with its cyberattacks against the country. And the confrontation in question, of course, is not just about Ukraine. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made this clear in her speech on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. Its not just about Ukraine but about sending a signal to others. The question is whether democracy will survive in the world and whether we can defend our values, and the answer has to be yes, she told the conference, which brings together hundreds of political and military leaders from around the world in the Bavarian capital every year. This is Russias war against any rules at all, said Zelenskiy. May our world based on rules never become the world of yesterday, he added, with a sad reference to Stefan Zweigs memoirs. What is clear is that the entire world is watching to see what outcome Putins invasion will have, to see what resistance will be put up by the 50 democracies that support Ukraine the response that Von der Leyen spoke of on Saturday. Everyone will draw conclusions, and they will, of course, be greatly influenced by whether or not Donald Trump the front-runner in the Republican primary wins the November presidential elections in the United States. Tension beyond Ukraine Putin himself has clearly said that the fight is not just about Ukraine. This is not a territorial conflict and not an attempt to establish regional geopolitical balance. The issue is much broader and more fundamental and is about the principles underlying the new international order, the Russian president said at the last Valdai forum. Putin traveled to Munich in 2007 to issue the same warning: that he did not agree with the current world order and that he rejected the primacy of the United States. And he made it clear that he was willing to challenge this state of affairs. In the U.S., the Bush administration which had illegally invaded Iraq decided to move forward with opening NATOs door to Ukraine and Georgia. But for countries Putin considered to be under Russias influence, the Russian president did not respect that they had the freedom to decide their own future. And in the fact of the Wests passivity, Putin used de facto means against Ukraine and Georgia. The situation escalated, until todays full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the midst of Putins war, autocratic regimes have closed ranks, but this does not mean that they are a seamless unitary pole. Nor is the European pole, despite being more cohesive. At the Munich Security Conference, Wang Yi, Chinas main foreign policy representative, tried to present his country as a stabilizing force in times of turbulence. The key message I would like to convey to you is that regardless of changes in the world, China as a responsible power will continue to adhere to its principles, pursue consistent and sustainable policy, acting as an unwavering force ensuring stability in this turbulent world, Wang said. He added that it will achieve this by pushing for cooperation among major countries. Beijing has a vested interest in ensuring that stability of a system that has allowed it to prosper. At the same time, on the back of its new prosperity, China has become more assertive under Xi Jinpings long rule. Chinas warning Beyond the reassuring message, Wangs address revealed worrying cracks. Whoever tries de-sinicization in the name of de-risking would be making a historical mistake, he said emphatically. Both the U.S. and the EU are actively working to reduce their dependence on China. When asked by Christoph Heusgen, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, if it would not be a good idea for Beijing to increase pressure on Moscow to curb its invasion, Wang responded that there were not ripe conditions in place for parties to go back to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, bilateral trade between the China and Russia countries breaks records, exceeding $200 billion in 2023. The strength of the relationship is clear. Right now there are changes the likes of which we havent seen for 100 years and we are the ones driving these changes together, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Putin last March as he said goodbye after a meeting, likely not realizing that the brief conversation was being recorded. Amid the struggle between democracies and authoritarian regimes, the West is having a harder time recruiting new partners. The Munich Security Conference highlighted how the Wests position in the conflict in the Middle East is hurting its global image, as it comes under attack of having double standards. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke of the imperative, thats more urgent than ever, to proceed to a Palestinian state that also ensures the security of Israel. In recent weeks, Blinken has warned that Israels response to the Hamas attack is excessively hurting Palestinian civilians. But the world is well aware that the United States has done nothing in the past to help guarantee the creation of a Palestinian. And today, while it mourns the civilian deaths in Gaza, it continues to send arms to Israel. In a statement, the EU asked Israel not to proceed with the Rafah offensive in southern Gaza. But it has not reviewed the terms of its relations with Israel. Of course, Putins offensive war lacking any justification is different to Israels war in response to the Hamas attack. But Western inaction in the face of decades of oppression, the illegal occupation and colonization of Palestinian land, and the brutality of the Israeli response, leaves it exposed to criticism of hypocrisy. The 2003 illegal invasion of Iraq doesnt help its image either. In the Global South, a large group of countries has refused to align themselves with the West. This group includes full-fledged democracies, fragile ones and authoritarian regimes. Many of these countries have been negatively affected by the conflict in the Northern Hemisphere, while seeking to take advantage of the competition between powers to secure better returns. This competition, this confrontation, is underway. It does not have the same ideological component as the Cold War, but it is also a battle for power. Today the battle is between a group of authoritarian regimes that demand a more favorable world order and the democracies that have held a position of preeminence since World War II. Navalnys death is emblematic of this tension. It has widened the gap between the democratic world, which has mourned his death, and the countries that prefer to look the other way. China, incidentally, declined to comment, arguing that this was an internal matter for Russia. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A person doesnt always decide what theyre going to dedicate their life to. Sometimes, the cause chooses the person. This is what happened to Sally Hayden, 35, an Irish journalist. More than five years ago, she began receiving messages from migrants in detention centers requesting her help. She became deeply involved, building a wide network of contacts. Coverage of the so-called migrant crisis became the center of her work. The result is the book My Fourth Time, We Drowned (2022), which has won several awards, including the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. Question. Theres a lot of talk about migration in Europe, but do you think that public opinion is even aware of the hell that migrants go through? Answer. No, the European public debate is totally separated from the human experiences of those who want to come to Europe. Even the concept of migrants is dehumanizing. Theyre people [like anybody else], with hopes, dreams, families. We often lose sight of the fact that the real crisis were experiencing is a crisis of global inequality. A large part of humanity doesnt have the legal capacity to travel and gain access to visas. The result is that many journeys are desperate and dangerous. Q. Theres a certain stereotype of migrants in society. Do these stereotypes resemble the people youve met, who make the journey from North Africa to EU nations? A. The problem is that theyre often treated as if they were a homogeneous group, when theyre not. They come from very different places and the causes that pushed them to leave their homes their personal circumstances are very different. Ive met very different people in the detention centers in Libya: artists, law or medical students, dentists... some are from West Africa, others from East Africa. Theyd never had contact with someone from the other end of the continent before. Q. In the book, you emphasize that the EU and the UN hold a lot of responsibility for the ongoing human rights abuses taking place in countries such as Libya. Does this complicity reach the highest levels? A. Yes, of course. Something I discovered when I started the research is that the EU has a much more active role in the situation. Its leaders know this they do it on behalf [of the citizenry]. Their justification is that [EU] citizens want these policies. But I believe that public opinion doesnt understand the ramifications of European policy, which means locking up entire families in places where serious abuses are committed. Many even die there. The EU has a direct responsibility for the return of people who are intercepted at sea to detention centers in Libya, which Pope Francis has called concentration camps. Our taxes support dictators, warlords and systems that exploit other human beings. And thats a problem not only limited to Libya: the EUs anti-immigration policy has harmful effects on all its borders. Q. For many, even if they are formally recognized as refugees, the nightmare doesnt end if they manage to attain legal status in Europe. A. Yes, because often, once the danger has passed, the trauma appears. [This is] when the mind tries to digest everything that has happened. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress, insomnia and other disorders. Having to recount these horrors [to the authorities] repeatedly during the process to regularize their status doesnt help. Q. To what extent is the media also responsible? A. Its difficult to talk about the media in general. Its true that the issue of migration is covered but many times, its to reflect and reproduce the dehumanizing rhetoric of politicians. Other times, we talk about the victims in the Mediterranean as simple numbers. The voices of those who suffer from this situation are ignored. We have to listen to them more carefully. Thats what I tried to do while writing this book. One of the problems with covering the issue is that many journalists dont have sufficient resources including time because their outlets dont cover the expenses that [proper coverage] requires.. Sally Hayden in Barcelona. Albert Garcia (Albert Garcia) Q. Why do you think European public opinion is so insensitive? A. We live in strange times. On the one hand, its very easy to find out whats happening on the other side of the world, but its also easy for many people to ignore this problem, not to take responsibility. But if we look at the causes of migration, they often have to do with our actions. In Senegal, large foreign boats are emptying the fish stocks that local fishermen rely on. In Somalia, the drought linked to climate change condemns a society to hunger a society that has barely emitted polluting gasses. Thousands of people have already died from this. Q. If theres no pressure from the general public, could the change in policies come via court resolutions? A. The International Criminal Court is investigating European perpetrators for crimes against humanity. My articles have been used as evidence. Perhaps these legal battles will be successful and will be able to change reality [and achieve more results] than some journalistic reports. Its tricky: this entire situation occurs because European countries need migration to fill many vacancies in their labor markets. Q. To what extent does being so close to these difficult cases affect you on a psychological level? A. You often feel guilty because you missed a message, or because you didnt respond in time. Since having phones is prohibited in detention centers, the time when [the people being held there] can write to you is at night, sometimes at three in the morning. The [success] of this book is theirs many have risked their lives to get information out. Theyre the ones who have truly suffered and who need to be at the center of the story, not me. Q. Will you continue covering immigration issues in the future? A. Yes, Im not going to stop. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 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 Analyst: the drivers of rising oil prices were signs of high demand in the United States 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. September 28 massacres in Guinea: the trial focuses on a reclassification of the facts as crimes against humanity The PSOE announces that the Conflict of Interest Office files the PP complaint against Sanchez for not inhibiting himself in the rescue of Air Europa The head of the NATO PA, Shcherba, called on the alliance to mentally move on to the time of military threat In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached? Messi did not play during his visit to Hong Kong, causing controversy. The organizer issued a 50% refund to the audience. Main threatened in Cote-d'Or: Nicole Belloubet in support of teachers and students still in shock Cdiscount smashes the price of this Bissell upright vacuum cleaner with this huge discount of 270 euros 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 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. 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 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 Analyst: the drivers of rising oil prices were signs of high demand in the United States 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. September 28 massacres in Guinea: the trial focuses on a reclassification of the facts as crimes against humanity The PSOE announces that the Conflict of Interest Office files the PP complaint against Sanchez for not inhibiting himself in the rescue of Air Europa The head of the NATO PA, Shcherba, called on the alliance to mentally move on to the time of military threat In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached? Messi did not play during his visit to Hong Kong, causing controversy. The organizer issued a 50% refund to the audience. Main threatened in Cote-d'Or: Nicole Belloubet in support of teachers and students still in shock Cdiscount smashes the price of this Bissell upright vacuum cleaner with this huge discount of 270 euros 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 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. One of the most heated debates in the wine world concerns the use of the adjective natural to describe the subject. Is there such a thing as natural wine? If some wines are natural, are others not natural? Who decides which wines are natural and which are not? The discussion goes back a long way. In the 19th century, for the first time, a distinction was made between natural and artificial wines; in the latter, adjustments are made during production, and they are created by mixing water, ethanol and other substances (a practice that is currently prohibited). At that time, the distinction emerged as a reaction to a novel technique, chaptalization, which consists of sweetening the must to increase the alcohol content after fermentation. Although still used today by a minority of winemakers, not everyone liked chaptalization; among other reasons, because it improved the quality of the wine in areas not amenable to producing good wines, which meant more competition in a market unaccustomed to threats. In spite of everything, the advance of oenological methods discovered in the second half of the 19th century were imposed on the traditional ways of winemaking. However, in mid 20th-century France, faced with the standardization of acidulants, stabilizers and antiseptics and processes like filtration, a countercurrent emerged, founded by Jules Chauvet, a wine merchant and viticulture expert who began to make wine without sulfur dioxide. Soon, Chauvets methods were followed by Jacques Neauport and Marcel Lapierre, in Beaujolais, and Pierre Overnoy, in the Jura; they are all considered to be pioneers of natural wines, as we understand them today. In Spain, the movement began in 2008 when the Association of Natural Wine Producers (PVN) was founded by 11 wineries, mostly from Catalonia and Andalusia, who rallied around Benoit Valee, a French winemaker who opened lAnima del Vi in Barcelona, a charming natural wine bar that had already become a mecca. At the time of the associations founding, Valee wrote the following: When someone buys natural orange juice, everyone understands that it is juice that comes from a squeezed orange, nothing else! To those who criticize the term natural wine, let them tell me if sweetened orange juice with added vitamin B, coloring [and] preservatives, which has been refined and pasteurized, still seems to be natural orange juice, just because it comes from an orange. Valee hit the nail on the head in the previous paragraph. According to the law on vineyards and wines, which has been in effect since 2003, wine is the natural foodstuff obtained exclusively by alcoholic fermentation, in whole or in part, from fresh grapes, whether crushed or not, or from grape must. Thus, one might think that all wines are natural because they come exclusively from grapes or must, but it is not that simple. Mon Vinic Winery in Barcelona. Albert Garcia People are unaware that wine can have more than 60 ingredients: adjuvants, additives, sulfite levels ranging from zero to 400 milligrams per liter; wine is a paradigmatic example of information asymmetry in the market, because the bottle does not convey to the consumer what the producer does, says Eva Parga, a researcher at the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA), a Spanish Research Council center. As Valee warned, it is difficult to argue that a product with more ingredients than Coca-Cola can be called natural. But since there are wines made from grapes and only grapes, it is worth asking how we should distinguish them, especially when many people who make natural wine believe that they make wine, just wine, and reject the adjective natural. If you work clean and work well, why do you have to justify it and prove it, and not if you fill it with shit, contaminate and poison people? asks Nacho Gonzalez, the owner of the La Perdida winery, in Valdeorras, and a member of the PVN. Despite that reluctance, which many winemakers share, the PVN has its own rather loose definition of natural wine: It is wine made with natural grapes, without adding or removing anything from the grapes. The result is a faithful reflection of the land from which the wine is born. On the other side of the Pyrenees mountains, the French are more precise. In 2019, a group of French winemakers created the syndicat de defense des vins naturels [union for the defense of natural wines], an association that goes beyond offering a definition; the irrepressible Gauls have also launched the Vin Methode Nature label, a label for which wineries from all over the world are eligible. Jorge Vega is the owner of Puerta del Viento. In 2021, this winery from Bierzo was the first in Spain to obtain the French certificate; it is one of only five that have it outside France. Vega maintains that a natural wine is made by the winegrower himself; it is the result of organic, biodynamic, regenerative or mixed viticulture; it is made without additives or the use of cold during fermentation and, in addition, all the winemakers production is natural. Unsurprisingly, his point of view coincides with the conditions required to obtain the Vin Methode Nature certification. The idea of a certification for natural wines, and thus an official definition of them, has been circulating for some time. In fact, we must return to researcher Eva Parga: for a few years now, she and fellow researcher Pablo Alonso have been conducting an international study on this subject. Drawing on sociology, anthropology, sensory studies and toxicology, we scientifically analyze whether natural wine is different from conventional wine, what consumers think about whether or not this difference exists and their opinion on whether there should be a certificate that distinguishes natural wines or not, Alonso explains. Parga and Alonsos research suggests that the certificate would be welcome. We asked consumers what they preferred, and, in order of preference, we concluded that the complete list of ingredients should appear, that there should be a certificate for natural wines, that there should not be regulation and that a QR code should be included, says Parga. Serving a natural wine in Mon Vinic, Barcelona. Albert Garcia On December 8, 2023, the unjustifiable moratorium exempting the wine industry from listing ingredients on its labels came to an end. That exception has limited the consumers right to information since food labeling rules were established in Europe in 1976, and it undergirds the asymmetry of information in the market that Parga mentioned above. From now on, bottles will incorporate a QR code, the least appealing option for consumers, according to the Spanish Research Council study; the code was nevertheless promoted by the Comite Europeen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV), a powerful lobby. This QR code will link to a virtual label where ingredients, nutritional information and other data will appear, but it will not include adjuvants, the catalysts of physico-chemical processes that represent about half of what can be added to wine. While regulation could have been good news, it represents a lost opportunity. Perhaps it is more important today than ever to officially define what natural wine is and consider whether a certification that visually distinguishes it is appropriate. But in the wine world, that generates the fiercest disputes. The seal would be for the industry, as happened with the eco. The most basic thing would be to put the ingredients, to see if there are eggs, summarizes Nacho Gonzalez, who, like many members of the VPN and its supporters, fears that a hypothetical seal would homogenize natural wines, bury winemakers in even more bureaucracy than they already have to deal with and sweep artisan producers out of the market in favor of industrial ones. However, for winemakers like Jorge Vega, a label is a good idea. I did it to see how the French seal worked, and I have seen that it is easy and that I can do it, but my motivation is the consumers right to information, this winegrower argues. He adds that in markets with more suspicious consumers, such as the Danish market, certification is an argument in favor of buying a wine. Jordi Luque is a journalist, writer and communications consultant. He has been writing about liquid and solid gastronomy since 2010 and is the author of Vinos libres: vinos artesanos, vinos unicos, vinos sin etiquetas (Free Wines: Artisan Wines, Unique Wines, Wines without Labels), a book about natural wines, which received the 2023 Best of the World Gourmand Award. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Author traces Mafia from Sicily to U.S., New Orleans and New York in first of triology Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed Global media have focused on 2024 as the super year of elections, with some 3.7 billion people across more than 70 countries heading to the polls. Elections are high stake events which require significant investment so people can exercise their political voice, choose their representatives, and hold public officials accountable. About one out of every four countries in Latin America and the Caribbean will hold an electoral process this year, providing more than 140 million people the opportunity to indicate their preferences, with the potential to reshape the political landscape in the region. National or local elections taking place against a backdrop of high levels of distrust in public institutions and politicians globally, dysfunctional governance, extreme levels of information pollution, disregard for rule of law, and a weakening of independent institutions may not deliver the outcomes that matter to people. Disinformation coupled with offline and online electoral violence are decimating citizens trust in electoral processes, further accelerating concerns of democratic backsliding. Voters expect that their views are represented, that elected representatives will deliver what they have promised, and that people can hold elected officials accountable when they do not deliver. There is no doubt that democracy as an ideal retains high levels of support globally. Some 81% of people interviewed by the last round of the World Values Survey said that living in a democratic country matters. Similarly, the Open Society Foundations survey of over 36, 000 respondents from across 30 countries found 80% wanted to live in a democracy. However, dissatisfaction with the actual functioning of democracy is growing. A recent global survey found high levels of disillusionment among younger people about the point of elections. Young people around the world hold the least faith in democracy of any age group and do not trust politicians to tackle issues related to the climate crisis and rising income inequality. Robust democratic governance that can deliver for people Resilient democracies require good governance which cannot be created overnight but is built on accountable social and political institutions, with norms, values and a culture based on respect for human rights. We have seen numerous examples of how bad governance can limit human development, inhibit economic progress, and contribute to suffering and abuse. In some contexts, this disaffection has fueled the increased incidence of violent political expression and coups. Indeed, in September 2021, the U.N. Secretary-General stated with concern that coups are back. Elections alone will not deliver the things people care about and build trust in public authority the foundation of democratic institutions also has to be strong. Experience has shown that for elections to matter to people, they need to be part of a strong democratic governance system in which people experience the rule of law, with institutions which provide checks and balances on the use of power and curb corruption. People also require reliable information and opportunities to make their voices heard on issues that matter to them in between elections, as well as access without discrimination to quality public services. As one of the largest providers of electoral assistance, UNDP plays a key role in supporting peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral processes as a cornerstone of democracy and as part of broader support to democratic governance. UNDP together with the U.N. System is providing technical assistance to about 20 countries that will or may hold elections in 2024. With an investment of 8.5 million ($9.16 million) since 2021, UNDP and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) have established a global partnership for electoral assistance to make elections more inclusive, trustworthy, and safer in 21 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia and the Pacific. This work is focused on preparing electoral management bodies for new risks, such as disinformation and digital violence; strengthening the capacity of historically excluded populations to participate effectively in electoral processes; and enhancing whole-of-society responses to promote information integrity. This July, the U.N. High Level Political Forum (HLPF) will review in-depth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 which focuses on many of the core elements of democratic governance, promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies. The Global Progress Report on SDG 16 cautions that progress on SDG 16 is worryingly slow and in some cases, it is even moving in the wrong direction. Forty countries, eight from Latin America and the Caribbean, will be presenting their national reviews on progress on the SDGs including SDG 16. As we stand in the first quarter of this super-year of elections, it is imperative to invest in resilient systems of democratic governance, so people see their vote as meaningful and contributing to the outcomes they care about. Marcos Neto is the U.N. Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDPs Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In this image made from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP) Victorias Health Department is seeking advice on funding a meningococcal B vaccine as a new analysis shows that more than 1000 Australians have caught the deadly disease in the past decade. Melbourne father Paul Wright has been lobbying the state government to fund free meningococcal B vaccines after his teenage son Lachy was struck down with the disease in December and almost died. In the space of an hour he went from being able to hold a conversation to being non-responsive, Wright said. Paul Wright says his son Lachy is lucky to be alive after he contracted meningococcal B last year and wound up in intensive care. Credit: Eddie Jim Last week, the Frankston South resident received a letter from Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas saying the Health Department would seek expert public health advice on the use and funding of meningococcal B vaccine in Victoria. Thomas wrote that while the incidence of meningococcal B remained stable in Victoria, the department was monitoring the risk the disease posed. On a recent morning train ride, a young man sat in the middle of a bench seat and spread his bags on either side of him so no one else could sit. Later, on an inter-city train, another had his chair reclined to its limit so the elderly person behind him had to squeeze past for her seat. Bloody entitled Gen-Xers and Millennials! But I had a sneaking admiration for them too. Because a strong sense of entitlement can bring rewards far, far greater than a train seat to yourself or a nice snooze on a long journey, although thats a good start. Bloody entitled Millennials. But I have a sneaking admiration for them too. Just look at the opposite: an excessive dose of humility. The meek dont inherit the earth; only a place on societys bottom rung. You see it in older people all the time. My parents used to visit Sydney regularly and stay at the same hotel. Every time, theyd be given the same room on the ground floor with a bathroom so small they could barely sit down on the toilet without dislocating both knees. But would they ask for another? Never! Since they never complained, the hotel obviously thought they were doing them a favour. A new, standalone Coroners Court in NSW would replace the outdated system in which regional magistrates act as part-time coroners in a long-awaited modernisation recommended by the states justice department. A review of the Coroners Court, released last week, recommended a series of changes including making death prevention an explicit focus of the courts work and, where possible, reducing formality and technicality in proceedings. The Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court in Lidcombe. Credit: Rhett Wyman Creating a standalone court within the Local Court framework is the centrepiece reform recommended in the review, conducted by the Department of Communities and Justice for Attorney-General Michael Daley. But the recommendation is made subject to a caveat that resources are available. Under the existing hybrid model, NSW does not have a specialist Coroners Court. It exists within the Local Court structure and employs fewer than 10 full-time coroners in Sydney, including State Coroner Teresa OSullivan, to handle metropolitan cases. Regional magistrates act as part-time coroners elsewhere in the state. It is part of popular culture: he looks at her from above and she stands on tiptoe to hang on his neck so she can kiss him. The beauty standards imposed by Hollywood for over a century have dictated that men must be taller, always, no matter what and under any circumstances. It is worth remembering the mockery that 55 Tom Cruise endured when, in the middle of his courtship with 59 Nicole Kidman, he was forced to wear platforms so that she would not be taller than him in photos. Kidman was four inches taller, and any reference to height was practically a taboo topic in the couples interviews. Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in 1999. Leonardo Cendamo (Leonardo Cendamo) However, for some time now, there have been more and more examples of the opposite, i.e., of men who have no problem standing at shoulder level with their girlfriends or wives on red carpets. There are also increasingly more women who dont mind if they have to stand on tiptoe to give them a kiss. Theres Zendaya, who is 59, and Tom Holland, who is two inches shorter than her. Holland, by the way, was a great fit for his height to star in the latest Spider-Man saga. Whats more, he took advantage of the promotional tour to make jokes about his height: Recent studies suggest that the sex life of short men is more intense and satisfying, he proudly affirmed. Nor has height prevented Rosalia, 54, from being photographed making out with Jeremy Allen White, who is 56. In an interview with EL PAIS, Spanish actor Miguel Herran said not long ago that, although he was aware that beauty was subjective, there was a basic standard he did not meet: height. Herran confessed that he had suffered as a child when girls told him: Lets see, Miguel; I like you, but youre too short. To this day, he still meets people on the street who tell him that they are surprised by his height: There are certain things in our society about which people are unabashedly opinionated. And there are other things that you cant mess with. I experienced this the other day at the Tuschinski Theater in Amsterdam. A group of Spanish girls came up to me and said: Can we tell you something? We didnt expect you to be short. And I replied: Well, I understand. Because its not the first time, Im not offended. But its not nice to hear. One only has to scroll through Tinder, or any other dating app, to see that most straight men include their height in their descriptions if they are tall. In some apps, like Bumble, you can even filter by height. However, a Bumble Spain study says that Short king spring is now a trend. Height is no longer a requirement for over 30% of singles on Bumble, especially for generation Z, where one in three singles admitted that they are now more open to dating someone shorter than them. Mental connection Emotional aspects are gaining a lot of traction in the search for new connections. In 2024, Spanish singles are living their dating lives in a more open and exploratory way. For many people, this includes dating people [based on factors] beyond their physical appearance, says the Bumble spokeswoman. Aida Lopez, psychologist and director of Bangardia, concurs, adding that Sexual role models and those related to physical and mental attraction are changing in the new generations, who attach more value to a mental connection than to a physical one. The obsession with height has a psychological explanation: Tall men give women the feeling of protection and security, which makes them feel more feminine, Lopez explains. Another factor to consider is that average height varies greatly from country to country. According to a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the average height of men in Spain is 57. The Danes are the tallest in Europe at an average of 510 tall. So, in Denmark a 59 man would be considered short, while in Spain he would be tall. Psychologist Andrea Mezquida Ortega observes a change in the mentality of the women who go to her office: More and more importance is attached to good emotional intelligence, affective responsibility, knowing how to communicate, and being empathetic, over something as unimportant as height, she explains. At least in this respect, ideal men are no longer so far away. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has accused the United Nations of antisemitism at a rally in Sydney while warning a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not currently viable. Thousands gathered in The Domain on Sunday for the event organised by a Christian pastor to support members of the Jewish community, under the slogan Never Again Is Now. Former prime minister Scott Morrison attacked the United Nations at a rally against antisemitism held in Sydney. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone Morrison, who travelled to southern Israel with former British prime minister Boris Johnson in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attacks, told Jewish members of the crowd we honour you as fellow Australians. We are deeply sorry, Morrison said. Sadly instead of finding consolation, on too many occasions you found isolation, and even abandonment, and even persecution, in this, a free country. Instead of safety you were confronted with threats and even hatred. The magnificent tall ship the James Craig on Sunday marked 150 years since its launch, escorted by a flotilla of historic vessels on Sydney Harbour. With dignitaries aboard, the iron barque, the flagship of the Sydney Heritage Fleet, took an anniversary turn from the Australian National Maritime Museum at Pyrmont to Bradleys Head and back. There was champagne, canapes, performing minstrels, an escort by firefighter tugs spraying hydrants and, of course, plenty of cannon fire. Built for grain merchant Thomas Dunlop, the ship was launched in Sunderland, northern England on February 18, 1874. In a $30 million restoration project, it was transformed from a rusting hulk abandoned in the mud of Recherche Bay in southern Tasmania, refloated in 1972 and unceremoniously towed back to Sydney. The birthday celebrations came after the death earlier this month of the ships principal benefactor, Robert Albert of Albert Music, the longstanding music publishers whose rights catalogue has included AC/DC, The Easybeats, Icehouse and John Paul Young. Are we in the right place? the young woman asked, holding up her phone with an image of a picturesque cave. I found it on TikTok. We were standing in the car park of Forrest Caves beach at Phillip Island in the brilliant mid-morning sun, but her lack of local knowledge made it clear the woman and her large group were visiting the area. The stretch of beach at Forrest Caves where four people drowned last month. Credit: Justin McManus She was in the right place, I told her. But her group was also shocked to learn four people had died at this location just weeks ago after reportedly wading into the water. This beach could be extremely dangerous, I said, shortly before they climbed the stairs and disappeared over the dunes towards the caves. Authorities and tourism experts say visitors are being increasingly drawn to stunning coastal locations by social media posts, while safety messages remain stubbornly hard to deliver. Surging numbers of young Victorians are attending two years of kindergarten, but some community and council-run centres fear for their future as they struggle to fund and accommodate the state governments free kinder policy. The introduction of two years of free kinder had boosted Victorian preschool attendance to above the national average, cut costs for families and prompted a scramble for early childhood teachers and educators. Jacinta Warburton and son Max at Summerhill Park Kindergarten. Credit: Simon Schluter Early childhood education and care in Victoria has undergone hugely positive changes in the past five years, said Andrew Cameron, chief executive of the Early Learning Association of Australia. Were leading the nation in this space. Geelong not-for-profit Meli has been overwhelmed with demand for free kinder, with its Mount Duneed kindergarten enrolling 261 children since it opened nine months ago. A key executive at one of Australias most prestigious universities has questioned whether the federal government is imposing a migration cap by stealth in its dramatic slashing of visa approvals. Australian National Universitys associate director of international intakes Brendon Lutwyche said there would be a huge outcry if the mining sector was dealt a similar hit to that of tertiary institutions. His self-described political social media statement drew broad applause. Lutwyche said he feared foreign students would be the target of political rhetoric. His statement was in effect a heated intervention on migration from the top-tier Group of Eight coalition of universities. Executives at some of Australias most prestigious universities have hit back over the crackdown on foreign student numbers. Credit: Edwina Pickles The federal government is refusing student visas at record levels targeting applications for the vocational training sector and lower-tier institutions to drive down net overseas migration and bolster the integrity of tertiary education. Migrants coming to Australia boost productivity and lift the wages of all locals, especially those with fewer skills or less education, international research into the nations immigration intake has revealed. Amid a growing debate about immigration after a record number of people entered the country over the past 12 months, four separate research papers by the OECD show parts of Australia with higher inflows of migrants gain an economic benefit of almost $1500 a person. A series of research papers about Australias immigration program has found migrants boost wages and lift productivity. Credit: Bloomberg Net overseas migration reached a record 518,100 people in the 12 months to the end of September, taking overall population growth to 2.4 per cent, the highest percentage in half a century. More than 174,000 net overseas migrants called NSW home during the year, most of whom moved to Sydney, while Victoria accounted for another 154,000 people, with Melbourne their city of choice. Victorian senator Ralph Babet has distanced himself from a neo-Nazi who published a photo of himself appearing to give a Nazi salute while posing with the politician. Senator Ralph Babet (left) with Nathan Bull. Credit: X On Saturday night, Nathan Bull, a member of the National Socialist Network, posted a photo of himself and Babet on social media site X with the caption Heil Ralph Babet, Heil our people, followed by two keyboard characters that look like a stick figure image of a person giving the gesture. The salute is outlawed in Victoria. Bull also appears to be performing a partial Nazi salute in the photo, below shoulder height. Babet is looking into the camera, giving a thumbs-up and is not looking at Bulls hand. Babet, from the United Australia Party (UAP), told The Age on Sunday that he had no knowledge of the photo, had not seen it and did not support Nazi ideology or the far right. Donald Trumps flagship Trump Tower in Manhattan could be seized if the former president does not honour a hefty fine and a ban on him operating a business in the state, experts suggested. Trump, 77, was found liable for fraud and issued $US355 million ($545 million) in fines by a New York judge on Friday, dealing a major financial and reputational blow to the real estate tycoon as he seeks to regain the presidency. The New York civil case could end up barring him from doing business in the state where he built his real estate empire. Credit: Bloomberg Judge Arthur Engorons sweeping verdict came after a months-long civil trial featuring testimony from Trump and his three eldest children. He found that Trumps eponymous company had submitted blatantly false information to obtain more favourable loans. Chinese FM urges Canada to create positive elements for bilateral relations Xinhua) 16:41, February 18, 2024 MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- It is hoped that Canada could establish a correct understanding of China, take a long-term view of bilateral relations and provide a positive perspective for their practical cooperation, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Saturday. China-Canada relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries, and the current difficult situation is not what China wants to see, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, when meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly. Noting that stabilizing and improving China-Canada relations is in the fundamental interests of both countries, Wang said the two economies are highly complementary and there is no conflict of fundamental interests between the two sides. The two sides are not rivals, let alone enemies, and should be partners of cooperation, said Wang. As China and Canada differ in system, history and culture, the two sides should respect and learn from each other to expand consensus, rebuild trust to achieve win-win cooperation, noted Wang. Wang also called for a stop hyping up the "China threat" theory, spreading false allegations of Chinese interference in Canada's internal affairs, or overstretching the concept of national security regarding exchanges in trade, science and technology. The two sides should earnestly respect each other's core interests, and take concrete actions to preserve the political foundation of bilateral relations, he said. Joly extended to the Chinese side her greetings for the Chinese New Year, noting that Canada pursues pragmatic diplomacy and is committed to improving bilateral relations. She said Canada is willing to work with China to overcome difficulties, build trust, carry out cooperation in climate change, biodiversity, public health and other fields, and strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges. She also said that Canada will continue to adhere to the one-China policy. The two sides also exchanged views on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Panama the youngest nation in Latin America united Central and North America with South America, while connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific. Its a small country of enormous contrasts, filled with diverse tourist attractions. Like small floating corks in the immense bay, countless gigantic merchant ships wait their turn to change oceans in front of the Panama Canal. The capital, Panama City, outlines its imposing profile of skyscrapers against stormy clouds. Ancient enclaves such as Casco Viejo the Old Town of Panama and Panama Viejo are in the same capital, but theyre not the same as modern Panama City, much of which is crowded with skyscrapers. The capital is the Latin Manhattan, or the Hispanic Hong Kong an important financial center and a modern, cosmopolitan and multiracial metropolis, with great cultural offerings. One institution that stands out is the Biomuseum. Brightly-colored and containing Panamas ecological history, it was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Meanwhile the citys leisure and gastronomy scenes are equally interesting and varied: it is possible to enjoy nature in the nearby Metropolitan National Park hiking, bird-watching, or enjoying incomparable views of the city skyline to restaurants offering the best international cuisine. The outside of the Biomuseo in Panama City, a project by Frank Gehry. David Coleman (Have Camera Will Panama Viejo Old Panama is the colonial city that was built over Indigenous territory, before the pirate Henry Morgan destroyed it in 1671. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, its designed in a reticular shape oriented towards the four cardinal points and has the classic Spanish plaza mayor or main square at its center. About 20 minutes away by car, in the district of San Felipe, is Casco Viejo (the Old Town). Having suffered repeated fires over time, its current configuration dates back to the end of the 19th century. Efforts have been made to preserve and restore colonial, neoclassical and Art Deco buildings. Today, its very inviting for visitors, who can stroll through quiet cobbled streets during the daytime to enjoy the monuments, elegant restaurants and fine shops. In the night, however, its significantly noisier: several old mansions have been converted into nightclubs. The Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Independencia or (the most popular) Plaza Catedral have always been the epicenter of the Old Town. Theyve witnessed major national events, such as independence from Spain in 1821, or the separation from Colombia in 1903. Here, there are two emblematic buildings: Santa Maria La Antigua, which is a basilica with a notable baroque-colonial style, and the Central Hotel Panama, the first luxury hotel that was ever built in the country. Over its 150 years of life, it has accommodated major personalities, such as Theodore Roosevelt. Other interesting places and monuments in the Old Town are Plaza Simon Bolivar, Plaza Herrera, the Church of La Merced, the Church of of San Jose famous for its legendary Golden Altar, a notable baroque altarpiece covered in gold leaf the Oratory of San Felipe Neri, the Church of San Francisco de Asis, the ruins of the Convent of Santo Domingo and the Church of the Society of Jesus, which housed the first Panamanian university. Among the official and civil buildings, you can check out the Bolivar Palace, the Palacio de las Garzas the presidential palace, named after the storks that walk the courtyards the National Theater, the Gongora House (one of the oldest in the country) the Boyaca House, the Heurtematte Houses, the Calvo Mansion and the Art Deco House. The Central Hotel Panama, the first luxury hotel that was ever built in the country, in front of Plaza de la Independencia, in the Old Town of the Panamanian capital. Bogdan Lazar (Alamy / Cordon Pre In the Old Town, there are accommodations and tables for all types of budgets. Among the hotels and restaurants to highlight, one of the latest and most notable establishments is recommended: La Compania, a tasteful hotel, converted from a Jesuit convent. Several architectural and archeological elements from different periods remain, while the residential wings and themed restaurants relate to the esthetics and cuisines of the different countries that had a presence in or historical influence on Panama (Spain, France and the United States). Even if youre not going to sleep or eat, its advisable to visit. Another excellent and brand new hotel is the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, located in a privileged location on the edge of the Pacific, with unbeatable views of the Panama City skyline. Good restaurants to enjoy Panamanian cuisine and have a drink in the Old Town are Casablanca and Lo que hay (whatever there is). Lets get back to Panama Viejo, the name given today to the archeological site that preserves the ruins of the original city of Panama, which was founded by Pedrarias Davila in 1519 and destroyed by the English pirate Henry Morgan. In its heyday, it was the place where gold from Peru arrived. After crossing the isthmus and changing oceans, it was sent to Spain. Among the ruins, theres an old tower, which used to be the church-cathedral. This large area, occupied by the remains of Old Panama, is undoubtedly worth a visit. The ruins of the Church of the Society of Jesus, in Casco Viejo. Leonid Andronov (Getty Images) Colonial fortresses and Caribbean beaches In a single day, I counted 200 mules loaded with silver and gold piles of silver ingots piled up like stones in the streets. In a few days, everything was loaded into a fleet [made up] of eight galleons and 10 merchant ships. This is how, in 1637, the English clergyman Thomas Gage described the incredible spectacle that he witnessed in the streets of the port town of Portobelo. Years before, Bartolome de las Casas, the Dominican friar who chronicled the colonization of the West Indies, had written something similar, referring to the enormous movement of precious metals that took place in the port of Nombre de Dios, located in contemporary Panama: From there, it embarked for Spain [after arriving] from Peru enormous amount of gold, never seen, nor even dreamed of. For almost three centuries, the two trails that linked Old Panama along the Pacific with the Caribbean Camino Real and the Camino de Cruces were, in the colonial era, the routes along which the most wealth traveled in the world. Created by the Spanish monarchy, a naval force was charged with protecting the enormous quantities of gold, silver and precious stones that, coming from the Viceroyalty of Peru, regularly arrived in Old Panama. From there, the immense treasures continued their journey, until reaching the port of Nombre de Dios and then Portobelo, on the Atlantic coast. From here, the West Indies Fleet finally delivered the precious shipments to Spain. To protect the circulation of so much treasure from English piracy, Spain built different fortifications at key points along the trade routes that crossed the isthmus. One of them was the San Lorenzo Fort, located on top of a high cliff overlooking the mouth of the Chagres River in the Caribbean. The stronghold ordered to be built by Philip II of Spain was designed by the expert engineer Bautista Antonelli. Over the centuries, the place suffered different attacks by privateers and British sailors (Francis Drake, in 1596; Henry Morgan, in 1671; Edward Vernon, in 1740). An obligatory visit allows travelers to enjoy spectacular views of the jungle, the river and the ocean, while witnessing a magnificent example of military defensive architecture. From Old Panama on the Pacific, to the Atlantic or Caribbean ports, the two aforementioned routes could be followed in colonial times: one by land (Camino Real) and the other by land, river and sea (Camino de Cruces). Both reached Nombre de Dios and Portobelo. As the port town of Portobelo had better conditions than Nombre de Dios to organize the defense of the enclave, with the passage of time, all commercial activity eventually was concentrated there. For this reason, Portobelo preserves remains of several fortifications that protected its bay and its natural port, the most important being the San Jeronimo Fort, the San Fernando Fort and the Santiago Fort. All these defensive enclosures, unlike that of San Lorenzo, are still awaiting their well-deserved restoration. However, at sunset, its old walls made of coral stone and the many cannons scattered along its walls make for an evocative experience. The fortifications of Portobelo have also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. The San Jeronimo Fort, in the Panamanian port town of Portobelo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. MarcPo (Getty Images) One Renaissance building that has recently been restored is the splendid and historic Royal Customs headquarters, built in 1630. From here, the colonial transoceanic trade was administered. The Church of San Felipe, which houses the famous and venerated Black Christ of Portobelo, is another obligatory stop. Wandering around the town, one can imagine the frenetic and chaotic hustle and bustle that the city experienced when the Fleet of the West Indies arrived with products from the Peninsula. If you stop for a drink in this town, located about two hours by car from Panama City, a good place to eat is El Castillo, which has a magnificent patio facing the sea. Casa Congo is another establishment that also hits the spot. The surroundings of Portobelo offer plenty of opportunities to go hiking in the nearby natural parks, or to enjoy the clear waters and Caribbean coves spread throughout the areas coastline. A good plan could be to travel by boat along the coast towards Isla Grande, where youll spend the night at the Candy Rose Hotel, or at the Bananas Village. But before that, and throughout the day, you should try to sail through the mangroves, take a dip, sunbathe, or go snorkeling in one of the many coves or water spots that are found along the route. Its a good idea to eat in the small coastal town of Cacique. There, you can choose between several places. Trying shrimp and fried fish with plantains at Margaritas small Caribbean restaurant wont disappoint. She does it all with love: she cooks and she serves the four tables herself. Aerial view of the Panamanian city of Portobelo. MarcPo (iStockphoto / Getty Imag Tropical jungles and lost paradise Getting to Playa Muerto isnt easy or quick. First, from Panama City, you have to drive five or six hours on bumpy roads. Then, from Puerto Quimba, three more hours by speedboat along the Iglesia River, along the Pacific coast, until you finally reach the northeastern end of the Darien Biosphere Reserve, a national park and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Playa Muerto is a remote place that can only be accessed by sea. But when you reach it, youll find a small, lost paradise thats almost surreal. The town, made up of members of the Indigenous Embera ethnic group, leads a way of life thats in deep harmony with nature. It seems like its from another time. A naturally conservationist community, the residents are careful to preserve their cultural identity, their traditions and their environment. Its not a coincidence that the word Embera means good man. Secluded from the world, on the edge of the jungle, near a wild, idyllic beach full of palm trees, 200 members of the community live in houses built on stilts. They fish for protein and grow everything they need bananas, cassava, rice, corn, coffee at the mouth of the Jesus River, or in the South Sea. The Embera have their own language. They adorn themselves and paint their bodies colorfully. And, while theyre no strangers to certain advances and comforts of modern society, they persevere in keeping their ancestral rites and customs alive. Women, for example, usually go about topless, cooking directly over fire and serving food and drinks in bowls made from gourd (a type of large fruit similar to the coconut). Members of the Embera community. Cindy Hopkin (Alamy) Playa Muerto is a perfect destination for travelers eager to experience beautifully-preserved nature, while sleeping, eating and living in the community that the Embera have long maintained. Nowadays, the few visitors who venture here are either passengers on small cruise ships who reach the beach by canoe and spend time with the Indigenous community, or small groups of tourists that enter the jungle to explore the region, taking all kinds of treks to bird-watch or locate the tracks of jaguars and pumas. At certain times of the year, you can also see whales in the ocean, or see several species of turtles laying eggs. Only a handful of local organizations offer these activities. Among the most professional and recommended are Ecotour Darien and Dynamo Travel. Their respective managers, Erasmo de Leon and Gustavo Zevallos, are very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the practically virgin Darien ecosystem. They, along with the Panama Tourism Authority, are also helping the Indigenous population of Playa Muerto to maintain their culture by providing them with supplementary resources and creating appropriate opportunities, so that their community can enjoy sustainable development. And, of course, the Canal According to Jeronimo Welchs, an expert guide for Aventuras 2000, the main Panamanian tour operator, no one who visits Panama should leave the country without visiting the Canal. It was Emperor Charles V of Spain who, in 1534, was the first to study the possibility of building a canal in Panama that would link the Atlantic with the Pacific through the narrowest part (50 miles) of the Panamanian isthmus. But the project had to wait until 1880 for the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps to try and bring it to completion. After more than eight years and 20,000 dead workers, the project was suspended, until it was resumed by the United States, which completed the canal in 1914. Since then, the Panama Canal has continued to operate normally. In 2006, to allow larger ships to cross, it was decided that what practically amounted to a second canal had to be created, with wider, longer and deeper locks. This was inaugurated in 2016. Today, the Panama Canal continues to be one of the main sources of income for the country (6.8% of GDP), while representing 6% of the worlds commercial transportation. View of the Panama Canal from the Agua Clara Visitor Center. Mabelin Santos (Alamy / Cordon P This impressive work of modern engineering as well as the maneuvers of large cargo ships making their way from Gatun Lake to the Atlantic Ocean can be seen from the Agua Clara Visitor Center, near the city of Colon. You can also watch a film that offers all kinds of details about the Canal: its history, the functions of the artificial Gatun Lake, the biodiversity of the environment that the project is built through, the operation of the locks, the number and types of boats that cross per day and the cost of cargo. The closer you get to Panama City, its also possible to learn everything about the Canal from the Pacific side at the Miraflores Visitor Center. The countrys tourism slogan tries to convey, among other things, that, in Panama, there are many things to experience and discover: We dare you to live for more. Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Wrap-up February 11-17, 2024 Auto Central February 18, 2024; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Auto Channel Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior Detroit editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau , compile The Auto Channel's "take" on this past week's automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets. LEARN MORE: Complete versions of today's news nuggets, along with thousands of pages of relevant news and opinions, information stored in a million-page library published and indexed on The Auto Channel during the past 25 years. Complete information can be found by copying a headline and inserting it into any Site Search Box. Here are Larry's story picks from this past week's important to you, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive news nuggets. for Nutson's Auto News Weekly Wrap-up February 11-17, 2024 * Sales slow. The U.S. new-vehicle market sales pace slowed in January 2024, despite lower prices and higher incentives. According to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company, the U.S. new-vehicle average transaction price (ATP) last month in the U.S. was $47,401, down 2.6% from December 2023 and down a remarkable 3.5% compared to January 2023. The average price paid for a luxury brand vehicle in January was $60,978, down from $62,834 in December and the lowest average transaction price since the summer of 2021. At $44,052, non-luxury vehicle prices were lower in January 2024 by 2.1% year over year. The average price paid for a new electric vehicle in January 2024 was $55,353. Year over year, EV prices have tumbled 10.8%. * EV info gap. Consumer Reports (CR) has a new survey of what Americans think about battery electric vehicles and low carbon fuels. The survey finds that around seven in ten Americans express some level of interest in buying or leasing an electric-only vehicle (EV). Among Americans who said they expect their next vehicle to be new, 38% said they would at least seriously consider getting an EV if they were to get a vehicle today. This however highlights a significant gap between consideration and actual purchases, as only around 7% of new vehicle purchases in 2023 were battery electric vehicles. Deeper analysis of the survey findings showed that overall consumer experience with EVs is very low. HERE * EV Sales annual increase. US DoE factoid of the week: Monthly sales of new Light-Duty EVs in the United States increased every month compared to the same month of the previous year from 2021 to 2023. A comparison of monthly EV sales data for the last three calendar years shows that for each individual month, EV sales increased significantly from the year before. The highest sales for a single month in 2021 was about 50,000 vehicles, for 2022 was about 80,000 vehicles, and in 2023 was over 100,000. Sales are often lowest in January following a rise that usually takes place in December. * EV price cuts. The Wall Street Journal reports some electric-vehicle startups are making another round of price cuts. Lucid Group cut the starting price of its Air sedan by 10%, to $69,900. Rivian cut the starting proice of its vehicles by $3,100, or about 4%. The auto industry's overestimation of EV demand during the past year has led to price reductions and discounts. Tesla, GM, Ford, Hyundai and Kia all cut prices as the pace of EV sales slowed. * Another EV charging network. Seven automakers joined forces to create Ionna, an electric vehicle charging network for North America, with the goal of 30,000 EV charging stations online by the end of the decade. BMW and Mercedes-Benz led the initiative for Ionna with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Stellantis joining as well. Expectations are the first chargers will be operational by early 2025. * Fill 'er up, fast. Current public charging stations for electric vehicles are far from meeting consumer wants and expectations. According to data from AutoPacifics recent EV Consumer Insights Study, future EV consumers have a long list of charging station attributes that are important to them. From easy to see and read charging speed and pricing signage to offering additional basic vehicle care services like windshield cleaner, air pumps for filling tires, and vacuums, future EV consumers would like a public charging experience that more closely mirrors traditional gasoline fueling stations. The study, conducted as a part of AutoPacifics annual Future Attribute Demand Study, surveyed over 7,200 future EV acceptors, those who either intend to purchase or will consider purchasing an EV in the near future, about their ideal public charging station attributes, reasons for wanting an EV, concerns about EV ownership and more. * Dependability issues. Vehicle owners are experiencing lower levels of vehicle dependability after three years of ownership, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS). The high number of problems owners encounter indicates a decline in long-term vehicle dependability, with increased levels of problems reported for nearly two-thirds of brands included in the study. The industry average has increased 4 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) year over year to 190 PP100 from 2023. The rate at which problems have increased between 90 days and three years of ownership has increased to 17%, up 5 percentage points from 12% in 2023. Lexus ranks highest among all brands for the second consecutive year; Toyota ranks highest among mass market brands. Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds * NIMBY. San Francisco police are investigating after a Waymo self-driving car was vandalized and set on fire in the citys Chinatown neighborhood during a Lunar New Year celebration. Video posted on social media shows the driverless car in flames. Waymo said a crowd vandalized the car and broke the window, before someone threw a firework inside that set the car on fire. No one was inside the car, according to the company. The incident was not the first time people harassed self-driving cars, but its severity signals growing public hostility toward the vehicles. * Dream on. Chrysler unveiled the Chrysler Halcyon Concept, exemplifying a fully electrified future of the Chrysler brand that embraces sustainability-driven exterior and interior design, full autonomy paired with personalized driving experiences and futuristic technology that expands on the brands Harmony in Motion ethos of customer-focused seamless connectivity. Chrysler will launch the brands first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 and will feature an all-electric portfolio in 2028. Reveal of Chrysler Halcyon Concept can be viewed online at https://www.chrysler.com/ * Bad drivers. Fatal car accidents are increasing across the country, with the number of deadly crashes climbing by nearly 10% from 2020 to 2022. Forbes Advisor compared the 50 most populated U.S. cities across five key metrics. Their analysis identifies the cities where drivers engage in the most hazardous behavior that threatens public safety. See where your city stacks up. HERE. * Get trucks off the street. From the Gothamist we read, New York City officials plan to turn six waterfront locations into maritime shipping hubs as a way to handle the booming number of e-commerce deliveries across the five boroughs. Details of the initiative were published through a request for proposals by the city Economic Development Corporation. It marks the latest step in Mayor Eric Adams Blue Highways plan to shift more of the citys freight off the streets and onto the rivers and harbors. The request seeks an engineering firm to design barge landings and access points where e-bikes and small delivery vehicles can transport cargo for the last mile of its journey. * Woops. In the Wall Street Journal we read the U.S. has impounded thousands of Volkswagen Group vehicles from its Audi, Bentley and Porsche brands at U.S. ports because the cars contained a part made by a Chinese supplier on a sanctions list for using forced labor in Xinjiang. VW said it had notified the U.S. after learning from the supplier that its products included parts made by the banned company. VW said it is process of retrofitting the vehicles and delivering them to dealers. * Auto rock stars. The Automotive Hall of Fame will induct six industry veterans in September, the Dearborn, Michigan nonprofit said. Inductees are: Bill Ford Jr., executive chairman of Ford Motor Co.; Betsy Ancker-Johnson, the first woman vice president in the automotive industry when she was hired in 1979 at General Motors Corp.; Aftermarket pioneer Vic Edelbrock Sr. and son Vic Edelbrock Jr.; John James Sr., who was the first African American given the ability to transport goods within Michigan and across state lines; Wendell Scott, the first Black team owner and driver to win in the Grand National Series of NASCAR (now Cup Series); Vivek Chaand Sehgal who founded Motherson Group with his mother, growing it into a major Tier 1 supplier. * Park Outside. Hyundai Group is recalling more than 90,000 Genesis vehicles due to a fire risk and owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until a repair is completed. The recall includes certain 2015-2016 Genesis, 2017-2019 Genesis G80, Genesis G90, and 2019 Genesis G70 vehicles. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, water may enter the starter solenoid and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving. * Start your engines. The 66th NASCAR Daytona 500, "The Great American Race", is Sunday. Joey Logano in his new Team Penske No. 22 Ford Dark Horse Mustang qualified fastest and won the pole. Logano secured his first Busch Light Pole Award at Daytona with a final-round lap of 181.947 mph. It is also the first Daytona 500 pole for Team Penske. The forty car field includes 17 Chevrolets, 14 Fords and 9 Toyotas. Stay safe. Be Well. Kind regards, Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy The Auto Channel ACT NOW! SANDESHKHALI violence indicates that the situation in West Bengal is deteriorating day by day. Also, the calls for imposition of the Presidents Rule in the violence-torn State are growing. This warrants the Central Government to act now, instead of waiting for the right opportunity from political point of view. For, a lot is at stake for people and social fabric in West Bengal. For years, politics and violence are intertwined in case of West Bengal. May it be the erstwhile Congress rule, or subsequent Leftist rule, or now Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule, political violence did not cease. Somehow, the political power structure in the State failed to think rationally when it came to allowing democratic dissent. In the past some years, West Bengal under TMC rule appears to have worsened the situation instead of working on bringing peace and social harmony. The State witnesses political violence in all three phases -- before the elections, during the polls, and after the announcement of election results. In most cases, the Opposition parties have been very vocal in accusing TMC goons of such violence. The cases of selective targeting, allegations of rape, setting houses on fire after locking people inside, crushing dissent, creating clashes if parties other than TMC are gaining an edge... All these things indicate that in the process of protecting political turf,TMC has resorted to all sorts of compromises.Thereby, it has not only earned a bad name for the State of West Bengal, but also shredded the social fabric with the sharp-edged weapon of fear. Ms. Mamata Banerjee acts less as a Chief Minister and more as TMC chief out there to keep political power with her, no matter if the people of West Bengal suffer. She has been brazen in attempts to subvert the Constitutional mechanisms. She has been actively engaged in challenging the powers of the Governor. In the blindness to oppose the BJPled Central Government, she has resorted to various antics including staging sit-in against transfer of officers, not extending co-operation to officials of Central agencies, and misusing State Police machinery to stop political opponents from even visiting the violence-hit places inWest Bengal.She has openly opposed implementation of various schemes and Citizenship Amendment Act. On one hand, she has been doing all these things. On the other, she has been trying to play a victim card. However, this is not an era when people submit to feudalistic politics. Today, people of West Bengal are seething with anger against TMC rule, nay, misrule. Now, it seems, it is irrational to expect TMC to correct its behaviour. Unfortunately, despite growing demands from various quarters regarding imposition of the Presidents Rule in West Bengal, it appears that the political dispensation in power at the Centre is waiting for the right opportunity from political point of view. Else, how can one explain the lack of visible concrete action on ground to restore law and order in the State? Such inaction is anathema to the concept of the Central Government being the custodian of the welfare and safety of the people. If the Centre continues to delay solid action against lawlessness in West Bengal, it will be guilty of collusion in the eyes of the victims of violence. Act Now! This should be the only principle to be followed if West Bengal is to be saved from further damage. For BJP, 370 not just a fig re or po sA real tribute to party fou ders: Modi NEW DELHI : FOR BJP, 370 was notjust a figure that it should set sights on achievingintheupcomingLok Sabha elections but it would be their way of paying tribute to saffron ideologue and one of the partys founders, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, said Prime MinisterNarendra Modiwhile addressing BJP party leaders at National Convention in the national capital on Saturday BJP national President J P Nadda delivered the opening address at the meeting while the key office-bearers also received certain instructions from Prime Minister Modi. PM Modi, in his address to the party cadre, added that BJPscandidatefortheupcoming Lok Sabha elections was nota facebutKamalKaPhool (its symbol). He exhorted all party workers to put in the hard days for 100 days to ensure a thumpingwinfortheBJPinthe ensuing general elections, Meanwhile, the convention passed a political resolution, Viksit Bharat-Modi ki guarantee, as a host of party leaders highlighted the Governments development andculturalmeasuresandvarious initiatives for southIndia, farmers and Sikhs. Defence Minister Rajnath Singhsaidinhis remarkswhile proposing the resolution that no Government has done asmuch for farmers as the oneled by Narendra Modi. Two Magsaysayawardees joinhands for thecause of society Staff Reporter : City psychiatrists come together to treat challenged destitutes THEIR strong will to work for the mentally challenged destitutes has finally crossed the legal hurdle. Now, two Magsaysay awardees, Dr Bharat Vatwani, founder trustee of Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation, which has been working for the cause of mentally ill and destitutes, and Padma Shri Dr Prakash Amte have come together to help the city psychiatrists succeed in their endeavour to provide better health care to mentally challenged destitutes. Dr Amte has made available the place at Ashok Van along Wardha Road to run the project while Dr Vatwanis Shraddha Foundation will help in establishing and running the centre. Long ago, Dr Ashish Bhattad, the then President of Psychiatrists Society of Nagpur (PSN), had thought of starting such a centre. But the idea could not beconverted into reality becauseof some legal issues. Now, under the presidentship of Dr Nikhil Pande, the association, finally, couldsucceed in setting up the centre which will be inauguratedat 11 am on Sunday at AshokVan in presence of Dr Amteand Dr Vatwani. There are a lot of issues withmentally challenged destitutes. Due to illiteracy and no family support, such personsremain untreated. Due to themental ailment, these peoplehave low intelligence quotientdue to which they are not ableto tell their identity, their residential address. Most of themare totally lost, their languagesmight be different. Dr Vatwani in his attempt to treat suchpeople cured hundreds of people who reunited with families. The foundation is doing this work in collaboration with three states n a m e l y - - O d i s h a , Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra so it takes the cases of people from these states, explained Dr Pande. During the programme, some 20 persons from different States who got cured are to be sent to their respective States.These patients are mostly from poor background who are left alone by their families mostly at railway station or bus stands in other states. The centre at Nagpur will handle the part of transition of patients also after their recovery.There are several places where mentally ill patients are treated in Nagpur but those are full. At Ashok Van, Dr Amte has provided huge place where wards have been planned for the patients stay. They will stay till they get cured. In many cases families dont accept them. In such cases centre again accommodates them. But our main concern is finding the patients and treating them. Dr Vatwani has done yeomans work in this particular sector so we will get a lot of support from him. We psychiatrists will go to the centre and treat the patients, said Dr Pande. their We dont trust police Sandeshkhali mother over notreporting goons child cruelty National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairperson Arun Haldar meets a victim of the Sandeshkhali violence in North 24 Parganas recently. KOLKATA : On February 10 goons came to my residence, snatched the child from my arms and flung her away, says the mother A WOMAN in Sandeshkhali whose child was snatched and flung by masked goons in police uniform, told the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) and the media on Saturday, that she didnt go the police for help after the incident as she doesnt trust the local cops. The WBCPCR woke up a week after the incident only after the District Magistrate got a notice from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), on Friday about the horrific incident in violence-hit Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. As the members of WBCPCR reached Sandeshkhali on Saturday morning, the mother of the child described the horrific experience that she underwent on the night of February 10, when goons came to their residence, snatched child from her arms and flung her away. The childs mother said although those who came to their residence on that night were in police uniform, some of them were wearing slippers instead of shoes worn by the police.They were all masked, she said. When the WBCPCR members asked why she did not file any police complaint immediately after the incident, the mother said that they do not have any faith in the local police. We do not trust the local police. We are still very scared. My husband is still staying away from home out of fear of being hounded. I am scared of what will happen after the members of the WBCPCR leave. I havetold everything to the commissions members, she toldmedia persons present duringthe interaction. The member of the visitingWBCPCR team said theybecame active immediatelyafter getting information about theincident and that they did not knowanything about it till now. On Friday, the NCPCR directed the District Magistrate (DM)of South 24 Parganas DistrictSharad Kumar Dwivedi to takeprompt action in the matter. In the letter, signed by Dharmendra Bhandari, Principal Private Secretary to the NCPCR Chairperson,theDMhas also been asked to arrange for the medical treatment of the child. Hehasalsobeenasked to ensure the safety and security of the victims family members,besides paying adequate compensation to the family and ensuring their proper rehabilitation and resettlement. The district administration has also been directed to share an actiontakenreportalong with the relevant documents with the commission within the next 48 hours. The child is now under treatment in a state-run medical facility. Advisor to the state child rights panel Sudeshna Roy told reporters,Wehavecome to ground zero to assess the situation. Our duty is togiveprotectiontoevery childinthestateandalso see their rights are protected.Wewilltalktothe mother of the child who was allegedly tortured, shesaid.Thesix-member team of the West Bengal Commission for ProtectionofChildRights which visited Sandeshkhali was led by its chairperson Tulika Das. Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, describes herself as a tough person. In August last year, she charged Donald Trump and 18 others on suspicion of setting up a mafia-like ring to alter the 2020 election results in Georgia. The indictment one of the most complicated court cases facing the former president was the result of two and a half years of painstaking investigation. But now it is Willis who finds herself in court. Her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired to help in the Trump investigation, may see her removed from the prosecution or even lead to the case being dismissed. Last weeks hearings in room 5A of the Fulton County court where Judge Scott McAfee will decide whether Willis should be removed from the case of a lifetime had all the makings of a soap opera. Witnesses spoke of love affairs, trips to exotic destinations, cruises in the Caribbean, visits to tattoo parlors in Central America and piles of cash hidden in homes. There was even the alleged betrayals of former friends. And more serious episodes of insults, harassment and death threats in one of the most politically significant court cases since, perhaps, special counsel Kenneth Starrs investigations into President Bill Clinton a quarter-century ago. At the center of it all is Fani Willis, the first female district attorney in the county. When asked personal questions about her private life, Willis fired back: Mr. Wade is a Southern gentleman. Me, not so much; A man is not a plan. A man is a companion and Men end relationships at the end of physical intimacy; women end relationships when that tough conversation takes place. In one of the most memorable moments of her testimony, she turned to criticize defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant: Youre confused. You think Im on trial. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. Im not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial. The controversy broke out in January, when the lawyers of Michael Roman who is accused along with Trump in the indictment filed allegations that Willis and Wade had been in a romantic relationship, and argued that this created a conflict of interest. They claimed that Willis had economically benefitted from hiring her then boyfriend in November 2021. The lawyers argue that Wade used his salary as a special prosecutor he earned $650,000 during this time to pay for luxury vacations for the two to destinations such as the Bahamas, Aruba and Napa Valley. According to the allegations, these trips took place during the investigation against the former president. Willis and Wade admitted in early February that they had had a personal relationship that ended in the summer of 2023. Both insist, however, that they became a couple only after Wade had been hired. The two also categorically reject the allegations that Willis profited from the relationship, arguing that they evenly split the expenses. On Thursday, defense attorneys questioned Wade about how he was paid, and how Willis reimbursed him for the trips. She was very emphatic and adamant about this independent, strong woman thing so she demanded that she paid her own way, Wade said. According to the special prosecutor, Willis paid him for the expenses in cash. When asked where this money came from, Willis replied: The source of the money is always the work, sweat and tears of me [...] My dad always told me to have at least six months worth of money in my house. Her father, John Floyd a retired lawyer who was also called to testify confirmed that keeping cash at home is a Black thing. Trumps defense lawyers also called to the stand Robin Yeartie, a former friend and colleague of Willis the two are no longer on speaking terms , who claimed that Willis and Wade started dating in 2019, much earlier than the two claim. Both refuted that statement. Judge McAfee said that he will call a new hearing for the end of next week or the beginning of the following week to hear the final arguments. Its not known when the judge will issue a verdict, but he has made it clear that he is taking the situation very seriously: when he called last weeks hearing, he warned that just the appearance of conflict of interest would be enough to disqualify Willis. An historic trial Whatever the judge decides, it will have a decisive impact on the future of the election subversion case in Georgia, the only one of the four facing Trump that he could not shelve if elected president. If Willis continues to lead the case, she may be in a weaker position going into what is set to be an historic trial. It may also be more difficult to select an impartial jury. If McAfee chooses to disqualify her and with her, her entire team the case would be assigned to another prosecutor in Georgia. The appointment would fall to the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia. The new person in charge may decide to continue the case as it is, introduce changes such as withdrawing charges or accusing more people or even dismiss it. Other voices have called on Willis to take the initiative and excuse herself from the case. Lawyer Norm Eisen, former Chief Ethics Officer in the Obama administration, recently declared in a briefing that its the wise thing to do. The conversation about these issues has become a distraction from the overwhelming amount of evidence justifying the decision to prosecute Mr. Trump and his co-conspirators, he said. Each step in this process pushes back the start of Trumps trial, if it is held at all. This works in Trumps favor. In addition to exculpation, the former president is seeking to delay each of his trials until after the November elections. Willis had asked to start hearings in August. But finding someone to replace Willis will not be easy. Only a handful of prosecutors offices, all of them in the vicinity of Atlanta City, have the necessary qualifications. And last weeks hearings made it clear that the job comes with many challenges: Willis has faced abuse, violent incidents and death threats since she began the investigation against Trump. She has been forced to move house, and now travels with a security escort. One of the witnesses at last weeks hearing, former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, spoke only about these dangers. He was called to testify to confirm that Willis had asked him to be the special prosecutor, before she asked Wade. Barnes said he turned down the offer, arguing that it would make him a target. I lived with bodyguards for four years of my life, and I didnt like it, he declared on Friday. I wasnt going to live with bodyguards for the rest of my life. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition You probably saw the news a week ago that the Market Line, the subterranean food and retail space below the Essex Market, is closing in the spring. The Essex Market, which is run by the city, will continue to operate. The Market Line, however, a centerpiece of the Essex Crossing mega project, will shutter in April. The developers, Delancey Street Associates, put out a statement, blaming the pandemic. Since the onset of the pandemic, they wrote, we worked closely with Market Line vendors to help them weather a challenging economic environment, including providing rent abatements and ongoing rent deferrals. In the four years since Covid-19 and its effects on retail and food and beverage tenants, the Market Line and its vendors have continued to struggle. The Post suggested another culprit, blaming the over-saturation of food halls in New York City. Whatever the reason for the Market Lines failure, its worth revisiting the original dream for the project, spelled out for us by developers back in 2015. In our interview with Rohan Mehra and Andrew Katz of the Prusik Group (part of the development team), they laid out a grand vision for the space, saying, We dont have something like the great public markets you see in Europe, a place where all New Yorkers would come to shop, an amazing environment, a destination for the community, a place where they could get everything. They ended up creating a sprawling concourse by building tunnels under Suffolk and Norfolk streets, connecting the lower levels of three Essex Crossing buildings. Together with the Essex Market, the Market Line comprised 150,000 square feet. But only the first section of the Market Line opened. The other two-thirds never became operational. At the time, they were confident the concept was sustainable. Katz explained, Youll come to the Market Line and there will be multiple price points. Youll be able to get whatever you want, whether its your meat, your fish, your cheese, your jeans, your hats, you want to get your watch fixed. Youre going to get a haircut. You want to grab a sandwich. All those things in this market. He added, I would argue that it could sustain itself with just the Lower East Side population. When you then expand that into what this will be that were in the Lower East Side and the world comes to New York City to come to the Lower East Side to see the Tenement Museum, walk over the Williamsburg Bridge then it gets super, super exciting. The Lowline. All these things make it that much better. But our whole focus is to make it sustainable because it feeds the community. Everything else will handle itself. In their statement last week, the developers said, We are evaluating uses for the underground space that will be sustainable for the long term. A spokesperson for the NYC Economic Development Corp, which runs Essex Market, told Commercial Observer, We are saddened to learn about our downstairs neighbor Market Lines closure, but we look forward to working with the developer on next steps for the space. Meanwhile, two Essex Crossing sites, including the former home of the Essex Street Market, remain dormant. Those sites were meant to become mixed use buildings with residences above and commercial uses below. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 151,860 shares of the network equipment providers stock, valued at approximately $4,220,000. Juniper Networks makes up about 2.3% of Cambridge Financial Group Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in JNPR. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its stake in Juniper Networks by 4.8% in the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 46,266 shares of the network equipment providers stock valued at $1,286,000 after acquiring an additional 2,134 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Juniper Networks by 3.4% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 35,586,752 shares of the network equipment providers stock valued at $1,114,933,000 after acquiring an additional 1,160,174 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in Juniper Networks by 71.8% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 324,954 shares of the network equipment providers stock valued at $9,030,000 after acquiring an additional 135,823 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in Juniper Networks by 112.1% in the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 181,032 shares of the network equipment providers stock valued at $5,031,000 after acquiring an additional 95,672 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in Juniper Networks by 37.2% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 1,657,664 shares of the network equipment providers stock valued at $46,066,000 after acquiring an additional 449,575 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.79% of the companys stock. Get Juniper Networks alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have commented on JNPR shares. Rosenblatt Securities increased their price target on shares of Juniper Networks from $31.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Juniper Networks from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $40.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Juniper Networks from $34.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Juniper Networks presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $34.58. Insider Buying and Selling at Juniper Networks In related news, CEO Rami Rahim sold 5,556 shares of Juniper Networks stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.10, for a total transaction of $206,127.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 829,406 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,770,962.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Anne Delsanto sold 900 shares of Juniper Networks stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.37, for a total transaction of $25,533.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 25,643 shares in the company, valued at approximately $727,491.91. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Rami Rahim sold 5,556 shares of Juniper Networks stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.10, for a total transaction of $206,127.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 829,406 shares in the company, valued at $30,770,962.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 138,262 shares of company stock valued at $4,931,785 in the last ninety days. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Juniper Networks Price Performance JNPR stock traded down $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $36.92. The stock had a trading volume of 2,049,297 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,064,181. The company has a current ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Juniper Networks, Inc. has a 52 week low of $24.87 and a 52 week high of $38.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.86, a P/E/G ratio of 7.34 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $33.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $29.77. Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The network equipment provider reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.44 by ($0.01). Juniper Networks had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 11.72%. The firm had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Juniper Networks, Inc. will post 1.41 EPS for the current year. Juniper Networks Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Juniper Networkss dividend payout ratio is currently 92.63%. About Juniper Networks (Free Report) Juniper Networks, Inc designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNPR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Juniper Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Juniper Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aviva PLC boosted its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 27.9% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 181,351 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 39,535 shares during the period. Aviva PLCs holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $8,269,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 86.4% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 540,450 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $33,097,000 after buying an additional 250,445 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 108.6% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,420 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 2,301 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp raised its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 37.6% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 2,795 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $171,000 after buying an additional 764 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the first quarter valued at about $678,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 44.0% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 364,215 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $22,304,000 after buying an additional 111,208 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.37% of the companys stock. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have weighed in on AEM shares. TD Securities raised their target price on Agnico Eagle Mines from $69.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Raymond James raised their target price on Agnico Eagle Mines from $66.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. CIBC dropped their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from $72.00 to $69.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, National Bank Financial reiterated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.50. Agnico Eagle Mines Trading Up 2.5 % Shares of AEM opened at $47.80 on Friday. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 12-month low of $43.22 and a 12-month high of $61.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.63, a P/E/G ratio of 19.79 and a beta of 1.04. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $51.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.32. Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM Get Free Report) (TSE:AEM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The mining company reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $1.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.72 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a return on equity of 5.51% and a net margin of 29.29%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 26.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.41 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 2.36 earnings per share for the current year. Agnico Eagle Mines Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is 38.93%. Agnico Eagle Mines Profile (Free Report) Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM Free Report) (TSE:AEM). Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lessened its stake in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report) by 79.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,049 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 15,637 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $150,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 26,563,427 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,262,825,000 after acquiring an additional 995,107 shares during the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,329 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 969 shares during the period. Shelton Capital Management purchased a new position in Delta Air Lines during the 2nd quarter valued at about $244,000. Apollon Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 104.2% during the 2nd quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,712 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $747,000 after acquiring an additional 8,019 shares during the period. Finally, Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 150.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 178,080 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $6,589,000 after acquiring an additional 106,940 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.29% of the companys stock. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 71,840 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.20, for a total value of $2,816,128.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 428,768 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,807,705.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock. Delta Air Lines Stock Performance DAL stock opened at $40.12 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.81 billion, a PE ratio of 5.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.42. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 12-month low of $30.60 and a 12-month high of $49.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $40.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $38.69. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The transportation company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.17 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $14.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.55 billion. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 46.35% and a net margin of 7.94%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Delta Air Lines Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.00%. Delta Air Liness payout ratio is 5.59%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. TheStreet upgraded Delta Air Lines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. StockNews.com upgraded Delta Air Lines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $55.54. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines Profile (Free Report) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CenterBook Partners LP raised its position in Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC Free Report) by 15.2% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 503,361 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 66,421 shares during the period. Lithium Americas makes up 1.1% of CenterBook Partners LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. CenterBook Partners LPs holdings in Lithium Americas were worth $8,562,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Lithium Americas by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,200,424 shares of the companys stock worth $83,947,000 after acquiring an additional 93,027 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Lithium Americas by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,884,273 shares of the companys stock worth $32,166,000 after acquiring an additional 5,332 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in shares of Lithium Americas by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,663,518 shares of the companys stock worth $28,295,000 after acquiring an additional 13,108 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Lithium Americas by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,022,517 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,357,000 after purchasing an additional 102,752 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in Lithium Americas in the 4th quarter valued at $17,582,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.28% of the companys stock. Get Lithium Americas alerts: Lithium Americas Price Performance Shares of Lithium Americas stock traded up $0.05 during trading on Friday, reaching $4.60. 2,832,071 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,684,237. Lithium Americas Corp. has a 1-year low of $3.81 and a 1-year high of $12.38. The firms 50-day moving average price is $5.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.14. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Lithium Americas from $7.00 to $5.50 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group assumed coverage on Lithium Americas in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. They issued a speculative buy rating for the company. Finally, National Bank Financial assumed coverage on Lithium Americas in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $17.13. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on LAC Lithium Americas Company Profile (Free Report) Lithium Americas Corp. engages in the exploration and development of lithium properties in the United States and Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Thacker Pass project located in northern Nevada, as well as investments in exploration properties in the United States and Canada. The company was incorporated in 2023 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Lithium Americas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lithium Americas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CI Investments Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 18.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 326,254 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 74,569 shares during the quarter. CI Investments Inc.s holdings in Danaher were worth $80,944,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Danaher by 344.8% in the second quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 129 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Danaher in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of Danaher in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Institutional investors own 76.71% of the companys stock. Get Danaher alerts: Danaher Stock Up 0.4 % Shares of NYSE:DHR traded up $1.04 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $250.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,152,228 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,030,603. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $233.95 and a 200-day moving average of $231.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $184.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.12, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Danaher Co. has a 12-month low of $182.09 and a 12-month high of $252.33. Danaher Cuts Dividend Danaher ( NYSE:DHR Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The conglomerate reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $6.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.10 billion. Danaher had a net margin of 17.26% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The companys revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.87 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Danaher Co. will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 26th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 28th. Danahers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 15.02%. Insider Activity at Danaher In related news, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total transaction of $636,280.74. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,029,891.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Teri List sold 3,289 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $248.32, for a total value of $816,724.48. Following the transaction, the director now owns 19,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,898,360.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total transaction of $636,280.74. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,244 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,029,891.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 9,200 shares of company stock valued at $2,279,038. 11.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have recently commented on DHR shares. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Danaher from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Barclays lowered shares of Danaher from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $240.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Danaher from $250.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. KeyCorp lifted their target price on shares of Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, HSBC began coverage on shares of Danaher in a research report on Monday, December 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Danaher currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $266.00. Read Our Latest Research Report on DHR About Danaher (Free Report) Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Laidlaw Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) by 68.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,868 shares of the natural resource companys stock after buying an additional 4,017 shares during the quarter. Laidlaw Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $368,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in FCX. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 63,242,717 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $2,529,709,000 after purchasing an additional 887,136 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 59,495,524 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $2,379,818,000 after purchasing an additional 3,630,991 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 54,842,377 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $2,193,695,000 after purchasing an additional 895,617 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 25,980,753 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $1,036,045,000 after purchasing an additional 642,288 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 21,659,892 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $866,396,000 after purchasing an additional 1,574,761 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.96% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Freeport-McMoRan Price Performance Shares of FCX opened at $38.83 on Friday. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 1-year low of $32.83 and a 1-year high of $44.70. The stock has a market cap of $55.68 billion, a PE ratio of 30.57 and a beta of 2.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.42 and a quick ratio of 1.38. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $40.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.50. Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend Freeport-McMoRan ( NYSE:FCX Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The natural resource company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.04. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 8.41%. The business had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.85 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.52 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.46 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 12th were issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.55%. Freeport-McMoRans payout ratio is 23.62%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $41.00 to $48.50 in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $55.00 target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Eight Capital set a $55.00 target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.95. View Our Latest Report on Freeport-McMoRan About Freeport-McMoRan (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. By Rachael Bayliss-Chan, KYODO NEWS - Feb 18, 2024 - 17:07 | All, World, Japan Australia is keen to see Japan collaborate with the AUKUS security partnership, also involving the United States and Britain, on defense technology development in the future, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a recent interview. While ruling out Tokyo's participation in the centerpiece project for AUKUS to deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra, Marles said Australia wants to "work more closely with Japan" on technological developments, acknowledging that the Asian nation is a "place of innovation" and is "at the cutting edge of technology." "I think it is natural that we would be talking about a greater level of cooperation between the three countries -- U.S., UK and Australia -- and Japan, in terms of joint collaborations going forward," he said in the interview with Kyodo News in the Australian capital. AUKUS was launched in 2021 as the United States and its allies beef up their security cooperation amid China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. The first pillar focuses on the nuclear submarine acquisition, while the second pillar is aimed at developing a range of advanced capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence and hypersonic missiles. AUKUS has been open to engage with allies and partners on pillar two, but Marles indicated that collaboration with Japan would not happen anytime soon as AUKUS is still "very much focused on working on new innovative technologies amongst the three countries." "As pillar two becomes more mature, which is going to take some years...I think there is an opportunity at that point to look at how we can cooperate with Japan in relation to that," he said. Canada and New Zealand have also expressed interest in working with AUKUS members in the pillar-two area. Asked whether Tokyo should also consider acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, the Australian minister said it was "a matter for Japan," and he "would not seek to venture an opinion." Australia made a decision "in the context of our strategic needs," Marles said, noting that "we desperately need a highly capable long-range submarine" as an island nation located far away from other countries. Speaking on the bilateral defense relationship between Canberra and Tokyo, Marles noted that "Australia and Japan have never been more strategically aligned than we are now." The minister also welcomed the prospect of Japan using Australia's vast continent as a testing ground for long-range missiles, as Tokyo seeks to acquire capabilities to strike targets in enemy territory. "Our training areas are amongst the best in the world, and we're very keen to work with Japan in relation to them, and see Japan have the opportunity to use them," he said of Australia's long-range test sites. In a major defense policy shift for the country upholding a pacifist Constitution, Japan pledged to acquire "counterstrike capabilities" in late 2022 amid the tough regional security environment. It plans to develop homemade long-range missiles and procure U.S.-produced Tomahawk cruise missiles toward that end. Australia and Japan have been strengthening their defense cooperation in recent years, including signing a reciprocal access agreement that came into effect last August that enables quicker deployment of defense personnel between the two nations. Marles reiterated the "strong ambition" on both sides to further the relationship, and said Australia is "keen to increase the tempo" of cooperation. Related coverage: Japan, Australia in talks on cooperation in military contingencies Biden signs $886 billion defense bill to boost Indo-Pacific deterrence Nordea Investment Management AB cut its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) by 1.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,916,335 shares of the natural resource companys stock after selling 19,775 shares during the quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB owned approximately 0.13% of Freeport-McMoRan worth $72,112,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. KB Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Retirement Group LLC increased its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 97.1% during the second quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 670 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the last quarter. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, BDO Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 626.5% during the second quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 741 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 639 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.96% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Freeport-McMoRan Trading Up 1.5 % NYSE FCX opened at $38.83 on Friday. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 12 month low of $32.83 and a 12 month high of $44.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.42 and a quick ratio of 1.38. The company has a market capitalization of $55.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.57 and a beta of 2.06. The companys fifty day moving average price is $40.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $38.50. Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend Freeport-McMoRan ( NYSE:FCX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The natural resource company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.04. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 8.41%. The firm had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.85 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.52 EPS. The firms revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 12th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.55%. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.62%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In FCX has been the subject of several research reports. Eight Capital set a $55.00 price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $41.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $44.95. Get Our Latest Analysis on Freeport-McMoRan Freeport-McMoRan Profile (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Glenview Trust co lifted its stake in shares of T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:TCHP Free Report) by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,085,301 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 88,835 shares during the quarter. T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF accounts for approximately 0.8% of Glenview Trust cos holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Glenview Trust co owned about 0.08% of T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF worth $29,477,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of TCHP. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. UBS Group AG increased its stake in T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF by 54.8% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,295 shares of the companys stock worth $67,000 after buying an additional 812 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management increased its stake in T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF by 2,097.3% during the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,417 shares of the companys stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 2,307 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new stake in T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF during the 4th quarter worth $61,000. Get T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF alerts: T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF Price Performance T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF stock traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $33.86. 70,847 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 110,956. T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $21.36 and a 1 year high of $34.43. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $31.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.49. The firm has a market cap of $446.27 million, a P/E ratio of 26.89 and a beta of 1.14. T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF Profile The T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF (TCHP) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell 1000 Growth index. The ETF currently has 291.89m in AUM and 78 holdings. TCHP is an actively-managed, non-transparent fund that focus on companies with potential for above-average growth TCHP was launched on Aug 4, 2020 and is managed by T. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TCHP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:TCHP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intact Financial (TSE:IFC Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by BMO Capital Markets from C$230.00 to C$240.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock. IFC has been the subject of a number of other reports. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Intact Financial from C$232.00 to C$252.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. TD Securities upped their price objective on shares of Intact Financial from C$225.00 to C$235.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Intact Financial from C$228.00 to C$229.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday. Desjardins upped their price objective on shares of Intact Financial from C$230.00 to C$235.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, National Bankshares upped their price objective on shares of Intact Financial from C$235.00 to C$240.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Intact Financial has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$236.40. Get Intact Financial alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on IFC Intact Financial Price Performance Intact Financial Increases Dividend TSE IFC opened at C$228.67 on Thursday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$206.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$202.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.57. Intact Financial has a 12-month low of C$182.01 and a 12-month high of C$229.76. The firm has a market capitalization of C$40.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.54. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.21 per share. This represents a $4.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This is a boost from Intact Financials previous quarterly dividend of $1.10. Intact Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 74.58%. Insider Activity at Intact Financial In related news, Senior Officer Benoit Morissette sold 7,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$226.23, for a total transaction of C$1,583,589.00. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Intact Financial (Get Free Report) Intact Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty insurance products to individuals and businesses in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers vehicle insurance; insurance for car, motorcycle insurance, RV, ATV, snowmobile, boat, and trailer vehicles. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Intact Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intact Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pearl River Capital LLC lowered its holdings in Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 36.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 90,638 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 52,699 shares during the period. Pearl River Capital LLCs holdings in Newmont were worth $3,349,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in NEM. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S grew its position in Newmont by 66.6% during the second quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 32,609 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,391,000 after acquiring an additional 13,038 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its position in Newmont by 22.3% during the third quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 145,639 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $5,382,000 after acquiring an additional 26,599 shares during the period. Wintrust Investments LLC grew its position in Newmont by 5.9% during the second quarter. Wintrust Investments LLC now owns 31,297 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,335,000 after acquiring an additional 1,738 shares during the period. MONECO Advisors LLC grew its position in Newmont by 3.5% during the second quarter. MONECO Advisors LLC now owns 13,937 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $595,000 after acquiring an additional 473 shares during the period. Finally, Archford Capital Strategies LLC grew its position in Newmont by 117.8% during the second quarter. Archford Capital Strategies LLC now owns 10,347 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $447,000 after acquiring an additional 5,597 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.53% of the companys stock. Get Newmont alerts: Newmont Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of NYSE:NEM traded up $0.35 during trading on Friday, hitting $33.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,469,078 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,000,034. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 2.12. Newmont Co. has a fifty-two week low of $31.61 and a fifty-two week high of $52.76. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $37.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $38.13. The company has a market capitalization of $26.57 billion, a PE ratio of -32.46, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.52. Insider Buying and Selling Analyst Ratings Changes In related news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total value of $226,930.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 54,251 shares in the company, valued at $2,238,396.26. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock. A number of research firms have issued reports on NEM. Raymond James lowered their price target on Newmont from $59.00 to $57.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 27th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on Newmont from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. National Bank Financial restated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Newmont in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Macquarie assumed coverage on Newmont in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. They set an outperform rating and a $45.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Newmont from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Newmont has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $54.25. Get Our Latest Stock Report on NEM About Newmont (Free Report) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Ghana. As of December 31, 2022, it had proven and probable gold reserves of 96.1 million ounces and land position of 61,500 square kilometers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Channing Capital Management LLC reduced its position in Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE:DOC Free Report) by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,290,781 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 103,550 shares during the period. Channing Capital Management LLC owned about 1.80% of Physicians Realty Trust worth $52,305,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 64,154 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $928,000 after acquiring an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its holdings in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 25.6% during the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,775 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 769 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its holdings in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 59,900 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $901,000 after acquiring an additional 793 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its stake in Physicians Realty Trust by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 67,002 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $937,000 after purchasing an additional 863 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Physicians Realty Trust by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 61,760 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $864,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the period. 95.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Physicians Realty Trust alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial decreased their target price on Physicians Realty Trust from $15.00 to $14.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a research note on Friday, January 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on Physicians Realty Trust in a research report on Monday, February 12th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Compass Point reduced their price objective on Physicians Realty Trust from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Physicians Realty Trust has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.33. Physicians Realty Trust Price Performance DOC stock traded down $0.20 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $11.58. 4,155,683 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,519,654. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $12.78 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $12.55. Physicians Realty Trust has a 1-year low of $10.52 and a 1-year high of $15.82. The company has a market cap of $2.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.95, a PEG ratio of 3.72 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a quick ratio of 2.85, a current ratio of 2.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Physicians Realty Trust Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 18th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 3rd were paid a $0.23 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.94%. Physicians Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 484.24%. About Physicians Realty Trust (Free Report) Physicians Realty Trust is a self-managed health care real estate company organized to acquire, selectively develop, own, and manage health care properties that are leased to physicians, hospitals, and health care delivery systems. The Company invests in real estate that is integral to providing high quality health care. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Physicians Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Physicians Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the fifteen brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $30.13. A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Southwest Airlines from $25.00 to $23.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Melius downgraded shares of Southwest Airlines from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $27.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Southwest Airlines from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, January 28th. Get Southwest Airlines alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines Stock Down 0.8 % LUV stock opened at $33.93 on Friday. Southwest Airlines has a 12 month low of $21.91 and a 12 month high of $39.53. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $30.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $28.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.24 billion, a PE ratio of 45.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.07. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The airline reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.25. Southwest Airlines had a net margin of 1.91% and a return on equity of 9.40%. The firm had revenue of $6.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.75 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.38) earnings per share. Southwest Airliness revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Southwest Airlines will post 1.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Southwest Airlines Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 5th. Southwest Airliness payout ratio is 96.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Southwest Airlines A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LUV. Forum Financial Management LP grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 7,067 shares of the airlines stock worth $323,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 8,639 shares of the airlines stock worth $396,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Utah Retirement Systems grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 50,213 shares of the airlines stock worth $1,691,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 40,926 shares of the airlines stock worth $1,182,000 after acquiring an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Centaurus Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 8,166 shares of the airlines stock worth $266,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. 78.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Southwest Airlines Company Profile (Get Free Report Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provide scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated a total fleet of 770 Boeing 737 aircrafts; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Southwest Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southwest Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KYODO NEWS - Feb 19, 2024 - 09:22 | All, World, Japan Japan refused to issue a visa to an internationally acclaimed Mauritanian author who was formerly detained for 14 years without charge by the United States at its Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, sources close to the matter said Sunday. The Japanese government denied Mohamedou Slahi the visa in January. It was the second time Slahi, who was cleared for release by the United States in October 2016, has been denied entry to Japan after a separate application in 2020 was also rejected. The 53-year-old author, who penned a memoir during his imprisonment that later became a worldwide bestseller and movie, had planned to visit Japan in March to give a lecture. Japan's Foreign Ministry said it deemed that Slahi did not meet the requirements for visa issuance but gave no further details on the decision. Shinichi Ishizuka, a professor emeritus at Ryukoku University and representative director of Criminal Justice Future, which organized the lecture, questioned the decision, saying, "Why won't (Japan) issue a visa when he can visit Britain and France?" Slahi expressed shock and disappointment at the visa refusal, saying, "I thought Japan was a free, democratic, and peace-loving country." In the early 1990s, Slahi received combat training in Afghanistan from the Islamist extremist group al-Qaida, which was reportedly receiving support from the Central Intelligence Agency at the time, but later claimed to have severed ties with the group. He was detained in Mauritania in November 2001, two months after the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States, due to his suspected links with al-Qaida. He was then transferred to Guantanamo in August 2002 through the controversial rendition process. Slahi confessed to having connections with al-Qaida while being tortured, but a U.S. federal court permitted his release, deeming the confessions to have come under duress. The U.S. government eventually decided he no longer posed a threat and he was released to Mauritania on Oct. 17, 2016. During his imprisonment, Slahi wrote a memoir that was published as "Guantanamo Diary" in January 2015 and subsequently translated into more than 20 languages, including Japanese. A movie based on his book, titled "The Mauritanian," was released in 2021. Based in the Netherlands since 2021, Slahi has received peace awards and participates in human rights advocacy symposiums across Europe. In 2020 and in the latest attempt to visit Japan, he planned to talk about "how to build peace beyond religion and national position in a world where conflicts continue unabated," he said. The Japanese government typically denies visas to people with a criminal record who have been imprisoned for one year or more, or if they are deemed to pose a threat to Japan's interests or public welfare. Ishizuka said that Japan "has likely branded (Slahi) as a terrorist" and is showing deference to the United States. Although the Guantanamo Bay prison once housed around as many as 780 inmates, the majority were never charged with a crime and later repatriated to their home or a third country. Related coverage: Japan to allow longer stays for digital nomads to boost consumption Japan preparing to add transport roles to skilled visa amid shortages Japan's foreign worker population tops 2 million for first time 404 Something's wrong here Sorry. We can't find the page you're looking for. RETURN HOME AR refutes NSCN-IM's allegation | IMPHAL, Feb 18: Reacting to the allegation made by NSCN-IM about possible collaboration between Assam Rifles based at Phaikok and KNA(B) in the killing of Honpam Chithung on February 10 in Myanmar, Assam Rifles has refuted the same allegation as false. Honpam Chithung of Harkui Kathe Tang, Ngaprum, Kumrum, Ukhrul district (Manipur) figures in the list of Most Wanted of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and was wanted in an NIA case, said a press release issued by the PRO, Hqs IG AR(South). As per credible inputs, the individual was also an arms supplier of NSCN (IM) and was killed inside Myanmar on February 10, 2024. It is matter of great concern that an Indian citizen who was wanted by the NIA was found in foreign territory (Myanmar), it said. NSCN(IM)s allegation against Assam Rifles in connection with the death of Honpam Chithung in a foreign territory on communal affinity reflects clear ulterior motive to malign the image of Indian security forces. The circumstances clearly shows that NSCN (IM) wants to create an environment of distrust in Ukhrul and Kamjong areas, and abet anti-National elements, it added. KYODO NEWS - Feb 18, 2024 - 10:23 | Others Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven on Saturday agreed to continue providing military and economic support to Ukraine ahead of the two-year anniversary of the start of Russian aggression against its neighbor. The ministers observed a minute's silence at the start of their meeting in Munich, Germany, in memory of Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition activist and prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin who died Friday at a jail in the Arctic region. While reaffirming "their unwavering resolve to continue to support Ukraine," the G7 also "demanded Russian authorities to fully clarify the circumstances of" Navalny's death, urging Moscow "to stop its unacceptable persecution of political dissent," according to a post-meeting statement released by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Italy is this year's chair of the G7, which also involves Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United States and the European Union. The ministers condemned North Korea's arms transfers to Russia and expressed concern that Moscow may provide nuclear and missile technologies to Pyongyang. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also attended the G7 meeting held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. On the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the chair's statement said the G7 voiced "deep concern for the potentially devastating consequences" as Israel threatens to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, the city on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip where 1.5 million civilians have sheltered. The G7 "underscored the need for a permanent, sustainable end to the conflict," it said, adding it is necessary to work toward a two-state solution for establishing an independent Palestine state alongside Israel to resolve the longstanding conflict. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa did not attend the talks and was represented by a senior Foreign Ministry official. Related coverage: Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny dies in prison Finnish foreign minister says Russia "remains significant threat" Restraining armed forces vis-a-vis Kuki militants | Overpowering the mighty Indian military by some Kuki militants sounds like an unrealistic joke. But it is a reality. Video clips of some Kuki militants threatening and forcing Indian military troops to turn back from their operational duty have already gone viral in social media. This unprecedented and bizarre incident took place in the border town of Moreh on January 17, 2024. All Kuki militant groups are insignificant in all aspects compared to the Indian military forces. Yet, the Kuki militants had their way and dictated terms in the border town of Moreh. Even after Kuki militants have gunned down a number of military and police personnel at Moreh and other places of Manipur since they launched a politico-military offensive in May 2023 to carve out an exclusive political domain for Kuki-Zo people at the cost of the united and pluralistic Manipur, Indian troops have showed no sign to rein in the rampaging militants. Kuki militants too knew very well the strength of the Indian military yet they flexed their muscles and dictated their terms. The military troops, on their part, thought it wise not to confront the Kuki militants. In another word, the Indian military has been dealing with the Kuki militants quite softly. This policy of handling the Kuki militants with velvet gloves has serious ramifications and repercussions. As a direct result of this policy or approach, Kuki militants are becoming bolder and bolder. In addition to attacking and ambushing police personnel repeatedly, Kuki militants laid siege to police camps of Moreh for days. They are openly challenging the state government, and any challenge to a government duly elected under the constitution of India is a threat to the national security. The Kuki militants declared war against the state by repeatedly attacking and killing police personnel. When any militant group declares war against the state, it is not merely a law and order problem but it is a national security issue. By letting themselves overpowered by a bunch of Kuki militants, the military only discredited themselves. The particular incident created a very bad impression among the citizens who always look to the military for protection when their lives and security are threatened. As pointed out by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, the visuals of the brave soldiers being openly threatened with guns, rocket launchers and other weapons have never been witnessed before and the incident not only undermines the integrity and authority of the armed forces but also poses a significant threat to the national security. Perhaps, the troops might have wanted to act but some unseen force or authority has been holding back their hands. Well armed militants threatening the military cannot be seen as a civil protest. Of course, there is the infamous Suspension of Operation or SoO agreement. But SoO agreement does not warrant Kuki militant groups to threaten and obstruct armed forces from performing their duties. Threatening armed forces is rather blatant violation of not only the ground rules but also the very foundation of the agreement. Whether the particular Kuki militants are a party to the SoO agreement or not, the armed forces had every reason to act but they did not. Emboldened by the particular incident of Kuki militants threatening armed forces and dictating terms, some groups even served an ultimatum recently to both the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of Churachandpur to leave all Kuki inhabited areas within 24 hours. The situation is no longer a law and order problem. It is now an issue of national security. In such situations, the military needs to step in. What is keeping the hands of the military tied? Is there a political reason for restraining the armed forces? Perhaps, understanding the politics of restraining armed forces vis-a-vis Kuki militants aggression may be the key to resolving the Manipur crisis. A premier private hospital in the Alipore area has been charged with money lending business showing a huge inflated bill of Rs 4.90 lakh for nine days of treatment. West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) found the irregularities after the patient party moved the commission, sole body for monitoring patient care and treatment charges in private healthcare facilities in the state, requesting its interventions. The WBCERC has directed the director of health services (DHS) Dr S Neyogi to submit an action taken report (ATR) against the hospital. The commission has also asked the police administration to keep strict vigil at the hospital. Advertisement It can never be accepted when a leading hospital is found indulging in money lending business instead of patient care, Justice Asim Banerjee, WBCERC chairman, told reporters during a press conference on Friday. According to findings of the WBCERC, 43-year-old Faiz Hossain was admitted to the hospital along Diamond Harbour Road on 18 January showing symptoms of epigastric pain, nausea and severe constipation for a few days. Doctors, including a general medicine expert and a gastro surgeon attending to him decided to perform a surgery on him. But relatives of the patient decided to discharge him on a risk bond from the hospital after the inflated bills. The hospital authorities charged Rs 4.90 lakh for his treatment without any surgery. The inflated bills raised eyebrows of the patient and his relatives. It was really surprising to us when we saw all the bills including charges for medicines and doctors fees. The hospital charged Rs 2.80 lakh only for consumable medicines and Rs 17,800 for two doctors, who attended to the patient nine times each at the hospital. There were two types of fees: Rs 875 and Rs 1,200 respectively for every visit to the patient. Each doctor attended to the patient five times @Rs1,200 and four times @875, Justice Banerjee said. Charges for several drugs, nasal cannula and heated breathing tube in the hospital were found higher than that of other hospitals. The patient party paid Rs3.40 lakh out of the exact bills Rs 4.90 lakh. But they found the rest of Rs 1.50 lakh had been paid by a finance company though neither the patient nor his relatives contacted the money lending agency. The hospitals billing clerk made the payment of the outstanding bills Rs 1.50 lakh with the finance agency keeping the patient party completely in the dark. Its a highly illegal practice and I have asked the hospital authorities to get the issue of dues with the finance company instead of the patient party, the commission chairman, a retired judge of Calcutta High Court, said. How did the hospital get a corporate sponsored loan from the finance company? The DHS has been informed about the irregularities and asked to take proper action, he added. Jyotipriya Mallick was removed from the council of ministers in Mamata Banerjees cabinet after three-and-a-half months of his arrest in October 2023. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing ration distribution scam in the state had arrested him at the end of October on charge of his alleged involvement in the case. His portfolios were distributed among Partha Bhowmick, the irrigation minister and Birbaha Hansda, minister of state for forests, a press release issued by Raj Bhavan on Friday evening stated. Advertisement In terms of Article 166 (3) of the Constitution, Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose has relieved Jyotipriya Mallick, minister in-charge, department of forests and department of public enterprises and industrial reconstruction of his duties as minister with immediate effect and has been pleased to reallocate the departments to Partha Bhowmick and Birbaha Hansdaon the advice of the Honble Chief Minister, the release stated. Mr Bhowmick will hold the portfolio of public enterprises and industrial reconstruction while Mrs Hansda will look after the independent charge of the forest department. According to sources at the state secretariat, Nabanna, a file proposing the changes in portfolios was sent to Raj Bhavan on Thursday. According to a Trinamul Congress insider, Abhishek Banerjee, all India general secretary of the party, wants that the party leadership should not stand by those who are involved in corruption cases. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is set to arrive at Birbhum district late evening today for her two-day official visit. She will arrive at Andal airport and then will reach Santiniketan by road and will spend the night at the state guest house, Rangabitan. However, the district administration of West Burdwan district has also made alternative arrangements in Durgapur, if she wishes to stay the night in the steel township. Advertisement In fact, this will be the first visit by chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Tagores abode of peace, after it has received the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. On Sunday, she will visit the district headquarters at Suri and will have her official programme at Chandmari Ground. Top cops of the state government, SP and DM of Birbhum and local minister Chandranath Singha inspected her venue yesterday. She will hand over appointment letters of state government jobs to land losers of the Deucha Panchami coal mines project, the second largest coal mine project in the world. She will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate several projects during her programme. On Sunday afternoon, she will leave for Kolkata by helicopter. She will also inaugurate a resort by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. The chief minister will also inaugurate her dream project, the Biswa Bangla University, set up at Shibpur Mouza in Bolpur. A temporary helipad has been set up near her venue. She has selected the venue of her programme and we are eagerly waiting for her official visit to Birbhum district. The CM will provide facilities to several government projects and will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects, added Chandranath Singha, the MSME minister. Both MPs of Birbhum, Shatabdi Roy and Asit Mal will also be present. This will probably be her last official visit before the dates for next upcoming Lok Sabha polls are announced. She is also likely to hold meetings with the top leadership in the district including Kajal Sheikh, the sabhadhipati of Birbhum zilla parishad. The TMC will contest the Lok Sabha polls in Birbhum district for the first time in the absence of its former district president, Anubrata Mondal. More than 14,516 households in Sundarbans can now breathe a sigh of relief and they are going to experience brighter evenings soon with the installation of solar lights. A total of 100 street lights are being installed across five villages in the Kultali range. The development not only promises better visibility but also serves as a crucial measure to protect villagers from conflicts with wildlife. The villages, benefitting from this initiative, include Bhubaneshwari, Debipur, Modhho Gurugira, Purba Gurugira and Deulbari, Chituri forest, all situated in the Kultuli range within the Sundarbans. Advertisement In the absence of light, people living in these areas are exposed to snake bites. The villagers are often attacked by poisonous snakes resulting in deaths or severe injuries. The Kultuli range falls under the jurisdiction of the directorate of forest, south 24-Parganas division. Milan Mandal, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of south 24-Parganas said the electricity in the area is not enough. Snake bites and intrusion of tigers into villages require comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and well being of the local population. There is a plan to instal 10, 125 solar street lights covering significant parts of the villages. Arpita Mukherjee, president of the Kolkata Society for Cultural Heritage, said these solar-powered poles are expected to generate 10,182.5 kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually. The Kolkata Society for Cultural Heritage has been working in the Sundarbans for the past 15 years on mangrove plantation, women empowerment, vocational skill development and livelihood improvement in collaboration with the forest department. The forest department has identified the areas where the solar poles will be installed. Communities have been formed among villagers to monitor and maintain the solar panels. The Kolkata Society for Cultural Heritage will provide training to the villagers to maintain the solar poles. It may be mentioned that Centres PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bill Yojana proposes an investment of over Rs 75,000 crore and aims to illuminate one crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month. Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan branch bid an emotional farewell to the outgoing batch of Class XII, which pledged to work with commitment towards making the world a better, brighter and beautiful world. Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education and former Director, Directorate of Education, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, graced the occasion on Friday. In his address, Gupta told the students that learning is a continuous and lifelong process. Advertisement He advocated that real happiness does not come from material things but by enjoying what one does in life. Sharing his life experiences, Gupta advised the youth to limit usage of digital devices and encouraged them to give back to society to transform India into a developed country. Earlier, welcoming the gathering including parents, members of the Management Board and distinguished guests, Ritu Madan, Principal of Springdales School, wished the students that their years ahead be characterised by compassion, empathy and confidence. She further highlighted that may the school motto Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family) be their talisman and steer them towards the right direction. Quoting the Upanishads, Dr A Sankara Reddy, Chairman, Managing Board, Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan advised the students not to deviate from the path of truth and dharma and never neglect welfare or learning. In keeping with the tradition, Madan read out the citations of each student highlighting his/her contribution to the school life while the class teacher lit the ceremonial lamp symbolising the students journey ahead with the blessings of the teachers. The students and parents representatives paid tributes to the school by sharing their thoughts and experiences. While placing their lamps around the globe epitomising the school motto, the students pledged to work with commitment towards making the world a better, brighter and beautiful world. The function concluded in true Springdalian tradition with all linking arms with one another and singing the time honoured Scottish ditty Auld Lang Syne The vote of thanks was proposed by Prabhat Kumar, Parent Representative, Managing Board, Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan. The board of directors of Novartis India took note of the communication received from Novartis AG, holding company and promoter, regarding their intention to conduct a strategic review to unlock the value of their shareholding in the company. After some deliberations, the Board agreed to support Novartis AG, as may be required, in evaluating their strategic options, Novartis India said. Novartis India Limited is a public company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The strategic review will include an assessment of the 70.68 per cent shareholding of Novartis AG in the company. Advertisement Novartis India Limited is separate from Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Novartis group in India. Novartis Healthcare Private Limited includes the Novartis Corporate Centre in Hyderabad, the commercial arm of Novartis in India, and R&D teams, which currently conduct clinical trials at more than 300 trial sites in the country. The strategic review will not impact Novartis Healthcare Private Limited. There can be no assurance that the strategic review of Novartis India Limited will be completed in 2024, or that the outcome would result in the implementation of any transaction, the company said. Novartis remains deeply committed to India with a footprint that has expanded significantly in recent years. Today, Novartis proudly employs more than 8,100 associates in India, it said. A high-level meeting chaired by the Secretary of the Finance Ministrys Department of Financial Services, Vivek Joshi, on Saturday discussed steps to expedite the recovery of debt and enhance the efficiency of debt recovery tribunals. The meeting was attended by Chairpersons of Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) and Presiding Officers of Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs). Senior officers from Public and Private Sectors Banks; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Indian Bank Association (IBA); and senior officers from the Ministry of Finance and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) also attended the meeting. Advertisement The main issues discussed during the meeting included: * DRTs and DRATs to take all possible steps to reduce pendency at various stages through strict monitoring. * Several suggestions regarding changes and amendments in Debts Recovery Tribunal Regulations, SARFAESI Act and RDB Act discussed to make the process of recovery more efficient. * Banks to conduct periodical review of the performance of empanelled Advocates and rationalise the assignment of cases to the empanelled advocates taking into account their performance. * Leveraging the under development e-Auction platform for listing and auction of properties of banks and financial institutions under the provisions of various Acts- SARFAESI Act, 2002, RDB Act, 1993 and IBC, 2016. * Banks and Financial Institutions to reconcile cases which are pending in DRTs and DRATs but have already been settled. * Banks to ensure presence of their officers at all the hearings of their respective cases before judicial forums. KYODO NEWS - Feb 18, 2024 - 10:43 | World, All Convicted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole Sunday after serving six-months of a one-year sentence, local reports said. Thaksin, 74, accompanied by his children, left the Police General Hospital in Bangkok around 6 a.m. and headed to his private residence in western capital. He served his sentence in hospital due to illness after spending just hours in prison. Thaksin had been among a list of prisoners approved for parole by a Justice Ministry committee based on criteria such as old age and health condition. Thaksin left the hospital wearing a facemask and did not respond to questions from reporters. He served as Thailand's prime minister from February 2001 until September 2006, when he was toppled by a military coup while visiting the United States. While in self-imposed exile, he lived primarily in Dubai and was convicted in absentia of corruption and other charges, receiving an eight-year prison sentence. Upon his return to Thailand in August last year, Thaksin was imprisoned but promptly transferred to the police hospital after complaining of chest tightness and high blood pressure. King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced Thaksin's jail sentence to one year in September, citing his contributions to the country during his tenure as prime minister. Thaksin's hospital stay led to protests against his alleged privileged treatment. Related coverage: FOCUS: Thai PM Srettha focuses on economic stimulus amid state debt concerns Thailand's Srettha sworn in as PM, months after general election Thai king reduces ex-PM Thaksin's jail time to 1 year With the aim of providing fishermen with an e-market platform, the Department of Fisheries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on February 19. The officials said that the MoU will be signed in the presence of Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala and Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying L Murugan at Krishi Bhawan in the national capital. This essential step will provide a digital platform for fisherfolks, fish farmers producers organisation, entrepreneurs, SHGs, fishermen cooperatives and other relevant stakeholders in the fisheries sector to access wider markets, expanding their reach and potential customer base, the officials said. Advertisement They said that the collaboration between Department of Fisheries and ONDC will facilitate the implementation of technology-driven solutions, improve efficiency, collectivisation and competitiveness of the small scale producers and marketers. ONDC is a unique platform of e-marketing and will play a significant role in the fisheries sector to connect maximum FFPOs and other fishermen cooperatives, they said. The officials said that by providing a direct channel between producers and consumers, ONDC will support in reducing the reliance on intermediaries, leading to higher profits for fishers and lower prices for consumers. This initiative will also provide a scale of economy to the marginal fishermen engaged in scattered business through a common digital platform for their products, the officials said. They said that the adoption of digital technical solutions will serve various benefits for fisheries industries like enhanced trust, reduced transaction costs, increased market reach, improved transparency, increased competitiveness, innovation, and employment generation. In the long term, the ONDC network will facilitate seamless integration for harnessing the benefits of collectivisation between producers, processors, and distributors within the fisheries sector, enabling efficient supply chain management, value chains and market access, the officials said. They said that this collaboration will facilitate capacity building and raise awareness through educational workshops for MSMEs, start-ups, SHGs, small and marginal fishermen, FFPOs, fishers, and market participants in the fisheries sector. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is incorporated as a Section 8 company, an initiative by DPIIT, Ministry of commerce and industry, aiming at promoting open networks for all aspects of exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks, the officials said. They said that it has recorded more than 6.3 million transactions in the month of November23 across 600+ cities. The sellers and service providers are spread across 500+ cities expanding the geographical coverage of the ONDC network. Presently, over 3000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have registered to be a part of the ONDC through various network participants. Also, around 400 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), micro-entrepreneurs and social sector enterprises have been onboarded on the network. The nine-day long New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 concluded at the Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan on Sunday, with the fair ground brimming over with lakhs of visitors and book lovers browsing books, attending author sessions, childrens activities and power-packed cultural performances. Elated on the success of the success of New Delhi World Book Fair 2024, Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman of the National Book Trust India, expressed his gratitude to all the readers, publishers, co-organizing organizations and media. We are confident that more publishers and readers will participate next year and the global identity of Indian publishing industry will be strengthened, said Marathe. Advertisement The Chairman also announced that the next edition of New Delhi World Book Fair which will be held from 1 to 9 February 2025. Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT India, said, The next edition will see larger participation of CEOs and Fair Directors of the worlds book fairs, and more B2B sessions will be a part of the Book Fair. There will be a special showcase of literature from the guest country as well as a focus state or union territory. The Festival of Festivals will be even more inclusive, with readers will be able to share their e-mail recommendations to meet their favorite author, he said. He also added that preparations for next New Delhi World Book Fair have already started, and interested publishers can send their participation requests. On the last day of the fair, Rahul Mitra, Rajiv Shrivastav, Avijeet Ghosh, and Arnab Banerjee explored the first encyclopedia on Hindi cinema at the Theme Pavilion in a session organized by IGNCA. Among others, in another session organized by Bharat Lit Festival under the FoF initiative, Neerja Chowdhury had a candid conversation with RJ Ginnie on the book How Prime Ministers decide. Additionally, National Book Trust India organized a discussion on Multilingual India and Mother-Tongue: Its importance in NEP2020, featuring Anita Karwal, Manoj Srivastava, and Rainish Kumar, moderated by Rashi Sharma. Brad Pitt is reportedly over the moon with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. The 60-year-old actor and the 34-year-old jewelry executive are living together in Brads California home, according to sources close to the couple. It seems that spending so much time together just clicked, prompting Ines to move in with Brad. Friends of the couple have revealed that Brad is ecstatic and cherishes every moment spent with Ines. Their decision to move in together felt like the most natural step for them. The duo first caught public attention in November 2022, but rumors suggest they had been an item for several months prior. Before finding love with Ines, she was in a marital relationship with actor Paul Wesley, with the couple ending their marriage in 2022 after three years together. Brad, on the other hand, parted ways with Angelina Jolie in 2016, following a romance that spanned over a decade, culminating in their marriage in 2014. Advertisement Despite their blossoming romance, Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon have kept a relatively low profile. They have yet to make a formal appearance together on the red carpet, although they attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where Brad presented his friend Bradley Cooper with the outstanding performer of the year award for Maestro. They also made an appearance at LACMAs Art+Film Gala in Los Angeles last November. The couple has been spotted enjoying each others company on various trips, including a getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2023. Brad and Ines were first linked in November 2022, and since then, their relationship seems to have flourished. Its evident that Brad Pitt has found his happiness once again with Ines de Ramon, and their journey together continues to have love and joy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked all BJP workers, members and leaders to reach out to every new voter and win everyones trust in next 100 days, adding that the party must win over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections so that the NDA crosses 400 mark. In his valedictory address to party cadres and leaders on the concluding day of the BJPs two-day National Convention at Bharat Mandapam here, Modi said, Over the next 100 days, our goal is to unite and engage with every new voter, every beneficiary, every sector, and every community. It is essential to earn the trust of the people, and with collective efforts, the BJP will have the opportunity to serve the nation with the highest mandate ever. The saffron partys national convention was held to formulate a strategy to secure over 370 seats for the party in the Lok Sabha elections. Advertisement In his address, the Prime Minister said a BJP Karyakarta, committed to serving the nation, dedicates every hour throughout the year to this cause. As we approach the next 100 days, it is imperative that we work with renewed energy, enthusiasm, and faith, he said. Today is 18th February and the youth who have turned 18 during this period are going to elect the 18th Lok Sabha of the country, the Prime Minister said. We all have to work together for the next 100 days. Every new voter, every beneficiary, every class, society, creed, tradition has to be reached, Modi stressed. The Prime Minister said now was the time to realise the dream and vision of a Viksit Bharat (developed India). The countrys dreams and resolve have gotten bigger. Our dream and resolution today is to make a Viksit Bharat and the next five years will be crucial to taking our country there. Over the next five years, we have to take a giant leap towards a Viksit Bharat, he said. Without naming anyone, the Prime Minister took a dig at the Opposition, saying, Today, even some leaders in the Opposition are chanting NDA sarkar 400 paar. However, to take the NDA past 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP must secure over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Modi further said the next five years are going to play a crucial role in realising our dream of a developed India. India must work tirelessly to take a giant leap towards becoming a developed nation, he said. I am not someone who lives for my own happiness. I am advocating for a third term for BJP not for political gains, but for the benefit of India. My efforts are dedicated to the people of India. The dreams of Indians are my commitments, the Prime Minister said. Modi said the past 10 years have been characterised by bold decisions and futuristic policies. We have dared to complete tasks that had been left unfinished for decades. Whether it was the construction of the Ram Mandir, the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, the abrogation of Article 370, or the implementation of the New Education Policy, these changes were long-awaited by the people of India, he said. Nations shape their futures by embracing their history and culture, the Prime Minister said. Hitting out at the Opposition, Modi said, Opposition parties may not know how to fulfill their promises, but they still dont hesitate to make false commitments. Despite this, they lack the courage to make one promise no opposition party will promise you a Viksit Bharat. Nor do they question us about it. These parties have acknowledged that they cannot lead India to development. BJP is the only party, and NDA is the only alliance that aspires to make India developed by 2047, he said. The Prime Minister said it took India 60 years to reach a USD 1 trillion economy milestone. In our 10 years, we have propelled it to a USD 3 trillion economy. The previous government failed to elevate India from the 11th to the 10th largest global economy. In contrast, the BJP has elevated India to the top 5. Today, India stands as the 5th largest economy, and our infrastructure budget has surpassed Rs 11 lakh crore, Modi said. The Prime Minister also paid glowing tributes to Jain seer Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj. In his tribute to Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj, PM Modi said his demise has come as a personal loss as he used to seek guidance from him. Today, I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj. I was deeply saddened, and, so were his followers, after receiving the news of his demise. For me, this is a personal loss. I had the privilege and good fortune of meeting him and seeking his advice and guidance from time to time. The last time I visited him, the thought of not seeing him again never crossed my mind, PM Modi said. As part of the tightened security measures, the authorities have banned the operation of drones and other flying objects in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modis day-long visit here on 20 February. District Magistrate, Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, responding to intelligence reports highlighting potential security threats, has issued a comprehensive order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. The order has come into effect immediately and shall continue till 20 February. The order imposes restrictions on the operation of drones, remote-controlled microlight aircraft, paragliders, paramotors, hand gliders, and hot air balloons within the district. Advertisement Notably, these precautionary measures are in place to counter possible activities by terrorist and anti-national elements. Exceptions to the ban include aerial surveillance conducted by security forces during the PMs visit or with specific written permission from the District Magistrates office. Defence and paramilitary forces are exempted from these restrictions. Violation of this order is subject to punitive action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the DM warned. Besides addressing a massive public meeting, Modi will inaugurate the state-of-the-art AIIMS, IIM, and several other projects. He will also lay the foundation for a couple of projects. The IIM campus has been built on 200 acres of land at a cost of Rs 500.91 crore. The campus reflects IIM Jammus commitment to providing world-class infrastructure conducive to the holistic development of students. The new campus has been completed in record time, boasting state-of-the-art facilities, including smart classrooms and Nalanda, a modern library, fostering an environment of academic pursuit and innovation, the IIM spokesman said. Security has been tightened across the Jammu region and paramilitary forces are keeping vigil on the border with Pakistan. Steps have been taken to counter any mischief by Pakistan that last week sent quadcopters over the Indian territory at two places in the Poonch district. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha is keeping an eye on the security arrangements. DGP RR Swain and top officers of the police and paramilitary forces are constantly reviewing the security situation. BSF personnel are reportedly minutely examining the places on the border where in the past some time cross-border tunnels were detected. These tunnels, dug by Pakistani agencies, were used for infiltration of terrorists and pushing drugs, arms and ammunition. Meanwhile, BJP leaders and activists are busy mobilising people for Modis public meeting at the Maulana Azad Memorial Stadium here. However, the party leadership is worried about the forecast of rain and bad weather conditions for the next three days. Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren called on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence here on Sunday. This was his maiden meeting with the Congress chief after he took over as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand following the resignation of Hemant Soren from the post. Talking to reporters, Soren, who is also the senior leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), said it was a courtesy meeting. Advertisement It was a courtesy meeting with Kharge ji. I came to Delhi for the first time after forming the government, he said. In response to a question whether discussion was held on seat-sharing, the Chief Minister categorically said it would be held a second time. On being asked about reported resentment among few Congress MLAs in Jharkhand, Soren said that is their partys matter and they will talk. Reportedly, the disgruntled MLAs of the Congress are in the national capital. They are likely to meet the partys top leaders. Meanwhile in a post on X, the Chief Minister wrote, Today met Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. Along with the post, he also shared a photo of his meeting with Kharge. Notably, the Congress is part of the JMM-led government in Jharkhand, while the JMM is a constituent of the INDIA bloc also. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) , which is investigating into the alleged illegal transactions of Exalogic Solutions, the firm owned by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter, is likely to issue summons to Veena Vijayan asking her to appear before the agency to record her statement. As per the reports, the SFIO has decided to issue summons to Veena next week itself. The move came after the Karnataka High Court dismissed the plea filed by the firm owned by Veena Vijayan, seeking to quash the SFIO probe against it. In this connection, there ae reports that the firm Exalogic Solutions will approach the Division Bench in the Karnataka High Court against the Single Bench order. Advertisement Ever since the allegation against Veena Vijayan was raised, the CPI-M has defended the Chief Minister and his daughter in the Masappady (monthly payoff) case. The party has been explaining the case as a political hunt by the Central government against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the left government. However, after the Karnataka High Court verdict, the political hunt theory lost its sharpness. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan has accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of having orchestrated the mineral sand mining at Thottappally in Alappuzha to purportedly aid the interests of Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). Kuzhalnadan said the government ordered mining at Thottappally under the guise of preventing floods in the Kuttanad region. But the real motive was to extract ilmenite found in the mineral sand deposit in the region, he alleged. The Congress MLA said the Chief Minister had recommended necessary follow-up action on a memorandum submitted by the company claiming that it had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 60 crore following the import of ilmenite by the Centre. The firm had also urged the government to make arrangements to ensure supply of the mineral within the State itself. He said that the chief minister had convened a meeting in 2018 in his capacity as the Chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority after a situation emerged where it was impossible to give the official nod to operationalise the mining lease in the name of the firm. The District Collector of Alappuzha gave permission to remove sand from Thottappally in the name of preventing flood based on the decision taken at the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Kuzhalnadan said. He alleged that the government decided to remove the sand at a meagre price of Rs 464 per cubic metre on the grounds that the Department of Mining and Geology and the National Centre for Earth Science Studies did not respond to its request to fix the price after assessing the value of the mineral sand that contained regulated atomic minerals. It resulted in the sale of the mineral sand to CMRL at a throwaway price, the Congress MLA said. Kuzhalnadan alleged that the quid pro quo resulted in a jump in the profits of the firm after 2018. It gained huge profits in the 2022-23 fiscal after the hurdles for mineral sand mining were removed, he said. Expressing deep grief on Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj attaining Samadhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that Acharya Jis valuable efforts for spiritual awakening among the people will always be remembered. He said the demise of Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj is an irreparable loss for the country. The Prime Minister also recalled his meeting with Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj last year at Chandragiri Jain Temple in Chhattisgarh and said that the meeting will be unforgettable for him. Advertisement In his post on X, PM Modi wrote,I had the honour of receiving his blessings for years. I can never forget my visit to the Chandragiri Jain Mandir in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh late last year. That time, I had spent time with Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj Ji and also received his blessings The Prime Minister also said that Acharya Jis valuable efforts for spiritual awakening among the people will always be remembered. Throughout his life he remained engaged in poverty alleviation as well as promoting health and education in the society, Modi added. At the BJPs National Convention 2024 in Delhi, PM Modi, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states and BJP leaders observed a one-minute silence on the demise of Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj. BJP national president JP Nadda also spoke on the demise of Acharyaji. Congress leader and Wayand MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday morning visited the family members of the three men who were killed in wild animal attacks in Wayanad, and consoled them. He listened to grievances of the people about the state governments alleged failure to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Gandhi reached Wayanad via road from Kannur around 7 am. He reached Kannur by air on Saturday night after taking a break from his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Varanasi abruptly in the wake of intense protests by people in Wayanad. Advertisement The people have been agitating against the Forest Departments alleged failure to insulate the local population from wildlife attacks. First, he reached the house of Ajeesh, a farmer who was trampled to death by the wild elephant Bluer Makhna at Chaligada near Mananthavady last week. He spent around 20 minutes there . Later, Gandhi visited the house of Paul, who was killed by a wild tusker near Kuruva island on Friday, at Pakkam near Pulpally . He met with the next of kin of Paul for some time. He also reached Moodakolly and interacted with the family of Prajeesh, who was mauled to death by a tiger that had intruded into human habitation. Congress Working Committee member KC Venugopal accompanied Gandhi. The Wayanad lawmaker also attended an assessment and review meeting with the district officials at the PWD rest house in Kalpetta on Sunday. Speaking to the media, after the review meeting, Gandhi said he had tried to talk to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan this morning about the matter, however, he was not accessible. He asked the district authorities to expedite the processes to provide compensation to the relatives of the deceased.. The administration should act aggressively to provide compensation to the families. When a family member who is the breadwinner dies, poor families will be affected seriously . So, the compensation should not be given after months. They should get financial aid immediately, said Gandhi. He has also written a letter to the Kerala Chief Minister requesting decisive action over the incident. There are also complaints that Gandhi was not ready to listen to the people who were waiting to raise their concerns. The Congress leader lambasted the state government for the recurring wild animal attacks in the district. He also asked why there was still a delay in the development of the government Medical College in Mananthavady. Sona, the daughter of Paul, who was trampled to death by a wild elephant, on Sunday requested Gandhi to work towards installing modern facilities at the government medical college in Mananthavady. On Saturday, Sona has alleged that her father didnt get proper treatment at Mananthavady government medical college hospital and that there was delay in taking him to the Kozhikode medical college hospital Many areas in Wayanad witnessed intense protests by locals seeking solutions to the human-animal conflicts in the district. In Pulpally town, an irate mob threw stones at the police. The crowd waylaid a jeep of the forest department and damaged it. MLAs I C Balakrishnan and T Siddique , who were present at the protest site, too faced the wrath of protesters, with water bottles and chairs being thrown at them. While protesters agitated with Pauls mortal remains at one corner of Pulpally, another group protested with the remains of a cow killed by a wild animal. Pauls body was taken home only after the intervention of some priests and leaders of political parties Sonia Gandhi decided to contest for the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan this week, surprising many. She has served in the Lok Sabha for 25 years and represents Rae Bareli. Some wonder if the Gandhis left their stronghold due to the partys weakened position in Uttar Pradesh. Sonias decision to join the Rajya Sabha is an important moment for the Congress party. She is the second member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to do so. Indira Gandhi, her motherin-law, also served briefly before winning the Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli. Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sanjay Gandhi have previously represented Uttar Pradesh in Parliament. The Nehru-Gandhi family is a prominent political force in India. They come from Uttar Pradesh, but recent events suggest they are moving away from the state, raising concerns. The dynasty has dominated Indian politics for almost 50 years, producing three prime ministers. However, the Congress party, led by the Congress, last held power in Uttar Pradesh in 1989. In an emotional letter, Sonia told her Rae Bareli constituents, Due to health and increasing age, I will not contest the next Lok Sabha elections. After this decision, I will not get the opportunity to serve you directly, but certainly, my heart and soul will always be with you. For many years, Rae Bareli and Amethi were known as the strongholds of the Gandhi family. Since 1952, Rae Bareli has consistently supported the Congress party and the Gandhi family. Advertisement Feroze Gandhi, Indiras husband, was first elected from this constituency in 1952. Similarly, Amethi has been the stronghold of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty since its formation in 1967. In every term, except for a few years in the 1970s and the late 1990s, the constituency has preferred the family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his disappointment with the opposition, stating they lack the courage to participate in elections. He sarcastically mentioned that some politicians are considering changing their seats, with some even contemplating moving from the Lok Sabha to the Rajya Sabha. Sonia Gandhi began her political career in 1998, winning Lok Sabha seats from Amethi and Bellary in 1999. She continued to win elections from Rae Bareli in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. Despite being offered the opportunity to enter the Rajya Sabha from various states, Sonia chose to contest from Rajasthan, where she expected to win unopposed. At 77, Sonia has no plans to retire from public life and is looking to reposition herself. South India has long supported the Gandhi family, even during the emergency. Specifically, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka remained loyal to Indira Gandhi. She defeated Veerendra Patil of the Janata Party in a by-election from Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka. Then, in 1980, she won the elections from Rae Bareli and Medak in Andhra Pradesh and retained her seat in Medak. In 1999, Sonia won the Bellary and Amethi seats but later resigned from the Amethi seat. In the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi, the former President of Congress, contested from Amethi and Wayanad in Kerala. Rahul had represented the Amethi seat since 2004 but lost it in 2019. However, he emerged victorious in Wayanad, which resulted in a shift in the political base of the Gandhi family to south India. Sonia Gandhi chose Rajasthan to show that the Congress values the Hindi heartland, which is essential for the partys success in elections. With Sonia representing Rajasthan, the party wants to strengthen its position in North India and balance its presence in the north and south. This decision addresses the perception that Hindi-speaking states are being neglected because of competition from the BJP and other regional parties. Why did Sonia decide to move out of Rae Bareli? One of her considerations was to keep her well-known address, the bungalow at 10 Janpath. She has lived there since 1989, when Rajiv Gandhi lost power. Moving to the House of Elders would be a perfect way to achieve this goal, as she has no intentions of quitting politics, The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress party of accepting their potential defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by nominating Sonia Gandhi to the upper house. There is speculation that after Rahul Gandhis loss in Amethi, Rae Bareli could be the next one to face a similar outcome. Sonia Gandhis poor health, which she has informed her Rae Bareli constituents about, may also be a factor. She has also been campaigning less than usual. The Gandhi family believes that they should be in parliament, regardless of which house they represent. Whether Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi again or if Priyanka Vadra will choose Rae Bareli is still being determined. Opinion polls predict that the Bharatiya Janata Party may win the 2024 elections, causing uncertainty in opposition ranks. The Congress needs to be cautious with every step taken. Sonias move to Rajya Sabha is one such step that required careful consideration. By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Feb 18, 2024 - 13:43 | All, Japan Workshops for foreign visitors to make bento box lunches with food items arranged in the shapes of cute characters could help uncover new possibilities for restaurants seeking to cater to the inbound tourist trade. While cooking classes for tourists are not a new concept, the newly-launched "kyaraben" classes by event-organizing group Umami Experience are hosted by dining establishments, effectively utilizing the gap between mealtimes to generate new revenue streams. "When considering how to increase sales in the downtime between lunch and dinner, we thought of a tripartite approach, where the restaurant operates with three different faces," said Yuki Yamaguchi, representative director of But Art Inc. The social media marketing company, which specializes in using influencers to promote local businesses, launched the Umami Experience project last month in collaboration with restaurant operator Bright with the aim of tailoring experiences for inbound tourists. The kyaraben classes are held at Umamitakurami, a restaurant operated by Bright in Tokyo's Akasaka district that only opens for lunch, allowing it to host character bento classes before re-opening as a branch of the night cafe and bar Ikio in the evening. Kyaraben, commonly practiced by parents making lunch for their children, involves arranging various food items such as rice, vegetables, eggs, or meat into cute designs or characters. The portrayal of intricately arranged bento boxes in anime and on social media has helped fuel the kyaraben fad, with numerous cooking schools and private instructors now offering such classes for inbound tourists across Japan. "In many cases, (kyaraben classes) are done at residences. I don't think it's very common to hold them in restaurants," said Yamaguchi. Ten influencers attended a pre-launch Umami Experience class on Jan. 21 at Umamitakurami, where they were taught how to make panda-shaped character bento boxes, creating faces out of seaweed and mounds of rice, and making hearts from mini sausages. Tokyo-based Australian travel and foodie influencer Stefatty, who was among the participants, later posted on her Instagram that the experience made her "obsessed with making tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette) at home." Bookings for the 2.5-hour classes can be made for weekdays on TripAdvisor for 8,000 yen ($55) per person, and Yamaguchi said he hopes to provide character bento expertise to other restaurant owners in the future, so they can run such workshops themselves. More activities under the Umami Experience label are also in the works, including a dinner course paired with Japanese sake cocktails, and expanding the kyaraben classes to include "character cakes." "As we have a number of chefs who used to work at five-star hotels, we are considering upgrading the quality of the dishes by using better ingredients and trying out different dessert arrangements," said Yamaguchi. Related coverage: Latest gaming PCs proving popular at Tokyo Game Show Japanese pastry flavors mimic stages of love with help from AI Wasabi effective in improving memory of elderly: study The world was shocked when news broke of the untimely death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. His passing marked a tragic end to a figure who had become a symbol of resistance against the Kremlin. As the world mourns Navalnys death, questions about the role of Russian President Vladimir Putin in this incident have intensified, further highlighting the complex and contentious nature of Russian politics. Alexei Navalny was a prominent critic of the Russian government, known for his anti-corruption activism and his calls for political reform. His investigative work exposed high-level corruption within the Russian elite, earning him both admiration and disdain. Navalnys charisma and ability to mobilize supporters posed a significant challenge to the Kremlins authority. Navalny faced numerous obstacles in his quest for justice and political change. He was arrested multiple times, and in 2020, he survived an assassination attempt involving a nerve agent, which he and many international observers blamed on the Russian government. The attack prompted widespread condemnation and increased calls for accountability. After recovering in Germany, he returned to Russia in January 2021 and was arrested, leading to widespread protests. The relationship between Navalny and Putin has long been adversarial. Navalnys anti-corruption campaigns directly targeted Putins inner circle, challenging the status quo. The Kremlin, in turn, viewed Navalny as a threat to its authority and went to great lengths to suppress his activities. Advertisement While the Russian government has denied any involvement in Navalnys poisoning, suspicions persist, fuelled by the history of similar incidents involving critics of the Kremlin. The lack of a thorough and transparent investigation has only deepened these suspicions, leading to increased international scrutiny. Navalnys death has prompted widespread condemnation from the international community. Many world leaders and human rights organizations have called for an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his demise. Sanctions against Russia have been proposed, with some nations considering diplomatic measures to hold the Russian government accountable. The death of Navalny has left a void in the Russian opposition, and questions loom about the future of political dissent in the country. The Kremlins continued suppression of opposition voices raises concerns about the state of democracy and human rights in Russia. Vladimir Putin has been a dominant figure in Russian politics since he first became president in 2000. He has served as either president or prime minister, effectively maintaining control over the country. His leadership style and policies have been a subject of both domestic and international scrutiny. Amendments to the Russian Constitution were proposed in 2020, allowing Putin to potentially stay in power until 2036. The tragic death of Navalny has cast a spotlight on the complex and challenging landscape of Russian politics. Therefore, the role of Putin in Navalnys demise will remain a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. The international communitys response will likely play a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of Russias political future and the pursuit of justice for those who dare to challenge the status quo. In the dark corridors of political intrigue, where shadows dance to the rhythm of power, the demise of the Russian opposition leader serves as a chilling prologue to a narrative entrenched in the clutches of Putins enduring dictatorship. As the world grapples with the news of yet another figure silenced, the tale unfolds against a backdrop of political drama, where dissent is a risky gambit, and the stakes are higher than a highstakes poker game in the Kremlin. (The writer is Associate Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies & Social Sciences, Pondicherry Central University.) As the general elections near, the political landscape is rife with speculation about the potential policy directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term which polls suggest is a certainty. One focal point of discussion revolves around labour reforms, an issue that has garnered attention since the approval of new labour codes by Parliament in 2020. The Modi governments emphasis on labour reforms appears to be a strategic move, hinted at by a party spokesperson who suggests that if re-elected, Mr Modi may prioritise the implementation of these reforms. The proposed changes, however, face resistance from workers unions. On the surface, the government argues that consolidating 29 labour laws into four codes will streamline regulations, ensuring that over 500 million workers in India receive a minimum wage and social security benefits. It is a narrative that resonates with the vision of economic development and poverty eradication that Mr Modi has outlined for his next term. However, the devil lies in the details, and opposition from trade unions suggests a deeper concern regarding the balance between employer and labour rights. The crux revolves around provisions for easier hiring and firing, which, while potentially beneficial for employers, raises concerns about job security for workers. As the government seeks to create a more flexible labour market, critics argue that this could lead to exploitation and an erosion of workers rights. The delicate task ahead lies in finding a middle ground that fosters economic growth without compromising the well-being of the workforce. The timing of these reforms is notable, with the government indicating a push post-election. This strategic delay, according to trade union representatives, echoes a similar tactic employed by the government in response to farmer protests two years ago. The protests resulted in the repeal of three agricultural laws, demonstrating the efficacy of organised resistance. The looming threat of nationwide protests against perceived anti-labour policies highlights the tense relationship between the government and trade unions. Mr Harbhajan Singh, general secretary of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, voices the concerns of labour advocates, emphasising that the unions are prepared to resist any attempt to skew labour laws in favour of employers. This sets the stage for a potential standoff between the governments economic agenda and the steadfastness of the labour movement. In addition to labour reforms, the BJP spokespersons mention of bilateral trade deals adds another dimension to Mr Modis potential agenda. With aspirations of assuming global leadership, India is already in negotiations for free trade agreements, including with countries like Britain. These agreements could open new avenues for economic growth, provided they are structured with the interests of the Indian workforce in mind. Striking the right balance between economic reforms and safeguarding the rights of workers is crucial for sustained growth and social harmony. The upcoming elections will not only determine the political trajectory of the nation but will also influence the course of labour relations, making it a pivotal moment in Indias socio-economic narrative. Advertisement Google on Saturday announced a second startup support fund for Ukraine worth $10 million, to allocate equity-free cash awards throughout 2024 and 2025. Since the devastating war in Ukraine started, Google said it has committed over $45 million in cash and $7 million in kind to support humanitarian relief efforts for people in Ukraine and those fleeing the war. Weve also sought to use our products to help people affected by the war, like protecting against cyber attacks and fighting misinformation, said Agnieszka Hryniewicz-Bieniek, Senior Director, Google for Startups. Advertisement The second Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund will select startups on a rolling basis and give up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding, as well as ongoing Google mentorship, product support and up to $300,000 in Cloud credits. This hands-on support is designed to help Ukrainian entrepreneurs maintain and grow their businesses, strengthen their community and build a foundation for post-war economic recovery. Applications will open later this year, the company announced. In March 2022, the company first announced the fund to support Ukraine-based startups, which has gone on to provide $5 million in equity-free cash awards to 58 recipients. Startups supported by the Ukraine Support Fund have received $15.8 million in follow-on funding, created 100 per cent revenue growth and significantly increased their employment despite the war and hardships they have faced, the company said. Startups like Skyworker.ai and Mindly are using AI to drive economic opportunity, Google added. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives, and we cant ignore their importance. However, this widespread use comes at a cost, especially in school going children as the addiction has caused physical, mental and social harms, revealed a study. The study, published in the International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, analysed 500 adolescents (250 from government schools and 250 from private schools) from Delhi. Researchers from the national capitals Kalawati Saran Children Hospital found that there was a difference of physical hazards related to mobile phone addiction among adolescents between government and private school. Advertisement While no difference was found between males and females, a difference was found of psychological hazards related to mobile phone addiction among adolescents between government and private school. Besides easy accessibility and availability of cheaper phones, multiple players, the health experts noted that the advent of Covid pandemic spiked the use of mobile phones among adolescents and children. Many children are no longer talking to each other, leading to a lack of social interaction. Studies suggest that this is more pronounced in private schools, likely due to increased online studying and access to global events. Additionally, prolonged use of phones can lead to physical issues, such as strain on the neck and eyes, for both children and adults, Dr. Poonam Sidana, Director Neonatology & Paediatrics at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, told IANS. Prolonged use of mobile phones can also lead to physical health issues such as back pain, disrupted sleep patterns, and a sedentary lifestyle, which can further lead to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cancers. There are also psychological issues, especially among younger generations, who are missing out on social interactions and outdoor play. Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social isolation have also been linked with mobile phone addiction. Adolescents are highly susceptible to peer pressure, and the use of mobile phones, including social media apps, is often driven by peer influence. The desire to fit in or fear of missing out (FOMO) can lead to excessive use and addiction, Dr Rahul Nagpal, Principal Director Paediatrics & Neonatology at Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj, told IANS. Various studies have proved that excessive use of mobile phones can interfere with adolescents academic performance by reducing study time, concentration, and productivity. Adolescents who spend significant time on social media are vulnerable to cyber-bullying, online harassment, and interactions with online predators. Social media platforms provide avenues for constant connection and validation. Adolescents may spend excessive amounts of time on social media, leading to addiction and neglect of real-life interactions. Adolescents may use mobile phones as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, loneliness, or depression. The instant gratification provided by mobile phones through games, social media, or internet browsing can become addictive, serving as a temporary escape from real-world problems, the doctor said. The experts called for increasingly educating parents on the harms of mobile phone use, as well as make them aware of controls that can be exercised. Dr. Poonam said parents need education on monitoring their childrens online activities, and digital literacy should be integrated into the curriculum to teach children how to use technology safely while maintaining social interactions. For families where parents may not have the time or understanding to provide this education, schools and authorities should take on the responsibility of teaching children how to protect themselves from the harmful effects of excessive screen time, she noted. The level of parental supervision and guidance regarding mobile phone usage can significantly impact adolescents behaviour. Lack of parental oversight may contribute to excessive and unsupervised use of mobile phones, increasing the risk of addiction, Dr Rahul told IANS. Sri Lanka has rolled out infrastructure development projects and innovative tourism promotion programmes in a bid to attract high-end tourists, the Presidents Media Division (PMD) said. The PMD said in a press statement that President Ranil Wickremesinghe conducted a tour of Tangalle and Galle areas on Saturday to assess tourism industry resurgence on the southern coast of the country, Xinhua news agency reported. During the tour, the President visited several tourist hotels, talking with owners to understand their challenges first hand, the PMD added. Advertisement The PMD said the tourism sector in Sri Lanka faced a rapid downturn due to the Covid-19 pandemic and economic challenges. With the governments new initiatives, there has been a significant surge in tourist arrivals, said the PMD, adding that more than 1.4 million tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2023. Building on this momentum, the government aims to surpass the peak of 2.5 million tourists in 2017, with plans underway to achieve this milestone by 2024, the PMD said. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has announced that it has broken the siege imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Engineers Corps in Omdurman, west of the capital Khartoum. Video clips released by the army early Saturday showed the arrival of the SAF Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in Omdurman, Xinhua news agency reported. Al-Burhan arrived in Omdurman on Friday evening to inspect the conditions of the forces and progress of operations in the wake of the major victories achieved by the army after completing the first phase, the Army said in a statement. Advertisement The statement noted that the SAF forces from the Wadi Seidna military base in northern Omdurman successfully lifted the siege and united with army forces at the Engineers Corps base in western Omdurman for the first time since the conflict broke out. The army also posted video clips showing citizens celebrating the armed forces victories in Omdurman and their control of parts of the city. The SAFs Chief of Staff Mohamed Osman Al-Hussein congratulated in a statement the Sudanese armys command in Omdurman on the completion of the first phase of the plan to clean Omdurman from the mercenaries of the RSF militia. Al-Hussein described the first phase of the military operation in Omdurman as difficult, expressing hope that a complete victory would be achieved in the near future. The neighbourhoods of Omdurman have reportedly been witnessing fierce battles in recent days, particularly around the citys main market area. The army is actively working to encircle the RSF forces stationed near the National Radio and Television Corporation in central Omdurman. Sudanese activists shared video clips on social media platforms depicting extensive destruction in Omdurmans main market due to ongoing battles between the SAF and the RSF. Deadly clashes between the two forces have persisted since April 15 of last year, resulting in a reported death toll of more than 13,000 individuals, as per recent estimates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Snow showers early will give way to a mixture of rain and snow showers for the afternoon. High 41F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Rain and snow showers this evening. Overcast overnight. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 50%. KYODO NEWS - Feb 18, 2024 - 11:34 | All, Japan A senior superintendent who had been detained over accusations of raping at least three women last year died in a police cell in Hiroshima in an apparent suicide, police said Sunday. Koichi Iwamoto, 58, was found unconscious with his long johns around his neck and tied to the door of the toilet in his cell in Hiroshima Chuo Police Station at around 8:20 p.m. Saturday and pronounced dead at a hospital, the police said. According to the police, Iwamoto left what appeared to be a suicide note. The officer, who was on suicide watch, was indicted of raping three women whom he met through a dating app and was recently served a fresh arrest warrant for the alleged rape of two others. During the first hearing of one of the three women at the Hiroshima District Court in January, Iwamoto's defense side pleaded not guilty, saying he went to a hotel with her but did not have sex with her. Police allege that he blackmailed the three women by telling them he would report them to the police unless they agreed to sex, and forced them to sign documents admitting to prostitution. On loan from the Okayama prefectural police since March of last year, Iwamoto served as a senior instructor at the police school at the Chugoku Shikoku Regional Police Bureau. Katsutoshi Ono, who oversees the management of detention in the Hiroshima prefectural police, said, "It is regrettable that an incident like this occurred. We will have a thorough probe to prevent a recurrence." 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. A bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators has made an official visit to Hungarys capital to call on the nationalist government to immediately approve Swedens request to join NATO This columnist had warned the Congress way back in 2018 that the BJP would hijack P.V. Narasimha Rao. They have, with a posthumous Bharat Ratna. No quarrel. Rao deserves the honour, much more than L.K. Advani, Karpoori Thakur or Charan Singh, the other politicians whom Narendra Modi has honoured in a pre-election honour spree. Many consider Rao next only to the visionary democrat Jawaharlal Nehru, the strategically far-sighted Indira Gandhi, and at par with or a notch above A.B. Vajpayee, among Indias PMs. He came to power heading a minority regime, 'bought' majority, gave us five years of stable rule, and got prosecuted for buying majority. No Congressman went to his aid when he was in the dock. Thats how politicos are. Congressmen turn spiteful when out of power; BJP men do when in power. Taken together, we are in the worst of times. P.V. Narasimha Rao | P. Musthafa Rao has much to be credited for. But for his political backing, Manmohan Singh couldnt have got away with economic reforms. Pilloried in Parliament, Singh put in his papers twice in those five years. Rao tore up those papers and stood by him. Parallelly, he steered India through the tumultuous tides of the post-Cold War world, and pushed it towards economic growth and strategic might. Rao hasnt got due credit for his Punjab miracle, the only instance in modern world history where a heartland separatist movement was defused with no damage done to the state or statute. He pulled off an election without going to Punjab even for a photo-op. His first visit to Punjab was more than a year laterfor a hele-survey of floods. Enemy's enemy is friend; enemy's friend is enemy. Rao reversed the dictum. When the Army didnt have enough men for militant-hunt in Kashmir, Rao 'truced' with Pakistans friend China, relieved more than one lakh troops from the China border and sent them to shoot the Pak-backed militants. That was Chanakya neeti upside down, or statecraft with a touch of Palmerston. The wily viscount had said, a country has no eternal allies nor perpetual enemies," but only permanent interests. In the Congress eyes, Rao committed a sin of omissionhe did nothing when kar sevaks tore down the Babri mosque. But no Congressman would crucify Rajiv for his sin of commissionallowing shilanyas at Ayodhya. It was only expected that the BJP would seek to hijack Rao. Facing a shortage of freedom fighters, the Indian right has been on the lookout for national icons. They had got K.M. Munshi and Madan Mohan Malaviya alive; one had joined the Jana Sangh, the other founded the Hindu Mahasabha. Seeking more, they have been eyeing anyone who had walked on the 'right' side of the national movement before independence, or of the nation-building movement after independence, as intellectually theirs to appropriate. Making much of Sardar Patels minor tiffs and Netaji Boses major tiffs with Nehru, they sought to appropriate both. Its another matter that Patel had conceded Jawahar was better suited to be PM than was himself. A bid was made to take Ambedkar, but the doughty leaders of the dalit movement are just not letting his legacy go. The Congress did wake up, but too late. They put up Raos pictures on posters, perhaps as an afterthought, on the second day of their Udaipur conclave in 2022. Since then Rao has been appearing now and then in the Congress pantheon, but now Modi has moved swiftly, taking the wind out of the Congresss drifting sails. Who next? Rajaji, G.B. Pant, Lal Bahadur Shastri are all candidates with rightist credentials, but protected with Congress-bestowed Bharat Ratnas. prasannan@theweek.in Actor Chiranjeevi, on Sunday, wished his wife Surekha a happy birthday. The actor posted a picture of the two of them on his Instagram account. Happy Birthday to my lifeline and the greatest pillar of my strength Surekha! Many Many Happy Returns! he wrote. Chiranjeevi, a Padma Vibhushan winner, is also the father of actor Ram Charan. The superstar has always been known to be a family man. Fans were showering love on the post too. Happy birthday AMMA GARU, a user wrote. Best Mother Best Wife Best human being Surekha mam happy Birthday, another user wrote. Hero also poet also? All in one Boss, yet another user wrote. Chiranjeevi and Surekha got married on February 20 1980. The duo went off on a holiday to the US around Valentine's Day. Off to USA for a short holiday with my better half Surekha. Will resume shoot of #Vishwambhara as soon as I get back! See you all soon! And of course Happy Valentine's Day to All, he had updated on Twitter. Currently, the actor is shooting for a fantasy film, Vishwambhara. Actor Trisha recently joined the cast of the film. The film is expected to release in January 2025. The actor was last seen in Bholaa Shankar and Waltair Veerayya. Malayalam actor Asif Ali broke his silence over social media rumours that stated that the popular star had rejected 'Bramayugam'-- Rahul Sadasivan's period horror with Mammootty in the lead role. Vehemently denying the claim, Asif Ali reportedly said he never said no to the crticially-acclaimed movie that is running successfully in theatres. He was forced to leave the project due to a date clash, Asif Ali said. He was disappointed by the development as the script of 'Bramayugam' had made him very excited, the 'Salt N Pepper' star added. Many had claimed on social media that the director originally wanted Asif to play the role of Thevan. But Asif was unimpressed by the character and the crew finally cast Arjun Ashokan for the role. Clarifying the scenario that led to his withdrawal from 'Bramayugam', Asif Ali said the movie's shooting arrived much ahead than expected. ALSO READ | 'Bramayugam' review: This Mammootty-starrer is 'one hell of a movie'! "I didn't reject 'Bramayugam'. The movie happened faster than we planned. Mammookka (Mammootty was growing his beard for a movie. They decided to do it after it. But I had other commitments at that time and couldn't do it. I am terribly sad about it," Manorama Online quoted Asif Ali as saying in an interview a few months ago. "I had done my homework properly. 'Bramayugam' is gonna be an all-time best Malayalam cinema. It was a project that I wanted to do so badly. But I am happy that the role went to Arjun Ashokan. You are going to witness Arjun's next-level show in it," Asif had predicted in the interview, Manorama Online said. The two-day national convention of the BJP ended on a high note on Sunday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the party cadre to focus on the next 100 days to win general elections. He asserted that even in foreign countries, everyone is sure that the BJP will return to power for a third term. Modi stressed the importance of gaining the trust of all sections of society, signaling a commitment to inclusivity and broad-based governance. Modi urged the cadre to reach out to every new voter and beneficiaries of the government schemes in the next 100 days so that the party can win 370 seats. Reflecting on the achievements in the past decade, Modi highlighted the governments bold decisions and forward-looking policies, including the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, which put an end to a centuries-long wait and underscored the governments commitment to cultural heritage and national unity. He also talked about the opening of Kartarpur corridor, the abrogation of Article 370, and the implementation of the New Education Policy. Earlier, a political resolution passed at the national convention had asserted that the ideals of Ram Rajya were realised during the 10 years of Modi government. The convention gave a peak into the BJPs 2024 campaign as it would focus on the fulfillment of its cultural goals like Ram temple and repeal of Article 370. As over 11,500 party representatives, including cabinet ministers, chief ministers, MPs and MLAs, were present during the convention, the party managed to send a uniform message about its poll campaign to various hierarchies of the party. Similar national conventions ahead of 2014 and 2019 elections had set the tone for the partys campaign. This time, the BJP is stepping into the electoral arena with the confidence of scoring a hat-trick, while aiming to destroy the opposition grouping even as turncoats are welcomed with enthusiasm into the party fold. The partys confidence was also reflected in the choice of venue as it held the meeting at the newly constructed Bharat Mandapam, also a venue for G20 summit, giving its partymen a peak into the infrastructure created by the government in the last 10 years. The previous two conventions were held at Ramlila Maidan. Modi used the occasion to contrast the BJPs vision for development with the purported lack of vision exhibited by opposition parties. He criticised the opposition, particularly the Congress, for their failure to prioritise national security and development, citing instances where they attempted to hinder critical initiatives such as the Rafale deal and questioned the efficacy of surgical strikes conducted by the Indian security forces. Looking ahead, Modi outlined ambitious economic and environmental goals for the nation, including achieving a net-zero target for railways by 2030 and reducing Indias dependence on imports. He also emphasised the importance of environmental sustainability and job creation, highlighting initiatives such as the hosting of the Youth Olympics in 2029 and the ambitious goal of hosting the Olympics in 2036. Modi said he has been silently working to collect inputs for Indias vision for 2047 which may be revealed in the coming days. Asserting that the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will return to power for the third term, Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at the opposition and INDIA bloc for its dynastic and appeasement politics. Shah also proposed the second political resolution "BJP: Desh ki aasha, vipaksha ki hatasha" (BJP: Country's hope, opposition's despair), which was seconded by Union Minister Arjun Munda. The senior BJP leader also hit out at Congress, stating that the party coloured the democracy of the country with corruption, nepotism, appeasement and casteism. "Such nepotistic parties were engaged in making a democratic arrangement to ensure that public opinion never emerged independently. PM Modi achieved development in 10 years by eliminating corruption, nepotism, appeasement and casteism" Amit Shah said at the national convention. He added that the Prime Minister was freeing India from the colonial mindset by removing the national symbols affiliated with British rule. "This should have been done immediately after independence, yet the Congress never bothered to do it," Shah said. Shah added that while PM Modi thinks of the poor and the country's development, the opposition is full of "2G, 3G and 4G" parties, a reference to the second, third and fourth generation of families running these parties. "All the family "princes" have come together against Modi as they think only someone from a powerful family can occupy the top position," he said amid slogans in support of Modi at the meeting. "On the one hand there are family-run parties and on the other is the son of a poor mother," he said. The government has worked to lift the living standards of 60 crore poor who earlier felt left out of the development process, he said. "If family-run politics existed in the BJP, the son of a tea seller would not have become the country's prime minister," he asserted. He added that a person doing booth work in the BJP can become the President of the country and can also become the Prime Minister. "This facility is available only in BJP because we have kept our party a democratic party," he added. He also likened the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to the Mahabharata war, asserting that there is no doubt in people's minds that the prime minister will retain power for a third term. "Opposition parties are in denial mode, he said, adding they oppose everything for the sake of it, be it the repeal of Article 370, a ban on triple talaq, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or the construction of the new Parliament building. He also accused the Congress of turning down the invite for the Ram temple consecration ceremony due to its appeasement politics. After three rounds of talks failed to reach a consensus, the fourth round of discussions between farmer leaders and the Centre will be held on Sunday. Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai will meet leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to discuss the demands, including Minimum Support Price (MSP). Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarvan Singh Pandher said the government asked for time to discuss their demands. "It is our 6th day at the Shambhu border. Today, we are holding talks with the Union Ministers. The government has asked for some time and said the matter will be discussed before arriving at a solution," Pandher told ANI. Pandher also expressed hope that the farmers will get "good news" after Sunday's meeting with the Centre. "Now the ball is in the government's court," he said. On Saturday, the farmer leaders reiterated their demand for an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP. Pandher told reporters from the Shambhu border that the Centre has a right to make "political" decisions. "If the government wants resolution of farmers' protest, then it should bring an ordinance with an immediate effect that it will enact a law on MSP, then discussion can proceed further." "It (Centre) can bring the ordinance overnight if it wants to," he added. Speaking to reporters at the Shambhu border, Pandher said as far as the issue of modalities is concerned, any ordinance has a six-month validity. As far as the demand for "C2 plus 50 per cent" as per the Swaminathan Commission's recommendation goes, Pandher said that the government was giving a price according to "A2 plus FL" formula. "Under the same formula, an ordinance can be brought," he said. "The whole country is looking to the powerful Prime Minister to gather up the courage and take a decision on an ordinance on legal guarantee to MSP and debt waiver," he added. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march along with Pandher, also said that the government should bring an ordinance for giving something to the people of the country. "The government should bring the ordinance with such an intention that it is implemented with immediate effect, and within six months, it can be converted into a law and there is no problem in that," said Dallewal. Meanwhile, the Haryana government on Saturday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts by two more days till February 19. The affected districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. The government had earlier extended the suspension of mobile internet on February 13 and 15. Amid rumours and speculations of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath's exit from the party, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Sunday said that the former CM will be staying in Congress. Patwari said he spoke to Kamal Nath and he said that all these things were just rumours. "The rumours that Kamal Nath going to BJP, is an example of how media can be misused. This was a conspiracy made against Kamal Nath. I spoke to him and he said that all these things are just rumours, and he is a Congress person and will continue to be a Congress person...he will continue to have Congress ideology till his last breath," Patwari was quoted by ANI. Several Madhya Pradesh MLAs close to Kamal Nath arrived in Delhi on Sunday amid intensified speculations. While speaking on Naths behalf, Patwari said his relationship with the Gandhi family is unshakable. On Saturday, Nath along with his son had arrived in Delhi after cancelling his programme in Chhindwara. Strengthening the rumours of possible switch to BJP, Nakul had changed his Congress bio in his social media accounts. Nath's Congress colleague Digvijaya Singh has expressed confidence that his old friend won't forsake the party from where he began his political journey. Following the Congress's defeat in the November Assembly polls, Nath was removed as the party's state president. Reportedly, Nath was not happy as the party did not pick him as its nominee from MP for Rajya Sabha polls. Some of Nath's loyalists had said that he was hurt by the way Congress had removed him from the party unit chief post after the MP polls. Deepak Saxena, former MP minister said that he will follow his leader in whatever decision he takes. Former state minister Sajjan Singh Verma also told reporters that he will follow Kamal Nath's decision. Digvijaya Singh had said that Kamal Nath is considered the third son of late PM Indira Gandhi. "Can you dream of the third son of Indiraji (Gandhi) joining the BJP?" he said. While the buzz over senior Congress leader Kamal Nath's possible switch to the BJP grows louder, reports emerge that as many as 10 MLAs who support Nath and his son will reach Delhi on Sunday. They include MLAs from Chhindwara, Balaghat, Morena and other districts, according to Jagran. Rumours are that as many as 10 MLAs, including Sajjan Singh Verma, may leave Congress for BJP along with Kamal Nath. Verma had fuelled rumours about switching sides on Saturday, stating that a person is forced to change decisions when self-respect is wounded. "It calls for attention when a highly accomplished politician, who has contributed significantly to Congress and the country over the past 45 years, considers leaving his party," he said. However, he quickly clarified that there has been no decision regarding Kamal Nath ji's departure and all that remains were "conjecture." Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh BJP camp continued to fuel the rumours of Kamal Nath's switch. A day after posting an image of Kamal Nath and his son with the caption 'Jai Shri Ram', Madhya Pradesh BJP state spokesperson Narendra Saluja put up another post on Sunday morning, taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and national media panellist Alok Sharma for his derogatory remarks at Kamal Nath. "Instead of taking action against the national spokesperson who called Kamal Nath ji a traitor, Rahul Gandhi is carrying him around respectfully. Rahul Gandhi has expressed his choice, now it is Kamal Nath ji's turn," Saluja posted. However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh opted to go mum about the developments, stating he would not speak about Kamal Nath. "'I only talk about Kashi Vishwanath, not Kamal Nath..' retorted Ramesh when queried about the Congress leader's exit plan. The Congress leader, however, explained about Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad visit and the schedule of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Opposition's INDIA bloc leader Sanjay Raut too tried to dismiss the speculations, stating that Kamal Nath wouldn't leave Congress. "People from our Shiv Sena and NCP's Ajit Pawar also left, what happened? These are disloyal and cowardly people who left due to fear of ED. People say things like Congress couldn't have lost the MP election but people like Kamal Nath sabotaged the election. But I don't think he'll leave Congress," he said. Raut added that whoever wants can leave. "It's not cowards and corrupt people who form a party but party workers. If someone wants to leave any party so that his son can win the election, he can leave," Raut added. Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, six months after his return to the country from self-exile. After halting his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Varanasi abruptly, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday visited Wayanad to meet the family members of elephant attack victims amid intense protests by local residents in his Kerala constituency. Wayanad MP was accompanied by AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, MLAs T. Siddique and I.C. Balakrishnan. He first went to the residence of Aji, 42, who was trampled to death by a radio-collared elephant in Mananthavady, Wayanad, around 7.30 am. Later, he reached the house of Paul, an eco-tourism guide working for the forest department, who was killed by an elephant near Kuruvadweep on Friday. He also visited the Moodakolly residence of Prajeesh who was killed by a tiger recently. He is scheduled to attend an assessment meeting with district officials later in the day in Kalpetta, the district headquarters, before leaving for Prayagraj, from where he will resume his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday lashed out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to disrupt peace in Sandeshkhali in 24 North Parganas district. "We always take action in case of any wrong. First the ED, then the BJP and then the media. They are trying to disrupt peace there (Sandeshkhali). If there are any allegations, we will take action, and whatever was taken will be forcibly returned," said Mamata. She also pointed out that action was taken against the accused TMC leaders in the Sandeshkhali land grab and sexual abuse case. "Our block president has been arrested. In Bhangar, Arabul Islam has also been arrested. But what action has the BJP taken against their leaders? Remember, the BJP is anti-Bengali, anti-women, anti-farmer, and anti-dalit," she was quoted by The Hindustan Times. Local TMC leaders Shibaprasad Hazra, alias Shibu, and Uttam Sardar have been arrested by the police over the allegations. Basirhat subdivision court has sent Hazra, arrested on Saturday, to eight days of police custody. While speaking at a public distribution programme in Suri, Mamata also alleged that the BJP-led central government "deactivated" Aadhaar card of people in the state before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "We will continue paying the beneficiaries of the schemes even if they have no Aadhaar card. Not a single beneficiary will be affected," she said. Mamata also showed her support to the farmers protest in Haryana, Punjab demanding the government's guarantee on minimum support price of their produce. She also condemned the attacks on them. Meanwhile, three ministers in the cabinet on Sunday visited Sandeshkhali which was witnessing protests. The land department also opened camps to address the grievances of the people in the village. Ministers Partha Bhowmick, Sujit Bose and Birbaha Hansda went to Kalinagar village to speak to the residents about their grievances. Villages in Sandeshkhali have witnessed protests over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing since the first week of February. TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan was alleged the kingpin of the atrocities against the villagers and the opposition parties in the state are demanding that he be arrested by the police. "TMC and Mamata Banerjee have always denied the incidents of Sandeshkhali. The West Bengal Chief Minister is trying to hide the incidents of Sandeshkhali We want the Central Government and NIA to bring Sheikh Shahjahan to Tihar jail," BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul told ANI. A rape survivor has alleged that she has been sexually abused by a magistrate inside his chamber in a court in Tripura. A three-member panel, headed by Dhalai District and Sessions Judge Gautam Sarkar, has initiated a probe into the allegation, a senior advocate said on Sunday. The woman alleged that the incident of sexual abuse took place on February 16 when she went to the chamber of first class judicial magistrate, Kamalpur to get her statement recorded in connection with her rape. In her complaint to the additional district and sessions judge, Kamalpur, the woman stated, "I went to the chamber of the first class judicial magistrate to get my statement recorded on February 16. When I was about to give my statement, the judge groped me. I rushed out of his chamber and informed the lawyers and my husband about the incident." The woman's husband also lodged a separate complaint with the Kamalpur Bar Association over the incident. Acting on the survivor's complaint, District and Sessions Judge Gautam Sarkar, along with Chief Judicial Magistrate Satyajit Das, visited Kamalpur's additional district and sessions judge's office to investigate the matter. "The three-member panel headed by the district and sessions judge also met the members of Kamalpur Bar Association on the court premises and sought our point of view on the allegations of the woman. We placed our points before the panel," Shibendra Dasgupta, secretary of the advocate body, told PTI over phone. Responding to the allegation brought against the judge, registrar general, Tripura High Court, V Pandey said, "We have not yet received any official complaint regarding the issue. Like other people of the state, I too came to know about it from the media and social media platforms. Once we receive a complaint in a proper format, we will definitely take appropriate action." After Israel Defence Force's (IDF) raid at the second-largest hospital in Gaza, Nasser hospital has ceased to function, said World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO also said that it had not been allowed to enter the site to evaluate the situation. "Nasser hospital in Gaza is not functional anymore, after a weeklong siege followed by the ongoing raid," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X. Nasser hospital in #Gaza is not functional anymore, after a weeklong siege followed by the ongoing raid. Both yesterday and the day before, the @WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 18, 2024 Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners, he added. The Gaza Health Ministry said that only four medical staff were left in the hospital trying to care for the remaining patients. Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll touched 28,985 on Sunday. As many as 68,883 people got injured since Israel-Hamas war on October 7. Amid intensifying attacks, Algeria, the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washington's own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted. In similar resolutions, US has used its veto with wide international support. Also, the US, Qatar and Egypt's efforts to strike a deal between both Hamas and Israel over the release of hostages has also not been fruitful yet. Hamas has said it will not release all of the remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. While Israel has made it clear that no more prisoners will be released to strengthen the Hamas troops. Israel PM Netanyahu has also pushed back against international concern about a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, saying residents will be evacuated to safer areas. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel on Sunday of committing "genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza. "Whats happening in the Gaza Strip isnt a war, its a genocide...Its not a war of soldiers against soldiers. Its a war between a highly prepared army and women and children," said Lula while attending an African Union summit. Israel termed Lulas highly critical remarks as shameful. The words of the president of Brazil are shameful and serious. No one will harm Israels right to defend itself. I have ordered the people of my office to summon the Brazilian ambassador for a reprimand call tomorrow, wrote Israels foreign minister, Israel Katz on X. Also Israel has formalised its opposition to unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. "Israel rejects outright international dictates regarding a permanent accord with the Palestinians. An accord, should it be reached, will only come through direct negotiations between the sides, without preconditions," read a formal statement from Netanyahu's office. Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7th massacre will grant a huge, unprecedented reward to terrorism and prevent any future peace accord, it said. An Indian-origin man was convicted for the murder of a sex worker in London on February 15, Thursday -- 30 years after the crime was committed. According to British media, culprit Sandip Patel stabbed victim Marina Koppel 140 times, leading to her demise in August 1994. She was 39. Sandip Patel only became a suspect in the case in 2022 -- 28 years after Koppel's murder. His DNA matched to a hair retrieved from the crime scene, a BBC report said. The investigators also confirmed the bloody footprint found at the scene belonged to the 51-year-old. Patel will now remain behind bars at least for 19 years, the report added. He was sentenced as per the guidelines that were in place during the time the murder was committed. According to reports, Patel's fingerprints were found on a carrier bag found at the woman's residence. However, he wasn't included among the suspects's list at that time. A resident of north London's Finchley Road, Patel used the victim's bank card pin to withdraw money from her account. He was a student when he committed the crime. Colombian Koppel was a mother of two and worked as a masseuse and a sex worker in London. Her husband found her dead body when he made a trip from his residence in Northampton to London after his countless phone calls remained unanswered by Marina. He found his wife motionless in a pool of blood on the floor of the room near Baker Street Tube station where she entertained her clients, news reports said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the Russian troops for the successful capture of the Eastern town of Avdiivka after four months of relentless attacks left Ukrainian troops outgunned and outnumbered. "The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website. The fall of Avdiivka also hints at how the tide of the war has turned in Moscow's favour after a Ukrainian counteroffensive failed to break through Russian lines last year, analysts said. It will also help Moscow tighten its hold on the regional centre of Donetsk, about 20 km to the east, held by Russian and pro-Russian forces since 2014. This comes as the U.S. warned this week that Avdiivka could fall to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages. The House Republican had refused to pass the U.S. military aid package for Kyiv, leaving Ukraine in severe ammunition shortage. After the withdrawal, the White House said the withdrawal had been forced upon Ukraine "by dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction" that had forced Ukrainian soldiers to ration ammunition and resulted in "Russia's first notable gains in months." Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade, deployed in Avidiivka, was being attacked by Russian infantry in all directions and the Ukrainian troops were outnumbered by as many as seven to one. A senior military official compared this to "fighting two armies." Before he was removed as the military chief, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, too said Russia could concentrate its forces, including artillery and aviation, in one direction or another. "And they can make it so that in two-three months the town [Avdiivka] will have the same fate as Bakhmut," he said. On Friday, Ukraines new commander in chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, ordered a withdrawal from Avidiivka, unable to defend themselves from the mass and aerial superiority of Russian forces. "To preserve life and encirclement, I have withdrawn our units from Avdiivka," he said. However, there are reports that Russia still does not have full control of the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical plant on the northwestern edge of the town. Ukraine's largest coke producer before the war and now in ruins, it has been the Avdiivka's last stronghold. "Measures are being taken to completely clear the city of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the city and are entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant," Russian Defence Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a video published on the ministry's Telegram channel. A shooting incident in the University City neighbourhood of San Diego on Saturday night left one person dead and an another injured. San Diego police has launched an investigation to find the suspect behind the incident. According to the police, the incident happened near the Westfield UTC shopping mall. Shots were fired, reportedly, around 8:41 pm at Nobel Drive and Lombard Place, close to Palisade UTC. Due to a police investigation, Nobel Drive will be closed in both directions between Genesee Ave. & Towne Centre Drive. This closure is expected to last several hours. pic.twitter.com/0549L0qgK0 San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) February 18, 2024 San Diego Police Department Watch Commander Officer Rober Heims said both victims were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds, reported NBC News. Police presently do not have any information about the suspect. SDPD's Homicide Unit is probing the incident. According to SDPD Officer Darius Jamsetjee, the mall was not involved in the shooting. The scenario was contained to the street, he added. Meanwhile, the residents in the area told the media that shooting incidents were not common in the area. Its scary to think theres an active shooter situation over there, a resident Melissa Fulton was quoted by NBC News. After serving nearly one-year jail sentence for corruption and abuse of power, Thailand's one of the most controversial politician and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday. Shinawatra was released from a Bangkok hospital, where is spent six months due to health problems. Shinawatra, 74, has returned to Thailand last August after 15 years in self-imposed exile. The billionaire was toppled in a 2006 coup. He was originally sentenced to eight years in prison, however, Thailand's king had reduced it to one year days after Shinawatra's return from exile. The king's decision was criticised by many including the opposition. "Thailand needs a democratic system where the rule of law and justice system is applied in the same way for everyone, without double standards... for privileged people," read the statement issued by Thailand's Move Forward Party, which won a majority of seats at the last election. Meanwhile, Shinawatra was seen wearing a neck brace, a sling on his right arm and a mask inside one of the cars that left the police hospital. He was accompanied by his two daughters on his way to the residence in western Bangkok. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sits in a vehicle with his daughters Paetongtarn and Pinthongta after being released on parole Sunday | AP Not a single day did Shinawatra spent in jail after his return due to health issues. According to authorities, Shinawatra was eligible for parole due to his age and health issues. Shinawatra will still have to report to parole officers every month for the remainder of his sentence and will have a travel restriction as well. But he is not required to wear an ankle monitor due to his age and health conditions, said the officials. In 2006, when he was removed from the position, he was accused of corruption, disrespect for the monarchy and abuse of power. Even the conservatives, including army, regarded his popularity as a threat to the royal institution. Shinawatra had insisted that his prosecution in the courts was politically motivated. He had left the country in 2008 and spent most of his exile days in London or Dubai. His family's Pheu Thai party is currently in power in Thailand. Thaksin Shinawatra was the first PM in Thailand's history to lead an elected government through a full term in office in 2001-06. However, last year's elections brought change when progressive Move Forward Party came first. It was the first time a Thaksin-backed party failed to top the polls since 2001. The military-appointed Senate refused to approve its candidate for PM, paving way for Pheu Thai to form a coalition government. Thai officials said earlier this month that they have reopened an investigation into allegations of defaming the monarchy made against Thaksin almost nine years ago. If the Office of the Attorney General decides to indict him, Thaksin could be detained again, reported The Associated Press. Travelling across the United Arab Emirates in April 1997, Pramukh Swami of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha stopped at a desert near Sharjah and sat deep in thought, under the blazing sun. People around him stood mystified. After a while, he said: May a temple come up in Abu Dhabi. May it bring countries, cultures and religions closer together. Pramukh Swami was revered as the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and had built hundreds of temples around the globe, including the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar. (Akshardham in Delhi would follow.) Still, his companions in the desert could not believe their ears. UAEs Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Akshardham temple in Delhi. After that he was all the more appreciative of the project in Abu Dhabi. But this saint could see what nobody could, Brahmavihari Swami, in-charge of international relations of BAPS, told me. He was prophetic. In 2015 the UAE government allotted land for building a temple in Abu Dhabi free of cost. BAPS submitted two architectural designs for the templeone traditional and the other modern. The traditional design was the preference of Abu Dhabis then crown prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who became president of the UAE in 2022. Thus began the story of BAPS Hindu Mandir, the first traditional sandstone temple in the Middle East. Mahant Swami, who had succeeded Pramukh Swami [1921-2016] as BAPS president, performed the shila poojan (consecration of stone) in 2018 and the shilanyas (foundation stone laying) in 2019. Watching the shila poojan on video link from another part of the UAE and holding a model of the temple, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the crown prince for his generosity. As we went to press, the two leaders were expected at the inauguration of the temple on February 14, which would elevate India-UAE friendship to a sublime level. Spiritual oasis: UAE minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Brahmavihari Swami, in-charge of international relations of BAPS, lay the foundation stone for the BAPS Temple, Abu Dhabi, in 2019 | Courtesy BAPS The magnificent temple stands on 27 acres at Abu Mureikhah on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. It was still under construction when I saw it a few months ago. Hundreds of mensculptors and workerswere polishing pillars and statues, braving the hot sun. When a sandstorm blew, they took refuge in portable shelters, but returned to work in a few minutes. We dont feel tired, said Raghuveer Singh, one of the sculptors. We feel blessed to work at the temple site. A number of sculptors and artisans were brought from India for the final touches. They lived in camps at the site, working closely with BAPS volunteers and municipal employees. BAPS served them free vegetarian food round-the-clock in the dining halls. All the pillars and columns had been carved in Rajasthan and then brought to Abu Dhabi. "The UAE government was so generous that it set up a dedicated corridor for us at the Dubai port for easy movement of materials," said Yogibhai Bhatt, a volunteer. Harmony in the desert: Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader, BAPS, being accorded a state reception in Abu Dhabi ahead of the inauguration of the temple. To his right is businessman M.A. Yusuff Ali | Courtesy BAPS The temple is open to all people, no matter their religion. The BAPS Hindu Mandir is a spiritual oasis for global harmony, said Pranav Desai, an Abu Dhabi resident and volunteer. Imagine! A Muslim king donated the land; the lead architect of the complex is a Christian Catholic; the foundation designer is a Buddhist from Malaysia; the project director is a Sikh; the contractors for the outer complex are Parsis; and one of our directors is a Jain. The temple can hold 2,000 worshippers at any given time. Before entering it, they would tread a sand dune and then walk along a shallow pool of water brought from the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in India. The seven spires of the temple enshrine seven Hindu deities, while also symbolising the unity of the seven emirates, said Brahmavihari Swami, in-charge of the temple. Growing up in the UK, he was fascinated by the monoliths of the Stonehenge in Wiltshire. The monolithic structures surrounding the BAPS Hindu Mandir, he said, would appear as if they have emerged from the desert as guardians of the temple. Heavenly beauty: Diplomats from 42 countries at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi | Courtesy BAPS The idol of Swaminarayan, who is worshipped as an avatar of Krishna, is enshrined under the main spire. The other spires rise above the idols of Shiva, Ram, Krishna, Tirupati Balaji, Puri Jagannath and Sabarimala Ayyappa. Where Ram and Sita are enshrined, we have the entire Ramayan carved in stone, said Desai. Likewise, we have carved the Mahabharat, the Shiv Purana and the story of Ayyappa. No other temple in the world has stories of so many deities told in stone in this manner. He pointed to sculptures on the outer walls of the temple, depicting stories of peace from ancient civilisations of India, the Middle East, Africa, China and the Aztec empire. Brahmavihari Swami and actor Akshay Kumar | Courtesy BAPS The temple has been built without steel or concrete, its different parts held together by interlocking. Around 14,500 tonnes of pink sandstone and 5,500 tonnes of white marble went into the construction. The exterior is pink sandstone from Rajasthan, said Desai. The interior is white marble from the south of Italy and granite. We took the stones to Rajasthani villages, and gave the artisans the design for carving. They worked on them with hammer and chisel. Most of them took almost nine months to finish one pillar. The temple has two parks, a community hall, a visitors centre, an amphitheatre, a food court and a welcome area. The visitors centre has an assembly hall, a library and classrooms for cultural courses and interfaith dialogue. Hundreds of trees were being planted to cool the surroundings. Ashok Kotecha | Anirudha Karindalam It was at the exhibition area outside that I met the temple chairman Ashok Kotecha. The temple is a miracle that has emerged from the prayers of Pramukh Swami, the will of Prime Minister Modi and the generosity of the UAE rulers, he said. The strength to spread love, harmony and tolerance is the basic foundation of the temple. The temple is a miracle that has emerged from the prayers of Pramukh Swami, the will of Prime Minister Modi and the generosity of the UAE rulers. Ashok Kotecha, chairman, BAPS Temple, Abu Dhabi This is the sweat of God, said Kotecha, touching my sweat-drenched shirt. It was Bhagwan Swaminarayan who brought you here to this spiritual oasis for global harmony. Desai also saw a divine hand behind the temple. Initially, the UAE government had allotted 2.5 acres at another place for the temple and then increased it to five acres. BAPS never asked for any extra land, said Desai. Everything came to us as if it was predestined. Later, the government gave us 13.5 acres at the present location. Long before the shila poojan, the UAEs Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is the presidents brother, had visited the Akshardham temple in Delhi. After the visit, he was all the more appreciative of the temple project. Later, he inspected the new site in Abu Dhabi. He looked at the design of the temple and went to a corner. We were worried, said Kotecha. He asked us where the car parking area would be. We said it would be under the temple. He told us not to do that, and sanctioned another 13.5 acres for car parking. Another surprise followed: BAPS engineers discovered a massive rock under the site. It was strong enough to support the entire temple structure, so there was no need for piling. No other location in the vicinity had a such a massive rock underneath, said Ullas Shukla, a project director. The temple will remain stable for 1,000 years. Shukla left a good job in Reliance to volunteer for the temple. It seemed like a call from God, he said. After I became a devotee of Swaminarayan, I feel I am a lot calmer. There are 1,200 BAPS temples across the world, including the Akshardham temple that Mahant Swami opened last year at Robbinsville, New Jersey, in the US. It is the largest modern Hindu temple in the world. The first temple was built by Bhagwan Swaminarayan at Bochasan village in Gujarat. Hence the name BAPS Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. The deity there is called Bochansanwasi, meaning one who lives in Bochasan. Swaminarayan was born at Chhapaiya near Ayodhya in 1781 as Ghanshyam Pande. At age 10, he accompanied his father to Varanasi and revealed his deep knowledge of the Vedas. He left home at age 11 and wandered around the country for seven years, finally settling in Loj village in Junagadh, Gujarat. His guru Ramanand Swami initiated him as a monk in 1800 and called him Sahajanand. Sahajanand came to be known as Swaminarayan after he gave his followers the Swaminarayan mantra in 1801. He founded Ekantik dharma. By the time he died in 1830, he had 20 lakh followers and had inspired a spiritual movement called the Swaminarayan sampradaya (tradition). There were two gadis (dioceses) within the sampradaya, one based in Vadtal and the other in Ahmedabad, and both had their offshoots. BAPS branched out of the Vadtal gadi. It was founded in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj, the third spiritual heir to Swaminarayan. BAPS has around 1,200 monks and 4,000 centres, including temples, and runs hospitals, schools, colleges, yoga and de-addiction centres, and blood-donation camps. It was active even during the pandemic, and it helped Indians stranded in east Europe when Russia invaded Ukraine. BAPS monks are very well-educated, carry the latest gadgets and travel the world. But their rules forbid any contact with women; not even eye contact is allowed, let alone conversation. Usually the laity would ensure that women do not come near them at gatherings. Sometimes they deploy a cloth screen, from behind which a monk may communicate with women through a third person. There are amusing ways of dealing with female flight attendants who ask them what they would like to eat or drink. If travelling alone, a monk would look away while answering. If two monks are travelling together, they would look at each other while doing so. J.M. Dave, 81, is the director of BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute in Delhi, which holds inspirational talks for civil service aspirants and PhD scholars. Dave has seen four spiritual heads of BAPS during his lifetime. My youngest brother became a monk at 19, he said. Today, he is 69 and is the mahant at the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar. So, what do the brothers do when they meet? In the BAPS tradition, once you become a monk you cannot talk to your family members, he said. Even if I meet him by chance, we greet each other with a namaste and dont start a conversation. Detachment is part of their monastic rigour. It is not as if we were forced into it, said Swami Aksharatit Sadhu, 39, who was born in Africa but grew up in Chicago. When we become sadhus, permission is taken from our parents. Only if they agree in writing do we follow this path. Like him, many followers of Swaminarayan have African connections. A large number of Indians, especially from Gujarat and Rajasthan, migrated to Africa in the last century. Many of them spread the teachings of Swaminarayan. The first Swaminarayan temple outside the Indian subcontinent was built in Nairobi in 1945. And most of their temples are in Africa. There were two lakh Indians in Africa in the 1960s. Half of them were Swaminarayan people. They had flourished, especially as traders. But as they grew, so did an anti-India sentiment in Uganda, and president Idi Amin expelled 80,000 Indians in 1972. More than 25,000 of them found refuge in the UK alone. The expulsion was a blessing in disguise. Otherwise we would not have moved to England, said Sagoon Bhai, a project manager, who had migrated with his family. I met Pramukh Swamiji as a young man in the UK. His sincerity, humility and focus inspired me. Ten years ago, David Cameron, as prime minister of the UK, said Indians from Uganda were one of the most successful groups of immigrants anywhere in the history of the world. The Uganda saga had a happy ending. In 1997, President Yoweri Museveni returned to BAPS four temples Idi Amin had taken over. He appealed to the Indians to return and help rebuild Uganda. A number of diplomats and ministers from various countries have already visited the temple in Abu Dhabi. So did actors Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt. "This project was scripted in heaven and is now being played here on earth," Brahmavihari Swami told Akshay Kumar. This is a dream of dreams, the actor replied. Interview/ Saifee Rupawala, CEO, Lulu Group Q) The UAE-based Lulu Group is today one of the worlds fastest growing retail chains. You have been with the Lulu Group for almost four decades. How much credit do you give to the UAE government in helping Lulu Group to reach where it is today? Right from day one of our operations in UAE, the support and cooperation of the UAE government has been immense, be it the direct help towards our group or the general all-round business environment of this great country. The business-friendly environment, world-class infrastructure, and ease of doing business that UAE offers has been incomparable thanks mainly to the visionary leadership over the years. What I find incredible is the way the law and regulations have been regularly revised to adapt to the changing global dynamics i.e., introduction of 100 per cent business ownership, long term golden visa scheme, free zones, property ownership for expats to name a few. Q) UAE has more than 3.5 million people of Indian nationality, which is the single largest community of Indian origin in the world. Doesnt that make UAE a hub for Indian firms and startups? Undoubtedly, the role Indians have played in the growth of UAE over the years has been very crucial and vice a versa the role of UAE in the success stories of many Indian organizations is truly remarkable. If in early days Indians were predominantly in the blue color jobs and other similar professions, today the UAE plays home to some of the brightest brains from India. Almost all leading Indian organizations have their bases here now and they not only cater to the local markets but also to the wider Gulf region. UAE today has exclusive ministries such as AI, investments, happiness, which is focused to making this country the most favored destination for any startup. Q) Has the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and India helped the Lulu Group? As one of the largest retailers, currently Lulu group imports a substantial amount of food & non-food products from India for our 258 hypermarkets and supermarkets in the region, and this import volume will further grow as a result of this new CEPA initiatives which grants us the privilege of duty exemption on all imports, resulting in significant advantages for our group. Q) The ties between UAE and India have been very good in the recent times. Who do you give credit for it? Was there a visible change after Narendra Modi became the prime minister? The strong ties between the UAE and India have been built on mutual respect and shared interests for a long time now. Both countries have worked diligently to strengthen this relationship, and, yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and his personal brotherly relationship with the leaders of UAE has further strengthened it. Today the UAE is India's third-largest trading partner and the second-largest export destination for Indian products. For the UAE, India is the second-largest trading partner. The UAE is also the seventh-largest investor in India. I see a great opportunity in further boosting the Agri-exports from India and would like to see easing of regulations to this effect, which will go a long way in ensuring food security and boosting economic cooperation between our nations. Q) What are your views on the proposed India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor? How is it going to help India and the UAE? This landmark corridor is expected to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration across two continents, thus unlocking sustainable and inclusive economic growth. It will surely usher in a new era of connectivity with a railway, linked through ports connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, driving existing trade and manufacturing and strengthening food security and supply chains of both India and the UAE by opening up new markets and economic opportunities. Q) What are the expansion plans that Lulu is looking at? Earlier this year the group launched logistics and packaging facility under the name Y International. Lulu Group continues to explore various expansion opportunities both in existing markets as well as new ones across the world. Apart from growing our retail footprint in MENA, India and the Far East, we are focused on strengthening our food sourcing and processing hubs globally. Today we have our own sourcing & export operation in 24 countries from the US to Philippines which ensures uninterrupted supply and price stability that is very crucial for our huge retail operations and food security initiatives of the UAE. A Palestinian man buys bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 19, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. Since the onset of the latest escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel has been urging civilians in the Strip to evacuate to safe areas in southern Gaza, as its military operation began in the northern part of the Strip. As a result, more than one million people, or more than half of Gaza's total population, poured into Rafah to seek shelter, most living in tents. But Rafah could soon become a battlefield. Israeli army and special forces jointly raided Rafah on Monday morning and rescued two hostages who were abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which was seen as a rehearsal for ground invasion. Israel has vowed to fight against Hamas until "all goals" -- eliminating Hamas, releasing all hostages and ensuring that Gaza doesn't pose a threat to Israel anymore -- are achieved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier this month that it's impossible to achieve these goals "by leaving four Hamas battalions in Rafah," calling on the Israel Defense Forces and security agencies to formulate a plan for ground operations in Gaza's southernmost town. Israel's Wartime Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz also warned on Friday that the fighting would continue during Ramadan -- the Islamic holy month of fasting, which starts on March 10 this year -- if the hostages are not returned. Israel will keep in touch with Egypt, which borders Rafah, and other countries and evacuate residents in Rafah before launching ground operations into the city, according to Gantz. The international community has widely criticized the Israeli intention to invade Rafah. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that "indiscriminate bombing of densely populated areas may amount to war crimes" under international humanitarian law. Regional countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, voiced deep concern over the potential invasion on Monday. Egypt's State Information Service stressed in a statement on Friday that Egypt rejects any forced or voluntary displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to its outside, especially to Egyptian territories. A military action in Rafah "would worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance," Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement on Friday. During a joint press conference on Friday with Jordanian King Abdullah II, French President Emmanuel Macron warned against a forced and massive displacement of the population, which would be another serious violation of international law and pose a significant risk for regional escalation. An Israeli military offensive in Rafah would be a "turning point" for the conflict in Gaza, said Macron. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who just visited Israel this week to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, said the enclave is on the "brink of collapse" due to the humanitarian situation. People in Rafah "cannot simply vanish into thin air," she said. U.S. President Joe Biden, who had two phone calls with Netanyahu in the past week, told reporters on Friday that he had urged Netanyahu to protect civilians in the planned operation in Rafah while "hoping that the Israelis will not make any massive land invasion." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris also told Israeli President Issac Herzog on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference that her country opposes a military operation in Rafah without a credible and executable plan to ensure the safety of civilians there. However, despite calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Biden administration is preparing to send a new package of weapons to Israel, which is estimated to be worth tens of millions of U.S. dollars, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, citing anonymous U.S. officials. A Palestinian girl holds pieces of bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 19, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A Palestinian girl waits to buy bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 19, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people line up to buy bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 19, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people wait to buy bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 19, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A Palestinian man holds pieces of bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 19, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A Palestinian boy eats a piece of bread at a temporary camp in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 18, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A Palestinian girl drags a cart with a gas cylinder during a rainy day in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 18, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian boys are seen on a street during a rainy day in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 18, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A Palestinian boy is seen in a shelter at a temporary camp in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 18, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people are seen at a temporary camp in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 18, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people are seen on a street during a rainy day in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 18, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A Palestinian girl holds a bundle of firewood at a temporary camp in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 18, 2024. Over the past few weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The impending invasion has deeply concerned the international community. Several countries have spoken out against it, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Kolkata, Feb 18 (PTI) A start-up has recently announced that it will provide curated education, health, and edutainment services targeting specific needs using artificial intelligence. The start-up platform called Ascend, which is backed by the Accolade Group, claims to be the first knowpedia (Knowledge pedia). "We are the world's first knowpedia and, currently, focused on health, education, and edutainment. We are using AI and human intervention to provide targeted, curated services and content for individual requirements, which are not available now. We are trying to tap this space," Accolade Knowledge CEO Monika Lahiri said. "Our app will deliver AI-backed solutions for the common man, by aggregating and creating curated content tailored to an individual and offer skill development for re-employability, she said. It is projected that there will be a lot of job redundancy due to the deployment of AI by corporates and businesses, she said. Another Silicon Valley start-up has tied up with Accolade to spread an AI-powered mobile phone face scanner that can read heart rate, breath rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar in haemoglobin (haemoglobin A1C), in just a minute. "Beyond these, we can include 20 additional health parameters," said Trustr Global CEO and VC Ananth Subramanian. Accolade's development center located in Kolkata currently has a manpower of 30 but in a few years, it will reach 300 as the company grows. The company has lined up USD 1 million from the promoters and will raise funds, in future, to scale it up. "We will have awareness kiosks in metros initially before heading to rural areas to spread the use case," Lahiri said. "Powered by AI, Accolade will have segments like LearnHub--tailored learning journeys to individual needs and goals. HealthOlogy is an integrated health management system that empowers users to take charge of their well-being", the company said in a statement. LearnHub section is a game-changer in the learning landscape, it claimed. "By aggregating courses from top institutions and personalising the experience, we empower individuals to achieve their full potential. Our curated content ignites curiosity, inspires thoughtful action, and entertains audiences across all interests," the company said. New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) The Reserve Bank's regulatory action on Paytm Payments Bank has drawn the attention of fintech firms to the importance of complying with laws, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said. The minister stressed that regulatory compliance cannot be "optional" for companies, rather it is an aspect every entrepreneur must pay full attention to. In an interview to PTI, Chandrasekhar - the minister of state for electronics and IT - said the issue of Paytm Payments Bank is a case where a hard-charging and aggressive entrepreneur has failed to realise the need for regulatory compliance, and that no company can get away if it is non-compliant with law. Any company, be it from India or abroad, big or small, has to abide by the law of the land, the Minister asserted amid the unfolding Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) crisis. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred PPBL from accepting new deposits from March 15, and ruled out any review of its action against the company. Chandrasekhar said the notion that RBI action on PPBL had rattled fintechs, was not a correct characterisation. The politician, entrepreneur and technocrat disagreed that the Paytm Payments Bank issue had raised worries about detrimental consequences for the entire fintech industry. "And this notion that RBI... the regulator's action against Paytm Payments Bank has rattled fintech is... I don't think that's a correct characterisation. "I think it has drawn the attention of fintech entrepreneurs, to the fact that you also have to know how to comply with the law. Regulatory compliance is not an optional thing for any country in the world, certainly not in India, and it is something that they (entrepreneurs) should pay more attention to," he said. Chandrasekhar further said that entrepreneurs typically tend to get so sharply focused on what they're building, that at times, they may lose sight of rules that have been laid down by regulators. PPBL is an associate of One97 Communications Limited. One97 Communications holds 49 per cent of the paid-up share capital (directly and through its subsidiary) of PPBL. Paytm Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma has a 51 per cent stake in the bank. RBI has advised customers and merchants of PPBL to shift their accounts to other banks by March 15, giving 15 more days to the embattled company to close most of its operations, including deposit and credit transactions. RBI has cited persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns, for the regulatory action. RBI in the list of FAQs (frequently asked questions), issued on Friday, clarified that Paytm QR code, Paytm Soundbox or Paytm POS terminal will continue to work after March 15, if it is linked to other banks instead of PPBL. Fintech firm One97 Communications -- owner of the brand Paytm -- meanwhile said it has shifted its nodal account to Axis Bank from Paytm Payments Bank - a move that will allow continuity of Paytm QR, Soundbox, card machine after the March 15, deadline set by the central bank. The nodal account of Paytm is like a master account in which all its customers, merchant transactions are settled. Chandrasekhar said he himself was a startup once and an entrepreneur once. He said entrepreneurs and startups have a 'genetic flaw' that they get focused on what they're building and sometimes forget to understand there are some rules that have been laid down by the regulators. "So I will put this down to that type of an error where a hard-charging entrepreneur, believes in himself, is building a company successfully (but) fails to realise that there are some regulatory do's and don'ts and there can never be a situation whether it's a social media company, or a fintech company, where somebody is not compliant with the law and expects to get away with it," the minister said. An engineer by qualification, Chandrasekhar has worked in a team at PC chip maker Intel that developed pentium processors. In 1994 he started his journey as entrepreneur with his telecom services company BPL Mobile and exited from the company in 2005. Thereafter he set-up his investment and financial services firm Jupiter Capital. "I have said all along and this is a position of the government of India, regardless of where you come into the digital economy from India or abroad, whether you have a big or a small firm in the digital economy, FinTech or AI, the rules in the law of the land has to be complied with. In the FinTech space, the regulator who lays down the rules is the RBI. So, you have to listen to the RBI and you have to comply with the RBI," the minister said. New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) The Central Board Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has revised guidelines for reporting of arrests, smuggling and commercial frauds by customs officers, as it looks to enhance risk-based targeting to nullify fraud attempts by syndicates. In an instruction to field officers, the CBIC said that the arrest and incident reports of smuggling and commercial frauds are not being shared or are sporadically shared by the customs zones. In some cases, the arrest report many times contains description/details that are insufficient as input for enhanced risk profiling. As per the revised guidelines of CBIC, the Chief Commissioner/Director Generals of a customs zone would be required to send the arrest report through email to the CBIC within 24 hours of the arrest of an individual. The arrest report would contain details of nationality and the details of offence committed by the individual who has been arrested. It would also contain details of seizure of goods by the authorities in quantity as well as in terms of market value. In cases where arrests have not been made by the Customs officer, an incident report related to smuggling and commercial frauds has to be sent "immediately" to the CBIC by the jurisdictional Commissioner. Observing that customs commissioners are "expected to be up to date" with respect to smuggling and commercial fraud cases under his/her jurisdiction, the CBIC said the incident report should describe the modus operandi, including flight/ voyage/cruise number and the customs declaration document name. The report should also mention the country of origin of the goods and the duty involved. "The collection and integration of a proper database is very much required for the purpose of prevention of smuggling through early detection of entities involved and by understanding their adjusting modus operandi. "The expeditious updating of databases is imperative for achieving the optimum risk based targeting across zones. This agility nullifies tactics that the syndicates adopt across zones or modes of carriage or routes," the CBIC instructions said. Kyiv, Feb 18 (AP) Russian forces have taken complete control of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, Russia's Defence Ministry has said. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Kremlin that Russian forces were now working to clear the final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, officials said in a statement. Videos on social media Saturday appeared to show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one of the plant's buildings. The announcement came the same day that Ukraine's military chief said he was withdrawing troops from the city in eastern Ukraine where outnumbered defenders battled a Russian assault for four months. The timing is critical as Russia is looking for a morale boost ahead of the second anniversary on February 24 of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the March presidential election in Russia. In a short statement posted on Facebook, Ukrainian commander Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said he had made the decision to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen." The commander-in-chief added that troops were moving to more favourable lines." Our soldiers performed their military duty with dignity, did everything possible to destroy the best Russian military units, inflicted significant losses on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment. We are taking measures to stabilise the situation and maintain our positions, the statement read. The withdrawal came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday made another trip to Western Europe, hoping to press his country's Western allies to keep providing military support. It was Syrskyi's first major test since being appointed as Ukraine's new army chief last week. In his previous position as commander of Ukraine's ground forces, he faced criticism for holding on to the city of Bakhmut for nine months, a siege that became the war's longest and bloodiest battle and cost Ukraine dearly, but also served to sap Russia's forces. In recent days, reports emerged that Ukrainian troops in Avdiika faced a deteriorating situation. Rodion Kudriashov, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, said Friday that Ukrainian troops were still holding out against the onslaught of about 15,000 Russian soldiers, but he expected the situation would soon become critical. The enemy is trying to penetrate our defence and in some places to bypass our positions, he told The Associated Press. The 3rd Brigade said on its social media account Friday that its soldiers were at the huge Avdiivka Coke Plant. Russian warplanes have been dropping about 60 bombs a day, relentlessly shelling the area and launching assaults with armour and infantry, the brigade said. A video showed dense black smoke over the factory, said to be caused by burning fuel oil reservoirs. The post said: Poisonous smog spreads all over the plant. Russian media reported the Kremlin's forces were making extensive use of plane-launched glide bombs, which fly at a shallower angle, to batter Ukrainian positions. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that Russian forces were beginning to overwhelm Ukrainian defences in the eastern city. He said Avdiivka is at risk of falling to Russia, a development he blamed in very large part on the fact that Ukrainian forces are running out of artillery ammunition. The United States is Ukraine's biggest single supporter but some USD 60 billion for Kyiv is being held up by political disagreements among American lawmakers. Heavily fortified with a web of tunnels and concrete fortifications, Avdiivka lies in the northern suburbs of Donetsk, a city in a region of the same name that Russian forces partially occupy. Capturing Avdiivka could be a timely boost for Moscow and serve as a possible springboard for Russia to drive deeper into the region. Fewer than 1,000 people remain in the city, according to the Donetsk regional governor, Vadym Filashkin. The city, with a prewar population of about 31,000, is today a bombed-out shell of what it once was. Aerial footage of Avdiivka obtained last December showed an apocalyptic scene and hinted at Russia's staggering losses, with the bodies of about 150 soldiers most wearing Russian uniforms lying scattered along tree lines where they sought cover. However, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said Thursday that taking Avdiivka would be more of a symbolic win for the Kremlin and would not bring significant changes to the 1,500-km front line that has barely budged in recent months. The potential Russian capture of Avdiivka would not be operationally significant and would likely only offer the Kremlin immediate informational and political victories, the institute said in an assessment. Russian forces would be highly unlikely to make rapid operationally significant advances from Avdiivka if they captured the settlement, and the potential Russian capture of Avdiivka at most would set conditions for further limited tactical gains, it added. (AP) RHL Islamabad, Feb 18 (PTI) The talks between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party on a power-sharing formula for a coalition government remained inconclusive, though both sides claimed significant progress in the discussions, according to a media report on Sunday. The third meeting between the Contact and Coordination Committees (CCCs) of the two parties, which took place on Saturday, remained inconclusive and both decided to meet again on Monday to finalise the power-sharing formula. A brief announcement issued by the PML-N after the meeting said that there had been significant progress in talks with both sides, stressing the need for a strong democratic government. "The proposals put forth by both parties were thoroughly discussed, and while substantial progress was achieved, further deliberations are required to finalise the matters at hand," a joint statement read. Nawaz Sharif led PML-N has nominated Shehbaz Sharif for the Prime Minister's post. Independent candidates - a majority backed by former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party won 93 of the 265 National Assembly seats that were contested in the February 8 election. The PML-N won 75 seats while the PPP came third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has also agreed to support them with their 17 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. During Saturday's meeting, the PML-N was represented by Ishaq Dar, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Azam Nazeer Tarar and Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, whereas those representing the PPP included former Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah, Saeed Ghani, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri. In the last meeting on Thursday, representatives of both parties sought more time to assess the proposals discussed in the first meeting. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led PPP has assured the PML-N of its support in the government formation and election of the next prime minister on the condition that, in return, it will get key constitutional offices, including that of the president. The PPP has also announced that despite supporting the PML-N at the centre, the party will not take ministries in the federal Cabinet. Sources said the PML-N had been vigorously trying to change PPPs minds on the issue of ministries before discussing the constitutional offices. The latter has so far refused to budge. A PPP office-bearer, privy to the talk on government formation, told the Dawn newspaper that the party has decided to seek the posts of National Assembly (NA) speaker and Senate chairman. But the PML-N appears reluctant and wants to keep the NA speakers office with it, the PPP leader added. The PPP has sought top offices in both houses of Parliament as the party feared that under the PML-N, parliament would not be able to gain its lost prestige. Sources in the PPP claimed that so far, the party had not finalised the names for the top constitutional and parliamentary offices. They said that besides the present NA speaker, Raja Pervez Ashraf, who is expected to retain the post, ex-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who won the NA seat from Multan, also desires the post. The PPP has also asked the PML-N for support in Senate elections for the seat that Gilani would vacate if he is nominated as NA speaker, according to party sources. Gilani could also be considered for the Senate chairman, but it all depended on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations between the committees. The other issue, the sources said, under discussion was the allocation of development funds for provinces. They said the PPP wanted assurance from PML-N leadership that it would release development funds to provinces, particularly Sindh, without any hindrance. According to reports, the PPP has asked PML-N to give it some space in Punjab as a precursor to any support in the government formation. In Punjab, PML-N emerged as the single largest party after the February 8 general elections with 137 general seats. The party has already nominated Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of Nawaz Sharif, as the new chief minister. The PPP won 10 seats of the provincial assembly and emerged as the third major party behind PTI-backed independents, who bagged 116 seats. Lahore/Karachi, Feb 18 (PTI) Supporters of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party have clashed with police in various cities across the country as they staged protests against alleged rigging in the general elections held on February 8. In Lahore, supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gathered outside the Lahore Press Club and the partys Jail Road office on Saturday to register their protest, the Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday. The protesters chanted slogans, demanding the restoration of their stolen mandate. They called for rectified results based on the vote count as per Form 45, prepared at polling stations under the watch of political parties polling agents. PTI-backed candidate for NA-128, Salman Akram Raja, was arrested and taken to Racecourse Police Station. He was later released, the report said. Video clips circulating on social media showed policemen dragging the lawyer as he participated in the protest outside PTIs office on Jail Road. Ali Ijaz Buttar, another PTI candidate, was also arrested, along with elderly men, women and a child. In many cities of Punjab, police arrived at the protest site even before the demonstrators had gathered and arrested several party leaders, candidates, workers and supporters. They dragged elderly men and women. PTI workers and supporters, who had gathered on the call of party founder Imran Khan, chanted slogans and demanded the restoration of their stolen mandate, the Dawn report said. If police stop protesters, stay peaceful and stage a sit-in there, he wrote in a post on X. In Karachi, hundreds of PTI workers and supporters gathered outside the Election Commission of Pakistans Sindh office in the citys Saddar area. The protesters chanted slogans against the alleged rigging and demanded the judiciary and state institutions to intervene and fix the flaws in the results. The charged crowd, including women and children, carried party flags and danced to the tunes of party songs. They claimed that the mandate of Karachi was stolen on Feb 8 and that it could lead to disastrous repercussions, like damaging the democracy and affecting the parliamentary system. The partys Sindh chapter president, Haleem Adil Sheikh, and other senior leaders addressed the demonstration and vowed to keep raising their voices against the rigged elections". In Peshawar and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI workers, including the newly elected lawmakers, staged rallies. The rally in the provincial capital was addressed by PTI provincial president and chief minister-designate Ali Amin Gandapur and other leaders. In his speech, Gandapur said his party would not seek revenge but would reform institutions responsible for the political witch-hunt of his party workers and leaders. Reforms are necessary for the bright future of our children, Gandapur said, without specifying which institutions he aims to reform. Holding a portrait of the PTI founder Imran Khan, he said the partys next government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would ensure rights for women and vowed to revive the Sehat Card health insurance programme. Moscow, Feb 18 (AP) Over 400 people were detained in Russia while paying tribute to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died at a remote Arctic penal colony, a prominent rights group reported. The sudden death of Navalny, 47, was a crushing blow to many Russians, who had pinned their hopes for the future on President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe. Navalny remained vocal in his unrelenting criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. The news reverberated across the globe, and hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities streamed to ad-hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repressions with flowers and candles on Friday and Saturday to pay a tribute to the politician. In over a dozen cities, police detained 401 people by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. More than 200 arrests were made in St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, the group said. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organising a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct, but was later hospitalised with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Courts in St Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said late on Saturday. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. The news of Navalny's death came a month before a presidential election in Russia that is widely expected to give President Vladimir Putin another six years in power. Questions about the cause of death lingered on Sunday, and it remained unclear when the authorities would release his body to his family. Navalny's team said Saturday that the politician was murdered and accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body, with Navalny's mother and lawyers getting contradicting information from various institutions where they went in their quest to retrieve the body. They're driving us around in circles and covering their tracks, Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Saturday. Everything there is covered with cameras in the colony. Every step he took was filmed from all angles all these years. Each employee has a video recorder. In two days, there has been not a single video leaked or published. There is no room for uncertainty here, Navalny's closest ally and strategist Leonid Volkov said Sunday. A note handed to Navalny's mother stated that he died at 2:17 pm Friday, according to Yarmysh. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at the penal colony Saturday that her son had perished from sudden death syndrome, Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Navalny felt sick after a walk Friday and became unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he couldn't be revived, the service said, adding that the cause of death is still being established. Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He has received three prison terms since his arrest, on a number of charges he has rejected as politically motivated. After the last verdict that handed him a 19-year term, Navalny said he understood he was serving a life sentence, which is measured by the length of my life or the length of life of this regime. Hours after Navalny's death was reported, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, made a dramatic appearance at the Munich Security Conference. She said she was unsure if she could believe the news from official Russian sources, but if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband. (AP) SCY SCY London, Feb 18 (PTI) The UK government on Sunday extended its visa scheme for war-hit Ukrainians who sought refuge in the country in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, allowing an additional 18-month stay on their current terms. The Home Office said that from early 2025, all those in the UK under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will be able to apply to stay here for an additional 18 months and continue to have the same rights to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education throughout their stay. This will mean those who came on the first visas under one of the Ukraine visa schemes could now stay in the UK until September 2026. This new visa extension scheme provides certainty and reassurance for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as this war continues, and we will continue to provide a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict, said Tom Pursglove, UK Minister for Legal Migration and the Border. Almost two years on from the start of this brutal war, over 200,000 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in Britain. Families across the country have opened their homes and their hearts to the people of Ukraine, showing extraordinary generosity, including offering shelter to those fleeing from the horrors of war, he said. He said the move shows that the UK and its allies stand in solidarity with Ukraine and unequivocally condemns [Russian President] Putins unprovoked, premeditated and illegal war against Ukraine. In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalation in February 2022, the UK announced three schemes Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme to grant visa holders three years leave to remain in the country, which would have meant the first visas were set to expire in March 2025. The Home Office said the 18-month extension delivers on the governments long-term commitment to Ukraine and comes as the world approaches two years since Russias reprehensible full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity shown by sponsors across the country. The government continues to provide them with thank-you payments in recognition of their support. As more families arrive, we will need more sponsors to come forward. I encourage anyone interested in hosting to check their eligibility and apply as soon as they can, said UK Minister for Housing and Communities, Felicity Buchan. Since the launch of the Ukraine schemes, the UK says it has offered or extended sanctuary to more than 283,000 Ukrainians. We appreciate all the help and assistance that our UK friends so generously provide for the temporarily displaced Ukrainians, added Eduard Fesko, Charge dAffaires at the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK. Under the extension, Ukrainians will be able to make their applications within the last three months of an existing visa. While the Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK, the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Meanwhile, the Ukraine Extension Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to apply for permission to stay in the UK. Beijing, Feb 18 (PTI) Chinese people in large numbers flocked to Buddhist temples, especially the God of Wealth, as they welcomed the Lunar Year of the Dragon this week, praying for a turnaround in their fortune amid the slowdown of the world's second-largest economy. Huge crowds are being seen in temples across China during this years eight-day Spring Festival holidays ending on Friday, as Chinese people are embracing the Year of the Dragon. People are flocking to temple fairs to pray for blessings, luck, and good fortune for the coming year, the state-run Global Times reported. Videos and posts on Chinese social media platforms showcased the busy scenes at the temple fairs in Beijing. More than 130,000 visitors visited the temple fair at Ditan Park last Sunday the opening day of the fair. Similar scenes were witnessed in many Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Fuzhou, where people gathered in temples to pray and take part in local fairs. Large crowds were seen from 3:00 am at the Lingshun Temple in Hangzhou in East Chinas Zhejiang province last Wednesday to greet the God of Wealth, the report said. A significant feature of this years visits to the temples was the large number of young people, who were hit by the economic slowdown and increasing unemployment, which in recent months climbed to over 21 per cent, according to the widely-publicised reports. Besides those who flocked to the temples, there is still a large group of young people on the internet who say that they are more interested in welcoming the God of Wealth than finding a partner, the report said. Many netizens have posted pictures showing that they have changed their phone and computer wallpapers to the "God of Wealth". On Wednesday, numerous citizens commented on a video posted by Chinas Ministry of Finance on social media, expressing their hope to receive good fortune and jokingly requesting the ministry to support their dreams, the report said. Some tourist attractions have also arranged celebrations centred around the 'God of Wealth'. Last week, some people dressed as the 'God of Wealth' at the entrance of the Shanghai Tower greeted visitors and wished them good fortune. The Shanghai Tower Observation Deck also invited a group of window cleaners dressed as "Airborne Gods of Wealth" to descend from the top of the skyscraper safely, offering New Year blessings and good luck to the visitors on-site. Official data showed that Chinas economy grew by 5.2 per cent in 2023 which was well within the range of the governments target. However, business confidence remained low. As the property crisis drags on, coupled with the flare-up of geopolitical tensions with the US and other Western countries, private and foreign investments have contracted, falling to their lowest levels in more than a decade. Private investment shrank 0.4 per cent year-on-year, while foreign investment dropped by 8 per cent from 2022, according to a report in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. With safe avenues of savings on the decline, the Chinese are increasingly turning to investments in gold, like their Indian counterparts, placing their faith more in the yellow metal to save their money. As a result, China overtook Indias gold consumption last year, according to the latest figures released by the World Gold Council (WGC) early this month. Chinas gold consumption in 2023 rose to 630 tonnes surpassing Indias 562.3 tonnes. Chinas investment in gold bars and coins grew 28 per cent to 280 tonnes in 2023 and the country saw an increase of 10 per cent in demand for the year. Gold has remained popular in the past year and been bought mainly as a safe-haven asset. Prices have surged, but we expect they will hit new highs in 2024, Evelyn Xu, a wealth manager at a branch of the Bank of Jiangsu in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, told the Post. The gold rush followed Chinas benchmark CSI 300 index, which tracks 300 of the biggest companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses, has slumped by 38 per cent since January 2021, hitting a five-year low last week. In the property sector, home prices in 70 large and medium-sized cities fell in December at the fastest pace in almost nine years, the Post reported, quoting the most recent data from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics. Summing up Chinas economic situation, Wu Fei, a professor at the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance under Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said investors got used to big rewards amid Chinas rapid economic growth in the past decades, but that is no longer the case. Everyone realises winter has come, and theyre becoming more conservative, having a better sense of risk, especially when it comes to the property market and stock market, Wu said. "Its like you were wearing little in a warm room, then you go outside, and you feel very cold, he told the Post. Beijing/Munich, Feb 18 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi have met briefly in Germany on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, their first meeting in more than six months. Video footage from the Munich Security Conference showed Jaishankar and Wang having a brief chat on the sidelines of the prestigious event attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top diplomats from across the world. However, there is no official word on the gist of their discussion from both capitals. This was the first meeting between the two leaders in over six months. The two last met in July in the Indonesian capital Jakarta at the ASEAN Regional Forum. The India-China relations have remained frozen since May 2020 when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) amassed troops in eastern Ladakh led to a deadly clash. Since then both countries have held 20 rounds of corps commanders-level talks and agreed to pull back forces at four points. India is pressing the PLA to disengage from the Depsang and Demchok areas, maintaining that there cannot be restoration of normalcy in its relations with China as long as the state of the borders remains abnormal. Wang along with Jaishankar and a host of ministers from various countries attended the Munich Security Conference, an important forum for the exchange of views by global policymakers. Wang in his address to the conference on Saturday said protectionism and concerns about security have impacted the world economy, while unilateralism and bloc politics have dealt a heavy blow to the international system, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The Ukraine crisis has dragged on and intensified, and conflicts in the Middle East have flared up again, Wang said, adding that new challenges have emerged one after another, such as artificial intelligence, climate change and polar regions in space. China will work with the United States to implement the common understandings reached by their heads of state and push China-US relations forward on the right path of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, he said. China will push for the stable development of relations with Russia and promote strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, meanwhile, adhering to the China-EU partnership and injecting positive energy into endeavours addressing turbulence, he said. China will be a force for stability in enhancing global governance, the top Chinese diplomat, who is also the Director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Office, said. BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China saw around 13.52 million inbound and outbound trips during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday that ended Saturday, marking a 2.8-fold increase from the same holiday period last year, according to the National Immigration Administration. Border inspection agencies across China handled a daily average of about 1.69 million inbound and outbound trips during the period, the administration said. The total entry-exit trips during the holiday returned to 90 percent of the level in 2019, according to the administration. Islamabad, Feb 18 (PTI) Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's party on Sunday demanded a judicial commission to probe a senior bureaucrat's allegation that the election body and the top judiciary were involved in vote rigging. Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha on Saturday alleged that the candidates who were losing the elections were made to win in the city. Before resigning from his post, he claimed that 13 candidates from Rawalpindi were forcefully declared winners. His remarks came as jailed former prime minister Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party began nationwide protests against alleged rigging and stealing of its mandate in the February 8 elections. I am taking responsibility for all this wrongdoing and telling you that the chief election commissioner and the chief justice are also completely involved in this, Chattha said. Chattha resigned from his office after "accepting responsibility" for the manipulation of poll results. Senior PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Sunday said that the party was demanding a judicial commission to investigate the claims of rigged election results and share the probe report with the nation. Gohar said that Chattha's allegations corroborated what the party had been saying all along. This is the first time a commissioner is raising his voice according to his conscience. He said that he made sure candidates who lost were made to win while those who won were made to lose. This corroborates what we have been saying, he said. That is why the PTI demands that a judicial commission be formed and an inquiry be conducted. And not just an inquiry, but those [involved] should be made to join the inquiry, he said, adding that the report of such an inquiry should also be shared with the people. Gohar also stated that the party was not calling for the resignation of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. He alleged that efforts were made to keep the party out of the electoral arena when people, responding to 71-year-old PTI leader Khan's call, went to the polling stations in huge numbers. We had won 180 seats in the National Assembly, 42 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly, 115 in Punjab, 16 in Sindh, and four in Balochistan assembly, he said. Gohar added that the PTI had been given one seat in Balochistan, and three were due. In Sindh, we did not get a single seat, they are all due. In Punjab, around 50 seats are due, he said. Addressing the press conference, the party's candidate for prime minister, Omar Ayub Khan, said that the PTI would form governments in the centre and the provinces. He said that a judicial inquiry should be conducted involving independent judges. And those who have been named by the Rawalpindi commissioner should not be a part of this inquiry, Ayub added. Earlier in the day, a PTI spokesperson demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Raja and Chief Justice Isa tender their resignations following the revelations by Chattha. Meanwhile, the ECP has launched a probe following the allegations by Chattha, who has now been transferred to the Services and General Administration Department (SGAD) in Lahore. The government has also appointed Anwar Jappa as the new commissioner of Rawalpindi Division, which comprises the districts of Rawalpindi, Attock, Jehlum, Chakwal and Talagang. The division is popularly known as the marshal belt as the countrys military draws its main strength from these districts. Earlier in the day, the party held its parliamentary committee meeting, during which party leader Ali Muhammad Khan told reporters that it was deprived of its symbol, and most of the leaders were in jail at the time of the elections, but people cast votes in favour of PTI. Today, we hear a voice from the same place [Rawalpindi] where we were deprived of our mandate. Commissioner Rawalpindi has given proof in our favour. We have been deprived of 80 seats, he said. He said that on Friday, he, along with Sardar Latif Khosa, had a meeting with party founder Khan, who is in jail. Imran Khan told us that he will forgive all the personalities just like the Holy Prophet Muhammad did after Fatah Makkah. He also gave the example of Nelson Mandela and said that he would not take revenge on anyone, Ali said. Meanwhile, the PPP has demanded an inquiry into the allegations. However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has raised questions about the mental status of Chattha. PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah, while talking to Dunya News, said that Chattha seemed to be a psycho, and that is why he claimed that he tried to commit suicide. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary, Information, Faisal Karim Kundi, in a video statement, said that Pakistan was passing through a very sensitive era as a new parliament was going to be formed soon. Even after the passage of more than a week, the ECP is yet to notify the victory of most of the independent candidates who have won National Assembly (NA) seats in the general elections. The delay on the part of the ECP to officially notify the results of a majority of the independent candidates has raised concerns among their voters and stakeholders amid political wrangling over the numbers game for the formation of government in the Centre. Under the election rules, independent candidates have three days to join a political party after official notification of their victory; so far, the ECP has notified results of 154 out of a total of 265 contested National Assembly constituencies, where elections took place on February 8. Independent candidates - a majority backed by the PTI party - won 93 of the 265 National Assembly seats that were contested in the February 8 election. The PTI's two main rivals appear on course to form a coalition government after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's PPP formed a post-poll alliance last week. The PML-N won 75 seats, while the PPP came third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has also agreed to support them with their 17 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. Moscow, Feb 18 (AP) Over 400 people were detained in Russia while paying tribute to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died at a remote Arctic penal colony, a prominent rights group reported Sunday. The sudden death of Navalny, 47, was a crushing blow to many Russians, who had pinned their hopes for the future on President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe. Navalny remained vocal in his unrelenting criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. The news reverberated across the globe, with many world leaders blaming the death on President Vladimir Putin and his government. In an exchange with reporters shortly after leaving a Saturday church service, President Joe Biden reiterated his stance that Putin was ultimately to blame for Navalny's death. The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible. Whether he ordered it, he's responsible for the circumstance, Biden said. It's a reflection of who he is. It cannot be tolerated. Meanwhile, Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, published a picture of the couple on Instagram Sunday in her first social media post since her husband's death. The caption read simply: I love you. Hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities streamed to ad-hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repressions with flowers and candles on Friday and Saturday to pay a tribute to the politician. In over a dozen cities, police detained 401 people by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. More than 200 arrests were made in St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, the group said. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organising a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct, but was later hospitalised with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Courts in St. Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said late on Saturday. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. The news of Navalny's death came a month before a presidential election in Russia that is widely expected to give President Vladimir Putin another six years in power. Questions about the cause of death lingered, and it remained unclear when the authorities would release Navalny's body. More than 12,000 people have submitted requests to the Russian government asking for the politician's remains to be handed over to his relatives, OVD-Info said Sunday. Navalny's team said Saturday that the politician was murdered and accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body, with Navalny's mother and lawyers getting contradicting information from various institutions where they went in their quest to retrieve the body. They're driving us around in circles and covering their tracks, Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Saturday. Everything there is covered with cameras in the colony. Every step he took was filmed from all angles all these years. Each employee has a video recorder. In two days, there has been not a single video leaked or published. There is no room for uncertainty here, Navalny's closest ally and strategist Leonid Volkov said Sunday. A note handed to Navalny's mother stated that he died at 2:17 p.m. Friday, according to Yarmysh. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at the penal colony Saturday that her son had perished from sudden death syndrome, Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Navalny felt sick after a walk Friday and became unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometres northeast of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he couldn't be revived, the service said, adding that the cause of death is still being established. Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He has received three prison terms since his arrest, on a number of charges he has rejected as politically motivated. After the last verdict that handed him a 19-year term, Navalny said he understood he was serving a life sentence, which is measured by the length of my life or the length of life of this regime. Hours after Navalny's death was reported, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, made a dramatic appearance at the Munich Security Conference. She said she was unsure if she could believe the news from official Russian sources, but if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband. (AP) GRS GRS Rafah, Feb 17 (AP) The head of the main United Nations agency supporting people in Gaza alleged that Israel is intent on destroying the organisation along with the idea that Palestinians are refugees and have a right to return home one day. Philippe Lazzarini accused Israel in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger of having a long-term political goal of eliminating the UN aid agency he leads, which is known by the acronym UNRWA. It was created more than 70 years ago to assist Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes during the 1948 Mideast war over Israel's creation. At the moment, we are dealing with an expanded, concentrated Israeli campaign, which is aimed at destroying UNRWA," Lazzarini said in the interview published Saturday. His remarks provided his most sweeping pushback yet against Israeli accusations that the agency ignored alleged attempts by Hamas to infiltrate its Gaza operation. Lazzarini, who has served as UNRWA's commissioner-general since 2020, said Israel apparently believes that if the aid agency is abolished, the status of the Palestinian refugees will be resolved once and for all and with it the right of return. The fate of Palestinian refugees and their descendants was a key point of dispute between Israelis and Palestinians in previous failed peace talks more than a decade ago. Israel rejects Palestinian demands to allow descendants of refugees to return to what is now Israel, arguing it would dilute Israel's Jewish majority. Israel's government did not immediately comment Saturday on the Tages-Anzeiger interview. The UN agency had no further comment beyond the published remarks. Israel has alleged that 12 of UNRWA's thousands of staff members participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. The United States, the agency's largest donor, has suspended funding to it and is looking at alternatives to UNRWA. Without that money from the US and other key backers who also suspended their support totaling USD 438 million, or more than half this year's expected funding Lazzarini said UNRWA will have to halt operations in April. Congress has made clear that US funding for the agency will stop for good, the US special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, David Satterfield, told an event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Friday. It's not a suspension. It is prohibition on providing further funding, Satterfield said. At the same time, the US wants UNRWA's critical functions of aid delivery and support to Palestinians to continue. We are working aggressively as possible with the UN family, with UN agencies, to see how these key functions can be sustained, as we look to the months ahead, Satterfield said. It is not clear how UNRWA's central role in sheltering and supporting hundreds of thousands of Gaza's 2.3 million people would be shifted to organisations with a far smaller presence inside the besieged territory. About 80 per cent of Gaza's people have been displaced, and medical, food and other aid allowed into the territory is far below what came in before the war. Nobody else can do what UNRWA is doing, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said last week. When UNRWA was created, it was meant to provide health care, education and welfare services to about 700,000 Palestinians. Today, it provides such services to about 6 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. All of those areas will be affected when UNRWA halts operations, Lazzarini said. In his interview, he said Israel's government has applied pressure in multiple ways in what he called its attempt to destroy the agency. The Israeli parliament, for example, has introduced a bill to ban the UNRWA headquarters from Jerusalem, Lazzarini told the Swiss newspaper. They no longer want to exempt UNRWA from VAT (value-added tax) in the future. Israeli authorities have ordered contractors at the port in Ashdod to stop handling certain food deliveries for UNRWA. And all these demands come from the government. Israel also wants his resignation, Lazzarini said a demand that he said no other government has made during the agency's current crisis. Israel has long accused UNRWA of collaborating with Hamas or turning a blind eye to the militant group's activities. Throughout the war, it has released images of tunnels built next to UNRWA facilities. UNRWA denies collaborating with Hamas. It has dismissed the employees accused in the October 7 attacks and launched investigations. The agency says 158 of its employees, out of a Gaza staff of 13,000, have been killed in the war. On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant released new allegations against UNRWA, saying Israeli intelligence had significant indications that more than 30 additional agency workers joined the October 7 attack. He alleged that nearly 1,500 workers, or 12 per cent of the agency's work force, were members of Hamas or the Islamic Jihad militant group, and that more than 230 were in the groups' armed wings. UNRWA has lost legitimacy and can no longer function as a UN body, Gallant said. He said he ordered Israeli authorities to begin working with organisations that could replace UNRWA. The UN agency did not comment on Gallant's latest accusations but has said it regularly provides the names of its workers to Israel and takes action against anyone found to be violating UN neutrality rules.(AP) RUP RUP Munich, Feb 18 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Portugal, Poland and Belgium, and discussed bilateral ties and global matters like the situation in West Asia and reformed multilateralism. Jaishankar is in Germany to attend the prestigious Munich Security Conference, which is the worlds leading forum for debate on international security. He held "a productive conversation" with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud on the sideline of the conference. "Discussed connectivity, the West Asia situation and our strategic partnership," Jaishankar posted on X on Saturday. He held a "big picture chat" with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide and spoke about the imperative of reformed multilateralism and a more equitable world order. Jaishankar said it was a "pleasure" to meet his Portugal counterpart Joao Gomes Cravinho in Munich. "Shared views on recent global developments," he posted on X. Jaishankar held "a deep discussion" on the Russia-Ukraine conflict with his counterpart from Poland Radosaw Sikorski. "Also exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation in different domains," Jaishankar posted on X. He also met his Belgian counterpart, Hadja Lahbib. "Glad to work with the Belgian Presidency of the EU, as well as in advancing our bilateral ties," Jaishankar said on X. He also held a warm conversation with Friedrich Merz, the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany. "Recognise his strong support for deeper India-Germany and India-EU relations," Jaishankar said. He also held a meeting with German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner. "Appreciate his insights and assessments," Jaishankar said on X. He held a useful exchange of views on contemporary politics with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He joined his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal, Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission EU fit for Digital Age and Commissioner for Competition and Meghan O'Sullivan, former US deputy national security adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan for a discussion. The session was titled Vishwa Mitra: Bridging the Divide and hosted by Observer Research Foundation, an independent global think tank. "A lively discussion on the world order; past, present and upcoming," Jaishankar posted on X. He also spoke to two leading German dailies - Handelsblatt and Die Zeit. He also met with Fred Kempe, chief executive officer of the Atlantic Council, a foreign policy think tank and public policy group based in Washington. He interacted with the Munich Young Leaders for 2024 and urged them to take a positive approach towards global challenges and seek collaborative solutions. "Also shared my own perspectives of a changing world," Jaishankar said. Thane, Feb 18 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday alleged Maharashtra is lagging behind other states in development under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He flagged the alleged lack of employment and the flight of industries to Gujarat to target the state government. Aaditya, son of Uddhav Thackeray, visited various shakhas (party branches) of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Thane city, the stronghold of CM Shinde. "Unemployment is rising but industries are being shifted to Gujarat. This government is neglecting common citizens while prioritizing self-interest," he said. Aaditya mocked Shinde for his "emotional response" to certain political developments and said the latter betrayed Uddhav. "Shinde is a failure as a Shiv Sainik as well as a human being. Under his leadership, Maharashtra is lagging behind in progress and development," the former cabinet minister said. He recalled the old association of Shiv Sainiks from Thane with his grandparents Bal Thackeray and Meenatai. "Betrayers have left the Shiv Sena but the real sainiks from Thane are with us," he said. Aaditya reiterated his "challenge" against Shinde, asking him to resign as the chief minister and contest elections against him. "I am ready to contest elections from your constituency in Thane," he said. He alleged that elections to municipal bodies in Maharashtra are purposely being delayed as some public surveys have given an edge to Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents over the ruling Shiv Sena and BJP if elections are held. Mumbai, Feb 18 (PTI) The NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar on Sunday said dynastic politics breeds in the Bharatiya Janata Party and asked the ruling party to look within before accusing others of indulging in it. In its national council meeting (underway in Delhi), the BJP is targeting the opposition on dynastic politics and nepotism, the Sharad Pawar-led party's national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said in a statement. "Dynastic politics breeds in the BJP. The BJP says it will win 370 seats on its own and its NDA alliance will get 400 seats (in Lok Sabha polls). If it is so confident why is constantly targeting the opposition?" he asked. The BJP is scared as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), comprising several leading opposition parties like the Congress and NCP-SP, was getting stronger by the day with the support of the people, Crasto said. Imphal, Feb 18 (PTI) The Manipur government has ordered a magisterial inquiry in connection with a recent mob violence in Churachandpur district over the action taken against a policeman. At least two people were killed and 30 injured in firing by security forces on February 15, after a mob barged into a government complex housing the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police offices, torched vehicles and ransacked property, hours after the suspension of a head constable. "The state government is of the opinion that it is necessary to institute a magisterial inquiry to ascertain facts and circumstances leading to the crimes/violence/vandalism/arson of seditious nature and loss of lives, intimidation and threats to the lives of the DC and SP, Churachandpur..." an official order said. The probe would "ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to loss of lives and properties" and "suggest remedial measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in the future, it said. Head constable Siamlalpaul was placed under suspension after a purported video of him with "armed men" went viral on social media. The inquiry report should be submitted within 30 days, the order said. Begusarai (Bihar), Feb 17 (PTI) A 25-year-old woman and her father and brother were shot dead allegedly by her father-in-law in Bihar's Begusarai district on Saturday evening, police said. The incident took place in Bishnupur Ahuk village in Sahebpur Kamal police station area. The deceased have been identified as Neelu Kumari (25), her father Umesh Yadav and brother Rajesh Yadav. They were residents of Sreenagar area of Begusarai district. Speaking to reporters, Sahebpur Kamal police station SHO Deepak Kumar said, "The incident took place on Saturday evening when Umesh Yadav, along with his son and daughter, went to Neelu Kumari's in-laws' house. According to villagers, when her father-in-law saw them, he got furious and a scuffle broke out. Neelu Kumari's father suddenly took out his gun and shot them dead at point-blank range, he said, adding all three of them died on the spot. The accused has fled the spot and a manhunt has been launched to nab him. Subodh Kumar Yadav, mukhiya of the village, told reporters that it was a case of 'pakadua shaadi' (forced marriage), in which men are abducted and married off to women against their will, and that was the reason Neelu Kumari's in-laws were not taking her to their home even after two years of marriage. Senior police officials have reached the spot and further investigation is underway. Barasat (WB), Feb 18 (PTI) Three persons were arrested for attempting to smuggle gold worth Rs 2.25 crore through the India-Bangladesh international border at Petrapole in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district in separate incidents, a BSF official said. Acting on a tip-off, BSF personnel conducted a search of trucks entering India from Bangladesh and seized 2.5 kg of gold biscuits worth Rs 1.58 crore from a vehicle and arrested two persons on Saturday. In another incident, gold paste weighing over 1 kg was seized from another person, the BSF official added. The seized gold and the arrested persons were handed over to Customs officials. Guwahati, Feb 17 (PTI) Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Saturday urged graduates from the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) to innovate balanced nutritious food and make it available to the burgeoning population. ''Producing nutritious food for the ever-increasing population without imposing any burden on the environment and biodiversity is a challenge, which the university and graduate fraternity should embrace and convert the challenge into an opportunity," the governor said while addressing the 23rd convocation of AAU at Jorhat. He said that as students of agricultural science, they have the opportunity to put their learning into practice and together with the farming community, they should work for the development of the agricultural sector. The university has been making significant contributions to agriculture education and research while the growth in its infrastructure and human resource development is also helping its cause of agricultural development in the state, Kataria said. "Your decision to pursue a career in agriculture opens up immense possibilities for you to help our farmers. To make the most of these opportunities, you need to stay abreast of the latest innovations to expand your knowledge and capabilities," he said. India has come out of the category of 'food crisis country' to become a 'food grain exporting country' and ''our policy makers, agricultural scientists and farmer brothers and sisters have made important contributions in this regard", the governor added. He asked the agriculture graduates to find solutions to issues such as decreasing agricultural land, falling groundwater level and decreasing soil fertility. He said that the central and state governments have taken several steps in the form of schemes and programmes to support the farmers. Steps have been taken to improve the lives of farmers by providing financial security, skill development, market access and sustainable farming practices. Degrees were conferred on 1,500 students at the convocation. SHENZHEN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil plans to invest 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) in its Huizhou ethylene project in south China's Guangdong Province this year. Addressing the Guangdong Provincial High-quality Development Conference in Shenzhen on Sunday, Jean-Marc Taton, chairman of ExxonMobil China, said ExxonMobil has already invested over 30 billion yuan in the first phase of its Huizhou ethylene project. Taton said that the first phase is expected to be operational by the end of this year after a test run. Dubbed as one of China's major foreign investment projects, the ExxonMobil Huizhou ethylene project is located in the Huizhou Daya Bay Petrochemical Industrial Park. The project, with a total investment of about 10 billion U.S. dollars, will be built in two phases. The first phase mainly consists of a steam cracker and production facilities for high-performance polyethylene and polypropylene. Chandigarh, Feb 18 (PTI) A wanted gangster was killed and two Punjab Police personnel were injured in an encounter in the state's Barnala district on Sunday, a top officer said. More than 60 cases were registered against the gangster, Gurmeet Singh alias Kala Dhanaula, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X. "In a major breakthrough, Anti Gangster Task Force (#AGTF) of @PunjabPoliceInd neutralizes wanted A category Gangster Gurmeet Singh @ Kala Dhanula at a farmhouse in Badbar, District Barnala," Yadav said. The police party fired back in self-defence. An inspector and a sub-inspector were injured in the cross-firing, he said. "The accused has a criminal history with 60+ heinous criminal cases registered against him. "Punjab Police is committed to eradicate crime as per vision of CM @Bhagwant Mann," the DGP said. New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea of Sharad Pawar challenging an Election Commission order recognising the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and KV Viswanathan is likely to hear Sharad Pawar's plea. On February 16, the top court had agreed to urgently list the plea after Sharad Pawar stated that a whip may be issued by the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The veteran leader had sought an urgent hearing of his plea in the wake of twin blows suffered by the group led by him and the consequential fear of facing action for possible violations of whip by his MLAs. Sharad Pawar had sought urgent hearing in view of the February 15 order of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Narwekar held that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar was the real NCP and that the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution cannot be used to stifle internal dissent. Prior to this, the poll panel announced on February 6 that the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP and also allotted the party's 'clock' symbol to the group. The special Maharashtra assembly session is beginning on February 20. Pawar senior, who founded the NCP with former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar in 1999 after their expulsion from the Congress, filed the petition through lawyer Abhishek Jebaraj. Prior to him, the Ajit Pawar faction had filed a caveat in the Supreme Court through advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh to ensure that no ex-parte order is passed in favour of the Sharad Pawar group if the latter moves the top court. Ajit Pawar, currently a deputy chief minister in Maharashtra, had walked away with a majority of NCP MLAs in July last year and supported the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by Eknath Shinde. "...this commission holds that the faction led by the petitioner, Sh Ajit Anantrao Pawar, is the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and is entitled to use its name and reserved symbol "clock" for the purposes of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968," the EC had said in its 140-page order. The commission had said there were serious inconsistencies in terms of timelines in the claim of the Sharad Pawar group on organisational majority, which resulted in unreliability of their claim. It had also expressed the hope that political parties will adopt good disclosure practices of organisational elections and internal party democracy. Then came the decision of the assembly speaker on February 15, the deadline fixed by the top court for deciding disqualification plea. The speaker, in his elaborate decision, dismissed the disqualification petitions filed by the factions led by Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar against each other's legislators. The Speaker noted that the Ajit Pawar group had "overwhelming legislative majority" of 41 out of 53 party MLAs when it decided to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in July 2023. The Ajit Pawar group was, thus, the "real political party" when the factions emerged, Narwekar said. "All the petitions seeking disqualification of MLAs are rejected," Narwekar had said while reading out the ruling at the legislature complex in Mumbai on February 15. Questioning then party supremo Sharad Pawar's decisions or defying his wishes did not amount to defection but it was only internal dissent, the speaker had said. The tenth schedule of the Constitution, which provides for disqualification of a legislator in case of defection, was misused in this case, Narwekar had held. A party leadership cannot use the tenth schedule to stifle dissent of a large number of members by threatening to disqualify them, he had said. Bengaluru, Feb 18 (PTI) The Karnataka government on Sunday decided to pay compensation to a Kerala man who was killed by a tuskless elephant that was captured in Karnataka but later strayed into Wayanad in the neighbouring state. In a statement, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said the state government has agreed to pay compensation on par with the indemnity paid to the people of Karnataka killed by an elephant. The tuskless male elephant was captured in Belur taluk of Hassan district on November 30, 2023, and translocated to the Bandipur Forest area. After more than two months, it was found that it had strayed into Wayanad district of Kerala. On February 10, a man was killed by the elephant in Wayanad district of Kerala. Following this, elected representatives and the Government of Kerala had requested the Karnataka government to be largehearted and pay compensation for that case, the minister's office said. The statement said Khandre took up the matter of payment of compensation with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday. "The chief minister agreed to pay compensation to the family of Ajeesh on par with any person of Karnataka," the statement read. New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has demolished five properties belonging to those accused of being involved in drug peddling, a senior official said on Sunday. According to officials, the properties demolished on Saturday were located in Shahdara, Rohini and Najafgarh zones of MCD. Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on the occasion of Anti-Narcotics and Drug Trafficking Day on June 26 last year announced that properties and premises belonging to people involved in drug peddling will be seized and bulldozed, another senior official said. The five properties were demolished in line with this direction, he added. The properties belonged to Monu, Vikas, Rahul, Vikram and Sunita. They were arrested in different cases of drug peddling between 2022 and 2023, officials said. While Monu has been involved in 108 such cases, Sunita and Rahul have had no previous involvement in such activities, they added. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Rain showers this morning with some sunshine during the afternoon hours. High near 50F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. President Joe Biden said Friday there was no sign Russia has decided to go ahead and deploy an emerging anti-satellite weapon, the disclosure of which has rattled Washington this week. The White House has confirmed that U.S. intelligence officials have information indicating Russia has obtained such a capability, although such a weapon is not yet operational. Biden said Friday that theres no evidence that they have made a decision to go forward with doing anything in space, while he continued to stress that there was no immediate danger to humans. There is no nuclear threat to the people of America or anywhere else in the world with what Russias doing at the moment, Biden told reporters at the White House during remarks on the reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The president confirmed that the capability obtained by Russia related to satellites and space and damaging those satellites potentially, and that those capabilities could theoretically do something that was damaging. But Russia hasnt moved forward with plans yet, and, Biden added: My hope is, it will not. The news of the capability emerged this week after a cryptic warning from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who urged Biden to declassify information relating to what he called a serious national security threat. That declassification process had been underway when Turner released the statement, according to the White House. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Germany for the Munich Security Conference, raised the matter with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and emphasized that the pursuit of this capability should be a matter of concern, according to a U.S. official traveling with Blinken in Munich. The official, who was granted anonymity to discuss details of meetings that hadnt been publicly disclosed, said Blinken will continue raising it throughout his meetings at the security forum. (AP) When firefighters arrived at a home in a Washington, D.C., suburb to investigate a report about a gas smell Friday night, they discovered a 500-gallon underground propane tank with a leak on the side of the residence. Shortly after they arrived, the house exploded and burst into flames, with multiple mayday calls coming from the firefighters trapped inside. Crews rushed in to try to rescue them from the debris that covered them, but one firefighter was killed and 10 others were injured, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue officials said Saturday. Four of the firefighters hurt in the blast remained in hospitals Saturday morning, according Loudoun Fire and Rescue System Chief Keith Johnson. Johnson said all four are expected to survive. A total of 11 first responders were sent to hospitals with varying degrees of injuries Friday night, including the one who died. He was identified as 45-year-old Trevor Brown, a volunteer with Sterling Volunteer Fire Company. Brown was married with three children and had been with the county firefighting services since 2016, Johnson said. We lost a family member, Johnson said Saturday. We lost one of our own. Quite frankly were lucky we only have one fatality. Our folks were in that house when it exploded. They did what they had to do. Johnson said investigators have not determined the cause of the explosion, but we can assume it was propane-related. He said the 500-gallon tank, located outside the house, had leaked the fuel into the house. Two people inside the house were escorted out before the explosion and suffered only minor injuries from the blast. They were treated at local hospitals, Johnson said. Firefighters who responded to investigate the gas smell went inside the house to check for occupants and attempt to mitigate any leaks, he said. A hazardous materials team had also been called to the scene. The explosion occurred around 8:25 p.m., about 37 minutes after firefighters arrived to investigate the gas smell, Johnson said. After the blast, there were multiple mayday calls for firefighters trapped in the home, he said. All firefighters were accounted for and receiving care by 9:15 p.m., Johnson said. It was somewhat chaotic as we tried to figure out how many firefighters were trapped under the debris, he said. James Williams, assistant chief of operations, described damage to the home in Sterling as total devastation. Theres a debris field well into the street and into the neighboring homes, he said Friday night. Sterling is located about 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Washington, D.C. A neighbor, John Padgett, told ABC7 News that he had smelled gas while walking his dog earlier. The blast shook his home, he said. It looked like an inferno, and insulation from the burning home fell like ash, he added. It was horrific; it looked like something out of a war zone. Browns body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death. (AP) World leaders and Russian opposition activists wasted no time Friday in blaming the reported death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny on President Vladimir Putin and his government. It is obvious that he was killed by Putin, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was visiting Germany for the Munich Security Conference as he sought aid for his countrys efforts to fight off an invasion by Russia. Putin doesnt care who dies only for him to hold his position. This is why he must hold onto nothing. Putin must lose everything and be held responsible for his deeds, Zelenskyy added. U.S. President Joe Biden said Washington does not know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was a consequence of something Putin and his thugs did. Navalny could have lived safely in exile, but instead returned to Russia to continue his work, despite knowing he could be imprisoned or killed because he believed so deeply in his country, in Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose country temporarily took in Navalny in 2020 after he was poisoned with a nerve agent, praised the Kremlin critics bravery and said his death makes clear what kind of regime this is. He has probably now paid for this courage with his life, Scholz said, standing next to Zelenskyy. The German leader said he met Navalny in Berlin during his convalescence. Navalny, 47, was serving a 19-year prison sentence on extremism charges in a remote penal colony above the Arctic Circle at the time of his death. He had been behind bars since he returned from Germany in January 2021, serving time on various charges that he rejected as a politically motivated effort to keep him imprisoned for life. Navalny was brutally murdered by the Kremlin, said Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Thats a fact, and that is something one should know about the true nature of Russias current regime. Navalnys associates stressed they did not have independent confirmation of his death in the reports that came from Russias penitentiary officials. His close ally Ivan Zhdanov said authorities must notify the relatives within 24 hours, but there have been no such notifications. Navalnys wife, Yulia Navalnaya, appearing at the Munich conference, said she did not know whether to believe the official Russian announcement because we cannot trust Putin and the Putin government. They always lie. But if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putins friends, his government, to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband. And this day will come very soon, she said. Navalnys death also led to an outpouring of grief among Russians living abroad. In the Serbian capital of Belgrade, hundreds of Russians and others lit candles and laid flowers outside the Russian embassy. Tens of thousands of Russians have moved to Serbia, a fellow Slavic country, since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago. Hundreds gathered in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, which has also seen a huge influx of Russians since the invasion of Ukraine. Some held banners saying Putin is the killer and We will not forgive. Up to 300 people attended a similar rally in Georgias third-largest city, Batumi. Protesters also assembled in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, another country that attracted a lot of Russians after the start of the war in Ukraine. In Israel, home to a large number of people who came from Russia, hundreds rallied outside the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv, chanting Russia without Putin! and Russia will be free! Crowds of protesters also rallied in Berlin and Paris, as well as the capitals of Latvia, Bulgaria and Estonia, plus other European cities. The outpouring of sympathy for Navalnys family and outrage at the Kremlin, which in recent years mounted an unprecedented crackdown on dissent, came from all over the world. If this is true, then no matter the formal cause, the responsibility for the premature death is Vladimir Putin personally, who first gave the green light to the poisoning of Alexei and then put him in prison, said Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an exiled Russia tycoon turned opposition figure in exile, in an online statement. Other Russian opposition activists echoed him. If it is confirmed, the death of Alexei is a murder. Organized by Putin, opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov said on social media. Even if Alexei died of natural causes, those were triggered by his poisoning and further torture in prison. Former world chess champion-turned-Kremlin opponent Garry Kasparov said Putin tried and failed to murder Navalny quickly and secretly with poison, and now he has murdered him slowly and publicly in prison. He was killed for exposing Putin and his mafia as the crooks and thieves they are, tweeted Kasparov, who lives abroad. Pyotr Verzilov, a prominent member of the Russian protest group Pussy Riot, said Navalny was murdered in prison. In a post on X, Verzilov added: We will definitely take revenge and destroy this regime. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Navalnys death showed that Putin fears nothing more than dissent from his own people. She called it a grim reminder of what Putin and his regime are all about, and added it should provide impetus to unite in our fight to safeguard the freedom and safety of those who dare to stand up against autocracy. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the fact that Navalny was a prisoner makes it extremely important that Russia now answer all the questions that it will be asked about the cause of death. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron echoed her remarks, saying Putins Russia imprisoned him, trumped up charges against him, poisoned him, sent him to an Arctic penal colony and now he has tragically died. And we should hold Putin accountable for this. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the news had Canadians reeling. He was such a strong fighter for democracy, for freedoms, for the Russian people. It really shows the extent to which Putin will crack down on anyone who is fighting for freedom for the Russian people, he said. There is no question that Alexei Navalny is dead because he stood up to Putin, he stood up to the Kremlin, Trudeau added. Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said Navalny was for years a symbol of the fight against the dictatorship in Russia, of the fight for free speech, of the fact that a person cannot be imprisoned for a different opinion. Russian lawmakers and other officials bristled at the Western outrage. Sergei Mironov, head of a pro-Kremlin party, said Navalnys death helps Russias foes. Of course, health issues could have been the cause of death. But in any case, a premature death of a notorious opposition figure, especially a month before the presidential election, is beneficial first and foremost to Russias enemies, Mironov said in an online statement. They will use it to the maximum to pressure us from the outside and to rock with situation within the country. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the immediate reaction of NATO leaders to Navalnys death in the form of direct accusations against Russia is self-exposing. The death was still being investigated, but the Wests conclusions are already ready, she said. (AP) Fresh U.S. intelligence circulating in Congress reportedly indicates that Russia is developing an anti-satellite weapon in space with a nuclear component. News reports speculating about what the weapon could be abounded after Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, released a cryptic but alarming statement on Feb. 14, 2024, regarding the information, which he framed as a serious national security threat. Some sources suggested a nuclear weapon. Others suspect a weapon that is nuclear-powered but not a nuclear warhead. The White House confirmed the following day that the Russian system under development is a space-based anti-satellite weapon and that if it were deployed, it would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bans weapons of mass destruction in space. The Kremlin responded by dismissing the reports as a malicious fabrication. While the exact weapon remains unknown to the public, the events raise the specter of nuclear weapons in space at a tense time. Relations between the United States and Russia are at their lowest in decades, and Russia is currently waging a war of aggression in Ukraine. As a scholar of nuclear strategy, I know the U.S. reports come at a time when the nuclear world order is shifting significantly. China and others are expanding and modernizing their arsenals. Iran is close to being able to produce a nuclear weapon. Other countries may eventually want their own nuclear weapons. At the same time, several countries are developing new weapons to attack targets in space. This list includes Russia, the U.S., China and India, although none currently field weapons in space. Cold War schemes The recent revelations about Russian space weapons raise the specter that countries may decide to deploy nuclear weapons in space at some point. Some have tried before. The U.S. and Soviet Unionresearched nuclear detonations in space during the Cold War. In the late 1960s, the Soviets tested a missile that could be placed in low Earth orbit and be capable of coming out of orbit and carrying a nuclear warhead to Earth. Neither country placed nuclear weapons in space permanently. Both were parties to the Outer Space Treaty and the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, which outlawed nuclear detonations in space. Moscow and Washington negotiated these treaties to contain the Cold War arms race. These treaties constrained behavior in the late Cold War. However, Russian violations of nuclear arms control treaties, as well as U.S. and Russianwithdrawal from various treatiessince 2002, suggest they may not in the future. Nukes in space But why would a country want space nukes? There are a few reasons. Countries could point space-based nuclear weapons toward Earth. In theory, weapons from space could avoid early detection radars and missile defenses. However, there are significant disadvantages to firing nuclear weapons directly from space. Placing weapons in space to strike targets on Earth may have defensive or offensive motivations. Weapons that evade missile defenses might ensure nuclear deterrence. This is a defensive strategy intended to prevent aggression against the state that placed them in space. Alternatively, these weapons may help a country achieve a first-strike capability. A first strike requires the ability to destroy enough of an adversarys nuclear weapons or the nuclear command, control and communications systems necessary to manage them to prevent nuclear retaliation. Countries could point space-based weapons toward other regions of space, like the Russian weapon under development. This conjures images of nuclear weapons striking asteroids to defend Earth from a collision. Satellite killers The reality is less dramatic but no less worrisome. The most likely use would be to destroy an enemys military satellites. Damaging navigation satellites would hinder an adversarys ability to fight a war. Both precision-strike weapons and ground-based forces rely on satellite constellations like GPS or the Russian GLONASS system to find and reach targets. Countries may also want the ability to destroy an enemys space weapons, including space-based missile defenses. While no country has deployed these weapons yet, leaders may fear future capabilities and deploy space weapons first to hedge against this threat. Most dangerously, these weapons could destroy or damage satellites critical to an enemys nuclear command, control and communications system, including early warning satellites that track missile launches and communication satellites that relay military orders. Nuclear weapons damage satellites because of a wave of gamma radiation that is created by a nuclear detonation. This radiation damages critical subsystems within a satellite. But such weapons produce significant drawbacks. A detonation would damage any satellites within range of the gamma radiation including those of the attacking country, its allies and neutral countries. However, a space-based nuclear anti-satellite weapon may have some advantages over other options for attacking countries. Ground-basedanti-satellite systemscan only reach targets in low Earth orbit. Even a nuclear-powered anti-satellite weapon in space would create a novel threat without a nuclear warhead. Such a device would have a greater range than anti-satellite weapons on the ground and could perform its mission over an extended period of time. Both factors would increase the number of satellites it could damage or destroy. Many of the satellites a country may want to take out are located at higher orbits beyond the range of ground-based systems. This is true for some of the U.S. systems that Russia may want to target. The Kremlins interest in space weapons could be an attempt to reduce Americas capability to fight a war; threaten nuclear command, control and communications systems; or hedge against space-based missile defenses. Alternatively, the Russian defense industry may drive their development for profit. New arms race? Whatever their initial purpose, placing nuclear weapons in space could be destabilizing. While there is not a universally accepted definition of strategic stability, scholars frequently define it as a combination of crisis stability, based on the risk of nuclear escalation during a military crisis, and arms race stability when countries can avoid actions and reactions that spiral into a costly and dangerous arms race. Space-based nuclear weapons increase the risk that a country would resort to nuclear weapons during a crisis. Both weapons pointing toward Earth and those aimed at targets in space create incentives to use nuclear weapons preemptively. The threat of either strike creates use-it-or-lose-it pressure, incentivizing a preemptive nuclear strike to limit the damage an adversary can do. In turn, a preemptive nuclear strike would likely provoke further escalation, eventually ending in a total nuclear war. Placing nuclear weapons in space could spark a new arms race. Because one purpose of space weapons is to destroy an adversarys space weapons, the U.S. may respond to Russian weapons with their own. Russia may then counter with new weapons to maintain its advantage. Others, like China, may react to American weapons, which could prompt a response from India, followed by one from Pakistan. Escalatory pressures and the threat of an arms race exist even if the first mover places weapons in space defensively. Introducing space weapons could create what international relationsscholarscall a security dilemma: actions that enhance one countrys security but make another insecure. Defensive and offensive weapons are often indistinguishable. The weapons that could enhance one countrys security by hedging against space-based missile defense could also be used offensively against nuclear command, control and communications systems. Even if leaders in one country thought the other was acting defensively today, there is no way to know they will not act offensively tomorrow. (THE CONVERSATION, Spenser A. Warren, University of California, San Diego via AP) A family from Israel has filed a federal lawsuit against United Airlines, alleging that their 6-year-old daughter sustained burns and disfigurement due to a hot meal mishap during a flight to Newark. Michal and Ben Fefferman recounted their harrowing experience, stating in their lawsuit that they were traveling from Tel Aviv on July 20, 2022, when the incident occurred. According to court documents, the family requested a childs meal, which was handed to Michal Fefferman by a flight attendant. Placing the meal on a fold-down tray table in front of her daughter, the Feffermans allege that the defective tray table caused the meal to slide off and spill onto the childs lap. The Feffermans assert that the food was excessively hot, resulting in severe burns to their daughter. They further claim that United Airlines failed to equip the aircraft with adequate medical supplies to treat burn injuries, leaving the attendants unable to provide proper care. The consequences of the incident, as detailed in the suit, extend beyond physical injuries, with the child allegedly experiencing scarring, disfigurement, humiliation, and emotional distress. Ths family is now seeking $75,000+ in damages from United Airlines. This lawsuit comes on the heels of another legal action against United Airlines. Daniel Zemel, a 36-year-old New Jersey resident, filed a suit in Superior Court of Essex County on Feb. 1, less than a week before the Feffermans lawsuit, alleging negligence by the airline. Zemel claims to have suffered brain injuries when a suitcase fell from an overhead bin onto his head during a flight to California on Jan. 20, 2023. According to court documents, a subsequent scan revealed specific brain injuries resulting from the impact of the suitcase. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) SINGAPORE, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese passenger jet C919 made a trial flight Sunday in Singapore to prepare for the upcoming airshow. Five aircraft developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., including C919, will meet the public at the Singapore Airshow 2024 which begins on Tuesday. The New York Times reported on Friday that Israel is behind multiple recent explosions affecting Iranian gas pipelines, citing sources including two Western officials and a military strategist associated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Irans oil minister, Javad Owji, addressed the reported attacks, describing them as sabotage and terrorist acts aimed at disrupting gas flow during the winter season. The enemys plan was to completely disrupt the flow of gas in winter to several main cities and provinces in our country, he said. Despite the disruption caused by the attacks, Owji downplayed their impact. However, reports from Iranian governors and officials at the state gas company indicate widespread outages across five provinces due to the attacks, leading to the closure of government buildings. The targeted natural gas pipeline originates in Irans western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, extending north to cities on the Caspian Sea. Measuring approximately 790 miles, the pipeline starts in Asaluyeh, a crucial hub for Irans offshore South Pars gas field. Notably, the targeted province lacks known insurgent groups that have taken responsibility for other similar attacks and is primarily inhabited by the Bakhtiari, a branch of Irans Lur ethnic group. The Times also said Israel was involved in a separate incident on Thursday involving an explosion at a chemical factory on the outskirts of Tehran. Local officials initially attributed the blast to an accident in the factorys fuel tank. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the current moment is an exceptional opportunity for Israel to normalize relations with Arab states. Virtually every Arab country now wants to integrate Israel into the region to normalize relations, Blinken said. Blinken underscored the importance of addressing the Palestinian issue, describing it as urgent to proceed with the establishment of a Palestinian state that ensures Israels security. He also highlighted ongoing regional efforts aimed at reviving the Palestinian Authority and transforming it into a functional institution. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday sharpened his tone against the Biden administration, which reportedly is rushing to complete a plan for a Palestinian state and brought a statement to the Cabinet meeting for approval categorically rejecting the imposition of a Palestinian state by foreign countries. Netanyahu said at the Cainbet meeting: In light of the recent talk in the international community about an attempt to unilaterally impose a Palestinian state on Israel, today I am bringing a declaratory decision on this issue for the governments approval. I am sure that it will receive very broad approval. The prime minister then read the statement: Israel utterly rejects international diktats regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians. A settlement, if it is to be reached, will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions. Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7th massacre would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism and would prevent any future peace settlement. The members of the Cabinet unanimously approved the declaration. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The IDF reported significant military successes against Hamas operatives across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of dozens of terrorists over the last 24 hours. In the southern region of Gaza, specifically in Khan Younis, the IDFs 98th Division executed targeted raids against Hamas positions, resulting in the elimination of numerous gunmen and the discovery and confiscation of weapons caches. The divisions 7th Armored Brigade played a pivotal role, employing tank shelling and coordinated airstrikes to kill approximately 20 Hamas terrorists in the western part of Khan Younis. Further airstrikes in the city led to the deaths of an additional 15 Hamas terrorists and the destruction of a significant weapons depot, further crippling Hamass operational capabilities in the area. One of the focal points of the IDFs operations has been the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where special forces, including the Commando Brigade, have been conducting thorough searches. The IDF reported finding weapons within the hospital premises, following intelligence that hostages had previously been held there. The operation at the medical center resulted in over 100 terror suspects being arrested and the seizure of various weapons. Adjacent to the hospital, IDF commandos engaged and eliminated several Hamas gunmen in a nearby building, seizing weapons and safes in the process. In central Gaza, the IDFs Nahal Brigade also reported progress, killing at least 10 Hamas operatives within the last day, including by calling in airstrikes to target Hamas terrorists. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A Border Police officer was seriously injured during intense clashes in the West Bank city of Tulkarem on Sunday morning, which also resulted in the death of a wanted terror suspect. The operation targeted Ahmad Awfi, identified by the IDF, Shin Bet security service, and police as involved in multiple shooting attacks against troops and Israeli yishuvim, and responsible for the execution of two Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel. The mission involved undercover Border Police officers and IDF soldiers entering Tulkarem to apprehend Awfi, surrounding the building where Awfi was located and employing a pressure cooker tactic, a method that escalates firepower against a building to compel occupants to surrender. The confrontation progressed into a gunfight, resulting in Awfis death and the confiscation of his weapon. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed Awfis death and reported a second fatality, a 19-year-old man, who was caught in the crossfire with the Israeli troops. The IDF reported battling against several Palestinian gunmen during the operation, who fired upon and threw explosive devices at the forces, leading to the wounding of one Border Police officer. In a related operation on the outskirts of Ramallah, IDF forces detained a senior Hamas operative, continuing a significant crackdown on wanted individuals across the West Bank. Since October 7, over 3,100 wanted Palestinians have been arrested, including more than 1,350 affiliated with Hamas. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) During a press conference in Addis Ababa at the African Union summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made striking remarks about the situation in the Gaza Strip, equating the Israeli military actions against Hamas to genocide and comparing it to the Holocaust. Whats happening in the Gaza Strip isnt a war, its a genocide, Lula declared. Its not a war of soldiers against soldiers. Its a war between a highly prepared army and women and children. Lula did not stop there; he drew a parallel between the current events in Gaza and one of historys darkest periods. Whats happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasnt happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews, he added. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded to Lulas insane comments in a statement. The words of the president of Brazil are shameful and alarming, Netanyahu said. This is about trivializing the Holocaust and trying to harm the Jewish people and Israels right to defend itself. Comparing Israel to the Nazi Holocaust and Hitler is crossing a red line, Netanyahu continued. Israel fights for its defense and securing its future until complete victory and it does so while upholding international law. He added that Brazils envoy has been summoned for a stern reprimand. In a separate comment, Lula addressed the recent death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Kremlin critic, suggesting caution before jumping to conclusions about Russian President Vladimir Putins involvement. Navalnys death, attributed to sudden death syndrome while in prison, has been a subject of international concern. A citizen died in prison. I dont know if he was ill or had any issues, said Lula. To make an accusation is to trivialize. I hope that a coroner will provide an explanation for why the individual died, thats all. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Someone attempted to cause a disruption to an El Al aircraft as it was enroute from Phuket, Thailand, to Israel over night, the Kan public broadcaster said Sunday. The attempted cyber breach occurred as the plane flew near territories known to be under the influence of Iran-backed Houthi rebels. However, Somalian officials have pointed fingers at the unrecognized state of Somaliland, which has been in the news recently for a contentious agreement with Ethiopia, suggesting its involvement in the cybersecurity incident. According to the report, the perpetrators tried to issue flight commands that deviated significantly from the planned route, raising suspicions of an attempt to either damage the aircraft or force it into hostile airspace. There was also concern that this could have been an innovative method to hijack the plane remotely. The flight crew, sensing discrepancies in the instructions received, chose not to comply. They switched to alternative communication methods to verify their course with air traffic control, which confirmed the external attempt to alter the flight path. Despite the alarming situation, the flight crew managed to land the aircraft safely at its intended destination. According to a statement from the airline carried by Ynet, El Al says that flights over Somalia have suffered disruptions in their radio connections and have been warned about this by the local government, and that the disruptions are not aimed at [El Al] planes and it is not a security incident the disruption did not affect the continuation of the flight. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In a world filled with possibilities, are you ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and change? Rabbi Shmuel Stern, the esteemed leader and head of the Kollel in Beit Shemesh, has arrived in New York for a limited time, offering his profound insights and guidance. 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Moreover, through careful observation of behavioral patterns, he guides individuals in harnessing acquired skills and strategies developed throughout their lives. From significant life events to personal traumas, Rabbi Stern addresses the discrepancies between ones innate potential and acquired experiences. He believes that by acknowledging and understanding our subconscious, we gain mastery over our lives. To book an appointment call 917-414-0685 Contrary to mere fortune-telling, Rabbi Stern focuses on fostering profound self-awareness. He specializes in helping individuals choose careers aligned with their talents and learning styles, as well as navigating the complexities of personal growth and spiritual development. Numerous educators and spiritual leaders in Israel and Beit Shemesh refer individuals to Rabbi Stern for his unique insights. Even experienced therapists sometimes struggle to pinpoint the root cause of issues, whereas Rabbi Stern can discern underlying issues with a mere glance at ones palm. To book an appointment call 917-414-0685 Consider the case of a 14-year-old boy caught stealing, whose behavior stumped his parents. After consulting with Rabbi Stern, it was revealed that the boy had experienced a traumatic event, leading to his aberrant behavior. Similarly, a 25-year-old groom, divorced three times, sought guidance from Rabbi Stern, who identified his distorted perception of reality as the underlying issue. In another instance, a woman misdiagnosed with schizophrenia found solace and healing through Rabbi Sterns intervention. His recommendation for a second opinion led to a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Even individuals facing seemingly insurmountable challenges find hope and clarity through Rabbi Sterns guidance. He offers spiritual remedies and practical advice based on timeless Jewish teachings, empowering individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve fulfillment. Dont miss this rare opportunity to consult with Rabbi Shmuel Stern during his visit to the United States. Whether you seek clarity in your personal life, guidance in career choices, or spiritual solace, Rabbi Stern offers a beacon of hope and transformation. Schedule your appointment today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth. To book an appointment call 917-414-0685 Life is full of twists and turns. Sometimes for the better; sometimes not. A few days ago, I was contacted by a young lady who has had a traumatic past three years. In late 2020, she was involved in an awful car accident that changed the course of her life. It was hard not to shed a tear. One moment, a mother carving out a successful career for herself in a consultancy firm specialising in environmental issues. The next, unable to work, a mortgage to pay, and a young daughter to look after. Her life literally turned upside down because of a driver coming out of nowhere and hitting her car almost head on with her daughter in the back seat. PIP, administered by the Department for Work & Pensions, is paid to those with long-term physical or medical conditions that make everyday tasks difficult Although her daughter was mercifully unharmed, the full force of the impact went through Helen's body, her knee bending the key in the car's ignition. She has since been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) which manifests itself in memory loss, slurred speech, tremors and walking problems. She has undertaken an FND rehabilitation programme which helped temporarily but she is also dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Only the love of her daughter and close friends keeps her on the straight and narrow. A compensation claim against the offending driver rumbles on while she now works part-time at the consultancy, albeit in a less stressful role. Helen contacted me after Lisa, someone who works in financial services and who knows her well, read my piece last weekend on Personal Independence Payment (PIP). An article which prompted Lisa to scream out: 'YES! Finally, someone has written about how horrific the PIP process can be.' PIP, administered by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), is paid to those with long-term physical or medical conditions that make everyday tasks difficult. Although not means-tested, payments are subject to review and these can be harrowing experiences, sometimes requiring a medical assessment. They can also result in payments being stopped, leaving claimants in the lurch. Last week's article followed a piece I wrote a month ago about a woman who received a DWP text on Christmas Day informing her that her PIP was being reviewed. She struggles with mental health issues that are controlled by epilepsy medication. Upon reading the text, she went into meltdown, suffering a panic attack that ruined the festive day for her and her family. A Freedom of Information Request confirmed the recipient was not alone 1,454 Christmas Day texts were sent by the DWP, informing people of impending PIP reviews. Helen's battle over PIP goes back to 2021. Initially, she was refused payment. She then asked for a mandatory reconsideration, only to be refused again. Encouraged by Lisa who has had her own PIP battles in the past, Helen took her case to tribunal and won. It resulted in a 500 monthly payment, backdated to when she first logged her claim. Yet, as is the way with PIP, Helen's payments stop in May, so she has had to reapply. So far, she has submitted medical evidence supporting continuation of the payment and has undergone a DWP assessment a gruelling two-and-a-half-hour ordeal, which she found rather distressing. She describes the assessment as 'barbaric', conducted by people who she says knew little about her condition. 'It was if they were looking to catch me out,' she adds. Helen will soon learn whether her PIP will continue beyond May and is keeping her fingers crossed. 'I am all for stopping people who claim benefits fraudulently,' she says, 'but the PIP review system is dehumanising. I am all for stopping people who claim benefits fraudulently, but the PIP review system is dehumanising Helen, PIP recipent 'It seems to treat everyone dispassionately and makes you feel undeserving.' She adds: 'Before the accident, I looked after multi-million-pound projects at work. Now I work part-time and struggle with technical documents, confidence, and processing information. 'I used to relish telling jokes and making people laugh. Now, I can't because I stutter and slur my words. I mourn the loss of the person I was.' As for Lisa, she thanked me for 'shining a light on the crazy system that is PIP'. I sought a response from the DWP on the way PIP reviews are conducted. For the record, I wasn't prepared to discuss Helen's case for fear of inadvertently jeopardising her ongoing review nor others that I have received. The DWP said: 'We were not provided with the opportunity to look into specific cases. 'However, we support millions of people every year and our priority is that they receive a timely, supportive and compassionate service. 'All disability assessors are qualified health professionals who are trained to advise based on all the available information and support is in place for vulnerable customers at every stage of the claim process. 'Our providers [Independent Assessment Services and Capita Business Services] consistently exceed their customer satisfaction targets of 90 per cent for PIP. If a customer disagrees with a decision, they have the right to ask for a review.' It also added that 99 per cent of assessments start within 30 minutes of the appointment time. Maybe, Helen's experience is the exception that breaks the rule. But people like her should not have to go through PIP hell. They've already had a lifetime's worth. Direct Line risks backlash as it axes second home cover Idyllic: But owners of second homes or holiday lets will have to find cover elsewhere Direct Line has withdrawn from insuring second properties and holiday homes. It confirmed its decision after a reader sent me a letter from the insurer saying his cover would not be renewed at the end of March. The insurer told me: 'Customers insuring second properties and holiday homes often have different needs to those insuring their primary residence. 'For example, cover is sometimes needed for extended periods when the property is unoccupied. Our cover is designed to meet the needs of customers insuring their primary residence.' It said all customers impacted would be assisted in finding cover elsewhere. Owning a second home or a holiday let (I don't, by the way) is becoming more challenging by the day. Councils are hitting owners with big tax bills, stamp duty costs are onerous (subject to a three per cent surcharge) and full-time resident neighbours can be hostile. I trust Direct Line has thought through what it's doing. Many second home customers also have their main residence insured with Direct Line, so they could react by taking all of their business elsewhere as the reader who contacted me has done. Everyone loses. Banking hub finally arrives It has been a long time coming, but the Leicestershire town of Syston finally saw its banking hub open last Friday. Although the town was earmarked for a hub (a shared bank branch run by the Post Office) in late 2021 after the last bank pulled out, finding suitable premises has been problematic. A temporary hub was opened in the town's community centre late last year, but flooding meant it had to shut for a while. The premises for the permanent hub the former Santander branch were also flooded, pushing back its opening. Yet it's now up and running, much to the delight of locals. 'It's great news,' says Rosemarie Collins, a 73-year-old Syston resident. 'Like many of my friends, I prefer to do my banking at a branch rather than online, so a permanent hub is a boost for the town.' Banking hub launches are as rare as hen's teeth 33 to date. Yet I am told there will 100 operational in bankless towns by the end of the year. I'll believe that when I see it. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. D.R. writes: We booked to fly with Royal Jordanian Airlines, but they changed the flight times by two days so we had to claim a refund. Our tickets were refundable, and in any case the airline promised a full refund. However, I have since contacted them more than 20 times, but I have received nothing. The flights were for a special holiday as my wife has an incurable medical condition and this might have been her last chance to travel. Special holiday: But Royal Jordanian Airlines changed the flight times by two days Tony Hetherington replies: You gave me a copy of the message you received from Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJA), and it could hardly be clearer. You were told you could change your booking to a different date, though this might involve a penalty charge. Or you could cancel your booking but keep the tickets for use at any time within the next year, though there would be rebooking fees when you did decide to use them. Or finally, RJA confirmed you are 'entitled to a full refund due to the schedule change.' If I have understood the currency conversion correctly, you and your wife should have received about 1,400 each within a fortnight of lodging your claim, yet months later you have received nothing. I asked RJA to look into this and the airline's response was startling. It told me: 'We have been informed that we are currently facing challenges with the refund process for any payments made through PayPal. Our finance team at the head office are actively working to resolve this issue at the moment.' But what has this got to do with you? The relationship between the airline and PayPal should not be your problem. RJA changed the flights by an unacceptable two days, RJA confirmed that you have the right to a full refund, so why can't RJA simply get out its cheque book and send you the money, or better still, pay you by bank transfer? Is a bargain Red Sea holiday worth the risk? Our consumer rights expert DEAN DUNHAM explains as airstrikes on Houthis send prices plunging What exactly are the challenges that RJA is facing? Should passengers delay making bookings, rather than risk seeing their money disappear for months with no proper explanation? I put both these questions to the airline, and on February 5 it replied: 'We have been informed by our finance team that the refund is in process and the passengers will be credited by the end of this week.' Well, Friday the 9th came, but no refund arrived. I wondered whether RJA regarded Saturday or Sunday as the end of the week. Fair enough, Saturday arrived but there was no refund, and then Sunday, the same, no refund. I asked the airline to say exactly where it had sent the refund. It failed to reply. I asked whether Royal Jordanian Airlines which is mainly owned by Jordan's government was in financial difficulties. It failed to reply. But it is a fact that late last year RJA announced plans to dig itself out of a very deep financial hole that saw it notch up losses of about 450 million. Big airlines might tolerate this, but RJA is not a big airline and its losses put it in danger of liquidation. It sidestepped this by altering its share structure, but has since been hit financially by the Israel-Hamas conflict. All of this leaves you stuck in a 'the cheque is in the post' situation. You are not alone. A current review of RJA on Tripadvisor warns that, 'Refunds are not their strong point!' That was from a passenger whose flight was cancelled last October. He has still had no refund and emails are unanswered. Another passenger was forced to cancel after RJA changed its schedules six times, which would have left him waiting 48 hours for his connecting flight. He claimed a refund two months ago but has not even received an acknowledgement. 'This company is not like other companies,' he wrote. You can say that again. RJA has not signed up to any air travel Ombudsman scheme that could investigate its failure to repay you. I have now advised you to contact the Civil Aviation Authority. There are lots of reasons not to fly to the Middle East at the moment and Royal Jordanian Airlines has just provided a new one. Frustration: Ovo closed the SSE office without telling customers Why has Ovo lost my bill payment? N.J. writes: Ovo took over my electricity supply from SSE. I paid Ovo's bill by sending a cheque as usual, but it was undeliverable as Ovo closed the SSE office without telling customers. I then paid by bank transfer, but have since received an email saying I had not paid, followed by a threat of court action. Tony Hetherington replies: When you made the bank transfer you completed Ovo's online payment form. This included a space marked 'reference', so you entered it as 'electricity bill'. What Ovo actually wanted was your account number. Trying to sort this out was frustrating for you. You gave Ovo your bank statement but it still could not link the payment to your supply. And when you decided to change supplier, Ovo said it would tell any new supplier that you are a debtor. I asked Ovo to comment, and you were soon called with an apology and an admission that the payment form was badly worded. Your payment has been traced, you owe nothing, and Ovo has offered 100 and a gift hamper by way of saying sorry. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Museums across China received approximately 73.58 million visits during the Spring Festival holiday that ran from Feb. 10 to 17 this year, according to data released by the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Sunday. The amount is 98.6 percent higher than the same period last year, said the administration. Museums in eight provinces including Shaanxi, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Guangdong received over 3 million visits, according to the administration. The board of WPP has been accused of 'neo-colonialist practices' by a disgruntled Kenyan entrepreneur, who alleges that the advertising giant engaged in 'discriminatory' tactics to oust him from his own business. Bharat Thakrar, the founder of Scangroup, one of Africa's largest marketing agencies, has claimed that the FTSE 100 firm discriminated against him and Scangroup's finance chief Satya Das, breaching Kenyan law and 'clearly targeted' executives at the business who were of 'Indian extraction'. In a letter from Thakrar's lawyers seen by The Mail on Sunday, the former Scangroup chief executive also accused the UK-based ad agency of 'deliberately' leaking details of an internal investigation into alleged financial and personal misconduct to local media and causing him 'reputational damage'. Claim: The allegations could become another headache for WPP 'The disciplinary proceedings were in any event discriminatory and amounted to neo-colonialist practices as they were clearly targeted only at our client who is of Indian extraction,' the letter read. Thakrar's lawyers added that WPP had protected a non-Asian high ranking Scangroup executive involved in the affair, who went on to work for another business under the group's umbrella. Several other WPP employees have also been named as part of the claim. WPP denies the allegations. A spokesman said: 'Bharat resigned from WPP-Scangroup in 2021 following allegations of impropriety between 2014 and 2018.' Thakrar set up the business that would become Scangroup in 1982 and WPP invested into the business with a 23 per cent holding in 2009 before acquiring a controlling stake in 2013. Today, WPP owns 56 per cent of the business while Thakrar retains a 10.5 per cent stake. But the former boss alleges that the ad giant 'manipulated itself into a position to control the board of Scangroup' before making allegations against him in an attempt to force his eventual resignation in March 2021. Thakrar is understood to be seeking damages in the region of 24 million and is preparing to file proceedings within weeks, according to a person familiar with the matter. The allegations could become another headache for WPP after an executive from its GroupM media agency in China was detained by police on bribery charges. WPP fired the executive in October. WPP's reputation had already taken a blow in 2018 when its founder Sir Martin Sorrell resigned following allegations of misconduct. The group is also struggling to boost its fortunes amid a downturn in demand for advertising that has pushed WPP's share price down 23 per cent over the past 12 months. Last month, WPP unveiled plans to plough 250 million into artificial intelligence this year and upgraded its medium-term financial targets on the back of a cost-cutting programme that is aiming to save hundreds of millions of pounds. The firm is also mulling whether to offload its 40 per cent stake in market research outfit Kantar, which it is expected could raise billions of pounds. It followed a disappointing third-quarter trading update when WPP issued a second consecutive profit warning in as many quarters, blaming a downturn in client spending in the US and China. WPP's sluggish share price performance has also sparked speculation that it could become a takeover target, with US private equity groups Blackstone and Silver Lake thought to be among the interested parties. Female first: Taylor Wimpey boss Jennie Daly Jennie Daly, the chief executive of Taylor Wimpey, knows how divisive housing can be. She was born in Derry in 1970 when a wave of political violence was sweeping Northern Ireland. 'Housing was a huge social and community issue,' she says. 'There was a high level of underinvestment with a lot of strife as a result.' After the Second World War, Northern Ireland suffered a shortage of council homes and there were protests against anti-Catholic discrimination in housing. 'I am the youngest of four children,' she says. 'Before I was born my parents lived in a third-storey flat with one water tap on the ground floor. 'For a time, one of my siblings had to go to live with my grandma in the country. No one wants to choose a child they have no room for. That drove an understanding of the importance of housing for me.' It certainly puts a stark perspective on the housing divides in the UK today between young and old, North and South, rich and poor. The Government is well aware it is a flashpoint. Housing Secretary Michael Gove warned last week that if the young cannot buy homes of their own they may abandon democracy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week unveiled a plan to boost housebuilding in urban areas to meet the demand for new homes while not alienating voters in the shires. Daly, 53, points to 'a deficit of four and a half million homes in the UK' and argues that we need a national plan for housing. Local plans, she says, are 'patchy in adoption' and decision making at that level is 'very challenging'. A national plan, she argues, is essential so that issues such as transport connections, flood risks, employment and the economy can be considered in a broader context when deciding where to build. She acknowledges that it is 'challenging to deliver in a way that the existing community doesn't feel their services are under pressure'. She adds: 'With planning there is a danger of us feeling it is too big to tackle. But we can't just say it's too hard.' The idea of a young person buying a one-bedroom flat and having it for a few years probably isn't accurate any more She points to stamp duty being 'certainly an area' in which Chancellor Jeremy Hunt could act. Property purchases of under 250,000 are not liable for stamp duty, but it is charged at 5 per cent on homes costing from 250,001 to 925,000. It rises from 10 per cent after that to a top rate of 12 per cent on values above 1.5 million. First-time buyers do not pay stamp duty on properties valued at 425,000 or less. Daly says 'there is a real case' for reducing stamp duty for lower value homes and 'there is definitely a case at the downsizer end'. Cutting the levy further for first-time buyers and for older people who want to trade down from properties that are too big for them after their children leave home would free up the market. 'We have overcrowding at the lower end of the market and under-occupation at the top,' Daly says. 'So it would be an intelligent step. 'House moves drive the economy. We have to look at the dampening effect stamp duty has. 'Mobility is fundamentally important for a healthy economy. When that is made harder because there is a tax such as stamp duty or a lack of availability of homes, then you start to constrain the economic options of the individual and the economy. 'With a lack of suitable housing of the right size, households will stop forming, birth rates will fall, mobility will seize up and the housing market will atrophy.' Does she think there has been a fundamental shift in the property market in the last few years? Will this generation of young people ever enjoy the kind of housing security and wealth that their parents and grandparents did? She doesn't go that far, but suggests that the notion of the housing ladder where people trade up to bigger and better properties no longer holds good. Changing times: First-time buyers are getting older, meaning they may not start with a small property and move up the ladder in the same way as their parents did says Daly 'The idea of a young person buying a one-bedroom flat and having it for a few years probably isn't accurate any more.' She says first-time buyers these days are generally older and have probably already formed a household with a partner and children. 'They want a bigger home and they are more likely to stay for a long time,' Daly says. 'My generation thought about housing as a ladder you moved up, but that concept is changing.' 'Nuts and bolts approach' As for her strategy at Taylor Wimpey, rather than radical change she focuses on operational excellence and serving customers. That means efficiency, discipline, controlling costs, and delivering on time and to budget. 'We talk a lot about keeping things as simple as we can, about discipline,' she says. 'We came into the current market with a really strong balance sheet and an experienced top team. I inherited a business in a really good place. I have focused on the nuts and bolts.' Whether by coincidence or not, this is an approach she shares with other female bosses including Margherita Della Valle at Vodafone. Housebuilding, however, remains a man's world. Daly is the first female chief executive at Taylor Wimpey in more than a century of history. Her awareness of the social side of housing is a change from the churlish greed on display from some male bosses such as Jeff Fairburn, the former chief executive of Persimmon. He brought the entire sector into disrepute with his 75 million bonus. 'When there is a negative story it reflects on all housebuilders,' she says. Daly is on a basic salary of 750,000 plus 75,000 pension contributions, plus a performance-linked bonus of up to 1.1 million and shares worth up to 1.5 million. She has been involved in cleaning up some scandals, notably the leasehold affair, where thousands of people who bought Taylor Wimpey homes and properties from other firms were stuck with ground rent charges that doubled every ten years. These spiralling bills made it hard to sell or remortgage. Ahead of an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, Taylor Wimpey agreed to release homebuyers from the trap. 'We accepted it was not appropriate,' she says. 'We set a 130 million provision and I spent a number of years going to freeholders to renegotiate those leases. 'There is a long tail of cases, but it is going through. An apology was due and we are genuinely sorry.' Taylor Wimpey was also embroiled in the cladding scandal that followed the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The company has set aside hundreds of millions of pounds to pay for unsafe cladding to be removed. Daly points to a crisis that is looming over Britain's housing stock. Despite the Luftwaffe's best efforts, 40 per cent of housing in the UK is pre-war. 'We have the oldest stock in the world and some is really energy inefficient,' she says. 'This ageing housing stock is not fit for the future.' I asked Daly whether has she ever lived in a home built by her firm. 'I joined Taylor Wimpey ten years ago and I have been in my current home, with my family, for 17 years,' she says. 'So, no, I have never owned one. Maybe my next move. Some of them are really beautiful.' Screen legend: Loretta in the TV series about US military doctors Double Emmy Award-winning actress Loretta Swit was already an established theatre and TV star when in 1972 she landed the role of Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan in the hit show M*A*S*H. Unlike several co-stars she stayed the course, finally hanging up her dog tags when the show about American military doctors serving abroad ended in 1983. Swit has also starred in stage and screen comedies and dramas, from Mission: Impossible to The Muppet Show. Now an author and entrepreneur with her own line of jewellery and perfume, Swit, 86, tells Dan Moore she is an animal rights campaigner. Since her divorce from actor Dennis Holahan in 1995, she has shared her New York home with two rescue dogs, Yorkshire terriers. Where did you get the acting bug? My family did not understand me at all. They were mystified by my passion for acting. We laughed about it later because they put up such resistance to me going into it, and then they were so proud when I turned it around. It wasn't that they didn't love me or want me to be happy, they just knew the chances of making a living out of acting weren't good. Did you struggle to make a living when you started out? Nothing terrific comes easy. I trained and then worked as an executive secretary. I joined the Kelly Girls, an employment service that placed secretaries in jobs where they could create their own schedule. This was imperative for me because I'd need to go looking for acting work and take long lunches to audition. I had some extraordinary jobs. I worked at the UN, and at the embassy of Ghana as secretary to the ambassador. Secretarial work was a varied, colourful job, but I wasn't paid much, just enough to cover groceries and the $75 a month in rent. Now you wouldn't get a closet in New York for that amount. I was also earning about $15 a week in an off-Broadway show. That helped. When did you feel that you had made it as an actor? If acting was your main job, rather than a side hustle, when you were out of work you could collect benefit. This effectively meant you've made it as an actor when you were queuing up for your unemployment cheque! How did M*A*S*H change your career? From the get-go I thought we had something very special. I thought the formula was unbeatable. The stories, the dramas, really hit home. I'm a saver. I'm not frivolous although all the trips to the restaurant Giorgio's in New York don't support this theory You had people doing noble work in a place they didn't want to be. It's dangerous, terrible stitching bodies together of boys who weren't old enough to shave and restrictive, especially for those who had families back home. As for me, it wasn't about the money, which was OK, it was the consistency, and to work all the time at something that you enjoy with people you love. It was like dying and going to actor heaven. What was your best year, financially? That would be during the mid-1970s. I had to fight hard with the writers to convince them that my character, Margaret, could be funny and still have integrity. I won the right to change her name from 'Hot Lips' to Margaret, in honour of every servicewoman who went to Korea, who weren't there for decoration, but to do a job. When it came to pay, I'm not sure it increased in line with the growth of the character, but it was fine. For a nanosecond I considered leaving M*A*S*H to do Cagney & Lacey, about two New York police detectives. I'd done the pilot film and was torn. In the end, I didn't leave. In any case, Fox and CBS, who owned both shows, said they wouldn't let me out of my contract. Helping hand: Loretta's charity helps pets to get the veterinary care they need This would have been the perfect opportunity for my agent to go in and say: 'You're going to have to pay her double what she's getting.' But they didn't and I just carried on. I found the work rewarding, it was a secure job by that stage and I was making enough money to feel satisfied. Not hundreds of thousands, but enough to feel wanted and be financially secure. Are you a spender or a saver? I'm a saver. I'm not frivolous although all the trips to the restaurant Giorgio's in New York don't support this theory. What is your top treat? I love my home, my animals, and I have a great fireplace. I have some good, close friends and we meet for a yack and a laugh. Do you have a pension? We all did, automatically, if you were in the union. So, there was a little taken from every pay cheque, and the residual built up over time. It's come in handy. What has been your best money decision? Buying my first home, a three-storey house on the border of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, just before M*A*S*H. This was off the back of some leading roles on shows that paid well, such as Hawaii 5-0, Gunsmoke and Bonanza, and I paid something like $545,000. I put a downpayment of $12,000, which was all I had. I read recently it had sold for $5 million (4 million). Now I live in a lovely old high-ceilinged flat, with its beautiful fireplace in a glorious area of New York, but it's not in that league, financially. What is your financial priority? My charity, the SwitHeart Animal Alliance. It's a global venture that helps animals get the treatment they need if they've been abandoned, abused or because their owners can't afford the care. I work with some vets who lower their prices so we can cover the rest to get essential surgery done that a family who loves their dog or cat couldn't afford. How do you fund your SwitHeart animal charity? We can cover surgeries through our alliances with other like-minded organisations, donations and other support. I put all the proceeds of my book of animal paintings SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit to the cause. It's the same with my line of jewellery and perfume. Just recently we had a little cat that needed an amputation, which is really pricy, and we could pay for that operation. It's a wonderful thing. Everyone wins. We've not raised excessive sums we don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to hand. Every time we have money, we dole it out for primary care. Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:H Free Report) had its price target boosted by Royal Bank of Canada from $37.00 to $41.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a sector perform rating on the stock. H has been the subject of a number of other reports. StockNews.com cut Hyatt Hotels from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Evercore ISI reissued an in-line rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Hyatt Hotels in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Hyatt Hotels from $138.00 to $135.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Hyatt Hotels from $104.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, TheStreet raised Hyatt Hotels from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Hyatt Hotels presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $125.14. Get Hyatt Hotels alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Hyatt Hotels Hyatt Hotels Trading Down 1.1 % Hyatt Hotels Dividend Announcement H stock opened at $132.83 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $13.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.65, a PEG ratio of 20.83 and a beta of 1.46. Hyatt Hotels has a twelve month low of $96.77 and a twelve month high of $134.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The business has a fifty day moving average of $129.74 and a 200-day moving average of $116.84. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. Hyatt Hotelss dividend payout ratio is 13.39%. Insider Buying and Selling at Hyatt Hotels In other news, insider Jnp Parachute Mirror Trust L sold 66,701 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.21, for a total value of $8,418,333.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Jnp Parachute Mirror Trust L sold 66,701 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.21, for a total value of $8,418,333.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Malaika Myers sold 3,351 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.35, for a total value of $403,292.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 15,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,920,304.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 78,552 shares of company stock worth $9,918,594 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 21.24% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hyatt Hotels A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 340.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,033,818 shares of the companys stock valued at $183,959,000 after purchasing an additional 1,571,739 shares in the last quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 196.2% in the 1st quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 2,206,791 shares of the companys stock valued at $246,697,000 after purchasing an additional 1,461,693 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 4,359.5% in the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 981,529 shares of the companys stock valued at $79,465,000 after purchasing an additional 959,519 shares in the last quarter. Sculptor Capital LP boosted its holdings in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 136.3% in the 1st quarter. Sculptor Capital LP now owns 1,449,124 shares of the companys stock valued at $138,319,000 after purchasing an additional 835,982 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels in the 4th quarter valued at $68,934,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.03% of the companys stock. About Hyatt Hotels (Get Free Report) Hyatt Hotels Corporation operates as a hospitality company in the United States and internationally. It operates through Owned and Leased Hotels, Americas Management and Franchising, ASPAC Management and Franchising, EAME/SW Asia Management and Franchising, and Apple Leisure Group segments. The company manages, franchises, licenses, owns, and leases portfolio of properties, consisting of full-service hotels and resorts, select service hotels, resorts, and other properties, including timeshare, fractional, residential, vacation, and condominium units. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hyatt Hotels Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hyatt Hotels and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Waste Management (NYSE:WM Free Report) had its price target hoisted by Stifel Nicolaus from $190.00 to $215.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the business services providers stock. A number of other analysts have also commented on WM. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Waste Management from $160.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $160.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. They set a peer perform rating on the stock. Raymond James lowered their target price on shares of Waste Management from $179.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Finally, Erste Group Bank upgraded Waste Management from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Waste Management presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $197.57. Get Waste Management alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Waste Management Waste Management Price Performance Waste Management stock opened at $201.54 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $182.96 and its 200 day simple moving average is $169.37. Waste Management has a 52 week low of $148.31 and a 52 week high of $202.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.94 billion, a PE ratio of 35.61, a P/E/G ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.70. Waste Management (NYSE:WM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.21. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.28% and a return on equity of 36.51%. The business had revenue of $5.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.19 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.30 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Waste Management will post 6.8 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Waste Management In related news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 775 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.58, for a total transaction of $153,899.50. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 75,204 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,934,010.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Michael J. Watson sold 14,288 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.44, for a total value of $2,435,246.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 41,428 shares in the company, valued at $7,060,988.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 775 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.58, for a total transaction of $153,899.50. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 75,204 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,934,010.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 51,008 shares of company stock worth $9,049,135. Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Waste Management Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sachetta LLC acquired a new position in Waste Management during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Waste Management in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new position in Waste Management during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Gilfoyle & Co LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 78.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Waste Management (Get Free Report) Waste Management, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site; and owns and operates transfer stations, as well as owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Free Report) (TSE:BMO) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Thursday morning. Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Bank of America raised Bank of Montreal from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. National Bank Financial raised Bank of Montreal from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on BMO Bank of Montreal Stock Performance Bank of Montreal stock opened at $94.19 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $94.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $87.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 0.96. Bank of Montreal has a fifty-two week low of $73.98 and a fifty-two week high of $100.54. The company has a market capitalization of $68.32 billion, a PE ratio of 22.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.15. Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Get Free Report) (TSE:BMO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 1st. The bank reported $2.07 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $2.07. The company had revenue of $6.16 billion during the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 6.41% and a return on equity of 12.55%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Bank of Montreal will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.1137 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 29th. This is a positive change from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.11. This represents a $4.45 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.73%. Bank of Montreals payout ratio is 103.59%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of Montreal A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc boosted its holdings in Bank of Montreal by 4.2% in the third quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 171,717 shares of the banks stock valued at $14,488,000 after purchasing an additional 6,901 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Bank of Montreal by 0.5% in the third quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 13,757,010 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,102,086,000 after purchasing an additional 69,009 shares during the last quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Bank of Montreal in the third quarter valued at $446,000. Capital International Investors purchased a new stake in Bank of Montreal in the second quarter valued at $58,266,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Bank of Montreal by 10.9% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,529,413 shares of the banks stock valued at $229,590,000 after purchasing an additional 249,185 shares during the last quarter. 43.89% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Bank of Montreal Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of WESCO International (NYSE:WCC Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning. Several other analysts have also weighed in on WCC. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on WESCO International from $203.00 to $170.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. KeyCorp cut their price objective on WESCO International from $185.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded WESCO International from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and reduced their target price for the company from $202.00 to $173.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Oppenheimer reduced their target price on WESCO International from $185.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $178.83. Get WESCO International alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on WESCO International WESCO International Trading Down 1.2 % NYSE:WCC opened at $145.68 on Wednesday. WESCO International has a 1 year low of $121.90 and a 1 year high of $195.43. The stock has a market cap of $7.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.76, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 2.11. The business has a fifty day moving average of $172.51 and a 200-day moving average of $156.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 2.48. WESCO International (NYSE:WCC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The technology company reported $2.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.86 by ($1.21). WESCO International had a return on equity of 17.01% and a net margin of 3.42%. The business had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $4.13 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that WESCO International will post 14.77 earnings per share for the current year. WESCO International Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th were paid a $0.375 dividend. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 14th. WESCO Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 11.08%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Nelson John Squires III sold 3,490 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total value of $663,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 54,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,333,150. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Nelson John Squires III sold 3,490 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total value of $663,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 54,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,333,150. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Hemant Porwal sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.12, for a total value of $2,003,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,089 shares in the company, valued at $2,171,396.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WCC. KB Financial Partners LLC increased its position in WESCO International by 76.8% in the 3rd quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC now owns 198 shares of the technology companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp acquired a new position in shares of WESCO International during the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of WESCO International during the 4th quarter valued at about $48,000. RFP Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of WESCO International during the 2nd quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in shares of WESCO International during the 4th quarter valued at about $56,000. 99.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About WESCO International (Get Free Report) WESCO International, Inc provides business-to-business distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), Communications & Security Solutions (CSS), and Utility and Broadband Solutions (UBS). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for WESCO International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WESCO International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET Free Report) had its price target reduced by UBS Group from $23.00 to $22.00 in a research note released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the pipeline companys stock. Energy Transfer Stock Performance Shares of ET opened at $14.55 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $13.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.65. Energy Transfer has a one year low of $11.45 and a one year high of $14.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.05. The stock has a market cap of $45.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.35 and a beta of 1.64. Get Energy Transfer alerts: Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.08. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.42% and a net margin of 4.85%. The company had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.46 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.34 EPS. The firms revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Energy Transfer will post 1.22 EPS for the current year. Energy Transfer Increases Dividend Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energy Transfer The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 7th will be issued a $0.315 dividend. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 6th. This is a boost from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Energy Transfers payout ratio is 115.60%. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Activest Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 33.9% in the 4th quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 2,909 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 736 shares during the period. Veracity Capital LLC raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 32,203 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 738 shares during the period. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 42.9% in the 4th quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,500 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares during the period. Ethos Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 15,866 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $219,000 after purchasing an additional 753 shares during the period. Finally, Bahl & Gaynor Inc. raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 228,569 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $3,154,000 after purchasing an additional 769 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.79% of the companys stock. Energy Transfer Company Profile (Get Free Report) Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates approximately 11,600 miles of natural gas transportation pipeline, and three natural gas storage facilities in Texas and two natural gas storage facilities located in the state of Texas and Oklahoma; and 19,945 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Energy Transfer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Energy Transfer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Globe Life (NYSE:GL Get Free Report) was downgraded by StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Globe Life from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Globe Life from $133.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Raymond James lifted their price target on Globe Life from $138.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, October 23rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Globe Life from $131.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised Globe Life from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $122.00 to $137.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $134.14. Get Globe Life alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Globe Life Globe Life Stock Down 0.2 % GL stock opened at $125.53 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Globe Life has a twelve month low of $102.23 and a twelve month high of $127.36. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $122.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $116.94. The company has a market cap of $11.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.45 and a beta of 0.70. Globe Life (NYSE:GL Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $2.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.73 by $0.15. Globe Life had a return on equity of 24.75% and a net margin of 17.82%. The company had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.24 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Globe Life will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Globe Life In other Globe Life news, CMO Jennifer Allison Haworth sold 2,524 shares of Globe Life stock in a transaction on Friday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.37, for a total value of $306,337.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 8,606 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,044,510.22. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Jane Buchan sold 1,000 shares of Globe Life stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.50, for a total value of $124,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 80,285 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,995,482.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CMO Jennifer Allison Haworth sold 2,524 shares of Globe Life stock in a transaction on Friday, December 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.37, for a total value of $306,337.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 8,606 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,044,510.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 39,003 shares of company stock valued at $4,745,889 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 4.33% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Globe Life Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in Globe Life by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 189,448 shares of the companys stock worth $23,061,000 after acquiring an additional 1,834 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in Globe Life by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 42,387 shares of the companys stock worth $5,159,000 after acquiring an additional 4,900 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its position in Globe Life by 25.5% during the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 772,392 shares of the companys stock worth $94,016,000 after acquiring an additional 157,164 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its position in Globe Life by 46.7% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 372,814 shares of the companys stock worth $45,380,000 after acquiring an additional 118,698 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC grew its position in Globe Life by 62.7% during the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 106,985 shares of the companys stock worth $13,022,000 after acquiring an additional 41,249 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.04% of the companys stock. Globe Life Company Profile (Get Free Report) Globe Life Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various life and supplemental health insurance products, and annuities to lower middle to middle income households in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Life Insurance, Supplemental Health Insurance, Annuities, and Investments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Globe Life Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Globe Life and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Generac (NYSE:GNRC Free Report) had its target price cut by UBS Group from $160.00 to $150.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the technology companys stock. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. Guggenheim lowered Generac from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Generac from $112.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday. Roth Mkm increased their price target on Generac from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on Generac from $165.00 to $144.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Generac from $179.00 to $164.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $139.79. Get Generac alerts: Get Our Latest Report on GNRC Generac Price Performance Shares of GNRC opened at $117.28 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 2.27. Generac has a 52-week low of $79.86 and a 52-week high of $156.95. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $122.29 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $113.52. The firm has a market cap of $7.20 billion, a PE ratio of 35.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.45. Generac (NYSE:GNRC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The technology company reported $2.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.09 by ($0.02). Generac had a return on equity of 14.15% and a net margin of 5.33%. The firm had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.78 earnings per share. Generacs revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Generac will post 7.28 EPS for the current year. Insider Transactions at Generac In other news, CEO Aaron Jagdfeld sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.22, for a total transaction of $576,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 577,690 shares in the company, valued at approximately $66,561,441.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Aaron Jagdfeld sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.22, for a total transaction of $576,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 577,690 shares in the company, valued at approximately $66,561,441.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Rajendra Kumar Kanuru sold 250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.76, for a total value of $29,190.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 15,618 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,823,557.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,250 shares of company stock worth $1,825,490. 2.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GNRC. Fairfield Bush & CO. boosted its stake in Generac by 83.2% in the 1st quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 7,102 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,111,000 after purchasing an additional 3,225 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in shares of Generac by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 8,442 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,509,000 after acquiring an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in shares of Generac during the 1st quarter valued at about $441,000. National Pension Service boosted its position in shares of Generac by 12.8% during the 1st quarter. National Pension Service now owns 98,555 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,296,000 after acquiring an additional 11,158 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Generac by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,770,488 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,012,595,000 after acquiring an additional 130,854 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.59% of the companys stock. About Generac (Get Free Report) Generac Holdings Inc designs, manufactures, and sells power generation equipment, energy storage systems, energy management devices and solutions, and other power products for the residential, light commercial, and industrial markets worldwide. The company offers residential automatic standby generators, automatic transfer switch, air-cooled engine residential standby generators, and liquid-cooled engine generators; residential storage solution consists of a system of batteries, an inverter, photovoltaic optimizers, power electronic controls, and other components; Mobile Link, a remote monitoring system for home standby generators; smart home solutions, such as smart thermostats and a suite of home monitoring products; smart water heater controllers; residential clean energy solutions; and portable and inverter generators; outdoor power equipment, including trimmers, field and brush mowers, log splitters, stump grinders, chipper shredders, lawn and leaf vacuums, and pressure washers and water pumps; and battery-powered turf care products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Generac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Generac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- African leaders on Saturday urged for an "immediate end" to the Palestine-Israel conflict, calling for international solidarity with Palestine during the 37th African Union (AU) summit. The current situation in Gaza is "an evident illustration of the imperative for reform" within the international system "marked by considerable injustice and varying standards," said Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, AU chairperson for 2024 and Mauritanian president, at the opening session of the 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government. "It is paramount to recognize the Palestinians' inherent right to establish their independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in alignment with pertinent resolutions of international legitimacy," Ghazouani told African leaders. He expressed concern over the international community's "hesitancy to exert the necessary influence for an immediate ceasefire, aid delivery, and the establishment of a comprehensive and enduring solution." Ghazouani commended the AU for its "steadfast positions" on the matter, which "denounce injustice and champion just causes adhering to international law and humanitarian principles." Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, also underscored the urgent need to address the Palestinian issue. "Hegemony and the absurd desire to resolve our differences by brutal and vain force prevail publicly before the eyes of all," Faki said, adding that international law, international humanitarian law, human rights, and morality have been "blithely ignored, trampled underfoot, and flouted." Noting the crucial need to enforce justice, Faki praised the "ethical reaction" of South Africa. On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for proceedings against Israel. The following month, the ICJ ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide acts in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye, addressing the summit, also commended the AU for its continued call for "an end to the killing and the aggression that is perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people." Ishtaye underscored the two-state solution as the only option to solve the Israel-Palestine issue peacefully. "The world needs to recognize the State of Palestine on the basis of the borders of 1967," he said. The summit is held under the AU's theme for 2024, "Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa," at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE:HE Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by Evercore ISI from $7.00 to $11.00 in a research note released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. Evercore ISI currently has an in-line rating on the utilities providers stock. Separately, Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $8.00 to $8.50 in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and one has issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $11.50. Get Hawaiian Electric Industries alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Hawaiian Electric Industries Hawaiian Electric Industries Stock Down 0.9 % NYSE HE opened at $13.10 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $13.69 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.49. Hawaiian Electric Industries has a one year low of $9.06 and a one year high of $42.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.13 and a current ratio of 0.13. The company has a market capitalization of $1.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.24 and a beta of 0.56. Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE:HE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.48. The company had revenue of $961.40 million for the quarter. Hawaiian Electric Industries had a return on equity of 10.11% and a net margin of 5.45%. The companys revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.52 earnings per share. Institutional Trading of Hawaiian Electric Industries Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 1,470.8% in the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 6,120,053 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $75,338,000 after purchasing an additional 5,730,428 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries by 240.3% in the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,211,650 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,225,000 after buying an additional 1,561,737 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries in the 4th quarter worth approximately $19,015,000. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd raised its stake in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries by 7,788.3% during the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 1,190,815 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $14,659,000 after acquiring an additional 1,175,719 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. lifted its position in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 636.1% during the third quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 1,209,258 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $14,886,000 after acquiring an additional 1,044,978 shares during the last quarter. 53.64% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Hawaiian Electric Industries (Get Free Report) Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electric utility, banking, and non-regulated renewable/sustainable infrastructure investment businesses in the state of Hawaii. It operates through three segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment engages in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hawaiian Electric Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hawaiian Electric Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of WestRock (NYSE:WRK Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $39.43. A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Seaport Res Ptn lowered WestRock from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an equal weight rating and set a $45.00 target price (up from $42.00) on shares of WestRock in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Argus raised shares of WestRock from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of WestRock from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $42.00 price target on shares of WestRock in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Get WestRock alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on WRK WestRock Trading Up 0.9 % Shares of WRK opened at $43.71 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $41.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $37.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 0.95. WestRock has a twelve month low of $26.84 and a twelve month high of $43.86. WestRock (NYSE:WRK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.15). WestRock had a positive return on equity of 6.87% and a negative net margin of 8.58%. The firm had revenue of $4.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.79 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.55 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that WestRock will post 1.95 earnings per share for the current year. WestRock Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.3025 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.77%. WestRocks dividend payout ratio is currently -18.01%. Insider Buying and Selling at WestRock In related news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total transaction of $149,695.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 92,117 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,939,844.09. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.49% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its position in shares of WestRock by 14.7% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 39,928 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,878,000 after purchasing an additional 5,108 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in WestRock by 21.3% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 71,551 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,365,000 after buying an additional 12,559 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in WestRock by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 35,219 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,656,000 after buying an additional 1,705 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its stake in WestRock by 0.9% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 208,790 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $10,379,000 after buying an additional 1,762 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in WestRock by 0.6% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 53,133 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,499,000 after acquiring an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.51% of the companys stock. About WestRock (Get Free Report WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for WestRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WestRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Mexco Energy (NYSE:MXC Free Report) in a report released on Thursday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. Separately, TheStreet cut shares of Mexco Energy from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Get Mexco Energy alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MXC Mexco Energy Stock Performance Shares of Mexco Energy stock opened at $10.02 on Thursday. Mexco Energy has a 1 year low of $9.02 and a 1 year high of $13.84. The company has a market capitalization of $21.03 million, a P/E ratio of 11.13 and a beta of 0.72. The companys fifty day moving average is $9.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.45. Mexco Energy (NYSE:MXC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 9th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Mexco Energy had a net margin of 28.37% and a return on equity of 11.61%. The company had revenue of $1.66 million for the quarter. Institutional Trading of Mexco Energy Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Mexco Energy by 270.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 61,108 shares of the companys stock valued at $990,000 after purchasing an additional 44,605 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in Mexco Energy by 84.2% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 35,000 shares of the companys stock worth $602,000 after buying an additional 16,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Mexco Energy by 2.5% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 41,094 shares of the companys stock worth $666,000 after buying an additional 999 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.59% of the companys stock. About Mexco Energy (Get Free Report) Mexco Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It owns partial interests in approximately 6,400 gross producing wells located in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Virginia, North Dakota, and Ohio. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mexco Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mexco Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Pizza Royalties (TSE:BPF Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, February 14th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of 0.113 per share on Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of ?. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 20th. This is an increase from Boston Pizza Royaltiess previous monthly dividend of $0.11. Boston Pizza Royalties Price Performance Boston Pizza Royalties has a 1 year low of C$19.36 and a 1 year high of C$23.48. Get Boston Pizza Royalties alerts: About Boston Pizza Royalties (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund is a limited purpose open-ended mutual fund trust. The Trust indirectly, through the Boston Pizza Royalties Limited Partnership (Royalties LP), acquires the trademarks and trade names owned by Boston Pizza International Inc (BPI), including Boston Pizza and other related items, logos and designs used in connection with the operation of Boston Pizza restaurants in Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Boston Pizza Royalties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Pizza Royalties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lowered its stake in shares of Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Free Report) by 40.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,048 shares of the network equipment providers stock after selling 9,550 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in Juniper Networks were worth $390,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of JNPR. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Juniper Networks by 8.7% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 31,014 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $1,153,000 after purchasing an additional 2,476 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. purchased a new stake in Juniper Networks in the first quarter worth about $1,036,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Juniper Networks by 23.0% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 88,358 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $3,283,000 after purchasing an additional 16,513 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its stake in shares of Juniper Networks by 6.6% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 43,510 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $1,617,000 after buying an additional 2,694 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. bought a new position in shares of Juniper Networks in the first quarter worth approximately $3,756,000. 87.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Juniper Networks alerts: Juniper Networks Price Performance NYSE:JNPR opened at $36.92 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $33.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.77. The firm has a market cap of $11.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.86, a PEG ratio of 7.34 and a beta of 0.99. Juniper Networks, Inc. has a 52-week low of $24.87 and a 52-week high of $38.04. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Juniper Networks Announces Dividend Juniper Networks ( NYSE:JNPR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The network equipment provider reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by ($0.01). Juniper Networks had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 11.72%. The company had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Juniper Networks, Inc. will post 1.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. Juniper Networkss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 92.63%. Insider Transactions at Juniper Networks In other news, SVP Robert Mobassaly sold 5,496 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.35, for a total transaction of $199,779.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 30,888 shares in the company, valued at $1,122,778.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, SVP Robert Mobassaly sold 5,496 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.35, for a total transaction of $199,779.60. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 30,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,122,778.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, COO Manoj Leelanivas sold 98,530 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.00, for a total transaction of $3,645,610.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 73,684 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,726,308. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 138,262 shares of company stock valued at $4,931,785 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets JNPR has been the topic of several recent research reports. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Juniper Networks from $34.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Juniper Networks in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a hold rating on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Juniper Networks from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $40.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Barclays reissued an equal weight rating on shares of Juniper Networks in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Juniper Networks presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $34.58. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Juniper Networks Juniper Networks Company Profile (Free Report) Juniper Networks, Inc designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNPR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Juniper Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Juniper Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLU Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $62.04 and traded as low as $60.63. Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund shares last traded at $61.23, with a volume of 14,896,665 shares trading hands. Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund Price Performance The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $62.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $62.01. The firm has a market cap of $14.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.41 and a beta of 0.52. Get Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its position in Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund by 177.5% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 419 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the period. Register Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund by 1,104.9% during the 4th quarter. Register Financial Advisors LLC now owns 494 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 453 shares during the period. Ambassador Advisors LLC increased its position in Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund by 61.7% during the 1st quarter. Ambassador Advisors LLC now owns 469 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund Company Profile Select Sector Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund), formerly Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Utilities Select Sector of the S&P 500 Index (the Index). The Index includes companies from industries, such as electric utilities, multi-utilities, independent power producers and energy traders, and gas utilities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Africa Oil Corp. (OTCMKTS:AOIFF Get Free Report) crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $2.01 and traded as low as $1.69. Africa Oil shares last traded at $1.71, with a volume of 52,414 shares. Africa Oil Price Performance The business has a fifty day moving average of $1.85 and a 200 day moving average of $2.01. The stock has a market cap of $795.00 million, a PE ratio of 14.28 and a beta of 1.08. Africa Oil Company Profile (Get Free Report) Africa Oil Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The company holds interests in producing and development assets in deep-water Nigeria, and development assets in Kenya. It also has a portfolio of exploration/appraisal assets in Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as Guyana and Senegal Guinea Bissau Joint Development Zone. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Africa Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Africa Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (NYSE:PEAK Free Report) by 98.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 110,231 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 54,761 shares during the period. Wolverine Asset Management LLCs holdings in Healthpeak Properties were worth $2,024,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of PEAK. Blair William & Co. IL raised its holdings in Healthpeak Properties by 1.8% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 19,827 shares of the companys stock valued at $681,000 after buying an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of Healthpeak Properties by 17.4% in the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 3,803 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 565 shares in the last quarter. TCM Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Healthpeak Properties in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $12,864,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its holdings in Healthpeak Properties by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 6,420 shares of the companys stock worth $220,000 after purchasing an additional 680 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund Corp boosted its position in Healthpeak Properties by 0.6% during the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 114,675 shares of the companys stock worth $2,305,000 after purchasing an additional 680 shares during the period. 92.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Healthpeak Properties alerts: Healthpeak Properties Price Performance Shares of NYSE:PEAK opened at $17.16 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $19.19 and its 200-day moving average is $18.72. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.39 billion, a PE ratio of 30.64, a PEG ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 1.03. Healthpeak Properties, Inc. has a 1-year low of $15.24 and a 1-year high of $26.23. Healthpeak Properties Announces Dividend Healthpeak Properties ( NYSE:PEAK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.45 by ($0.32). The business had revenue of $553.65 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $553.77 million. Healthpeak Properties had a return on equity of 4.34% and a net margin of 13.97%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.44 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Healthpeak Properties, Inc. will post 1.78 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. Healthpeak Propertiess payout ratio is 214.29%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. BNP Paribas raised shares of Healthpeak Properties from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $19.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Healthpeak Properties in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a hold rating and a $21.00 price target for the company. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $19.00 price objective on shares of Healthpeak Properties in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Bank of America downgraded Healthpeak Properties from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $17.50 target price for the company. in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Finally, Scotiabank raised Healthpeak Properties from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $20.00 to $23.00 in a research report on Friday, January 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $23.14. Read Our Latest Stock Report on PEAK About Healthpeak Properties (Free Report) Healthpeak Properties, Inc is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) and S&P 500 company. Healthpeak owns, operates, and develops high-quality real estate for healthcare discovery and delivery. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Healthpeak Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Healthpeak Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR Get Free Report) updated its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Friday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 3.140-3.240 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 3.170. The company issued revenue guidance of $7.2 billion-$7.4 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $7.2 billion. Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance NYSE:IR opened at $89.47 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a current ratio of 2.26. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $71.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.22 billion, a PE ratio of 47.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.43. Ingersoll Rand has a 52-week low of $51.84 and a 52-week high of $92.32. Get Ingersoll Rand alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently commented on IR. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Ingersoll Rand from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $73.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $73.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. UBS Group upped their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $78.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Cfra lifted their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $68.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $79.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ingersoll Rand currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $76.82. Insider Transactions at Ingersoll Rand In other Ingersoll Rand news, insider Andrew R. Schiesl sold 13,000 shares of Ingersoll Rand stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total value of $934,570.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 45,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,253,957.07. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Ingersoll Rand by 12.0% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 15,601 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $786,000 after buying an additional 1,675 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Ingersoll Rand by 47.6% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 9,880 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $497,000 after purchasing an additional 3,185 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $327,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 62.2% during the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 28,937 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,457,000 after buying an additional 11,096 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 1.7% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 57,771 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,909,000 after buying an additional 988 shares during the last quarter. 94.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Ingersoll Rand Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle, and medical technologies in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ingersoll Rand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingersoll Rand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich decreased its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report) by 80.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 497 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,991 shares during the quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $85,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board increased its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 91.5% in the 2nd quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 3,099 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $587,000 after buying an additional 1,481 shares in the last quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. boosted its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 5,413 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,025,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 122.3% during the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 58,438 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $11,132,000 after buying an additional 32,147 shares during the last quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 200.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 159,834 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $27,450,000 after buying an additional 106,676 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Portside Wealth Group LLC acquired a new stake in AvalonBay Communities in the 2nd quarter valued at about $333,000. Institutional investors own 88.71% of the companys stock. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: AvalonBay Communities Price Performance AVB stock opened at $177.12 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $25.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.04, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.84, a current ratio of 1.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a 12-month low of $153.07 and a 12-month high of $198.65. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $181.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $177.58. AvalonBay Communities Increases Dividend AvalonBay Communities ( NYSE:AVB Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($1.03). AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 33.56% and a return on equity of 7.98%. The company had revenue of $704.71 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $701.67 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.59 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.86 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a dividend of $1.70 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This is an increase from AvalonBay Communitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. This represents a $6.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.84%. AvalonBay Communitiess payout ratio is presently 100.76%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AVB has been the subject of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $185.00 price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. TheStreet cut shares of AvalonBay Communities from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Piper Sandler raised shares of AvalonBay Communities from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $197.00 to $194.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $183.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $206.00 target price on the stock. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $196.13. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AvalonBay Communities About AvalonBay Communities (Free Report) As of September 30, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 296 apartment communities containing 89,240 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 17 communities were under development and one community was under redevelopment. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AvalonBay Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AvalonBay Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KABUL, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijan has decided to open its embassy in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, as part of efforts to bolster relations with the war-torn central Asian country, a statement of the Afghan caretaker government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Afghanistan, Mr. Ilham Mammadov, paid a courtesy call to IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to present the official note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the opening of their embassy in Kabul," the statement said. In a meeting held several days ago with the Afghan caretaker administration's top diplomat, Mammadov commended the achievements of the caretaker government in ensuring security and stability, fighting narcotics and fostering economic development in the country, the statement added. According to the statement, Mohammadov also noted in the meeting that there is good space for cooperation between the two countries in several domains that can benefit both countries. Some countries have kept open their embassies, including Pakistan, Iran, China and Uzbekistan, in Kabul since the Afghan caretaker government took over power following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from the country in August 2021. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. raised its holdings in shares of AECOM (NYSE:ACM Free Report) by 64.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 148,835 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 58,589 shares during the period. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. owned approximately 0.11% of AECOM worth $12,359,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ACM. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AECOM by 106,750.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,422,418 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $290,666,000 after purchasing an additional 3,419,215 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in AECOM during the 4th quarter valued at $214,427,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in AECOM by 17.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,881,712 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,339,146,000 after purchasing an additional 2,384,361 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in AECOM by 106.4% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,315,066 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $279,525,000 after purchasing an additional 1,709,275 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Impax Asset Management Group plc purchased a new stake in AECOM during the 2nd quarter valued at $128,990,000. 84.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get AECOM alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at AECOM In other AECOM news, CEO Troy Rudd sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total transaction of $2,319,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 259,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at $24,040,423.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other AECOM news, President Lara Poloni sold 30,692 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.50, for a total transaction of $2,839,010.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 53,752 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,972,060. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Troy Rudd sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total value of $2,319,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 259,168 shares in the company, valued at $24,040,423.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock. AECOM Price Performance Shares of AECOM stock opened at $89.19 on Friday. AECOM has a one year low of $74.40 and a one year high of $94.01. The stocks fifty day moving average is $90.20 and its 200 day moving average is $86.29. The stock has a market cap of $12.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 198.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.05. AECOM (NYSE:ACM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.92 by $0.13. AECOM had a return on equity of 21.45% and a net margin of 0.42%. The company had revenue of $3.90 billion for the quarter. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.86 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that AECOM will post 4.4 earnings per share for the current year. AECOM announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Monday, November 13th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the construction company to repurchase up to 8.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently issued reports on ACM. Citigroup dropped their price target on AECOM from $105.00 to $93.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. StockNews.com upgraded AECOM from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $109.00 price target on shares of AECOM in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Barclays raised their price target on AECOM from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on AECOM from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, AECOM currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $101.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on AECOM About AECOM (Free Report) AECOM, together with its subsidiaries, provides professional infrastructure consulting services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Americas, International, and AECOM Capital. The company offers planning, consulting, architectural and engineering design, construction and program management, and investment and development services to public and private clients. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AECOM (NYSE:ACM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AECOM Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AECOM and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integer (NYSE:ITGR Get Free Report) updated its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Friday. The company provided EPS guidance of 5.010-5.430 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 5.450. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.7 billion-$1.8 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.8 billion. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, KeyCorp dropped their price target on Integer from $125.00 to $123.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Integer currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $96.83. Get Integer alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on ITGR Integer Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of Integer stock opened at $99.39 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $100.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $89.44. The company has a market cap of $3.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.09. Integer has a fifty-two week low of $69.40 and a fifty-two week high of $107.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a current ratio of 2.80. Integer (NYSE:ITGR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The medical equipment provider reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.05. Integer had a net margin of 5.68% and a return on equity of 10.80%. The firm had revenue of $413.15 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $409.04 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.11 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Integer will post 5.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James & Associates boosted its holdings in shares of Integer by 12.6% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 40,898 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $3,295,000 after purchasing an additional 4,578 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Integer by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 406,645 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $32,763,000 after purchasing an additional 5,256 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Integer by 20.9% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 5,573 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $449,000 after purchasing an additional 963 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its holdings in shares of Integer by 11.8% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 9,970 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $803,000 after purchasing an additional 1,051 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Integer by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 7,831 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $632,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the companys stock. About Integer (Get Free Report) Integer Holdings Corporation operates as a medical device outsource manufacturer in the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and internationally. It operates through Medical and Non-Medical segments. The company offers products for interventional cardiology, structural heart, heart failure, peripheral vascular, neurovascular, interventional oncology, electrophysiology, vascular access, infusion therapy, hemodialysis, urology, and gastroenterology procedures. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Integer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Integer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. raised its position in Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK Free Report) by 0.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 37,951 shares of the medical technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A.s holdings in Stryker were worth $10,371,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Stryker during the 1st quarter valued at about $131,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Stryker by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 673,924 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $180,182,000 after purchasing an additional 9,026 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in shares of Stryker during the 1st quarter valued at about $1,444,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Stryker by 21.6% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,056 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $817,000 after purchasing an additional 543 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its stake in shares of Stryker by 9.2% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 3,140 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $839,000 after purchasing an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.24% of the companys stock. Get Stryker alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on SYK shares. Roth Mkm lifted their target price on shares of Stryker from $345.00 to $348.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Stryker from $336.00 to $364.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised shares of Stryker from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Stryker from $340.00 to $362.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Stryker from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $360.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given 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 price target of $331.52. Insider Activity In other Stryker news, Director Allan C. Golston sold 3,273 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $341.00, for a total transaction of $1,116,093.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 14,242 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,856,522. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Stryker news, CAO William E. Berry, Jr. sold 573 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $292.28, for a total transaction of $167,476.44. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at $850,242.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Allan C. Golston sold 3,273 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $341.00, for a total transaction of $1,116,093.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 14,242 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,856,522. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 204,992 shares of company stock valued at $70,256,533 over the last three months. Insiders own 5.90% of the companys stock. Stryker Stock Up 0.1 % SYK opened at $349.30 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $313.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $291.56. Stryker Co. has a twelve month low of $249.98 and a twelve month high of $352.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.34, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.90. Stryker (NYSE:SYK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The medical technology company reported $3.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.19. Stryker had a net margin of 15.44% and a return on equity of 22.99%. The firm had revenue of $5.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.60 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.00 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Stryker Co. will post 11.87 earnings per share for the current year. Stryker Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.92%. Strykers payout ratio is 38.79%. Stryker Company Profile (Free Report) Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in hip and knee joint replacements, and trauma and extremities surgeries. This segment also offers spinal implant products comprising cervical, thoracolumbar, and interbody systems that are used in spinal injury, deformity, and degenerative therapies. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SYK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Stryker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stryker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cambria Investment Management L.P. cut its position in shares of American Equity Investment Life Holding (NYSE:AEL Free Report) by 14.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,760 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,708 shares during the period. Cambria Investment Management L.P.s holdings in American Equity Investment Life were worth $524,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AEL. Barclays PLC increased its position in shares of American Equity Investment Life by 178.4% during the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 127,969 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,668,000 after acquiring an additional 82,011 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of American Equity Investment Life by 12.6% during the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,977 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $103,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund acquired a new stake in shares of American Equity Investment Life during the third quarter valued at about $1,941,000. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in shares of American Equity Investment Life by 3.9% during the second quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,371,665 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $71,477,000 after acquiring an additional 51,165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TIAA Trust National Association acquired a new stake in shares of American Equity Investment Life during the third quarter valued at about $3,099,000. 94.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get American Equity Investment Life alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of American Equity Investment Life from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of American Equity Investment Life in a report on Friday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, American Equity Investment Life has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $49.71. American Equity Investment Life Stock Down 0.2 % Shares of American Equity Investment Life stock opened at $55.25 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.82 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. American Equity Investment Life Holding has a 52-week low of $31.57 and a 52-week high of $56.08. The company has a 50 day moving average of $55.50 and a 200 day moving average of $54.41. American Equity Investment Life (NYSE:AEL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.99 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.24. The business had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $673.53 million. American Equity Investment Life had a net margin of 7.42% and a return on equity of 25.15%. The companys revenue was up 61.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.64 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that American Equity Investment Life Holding will post 7.1 EPS for the current fiscal year. American Equity Investment Life Company Profile (Free Report) American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, through its subsidiaries, provides life insurance products in the United States. The company issues fixed index and rate annuities, as well as single premium immediate annuities. It markets its products through independent agents, including independent marketing organizations, broker/dealers, banks, and registered investment advisors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for American Equity Investment Life Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Equity Investment Life and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cambria Investment Management L.P. cut its stake in shares of Meritage Homes Co. (NYSE:MTH Free Report) by 14.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,766 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 658 shares during the period. Cambria Investment Management L.P.s holdings in Meritage Homes were worth $461,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new stake in Meritage Homes during the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Carmel Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Meritage Homes during the third quarter worth $38,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Meritage Homes during the first quarter worth $48,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 339.8% during the third quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 431 shares of the construction companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 108.3% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,337 shares of the construction companys stock worth $106,000 after purchasing an additional 695 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.48% of the companys stock. Get Meritage Homes alerts: Insider Transactions at Meritage Homes In other news, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 7,000 shares of Meritage Homes stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.50, for a total value of $1,018,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 36,091 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,251,240.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, COO Clinton Szubinski sold 797 shares of Meritage Homes stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.62, for a total transaction of $121,638.14. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 5,234 shares in the company, valued at approximately $798,813.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 7,000 shares of Meritage Homes stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.50, for a total value of $1,018,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 36,091 shares in the company, valued at $5,251,240.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 8,152 shares of company stock worth $1,194,315. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Meritage Homes Price Performance Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Shares of MTH opened at $150.45 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $5.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.55 and a beta of 1.78. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $166.24 and a 200-day moving average of $143.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Meritage Homes Co. has a 52 week low of $103.61 and a 52 week high of $179.68. Several brokerages recently weighed in on MTH. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Meritage Homes from $151.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Seaport Res Ptn lowered Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. StockNews.com lowered Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Wedbush restated a neutral rating and set a $170.00 price objective on shares of Meritage Homes in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $167.25. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MTH About Meritage Homes (Free Report) Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for first-time and first move-up buyers in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Meritage Homes Co. (NYSE:MTH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Meritage Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meritage Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intact Investment Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J Free Report) by 16.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 800 shares during the period. Intact Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Jacobs Solutions were worth $546,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. IFP Advisors Inc raised its holdings in Jacobs Solutions by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,165 shares of the companys stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Jacobs Solutions by 47.7% in the second quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 254 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its position in Jacobs Solutions by 0.9% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 9,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,276,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Veritable L.P. grew its holdings in Jacobs Solutions by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Veritable L.P. now owns 5,350 shares of the companys stock worth $629,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 11.4% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 887 shares of the companys stock worth $121,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. 84.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Jacobs Solutions alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $160.00 price objective on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. KeyCorp initiated coverage on Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. They set a sector weight rating for the company. Raymond James downgraded Jacobs Solutions from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and set a $150.00 price target on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Jacobs Solutions from $151.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $152.11. Insider Transactions at Jacobs Solutions In related news, Director Ralph E. Eberhart sold 3,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.86, for a total transaction of $454,510.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,754 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,474,274.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Ralph E. Eberhart sold 3,500 shares of Jacobs Solutions stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.86, for a total value of $454,510.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 26,754 shares in the company, valued at $3,474,274.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Steven J. Demetriou sold 6,666 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.75, for a total value of $851,581.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 581,138 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $74,240,379.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 17,166 shares of company stock valued at $2,201,482 in the last quarter. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Jacobs Solutions Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:J traded up $0.24 during trading on Friday, hitting $147.54. 900,914 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 797,916. The company has a market cap of $18.54 billion, a PE ratio of 26.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.73. Jacobs Solutions Inc. has a 52-week low of $109.00 and a 52-week high of $149.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $133.56 and a 200 day moving average of $133.13. Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.02 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by $0.46. Jacobs Solutions had a net margin of 4.20% and a return on equity of 14.57%. The company had revenue of $4.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.02 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.67 earnings per share. Jacobs Solutionss revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Jacobs Solutions Inc. will post 8.06 EPS for the current year. Jacobs Solutions Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. This is a boost from Jacobs Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. Jacobs Solutionss dividend payout ratio is 18.57%. Jacobs Solutions Company Profile (Free Report) Jacobs Solutions Inc provides consulting, technical, engineering, scientific, and project delivery services for the government and private sectors in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, Divergent Solutions, and PA Consulting segments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding J? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Jacobs Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jacobs Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Qtron Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU Free Report) (TSE:SU) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 26,825 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $927,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SU. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Suncor Energy by 1.5% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 48,285,003 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,573,608,000 after purchasing an additional 702,121 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in shares of Suncor Energy by 7.0% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 20,658,847 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $709,835,000 after purchasing an additional 1,356,470 shares during the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 1.9% during the third quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 20,348,705 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $699,750,000 after acquiring an additional 377,500 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 0.8% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 18,432,587 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $540,498,000 after acquiring an additional 142,629 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 9.2% during the third quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 18,430,549 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $618,071,000 after acquiring an additional 1,558,350 shares during the last quarter. 60.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Suncor Energy alerts: Suncor Energy Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of SU stock traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $33.07. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,780,190 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,726,531. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $32.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.78. Suncor Energy Inc. has a 12-month low of $27.59 and a 12-month high of $35.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.61 billion, a PE ratio of 7.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 1.13. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Suncor Energy from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Suncor Energy presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SU Suncor Energy Company Profile (Free Report) Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products. This segment also engages in syncrude oil sands mining and upgrading operations; and marketing, supply, transportation, and risk management of crude oil, natural gas, power, and byproducts. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Polen Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Alight, Inc. (NYSE:ALIT Free Report) by 23.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,694,077 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 317,960 shares during the period. Polen Capital Management LLCs holdings in Alight were worth $12,011,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of ALIT. Fidelity National Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Alight by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. Fidelity National Financial Inc. now owns 20,000,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $141,800,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000,000 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Alight by 616.8% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,799,562 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,147,000 after purchasing an additional 4,990,518 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Alight by 500.3% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 5,138,530 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,685,000 after purchasing an additional 4,282,526 shares in the last quarter. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of Alight by 17.8% in the 2nd quarter. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC now owns 27,767,012 shares of the companys stock valued at $256,567,000 after purchasing an additional 4,187,015 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Alight by 15.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 24,688,658 shares of the companys stock valued at $227,383,000 after purchasing an additional 3,329,661 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock. Get Alight alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Alight from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Tuesday, December 12th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $12.00 price objective on shares of Alight in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Wedbush boosted their price objective on shares of Alight from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 28th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $13.00 price objective on shares of Alight in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Alight from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $12.63. Alight Price Performance Alight stock traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $9.57. 7,588,687 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,214,115. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Alight, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $6.33 and a fifty-two week high of $10.19. The firms fifty day moving average is $8.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.87. Insider Buying and Selling at Alight In other news, insider Katie J. Rooney sold 7,100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.00, for a total value of $63,900.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 2,999,434 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,994,906. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 3.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Alight (Free Report) Alight, Inc provides cloud-based integrated digital human capital and business solutions worldwide. The company operates through Employer Solutions, Professional Services, and Hosted Business segments. The Employer Solutions segment offers employee wellbeing, integrated benefits administration, healthcare navigation, financial wellbeing, leave of absence management, retiree healthcare and payroll; and operates AI-led capabilities software. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ALIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alight, Inc. (NYSE:ALIT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Alight Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alight and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 8,467 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $5,474,000. A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of BLK. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new position in BlackRock during the second quarter worth $26,000. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new position in BlackRock during the second quarter worth $27,000. Archer Investment Corp acquired a new position in BlackRock during the second quarter worth $29,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in BlackRock during the second quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new position in BlackRock during the second quarter worth $33,000. 77.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BlackRock alerts: BlackRock Stock Performance NYSE BLK opened at $794.00 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $792.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $717.88. BlackRock, Inc. has a twelve month low of $596.18 and a twelve month high of $819.00. The company has a market capitalization of $118.12 billion, a PE ratio of 21.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a current ratio of 3.72, a quick ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. BlackRock Increases Dividend BlackRock ( NYSE:BLK Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 firm had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.65 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $8.93 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.64 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be paid a dividend of $5.10 per share. 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.57%. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is currently 54.78%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other BlackRock news, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 11,914 shares in the company, valued at $3,366,142.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other BlackRock news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 3,418 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $781.11, for a total transaction of $2,669,833.98. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 70,378 shares in the company, valued at $54,972,959.58. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total value of $5,085,660.60. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 11,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 33,474 shares of company stock worth $17,275,900 over the last three months. 0.96% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently issued reports on BLK shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. UBS Group boosted their price target on BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. TD Cowen raised BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $819.00 to $938.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price target for the company. in a report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 12th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $785.73. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BlackRock BlackRock Company 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. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report) by 29.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 42,423 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 9,537 shares during the quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $2,076,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of EFV. Sheets Smith Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Signaturefd LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 172.8% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 502 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 318 shares during the period. AlphaCore Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 457.9% in the 2nd quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 530 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 435 shares during the period. Howe & Rusling Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Price Performance Shares of BATS:EFV traded up $0.03 during trading on Friday, hitting $51.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,763,305 shares. The company has a 50-day moving average of $51.53 and a 200-day moving average of $49.94. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12 month low of $49.15 and a 12 month high of $59.57. The firm has a market cap of $17.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value 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 Value 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CAIRO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni embassy in Egypt announced Sunday that a senior Yemeni military official was found dead in his apartment in Cairo. "The Embassy of the Republic of Yemen to the Arab Republic of Egypt is following with great interest and concern the issue of the killing of Major General Hassan bin Jalal al-Obaidi, Director of the Military Industrialization Department in the Ministry of Defense, who was found murdered in his apartment in the Egyptian capital Cairo," said the Yemeni embassy in a statement. It added that the embassy has assigned specialists to the field, communicated with all relevant security authorities in Egypt, and will follow up on investigations to reach the truth of the incident. The embassy said it is following the results of the investigations and forensic autopsies, requesting all media outlets to be "accurate in everything published" and not to be drawn into rumors until the final results are released by the competent authorities. Earlier in the day, Yemeni media outlets reported that al-Obaidi's body was found after being absent for two days. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,609 shares of the restaurant operators stock after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the period. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $2,947,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CMG. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the second quarter valued at about $32,000. IMA Wealth Inc. grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 185.7% during the first quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 20 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 240.0% during the second quarter. Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN now owns 17 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the third quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. 91.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,093 shares of the companys 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,358,964.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 898 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,622.25, for a total value of $2,354,780.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,009,420.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,093 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,199.81, for a total transaction of $2,404,392.33. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $51,358,964.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 5,837 shares of company stock worth $14,012,071 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Down 0.7 % NYSE:CMG traded down $19.57 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $2,598.43. 138,362 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 271,394. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 58.59, a PEG ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.29. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,470.05 and a 52 week high of $2,725.83. The firms 50 day moving average is $2,364.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2,102.95. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 company had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.49 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 44.41%. The firms revenue was up 15.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $8.29 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 53.1 EPS for the current year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently weighed in on CMG shares. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,930.00 to $2,226.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,450.00 to $2,550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Stephens increased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,800.00 to $3,000.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,699.00 to $3,016.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Wedbush restated a neutral rating and issued a $2,400.00 price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Chipotle Mexican Grill has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $2,469.88. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. The company offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. See Also 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. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC lowered its stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU Free Report) by 61.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 83,979 shares of the companys stock after selling 135,869 shares during the period. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC owned approximately 0.10% of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF worth $2,657,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,808,000. Valence8 US LP increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 5.8% in the third quarter. Valence8 US LP now owns 196,796 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,227,000 after purchasing an additional 10,760 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 1.1% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 306,961 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,705,000 after purchasing an additional 3,325 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 166.3% in the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 95,565 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,024,000 after purchasing an additional 59,683 shares during the period. Finally, Picton Mahoney Asset Management increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 18.9% in the third quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 16,600 shares of the companys stock valued at $525,000 after purchasing an additional 2,640 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF alerts: iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Stock Up 1.0 % EWU stock traded up $0.31 on Friday, reaching $32.68. 2,465,846 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,886,329. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $32.61 and a 200-day moving average of $32.07. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has a twelve month low of $30.00 and a twelve month high of $34.04. The firm has a market cap of $2.81 billion, a PE ratio of 13.02 and a beta of 0.83. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Profile The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of British companies. It covers the top 85% of British companies by market cap. EWU was launched on Mar 12, 1996 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intact Investment Management Inc. lessened its holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,500 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 600 shares during the period. Intact Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Danaher were worth $1,116,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in Danaher during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in Danaher by 344.8% during the second quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 129 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in Danaher during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new position in Danaher during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.71% of the companys stock. Get Danaher alerts: Insider Activity at Danaher In related news, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total value of $636,280.74. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,244 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,029,891.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,289 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.15, for a total value of $826,032.35. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 14,129 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,548,498.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total transaction of $636,280.74. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,244 shares in the company, valued at $1,029,891.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 9,200 shares of company stock worth $2,279,038 in the last ninety days. 11.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Danaher from $255.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Danaher in a research report on Monday, December 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Danaher from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Danaher from $250.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Danaher from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Danaher has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $266.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on DHR Danaher Trading Up 0.4 % NYSE DHR opened at $250.00 on Friday. Danaher Co. has a one year low of $182.09 and a one year high of $252.33. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $233.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $231.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $184.73 billion, a PE ratio of 39.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.85. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The conglomerate reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.18. Danaher had a net margin of 17.26% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The business had revenue of $6.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.10 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.87 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current year. Danaher Cuts Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 29th were issued a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 28th. Danahers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 15.02%. Danaher Profile (Free Report) Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sagil Capital LLP grew its stake in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:LOMA Free Report) by 174.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 505,181 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 321,224 shares during the quarter. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima accounts for approximately 2.1% of Sagil Capital LLPs portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. Sagil Capital LLP owned approximately 0.43% of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima worth $3,046,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Simplex Trading LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. UBS Group AG raised its position in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima by 103.2% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 5,632 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 2,860 shares in the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC acquired a new stake in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima during the 2nd quarter worth about $72,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima during the 3rd quarter worth about $69,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.07% of the companys stock. Get Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, UBS Group cut their target price on Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima from $7.50 to $6.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima Stock Performance LOMA traded down $0.06 during trading on Friday, hitting $6.36. 202,590 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 311,574. The firm has a market capitalization of $742.47 million, a P/E ratio of 6.77, a PEG ratio of 0.07 and a beta of 1.48. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima has a 1-year low of $5.64 and a 1-year high of $7.43. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $6.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima Profile (Free Report) Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cement and its derivatives in Argentina. The company operates through Cement, Masonry Cement and Lime; Concrete; Railroad; Aggregates; and Others segments. It offers masonry cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, concrete, and lime to wholesale distributors, concrete producers, industrial customers, and others for use in the construction. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Laidlaw Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 3,545 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $263,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 24.9% during the 3rd quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 26,341 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,951,000 after acquiring an additional 5,257 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 95.8% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 134,384 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $10,439,000 after purchasing an additional 65,746 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 161.1% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,253,791 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $97,376,000 after purchasing an additional 773,543 shares during the last quarter. PGGM Investments lifted its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 14.9% in the 3rd quarter. PGGM Investments now owns 158,404 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $11,730,000 after purchasing an additional 20,564 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 18,623 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,379,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127 shares during the last quarter. 89.84% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get PulteGroup alerts: Insider Transactions at PulteGroup In other news, VP Brien P. Omeara sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.09, for a total value of $206,180.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 15,389 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,586,452.01. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.83% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. PulteGroup Stock Performance NYSE:PHM opened at $101.45 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $103.33 and its 200-day moving average is $88.13. PulteGroup, Inc. has a 52-week low of $52.24 and a 52-week high of $110.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.86. The company has a market cap of $21.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.64, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.56. PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The construction company reported $3.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.21 by $0.07. PulteGroup had a net margin of 16.20% and a return on equity of 25.97%. The company had revenue of $4.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.47 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.63 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 15.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 11.72 earnings per share for the current year. PulteGroup declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, January 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the construction company to purchase up to 6.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. PulteGroup Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. PulteGroups dividend payout ratio is currently 6.81%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group lowered shares of PulteGroup from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $93.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. StockNews.com raised shares of PulteGroup from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of PulteGroup from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $103.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $80.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given 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 $102.31. Get Our Latest Report on PHM About PulteGroup (Free Report) PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PulteGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PulteGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPL (NYSE:PPL Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY24 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.63-1.75 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.71. PPL also updated its FY 2024 guidance to 1.630-1.750 EPS. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded PPL from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. TheStreet raised PPL from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Wednesday, December 27th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on PPL from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Barclays raised their price objective on PPL from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating and set a $52.00 price objective on shares of PPL in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $32.63. Get PPL alerts: Read Our Latest Report on PPL PPL Trading Up 0.7 % NYSE:PPL traded up $0.18 on Friday, reaching $26.64. 9,228,467 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,380,393. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.82. The companys 50 day moving average is $26.58 and its 200-day moving average is $25.62. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. PPL has a 1-year low of $22.20 and a 1-year high of $29.14. PPL (NYSE:PPL Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $2.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.56 billion. PPL had a net margin of 9.53% and a return on equity of 7.82%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.28 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that PPL will post 1.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of PPL Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its position in PPL by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 350,807 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $10,501,000 after purchasing an additional 12,428 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in PPL by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,292,612 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $65,480,000 after purchasing an additional 50,658 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. grew its position in PPL by 9.4% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 341,996 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,779,000 after purchasing an additional 29,496 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its position in PPL by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 409,552 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $11,697,000 after purchasing an additional 4,998 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. grew its position in PPL by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 10,764 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $307,000 after purchasing an additional 766 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.09% of the companys stock. PPL Company Profile (Get Free Report) PPL Corporation, an energy company, focuses on providing electricity and natural gas to approximately 3.5 million customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated, and Rhode Island Regulated. The company delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Rhode Island; delivers natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island; and generates electricity from power plants in Kentucky. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PPL Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPL and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Princeton Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 21.5% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 8,832 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,426 shares during the period. Princeton Capital Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $513,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the third quarter worth $25,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. 74.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II purchased 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction 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 purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 2,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $49.78 per share, with a total value of $99,560.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,115,412.16. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Theodore R. Samuels II purchased 8,500 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,255. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired a total of 13,571 shares of company stock valued at $672,994 over the last 90 days. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance NYSE:BMY traded up $0.42 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $49.86. 13,176,540 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 16,052,176. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1 year low of $47.58 and a 1 year high of $71.98. The company has a market cap of $100.83 billion, a PE ratio of 12.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.38. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $50.44 and its 200 day simple moving average is $54.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 50.95%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.82 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to buy up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the companys board 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 issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. This is an increase from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 62.18%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on BMY shares. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $55.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $81.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $55.00 price objective on the stock. Daiwa Capital Markets lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 27th. 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 an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.17. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (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. Further Reading 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. Stokes Family Office LLC purchased a new position in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (BATS:IFRA Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 87,766 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,211,000. Stokes Family Office LLC owned about 0.16% of iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in IFRA. Northwest Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 4.1% during the second quarter. Northwest Capital Management Inc now owns 69,465 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,715,000 after purchasing an additional 2,739 shares during the last quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 45.3% during the third quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,701 shares of the companys stock valued at $392,000 after purchasing an additional 3,337 shares during the last quarter. Peoples Bank KS purchased a new stake in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF during the third quarter valued at about $85,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 3.1% during the third quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 10,983 shares of the companys stock valued at $402,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF during the third quarter valued at about $33,812,000. Get iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF Stock Down 0.5 % BATS IFRA traded down $0.20 during trading on Friday, hitting $40.06. 198,689 shares of the companys stock traded hands. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.14 billion, a PE ratio of 15.08 and a beta of 1.03. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $39.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $38.10. About iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF The iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NYSE FactSet U.S. Infrastructure index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed infrastructure companies that derive a significant portion of their revenue from within the US. IFRA was launched on Apr 3, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chiron Investment Management LLC trimmed its holdings in Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 85.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 62,530 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 371,876 shares during the period. Newmont accounts for approximately 1.0% of Chiron Investment Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Chiron Investment Management LLCs holdings in Newmont were worth $2,310,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of NEM. Ieq Capital LLC grew its stake in Newmont by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 17,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $727,000 after buying an additional 252 shares in the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Newmont by 25.8% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,354 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. S.A. Mason LLC grew its position in shares of Newmont by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. S.A. Mason LLC now owns 2,175 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $80,000 after purchasing an additional 285 shares in the last quarter. Antonetti Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Newmont by 30.0% during the 3rd quarter. Antonetti Capital Management LLC now owns 1,300 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smith Moore & CO. grew its position in shares of Newmont by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 21,317 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,045,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. 79.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Newmont alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently commented on NEM shares. TD Securities lowered shares of Newmont from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $46.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Newmont from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Macquarie started coverage on shares of Newmont in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. They set an outperform rating and a $45.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Newmont from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, National Bank Financial reaffirmed an outperform overweight rating on shares of Newmont in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Newmont presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $54.25. Newmont Price Performance NYSE NEM traded up $0.35 on Friday, reaching $33.43. The company had a trading volume of 9,469,078 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,000,034. The firms 50 day moving average price is $37.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.13. Newmont Co. has a 12 month low of $31.61 and a 12 month high of $52.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.57 billion, a PE ratio of -32.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.52. Insider Buying and Selling at Newmont In related news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total transaction of $226,930.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 54,251 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,238,396.26. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.07% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Newmont Company Profile (Free Report) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Ghana. As of December 31, 2022, it had proven and probable gold reserves of 96.1 million ounces and land position of 61,500 square kilometers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CenterBook Partners LP raised its holdings in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Free Report) by 75.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 104,608 shares of the casino operators stock after acquiring an additional 44,971 shares during the quarter. CenterBook Partners LPs holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $4,795,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Aigen Investment Management LP raised its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 138.4% in the third quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 41,253 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,891,000 after buying an additional 23,952 shares during the last quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP raised its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 491.5% in the third quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP now owns 42,236 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,936,000 after buying an additional 35,095 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 1,422.1% in the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 246,976 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $11,482,000 after buying an additional 230,750 shares during the last quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC raised its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 21.3% in the third quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 428,395 shares of the casino operators stock worth $19,638,000 after purchasing an additional 75,133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter worth about $386,000. 39.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Las Vegas Sands Price Performance LVS traded up $0.28 during trading on Friday, hitting $55.25. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,400,524 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,508,227. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.96. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a twelve month low of $43.77 and a twelve month high of $65.58. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $50.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $49.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 1.16. Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The casino operator reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.61 by ($0.04). Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 11.77% and a return on equity of 34.40%. The business had revenue of $2.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.89 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.19) earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 161.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 6th were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 5th. Las Vegas Sandss payout ratio is currently 50.00%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Susquehanna assumed coverage on Las Vegas Sands in a research note on Friday, December 15th. They issued a positive rating and a $59.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com cut Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.82. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Las Vegas Sands Insider Buying and Selling at Las Vegas Sands In other news, major shareholder Miriam Adelson sold 12,253,628 shares of Las Vegas Sands stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.23, for a total value of $529,724,338.44. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 41,134,164 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,778,229,909.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.91% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Las Vegas Sands (Free Report) Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TIANJIN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's northern port city of Tianjin saw its retail sales soar during the just-concluded Spring Festival holiday, said the municipal bureau of commerce on Sunday. Data from the bureau showed that 473 trading enterprises in Tianjin raked in nearly 2.1 billion yuan (about 295.6 million U.S. dollars) and received 17 million visits during the eight-day holiday, up by 11.2 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively, from the same holiday period last year. The catering industry also experienced robust growth. A total of 218 catering companies monitored by the bureau drew revenues of 55 million yuan, with a passenger flow of about 437,000 visits during the holiday, up by 21.1 percent and 20.8 percent respectively year on year. The sales volume of 59 commercial complexes and outlets in Tianjin reached 1.2 billion yuan, with traffic reaching 13.8 million during the holiday, up by 15.5 percent and 29.5 percent respectively year on year. Moreover, the passenger flow of 106 chain supermarket stores monitored by the bureau reached 1.74 million, an increase of 12 percent compared with the same holiday period last year. CI Investments Inc. increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM Free Report) by 5.3% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,523,519 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 76,054 shares during the period. CI Investments Inc.s holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile were worth $90,908,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile during the 1st quarter valued at about $346,000. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 48.9% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 10,730 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $918,000 after acquiring an additional 3,526 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 17.3% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 11,471 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $982,000 after acquiring an additional 1,694 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 44.8% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,814 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $498,000 after acquiring an additional 1,799 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 8.0% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 938,593 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $80,344,000 after acquiring an additional 69,385 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 14.94% of the companys stock. Get Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have recently issued reports on SQM. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the company from $58.00 to $52.00 in a report on Thursday, January 11th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 17th. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. TheStreet lowered Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $54.50 target price for the company in a report on Friday, December 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.11. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Stock Performance Shares of SQM stock traded up $2.05 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $43.37. 1,806,567 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,602,459. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. has a fifty-two week low of $38.50 and a fifty-two week high of $94.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.18 and a beta of 1.03. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $50.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $54.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 2.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 15th. The basic materials company reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.52 by ($0.84). The firm had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile had a net margin of 31.87% and a return on equity of 57.40%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.85 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. will post 7.62 EPS for the current fiscal year. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Company Profile (Free Report) Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA produces and distributes specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium derivatives, potassium chloride and sulfate, industrial chemicals, and other products and services. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SQM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 23.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,174 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 594 shares during the quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,705,000 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. Thompson Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Retirement Group LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 159.1% in the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 57 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Family CFO Inc bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently issued reports on LLY. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $805.00 to $950.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $535.00 price objective on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $815.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $655.50. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of NYSE LLY traded up $24.28 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $782.06. The company had a trading volume of 5,009,368 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,524,873. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $636.56 and its 200 day simple moving average is $591.52. The stock has a market cap of $742.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 134.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.32. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $309.20 and a 1 year high of $794.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.19. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 50.78%. The business had revenue of $9.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.09 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 89.66%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 14,388 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $630.28, for a total transaction of $9,068,468.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 99,754,422 shares of the companys stock, valued at $62,873,217,098.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders sold a total of 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RTEs most senior staff are expected to meet Media Minister Catherine Martin amid heightened public speculation over exit packages for senior executives. Ms Martin is to meet director general Kevin Bakhurst and the chairwoman of the RTE board, Siun Ni Raghallaigh, at her department on Monday morning. Mr Bakhurst commented on Saturday on the exit arrangements for four former executives: director of commercial Geraldine OLeary, director of legal affairs Paula Mullooly, director of strategy Rory Coveney and chief financial officer Richard Collins. Saying he had been restricted by legal advice, Mr Bakhurst said Ms OLeary retired from RTE and did not receive an exit payment while Ms Mullooly left to pursue another opportunity and also received no exit payment. He added that Mr Coveney had agreed he should stand down, his role became redundant and an exit payment was offered by RTE and accepted, while Mr Collins left by mutual agreement with a binding confidentiality clause that was agreed to by both sides and in the interest of fairness and respect cannot be breached. On Sunday, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney said he did not know what package his brother Rory had received. Questioned at a Fine Gael selection convention for the Dublin constituency for the European elections, Mr Coveney refused to comment. He went on to indicate he did not know what his brother received. Mr Coveney said he is not participating in discussions at Cabinet about RTE or making public comment on it. Tanaiste Micheal Martin earlier called for transparency from RTE. As a general principle, where any organisation has been funded by the public via the licence fee in this case and taxpayers money, there should be full transparency in terms of salaries and packages more generally, he told RTE Radios This Week programme. RTE needs to build up trust with the people in respect of how it is governed, its governance and its administration, and I think the new director-general is doing everything he possibly can to do that. But as a general principle, I do believe that salaries and so forth, and indeed packages, should be fully transparent. The indications are that he has certainly been constrained in these specific cases. Mr Martin said the decision around funding of public services media is to be taken before this summer. He also said it is sensible that the Government awaits two reports commissioned by Ms Martin on the governance of RTE. However he said the TV licence is likely to remain a significant source of revenue for the national broadcaster in 2024 and 2025. The three party leaders are agreed with the minister that we do need to resolve this in terms of the model, but then it will take time, so the licence fee will be a significant revenue earner for RTE, certainly in 2024, and I will even hazard a guess into 2025 until a new system has bedded down, he said. We would hope to get a decision made this year, hopefully before the summer recess, but then itll take time, I would envisage, to work that system through and to have it fully up and running. There are different perspectives on this, thats natural. I take a particularly fundamentalist view on the editorial independence piece and the separation of media from being too dependent on any given government support at any given time. I just think we need to put in guard rails because the new funding arrangements are not just about RTE, but other stations, local and national and print media too. Speaking after attending the Munich Security Council, Mr Martin added: All were hearing here, networking with other countries, meeting tech companies, its all about election manipulation, its all about social media and the degree to which misinformation and disinformation can really prevail. This is very key to the survival of our democracy. So weve got to get it right and weve got to get the fundamentals right, in terms of how we structure it, and a new funding arrangement. Irish star Cillian Murphy who has won acclaim for his dark, brooding roles and his piercing blue eyes has picked up his first Bafta as he was named best actor for his role in Oppenheimer. Born in Cork in 1976, his breakthrough role came in 2002 with the Danny Boyle film 28 Days Later, playing a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to discover the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the breakdown of society. He showed his darker side as a domestic terrorist in the 2005 thriller Red Eye, and also had turns in Breakfast On Pluto, the Irish war drama The Wind That Shakes The Barley and science fiction thriller Sunshine, which reunited him with Boyle. He first collaborated with director Christopher Nolan in 2005, as Scarecrow in Batman Begins, a role he reprised in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. He also appeared in Nolans films Inception and Dunkirk but it is his work with Nolan on Oppenheimer, playing father of the atomic bomb, J Robert Oppenheimer, that has brought him the most critical acclaim. The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer, written by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin. The film chronicles his studies, his career, his direction of the Manhattan Project during the Second World War, and his eventual fall from grace after his 1954 security hearing. Murphy was immediately touted as a potential Oscar winner for his performance as the conflicted theoretical physicist, and he has said of the man he played: Were all living in Oppenheimers world now. Were all living in the nuclear age that he created. He has since won a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice award and is nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award and an Oscar. Murphys only other film Bafta nomination was in 2007, when he was included in the rising star category. Speaking backstage after collecting his prize, he said he was a really, really proud Irishman. He added: I have to say that, of course. And it means a lot to me to be Irish. He joked: I dont know what else to say. Should I sing a rebel song? Reflecting on his win, the actor added: Its a little overwhelming its kind of mind-blowing. Im thrilled and a little shocked. On the small screen, Murphy won legions of fans for his performance as gangster Tommy Shelby in the BBC drama Peaky Blinders, which debuted in 2013 and for which he has been nominated for a TV Bafta. He plays the leader of a Birmingham crime family in the aftermath of the First World War. Murphy is married to the artist Yvonne McGuinness and the couple share two children, Malachy and Aran. Collecting his prize at the Baftas, he described the trio as his best friends. BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council on Sunday convened a plenary meeting to discuss a draft government work report. The document will be deliberated at the top legislature's annual session in March. Premier Li Qiang, who presided over the State Council's plenary meeting, said it is necessary to actively respond to public concerns, fully listen to the views of all sides, and further revise the report. The annoucment of Kansas City Royals hoping to relocate in the Crossroads has sparked an outpouring of criticism and rebuke via social media. Most of it is reactionary garbage from drunk uncles who barely understand their property tax bills, there's some thoughtful resistance but not a lot of information given that the home team STILL isn't sharing many deets with the public. Nevertheless . . . A recent post that has garnered more than 500 comments, thousands of shares and a ton of likes and it's worth noting. The missive doesn't really tell us anything new but seems to have captured the imagination of all of the old school denizens of Zuck's app. Accordingly . . . Lee's Summit Digital Creator Adam Brown wrote this in a public post on Facebook: "IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT THE STADIUM!" He explains his perspective and/or economic theory . . . "Royals owner, John Sherman, is worth more than a billion dollars and is the founder and CEO of an energy company that merged with another in 2013 to become one of the biggest in North America. The stadium complex the Royals want to build will cost around $2 billion, but it includes things like a hotel, a conference center and various entertainment venues. So its not just a park Sherman wants KC residents to foot the bill for, its also businesses that will continue to pad his bank account far into the future. Sherman clearly figures that, hey, what red-blooded baseball-loving American wouldnt want to pay for a billionaires further enrichment?" Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Public Post Digital Creator Adam Brown On FB: "Here's the biggest reason to VOTE NO against the tax joke to help the Royals build a new "stadium" on top of the Crossroads Arts District." Once again on Sunday Angel Candice inspires our quick journey into pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Community Love & Carbs Hundreds line up to buy donuts in support of KC shooting victims On Saturday, hundreds of people lined up to purchase donuts with all proceeds going back to the victims being treated by Children's Mercy. Local Tribute Illustrated Kansas City artist honors family friend killed at Chiefs parade with portrait "There was a certain energy that you knew it was good. She was one of the good ones," artist and owner of AOART5, Anthony Oropeza said. Journey Of Respect Visitors come from far and wide to honor those injured, lost in parade shooting Support for Kansas City has gone far beyond state lines in the days following a shooting that injured 22 and killed 1. Cowtown Victory & Loss Kansas City's euphoria after Super Bowl win now a distant memory after shooting rocked Chiefs rally | CNN The euphoria that swept Kansas City after back-to-back Super Bowl wins by its beloved Chiefs now feels like a distant memory, supplanted by shock and sadness after a mass shooting left one woman dead and more than 20 others injured. Glory Well-Remembered The secret recipe for a dynastic Chiefs team It's been said that "adversity introduces a man to himself." Now that the Kansas City Chiefs have won their third Super Bowl in the past five years, there's bee Angel Shares Inspiration Candice Swanepoel in Ballet Dancewear Is "Free Falling" Candice Swanepoel is channeling her inner Black Swan with a beautiful ballet-inspired workout, and sharing the pictures on her social media. Taxpayer Big Bucks Assured?!? Ukraine war: Biden 'confident' Republicans will vote for $60bn aid package Ukraine's army was forced to withdraw from a key battle due to supply shortages, the US said. GOP Gloats Over Court FAIL Cheney weighs in on Trump's legal woes: 'Fundamental lack of character' Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Sunday said former President Trump's cascade of legal woes demonstrate a "fundamental lack of character." CNN host Jake Tapper asked Cheney about Trump's recent legal cases, including a judge ordering him to pay nearly $355 million in penalties in a New York civil fraud case last week and a... MAGA Debuts EPIC Kicks Trump hawks $399 branded shoes at 'Sneaker Con,' a day after $355 million ruling against him As he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump made a highly unusual stop, hawking new Trump-branded sneakers at "Sneaker Con," a gathering that bills itself as the "The Greatest Sneaker Show On Earth!" Two State Solution Kaput Israel 'outright rejects' foreign efforts to create Palestinian state after Hamas war, Netanyahu declares Israel should 'outright reject' any attempt by foreign powers to impose a Palestinian state on Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday. Faith In Former Prez Challenged Trump's questionable morality gets a pass from evangelical voters. I decided to ask why. Why in the world do voters with a deep sense of faith keep showing support for Donald Trump, a man with a growing list of public sins? El Papa Plays It Casual Pope Francis tells seminarians to give up 'cult of appearance' for Lent During Lent, Pope Francis said, Catholics-and especially Catholic seminarians-should rediscover the joy of simplicity, and pay less attention to their appearance and more to their prayer lives. Tragedy Aftermath Fades Will Kansas City mass shooting spark change, or be forgotten? People want a solution. Will our leaders even try to find one? Katie's Forecast For Now Things are looking warmer starting Sunday Sunday will have high temperatures around 53 degrees; the upcoming week will be warmer and drier than usual for this time of year. Sunny Sunday by Joni Mitchell is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. The sentiment is worthwhile . . . Tragically, what typically happens is that the reaction to these screeds only serves to prove their premise . . . That the quotient of local hateration continues to rise. Check-it: "As the chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, as an American and as an advocate for justice, I strongly denounce and unequivocally stand against antisemitism in our country, which is surging at alarming rates. "The Anti-Defamation League reported that in 2022 alone, antisemitic incidents rose 36%. This number has only increased following the events of Oct. 7, with the ADL reporting an increase of antisemitic incidents of more than 300% in just the first three weeks after Hamas terror attack on Israel. This trend has not abated in the ensuing months. "Right here in our local communities, the Jewish Community Relations Bureau | AJC has tracked a 500% increase in reports of antisemitic incidents." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Day 12 - Sunbury Plantation House and a late, late lunch at Oistin fish market. Wanted to go to Paynes Bay today but did not feel like rushing out of the door to catch the bus. From Warrens, bus #59 drives along the West Coast starting in the area of Paynes Bay, at Holders Hill. That bus route says from S-Town to S-Town, it's actually to Welches and back. It passes through here but the timetable is a little more difficult to figure out because the bus runs every two hours. Managed to catch that bus only once so far. My other option was to take the #54 to S-Town Terminal and then take any bus driving down the West Coast to Paynes Bay. Decided to change my plans and go visit the Sunbury Plantation House instead. Hopped on bus #54 at 10:45, which runs from Speightstown to Oistins Terminal, then took #26 to College Savannah leaving the Terminal at 11:30. The driver dropped my off right in front of the Sunbury House at 12:05. The Sunbury Plantation is a very beautiful property to visit. Though the 300 year old house burnt to the ground in1995, it was restored and re-furnished with a collection of antique furniture and dinnerware in order to match the authenticity of that period in time. It is a very beautiful house showcasing a collection of antiques. There is also a camera collection and a few antique horse carriages in the old cellar. The guided tour took about 45 minutes. Be aware that cruise ships offer this tour to their passengers and that there may be a couple of buses visiting ahead of you. Beautiful grounds to walk after the tour. Entrance fee was $30Bds, includes one coupon for a rum cocktail after the tour. When I was ready to leave, I looked at bus #26 timetable to catch the next one which was to be at around 13:45. So I went and sat by the side of the road and waited, waited, and waited. I think the drivers take naps after lunch on these inland routes cause the bus never showed up. Saw no ZR Van either on this road. I am not in a hurry but I gave up at 15:10 and flagged a taxi passing by and went to the Oistins Fish Market for a late lunch. Taxi ride cost $60Bds I had a plate of swordfish with 2 banks for $45Bds Keep in mind that a bottle of Banks contains only 275ml of beer :) I did not stick around for the big Fish Fry Party. I was tired and I am not comfortable in crowds. Maybe another time though. Bus #54 from Oistins was pretty much full all through the ride to Warrens. Caught some traffic, it took about 75 minutes to come back home. Note: Blue Bus drivers on these small narrow roads drive like maniacs, hold on to your seat. Blue Bus service seem to be more reliable on busy routes. I am learning that it is easy to get to my destination in the morning but coming back in mid-afternoon can be a problem. Seems like bus service going inland and in less popular areas skip trips on their timetable and pick up the service when the kids finish school. But there is always a taxi passing by. I find it is better to flag one down than calling for one....It is cheaper. Taxis have a plate that starts with a Z. So, be careful if someone offers you a ride. Edited: 11 February 2024, 05:15 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- It is hoped that Canada could establish a correct understanding of China, take a long-term view of bilateral relations and provide a positive perspective for their practical cooperation, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Saturday. China-Canada relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries, and the current difficult situation is not what China wants to see, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, when meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly. Noting that stabilizing and improving China-Canada relations is in the fundamental interests of both countries, Wang said the two economies are highly complementary and there is no conflict of fundamental interests between the two sides. The two sides are not rivals, let alone enemies, and should be partners of cooperation, said Wang. As China and Canada differ in system, history and culture, the two sides should respect and learn from each other to expand consensus, rebuild trust to achieve win-win cooperation, noted Wang. Wang also called for a stop hyping up the "China threat" theory, spreading false allegations of Chinese interference in Canada's internal affairs, or overstretching the concept of national security regarding exchanges in trade, science and technology. The two sides should earnestly respect each other's core interests, and take concrete actions to preserve the political foundation of bilateral relations, he said. Joly extended to the Chinese side her greetings for the Chinese New Year, noting that Canada pursues pragmatic diplomacy and is committed to improving bilateral relations. She said Canada is willing to work with China to overcome difficulties, build trust, carry out cooperation in climate change, biodiversity, public health and other fields, and strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges. She also said that Canada will continue to adhere to the one-China policy. The two sides also exchanged views on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. China facilitates massive passenger flow as 8-day holiday ends Xinhua) 08:18, February 18, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's transport departments are taking measures to ensure the smooth flow of travelers as the Spring Festival holiday draws to an end. The country is expected to see a peak in its annual travel rush on Saturday, the last day of the eight-day holiday period this year, with the rush hours estimated to fall between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to the Ministry of Transport. The ministry said that highway traffic will peak at 65.2 million vehicles, about 1.75 times the average amount during the Spring Festival travel rush. Meantime, due to the cold wave, there will be strong winds and cooling weather in most areas of the country, making road travel more difficult. An official with the ministry said that local transport departments have taken measures to enhance road network management, emergency response, congestion relief and other work to ensure the safety and orderly travel of passengers. In central China's Hubei Province, transport authorities guided drivers to avoid congested road sections through radio, electronic display screens and map navigation. In order to enhance the travel experience of teachers and students returning to Shanghai, local authorities provided customized special lines to 27 university campuses from Feb. 16 to March 5, with the help of the "Mobility as a Service" platform. Railway passenger flow also continues to rise. According to the official railway ticket-booking app 12306, the passenger flow from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou and other cities is relatively large. China Railway Shanghai Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has added 410 passenger trains between popular destinations such as Beijing-Shanghai, Guangzhou-Shenzhen, while China Railway Zhengzhou Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has been operating 56 high-speed trains at night. In the south of the country, the Qiongzhou Strait has also been welcoming the peak of Spring Festival return travel. In order to meet passenger demand for sea crossings, the maritime department has guided operating enterprises to improve the efficiency of ship turnover to meet transport demand to the greatest extent. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The 37th AU summit opened on Saturday, with a call to increase efforts to improve the state of education in Africa and fast-track the realization of Africa's development endeavors. Produced by Xinhua Global Service LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Feb, 2024) Thirteen more children succumbed to pneumonia in the last 24 hours on Sunday, bringing the total toll from the disease to 392. The Punjab Health Department highlighted a concerning surge in pneumonia cases, particularly during the dry cold spell. Within a single day, 622 new patients were reported across Punjab, with Lahore bearing a significant brunt, recording 131 new cases, including one fatality. Lahore, the provincial capital, has witnessed a staggering 6,190 pneumonia cases, adding to the overall tally of over 28,809 cases reported throughout Punjab. Medical experts underscored the vulnerability of children under 2 years of age to pneumonia, emphasizing the critical need for precautionary measures, especially in urban areas, to safeguard against this infectious disease during dry cold spells. Health authorities urged heightened awareness and proactive measures to mitigate the spread of pneumonia, particularly among vulnerable populations. Aerial photo taken on April 25, 2021 shows the scenery of Yangshuo County, Guilin City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) NANNING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- As one of China's world-famous tourist cities, Guilin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has witnessed a steady growth in tourism cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and France over the years. Along the Lijiang River, one finds West Street in Yangshuo County, Guilin. The street has a history of more than 1,400 years. In 1991, Frenchman Christophe Vincent came to this quiet Chinese street and soon fell in love with Yangshuo's calm and casual lifestyle. "Tourism was not quite developed at that time. There were no homestays and no guides, but the locals were very warm to me," Vincent said. "I love the Lijiang River. This clear water makes me calm, and I decided to stay here." Vincent rented a Chinese traditional hall with a history of over 200 years on Yangshuo West Street and opened the first French restaurant in Yangshuo, retaining the architectural simplicity and traditional style of the building. The restaurant became a key feature of the local landscape, attracting many tourists. He hired local people to cook local specialties, creating a menu with a mix of Chinese and French cuisine. After putting an end to his restaurant career a few years ago, Vincent is now looking for some new projects in Yangshuo. In 2013, Yangshuo County and France's Annecy-le-Vieux officially established a sister-city relationship. Since then, the two places have deepened their cooperation in tourism, culture, sports, education and other fields. In 2015, authorities from the two locations teamed up to host the MaXi-Race Yangshuo China, a trail-running event in Yangshuo County, providing further evidence of friendly cooperation.Luc Vincent, Christophe Vincent's young brother, came to Yangshuo in 2001. In 2011, he began running a hotel next to his brother's restaurant, which now boasts more than 40 rooms. With a cheerful personality, he acted as a translator for the French racers in the MaXi-Race Yangshuo China. "There's a school in France that teaches Chinese martial arts. Every year, I volunteer to help the school buy clothes," said Luc Vincent. "Its students want to come to China to study, and I also actively help them communicate. This cultural exchange brings people closer together." The two brothers could not have anticipated China's rapid development ever since, or the new upgrades ushered in by Guilin's tourism industry over the decades. In 2013, Club Med, a leisure holiday brand originating from France, officially opened a resort in Guilin Yuzi Paradise. As a high-end French holiday brand, it has brought a new tourism holiday experience to tourists since entering the Chinese tourism market. "The landscape of Guilin is beautiful, and our resort is perfectly integrated into the landscape," said Morgane Schwarzer, general manager of Club Med Guilin Resort. "At the same time, we have also introduced many French elements, including organizing French cultural performances and introducing various French-style decorations." Since 1997, French artists have created a total of 12 large-scale sculptures in the Yuzi Paradise. These works not only reflect the artists' thoughts on nature, mankind and the universe, but also bear witness to the communication between China and France through sculpture. "It is a good place for cultural exchanges between the two countries, bringing people together through the appreciation of artworks," said Schwarzer. China is implementing a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia on a trial basis. From Dec. 1, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from these six countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, transit, and visiting friends and relatives, for a period of no more than 15 days. "The unilateral visa-free policy for six countries, including France, is a very friendly move," Luc Vincent said. "Many of my French friends are ready to come to China. I'm going to embrace them in China with open arms and show them the great beauty and warmth here in China." Atom bomb epic "Oppenheimer" won seven prizes, including best picture, director and actor, at the 77th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, cementing its front-runner status for the Oscars next month. Gothic fantasia "Poor Things" took five prizes and Holocaust drama "The Zone of Interest" won three. Christopher Nolan won his first best director BAFTA for "Oppenheimer," and Cillian Murphy won the best actor prize for playing physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Murphy said he was grateful to play such a "colossally knotty, complex character." Emma Stone was named best actress for playing the wild and spirited Bella Baxter in "Poor Things," a steampunk-style visual extravaganza that won prizes for visual effects, production design, costume design, and makeup and hair. "Oppenheimer" had a field-leading 13 nominations, but missed out on the record of nine trophies, set in 1971 by "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." It won the best film race against "Poor Things," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Holdovers." "Oppenheimer" also won trophies for editing, cinematography and musical score, as well as the best supporting actor prize for Robert Downey Jr. Da'Vine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress for playing a boarding school cook in "The Holdovers" and said she felt a "responsibility I don't take lightly" to tell the stories of underrepresented people like her character Mary. "Oppenheimer" faced stiff competition in what was widely considered a vintage year for cinema and an awards season energized by the end of actors' and writers' strikes that shut down Hollywood for months. " The Zone of Interest" a British-produced film shot in Poland with a largely German cast was named both best British film and best film not in English a first and also took the prize for its sound, which has been described as the real star of the film. Jonathan Glazer's unsettling drama takes place in a family home just outside the walls of the Auschwitz death camp, whose horrors are heard and hinted at, rather than seen. "Walls aren't new from before or since the Holocaust, and it seems stark right now that we should care about innocent people being killed in Gaza or Yemen or Mariupol or Israel," producer James Wilson said. "Thank you for recognizing a film that asks us to think in those spaces." Ukraine war documentary "20 Days in Mariupol," produced by The Associated Press and PBS "Frontline," won the prize for best documentary. "This is not about us," said filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, who captured the harrowing reality of life in the besieged city with an AP team. "This is about Ukraine, about the people of Mariupol." Chernov said the story of the city and its fall into Russian occupation "is a symbol of struggle and a symbol of faith. Thank you for empowering our voice and let's just keep fighting." The awards ceremony, hosted by "Doctor Who" star David Tennant who entered wearing a kilt and sequined top while carrying a dog named Bark Ruffalo was a glitzy, British-accented appetizer for Hollywood's Academy Awards, closely watched for hints about who might win at the Oscars on March 10. The prize for original screenplay, went to French courtroom drama "Anatomy of a Fall." The film about a woman on trial over the death of her husband was written by director Justine Triet and her partner, Arthur Harari. "It's a fiction, and we are reasonably fine," Triet joked. Cord Jefferson won the adapted screenplay prize for the satirical "American Fiction," about the struggles of an African-American novelist Jefferson said he hoped the success of the movie "maybe changes the minds of the people who are in charge of greenlighting films and TV shows, allows them to be less risk-averse." Historical epic "Killers of the Flower Moon" had nine nominations for the awards, officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards, but went home empty-handed. There also was disappointment for Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro," which had seven nominations but won no awards. Neither did grief-flecked love story "All of Us Strangers" with six nominations, and barbed class-war dramedy "Saltburn," with five. " Barbie," one half of 2023's "Barbenheimer" box office juggernaut and the year's top-grossing film, also went home empty-handed from five nominations. "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig failed to get a directing nomination for either the BAFTAs or the Oscars, in what was seen by many as a major snub. Britain's film academy introduced changes to increase the awards' diversity in 2020, when no women were nominated as best director for the seventh year running and all 20 nominees in the lead and supporting performer categories were white. However, Triet was the only woman among this year's six best-director nominees. The Rising Star award, the only category decided by public vote, went to Mia McKenna-Bruce, star of "How to Have Sex." Before the ceremony, nominees, including Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Emily Blunt, Rosamund Pike, Ryan Gosling and Ayo Edebiri all walked the red carpet at London's Royal Festival Hall, along with presenters Andrew Scott, Cate Blanchett, Idirs Elba and David Beckham. Guest of honor was Prince William, in his role as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He arrived without his wife, Kate, who is recovering from abdominal surgery last month. The ceremony included musical performances by "Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham, singing "Time After Time," and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singing her 2001 hit "Murder on the Dancefloor," which shot back up the charts after featuring in "Saltburn." Film curator June Givanni, founder of the June Givanni PanAfrican Cinema Archive, was honored for outstanding British contribution to cinema, while actress Samantha Morton received the academy's highest honor, the BAFTA Fellowship. Morton, who grew up in foster care and children's homes, said that "representation matters." "The stories we tell, they have the power to change people's lives," she said. "Film changed my life, it transformed me, and it led me here today. "I dedicate this award to every child in care, or who has been in care and who didn't survive." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday dismissed the idea of holding early elections, while thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv for an anti-government protest. Netanyahu has seen his popularity plummet in opinion polls since Hamas' October 7 terror attack that sparked the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Anti-government protests that shook the country for much of 2023 have largely subsided during the war. Still, demonstrators again took to the streets of Tel Aviv Saturday night calling for new elections, which are not scheduled until 2026. The crowd was much smaller than last year's mass protests, numbering a few thousand, according to local media. "I'd like to say to the government that you've had your time, you ruined everything that you can ruin. Now is the time for the people to correct all the things, all the bad things that you've done," said one protestor, his head wrapped in an Israeli flag. Netanyahu was asked at a press briefing about calls within his own ruling Likud party to hold early elections right when the Israel-Hamas war ends. "The last thing we need right now are elections and dealing with elections, since it will immediately divide us," he said. "We need unity right now." A Brazilian court fined executives and companies, including French transportation giant Alstom, a total of $48 million for a 2007 collapse at a subway construction site that killed seven people, in a ruling seen by AFP Saturday. A judge for the Sao Paulo state court of justice ordered six then-directors of the municipal metro company and seven firms involved in the project to pay a collective fine of $48 million, finding their "administrative misconduct" led to the cave-in. The ruling, which can be appealed, also barred the defendants from working in the public sector and banned the companies from government contracts in Brazil for five years. Workers were excavating for the Pinheiros metro station on the west side of the Brazilian economic capital when a massive sinkhole ripped open on January 12, 2007, swallowing part of a nearby road. The lip of the hole gave way to a landslide, taking pedestrians and vehicles with it and dumping tons of earth, asphalt and concrete on top. More than 90 buildings in the area had to be demolished or condemned. Despite signs of structural weakness at the tunnel site, "drilling was executed at the already fragile location, and the necessary support structures were not immediately installed," Judge Marcos de Lima Porta wrote in his ruling, issued Friday. "This approach... proved not only dangerous, but negligent, clearly exposing the site to the imminent risk of collapse." The companies fined include Brazilian construction and engineering giants OAS (now known as Grupo Metha), Queiroz Galvao, Camargo Correa and CBPO, a subsidiary of Odebrecht (now known as Novonor). None of the companies immediately responded to requests for comment. Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Sunday demanded his immediate release in the name of "equal treatment" under the constitution. "All candidates must benefit from the constitutional principles of equal treatment," said a statement from the Diomaye President coalition. "That's why the release without delay of candidate Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye is a popular demand and respectful of the Constitution," the statement said. The coalition noted the situation also required the urgent release of jailed opposition Pastef party leader Ousmane Sonko. The Constitutional Court rejected Sonko's candidacy but accepted that of Faye, the party's number two, along with about 20 others. Sonko has been in prison since July 2023 for calling for an uprising, associating with criminals linked to terrorism and harming state security. Faye has been under preventive detention since April last year but has yet to face trial. The European Union last month stressed that candidates approved by the Constitutional Council must all be allowed to campaign for election on equal terms. Dozens of opposition supporters have been set free in recent days by President Macky Sall who says there are no political prisoners in Senegal. The Diomaye coalition called for "all political prisoners who have been locked up unjustly to be immediately released." Sall plunged traditionally stable Senegal deep into crisis by postponing at the last minute the February 25 election for his successor. In power since 2012 but not running for a third term, Sall said he called off the vote over disputes about the disqualification of potential candidates and concern about a return to unrest seen in 2021 and 2023. The Constitutional Council intervened on Thursday and Sall, under strong international and domestic pressure, back-pedaled agreed to its demand to organize the election as soon as possible, but no date was set. China's foreign ministry declined to comment Saturday on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, describing it as "Russia's internal affair." "This is Russia's internal affair. I will not comment," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in response to a question from AFP. Navalny, the Kremlin's most prominent critic, died Friday in an Arctic prison, Russian officials said, a month before an election poised to extend Russian President Vladimir Putin's hold on power. Navalny's death after three years in detention and a poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin deprives Russia's opposition of its figurehead at a time of intense repression and Moscow's campaign in Ukraine. Beijing and Moscow are staunch allies and have strengthened their relationship even as Western countries have turned their backs on Russia over its military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Both sides also have made much of the personal relationship between the two leaders, and China's President Xi Jinping has referred to his Russian counterpart Putin as his "good friend." Dissidents and some Western leaders placed the blame squarely on Putin and his government for the 47-year-old's death, which followed months of deteriorating health in harsh detention conditions. A former FBI counterintelligence official was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to receiving $225,000 from an individual with ties to the Albanian government, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The sentencing Friday of Charles McGonigal is the closing chapter of a high-profile legal saga. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him to 28 months in prison. McGonigal, 55, had supervised national security operations for the FBI in New York for nearly two years before his retirement in 2018. He pleaded guilty to concealing payments of $225,000 from Albanian American Agron Nezaj, a former Albanian intelligence officer who McGonigal admitted was helping him foster relationships in Albania to help lay the groundwork for future business opportunities in the country. Those efforts included several meetings in 2017 and 2018 with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in the presence of Nezaj and an adviser to the prime minister, who had business interests in arranging the meetings. Prime Minister Rama has denied any wrongdoing. In December, McGonigal was sentenced in New York to 50 months in prison in a separate case for violating Russian sanctions, after McGonigal had retired from the FBI. He was found guilty of conspiring to violate sanctions on Russia by going to work for a Russian oligarch whom he once investigated. The oligarch, billionaire industrialist Oleg Deripaska, was under U.S. sanctions for reasons related to Russias occupation of Crimea. McGonigal expressed remorse Friday, saying he was taking "full responsibility for my actions" and "asking humbly for a second chance." On Friday, Seth Ducharme, one of McGonigals lawyers, asked Kollar-Kotelly to impose the sentence concurrently with the one in New York, citing McGonigals remorse, cooperation and long public service career. However, Kollar-Kotelly disagreed, saying he had been convicted of two different crimes, each carrying a different sentence, and would be served consecutively. This means the 28-month sentence will begin once the 50-month sentence ends. Kollar-Kotelly said McGonigal appeared to have lost his "moral compass" at the end of his career and that the motivation couldnt have been other than "greed and arrogance" that he thought he could escape responsibility. Prosecutor Elizabeth Ann Aloi called McGonigals actions "flagrant" and "outrageous" and said "he received money not from a personal friend," but from someone connecting him to foreign officials. In court filings, prosecutors had said: "This is, at its core, corruption that undermines transparency and trust in the integrity of the executive branch of government. The defendant was sworn to investigate and prevent crimes against the United States, not perpetrate them." McGonigal was scheduled to report to prison next month to begin serving his sentence in the New York case. Some information for this article came from The Associated Press. There are no off limits or restricted areas for fishing around a group of Taiwanese islands close to China's coast and Beijing reserves the right to take further measures after two Chinese nationals died near the islands, the government said. Taiwan on Thursday defended the actions of its coast guard after two people on a Chinese speedboat, which got too close to a frontline Taiwanese island, died when their boat overturned while trying to flee a coast guard ship. Two others survived. Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own territory, has complained in recent years about Chinese fishing boats and other vessels operating in Taiwan-controlled waters, especially around the Kinmen and Matsu islands which sit a short distance from China's coast. Late on Saturday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, which has already condemned Taipei for the incident near Kinmen's Beiding islet, said the deaths had caused "strong indignation" in China. "Fishermen on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been operating in traditional fishing grounds in the Xiamen-Kinmen maritime area since ancient times, and there is no such thing as 'prohibited or restricted waters'," it said. Kinmen, controlled by Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, sits next to China's Xiamen and Quanzhou cities. China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the government had goodwill toward Taiwan's people but will never tolerate Taiwan's disregard for the safety of Chinese fishermen. "The mainland reserves the right to take further measures, and Taiwan shall bear all the consequences," it added, without elaborating. Kinmen was the site of frequent fighting during the height of the Cold War but is today a popular tourist destination, though many of the islets that are part of the island group are heavily fortified by Taiwan's military and off limits to civilians. Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, says China has been using so-called grey-zone warfare, which entails using irregular tactics to exhaust a foe without actually resorting to open combat, including sending civilian ships into or close by Taiwanese waters. Separately on Saturday, a group of low-level Chinese officials from Shanghai arrived in Taipei to attend the city's traditional Lantern Festival at the city government's invitation. However, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters he would not meet the group, led by Xu Hao, head of the liaison department of the Taiwan Affairs Office's Shanghai branch. Last year, a deputy chief of the office's Shanghai branch went to Taipei for the same event and was met by noisy protests at the airport. YAOUNDE, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least eight separatist fighters have been killed in a military offensive in Cameroon's war-torn English-speaking region of Southwest, security and local sources said on Sunday. The raids were carried out from Friday to Saturday in the Ayukaba locality of the region. The fighters had arrived at the locality and were preparing to set up a base there when the information reached the army, a military official in the region told Xinhua. "Our brave soldiers immediately entered the area and succeeded in driving them out for two days. Eight (separatist fighters) were killed, and several of their weapons and ammunition were seized," said the official, who asked not to be named. Officials said on Saturday that troops were succeeding in most operations in the region thanks to the cooperation of the local population. Fighting between government forces and separatist fighters has persisted in Cameroon's two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest since 2017 when separatists attempted to establish an independent nation in these regions. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Israels Cabinet said Sunday that it rejects the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. The news came amidst growing calls by the United States and other countries for a two-state solution, as the Middle East conflict worsens. VOAs Veronica Balderas Iglesias has the details. As outrage over the death of chief Kremlin foe Alexey Navalny reverberates across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin is turning a deaf ear to Western anger as he prepares to extend his 24-year rule in an election next month and police across Russia continue to squelch any protest attempts.The U.S. and its allies are pondering new sanctions against Russia over Navalny's death and the Kremlin's recent actions in Ukraine. But as U.S. aid for Ukraine remains stuck in Congress and NATO allies in Europe struggle to fill the gap, many wonder what the West can actually do to stop the ruthless Kremlin leader, given that multiple previous rounds of penalties have failed to. "There isn't really the room for any great value in additional sanctions" against Russia, already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, Mark Galeotti, head of the London-based Mayak Intelligence consultancy firm noted in a YouTube commentary. Instead, Galeotti said, the West should focus more on working with Navalny's allies and helping ordinary Russians get access to information channels that counter Kremlin propaganda. Such efforts are key especially now, according to Galeotti, who described Navalny's death as yet another step in Putin's transition from "hybrid authoritarianism" to "brutal thuggish despotism." The U.S. and NATO allies have been weighing more actions to bolster support for Ukraine, where the Russian military has just forced Ukrainian troops to retreat from the key eastern stronghold of Avdiivka after a four-month ferocious battle. The allies discussed ways to increase the cost of war to Russia to force Putin to back down. But the 71-year-old leader has vowed to press on, refusing to relinquish any of his gains and declaring in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson last week that the West will "sooner or later" be forced to negotiate a deal on his terms. Navalny's death shows Putin's "complete ruthlessness and disdain for both Western and international opinion," said Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British ambassador to Belarus and senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. Russia announced Navalny's death on Friday, just as Western leaders gathered at a security conference in Munich. Putin is "throwing down a gauntlet to the West," Gould-Davies said. "As we come up to the second anniversary of the (Ukraine) war, he is again testing Western resolve." Navalny's death should serve as a "wake-up call" to U.S. Republicans opposing aid for Ukraine in Congress and also encourage European NATO allies to bolster their assistance to Ukraine, Gould-Davies said. "Ultimately it depends on the lessons that the West draws," he said. But Navalny's death didn't appear to move the U.S. House speaker Friday to commit to a proposed $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, seen as crucial to a Ukrainian victory. Meanwhile, Putin, the longest-serving Russian leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, is steamrolling toward another six years in power in a campaign involving three token rivals nominated by Kremlin-friendly parties. Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who made ending the war in Ukraine his chief campaign slogan, was barred from running by election officials. Yet, while there was little doubt that Putin would prevail in the election, Navalny's death still demonstrated "how much he saw Navalny as a threat," Gould-Davies said. "The way the Kremlin has conducted that election campaign so far suggests that they are not confident," he said, adding that "even from prison, Navalny managed to get his voice out." Navalny's death just weeks before the March 15-17 presidential election possibly marked "the final act of the dismantling and crushing of any semblance of Russian organized opposition" ahead of the vote, Gould-Davies said. Despite his assured victory next month, Putin still fears Western interference in the election and viewed Navalny as "an adversary manipulated by the West to undermine national and state interests," said Tatiana Stanovaya, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. "He sincerely believes that the West would and will use the moment to undermine the stability and to afflict political damage to his campaign," she wrote in a commentary. "That will push him to take an even more hawkish, more repressive approach to any hostile manifestation, which he may link to external attempts to interfere. This may specifically create a more restrictive approach to the media and social networks." Navalny, who died at age 47, emerged as a major threat more than a decade ago, playing a key role in galvanizing massive street protests against Putin's rule in Moscow in 2011-2012 and running a successful campaign to expose government corruption. For many Russians, Navalny was a powerful symbol of hope, Galeotti said, conveying even from his remote Arctic prison a vision of the "beautiful Russia of the future" a slogan in defiance of the Kremlin's message to Russians to "just survive, just keep your head down." In 2020, Navalny narrowly survived nerve agent poisoning in Siberia that he blamed on the Kremlin. He recovered in Germany but was immediately arrested upon his return in January 2021. He remained in custody after that, convicted three times and handed a 19-year prison term on charges of extremism. Putin didn't comment on Navalny's death and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed statements by Western leaders holding the Kremlin responsible as "outrageous and inadmissible." But Western leaders view any such comments from the Kremlin with the same suspicion they cast toward the death of mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash two months after his troops staged a brief rebellion against the Kremlin. The crash last August was widely seen as the Kremlin's revenge for the mutiny, which marked the most serious challenge to Putin's rule since his first election in 2000. Just as with Prigozhin's demise, Navalny's death "shows how completely ruthless" Putin is, Gould-Davies said. Nepal's gods and goddess are returning home. An unknown number of sacred statues of Hindu deities were stolen and smuggled abroad in the past. Now dozens are being repatriated to the Himalayan nation, part of a growing global effort to return such items to countries in Asia, Africa and elsewhere. Last month, four idols and masks of Hindu gods were returned to Nepal from the United States by museums and a private collector. Among them was a 16th century statue of Uma-Maheswora, an avatar of the gods Shiva and Parvati, that was stolen four decades ago. It was not clear who took it or how it ended up at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, which handed it over to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Devotees celebrated its return in Patan, south of the capital, Kathmandu. The stone-paved alleys were crowded with devotees offering money and flowers. Men in traditional attire played drums and cymbals and chanted prayers. "I cannot say how extremely happy I am right now," said Ram Maya Benjankar, a 52-year-old who said she had cried as a child after learning the statue had been stolen and waited years for its return. The statue had simply disappeared from their neighborhood, she said. The majority of Nepal's 29 million people are Hindu, and every neighborhood has a temple that houses such items. They are rarely guarded, making it easy for thieves. For Nepalese, the idols have religious significance but no monetary value. For smugglers, however, they can bring huge value abroad. For years, there was little attention given to the thefts or any effort made at recovery. That has changed in recent years as the government, art lovers and campaigners pursue stolen heritage items. They have been successful in many cases. A group representing the ethnic Newar community from Nepal in the U.S. heard about the reappearance of the Uma-Maheswora statue at the Brooklyn Museum and took the initiative to bring it home. "We were very sad to see that our gods were locked in the basement. We were then determined that we need to take back the heritage," said Bijaya Man Singh, a member of the group that carried the four idols and masks back to Nepal. Now the temple in Patan is being prepared to reinstate the Uma-Maheswora statue. Following the welcome ceremony, it was placed on a chariot carried by devotees and taken to a museum, where it will be kept under security until its final move. More than 20 other stolen artifacts are in the pipeline to be repatriated to Nepal in the near future, according to Jayaram Shrestha, director at the National Museum in Kathmandu. Most will return from the United States and Europe. Shrestha has built a special room to exhibit repatriated items so the public can come and worship if they want. There are currently 62 statues on display. "As we expect many to come soon, we are expanding the section of the museum," Shrestha said. "I don't want to store them in storage. They should be made available." It has become easier to locate stolen items as awareness grows among Nepalis at home and abroad. They can now track artifacts online when they are exhibited or put up for auction. And more collectors and museums now believe they should be taken back to where they belong, Shrestha said. "The Nepal government has been taking initiative to get them back with recovery campaigns and using diplomatic channels, embassies in foreign countries," he said. "We have made it clear that they need to be reinstated to their original place and security ensured to keep these thousands-of-years-old artifacts safe."" said Nepal's foreign minister, Narayan Prakash Saud. More than 400 people were detained in Russia while paying tribute to opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died at a remote Arctic penal colony, a prominent rights group reported. The sudden death of Navalny, 47, was a crushing blow to many Russians, who had pinned their hopes for the future on President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe. Navalny remained vocal in his unrelenting criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. The news reverberated around the globe, and hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities streamed to ad hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repressions with flowers and candles on Friday and Saturday to pay a tribute to the politician. In over a dozen cities, police detained 401 people by Saturday night, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. More than 200 arrests were made in St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, the group said. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organizing a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct, but was later hospitalized with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Watch related report by Arash Arabasadi: Courts in St. Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said late Saturday. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. The news of Navalny's death came a month before a presidential election in Russia that is widely expected to give President Vladimir Putin another six years in power. Questions about the cause of death lingered on Sunday, and it remained unclear when the authorities would release his body to his family. Navalny's team said Saturday that the politician was "murdered" and accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body, with Navalny's mother and lawyers getting contradicting information from various institutions where they went in their quest to retrieve the body. "They're driving us around in circles and covering their tracks," Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Saturday. "Everything there is covered with cameras in the colony. Every step he took was filmed from all angles all these years. Each employee has a video recorder. In two days, there has been not a single video leaked or published. There is no room for uncertainty here," Navalny's closest ally and strategist Leonid Volkov said Sunday. A note handed to Navalny's mother stated that he died at 2:17 p.m. Friday, according to Yarmysh. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at the penal colony Saturday that her son had perished from "sudden death syndrome," Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Navalny felt sick after a walk Friday and became unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometers northeast of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he couldn't be revived, the service said, adding that the cause of death is still "being established." Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He has received three prison terms since his arrest, on a number of charges he has rejected as politically motivated. After the last verdict that handed him a 19-year term, Navalny said he understood he was "serving a life sentence, which is measured by the length of my life or the length of life of this regime." Hours after Navalny's death was reported, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, made a dramatic appearance at the Munich Security Conference. She said she was unsure if she could believe the news from official Russian sources, "but if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband." Samantha Sumiko Pinedo and her grandparents file into a dimly lit enclosure at the Japanese American National Museum and approach a massive book splayed open to reveal columns of names. Pinedo is hoping the list includes her great-grandparents, who were detained in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II. For a lot of people, it feels like so long ago because it was World War II. But I grew up with my Bompa (great-grandpa), who was in the internment camps, Pinedo says. A docent at the museum in Los Angeles gently flips to the middle of the book called the Ireicho and locates Kaneo Sakatani near the center of a page. This was Pinedos great-grandfather, and his family can now honor him. On Feb. 19, 1942, following the attack by Imperial Japan on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry to WWII, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the incarceration of people of Japanese ancestry who were considered potentially dangerous. From the extreme heat of the Gila River center in Arizona, to the biting winters of Heart Mountain in Wyoming, Japanese Americans were forced into hastily built barracks, with no insulation or privacy, and surrounded by barbed wire. They shared bathrooms and mess halls, and families of up to eight were squeezed into 20-by-25 foot (6-by-7.5 meter) rooms. Armed U.S. soldiers in guard towers ensured nobody tried to flee. When the 75 holding facilities on U.S. soil closed in 1946, the government published Final Accountability Rosters listing the name, sex, date of birth and marital status of the Japanese Americans held at the 10 largest facilities. There was no clear consensus of who or how many had been detained nationwide. Duncan Ryuken Williams, the director of the Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture at the University of Southern California, knew those rosters were incomplete and riddled with errors, so he and a team of researchers took on the mammoth task of identifying all the detainees and honoring them with a three-part monument called Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration. We wanted to repair that moment in American history by thinking of the fact that this is a group of people, Japanese Americans, that was targeted by the government. As long as you had one drop of Japanese blood in you, the government told you you didnt belong, Williams said. The Irei project was inspired by stone Buddhist monuments called Ireitos that were built by detainees at camps in Manzanar, California, and Amache, Colorado, to memorialize and console the spirits of internees who died. The first part of the Irei monument is the Ireicho, the sacred book listing 125,284 verified names of Japanese American detainees. We felt like we needed to bring dignity and personhood and individuality back to all these people," Williams said. "The best way we thought we could do that was to give them their names back. The second element, the Ireizo, is a website set to launch on Monday, the Day of Remembrance, which visitors can use to search for additional information about detainees. Ireihi is the final part: A collection of light installations at incarceration sites and the Japanese American National Museum. Williams and his team spent more than three years reaching out to camp survivors and their relatives, correcting misspelled names and data errors and filling in the gaps. They analyzed records in the National Archives of detainee transfers, as well as Enemy Alien identification cards and directories created by detainees. We feel fairly confident that were at least 99% accurate with that list, Williams said. The team recorded every name in order of age, from the oldest person who entered the camps to the last baby born there. Williams, who is a Buddhist priest, invited leaders from different faiths, Native American tribes and social justice groups to attend a ceremony introducing the Ireicho to the museum. Crowds of people gathered in the Little Tokyo neighborhood to watch camp survivors and descendants of detainees file into the museum, one by one, holding wooden pillars, called sobata, bearing the names of each of the camps. At the end of the procession, the massive, weighty book of names was carried inside by multiple faith leaders. Williams read Buddhist scripture and led chants to honor the detainees. Those sobata now line the walls of the serene enclosure where the Ireicho will remain until Dec. 1. Each bears the name in English and Japanese of the camp it represents. Suspended from each post is a jar containing soil from the named site. Visitors are encouraged to look for their loved ones in the Ireicho and leave a mark under their names using a Japanese stamp called a hanko. The first people to stamp it were some of the last surviving camp detainees. So far, 40,000 visitors have made their mark. For Williams, that interaction is essential. To honor each person by placing a stamp in the book means that you are changing the monument every day, Williams said. Sharon Matsuura, who visited the Ireicho to commemorate her parents and husband who were incarcerated in Camp Amache, says the monument has an important role to play in raising awareness, especially for young people who may not know about this harsh chapter in America's story. It was a very shameful part of history that the young men and women were good enough to fight and die for the country, but they had to live in terrible conditions and camps," Matsuura says. "We want people to realize these things happened. Many survivors remain silent about what they endured, not wanting to relive it, Matsuura says. Pinedo watches as her grandmother, Bernice Yoshi Pinedo, carefully stamps a blue dot beneath her father's name. The family stands back in silence, taking in the moment, yellow light casting shadows from the jars of soil on the walls. Kaneo Sakatani was only 14 when he was detained in Tule Lake, in far northern California. Its sad, Bernice says. But I feel very proud that my parents names were in there. Thousands of demonstrators cloaked in pink marched through cities in Mexico and abroad on Sunday in what they called a "march for democracy" targeting the country's ruling party in advance of the country's June 2 elections. The demonstrations called by Mexico's opposition parties advocated for free and fair elections in the Latin American nation and railed against corruption just days after presidential front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum officially announced her candidacy under the country's ruling party Morena. Sheinbaum is largely seen as a continuation candidate of Mexico's highly popular populist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He's adored by many voters who say he bucked the country's elite parties from power in 2018 and represents the working class. But the 70-year-old president has also been accused of making moves that endanger the country's democracy. Last year, the leader slashed funding for the country's electoral agency, National Electoral Institute, and weakened oversight of campaign spending, something INE's head said could "wind up poisoning democracy itself." The agency's color, pink, has been used as a symbol by demonstrators. Lopez Obrador has also attacked journalists in hours-long press briefings, has frequently attacked Mexico's judiciary and claimed judges are part of a conservative conspiracy against his administration. In Mexico City on Sunday, thousands of people dressed in pink flocked to the the city's main plaza roaring "get Lopez out." Others carried signs reading "the power of the people is greater than the people in power." Among the opposition organizations marching were National Civic Front, Yes for Mexico, Citizen Power, Civil Society Mexico, UNE Mexico and United for Mexico. "Democracy doesn't solve lack of water, it doesn't solve hunger, it doesn't solve a lot of things. But without democracy you can't solve anything," said Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, a prominent politician from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, in a video posted to social media calling for people to join the protests. The PRI held uninterrupted power in Mexico for more than 70 years. Marches were organized in a hundred cities across the country, and in other cities in the United States and Spain. Still, the president remains highly popular and his ally Sheinbaum appears set to coast easily into the presidency. She leads polls by a whopping 64% over her closest competition, Xochitl Galvez, who has polled at 31% of the votes. Lopez Obrador railed against the protests during is Friday morning press briefing, questioning whether the organizers cared about democracy. "They are calling the demonstration to defend corruption, they are looking for the return of the corrupt, although they say they care about democracy," he said. A two-day United Nations-led conference on the way forward in Afghanistan started in Qatars capital Doha, Sunday, without the Taliban, the de facto rulers, in attendance. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened the meeting of special envoys for Afghanistan from 25 countries as well as Afghan civil society members, including women, and representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Participants will explore how to engage with the Afghan Taliban in a coordinated manner in light of an independent assessment of Afghanistan mandated by the U.N. Security Council last year. The Taliban were also invited to Doha for meetings, however, the group refused to attend. We had some conditions, that we should have full participation in all sessions, that were not met, so we didnt participate, Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Talibans political office in Doha, said in a message to media via the text messaging application WhatsApp. In an official statement issued on social media platform X, the night before the conference kicked off, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that without the U.N. recognizing the Taliban as the only official representative of Afghanistan, attending the conference was unbeneficial. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified to the U.N. that if the Islamic Emirate is to participate as the sole official representative of Afghanistan then participation would be beneficial. Else, ineffectual participation by the Emirate due to non-progress in this area was deemed unbeneficial, the ministry said. The Taliban use the term Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan or IEA for their administration. A source told VOA some participants were disappointed the U.N. could not bring the Taliban to the table. A delegate who wished to remain anonymous, as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the topic, said that despite the Talibans absence, the conference was significant as it showed that the international community was refocusing on Afghanistan while the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were occupying global attention. Responding to a VOA question on the sidelines of the event, Pakistans charge daffaires in Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, said the conference was relevant even without the Taliban. I think it [the conference] is about Afghanistan, not about Taliban, Nizamani said. Pakistans delegation led by Asif Durrani, the countrys special representative for Afghanistan, separately met with Shaheen and his team in Doha. Afghan affairs observer and journalist Sami Yousafzai told VOA in Doha that the Taliban wasted an opportunity by not showing up. I think the Taliban made a mistake [by not attending], and this will increase the gap between Taliban and the international communitythe international community recognizes that the Taliban are a reality and wants to speak to them as that, but their absence, I think, hurts the Afghan people as well, Yousafzai said. Since taking over, the Taliban have barred girls from getting an education beyond the sixth grade, forbid women from going to universities and working in most professions, limited their movement outside without a male family member, and barred them from parks and public baths. The Taliban have acknowledged that female police officers are arresting women for not covering themselves appropriately. In a throwback to its first stint in power, from 1996 to 2001, the ultra-conservative group also resumed public floggings in parts of the country. The Taliban argue such actions are permitted by Islam, and local culture but critics reject their defense as a misinterpretation of the religion and culture of Afghanistan. The de facto rulers reject international calls for reform as unilateral demands and coercion. Some warn that attempts to increase global engagement with the group will further embolden its hardline stance. It will not be a good idea to move forward with more engagement with Taliban because the nature of Taliban and their behavior shows in the past 30 months that they are getting worse towards women and men, former Afghan diplomat Shukria Barakzai said. A prominent former Afghan female politician and Kabuls ambassador to Norway, Barakzai spoke to VOA on the phone from the United Kingdom, where she fled a week after the Taliban took control of her homeland in August 2021. While no country has recognized the Taliban government, many routinely engage with its leaders. The international community has acknowledged the Talibans success in reducing violence in the country and diminishing the drug trade. However, demands to form an inclusive government, and soften its stance on womens rights prerequisites for recognition have not borne results. In the lead up to the Doha huddle, Amnesty International, in a statement, called on participants to stop taking a business as usual approach regarding human rights in Afghanistan. The culture of impunity that enables the Talibans ongoing grave human rights violations needs to be addressed urgently, the statement said, quoting Senior Director Deprose Muchena. Foreign ministers of a dozen countries taking part in the Munich Security Conference 2024, an annual high-level discussion forum, also issued a statement Sunday expressing concern over the severe curbs on womens freedoms in Afghanistan. It linked recognition of the Taliban government with improved human rights. Adherence to Afghanistans international obligations by the de facto authorities, especially pertaining to human rights, remains one of the central prerequisites for the reintegration of the State of Afghanistan into the international system, the statement concluded. The U.N.'s top court will from Monday hold hearings on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967, with an unprecedented 52 countries expected to give evidence. Nations including the United States, Russia, and China will address judges in a weeklong session at the Peace Palace in The Hague, seat of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In December 2022, the U.N. General Assembly asked the ICJ for a nonbinding "advisory opinion" on the "legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem." While any ICJ opinion would be non-binding, it comes amid mounting international legal pressure on Israel over the war in Gaza sparked by the brutal October 7 Hamas attacks. The hearings are separate from a high-profile case brought by South Africa alleging that Israel is committing genocidal acts during the current Gaza offensive. The ICJ ruled in that case in January that Israel must do everything in its power to prevent genocide and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire. On Friday, it rejected South Africa's bid to impose additional measures on Israel but reiterated the need to carry out the ruling in full. 'Prolonged occupation' The General Assembly has asked the ICJ to consider two questions. Firstly, the court should examine the legal consequences of what the U.N. called "the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination." This relates to the "prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967" and "measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem." In June 1967, Israel crushed some of its Arab neighbors in a six-day war, seizing the West Bank including east Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. Israel then began to settle the 70,000 square kilometers of seized Arab territory. The U.N. later declared the occupation of Palestinian territory illegal. Cairo regained Sinai under its 1979 peace deal with Israel. The ICJ has also been asked to look into the consequences of what it described as Israel's "adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures." Secondly, the ICJ should advise on how Israel's actions "affect the legal status of the occupation" and what are the consequences for the UN and other countries. The court will rule "urgently" on the affair, probably by the end of the year. Despicable The ICJ rules in disputes between states and its judgments are binding although it has little means to enforce them. However, in this case, the opinion it issues will be non-binding. In the court's own words: "The requesting organ, agency or organization remains free to give effect to the opinion by any means open to it, or not to do so." But most advisory opinions are in fact acted upon. The ICJ has previously issued advisory opinions on the legality of Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia and apartheid South Africa's occupation of Namibia. It also handed down an opinion in 2004 declaring that parts of the wall erected by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory were illegal and should be torn down. Israel is not participating in the hearings and reacted angrily to the 2022 U.N. request, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it "despicable" and "disgraceful." The week after the U.N. resolution, Israel announced a series of sanctions against the Palestinian Authority to make it "pay the price" for pushing for it. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that while advisory opinions are nonbinding, "they can carry great moral and legal authority" and can eventually be inscribed in international law. The hearings should "highlight the grave abuses Israeli authorities are committing against Palestinians, including the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution," said Clive Baldwin, HRW senior legal adviser. The U.S. has condemned Saturday Rwanda's support of the armed M23 group in eastern Congo, whose rebellion has caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and called on the rebel group to cease hostilities. The U.S. State Department in a statement strongly criticized the worsening violence ... caused by the actions of the Rwanda-backed, U.S.- and UN-sanctioned M23 armed group. It called on Rwanda "to immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the [Congo] and remove its surface-to-air missile systems, which it said threatened civilian lives and peacekeepers. It also urged the rebels to retreat from their current positions near two urban areas in Congos North Kivu province. This is likely to put pressure on Rwanda, whose government has repeatedly denied any links to the M23 group. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of destabilizing Congo by backing the rebels. U.N. experts previously said they had solid evidence that members of Rwandas armed forces were conducting operations there in support of the M23 group. Fighting near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and the largest city in the region, has intensified in recent days as the rebels threatened to take over the metropolis. Residents of the nearby town of Sake have been fleeing fierce fighting between Congolese government troops and the group. The armed conflict has so far displaced more than one million people in eastern Congo since November, according to the aid group Mercy Corps. Many M23 fighters, including Congolese Tutsis, were once members of Congo's army. The group's leaders say they are fighting to protect local Tutsis from extremist Hutu groups such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, whose members were among the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. M23 is one of more than 100 armed groups active in eastern Congo, seeking a share of the regions gold and other resources as they carry out mass killings. The rebel group rose to prominence just over a decade ago when its fighters seized Goma, which borders Rwanda. It derives its name from a March 23, 2009, peace deal which it accuses the Congo government of not implementing. After being largely dormant for a decade, the M23 resurfaced in late 2021. The U.S. statement urged all sides to de-escalate and to participate constructively in reaching a negotiated solution to the conflict. It is essential that all states respect each others sovereignty and territorial integrity and hold accountable all actors for human rights abuses in the conflict in eastern [Congo], it said. The United States on Saturday deplored growing violence by the Democratic Republic Congo's M23 rebels, saying the group's backers in Rwanda must remove sophisticated ground-to-air missiles that are threatening lives in the country's east. Fighting has flared in recent days around the town of Sake, 20 kilometers from Goma, between M23 rebels and Congolese government forces. "The United States strongly condemns the worsening violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused by the actions of the Rwanda-backed, U.S.- and U.N.-sanctioned M23 armed group, including its recent incursions into the town of Sake," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "This escalation has increased the risk to millions of people ... We call on M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from its current positions around Sake and Goma, Miller said. Washington "condemns" Rwandan support for M23 and calls on Kigali "to immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the DRC and remove its surface-to-air missile systems, which threaten the lives of civilians, U.N. and other regional peacekeepers, humanitarian actors, and commercial flights in eastern DRC," Miller said. Dozens of soldiers and civilians have reportedly been killed or wounded in the fighting over the last 10 days. The latest clashes have pushed tens of thousands of civilians to flee towards Goma, which stands between Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border and is practically cut off from the country's interior. The DRC, the United Nations and Western countries say Rwanda is supporting the rebels in a bid to control vast mineral resources, an allegation Kigali denies. U.N. forces have been in the DRC for nearly 25 years but stand accused of failing to protect civilians from armed groups. by Liu Zhoupeng LHASA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- During the Spring Festival holiday season, I had the privilege of accompanying railway workers on a maintenance journey across the plateau in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, navigating through extreme conditions resembling "ice and fire." As I joined a convoy of vehicles ascending the mountain at the Gyaca Bridge and Tunnel section, part of the railway connecting the region's major cities of Lhasa and Nyingchi, the Yarlung Zangbo River below revealed its clear and turquoise waters. The dark brown Zam Bridge, with its arch crown and 86 white suspender cables connecting to the deck, resembled a colossal harp, gracefully stretching across both riverbanks. The bridge, constructed as a concrete-filled steel tube arch, is at the world's highest altitude at 3,350 meters and boasts the longest span measuring 430 meters. During winter, the vertical distance between its deck and the surface of the Yarlung Zangbo River exceeds 30 meters, according to a worker. To ensure the bridge's safety and unimpeded access, workers must climb hundreds of narrow stairs along the arch to reach its top, which stands over 100 meters above the surface of the river. "It feels as if we're walking through the clouds," said Zhang Liang, deputy foreman of the Gyaca Bridge and Tunnel section. I looked up from the bridge and saw the workers, clad in bright yellow safety vests, gradually ascending higher and appearing smaller along the arch. Over the past two years, maintenance workers have had to inspect the bridge every week regardless of the extreme weather, especially the wind, which has a maximum speed of up to 37 meters per second. Zhang recalled his maiden mission in 2021, the first year of the railway's operation. By the time the inspection of all components was completed, it was already nightfall. The valley wind intensified, compelling him to tightly grip the handrail with both hands while pressing his body close to the stairs. He said that even after scaling the top of the arch numerous times, every time he peered down into the river, his legs would shake uncontrollably. Looking down at the tranquil river far below from the towering deck, and then up at the top of the arch reaching towards the sky, his mood suddenly echoed within me. While on the bridge, the wind deflectors on both sides produced a constant hum. Despite wearing thick gloves and winter clothing, the chill persisted. "The cold metal and welds seem like ice stabbers to our hands," said Zhang, explaining the importance of every single screw in the construction of the plateau bridge. Bidding farewell to the bitter cold Zam bridge, we entered the longest tunnel along the railway -- the 17.3-kilometer-long Dakarlha tunnel. Here, the high temperature generated by geothermal energy inside posed another challenge. A sudden wave of hot steam caught me off guard, instantly fogging my eyeglasses and camera lens. During the 3.5-kilometer walk through the tunnel, workers used inspection hammers to tap on the sidewalls, gauging the concrete compactness, identifying cavities, and assessing other wall conditions based on the resulting sounds. I also heard sounds of water nearby and in the distance. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is known as the "Asian water tower" and is home to numerous mountains and glaciers. Their surfaces are covered by a large amount of glacial debris, which is loose and porous, allowing a large amount of water to infiltrate and gather into rich underground water resources. The area of the Dakarlha Tunnel experiences frequent rainfall, resulting in abundant underground water resources. I dipped my fingers into the hot water flowing in the drainage channel by the sidewall, and it felt like a comfortable temperature for a bath. As we went deeper into the tunnel, the temperature gradually picked up, and my hair under the helmet was soaked with sweat. The maximum temperature in the tunnel can reach 39 degrees Celsius on a regular winter night. "When the railway first opened, we had to walk through the entire tunnel, enduring temperatures as hot as a sauna," said Dong Shengrui, another deputy foreman of the Gyaca Bridge and Tunnel section. He said that they would often exit the tunnel by late morning, noting that now the tunnel has been equipped with many service roads, making it more convenient for maintenance. This inspection work usually occurs from the evening into the next day. The team inspects each beam, bearing and walking board on the bridge, as well as every drainage cover plate, joint and other components in the tunnel. Each inspection entails walking more than 5 kilometers, said Dong. "A pair of protective footwear wears out every three months." It was already the next day when we exited the tunnel, and it felt like being pulled back into an ice cellar from a greenhouse. Despite being drenched in sweat after walking for more than four hours, Dong still greeted his wife with a smile when he finally had the opportunity to video call her. Phurbu Tsering, a 25-year-old maintenance worker from Nyingchi, said it was his third time carrying out duties during the Spring Festival. "I am committed to my responsibilities, ensuring the safety of the railway so that more people can return home safe and sound," Phurbu Tsering said as he watched the trains pass by smoothly. Israel on Sunday rejected international calls, including from its chief ally, the United States, for unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, saying any such agreement could only be reached through negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brought what he called a declaratory decision on Palestinian statehood before his Cabinet, which unanimously approved it. The statement declared that the Jewish state categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians." Watch related report by Veronica Balderas Iglesias: Efforts to achieve a two-state solution an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza on either side of Israel have been stalled since 2014. But with the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza now in its fifth month, the U.S. and other countries have renewed calls for the creation of a Palestinian state to end the fighting. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for an even broader Middle East agreement that would encompass Saudi Arabia and other Arab states normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. In rejecting Palestinian statehood, Israel said in a statement that such recognition, coming after the shock October 7 Hamas attack on Israel will grant a huge, unprecedented reward to terrorism and prevent any future peace accord. Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting Hamas militants until it achieves absolute victory. The U.S. has tried, unsuccessfully so far, to broker a new cease-fire and the release of the 100 or so hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu has said that Hamas demands are delusional that Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza and leave the militants in control of the territory with the capability to rebuild its arsenal. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement Saturday that the U.S. would veto an Algerian plan likely to come before the U.N. Security Council this week calling for an immediate cease-fire. She said the U.S. wants a sustainable resolution to the Gaza conflict which would bring an immediate and sustained period of calm to Gaza for at least six weeks, and from which we could then take the time and the steps to build a more enduring peace. She said the plan the U.S. has been working on with input from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and others represents the best opportunity to reunite all hostages with their families and enable a prolonged pause in fighting, that would allow for more lifesaving food, water, fuel, medicine, and other essentials to get into the hands of Palestinian civilians who desperately need it. She said the Algerian plan would not achieve the same results and may run counter to them. Thomas-Greenfield said if the Algerian plan were to come up for a vote, it will not be adopted. Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza rages on. Medics and witnesses said Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight and into Sunday. One airstrike in Rafah, near the Egyptian border in southern Gaza, killed a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in Khan Younis. The head of the World Health Organization said Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the main medical center serving southern Gaza, "is not functional anymore" after Israeli forces raided the facility in the southern city last week. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the U.N. health agency, said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday "to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners." There are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other hospitals, he said on the X social media platform. Israel says it arrested more than 100 suspected militants in the hospital, including 20 who it says without providing evidence participated in the October attack on Israel. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel and patients in hospital beds were among those arrested and taken away in trucks. Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the ministry, said soldiers beat detainees and stripped them of their clothes. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on those allegations. The war started with the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and the militants capture of about 240 hostages. The Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry says Israels counteroffensive has now killed nearly 29,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded nearly 69,000 more. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Just blocks from the shuttered Bethlehem Steel plant, the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley was bustling on a recent day with scores of older people eating lunch. Downstairs, out of sight, a constant stream of visitors was shopping in its massive food pantry. Over the past seven months, the number of visitors to the pantry has risen by more than a third. The center's executive director, Raymond Santiago, sees that as a stark sign of something he has felt over the past couple years: Many in the area's Latino community are struggling to meet their basic needs. Northampton County, which includes Bethlehem, is a traditional bellwether for Pennsylvania, one of the most important presidential swing states, and Latinos are a key part of the coalition that President Joe Biden is trying rebuild as he embarks on his campaign for a second term. In doing so, the Democrat might have challenges selling a crucial part of his reelection strategy. One of the messages he has delivered in previous visits to Pennsylvania is that former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the GOP nomination, is a danger to American democracy. Biden is hoping that message energizes the same voters who turned out four years ago, when Northampton County narrowly flipped to him after supporting Trump by a thin margin in 2016. Based on his interactions with visitors to the Hispanic center, Santiago isn't so sure. It's the price of groceries and lack of affordable housing that dominate conversations there. "I think so many people are already immune to that messaging, it won't land as cleanly this election as it did in 2020," he said. "If he keeps pushing that message, it might turn voters away." Biden chose a location near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, with its deep symbolism for the country's struggle for freedom, for his initial campaign event for 2024, portraying Trump as a grave threat to America and describing the general election as "all about" whether democracy can survive. It was a message similar to one he gave before the 2022 midterm elections at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the nation's founding documents were created. Biden warned that Trump and his followers threatened "the very foundation of our republic." Hours after Biden's speech, Trump responded by accusing Biden of "pathetic fearmongering." Biden has continued the theme during the early primary season, telling supporters winning a second term is essential for maintaining the country's democratic traditions. Over the course of several days, The Associated Press interviewed a cross section of voters in Northampton County to ask whether Biden's messaging around the fate of democracy was resonating. These voters represented parts of the very coalition Biden will need to win Pennsylvania again Black voters, Latinos, independents and moderates from both parties. Their overarching response: The president's warning that a second Trump presidency will shred constitutional norms and destroy democratic institutions is not one that, alone, will motivate them and get them out to vote. Like people across much of the rest of the country, most of those interviewed would prefer avoiding a rematch of the 2020 contest, and several suggested they would seriously consider a serious third-party candidate with a strong message and a chance of winning. Evelyn Fermin, 74, who regularly visits the Lehigh Hispanic center, has lived in the county for two years after spending most of her life in New Jersey. Her opinion about Trump has been set since January 6, 2021, when the former president's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a violent bid to stop Congress from certifying Biden's win. But she doesn't think reminders of that day will be sufficient to persuade voters in November. For the daughter of parents who immigrated from the Dominican Republic, her concerns are border security and spending abroad. "Rather than sending it out to foreign countries, I think we should use it for our people," she said. As a divorced mother who supported her son as he worked his way through school to become a lawyer, she also doesn't support Biden's attempt to waive student loan debt: "If I was able to to do it, I feel that they should." Curt Balch, 44, worked in the health care industry and is now a stay-at-home dad. He was weathering a two-hour school delay with his 5-year-old daughter in his home in Hellertown, in a more rural part of the county. He registered Republican so he could vote in primaries but describes himself as more libertarian. Balch said the messaging by both sides is "pretty toxic" when they warn that the other is "a threat or a danger to the fundamentals of the country moving forward." He supported Trump in the past two elections but is open to considering other candidates this year, especially if he thinks there is an appealing third-party or independent candidate. Balch believes the dire warnings about a potential second Trump term are overblown. Balch notes that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump let states decide for themselves how to handle it. "I understand the rhetoric, 'Oh, he's going to be a fascist dictator,'" Balch said. "I don't think it's a message that's getting people to the polls. I don't think people are legitimately thinking that they need to be afraid of Donald Trump." Christian Miller was a lifelong Democrat but became an independent in 2022 out of frustration with political gridlock and a sense that as he got older, he was growing more conservative. He said he might one day consider switching to the Republican Party, but not as long as Trump is leading it. That's not out of any worry that Trump would become a dictator if he wins a second term. "I don't know that I fear it as much as it's being made out to be in the media from either side," said Miller, a 53-year-old bank executive who lives in Nazareth. "I feel that the institutions are safe and and are strong enough to withstand the challenges." Miller cited the dozens of failed court challenges seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential results by Trump and his allies as an example of the institutions holding firm. Surveys indicate concern about the state of democracy, but it's not clear how that will translate in November's election. A Biden campaign spokesperson said the democracy message is central to the campaign, but it is not the only one the campaign will use to reach voters. Protecting abortion rights and fighting for higher wages will be among the issues essential to the president's pitch. Northampton County, especially Bethlehem, has been slowly emerging from the economic shock that followed the collapse of the local steel industry. The plant produced the steel that built the Golden Gate Bridge during the Great Depression and a decade later, during World War II, became the country's largest shipbuilder. The blast furnaces, which fell silent nearly 30 years ago, are still visible for miles as they sit alongside the Lehigh River. But Bethlehem has been enjoying a revival in recent years as it has evolved into a hub for health care and technology companies. New shops, an art center, museum, performing arts stage and a casino, among other developments, have added vibrancy to a picturesque city dotted with historical structures dating to the 18th century. Northampton also is a historical bellwether. As the county has gone in the presidential election, so has the state, said Christopher Borick, a political science professor and director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg University in Allentown. The last time they split was 1948, when the county voted for Democrat Harry Truman, but the state went for Republican Thomas Dewey. "It's about as great a benchmark county as you'll ever find," Borick said. Biden narrowly carried the county in 2020, four years after Trump had narrowly prevailed in his victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Anna Kodama, 69, is the type of voter who traditionally has swung back and forth between the parties. She grew up in a Republican household in Ohio but switched parties during college. She recalls voting across party lines frequently since she moved to the Lehigh Valley in 1977 until 2016 when Trump was making his first run for the presidency and she voted a straight ticket for Democrats. The people Kodama encounters are not listening to Biden's messages about a dark future under Trump. Instead, she would like him to speak more about what he is doing to improve the economy and forge stronger ties with Europe. She paid attention to a Biden visit earlier this year to a nearby town, Emmaus, where he stopped at local stores to discuss the importance of supporting small businesses. She said Biden seems to connect better with people when he promotes a positive message, rather than a negative one that she believes will not motivate people in the fall. "That's where I find it compelling look what we can do together," said the artist and former teacher who was sipping coffee at Cafe the Lodge in Bethlehem. "That message resonates with me and with people I know." For Esther Lee, the 90-year-old president of the local NAACP, the threat-to-democracy message is not generating much concern among the people she contacts. She already plans to vote, but not because she is fearful of another Trump presidency. "We already know who he is," she said. Getting Black voters engaged is going to take more from Biden, she believes, because so far his campaign messages have not resonated. She questions whether the Black community in Northampton County is the target audience: "I'm not seeing evidence of it," she said. Lee said the issue she hears about most in her circle is homelessness: "It's No. 1," she said, adding that the resources don't seem to be sufficient to address the local problem. The companion to that, she said, is affordable housing. "With Biden's campaign, they need to reach down further," with the messaging, she said. At the Lehigh center, Guillermo Lopez Jr., 69, recalls his deep ties to the area and the many members of his extended family who worked at Bethlehem Steel. He worked at the plant for 27 years, following a father who worked there for 36. He is now on the center's board of directors and a local leader in the Latino community. A Democrat who said he leans independent, he plans to vote for Biden in part because of how he thought Trump's rhetoric, beginning with is campaign announcement in 2015, made targets of Latinos and other minorities. "It just speaks to me that there's so much misguided hatred toward people like me," he said. But Lopez thinks messages of fear and Trump imperiling American democracy are essentially meaningless for many of the county's working-foclass voters. Their concern, he said, is finding steady work with good pay. "I actually think that harms the vote," he said of the democracy warnings. The average person who "just puts their nose to the grindstone and goes to work, I don't think that motivates them. I think it scares them and freezes them." Ukraine downed 12 Shahed drones, an Su-34 fighter-bomber and a Kh-59 missile Sunday morning, according to its air force. The plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine, while the drones and the missile were downed in Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, and Dnipro oblasts. Also Sunday, the air force said that Russia has lost 402,430 troops in Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in speaking by telephone with U.S. President Joe Biden, said he expressed his hope that the U.S. Congress would make a "wise decision" in approving a delayed large aid package for Ukraine. "We discussed the current front-line situation. I am grateful to have President Biden's full support," Zelenskyy wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "I also believe that the U.S. Congress will make a wise decision." Zelenskyy is in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference. Zelenskyy warned allies Saturday that low ammunition supplies could give Russia breathing room to regroup against Ukraine, highlighting the need for artillery and long-range weapons after his military chief announced he was withdrawing troops from the eastern city of Avdiivka. During his address at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of security and foreign policy officials, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia in the nearly 2-year-old war, due to an "artificial deficit" of arms for Ukraine. "We're just waiting for weapons that we're short of," he said, pointing to a lack of long-range armaments. "Ukrainians have proven that we can force Russia to retreat," Zelenskyy said. "We can get our land back, and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin can lose, and this has already happened more than once on the battlefield." After a meeting with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Ukrainian president and Harris held a joint news conference in Munich. "It is in the strategic interest of the United States to continue our support," said Harris. Zelenskyy echoed Harris's comments that the aid package for Ukraine stuck in Congress "is vital" to Ukraine's war effort, and he stressed that Kyiv is counting on the U.S. to remain a "strategic partner." Also at the conference, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the delay in approval of the Ukraine aid package by the U.S. Congress has a direct impact on Ukraine's defense. "Every week we wait means that there will be more people killed on the front line in Ukraine," he said. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, whose country directly borders Russia, said, "If America isolates itself, it eventually is going to cost you more," warning that if "aggression pays off somewhere, it serves as an invitation to use it elsewhere, jeopardizing global security." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose country is Ukraine's second-biggest military supplier after the U.S., renewed his call for other European countries to step up with more deliveries, and pointed to America's military aid since the war began. Avdiivka seized Putin congratulated Russian troops and their commander Saturday on the capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. "The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory," the Kremlin website said. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented the Russian president with a report on the capture of the city. He told the Kremlin that Russian forces were working to clear final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, officials said in a statement. This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal A woman mourns the victims of a missile strike in the town of Panteleimonovka in a Russian-controlled part of Donetsk region, Feb. 17, 2024. Videos on social media Saturday appeared to show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one of the plant's buildings. Reacting to the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the southeastern city of Avdiivka, Zelenskyy said that the retreat ordered by Ukrainian commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi was "a correct decision" emphasizing the priority of saving Ukrainian soldiers' lives. He also suggested that Russia has achieved little, however, adding that it has been attacking Avdiivka "with all the power that they had" since October and lost thousands of soldiers. "That's what Russia has achieved. It's a depletion of their army." Syrskyi, Ukraine's commander-in-chief, posted Friday on Facebook that the troops were moved "to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of service personnel." Capturing the eastern city is seen as key to Moscow's aim of securing full control of the two provinces that make up the industrial Donbas region and could hand Putin, who recently underlined its significance, a battlefield victory as he seeks reelection next month. During a White House press briefing Friday, Biden stressed the significance of continuing U.S. military support for Ukraine against Russia and noted that though a bipartisan Senate voted in favor of funding Ukraine's war against Russia, the House of Representatives has not yet done so. "History is watching the House of Representatives. That failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten," he said. "The clock is ticking. And this has to happen. We have to help now. You know, we have to realize what we're dealing with," Biden added. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. May December. Photo: Netflix This article will be updated as great new original titles arrive on Netflix. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk. The Netflix Original movie has become a genre unto itself, winning Oscars, launching careers, and producing films with budgets that would make the Hollywood studios think twice. It feels like theres a new Netflix Original film every week sometimes more and so its become difficult to know which ones are really worth watching. This list of the 20 best films to sport the Netflix Original logo will be updated as warranted with new entries. Weve tallied the best horror, comedy, family and overall movies on Netflix; these are the best titles out of the companys own filmmaking machine. Year: 2016 Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes Director: Ava DuVernay The director of Selma helmed the first truly great Netflix documentary in this searing examination of the mass incarceration industry in this country. Named after the amendment that abolished slavery, the film examines how elements of servitude that were allegedly eliminated merely transitioned into the systems of policing and imprisonment. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary. It should have won. 13th Year: 2015 Runtime: 2h 17m Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga The first major critical darling Netflix film is still one of the services best. Based on the novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala, this is the tale of a child who becomes a soldier in his country as it undergoes a brutal civil war. Moving and unforgiving, it features one of the career-best performances from Idris Elba. Beasts of No Nation Geralds Game Year: 2017 Runtime: 1h 43m Director: Mike Flanagan Before he helmed The Haunting of Hill House, Mike Flanagan co-wrote and directed one of the best Netflix Original horror films in this adaptation of Stephen Kings 1992 novel of the same name. Carla Gugino is phenomenal as a woman who gets handcuffed to her bed by her toxic husbandand then he has a heart attack. As she tries to figure out how she will survive, she accesses the trauma of her past. Geralds Game Glass Onion Year: 2022 Runtime: 2h 19m Director: Rian Johnson The writer/director of Knives Out returned in late 2022 with a sequel to that smash hit, exclusively on Netflix. Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, the casual crime solver who finds himself on a billionaires island in this latest comedy/mystery. Once again, Johnson assembles a murderers row of talent, including Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae, Ed Norton, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and more. Its smart, funny, and thoroughly entertaining. Glass Onion Year: 2020 Runtime: 2h 14m Director: Charlie Kaufman The Oscar-winning writer of Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind delivered one of his most creative films in this adaptation of the novel of the same name by Iain Reid. Jessie Buckley is incredible as a young woman who goes with her mediocre boyfriend (Jesse Plemons) to meet his parents (played by Toni Collette and David Thewlis). Or does she? A film that starts to fracture narratively becomes more of a commentary on gender roles and storytelling than anything straightforward. Im Thinking of Ending Things Year: 2019 Runtime: 3h 29m Director: Martin Scorsese Also known as I Heard You Paint Houses, this epic drama is one of the most ambitious and impressive films in the career of arguably the best American filmmaker. Scorsese and Steven Zaillian adapted the nonfiction book by Charles Brandt about a modest, ordinary truck driver named Frank (Robert De Niro, giving his best late-career performance) who gets embroiled in the mob in the era of Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). A moving tapestry of the criminal underworld in the 20th century, its a monumental achievement in filmmaking. The Irishman Year: 2019 Runtime: 1h 37m Director: Sergio Pablos A little movie that could, this animated Christmas adventure was so critically beloved that it competed with giants like Pixar and DreamWorks for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Its a delightful little fable about a postman who ends up stationed so far to the north that he meets a reclusive toymaker there named Klaus. Yes, its a Santa Claus origin story. With lovely, old-fashioned style, this is the kind of joyous film that the whole family can watch any time of year. Klaus Year: 2021 Runtime: 2h 1m Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal The actress Maggie Gyllenhaal made a confident and remarkable directorial debut with this adaptation of the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante, which earned two of its stars Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley Oscar nominations for their performances. Colman does career-best work as a woman who encounters an extended family while on a Grecian vacation. The young mother (an excellent Dakota Johnson) reminds her of herself, leading to flashbacks about a time in her life when she may have not really wanted to be a parent. A smart drama for adults, this is exactly the kind of film that people complain doesnt really get made anymore. The Lost Daughter Year: 2019 Runtime: 2h 16m Director: Noah Baumbach The director of The Squid and the Whale and While Were Young delivered one of his most personal films in this drama that would become his most successful film to date. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver do some of the best work of their careers as a couple going through an increasingly messy divorce. Laura Dern won her first Oscar for her work in a film that was also nominated for Best Picture, Actor, and Actress. Its a film that feels so true that it hurts. Marriage Story *May December Year: 2023 Runtime: 1h 57m Director: Todd Haynes Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman star in the latest from Carol and Far from Heaven director Todd Haynes, a stunning character study of an actress who discovers that some people are impossible to figure out. Portman plays a star who tries to get under the skin of Moores character, a woman who raped a child when she was a teacher, and later married that young man. Charles Melton is phenomenal as the now-grown victim, stuck in perpetual adolescence. May December Year: 2021 Runtime: 1h 53m Directors: Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe Originally planned for a theatrical release by Sony (with the much-worse title Connected), the studio sold this off to Netflix during the pandemic and probably regretted that decision. One of the most critically and commercially beloved animated films of 2021, this is an incredibly smart and sweet family vacation movie, a comedy thats as much about a tender relationship between a father and daughter as is the fact that they end up having to save the world together. The Mitchells vs. the Machines Year: 2017 Runtime: 2h Director: Bong Joon-ho Before he won all those awards for Parasite, the great Korean director Bong Joon-ho helmed the quirkiest film of his career in this story of a super pig named Okja. After the massive creature is pulled from the safety of his homelife and thrust into the nefarious world of the meat industry, his best friend has to go on a mission to save him. Featuring some of the craziest performances from Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, this is an underrated comedy that has personality to spare. Its certainly like nothing else on Netflix. Okja Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio Year: 2022 Runtime: 1h 56m Directors: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson The Oscar-winning director took his visionary skills to stop-motion animation with this instant classic, a retelling of the beloved fairy tale about the wooden boy who longed to be real. With spectacular voice work, this version reimagines Pinocchio during the period before World War II, allowing del Toro to explore his themes of innocence and violence again. Its a deeply personal, beautiful film. Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio Year: 2021 Runtime: 2h 6m Director: Jane Campion The film that finally won an Oscar for Jane Campion for directing is one of the most acclaimed in the history of the streaming giant. Campion helmed this adaptation of the novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, the story of a vicious landowner (Benedict Cumberbatch) who torments the new wife (Kirsten Dunst) of his brother (Jesse Plemons). A drama that plays like a thriller, this gorgeously rendered period piece unpacks themes of toxic masculinity and manipulation in a way that makes it impossible to turn away. Its not just one of the best Netflix Original films, its one of the best, period, of the 2020s so far. The Power of the Dog Year: 2018 Runtime: 2h 17m Director: Tamara Jenkins Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti star in this personal, powerful story of a middle-aged New York couple who decide theyd like to have a child. The truth about fertility treatments and the pain around what it takes to have a baby late in life has never been so genuinely portrayed in a dramatic feature film. And anyone who fell in love with Hahn after her Emmy-nominated work in WandaVision should check out what she delivers in her career-best work here just to see her remarkable range. Private Life Procession Year: 2021 Runtime: 1h 56m Director: Robert Greene The fantastic documentarian behind Kate Plays Christine directed his best work to date in this 2021 story of a group of abuse survivors who stage theatrical performances related to their trauma. Its not an easy watch, but its actually an empowering one in the way Greene captures how much these men end up collaborating and supporting each other. Art takes teamwork, and Greene proves that recovery can also require a shoulder to lean on. Procession Year: 2018 Runtime: 2h 15m Director: Alfonso Cuaron A multiple Oscar winner (including Cinematography and Director), this personal drama might be the most acclaimed film in the history of the Netflix Original pipeline. Also nominated for Best Picture, Actress, and Supporting Actress, among others, its a story of a Mexican family in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City in the early 70s, seen through the eyes of their housekeeper (Yalitza Aparicio). Short in gorgeous black and white, its an unforgettably moving motion picture. Roma The Swimmers Year: 2022 Runtime: 2h 15m Director: Sally El Hosaini This Netflix original follows the true story of Yusra and Sarah Mardini, who became refugees from Syria after war broke out in their own country, making their way to Germany. The first half of the film is a terrifying dramatic thriller about survival under the most extreme conditions, while the second details how Yusra became a part of the Refugee Olympic Team, competing in the Rio Olympics. Its a bit too long but its also undeniably moving. The Swimmers Year: 2019 Runtime: 2h 5m Director: Fernando Meirelles The director of City of God adapted the play The Pope by Anthony McCarten into this two-hander showcase for the great Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. Hopkins plays Pope Benedict XVI as he tries to convince Pryces Cardinal Bergoglio to take the throne as the most important figure in the Catholic faith. What follows is a sharply written study of faith and friendship, elevated by a pair of all-time great actors. The Two Popes *The Woman King Year: 2022 Runtime: 2h 14m Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood Living legend Viola Davis stars in this retelling of the all-female warriors of the kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century. She plays General Nansica, who trains young women to follow in her footsteps, and leads a rock star ensemble of future stars that includes Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and Sheila Atim. Youll know all their names soon enough. The Woman King If you subscribe to a service through our links, Vulture may earn an affiliate commission. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images After Jimmy Kimmel purchased a series of cameos from George Santos to use during a Jimmy Kimmel Live! segment in December, the expelled-Congressman is now suing the late night host. In a complaint filed on Saturday, February 17, which also named ABC and Disney as defendants, Santos accused Kimmel of misusing the videos by acquiring them with fake names and broadcasting them on his show. The complaint, which was first reported by the New York Post, claims that Kimmel violated Cameos terms of service, and accuses him of copyright infringement, fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. Santos, whos on the other of a fraud lawsuit this time around, is seeking at least $750,000 in damages. Kimmel used the videos last December in a segment called Will Santos Say It? in which he prompted the former-Congressman to deliver increasingly outrageous messages. These included having Santos congratulate people for eating six pounds of loose ground beef in under 30 minutes, cloning a schnauzer named Adolf, and passing a driving test despite being blind. After airing some of the clips, Kimmel joked about the prospect of Santos suing him, saying, I showed some of them on the air on Thursday, and now hes demanding $20,000 from me to be paid a commercial rate. Could you imagine if I get sued by George Santos for fraud? I mean how good would that be? It would be like a dream come true. In a statement to the New York Post, Santos said, Jimmy, sorry that my Christmas gift to you came late, but heres to making wishes come true. I hope you enjoy reading your lawsuit for fraud that youve been looking forward to. 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. Unfortunately, declining attendance rates for many First Nations students is also a major challenge. Lifting attendance is important to give those students a real opportunity to master reading. Another group at risk are the students whose parents did not finish school. This is concerning because it suggests our school system isnt doing enough yet to break the cycle of disadvantage, Hunter said. What leads to poor results? According to a Grattan Institutes report released last week, there have been decades of disagreements on the best teaching practices, making it difficult for educators to figure out how to best help their students. Hunter said in WA there was a lack of consistency when it came to assessing students from as young as year 1, making it impossible to compare strategies. MultiLit director of strategy and senior research fellow Dr Jennifer Buckingham said this inconsistency had a direct impact on NAPLAN results for reading in WA, particularly in year 3. Loading Over 35 per cent of year 3 students across the state are struggling to read, which means they are also likely to be experiencing difficulty in subject areas that rely on sound literacy skills, she said. Unfortunately, we still have too many schools claiming to use multiple strategies to teach reading, which often indicates they are relying on whole language or balanced literacy approaches that are inferior to explicit and systematic phonics teaching and leave too many children struggling, or worse, falling through the cracks. What are the stats? 70 per cent Indigenous students in WA who did not meet proficiency. 60 per cent WA students falling short whose parents did not finish school. 68 per cent The number of WA students who are proficient, according to NAPLAN 2023 data. 83 per cent The number WA should aim for in 10 years, according to the Grattan Institute. 90 per cent The minimum number we should aim for long-term. $40 billion The amount it will cost Australian taxpayers to support poor readers in schools today, who are more likely to drop out, over their lifetime according to the Grattan Institute. What needs to be done to improve? From where WA students are currently sitting, a 90 per cent proficiency target may seem like a difficult number to reach, but Hunter said the continued decline was a preventable tragedy. WA has some great foundations to build on, including some big investments in early years reading instruction, recommending high-quality programs and assessments to schools, she said. Closer monitoring to ensure schools act on this guidance is important, as is a step-up in the level of training for teachers in evidence-based instructional practice. We also recommend WA adopt the 40-item national year 1 Phonics Screening Check across all schools and collect this data at a statewide level, so that additional school supports can be targeted where needed. The state government has said all students must have their phonics skills and knowledge assessed by the mid-point of Year 1 and the assessment data was used to identify those needing further help. It claimed the assessment was made using an expected proficiency set at a higher standard, in terms of letter-sound knowledge, than the national year 1 Phonics Screening Check. It also said the WA curriculum had been revised, removing references to non-evidence-informed practices, and a Phonics Toolkit has been published that provided detailed teacher guidance. Loading Schools taking the initiative MultiLits reading program was rolled out at Belmay Primary School in 2019. Almost 40 per cent of students have a language background other than English. Buckingham said its introduction helped lift the achievement of struggling readers. In 2018, the schools average reading level was below that of students with a similar background and is now close to similar schools. Writing is now well above when compared to students with a similar background, and spelling is also above. Methodist Ladies College said it was already using the Grattan Institutes six-step reading guarantee strategy, which includes providing literacy instructional specialists to help teachers. Junior years pre-primary to year 2 leader Emily Wood said she has seen the benefits of this stepped approach firsthand in the classroom. Students enjoy and embrace instant feedback, repeated practice and reliable schedules encouraged by these systematic approaches, she said. Department of Education Director General Lisa Rodgers said reading was one of the most important skills to learn. Where are the women? As the ABC Nemesis series about the period of Liberal power just gone recalled, this time three years ago, a very female crisis engulfed the government. In the #MeToo moment, all women had begun to reflect on their treatment by powerful or simply entitled men and many had discovered that experiences they thought theyd brushed off still burned. Time was being called on the casual sexual entitlement of men. A swirling feminist anger, locked up within during COVID lockdown, was ready to make change. Brittany Higgins and Lisa Wilkinson outside Parliament House in March 2021. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Liberal women were angry that the party couldnt seem to preselect them and recognise their contribution. Illiberal women were angry that Scott Morrison had won an election that was supposed to be in the bag for Labor. Then on February 15, 2021, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins went to air with allegations that she had been raped in Parliament House and that her rape was hushed up for political reasons. The interview channelled the anger of women over slights and humiliations, grabby bosses and sleazy peers, which they had for decades been told to brush aside. A couple of weeks later, ABC Four Corners screened Bursting the Canberra Bubble, a follow-up from a November show which pointed out sexual indiscretions in the capital but hinted at something more sinister by an unnamed minister. Bursting aired on International Womens Day, after attorney-general Christian Porter, who had been accused of raping a girl when they were teenagers (which he vehemently denies) outed himself as the unnamed minister subject to serious allegations. NANNING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- As one of China's world-famous tourist cities, Guilin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has witnessed a steady growth in tourism cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and France over the years. Along the Lijiang River, one finds West Street in Yangshuo County, Guilin. The street has a history of more than 1,400 years. In 1991, Frenchman Christophe Vincent came to this quiet Chinese street and soon fell in love with Yangshuo's calm and casual lifestyle. "Tourism was not quite developed at that time. There were no homestays and no guides, but the locals were very warm to me," Vincent said. "I love the Lijiang River. This clear water makes me calm, and I decided to stay here." Vincent rented a Chinese traditional hall with a history of over 200 years on Yangshuo West Street and opened the first French restaurant in Yangshuo, retaining the architectural simplicity and traditional style of the building. The restaurant became a key feature of the local landscape, attracting many tourists. He hired local people to cook local specialties, creating a menu with a mix of Chinese and French cuisine. After putting an end to his restaurant career a few years ago, Vincent is now looking for some new projects in Yangshuo. In 2013, Yangshuo County and France's Annecy-le-Vieux officially established a sister-city relationship. Since then, the two places have deepened their cooperation in tourism, culture, sports, education and other fields. In 2015, authorities from the two locations teamed up to host the MaXi-Race Yangshuo China, a trail-running event in Yangshuo County, providing further evidence of friendly cooperation. Luc Vincent, Christophe Vincent's young brother, came to Yangshuo in 2001. In 2011, he began running a hotel next to his brother's restaurant, which now boasts more than 40 rooms. With a cheerful personality, he acted as a translator for the French racers in the MaXi-Race Yangshuo China. "There's a school in France that teaches Chinese martial arts. Every year, I volunteer to help the school buy clothes," said Luc Vincent. "Its students want to come to China to study, and I also actively help them communicate. This cultural exchange brings people closer together." The two brothers could not have anticipated China's rapid development ever since, or the new upgrades ushered in by Guilin's tourism industry over the decades. In 2013, Club Med, a leisure holiday brand originating from France, officially opened a resort in Guilin Yuzi Paradise. As a high-end French holiday brand, it has brought a new tourism holiday experience to tourists since entering the Chinese tourism market. "The landscape of Guilin is beautiful, and our resort is perfectly integrated into the landscape," said Morgane Schwarzer, general manager of Club Med Guilin Resort. "At the same time, we have also introduced many French elements, including organizing French cultural performances and introducing various French-style decorations." Since 1997, French artists have created a total of 12 large-scale sculptures in the Yuzi Paradise. These works not only reflect the artists' thoughts on nature, mankind and the universe, but also bear witness to the communication between China and France through sculpture. "It is a good place for cultural exchanges between the two countries, bringing people together through the appreciation of artworks," said Schwarzer. China is implementing a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia on a trial basis. From Dec. 1, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from these six countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, transit, and visiting friends and relatives, for a period of no more than 15 days. "The unilateral visa-free policy for six countries, including France, is a very friendly move," Luc Vincent said. "Many of my French friends are ready to come to China. I'm going to embrace them in China with open arms and show them the great beauty and warmth here in China." Australian start-up darling Canva is facing arguably the greatest challenge of its decade-long existence, as is the local technology sector that has allowed it to thrive. One of Canvas most senior leaders, chief financial officer Damien Singh, quietly departed the design software company this month amid an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Canva, led by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht (left) and Cameron Adams, is widely seen as an IPO prospect but has not revealed any timing. Credit: Louie Douvis The current mood among many of its 4000 or so employees is one of angst and frustration, as what began as an internal company matter has exploded into public view. Executive turnover ahead of an IPO is relatively common, as young start-ups look to bolster their leadership credentials. But messages posted to an anonymous professional community suggest there had been complaints of inappropriate behaviour made against Singh, who had been with Canva since 2016. And speaking of vinyl, Shimokitazawa is renowned as a record store haven. Flash Disc Ranch is an old-school place overseen by a grey ponytailed, Fu Manchu-moustachioed, chain-smoking dude who will expertly direct you to what you want in his vast loft of vinyl delights. Jet Set (jetsetrecords.net), on the other hand, is a sleek, bright, modern store hidden away on the fourth floor of a non-descript building and accessed by a tiny elevator. The owner, a friendly guy in a pork pie hat, spots my Teenage Fanclub T-shirt and plays me a selection of Japanese indie rock, including several discs Ill end up buying and loving, by bands such as No Buses and Sunny Day Service. Shimokitazawa is renowned as a record store haven. Credit: Alamy One place that really embodies the bohemian spirit of the area is City Country City, opened in 2006 by musician Keiichi Sokabe. This is a combination cafe/bar/record store/music club. Oh, and it serves great spaghetti too. Over a late-afternoon beer I chat with bartender Kanki Hirabayashi, who talks about how Shimokitazawa had developed. In the 70s this area was well known for its theatre scene, he says. Since the 90s a lot of musicians and young people moved here. There are around 15 record stores and a number of live houses in the neighbourhood. But Shimokitazawa has changed too. Its a lot more crowded, it gets more tourists and, in my opinion, there are too many vintage clothes stores. But it still has that spirit that attracts young people and that will always mean it has that alternative edge to it. Indeed, as Hirabayashi says, Tokyos theatre scene was born and bred here and still thrives in places like the Honda Theater, Theater 711 and Off Off Theater. And when he refers to live houses, hes using the term the Japanese have for small music venues. On my second day in Shimokitazawa I head to Shelter, a basement live house, to check out three young Tokyo independent bands. Before the show I get talking to the guy on the merch stand and it turns out hes the frontman of the headlining group, Eupholks. Hes polite and quietly spoken and tells me what to expect from the other bands Lighters are female-fronted Breeders-like rock; the Wisely Brothers are three women who make lush, atmospheric music. By the time he gets on stage, hes transformed into a mesmerising vocalist who sounds like a cross between Prince and Thom Yorke. As its an afternoon show, afterwards I head to Flippers and join the queue. Theres a line because the pancakes here are renowned and a thing of beauty puffy, light, souffle-like creations that melt in your mouth and come with fresh cream and fruit. Youre spoilt for choice in the food department in Shimokitazawa and over a couple of days I inhale ramen, yakitori, gyoza and the areas specialty, curry, which is such a big thing here that there is an annual curry festival. A few of the most popular curry joints are Nan Station, Ponipirica, Rojiura Curry Samurai and Magic Spice. Part of the joy of this walkable neighbourhood is to become a flaneur and just wander without purpose, as you invariably stumble across something interesting. In the space of an hour or two I found the following: Sansato (sansato.jp), a cottage-like gift store with knick-knacks, toys, cards, art prints, stationery and rubber stamps in a number of small rooms you explore by climbing a staircase; Gallery Hana (g-hana.jp), a sweet little art gallery that has new exhibits by local artists every few weeks (the day I visited I got to meet artist Masako Kobayashi, who made intricately cut paper sculptures out of the pages of famous books); Shirohiges Cream Puff Factory, a bakery that specialises in choux cream pastries in the shape of the beloved title character from the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbour Totoro. To properly enjoy Shimokitazawa, wander without purpose. Credit: japanjourneys.jps At one point I pass a place called Lady Jane and drop in. Its one of Tokyos so called jazz kissaten, cafe/bars devoted to listening to records. Lady Jane is a bit of an institution that has been here since the mid-70s. I order a beer and take in the dark, woody atmosphere, the classic film posters, and the shelves of vinyl and the bartender asks if I have any requests. Its a strictly jazz bar, and I happened to have written about the saxophonist Sonny Rollins in my novel Driving Stevie Fracasso, so I ask if he has the 1962 album The Bridge. Of course, he says, walking to the collection, finding the disc and putting it on. A couple of minutes later he gently deposits a stack of about 20 Sonny Rollins albums on the bar in front of me, in case you can find something else of his youd like to hear. I could get used to a place like this. Loading While in Tokyo Ive been reading Moshi Moshi, the 2010 novel by Banana Yoshimoto, that is set in Shimokitazawa. In the authors note at the end she bemoans the fact that the neighbourhood she celebrated in the book is changing and that the independent, quirky businesses are dying out. The way things are going, she wrote, there will be less and less space for individuals to find their niche within a community, and less and less leeway for people to live at a pace that suits them. I read that sentence over lunch a plate of dumplings and a beer. Then I pay my bill, walk out into the street and hear a noise. Music. I follow the sound, turn a corner and there he is the guy with the whistle, the Mardi Gras beads and the rainbow parasol, leading the brass band down the street. Loading And thats when I smile and think perhaps Yoshimoto is wrong, and Shimokitazawa still has space for individuals and is still a place with a beating heart. At least, on that hot summer afternoon as I watch the band pass by, it certainly seems that way. A Chinese passenger jet C919 makes a rehearsal flight to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 18, 2024. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) SINGAPORE, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese passenger jet C919 made a rehearsal flight Sunday in Singapore to prepare for the upcoming airshow. Five aircraft developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., including C919, will meet the public at the airshow. C919 will perform flight demonstrations at the Singapore Airshow 2024, which lasts from Feb. 20 to Feb. 25. The aerial show attracts aerobatic teams from India, Australia, Indonesia and South Korea. Singapore Air Force will send its F-15 fighter jet and Apache attack helicopter to the aerial performances. The event, attended by over 1,000 participating companies, is expected to attract 50,000 trade attendees from over 50 countries and regions. Singapore Airshow will set up the country pavilion for Chinese aerospace enterprises for the first time, according to the organizer. A Chinese passenger jet C919 makes a rehearsal flight to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 18, 2024. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) A Chinese passenger jet C919 makes a rehearsal flight to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 18, 2024. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) A Chinese passenger jet C919 makes a rehearsal flight to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 18, 2024. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) A Chinese passenger jet C919 makes a rehearsal flight to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 18, 2024. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) A Chinese passenger jet C919 makes a rehearsal flight to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 18, 2024. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) Tom Tuite A convicted drug dealer who ran over a garda with an electric bike, leaving him with a disfigurement on his finger, has been jailed for seven months. Stephen Brazil (46), of Hampton Wood, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and drug offences. Judge Treasa Kelly heard at Dublin District Court that gardai were carrying out an operation on July 31st last year in Finglas and noticed the accused who failed to stop. The court heard he ran over one officer who provided a victim impact statement and a medical report update. He showed the court how the little finger on one hand remains disfigured due to the impact. The court heard that Brazil was in the throes of a drug relapse at the time. The accused already had 39 prior criminal convictions. He started using drugs when he was 14 but later got clean and had been working as a tiler and forklift driver. However, his courses stopped during Covid restrictions, and he relapsed. The defence submitted that Brazil began interacting with new people who were a bad influence on him. The injured officer, Garda Peter Elliot, gave a victim impact statement and showed the judge how he remained affected by the injury. Brazil also admitted possessing cocaine and heroin for sale or supply on a date in February 2023. The court also heard his previous convictions were recorded from 1999 until this year. They included five counts of possessing drugs for supply, vehicle theft, failing to appear in court, and larceny. Jailing him, Judge Kelly noted the garda had been left with a disfigurement on his finger and that the officer had to undergo months of treatment. She said it was a serious matter and that Brazil showed no respect for the gardai carrying out their work when you were on this electric bike. Census data released earlier this month shows the importance of engaging a diverse group of volunteers reflective of our communities and creating more flexible ways for people to volunteer. In Mayo, 17% of the county's population or more than 23,300 people were volunteering in their community and various organisations in April 2022. Of those, there were 11,681 females and more than 11,600 males volunteering. The most popular voluntary activity was in a sporting organisation, where almost 9,400 Mayo people were volunteering. Just over 9,100 people volunteered in their community while more than 6,200 were involved in social or charitable organisations. Almost 4,400 people were volunteering in a religious or church group while there were 599 volunteers in political organisations. Nearly 4,700 people were volunteering in more than one group or activity. Looking at broad age groups, the largest group of volunteers was among people aged 45-64 where there were 9,390 people volunteering. A further 6,104 people aged 25-44 were also involved in voluntary activities. There were 4,674 volunteers aged 65 and over. More than 1,000 children (under 15 years old) and just over 2,100 people aged 15-24 were also volunteering. Nationally, the data shows that volunteering levels are similar across ethnic groups, with 14.8% of those with a white background volunteering and 15.8% of ethnic minorities volunteering. While the Census data doesnt distinguish between Irish ethnic minorities and ethnic minority migrants, we know that volunteering plays a huge role in integration of new arrivals. Lesley Moore, Mayo Volunteer Centre Manager commented, We see high levels of interest in volunteering from new people arriving in Ireland, for example people seeking protection and Ukrainians. Through volunteering, people can become active members of their new community, make friends, learn English and build their own local network. It's important to remember that people making Ireland their home make a huge contribution to our communities. We know that many organisations are currently struggling to recruit volunteers and wed encourage them to ensure that their volunteer programmes are open and inclusive to all members of the community. Small changes can make a big difference to attracting diverse volunteers. For example, covering a volunteers bus fare to travel to the organisation can make it possible someone who is unemployed or living in direct provision to volunteer. The data also shows that almost 25% of people who work from home for some part of the week volunteer. Time is often identified as the most common reason people dont volunteer and this data indicates that people who have more time are more likely to volunteer. However, its important to note that not all volunteer roles demand huge time commitments. Lesley explained, "volunteering has changed a lot over the last 5 to 10 years. There are more ways to volunteer than ever before including shorter, more flexible roles. Wed encourage people to think about what time they have spare and even if its only an hour a week or a few days here and there, youd be surprised at whats available. Similarly, we encourage organisations to think about the roles they have and how they can make them more attractive to volunteers while still making a meaningful contribution to the organisation. Although its not possible for every role, we work with organisations to help them break down their roles into shorter, more task-based opportunities. Overall, the data showed consistent levels of volunteering in Ireland. When compared with similar data from the 2006 Census, the level of volunteering among those over the age of 15 is similar. The data also confirmed trends seen across Ireland in recent years with sport being the most popular activity and those over the age of 45 being more likely to volunteer. Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society will present the next talk in its current series at ATU Campus in Castlebar on Wednesday, February 21. The talk by archaeologist Jerry O'Sullivan will explore the history and archaeology of Inishmurray Island. This Early Christian monastic island off the coast of Co Sligo was evacuated on November 12th, 1948. The 75th anniversary of the evacuation was commemorated by Sligo County Council's Heritage Office last November. Next week's talk is entitled 'Inishmurray, Co Sligo: History and archaeology of a monastic Island'. Jerry O'Sullivan is a professional archaeologist with over 40 years experience in conservation, rescue and research work. His interests are in medieval church and settlement archaeology and in archaeological practice and regulation. He currently works as an archaeological project manager for Transport Infrastructure Ireland and is based in the National Roads Project Office in Galway. He has carried out extensive research work on Inishmurray Island. Jerry's talk will commence at 7.30pm. It should be a fascinating presentation. All are welcome. A councillor says a generator is badly needed to keep a local water supply going in Killasser. Fianna Fail Cllr Adrian Forkan said supply is more vulnerable in the heavily forested area and frequent power outages are having an impact on local people. The water treatment plant was constructed by the Coffey Group in conjunction with Mayo County Council. However, the company operates the plant and Cllr Forkan proposed that the council write to the Coffey Group asking it to invest a few thousand euro in a generator. There was a big power outage in Killasser through Storm Isha and I had several representations from people, he told a meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District. It is the second biggest parish in the country and it would keep schools open. Cllr Forkan said more than 1 million was spent on the treatment plant, which also services Sonnagh in Charlestown, Attymachugh near Foxford and parts of Swinford town. It is very hard to believe in this day and age there is no generator that would kick in when the power is off, he said. There are two schools and an area of 50 kilometres of pipe. It is one of the biggest water schemes in the country. Councillors and senior engineer Conrad Harley agreed to write a letter to the operator. By Rebecca Black, PA Two men have been arrested after Dublin saw thousands of protestors take to the streets in support of Palestine this afternoon. They were detained for public order offences in Dublin City Centre this afternoon and have been charged to appear in court at a later date. Protestors represented over 100 different organisations, with the large crowds taking over an hour to pass through O'Connell Street. People travelled from across Ireland to take part in the National Demonstration event. Organisers the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign said it was the fourth such national mobilisation since March. They have called for an end to Israels action in Gaza and for the Government to take action to hold Israel accountable. What a turnout! The view from the stage at our huge @ipsc48 National Demonstration for Palestine. The streets are with Palestine! #GazaGenocide #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/gEBUiz0yl2 IPSC (@ipsc48) February 17, 2024 Crowds gathered at Parnell Square before a procession across the city centre to the Department of Foreign Affairs, where there were speeches and performances of Irish and Palestinian music. Banners read Freedom and justice for Palestine, and others called for a ceasefire in Gaza now. People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett was among the speakers. He said that no politician should shake hands with US President Joe Biden because of the administrations stance on Gaza and Israel and because of his support for Israel. Events organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign also took place at a number of other places on Saturday, including Cork, Ennis, Armagh and Waterford. A Reading native is celebrating a big milestone with a special recognition from the Pennsylvania State Legislature. Dolly Thornburg celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at the Heritage of Green Hills in Shillington. State Rep. Mark Gillen (R-Berks) read a proclamation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives congratulating her and thanking her for her contributions to the community. "Dolly affectionately known to her family members and friends as a special dear lady has demonstrated the highest ideals to citizenship throughout the years," said Gillen. Dolly is a 1942 graduate of Reading Senior High School, She has two children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It's never too late to have your senior prom. What you're looking at is a prom re-do at Blue Grillhouse in Bethlehem, sponsored by Moravian University. More than 150 college students came out tonight to celebrate the prom they never had thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Colleges typically don't have proms, and we noticed when we were talking to our students that they really missed having this tradition, and we wanted to create it for them," said Liz Yates, Morvaian's Dean of Campus Life. The prom's theme tonight was the Roaring '20s. MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian troops have taken full control of the town of Avdiivka near Donetsk, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Saturday. The Defense Ministry announced on its Telegram channel that Shoigu had reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin that the troops of the Center group, led by Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev, had completely captured the city of Avdiivka. The ministry said that the Russian troops had taken control of territory of 31.75 square kilometers from the Ukrainian forces, and that Ukraine had lost more than 1,500 servicemen in the battles for Avdiivka in the last 24 hours. "Under the continuous fire impact of the Russian troops, only separate scattered formations of Ukrainian militants managed to hastily leave Avdiivka, abandoning their weapons and military equipment. Currently, measures are being taken to finally clear the city of militants, blocking the Ukrainian units that left the city and settled at the Avdiivka coke and chemical plant," the Russian Defense Ministry said. The full control of Avdiivka had allowed the Russian troops to push back the front line from Donetsk, thus significantly securing the military from Ukrainian attacks, the ministry added. LOWER MAKEFIELD TWP., Pa. - The Bucks County District Attorneys office and the Lower Makefield Township police department are investigating the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old female. Police were dispatched at 2:28 p.m. Friday for a report of a burglary in the 2500 block of Waterford Road. Officers were informed that the incident was domestic-related. Police say when they arrived, they observed a male tackle a female to the ground and repeatedly stab her. While running away from police, the male then repeatedly stabbed himself in the neck. Police attempted life-saving measures on the woman, and she was transported to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The 23-year-old male suspect was transported to the hospital and is expected to survive. Police say there is no further threat to the community. CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - Authorities have identified a southeastern Pennsylvania police officer wounded in an exchange of gunfire that killed a suspect over the weekend. The Delaware County District Attorney's Office on Sunday identified the wounded officer as Chester Police Detective Steve Byrne, saying in a social media post that officials were deeply saddened by Saturday afternoon's events but enormously grateful that Byrne was expected to make a full recovery. Another reminder that every day, brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect and serve their community. We cant thank them enough for what they do, the office said. District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer told reporters Saturday that the officer was trying to stop a vehicle and the driver got out of the car shooting his gun, firing at the police officer. Steven Gretsky, Chesters police commissioner, said the officer is one of the departments senior detectives. He said in a social media post Saturday night that the officer was currently recovering at a local hospital and will be released in the near future. The individual who shot the officer was also shot and pronounced deceased, Gretsky said. That person's name hasn't been released. Further details on the circumstances of the shooting or the injuries to the officer and suspect werent immediately released. Authorities have announced a news conference Monday afternoon to provide details about the shooting. The district attorney's office is handling the investigation. WASHINGTON Former President Donald Trump has plans to radically reshape the federal government if he returns to the White House, from promising to deport millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally to abolishing government agencies and firing tens of thousands of workers and replacing them with loyalists. Liberal organizations in Washington are backing President Joe Biden and say they expect Trump to lose. But they're quietly trying to install roadblocks just in case. A collection of activists, advocates and legal experts is promoting new federal rules to limit presidential power while urging Bidens White House to do more to protect his accomplishments and limit Trump in a possible second term. All of that is happening with far less fanfare than plans by Trump supporters to create a conservative government-in-waiting via an effort known as Project 2025. The Office of Personnel Management, the federal governments chief human resources agency, proposed a rule against reclassifying tens of thousands of workers so they can be more easily fired. According to spokesperson Viet Tran, the office will finalize the rule in April. That means that a future administration would likely have to spend months or even years unwinding it if they want to try to do so. Those supporting the effort are open about its limits. My impression is the Biden administration is taking very seriously that potential threat and is trying to do things now," said Michael Linden, a former executive associate director of the White House Office of Management and Budget under Biden. But he added, "Nobody should be under any illusion that theres anything that this president can do in advance to prevent the next president from doing things that are very damaging, potentially catastrophically. There isn't any magic bullet, Linden said. The White House is reluctant to talk about a second Trump term before Election Day, as that would imply it has plans for if Biden loses. Trump "is already telegraphing plays straight out of the authoritarian playbook gutting the civil service of people he deems disloyal and plotting revenge on his political enemies," said Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Biden's campaign. "Theres one way of stopping Trumps dangerous and un-American plans: reelecting President Biden. Still, Norm Eisen, who was chief ethics counselor to President Barack Obama, wants Biden to issue executive orders that could limit the use of the military domestically. Trump has talked about sending troops to the southern border or to Democrat-run cities dealing with rising crime rates. I understand the potential reluctance to signal any risk here as a political matter and thats not an illegitimate consideration, said Eisen, a senior fellow in governance studies at the left-leaning Brookings Institution. But there are countervailing considerations given the threat that we face. Central both to Trump's plans and the Democratic efforts to impede him is deciding how many government workers can be removed by a new administration, potentially to be replaced with loyalists. Trump at the end of his term sought to reclassify thousands of the more than 2 million federal employees, stripping them of job protections and making them at-will employees under a new classification known as Schedule F. Around 4,000 federal employees are now considered political appointees who typically change with each administration. Creating Schedule F could have increased that more than tenfold. Biden revoked that order but Trump says he'll revive it should he win. And conservatives preparing thick policy books are strategizing on how to fire employees to make more room for Trump appointees. A spokesman for Trump's campaign did not answer a message seeking comment and the Heritage Foundation, which is running Project 2025, declined to answer written questions. But Heritage's president, Kevin Roberts, told The New York Times Magazine that he wants to see destruction" in the government. People will lose their jobs. Hopefully their lives are able to flourish in spite of that, Roberts said. Buildings will be shut down. Hopefully they can be repurposed for private industry. The OPM in September proposed the rule making it more difficult to reclassify employees and allowing anyone moved into a potential Schedule F to retain their protections against being fired. It's been endorsed by 27 advocacy organizations whose policy interests dont always align. I think youve seen the federal agencies, and the president himself, talk about the importance of a functioning government, the importance of a democracy and the importance of a government that works for all people, said Skye Perryman, president of the advocacy group Democracy Forward, which has been a leading proponent of the proposed rule. James Sherk, a former Trump administration official now working at the America First Policy Institute, another group strategizing for a second Trump term, opposed the rule in a letter sent to OPM. Sherk argued worker protections against termination enable what are typically very liberal career staff to stymie conservative policies. The federal workforce has ideologically polarized, and this rulemaking would impede the ability of presidents whose views differ from the bureaucracys to implement their agendas, Sherk wrote. Atom bomb epic Oppenheimer has won seven prizes, including best picture, at the British Academy Film Awards. Christopher Nolan was named best director and Cillian Murphy won the best actor prize for playing J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Emma Stone was named best actress for Poor Things, which took five prizes at Britains equivalent of the Oscars. Oppenheimer also won trophies for editing, cinematography and musical score, as well as the best supporting actor prize for Robert Downey Jr. But the film missed out on the record nine trophies set half a century ago by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. DaVine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress for The Holdovers. MEXICO CITY (AP) Tens of thousands of demonstrators cloaked in pink marched through cities in Mexico and abroad on Sunday in what they called a march for democracy targeting the country's ruling party in advance of the country's June 2 elections. The demonstrations called by Mexico's opposition parties advocated for free and fair elections in the Latin American nation and railed against corruption the same day presidential front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum registered as a candidate for ruling party Morena. Approximately 90,000 people turned out to rail against the leader, according to government figures. Sheinbaum is largely seen as a continuation candidate of Mexico's popular populist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He's adored by many voters who say he bucked the country's elite parties from power in 2018 and represents the working class. But the 70-year-old president has also been accused of making moves that endanger the country's democracy. Last year, the leader slashed funding for the country's electoral agency, the National Electoral Institute, and weakened oversight of campaign spending, something INE's head said could wind up poisoning democracy itself. The agency's color, pink, has been used as a symbol by demonstrators. Lopez Obrador has also attacked journalists in hours-long press briefings, has frequently attacked Mexicos judiciary and claimed judges are part of a conservative conspiracy against his administration. In Mexico City on Sunday, thousands of people dressed in pink flocked to the the city's main plaza roaring get Lopez out. Others carried signs reading the power of the people is greater than the people in power. Gabriela Ozuna, 61, said she and her family came from Baja California state, and were participating in the march not just to support democratic institution, but also to protest attacks on candidates by drug cartels, especially in local elections. We know our democracy is in danger. What we want to do is defend it and keep defending it, Ozuna said. Among the opposition organizations marching were National Civic Front, Yes for Mexico, Citizen Power, Civil Society Mexico, UNE Mexico and United for Mexico. Democracy doesn't solve lack of water, it doesn't solve hunger, it doesn't solve a lot of things. But without democracy you can't solve anything," said Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, a prominent politician from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, in a video posted to social media calling for people to join the protests. The PRI held uninterrupted power in Mexico for more than 70 years. Marches were organized in a hundred cities across the country, and in other cities in the United States and Spain. Still, the president remains highly popular and opinion polls indicate his ally Sheinbaum appears set to coast easily into the presidency. Lopez Obrador repeatedly dismissed the protests, telling reporters Friday that his critics don't care about democracy and are organizing the march to return the corrupt to power. Following the massive demonstration, the leader continued to rail on critics, and said there would be no electoral fraud in the election and that he had not intervened in democratic processes. It's their democracy ... the democracy of the corrupt. What we want is there to be democracy of the people. We don't want power without the people. They're the one's that establish an anti-democracy with electoral fraud, Lopez Obrador. AP correspondent Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City. Follow AP's coverage of Latin America at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america A spokesperson for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is confirming his death tonight. Spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said Navalny died at a remote Arctic penal colony and also says he was "murdered." Yarmysh says it's still unclear where his body is. Prison officials reportedly told his mother Navalny died from "sudden death syndrome." An official autopsy on Navalny's body is being conducted right now. Meanwhile, Russian authorities arrested people who came to lay flowers at memorials to victims of Soviet-era purges. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meets with Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong (L) in Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua) BUDAPEST, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Hungary is ready to deepen friendship with China, said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban when he met with Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong here on Friday. During their meeting, Orban said Hungary and China have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and supported each other regarding core interests and major concerns. Under the new situation, Hungary is willing to deepen traditional friendship with China, strengthen practical cooperation, and further boost the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he added. Wang said China and Hungary enjoy traditional friendship, and are good friends and partners who can stand the tests. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the development of China-Hungary relations and bilateral cooperation in various fields have accelerated and entered a fast track, Wang said, adding that mutually beneficial cooperation has yielded fruitful results, setting an example of building a new type of international relations. China is willing to take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties to work with Hungary to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, maintain high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, expand cooperation in various fields, strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and push forward the constant development of China-Hungary comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said. Wang also said that he hopes the two countries will deepen cooperation in areas including counter-terrorism, combating transnational crimes, security and law enforcement capacity building under the Belt and Road Initiative, to make law enforcement and security cooperation a new highlight of bilateral relations. During his stay in Hungary, Wang also met with Hungarian Minister of Interior Sandor Pinter and signed documents on law enforcement and security cooperation. Pearl River Capital LLC bought a new position in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 35,701 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $2,460,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 17.7% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 14,076 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $706,000 after purchasing an additional 2,117 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new position in Dell Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $304,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Dell Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $568,000. Rhumbline Advisers raised its holdings in Dell Technologies by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 254,266 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $12,762,000 after acquiring an additional 4,949 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Dell Technologies by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 6,090 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $306,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the period. 38.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Dell Technologies alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Dell Technologies from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price target for the stock from $77.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Monday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $78.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $58.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Dell Technologies has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.80. Insider Activity In other news, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 3,179,972 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.81, for a total transaction of $250,613,593.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 293,812 shares in the company, valued at $23,155,323.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 48.60% of the companys stock. Dell Technologies Price Performance NYSE DELL traded up $1.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $84.21. 4,841,750 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,530,257. Dell Technologies Inc. has a one year low of $35.96 and a one year high of $86.90. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $79.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $70.94. The stock has a market cap of $59.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.90. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The technology company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.46 by $0.42. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 2.92% and a negative return on equity of 150.29%. The firm had revenue of $22.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.01 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 5.66 EPS for the current fiscal year. Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 22nd. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio is currently 40.88%. Dell Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DELL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. QRG Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 57,412 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $6,996,000. QRG Capital Management Inc. owned about 0.05% of Quest Diagnostics at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,014,030 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,917,961,000 after acquiring an additional 636,301 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 5.6% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,414,514 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $416,093,000 after acquiring an additional 180,889 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,422,912 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $339,688,000 after acquiring an additional 72,447 shares during the last quarter. Davis Selected Advisers grew its position in Quest Diagnostics by 10.2% in the 3rd quarter. Davis Selected Advisers now owns 1,667,698 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $203,226,000 after purchasing an additional 153,810 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Quest Diagnostics by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,514,577 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $207,286,000 after purchasing an additional 8,406 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.76% of the companys stock. Get Quest Diagnostics alerts: Quest Diagnostics Stock Down 1.4 % Quest Diagnostics stock opened at $124.00 on Friday. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 1-year low of $119.59 and a 1-year high of $148.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $133.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $131.21. Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend Quest Diagnostics ( NYSE:DGX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The medical research company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.11 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 9.23% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The business had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.25 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.98 EPS. Quest Diagnosticss revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.78 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 8th will be issued a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.42%. This is an increase from Quest Diagnosticss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 5th. Quest Diagnosticss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.92%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on DGX shares. Bank of America raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $140.00 to $160.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. TheStreet downgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a b- rating to a c rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, November 6th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Quest Diagnostics currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $146.91. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Quest Diagnostics About Quest Diagnostics (Free Report) Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic testing, information, and services in the United States and internationally. The company develops and delivers diagnostic information services, such as routine testing, non-routine and advanced clinical testing, anatomic pathology testing, and other diagnostic information services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DGX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Quest Diagnostics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quest Diagnostics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Polen Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 3.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,989,956 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 170,551 shares during the period. Accenture makes up 4.0% of Polen Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Polen Capital Management LLC owned 0.79% of Accenture worth $1,532,465,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in Accenture during the first quarter valued at about $28,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Accenture during the third quarter valued at about $31,000. RVW Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture in the third quarter valued at about $33,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Accenture in the second quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Canton Hathaway LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. 70.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Activity at Accenture In related news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $371.81, for a total value of $1,859,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 20,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,553,691.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $371.81, for a total value of $1,859,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 20,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,553,691.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $362.77, for a total transaction of $2,267,312.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 167,831 shares in the company, valued at $60,884,051.87. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 26,551 shares of company stock valued at $9,739,791 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently weighed in on ACN. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Accenture from $344.00 to $364.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Accenture from $350.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Mizuho initiated coverage on shares of Accenture in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $426.00 price target for the company. Finally, BNP Paribas raised shares of Accenture from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $440.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $363.84. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on ACN Accenture Stock Performance Shares of NYSE ACN traded down $2.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $369.48. 2,410,212 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,015,904. The company has a market cap of $231.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.24, a PEG ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 1.21. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $356.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $329.98. Accenture plc has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $375.73. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $16.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.17 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.65% and a return on equity of 29.08%. Accentures revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.08 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Accenture Company Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aigen Investment Management LP acquired a new stake in HF Sinclair Co. (NYSE:DINO Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 60,053 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,419,000. HF Sinclair comprises 0.6% of Aigen Investment Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest position. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust bought a new position in HF Sinclair during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 200.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 726 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 484 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 88.4% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,093 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 513 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HF Sinclair during the 1st quarter worth approximately $52,000. Finally, UniSuper Management Pty Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of HF Sinclair during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $54,000. Institutional investors own 89.15% of the companys stock. Get HF Sinclair alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, UBS Group raised shares of HF Sinclair from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $64.00 to $73.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Four 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, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $63.70. Insider Activity at HF Sinclair In related news, EVP Vaishali S. Bhatia sold 18,465 shares of HF Sinclair stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.24, for a total value of $1,001,541.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 51,924 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,816,357.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other HF Sinclair news, EVP Vaishali S. Bhatia sold 18,465 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.24, for a total transaction of $1,001,541.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 51,924 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,816,357.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Franklin Myers acquired 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were bought at an average price of $54.79 per share, for a total transaction of $273,950.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 127,613 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,991,916.27. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. HF Sinclair Stock Down 1.3 % NYSE DINO traded down $0.81 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $60.11. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,225,750 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,794,482. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $55.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $55.71. HF Sinclair Co. has a twelve month low of $37.12 and a twelve month high of $62.20. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.20, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.28. HF Sinclair Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th will be given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.33%. This is an increase from HF Sinclairs previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. HF Sinclairs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 15.57%. About HF Sinclair (Free Report) HF Sinclair Corporation operates as an independent energy company. It produces and markets gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, specialty lubricant products, specialty chemicals, specialty and modified asphalt, and others. The company also owns and operates refineries located in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming; and markets its refined products principally in the Southwest United States and Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, and in other neighboring Plains states. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for HF Sinclair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HF Sinclair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Airtel Africa Plc (OTC:AAFRF Get Free Report)s share price fell 8.4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as C$1.23 and last traded at C$1.23. 1,489 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average session volume of 20,032 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$1.34. Airtel Africa Stock Performance The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$1.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$1.47. Airtel Africa Company Profile (Get Free Report) Airtel Africa Plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications and mobile money services in Nigeria, East Africa, and Francophone Africa. It offers prepaid and postpaid wireless voice, international roaming, and fixed line telephone services; data communication services, including 2G, 3G, and 4G; and mobile money services, such as digital wallet payments systems, microloans, savings, and international money transfers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Airtel Africa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Airtel Africa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baillie Gifford & Co. acquired a new position in Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GOOS Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 142,700 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,092,000. Baillie Gifford & Co. owned approximately 0.14% of Canada Goose as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in Canada Goose by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,342,236 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,997,000 after acquiring an additional 20,754 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Canada Goose during the third quarter worth $9,456,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC raised its holdings in shares of Canada Goose by 128.4% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 175,338 shares of the companys stock worth $3,121,000 after purchasing an additional 98,572 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of Canada Goose by 7.9% during the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 917,271 shares of the companys stock worth $16,326,000 after purchasing an additional 67,387 shares during the period. Finally, Rothschild Investment LLC IL acquired a new stake in shares of Canada Goose in the 3rd quarter worth about $449,000. 50.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Canada Goose alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes GOOS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Canada Goose from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Evercore raised their target price on shares of Canada Goose from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Canada Goose in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. They set an inline rating and a $11.00 target price on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on shares of Canada Goose from $18.00 to $11.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $14.60. Canada Goose Price Performance Shares of GOOS opened at $13.07 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $1.28 billion, a PE ratio of 42.16, a PEG ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.48. The firms 50 day moving average price is $12.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $13.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.87. Canada Goose Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $9.80 and a twelve month high of $22.65. About Canada Goose (Free Report) Canada Goose Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells performance luxury apparel for men, women, youth, children, and babies in Canada, the United States, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Wholesale, and Other. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOOS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GOOS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Canada Goose Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canada Goose and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich reduced its stake in Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Free Report) by 83.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,295 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 6,702 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in Dover were worth $181,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of DOV. Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Dover during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of Dover during the first quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Dover during the first quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Dover by 193.7% during the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 373 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 246 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP grew its holdings in shares of Dover by 128.2% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 518 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 291 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.97% of the companys stock. Get Dover alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.00, for a total value of $1,988,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,938 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,103,196. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.00, for a total value of $1,988,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,938 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,103,196. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Anthony K. Kosinski sold 664 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total transaction of $94,048.96. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,333 shares in the company, valued at $755,366.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on DOV shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Dover from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Dover from $146.00 to $153.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Dover from $171.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Dover from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price target on shares of Dover from $175.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Dover currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $168.18. View Our Latest Analysis on DOV Dover Trading Down 0.7 % NYSE:DOV opened at $161.46 on Friday. Dover Co. has a one year low of $127.25 and a one year high of $164.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.40. The firm has a market cap of $22.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.26. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $152.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $144.04. Dover (NYSE:DOV Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.45 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.16 billion. Dover had a net margin of 12.52% and a return on equity of 25.95%. Dovers revenue was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.16 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Dover Co. will post 9.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Dover Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.26%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Dovers dividend payout ratio is presently 27.13%. Dover Profile (Free Report) Dover Corporation provides equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services worldwide. The company's Engineered Products segment provides various equipment, component, software, solution, and services that are used in vehicle aftermarket, waste handling, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, industrial winch and hoist, and fluid dispensing end-market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. lowered its position in Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL Free Report) by 11.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 186,850 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 24,260 shares during the period. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. owned approximately 0.22% of Hexcel worth $12,171,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Hexcel by 102.3% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 643,487 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $41,917,000 after purchasing an additional 325,369 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in Hexcel in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,283,000. Rafferty Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Hexcel by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 27,069 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,763,000 after purchasing an additional 1,651 shares in the last quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale boosted its position in Hexcel by 57.3% in the 3rd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 3,834 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $252,000 after purchasing an additional 1,396 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of Hexcel by 12.5% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 82,303 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $5,361,000 after buying an additional 9,150 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.71% of the companys stock. Get Hexcel alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group lowered Hexcel from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the company from $87.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Hexcel from $81.00 to $78.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Barclays decreased their target price on Hexcel from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. StockNews.com lowered Hexcel from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 3rd. Finally, Northcoast Research began coverage on Hexcel in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. They set a buy rating and a $80.00 target price on the stock. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $77.23. Hexcel Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of HXL opened at $73.98 on Friday. Hexcel Co. has a 52-week low of $58.81 and a 52-week high of $79.08. The company has a market capitalization of $6.24 billion, a PE ratio of 59.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.22. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $71.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $68.94. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. Hexcel (NYSE:HXL Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.06). Hexcel had a return on equity of 9.31% and a net margin of 5.91%. The company had revenue of $457.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $474.01 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.40 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Hexcel Co. will post 2.24 EPS for the current year. Hexcel Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This is an increase from Hexcels previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.81%. Hexcels dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.39%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Hexcel news, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total value of $322,335.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 50,371 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,608,074.73. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $62,294.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $243,337.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total value of $322,335.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 50,371 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,608,074.73. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.39% of the companys stock. Hexcel Company Profile (Free Report) Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hexcel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hexcel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Properties (NYSE:BXP Free Report) had its price target increased by Barclays from $64.00 to $67.00 in a report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Several other research firms also recently weighed in on BXP. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Boston Properties from $79.00 to $77.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Boston Properties from $85.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Boston Properties from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $57.00 to $80.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Boston Properties from $60.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Boston Properties in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a hold rating and a $74.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.75. Get Boston Properties alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Boston Properties Boston Properties Stock Performance Shares of Boston Properties stock opened at $67.36 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.67 and a beta of 1.17. Boston Properties has a 52 week low of $46.18 and a 52 week high of $73.97. The company has a quick ratio of 4.21, a current ratio of 5.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. The firms 50 day moving average is $68.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $63.05. Boston Properties (NYSE:BXP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.81 by ($1.05). The firm had revenue of $828.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $811.59 million. Boston Properties had a net margin of 5.81% and a return on equity of 2.32%. Boston Propertiess revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.86 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Boston Properties will post 7.13 EPS for the current fiscal year. Boston Properties Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th were issued a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 28th. Boston Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 323.97%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Boston Properties Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Boston Properties by 17.1% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 2,714 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $350,000 after buying an additional 396 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Boston Properties during the 1st quarter worth about $214,000. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new stake in Boston Properties during the 1st quarter worth about $403,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in Boston Properties by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 19,020 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,450,000 after purchasing an additional 1,178 shares in the last quarter. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. increased its position in Boston Properties by 38.8% during the 1st quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 11,448 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,325,000 after purchasing an additional 3,200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.58% of the companys stock. About Boston Properties (Get Free Report) Boston Properties, Inc (NYSE: BXP) (BXP or the Company) is the largest publicly traded developer, owner, and manager of premier workplaces in the United States, concentrated in six dynamic gateway markets Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. BXP has delivered places that power progress for our clients and communities for more than 50 years. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Boston Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CAE (TSE:CAE Free Report) (NYSE:CAE) had its target price trimmed by Desjardins from C$35.00 to C$30.00 in a research note released on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of CAE from C$37.00 to C$34.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. TD Securities dropped their price target on shares of CAE from C$38.00 to C$36.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price objective on CAE from C$36.00 to C$34.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Bank of America downgraded CAE from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from C$37.00 to C$26.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on CAE from C$35.00 to C$39.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, CAE currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$33.36. Get CAE alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CAE CAE Stock Performance About CAE CAE opened at C$25.66 on Thursday. The companys 50 day moving average is C$27.79 and its 200 day moving average is C$29.56. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 71.38. The company has a market cap of C$8.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.30, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.90. CAE has a 12-month low of C$24.75 and a 12-month high of C$33.87. (Get Free Report) CAE Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides simulation training and critical operations support solutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa, and Rest of Americas. It operates through three segments: Civil Aviation, Defense and Security, and Healthcare. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for CAE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A man checks the damage after an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) GAZA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. In a press statement sent to Xinhua, the ministry said that 68,883 Palestinians have been wounded in the coastal enclave since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. The Israeli army killed 127 Palestinians and wounded 205 others during the last 24 hours, the ministry added. It noted that some victims remain under the rubble amid heavy bombardment and a lack of civil defense and ambulance crews. In addition, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that Al-Amal Hospital in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip witnessed several direct attacks from Israeli tanks. The association said in a press statement that Israeli forces targeted the fourth floor, causing major material damage and setting the eastern side of the hospital on the blaze, which led to a patient being trapped with his companions, and the medical teams were able to evacuate them at very high risk. The statement indicated that gunfire targeted the hospital's fuel tanks, and the crews were not able to determine the extent of the damage due to the high risk. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. People check the damage after an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) A man checks the damage after an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People check the damage after an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People check the damage after an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People check the damage after an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) Cambria Investment Management L.P. cut its holdings in Meritage Homes Co. (NYSE:MTH Free Report) by 14.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,766 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 658 shares during the quarter. Cambria Investment Management L.P.s holdings in Meritage Homes were worth $461,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in shares of Meritage Homes by 1,300.7% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 717,578 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $102,090,000 after buying an additional 666,349 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Meritage Homes during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,473,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Meritage Homes by 252.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 488,657 shares of the construction companys stock worth $45,054,000 after purchasing an additional 350,204 shares during the period. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of Meritage Homes by 6,472.4% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 328,161 shares of the construction companys stock worth $38,316,000 after purchasing an additional 323,168 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of Meritage Homes by 327.3% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 351,259 shares of the construction companys stock worth $41,013,000 after purchasing an additional 269,054 shares during the period. 99.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Meritage Homes alerts: Meritage Homes Trading Down 3.9 % Shares of MTH stock opened at $150.45 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $166.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $143.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.82 and a current ratio of 1.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.55 and a beta of 1.78. Meritage Homes Co. has a fifty-two week low of $103.61 and a fifty-two week high of $179.68. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently commented on MTH. Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. StockNews.com lowered Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Meritage Homes from $151.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and set a $170.00 target price on shares of Meritage Homes in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $167.25. Get Our Latest Research Report on Meritage Homes Insider Buying and Selling at Meritage Homes In other Meritage Homes news, CAO Alison Sasser sold 355 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.61, for a total value of $54,176.55. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 869 shares in the company, valued at approximately $132,618.09. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, COO Clinton Szubinski sold 797 shares of Meritage Homes stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.62, for a total transaction of $121,638.14. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 5,234 shares in the company, valued at approximately $798,813.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Alison Sasser sold 355 shares of Meritage Homes stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.61, for a total value of $54,176.55. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 869 shares in the company, valued at approximately $132,618.09. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 8,152 shares of company stock worth $1,194,315. Corporate insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock. About Meritage Homes (Free Report) Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for first-time and first move-up buyers in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Meritage Homes Co. (NYSE:MTH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Meritage Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meritage Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB Free Report) had its price target hoisted by CIBC from C$32.00 to C$34.00 in a report published on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the stock. Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. TD Securities increased their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$32.00 to C$34.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. National Bankshares increased their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$34.00 to C$33.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 23rd. Raymond James raised their price target on Canadian Western Bank from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, Desjardins set a C$37.00 price target on Canadian Western Bank and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$34.09. Get Canadian Western Bank alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on CWB Canadian Western Bank Price Performance Shares of Canadian Western Bank stock opened at C$28.35 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$30.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$28.62. Canadian Western Bank has a 12 month low of C$22.96 and a 12 month high of C$31.64. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.39, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.57. Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, December 8th. The company reported C$0.94 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.89 by C$0.05. The business had revenue of C$291.76 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$292.40 million. Canadian Western Bank had a return on equity of 9.04% and a net margin of 32.29%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Canadian Western Bank will post 3.6497462 EPS for the current fiscal year. Canadian Western Bank Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st were paid a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.80%. This is a positive change from Canadian Western Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Canadian Western Banks dividend payout ratio is presently 39.05%. Insider Activity at Canadian Western Bank In related news, Senior Officer Vladimir Ahmad sold 2,253 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$30.00, for a total value of C$67,590.00. 0.37% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Canadian Western Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, notice, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; agriculture lending products; mortgages; lines of credits; registered retirement savings loans; consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Western Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Western Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CenterBook Partners LP increased its position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Free Report) by 75.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 104,608 shares of the casino operators stock after acquiring an additional 44,971 shares during the quarter. CenterBook Partners LPs holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $4,795,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Aigen Investment Management LP grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 138.4% during the 3rd quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 41,253 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,891,000 after buying an additional 23,952 shares in the last quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 491.5% during the 3rd quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP now owns 42,236 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,936,000 after buying an additional 35,095 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 1,422.1% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 246,976 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $11,482,000 after buying an additional 230,750 shares in the last quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 21.3% during the 3rd quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 428,395 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $19,638,000 after buying an additional 75,133 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter valued at about $386,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Las Vegas Sands Trading Up 0.5 % LVS stock traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $55.25. The company had a trading volume of 4,400,524 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,508,227. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.96. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 52 week low of $43.77 and a 52 week high of $65.58. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $50.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.63. The stock has a market cap of $41.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.53, a PEG ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 1.16. Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The casino operator reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $2.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.89 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 11.77% and a return on equity of 34.40%. Las Vegas Sandss revenue was up 161.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.19) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 6th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 5th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.45%. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio is presently 50.00%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently commented on LVS shares. Susquehanna started coverage on Las Vegas Sands in a report on Friday, December 15th. They set a positive rating and a $59.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com lowered Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.82. Read Our Latest Research Report on Las Vegas Sands Insider Activity at Las Vegas Sands In related news, major shareholder Miriam Adelson sold 12,253,628 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.23, for a total transaction of $529,724,338.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 41,134,164 shares in the company, valued at $1,778,229,909.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.91% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Las Vegas Sands Company Profile (Free Report) Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Claret Asset Management Corp bought a new stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,155 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $207,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BR. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp raised its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 400.0% during the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 195 shares of the business services providers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 56.4% during the 2nd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 183 shares of the business services providers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. 89.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Broadridge Financial Solutions alerts: Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Performance BR traded down $0.38 during trading on Friday, hitting $197.92. 1,212,798 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 724,336. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.48 and a beta of 1.01. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 1-year low of $133.97 and a 1-year high of $210.24. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $200.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $188.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77. Insider Buying and Selling at Broadridge Financial Solutions Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.03. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 10.82%. The company had revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.40 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.91 EPS. The companys revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.72 earnings per share for the current year. In other Broadridge Financial Solutions news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,090 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.49, for a total value of $775,014.10. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 6,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,228,084.69. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,090 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.49, for a total value of $775,014.10. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,481 shares in the company, valued at $1,228,084.69. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, President Christopher John Perry sold 2,722 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.01, for a total value of $544,427.22. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 58,831 shares in the company, valued at $11,766,788.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 41,246 shares of company stock worth $8,211,616. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently weighed in on BR. Raymond James raised their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $205.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $212.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $226.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. StockNews.com raised Broadridge Financial Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $203.17. Get Our Latest Stock Report 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. See Also 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. Columbia Asset Management reduced its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 2.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 843 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 20 shares during the quarter. Columbia Asset Managements holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $425,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UNH. Keebeck Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 11.6% in the second quarter. Keebeck Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,788 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $5,185,000 after purchasing an additional 1,122 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 24.0% in the second quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 42,045 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $20,209,000 after purchasing an additional 8,144 shares in the last quarter. Ascension Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at $216,000. Blue Chip Partners LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.5% in the second quarter. Blue Chip Partners LLC now owns 49,995 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $24,030,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at $207,000. 85.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group In related news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total transaction of $36,370,321.59. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 635,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at $349,788,255.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of UNH stock traded up $0.67 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $521.55. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,135,586 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,441,625. The stock has a market capitalization of $482.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.54. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $445.68 and a one year high of $554.70. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $522.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $518.23. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.98 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $94.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $92.13 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.39% and a net margin of 6.02%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $5.34 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.84 EPS for the current year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently commented on UNH shares. HSBC restated a reduce rating and set a $480.00 target price (down from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $591.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $605.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $596.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, October 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $575.79. View Our Latest Analysis on UNH UnitedHealth Group Company Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 5.200-5.400 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 5.290. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Consolidated Edison also updated its FY24 guidance to $5.20-5.40 EPS. Consolidated Edison Trading Down 1.0 % Shares of ED stock opened at $87.32 on Friday. Consolidated Edison has a 12-month low of $80.46 and a 12-month high of $100.92. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $90.55 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $89.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The company has a market capitalization of $30.14 billion, a PE ratio of 12.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.26 and a beta of 0.37. Get Consolidated Edison alerts: Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $3.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.70 billion. Consolidated Edison had a return on equity of 8.44% and a net margin of 17.19%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 14.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.81 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Consolidated Edison will post 5.31 earnings per share for the current year. Consolidated Edison Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.80%. This is a positive change from Consolidated Edisons previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 13th. Consolidated Edisons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.24%. Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp raised shares of Consolidated Edison from an underweight rating to a sector weight rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Consolidated Edison from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Consolidated Edison from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH began coverage on shares of Consolidated Edison in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $92.50 target price on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Consolidated Edison has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $88.75. Get Our Latest Research Report on ED Hedge Funds Weigh In On Consolidated Edison Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. IHT Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Lido Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 43,881 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,198,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Retirement Group LLC increased its position in Consolidated Edison by 74.8% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 271 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC raised its stake in 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 buying an additional 117 shares during the period. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 3.6% in the first quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,199 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $402,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.53% of the companys stock. Consolidated Edison Company Profile (Get 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. Read More 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. Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eighteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fifteen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $289.24. A number of equities analysts have recently commented on STZ shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, November 13th. They set a buy rating and a $292.00 price target on the stock. TheStreet lowered shares of Constellation Brands from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Friday, January 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $309.00 to $301.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Argus lowered shares of Constellation Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $295.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Friday, February 9th. Get Constellation Brands alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on STZ Insider Transactions at Constellation Brands Institutional Investors Weigh In On Constellation Brands In other Constellation Brands news, major shareholder Family Foundation Sands sold 354,616 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.26, for a total value of $88,746,200.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 54,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,629,409.86. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . 16.19% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,601,280 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,902,327,000 after buying an additional 313,344 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 21.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 7,903,248 shares of the companys stock worth $1,945,226,000 after purchasing an additional 1,415,606 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,936,028 shares of the companys stock worth $1,707,165,000 after purchasing an additional 51,968 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,050,468 shares of the companys stock worth $1,018,005,000 after purchasing an additional 58,518 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 84,839.5% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,742,434 shares of the companys stock worth $867,309,000 after purchasing an additional 3,738,028 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.99% of the companys stock. Constellation Brands Stock Down 0.4 % NYSE STZ opened at $243.84 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $245.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $247.52. The firm has a market cap of $44.58 billion, a PE ratio of 28.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.46. Constellation Brands has a one year low of $210.15 and a one year high of $273.65. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 5th. The company reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.03 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $2.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 14.76% and a return on equity of 23.35%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.83 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Constellation Brands will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Constellation Brands Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 8th will be given a dividend of $0.89 per share. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 7th. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is presently 42.13%. About Constellation Brands (Get Free Report Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Princeton Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report) by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,612 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 201 shares during the period. Princeton Capital Management LLCs holdings in Duke Energy were worth $495,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,863,706 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,330,739,000 after purchasing an additional 464,754 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 11.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 10,018,171 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,031,772,000 after purchasing an additional 1,037,012 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 9,635,102 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $864,652,000 after purchasing an additional 257,665 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 21.3% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,188,381 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $734,825,000 after purchasing an additional 1,435,725 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,928,738 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $711,525,000 after purchasing an additional 89,132 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.68% of the companys stock. Get Duke Energy alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DUK has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Duke Energy from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $101.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Bank of America lowered shares of Duke Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from $105.00 to $96.00 in a research note on Monday, February 12th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $106.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Duke Energy from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $90.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $103.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $100.00. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Louis E. Renjel sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.57, for a total transaction of $277,710.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,213 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,315,697.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. Duke Energy Stock Performance Shares of Duke Energy stock traded down $0.48 on Friday, reaching $91.88. 4,120,822 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,244,592. Duke Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $83.06 and a 1-year high of $100.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $96.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $92.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.81 billion, a PE ratio of 25.88, a PEG ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.48. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.02). Duke Energy had a return on equity of 8.93% and a net margin of 9.78%. The firm had revenue of $7.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.11 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Duke Energy Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th will be issued a dividend of $1.025 per share. This represents a $4.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 115.49%. About Duke Energy (Free Report) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DUK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Polen Capital Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:FND Free Report) by 3.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 42,517 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,583 shares during the quarter. Polen Capital Management LLCs holdings in Floor & Decor were worth $3,848,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of FND. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale acquired a new position in Floor & Decor during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd acquired a new position in Floor & Decor during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Stephens Inc. AR lifted its position in Floor & Decor by 72.5% during the 1st quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 545 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in Floor & Decor during the 1st quarter worth approximately $57,000. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. acquired a new position in Floor & Decor during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $58,000. Get Floor & Decor alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In FND has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered Floor & Decor from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $85.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut Floor & Decor from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and increased their target price for the company from $100.00 to $115.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Guggenheim reduced their target price on Floor & Decor from $115.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Truist Financial increased their target price on Floor & Decor from $97.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Finally, BNP Paribas cut Floor & Decor from an outperform rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $97.88. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 19,634 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.50, for a total transaction of $2,248,093.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,552 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,185,204. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 2.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Floor & Decor Stock Performance NYSE FND traded up $0.85 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $110.94. The company had a trading volume of 1,118,444 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,458,517. Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $76.30 and a fifty-two week high of $116.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $107.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of $97.44. The firm has a market cap of $11.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.73 and a beta of 1.83. Floor & Decor Profile (Free Report) Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FND? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:FND Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Floor & Decor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Floor & Decor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Glenview Trust co lifted its position in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Free Report) by 4.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 71,184 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,848 shares during the quarter. Glenview Trust cos holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $17,891,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in STZ. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC grew its stake in Constellation Brands by 1,175.0% in the 3rd quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 102 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the period. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. First Financial Corp IN acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.99% of the companys stock. Get Constellation Brands alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Constellation Brands In other Constellation Brands news, major shareholder Family Foundation Sands sold 354,616 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.26, for a total value of $88,746,200.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 54,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,629,409.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 16.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on STZ shares. Argus cut shares of Constellation Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $295.00 price objective on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Friday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Constellation Brands from $309.00 to $301.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, November 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $292.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, TheStreet lowered Constellation Brands from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Friday, January 5th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $289.24. Read Our Latest Report on Constellation Brands Constellation Brands Trading Down 0.4 % STZ traded down $1.06 on Friday, hitting $243.84. The company had a trading volume of 834,644 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,039,602. The firm has a market cap of $44.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.86, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.96. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 1 year low of $210.15 and a 1 year high of $273.65. The companys fifty day moving average price is $245.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $247.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 5th. The company reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.03 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $2.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 23.35% and a net margin of 14.76%. Constellation Brandss revenue was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.83 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current year. Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 22nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 8th will be given a $0.89 dividend. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 7th. Constellation Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 42.13%. Constellation Brands Profile (Free Report) Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NANJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and two were missing in an explosion that occurred at a factory in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, at 2:11 a.m. Sunday, according to local authorities. Search and rescue efforts are underway. Horizonte Minerals Plc (OTCMKTS:HZMMF Get Free Report)s share price fell 0.1% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $0.11 and last traded at $0.11. 39,800 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 138% from the average session volume of 16,721 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.11. Horizonte Minerals Stock Performance The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $0.63. About Horizonte Minerals (Get Free Report) Horizonte Minerals Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and development of mineral projects in Brazil. The company primarily explores for nickel deposits, as well as cobalt deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Araguaia ferronickel; and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt project in the eastern part of the Carajas mining district. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Horizonte Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Horizonte Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH Free Report) by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,190,161 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 112,243 shares during the quarter. Invesco Ltd. owned about 2.04% of Molina Healthcare worth $390,242,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 0.5% in the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,315 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,766,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 12.7% during the second quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 301 shares of the companys stock worth $12,106,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the period. EFG Asset Management Americas Corp. increased its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 3.0% during the second quarter. EFG Asset Management Americas Corp. now owns 1,238 shares of the companys stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. New York Life Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 0.4% in the third quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 8,495 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,785,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 5.0% in the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 763 shares of the companys stock valued at $250,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the period. 98.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have commented on MOH shares. StockNews.com lowered Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Molina Healthcare from $367.00 to $392.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $374.00 to $406.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $350.00 to $380.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Molina Healthcare from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $367.00 to $420.00 in a report on Thursday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Molina Healthcare currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $371.30. Molina Healthcare Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of NYSE MOH opened at $401.72 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $23.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.39, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a 12 month low of $256.19 and a 12 month high of $404.86. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $370.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $347.76. Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.31 by $0.07. Molina Healthcare had a net margin of 3.20% and a return on equity of 32.34%. The business had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.35 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.10 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 23.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Molina Healthcare In other Molina Healthcare news, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $386.56, for a total value of $5,798,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 36,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,121,423.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Ronna Romney sold 335 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $358.00, for a total transaction of $119,930.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 16,907 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,052,706. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.56, for a total transaction of $5,798,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 36,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,121,423.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 16,046 shares of company stock valued at $6,191,397 in the last 90 days. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Molina Healthcare Company Profile (Free Report) Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments, Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Molina Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molina Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Evergy, Inc. (NYSE:EVRG Free Report) by 44.2% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 6,469 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,983 shares during the quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in Evergy were worth $328,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of EVRG. Red Tortoise LLC lifted its position in shares of Evergy by 793.5% during the 1st quarter. Red Tortoise LLC now owns 411 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares during the period. Clear Street Markets LLC raised its holdings in Evergy by 92.7% during the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 451 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. raised its holdings in Evergy by 57.2% during the third quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 632 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new position in Evergy during the first quarter worth $37,000. Finally, PSI Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Evergy by 99.8% during the third quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 999 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 499 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.82% of the companys stock. Get Evergy alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Guggenheim downgraded shares of Evergy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $52.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Evergy from $56.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Evergy from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Evergy from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $54.00 to $60.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $54.25. Evergy Stock Performance Shares of EVRG stock opened at $50.03 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $51.44 and a 200-day moving average of $52.02. The company has a market cap of $11.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.90, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.24. Evergy, Inc. has a one year low of $46.92 and a one year high of $63.93. About Evergy (Free Report) Evergy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Kansas and Missouri, the United States. The company generates electricity through coal, hydroelectric, landfill gas, uranium, and natural gas and oil sources, as well as solar, wind, other renewable sources. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EVRG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Evergy, Inc. (NYSE:EVRG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Evergy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Evergy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 2,405 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $286,000. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Intrinsic Edge Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Herc in the 2nd quarter worth about $12,827,000. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lifted its position in shares of Herc by 44.7% in the 2nd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 23,623 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $3,233,000 after purchasing an additional 7,293 shares during the period. 1060 Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Herc in the 2nd quarter worth about $5,474,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Herc by 38.7% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 17,211 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,047,000 after purchasing an additional 4,803 shares during the period. Finally, Comerica Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Herc in the 2nd quarter worth about $138,490,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.88% of the companys stock. Get Herc alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp cut shares of Herc from an overweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Herc from $117.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday. Herc Trading Down 2.2 % Shares of NYSE HRI opened at $147.37 on Friday. Herc Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $93.97 and a 1 year high of $156.59. The stock has a market cap of $4.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 2.29. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $145.75 and a 200 day moving average of $129.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.97, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.36. Herc (NYSE:HRI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The transportation company reported $3.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by ($0.05). Herc had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 30.21%. The business had revenue of $831.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $858.06 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $3.44 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Herc Holdings Inc. will post 13.86 EPS for the current fiscal year. Herc Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.665 per share. This is a positive change from Hercs previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. This represents a $2.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.80%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 20th. Hercs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.91%. Herc Profile (Free Report) Herc Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental supplier. It rents aerial, earthmoving, material handling, trucks and trailers, air compressors, compaction, and lighting equipment, as well as generators, and safety supplies and expendables; and provides ProSolutions, an industry specific solution based services, such as pumping solutions, power generation, climate control, remediation and restoration, and studio and production equipment. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Herc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Herc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Free Report) by 19.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,229 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 554 shares during the period. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in Global Payments were worth $257,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Arizona State Retirement System raised its stake in Global Payments by 2.1% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 75,402 shares of the business services providers stock worth $7,429,000 after buying an additional 1,570 shares during the last quarter. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. raised its stake in Global Payments by 14.5% during the third quarter. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. now owns 99,276 shares of the business services providers stock worth $11,455,000 after buying an additional 12,560 shares during the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its stake in Global Payments by 5.3% during the third quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 3,112 shares of the business services providers stock worth $359,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp raised its stake in Global Payments by 37.3% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 954,370 shares of the business services providers stock worth $94,025,000 after buying an additional 259,216 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ING Groep NV raised its stake in Global Payments by 148.4% during the third quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 491,320 shares of the business services providers stock worth $56,693,000 after buying an additional 293,550 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.23% of the companys stock. Get Global Payments alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GPN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Global Payments from $130.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Global Payments from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Global Payments from $185.00 to $180.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Global Payments from $135.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Global Payments from $138.00 to $137.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Global Payments has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $151.15. Global Payments Stock Down 2.6 % Global Payments stock opened at $134.19 on Friday. Global Payments Inc. has a twelve month low of $94.05 and a twelve month high of $141.77. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $130.76 and a 200-day moving average price of $122.29. The company has a market capitalization of $34.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.50, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Global Payments (NYSE:GPN Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The business services provider reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.64 by $0.01. Global Payments had a net margin of 10.22% and a return on equity of 11.44%. The firm had revenue of $2.43 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.18 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.30 EPS. The companys revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Global Payments Inc. will post 10.98 EPS for the current year. Global Payments Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Global Paymentss dividend payout ratio is currently 26.46%. Global Payments Profile (Free Report) Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Global Payments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Payments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kansas City Life Insurance (OTCMKTS:KCLI Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $29.36 and traded as high as $36.42. Kansas City Life Insurance shares last traded at $36.42, with a volume of 1,082 shares. Kansas City Life Insurance Price Performance The stocks 50-day moving average price is $34.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.38. The firm has a market cap of $352.59 million, a P/E ratio of -30.61 and a beta of 0.53. Get Kansas City Life Insurance alerts: Kansas City Life Insurance Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were given a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. Kansas City Life Insurances dividend payout ratio is presently -47.06%. Kansas City Life Insurance Company Profile Kansas City Life Insurance Company provides insurance products and services in states and the District of Columbia. It offers a portfolio of individual insurance, annuity, and group life and health insurance; and traditional life insurance, immediate annuities with life contingencies, supplementary contracts with life contingencies, and accident and health insurance. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Kansas City Life Insurance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kansas City Life Insurance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 14.300-15.400 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 14.600. The company issued revenue guidance of $12.7 billion-$13.0 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $12.6 billion. Laboratory Co. of America Stock Performance LH traded down $5.49 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $216.64. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,151,409 shares, compared to its average volume of 638,512. The companys 50-day moving average is $224.02 and its 200-day moving average is $213.52. Laboratory Co. of America has a 52 week low of $174.20 and a 52 week high of $234.09. The firm has a market cap of $18.39 billion, a PE ratio of 46.39 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.17. Get Laboratory Co. of America alerts: Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The medical research company reported $3.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.02 billion. Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 3.24% and a return on equity of 13.99%. Laboratory Co. of Americas quarterly revenue was down 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $4.14 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Laboratory Co. of America will post 14.62 EPS for the current year. Laboratory Co. of America Announces Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 27th will be paid a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 26th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.33%. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.67%. A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on LH. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $257.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. TheStreet lowered Laboratory Co. of America from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Laboratory Co. of America in a research report on Friday, February 9th. They set an in-line rating and a $240.00 target price for the company. Barclays began coverage on Laboratory Co. of America in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. They set an equal weight rating and a $222.00 target price on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $241.86. Get Our Latest Stock Report on LH Insider Transactions at Laboratory Co. of America In related news, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 259 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.06, for a total transaction of $57,513.54. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,637 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,695,872.22. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 259 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.06, for a total value of $57,513.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,637 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,695,872.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 237 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.45, for a total transaction of $53,668.65. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,637 shares in the company, valued at $1,729,398.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Laboratory Co. of America by 1.0% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,859,128 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,863,118,000 after buying an additional 106,063 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,843,051 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $421,878,000 after acquiring an additional 26,197 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 532.2% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,530,675 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $360,441,000 after purchasing an additional 1,288,574 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 19.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,317,815 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $310,319,000 after purchasing an additional 218,161 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America during the 4th quarter valued at about $219,236,000. 89.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Laboratory Co. of America (Get Free Report) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Laboratory Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laboratory Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC decreased its holdings in Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited (NYSE:OPA Free Report) by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 183,037 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,263 shares during the quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC owned approximately 1.58% of Magnum Opus Acquisition worth $1,956,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in Magnum Opus Acquisition in the first quarter valued at approximately $106,000. Boothbay Fund Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Magnum Opus Acquisition during the 4th quarter valued at $159,000. Verition Fund Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Magnum Opus Acquisition during the 2nd quarter worth $171,000. Silverback Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Magnum Opus Acquisition in the 4th quarter worth $252,000. Finally, SkyView Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Magnum Opus Acquisition in the first quarter valued at $496,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 50.05% of the companys stock. Get Magnum Opus Acquisition alerts: Magnum Opus Acquisition Price Performance Shares of NYSE:OPA opened at $10.80 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $10.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $125.22 million, a PE ratio of 17.70 and a beta of 0.01. Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited has a 12 month low of $10.12 and a 12 month high of $11.23. Magnum Opus Acquisition Profile Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited does not have significant operations. It intends to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or related business combination with one or more businesses. Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited was incorporated in 2021 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OPA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited (NYSE:OPA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Magnum Opus Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Magnum Opus Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Muzinich & Co. Inc. lifted its stake in Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (NYSE:GSBD Free Report) by 1.9% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 382,090 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 6,969 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs BDC comprises about 3.9% of Muzinich & Co. Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Muzinich & Co. Inc.s holdings in Goldman Sachs BDC were worth $5,563,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GSBD. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC in the 1st quarter worth approximately $209,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC in the 1st quarter worth approximately $245,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 139.2% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 676,501 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,266,000 after purchasing an additional 393,739 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 203.2% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 39,232 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $819,000 after purchasing an additional 26,293 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 63.6% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 36,809 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $721,000 after purchasing an additional 14,311 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 28.86% of the companys stock. Get Goldman Sachs BDC alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In GSBD has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded Goldman Sachs BDC from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. TheStreet upgraded Goldman Sachs BDC from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Goldman Sachs BDC from $14.50 to $15.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Goldman Sachs BDC Trading Down 0.3 % GSBD traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $15.34. 367,978 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 480,128. Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. has a 52-week low of $12.75 and a 52-week high of $16.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.68 billion, a PE ratio of 11.20 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $15.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. About Goldman Sachs BDC (Free Report) Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc is a business development company specializing in middle market and mezzanine investment in private companies. It seeks to make capital appreciation through direct originations of secured debt, senior secured debt, junior secured debt, including first lien, first lien/last-out unitranche and second lien debt, unsecured debt, including mezzanine debt and, to a lesser extent, investments in equities. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GSBD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (NYSE:GSBD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Goldman Sachs BDC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Goldman Sachs BDC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aigen Investment Management LP increased its holdings in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report) by 54.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 27,614 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 9,739 shares during the quarter. Aigen Investment Management LPs holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $1,582,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp acquired a new position in shares of NextEra Energy in the second quarter worth about $26,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of NextEra Energy in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Country Trust Bank lifted its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 975.6% in the third quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 441 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in NextEra Energy by 124.1% during the 1st quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 549 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.48% of the companys stock. Get NextEra Energy alerts: NextEra Energy Stock Performance NEE traded down $0.24 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $57.03. The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,943,508 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,296,252. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $47.15 and a fifty-two week high of $79.78. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $117.01 billion, a PE ratio of 15.80, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $59.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $60.51. NextEra Energy Increases Dividend NextEra Energy ( NYSE:NEE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 11.73% and a net margin of 26.00%. The company had revenue of $6.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.72 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.51 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.44 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $0.515 per share. This is a boost from NextEra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.61%. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.80%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup assumed coverage on NextEra Energy in a report on Friday, December 8th. They set a buy rating and a $69.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com raised NextEra Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $74.00 target price on shares of NextEra Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Guggenheim raised their price target on NextEra Energy from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price target on NextEra Energy from $79.00 to $76.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $71.85. Read Our Latest Analysis on NextEra Energy Insider Activity In other news, Director Nicole S. Arnaboldi purchased 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 8th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $59.59 per share, for a total transaction of $506,515.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,523 shares in the company, valued at $686,655.57. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.38% of the stock is owned by insiders. NextEra Energy Company Profile (Free Report) NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas facilities. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NextEra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NextEra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TRIPOLI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Abdoulaye Bathily, special representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), on Saturday called on Libyan leaders to come together to build a strong, united, and resilient Libya. "It is imperative that Libyan leaders acknowledge their responsibility and be held accountable for their decisions and actions, as they directly impact the lives of the Libyan people. They must come together, settle all politically contentious issues, and agree on a way forward to build a strong, united, and resilient Libya," Bathily said in a statement on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Feb. 17 revolution. Bathily warned that the current status quo poses a significant threat to the unity of Libya, stressing that the fragility of its institutions and the deep divisions within the nation represent grave risks to its stability. "The Libyan people have endured prolonged waiting and cannot accept any further delays in the formation of a unified government that brings together all regions East, West, and South to rebuild the social fabric and economy and restore the sovereignty and dignity of the nation," the statement said. Bathily reiterated UNSMIL's commitment to supporting the Libyan people in their pursuit of peace, justice, legitimate institutions, and inclusive governance. The Feb. 17 revolution in 2011 between the forces of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime and armed rebels ended with the fall of Gaddafi's regime. Since then, Libya has fallen into a state of political instability and chaos as the North African country struggles to make a democratic transition. Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 as previously scheduled due to disagreements among the Libyan parties over election laws. Peachtree Investment Partners LLC cut its stake in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 19.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,235 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 793 shares during the period. Peachtree Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $380,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Glenview Trust co grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. Glenview Trust co now owns 177,875 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $20,915,000 after acquiring an additional 22,900 shares during the period. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 3.1% in the third quarter. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 4,149 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $488,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the period. Pearl River Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Exxon Mobil in the third quarter worth $2,268,000. Sargent Investment Group LLC grew its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 23,189 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,727,000 after buying an additional 5,796 shares during the period. Finally, Cambria Investment Management L.P. grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 7.0% in the third quarter. Cambria Investment Management L.P. now owns 95,293 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $11,205,000 after purchasing an additional 6,265 shares during the period. 58.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Price Performance XOM remained flat at $103.73 during trading on Friday. 20,151,426 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,002,978. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. Exxon Mobil Co. has a fifty-two week low of $95.77 and a fifty-two week high of $120.70. The stock has a market cap of $411.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.67, a PEG ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.97. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $101.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $106.25. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 18.51% and a net margin of 10.45%. The company had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $90.03 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.40 EPS. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.74%. Insider Activity In other news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total value of $216,132,620.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 13,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,352,780. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total value of $1,231,800.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,652,596.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total transaction of $216,132,620.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently weighed in on XOM shares. Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. Mizuho cut Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $116.00 to $119.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 price target on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, TD Cowen raised Exxon Mobil from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $115.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $127.53. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Exxon Mobil About Exxon Mobil (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pearl River Capital LLC lowered its stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Free Report) by 46.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,456 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock after selling 9,001 shares during the quarter. Pearl River Capital LLCs holdings in Pioneer Natural Resources were worth $2,400,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Proficio Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,030 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $236,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 2,855 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $655,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,436 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $330,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 20.0% during the 3rd quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 264 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiera Capital Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 7,491 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $1,551,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.72% of the companys stock. Get Pioneer Natural Resources alerts: Pioneer Natural Resources Price Performance NYSE:PXD traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $231.57. The company had a trading volume of 2,683,874 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,134,089. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $226.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $232.35. Pioneer Natural Resources has a one year low of $177.26 and a one year high of $257.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.03 billion, a PE ratio of 11.06 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on PXD shares. Argus lowered Pioneer Natural Resources from a buy rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, November 24th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $243.00 to $224.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Raymond James restated a market perform rating on shares of Pioneer Natural Resources in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $255.00 to $238.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 17th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $269.00 to $250.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $254.19. Read Our Latest Analysis on Pioneer Natural Resources Insider Buying and Selling at Pioneer Natural Resources In other Pioneer Natural Resources news, Director Maria S. Dreyfus sold 10,632 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.62, for a total value of $2,409,423.84. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 4,066 shares in the company, valued at $921,436.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock. About Pioneer Natural Resources (Free Report) Pioneer Natural Resources Company operates as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States. The company explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and gas. It has operations in the Midland Basin in West Texas. Pioneer Natural Resources Company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PXD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pioneer Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pioneer Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Polen Capital Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI Free Report) by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 128,967 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,925 shares during the period. Polen Capital Management LLCs holdings in Houlihan Lokey were worth $13,815,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of HLI. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey by 8.6% during the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,231 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $121,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey by 16.9% during the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 753 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey by 1.4% during the second quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 8,455 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $831,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey by 4.1% during the second quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 3,078 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $307,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey by 2.8% during the second quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,845 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $476,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.87% of the companys stock. Get Houlihan Lokey alerts: Houlihan Lokey Price Performance HLI stock traded up $0.61 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $131.68. The companys stock had a trading volume of 479,321 shares, compared to its average volume of 360,794. Houlihan Lokey, Inc. has a twelve month low of $83.92 and a twelve month high of $132.63. The companys fifty day moving average price is $120.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $110.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.68 and a beta of 0.68. Houlihan Lokey Announces Dividend Houlihan Lokey ( NYSE:HLI Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.12 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $511.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $493.02 million. Houlihan Lokey had a net margin of 14.90% and a return on equity of 18.06%. Houlihan Lokeys revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.14 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Houlihan Lokey, Inc. will post 4.35 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. Houlihan Lokeys dividend payout ratio is presently 54.59%. Analyst Ratings Changes HLI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a market perform rating and set a $127.00 price objective on shares of Houlihan Lokey in a report on Monday, January 29th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Houlihan Lokey from $136.00 to $142.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. View Our Latest Research Report on Houlihan Lokey Insider Transactions at Houlihan Lokey In related news, General Counsel Christopher M. Crain sold 1,000 shares of Houlihan Lokey stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.17, for a total transaction of $107,170.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, General Counsel Christopher M. Crain sold 1,000 shares of Houlihan Lokey stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.17, for a total transaction of $107,170.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Irwin Gold sold 10,000 shares of Houlihan Lokey stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.18, for a total transaction of $1,221,800.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 22,500 shares of company stock worth $2,583,950 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 25.97% of the companys stock. About Houlihan Lokey (Free Report) Houlihan Lokey, Inc, an investment banking company, provides merger and acquisition (M&A), capital market, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Corporate Finance, Financial Restructuring, and Financial and Valuation Advisory. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HLI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Houlihan Lokey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Houlihan Lokey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 2.980-3.180 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 3.030. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Portland General Electric also updated its FY24 guidance to $2.98-3.18 EPS. Portland General Electric Stock Up 0.2 % Portland General Electric stock traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $40.90. The stock had a trading volume of 1,631,525 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,050,838. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $42.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.31. Portland General Electric has a 1-year low of $38.01 and a 1-year high of $51.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.14. Get Portland General Electric alerts: Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.88 by ($0.20). The company had revenue of $725.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $740.21 million. Portland General Electric had a return on equity of 7.33% and a net margin of 7.28%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.70 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Portland General Electric will post 3.06 EPS for the current fiscal year. Portland General Electric Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 22nd will be paid a $0.475 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 21st. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.65%. Portland General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.55%. Several analysts recently issued reports on POR shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH started coverage on Portland General Electric in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a buy rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. Mizuho cut their target price on Portland General Electric from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Barclays dropped their price objective on Portland General Electric from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. UBS Group upgraded Portland General Electric from a neutral rating to a buy rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded Portland General Electric from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $43.00 in a research report on Monday, February 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $45.89. View Our Latest Report on POR Institutional Investors Weigh In On Portland General Electric Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Portland General Electric by 8.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,268,761 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $489,739,000 after purchasing an additional 848,958 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 21.8% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,067,961 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $334,647,000 after acquiring an additional 1,087,996 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 5.1% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,615,988 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $170,996,000 after acquiring an additional 174,695 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 7.8% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,163,031 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $154,641,000 after acquiring an additional 228,283 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 1,022.6% in the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,105,863 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $145,448,000 after acquiring an additional 2,829,184 shares in the last quarter. About Portland General Electric (Get Free Report) Portland General Electric Company, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. It operates six thermal plants, three wind farms, and seven hydroelectric facilities. As of December 31, 2022, the company owned an electric transmission system consisting of 1,255 circuit miles, including 269 circuit miles of 500 kilovolt line, 413 circuit miles of 230 kilovolt line, and 573 miles of 115 kilovolt line; and served 926 thousand retail customers in 51 cities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Portland General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Portland General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Princeton Capital Management LLC reduced its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 21.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,832 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,426 shares during the period. Princeton Capital Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $513,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Herold Advisors Inc. increased its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. now owns 33,668 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,954,000 after buying an additional 1,051 shares during the period. Wealth Architects LLC increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.8% during the second quarter. Wealth Architects LLC now owns 8,012 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $512,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares during the period. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 69.6% during the second quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,049 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $323,000 after purchasing an additional 2,072 shares during the period. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 9.5% during the third quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 139,811 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $8,115,000 after purchasing an additional 12,121 shares during the period. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 14.8% during the third quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 101,772 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $5,907,000 after purchasing an additional 13,122 shares during the period. 74.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb In related news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II purchased 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,255. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $49.78 per share, with a total value of $99,560.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,115,412.16. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders purchased 13,571 shares of company stock worth $672,994. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently issued reports on BMY shares. William Blair cut Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. HSBC raised Bristol-Myers Squibb from a reduce rating to a hold rating and decreased their price target for the company from $55.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Friday, October 27th. BMO Capital Markets lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $60.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $56.00 to $50.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $81.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $61.17. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of BMY traded up $0.42 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $49.86. 13,176,540 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 16,052,176. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $47.58 and a 1-year high of $71.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $100.83 billion, a PE ratio of 12.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.38. The business has a fifty day moving average of $50.44 and a 200-day moving average of $54.29. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.95% and a net margin of 17.83%. The business had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.82 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that allows the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the biopharmaceutical company to purchase up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 5th were issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.81%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 4th. This is an increase from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 62.18%. Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (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. See Also 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. QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm purchased 8,467 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $5,474,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Systematic Alpha Investments LLC bought a new position in BlackRock during the third quarter worth about $149,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in BlackRock by 21.4% during the third quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 14,279 shares of the asset managers stock worth $9,231,000 after buying an additional 2,515 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its holdings in BlackRock by 1.4% during the third quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 98,114 shares of the asset managers stock worth $63,430,000 after buying an additional 1,342 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC boosted its holdings in BlackRock by 144.5% during the third quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 86,300 shares of the asset managers stock worth $55,792,000 after buying an additional 51,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its holdings in BlackRock by 5.5% during the third quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 2,629 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,700,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have issued reports on BLK shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Friday, December 15th. UBS Group raised their price target on BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. TD Cowen raised BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $819.00 to $938.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, 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 report on Tuesday, December 12th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $785.73. Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock In other BlackRock news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 950 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $805.55, for a total value of $765,272.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,437 shares in the company, valued at $3,574,225.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other BlackRock news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 950 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $805.55, for a total value of $765,272.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,437 shares in the company, valued at $3,574,225.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Marc D. Comerchero sold 450 shares of BlackRock 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 transaction, the insider now owns 5,975 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,691,032.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 33,474 shares of company stock worth $17,275,900 over the last ninety days. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. BlackRock Stock Down 0.5 % Shares of BlackRock stock opened at $794.00 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $792.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $717.88. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52-week low of $596.18 and a 52-week high of $819.00. The firm has a market cap of $118.12 billion, a PE ratio of 21.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.38. 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 (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.84 by $0.82. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.85% and a net margin of 30.81%. The business had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.65 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $8.93 EPS. BlackRocks revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be paid a $5.10 dividend. This represents a $20.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.57%. This is an increase from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.78%. 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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report). 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. Sargent Investment Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 5.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,766 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 521 shares during the quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $567,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.98% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb In related news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II purchased 8,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The stock was bought at an average price of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,255. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $49.78 per share, with a total value of $99,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,115,412.16. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders purchased 13,571 shares of company stock worth $672,994. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Shares of NYSE BMY opened at $49.86 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $50.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $54.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.07. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $47.58 and a one year high of $71.98. The company has a market capitalization of $100.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 company had revenue of $11.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.19 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.95% and a net margin of 17.83%. The firms revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.82 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that allows the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 5th were paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. This is an increase from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is 62.18%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $55.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $56.00 to $50.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $60.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, October 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.17. Get Our Latest Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb 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. Further Reading 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. Jefferies Financial Group restated their buy rating on shares of Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG Free Report) in a research note published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a $90.00 price objective on the shipping companys stock. STNG has been the topic of several other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Scorpio Tankers from $85.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. StockNews.com downgraded Scorpio Tankers from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $74.00. Get Scorpio Tankers alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on STNG Scorpio Tankers Stock Performance Shares of Scorpio Tankers stock opened at $69.52 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.86 billion, a PE ratio of 6.99 and a beta of 0.22. Scorpio Tankers has a 12 month low of $40.34 and a 12 month high of $72.89. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $64.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $57.20. Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The shipping company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.62 by $0.13. Scorpio Tankers had a return on equity of 22.86% and a net margin of 40.78%. The firm had revenue of $336.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $335.70 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.24 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 31.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Scorpio Tankers will post 12.07 EPS for the current year. Scorpio Tankers Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.30%. This is an increase from Scorpio Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Scorpio Tankerss payout ratio is currently 14.08%. Institutional Trading of Scorpio Tankers A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of STNG. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 1,985.7% in the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 584 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 556 shares during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new position in Scorpio Tankers during the third quarter worth about $27,000. CWM LLC grew its holdings in Scorpio Tankers by 1,037.0% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 523 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 477 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in Scorpio Tankers by 21,950.0% during the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 882 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 878 shares during the period. Finally, Headinvest LLC bought a new position in Scorpio Tankers during the third quarter worth about $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.82% of the companys stock. About Scorpio Tankers (Get Free Report) Scorpio Tankers Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of refined petroleum products in the shipping markets worldwide. As of March 23, 2023, its fleet consisted of 113 owned, finance leased, or bareboat chartered-in tankers, including 39 LR2, 60 MR, and 14 Handymax with a weighted average age of approximately 7.2 years. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Scorpio Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scorpio Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Hold by the eight research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $35.78. A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on IPG shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Interpublic Group of Companies from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. UBS Group started coverage on Interpublic Group of Companies in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. They set a neutral rating and a $36.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Interpublic Group of Companies from $35.00 to $33.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $43.00 to $40.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 9th. Get Interpublic Group of Companies alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on IPG Interpublic Group of Companies Price Performance Interpublic Group of Companies stock opened at $32.45 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market cap of $12.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.15. The businesss fifty day moving average is $32.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.18. Interpublic Group of Companies has a 52 week low of $27.20 and a 52 week high of $40.95. Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The business services provider reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $2.59 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.57 billion. Interpublic Group of Companies had a return on equity of 31.15% and a net margin of 10.09%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.02 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Interpublic Group of Companies will post 2.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Interpublic Group of Companies Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a $0.33 dividend. This is an increase from Interpublic Group of Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.07%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Interpublic Group of Companiess dividend payout ratio is 43.51%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Interpublic Group of Companies Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Independent Advisor Alliance bought a new stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies in the second quarter worth about $536,000. New York Life Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 32.5% in the third quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 99,678 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,857,000 after acquiring an additional 24,459 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 5.4% during the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 792,531 shares of the business services providers stock worth $22,714,000 after buying an additional 40,889 shares during the period. Cibc World Markets Corp boosted its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 951.7% during the second quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 206,626 shares of the business services providers stock worth $7,972,000 after buying an additional 186,979 shares during the period. Finally, Bahl & Gaynor Inc. boosted its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 79.0% during the third quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 89,792 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,573,000 after buying an additional 39,617 shares during the period. 98.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Interpublic Group of Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc provides advertising and marketing services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Media, Data & Engagement Solutions, Integrated Advertising & Creativity Led Solutions, and Specialized Communications & Experiential Solutions. The Media, Data & Engagement Solutions segment provides media and communications services, digital services and products, advertising and marketing technology, e-commerce services, data management and analytics, strategic consulting, and digital brand experience under the IPG Mediabrands, UM, Initiative, Kinesso, Acxiom, Huge, MRM, and R/GA brand names. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Interpublic Group of Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Interpublic Group of Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Scottish Investment Trust PLC (LON:SCIN Get Free Report) shares passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 895 ($11.30) and traded as low as GBX 882.07 ($11.14). The Scottish Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 895 ($11.30), with a volume of 35,892 shares changing hands. The Scottish Investment Trust Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.72, a quick ratio of 10.04 and a current ratio of 10.35. The stock has a market cap of 592.25 million and a PE ratio of 1,570.18. The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 895 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 895. The Scottish Investment Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Scottish Investment Trust PLC is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm manages separate client-focused equity portfolios. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. It employs a fundamental analysis with a bottom-up stock picking approach. The Scottish Investment Trust PLC was founded in 1887 and is based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Read More Receive News & Ratings for The Scottish Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Scottish Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HARBIN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Harbin, the capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, welcomed over 10.09 million visits during the Spring Festival holiday, an average daily increase of 81.7 percent year on year, local authorities said Sunday. The city raked in 16.42 billion yuan (about 2.28 billion U.S. dollars) of tourism revenue during the eight-day holiday, from Feb. 10 to 17, according to the city's tourism department. Looking ahead, Harbin will continue to integrate various resources such as tourist attractions, large-scale cultural tourism activities, regional characteristic brands, and cultural venues, and design tourism routes and products to help tourists better experience the city's history and charm. Qtron Investments LLC boosted its stake in Tim S.A. (NYSE:TIMB Free Report) by 36.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 73,695 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 19,591 shares during the period. Qtron Investments LLCs holdings in TIM were worth $1,098,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TIMB. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its stake in shares of TIM by 315.3% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,525 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,917 shares in the last quarter. Group One Trading L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of TIM by 125.6% during the 3rd quarter. Group One Trading L.P. now owns 2,933 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 1,633 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of TIM by 620.6% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,417 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 3,804 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP increased its position in shares of TIM by 2,838.8% during the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 4,702 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 4,542 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Signaturefd LLC increased its position in shares of TIM by 25.8% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,916 shares of the companys stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 803 shares in the last quarter. Get TIM alerts: TIM Stock Performance NYSE:TIMB traded down $0.62 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $17.65. The stock had a trading volume of 800,141 shares, compared to its average volume of 409,784. The businesss 50 day moving average is $18.09 and its 200-day moving average is $16.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Tim S.A. has a one year low of $11.46 and a one year high of $18.94. TIM Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 26th were given a $0.216 dividend. This represents a $0.86 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.90%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 22nd. TIMs dividend payout ratio is currently 72.03%. Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of TIM from $19.50 to $20.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Scotiabank reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of TIM in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. View Our Latest Analysis on TIM TIM Profile (Free Report) TIM SA, a telecommunications company, provides mobile voice, data, and broadband services in Brazil. The company offers in mobile, landline, long-distance, and data transmission services. It also offers fixed ultra-broadband, fixed ultraband broadband, and digital content services. The company serves individuals and corporates, as well as small, medium, and large companies. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TIMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tim S.A. (NYSE:TIMB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TIM Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TIM and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. lowered its position in shares of Toyota Motor Co. (NYSE:TM Free Report) by 8.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,157 shares of the companys stock after selling 204 shares during the quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in Toyota Motor were worth $388,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allworth Financial LP boosted its stake in shares of Toyota Motor by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,919 shares of the companys stock valued at $525,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Optas LLC boosted its stake in shares of Toyota Motor by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Optas LLC now owns 1,323 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of Toyota Motor by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 949 shares of the companys stock valued at $171,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Keel Point LLC boosted its stake in shares of Toyota Motor by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Keel Point LLC now owns 1,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $282,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Toyota Motor by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,708 shares of the companys stock valued at $275,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 1.33% of the companys stock. Get Toyota Motor alerts: Toyota Motor Stock Performance TM stock opened at $227.36 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The firm has a market cap of $308.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.69, a P/E/G ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 0.65. Toyota Motor Co. has a 12-month low of $132.35 and a 12-month high of $232.56. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $196.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $185.02. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on TM shares. StockNews.com lowered Toyota Motor from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Nomura lowered Toyota Motor from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. View Our Latest Report on TM About Toyota Motor (Free Report) Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures, assembles, and sells passenger vehicles, minivans and commercial vehicles, and related parts and accessories in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. It operates in Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Toyota Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toyota Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Free Report) and Jeffersonville Bancorp (OTCMKTS:JFBC Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk and dividends. Dividends U.S. Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.96 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.7%. Jeffersonville Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.5%. U.S. Bancorp pays out 59.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Jeffersonville Bancorp pays out 22.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. U.S. Bancorp has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. U.S. Bancorp is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: Profitability This table compares U.S. Bancorp and Jeffersonville Bancorps net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets U.S. Bancorp 13.36% 14.89% 1.04% Jeffersonville Bancorp N/A 16.91% 1.68% Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score U.S. Bancorp 0 12 8 0 2.40 Jeffersonville Bancorp 0 0 0 0 N/A This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for U.S. Bancorp and Jeffersonville Bancorp, as reported by MarketBeat. U.S. Bancorp currently has a consensus target price of $45.35, indicating a potential upside of 9.30%. Given U.S. Bancorps higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe U.S. Bancorp is more favorable than Jeffersonville Bancorp. Insider & Institutional Ownership 75.4% of U.S. Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of U.S. Bancorp shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 8.4% of Jeffersonville Bancorp shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation & Earnings This table compares U.S. Bancorp and Jeffersonville Bancorps top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio U.S. Bancorp $40.62 billion 1.59 $5.43 billion $3.28 12.65 Jeffersonville Bancorp $27.45 million N/A $9.30 million $2.64 6.44 U.S. Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Jeffersonville Bancorp. Jeffersonville Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than U.S. Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Risk & Volatility U.S. Bancorp has a beta of 1.04, meaning that its stock price is 4% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Jeffersonville Bancorp has a beta of 0.37, meaning that its stock price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary U.S. Bancorp beats Jeffersonville Bancorp on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks. About U.S. Bancorp (Get Free Report) U.S. Bancorp, a financial services holding company, provides various financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional organizations, governmental entities and other financial institutions in the United States. It operates in Corporate and Commercial Banking, Consumer and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Investment Services, Payment Services, and Treasury and Corporate Support segments. The company offers depository services, including checking accounts, savings accounts, and time certificate contracts; lending services, such as traditional credit products; and credit card services, lease financing and import/export trade, asset-backed lending, agricultural finance, and other products. In addition, it provides ancillary services comprising capital markets, treasury management, and receivable lock-box collection services to corporate and governmental entity customers. Further, the company offers asset management and fiduciary services for individuals, estates, foundations, business corporations, and charitable organizations. Additionally, it provides investment and insurance products to its customers principally within its markets, as well as fund administration services to mutual and other funds. Furthermore, the company provides corporate and purchasing card, and corporate trust services. The company offers merchant processing, investment management, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, and brokerage and leasing services. U.S. Bancorp was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. About Jeffersonville Bancorp (Get Free Report) Jeffersonville Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Jeff Bank that provides community banking services to individuals, small businesses, and local municipal governments primarily in Sullivan County, New York. The company offers various deposit products, such as checking, money market, savings, and NOW, as well as demand and time deposits. It also offers commercial mortgage, farmland, construction, real estate, agricultural, residential mortgage, home equity, installment, debt restructures, and other consumer loans. The company was founded in 1913 and is based in Jeffersonville, New York. Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index ETF (TSE:VE Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 0.4% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$33.58 and last traded at C$33.52. 3,434 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 69% from the average session volume of 2,027 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$33.40. Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index ETF Stock Performance The firms 50 day moving average price is C$32.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$31.82. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victoria Gold Corp. (TSE:VGCX Get Free Report) traded up 2.5% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$6.22 and last traded at C$6.14. 210,039 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 16% from the average session volume of 180,314 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$5.99. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Pi Financial decreased their target price on shares of Victoria Gold from C$17.50 to C$16.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Get Victoria Gold alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Victoria Gold Victoria Gold Stock Up 2.5 % About Victoria Gold The company has a current ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.38. The stock has a market capitalization of C$408.49 million, a P/E ratio of 12.28 and a beta of 1.72. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$6.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$6.42. (Get Free Report) Victoria Gold Corp. acquires, explores, and operates mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Its flagship property is 100% owned Dublin Gulch property, which hosts the Eagle and Olive-Shamrock Gold deposit covering an area of approximately 555 square kilometers located in central Yukon, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Victoria Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Victoria Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Weather Alert ...Elevated Fire Danger Today and Tuesday... ...Hard Freeze Expected Tonight... The combination of very dry air and northwest winds gusting up to 20 mph will create an elevated risk of uncontrolled fire spread this afternoon. Relative humidity values will fall to 20 to 35%, with the lowest humidity levels over the Ozark Foothills of southeast Missouri. A more substantial fire danger is expected Tuesday, as southwest winds increase significantly, with gusts of 25 to 40 mph forecast Tuesday afternoon. Relative humidity values Tuesday afternoon will fall to 25 to 35%. If you are planning outdoor burning today and Tuesday, use extra caution and have fire suppression equipment ready. Tonight, very cold and dry surface high pressure will allow temperatures to drop into the middle and upper 20s throughout the region. Although the growing season has not officially started, tender vegetation could be impacted by these cold temperatures. Please take necessary actions to protect any tender vegetation tonight. Vaccine plea issued amid rise in cases of flu in north Wales hospitals The number of hospital patients testing positive for the flu has reached its highest level since January 2023. In the last four weeks alone over 200 inpatients at hospitals across the region were confirmed as having the virus. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is now urging eligible adults to come forward for their free flu and covid-19 vaccine. Both viruses are still circulating in communities across North Wales. Walk-in COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics for eligible adults are being held at our community vaccination centres this week and until the end of March. The vaccines can prevent you getting the viruses, lessen the severity of symptoms if you do, and reduce your chances of passing them on. They also help to protect the wider community from outbreaks, and reduce the pressure on local NHS services. If you have been contacted with an invitation for your vaccine, please make sure you take it up. Painless nasal spray flu vaccines are available from GP surgeries for children aged two and three (age on August 31 2022). Schoolchildren from Reception to Year 11 can still get a spray flu vaccine at catch-up clinics organised by school immunisation teams. Please look out for more details advertised through school. COVID-19 Spring booster programme In the coming weeks the health board will also start contacting those eligible for a spring booster covid jab. From April 2 Betsi Cadwaladr will start offering a booster vaccine to: all adults aged 75 years and over residents in care homes for older adults all adults and children aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined by tables 3 and 4 of the Green Book). The COVID-19 Spring booster will be offered to patients around six months after their last dose of the vaccine Measles vaccination There are also growing concerns about the spread of measles following outbreaks in Cardiff and the West Midlands. Measles is highly contagious, and can spread very quickly amongst adults and children who are not vaccinated. Symptoms of measles include a high fever, a cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, a rash and spots in the mouth. It can lead to hospitalisation, severe complications and can be life threatening in rare cases. Unvaccinated contacts of people who have measles may be required to isolate for up to 21 days. While data shows children in North Wales have a higher level of protection against measles than many other areas of Wales and the UK, MMR vaccine coverage is below the recommended level of 95 per cent. The health board is now calling on parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against measles with two doses of the safe and effective MMR vaccine. A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: If you think your child may have missed an MMR vaccine please check the vaccination record in their red book. If you need to catch up with an MMR vaccine, please contact your GP surgery or health visitor. Our school nursing and immunisation teams are reviewing records and offering catch up MMR vaccination to secondary school age children who need it as part of routine clinics. Please look out for more information and a consent form from their school or your local authority. Further information about the MMR vaccine, how to get it, and the protection it offers against measles, mumps and rubella is available here. Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination Health officials are encouraging expectant mothers and parents of newborn children to take up vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough). Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs which spreads very easily. It can cause serious health problems, with very young children at highest risk. Read more details about whooping cough at NHS 111 Wales. Pregnant women are offered pertussis vaccination during pregnancy to help protect their child during the earliest weeks of their life. Babies are offered further vaccination as part of the routine schedule at eight, 12 and 16 weeks. Suspected cases of whooping cough have risen rapidly in recent weeks. If you are pregnant or have a new baby please make sure you or your child has the pertussis vaccine and all other routine vaccinations. If you have any questions, please speak to your community midwife or health visitor. [email protected] BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cold waves will lead to sharp temperature drops in most parts of China starting from Sunday evening, with temperatures in some areas expected to plunge by as much as 20 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast. The national observatory said over the next four days, ending on Feb. 22, temperatures are expected to drop in most parts of China's central and eastern regions, with average daily temperatures in these regions expected to fall by 8 to 12 degrees. Meanwhile, in parts of Inner Mongolia, most parts of northern China, as well as northeast China and some parts of southern China, temperatures will drop by as much as 18 degrees Celsius, according to the forecast. Parts of northeast China, and parts of Hubei and Hunan provinces in central China and Guizhou Province in southwest China, will see temperatures dip by as much as 20 degrees, the NMC said in an alert for cold waves. The agency advised local governments as well as industries such as agriculture, aquaculture, and animal husbandry to take precautionary measures against freezing weather to mitigate losses. In another alert, the NMC said that provincial-level regions including Xizang, Qinghai, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Henan and Shandong will experience gales over the next two days. It also warned gales of up to a force of 8 on the wind scale (17.2-20.7 m/s) in the Bohai Sea, most parts of the Yellow Sea, and the northern East China Sea over the next two days. In the alert, the NMC cautioned ships to pay attention to safe navigation, and advised forest, grassland and urban regions to be on high alert for potential fire hazards, while residents and vehicles have been advised to avoid tall structures. The most striking thing about the results of the partial re-run of the federal election in Berlin last Sunday is the heavy losses suffered by Chancellor Olaf Scholzs party. The Social Democrats (SPD) lost 7.8 points, receiving only 14.6 percent of the votes cast. Compared to the original federal election in September 2021, in which they had already achieved a poor result, with 23.5 percent, the Social Democrats once again lost more than a third of their votes. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a speech at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber] The re-run had become necessary because the Supreme Court ruled at the end of last year that the serious shortcomings in the conduct of the original election made a by-election necessary in 455 of 2,256 constituencies. A year earlier, the Berlin State Supreme Court had ruled that the principles of universality, equality and freedom of the vote had been so seriously violated in the Berlin House of Representatives (state assembly) election, which took place on the same day in the same polling stations, that the entire election had to be repeated. This happened exactly one year ago. By deciding to repeat the Bundestag (federal) election in only 455 constituencies, the Berlin State Supreme Court tried to provide some protection to the federal government and prevent a political earthquake. Nevertheless, the rerun election result is very revealing and shows how strong the opposition to the government is. Around 550,000 Berliners were eligible to vote, but only half went to the polls. Voter turnout fell from 75.4 percent to 51 percent. This may not come as a surprise in a repeat election, but it is also an expression of the rejection of all the parties in the federal governmentSPD, Greens, Liberal Democrats (FDP). Due to the low voter turnout, all but one of the parties lost votes in the 455 constituencies, even those that made relative percentage gains. The SPD received 54,000 fewer votes than in September 2021, the Greens 38,000 and the FDP 29,000 fewer. Only 3.3 percent voted for the Liberals, well below the 5 percent threshold required for parliamentary representation. The Christian Democrats (CDU), which gained 6.9 points to reach 20.6 percent, also lost 552 votes. And the Left Party, which received 12.6 percent in its Berlin stronghold (up 0.7), lost more than 15,000 voters. Despite a low turnout, only the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained votes, with an additional 5,300, and increased its percentage share by 5.6 points to 12.6 percent. The growth of the fascists is a direct result of the policies of all the parties in the Bundestag (federal parliament), which have adopted their reactionary and racist programme and integrated them into parliamentary work and all committees. The October 2023 cover page of Der Spiegel, which depicted the chancellor with the slogan We must finally deport more! is still well remembered. In mid-January, the Bundestag passed a law on accelerated deportation to the applause of the AfD. Der Spiegel title page 43/2023. Scholz is pictured and quoted saying We must finally deport more. Olaf Scholzs new harshness in refugee policy The AfDs increase in votes shows that the mass movement against the fascist party can only be successful if it is irreconcilably opposed to the right-wing policies of the coalition government and is made the starting point for a political mobilisation of the working class against the capitalist system. The massive loss of votes suffered by the SPD is the price paid for its right-wing policies of military rearmament, war preparations, xenophobia and social cuts since the coalition came to power. Two years ago, on February 27, 2022, Scholz gave his infamous New Era speech. He exploited Russias invasion of Ukraine, which NATO had provoked with its constant eastward expansion, for a proxy war against Russia, the biggest rearmament offensive since Hitler and the stationing of Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) units in Eastern Europe. With 22 billion in direct aid and a share of 19 billion in EU aid since the start of the war, Germany has become the largest financier of the war and donor to Ukraine after the US. The official list of German military support for Ukraine is getting longer and longer and shows the extent to which Berlin is involved in the Ukraine war against Russia. The list already includes 105 main battle tanks, 30 infantry fighting vehicles, 42 armoured personnel carriers, 15 anti-aircraft tanks and 9 air defence systems. In addition, there are armoured recovery vehicles, armoured bridge-laying vehicles, armoured mine-clearing vehicles and half a million rounds of ammunition for all types of weapons. A few days before the re-run Berlin elections, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) openly threatened Russia with war. In several interviews, he stated that Germany would have to prepare for war with the nuclear power Russia in a period of five to eight years. For weeks, he has been calling for Germany to become ready for war and expand its leading role in NATO. At the same time, the NATO powers have opened a second front in the Middle East. The German government unconditionally supports the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians and denounces and suppresses any opposition to it as antisemitic. If anyone thought that the massive loss of votes in the small Bundestag electionas the Berlin election rerun was often calledwould persuade the SPD to appear less bellicose and scale back its rearmament propaganda, they were proved wrong on Monday. The morning after the election, in front of television cameras, Scholz laid the foundation stone for an expansion of the Rheinmetall ammunition factory in Lower Saxony, Germanys second-largest arms manufacturer. Finance daily Handelsblatt quoted him saying, We are not living in peacetime, and gleefully reported how the SPD chancellor praised the importance of the defence industry and stood in front of tanks and ammunition boxes for more than an hour for a photo shoot. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits a production line at the future site of an arms factory where weapons maker Rheinmetall plans to produce artilleries from 2025, in Unterluess, Germany, Monday Feb. 12, 2024. [AP Photo/Fabian Bimmer] On Tuesday, the SPDs lead candidate for the European elections, Katarina Barley, brought Germanys nuclear armament into play. Now that Donald Trump has called into question the NATO defence obligation, we needed to think about our own nuclear bombs, said Barley. On Wednesday, SPD foreign affairs expert Michael Roth followed up and demanded: We must stop Russian imperialismeven without the USA if necessary. The war cries from SPD HQ at Willy Brandt House are becoming increasingly aggressive and irrational. One hundred ten years after it agreed to the Kaisers war credits in August 1914 and led millions of workers to the slaughter of the First World War, the SPD today is once again playing a key role in pushing through the predatory interests of German imperialism against the resistance of the working class. But unlike then, the SPD has long since lost its influence in the working class. After the monstrous crimes of German militarism in two world wars, the war cries from SPD headquarters and the chancellery are met with disgust, anger and growing resistance. The decline of the SPD comes as no surprise and is to be welcomed. The turn away from the party that Rosa Luxemburg had already described as a stinking corpse in 1914 must be made the prelude to a conscious turn towards a socialist programme. This is the significance of the European election campaign of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP), which is fighting together with its sister parties throughout Europe and internationally to mobilise the working class against war and fascism. The SGPs election statement reads: The only legitimate conclusion that can be drawn from Nazi Germanys war of extermination and the Holocaust, the worst crimes in human history, is this: The working class must never again permit war and fascism, and must eliminate once and for all the root of this horror, capitalism. Stop the NATO war in Ukraine! No sanctions or arms deliveries! Two world wars are enough! Stop the warmongers! 100 billion for daycare centers, schools and hospitals, instead of for armaments and war! RAMALLAH, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency said on Sunday that a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital was essential for resolving the conflict and ensuring stability in the region. The statement by Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh came after the Israeli government unanimously rejected any "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state by other countries. Abu Rudeineh warned of "different and dangerous" challenges ahead and said the Palestinian position was firm against the "extremist and obstinate" Israeli stance and the "contradictory" U.S. position. He urged more Arab and international action to stop "aggression and war," and said Israel's continued attacks on Palestinians and their holy sites in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem would not bring security and stability to anyone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that recognizing a Palestinian state at this stage would be a "reward for terrorism" and would undermine the chances of a lasting peace deal. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations did not need Netanyahu's approval or permission. It said all countries could recognize the state of Palestine without any legal or political obstacles and accused Netanyahu of destroying the prospects of statehood by annexing and expanding settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and isolating Gaza. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to enhance political mutual trust and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Poland, while jointly practicing multilateralism, supporting the United Nations in playing a central role, and opposing power politics and hegemony, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on the sidelines of the 60th Munich Security Conference. Wang said that China-Poland relations have maintained steady development and become increasingly mature and resilient since the establishment of diplomatic ties 75 years ago. The two sides should continue to adhere to the key of friendly cooperation and highlight the positive sides of mutual respect and mutual trust to jointly push for greater development of the bilateral relations from a new starting point and lift them to a higher level, Wang said. Sikorski said Poland was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with China and has always adhered to the one-China policy. Expressing admiration for China's remarkable achievements in development, Sikorski said Poland is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with China to make the meeting of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee a success and map out cooperation in various fields for the next stage. He also said that he expects China to support the voice and representation of Central and Eastern Europe in international affairs. Meanwhile, Wang said China appreciates Polish commitment to a friendly policy toward China and that it views China's development in an objective and friendly way. He added that China welcomes Poland's acceleration of revitalization and supports Poland in playing a greater role in the international and regional arena. China is ready to work with Poland to hold meetings of the joint economic commission and the science and technology cooperation commission at an early date to accumulate consensus and achievements and to convene the China-Poland Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee at an appropriate time to coordinate key cooperation in various fields and enhance exchanges of experience on governance, Wang said. Poland is a "bellwether" in cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and an important destination for China-Europe freight trains, Wang said, noting that China is ready to strengthen connectivity with Poland, jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality to rejuvenate the Silk Road in the new era. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues of common concern. Ellis said his longtime partner, Todd Michael Schultz, was experiencing serious mental health issues exacerbated by drugs, according to 'The New York Times' Owen Kolasinski/BFA/Shutterstock Bret Easton Ellis and Todd Michael Schultz. Todd Michael Schultz, author Bret Easton Ellis partner of 14 years, was arrested and charged with trespassing, authorities said. Schultz, 37, was arrested on Tuesday at the West Hollywood condominium where he lives with the 59-year-old novelist (American Psycho, Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction), police confirm to PEOPLE. There is no evidence that suggests Ellis had anything to do with the alleged trespassing, authorities said. In a text message, Ellis told The New York Times that Schultz was experiencing serious mental health issues exacerbated by drugs." He added that Schultz was experiencing a psychotic break, but the episode was nonviolent, per the outlet. According to the author, Schultz was not attempting a burglary, but rather accidentally walked into the open apartment thinking it was Ellis residence. At the time of the incident, a distressed female condo resident made a 911 call and told dispatchers that a man had entered her residence and began ransacking her things, The New York Times reported. She also told management that the man was unresponsive when she asked him to leave. Following the call, building representatives arrived at the residence and detained the man, who was later identified as Schultz, per the outlet. After the events unfolded, several police cars arrived at the West Hollywood building, and Ellis paced the sidewalk while talking on the phone, an anonymous bystander told the outlet. The novelist appeared to be in distress, the eyewitness noted. 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. Schultz was originally scheduled to appear in court on Friday, but it was rescheduled for next Tuesday because he was in no position to be in court, Ellis told The New York Times. He is being held on $51,000 bail, according to The Los Angeles Times, which cited police. Ahead of the rescheduled court appearance, Schultz is in lockdown in a psychiatric ward at Los Angeles Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to The New York Times. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Timm Schabbel was hooked on being a firefighter when he was in high school. Fast forward to this week, and he is retiring. He said he never felt like he worked because he loved the job so much. I have been extremely blessed. Today, Jan. 19, is Timms final day as chief at Clay Fire Territory. He began his career with the Clay Township Fire Department in 1989. He was promoted to fire chief in 1997 and is the longest tenured chief officer in the agencys 75-year history. He celebrated his 35th anniversary with the department this month. Tuesday is Jaren Kilian's first day as the next fire chief of the Clay Fire Territory. Jaren was named to the post in early February. He has served in multiple roles in the department since being hired in 2005. He has been an integral part of Clay Fires leadership team since being promoted to his current rank of assistant chief of administration in 2012. Currently the assistant chief of administration, Jaren Kilian becomes Clay Fire Territory's new chief Feb. 20, 2024, with the retirement of Timm Schabbel as the current chief. In 2001, Timm led the transition of the agency from the Clay Township Fire Department to a new organization by uniting Clay Township and the towns of Indian Village and Roseland to create the Clay Fire Territory. He later led the expansion of Clay Fire through the addition of the German Township Fire Department in 2007 and again in 2010 with the inclusion of the Harris Township Fire Department. Namely News: Former South Bend resident wins the 2024 Stockholm Prize in Criminology The area was tripled, he said. Increased staff and calls, which are all part of a modern fire department. There are five stations in the territory. The population is 80,000, which places it in the top 15 of cities in the state. Under Timms leadership, Clay Fire became the first internationally accredited fire department in Indiana, in 2004. As one of only four currently internationally accredited fire departments in Indiana, Clay Fire has maintained its agency-accredited status through four additional exhaustive re-accreditation processes. The other three accredited departments are Indianapolis, Carmel and Grissom Air Force Base. Good company. The accreditation is an extensive process with a number of checklists, visits and reports. Timm says it keeps everyone on their toes and sharpens their skills. He received high praise for his leadership and wisdom. Matt Dhoore, operations chief, said Chief Timm has created a foundation, a vision for the department. No one can touch that. He is dedicated. As a mentor, he gave me that push. He wanted us to try, to think differently. Take classes. We have been supported in every endeavor. Clay Township Trustee Sean OBrien said in the press release that Chief Schabbel has spent his entire career in the service of others and to our community. On behalf of Clay Township, we are extremely grateful for his vision, leadership, professionalism, and his significant contributions to our community. Clay Township is a better and safer place because of the Schabbels. I wish him and his family all the best during his hard-earned and well-deserved retirement. Timms story in the fire service began in high school. He is from South Haven and went to high school in Niles. As a senior, I was living with friends when my mother moved to the Chicago suburbs. A friend, Bill Drotoz, was a volunteer firefighter in Niles and took me to the station. At that point, I was hooked. Before that, he said, he was a lost soul in high school. No real direction. I found what I was supposed to do. Clay Fire Territory Chief Timm Schabbel plans to retire Feb. 19, 2024, after 35 years of service with the department. He took a test for the Romeoville (Illinois) fire department. He graduated from high school on a Thursday (in 1986), packed his car on Friday and started at Romeoville on Monday. He attended the fire academy in Arlington Heights, Ill., before transferring to the Clay Township Fire Department. During his nearly four decades in public safety, Timm has served the community in various roles within the fire department, including as a firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, chief of operations and fire chief. For him, it has been about the teamwork in the department, community and city. Everything must run smoothly, he said. Through the years, Timm has taken the lead in creating a modern fire department with mutual aid responses with other departments, budgeting, remodeling stations, fire prevention and training. The Clay Fire Training Center on Auten Road has trained 300 incident commanders from all over the world. Timm has received numerous awards, including Firefighter of the Year from the township, Fire Chief of the Year from the state of Indiana and the Presidents Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in 2021. He has also served on the board of directors of IAFC since 2016. With retirement, he said, he will do consulting work and training with other departments. No trips to Florida or theme parks. Im excited about the next chapter. Betsy Jochum during her playing days with the South Bend Blue Sox. A quick note for fans of Betsy Jochum. Betsy, who was known as Sockum Jochum when she was a South Bend Blue Sox player, is a legend. Betsy celebrated her 103rd birthday on Feb. 8. If you would like to send a belated birthday message or "youre fabulous" card, there is a way. The History Museum, 808 W. Washington St., South Bend, IN 46601, will forward the cards to her. Just note on the front of the envelope that this is for Betsy. Or Sockum. Kathy Borlik Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Clay Fire Territory chief retires after 35 years with department Somebody or something is speaking from inside a timber crate. Its so dark in here a night so deep and opaque read the subtitles; the voice is speaking in Fon, the local language of the West African country that was once called Dahomey and is now Benin. As the slats are nailed down, the voice is increasingly muffled; we are outside, but we are inside too, watching the light disappear. This is the transport that will take a carved statue of Behanzin, king of Dahomey when the French army invaded in 1890, from the Musee Branly in Paris to Porto-Novo, capital of Benin. Around 7,000 works were looted from Benin in the years following the French conquest; in 2020, the French government ratified an earlier promise by President Macron to return 26 of them. Behanzins image, with its metal belt and bracelets and one arm raised in a warriors challenge, was on its way home. More from Deadline Dahomey is French-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diops response to this event. It is a heady mix of sometimes contradictory approaches: a documentary record showing the process of packing, sending and displaying artefacts; an architectural essay on the light and space Diop finds in galleries at both ends of the journey; a political polemic featuring students arguing with some fury about what, if anything, the restitution signifies; and, riskiest of all, the fantasy of a statue come to stiff, woody life. His texts, written by Makenzy Orcel, range from the vagueness of an oracle to the poignantly immediate. I am afraid of not being recognised and of not recognising anyone, he says at one point; it is the fear felt by all returning expatriates. It is also the fear of the time traveller. Through Diops eyes, we see that the gleaming white corridors of the Musee Branly are almost exactly mirrored by those of the presidential palaces gallery in Porto-Novo: angular, shining and unnervingly empty power-spaces, waiting to be filled with cultural capital. This is nothing like the country the real Behanzin would remember. I admit it: the idea that our companion on this journey would be a talking statue first struck me as silly, ludicrously reminiscent of a voodoo doll come to life in a horror film pretty much the last sort of association you would want in a film about West African culture. As the film unfolds, however, that voice of the past resonates with the seriousness of Diops project, pressing that past into the present like a mould being pressed into clay. I find myself making other associations, reflecting on the ways these works were imprinted in turn on French culture in the faces of Picassos Demoiselles DAvignon, in the mask compared to Jeanne Moreaus face in Truffauts Jules et Jim as whispers of the exotic. The monstrosity of this cultural theft is brought home when we see schoolchildren in Benin gazing in wonder at the 26 works, now on display in their homeland: their stolen heritage. Diops master stroke in a short film full of master strokes - is to stage what was clearly a long debate between students at the University of Abomey-Calavi about the meaning and importance of the return of these 26 artworks. Its a savage insult, says one firebrand, to return so little of what was taken. A young woman says this talk of insults makes her sick; he is treating the event as an opportunity to run his mouth instead of rejoicing in what has been returned and thinking about how to get back the rest. A young woman is angry that she can only express herself in French, language of the colonists. Remember what defined you as clever at school, replies a young man: being able to quote Aristotle! More fundamental issues rumble beneath the rhetoric: how many people in Benin, asks a speaker, can count on three meals a day? Orcels musings as Behanzin become more allusive as Diop traces a path around Cotonou, suggesting that the conquered kings spirit is now free to wander. I never left. I am here, he says gruffly as the camera passes over billboards set above highways. I am the face of metamorphosis. I see myself so clearly through you within me resonates infinity. It is a grand claim, the sort of thing a 19th century potentate at the head of a slave kingdom might conceivably say, claiming continuity even while Benins vibrant youth gives voice to how much has changed and will change again. Open-ended, fecund with imagination and ideas, never hectoring or lecturing, not so much posing questions as asking what questions might be posed: Mati Diops film is a marvelous provocation. Title: Dahomey Festival: Berlin (Competition) Director-screenwriter: Mati Diop Sales agent: Les Films du Losange Running time: 1 hr 8 min Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Embattled actor Danny Masterson is being moved from Manson's maximum prison to a medium facility. The actor had been serving a 30-year sentence for rape charges after being sentenced by a Los Angeles court last year. His estranged wife, Bijou Phillips, recently made a public appearance, where she noted that she has been "doing good" since divorcing Masterson. Danny Masterson Has Been Transferred Out Of 'Manson' Prison MEGA According to TMZ, Danny Masterson is being moved to a more humane facility from his "Manson" prison, where he had been serving a 30-year sentence for rape charges. Manson Prison, officially named Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, is a maximum-security penitentiary known for housing some of the most dangerous inmates in the state. The prison earned its nickname because it was once the residence of the infamous Charles Manson, who served a life sentence for the notorious Tate-LaBianca murders. Per the news outlet, Masterson's new prison is the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. This facility is characterized as a medium- to minimum-security prison and comprises two distinct housing facilities. The "That '70s Show" star is anticipated to find his new digs easier to live in as the facility has fewer restrictions and rules. The facility also provides academic programs for inmates to acquire vocational and other skills, as well as notable self-help programs. The Actor Was Convicted Of Rape Charges Last Year MEGA Late last year, a Los Angeles court found Masterson guilty on two out of the three charges of rape he was charged with back in 2020. The comedy star was accused of having non-consensual intercourse with his victims between 2001 and 2003, at the height of his fame on the Fox network sitcom. As part of the testimony, the woman in question said that Masterson drugged the drinks that he gave them when they visited his home in Hollywood. After taking the drinks, they became unstable or passed out before he violently performed the act on them. "When you raped me, you stole from me," said one of the victims when she took to the stand, per The Guardian. "That's what rape is, a theft of the spirit. You are pathetic, disturbed, and completely violent. The world is better off with you in prison." Another victim said that Masterson did not show "an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused." She added, "I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with. I am so sorry, and I'm so upset. I wish I'd reported him sooner to the police." How The Church Of Scientology Allegedly Stopped The Victims From Coming Forward MEGA All of Masterson's victims, including the actor himself, were affiliated with the Church of Scientology. They claimed that when they reported the incidents to the church around the time they occurred, the church gaslighted them and swept them under the carpet. Reportedly, the victims not only received warnings against going to the police to report Masterson, a prominent member but were also told that they hadn't been raped. They detailed being subjected to ethics programs and experiencing shunning from the community members, discouraging them from addressing the matter until decades later. Following the court's verdict, the church issued a statement denying the accusations. The statement claimed that the "testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs" presented during the trial were deemed "uniformly false." The statement further read, "The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting the criminal conduct of anyone Scientologists or not to law enforcement." Danny Masterson's Estranged Wife Says She Is Doing Fine MEGA After Masterson was convicted, his wife, Bijou Philips, filed for divorce and quit Scientology. She also began raising their daughter, Fianna, as a single mother as Masterson handed over full custody to her. She recently made a rare public appearance at a Janie's Fund charity event, where she gave an update about her life since Masterson's conviction, per E! News. The 43-year-old actress noted, "I'm doing good," adding that she and their daughter Fianna make a "great little team." All through Masterson's trial, Philips remained by his side and was broken emotionally when he was sentenced. She also once claimed in a character later that Masterson remained an "amazing father" while being in jail. "Danny is an amazing father," she said. "Our daughter and I are heartbroken that he is not home with us. It has been very difficult without him here. Even though he is now in jail, he calls her every day. He helps her with homework every night." David Tennant is about to host one of the most-watched award shows in Britain, but he shouldnt be too worried. Expectations for this Sundays Baftas are low a faint echo of last years mortifying Ariana DeBose female empowerment rap, is still likely haunting your ears. That said, Tennant tall, Scottish, your favourite Doctor if youre a Whovian of quality is a steady yet interesting choice for the gig, a smart and charming household name with a relaxed demeanour and faint tinge of eccentricity. Ideal for this kind of thing, you could say. The Baftas think the stuffier cousin to the Oscars have spent the last few years scrambling for an enduring figurehead. Stephen Fry, who hosted 12 times between 2001 and 2017, once seemed in perfect rhythm with the show someone wry and witty, with none of the gauche flamboyance of his American counterparts. But since Fry stepped down as master of ceremonies, the show has struggled to find hosts with the right blend of showbizzy flair and outsider-looking-in detachment. So weve had a rotation of Fry-alikes (Joanna Lumley), raunchy comics (Graham Norton, Rebel Wilson) and, weirdly, This Morning hosts (Dermot OLeary and Alison Hammond) none of whom seem to have hit the right note. Last years ceremony was a nadir in this regard an erratic pairing of Hammond (loud, nervous, too far out of her wheelhouse) and Richard E Grant (stiff, nervous, too far out of his wheelhouse). The effort was certainly visible, a mutual eagerness from both presenters to make the ceremony zippy and fun, but the results were leaden. And, once DeBose realised she could rhyme Blanchett Cate youre a genius with Jamie Lee, you were all of us and absolutely nobody tried to sabotage her microphone, we were well and truly doomed. Tennant could be the answer to the shows prayers. Throughout his career, the actor has mastered a scrappy kind of likeability, something that bleeds through even in very disparate roles. His five years as the Doctor sandwiched between the Christopher Eccleston and Matt Smith eras saw him lend the character an excitable, sweetly wild energy that has rippled through all of his successors in the role. In fact, he was such a hit he was recently brought back to reprise the role slightly spoiling nascent Doctor Ncuti Gatwas arrival in the process. Roles in Russell T Daviess acclaimed Casanova and Prime Videos silly, fantastical Neil Gaiman series Good Omens where he plays a rambunctious demon have proven similarly endearing. That wryness is even there when hes at his most sullen, as in the blockbuster ITV mystery drama Broadchurch. Tennants Bafta gig has also coincided with his shift into being more of a public figure. The actor was famously guarded at the peak of his Doctor Who fame and told The Guardian in 2011 that he preferred to be known as an actor and not a famous celebrity. He didnt want to talk publicly about his then-girlfriend, now-wife Georgia, for instance, despite the inherent curiosity of the fact that she is the daughter of Doctor Whos Peter Davison. I have a very happy family life, very blessed, yeah, Tennant said. I understand theres an interest, and I dont want to feed it. Over the years, though, he has opened up. Were not quite as squeamish as we were, hed tell The Guardian in 2020, of life with Georgia and their five children. I dont think well ever be sharing pictures of our children in Hello! magazine, but I think a lot of that comes from an insecurity about being uncovered or invaded. The longer youre together, the less that feels like a threat. Around that time, he allowed cameras inside his real-life home as he co-starred with his wife and children in Staged, a satirical comedy in which he and Michael Sheen played fictionalised, overwhelmingly luvvie versions of themselves. Hes also moved into podcasting, hosting an interview series in which he chats to stars including Olivia Colman and Whoopi Goldberg. In the process hes been revealed to be a natural raconteur, opinionated and conversational. Its no wonder Bafta came calling. Scrappy likeability: Tennant in Doctor Who (BBC Studios) Smartly, Tennant seems to know what hes in for. In recent interviews about his turn at the Baftas, he seems aware that its not a make-or-break gig for him. And that the kind of slightly too eager positivity that felled last years hosts doesnt seem to have plagued him so far. I dont currently feel particularly challenged because everythings written down for me and I dont have to worry about winning or not winning an award, he told The Guardian. If it was the first night of a play, Id be curled up in a corner in the foetal position. But the fact that its not my day job certainly feels liberating. (Despite this potent image, he did receive glowing reviews for his last big play, Decembers Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse.) Hes similarly been smart to distance himself from the likes of Jo Koy, the relatively unknown US comedian who hosted Januarys Golden Globes awards. You could practically see Koy bombing manically from space, alongside Taylor Swifts glare of disapproval from the audience whenever he mentioned her. Not being a comic I feel gives me slight cover, he told Variety this week, when asked about the lessons hes learnt from Koy. Im not really expected to be good at any of that stuff. Im just there to hold it all together. He also seemed just as uncertain as we are about what hell end up doing on the night in question. Apart from making absolutely no jokes about Taylor Swift, that is. Dont diss Tay Tay, he added to Variety, in reference to things hes learnt from Koy. I live in a house of Taylor Swift fans, so I know better. See what I mean about being smart and charming? The Bafta Film Awards screen on Sunday at 7pm on BBC One The post Dexter Romweber, Founder of Flat Duo Jets, Dead at 57 appeared first on Consequence. Dexter Romweber, the musician who founded the pioneering guitar-and-drums duo Flat Duo Jets, later inspiring the likes of The White Stripes and countless other lo-fi acts, has died. He was 57 years old. Romwebers death was announced via a statement posted by his family on Facebook, which revealed that had died at home on Friday, February 16th, and though a medical exam is pending, it is believed he died of natural causes. Born on June 18th, 1966, in Indiana, Romweber got involved in music at an early age, forming his first band when he was 10. By the time he was attending high school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the 70s, he began performing with drummer Chris Crow Smith. In 1983, the two formed Flat Duo Jets, a rip-roaring psychobilly duo that harnessed the electrifying interplay of Romwebers guitar playing and stage prowess with Smiths thunderous drumming. Through the 80s, the band became underground favorites, releasing tapes, performing shows, and appearing in media like MTVs The Cutting Edge and the 1986 documentary Athens, GA: Inside/Out. In the 90s, they shared their first full-length, Flat Duo Jets, followed by Go Go Harlem Baby in 1992. In 2011, Jack Whites Third Man Records reissued Go Go Harlem Baby, writing at the time that it was genuinely important in the pantheon of American music. Flat Duo Jets continued to record and perform through the 90s, even expanding their lineup and sound, but ultimately folded at the end of the decade. After that, Romweber began a solo career that spurred many more releases, exploring a variety of sounds, from his rockabilly home base to Chopin-inspired piano compositions and more. He was also involved in a number of additional projects, including the Dex Romweber Duo with his sister, Sara, on drums. Sara passed in 2019 as did two of Romwebers other siblings but he continued to record and release albums, most recently 2023s Good Thing Goin, which was dedicated to his sister. Through his decades of output, Romwebers artistry impacted many, from White to Cat Power, Neko Case, and more. Posting about his death on Instagram, White wrote that Romweber wasnt a Rock N Roll musician, he WAS Rock N Roll inside and out, without even having to try. Continuing, White called Romweber one of my favorite people Ive ever known and one of his most cherished influences. He once finished the last chord of a song during a concert, threw his guitar down, jumped off the stage at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, and ran straight up to me in a theater of ten people at the back of the room and immediately started talking to me, White wrote. I had never met him before that. I was 18. Over time he passed on secrets Ill never tell, and brought tears to my eyes when he told me how proud of me he was. But I was proud of him first, and always will be. He was an uncle that I would ride my bike across town to see. Read Whites full statement below, as well as the statement posted by Romwebers family. Dexter Romweber, Founder of Flat Duo Jets, Dead at 57 Jo Vito 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. "I think its gonna be a big success," the former president said while being met with boos at Sneaker Con over the weekend Chip Somodevilla/Getty Donald Trump at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 17. Donald Trump is facing criticism after he promoted $399 sneakers a day after a court ordered him to pay $355 million as a penalty for fraud. The former president, 77, showcased three different pairs of shoes while attending Sneaker Con at the Philadelphia Convention Center in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Ive wanted to do this for a long time. I have some incredible people that work with me on things, and they came up with this. This is something that Ive been talking about for 12 years, 13 years, and I think its gonna be a big success," Trump said, according to video shared online. Amid his comments, the politician was met with boos from those in attendance at the event, which describes itself as The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth." 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. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Donald Trump at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 17. Related: Donald Trump Ordered to Pay $355 Million, Restricted from Doing Business in New York as Penalty for Fraud Among the items Trump was promoting were shoes known as the "T-Red Wave" and the "POTUS 45," which are both priced at $199 and feature a T and the number 45 on the sides. A pair of gold footwear deemed the Never Surrender High Top Sneaker," which similarly feature a T on each shoe, meanwhile, was priced at $399 and is currently sold out. Chip Somodevilla/Getty The purchase of a pair of sneakers which are not tied to Trumps presidential campaign or the Trump Organization, given that his name, image and likeness have been licensed to CIC Ventures LLC comes with extra laces and a Trump superhero charm." The website is also selling a Victory47 perfume and cologne for $99 each. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler reacted to Trump's promotional appearance over the weekend, stating, Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg Off-Whites is the closest hell get to any Air Force Ones ever again for the rest of his life. Andrew Kelly-Pool/Getty Donald Trump sits in the courtroom on April 4, 2023. Trump's appearance at Sneaker Con occurred a day after he was ordered to pay $354.9 million in penalties following a lengthy civil fraud trial on Friday. In a 92-page ruling, filed by Judge Arthur Engoron, Trump was barred from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporations or legal entities for three years. It also restricted him and the Trump Organization from applying for loans from New York-chartered financial institutions during the same time frame. The trial served to determine Trump's punishment after Engoron ruled in September 2023 that the former reality star committed fraud while building his real estate empire. The ruling came just three weeks after a New York jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million in damages to former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll for defamatory statements he made about her in 2019. Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty Donald Trump attends his fraud trial on Jan. 11 in New York City. Related: Trump's 2024 Veepstakes Have Begun: A Look at His Top Choices for Running Mate Since leaving office in 2021, Trump has been involved in several legal issues and investigations on various fronts, including into his political conduct and business affairs. Four of those investigations have led to indictments, including the first, which made him the only U.S. president to face criminal charges. The next two, meanwhile, further distinguished him as the only president to face federal charges. Trump who hopes to return to the White House in 2025 is polling well among Republican voters and appears the front-runner to earn the party's presidential nomination in July. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Out of the many movies you could imagine emerging from the mind of French auteur Bruno Dumont, a Star Wars parody was probably somewhere at the bottom of the list. And yet its been some time since the Cannes Grand Jury Prize laureate, who broke out in the late 90s with viscerally stylized, hard-hitting works of Gallic realism like The Life of Jesus and Humanity, has strayed far from his gritty roots towards a brand of accentuated arthouse satire. More from The Hollywood Reporter His latest effort, the sci-fi farce The Empire (LEmpire), definitely fits the latter mold, although its loaded with enough VFX, light saber battles, spacecrafts and prophecies to give George Lucas a run for his money. That is, if Lucas decided to set the next Star Wars in a sleepy northern French city, used a local mechanic to play one of the leads and tossed in a few flagrant sex scenes, as well as the two bumbling cops from Lil Quinquin (Dumonts 2014 TV series that mocked self-serious police dramas like True Detective). In the press notes, the director claims The Empire is supposed to be a prequel to The Life of Jesus. That seems like a major stretch, although it does feature some of the same stunning landscapes and impressive widescreen photography, this time courtesy of DP David Chambille (who shot Dumonts last few features). The difference here is that those landscapes are occasionally interrupted by the arrival of a giant floating ship that looks exactly like the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and houses a powerful interstellar Queen, appearing in the form of a hologram, played by Call My Agents Camille Cottin. Are you a little thrown off? Well good, because Dumont isnt trying to make anything real or believable. Thats pretty much been his modus operandi for a decade now, with his recent output consisting of two nutso Joan of Arc biopics, a goofy belle epoque murder mystery called Slack Bay and the modern media satire France, which was the tamest of the bunch. As with those films, the problem with The Empire is that its so over-the-top that it can often be a strain to sit through, unless you happen to share Dumonts very offbeat sense of humor. Still, there are a few good gags in this one, plus plenty of trippy, artfully rendered VFX by Hugues Namur (Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom), who fuses historic French architecture, including the entire Chateau de Versailles, with futuristic technology to create his intergalactic fleet. As for the plot, just like in Star Wars it involves forces of good and evil. Good is represented by the church (theres always been a mystical side to Dumonts work) and evil by the monarchy, with veteran Fabrice Luchini playing a Darth Vader-like figure called Belzebuth. The latter is dressed in a court jesters costume that looks like a cast-off from Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland. In one scene, Luchini sits on the throne in his floating castle and watches what looks like a giant, gyrating butt dance around to a three-piece jazz band. Back on Earth in the seaside city of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the epic battle centers around a child named Freddy, whom both good and evil believe is a future king called the Margat. His father, Jony (Brandon Vlieghe), has been raising him to service Belzebuth, and hes aided by the very extraterrestrial-like newcomer Line (Lina Khoudri). But their plans are thwarted by Jane (Anamaria Vartolomei from Happening), a Princess Lea dressed in a bikini and accompanied by a rebel (Julien Manier) who goes around town decapitating people with his light sword. The action is so deadpan absurd, and the acting so exaggerated when its not totally flat, that it seems to be lampooning the entire Star Wars franchise in its deliberate ineptness. By stripping those films down to the bare minimum of their plot points and inserting a few visual nods to other recent sci-fi hits, such as Dune and Arrival, Dumont reminds us that these billion-dollar Hollywood behemoths can be simplistic and even silly undertakings when you remove the expensive packaging they come in. The Empire is light years away from the works of Lucasfilm, and yet when you take a step back and look past all the weird northern Frenchiness, it can feel pretty close at times. Its too bad, then, that Dumont couldnt make something more entertaining so that the satire would go down smoothly. Like his other recent films, this one isnt easy to sit through, though its definitely original and, per custom, impeccably made. You can accuse Dumont of many things, including testing the viewers patience, but at least he hasnt sold out yet and gone over to the dark side. Best of The Hollywood Reporter George Santos, Jimmy Kimmel - Credit: Mandel NGAN/AFP; Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images Former Congressman George Santos has sued late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, accusing him of fraud over the use and obtainment of Santos Cameo videos. The suit, filed on Saturday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges fraud, breach of contract, unjust enrichment and copyright infringement. ABC and Disney are also named as defendants. According to the complaint, Kimmel used phony names and narratives to submit video requests of Santos Cameos, which were sent from fake User profiles made by the host as part of fraud for the sole purpose of capitalizing on and ridiculing [Santos] gregarious personality, which Kimmel allegedly misused on his show. The late-night host falsely represented himself as multiple users when making the requests, per the suit, and it claims the moves violate Cameos terms of service along with violating Santos copyright, as The New York Post first reported. Santos is seeking at least $750,000 in damages. More from Rolling Stone Kimmel chose the personal use licenses for all the Cameo Videos with the intention to violate such licenses by broadcasting and commercially exploiting the Cameo Videos on national television, according to the complaint. Reps for ABC, Disney, and Kimmel did not immediately respond to Rolling Stones requests for comment. Per the suit, Kimmel even joked about being sued by Santos in the wake of the alleged fraud, during a Dec. 11 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Could you imagine if I get sued by George Santos for a fraud, Kimmel said at the time. I mean how good would that be? It would be like a dream come true. So since I started buying his videos his rates went way up to $500 a piece. He should be thanking me for buying these videos. In December, Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives following an Ethics Committee investigation and being indicted and arrested on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress. Shortly afterward, he launched his reportedly lucrative Cameo video-making career. Best of Rolling Stone RABAT, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan navy rescued 141 migrants from a flimsy boat off the Atlantic coast on Sunday, the official news agency MAP reported, citing a statement from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. All the migrants, including three women and two minors, were from sub-Saharan African countries. They were rescued in an operation that lasted 15 hours due to unfavorable weather conditions, according to the statement. The migrants, who departed from the Mauritanian coast on February 10, intended to reach the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa, it added. After their boat was stranded about 274 km off the port of Dakhla, the migrants sent a distress signal that was intercepted by Moroccan authorities. The migrants were handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie for the usual administrative procedures after receiving necessary care, the statement read. According to the official statistics, the Moroccan army arrested about 87,000 undocumented migrants in 2023, most of whom were from sub-Saharan Africa. Ramsay organized the trip after one fan shared their goal of meeting him in a viral video in January Leon Bennett/Getty; Gordon Ramsay/TikTok Gordon Ramsay and fan Madison Gordon Ramsay is making one fans dream come true. The TV chef, 57, posted a touching TikTok video on Saturday of him meeting longtime fan Madison as part of her bucket list after being diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer. Ramsay flew Madison out to see him in Miami after she shared her goal of wanting to meet him as part of a "bucket list" video on TikTok that went viral in January captioned "My bucket [list] ft. terminal cancer!" which has amassed over 7 million views. Thank you for that video, Ramsay said in his video response. And of course Id love to see you and meet in person but not just any Hello, Goodbye, he explained. Related: Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Cuba Gooding Jr. and More Attend Gordon Ramsay's Restaurant Opening in Miami Beach First of all, Id like to fly you down to Miami, have dinner with you and your girlfriend in [his restaurant] Hells Kitchen, he continued. And then the following night on Friday night, be our special guest at the opening of our new restaurant Lucky Cat in South Beach. Ramsay's Lucky Cat opening event on Friday was also a celebrity studded affair, as Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Lisa Hochstein attended alongside special guest Madison. Meanwhile, footage in Ramsay's Saturday TikTok from the meetup showed Madison getting emotional as she held hands with Ramsay, before he gave her a hug. The pair were also seen laughing as Ramsay gave Madison a few twirls while dancing together in the kitchen of his restaurant. A final shot showed Ramsay and Madison posing with a group indoors. Gordon Ramsay/TikTok Madison listed meeting Ramsay on her bucket list in a viral video in January Related: Gordon Ramsay Shares Hilarious New Photo of Son Jesse Scowling Just Like His Dad I hope you had the best time @madison in Miami! Ramsay added in the caption. It was such an honor for you to be my VVIP last night at #LuckyCat! Thx to everyone on TikTok too for helping making sure these dreams come true Gx." THE MOST SPECIAL NIGHT OF MY LIFE, Madison responded in the comment section. SO BEAUTIFUL. SO AMAZING. SO MUCH LOVE FOR ALL OF THE GORDON FAMILY. thank you.. The big Ramsay fan went on to describe the encounter as the biggest honor as she reposted more footage of her dancing with Ramsay during their meet-up, alongside another clip of the pair embracing afterward. Gordon Ramsay/TikTok Ramsay flew Madison out to Miami so the pair could meet over the weekend 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. GORDON RAMSAY! The biggest honor and the coolest night of my whole entire life, the happy user said of the bucket list meeting in the caption. And for everyone who made this happen; I love you! she added, tagging Ramsay. Thank you for teaching me to dance, its the first time ever in a kitchen , Ramsay replied back. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The first shape I had in mind for this film was fiction, filmmaker Mati Diop told a Berlin Film Festival presser this morning when quizzed on the structure of her inventive documentary Dahomey. The doc which screens in the Berlinale competition this afternoon borrows its name from the former West African kingdom of Dahomey, located in the south of todays Republic of Benin. It was founded in the 17th century by King Houegbadja. Under his reign and that of his descendants a three-century dynasty the kingdom was a considerable regional power, with a highly structured local economy, a centralized administration, a system of taxes, and a powerful army, including the famous Amazon women (Agodjie). More from Deadline Diops film opens in November 2021 as twenty-six royal treasures from the former Kingdom are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were plundered by French colonial troops in 1892. Diop continued to say she initially turned to fiction rather than documentary when she first heard of Frances plan to return the cultural objects to Benin because she assumed the official repatriation probably wouldnt happen for decades. I thought it was going to be in 20, 30 years. I didnt know if I was going to witness this in my lifetime, so I decided to write a fiction film, Diop said. I could only see it in the future because my imagination was just not conditioned to be able to imagine it would be possible. You have to crash through a whole host of internal barriers if youre going to dare to dream. To dare to demand what is really just and legitimate. She added: When it was announced that 26 works of art were to be returned I seized the moment, which to me seemed incredibly important. But I hadnt realized immediately that 26 works was not many at all considering the number of works that were stolen and needed to be returned. The quantity of cultural artifacts returned to Benin is one of the central topics discussed in Dahomey, with many of the students featured in a centerpiece scene arguing that handing back just 26 works of thousands still displayed in France was a clear slight by French President Emmanuel Macron. When quizzed this morning on whether she agreed with this conclusion, Diop said: Its quite clear that there were way too few compared with the 7000 works held captive in these museums. These 26 works are good, but its not enough. And I certainly think that it is humiliating. However, the filmmaker, who is of French and Senegalese descent, said it is perhaps time that public discourse moves beyond exact figures and takes a more structural look at the issue. Were well aware this issue needs to be addressed on different levels. Theres a political agenda certainly, but also there are other ways to respond, with artists, filmmakers, students, she said. We shouldnt play down how powerful these tools we have, particularly cinematic tools, can be. They offer a way to do something important. Dahomey is Diops first feature since 2019s Atlantics, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes and was distributed worldwide by Netflix. Pic is produced by Eve Robin, Judith Lou Levy, and Diop. Its a co-production between Les Films du Bal and Diops Dakar-based production outfit Fanta Sy. The filmmaker launched the indie house with fellow Senegalese filmmaker Fabacary Assymby Coly. Arte France is also on board as a partner. Les Films du Losange is on international sales. The Berlin Film Festival runs February 15-25. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Launching in competition in Berlin, Mati Diops Dahomey traces the path of 26 royal treasures purloined by French soldiers in 1892 and restituted to the country of Benin in 2021. Moving from Paris to Cotonou, the inventive documentary allows the artifacts to speak for themselves, reflecting on their journey in Fon-language dialogue often set against an ethereal and evocative synthpop score. Variety spoke with filmmaker ahead of her films world premiere. More from Variety Youve described the project as a fantasy documentary. What does the term mean to you? Documentary wouldnt be enough, fiction wouldnt be quite right either, and I needed a term that captured the hybrid nature. I also liked this almost playful way of reconciling two cinematic imaginations that we dont often associate with one another. This fantasy element does not stem from giving the statues a voice and allowing them to tell their own story from an African point of view, thats as self-evident as reality itself. Of course artworks are imbued with souls and voices theres nothing supernatural about that! But the film has a haunted and haunting dimension linked to the music and the mood. What drew you to musicians Wally Badarou and Dean Blunt to create that mood? The voices that free themselves from the basements of European museums must also free themselves from stereotypes. I needed music that had a very lyrical feel, that conveyed a sense of flamboyance and majesty to return to the artifacts the power that was taken away from them. That fantasy dimension was part of a way to brink that back. Wally Badarous music reconnects me with a certain kind of 1980s fantasy cinema, whereas Dean Blunts tracks evokes a more spiritual dimension of the voices of the ancestors. Also, the fact these two Afro-descendant musicians have respective Beninese and Nigerian backgrounds amplifies the connection to the original land of the treasures alongside a sense of belonging. The camera gets close to the artifacts in an early sequence even getting into the shipping crates as they readied for the voyage from France to Benin. I wanted us to experience this scene from the point of view of the artifacts themselves, to give the impression of being right inside their experience, living with them as they leave the space in which theyve been held captive for 130 years. I absolutely wanted the viewer to feel the historical weight of the moment, the weight and tension that I myself felt when bearing witness to historical change. That feeling needed to be palpable, tangible in every shot. And so the question of point of view was both central and permanent. Dahomey Only you take a more clinical view upon the artifacts arrival, following local appraisers as they inspect the works. It was fascinating to spend time with the Beninese experts and curators as they discovered the physical state of the works and actually assessed their condition. First, because were not used to doing so from an African perspective. But then, this sequence has an extremely strong metaphorical impact as well, since it reflects the physical consequences of time. Its like a political, intimate, physical and psychic inspection of everything that actually contributed to the existence of this story. Apart from the artifacts narration, the only other voices we hear belong to students debating the restitution at the local university. Why place so much emphasis on those debates? It was absolutely essential to place Benins student youth at the heart of this film, because you simply cannot separate the issues of restoring cultural heritage from the questions posed by those of African students. What relationship do these students have with their history and past, and how was it transmitted to them? Do they relate to these works at all? And in terms of wider society, who might actually have the luxury of reconnecting with the works on display? Plus, we could not limit ourselves just the Beninese governments framing, because its really up to the youth to decide whether the moment is historic or not. In that way, restitution was really more of a prism through which we could ask young people about their relationship to themselves, to postcolonial issues, and to politics in the country too to collide and contrast voices of the ancestral memorial past with this more youthful cry. Going forward, what are your plans for Fanta Sy the Senegal-based production outfit you launched for this film? [Fanta Sy co-founder] Fabacary Assymby Coly has been a close artistic collaborator since 2013, and we wanted to continue that partnership by joining forces to set up a production company in Dakar. My next two projects are both linked to the African continent, and more than that, wed also like to support young Senegalese filmmakers, or more globally young African filmmakers working on shorts and features. Alongside my own work, I want to put my energy and commitment toward other African voices. I dont know what kind of producer I might be, how I might work with another filmmaker in that capacity, and Im looking forward to finding out. Dahomey Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Wondering where to watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 7 online? We have covered all the details right here. Set against the backdrop of Meiji-era Japan, this series delves into the life of Shizuma Orikasa, a former samurai turned into a rickshaw driver. His journey takes a dramatic turn when he intervenes in an assassination attempt while searching for his missing fiancee, Sumie Kanomata. This act of bravery leads him to join the newly established police department, where he becomes entangled in a conspiracy aimed at toppling the government. Heres where you will be able to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 7 online. Is Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 7 streaming online? Yes, you will be able to watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 7 on Crunchyroll. The voice cast of Meiji Gekken: 1874 includes Yuichi Nakamura as Shizuma Origasa, Satoshi Mikami as Kyoshiro Shuragami, Tomoyo Kurosawa as Sumie Kanomata/Hinazuru, Lynn as Senri Kuroki, Kazuhiro Yamaji as Buhei Hiramatsu, Katsuhisa Hoki as Toshiyoshi Kawaji, Kazuyuki Okitsu as Goro Fujita, Miyuki Sato as Koume, Mie Sonozaki as Koto Nakazawa, Daisuke Kasuya as Junpei Midorikawa, and more. How to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 7 and stream online As Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 is available to watch via Crunchyroll, you will be able to watch its episodes by signing up. Crunchyroll offers three subscription plans to users from which they can choose the most suitable one. These are: Fan subscription plan This subscription plan is priced at $7.99 a month and allows users access to its library without ads. Mega Fan subscription plan This subscription plan is priced at $9.99 a month and offers users several benefits, including ad-free streaming, simultaneous viewing at four devices, offline viewing, and more. Ultimate Fan subscription plan This subscription plan is priced at $14.99 a month. The official synopsis for Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 reads: A former samurai, a yakuza bodyguard, a devious spy, and a geisha assassin try to find their place in the rapidly evolving Meiji-era while escaping the sins of their pasts. Hulus new TV and movie releases for February 19-25 2024 include The Good Doctor Season 7, which will serve as Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 24 hours ago HBO Maxs new TV and movie releases for February 19-25 2024 include the films San Andreas and Machete Kills. Starting Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 24 hours ago Peacocks new TV and movie releases for February 19-25 2024 include Tyrese Gibsons Squealer. On February 23, viewers can stream Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 24 hours ago Paramount Pluss new TV and movie releases for February 19-25 2024 include the Jake Gyllenhaal-Michael Pena action-thriller movie End of Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 24 hours ago The post Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 7 Streaming: How to Watch & Stream Online appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. MrBeast is one of the most-viewed YouTubers thanks to his attention-grabbing stunts. He earns between $600 to $700 million a year but still doesn't consider himself wealthy. See how the 25-year-old leveraged his fame into a globally recognized brand. At 25 years old, Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, is one of YouTube's most-viewed and highest-paid creators. His early viral videos included challenging feats from reading every word in the dictionary to counting from zero to 100,000 for 40 straight hours and his ambitious challenges and money giveaways, like "curing" 1,000 people's blindness, have helped him grow his channel to roughly 240 million subscribers: the most in YouTube's history. He's also an entrepreneur who launched the virtual restaurant brand MrBeast Burger in 2020 and a supposedly better-for-you chocolate business called Feastables in 2022. Overall, MrBeast's endeavors help him rake in somewhere between $600 to $700 million annually. But the YouTube star still doesn't consider himself to be wealthy. "I'm not naive; maybe one day. But right now, whatever we make, we reinvest," he said in a recent interview. Check out how MrBeast rose to fame: MrBeast was born as Jimmy Donaldson on May 7, 1998. Greenville, North Carolina. Hi-Tech Hikers/YouTube The YouTube star and his brother, CJ, grew up in eastern North Carolina in the city of Greenville. In 2016, he graduated from Greenville Christian Academy, a private high school in the area, according to Business North Carolina. Donaldson uploaded his first YouTube in February 2012, when he was just 13 years old. MrBeast in a video in 2015. MrBeast/YouTube The teenager began his YouTube career posting videos under the username "MrBeast6000," according to Newsweek. For the first few years, Donaldson attempted, unsuccessfully, to master the YouTube algorithm by creating the content he thought would attract the largest audience. As MrBeast attempted to game YouTube's algorithm. MrBeast playing "Call of Duty" on his channel in 2014. MrBeast/YouTube The aspiring YouTuber went through stages of trends on his channel: funny compilations of playing "Minecraft" and "Call of Duty," estimating YouTubers' wealth, offering tips and tricks to aspiring creators, and commentating on YouTuber drama, Newsweek reported. MrBeast himself made very few appearances in his videos in the early days. MrBeast started to gain a following in 2015 and 2016 thanks to his "worst intros" series of videos, which rounded up and poked fun at YouTuber introductions he discovered on the platform. MrBeast was on track to YouTube fame in the mid 2010s. MrBeast/YouTube By mid-2016, MrBeast hit 30,000 subscribers. In late 2016, MrBeast enrolled in college. but that didn't last long. MrBeast/YouTube The YouTuber said he lasted only two weeks before he dropped out, telling his mom: "I'd rather be poor than do anything besides YouTube," according to a post on X. His mom made him move out of his childhood home North Carolina at 18 because "she loves me and just wanted me to be successful," MrBeast later in a post on X. MrBeast first went viral in January 2017, when he uploaded a video showing himself counting to 100,000 which he later revealed took him 44 hours. Dropping out of college fueled MrBeast's ambitions to become successful. MrBeast/YouTube "I just really wanted it," MrBeast later said about the challenge, according to a video on Casey Neistat's YouTube channel. "I had dropped out of college, I wasn't really making much. I knew it would go viral." After that first video went viral, MrBeast found what the YouTube algorithm liked. By 2017 MrBeast was at the 1 million mark. Casey Neistat/YouTube He quickly amassed more views with similar stunts, like spinning a fidget spinner for 24 hours and watching Jake Paul's "It's Everyday Bro" music video for 10 hours straight. By November 2017, MrBeast reached 1 million subscribers, according to a post on X. Now, MrBeast has a few types of videos that serve as his bread-and-butter on his channel. MrBeast, left, watching over a challenge competing for $1 million. MrBeast/YouTube He still puts on exhausting, hours-long stunts which have been referred to as "junklord YouTube" as well as last-person-to-leave challenges in which he gives out thousands of dollars, The Verge reported. These videos' titles range from "Going Through the Same Drive Thru 1,000 Times" to "Last To Remove Hand, Gets Lamborghini Challenge." MrBeast also puts on attention-grabbing donations and charity stunts. MrBeast donating $10,000 to a Twitch streamer with 0 views. MrBeast/YouTube He once opened up a car dealership where he gave out cars for free, and is known to dole out thousands of dollars to small streamers on Twitch and YouTube, as well as to waitresses and Uber drivers in person. As Donaldson has grown his channel, he was able to hire four of his childhood friends Chris, Chandler, Garret, and Jake to work for him and his YouTube channel. MrBeast and his college crew often appear on his YouTube channel. MrBeast/YouTube The group often makes cameos in some of MrBeast's wildest last-person-to-leave challenges, and each one has become an iconic name in the MrBeast empire, according to Newsweek. By December 2018, MrBeast had given out $1 million through his outlandish stunts, earning him the title of "YouTube's biggest philanthropist." Brand deals are key to keeping his channel running. MrBeast/YouTube MrBeast is a product of his own viral content: He's only able to give out these thousands of dollars thanks to six-figure brand deals to fund in-video ads, according to a video on his YouTube channel. MrBeast has been credited with helping to launch a new style of expensive stunt videos on YouTube in which creators pull off elaborate challenges and large-scale sponsored giveaways. MrBeast has grown popular through challenge videos. MrBeast/YouTube That includes videos ranging from "Paying People $10,000 To Eat Ghost Pepper," "I Bought Everything In A Store," and "Last To Remove Hand, Wins House," according to The Verge. However, MrBeast's success hasn't come without controversy. MrBeast used homophobic slurs in a series of old tweets. MrBeast/YouTube In 2018, The Atlantic unearthed a series of old, since-deleted tweets from MrBeast in which he uses homophobic slurs and the idea of being gay as a punchline for jokes. At the time of the article, his Twitter bio read: "just because I'm gai doesn't mean I'm gay." MrBeast defended himself as "not offensive in the slightest bit in anything I do." MrBeast has also been accused of giving away fake money after critics found that bills used in a November 2019 video were not of legal tender. He said the fake money came as a way to mitigate the rush of people who wanted real money. Casey Neistat/YouTube MrBeast later said he gave out fake bills to mitigate the risk of a dangerous rush of people clamoring over free money, and claimed he later exchanged the fake bills with real checks for people in the video, according to Dexerto. Over the years, MrBeast has revealed a few details about his life. MrBeast has 128 million subscribers on YouTube. Lex Fridman via YouTube The 22-year-old has shared that he has Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In June 2019, MrBeast first shared on Instagram he was dating Maddy Spidell. "i don't want mr beast for his money, just want a bf with good taste in anime who can make me laugh," Spidell wrote in a post on X the month before. In late 2018, MrBeast harnessed his notoriety for elaborate stunts to throw his support behind PewDiePie, the popular YouTuber who was locked in a battle for the spot as the most-subscribed-to YouTube channel (a title he's since lost to T-Series). Getty Images; YouTube; Getty Images In true form, MrBeast pulled out all the stops: he recorded a 12-hour video saying "PewDiePie" 100,000 times, and turned up at the Super Bowl in "Sub 2 PewDiePie" shirts. In late 2019, MrBeast launched and successfully completed a fundraising campaign called #TeamTrees to plant 20 million trees by the end of the year. Major tech execs like Elon Musk and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey pitched in, too. YouTube/MrBeast The campaign gathered the support of more than 600 influencers and received donations from tech execs like Elon Musk and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and YouTube stars like Jeffree Star and PewDiePie. MrBeast was one of the most-viewed creators on all of YouTube in 2020. He was YouTube's top creator for 2020. MrBeast/YouTube He's regularly accrues more than 10 million views on his YouTube videos, according to The Verge, displaying just how successful he is at going viral. His net worth isn't publicly available, but he's said that most of his $1 million donations are funded by brand deals. YouTube put him as the top creator of 2020, beating out other viral sensations like Dream and James Charles. 2020 was a big year for MrBeast, with two of the largest collaborations that he's ever attempted on his channel. 32 influencers came together for his Rock/Paper/Scissors competition. YouTube/MrBeast In a video, streamed in April 2020, Donaldson gathered 32 of the world's biggest influencers to take part in a Rock/Paper/Scissors competition for $250,000. That stream was watched 38 million times in under a year but he wasn't content with just one event. In October of that year, he put on a $300,000 influencer trivia tournament that was won by the D'Amelio family. Mild controversy broke out after some online accused the family of cheating by having multiple people take part in the contest. As he gained fans, MrBeast's videos also grew more ambitious. youtube.com/@mrbeast His average cost of making a video climbed from $10,000 to $300,000 by 2020, according to Bloomberg. He also launched his own charity organization in late 2020 called Beast Philanthropy. The organization is committed to providing hunger relief. Beast Philanthropy Its website says it's committed to providing "long-lasting relief to individuals suffering from homelessness, hunger, and poverty." In December 2020, MrBeast opened up a restaurant that would pay people to eat at it. Weeks later, he launched his own MrBeast Burger franchise in dozens of cities. Donaldson and his first MrBeast burger location. YouTube/MrBeast Donaldson opened up over 300 delivery-only locations across the United States, allowing fans the chance to order a MrBeast burger from an app or UberEats, according to Mashed. In 2021, MrBeast has continued uploading outlandish and expensive videos. In 2020, MrBeast continued making outlandish and expensive videos. MrBeast/YouTube Donaldson's most recent 2021 videos have him buying all the items in five stores and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on expensive food. In February 2021, Donaldson made a guest appearance on the Clubhouse app causing it to crash. MrBeast crashed Clubhouse. YouTube Donaldson spoke on the app about how to succeed on YouTube, which brought in a massive influx of new downloads and users for the app, causing it to crash. In April of that year, he faced backlash from some fans. MrBeast had a brush with crypto fraud too. (Photo illustration by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images) They accused him of collaborating in a "pump-and-dump" scheme after he promoted the cryptocurrency Refinable, which quickly crashed after its launch, according to the New York Times. In May 2021, past employees of Donaldson told The New York Times that he created a "hostile work environment" and that he made "unreasonable demands." His former employees came forth with complaints in 2021. MrBeast / YouTube 11 employees shared their experience with the New York Times, with the outlet saying that Donaldson's "demeanor changed when the cameras weren't around," according to the outlet. In 2021, MrBeast surpassed 53 million YouTube subscribers. and he's a perfectionist. Jeff Cheatham/HCK2 He also revealed that he strives for perfection with his videos to the extent he already scrapped at least three videos in 2020 that he spent $100,000 on producing, according to Dexerto. In January 2022, MrBeast was ranked the highest-paid YouTube star by Forbes for the first time. Kim Kardashian's Skims campaign includes two "The White Lotus" actresses. Jordan Strauss/Associated Press The publication estimated that he earned $54 million in 2021, more than celebs like Billie Eilish and Kim Kardashian. In July 2022, MrBeast hit another milestone. MrBeast and PewDiePie. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images and Pewdiepie via YouTube. He became the second YouTube creator to hit 100 million subscribers on YouTube after PewDiePie. By November, he surpassed PewDiePie's subscribers. MrBeast hit 111 million subscribers on November 11. Dave Kotinsky and Karwai Tang/Getty Images. MrBeast now has 131 million subscribers on YouTube, more than any other creator on the platform. In September 2022, MrBeast revealed that he was offered $1 billion for his content empire but turned it down. Donaldson appeared on an episode of The Iced Coffee Podcast posted on September 27. The Iced Coffee Hour via YouTube And when he was asked on the Flagrant podcast whether he had a price in mind for his empire he said, "It's so crazy I don't even want to say it because it's just where I want to be. If we have a mobile game company and we got 100 million people playing it, and we have a thousand physical Beast Burgers and Feastables in 20,000 stores, it would probably be like $10 billion, $20 billion," he said, That same month, he opened the first physical location of Beast Burger in New Jersey. Beast Burger opening in New Jersey. MrBeast Thousands of people showed up on the opening day, according to NJ.com. In October of last year, MrBeast began speaking to investors. Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast). Virtual Dining Concepts. He was looking to raise $150 million for his YouTube and food business at a $1.5 billion valuation, according to Axios. In December, MrBeast tweeted, "Can I be the new Twitter CEO?" Elon Musk, who owns Twitter, responded, "It's not out of the question." Donaldson has previously described Musk as one of his biggest inspirations. Vivien Killilea and Gotham/Getty Images. MrBeast has said he looks up to Musk. "I really want to be Elon one day," he wrote on Twitter in 2020. In January 2023, MrBeast said he plans to give away "every penny" before he dies. He has no ambitions of living lavishly, he said. Dave Kotinsky "No matter how big I get I'll never own a mansion, yacht, Lamborghini etc. All I want is to make the best videos possible and help as many people as I can while doing it," he once said. In December 2020, he launched MrBeast Burger, a virtual restaurant brand. MrBeast takes a selfie with a young fan at the launch of his burger brand. Dave Kotinsky The brand, which was launched in partnership with a restaurant group called Virtual Dining Concepts, is sold in hundreds of restaurants that are trying to earn additional revenue. In January 2022 he launched a chocolate business called Feastables that makes plant-based, gluten-free chocolate bars. MrBeast debuted a line of plant-based, gluten-free chocolate bars in 2022. Feastables The brand sold more than 1 million bars of chocolate within the first 72 hours of launch, and had already earned over $10 million in sales by that May, it said. Nik Sharma, CEO of Sharma Brands and an angel investor in Feastables, previously told Insider: "Today, there is a whole new class of 'celebrities' who are digital creators." Last week, though, MrBeast sued Virtual Dining Partners for making "terrible quality" burgers under his name. Influencer Jimmy Donaldson outside a MrBeast Burger location. MrBeast Burger The suit followed a series of negative reviews from customers complaining online about the taste and quality of the burgers. One Reddit post that was cited in Donaldson's complaint against VDC claimed the MrBeast burger was "raw meat." One Insider reporter went to the brand's first physical location in New Jersey's American Dream megamall and found the meal to be "shockingly disappointing." Donaldson said VDC pursued other celebrities to try to replicate the success it had at first with MrBeast, the suit from Beast Investments LLC claims. This week, VDC fired back with a suit against Donaldson, claiming that he sabotaged his own burger brand. MrBeast is the biggest individual YouTuber in the world. Steve Granitz/Getty Images The suit alleged that Donaldson leveraged his huge online presence to wage a "relentless attack" on the brand after failing to negotiate a more "lucrative deal" with them. "MrBeast Burger's reputation was materially damaged if not destroyed, customers abandoned the Brand, and Plaintiffs' hard-won relationships with vendors, partners, and suppliers were shattered," the VDC suit claims. "Sadly, Donaldson's conduct has also damaged the bottom lines of hundreds of restaurants across the country and around the world." Steven Asarch contributed to reporting In January, MrBeast announced that he had raked in over $250,000 on his first post on X. MrBeast finally gave into Elon Musk's request to post a video on X. Leon Bennett, Antonio Masiello/ Getty Images "MY FIRST X VIDEO MADE OVER $250,000!" he wrote in his post, noting that he had generated $263,655 in revenue. MrBeast initially brushed aside requests to post a video on the platform from owner Elon Musk. "My videos cost millions to make and even if they got a billion views on X it wouldn't fund a fraction of it," MrBeast posted on X on December 30. "I'm down though to test stuff once monetization is really cranking!" But less than a month later, he decided to post a 16-minute video that has garnered more than 176 million views. After OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the launch of Sora, a new video tool that can create videos from text, MrBeast put in a request. MrBeast asked Altman for a video of a monkey playing chess in a park. Altman responded with Sora's creation. Despite earning close to $600 to $700 million a year, MrBeast still doesn't feel wealthy. MrBeast still feels like he has a ways to go before he feels rich. MrBeast "I'm not naive; maybe one day. But right now, whatever we make, we reinvest," he said in a recent interview. Read the original article on Business Insider Paul McCartney no longer gently weeps for his original bass guitar. A five-year search by the manufacturer of the instrument that was aided by a husband-and-wife team of journalists helped reunite The Beatles star with the distinctive violin-shaped 1961 electric Hofner that went missing a half century ago and is estimated to be worth 10 million pounds ($12.6 million). More from Billboard McCartney had asked Hofner to help find the missing instrument that helped launch Beatlemania across the universe, Scott Jones, a journalist who teamed up with Hofner executive Nick Wass to track it down, said Friday (Feb. 16). Paul said to me, Hey, because youre from Hofner, couldnt you help find my bass? Wass said. And thats what sparked this great hunt. Sitting there, seeing what the lost bass means to Paul, I was determined to solve the mystery. McCartney bought the bass for about 30 pounds ($37) in 1961 when The Beatles were developing their chops during a series of residencies in Hamburg, Germany. The instrument was played on the Beatles first two records and featured on hits such as Love Me Do, Twist and Shout, and She Loves You. Because I was left-handed, it looked less daft because it was symmetrical, McCartney once said. I got into that. And once I bought it, I fell in love with it. It was rumored to have been stolen around the time The Beatles were recording their final album, Let it Be, in 1969. But no one was sure when it went missing. What began as a long and winding road for Wass to track down the bass picked up speed when Jones serendipitously joined the hunt after seeing McCartney headline the Glastonbury Festival in 2022. The stage lights at one point seemed to illuminate nothing but the sunburst pattern on his bass and Jones wondered if it was the same instrument McCartney had played in the early 60s. When he later searched the internet he was stunned to find the original bass was missing and there was a search for it. I was staggered, I was amazed, Jones said. I think we live in a world where The Beatles could do almost anything and it would get a lot of attention. Jones and his wife, Naomi, both journalists and researchers, got in touch with Wass to spread the word more broadly. After hitting a dead end following a lead about a roadie for The Who, they relaunched The Lost Bass Project in September and within 48 hours were inundated with 600 emails that contained the little gems that led us to where we are today, Jones said. One of those emails came from sound engineer Ian Horne, who had worked with McCartneys band Wings, and was the first big breakthrough in the hunt. Horne said the bass had been swiped from the back of his van one night in the Notting Hill section of London in 1972. The researchers published the new information on their website in October, adding that Horne said McCartney told him not to worry about the theft and that he continued working for him for another six years. But Ive carried the guilt all my life, Horne said. After publishing that update, a bigger break came when they were contacted by a person who said their father had stolen the bass. The man didnt set out to steal McCartneys instrument and panicked when he realized what he had, Jones said. The thief, who was not named, ended up selling it to Ron Guest, landlord of the Admiral Blake pub, for a few pounds and some beers. As the Joneses were starting to look for relatives of Guest, word had already reached his family. His daughter-in-law contacted McCartneys studio. Cathy Guest said that the old bass that had been in her attic for years looked like the one they were looking for. It had been passed from Ron Guest to his oldest son, who died in a car wreck, and then to a younger son, Haydn Guest, who was married to Cathy and died in 2020. The instrument was returned to McCartney in December and then it took about two months to authenticate it. The project had planned to announce the news but were upstaged by Cathy Guests son, Ruaidhri Guest, a 21-year-old film student who posted photos Tuesday of the guitar on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: I inherited this item which has been returned to Paul McCartney. Share the news. He posted a message Friday saying the family had been inundated with interview requests and would tell its story eventually. The estimated value of the instrument is based on the fact that a Gibson acoustic guitar Kurt Cobain played on MTV Unplugged sold for $6 million (4.7 million pounds), Jones said. But it held almost no value during the past half century. The thief couldnt sell it, Jones said. Clearly, the Guest family never tried to sell it. Its a red alert because the minute you come forward someones going to go, Thats Paul McCartneys guitar. It is now McCartneys once again. His official website posted a message announcing its return, saying Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved. Best of Billboard "Now we are able to attach her name," police said of the woman, who has been identified by Indiana's Allen County Coroners Office as Tabetha Ann Murlin Beth Buchholtz-Longmont, Colorado Department of Public Safety/Allen County Coroner's Office via AP Facial clay reconstruction of a Mary Jane Doe, who has since been identified as Tabetha Ann Murlin The remains of a pregnant woman found in a flooded Indiana basement in 1992 have now been identified 32 years later, authorities said. During a press conference this week, the Allen County Coroner's Office revealed that the body was identified as Tabetha Ann Murlin following the acquisition of DNA that was provided by her father. "She has been Mary Jane Doe to us for these years," coroner Dr. Jon Brandenberger told reporters, according to ABC affiliate WPTA. "And now we are able to attach her name and family. So it's an exciting day for us, although couched in the sadness of a loss." Murlin was found dead and wrapped in a blanket in a flooded basement by a construction worker renovating a home in Fort Wayne on May 15, 1992, multiple outlets including CBS affiliate WANE and CNN reported. The Allen County Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Related: Indiana Father Had 10,000 Fragments of Human Remains on His Property. Police Are Still IDing Victims At the time of the discovery of Murlin's remains, a cause of death could not be determined and she was later buried at Lindenwood Cemetery on May 21, 1992, Brandenberger said, per CNN. A Fort Wayne Police Department investigation eventually went cold. Brandenberger said her body was very badly decomposed and the office believed that she had been dead since 1991 or early 1992, per WANE. Despite the case going cold, it eventually entered the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in 2016. Citing a press release, WANE reported that the then-unidentified body was exhumed for testing in 2017 with a femur bone sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for DNA testing to create a profile. Two years later, a clay facial reconstruction was released by officials. While the DNA profile itself did not result in any matches at the time, per CNN, companies Intermountain Forensics and Ignite DNA began to sequence the DNA in 2023 and found a match between Murlin, her father, Robert Bowers, her late mother and two aunts. Go fund me Tabetha Ann Murlin Related: Family Went to Clean Out Home After Mans Death. Then They Found Human Remains in the Basement: 'Scary' Bowers was confirmed as "Mary Jane Doe's" father using DNA from a swab of his cheek. He also confirmed he had last seen his daughter in 1988, according to the reports. "She had a name, she had a family, she had a life, she was pregnant," Brandenberger told local outlet WFFT. 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. According to the outlet, Bowers did not know his daughter was dead until he heard from the coroner a month before the announcement. "I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe she died," he said. "I can't. I thought she was still alive somewhere." Robert Bowers Jr., Murlin's brother, told reporters that he was thankful to have answers as to her whereabouts over the last three decades. "This is good, but we need to find out what happened," he said. Murlin's aunt, Angelina Privitt, said, per CNN, which cited case documents, that Murlin married husband Jerry Murlin in 1987. The couple reportedly separated in 1988 and had not filed for divorce before Murlin was reported missing. He reportedly last saw his wife in 1989, chief investigator Christopher A. Meihls of the coroner's office said, per CNN. Authorities who spoke with Murlin's estranged husband described him at the press conference as currently "merely just a witness." "This was such a team effort," Brandenberger said at the press conference. "From our office to the state police to the different places around the country where the DNA went. Totally team effort, not by one individual or one office. But by an entire team of people, which I am very grateful for." "And to the Bowers, I would say to you, as you mentioned when we were talking, that this is Tabetha's day. And you've been waiting to have a day for her for all of this time." Murlin's brother launched a GoFundMe fundraiser earlier this week to raise money toward a new headstone for his sister. "Needing funds for a rebuild and headstone. She was unidentified for 32 Years named Mary Jane Doe. She was 26 weeks pregnant at the time of her death," he wrote. "Thank you in advance for any donations." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Since moving from the United Kingdom to the United States roughly four years ago, Prince Harry is leading a completely different life. The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, are working on joint and independent business ventures together while raising their two children Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2. But since Harrys been in America for so long, there is one step he could take to make the country officially his new home, and he opened up about it in a recent interview. During his chat with Will Reeves on Good Morning America, Harry revealed whether or not hed ever make his citizenship in the U.S. official. Harry described his time in the United States as amazing. I love every single day. He did admit, however, that he doesnt quite feel American. I dont know how I feel, he said. More from SheKnows Once Reeve asked whether or not Harry would ever consider becoming an American citizen, Harry offered a surprising answer. I have considered it, yea, the Duke of Sussex said. Skillfully dodging a follow-up question, Harry turned the focus back on the servicemen and women attending the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025s One Year to Go celebration. Becoming a citizen of the United States would be a major step for Prince Harry. Honesty, we wouldnt be surprised if he did or even if he didnt. Right now, its clear he has other priorities that are front-of-mind, including his father King Charles IIIs ongoing cancer treatment. The Duke of Sussex visited with his father just over a week ago. While some royal insiders believe their reunion could spark a reconciliation, at least between Harry and his father, others feel we may never see Harry and his brother Prince William ever meet on common ground again. But, as Harry himself said, his life and family are here in the United States. Well see what that means for his future. Before you go, click here to see more of Meghan Markle & Prince Harrys milestones since leaving the royal family. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. House Intelligence chair Mike Turner, the Republican representative from Ohio, talked with Meet the Press ahead of Sundays show following an ominous warning he gave earlier this week of a serious national security threat, and the pushback hes gotten for making that warning public. Subsequent reporting from numerous outlets indicated that he was referring to intelligence about Russia seeking to put a nuclear anti-satellite weapon into space, while the White House said there was no immediate threat. I was concerned that it appeared that the administration was sleepwalking into an international crisis, Turner said on why he went public with his mysterious hint earlier this week. But it looks like now theyre going to be able to take action. NBCs Kristen Welker highlighted that others expressed concerns he was both causing a panic and jeopardizing national security intelligence. When asked whether his words were responsible, Turner said, The purpose for our committee, is that when we receive intelligence that the House of Representatives should view, that we have the ability to share it. He added that this is supposed to be done in consultation with the office of the director of National Intelligence, which Turner said he did, noting that he received no objections. This was not just an action by myself, Turner said. Welker cited objections from both Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, who said the news was not a cause for panic, and Republican Rep. Andy Ogles. Turner noted that he and Himes had sent a joint letter to fellow House members expressing their concerns about the intelligence itself. In the letter, according to the Washington Post, they wrote that the Intelligence Committee has identified an urgent matter with regard to a destabilizing foreign military capability that should be known by all congressional policymakers. Ogles characterized Turners intent as not to ensure the safety of our homeland and the American people, but rather to ensure additional funding to Ukraine and to renew the FISA surveillance program. Ukraine funding certainly is important, Turner responded. And FISA certainly is important. But this is about Russia and the administration taking action. Turner pointed to a New York Times article published Saturday where, he said, You can see that the administration is beginning to put in place an action plan. And thats what is important. We need to make certain that we avert what could be an international crisis. I was concerned that it appeared that the administration was sleepwalking into an international crisis. But it looks like now theyre going to be able to take action. He credited administration leaders for meeting with leaders from China and India. The Republican representative also addressed former President Donald Trumps recent comments on encouraging Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO allies and said, Donald Trumps political rallies dont really translate into Donald Trumps actual policies. He added, If you look at his policies, if you look at his record, he actually increased funding for NATO, increased the European Reassurance Initiative, and in fact for Ukraine, he was the first president to give lethal weapons to Ukraine. So I think his record is strong, and I think thats whats important. Elsewhere in the interview, Turner said that he believes there is sufficient support in both the House and Senate for Ukraine aid, talked about the Republican-led impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and talked about a possible government shutdown. Watch the full Meet the Press segment in the video above. The post Rep. Mike Turner Defends Trumps Russia-NATO Comments: Political Rallies Dont Really Translate Into Actual Policies | Video appeared first on TheWrap. The engaged couple are already parents to son River, who was born in 2020 VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix. Rooney Mara is pregnant! The actress, 38, is expecting her second baby with fiance Joaquin Phoenix. Mara attended the premiere of La Cocina at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany on Friday evening, when she cradled her growing baby bump under a long black dress. Representatives for Mara and Phoenix did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. 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. Dominique Charriau/WireImage Rooney Mara attends the 'La Cocina' premiere on Feb. 16 in Berlin, Germany. Related: All About Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara's Son River Mara and Phoenix, 49 who privately got engaged in 2019 after first meeting in 2012 on the set of the sci-fi drama Her are already parents to son River, who was born in 2020. Their son's name honors Phoenix's older brother, who died at age 23 on Oct. 31, 1993, from an overdose. He starred in films including Stand By Me, Running on Empty and My Own Private Idaho. Mara and Phoenix's baby news was revealed by Victor Kossakovsky, a Russian filmmaker who previously worked with Phoenix on the documentary Gunda, at the Zurich Film Festival. "He just got a baby, by the way," Kossakovsky said in September 2020. "A beautiful son called River." Neither Mara nor Phoenix publicly acknowledged the pregnancy when the couple made rare red carpet appearances earlier that year, at the Golden Globes in January 2020 and the Oscars a month later. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Gregg DeGuire/Getty Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix. Related: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara's Relationship Timeline Though Mara and Phoenix are very private about their relationship and role as parents, Mara did reveal that becoming a mother to River had "opened her heart" while celebrating her first Mother's Day in May 2021. "As a new mom, Mother's Day has taken on a special meaning this year. Raising our baby, River, has opened my heart to a whole new life filled with hope and more determination than ever to create a kinder and more sustainable world," the actress wrote at the time in a heartfelt letter written for Farm Sanctuary's Mother's Day campaign, which was shared with PEOPLE. Years later, while appearing on the LaunchLeft podcast, Mara spoke candidly about raising her son with Phoenix. "It feels like a creative household, we're constantly talking about creative things," she said. "It doesn't feel like a two-actor house because I didn't work for the first three and a half years we were together. Basically, since we've been together, I only worked one or two times and one was really small and short." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that Brazil will engage more with Africa, urging the two sides to contribute more for a fairer world. The president made the call at the opening of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Lula said as the president of Brazil, he will reiterate the closest ties with Africa and consolidate cooperation with the countries of the continent. "As Africa is an important part of the world, especially to the Global South, it is vital to build inclusive social projects for a prosperous society that is free, democratic, and sovereign." Noting that the new multipolarity is the best approach for the 21st century, the Brazilian president highlighted that the BRICS will play a key role in helping emerging countries to prosper. "There is undeniable progress in the BRICS alliance in networking emerging countries and addressing global crises, particularly those that disproportionately affect the poorest and migrants," Lula said. He urged African leaders to strengthen cooperation between Africa and Brazil in various fields to achieve mutual progress and address global challenges. The Brazilian leader also said Africans and Brazilians need to forge their own path in the emerging international order and create a new global governance system to tackle contemporary challenges. The bodies of a Tennessee deputy, the woman he apprehended, and his vehicle were found in a river after he went missing following making his very first arrest. According to local authorities, Meigs County Deputy Robert "R.J." Leonard's body was found while his vehicle was also pulled out of the river on Thursday. Another body was recovered in the backseat that authorities believe is the woman Leonard arrested. Leonard was reportedly on his way to respond to a man and woman that were fighting Wednesday night. He arrested the woman and while driving to the county jail, the sheriff's office lost communication with him. However, one of his last means of communication was sending a text to his wife that he made an arrest. "His wife texted back and said, 'That's good' or 'That's great,'" Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett said at a press briefing on Thursday. "We know that his phone did not evidently receive that text." Leonard also sent out a radio communication to dispatch around the time he texted his wife but they couldnt hear anything besides the officer saying water, according to Meigs County District Attorney Russell Johnson. They triangulated the last position of his phone and the Life360 that his wife has attached to his phone and it appears that they're almost in the same location," Johnson said. "We're operating under the theory that it was an accident -- he missed his turn, he wasn't familiar and he was doing other things that may have caused him to go into the water. Leonard joined the force following his graduation from the training academy in December. He was married and had three children. "It's a hard time for us here," Meigs County Chief Deputy Brian Malone said at the press briefing. "It's something that we don't ever deal with here in Meigs County." He added, Deputy Leonard had only been here for a couple months, but he'd become part of our family. More on this The OG of the OC, Vicki Gunvalson, has lost her footing along the way, making herself quite the villain. After years of spearheading the Real Housewives of Orange County, there was more than one instance where her attitude was extremely questionable. While I love some angry family van yelling, I cant get behind the times when Vicki just came across as selfish and uneducated. The Illinois native has dug herself into a hole in recent years as she felt no shame in sharing fake news, false information, and strong opinions. After being let go from the show that she made, Vicki has made sure to really act as if she pooped rainbows, always making sure that everyone knew that show would fail without her. Not surprisingly, the series has done just fine without the mean girl. However, some of her bad behavior hasnt been forgotten. Am I the only one who feels Vicki shouldnt ever be allowed back at Bravo? I bet the producers shes pushed agree with me. Vicki Is Rude to Bravolebs Vicki often likes to remind people that most of the other Housewives wouldnt be on the map unless it were for her. Its true she had a helping hand in making the first Bravo franchise extremely popular. However, she isnt King Midas and doesnt have the touch. In recent years, some Bravo personalities have started calling Vicki out. Ashley Darby said Vicki was the rudest person she had ever encountered. The RHOP star shared that she and Vicki did a little thing together at Bravo headquarters, and she was so dismissive of me. We were doing an interview together, and she got up and walked out of the room. Kenya Moore had her own encounters with Vicki. Vicki is a bully, you know, and she bullied like a whole Housewife cast years ago, Kenya told Us Weekly. Every time I see her, shes just not a pleasant person. Like it or not, Vicki has a clear pattern when she engages with some housewives, which isnt nice. Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder @GavinNewsom Lets get America who is healthy back to work. We need hairdressers, nail techs, small businesss and restaurants to start reopening May 1st. Please? Vicki Gunvalson (@vgunvalson) April 21, 2020 When the worldwide pandemic was starting out, Vicki was one of the Bravolebs who chose to act like an ostrich. She stuffed her head into the sand and pretended her world wasnt going to change. In March 2020, California had some of the strictest rules in the country. However, the OC resident felt she was above them. After only one month of COVID-19, Vicki tweeted a message to Governor Gavin Newsom. Lets get America who is healthy back to work, she wrote. We need hairdressers, nail techs, small businesses, and restaurants to start reopening May 1st. Please? Critics slammed Vicki for being tone-deaf as she begged for nonessential workers to put their lives on the line just in the name of her beauty regime. It was gross to learn that Vicki was ready to whoop it up with Botox and acrylic nails while others died around her. But she also still hangs out with housewives like Kelly Dodd, so birds of feather. Vicki Is Great at Scaremongering After over a year of sheltering in place, the CDC approved COVID-19 vaccines, proving they were safe and would help against the variants. However, Vicki often felt she knew better than the qualified medical professionals. During the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, Vicki made some pretty heartless comments, including, There has to be an end to this booster, this, this, this dont even get me started. Its a rabbit hole I will go down. Follow the money, baby, follow the money! When asked if she was an anti-vaxxer, Vicki said, Yeah. The fight worsened with Vicki implying that people would die from receiving the vaccine. Vickis ignorance cast her in dark light, with even her son poking fun at her. When getting his first jab, Michael Wolfsmith shared that his mom was not thrilled he had chosen to get vaccinated, writing it broke her heart. Michael went on to share that he didnt feel his mother was that smart after a fan asked about her intelligence, noting, No, she has terrible sources of information. Guns, American flags, and invisible sky fairiesthe All-American Trifecta! There have been plenty left disappointed by Vicki. Whether you are an LA camera operator, a loyal Bravo fan, or a nonessential worker, Vicki has shown her true colors, and they are not pretty. I mean, even the Tres Amigas have given up on her. At least for now, we dont have to watch her fail to keep a man or prattle on about issues we dont give a damn about. Sayonara, Vic! TELL US WHAT DO YOU THINK OF VICKI? IS SHE A PROBLEM? The post Vicki Gunvalsons Most Problematic Controversies appeared first on Reality Tea. Way back in 1956 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, a humble fast casual restaurant then known as Mike's Subs first opened its doors. It offered sub sandwiches, which were a relatively new delicacy in the United States at the time and made up of a long bread roll stuffed with savory fillings like cheese, meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and more. However, any existing mystery or skepticism surrounding the new sandwich concept didn't last long. American diners happily took to the culinary trend. Over time, Mike's Subs became Jersey Mike's a restaurant chain currently over 2,000 locations strong. From its massive subs to its bread-free bowls, Jersey Mike's serves up toasty cheese slices, chilled chopped veggies, and various meats daily to hungry consumers from coast to coast ... and consumers can't seem to get enough. "Four weeks ago, a Jersey Mike's opened near me," says a satisfied consumer on Reddit. "I am absolutely addicted. These are the best sandwiches you could ever get from a chain restaurant." Though many eaters echo this sentiment regarding the celebrated franchise, there are those who work behind the scenes that is, the employees themselves who claim that not every single item on the mouth-watering menu is as perfect as it may seem. From day-old bread to bland chicken to potentially dirty drink nozzles, here are a handful of shady things you should know about some of the popular items on the Jersey Mike's menu. Read more: McDonald's Menu Items That Even The Staff Won't Eat The Hot Subs Are Purportedly Made With Stale Bread Hoagie rolls stacked - neil langan/Shutterstock Bread is arguably the overarching ingredient in any form of a submarine sandwich, so it stands that biting down into a good-quality roll can easily make or break the dining experience at a hoagie chain. While Jersey Mike's is generally celebrated for the quality of its wheat, white, gluten-free, or rosemary parmesan selections, good quality doesn't always equate to freshness, at least according to employees. This is because although the freshest bread is used on all cold subs, loaves that are at least a day old are allegedly used on toasted sandwiches. According to a handful of Jersey Mike's employee admissions across the internet, it is standard protocol to reach for day-old rolls when constructing hot sandwiches. "At my store we only use the bread from the day before for hot subs," said one of these workers on Reddit, "all cold subs use fresh bread." This slightly off-putting admission was echoed across the board, with one professed general manager on a separate thread confirming decisively: "We use day old bread for hot subs." "That explains the lack of flavor," responded a consumer, with an obvious air of dissatisfaction. However, if you prefer a good toasted sub with melted cheese, you might still avoid a potentially stale loaf by specifically requesting fresh bread. As mployees report, they will honor your wishes ... it's just that you've got to remember to explicitly do so while ordering. The Olive Oil May Be Soybean Oil Bottle of oil with soybeans - Fcafotodigital/Getty Images There's nothing quite like olive oil to give your meal or, in the case of Jersey Mike's, your bready sandwich some extra depth and flavor. A quick splash of the stuff on your Original Italian can certainly serve to take each ham-and-provolone-filled bite to the next level. But would your opinion change if we told you that the olive oil used in your favorite sandwich shop was actually a faux mixture? According to employees, Jersey Mike's "olive oil" doesn't include much olive oil at all. One employee addressed this in a comment to a consumer on Reddit, stating: "You don't want to buy the 'olive oil.' It is 75% soybean oil and 25% olive seed oil." This issue is so well known and subsequently criticized among employees that one alleged worker started a dedicated thread on the subject on Reddit titled, "Yo why do we call it olive oil." "It was 100% olive oil five years ago," responded one employee. "They switched over to the blend during covid shutdowns." Whether or not the change to a blend was indeed brought on by the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic or some other reason, one thing seems indisputable: the olive oil on your sandwich is likely to be mostly made of soy products. You will have to decide for yourself if this is an issue, or not. The Salami And Cheese Sandwich Doesn't Technically Exist At Jersey Mike's Two meat and cheese sandwiches - Markus Mainka/Shutterstock Salami and cheese go together like peanut butter and jelly. Yet the timeless submarine sandwich combination is surprsiginly not present on the Jersey Mike's menu and, no, it's not even on the franchise's secret menu. However, that hasn't stopped customers from ordering it anyway, according to workers. But should you order a salami and cheese, know that you do so at your own risk. This is because due to the lack of official guidelines on how to construct the sandwich the size, amount of toppings, and price of this off-menu item can vary greatly from location to location. "It can be super confusing for all employees and tbh, I don't have a good answer of what it should weigh. [...] It's not part of normal training to go over subs that aren't on the menu," admitted an alleged worker on Reddit. They had responded to a consumer complaining about their dissatisfying salami and cheese from the chain, which they claimed had far too little filling. Uncertainty regarding the amount of meat and cheese to place within the made-up sandwich, as well as how to properly price it, abounds among workers. This leads us to wonder whether or not it's worth the risk of ordering it in the first place. You might be satisfied with the final product ... or you might not be. The toss-up is yours to take. The Chipotle Chicken Sandwich Is Sometimes Overloaded With Peppers Chipotle chicken sandwich from Jersey Mike's - Jersey Mike's Currently, one of the most celebrated items on the Jersey Mike's menu is surely its Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak sub. Calling for chicken strips, melted American cheese, spicy mayonnaise, and a handful of caramelized onions and peppers, this hot sandwich is a top pick as far as many consumers and employees are concerned. "Chipotle chicken sub from Jersey mikes," raved a satisfied customer on Reddit. "I will never go to subway or jimmy johns ever again. Hands down this was the best sub I had." But this epic sandwich with the power to convert customers to the ways of the Jersey Mike's chain is apparently not without its flaws. According to the sandwich assemblers themselves, a few too many peppers from heavy-handed workers can change the taste of the entire dish and not for the positive. "Yeah I'd definitely recommend the #42 chipotle chicken," answered an alleged worker on Reddit when a user asked for advice on what to order. "Also maybe ask for light peppers because I know some of my coworkers overdo the peppers." If you're looking for more of a balanced flavor between your bread, chicken, and peppers in your next Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak order, we recommend listening to the above employee and asking for workers to go easy on the acidic peppers. The Gluten-Free Subs May Not Be Your Best Bet Gluten free sub from Jersey Mike's - Jersey Mike's Subs / Facebook Thankfully, a gluten allergy is not an automatic disqualifier when it comes to enjoying a sandwich at Jersey Mike's, which offers gluten-free bread for those with celiac disease and other gluten sensitivities. According to employees and customers alike, however, there may be better restaurants to get your gluten-free sandwich fix both for product satisfaction and for safety reasons. "They cross contaminate everything," claimed a user on Reddit on r/glutenfree. "As they make the regular (gluten) cold sandwiches all the extra topping that falls off, gets pushed back into the ingredient bin." To be fair, other alleged employees claimed that their locations had separate counters and equipment for assembling gluten-free orders. Yet, going by other accounts, it appears that not all stores exercise this same level of precaution. This is evidenced by one unfortunate post in which a consumer writes that they had an allergic reaction after ordering a gluten-free sandwich at the chain. Besides cross-contamination, there is the quality of the buns themselves to consider. The bread is sourced from UDI, which, according to customers and staff, does not always stand up to ample fillings and sauces. "Just a word of caution though: like most gluten free breads, it does not hold up well," said a user. "It's for sure a must eat in dont take out situation otherwise I end up with mush by the time I make the 15min drive home." The Sandwich Chicken Strips Are Not Very Good On Their Own Chicken strips in a sub - Mikeygen73/Getty Images Chicken strips are the backbone of many sandwiches at Jersey Mike's. Take the #16 that would be the hot Mike's Chicken Philly which simply would not be the same without the sliced chicken at its core. But while this particular poultry sandwich might be an absolute slam dunk for customers thanks to its combination of chicken, melted cheese, peppers, and onions, the unseasoned strips themselves are not very enjoyable, according to employees. Across a variety of online threads, Jersey Mike's workers admit that the chicken is underwhelming. Unlike the chain's steak strips, which are seasoned during cooking, the chicken ones are left completely bare. "Yeah the chicken unfortunately is kind of bland by itself," admitted one alleged employee on Reddit. "there are some stores that do pepper on the chicken but it's rare from what i've seen." However, don't lose hope just yet. Workers do confirm that if a customer specifically requests a sprinkle of salt or pepper is added to their poultry, it can usually be done during the assembly of the sandwich. In fact, many employees do this when constructing their own sandwiches as a rule. "I usually add black pepper to both [steak and chicken] for my personal subs," wrote one. The Soda Fountain May Be Contaminated Soda fountain dispenser - Sawangkaew/Shutterstock It's no secret that fast food soft drink fountains can harbor some serious reserves of bacteria. A 2023 research study published in Water Supply found that a whopping 41% of fountain drink stations in fast food eateries were found to be hosting potentially dangerous bacteria like listeria, salmonella, and E. coli. As much as we might want to believe that the fountains at our favorite local Jersey Mike's are not included in this infected percentage, there's a chance that they could be. A rather shocking video posted to Reddit by a seriously upset Jersey Mike's customer features a blackened, dirty nozzle that allegedly came from a Jersey Mike's soda machine. The nozzle, the user claimed, had fallen off into their drink. They had sipped on it all day without noticing the machine component at the bottom of the cup. Though this scenario might make you cringe, the grimy spout featured in the video is unfortunately not the only one out there hinting at a lack of cleanliness. There have been multiple incidents in which select Jersey Mike's locations have been dinged by health inspectors for having dirty soda fountain nozzles. Though this likely isn't the case at every single Jersey Mike's location and in fact may be an issue at other fast food chains, too it may be enough to cause doubt before you place an order for a large Coke the next time you eat at the sandwich chain. The Brownies Served At Jersey Mike's Are Nothing Special Jeresy Mike's brownie - Jersey Mike's If the massive sandwich coming to you from behind the counter at Jersey Mike's isn't enough, there's also what often looks like a pretty incredible finisher on the menu to help round out your lunch: a brownie. The chain's chocolate chip brownies may be the perfect dessert option when your palate is craving something sweet. Yet, according to employees, they are nothing special in the wider world of fast food desserts. "I thought nothing beats the brownie from Chick-Fil-A, but now I am considering picking up JM's brownie instead," admitted a consumer on Reddit. "My question is if JM buys their brownies from another company like Chick-Fil-A sources their cookies and brownies from David's Cookies?" The truth, as a handful of alleged employees hopped on the thread to illuminate, is that the sandwich chain does source its sweet chocolate morsels from the same company as the famous chicken franchise David's Cookies. "i actually recently found out that Chick-Fil-A used the same brownies we do," mentioned an employee in a separate discussion, leading an alleged Qdoba worker to reply that their company used David's, as well. Just how many companies the baked goods supplier has contracted with, we're not sure. However, many argue that the brownies are delicious, even if they aren't unique to Jersey Mike's. The Chain's Red Wine Vinegar Is Outsourced three bottles vinegar white background - Picture Partners/Shutterstock To many, there's nothing quite like a splash of red wine vinegar to elevate your sandwich-eating experience. Not only does it add a bit of complexity to the overall taste, but the ingredient can also provide some much-needed acid to balance out the salt and cut through the fat of other ingredients. The Jersey Mike's red wine vinegar blend is a variant that is so enjoyable, that it has prompted many consumers to get to the bottom of its secret in the hopes that they might buy it or recreate the blend at home. "what kind of red wine vinegar do they use?!" reads the title of one such Reddit thread. The answer provided by one employee was anticlimactic. "It's literally Jersey Mike's brand vinegar that we get from Sysco," they said. The original poster responded with a broken heart emoji perhaps despondent that, not only is there no public recipe, but that the Sysco blend is not available to regular consumers in a grocery store. This is corroborated by other alleged Jersey Mike's employees, as well, so there remains little doubt in our minds as to where the vinegar comes from. We suppose we must sadly accept that our trips to Jersey Mike's will likely be the only way to get our fix, unless you have a Sysco connection yourself. The New Nacho And Cool Ranch Philly Bowls Aren't That Great Nach bowl from Jersey Mike's - thatcrazysubguy / TikTok When's the last time you can remember Jersey Mike's offering up something new on its menu? We can't quite remember, either. The chain is nothing if not steadfast when it comes to its food, but recently, the company seemingly stepped out on a limb and added a brand new test menu item. The Nacho and Cool Ranch Philly items are takes on increasingly popular bowl-based meals and call for Flamin' Hot Cool Ranch Doritos chips, assorted peppers and veggies, and chicken (or other preferred protein of your choice), served in a container instead of bread. Although it appears it is only being offered up at select test locations, we originally had high expectations for the spicy newcomer. Sadly, employees of the franchise are suggesting the bowl is a bust. "Thoughts on the new Nacho and Cool Ranch Philly Bowls?" reads the title of a Reddit thread. "We have sold maybe 4 of them and everyone has said they were eh," wrote the worker who started the thread. Others claimed that both consumers and workers alike were unimpressed. "Let's be honest," said one, "they tried to create something that NOBODY asked for. There are so many opportunities to come up with simple new items, but the corporate geniuses stick Doritos and lettuce side by side and top with flavored mayonnaise?" The next time you stop in, will you be ordering a steaming nacho bowl, or your typical standard sandwich? Read the original article on Mashed. Viking grit still runs strong throughout Gotland. From medieval sailors buried beneath the cobblestone streets in Visby to the ruins of Norse shipyards where longboats were built 1,000 years ago, ancient maritime lore suffuses the island. The old walled community once thrived trading squirrel skins and beeswax, and to this day small fishing vessels make regular runs between the isle and the mainland, a distance of about 56 miles. The people of Gotland have always made their living by the sea, says Johan Hallen, who grew up here, renovated his first boat at the age of 15, served in the Swedish navy as a mine diver, and later spent three years as a training officer specializing in battleship management. These days, Hallen is the chief technical officerand the longest-serving employeeat J Craft, an unlikely boutique yard that sends the lions share of its meticulously crafted 42-foot Torpedo models to the French Riviera. More from Robb Report A J Craft hull provides the foundation for the Torpedos 1960s aesthetic. Bjorn Jansson founded J Craft in 1999, intent on building a stunning yacht inspired by the gleaming Riva Aquaramas of the 1960s. His vision was to create boats with finely varnished mahogany topsides but far more seaworthy fiberglass hulls, making them capable of running the rough waters of the surrounding Baltic. In 2000, Jansson, Hallen, and a handful of other local craftsmen and carpenters delivered the first J Craft, a 38-foot Cabrio Cruiser named Polaris, to its inaugural customer: King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Only 29 boats have emerged from the yarda hallmark of its select build ethos. Some notable examples include Bourik, tender to 512-foot Dilbar, and Tonic Express, tender to 131-foot Pink Gin, but most are weekend cruisers for owners around the world. Each project requires 9,000 hours of labor, 20 layers of varnish on hundreds of board feet of West African mahogany, and the 223 years of combined experience represented by the yards 12 workers. Analog gauges and a Nardi wheel evoke the eras automotive masterworks. Seen from the street, the facility resembles an unassuming auto-repair shop, revealing nothing of the artisanship it houses. Inside, the aromas of varnish and fresh-cut wood are ever present, but theres no overpowering stench of resin or the sounds of heavy machinery. Destined for the U.S., Torpedo hull No. 22 sits in the workshop with wiring exposed while its deck rests 30 feet away, surrounded by a team sanding the mahogany with 800-grit paper. Then theres the completed Zens, here for overwinteringa visual bookend to the process with its polished turquoise hull at full gleam. Long, uncut boards of mahogany, teak, and spruce are stacked in one section of the 25,000-square-foot building, a space that also includes the paint booth and a fiberglass department with enough preprepared composites for a pair of new hulls. In 2008, J Craft adopted vacuum infusion, a cleaner, more precise way of introducing recyclable resin to fiberglass for the curved hulls, which speeds up the process and allows for fast changes, according to Hallen. But many old-world techniques are still employed. Take the mahogany strips that will comprise the foredeck: These are curved by steam, a practice that also dates back to the Vikings. The devotion to the craft hasnt changed since Jansson and Hallen started the operation, but the implementation of next-generation design and engineering certainly hasat least since hedge-fund manager Radenko Milakovic bought the yard in 2008. I see myself as its custodian, says Milakovic, who fell in love with J Craft after chartering one of its models in the Med. That means safeguarding its spirit while making significant technical advances. The 60s aesthetic is carried through to even the font selection. Milakovic shelved the Cabrio Cruiser and launched the first Torpedo, La Decadence, in 2009, swapping out the twin Yanmar configuration for twin Volvo Penta IPS 650-RS engines, a rudderless IPS pod system, and joystick controls. The team worked with Volvos naval architects, redesigning the Torpedos hull to improve seakeeping and performance. With the new propulsion setup, top speed jumped 20 percent, to 47 knots, while fuel consumption was lowered by 30 percent; the boat now has roughly 280 nautical miles of range at 30 knots. Striving for a more 60s Italian aesthetic, Milakovic also addressed the cockpit, mandating classic-automobile features to embellish the already vintage styling. An analog dashboard, a left-hand-drive position, and even a Nardi steering wheeloriginally designed for Ferraris 250 GTOimpart the desired effect. The team learned a lot from the Cabrios, but the Torpedo brought real evolution, he says, adding that the latter is reminiscent of a 57 Corvette but has the endurance to cover long distancessay, Miami to the Bahamas and back. Chrome grilles Starting at around $1.75 million, each Torpedo features customization that goes far beyond the selection of (often vibrant) hull colors to include items such as matching luggage, a teppanyaki grill, a 2,000-watt sound system, a Z-box humidor, and a sterling-silver picnic set; a request for a Gatling gun on the bow was politely declined. The two-stateroom interior is dressed in the same mahogany as the cockpit, often personalized with Hermes or Loro Piana fabrics or a favored leather. The thronean elaborate mahogany commodedoubles as a shower seat in the head. During a lively, cold, and quite wet sea trial on the Baltic, the offshore prowess of Zens was amply demonstrated via the combination of its seaworthy hull and master builder Zoltan Antunovic as pilot. After Zens was exercised through eight-foot seas, more genteel conditions were enjoyed behind the harbor seawall, finessing pirouettes in the calm water with the joystick before the boat glided nimbly to the dock. As for the ideal customer, that may be a surprisingly wide target: Its easy to imagine Leif Erikson and Federico Fellini fighting for a turn at the helm. 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. The movie "Bob Marley: One Love" depicting the life of global reggae icon Bob Marley debuted on Feb. 14. Judy Malcolm's initial idea was to go to the theater with her cousin and snap a picture, but it soon evolved into something much larger. As more relatives learned about the plan, interest in attending grew. On the day of the movie's opening, they gathered in the lobby of the Cinemark at Christiana Mall. Mayor Mike Purzycki of Wilmington presented the family with a proclamation celebrating Black History Month. New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, sponsor of the free family event Reggae in the Park, also attended. Before Marley went on to sell more than 75 million records, he briefly lived in Wilmington. He had a lot of family there. In addition to his mother, Cedella Booker formerly Cedella Malcolm Marley's aunts, uncles and cousins also lived in the city. Malcolm's father is one of Cedella Booker's brothers. Members of the Malcolm family gathered for a private screening of "Bob Marley: One Love" on Feb. 14, 2024. Marley is related to the family through his mother, Cedella Booker, nee Malcolm. Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer also attended. Malcolm said that even though they all still live in Delaware, the family hadn't met together in years. "It was like a family reunion in itself. And it took that movie to do that to us," Malcolm said. According to U.S. population data, Delaware is home to nearly 6,000 Jamaicans and over 13,000 West Indians in total. Believing that it isn't just her family that is losing connection, Malcolm said she envisions a place where people can unite and learn about the presence of Jamaicans in Delaware and the contributions they've made. To make this happen, she is working on opening the Jamaican Heritage and Reggae Museum to promote cultural heritage and awareness of Jamaican history. Among the artifacts she plans to exhibit is a picture of her with her cousin at the screening. Coming soon: the Jamaican Heritage and Reggae Museum Judy Malcolm credited her uncle David Malcolm with sponsoring his siblings and their family's immigration to the U.S. and Delaware. Upon their arrival, they discovered a thriving Jamaican community already established. Judy Malcolm moved to Delaware in 1978 as a high school student. She recalled dancing at a Jamaican club on Jackson Street in Wilmington, which was also a frequent spot for dominos and other games popular on the island. It no longer exists. She voiced her disappointment about the limited opportunities for Jamaicans in Delaware to learn their history and experience their culture without having to travel far from home. "As a Jamaican, I was here, and I'm like there's no place locally. I go to maybe New York or Washington or Florida," she said. She said this is especially unfortunate given that Delaware was home to one of the world's greatest artists. A mural of Bob Marley on the front of a home at 24th and Tatnall streets in Wilmington. Malcolm intends for the Jamaican Heritage and Reggae Museum to address the gap in cultural representation. With a vision reminiscent of her famous cousin, Malcolm said she has embraced the Jamaican national motto "Out of Many, One People" as the guiding mantra for the heritage center. The institution will serve to educate newcomers about the presence of Marley's family in Delaware and the broader economic and cultural influence of Jamaicans. Visitors should expect to see a celebration of Jamaican culture including the presentation of music styles like reggae and ska, as well as cultural exchange activities such as patois lessons and dance demonstrations, Malcolm said. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to learn about Jamaican history, government and exports such as coffee and rum. Malcolm and her team are in discussions with the city of Wilmington to establish the museum in the downtown area. The family will host their second Reggae in the Park later this year. The official kickoff event is happening Feb. 25. You can contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Jamaican Heritage and Reggae Museum will promote heritage in Delaware Inspired by the work and life of artist Eva Hesse, Bora Aksus fall 2024 collection explored fragility through juxtaposed textures, patterns, and opacities. Aksu connected with how the painter and sculptors background informed her work: Born into an observant Jewish family in Nazi Germany, Hesse and her family fled the country, ultimately settling in New York. More from WWD Later returning to Germany in 1964, where she lived for a year and a half, the move proved to be a turning point in her professional life, the Turkish, London-based designer explained to WWD backstage: All of her work changed because she faced her traumas. I couldnt understand how to create beautiful things when you go through grief, and then it happened to me, Aksu added, explaining that his mother died recently. And then you understand that grief is a strange thing and you go through it in waves: sometimes theres joy, sometimes theres darkness, but you find peace in that, he added. Flouncy dresses and voluminous skirts in cream, caramel and pastel hues were created through layers of whisper-thin tulle and lace, while frills, crochet and bow appliques adorned blouses, knitwear, and coats. While maximalism was a mainstay, such as the delicate spindles of hand-knit mohair overlaying dresses and skirts made from metallic organza, more streamlined looks included coats with cable-knit arms, straight-legged trousers, and two-piece skirt suits. It was a sweet development on motifs from last season, and one that will certainly resonate with his customer. For more London Fashion Week reviews, click here. Launch Gallery: Bora Aksu Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear Collection Best of WWD A British army veteran has urged Rishi Sunaks government to give his Afghan former comrade a home after he was forced to flee Kabul in fear of his life and denied help by Britain despite risking his life to fight with the UK against the Taliban. Alex Isaac, a former paratrooper who was attached to the special forces in Afghanistan, has demanded that officials reverse their decision to deny sanctuary to his former colleague Abdul, who served alongside UK troops and now fears being sent back to the fundamentalists he managed to escape. The soldiers intervention comes after ministers pledged to re-examine the cases of thousands of former Afghan special forces, who had been paid, trained and served alongside British forces but who were denied relocation to the UK following the fall of Kabul in 2021. The review was prompted by a joint investigation by The Independent, Lighthouse Reports and Sky News which uncovered how some of these soldiers, who served in units known as the Triples, had been subjected to murder and torture at the hands of the Taliban after being refused help by the UK. In a direct plea to ministers, Alex said: Here is a really clear example of a Triple who served with us. Its obvious that he is eligible and hes stuck. What are you going to do about it? Alex (left) and Abdul worked alongside each other in the war in Afghanistan (Supplied) Alex and Abdul, whose name has been changed to protect his family, lived and fought shoulder to shoulder in the dirt and the sand for two tours in 2011 and 2012 Alex with the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment, on a UK special forces tasking, and Abdul with the Afghan Territorial Force 444. The elite Afghan unit, along with its sister unit Commando Force 333, had been set up by the British to help in their fight against the Taliban and were paid to work alongside the special forces support group. Abdul managed to escape from Afghanistan following the coalition troops withdrawal in 2015 but had his application to come to the UK rejected last year despite risking his life to work side by side with British troops. He is now living in a Nordic country but fears he will be kicked out at any moment, and is desperate to start a new life in Britain, as he feels he deserves. He told The Independent: I want to come to the UK because of my service with the British army. I have family in the UK and my colleagues who I worked with. I served for 10 years with my British colleagues. We are a kind of family. Alex is my brother. I believe that if I am in the UK, I will not be scared of my future. Many who worked alongside British forces, like Abdul, remain in fear for their lives in Afghanistan and are forced to live in hiding, with the abandonment felt most keenly by the Brits they served alongside such as Alex. I just feel like I have to get Abdul back, and I will When Alex was told his Afghan friend and fellow commando was still alive, he didnt dare believe it was true. Having been passed his number by a colleague, he tentatively typed out the Pashto words for My son? a jokey nickname they had used almost a decade before when they fought side by side in Afghanistan and waited for him to reply. When I called him, I could tell he was nearly crying, Alex said of this first video call with his old friend. I had a chat with him for about two hours, just going through his family and my family. The pair had not seen each other since their time together in their early twenties on operations. They had been part of the tiger teams small teams of Afghan special forces that would be accompanied by a British mentor. Alex had the role of mentor and Abdul was the unit commander. Peering through the phone on the video call, Abdul didnt recognise Alex at first because the tousled blonde hair he had during his days as a para had disappeared with age. He thought I had cancer, the now-bald Alex said laughing. He kept asking me, Youre sure youre not ill?. Abdul himself had grown up, now with a wife and two children, but was ill with stress. His latest temporary residence permit ran out many months ago and he has not heard back about whether he will be allowed to stay in the country that he has tried to make his new home. Fleeing from Taliban threats after the withdrawal in 2015, Abdul made his way through Europe to a Nordic country after he was advised that he would be safe there as an asylum seeker for a few years. Speaking to The Independent, Abdul said he has not been able to find work there and he now feels like he is living on borrowed time. He is also now on medication for depression caused by living in limbo. Abdul, pictured in his role with the ATF444 special forces unit, was just 16 when he signed up (Supplied) I am worried that they will send us back to Afghanistan, he said. Some of Abduls former colleagues in the ATF444 are now in the UK, having been evacuated in Operation Pitting, and Alex is desperate to give Abdul the same fresh chance for a life in Britain. I just feel like I have to get Abdul back, and I will, he said. Abdul had applied for help in 2021 from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme designed for those who worked with British forces but had his application rejected. The rejection email said Abdul had not been directly employed by the UK government and his role did not make UK operations in Afghanistan materially less successful if a role of that nature had not been performed. In a joint investigation with Lighthouse Reports and Sky News, The Independent revealed that the Ministry of Defence had wrongly rejected the cases of Triples, even when extensive evidence had been provided to show that they worked alongside the British. Military chiefs said that they could think of no other units who more loyally or bravely supported our military objectives. Our investigation also showed for the first time that the Afghan units had been paid by the British, something the MoD has now accepted to be the case. The MoD has now promised to re-evaluate all applications for sanctuary from CF333 and ATF444 soldiers a move that has brought hope that Abdul and his family might be able to find a stable home in the UK. Despite being paid by the British, Abdul was rejected for relocation to the UK (Supplied) It was the British and Afghans together Abdul was one of the first 444 soldiers to get recruited, lying about his age when he signed up because he was younger than 18. I was 16 when I joined the ATF, he said. It was my dream to be in the army and it was a great chance for me. Of his relationship with Alex, he said: When something happened to me outside of camp, he would help me. When I got injured in the shoulder in Kandahar, it was the British and the Afghans who helped me together. By Alexs first tour in 2010-11, ATF444 had been operational for two years and the tiger teams were attached to other units, being used as the Afghan eyes on the ground. At the time, no units could go out without an Afghan face. Initially, it was all mobility operations, with the small team of eight people living off a Ford Ranger for four to six weeks at a time, doing jobs each day and night. Once the threat from IEDs increased, they started using helicopters to get around. Tiger teams were often brought in to gather information that would then get fed back to HQ and inform operations. Alex (far right) pictured with colleagues on a reconnaissance mission (Supplied) By his second tour, the mission was more offensive: A tiger team created safety for other units. If the units were stuck in really kinetic areas, they would ask for tiger teams to come in and help push back the front line, Alex said. As part of that role, tiger teams were also used to conduct night raids and carry out arrests. As the Brit in the team, who liaised between the tiger team and the host unit, Alex was the navigator and had night vision. In the early days, only some of them [Afghans] would have night vision. As I had it, I could GPS into the target and navigate in at night. Some of these areas are just corridors and it is quite hard to pinpoint where you are going, especially at night. I would be called the mentor or the adviser and Abdul was the commander but the reality is, they wouldnt have been able to function without us. Effectively, the Brit was the commander. Alex and Abdul came from different backgrounds but when youre young the differences dont matter as much, Alex said. Alex liked the Afghan food and so would make a point of eating with his team when they were back at Camp Juno, in Helmand province. Hed give them spare dollars to buy a goat from the local bazaar and theyd all eat it together. As a Brit, he was still their guest and would always be given the best spot at the table and the best food. Abdul would always call Alex My son in Pashto and Alex would respond jokingly with My daughter. There were loads of things where wed rub off on them, theyd rub off on us, Alex explained. Colonel Simon Diggins, former defence attache in Kabul, said the review must be done quickly and well. Its unfair that they [the Triples] have been deprived of a chance to come to this country, and there should be no further delay because of bureaucracy and a lack of resources. Shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard said that the governments treatment of Afghans had been a shameful saga of failure. An MoD spokesperson said: We are determined to honour our commitments under the Arap scheme, and we have so far relocated 15,600 people to the safety of the UK, including over 3,000 since last October. We have announced a reassessment of all decisions on ineligible applications with credible claims to Afghan specialist units, including from those known as the Triples. The review is being carried out by independent staff who have not previously worked on these applications. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released stunning footage of a pack of gray wolves howling in the night, showcasing the remarkable return of this endangered species. The pack was previously spotted in the area last year, though it was reported to be only a pack of five. The footage in the video captured by the CDFW shows at least seven gray wolves. According to biologists, this pack, named the Yowlumni Pack, is believed to consist of a breeding pair and six pups. The pack got its name from the Yowlumni band of the Tule River Yokuts. This was described by my mother, Agnes Vera, who was born on the Tule River Indian Reservation in 1926, said Vernon Vera, a Tule River Tribe elder. She was the last fluent speaker of Yowlumni until her passing in 2010. She taught that the Yowlumni were speakers of the Wolf Tongue. Gray wolves were hunted to extinction in California in the 1920s. However, with protections from the Endangered Species Act and, indirectly, the clearing of habitats due to wildfires, packs of gray wolves have flourished over the past year. The CDFW even reported that two other packs were also confirmed in the state. These awe-inspiring animals continue to show us that Californias wild landscapes are great habitat for wolves and that theyll find their way here, said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. I feel so fortunate to bear witness to the return of these top-level carnivores to California. Not only are wolves essential to healthy, wild nature, they also have for thousands of years been integral to the human spirit and imagination and a symbol of our connection to the wild. The footage captured of the Yowlumni pack by the CDFW is a rare look into the beautiful communication these wolves display with one another and their ability to survive despite long odds. Wolves are generalists, says Karen Hodges, an ecologist at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. As long as they have prey, theyre capable. This recently detected group of wolves is at least 200 straight-line miles from the nearest known California pack, said Pamela Flick, California program director for Defenders of Wildlife, and demonstrates the species amazing ability to disperse long distances and take advantage of the states plentiful suitable habitat. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. It looks like a new food court is coming soon to a Costco near you, but so far, it hasn't received the warmest welcome. In a Reddit thread shared earlier this week, an image of an alleged new Costco food court sandwich menu was uploaded. The post includes the image of a sandwich and the words "New Item: Turkey & Swiss Sandwich." There's also a description that says that the sandwich will feature brown turkey, Swiss cheese, and sun dried tomato spread on a roll. News of the sammie has also popped up elsewhere on social media with more details. An Instagram post from @costcoinsider notes that the sandwich will be available toward the end of February. Given that Costco has reportedly been removing its controversial roast beef sandwich from food courts across the country, it's possible that the turkey and swiss sandwich will serve as the roast beef's replacement. But there are some concerns from customers about the potential cost of the new sandwich. It's said to be $6.99, which is cheaper than the roast beef sandwich, but food court lovers are not impressed. "Why is it so hard to make a sandwich $4.99? Is it $6.99 to make up for some of the lost revenue from the hot dog? Just a sandwich by itself at Costco should be $4.99," read one comment on Reddit. Others feel that the sandwich loses much of its appeal if it's not heated or toasted in some way. "If it's not going through a panini press I don't think most people will be interested," another user claimed. Other comments from Costco critics include: "Gonna be dry af guaranteed screw that roll." "Can we just have French fries like Costcos around the world?" "I used to be excited about Costco's food court. Like I was and am about Taco Bell. Then overtime, started with the removal of the polish dog, I've lost interest. Now it reminds [me] of Subway. They keep making changes but it is hurting not helping." You Might Also Like Start spreading the news: Emilia Wickstead just cant get enough of New York City. After shooting her resort 2024 campaign uptown, downtown and on the Staten Island Ferry, she time-traveled back to the Empire City for a collection inspired by midcentury fashion. Wickstead, a New Zealand native who worked briefly in New York at the start of her career, looked specifically at women the socialites, academics, beatniks and jazz clubbers who helped make up the citys glittering mosaic. More from WWD Models grooved down the runway to jazzy tunes, wearing flower-embellished crinkly minidresses with a 60s feel; leotard tops with long ballerina skirts; and oversized coats edged with fur. Bookish types paired boyish V-neck sweaters and collared shirts with sparkly, flower-embellished skirts and sheer black knee-socks. Outfits came in arresting color combinations (an emerging trend this season) such as brown, blue and mustard; or black, bright pink and camel. Some of the suits and neat tailored dresses were styled with pillbox hats, a nod to Jacqueline Kennedy, while evening designs came doused with a shower of sequins. Long sleeveless or strapless dresses glittered in shades such as acid green, eggplant and black. While this show had swagger, it was often difficult to see all that Wickstead had to offer. The venue was in a basement and the dark runway was lit by bright overhead lights, presumably meant to channel those cool clubs and beatnik hangouts. Wickstead would have done better to pull those chic ladies out of the shadows and onto a bigger, brighter stage. For more London Fashion Week reviews, click here. Launch Gallery: Emilia Wickstead Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear Collection Best of WWD ISLAMABAD, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Three people including a policeman were killed when some unknown miscreants opened fire at their vehicle in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday night, police sources said. The incident happened in Malakand district of the province where the cop, who was a member of the security team of the province's caretaker chief minister, was killed along with his two relatives, the sources added. Two children of the family were also injured in the gun attack and have been shifted to a nearby hospital, the sources said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The area had been cordoned off for investigation. According to an initial investigation by the police, the attack has been declared as an incident of target killing as the deceased did not have any personal enmity with anyone in the area, the sources added. It's every parent's worst nightmare. Earlier this week, the 19-year-old son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, was found dead at UC Berkeley of an apparent drug overdose, according to his grandmother, Esther Wojcicki. The news broke widely yesterday, though Wojcicki posted the news to Facebook several days ago, writing: "Tragedy hit my family yesterday. My beloved grandson Marco Troper, age 19 passed away yesterday. Our family is devastated beyond comprehension. Marco was the most kind, loving, smart, fun and beautiful human being. He was just getting started on his second semester of his freshman year at UC Berkeley majoring in math and was truly loving it. He had a strong community of friends from his dorm at Stern Hall and his fraternity Zeta Psi and was thriving academically. At home, he would tell us endless stories of his life and friends at Berkeley." UC Berkeley spokesperson Janet Gilmore has said there were no signs of foul play and that an investigation into the death is underway. Esther Wojcicki told the Palo Alto Daily of her grandson's passing, Kids in college, especially freshmen and sophomores, experiment with everything. I think this was an experiment that went wrong." She separately told the San Francisco Chronicle: He ingested a drug, and we dont know what was in it. One thing we do know, it was a drug. Susan Wojcicki stepped down as CEO of the Alphabet-owned subsidiary one year ago, writing in a blog post that after nine years in the role, she'd "decided to start a new chapter focused on my family, health and personal projects I'm passionate about." Neal Mohan, then YouTube's chief product officer, has run the organization since. I didn't have the opportunity to interview Wojcicki while she held one of the most prestigious CEO posts in the world. I do remember being captivated by her appearance at a Fortune event in Aspen back in 2015 as she answered questions that she was asked routinely, centering on how she juggled an all-encompassing job with also being a mother to five children. Her interviewer, veteran reporter Adam Lashinsky, was teased in an interview later that same day with brothers Ari and Rahm Emanuel, who noted that Lashinsky didn't ask them at all about their children. But truthfully, as a working mother of two children and a considerably less-demanding job at the time, I was also curious how Wojcicki -- who gave birth to her youngest child just ahead of the event -- handled it all. Notably, she did not push back on the question. Instead, she talked about associating her different children with different stages of Google's growth, after first responding, "Youre pretty busy is maybe the short answer. I love kids, I love work and I think at some level I just love creating things and building. And like kids are very rewarding projects. Building companies is rewarding too and I enjoy doing both. My heart now breaks for Wojcicki and her family, which is known far beyond their home in Silicon Valley and includes 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki; Susan and Anne's sister Janet, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco; and their mother Esther Wojcicki, herself a renowned educator who has written extensively on how to raise successful children. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Esther Wojcicki told the SF Chronicle that the family is speaking with the press in part to "prevent this from happening to any other family. Tragedy is very hard to sustain, she told the Chronicle. It makes you want to hide in a closet and never come out. But I think the main thing is that we need to push forward to see what we can do to help other people so there wont be any other kids who end up like Marco. Presumably, his death is already sparking widespread conversations. After hearing of it late yesterday, I reminded my own children of the dangers of today's drugs, how painfully precious life is, and that no one is immune to calamity. Among the cotton candy, funnel cake, deep fried Oreos, and churros that are staples at fairgrounds across the country, smoked turkey legs remain one of the most iconic and beloved fair foods you can get. Deliciously salty and brimming with umami flavor, they're hard not to love. But while munching away at the succulent, meat, you wouldn't be alone if you find yourself wondering why the hefty treat tastes suspiciously like pork. There certainly are similarities. A smoked turkey leg has a similar crumbly, brown skin like ham, the same pink flesh, and the same savory, sweetness as ham. Despite all the similarities, though, the turkey leg is just that turkey. However, there is a scientific reason behind the two meats' resemblance: Both smoked turkey and ham are cured in the same way, yielding their corresponding flavors. The meats are steeped in a solution of both salt and sodium nitrate, as well as a blend of various seasonings. The sodium nitrate is responsible for the ham-pink color of the turkey, as well as the smoother texture it acquires. This curing process effectively preserves it, allowing you to eat it as is. However, the turkey legs typically go on to be smoked, sealing in the flavor while giving them a richer taste. Meanwhile, ham isn't always smoked post-curing, so the flavors won't share the same complexity as its smoked counterparts. Read more: 8 Absolute Best Cuts Of Meat To Deep Fry Can You Substitute Smoked Turkey For Pork? Whole smoked turkey - Nice-pics-125/Shutterstock If you avoid pork for health or religious restrictions, smoked turkey makes an excellent stand-in. Smoked turkey comes in both halal and kosher options, so the meat can easily be used in common pork recipes without compromising on flavor. Since there is a lot of salt used to preserve the turkey, you may want to reduce the amount in the recipe as you cook. A simple salt water soak is all you need to revive overly salty smoked turkey. Just steep it in hot water or boil it to lower the sodium quantity. From there, you can use it as a substitute in pork recipes. Although smoked turkey legs are beloved, smoked turkey breast is equally as delicious and highly versatile. The cut of meat works especially well in sandwiches that typically call for ham. It makes an excellent breakfast ingredient, particularly in a sweet and savory Monte Cristo sandwich. Save some turkey breast for lunch and use it in an all-out Cuban sandwich. You can also smoke the turkey yourself to utilize different parts of the bird. Place it in a salty brine overnight and then smoke it at 275 degrees Fahrenheit until it reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. Afterwards, you can pull it apart to make apple cider smoked pulled pork or slow cooker carnitas. Read the original article on Tasting Table. British Colonial dates back over a century ago and recently underwent a $50 million renovation. Courtesy of British Colonial After a 22-month closure, one of Nassau, Bahamas' most storied resorts is welcoming travelers back to the heart of the Bahamian capital. British Colonial, which first opened in 1900 on Nassau's Bay Street, just completed a $50-million renovation as an independently owned hotel with 288 guest rooms and suites, seven food and beverage venues, two oceanfront swimming pools, and a private beach, all while being within walking distance of major landmarks such as Nassau's Cruise Port and the city's straw market. "This property is a quintessential icon that has been such an integral part of Nassau's fascinating narrative. Its reopening will set the bar for an entirely new level of hospitality in The Bahamas, breathing new life into downtown with a guest experience that pays homage to local tradition and the vibrant and colorful culture that defines this destination," Dan McDermott, the British Colonial general manager, told Travel + Leisure. Courtesy of British Colonial Courtesy of British Colonial The decor marries elegant Caribean and Colonial Revival references yet keeps the vibe approachable and fun thanks to abundant tropical prints and ocean-inspired hues. The grand lobby boasts a vaulted ceiling, original crown moldings, columns, and large-scale murals, while designated seating areas are styled with tall tropical plants and island chic rattan furnishings. The rooms, which come in 21 different layouts, are clad in nature-inspired wallpaper in soothing tones and feature high-end amenities like 50-inch flat-screen TVs, workstations, marble bathrooms, and boldly patterned geometric tiling. Courtesy of British Colonial Courtesy of British Colonial Travelers can enjoy the warm Bahamian sun by one of the two oceanfront pools or the 300-foot private beach with cabanas and chaise lounges. And when you work up an appetite, the poolside Red Pearl Grille offers classic lunch fare and refreshing cocktails. Sundowners are best enjoyed at the resort's martini bar with live jazz music and an outdoor fire pit. Meanwhile, for an elevated dining experience, head to the ultra-chic The Mahogany Club, the 1920s-inspired "supper club" that just opened its doors. Also new is the Sakana Noodle and Sushi Bar, serving Pan-Asian fare prepared with fresh Bahamian ingredients and seafood. "We look forward to welcoming our guests, both repeat and new, and showcasing a refined and redefined Caribbean resort experience," McDermott added. Courtesy of British Colonial Courtesy of British Colonial British Colonial was dreamed up as the go-to warm-weather getaway of well-off travelers by developer and oil magnate Henry Flagler, whose portfolio of 20th-century properties included Casa Marina in Key West and The Breakers Palm Beach. However, the hotel didn't attract much attention, mainly due to a lack of reliable transportation to the island, and then its wooden structure tragically burned down in 1922. The Bahamian government rebuilt it the following year, and it reopened in 1923, this time to much fanfare, becoming one of Nassau's most beloved resorts. You can book your stay at British Colonial at britishcolonial.com, where nightly rates start at $250. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Recently, Reddit user _Persona-Non-Grata posed the intriguing question, "What are some mysterious, cult-like, bad-vibes towns across the USA?" to the people of AskReddit. Suffice it to say, as someone who's been on many roadtrips, I just had to know what they said. Check it out: Note: Some of these stories contain mentions of racism and sexual assault. Also, apologies if your hometown is on this list...but, maybe you agree with what these people experienced. 1."Powers, Oregon Stopped in the diner for coffee once on a drive-thru. I shit you not, like straight out of a movie, the other patrons just turned and quietly stared, not touching their plates, until we left." SkylieBunnyGirl "Holy shit I can finally share my Powers, Oregon story! My girlfriend and I were doing a trip down the coast, and on our way back to I5 for the return trip, we went over a dirt road pass near the Rogue River and ended up driving through Powers. Same shit as you, but one of the properties we drove by on the way out had a massive Trump sign erected on 4x4s. The dam sign had three dead sheep hanging from their necks on the bottom! Im kicking myself for not getting a picture, but after seeing that, we wanted to GTFO." louiekr Charles Maraia / Getty Images 2."Clearwater, Florida I had known it was the HQ for Scientology but had never been there. Last month, I was visiting family in Florida, and my best friend lives a few towns over from Clearwater. He took me to a place that entailed driving through downtown Clearwater. It is impossible not to notice that every building had brand new paint, all the shops looked sparkling clean, and there was not a soul to be seen. All the neighboring towns had hundreds of people milling about, but Clearwater looked like a ghost town. It looked like the set of a Twilight Zone episode." PirateJohn75 Freer Law / Getty Images/iStockphoto 3."Moscow, Idaho Moscow has a cult-like church with thousands of followers. Their leader, a self-ordained pastor, has publicly stated he wants to take over the town and turn it into a theocracy. They are deeply misogynistic (marital rape isnt 'possible') and have a history of sexual abuse within their group. Their members keep running for local office and failing, but they are buying up all the property in town and moving in people from all over the country to attend their private school, theology 'college,' and church. Moscow also happens to be the town where the four University of Idaho students were murdered in 2022." Dessert_Hater Shunyu Fan / Getty Images/iStockphoto 4."Seabrook, Washington It is idyllic. Perfectly idyllic. Too much so. Strong Stepford Wives vibes. I read somewhere that it was inspired by the town in The Truman Show." lotsalotsacoffee "The idyllic facade is made creepier by the fact that it's located minutes from Taholah, an impoverished reservation town that's literally sinking into the ocean. Driving through both towns is a weird contrast." AndronicustheGreat Cavan Images / Getty Images 5."Rural Wyoming Man, this was years ago, but it was around 1998 or 1999, when I was 9 years old. My family drove us to Mount Rushmore from Denver. We stopped off the highway in a random Wyoming town with a population of just over 100. We had a choice between two restaurants and entered one. Straight from a horror movie, when we walked in, the entire restaurant, packed with most of the town, fell silent. We ate, and everyone was staring at us. My sister and I believed they were going to murder us. We left, and it turns out our parents also thought we were going to be murdered." Starbucks__Lovers Wirestock / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6."Colorado City, Arizona Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stronghold. Lots of inbreeding." thebadhedgehog5 George Frey / Getty Images 7."Northern Minnesota We were looking at buying 40 acres on I believe Upper Red Lake. We entered a diner at about 6 p.m., it was dark out, and everyone stopped and stared. We were seated, ordered drinks, and noticed how silent it was. No chatter, and everyone was staring at us. Dad left a 20 on the table, and we left before ordering food. Suuuuuper bizarre." Previous-Ad3017 Wirestock / Getty Images/iStockphoto 8."Dodgeville, Wisconsin Some friends and I experienced the same kind of thing in a bar/bowling alley in Wisconsin on our roadtrip to House on the Rock. We decided to go out for bowling, and when we walked into the bar in the front, it was like it went from bustling to very hushed, and everyone was watching us. The bowling alley in the back was totally deserted and eerie. It was super awkward to be the only people playing, and I swear anytime we glanced behind us toward the bar, we'd catch everyone staring. We all agreed it was one of the creepiest experiences we've had." TheRipsawHiatus Glasshouse Images / Getty Images 9."Ithaca, New York I cant explain it, but Ithaca gives off old money, 'we-are-very-nice-and-well-educated-progressives-who-happen-to-hold-a-yearly-lottery-to-see-who-gets-sacrificed-to-appease-the-ancient-one' vibes." mister_sleepy Bruce Yuanyue Bi / Getty Images 10."Amboy, California Was a Route 66 boomtown, with a railroad stop. When I-40 was opened, bypassing Amboy, it withered and died. Only it didn't give up the ghost. Some famous murders occurred in that town (if you can call it a town, it's only three buildings at a crossroad). Legend has it that Charles Manson and the Manson family would frequent the diner in the 1960s as it was the closest part of civilization to their commune. The last time I was there was about 25 years ago, driving through. There's not a lot of traffic that drives through obviously, but there are people that live there, and as God is my witness, every time I've driven through, those people are outside in the scorching Mojave heat of the day staring you down as you drive past." Resident_Job3506 Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 11."Vernonia, Oregon I was 19 and had to pay a speeding ticket up there...this was 1994. I had long hippie hair, walked into the local dinner, and everyone stopped and looked at me and my friend...it was damn eerie. Before we walked in, you could hear the conversations from outside, but that stopped once we got in. We were going to get breakfast, but after that just got coffee and left and waited at the courthouse in my buddy's car till they opened. Never been back." Defender_XXX Cheryl Chan / Getty Images 12."Skidmore, Missouri Hands down the most DEPRESSING town I have ever driven through. Theres this feeling you just cant shake while youre there." kenan__rockmore "An incredible number of shockingly brutal or very mysterious crimes for such a tiny hamlet. Most famous was the vigilante murder of Ken Rex McElroy (pictured above), but there's also Branson Perry and Bobbi Jo Stinnett just for starters." Polyphemus117 Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 13."Centralia, Pennsylvania It's a ghost town that is still on fire today (from a coal mine fire that started in the '60s). Though, they ruined the graffiti highway. I don't know if anybody still lives there today; when I went last, there were a handful of hangers-on." faceeatingleopard "One of the last guys left had a doc made about him. His job is to mow the cemetery on top of the hill, and the park across the road from the old row house he lives in, which sits all by itself now because everything else on the street was torn down. I also watched an urban exploration vid of a guy going through the final mayor's house, and it was like everything left in that guy's house stopped existing after 1970." toastmn7667 Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 14."Collinsville, Oklahoma It has a diner where the local chapter [of the KKK] meets or, at least, used to meet every week. Used to have racist signs on the edge of town. It is one of the most racist places I've ever had the misfortune of finding myself." blackforestham3789 Brandon Bell / Getty Images 15."Cairo, Illinois It is creepy AF. At one time it was a very important commercial center because of its river location. Now its practically deserted and has really creepy energy. You can still see glimpses of how it might have been bustling and charming back in the day." jendickinson "My history seminar class focused on writing a report on Iowa volunteer infantry regiments during the Civil War. The regiment I was assigned to research participated in the major campaigns of the Western theater, with some of its companies occasionally assigned as police garrisons in Cairo, among other locations. From their records, it seems that Cairo has a long history of racist violence and Confederate sympathies." Norskamerikaner Afro Newspaper / Getty Images 16."Crestone, Colorado It's easily the most bizarre place I've been to in the US. Lots of shoeless hippies, 'spiritualists,' cult members/followers, and the like. Just a weird vibe all over. Some of the people are nice, and there are some good artists there, but there's also a main square/park where you'll almost always see these desperate, strung-out people with an overloaded car just sitting in the park like, Well I'm here, what next? There's also an alien landing site nearby, or at least that's what it claims to be." BrandonLouis527 "Love Has Won. Docuseries on Max (pictured above) about this shit. Super weird. I cant unsee some of it, so Im not sure Id recommend it. But it's wild how gullible humans can be for the most random things." R_S_Dub79 HBO 17."Gold Bar, Washington Beautiful view of the Cascade Mountains. Meth and white supremacists everywhere." bluegiant85 Mark Stevens / Getty Images/500px 18."Mora, New Mexico It's pretty damn scary to outsiders. Lots of rural mountain towns that are isolated from tourists can be strange. I've spent a lot of time in West Virginia and Arkansas, but rural NM is probably the most hostile place to outsiders I have been." Marcoyolo69 Sean Weaver / Getty Images/iStockphoto 19."Opp, Alabama This town is well-known for closing all local federal buildings (besides schools, this includes libraries, banks, courts, etc.) and local businesses on Wednesday. This town was popular during the US slavery era as it has a train that runs through it. Each Wednesday, the city square would be packed with visitors and locals who were there to buy slaves. To give 'honor' to the tradition, the city still closes and shuts everything down on Wednesdays. I should mention that I havent lived there since 2014." CailousCancer Karl Tapales / Getty Images 20."Vidor, Texas It's just east of Beaumont, and it's still a sundown town. Local infrastructure vendors, i.e. Telco, power, etc. know to send only white workers to that town for safety. I've been through once, and it just feels off, but I was also traveling with a Black friend." Ok-disaster2022 "I worked on a door-to-door sales team, and we got sent there because we happened to be all 'white' at the time. Spoiler: We weren't all 'white,' and our crew included several Latino members. Someone spoke in Spanish, and we were detained by the most overtly racist cops I have ever met and literally escorted out of town. Freaky shit." tossaway78701 Tim Drake / Getty Images/500px 21."Ravenden, Arkansas I have never been, but my girlfriend took a wrong turn driving through the state and stumbled into this place. In the dark of night, she came across its defining feature: a 12-foot-tall statue of a raven. If you look up this statue on its own, youll find it has been burned down twice, but they keep rebuilding it. Again, I have never been, and by all means, it seems nice on Google Maps street view. But the history is a little funny, and if my girlfriend is to be believed, the statue can be a bit freaky late at night." PopsicleIncorporated we AR exploring / Via youtube.com 22."Lynden, Washington A HIGHLY Christian town comprised of mostly Dutch families. No liquor stores. No weed stores. Illegal to mow your yard on Sundays. I've lived maybe 10 minutes away from it for about 20 years now and only go out there for the fair." RankedAverage Seastock / Getty Images 23."Tonopah, Nevada The Clown Motel, located next to the Tonopah Cemetery, is a popular place to stay because of all the reports of being haunted by 'ghost clowns' and miners who were killed in the 1911 Belmont Mine Fire." Fuck_You_Downvote Josh Brasted / Getty Images 24."Breezewood, Pennsylvania I got stranded there once after wrecking the family car on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Its the town from the meme about how awful American urban planning is. Basically just a series of roads and strip malls. I went into the hotel bar where we were staying the first night and this shirtless redneck was so drunk he could barely stand. He had his trashed wife and two crying kids there with him. Some truckers at the bar were talking about where to score meth. I walked up to the bars jukebox out of curiosity, and the shirtless redneck threatened to kick my face in if I played any nonwhite music. Except he used more offensive language." CactusBoyScout Classy Whale / Via youtube.com 25."Ocean Grove, New Jersey They call it 'God's square mile on the Jersey Shore' so at least you know it's culty going in. Lovely old houses with the creepiest Stepford vibe I've ever encountered. They close the beach on Sunday mornings and actually enforce it, or try to. The whole town was founded as a Christian camp, and to this day there are tents that families use as their summer homes. I think they're owned by the church, but the right to rent them is passed down from generation to generation. I live across the lake in Asbury Park, which is known for its gay community. There are footbridges over the lake connecting the two towns, but Ocean Grove puts gates on their side that they lock at night to keep us deviants out. You can still get from one side to the other, but you have to either walk along the boardwalk or go all the way out to the main road." everylastlight Denistangneyjr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 26."Waco, Texas Just has a weird energy about it." juanzy "I worked at a sandwich shop in north Texas in my late teens/early 20s, a few hours drive from Waco. One night, just before closing, this guy pulls up in an older Camaro, all alone, no one with him, and comes in to order a sandwich. I notice he just seems a little off. Like, his eyes werent quite right. It was a strange feeling. He orders his food, and while its being made, he is fidgety and kind of mumbling to himself. To break the tension a little, I ask where hes from, and he turns his head quickly toward me and sharply says, 'Were from Waco.' He went out to the parking lot and proceeded to argue with himself, spiked his sandwich to the ground, and took off." dirtyms3 Steven Reece / Sygma via Getty Images 27."Cushing, Oklahoma I was visiting a distant relative a few years ago, and we drove through at night. The streets were lined with MAGA and Confederate flags. We stopped for gas, and a white man came outside and stared at us. My friend was not white, I was. I made him sit in the car with the door locked while I pumped gas. We tried to leave quickly. As we drove down the main road, we saw a Nazi flag on a window storefront. As we passed, I realized it was a shrine to Donald and Melania Trump complete with mannequins, makeup, wigs, American flags, and a sign that said 'Make America Great Again.' As we almost got out of town, there was a rundown house spray painted with the words 'lock her up.' It was fucking surreal and terrifying." Tricky-Gemstone Miflippo / Getty Images/iStockphoto 28."Island Pond, Vermont It's home to one of the Twelve Tribes communities. Twelve Tribes is a fundamentalist Christian cult known for its misogyny, racism, child abuse, and workplace exploitation. They operate the Yellow Deli restaurants." cwthree "As a Vermonter, I was scanning the thread just waiting for this one to come up." Idkman2019 A Current Affair / Via youtube.com 29."Elko, Nevada Stopped at a bar there on a roadtrip. Seemed like a fun place from the outside. Some woman walks up to us and says, 'Hi! I'm so and so... What are you doing here? You're not from around here...' Got lots of stares. Went to a casino across the street to escape. The casino was completely empty but lit up. Felt almost post-apocalyptic except for one janitor. We noped the hell out of there fast. Felt like something really bad was going to happen. We decided not to find a local hotel and bounced. This was in 2010." therealfuriousd Matt Mawson / Getty Images 30."Gallup, New Mexico Drove through on Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago and stopped for gas for five minutes and almost got robbed. I would recommend you ~gallup~ on through if going that route and get gas before or after. Creepy vibes pulling in. Later found out it has one of the highest per capita crime rates in the country." average_dudereino "I stopped here as a young solo female traveler. One of those experiences I look back on and am grateful nothing bad happened. There was a dark, very sketchy vibe." OkLoss994 Feifei Cui-paoluzzo / Getty Images 31.Finally, "Noxon, Montana Father of a 6-year-old and thought we'd try an Easter egg hunt in a place we've never been and do lunch. Pretty big hunt with lots of eggs. Well organized and overall kind of awesome. Afterward, the kids brought the eggs they found to the front and exchanged them for candy. I'm in the line with my excited little guy answering a ton of questions and generally just trying to keep my bundle of squirrels in check. Wasn't paying attention much as we worked up to the table. I look up as the kid hands his eggs up to...a lady in a Daily Stormer hoodie. Daily fucking Stormer." "She listened as he chatted away with sincere kindness. After the eggs were counted, it was off to the candy exchange. Her husband maybe? Giving the kids high fives and passing out heaps of candy. SS lightening bolts up both sides of his neck. Some runes on his hands, but by that time, it was apparent we were in the wrong neighborhood and it was time to go. Plastered a smile on my face, grabbed hold of a little hand, and we scooted. On the way out, signs were everywhere from conversations to dress to cars in the lot, but I had missed everything. TL;DR We crashed a Neo-Nazi Easter egg hunt in Noxon, Montana." bluesmokeproductions Scott Olson / Getty Images Note: Some responses have been edited or length and/or clarity. Have you had a similar creepy experience while traveling through the United States? What mysterious, cult-like, or bad-vibes town have you been to? Tell us about it in the comments below or via this totally anonymous form, and maybe there will be a part two. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speaks onstage at The Archewell Foundation Parents Summit: Mental Wellness in the Digital Age during Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival 2023 at Hudson Yards on Oct. 10, 2023, in New York City. Prince Harry has admitted that he has thought about becoming a U.S. citizen, though it's not at the top of his to-do list. The Duke of Sussex shared whether he has given any thought to pursuing U.S. citizenship during a recent interview with ABC News reporter Will Reeve for Good Morning America. I have considered it, yeah, Harry told Reeve. Becoming an American citizen is a thought that has crossed my mind, he added, but is certainly not something thats a high priority for me right now. At the time of the interview, Harry was in Whistler, British Columbia, with his wife, Meghan Markle. The couple visited one of the sites of the 2025 Invictus Games, the international competition for wounded military personnel and veterans that Harry launched about 10 years ago. Related: How Prince Harry Found Out About King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis Harry told Reeve that living in the U.S. is amazing. I love every single day, he said. Despite Harrys thoughts about becoming a U.S. citizen, the duke hinted late last year that he would also like to move back to the U.K., a place he called my home. Harry and Meghan moved from their former home in the U.K. to Canada for a few months in early 2020. That summer, they moved again to the U.S., where they currently have a home they share with their two young children, Archie and Lilibet, in California. Though Harry does, for the most part, still appear to be estranged from his father, King Charles III, and older brother, Prince William, he visited the king earlier this month following the monarchs cancer diagnosis. Harry told Reeve that he jumped on a plane and went to go see [the king] as soon as I could after hearing the news. Whether or when Harry will become a U.S. citizen is unknown. For now, Harry says he has trips coming up thatll bring him back to the U.K. to visit with his father, who has already begun his cancer treatment. Ill stop in and see my family as much as I can, Harry told Reeve. Next: Katy Perry, Prince Harry and More: Celebrities Turning 40 in 2024 Oh, the power of good food and drink to set one right. Frankly, it would have been easier to travel to Italy, where I last met the people behind Husk, than to Suffolk, driving rain and standstill traffic having resulted in a seven-hour haul from Clapham. It was pitch dark when we finally arrived, greeted by the sound of honking geese as Katy appeared with a torch and a welcoming smile. We felt better already, better still after we were ushered into our huge and lovely room and positively euphoric when, 15 minutes later, we were handed the prettiest pink cocktails. One sip and husband Andrew and I were instantly revived. The cocktails, bullace sours, perfectly set the tone at this delightful, authentic new restaurant with rooms or English agriturismo as owners Joey OHare and Katy Taylor prefer to think of it. Agritourism began in Italy in the 1960s, with farmers opening their homes up to tourists; today the concept has evolved significantly but retains an emphasis on slow living; putting in and getting back from the land around you. The bullace cordial was made from their own fruit (similar to damson), mixed with egg white from their hens, verjus from their gooseberries (instead of lemon juice) and local gin. It was delicious and entirely homemade. Owners Joey OHare and Katy Taylor think of Husk as 'English agriturismo' I first met Joey and Katy in early 2021 when we had recently been freed to travel after lockdown and were staying in Le Sirenuse in Positano and got chatting. They were living and working in London but already planning their escape to the country. Katy had helped take Lilys Kitchen organic pet food from a tiny start-up to purchase by Nestle. Joey was a Ballymaloe-trained veg-centric chef who has taken part in MasterChef: the Professionals. Last year, they bought Walnut Tree Farm near the Suffolk coast, renovated the outbuildings and created Husk, offering sell-out weekend supper clubs. This year, when they announced that they had opened six luxurious bedrooms, four in an old barn and two inside a pair of grain silos (you would never guess from the outside) I booked to stay as soon as I could. We bought the place in winter and it was only the following May that we realised it was full of many varieties of abundant fruit trees, says Joey. We knew then that we had come to the right place, she adds. Husk offers six luxurious bedrooms housed inside an old barn or grain silos Theyve since added an outdoor sauna and a natural swimming pool. The bedrooms, with attractive pictures, books and plants, furniture sourced from eBay and Facebook Marketplace, roll-top baths and roomy showers, are homes from home. Breakfast, based on the traditional Danish egg plate, is a delightful Suffolk array of homemade sourdough bread and jam, local cheese and fresh eggs, with homemade granola and compote to start. Guests can enjoy a natural swimming pool Joey and Katy, partners in life as well as business, join that tiny but growing band of places to stay that I love best: farm-to-fork English agriturismi, spearheaded by Coombeshead Farm in Devon and followed more recently by the likes of Glebe House and Kents Updown Farm. From Monday to Thursday, Joey and Katy are busy cultivating their orchard and vegetables grown (on the principles of agroforestry) in the aisles between the varied fruit trees; looking after their many hens, geese and ducks; pickling, bottling and fermenting their produce (everything from walnut molasses and Mirabelle jam to apple butter, damson vodka and unripe plums that, steeped in brine, they have discovered look and taste like olives. Fruits and vegetables are grown in the farm's orchard On Fridays and Saturdays, Katy serves Joeys mainly vegetarian five-course seasonal menu around a marvellous curvy table carved by Joeys brother from a fallen oak tree and pairs each dish with well-chosen organic wines (both women took wine diplomas during the pandemic). How does Katy decide where Supper Club guests, often strangers to one another, should sit? I put surnames in alphabetical order; it works every time. Heralded by that zingy cocktail, the dishes on the winter menu were just as enjoyable, starting with a sensational caramelised Jerusalem artichoke soup with Baron Bigod rarebit and ending, by way of pheasant chou farci and refreshing apple sorbet, with cobnut tart accompanied by quince curd. Plus a damson negroni for me and a blackberry Old Fashioned for Andrew with our coffee. On Fridays and Saturdays, supper club guests can enjoy a mainly vegetarian five-course seasonal menu Among our fellow guests: a chap who had kayaked around Greenland, a writer specialising in the local fishing industry; and the owners of the magical outdoor Thorington Theatre just along the lane, picnics for which can be provided by Husk. I had a hunch about these two; I reckon I was right. Essentials Doubles at Husk (07733 262797; huskthorington.co.uk) from 260 per night, including breakfast 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. Shopping for our family of seven is no small task. Not only do we have different needs (school lunches, after-school snacks, snacks for sports, dinners on-the-go for sports, protein drinks for a mom trying valiantly to meet her daily protein goal, etc.), but the sheer volume of food that we need even for just a week necessitates heavy planning and organization. And part of that planning means relying heavily on our freezer. From stashing treats like Trader Joes frozen chocolate croissants to holding standbys like breaded chicken chunks and huge bags of frozen broccoli, the freezer helps us keep backup food items on hand for those days when cooking feels like too much. But we also count on the freezer to help us prolong the life of food that would otherwise go bad, store food that weve made ahead, and keep items that make cooking easier (like frozen chicken stock, pre-shredded chicken, or pre-portioned tomato paste). In short, theres a lot going on in our freezer, and organization is key to keeping it all accessible and useful. Unfortunately, too often we throw things in the freezer when we get back from Costco or when that extra casserole has cooled down, and optimal organization takes a back seat. The best way to remedy that, Ive found, is to set up organizational systems during a dedicated in-between time that is, to not try to improvise organization while Im cooking or unpacking from a trip to the store. Thats when it can feel most like an unsolvable game of Tetris. My freezer had, once again, gotten out of hand, with things tossed in there every which way. To really get a handle on it, I reached out to professional organizer Rachel Rosenthal of Rachel & Company, an organizing firm in Washington, D.C,. that has served over 8,000 clients. I sent her photos of the state of my freezer, and heres what she said to do plus, her best tips for getting any freezer in shape. 1. Pull everything out and categorize. Rosenthals first tip was to take everything out of the freezer. (I took this opportunity to clean it while it was empty!). Next, she suggested grouping items into categories so I can see everything I have and avoid making unnecessary purchases. This, of course, saves money, but also saves storage space in the freezer and therefore time digging through it when Im trying to find something. I like using Post-It Super Sticky Notes to easily create categories and see all my freezer items on the kitchen counter, Rosenthal says. For example, I would group all dinner and breakfast items together. This kind of grouping was a new thought to me. Usually, I group by food type rather than by meal. Im excited to give it a try! She also specifically suggested that I bring the tortellini down to the second drawer. Post-it Super Sticky Notes $6.29 (was $11.79) at Amazon 2. Decant and debulk. Once all the food is categorized, consider decanting some of the larger packed items (e.g., broccoli, wings, chicken) into smaller bags or containers so theyre portioned out, Rosenthal suggests, noting this will save time when it comes to meal planning. I love this idea! Although Im a big fan of decanting where it makes sense in the pantry, Ive never thought to do it in my freezer. She went on to suggest freezing sauces or other liquids using separate flat bags to maximize space. She shares two of her favorite options for decanting and freezing: these food storage containers and freezer-safe bags. Rubbermaid Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 $24.98 (was $29.99) at Amazon 3. Measure and add storage bins. Before placing items back in the freezer, measure both compartments and look for bins or containers to fit, Rosenthal says. She specifies that its best to organize items in the bottom door vertically, if possible, and suggests The Container Stores multipurpose bins and a magazine holder from Amazon as two great options. For the upper drawer, Rosenthal recommends smaller bins that allow you to see everything clearly and avoid food falling to the bottom never to be seen again. Sounds good to me! YouCopia FreezeUp 15-Inch Freezer Bin $29.99 at Amazon 4. Take inventory. In this next tip, Rosenthal addresses a common problem Ive always had. Many of us overbuy freezer food, thinking it will last forever. (Spoiler alert: It wont!). But if you buy too much, you cant see what you have before it gets too old, and you overfill your freezer space. To address the problem, Rosenthal suggests keeping an inventory of what you have. It doesnt need to be complicated, she emphasizes. Im a big fan of using sticky notes to organize and keep track of things. Writing it down on a piece of paper or a Post-It Super Sticky Note will save you time, money, and stress. Credit: Shifrah Combiths Credit: Shifrah Combiths I took Rosenthals tips and put them into action in my own freezer. Some of our larger Costco bags of broccoli and cauliflower rice are already pre-portioned in smaller bags within the large bags, so I left those as-is. I also didnt feel that I had enough smaller items in the upper drawer to warrant new containers at least not right now. I did, however, use one of my favorite organizing hacks: I put a lidless food storage container to good use by stashing loose Popsicles in one. I also loved categorizing items by meal type and making sure to put everything in place vertically so that we can see everything while simultaneously maximizing freezer space. What surprised me the most, though, was how quickly I was able to put my disheveled freezer in tip-top shape (even cleaning it!). I overhauled the entire thing in about 25 minutes, which just goes to show how much of an impact it makes to have a step-by-step plan for how to get these ofte-overwhelming tasks checked off the list. Which tip do you find the most helpful? Let us know in the comments below! If you thought you were correctly eating Airheads candy your entire life, think again. For those of us candy lovers who have been ripping open the package and taking a bite, we've been missing out on an entirely new experience. In May 2023, Tiktok creator Jordan Howlett, aka jordan_the_stallion8, discovered a trend involving shaking an Airhead to reduce it to a small cube. Apparently, if this is done with the white mystery flavor, shaking it changes the flavor. After seeing a 2021 restitched video from another creator, Howlett tried the trend and confirmed, "The flavor tastes different." His original video garnered about one dozen comments, but after Airheads stitched the video, his views skyrocketed. The stitched video garnered over 12 million views and 17,000 comments from people who tried the trend themselves or wanted to. One issue people faced was the time it took to shake the candy to the bottom of the wrapper. Howlett spent over a minute shaking the candy to shrink it down. Between the effort to shake and the popularity of the challenge, Airheads jumped in on the fun by opening the official Airheads Shake Factory. The one-day-only shake factory took place at the famous Muscle Beach Gym in Venice, California, on June 21, 2023. Attendees were encouraged to try the shaken vs. unshaken varieties to determine if they tasted a difference. Read more: The Most Useless Cooking Utensils, According To Chefs The Trend Is Still Blowing People's Minds Airheads shake factory - Perfetti Van Melle / Airheads Luckily for those who attended the one-day Shake Factory gym, there were professional shakers, aka bodybuilders, on-site to do the hard work of shaking the candy. Attendees who wanted an arm workout could also compete in a 60-second shakedown competition. Those who shook their candies into the tiniest cubes in the specified timeframe were eligible for prizes. Airheads used Howlett's stitched video to officially start the #AirheadsChallenge on social media, so even if you couldn't attend the in-person, you could still feel included. Even though the event has passed, people can still upload videos of themselves shaking their favorite Airheads. Some people have known about this trend for several years, but others are still in complete shock. The comments on the TikTok video ranged from "I've been doing this since I was a kid" to "My mind is blown." One person questioned if this trend is why the candy is called Airheads because you are shaking air into the candy. While Airheads cannot confirm or deny whether the taste of mystery white flavor changes when shaken, it hasn't stopped fans from trying and giving their input. One woman shared, "I swear one tasted like peach lemonade and the other was like fruit punch." If you're going to try the trend at home, be prepared for some potential pain. Several people complained that their knuckles hurt after shaking, but it's a small price to pay for a unique candy experience. Read the original article on Mashed. The next time you want to take a snow day, just call in Al Roker. When a snow storm hit New York City on February 13, the Today show weatherman had a lot to say about it on the air though not in the context you might think! Al sat alongside co-hosts Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones to discuss the fact that New York City schools mandated remote learning for the day. Dylan mentioned that her husband, Brian Fichera, was texting her for help getting their sons set up, and that the Department of Education sent an email about technical difficulties with Zoom. Al truly could not get behind the decision to have students partake in online learning when they could be playing outside in the snow. The Today star launched into a surprisingly passionate plea to let kids (and teachers) enjoy the winter weather. "Of course, here in New York City, they didn't cancel school," he lamented while on the air. "It's remote, and the Department of Education's having all kinds of IT problems. Just give them the day off, people!" Al said, emphasizing the last part with hand claps during each word. Begging for students and parents to be let off the hook, he reiterated what they should be doing instead. "Give them a day off! Let them go out to the Central Park. Come on!" Today shared the clip on social media, encouraging viewers to weigh in. As one former Today reporter affectionately pointed out on Instagram, this was "a real Al stirring his drink moment." The post certainly sparked conversation, though most people were strongly on Al's side, posting comments such as "ROKER FOR PRESIDENT!!!" and "Im a teacher, and I approve this message." "Thanks so much, Al! I agree 100%," one person wrote on TikTok. "You tell them, Al!" another agreed. "Preach Al! Just let them have a day of fun in the snow!!! ," a different follower added. Naturally, there were some folks who disagreed. One commenter pointed out the potential reason why New York City schools weren't closed for the day. "Our kids are virtual learning from 9-12. If we take it as a day off, we have to give up a day off. Would rather do virtual," they wrote. "As a teacher, I prefer remote learning for the day because then we do not have to add it to the end of the school year!" another educator noted on Instagram. "Lucky! Before these remote days we had snow days built into the calendar in NYC and if you didnt use the snow days you just got extra days of learning," a third person replied. Regardless of if you think Al is right or wrong, it's still pretty great to see another side of him on air. You Might Also Like Fly With Me tells the story of the pioneering young women who became flight attendants at a time when single women were unable to order a drink, eat alone in a restaurant, own a credit card or get a prescription for birth control. Becoming a stewardess, as they were called, offered unheard-of opportunities for travel, glamour, adventure, and independence. Although often maligned as feminist sellouts, these women were on the frontlines of the battle to assert gender equality and transform the workplace. Featuring firsthand accounts, personal stories and a rich archival record, the film tells the lively and important but neglected history of the women who changed the world while flying it. Stewardesses were on the front lines of the womens rights movement. Find out more Tuesday on WGCU PBS. A cabin attendant was considered a mans job at the dawn of the commercial airline industry. But by the 1950s, as planes became safer and more reliable, stewardesses became a critical selling point for airlines fighting for market share in a heavily regulated industry. At a time when single, middle-class women were expected to marry and raise a family, becoming a stewardess offered remarkable opportunities. The job required glamour, intelligence, independence and grit. But there were downsides. The airlines required every stewardess to be young, single and attractive, which, in 1950s America, meant white. Pat Banks, who failed to land even one interview after successfully completing a stewardess training program in 1956, filed a complaint with the New York State Commission on Discrimination. After four years, she won and was hired by Capital Airlines, making her one of the first Black flight attendants in the U.S. The airlines didnt discriminate solely on the basis of race. Stewardesses could not be married and were forced to retire as early as age 32. Weight and height guidelines were strictly enforced; women could not wear eyeglasses and had to share hotel rooms, unlike their male counterparts. Barbara Dusty Roads decided to fight back. She joined her labor union, lobbied Congress and strategically courted media attention. But without a federal law prohibiting workplace discrimination, it was an uphill battle. Then on July 2, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. Designed to address race-based inequalities in American life, the law also included a clause offering worker protections against gender discrimination. On the day the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, set up to enforce the new anti-discrimination laws, opened, Dusty Roads and her best friend, Jean Montague, filed a complaint against the airlines age limit. Within a year of the EEOCs opening, nearly 100 cases citing gender discrimination had been submitted by flight attendants. But the commission made few rulings, fueling concerns that gender complaints were not being taken seriously by the mostly male EEOC leadership. Frustrated in part by the commissions inaction and a society-wide lack of progress in the fight for equal rights, activists formed the National Organization for Women. The organization demonstrated, filed lawsuits and pressured the EEOC to act. Just as stewardesses were gaining momentum in their fight for workplace rights, airlines transformed their ad campaigns. Once marketed as glamourous hostesses in the sky, now they were being presented as sex objects. At the same time, as the Vietnam War intensified, stewardesses often found themselves on the frontlines, flying in and out of Saigon to shuttle troops back and forth. You're being marketed, basically, as a Barbie doll, and yet doing more and more complex work, historian Phil Tiemeyer explains. There's a fundamental incompatibility between these two things. In 1972, a group of flight attendants founded Stewardesses for Womens Rights. Journalist and trailblazing feminist Gloria Steinem actively promoted their cause, recognizing the vital role these high-profile working women could play in the burgeoning womens movement. When stewardess Mary Pat Laffey fought to become the first female purser at Northwest Airlines, the company cut her salary, paying her less than her male counterparts. Laffey filed a class action lawsuit in 1970. By the time the case went to trial, 70% of Northwest Airlines stewardesses had become part of the lawsuit. In 1974, the judge ruled in favor of Laffey and the stewardesses, awarding them a large payout for back salary with interest and reimbursement for the difference in room rent stewardesses had been required to double up in hotel rooms while stewards had single rooms. The decision also struck down rules against wearing glasses and weight limitations, which targeted only women. Northwest appealed. It took another 11 years before the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ruling in favor of the women, who were awarded $60 million in the case. Women were finally allowed to have the same benefits that the men had, explains Laffey. If you were capable, you could have a man's job. Fly With Me premieres Tuesday at 9 p.m. on WGCU PBS, at PBS.org and the PBS app. More What's New at WGCU: Gospel examines the history and present of Black religious music And Photos: Pictures in Paradise, Feb, 11, 2024 This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Whats New at WGCU: Stewardesses changed the world while flying it Women wearing Chinese costumes are pictured in a street in Valletta, Malta, Feb. 17, 2024. In Valletta, the capital city of Malta, a group of ladies wearing colorful Chinese costumes - known as Hanfu, proceed gracefully along historic streets on Saturday afternoon, attracting both Maltese residents and tourists from around the world. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) VALLETTA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- In Valletta, the capital city of Malta, a group of ladies wearing colorful Chinese costumes - known as Hanfu, proceed gracefully along historic streets on Saturday afternoon, attracting both Maltese residents and tourists from around the world. The captivating Hanfu show organized by the China Cultural Center in Malta was performed by 23 female volunteers from China, Malta, and Italy. They held Chinese-style fans and lanterns in their hands and walked along Republic Street, a main street in Valletta, as part of the event to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. "I love their colors of Hanfu, and the jewelry and hairstyles are also very intricate," said Noemi Calisto, an Italian student at the University of Malta. Some of her classmates were voluntary performers in the Hanfu show, so she took many photos of them. Momo Muller and his wife Rita, a couple from Luxembourg, were enthralled by the beauty of the Hanfu costumes. Muller told Xinhua that he visited Beijing about 15 years ago and is looking forward to revisiting China. Alexander Ouaknine, a 53-year-old owner of a traditional Maltese silver jewelry shop, told Xinhua that the handmade jewelry with silver wire and the beautiful Chinese traditional outfits are both "a wonderful form of art." Among the enthusiastic volunteers of the Hanfu show, Charmaine Zammit is an official from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation. "I have always been interested in Chinese culture and I always longed to wear Chinese traditional costume," she said. For Martina Vella, a 21-year-old student at the University of Malta, and her friends, it was their first time wearing Hanfu. Studying design, Vella told Xinhua that she would consider incorporating Chinese traditional elements into her future works. Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, highlighted the warm applause received by the Hanfu show. "The event showcases the charm of Chinese culture and the significance of cultural exchange between China and the West," she said. Following the Hanfu show, the China Cultural Center invited people to try Hanfu, practice calligraphy, and make lanterns to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. On Saturday night, the Chinese Community Association in Malta hosted a gala to celebrate the Spring Festival in the gym of St. Aloysius College in central Malta, featuring singing, dance, and music performances. Addressing about 300 attendees at the gala, Peng Yijun, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Malta, commended the active role of the Chinese Community Association in promoting traditional Chinese culture and enhancing China-Malta friendship. Women wearing Chinese costumes are pictured in a street in Valletta, Malta, Feb. 17, 2024. In Valletta, the capital city of Malta, a group of ladies wearing colorful Chinese costumes - known as Hanfu, proceed gracefully along historic streets on Saturday afternoon, attracting both Maltese residents and tourists from around the world. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) Women wearing Chinese costumes are pictured in a street in Valletta, Malta, Feb. 17, 2024. In Valletta, the capital city of Malta, a group of ladies wearing colorful Chinese costumes - known as Hanfu, proceed gracefully along historic streets on Saturday afternoon, attracting both Maltese residents and tourists from around the world. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) Whether it's a classic French bearnaise or a house-made chili paste, the perfect sauce can often be what adds just the right allure to a dish. And while sauces are time-tested, pervasive favorites, we may be seeing more and more of them these days, according to Maxime Bouttier, chef-owner of Paris' Geosmine, due to rising trends in highlighting an ingredient in all its simplicity. In this case, he says, "What brings the products together is the sauce." But it's not uncommon to find that despite attempting to make such sauces at home, they taste better at a restaurant. And this doesn't have to be the case! For Benjamin Ferra y Castell, head chef of Pavyllon London, which recently earned its first Michelin star, it's largely a question of exposing yourself to the right techniques, for example via online tutorials. Allison Zinder, gastronomy educator and founder of Food & Culture of France immersive trips, notes that a hands-on class could be even more useful, "preferably one that is over a few sessions so you can practice sauces in between," she says. You could also rely on cookbooks she recommends "The Saucier's Apprentice" by Raymond Sokolov, Shirley Corriher's "Cookwise", or Julia Child's classic "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". "If after all that you are still unsuccessful," says Zinder, "take up knitting instead of cooking." Jokes aside, our experts were happy to offer their sauciest secrets to help home cooks master the art of the sauce. Read more: 15 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Eggs Restaurant Chefs Have Mastered The French Mother Sauces the five mother sauces - Usaf Jaffari/Shutterstock It's no accident that in France, the saucier or sauce-maker has long been seen as one of the highest-ranking members of the kitchen team, also known as the brigade. This almost military structure, now familiar to fans of The Bear, was originally the brainchild of 19th-century French Chef Georges Auguste Escoffier, who also developed the notion of the five French mother sauces: bechamel, veloute, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. Mastering these five sauces is a must, according to Allison Zinder. "Literally the first sauces or really anything a culinary student in France learns to make are bechamel and veloute," she says. The reason why is evident for anyone who thinks a bit about their nickname: These sauces are "mothers" of multiple variants about 60, according to Zinder. A bechamel into which one has melted a hefty helping of grated cheese becomes a mornay; a veloute sauce can be seasoned with mushrooms, cream, and white wine to become a sauce normande. And that's just the beginning. From a hollandaise, for example, it's just a stone's throw to an herbaceous bearnaise, and then to a choron, which sees the former jazzed up with tomato. Benjamin Ferra y Castell recommends having fun discovering new flavors once you've mastered these bases to see what other sauces you can come up with. Restaurant Chefs Know How To Balance Flavors chef tasting tomato sauce - Diego_cervo/Getty Images Humans have the ability to taste somewhere between four and six basic tastes, depending on who you ask. To the quartet of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, umami savoriness was generally embraced beginning in the 1980s, and more recently, scientists zeroed in on ammonium chloride, the metallic flavor found in salt licorice. Ayurveda, meanwhile, distinguishes the six basic tastes as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. The key to a good sauce is allowing these flavors to coexist in harmony, "A good sauce should be balanced, no matter what kind of sauce it is," says Allison Zinder. "But some are more desirable when they're acidic, like sauces for fish, and some are built to be sweeter, like a gastrique for duck a l'orange." It also bears mentioning that an imbalance in some flavors is easier to correct than others. While an overly salty sauce can be balanced with the addition of acidity, sweetness, or fat, an overly acidic sauce, Zinder says, is tougher. "If a sauce is too acidic, you can always add cream or butter, but that's not always possible, with tomato sauce for example," she says, noting she often adds a carrot and onions to counterbalance the acidity. "Tomato sauce is a real balancing act and a good test of a chef's skills and palate." Restaurant Chefs Aren't Afraid Of Fat cubed butter in bowl - Erhan Inga/Shutterstock Fat is flavor and restaurant chefs often use far more than you'd think. "When a French recipe indicates une noix de beurre it usually means (for non-professionals) about a tablespoon of butter," says Allison Zinder. "But in professional kitchens? About twice that amount." Even at home, she says, her pan sauces are almost always finished by being mounted by tiny cubes of very cold butter to give them a lovely richness. "Mounting a sauce with butter give you a lot of bang for your buck precisely because the butter is emulsified in the sauce." But fat isn't just a question of quantity, according to Benjamin Ferra y Castel, who notes that good-quality butter will always render a better sauce. And just as important as the quality of the fat is when you add it. Maxime Bouttier notes that it's best to keep sauces as lean as possible while you're making them, skimming the fat from the surface of a stock, for example, to remove any impurities in the base product. This, he says, is easily done by chilling it overnight to solidify the fat into a layer that can easily be removed. The sauce can then be finished with fat, as Zinder does, to add that final luxurious richness. And Chef Jason Gouzy of Michelin-starred Pantagruel in Paris notes that in some cases, too much fat can actually make dishes fall flat, with a condensed, rich jus being the more apt choice. Restaurant Chefs Season Generously But Prudently chef seasoning with salt - Skynesher/Getty Images Much has been made of chefs' tendency to use not just more fat, but more salt than most home cooks. In his book "Cooked," Michael Pollan shared that pro chefs told him to use three or even five times as much as he thought he needed when preparing a piece of meat to be grilled. Shocking? Sure. But this also isn't the whole truth, especially when it comes to sauces, according to Maxime Bouttier. "Sauces generally need to be reduced," he explains. "So you won't need to add any salt." Indeed, salting an already seasoned sauce before reducing it could lead the final sauce to be way too salty, even for a chef. And salt isn't the only thing that home cooks can gauge incorrectly. The balance of acidity is essential, but adding acid to a cream-based sauce may cause it to split, which is why many cream-based sauces call for adding acids early, to warm them through before adding the cream, or slowly, so the sauce doesn't curdle. Restaurant Chefs Know The Science Behind Emulsification eggs benedict with hollandaise - Gmvozd/Getty Images From simple homemade vinaigrette to a more complex hollandaise, many sauces get their lovely texture through emulsification, a process whereby fat and water frequent foes are forced to combine by suspending small droplets of the former in the latter, often relying on ingredients like eggs and mustard as stabilizers. While occasionally finicky, according to Benjamin Ferra y Castel, the process "isn't difficult to master, if you theoretically understand emulsions." Maxime Bouttier agrees. "In culinary school, we study the molecular molar mass to understand these phenomena and master sauce making," he says. Of course, understanding the theory is just part of the problem, according to Jason Gouzy, who notes that sabayons, which are hot emulsifications with an egg yolk base, require precision and mastery of the heat source to get just right. "They're definitely fussier and more difficult to make than the others," says Allison Zinder of emulsion-based sauces. "You must develop both muscle memory and intuition, and those can only come from making these sauces over and over and over again, until you're blue in the face and no one in your household wants to eat homemade mayonnaise or hollandaise anymore! You may even risk being ostracized by friends. Or you just go work in a professional kitchen for a year or two." That said, she notes that these sauces may well be the most useful to master, perfect for crafting your own egg mayo or the perfect steak sauce. Restaurant Chefs Know That Often, A Good Sauce Takes Time homemade stock - Ahanov Michael/Shutterstock Some sauces, Jason Gouzy explains, are quick to make: What's easier than a vinaigrette stirred together at the very last minute? But other sauces require a bit more time, such as stocks, which Maxime Bouttier says are often the "skeleton" of a sauce. Less technical perhaps than emulsions, stocks are difficult for home cooks to get a handle on due to the sheer time they require. "The quality of a sauce really comes down to the time and care you bring to it," Bouttier says, noting that veal stock may need to be cooked for six hours or more to bring out its fullest flavor. But there are a few tips home cooks can use to make this process easier. Gouzy suggests roasting any poultry carcasses to add even more flavor and relying on a pressure cooker to make stocks more quickly. And Allison Zinder notes that not all stocks require the same low-and-slow cooking time. Fish stock, she says, is quick by definition; cooking it any longer than 20 to 30 minutes, she says, will turn it bitter. Veggie stock, too, comes together in nearly no time. "After about an hour, the vegetables have given up all their flavor so more cooking is overkill." And the investment will surely pay off. Once you've made a big batch of stock, she recommends reducing it and freezing it in ice cube trays, so you always have some when you need it. Restaurant Chefs Take Advantage Of What They Have vegetable scraps - Svetikd/Getty Images Sauces don't always require a trip to the grocery store. On the contrary, many great sauces and stocks take full advantage of what's on hand, be it chicken bones or veggie trimmings. You can take advantage of this chef trick at home by keeping your trimmings carrot peelings, leek greens, and more in a freezer bag. When you have enough, buy some chicken wings to make a rich, flavorful stock. This waste-not-want-not mindset, Maxime Bouttier says, is at the core of his entire mentality at Geosmine. "We don't buy anything just for sauces," he says, noting he takes advantage of not just veggie scraps but offal and fish heads to make his sauces, which thus vary day by day. And potential food waste isn't the only way sauces can change depending on what you've got to hand, according to Allison Zinder. "In the fall, I was down in Gascony and picked up a particularly good bottle of Armagnac," she says, "so my sauces for the last three or four months have often been made with that!" Getting creative with what's in your pantry is a great way to come up with new flavors for your homemade sauces. Restaurant Chefs Know Which Sauces Are Highly Technical sauce espagnole - Usaf Jaffari/Shutterstock While in a professional kitchen, anything's game, for our pros, some truly delicious sauces are just too technical to merit making at home. "I'd say that the only mother sauce and its derivatives that a home chef doesn't really need to master is the espagnole," says Allison Zinder. "While not especially fussy, it is long to make, and unless you just have beef and/or veal bones around the house, it does take a lot of advance preparation for not a lot of return on investment in terms of time for home cooks. Even making brown veal stock takes a long time." To this, Jason Gouzy adds Grand Veneur sauce, a red wine-based sauce typically served with hare in the French classic lievre a la royale. Made with a veal jus base, which demands quite a bit of time to perfect, the sauce both emulsified and enriched with cream, all of which can make it particularly finicky. While some experienced home cooks may wish to try their hands at these sauces, many would do well to leave them to the experts. Restaurant Chefs Listen To Their Sauce restaurant chef adding sauce to a plate - Photo_concepts/Getty Images It should come as no surprise that much of the reason sauces in restaurants are so much better than the ones you make at home is that chefs have years of experience and intuition to take advantage of. To reach sauce mastery, the first step is to know which sauce to make, something that, Jason Gouzy explains, is mainly based on intuition. "The first thought you should have should be to bring out the concentrated flavors of the base element," he says. "The goal is to bring out the flavors in the dish with the sauce." "You balance sauces by listening to the ingredient," adds Benjamin Ferra y Castell. "The dish and the sauce must complement one another." Only once you have picked a sauce will you begin to apply your technical skills. But even these take time to fully inhabit. "Knowing to skim a veal stock to remove the bitterness, planning on rest time to remove the fat clarify a sauce," Maxime Bouttier says, are skills born of experience. "Even if you're following a recipe, it's above all the quality of the cook that will determine the quality of the sauce." Moreover, an experienced cook will know how to riff to transform a sauce into something really special. "Like in music," Allison Zinder says, "the possibilities are infinite once you know how to play the notes." Read the original article on Mashed. Japan's national drink is a complex and often delicate bouquet of interesting flavors that has no business being as delicious as it is. No single place in Japan can claim ownership of sake but, if we were to compile a list, the Fushimi District would be an easy contender for the top spot. Located in the southern part of Kyoto and home to almost 40 different sake breweries, Fushimi District is a sake lover's paradise. Fushimi District didn't become the world's biggest destination for sake by chance. "Fushimi" roughly translates to underground water which is a reference to the enormous underground aquifers which provide the high-quality soft water that sake breweries need to make a premium product. One of the more well-known sake breweries in the area, and one of the oldest companies in the world, is Gekkeikan. Founded in Fushimi District in 1637 by Jiemon Okura, Gekkeikan was originally known as Kasagiya. Though it wasn't the first sake brewery in town by any means. Records indicate that in 1425 nearly 350 sake breweries were operating in the region. But at the start of the Edo period in the 1600s, that number had dwindled to 83. Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have History Worth Sipping fushimi sakagura - mTaira/Shutterstock Fushimi doesn't have access to the ocean, but it is well positioned along the Horikawa River towards the center of the country. This makes transporting sake to neighboring areas possible another boon for the sake industry. But its central location has also had drawbacks. As the Meiji Restoration was picking up steam, Fushimi found itself directly across the fault line between the fading shogunate and what would become the modern Meiji government. Fushimi was the location of devastating battles which left the city in a state of serious disrepair. Gekkeikan (still known as Kasagiya at this point) was one of just two sake breweries that survived the devastation. If you ever have a chance to visit Fushimi District, the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum is a cheap way to see some of this history in person and the ticket even comes with a complimentary sake tasting. The other major sake brewery in town, Kizakura, also has a sake museum that's well worth a look. If museums aren't your thing, strolling through the streets of Fushimi is a treat all on its own. The breweries have retained their traditional wood and white plaster aesthetic, giving the area a well-deserved gravitas. Read the original article on Tasting Table. The Washington Post's Dan Balz is considered by many the dean of political reporters. Balz is 77 years old the same age as former Presidents Trump, Clinton and Bush. He says the spotlight on President Biden's age (81) is understandable, and nothing new. In 1984, when Ronald Reagan then 73 was running for reelection, he playfully used his age as an asset when debating his opponent, 56-year-old Walter Mondale: "I will not make age an issue of this campaign," Reagan said. "I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." Balz said, "I think the lesson would be that you have to confront the issue directly, and you have to find a way to diffuse it and to get people to move past it. You don't want people dwelling on it." When asked if he thinks the issue of age can dominate the discussion, while policy issues don't get the bandwidth they deserve, Balz said, "Yeah, I think that is a concern. It's easier to focus on age, I mean, because everybody kind of gets that. It's harder to get people to understand the matrix of all of the legal cases that former president [Trump] is involved in, or the choices that President Biden is having to make in his dealings with the government of Israel and dealing with war in Ukraine. "You know, it's easy to oversimplify and say, 'Well, this campaign's all about age.' Well, age is part of it, but it's not all about age," said Balz. Mr. Biden has pushed back, doing so with humor. Last April he told his audience, "I believe in the First Amendment not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it." Balz said, "He's done some extraordinary things as president. I mean, that trip to Ukraine that he took was a seriously taxing, physically taxing trip. We saw at the State of the Union last year, in spontaneous moments, him take on the Republicans over Social Security." Some media watchdogs argue President Biden's age has been over-covered, over-stated, and over-analyzed, particularly when compared to former President Trump's. "I think that one of the realities is that former President Trump makes many gaffes," said Balz. "We know that he mixed up Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi during the New Hampshire primary." Biden's allies defending his memory after special counsel reportGen. Milley addresses President Biden's age ("60 Minutes")Haley questions Trump's fitness for office after he appears to confuse her with Pelosi When asked if the talk about age on the campaign trail is really a frustration about the candidates themselves, Balz replied, "I don't know how you separate that people don't want a rematch from [2020]. Partly one of the reasons is that these are two elderly candidates. There is a sense that there is a kind of a cork in the bottle politically of an older generation, frankly of my generation." "But the Baby Boom generation doesn't seem to be going anywhere," said Costa. "Well, it is going somewhere, slowly!" Balz laughed. Generational tension is hardly limited to the White House: since 2017, we've had the oldest Congress in history. With the Silent Generation (those born 1928-45), and Baby Boomers (1946-64) still ensconced in power, Gen X (1965-80), Millennials (1981-96) and those younger are vying for more seats. / Credit: CBS News California Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs is one of the five youngest members of Congress. "I just turned 35, so I think about this a lot," she said. "Because in my normal life I am starting to feel quite old. Then I get to Congress, and I feel young again!" She's pushing the average age of House members down a notch, and pushing the concerns of young voters to the forefront. Costa asked, "So often young people, let's say those under 40, get painted with a broad brush, [that] they don't care about politics. Do you buy that?" "No. That's total bulls***," Jacobs replied. "I was in middle school when September 11th happened. And I haven't known a day in my adult life the United States has not been at war. The financial crisis happened right as I was graduating from college. As soon as Millennials were hitting their stride, we had a global pandemic. Gen Z has known nothing but school shootings and active shooter drills, a climate crisis that isn't being addressed with the urgency that it deserves." Jacobs has championed privacy legislation for reproductive health data, such as menstrual cycle tracking apps. The concern: safeguarding information that could be used to prosecute those suspected of having an abortion in states where the procedure is banned. Asked what it's like to talk to an older, male member of Congress about a period-tracking app, Jacobs said, "I've definitely had my fair share of making my colleagues a little bit uncomfortable. The fact of the matter is, if we aren't talking about these issues, we certainly aren't making good policy about them." Policy for the people, by the people. It's a challenge for the ages. For more info: Dan Balz, The Washington PostRep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) Story produced by Ed Forgotson. Editor: Ed Givnish. See also: Redefining old age The authentic Ashley McBryde Crawfish shortage impacts Louisiana's economy Yassine Daoud remembers when he first eyed the flyer at the refugee camp in Lebanon where he grew up. It was for a scholarship to study in the United States. He was a nosy and curious kid, memorizing every license plate he saw in town for fun, and he was a voracious reader. He wanted to apply, but the deadline was the next morning. That didnt deter Daoud. He immediately enlisted the help of his teacher, who worked at a school supported by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The schools administrator kept it open after hours so Daoud could gather his transcript for his application. Together, they worked late into the night under a kerosene lamp and met Daouds deadline. Thirty-five years later, Daoud is the chair of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center in Maryland, thanks to the education and the support he received from UNRWA. UNRWA was created by a U.N. General Assembly resolution in 1949 after Israels founding and after what Palestinians call the Nakba, the Arabic word for catastrophe, when 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly driven from their homes. The agencys goal was to provide direct relief and aid to Palestines refugees. When UNRWA began operations in 1950, it catered to nearly 750,000 Palestinian refugees. Today it serves nearly 6 million, in Gaza, the West Bank and neighboring Arab states. In Gaza, UNRWAs services are in dire need, with almost the entire population relying on the aid group for basic necessities, including food, water, and hygiene supplies. Daoud credits UNRWA for the education he received. Despite the fact that we were very poor and destitute and refugees, our educational level as Palestinians was one of the highest in the Middle East and actually in the world, he said. A view of destruction on Feb. 11 at UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City. The U.N. agency provides aid to millions of Palestinians. A view of destruction on Feb. 11 at UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City. The U.N. agency provides aid to millions of Palestinians. The fate of UNRWA has been hanging by a thread since last month, when Israeli officials alleged that 12 of the agencys 13,000-member staff took part in Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people. On Friday, Israel released more details about those employees, including their names, photos and alleged ties to Hamas. The backlash to Israels report was swift. Sixteen countries suspended their funding to the nonprofit organization, including Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland as well as the U.S., one of its top funders. On Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill that includes language to end all U.S. support for UNRWA entirely, though that bill is unlikely to become law. The U.N. agency said that it would run out of funding by the end of February if countries did not resume donations and that millions of people would be at risk of losing access to essential aid. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed a panel to review the allegations against UNRWA. While some media reports have cast doubt on some Israeli claims the U.K.s Channel 4 News even reported that Israel provided no evidence that UNRWA staff participated in the Oct. 7 attacks the Biden administration said it would not resume donations until the investigation is complete. A second U.N. investigation into Israels allegations against the UNRWA is ongoing. And the European Commission the third-biggest donor to UNRWA after the United States and Germany has demanded a separate audit. But those investigations could take weeks, if not months, and many Palestinians say time is working against them. Refugees like Daoud say theywouldnt have made it out of such debilitating and arduous conditions if it wasnt for the support of UNRWA. Daoud grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Baalbek, Lebanon, northeast of the capital. His home was composed of one room, where he resided with his parents and 9 siblings. It was their bedroom, kitchen, dining and living room. Their livelihood depended on the aid provided by UNRWA, which included food and water rations, and they attended the UNRWA schools. There, Daoud excelled and he received a scholarship to study at United World College-USA in New Mexico. After graduating, he went on to complete his education at Amherst College on a full scholarship. In 2005, he received his medical degree from Harvard, then completed a three-year residency at Duke University Eye Center, followed by a medical internship at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. To date, Daoud said he performed over 10,000 surgeries. Without that scholarship, I wouldnt know where I would be, said Daoud. The patients who received his care, he argued, also benefitted from the groundwork that UNRWA was doing in my refugee camp to enable me to be the person who I am. Palestinians line up on Feb. 9 for relief food supplies in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said Israel has rejected half of the aid requests it has submitted for northern Gaza. Palestinians line up on Feb. 9 for relief food supplies in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said Israel has rejected half of the aid requests it has submitted for northern Gaza. Palestinian American physician, translator, and award-winning poet Fady Joudah, says UNRWA doesnt only provide a critical lifeline for Palestinians survival but is a key organization in upholding Palestinian culture. Joudahs parents were able to receive an education through UNRWA during their time in Gaza. His father went on to become a UNRWA teaching assistant in the early 1950s and generated an income to provide for his family. He went on to study in Egypt and then immigrated to the U.S., where he worked on his masters and doctorate degrees. Joudah was born there in 1971. Joudahs mother and her six siblings all received health care from UNRWA. UNRWA contributed to the general sense of Palestinian society through education and health care, to kind of begin to envision a future for the future generations, said Joudah, who now lives in Houston, Texas. Joudah, whose poems focus on the complexity of Palestinian identity, said the loss of UNRWA as an organization would be a loss for Palestinian roots and traditions. The shutting down or destroying of UNRWA is really about cultural genocide, he said. UNRWA is not a perfect body, but it has provided an avenue and a window for [people in] Palestinian society to empower themselves. It was one of the avenues to create Palestinian culture, through self-empowerment and self-sufficiency with jobs, education, and health care. Since Israel began bombing Gaza after the Hamas attacks, more than 150 UNRWA staff members have been killed. Nearly 45% of the general population hassought shelter in UNRWA schools, clinics, and other public buildings. Israel has tried to dismantle the agency for years, arguing it fosters anti-Israel sentiment. UNRWA has long disputed those claims. Earlier this month, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that Israeli allegations needed to be vetted, given the countrys longstanding desires to see it ended. 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, said Borell. Nobody else can do what UNRWA is doing, he added. UNRWA has also faced other controversies in the past. In 2019, the head of the agency resigned over allegations of abuses of power. In 2014, the head of the United Nations expressed alarm after rockets were found at a vacant UNRWA school and later went missing. Earlier this week, Israels military alleged that it located Hamas tunnels partly under the UNRWAs headquarters, which the organization evacuated at the start of the war. The aid groups commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, said on X (formerly Twitter) that they were not aware of any activity that may have taken place at their headquarters since staff evacuated the premises following the Israeli evacuation orders last October. Daoud said the importance of UNRWAs work stems beyond saving civilians in Gaza, to a lifelong solution for peace for the Palestinian population as a whole. Hunger may not kill people, but ignorance can. Therefore educating the population and educating the students and enabling them to explore the world and to give them these opportunities is what keeps the population afloat, said Daoud. If you dont do that, the destitution be more and the violence will be more, and then no one benefits from that. Its a safety net. If anything, UNRWA needs help, it does not need to be cut off. Related... Elie Wiesel was not just a Nobel Prize laureate. He was also a Holocaust survivor who believed that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Wiesel dedicated his life to shine a light on the genocide committed by the Nazis. This is why it was unfortunate that three top leaders and scholars from Harvard, MIT and Penn struggled to speak in simple language that the genocide of Jews, the genocide of Palestinians, the genocide in Rwanda, any genocide, anywhere, should be absolutely condemned. The elite university leaders should also have emphasized that students from all ethnicities, faiths and creeds deserve to be protected on college campuses. Those who demanded the ouster of Harvards and Penns presidents are perhaps ignorant that eugenics, xenophobia and antisemitism were behind the United States reluctance to save Jewish people from the Holocaust. Perhaps such a benefit of the doubt is appropriate for now. Lets bury the hatchet of past Americas indifference in the soils of progress toward a more loving world. Now congressional leaders must move beyond the Ivies to call for all other forms of hate, even hate for Black and Brown Americans, to be interred in the grave of never-again-in-America. Congressional leaders must also vocalize that anyone vying to be president of the United States must not engage in hate or promote hateful actions. Congress must also declare that racism is as tenacious as the silica in the bedrock of the American idea. Because of racism, the well-being of Black people has been of lesser priority since they were brought to the New World by force in 1619. Congress must go further in its anti-hate advocacy. Anyone who denies that slavery was the reason the Civil War was fought is not fit to be president of the United States. Retelling the history of the Civil War from the distorted lens of states rights is not just disingenuous. It is white supremacist. To add salt to the wound of anti-Black racism, the United States "rewarded" Confederate states in 1877 with the compromise that removed federal oversight in the South, thus allowing super-racist Jim Crow laws to destroy any hope of equality in the South. The collapse of Reconstruction because of the Compromise decapitated possibilities for freed enslaved Africans to integrate fully into American society. Adding vinegar to the wound of anti-Black racism, the Confederates erected monuments to memorialize their imposed supremacy over Black people. Yet Confederate monuments and symbols did not mushroom just in Southern states. The Confederate flag still flies in the face of Black Americans today not just in former Confederate states, but also in border states and Union states. And adding ghost pepper to the wound of anti-Black racism, the Confederate flag was flown by rioters in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. The sign at the main gate was unveiled during the installation redesignation ceremony at Fort Cavazos in Killeen on Tuesday May 9, 2023. During the event, Fort Hood, the Army's largest armored, active-duty military installation, was renamed Fort Cavazos in honor of native Texan Richard E. Cavazos, the country's first Hispanic four-star general and hero of the Korean and Vietnam wars. Fort Hood was named after John Bell Hood, a high-ranking Confederate officer in Texas during the Civil War. It is one of nine military establishments being renamed based on recommendations by the Naming Committee, a commission created by Congress within the Defense Department, to remove the names, symbols and displays that honor or commemorate the Confederacy. There are 2,600 Confederate symbols in the United States, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization advocating for racial justice in the South and across the United States. A more insidious reality is that the number of Confederate monuments positively correlates with the number of lynchings. Yet the symbols of hate are not limited just to national monuments or museums; they are also displayed on Americas predominantly white college campuses. More than 200 schools ranging from elementary to high schools named after Confederate leaders were identified by The Equal Justice Initiative in 2020. The statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee stood tall outside the Courthouse of Murray, Kentucky, where one of the predominantly white universities I attended is located. Yet progress for the removal of the symbols of hate is snail slow. Take North Carolina as an example. Seven Confederate symbols have been removed, but 173 remain. The reason for the sluggish removal of Confederate symbols is public resistance. Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee have signed laws to prevent the removal of Confederate symbols, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. A Congress that declares antisemitism has no place in America, must now also declare that hate symbols erected to immortalize insurrectionists who believed that enslaving Black people for their labor was worth dying for must be eradicated. Follow the path of West Point and remove all Confederate symbols from campuses across the United States. Rename all the schools with names of Confederate leaders. Failure to act with the same zeal to amend the evils of slavery leaves Congress and the deep pocketers who demanded that Harvards first Black president resign nothing but hypocrites. Yet the belief that all humans are created equal cannot be enforced by legislative interventions alone. Making American colleges safe for all students is more than increasing student diversity, training campus police to refrain from racial profiling, freeing campuses of racist, antisemitic and homophobic graffiti. Hearts cannot be forced to choose love instead of hate. If the heart harbors hate, we will be unsafe for others. To create safety is to explore what is in the space within our hearts. To create safety is to unlearn our preformed prejudices from socialization. To create safety is to rid the inner space of the belief that some are less equal because of their skin color, gender, age, religion or physical ability. To create safety is to be willing to do the hard work to reduce our unconscious bias. To create safety for all students is to change the collective mindset not just in college campuses, but also their surroundings and the entire United States. After hearts have changed, there will be safety for not just students, but for all people in the United States. That's what real inclusion means. Walter Suza, Ames Tribune guest columnist Walter Suza of Ames, Iowa, writes frequently on the intersections of spirituality, anti-racism and social justice. He can be contacted at wsuza2020@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Congress must demand that symbols memorializing racism be removed Army vehicles are loaded on to a cargo ship near Southampton en route to Europe for Nato's Steadfast Defender 24 exercise, which simulates a response to an attack from an adversary such as Russia - ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES The British Army is falling short of the resources needed to face a possible threat from Russia, Donald Trumps former adviser on Ukraine has warned, as he highlighted Vladimir Putins military expansion plans Kurt Volker, who advised the former president from 2017 to 2019, said Putin was building an army of 1.5 million many more than needed for just the conflict in Ukraine. Mr Volker told The Telegraph this suggested Putin could be looking to attack Nato countries too, and warned that this threat demanded much more in arms spending from the UK and other allies. He added that he was sorry to say there were gaps in Britains level of preparedness if Nato were to be drawn into a conflict with Russia. The British Army, the British military is very high quality. The quality of officers, the quality of know-how, the quality of equipment is first class, he said. But the scale is missing, the UK has under-invested in military capability for a long time and as a result they cant produce the quantity of quality capability that Britain could provide. So thats the issue for Britain. British soldiers stopped off at the Army's Sennelager training area in Germany at the weekend on their way to Poland for the Nato Steadfast Defender 24 exercise - DAVID INDERLIED/AVALON Though Rishi Sunak has vowed to increase defence funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP, British MPs have warned that years of spending cuts have left the Army poorly prepared for a high-intensity war. The Telegraph reported in February that some Royal Navy destroyers have had gyms fitted where missiles should be because of a lack of funds. Mr Volker, a seasoned US diplomat who also served as the US ambassador to Nato under George W Bush, is now a critic of Mr Trump, having resigned in the wake of the former presidents attempt to lobby Kyiv into investigating Joe Biden and other Democrats. Prior to that, he worked as a CIA analyst and as a foreign services officer on postings in London and Brussels. Putin is funding strategic issues Mr Volker warned that Putin had massively ramped up military spending, which appeared to suggest he had long-term military goals which went beyond the invasion of Ukraine. We have Vladimir Putin committing 40 per cent of his national budget to defence right now. Mostly of course thats about attacking Ukraine but a significant chunk is about strategic issues. We just had the intelligence this week of Russia producing nuclear-powered spacecraft and maybe a nuclear weapon in space. We have Russia planning to produce a 1.5 million-man army, thats bigger than they need for Ukraine. So Russia is working on this on strategic terms and putting in the money. All of us, and I dont exclude the United States from this, we need to do all of this at the same time. Kurt Volker served as Donald Trump's adviser on Ukraine from 2017 to 2019 - FUTURE PUBLISHING Nato leaders in Europe have been spooked by Mr Trumps recent claim that he would encourage Putin to attack Nato member states that do not meet the alliances spending commitments. Mr Volker said that was largely tough talk linked to the US election campaign, but described the remarks as unacceptable for a US presidential candidate who would play a crucial role in Nato defence. It was all about him showing himself as a tough guy. Thats what the point was but the way he went about it is to espouse a position. That is unacceptable, he 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. BURNSVILLE, Minn. Two police officers and a paramedic were shot and killed in a Twin Cities suburb Sunday morning, authorities said, and the man who shot them is also dead. Superintendent Drew Evans with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Burnsville police officers were called to a home at about 1:50 a.m. on 33rd Avenue South and East 126th Street, just west of the Interstate 35E - Highway 77 interchange. The suspect, whom the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified Monday as 38-year-old Shannon Gooden, was inside and reported to be armed. Several others were also barricaded inside, including seven young children ranging in age from 2 to 15. RELATED: How to help the families of Burnsville police officers and paramedic killed in shooting Burnsville police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, and paramedic Adam Finseth. (left to right) / Credit: City of Burnsville RELATED: Wife of fallen Burnsville police officer Paul Elmstrand: "He had to do what he thought was right" Evans said law enforcement "spent quite a bit of time negotiating with this individual," and paramedics came in for backup at about 5 a.m. Minutes later, dispatch ordered everyone to stay back after Gooden opened fire. Burnsville city officials identified the victims as officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth. Sgt. Adam Medlicott, 38, was also shot but is expected to survive. Gooden was reported dead at about 8 a.m., and the family members in the home made it out safely a short time later. A medical examiner said Gooden died by suicide. Evans said details surrounding the timing and exchange of gunfire are not clear at this point in the investigation. "Several officers did return fire," Evans said. "I will note this individual had several guns and large amounts of ammunition." RELATED: Who were the officers and paramedic fatally shot in Burnsville? The fallen first responders City officials said 27-year-old Elmstrand, from Chaska, joined the Burnsville Police Department in 2017 and was promoted in 2019. His wife spoke to CBS News and said they've been married for five years and have two young children. "I think he just had to be the hero. He had to do what he thought was right to protect those little lives even if it meant putting his at risk and it breaks my heart because now he's gone. But I know that he thought what he did was right," she said. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office announced Monday that Elmstrand died from a gunshot wound to the chest. RELATED: Procession to Jordan honors fallen paramedic Adam Finseth Ruge, also 27, joined the force in 2020. The Northfield resident was a physical evidence officer as well as a member of BPD's crisis negotiations team. He died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the HCME. Finseth, 40, has been a firefighter and SWAT paramedic in the city since 2019. Fire Chief B.J. Jungmann says Finseth, a Savage resident, previously worked with the fire departments in Savage and Hastings. He died from gunshot wounds to his right arm and torso as he was trying to aid the wounded officers. Finseth was also a volunteer youth baseball coach for Prior Lake/Savage, according to the Prior Lake Athletics for Youth Facebook page. He served in the Army's Bravo Company 1st Battalion 327th Infantry during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to his LinkedIn page. Funeral details will be shared in the coming days. Medlicott, who has been with BPD for nearly a decade, was released from Hennepin Healthcare Monday and is recovering at home. Meldicott was Burnsville's Officer of the Year in 2020 and was promoted to sergeant in 2022. He is a drug recognition expert who also supervises community service officers. Police Chief Tanya Schwartz says her department is "hurting." RELATED: Burnsville shooting suspect identified as Shannon Gooden "Today, three members of our team made the ultimate sacrifice for this community. They are heroes," Schwartz said. "Every day we pray that they go home to their families. And today that's not happening. We're heartbroken. We are going to need time to be together. Our families need time to grieve." Jungmann says Sunday was the toughest day the city has ever experienced. "It's a tragic day, we're all grieving, and we're all trying to understand what happened and why," Jungmann said. RELATED: 5 Minnesota law enforcement members have been fatally shot since 2015 Neighbors describe the scene Jason Skog said he started to see a large police and SWAT presence in the neighborhood at about 2 a.m., but said things escalated around 5 a.m. "I heard a loud explosion, which I chalked up right away to a motor going off, like a firework. But then like a minute later I heard another one, followed shortly thereafter by a series of gunfire, really rapid," Skog said. "Then I knew right away that something bad was taking place." Skog didn't know exactly where the shooting was coming from, but he knew it was close to his home. "Shortly thereafter, we got a phone call from the police department to shelter in place, go to your basement and shelter in place," Skog said. RELATED: Burnsville warns of crowdfunding scams involving slain first responders Sgt. Adam Medlicott, who was wounded in the shooting / Credit: Burnsville Police Dylan Foline also lives in this neighborhood. The father of two is shaken by what happened, especially after learning that a family was barricaded in the home at the time of the shooting. "This is a tragedy, and I have to now explain to my daughter what happened today, and it's just the thought of those kids, that's what really hits home to me and my heart goes out to the families of the responders," Foline said. Shawn Flynn lives around the corner. RELATED: Domestic calls posing greater danger for law enforcement "Definitely some extra hugs and cuddles this morning with my boys and wife," Flynn said. "Thankful that something like that hasn't happened in our life and it hopefully never will. It's also a stark reminder that you never know you wake up Sunday morning and everything has gone sideways." Hundreds line metro streets to honor victims At Hennepin Healthcare in downtown Minneapolis, police and first responders from multiple cities gathered to show support Sunday afternoon. Injured officers are often taken to the hospital due to its status as a level-one trauma center. RELATED: Hundreds line Twin Cities streets to honor 3 Burnsville first responders killed in line of duty Their caskets, draped in American flags, were carried into vans outside the hospital as a crowd of law enforcement stood to salute them. / Credit: WCCO Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff lined up in the skyway to see them off. Police, fire and paramedic vehicles stayed close as the vans departed downtown. When they reached the medical examiner's office, the escort didn't end at the entrance. The group walked in alongside the fallen first responders so they were never alone. Gov. Tim Walz reacts Support and condolences from Minnesota state leaders and other law enforcement agencies are pouring in on social media. "We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our first responders make each and every day," Walz said in a statement. "Today, the families of these public servants received the call they knew was possible but hoped would never come. My heart is with those grieving families the State of Minnesota stands ready to support in any way we can. This is a tragic loss for our state." Today, we lower our flags in honor of Burnsville Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, and Firefighter Adam Finseth. It is with deepest gratitude that our state recognizes their service to, and sacrifice for, their fellow Minnesotans. Minnesota stands with Burnsville. Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) February 19, 2024 Walz ordered flags be flown at half-staff starting Monday at sunrise and issued a proclamation for each victim. "It is with deepest gratitude that our state recognizes their service to, and sacrifice for, their fellow Minnesotans," Walz wrote on Twitter/X Monday. "Minnesota stands with Burnsville." Vigil held for victims outside Burnsville City Hall Dozens gathered outside Burnsville City Hall Sunday evening to remember and pay respects to the fallen first responders. Burnsville City Manager Gregg Lindberg thanked the community for its support and grace. "It's been an emotional day. It's been a hard day," Lindberg said. "I have the distinct privilege of working alongside the men and women of our police department and our fire department who choose to come to work every day and risk their lives to the benefit of all of us." Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig were also on hand to pay their respects. / Credit: WCCO "I can't imagine the pain that you're all going through. I just can't imagine," Craig said. "But what I want to say is to all of our officers out there, to all of our paramedics, our fire department, thank you for what you do." Police from cities across the metro showed solidarity, a part of a grieving community that reaches far beyond Burnsville. The Officer Down Memorial Page says a total of 18 officers nationwide have been killed in the line of duty so far this year. Six officers died by gunfire. RELATED: Memorial grows in Burnsville for first responders killed during standoff with gunman Suicide prevention and domestic violence resources If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.6 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org. For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224. Historic lunar landing: U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon AT&T customers report widespread cellular outage 7-year-old girl dies after beach hole collapsed on her and her brother A bicyclist rides down East Town Street past Topiary Park Crossing, a new affordable housing development that is under construction. According to Columbus Downtown Development Corporations website, Topiary Park Crossing will feature 98 units that will be rented to qualifying residents based on area median income. The more you pay in rent, the more likely you are to have bad health and die earlier, a recent study found. That's what experts found after studying people who spend a large portion of their income on rent. Moreover, if you're not able to pay your rent and are evicted or threatened with eviction, your health risk may go up even more, researchers found. Read More: After declines in U.S. life expectancy, how long can Ohioans expect to live? The study, called "The impacts of rent burden and eviction on mortality in the United States," was published in the journal "Social Science and Medicine" in January. To reach their findings, researchers studied 38 million eviction records from 2000 to 2019. Rising rents and evictions have been having a huge impact on mortality rates for American renters, Nick Graetz, a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University and the lead author of the sociology study, told USA Today. The study compared eviction records with the evicted person's census data and death records and found that those who spend more than 50% of their income on rent are 9% more likely to die in the next 20 years, versus those who paid 30% of their income on rent. A person's odds of dying in the next 20 years went up to 12% if he or she spent more than 70% of their income on rent. How does high rent result in early death? The stress of struggling to pay rent and paying high rent can result in chronic conditions and have a long-term impact on a person's health, according to the study. Chronic stress can lead to headache disorders, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure. Rising rents can also increase a person's risk of depression and anxiety, the study found. Those who pay more than 30% of their monthly earnings on rent may also spend less money on healthy foods and medical care, according to the study. At the same time rent has often risen faster than renters' income. From 2019 to 2021, median monthly rent went up by 3%, but the median income of renters fell by 2%, according to a Harvard report. The study found that more than 21 million households nationwide spend over 30% of their income on rent, with some spending half their income on housing. Rental costs in Columbus Rent prices have gone up about 7% year-over-year in Columbus for studio and one-bedroom apartments, according to Rent.com. On average, rent has ranged from $1,175 to $1,520 per month in Columbus in 2024. Of apartments available right now, 29% cost $2,101 or more, while 14% cost $701 to $1,001, according to the website. About 31% of apartments cost $1,001 to $1,500. An Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio study released in October found that 52,000 households in Franklin County spend more than half their income on housing. Columbus and Franklin County officials have long bemoaned the lack of affordable housing in the area, and the need for it, especially as the metropolitan area grows. Last year, there were record rises in homelessness and food insecurity recorded by social service agencies in the county. Research shows that when cities get bigger, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, according to researchers at the Santa Fe Institute, a nonprofit research facility in New Mexico. Researchers there found that as cities grow, so does inequality. What about rental assistance? Something studies show can reduce the chronic stress that comes from high rent costs is rental assistance, such as Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. A 2021 study from the journal "Social Science and Medicine" shows that rental assistance can improve mental health and lessen psychological distress. But, there's a 34,000-person long waiting list for a voucher in Franklin County, according to the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). And, the person waiting the longest has been on the list since September 2015, according to CMHA. USA Today reporter Adrianna Rodriguez contributed to this story. dking@dispatch.com @DanaeKing This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus rent prices are rising: How that may impact your life span EDMOND A dream of transforming a former pasture on Edmond's east side into a showplace for outdoor art hasn't been corralled just yet. Discussions are underway between Edmond's Fine Arts Institute and city officials to see if a sizeable chunk of 62 acres of land known as "Valle del Caballo," or, Valley of the Horse, could be the nonprofit's new home. The arts institute initiated those talks late last year after Hal French, who proposed turning the land into a new park with community gathering spaces and dozens of pieces of outdoor art, abandoned those plans after taking them through a lengthy review and approval process involving numerous city boards and Edmond's city council. Institute representatives hope French's vision for the future, while certainly downscaled, could still become a reality on the property. Workers on Jan. 11 install the "Valle del Caballo,"(Valley of the Horse) bronze statue by sculptor by Paul Moore in Edmond. The $650,000 sculpture was obtained by Edmond through its art in public places program administered by its visual arts commission. Officials say $470,000 used to buy the statue was provided by private donors. "We see ourselves as the driving force behind creating a new, vibrant cultural space that aligns with our longstanding commitment to the arts and the community of Edmond," said Shannon Price, the institute's executive director. What did Hal French want to do with the former horse ranch on Edmond's east side? The 62-acre piece of land, bordered by Second Street on the south, Coltrane Road on the east and Vista Drive on the west, was acquired for $4.5 million in December 2021 by French, a longtime Edmond oil, gas and real estate entrepreneur. With the help of former Edmond Mayor Randel Shadid and others, French obtained a couple of donations of adjacent properties, placed the land into a charitable trust and worked on plans to donate it to Edmond as a future gathering place he called The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park. Had French's plans been followed, the park would have been like no other in Edmond or central Oklahoma. Artist Paul Moore watches Jan. 11 as his sculpture, titled "Valle del Caballo," is installed at the corner of E Second Street and Coltrane Road in Edmond. In May, 42 sculptures proposed for the park had been commissioned, with some already completed. His Uncommon Ground plans also called for both indoor and outdoor spaces where events could be held, including a $5 million small-events center with adjacent parking capable of hosting up to 250 guests, outdoor gathering spaces for musical performances and other activities, an indoor-outdoor restaurant, a fitness course, dog parks for both large and small breeds, a playground and more. More: Edmond is 'a great place to grow' in Oklahoma. But as it expands, the city is facing an identity crisis In June, French announced he was abandoning his plans because of numerous delays that had "drained our energy, vanished our enthusiasm and ended our dream." The institute's plan for the property is not yet fully developed, but it would like at least to build itself a new home on the land. Proposed ideas for the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park. From borrowed space to a permanent home, Edmond's Fine Arts Institute continued to grow The Edmond Fine Arts Institute is supported today by a strong base of generous corporate sponsors, community donors and grants. It also is financially supported by the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, the city of Edmond, and other local businesses and organizations, and through fundraising events and membership drives. A wide network of community partners made up of educational institutions, civic groups, corporate leaders and influencers help keep the institute at the forefront of arts education in Oklahoma, its representatives say. But its beginnings were humble. The institute began in 1985 when four mothers discussed how their daughters, who were participating in a gymnastics meet at the time, were not getting enough art in their elementary school classes. The Edmond Fine Arts Institute currently operates out of the building it owns at 27 E Edwards. Nancy Effron, June McCoy, Gae Rees and Bonnie Smith created the institute that same year, and began teaching art and music at a borrowed classroom at an Edmond-area church, storing needed art supplies in the trunks of their cars. Despite those challenges, they were able to provide arts-related instruction to 90 children that first year, taking enrollments through messages left on an answering machine in Rees' home. In 1990, the institute moved into space inside of a strip mall at Second Street and Kelly Avenue, where it provided arts and music instruction to 850 enrollees the same year. By 1995, the number of enrollees receiving on-site or outside programming through the Institute reached 1,350 as it operated out of a converted home on E 15th Street between Broadway and Boulevard. Just four years later, more than 1,800 people received on-site or outside programming through the institute. In 2004, land on E Edwards located near Edmond Public Schools' original high school was donated to the institute, which built an 8,000-square-foot art building it has used as its home ever since. In 2023, the institute provided either in-house or outside programming involving drawing, painting, ceramics, theater, mixed media, jewelry design, photography, seasonal art and film making to more than 5,200 people of all ages. Workers on Jan. 11 install the "Valle del Caballo," bronze statue by sculptor by Paul Moore in Edmond. Institute's interest in the land fits its mission, executive director says A signature sculpture piece for the proposed park "Valle del Caballo," Spanish for "Valley of the Horse" already had been bought using $470,000 of private donations and $180,000 of city funds. It was installed on the southeast corner of the proposed park's land in early January, and today stands as a symbolic reminder of what the property could've become. Meanwhile, a presentation on the institute's idea about how the property could be used in the future was presented to Edmond's Park Conservancy Trust later the same month. "All the parties are still talking and we are pleased by that," said Edmond Councilwoman Christin Mugg, who serves as a member of the trust. Price described the institute's role moving forward and one where it explores how to keep French's dream alive and to get done what it can. Right now, the institute needs a larger building to support programming for a growing list of it provides to a population of enrollees. "This led us to explore potential opportunities for development, which naturally evolved into the current project," said Price, adding, "our conversations and collaborations with various stakeholders have been instrumental in shaping the direction of this initiative." Preserving the land for the potential use as a future gathering space where people can enjoy art remains a goal for the institute, she said. "We are focusing on the bigger picture and its potential for the community. The details are in the works," Price said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Edmond Fine Arts Institute could have new home on east side Sir Keir Starmer gives his speech at the Scottish Labour Party annual conference on Sunday - Getty/Jeff J Mitchell Sir Keir Starmer has called for an end to the fighting in Gaza now in an apparent change in stance on calls for an immediate ceasefire. The Labour leader, addressing the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, added that an offensive that Israel is said to be planning in Rafah cannot happen and that the area cannot become a new theatre of war. While he added that a ceasefire could not be one-sided, he repeatedly stressed on Sunday that he wanted to see an end to hostilities immediately. He declared: The fighting must stop now. Previously, Sir Keir has refused to back demands for an immediate ceasefire. He has instead stated support for a sustainable halt to fighting which would not mean Israel would be expected to unilaterally down arms. Palestinians search for bodies among the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli air strike - Shutterstock/Mohammed Saber A source close to the Labour leader denied there had been a change of position but Sir Keir has come under increasing pressure from some of his own MPs and Muslim voters to take a harder stance against Israels actions. Labour MPs have come under fire from constituents over the partys stance on Gaza and many are facing challenges from pro-Palestine candidates at the next election. The apparent shift also comes ahead of a House of Commons vote this week which threatens to reopen divisions over the issue. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has openly demanded an immediate ceasefire, in a call which was backed by Scottish Labour delegates. Yesterday the leader of a Muslim youth organisation said the Rochdale by-election later this month was a referendum on Gaza. While Sir Keir told the conference that he wanted to see the return of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct 7, he added that he also wanted an end to the killing of innocent Palestinians and an end to the fighting. He added: Not just now, not just a pause. But permanently. A ceasefire that lasts. Conference, that is what must happen now. The fighting must stop now. Any ceasefire cannot be one-sided. It must stop all acts of violence, on both sides, and it must lead to a genuine peace process. Because the offensive threatened in Rafah a place where 1.5 million people are now cramped together in unimaginable conditions with nowhere else for them to go this cannot become a new theatre of war. That offensive cannot happen. A Palestinian woman cooks on a wood fire on the street in front of makeshift tents in Rafah - Getty/Abed Zagout A Labour source said Sir Keir had been using similar language for some time. The SNP has tabled a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza which is expected to be voted on in the Commons on Wednesday. On Sunday, Mr Sarwar claimed that Labour was in talks with the SNP over their ceasefire motion. A similar vote in November saw eight shadow ministers break ranks to back an immediate ceasefire, with some 56 Labour members defying a three-line whip and backing an SNP amendment to the Kings Speech. David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has declined to say how Labour MPs might vote. I havent seen the motion, its not yet put down, we will scrutinise that motion as is our way in Parliament and we will take it from there, he told the BBC. But let us be clear, yes, we will have a vote in Parliament this week but its not that vote that will bring about a ceasefire, its the diplomatic action. Israeli soldiers sit on a tank near the border with Gaza - Getty/Amir Levy He also sought to play down the idea that the party was divided on the issue. I fully understand that Scottish colleagues want the fighting to stop now, weve been saying that for weeks, so we agree with them. You can have a ceasefire that lasts for a few days. We want the ceasefire to last and to be permanent and to move towards the diplomatic solution. It will only be a political solution that brings an end to this. In an open letter to Labour MPs ahead of Wednesdays vote, Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, told them that the time for equivocation is over. However, he claimed on Sunday that claims that Labour were in talks with the party over the ceasefire motion were not true. Mr Flynn added: Nevertheless, I am more than willing to meet with Sir Keir Starmer to discuss this hugely important issue prior to Wednesdays vote. 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. People select couplets at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum at the Chinatown in San Francisco, the United States, Feb. 16, 2024. A three-day event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year kicked off here on Friday. (Photo by Liu Yilin/Xinhua) People watch a lion dance performance at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum at the Chinatown in San Francisco, the United States, Feb. 16, 2024. A three-day event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year kicked off here on Friday. (Photo by Liu Yilin/Xinhua) People watch a lion dance performance at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum at the Chinatown in San Francisco, the United States, Feb. 16, 2024. A three-day event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year kicked off here on Friday. (Photo by Liu Yilin/Xinhua) A lieutenant with the Fire Department of the City of New York was arrested and charged with strangulation, police said. File Photo by Patti Sapone/POOL/UPI Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A lieutenant with the Fire Department of New York was arrested and charged with strangulation, police said. Neal Francis, 47, was arrested on Saturday around 12:30 p.m. while off-duty, the New York Police Department said in a news release. Police did not reveal any further specifics about the incident. Officials confirmed to WNBC that the incident was not domestic. An FDNY spokesperson told the New York Post that the department was aware that the alleged victim is an EMT, but did not provide further comment. On Sunday, Lalee Meadows -- a 59-year-old health department employee -- was arrested and charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and harassment. Further details about the incident were available. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and a Republican presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign event in Fort Mill, S.C., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times) DALLAS One week before the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina, where polls suggest she trails by an insurmountable margin, Nikki Haley was in Texas, promising to go national, as most primary candidates, even in the most dire circumstances, usually do. Despite big losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, and the steep odds facing her in South Carolina, her home state, Haley is showing no signs of relenting. She is still raking in donations and building out her national footprint, as she pledges to move her party past former President Donald Trump. He said hes going to spend more time in a courtroom than he is going to be on the campaign trail, she said of Trump on Friday in San Antonio, referring to the hours he spent in New York last week facing criminal and civil cases. But let me tell you what we are going to be doing. We are going to be on the campaign trail. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and a United Nations ambassador under Trump, is projecting confidence even as her path to victory looks stark. In many South Carolina polls, she trails Trump by roughly 30 points and the picture beyond next weeks contest does not look much brighter. If Haley continues with her plans to stay in the race beyond South Carolina, as she has pledged, here is a look at how she intends to take her long-shot bid national. The Map The Haley campaign has announced teams of elected officials, business leaders and prominent community members to help lead its efforts in Alaska, California, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah and Washington. Her National Women for Nikki Coalition, which counts chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, has kicked into full gear, with a mission to court suburban women turned off by Trump. On the day after the South Carolina primary, regardless of the outcome, Haley has said she will head to Michigan, which holds its own contest Feb. 27. From there, she has plans to crisscross the country before Super Tuesday, the largest single day of the primary season, and the last real chance she will have to prove she can change the course of the nomination. The expected stops include Colorado, Minnesota, Utah and Virginia. Haley is betting her candidacy on courting independents and new Republicans in Michigan and in 11 Super Tuesday states where Republican primaries are not limited to voters affiliated with her own party. But that strategy did not succeed in New Hampshire, and she has shown weaknesses with her own base: She received support from only 29% of college-educated Republicans nationally, according to a CNN poll, while Trump had 55% of the same demographic. Another Morning Consult tracking poll showed Haley trailing Trump by big margins in every Super Tuesday state. Trump has undertaken his own push in Super Tuesday states, announcing nearly 80 endorsements from state party and elected officials in 14 states. And his team has left little to chance: He and his allies have engaged in a backroom campaign to twist delegate rules in his favor, and he has said Haleys donors would be permanently barred from the MAGA camp." The Message Haley and her allies have kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism on Trump in national media appearances and in television and digital ads. Her message has largely remained consistent: that it is time for a new generational leader who can move her party beyond the chaos that is Trump. But her attack lines to underscore that most recently have become sharper-edged and more numerous. She has criticized him for disparaging her husband, Maj. Michael Haley; for suggesting he would encourage Russian aggression against U.S. allies in Europe; for skewing the delegate count; and for tightening his grip over party institutions, including the Republican National Committee. She has continued to blast Trump for spending time and campaign donations on his legal troubles. She has sought to brand him and President Joe Biden as grumpy, old men. But as of last week, Haley had not spent any money on television ads beyond Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Her allied super political action committee, Stand for America Inc., had invested only about $144,900 in other states, according to AdImpact, a media-tracking firm. The Trump campaign, by comparison, had spent nearly six times as much, or about $855,200, nationwide. Pointing to Haleys losses, Karoline Leavitt, Trumps national press secretary, contended he would crush her in her own backyard and demolish her on Super Tuesday. Only a birdbrain would stay in this race, she said in a statement, using Trumps insulting nickname for Haley. The Funding Trumps war chest dwarfs Haleys campaign funds. He had more than $33 million cash on hand at the end of December, while Haley had $14.6 million. But as it has been from the start of her campaign, one bright spot for Haley is her ability to raise money. She pulled in $16.5 million in January, her highest monthly total so far. She has the backing of a number of wealthy donors. Her campaign turned Trumps ultimatum against her donors into an opportunity to sell about 20,000 T-shirts that read Barred. Permanently. This month, she brought in at least $2.7 million at fundraisers in Texas and California, according to her campaign, and $1 million more in the 48 hours after Trump disparaged Haleys husband at a rally. The Rationale In interviews, some of Haleys high-dollar donors in Texas and California echoed her focus on Trumps and Bidens advanced ages, and cited Trumps legal cases as signs that anything remains possible in the race. Trump spent Thursday in a New York City courtroom on criminal charges stemming from a hush-money payment to a porn actor in 2016. A New York judge on Friday ordered him to pay a penalty of nearly $355 million plus interest after finding him liable for conspiring to manipulate his net worth. A lot can happen in politics and in our legal system, said Timothy Draper, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and Haley donor. And the American people usually come to their senses when they come to the polls. At Gilleys Dallas South Side Music Hall, an upscale honky-tonk, Jack Matthews, its owner and a prominent developer, said he was having an easier time raising funds for Haley now than when he started in the early days of her campaign. Some people are afraid of supporting her because of retribution with Trump, he acknowledged. But plenty of others, he said, are saying, We need a change. His venue, where Haley spoke Thursday night before more than 1,000 people, one year to the date of starting her presidential bid, has some campaign-trail history. There, in 2020, Biden held a rally where his onetime Democratic rivals for the nomination endorsed him over an insurgent Bernie Sanders in a show of force for the moderate wing of their party. Now, Haley is running a Biden-like strategy but finding herself in Sanders position. Nevertheless, she continued to plead her case. Everything he touches, we lose, Haley said, painting Trump as an agent of chaos for Congress, the country and Republicans down-ballot prospects in November. c.2024 The New York Times Company Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com The General Assembly is taking time off to campaign for the March 19 primary election. But hey, it isnt like anything else needs doing at the Statehouse, is there? Except that intra-Republican bickering between the state Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives has held up passage of Substitute House Bill 2, a $2 billion state construction bill, of which $350 million is earmarked for One-Time Strategic Community Investments i.e., hometown pork-barrel projects. Of that $2 billion, the $350 million will come from spare change sloshing around in the state treasury, the remaining $1.65 billion from bonds, with the bond money used for school- and college buildings, prisons, and local infrastructure. Among the $350 million pool of strategic investments, the best known to Greater Clevelanders is likely a $20 million earmark for the North Coast Connector project a proposed land bridge over lakeside roads and rail lines to link downtown Clevelands Mall C and the City Hall area with lakefront attractions, such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Browns Stadium. 2024 promises to be a wild year in Ohio. 10 fearless predictions for the new year As for Franklin County, the House-passed bill allots $42 million, not counting more than $76 million for Ohio State University (some of that for the universitys four branches). And yes, to cover many if not all bases, the House-passed bill includes earmarks for small-town Ohio. Two examples: $1 million for Ashland Countys Fair, $450,000 for Marions Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel. Rep. Derek Merrin, R-Monclova, talks with reporters about his role as leader of the Ohio House's Republican Majority Caucus on January 11, 2023. The slowdown on HB 2 is due to the conflicting ambitions of House Speaker Jason Stephens, a Republican of Lawrence Countys Kitts Hill, and state Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican. The bottom line is that Huffman, term-limited out of the Senate in December, is headed to the House in January, where hed like to replace Stephens as speaker. Naturally, Stephens likes things just the way they are in the House. Te question s who gets to play Mr. Results. Stephenss circumstances are complicated by the fact he was elected speaker with the help of Democrats due to a House GOP split between Stephens (and his 21 GOP allies) and Republicans who supported Rep. Derek Merrin, of suburban Toledo, for speaker. More: Letters: 'Ohio, the heart of heartlessness.' Lawmakers want to skulk around in dark Bottom line, the 22-member Stephens GOP faction united with the Houses 32 Democrats to elect Stephens speaker, for a total of 54 votes, while, with two Republicans absent, the remaining House Republicans voted for Merrin. The GOP caucus as a whole had originally backed Merrin but evidently some minds changed or got changed. (Merrin, who voted for HB2, is now seeking a GOP congressional nomination to challenge the re-election of Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat.) But sniping continues between Stephens and the Houses Merrin faction, and those Republicans whom Merrins allies call the Blue 22 for joining with House Democrats to help Stephens win the Houses gavel. On Wednesday, Stephens won a tactical victory in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. A judge rejected at least for now a bid by Merrin and his group to pry control of House Republicans caucus campaign fund, the Ohio House Republican Alliance, from Stephens, a pot of money Stephens can use to defend House GOP allies from primary-campaign attacks by Merrin supporters. The question, as Humpty Dumpty told Alice, is which is to be master thats all. Result: The Huffman-Stephens chess game, whose net effect is to gum things up while deals get cut, if they can. Functionally, Stephens mission is to prove he can get things done, while Huffmans is to prove Stephens cant. Intra-GOP bickering in the Senate and House are unnecessarily confusing matters when clarity is whats called for. Funny how that happens when goals and power mix, driven by the hyper-ambitions that term-limits stoke. Thomas Suddes Such is the real cost of doing business on Capitol Square measuring a lawmakers goals and tailoring donations to fit a pols plans. Result: Haggling for projects to tell voters their legislator is Mr. or Ms. Results. Thats our Statehouse where ambition and ego combine to gum things up ... while Ohio waits. Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: $2 billion Ohio construction bill slowed down by Republican infighting Israel has formally opposed international efforts to create a two-state solution as a rift with its allies widens. The government said the international community was trying to unilaterally impose the creation of a Palestinian state to bring about peace in the Middle East. Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, said this month that Britain could officially recognise a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, the US president, has continued to push for a two-state solution. It has become a key plank of Mr Bidens policy in the region, which also includes a normalisation deal with Saudi Arabia and confronting Iran and its proxies. Ultra-nationalist segments of the Israeli cabinet have been pushing for the government to pre-empt any direct or indirect recognition of Palestinian statehood by its allies. After a cabinet meeting yesterday, the government said any recognition of Palestinian statehood would reward terrorism and should only come through direct negotiations with Israel. Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such recognition in the wake of the Oct 7 massacre will grant a huge, unprecedented reward to terrorism and prevent any future peace accord, it said. US ambassador dismisses unilateral action On Sunday, the Times of Israel reported that the US ambassador to Israel dismissed the idea that the US could recognise a Palestinian state without the consent of Israel. We have never said there should be a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, said Jack Lew. The vote by the Israeli cabinet comes as international pressure grows to negotiate a solution to the Middle East conflict with a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel. As Israels military operation in Gaza has progressed, there has been mounting frustration from its allies over its execution. Israels air and ground offensive has devastated much of Gaza and forced nearly all of its inhabitants from their homes. Palestinian health authorities say 28,985 people, mostly civilians, have been killed. People transport a young injured Palestinian to hospital after an Israeli attack in Deir al-Balah, Gaza - Anadolu More than half of Gazas population has been pushed into Rafah, which Israel plans to storm despite strong opposition from Britain and the US. Retired general Benny Gantz, who is part of Mr Netanyahus three-member War Cabinet, on Sunday threatened to invade Rafah if remaining Israeli hostages were not freed by Ramadan, which is set to begin on March 10. If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area, Mr Gantz told a conference of Jewish American leaders. On Sunday, Israeli planes carried out attacks on two areas in Rafah, including an empty building near the border with Egypt, local residents and Hamas media officials said. The second of the two strikes hit an open space where displaced people were sheltering, killing six people, according to local medics. In Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital, which has become the latest focal point of the fighting, was put completely out of service on Sunday, the UN said. Its gone completely out of service. There are only four medical teams 25 staff currently caring for patients inside the facility, said Ashraf al-Qidra, a Gaza health ministry spokesman. Nasser Hospital used to be the largest functioning hospital in Gaza. Israeli troops raided it on Thursday, detaining a number of suspects, after several days of intense bombardment. The World Health Organization urged Israel to grant its staff access to the hospital, where it said Israels week-long siege and raids had stopped them from helping patients. Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel, WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Despite the heavy loss of civilian life in Gaza, the United States signalled on Sunday it would veto an upcoming vote in the 15-member UN Security Council demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. 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 group of 10 people is heading to the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, in March to bolster the Mansfield Rising Plan. We have an opportunity through an anonymous donor to send another cohort to SXSW. The goal is to strengthen and enhance the current Mansfield Rising team and plan, said Richland County Foundation Senior Community Investment Officer Allie Watson. The donor told Watson the results theyve seen from the Mansfield Rising Plan are the best thing that has happened to downtown Mansfield in a very long time. A delegation from Mansfield will soon be heading to the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, TX. The delegation includes Nan McCartney, Sandy Messner, Jessica Hiser, Kris Beasley, Mario Davison, Orie Rush and Braxton Daniels. Those going to SXSW are: Kris Beasley, an administrator at Mansfield Senior High School; Jennifer Beavis, Mansfield Art Center marketing director; Braxton Daniels, owner of 3rd Cup of Tea; Mario Davison, finance director for the North End Community Improvement Collaborative; Jessica Hiser, Spherion Mid-Ohio marketing and advertising director; Nan McCartney, graphic designer at K.E. McCartney & Associates; Sandy Messner, Richland Area Chamber of Commerce-Economic Development director of marketing & communications; and Orie Rush, a small business owner/entrepreneur, musician and visual artist. Source Media Properties CEO Jay Allred and Downtown Mansfield Inc. Executive Director Jennifer Kime, both original Mansfield Rising members, will go to SXSW to provide guidance to the team. The group will research and develop new potential projects that fit within the Mansfield Rising plan and reflect the current reality of the citys growth. As in 2018, the group headed to Austin will work to bring the community along with them. They will produce blogs about their experiences while at SXSW and participate in a podcast interview when they return to Mansfield. Residents will be able to follow their experiences on social media as well. What is Mansfield Rising? In 2018, the Richland County Foundation leadership took an unusual track to develop an investment strategy for downtown Mansfield. Instead of hiring a professional consulting firm, it had a citizen-led group create the plan. The Foundation turned regular citizens into consultants which gives depth and authenticity to the plan. It provides a road map for projects and opportunities for partnerships to continue the renaissance of Mansfield. The Foundation invested $1.2 million to execute the Mansfield Rising Plan. To read the plan go to richlandcountyfoundation.org, click Community Impact then the Mansfield Rising tab. This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield delegation selected for SXSW conference in March A man was shot dead after he was accused of stealing a barbecue pit from a residence, Texas authorities said. Officers responded Feb. 18 to reports of a deceased male in a residential neighborhood of Humble, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on X, formerly known as Twitter. The victim stole the barbecue pit from someones yard before fleeing the scene in a vehicle, the sheriff said. The homeowner chased the accused thief in his own vehicle, according to authorities. After catching up with him a short distance away, the owner exited his vehicle and confronted the accused thief on foot, the sheriff said. The homeowner told investigators he believed the driver had a weapon, the sheriff said. Fearing for his safety, the homeowner fired several times at the suspect, striking him, he said. Authorities said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. A second person present in the car with the victim was not injured and is not currently facing charges, according to the sheriff. The homeowner cooperated with investigators and provided a detailed statement about the incident, the sheriff said. Authorities said the case will be referred to a grand jury when the investigation is complete. Humble is about 25 miles northeast of Houston. Antique store shoppers see man put items in rectum then back on shelves, Texas cops say Customer finds clerks hidden pen camera with 100 videos of people in bathroom, cops say Man sends neighbors over 1,000 threatening emails, Texas cops say. So much hatred The saying goes "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." The Crimson Melt, 2100 N Eastern Ave., Suite 10 in Moore, owner Ashontay Owens knows a lot about heat, having spent 20 years being tested by actual fire as a former United States Air Force fire captain. In many of the things he's done, Owens has stood out as a first or a leader in fields where he didn't always see himself represented. Now a business owner, that continues to drive him to achieve more for others like him. Ashontay Owens, owner of Crimson Melt poses on Feb. 7 with samples of his food at his restaurant in Moore. "It means a lot to me because there are some people out there that don't think that African-Americans in general can be business owners or can do things and everybody in this world has a different background and a different walk of life," he said. Now retired after 20 years in the Air Force, but still working a full-time job at Tinker Air Force Base while owning a restaurant, the idea for Crimson Melt came to Owens as a way to combine his reverence for his time as a firefighter, experiences he had while enlisted and his passion for helping other first responders. "When you're a firefighter, your business is people. You're in the business of customer service and you really want to serve. I had the added advantage of serving in the fire protection capacity, but also serving my country," Owens said. The inside of the Crimson Melt restaurant is seen in Moore on Feb. 7. And holding dual master's degrees in clinical counseling and human services means Owens understands people. He attempted work as a counselor after retiring for the military, but after 20 years of the stress brought on by firefighting in the military, he realized he wanted a different path. And like many others in the food industry, he met roadblocks along the way. "When it came to here, I didn't get a lot of support, with the loan or anything, and I was on my last leg. Even though I had the collateral, a lot of people they didn't want to touch me because the restaurant industry in general is just volatile, especially after COVID, and it's fickle and it's high and low," he said. Samples of sandwiches are seen at Crimson Melt in Moore. An inspiration for gourmet grilled cheeses and addressing mental health Still, Owens had frequented a grilled cheese bar in Washington, D.C., called GCDC, and memories of that restaurant and inspiration from his military experiences led to the concept and menu at The Crimson Melt. "Everybody knows in the fire department when the chief stays at night, the chief cooks. So, it was one of those things where it's like, I have a little bit of a niche here with these grilled cheese sandwiches, and there's nothing around here that's like this," Owens said. "I came up with all the flavors just based on past experiences in the military. I've been stationed at eight different military bases, six different deployments so, I've seen a lot, and I've come across a lot of different things." Knowing he was going to bring gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to life, Owens decided to pair them with equally decadent milkshakes inspired by a visit to Nashville's Legendairy Milkshake Bar. The Crimson Melt, 2100 N Eastern Ave., Suite 10, is seen in Moore. With a menu sorted, Owens then moved to the second part of his goal: Addressing mental health especially among first responders. "I had the food aspect down. The food is going to be good. The food is the food, but on the other side of it, we need to shed a light because our first responders, they don't get a lot of love," Owens said. "So my business, other than food, is trying to put them on the forefront. We want you to come home healthy, but at the same time, if something should happen, because suicide is real and it is a thing, after the fact, how are we taking care of the families?" Ashontay Owens, owner of Crimson Melt, prepares sandwiches on Feb. 7 at his restaurant in Moore. Owens offers discounts to first responders and also created an organization called the Folds of the Flame, which raises awareness and funds for first responder suicide prevention and postvention. "I felt like being a clinician myself and having those degrees, that there wasn't a lot of light shed on the PTSD that first responders go through, because there's programs out there and whatnot, but the issue with those programs, in my personal opinion, is that a firefighter doesn't oftentimes want to talk to a person that's not a firefighter or a first responder, because that person can't relate," Owens said. The Crimson Melt, 2100 N Eastern Ave., Suite 10, is seen in Moore. How you can help first responders in your community Oklahomans also can easily show their support with simple acts like sharing baked goods with their local first responders and checking in on them, especially after particularly tough calls, Owens said. "It also helps with mental health when they know that what they're doing is making a difference in the community," he said. "I know it would have helped me tremendously when I was a young airman, a young firefighter, if somebody would have came in and just said, 'Hey, thanks for what you're doing, here's some brownies, how are you?'" The Crimson Melt, 2100 N Eastern Ave., Suite 10, is seen in Moore. With a vision in mind for the business, a purpose driving all he does and what he considers a solid, crowd-pleasing menu, Owens hopes to take The Crimson Melt to new levels in the future. "I want to see us grow. I'd like to see multiple stores. I would like to get out of renting and be my own building owner and give other opportunities to other Black-owned businesses or other business people that want to come in and help them with their story and help them grow," he said. "Just be my own true, free, business owner." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Crimson Melt serves grilled cheeses, service for first responders More than 50 cases tied to the former California cop who was exposed for sending racist text messages could potentially be thrown out, officials say. Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen has been looking into the cases that Mark McNamara was involved in, NBC Bay Area reported. Last year, it was revealed that McNamara sent text messages using the N-word and saying, I hate Black people. They were sent after the shooting of Kaun Green, a community college football player McNamara wounded at a Mexican restaurant in March 2022. Other messages that came to light showed McNamara repeatedly using the racial slur to refer to Greens lawyer, Adante Pointe. The other day this n lawyer is like Mr. McNamara, you know we can still find you guilty of excessive force right? Im like, hmmm yeah then (what) happens?? Think I give a f what yall n think?!???? Ill shoot you too!!!!! he wrote. San Jose Police officer Mark McNamara resigned after the department found text messages that demonstrated racial bias. (Photo: NBC Bay Area/ABC7/ Youtube/Screenshot) McNamara resigned from the San Jose Police Department and lost his certification in November amid the ongoing backlash. Chief Anthony Mata stood firm on the decision as part of his commitment to anti-racism culture. The department is committed to ensuring Mr. McNamara cannot serve as a police officer elsewhere and will work with POST to ensure that decertification happens as soon as possible, he added. During that time, Mata also said that the department would work with the DAs office to comb the cases that McNamara was linked to. With Rosen moving forward on this promise, he assembled a committee that found 54 of them and sent a letter to the public defenders office. Theres five cases low level narcotics case that we determined we couldnt proceed in that wed have to rely upon McNamaras testimony and were unwilling to do that because we take very seriously the racism that he expressed, Rosen told the news station. The public defenders office is considering dismissing 19 cases, according to the report. In addition, Rosen said he is open to other defense attorneys making an argument about any other cases McNamara had his hands in. More Than 50 Cases Tied to Former California Cop Who Was Exposed For Sending Racist Text Messages Could Be Dismissed, Officials Say FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a press conference with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. U.S. and Mideast mediators appeared optimistic in recent days that they are closing in on a deal for a two-month cease-fire in Gaza and the release of over 100 hostages held by Hamas. But on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the militant group's two main demands that Israel withdraw its forces from Gaza and release thousands of Palestinian prisoners indicating that the gap between the two sides remains wide. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, File) JERUSALEM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel insisted Saturday that Israel would not bow to international pressure to call off its plan for a ground invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip that is now packed with more than 1 million Palestinians. Many of the people now in Rafah are displaced and living in schools, tents or the homes of friends and relatives, part of a desperate search for any safe refuge from Israels military campaign, which has dragged on for more than four months. Their lives are a daily struggle to find enough food and water to survive. Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are basically telling us: Lose the war, Netanyahu said at a news conference in Jerusalem on Saturday evening. Its true that theres a lot of opposition abroad, but this is exactly the moment that we need to say that we wont be doing a half or a third of the job. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times About the same time as Netanyahu addressed the news conference, thousands of anti-government protesters filled a central thoroughfare in Tel Aviv the largest protest against the prime minister in months. They filled the same street where mass protests against Netanyahus efforts to weaken the countrys judiciary riled the nation before the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Calls for an immediate election rose above a din of air horns. Protesters lit a red flare in the middle of a drum circle while others wielding flags stared down half a dozen police officers on horseback. The people need to rise up, and the government needs to go, said one protester, Yuval Lerner, 57. Lerner said that even before the war, he lost confidence that the government has the nations best interest at heart, but Oct. 7 proved it, he said. Netanyahus comments also came as world leaders and international organizations were raising alarms that an invasion of Rafah would only compound the humanitarian disaster for displaced Palestinians. Josep Borrell, the European Unions top diplomat, reiterated Saturday his appeal to Israel to refrain from launching a military operation in Rafah that would worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation. Netanyahu, however, said Palestinians would be permitted to leave Rafah and contended that there was a lot of space north of the city where civilians could resettle. The Israeli leader played down the chances of a quick breakthrough in indirect talks with Hamas on a cease-fire in exchange for a hostage release. He said that Hamas the armed group that long controlled Gaza and which led the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that started the war was making ludicrous demands in those negotiations. Explaining his decision to stop Israeli officials from participating in follow-up negotiations in Cairo earlier this week, the prime minister went on to say Hamas had not compromised on its demands one nanometer. Theres nothing to do until we see a change, he added. Earlier on Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas political wing, issued a statement accusing Israel of procrastinating in addressing Hamas demands. Hamas has been calling for a comprehensive cease-fire, the reconstruction of Gaza, the end of Israels blockade of the territory and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. President Joe Biden said at a news conference Friday that he didnt expect Israel to invade Rafah while efforts to free the hostages were ongoing. South Africa this week asked the International Court of Justice, the United Nations top judicial body, to intervene to stop Israels planned advance into Rafah. But on Friday, the court declined to issue new constraints aimed at preventing such an incursion. Instead, it said the perilous situation in Gaza, including in Rafah, required Israel to abide by its previous ruling last month, which included taking all measures within its power to prevent the crime of genocide by its forces. Netanyahu has called the charge that Israel has engaged in genocide false and outrageous. Israeli officials have insisted that an incursion into Rafah is needed to destroy tunnels between Egypt and Gaza and to try to root out Palestinian militants there. But the Israelis have not yet presented a plan to evacuate civilians as the U.S., Israels closest ally, has demanded. Many civilians sheltering in Rafah have already moved multiple times as Israels military campaign has pushed farther south, and some have said their homes north of the city have been destroyed and they have grown tired of repeatedly relocating. If they want to come here amid all these people there will be massacres, said Khalil el-Halabi, 70, one of the many displaced Palestinians from northern Gaza who have sought shelter in Rafah. Some displaced Palestinians have now moved back north toward Deir al Balah in central Gaza, according to the U.N.s humanitarian coordinator. People in Rafah have grown so desperate for food that they are stopping aid trucks and eating what they manage to get on the spot, according to the United Nations. Ahmad al-Ghazaly, 26, another displaced Palestinian in Rafah, said he was sheltering in a tent with his parents, both of whom he said had chronic illnesses. He said that he hoped to get permits for both of them to leave for Egypt via the Rafah border crossing, but that the process had become even more difficult and costly in recent weeks. Its been four months in which weve barely slept, eaten, showered, and theres constant bombardment, al-Ghazaly said. Were living in conditions, Im sorry to say, that are barely better than those of animals. As the Israeli invasion of Rafah looms, neighboring Egypt has grown increasingly concerned that an Israeli operation in the city could send Palestinian refugees streaming into its territory. Egypt has warned Israel of dire consequences should Israeli forces embark on a ground operation in Rafah. But Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, tried to assuage those concerns Friday, saying Israel had no intention of evacuating Palestinian civilians to Egypt. Israel and Egypt have had a decadeslong peace treaty that is a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East. In recent weeks, Egypt has reinforced the border with Gaza in what some analysts have seen as a response to fears of an influx of Palestinians pouring in. A contractor and an engineer told The New York Times recently that they had received a government commission to build a concrete wall 5 meters high (about 16 feet) to close off a 5-kilometer-square plot of land on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border in Rafah. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry of Egypt said his country strongly opposed any attempt to expel Palestinians to Egyptian territory and did not intend to provide safe areas for Palestinian refugees. But if such a situation arose, he added, the Egyptian authorities would act with the humanity that is necessary and provide support to innocent civilians. c.2024 The New York Times Company A woman selects traditional Chinese clothing at a shopping mall in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 17, 2024. Major shopping malls here launched various activities recently to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) People watch sugar painting crafts at a shopping center in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 17, 2024. Major shopping malls here launched various activities recently to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) People walk past a shop with Year of the Dragon decorations at a shopping mall in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 17, 2024. Major shopping malls here launched various activities recently to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) Dragon dancers perform at a shopping center in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 17, 2024. Major shopping malls here launched various activities recently to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) Individuals and groups from Northeast Ohio will gather on March 8-9 for a hands-on project to bring warmth and comfort to people they likely will never meet. The Ohio MCC Comforter Bash will take place at Fairlawn Mennonite Church, 8520 Emerson Road, Apple Creek, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, March 8; and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Food will be available by donation throughout the days. Participants will work together to combine handmade comforter tops, warm batting and sturdy backing fabric into warm, durable and beautiful comforters. The squares of fabric that make up the comforter tops already have been sewn together, so volunteers will primarily knot the layers together. Organizers have a goal of making 250 comforters over the two-day event. Each handmade comforter is unique and provides not only warmth but also a tangible message to people that their needs are not forgotten. Sarah Doerksen, MCC Great Lakes Ohio material resources coordinator, said making someone a handmade comforter may seem like a small thing, but the impact is priceless. This is the fourth Comforter Bash held in Northeast Ohio. Last year, volunteers knotted 220 comforters over two days. The inaugural event took place in 2020 as part of MCCs Great Winter Warm-up with events across the U.S., Canada and beyond. The Ohio event was postponed in 2021 but has grown each year since. Mujawayesu Emelita displays her MCC comforter at Meheba Refugee Settlement Camp in Zambia. Last year we had many young families participate in the comforter knotting who appreciated a local service opportunity that they could do as a family, Doerksen said. We also had a great outpouring of support from both the Amish and Mennonite communities, though you dont have to be Amish or Mennonite to come and learn how to knot a comforter to help those in need around the world. The event is being held at a new location in 2024 (Fairlawn Mennonite Church), as the previous location in Kidron was booked for spring weekends. We hope that people are still willing to travel the extra few miles to volunteer, Doerksen said. Weve had volunteers participate from several hours away and even a few that traveled from other states to join in the fun. 'Impactful to meet firsthand recipients of comforters' Last year MCC shipped 59,277 comforters to communities in Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Malawi, Syria, Ukraine and Zambia, along with Canada and the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Doerksen had the opportunity to travel to Zambia in southern Africa this fall with MCC to meet some of the people who received these comforters. It was very impactful to meet firsthand recipients of MCC comforters, she said. We visited the Pure Hope Childrens Home in the Meheba Refugee Camp where 21 children live in Zambia. Some have been orphaned, while others come from vulnerable family situations. After the group had finished eating together, the children were excited to show the MCC visitors the dormitory rooms where MCC comforters were being used on their bunk beds. One of the boys, an 11-year-old named Gift, was especially delighted to show me his bunk, Doerksen said. He had been living at the home for two years when I met him. The group also met Uwizeyiman Vanessa who traveled through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola before settling at Meheba. Before receiving her MCC comforter, she used a very thin white sheet and would often wake up at night because she was cold. Now, with the comforter, she says that she is very nice and warm, joking that she sometimes sleeps in because she is so cozy. She says, Whatever you can provide, I am very grateful. Recipients display their MCC comforters. MCC partner Association of Mennonite Brethren Churches of Ukraine (AMBCU) distributed MCC humanitarian assistance to socially and economically vulnerable people in the Zaporizhzhia region in October 2023. MCC serving humanity since 1920 In addition to the comforters, MCC also provides other material resources for people living in the refugee camp including canned meat, school kits and dignity kits. MCC was founded in 1920 when groups of Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren formed a committee to provide food and other assistance to people affected by war and famine in southern Russia, which is present-day Ukraine. Today MCC provides humanitarian relief, encourages sustainable development and strengthens peacebuilding initiatives in 45 countries. Comforters and blankets have been part of MCCs relief resources ever since the end of World War II. From left, Elijah King, Isaac Obri, Allison Hochstetler, Chloe Obri, Mara Steiner and Harris Steiner hold comforters and stand in front of stacks of completed comforters at the 2023 Ohio MCC Comforter Bash. Organizers are excited to hold the community event again this year and invite people of all ages and abilities to join the Comforter Bash on March 8-9. No experience is necessary, and all supplies and instruction will be provided. More information at mcc.org/ohio-comforter-bash. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Ohio MCC Comforter Bash benefits those in need worldwide Joe Biden visits his childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2020. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images Some US presidents, like Jimmy Carter, grew up on farms with no electricity or running water. Others, such as Donald Trump, grew up in mansions. Many of their birthplaces and childhood homes are now museums or national landmarks. All US presidents live in the White House during their terms, but the homes where they were raised have ranged from farms to mansions. Here's a glimpse into the way that 33 presidents grew up. George Washington grew up on Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, Virginia. George Washington's Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1955. Lawrence Thornton/Archive Photos/Getty Images The historic site features a replica of Washington's childhood home, where the family moved when he was 6 years old, according to Ferry Farm's official website. John Adams was born in 1735 in a rural cottage in Quincy, Massachusetts. Quincy, Massachusetts. Faina Gurevich/Shutterstock Joseph Penniman built the home now known as John Adams Birthplace in 1681, and John Adams' father purchased it in 1720, according to the National Park Service. Thomas Jefferson was born on a plantation named Shadwell, but spent most of his childhood at Tuckahoe Plantation in Virginia. Tuckahoe Plantation. Edith D. Tunis-Sale/National Park Service/Library of Congress Jefferson moved to Tuckahoe Plantation with his family when he was 2 years old, according to the property's official website. His education began in a one-room schoolhouse on the property that still stands today. James Madison grew up in a plantation house called Mount Pleasant, later expanded and renamed Montpelier in Orange County, Virginia. Montpelier in Virginia. Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock Growing up as the oldest son in a wealthy family, Madison studied math, geography, and languages with a number of tutors, according to Montpelier's official website. Reverend Thomas Martin studied with Madison at Montpelier and helped prepare him to attend the College of New Jersey. James Monroe was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1758. James Monroe's childhood home. The James Monroe Memorial Foundation Monroe lived in a 1,600-square-foot house with his parents and four siblings, according to Virginia's Department of Historic Resources. The historic home no longer exists, but a replica of Monroe's childhood home operated by The James Monroe Memorial Foundation opened in 2021. William Henry Harrison was born at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia. Historic Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia. OJUP/Shutterstock Berkeley Plantation was built in 1726 and is said to be the oldest three-story brick house in Virginia. William Henry Harrison's grandson Benjamin Harrison, who served as the 23rd US president, also lived on the plantation, according to its official website. The original log cabin where James K. Polk lived as a child no longer exists, but the President James K. Polk Historic Site recreates the homestead. The President James K. Polk Historic Site. North Carolina Historic Sites The 11th president was born in 1795 on a 150-acre farm in Pineville, North Carolina. Polk lived there until he was 11 years old and his family moved to Tennessee, according to the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites and Properties. Zachary Taylor's boyhood home is located in Louisville, Kentucky. Springfield. Kentucky Historical Society/Library of Congress Known as Springfield, the two-and-a-half-story house dates back to 1790, according to the National Park Service. Millard Fillmore, the 13th president, grew up in a log cabin in New Hope, New York. Millard Fillmore's childhood home in New Hope, Cayuga County, New York. Hulton Archive/Getty Images The cabin has been replaced with picnic tables and a plaque marking where it once stood. Franklin Pierce lived in a two-story home near Hillsborough, New Hampshire, until he married his wife, Jane, in 1834. Franklin Pierce's childhood home. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Pierce's father ran a popular tavern out of the house, according to the National Park Service. It also featured a ballroom on the second floor. Abraham Lincoln was born in a humble log cabin near Louisville, Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln's birthplace. Everett Historical/Shutterstock Today, a symbolic cabin similar to the one in which Lincoln was born is enclosed in a neoclassic memorial building on the site. Ulysses S. Grant's boyhood home is located in Georgetown, Ohio. Ulysses S. Grant's childhood home. ADC Bradley/Shutterstock Grant lived there from when he was 1 year old until he left for West Point in 1839, according to Ohio History Connection. Grover Cleveland was born in a two-story house in Caldwell, New Jersey. Grover Cleveland's birthplace. Kean Collection/Getty Images Cleveland is the only US president to serve two non-consecutive terms. He was the 22nd and 24th president. William McKinley's original birthplace burned down in 1937, but it was recreated at the McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center in Niles, Ohio. William McKinley's birthplace in Niles, Ohio, as it appeared in 1902. C.H. Graves/Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images There's also a replica of his home where it once stood, one block south of the McKinley Memorial and Museum in Niles, according to the Niles Historical Society. Theodore Roosevelt grew up in a townhouse in New York City. Teddy Roosevelt Birthplace, New York City. Joan Slatkin/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The townhouse is now a museum located at 28 East 20th Street in Manhattan. Roosevelt lived there until he was 14 years old, according to the National Park Service. William Howard Taft's birthplace is part of the William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Cincinnati, Ohio. The William Howard Taft National Historic Site. Tom Engberg/NPS Photo Taft lived in this home from his birth in 1857 until he left for college in 1874, according to the National Park Service. Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia. Woodrow Wilson's birthplace. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The house, located at 24 North Coalter Street in Staunton, was built in 1846, according to the National Park Service. Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office in the house where he was born and raised in Plymouth, Vermont. The Calvin Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth, Vermont. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images Coolidge became the 30th US president when Warren G. Harding died in 1923. Herbert Hoover was born in a two-room cottage in West Branch, Iowa, in 1874. Herbert Hoover's birthplace. IN Dancing Light/Shutterstock Hoover lived in the cottage until he was 3 years old with his parents and two siblings, according to the National Park Service's official website. Franklin D. Roosevelt's estate, known as Springwood, is located in Hyde Park, New York. Franklin D. Roosevelt's birthplace and residence in Hyde Park, New York. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images Roosevelt was born on the estate in 1882 and is buried there, as well. Harry Truman was born in a 20-by-28-foot house in Lamar, Missouri, in 1884. The birthplace of Harry Truman. Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images Truman is the only president who was born in Missouri. Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas, in 1890. Dwight D. Eisenhower's birthplace in Denison, Texas. RaksyBH/Shutterstock Eisenhower was born in the bedroom of a two-story house in Denison the first US president to be born in Texas, according to the Texas Historical Commission. His family then moved to Kansas when he was 18 months old. John F. Kennedy grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. John F. Kennedy's birthplace and childhood home. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Kennedy was born in the master bedroom of 83 Beals Street in Brookline in 1917 and lived there for the first 10 years of his life, according to the National Park Service. Lyndon B. Johnson hired an architect to reconstruct his childhood home in Johnson City, Texas. Lyndon B. Johnson's childhood home. Cynthia Dorminey/NPS Johnson lived there from when he was 5 years old until he graduated high school in 1924. According to the National Park Service's official website, the home had no electricity or indoor plumbing. Richard Nixon's birthplace and childhood home is located in Yorba Linda, California. Richard Nixon's birthplace and childhood home. Pamela Brick/Shutterstock Nixon's father built the one-and-a-half story house, where the future president was born in 1913. The Nixon family lived there until 1922, according to the National Park Service. Gerald Ford lived in this Grand Rapids, Michigan, home from ages 8 to 17. The boyhood home of President Gerald R. Ford. Morry Gash/AP Ford moved around a lot, but wrote in his memoir that he had the most vivid memories of 649 Union Street, according to Grand Valley State University. Jimmy Carter's family moved to a farm without indoor plumbing or electricity in Plains, Georgia, when he was 4 years old. The Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm. Jeffrey M. Frank/Shutterstock Carter helped harvest and sell cotton, peanuts, sugar cane, and corn until 1941, when he left for college, according to the National Park Service. Ronald Reagan's boyhood home is located in Dixon, Illinois. The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon, Illinois. David Mercer/AP Reagan moved many times throughout his childhood, but lived in this Dixon home from 1920 to 1924, according to the National Park Service. Bill Clinton spent the first four years of his life in Hope, Arkansas, living with his mother and maternal grandparents. Bill Clinton's childhood home in Hope, Arkansas. Danny Johnston/AP The two-and-a-half story house dates back to 1917, according to the National Park Service. George W. Bush lived in this Midland, Texas, home from ages 5 to 9. George W. Bush's childhood home in Midland, Texas. Evan Vucci/AP His parents George H.W. and Barbara Bush, also a former president and first lady, bought the house in 1951, according to the National Park Service's official website. Barack Obama's childhood home in Honolulu, Hawaii, sold for $1.8 million in 2021. Barack Obama's childhood home. Google Maps Obama lived in the 2,268-square-foot home from 1964 to 1967, according to the home's Zillow listing. Donald Trump grew up in Queens, New York, and moved to this brick house when he was 4 years old. Donald Trump's childhood home. Katie Warren/Business Insider Trump lived in the 23-room house until he left for a military boarding school at 13 years old. Joe Biden grew up in a three-story home on North Washington Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Joe Biden's childhood home. ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images He signed one of the walls in the home on Election Day, writing, "From this house to the White House with the grace of God. Joe Biden 11-3-2020," Politico reported. Read the original article on Business Insider A nationwide ban on abortions after 16 weeks of pregnancy which Donald Trump is considering backing, according to a New York Times report would prevent very few abortions in the United States. Trump, the front-runner to be the Republican presidential nominee, has not publicly spoken about the proposal. It would most likely keep in place more restrictive bans in the nearly half of states that have them, but would be a change for states where abortion remains largely unrestricted. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Such a law, which would require congressional action, would affect only a small minority of women seeking abortions. Before Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, just 4% of legal abortions happened at 16 weeks or later, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 41 states in 2021, the most recent available. Those women tend to have medically complicated pregnancies. By supporting such a ban, Trump may be trying to thread a needle: He could claim credit among conservatives for imposing more abortion restrictions, as he has done for installing three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe. But he could also try to appease more moderate Americans who are wary of stricter abortion bans. The relatively small number of abortions that would be prevented, and the unpopularity of further abortion restrictions as reflected in polling, suggest that it may be a difficult balancing act to pull off. A national 16-week limit would be more politically popular among Americans than complete abortion bans, but still not broadly popular. Around 40% of voters have said they are comfortable with abortion restrictions at around that time in a womans pregnancy, though public opinion on such matters is complicated. It is also later than Mississippis previous 15-week ban the law at issue in the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision that ended the constitutional right to abortion. Who gets abortions after 16 weeks now? The few people who get abortions at this stage of pregnancy are likely to face serious health risks, said Dr. Maria Isabel Rodriguez, director of the Center for Reproductive Health Equity at Oregon Health and Science University. The people seeking abortions at 16 weeks, while its a small number of women, are the people at greatest risk for maternal mortality and morbidity, she said. Many of the most serious pregnancy complications happen late in pregnancy, and many fetal abnormalities, including those to the fetuss brain, spinal cord or heart, cannot be detected until later than 16 weeks. They are often not found until 20 weeks of pregnancy, when doctors perform a major anatomy scan. Recent lawsuits have highlighted the experiences of women who learned of major medical conditions after 16 weeks of pregnancy, such as ruptured membranes or a fetus developing without a skull. Some women without medical problems also get abortions late in pregnancy because they learned they were pregnant late or struggled to get to an abortion provider sooner. Even in states where abortion remains legal, not all clinics provide abortions after the first trimester. Rodriguez said she believes more women in states with bans have been obtaining abortions later in pregnancy since Dobbs, because they needed to arrange out-of-state travel. There have been no major studies measuring the share of abortions occurring after any gestational cutoff since Dobbs. Twenty states already restrict abortion before 16 weeks most of those ban it entirely, and two, Arizona and Florida, ban it after 15 weeks. What is the political rationale for a 16-week ban? For Trump, a 16-week abortion ban might represent his best option on a politically treacherous issue. Supporting such a policy would make him more moderate on the issue than many Republicans, and could allow him to argue that other conservatives have gone too far. But it would also allow him to maintain some fidelity to anti-abortion voters who have supported him. We strongly agree with President Trump on protecting babies from abortion violence at 16 weeks, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a group that has long supported more extensive abortion restrictions. But while a 16-week ban might seem like a middle-ground position to some voters, its not a popular political one. Even some voters who say they oppose second-trimester abortions have little interest in a nationwide ban. A New York Times/Siena College poll in July found that voters opposed a federal 15-week ban, 53% to 38%, despite long-standing polling showing a majority of Americans oppose abortions after the first trimester. In another Times/Siena poll, a generic Republican candidate who backed a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy held a 1-point lead over a Democratic opponent. But a higher share of voters said theyd prefer a Republican who left abortion policy up to the states, the legal status quo. How would it compare with other countries? In some ways, a 16-week ban would make U.S. law more similar to that of peer countries. Only about a dozen countries allow abortion without any restrictions after 16 weeks; under Roe, the United States was part of a small group that did so until roughly 23 weeks. The most common cutoff worldwide is 12 weeks. But many of those countries also have robust policies to allow exceptions. Nearly all of them allow abortion on broad grounds beyond 16 weeks, such as risk to the persons mental health and in some cases due to the social and economic impact of the pregnancy, said Katy Mayall, director of strategic initiatives at the Center for Reproductive Rights, which studies abortion laws around the world and fights U.S. abortion restrictions in courts. The proposal Trump is said to be considering would have much narrower exceptions than European laws, allowing later abortions only in cases of rape, incest or threats to the womans life. The recent experience in states with similar abortion bans suggests those exceptions would be used infrequently. Because American abortion laws tend to impose significant criminal penalties on medical providers, doctors have been reluctant to provide abortions in ambiguous cases, even when there are serious threats to womens health. c.2024 The New York Times Company Back in 2019, when then-candidate Joe Biden was campaigning on the promise of restoring normalcy to American politics after three years of almost daily scandal and chaos in the White House, he made a prediction that would regularly come back to haunt him after becoming president. The thing that will fundamentally change things, said the former vice president at a campaign event in New Hampshire, is with Donald Trump out of the White House. You will see an epiphany occur among many of my Republican friends. This was a remarkable statement coming from the man who had served eight years as vice president under President Barack Obama, whose administration faced unprecedented levels of Republican obstructionism throughout most of his two terms. But it was also consistent with the former veeps lifelong faith in bipartisan cooperation. Bidens view of politics had been shaped by the nearly four decades he spent in the Senate, where he frequently worked with his Republican colleagues on bipartisan legislation (for better or worse). As a creature of the world's greatest deliberative body, Biden had always seen politics as an art of the possible, with compromise not conflict extolled as the highest principle. As journalist Franklin Foer elaborates in his acclaimed book on Bidens presidency, The Last Politician, politics for Biden is the means by which a society mediates its difference of opinion, allowing for peaceful coexistence. By this definition, it is an ethos that requires tolerance of competing truth and a set of rules whereby the side that fails to prevail in democratic decision-making accepts its defeat. One could hardly find a more antithetical vision of Bidens politics than the one currently held by most Republicans, who contra to Bidens prediction have yet to rediscover their long-lost commitment to bipartisan compromise. Indeed, if the past three years have shown us anything, it is that Republicans hardly need Donald Trump in the White House to push them towards anti-democratic extremes. For Republicans in the age of Trump, politics has degraded to something akin to war. It is a matter of friends and enemies, to borrow the famous distinction made a century ago by the crown jurist of Nazi Germany, Carl Schmitt. According to that notorious critic of liberalism, who many on the so-called New Right have come to embrace in recent years, the political represents the most intense and extreme antagonism between adversaries who seek to negate each others way of life. In the Schmittian view of politics, then, there is no way to forestall a decisive bloody battle (despite the efforts of liberals to transform politics into everlasting discussion). Post-Trump Republicans have effectively adopted Schmitts friend-enemy distinction as their own, while abandoning any previous commitments tenuous as they were to democratic compromise. The attempt by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election was the clearest example yet that a growing number of Republicans no longer grant any legitimacy to their political opponents or to Americas electoral system. After January 6, some anticipated a reckoning inside the GOP. In the days that followed the capital riot it was widely assumed that Trump and his allies had finally gone too far and would now face real consequences for their actions in this case a concerted attempt to block the peaceful transfer of power. But the subsequent normalization and trivialization of January 6 on the right shows that there is no going back to how things were before Trump. Indeed, the practical coronation of the former president as the 2024 Republican candidate confirms that Republicans have gone all in on Trump and his personal crusade against American democracy. The sheer degree to which Trump has captured the Republican Party became all the more clear earlier this month when Republicans torpedoed a bipartisan deal on border security that had been negotiated in the Senate for months. That deal, which was tied to Ukraine funding, represented major concessions from Biden to the right on immigration concessions that angered many of those to Bidens left. The border deal would have vastly increased funding for immigration enforcement, reduced the number of accepted asylum seekers from already low levels, and expedited the deportation process. But in the end, it was the right that blew up their own deal when it was effectively vetoed by their presumptive nominee in a flagrant attempt to keep chaos at the border alive. A Border Deal now would be another Gift to the Radical Left Democrats, declared Trump, acknowledging that prolonging the border crisis was a winning strategy for his campaign. Rather than voting for a bill that would have dramatically cracked down on the border and increased the number of agents, House Republicans instead chose to impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, in a political stunt that marked the first time a Cabinet member has been impeached since 1876. The collapse of the border deal came against the backdrop of an unfolding crisis in Texas, where state officials have refused to allow federal immigration agents access to a section of the border along the Rio Grande. After the Supreme Court ruled that Texas had to give federal border agents access in late January, the Lone Star states governor Greg Abbott issued a defiant statement in which he invoked long-discredited constitutional theories employed by Southern secessionists in the lead up to the Civil War. Declaring that the federal government had broken the compact between the states by failing to protect them from invasion in this case, illegal immigration the right-wing governor proclaimed that Texas had supreme authority that supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary, putting forward a modern spin on the concept of nullification. As Stephen Vladeck, a legal scholar at the University of Texas School of Law, observed in the Houston Chronicle, Abbotts argument has eerie parallels to the Antebellum-era idea that states have the right to nullify federal laws that they believe are unconstitutional, whether or not the courts agree with them. It also rests on a blatant misinterpretation of the Constitution. To justify his claims of supreme power, the governor cited an obscure clause that was actually intended to limit state powers, while offering a specious definition of invasion that was refuted by James Madison over two centuries ago. Abbotts embrace of Antebellum-era constitutional theories might have once earned him universal condemnation, but in 2024 it earned him almost unanimous praise from his fellow Republicans. In a joint statement issued shortly after Abbots, 25 Republican governors expressed their support for his defiance of both the Biden administration and the Supreme Court. Echoing their Texas counterpart, the governors accused the Biden administration of abdicating its constitutional compact duties to the states. Multiple governors have even sent some of their own troops and personnel to support the Texas governor in his standoff with the feds, which is currently ongoing. The crisis alongside the Texas border is just the latest instance of Republicans looking back to the Antebellum era for precedents to justify their increasingly atavistic behavior. Back in November, for example, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin cited the notorious 1856 caning of the Republican abolitionist Charles Sumner in the senate chamber as a precedent for him challenging Teamsters president Sean OBrien to a fistfight during a committee hearing. Well, we looked into the rules, and you know, you used to be able to cane, remarked the Oklahoma senator, who also pointed approvingly to the numerous duels of former president Andrew Jackson. Maybe we should bring some of that back, he mused. The vicious assault of Sumner by a slave-owning congressman which nearly killed the Massachusetts senator was not, in fact, deemed acceptable at the time, and triggered a national firestorm. But it was largely supported by the slave-defending Southern Democrats who would lead an insurrection just a few years later. With this kind of embrace of violence in the highest legislative body in the land, it is no wonder that political violence has surged over the past decade. Since 2016, the United States has undergone the biggest and most sustained increase in political violence since the 1970s, with the overwhelming majority of deadly attacks coming from far-right extremists. Both acts and threats of violence soared after the 2020 election, and with the Republican presidential candidate openly running on a campaign of retribution, one can expect more violence in the year ahead. For some Americans, the 2024 election has come to represent a final battle, as the former president has ominously framed it. When politics devolves into an existential struggle between two warring sides, it is only a matter of time before things become violent and no democratic system can long withstand the strains of political violence. The great danger in 2024 is not that it will be the final battle, however, but the first of many more devastating conflicts to come. The latest confrontation between Republican-led states and the Democratic-led executive branch shows that we have entered a new though hardly unprecedented chapter in the countrys history. Three years into his presidency, Joe Bidens friends in the Republican Party are nowhere to be found. Members of Ukraines National Guard Omega Special Purpose fire an SPG-9 anti-tank grenade launcher toward Russian troops in Avdiivka (Reuters) Russia has established full control of a key eastern frontline city, a day after Ukraines military chief announced a unilateral withdrawal from the area, the Kremlins defence minister claimed. The fight for the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, which had been waged for 10 years, had escalated over the past fortnight as Russian forces breached the citys northeast and southern edges, and proceeded to launch costly but ultimately unstoppable waves of assaults. Russias defence ministry yesterday said its troops had advanced 5.3 miles since Ukraines newly appointed military commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Sirsky, announced the withdrawal at the start of the weekend. The ministry had earlier said that Ukrainian units were still present in the city, mainly in Avdiivkas coke and chemical plant, which had become the last defensive stronghold. Measures are being taken to completely clear the town of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the town and are entrenched at the Avdiivka coke and chemical plant, said Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov. There has been no public comment yet from Ukrainian authorities. Russian state television showed blue and yellow Ukrainian flags being taken down in Avdiivka and Russias white, blue and red tricolour flag raised, including over the coke plant. Ukrainian soldiers pile up earthbags to build a fortification near Avdiivka on Saturday (AFP via Getty Images) Footage showed Ukrainian units fortifying defensive positions in Lastochkyne, a small town northwest of Avdiivka, while the military said they had repelled 14 attacks in the area since their withdrawal. Elsewhere, they claimed to have shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter jet and stopped a ground assault in the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region to the south. Thus far, Ukraine have destroyed or damaged 82 Russian combat aircraft, according to war tracker Oryx. On Saturday, Ukraine claimed to have shot down three fighter jets. The head of the Russian defence ministry, Sergei Shoigu, reportedly alerted president Vladimir Putin to the takeover of Avdiivka on Saturday night. Mr Putin later congratulated the Russian commander in charge of the assault on Avdiivka, Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev. Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in fulfilling the tasks of the special military operation! Mr Putin said in a telegram. He called the takeover an important victory. Capturing Avdiivka is likely to provide a morale boost for Russia ahead of Mr Putins bid for re-election next month, which he is certain to win. It is Russias biggest gain since capturing the city of Bakhmut in May 2023, and comes almost two years to the day since Mr Putin triggered a full-scale war by ordering the invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a speech at the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) It is also seen as another step towards securing Moscows hold on the regional centre of Donetsk, some 12 miles to the east, which has been held by Russian and pro-Russian forces since 2014. The city, once home to 32,000 people, was completely razed to the ground by months of Russian aerial assaults. Officials said that not a single building in the city was left intact, while less than 1,000 citizens remained. In a Saturday afternoon call to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, US president Joe Biden laid the blame for the fall of Avdiivka plainly with Donald Trump-supporting Republican representatives, who continue to block a multibillion-dollar weapons package for Ukraine. Ukraines military was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russias first notable gains in months, a statement after the call said. The US Senate, the upper chamber of Congress, has pushed through a $95.3bn (75.6bn) foreign aid package, roughly two-thirds of which is intended for Ukraine, but House speaker Mike Johnson insists he wont be rushed into approving the bill. House speaker Mike Johnson has blocked a vote on a $95.3bn foreign aid package from the US, roughly two-thirds of which is intended for Ukraine (Getty Images) As the speaker of the lower chamber, he has blocked a vote on the bill despite overwhelming support from most Democrats and almost half the Republicans. Senator aaJD Vance, an Ohio Republican and ally of Donald Trump, said yesterday that the problem in Ukraine is that theres no clear end point and that the US doesnt make enough weapons to support wars in eastern Europe, the Middle East and potentially in East Asia. Mr Trump, who is expected to be the Republican nominee for the presidential election later this year, has called for the bill to be blocked. Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, accused his Western partners of creating an artificial deficit of weapons, without naming the Republican Party. In a speech at the Munich Security Conference, he said: Dear friends, unfortunately keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war. The self-weakening of democracy over time undermines our joint results. Our actions are limited only by ... our strength, he added, pointing to the situation in Avdiivka. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Sunday weighed in on former President Trumps various legal cases, arguing they feed into his chaos, and are taking away resources for GOP presidential campaign. Sununu, speaking with Fox News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream on Sunday, pointed to Trumps nearly $50 million spent on legal costs and argued his resources will be depleted ahead of the November election. So where are the resources going to come from? The RNC itself has a record low amount of cash on hand because of his leadership and his type of message, he said. You need everybody to get in here. If you dont get those suburban moms back, you dont get some of those young voters back, you cannot win in November. And thats what this is about. Pressed on if he thinks the legal cases against Trump are legit, nonpartisan and apolitical, Sununu said, No, I dont. But that doesnt matter. Hes still going to have to spend $50 to $100 million defending himself. Thats kind of the point that whether its legitimate or not doesnt matter, hes got this chaos that surrounds him. It absolutely does and will keep surrounding him if he were to become president, right? So nothing is going to ultimately get done. So whether you buy off on them or not really doesnt matter. The fact is they are his chaos and hes got to handle it, he continued. Sununu is a staunch supporter of former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley Trumps main GOP primary challenger who has repeatedly called out what she also calls chaos around the former president. Trump faces a total of 91 criminal charges spread among four state and federal criminal indictments. He is also facing more than a half-dozen civil lawsuits. Despite his ongoing legal battles, Trump has maintained a wide lead in the GOP primary field. He has a nearly 63-point lead over Haley in national polling, according to poll aggregations from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. In Haleys home state of South Carolina, which will hold its primary later this month, the former president has more than a 31-point lead over the former governor. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Another atmospheric river storm is expected to bring rain and colder temperatures to the Victor Valley as it rolls into Southern California. The storm is expected to move in from the west and last from Sunday night into Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service reported. On Monday, gusty winds and moderate rainfall will continue across San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. Another atmospheric river storm is expected to bring three days of rain and colder temperatures as it rolls into Southern California, including the Victor Valley. Windy conditions and moderate to heavy rain is expected Tuesday, with snow levels in the San Bernardino Mountains dropping to 7,000 to 8,000 feet throughout the day and 6,000 to 6,500 feet overnight. Light showers are expected to last through Wednesday morning and begin tapering off by the afternoon. During the storm, the Victor Valley is expected to receive .2 to .5 inches of rain, with the Cajon Pass and Phelan areas seeing up to 1.5 inches. Temperatures during the storm are expected to range from 41 to 58 degrees in places like Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville. Another atmospheric river storm is expected to bring three days of rain and colder temperatures as it rolls into Southern California, including the Victor Valley. Flood warnings Just like the previous storm, the upcoming storm will bring flooding concerns, particularly in the foothills. As much as 8 inches of rain could hit part of Los Angeles and the foothills of Southern California, the National Weather Service said. Portions of Southern California are under an evacuation warning Sunday as rain fall is set to hit the already rain soaked region. Warnings for Santa Barbara County went into effect Saturday and will last through Wednesday. The warnings cover burn areas and locations near rivers that are expected to swell with the storm. Parts of San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties are under flood watches, according to the National Weather Service. The storm is a continuation of the atmospheric river, which dumped over a foot of rain in Los Angeles. "This system has the potential to bring high impact weather and flooding concerns to the area through Tuesday evening," the NWS said.The storm could bring up to 8 inches of rain in the mountains causing mudslides. The storm is predicted to bring waves of up to 20 feet in Santa Barbara County. Southern Californians are warned to avoid low-lying areas during the onslaught of the storm early in the week and to prepare for potential power outages, the weather service said. Conditions will finally dry out Thursday and into next weekend. Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Three-day storm expected to bring rain, cold to the Victor Valley Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) on Sunday dismissed former President Trumps recent remarks on NATO and his silence on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, instead touting that he believed the former president made the world safer during his White House term. Pressed Sunday by CNN State of the Union anchor Jake Tapper on why Trump has not weighed in on the death of Navalny, Scott said, I think a better question, really, is lets look at the middle. Lets look at the middle of the challenges that we face today across the globe. And when President Trump was our president, there was no incursion in Ukraine, like there was under President Obama, he continued. When Trump left office, there was an actual all-out war in Ukraine. And so, when you ask the question about keeping Putin in check, you look at the actions and the administration of Donald Trump, and you come to one clear conclusion that without question, Ukraine was safer, the world was safer, and America was certainly safer. Tapper pressed on this argument and contended Navalny was not safer when he died in prison on Friday. The Russian opposition leader was 47 years old and serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. In December, he was moved from a different prison to the highest security level facility in Russia. President Biden has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of Navalny, calling his death more proof of Putins brutality. Trump has yet to speak publicly on Navalnys death, drawing criticism from his political opponents, including GOP challenger Nikki Haley who called on the former president to call out Putin for Navalnys death, and for the imprisonment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia for nearly a year. Tapper turned the focus to Trumps controversial remarks about NATO last weekend, in which the former president recounted how an unidentified foreign leader once questioned him about his threat not to defend members who fail to reach the alliances defense spending targets. Trump claimed he told the leader he would encourage Russia to do whatever it wishes and recalled saying, You didnt pay? Youre delinquent. Tapper then played a clip of Scotts remarks on NATO three months ago, in which the South Carolina lawmaker pointed to the importance of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. It states any attack on a NATO member in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. Asked how his remarks square with Trumps comments, Scott said, I was 100 percent right then. Ill tell you this, without any question, from the beginning of the Ukraine war, what weve seen is actually Joe Biden dragging his feet, Scott said. This is after we saw the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, weve seen war in Ukraine, we have conflict in the Middle East, we have instability in the Indo-Pacific. What we need is strong American leadership. Tapper pointed out Trumps opposition to further aid to Ukraine, to which Scott said, Well, weve already supported Ukraine with over $100 billion. And when I said that Joe Biden dragged his feet getting into this conflict in the beginning, I meant that look at the fact that we follow Germany, we follow Germany to help Ukraine not a NATO ally, but they help Ukraine. That is a really important first step that set us back months. What weve been doing since then is playing catch-up. Trumps remarks on NATO drew scrutiny from a slew of politicians, including Haley a former Untied Nations ambassador who accused Trump of siding with a thug, in reference to Putin. Scott, in an appearance on Fox News Sunday, called Haleys suggestion ridiculous. Im not sure what Nikkis doing right now. I think shes desperate, without question, shes going to lose her home state [by] double digits, Scott said, in reference to South Carolinas primary slated for later this month. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. This week sees the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine with the Wests belligerent rhetorical response to the aggressors belied by the reality of its commitment to the defenders. In 2022 it was imagined, not least in the Kremlin, that Russian forces would rapidly subjugate Ukraine and install a pro-Moscow puppet regime in Kyiv. But Vladimir Putin reckoned without heroic Ukrainian resistance and assumed Nato would do little to help beyond ritual condemnation. The despot was emboldened by the experience of 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea, to believe the West would buckle. But as military aid poured into Ukraine, the defenders were able to push Russias forces back to the eastern provinces they had largely held since 2014. A stalemate has developed with sporadic gains for either side, most recently Russias capture of Avdiivka. This eastern city has been reduced to rubble and an estimated 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed in the assault. President Joe Biden said the city has fallen because the Ukrainians lacked the hardware to defend it, largely because the US Congress is blocking further arms shipments. Although a 75 billion foreign security bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan was passed by the Senate last week following months of negotiations, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives has so far refused to commit to bringing the bill to a vote, a requirement of its final passage. The president voiced his incredulity that the House had gone into a two-week recess at such a time. At the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Volodomyr Zelensky said this aid was essential to the war efforts and urged Nato to plug the gap in his defences. But that must mean more help from Europe, too. Donald Trump has made the failure of the Europeans to spend enough on their own defence a key campaign message ahead of the presidential elections. It is not just overall budgets that need to be addressed and it will take time to meet the target of at least two per cent of GDP. Ukraine needs weaponry now and waiting for the Americans to cough up is not good enough. The response among Nato leaders to the death of Alexei Navalny in a Siberian gulag has been robust, with warnings that President Putin will face dire consequences, including more unspecified sanctions. But the outrage will be meaningless if Russia is allowed to turn the tide in its war because the West let Ukraine down when it mattered. 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 Trident LS-1 will be a hydrofoil vehicle that uses blades to lift the body of the boat for a smoother ride. Flying cars are no longer a thing of the future, and neither is the need to choose between commuting on land or sea, at least for those who live by the water. Poseidon AmphibWorks, a company based in San Diego and Miami, plans to revolutionize the car-boat vehicle by delivering a what it says will be a tranquil experience, whether you're on a busy freeway or in a bustling bay. Since most existing amphibious vehicles move over water as bumpy as a jet ski, CEO and founder Steve Tice said he sought to create a vehicle for the day-to-day commute. Since 2021, Tice and amphibious vehicles expert Andy Langesfeld have been working on the Trident LS-1. As a hydrofoil, the vehicle features blades, or vanes, that elevate the body of the boat for a smoother ride. Hydrofoils remove 60% of the drag oversea and make steadier turns because the hull is out of the water, Tice said. The Trident LS-1 will be the world's first hydrofoil electric car-boat designed to prevent seasickness caused by a vessel's erratic motion on water, according to the company. "People that couldn't even ride in small boats will finally be able to ride without any motion sickness. So basically flying over the water," Poseidon AmphibWorks founder Steve Tice recently told USA TODAY. "Because gravity is still pushing you through your rear end, you still feel like you're on an airplane. When you make a turn you don't feel strange, it feels natural." AP VR Set: People mocked AirPods and marveled at Segways, where will Apple's Vision Pro end up? Three-wheel car-boat fits four people Trident LS-1, which will begin prototype production later this year, will be an electric three-wheel vehicle that can reach speeds of up to 95 mph on land. The electric three-wheel vehicle will reach speeds of up to 95 mph on land and drive directly onto the water along a launching ramp, Tice said. For those who live near water, the Trident LS-1 will use multi-modal transportation for getting to the office or having a weekend fishing trip. The vehicle features three permanent seats, including a center driver seat and two rear ones, as well as an additional fold-down center seat, Tice said. Drivers will be able to park the 7 foot-long vehicle in their garage, a key requirement for the engineering company. The vehicle also removes the need for a tow vehicle, which runs the risk of falling into the water while releasing a boat, Tice said. Tice said the company decided the vehicle would run on three wheels to avoid adding extra weight while maintaining the stability of any four-wheeler. He added that the car-boat will have all necessary safety feature from air bags, a tubular aluminum roll cage and multiple cameras. 'Basically flying over water' As a hydrofoil, the Trident LS-1 is a car-boat that moves like a plane. While not made for high surf, the vehicle ensures riders avoid all the ripples of 1- to 2-foot waves. "You're basically flying over the water at about 3 feet," Tice said. When driving on land, Tice said the hydrofoil's vanes, or blades, retract into the vehicle so they can't be damaged by road objects like rocks. When moving on water, users have control over much of the vanes are deployed, depending on the depth of the water. Tice said it's also a "vey maneuverable boat" that uses thrusters that turn on a dime, allowing the vehicle to stay in one spot over water for fishing or head toward any direction. Princess Cruises: 'Love Boat' theme cruise setting sail later this year Vehicle to be sold in $100,000 to $130,000 range The Trident LS-1 is expected to be sold directly to the consumer at $100,000, Tice said. Poseidon AmphibWorks will work with a number of dealers who will provide service and local support for around an additional $30,000. With proper boat registration and a driver's license, anyone will be able to take the car-boat for a spin. "You don't need a special license," Tice said. "We are certainly going to train people. We don't want them to crash this thing." The company said the vehicle will appeal to a number of markets, including people who live on the coast, near waterway rivers or on islands. He added that it will also appeal to RV owners who can eliminate the burden of having to tow two vehicles, as well as yacht owners who don't want to steer their home to shore to buy groceries. He also said it makes the perfect starter boat for electric car owners. The company is looking into commercial taxi uses, delivery services and military interest, Tice said. Trident LS-1 joins league of car-boats Car-boats are not a thing of the future and the Trident LS-1 is far from being the first. The Amphicar was built in Germany in the 1960s. The small but heavy amphibious vehicle reaches speeds of 7 mph on water and 70 mph on land. In 1999, the first WaterCar vehicle was introduced, and in 2007 it earned the Guinness World Record for being the fastest amphibious vehicle at 60 mph across water and 127 mph on land. Other amphibious vehicles include the Amphi-Ranger, Gibbs High Speed Amphibians, the Hobbycar and the Dutton. Prototype to be completed later this year Figure model of the Trident LS-1, which is expected to complete prototype production in late 2024. The creators have not started building and are currently finalizing the plan for the prototype, expected to be finished by the end of the year, Tice said. "By December 2024, we will have a prototype in the water here in San Diego," he said. By then the company plans to begin accepting deposits for the vehicles. Around December 2025, the company will sell to California customers so they can be helped at their San Diego location in case of service. Tice said non-California customers should also be able to pick up a Trident-LS1 in California at that time and hopes the company can ship to out-of-state customers by June 2025. "It's not a vehicle for everybody," he said. "But if you're within a distance of a body of water that you'd like to recreate at or wish you could, there's your first boat." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Electric car-boat designed for smooth ride. How much will it cost? SAN DIEGO, the United States, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Saturday kicked off a two-day special event to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. Paul Baribault, president and CEO of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, hosted the opening ceremony of the annual event, which was attended by Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international nonprofit conservation organization in California. It has the largest zoological society membership in the world, with more than 250,000 member households and 130,000 child memberships. Besides wishing all visitors and their loved ones good health and prosperity in the Year of the Dragon, Baribault praised the joint efforts of the alliance and its Chinese partners in breeding and protecting giant pandas and other species while addressing the opening ceremony. "Each year inspires passion for nature, we shared nearly 30 years of cooperation with our Chinese conversation partners and together we helped transform the future," he said, noting "together we can make the impossible possible for wildlife, for people on the planet we share." He said the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration reflected the friendship between the two countries' people and how the partnerships make things possible. Guo echoed Baribault's wish and highlighted the zoo's cooperation with its Chinese partners on a research project on giant pandas, the first between the two countries. "The San Diego Zoo made significant breakthroughs in improving the survival rate of panda cubs and successfully bred six panda cubs," Guo recalled. "Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu were once the superstars of the zoo and attracted many loyal fans, men or women, old or young." The panda "Bai Yun," which means "White Cloud" in Chinese, arrived at the San Diego Zoo in 1996 and lived there for 23 years, becoming the symbol of the zoo. "Bai Yun" and its last cub, "Xiao Liwu," which means "Little Gift" in Chinese, returned to their hometown in China in 2019, but the pavilion where they lived is still a popular spot for tourists. Citing the wildlife conservation efforts by the zoo and its Chinese partners as a good example of cooperation between the two biggest economies in the world, Guo pledged to promote people-to-people exchanges and mutually beneficial collaboration, writing a new chapter in the China-U.S. friendship. "We hope that our two peoples will make more visits, contacts and exchanges. We welcome more American youths to visit China and explore a real, comprehensive and multi-dimensional China," Guo said. During the celebration event, guests to the zoo hung New Year wishes on trees, received red envelopes with gifts inside, met with specialists and learned about wildlife. Guests were invited to tie red ribbons with their wishes to the "wishing trees" in the park. "Wishes for a world where all life thrives," Baribault wrote. "The friendship between the people of China and the United States is evergreen," Guo's wish card read. If youve been planning to buy a Samsung Galaxy Watch, the discounts from this years Samsung Galaxy Watch Presidents Day deals may be what youve been waiting for to push through with your purchase. Samsungs answer to the Apple Watch is highly recommended for Android smartphone owners, and even more so for those who are using Samsung Galaxy smartphones. However, no matter if youre going for the latest models or previous generations of the wearable device, you should hurry with your transaction because the holiday sales are ending soon. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Presidents Day deals The Galaxy Watch 5 on a person's wrist. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and its larger and more rugged counterpart, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, may be previous-generation models of Samsungs wearable device, but theyre still worthwhile purchases because of their smooth performance and comprehensive features by todays standards. Were not sure how much stock is left for these Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Presidents Day deals though, so you better hurry with your purchase if you dont want to miss out. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Presidents Day deals The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic next to each other. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic are both included in our list of the best smartwatches. They each have certain advantages over the other, such as the simple and sporty design of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the rotating bezel of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, but for the most part, they are very similar in terms of their health and fitness tracking. Choose what you want to buy and proceed with the transaction immediately while these Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Presidents Day deals are still online. More Samsung Galaxy Watch Presidents Day deals you can shop now The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and Watch 4 side-by-side. While the performance and features of older models of the Samsung Galaxy Watch will pale in comparison to the latest models, theyre excellent choices if youre just starting to get into the smartwatch habit, and if you want to stick to a tight budget. You will experience some limitations when you go for these Samsung Galaxy Watch Presidents Day deals below, but not too much as these are still some pretty decent wearable devices. In October 2022, when I first reviewed the RTX 4090, I called it both a complete waste of money and the most powerful graphics card ever made. Thats even more true now that it was more than a year ago. The AI boom shortly after the launch of the RTX 4090, combined with some international restrictions on the GPU, has caused prices to skyrocket to unattainable places, moving the affordability from unlikely to basically impossible. But thats changing. Reports indicate that prices are slowly dropping, moving from a high of $2,200 down to around $2,000. Thats still way above the GPUs list price of $1,600, but the trajectory now is at least positive. Even with prices starting to drop, the RTX 4090 isnt worth the money, and it might never be. Thats OK. It has nothing to do with the performance of the GPU. The RTX 4090 represents the pinnacle of a halo product in a GPU stack, and although its great to look at and salivate over the performance the GPU offers, it makes a lot less now than it did in 2022. Shifting value Jacob Roach / Digital Trends When Nvidia first launched the RTX 4090, it didnt look as crazy as it does today. Would you believe that it actually provided a better value than the RTX 4080? If you picked up an RTX 4090 around the time it was released, you got one hell of a deal. Its hard to call a piece of hardware built for playing video games that costs $1,600 a deal, but at least Nvidia gave buyers a compelling reason to spend that much money. Thats not the case today. Not only is the RTX 4090 still selling for above list price, with prices ranging between $1,800 and $2,000, the RTX 4080 is also much cheaper. Nvidias refreshed RTX 4080 Super offers basically identical performance to the base model, but it comes in at a new price of $1,000. The value equation between the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 is much different today than it was a year ago, with the RTX 4080 getting cheaper and the RTX 4090 getting more expensive. Jacob Roach / Digital Trends Around a year ago, the RTX 4090 was around 33% more expensive than the RTX 4080. Now, youll spend double on the RTX 4090. We usually see prices drop in a uniform way as a generation draws to a close, particularly for flagship models, but the unforeseen demand for the RTX 4090 in AI work has caused it to stay at an inflated price that it still hasnt recovered from. There was a narrow window around the time the RTX 4090 released where it made sense, but its hard to justify now. Even if the card is able to drop back down to list price, the falling price of the RTX 4080 with its Super refresh still places a large price gap between the two cards. Prices are still dropping, and the RTX 4090 could reach list price soon. Even then, the price drop on the RTX 4080 Super makes the $1,600 list price too high. I would hold off on buying the GPU unless you see a model below list price, which doesnt seem likely any time soon. Again, none of this has to do with the performance for the RTX 4090. Its a fantastic GPU, and if you happen to have $2,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you should pick one up. Just because something is affordable to you, though, doesnt mean its worth it. Thats the situation the RTX 4090 is in as we go deeper into 2024. A cautionary tale Jacob Roach / Digital Trends I purchased an RTX 3090 at the height of the GPU shortage. I was able to score a deal on one for list price about a year before the RTX 4090 would release, and I went for it. The $1,500 I spent on the card sounded a lot better than the $2,000 or more that the GPU was going for on the secondhand market. Last year, I sold the GPU for $800 on eBay, making out with about $650 after fees. Its a good reminder of how quickly PC hardware moves and how much value you can lose once a new generation shows up. I wouldnt want to be one of the few that picked up an RTX 3090 Ti when it released, only for the card to be trounced by the RTX 4090 less than six months later. Now, even the $600 RTX 4070 Super provides close to identical performance to the RTX 3090 for a third of the price. This isnt new, either. The $1,000 RTX 2080 Ti was the head honcho when it released in 2018, but it was matched by the $500 RTX 3070 two years later. If you bought the RTX 2080 Ti early, it was great. But it made less and less sense to buy as time went on, and the RTX 4090 is no different. Halo products are destined to get outclassed, and thats not a problem. Those buyers in the first wave have a status symbol they can hang on to for a few years, and hopefully something that will carry them for several years beyond that. But, the more you spend on a GPU, the more likely it is that your card will lose its value when the next generation arrives. What better marketing is there for a company like Nvidia than saying its new $600 GPU can perform as well as one that used to cost $1,500? The RTX 4090 is reaching that point. Signs point to Nvidia launching its next generation of desktop graphics cards in 2025, and even without a shred of evidence, Im willing to bet money that there will be some new monstrous GPU that makes the RTX 4090 look like childs play. Then the midrange cards will come, and well be in the same situation we are now, asking thats what we thought a flagship was before? Only flagship for a time Jacob Roach / Digital Trends I dont want you to leave here with the impression that its always a bad idea to spend up for flagship hardware. The idea of waiting for the next generation to upgrade is a cycle that youll never break of course, if you wait long enough, youll be able to get better performance for less money. You can still bring some nuance to that idea, keeping in mind when new hardware is likely to launch and letting that guide your buying decisions. Given Nvidias normal cadence of GPU releases, were likely looking at months, not years, before the next generation. And by the time the RTX 4090 even reaches list price, it will probably be too late to truly get any value out of it before the next halo GPU shows up on store shelves. Santiago Ochoa's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. Swiss-owned Nestle Hungaria is investing 55 billion forints (EUR 141.3m) to expand its pet food facility in Buk, in western Hungary, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said, adding that the investment will create 130 jobs. The new unit will contain two manufacturing lines, enabling the plant to double its production to 500,000 tonnes of Purina feed a year from 2025. Fully 85% of the product will be exported, Peter Szijjarto said. Meanwhile, the government is supporting the investment by financing infrastructure development in the region, revamping roads and water-pipe networks in the area, he added. The project is part of Nestle Hungarias five-year development period between 2020 and 2025, when the company plans to invest a total of 300 billion forints, creating 600 jobs in the process, Szijjarto added. Noting that Nestle operates 344 plants in 77 countries in the world, Szijjarto praised the companys readiness to train its employees in using cutting-edge technology. Hungarys government has supported such training programmes with a 193 million forint grant, he said. Since the plant purchases more than half of the raw materials used in production from local suppliers, local SMEs will also benefit from the investment, he added. It will also contribute to Hungarys robust food industry which has hit record after record despite all [recent] crises, Szijjarto said. The sectors production value went to 6,500 billion forints in 2023 from 3,800 billion in 2020, he said. In the past decade, the government has supported 72 large investments worth a total of 1,000 billion forints in the sector, he said. You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary 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! While all its F1 rivals have already showcased their new challengers for the 2024 season, Williams new FW46 is late to the party and remains shrouded in mystery, fueling speculation and anticipation. Last week in New York, Williams unveiled the livery of its 2024 challenger but stopped short of offering the media any technical details on its new design. The FW46 has been the focus of the team for many months and there is still a tremendous effort going in from everyone at Grove to deliver our challenger for this year, Williams team boss James Vowles commented at the event. Instead of the usual pre-season shakedown at Silverstone, the cars track debut will take place on Tuesday just a day before testing begins in Bahrain. This delay, according to Vowles, stems from a conscious decision to take "a huge amount of risk" with the car's design and development. He describes the changes as "absolutely enormous," breaking away from the team's traditional technology cycles. This aligns with Vowles' vision for Williams, emphasizing the need for improved equipment and a modernized approach to compete effectively in the current F1 landscape. While acknowledging the delay, Vowles expresses confidence that the FW46 embodies this bold approach. It represents the first car designed under his leadership and marks a significant step forward for the team's ambitions. What we were doing with this car is pushing everything to the limits, Vowles said, quoted by The Race. And to give you ideas about that, the chassis technology is different, some of the other technologies are quite different to what we've done before. Those changes are enormous for an organisation, absolutely enormous. Some of those have challenged us to push ourselves beyond where we wanted to be. You simply can't do everything at the same time, you can't change what you're doing and break technology cycles, and put yourself in a much better performance situation, without taking an enormous amount of risk. And we have, but there's no doubt about it having the car where we have it now, and you'll see it in Bahrain, is late. Vowles quickly alleviated any concerns about Williams botching its preparation, like the crisis it endured in 2019 when its car missed the start of pre-season testing. Instead, the team has opted to prolong its virtual testing to avoid wasting track time at Silverstone in potentially unfavourable conditions. While concerns linger about the delay, Vowles' confidence in the FW46's innovative approach suggests Williams is betting on a new strategy for success, distancing themselves from past failures. We could easily have run down there, he said. But there was a balance between doing the virtual track test and Silverstone. A bit of it is we've pushed ourselves to the absolute limits, a bit of it is actually I believe far more in doing other testing, if you'd like to call it that, and then use Bahrain as the opportunity to get started. Beyond its embedded innovative design philosophies, the FW46 promises a significant shift in on-track behaviour compared to its predecessor. Williams has struggled in recent seasons, particularly on tracks with demanding corners and low-speed sections with a car that often lacked the aerodynamic efficiency and balance required for these technical layouts. Both Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant have reported positive changes based on their sim experiences, suggesting the FW46 has addressed its weaknesses. While the actual results remain to be seen, the FW46 represents a bold attempt to overcome past issues and propel Williams toward a more competitive future. The new design aims to be a well-rounded contender, conquering the weaknesses that plagued its predecessor. Vowles acknowledged the need for a comprehensive overhaul, focusing on vehicle dynamics, performance, and aerodynamics to create a solid foundation for 2024. This involved fostering open communication within the team, ensuring no department feels solely responsible for the car's performance. This approach embodies Vowles' vision for a collaborative and forward-thinking Williams, striving for consistent competitiveness. The base package wasnt bad, it's just marred by a number of other things, explained the former Mercedes strategist. A lot of the focus we've put on is making sure that we understand what those are, put science to it, understand what's moving it and what's not, use simulation technology to understand how to replicate. And once replicated, make significant changes - and they are significant - to how we develop the car aerodynamically in order to overcome that. And it's not just aerodynamics its probably three or four areas coming into it. I made it clear to the organisation that the weight of failure will rest on my shoulders. I don't want anyone to be restrained by a fear of failure, I don't want anyone to be restrained by a fear of pushing outside the boundaries of what we're comfortable. [I told them] now's the time, and you have my support, to break what you know, and start again, and go back to the fundamentals and get them right. All too often, it is too easy to do something you feel comfortable with and therefore you only move the car a small percent forwards. We pushed things right to the limit and very late, there's no doubt about it. And there are times where I don't mind admitting I wasn't sleeping for probably days at a time, because the weight of 1000 people falls on your shoulders. But I'm confident that what we are doing is right for the future. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter New Delhi: Director Kiran Rao draws close the anticipation for the film is building day by day. The trailer has received unanimous love from the audiences and they are waiting to enter into the entertaining and humorous world with the film, releasing in cinemas on March 1st, 2024. Makers are organizing the screening for the students in various cities and after a blockbuster response to the screening at Sehore and Jaipur, the team recently kept a screening in Bangalore. The screening was attended by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao and the lead cast Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav, and following the screening, the team visited IIM Bangalore. The screening of the film in Bangalore is another successful event for the much-awaited film as the film got a roaring response from the students of IIM College. The students who watched the film showered unanimous love on the film's storytelling and lauded the makers for another qualitative content that is laced with solid performance from the lead cast. During their visit to the IIM Bangalore, Aamir Khan and team Laapataa Ladies interacted with the students of the college. IIM Bangalore is one of those places, where Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan shot their blockbuster film '3 Idiots'. 'Laapataa Ladies' is directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan and Jyoti Deshpande. The film Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav along with Ravi Kishan is releasing on March 1st, 2024, and has been made under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions, with the script based on an award-winning story by Biplab Goswami. The screenplay and dialogue are written by Sneha Desai, while the additional dialogues have been jotted down by Divyanidhi Sharma. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently led his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through Bihar where former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav joined him for some parts. The duo not only rode in a jeep but also shared dias and addressed a rally together. Days after the Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Uttar Pradesh from Bihar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has announced to lead the 'Jan Vishwas Yatra' in the state, which appears to be in line with Rahul Gandhi's ongoing yatra. "From public trust to public development. For new sunrise of development, for a permanent trustworthy government," said Tejashwi Yadav on X. The Yatra will travel through Bihar's Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Shivhar. But can these yatras help opposition parties counter NDA might and the popularity of Narendra Modi? Takeaway From Assembly Elections 2023 The recently concluded assembly election results show that Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra had a limited impact on voters and the voter's decision was driven by state-level issues and promises. While in Karnataka, people voted for free bus rides, electricity and financial aides, in Madhya Pradesh, voters again opted for BJP due to the 'Ladali Behan Yojana' and the combined popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Of the three poll-bound states - Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan - that Rahul Gandhi visited during his yatra last year, it lost polls in two. Historical Data From Bihar The data from Bihar polls show that Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United remains the kingmaker despite his flip-flops. Whichever side Nitish is on, that alliance gets an advantage in the elections - be it the Lok Sabha polls or assembly elections in Bihar. Bihar Lok Sabha Election Results 2014 (JDU part of RJD-Cong Alliance) Party-----------Seat------------Vote Share BJP--------------22-------------29.86% LJSP-------------6---------------6.5% RLSP------------3 ----------------3% RJD-------------4----------------20.46% JDU-------------2----------------16.04% Congress-------2-----------------8.56% Bihar Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 (JDU part of NDA Alliance) Party--------------Seat--------------Vote Share BJP-----------------17-----------------24% JDU----------------16-----------------22.26% LJSP----------------6-------------------8% Congress-----------1-------------------7.85% In 2014, when Nitish Kumar was part of the Congress-RJD alliance, the NDA won 31 out of the 40 seats while in 2019 when the JDU was with the BJP, NDA won 39 seats while RJD failed to open its account. Thus, if the voting pattern remains similar to the 2019 polls, then the RJD-Congress may again find it tough to defy the Modi magic without Nitish Kumar. While yatra may boost Tejashwi's popularity, whether it will reflect in the RJD's vote share remains to be seen. Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, many flip-flops are expected in the political sector and some of them have already happened just like in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Now, there are speculations that former Madhya Pradesh CM and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath may join the BJP severing his decades-old ties with the grand old party. When asked about his plans to join the BJP, Kamal Nath did not deny and instead told reporters that if he takes any such decision then he would definitely tell the media. Jitu Patwari Terms Reports Baseless On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari rejected such reports saying that Kamal Nath won't leave Congress. "For the first time when Kamal Nath fought elections, then Indira Gandhi said that Kamal Nath is her third son...in the 45 years of political journey of Kamal Nath, in both our good times and bad times, he has been working with the party....I still remember when Scindia toppled the Congress government in MP, all the Congress workers stood with Kamal Nath's leadership and ideology....I would like to request that the news that is speculated are baseless," said Patwari. Digvijaya Singh Drops Big Hint However, former Madhya Pradesh CM and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that he and the party leadership are in constant touch with Kamal Nath. While Singh did not reveal details, his statement indicates that Congress leadership is aware of the development. #WATCH | On being asked if Kamal Nath will join BJP, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says "...I am constantly in touch with Kamal Nath, the Congress leadership is having discussions with him. A person like him, who started with Congress, whom we all considered to be the third son pic.twitter.com/lOe9wKIyKa ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024 "I am constantly in touch with Kamal Nath, the Congress leadership is having discussions with him. A person like him, who started with Congress, whom we all considered to be the third son of Indira Gandhi, has always supported Congress and has been a pillar of the Congress party. He was the cabinet minister in the Centre, State Congress Committee President and Chief Minister. He got all the posts. I don't think he will leave the party," said Singh. New Delhi: Addressig the Bharatiya janata Party (BJP) Convention on Thursday at the Bharat Madapam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his confidence in the party's return to the poewer in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. PM Modi also heavily critisied the opposition party and said that the Congress has no vision for the development of the country. "Today every country in the world is emphasizing on building deeper relations with India. Despite pending elections, I've received invitations from various countries extending into July, August, and September. This suggests widespread confidence in the potential return of a BJP government," said PM Modi. " Discussing the Indian economy's growth during the BJP's tenure over the past decade, the Prime Minister highlighted, "It took India 60 years to reach a 1 trillion dollar economy milestone. In our 10 years, we have accelerated this progress to achieve a 3 trillion dollar economy." "The previous government failed to elevate India from the 11th to the 10th largest global economy. In contrast, the BJP has elevated India to the top 5," he added. In a strong rebuke to opposition parties, the Prime Minister said that the parties may not know how to fulfill their promises but they dont hesitate to make false commitments. Congress Lacks Agenda For Development: PM Modi PM Modi also targeted the Congress, stating that the grand old party has resorted to desperate measures, with hurling abuses and false allegations against him becoming their sole agenda. "Congress has become so desperate that it does not even have the courage for principled and ideological opposition. Therefore, abuses and false allegations against Modi have become their only agenda," said PM. Commending the unwavering dedication of BJP workers to the party, PM Modi underscored the significance of the upcoming 100 days leading to the Lok Sabha Elections. He urged them to approach this period with renewed energy, zeal, enthusiasm, and faith. Amid the ongoing farmers' protest, Haryana has extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts till February 19. The internet services will remain disrupted in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa. An order in this regard was issued by the Haryana Home Secretary in view of the 'Delli Chalo' call given by farmers' organisations. The government had earlier extended the suspension of mobile internet from February 13 to February 15. According to a notification issued by the Haryana administration, bulk SMS and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls, will remain suspended in these seven districts. Meanwhile, the Central ministers will hold a fourth round of talks with the farmer union leaders today to find a mutual solution for their demands of legal recognition of the Minimum Support Price and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report, including on pricing mechanism. The central ministers had earlier held a meeting with the farmer leaders on February 8, February 12 and February 15 but the talks remained inconclusive. Prominent agricultural economist Dr Sardara Singh Johl and ICRIER agriculture scientist Dr Ashok Gulati have said that giving MSP on all crops is not practical. Dr Johl, a former Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, said that farmers should adopt the path of negotiation over their demands and also added that they should be allowed to go to Delhi. He laid stress on talks to solve the problems of farmers. Citing examples of advanced economies, Johl said the United States had in 2021-22 given more than USD 42 billion to the farmers. He said China and Japan also provide subsidies to their farmers. Meanwhile, Union Minister Arjun Munda said that the government is hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently cleared the Narendra Modi government's intention to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The announcement again irked anti-national elements and they started to hatch conspiracy to destabilise the country. Believing this is a bit challenging, but it is true that a major conspiracy was being hatched against India. However, thanks to the the Uttar Pradesh police and Anti-Terrorirst Squad who thwarted this conspiracy by arresting some people who had time bombs in their possession. According to the UP police, Imrana, a resident of Muzaffarnagar was allegedly preparing to instigate riots in India against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) implemention. She was not only radicalising people but was also allegedly playing a crucial role in distribution and manufacturing of bombs. Imrana placed orders for making timer bombs recently that was to be used by terrorists across the country. However, the police, STF, and agencies were on high alert, and they foiled her plan by arresting her. According to reports, Imrana is allegedly involved in making time bombs and has been arrested from Muzaffarpur. The Muzaffarnagar police, STF, and intelligence agencies are interrogating her. It has been revealed that Imrana allegedly distributed over 100 bombs to instigators during the Muzaffarnagar riots and in opposition to the CAA. The security agencies had arrested a man named Javed two days ago and had recovered four time bombs from his possession. Upon interrogation, Javed revealed Imrana's name. According to media reports, Imrana is aged around fifty and hails from the Babri Thana area in Shamli district. The name of her village is Banti Kheda. Imrana left her village about 20 years ago. However, she used to visit the village for sorcery on Sundays and Thursdays. For the last 40 years, Imrana has been engaged in performing exorcism and spiritual practices in the village. Every Thursdays, she used to come to the village for exorcism with her elder daughter. Imrana's husband is completely unaware of her activities and lives in Muzaffarnagar and carries dairy business. Sriharikota: S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), announced that the project team has submitted the project report for the next generation rocket. The next step is to seek government funds for the project. Internal Discussions on Chandrayaan-4 Additionally, Somanath mentioned that internal discussions are ongoing regarding the next moon mission, Chandrayaan-4. The focus is on determining its unique objectives that differentiate it from previous missions. Development Progress of Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) Following the successful orbiting of the country's latest weather satellite INSAT-3DS, Somanath stated that the project team for the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) has submitted its report. The team has also estimated the cost, and the next stage involves approaching the government for funds and establishing a mechanism for development in collaboration with the private industry. (Also Read: Elon Musk's X Bans Over 2 Lakh Accounts In India For Policy Violations) Advancements in Rocket Design The design work for the next generation rocket is currently in progress. The rocket is expected to be partially reusable and capable of carrying about 10 tonnes to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This represents a significant increase in capacity compared to ISRO's current heaviest rocket, LVM3, which has a carrying capacity of four tonnes. Innovation and Funding Requirements Somanath emphasized the complexity of the upcoming rocket and the development of high-end technology. He stressed the necessity for adequate funding to support these innovations. Scope of Collaboration and Mission Objectives Somanath clarified that the India-US collaboration earth observation satellite NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) will solely focus on earth observation and will not be used for surveillance purposes. (Also Read: OpenAI Can't Register GPT As Trademark, Rules US Patent Office) Future Plans and Mission Timeline Regarding other weather satellites like INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR, Somanath mentioned plans for repurposing INSAT-3D, launched in 2013. Somanath highlighted that 2024 will be a crucial year for ISRO's human space mission, Gaganyaan, as various tests and activities will be conducted to realize the mission in 2025. This includes two abort missions, unmanned missions, helicopter drop tests, launchpad abort tests, and others. New Delhi: Google on Saturday announced a second startup support fund for Ukraine worth 10 million dollars, to allocate equity-free cash awards throughout 2024 and 2025. Since the devastating war in Ukraine started, Google said it has committed over $45 million in cash and $7 million in kind to support humanitarian relief efforts for people in Ukraine and those fleeing the war. We've also sought to use our products to help people affected by the war, like protecting against cyber attacks and fighting misinformation, said Agnieszka Hryniewicz-Bieniek, Senior Director, Google for Startups. (Also Read: OpenAI, Meta And Other Tech Giants Sign Effort To Fight AI Election Interference) The second 'Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund' will select startups on a rolling basis and give up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding, as well as ongoing Google mentorship, product support and up to $300,000 in Cloud credits. This hands-on support is designed to help Ukrainian entrepreneurs maintain and grow their businesses, strengthen their community and build a foundation for post-war economic recovery. Applications will open later this year, the company announced. In March 2022, the company first announced the fund to support Ukraine-based startups, which has gone on to provide $5 million in equity-free cash awards to 58 recipients. Startups supported by the Ukraine Support Fund have received $15.8 million in follow-on funding, created 100 per cent revenue growth and significantly increased their employment despite the war and hardships they have faced, the company said. (Also Read: OpenAI Can't Register GPT As Trademark, Rules US Patent Office) Startups like Skyworker.ai and Mindly are using AI to drive economic opportunity, Google added. As Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf continue to protest claiming rigging in the national election aided by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha's claim that he declared losers as winners by changing ballots under pressure, social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is reportedly down across Pakistan as users are facing difficulty in loading the page. Liaquat Ali Chatha also alleged that the chief election commissioner and chief justice were involved in the malpractice. The interruption in services is attributed to the "escalating unrest and protests" surrounding allegations of election fraud, according to the Internet tracking organization NetBlocks. Responding to the allegations, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has established a high-level committee to investigate the claims of rigging made by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha. In a press release issued yesterday, the electoral watchdog announced that the committee would include senior election commission officials such as the secretary, special secretary, and additional director general of law. The committee is tasked with recording statements from returning officers and district returning officers and is expected to submit a report to the commission within three days. Despite the rigging allegations made by former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha, a group of five district returning officers, including four male officers and a female officer, rejected the claims during a press conference alongside the new Pindi Commissioner Saif Anwar. They also urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations, asserting that they were not influenced by any external pressures and conducted the polls in accordance with the Election Act and the directions provided by the electoral watchdog. Meanwhile, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa commented that baseless allegations lacking evidence hold no weightage. The chief justice made these remarks in response to claims by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha, who asserted that the chief election commissioner and the chief justice were "also completely involved" in alleged election rigging. In this article, we will look at the 15 countries with the highest labor shortages in Europe. We have also discussed the wider occupational challenges in Europe. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In Europe. In 2022, despite several challenges like geopolitical tensions and economic slowdown, the EU observed exceptional resilience in its labor market. Employment increased to a record high of 213.7 million, with an employment rate peaking at 74.6%. Simultaneously, unemployment rates dropped to a historic low of 6.2%, while youth unemployment fell to 14.5%. To read more about unemployment rates, see countries with the lowest unemployment rates. However, labor shortages in Europe persist across all skill levels, affecting crucial sectors such as construction, healthcare, and STEM fields. This shortage is exacerbated by the ageing population, as the working-age population declined from 272 million in 2009 to 265 million in 2022 and is projected to further decrease to 258 million by 2030. To read more about worldwide labor shortages, see countries with the highest labor shortages in the world. Despite developments in digital transitions, the impact is largely confined to ICT-related occupations, where one-third of skills required are digital. However, shortages are expected to persist in different occupations due to evolving skill requirements and poor working conditions in certain sectors. Migrant workers from outside the EU contribute largely to filling these shortages, particularly in low-skilled occupations. Gender segregation in the workforce further complicates the issue, as 86% of shortage occupations are caused by a gender imbalance. Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has pledged to hire 5,000 refugees across Europe within the next three years, extending their commitment beyond the US initiative. Additionally, they aim to provide training for 10,000 Ukrainians through the ITSkills4U program by AWS. This initiative comes as a response to the escalating refugee crisis, with over 35 million refugees worldwide and an expected increase to 1.2 billion globally by 2050 due to climate change and natural disasters. Story continues Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN)s Welcome Door program offers tailored support for refugee and humanitarian-based immigrant employees, including financial reimbursement for immigration processes, mentorship, and access to training and education benefits. As part of World Refugee Week, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN)s volunteers are packing more than 50,000 hygiene kits for displaced people across Europe. It is also worth highlighting that Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in Luxembourg. Employing over 4,250 people from 100 nationalities, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has become the country's second-largest employer, contributing significantly to the local economy with over 6.6 billion invested between 2010-2022. On the other hand, Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR), on World Refugee Day, has pledged to hire over 3,000 refugees worldwide by 2026. This includes commitments to employ 1,500 refugees in Europe by 2026, in addition to the 1,500 refugees already targeted for hiring in the United States by 2025. The initiative highlights how Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and economic opportunity within the communities it serves. Currently, Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) has already employed over 970 refugees across its European hotels. Furthermore, Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR)s collaboration with organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has enabled the training and hiring of nearly 1,000 refugees in the United States since 2016. These initiatives aim to provide refugees with skills development and training in the hospitality industry, empowering them to build better futures for themselves and their families. Through its commitment to refugee hiring and partnerships with organizations like the IRC, Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) continues to demonstrate its role as a leader in corporate social responsibility, creating positive and sustainable impacts globally. 15 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In Europe Software engineers collaborating on a project while seated in a shared workspace. Methodology For countries with the highest labor shortages in Europe, we utilized Manpower Groups Report on Talent Shortages for 2024 to get the percentage by country of skilled labor shortage. In the case of similar skilled labor shortage percentages, we utilized the World Banks data on the ageing population (as % of total population) by country as tiebreaker. The country with a higher percentage of ageing population was ranked higher. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. Here is a list of the countries with the highest labor shortages in Europe: 15. Switzerland Skilled Labor Shortage: 73% Ageing Population: 19% According to Adecco, there has been a noticeable relaxation in the IT sector, with a significant rise in job seekers last September. In German-speaking Switzerland, the labor shortage was more pronounced at 28% compared to a 14% increase in French-speaking Switzerland. German-speaking Switzerland saw a 16% decrease in job seekers and an 8% increase in vacancies over a year, while French-speaking Switzerland experienced a 10% decrease in job seekers and only a 3% increase in vacancies. It is one of the countries with skill shortages in Europe. 14. Hungary Skilled Labor Shortage: 73% Ageing Population: 20% In Hungary, facing a shortage of laborers amidst strict immigration policies, the government is opening doors to foreign nationals. Around 700,000 Hungarians left for work abroad, prompting the need for approximately half a million new jobs. Companies recruit hundreds of workers monthly from Asia. Notably, a Hungarian-Italian firm hired 60 Indonesian workers for an electric cable factory. Despite concerns over cultural compatibility and wage negotiations, foreign workers are welcomed, providing relief for labor shortages. 13. Belgium Skilled Labor Shortage: 74% Ageing Population: 20% In Belgium, regional shortage occupation lists can help job seekers, particularly foreigners, targeting sectors with skilled worker deficits. Each region - Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia - manages its list through respective employment agencies. These lists guide policy initiatives, tackling labour shortages in sectors like healthcare, IT, and hospitality, aligning with the European Commission's Year of Skills. It is one of the countries in dire need of healthcare professionals in Europe. 12. Italy Skilled Labor Shortage: 75% Ageing Population: 24% Italy is currently facing critical labor shortages across different sectors and seeks to fill 600,000 job vacancies by welcoming skilled foreign workers. An urgent demand exists in healthcare, science, engineering, and hospitality, with professions such as doctors, nurses, engineers, and restaurant staff topping the list. Italian employers have shown overwhelming interest, submitting 608,000 pre-applications for non-EU workers, but the annual quota stands at 136,000, creating a huge gap. Italy is one of the countries with the worst aging population growth rate in Europe. 11. Sweden Skilled Labor Shortage: 77% Ageing Population: 20% In autumn 2022, private employers faced a 41% skills shortage in recruitment, while public employers experienced a higher rate at 60% in Sweden. Professions like midwives, civil engineers, IT architects, and police officers faced worse shortages. Other occupations, including healthcare assistants, bus drivers, and welders, also experienced notable deficits. Highly skilled roles such as doctors and specialist nurses were particularly affected. Surprisingly, Sweden is also one of the countries with the highest job opportunities in Europe. 10. Austria Skilled Labor Shortage: 78% Ageing Population: 20% Austria plans to attract over 15,000 skilled workers annually from non-EU countries by 2027 through the Red-White-Red Card system. The reform aims to ease access to the labor market. Cooperation among organizations will expedite procedures. Despite efforts, criticisms suggest companies must improve working conditions to effectively address labor shortages. It is one of the countries with the worst labor shortages in Europe. 9. Spain Skilled Labor Shortage: 78% Ageing Population: 20% Spain is facing a dire labor shortage in its hospitality sector, with a staggering demand for 60,000 workers. This shortage primarily comes from an increase in international tourism, as evidenced by January's 65.8% increase in visitors compared to last year. 8. Slovakia Skilled Labor Shortage: 79% Ageing Population: 17% In 2022, Slovakia saw a notable rise in the presence of Indian workers, reaching 1,350 individuals. This increase was mainly due to the worsening staffing shortages observed in the IT and automotive sectors. The confirmation of this increase came from the Labour, Social Affairs, and Family Office, highlighting the valuable contribution of Indian and other Asian nationals in filling crucial job vacancies, including positions such as truck drivers and welders. It is one of the countries with highest job openings for Asians in Europe. 7. Romania Skilled Labor Shortage: 79% Ageing Population: 19% In 2019, a nationwide study in Romania revealed a huge labor shortage of 300,000 individuals, a figure expected to escalate to 549,000 by 2023. According to the Randstad HR Trends Study, the country could potentially face a workforce deficit of one million. This shortage is exacerbated by the migration of professionals including healthcare workers, temporary laborers, IT specialists, and students, all of whom contribute to the widening gap. 6. United Kingdom Skilled Labor Shortage: 80% Ageing Population: 19% Since the implementation of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system, foreign interest in UK jobs has surged, with Indeed reporting a doubling in inquiries, notably from non-EU nations like India and Nigeria. The proportion of foreign job searches escalated to 5.5% in June 2023 from 2.2% in April 2021. Key sectors attracting attention include social care and software development. Notably, the UK accepted 338,300 permanent migrants in 2021. The UK is the also one of the best countries for education. Click here to see the 5 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In Europe. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 4 days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before a company's record date, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is of consequence because whenever a stock is bought or sold, the trade takes at least two business day to settle. Thus, you can purchase Northrop Grumman's shares before the 23rd of February in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 13th of March. The company's next dividend payment will be US$1.87 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$7.48 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Northrop Grumman has a trailing yield of 1.7% on the current share price of US$450.96. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. So we need to investigate whether Northrop Grumman can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. See our latest analysis for Northrop Grumman Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. Northrop Grumman paid out 54% of its earnings to investors last year, a normal payout level for most businesses. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether Northrop Grumman generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Over the last year it paid out 53% of its free cash flow as dividends, within the usual range for most companies. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? When earnings decline, dividend companies become much harder to analyse and own safely. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. With that in mind, we're discomforted by Northrop Grumman's 5.9% per annum decline in earnings in the past five years. Such a sharp decline casts doubt on the future sustainability of the dividend. Story continues Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Since the start of our data, 10 years ago, Northrop Grumman has lifted its dividend by approximately 13% a year on average. Growing the dividend payout ratio while earnings are declining can deliver nice returns for a while, but it's always worth checking for when the company can't increase the payout ratio any more - because then the music stops. To Sum It Up Has Northrop Grumman got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? It's never good to see earnings per share shrinking, but at least the dividend payout ratios appear reasonable. We're aware though that if earnings continue to decline, the dividend could be at risk. Overall it doesn't look like the most suitable dividend stock for a long-term buy and hold investor. Having said that, if you're looking at this stock without much concern for the dividend, you should still be familiar of the risks involved with Northrop Grumman. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Northrop Grumman you should know about. Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are 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. Rising interest rates and other macro headwinds drove many investors away from hypergrowth stocks over the past two years. However, that sell-off also compressed many of those stocks' valuations to more sustainable levels. Therefore, investors who can tune out the near-term noise should consider investing in a few companies that could at least triple their annual revenues by the end of the decade. These three volatile growth stocks fit that description: Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID), Symbotic (NASDAQ: SYM), and CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD). Image source: Getty Images. 1. Lucid Group Lucid's stock has declined nearly 90% since the company went public by merging with a special purpose acquisition (SPAC) company in 2021. The luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker quickly ran out of juice as it broadly missed its own production targets. After initially claiming it could produce 20,000 Air sedans in 2022 and 49,000 sedans in 2023, it only pumped out 7,180 sedans in 2022 and 8,428 sedans in 2023. It blamed that painfully sluggish start on supply chain constraints and other macro headwinds, but it believes it can significantly ramp up its production as it expands its AMP-1 plant in Arizona and its new AMP-2 plant in Saudi Arabia. It also plans to roll out its second vehicle, the Gravity SUV, this year. Lucid is still firmly backed by the Saudi Arabian government, which owns more than 60% of its shares through its Public Investment Fund (PIF). Analysts also expect its revenue to soar at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 148% from $618 million in 2023 to $3.8 billion in 2025 -- so it could be significantly undervalued right now at 6 times next year's sales. Lucid is still deeply unprofitable, but it says it has enough cash to last through 2025. If it successfully ramps up its production, its revenue could surge even higher from 2025 to 2030 and drive its stock toward big multibagger gains. 2. Symbotic Symbotic provides warehouse automation services for large retailers. It claims the installation of just one of its $50 million modules (which bundle together its robots and software) can generate $250 million in lifetime savings over 25 years. Story continues Symbotic notably generated 88% of its revenue from Walmart, which is also one of its top investors, in fiscal 2023 (which ended last September). However, it's gradually expanding beyond Walmart by signing new automation deals with other big customers like Target, Albertsons, C&S Wholesale, and GreenBox -- a new warehouse-as-a-service joint venture it formed with its other big backer SoftBank. That growing list of partnerships could help it establish a meaningful lead in the fragmented warehouse automation market. Symbotic also went public by merging with a SPAC, but its stock has soared 130% since its first trading day in 2022. Its stock doesn't look cheap at 15 times this year's sales, but it could have plenty of upside potential. Analysts expect its revenue to grow at a CAGR of 44% from $1.2 billion in fiscal 2023 to $3.5 billion in fiscal 2026, and it could have even more room to run as more retailers fully automate their warehouses. 3. CrowdStrike CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company that only provides cloud-native security services. That disruptive approach eliminates the need for on-site appliances, which are generally expensive, take up a lot of space, require constant maintenance, and are difficult to scale as an organization expands. CrowdStrike's first-mover advantage in the cloud-native security space has enabled it to grow like a weed since its IPO in 2019. From fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2023 (which ended last January), its revenue grew at a CAGR of 80%. Analysts expect its revenue to increase at a CAGR of 31% from $2.2 billion in fiscal 2023 to $5.0 billion in fiscal 2026. That growth is being driven by its market share gains and the rising adoption of its cloud-based modules. In its latest quarter, 42% of its customers had already adopted at least six of its modules, compared to just 36% of its customers a year ago. Even if CrowdStrike continues to grow at a more modest CAGR of 25% from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2030, it could generate more than $12 billion in revenue by the final year. It will also likely inorganically expand its ecosystem of cloud-based services by gobbling up even more companies. Its profitability has also been improving as its revenue growth cools off. CrowdStrike's stock has soared nearly 190% over the past 12 months and might seem a bit pricey at 20 times next year's sales, but its dominance of the cloud-native cybersecurity space justifies that premium valuation. Should you invest $1,000 in Symbotic right now? Before you buy stock in Symbotic, 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 Symbotic 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 Leo Sun has positions in CrowdStrike. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CrowdStrike, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Growth Stocks That Could More Than Triple Their Revenue by 2030 was originally published by The Motley Fool The artificial intelligence revolution has technology stocks on fire. And while there are certain comparisons being made to the dot-com bubble of the mid- to late 1990s, remember that that bubble lasted five years before bursting. The debut of ChatGPT was just a little over one year ago, so there could be more room to run. And many AI-related stocks today are actually posting strong bottom-line earnings growth, unlike the profitless pretenders of the dot-com era. Therefore, it's quite possible this tech bull market may have stronger legs beyond 2024. On that note, the following three stocks still seem like quite good buys as they continue to ride the AI wave. Alphabet There has been some hysteria over the potential threat of artificial intelligence on Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and its core Google Search business. On Thursday, Alphabet's stock fell on news that OpenAI was rumored to be working on a search product, according to tech magazine The Information. While there is certainly the potential of a threat, it doesn't appear to justify Alphabet's lagging behind many other Magnificent 7 stocks over the past year -- especially since on the same day Alphabet announced the availability of Gemini 1.5, its newest and most powerful large language model (LLM), which Alphabet believes will be a tough rival to OpenAI's ChatGPT. According to a Google blog, Google's AI unit has managed to increase the number of "tokens" Gemini 1.5 uses to over 1 million. According to Google, tokens are, "entire parts or subsections of words, images, videos, audio or code," that make up the building blocks of an AI's processing capabilities. That million tokens is far higher than the mere 32,000 tokens in Gemini 1.0, and the 128,000 for ChatGPT-4 Turbo. Moreover, in a research setting, Google also has run up to 10 million tokens on Gemini 1.5. The larger point is that just because OpenAI was first to market with an AI chatbot doesn't mean it will take the whole market. After all, one year ago, many thought Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Bing powered by ChatGPT, would take lots of market share away from Google search. But one year later, Google hasn't really lost any search market share to speak of, according to research firm Statcounter. Story continues Meanwhile, Google search is an incredibly well-known brand that most consumers go to first. In fact, "Google" has become synonymous with "search." Therefore, as long as Google can keep up competitively with AI technology to a reasonable extent, as it appears to be doing, the search franchise looks pretty safe. KLA Corporation Even though KLA Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) is up about 11% this year, the stock has trailed several other AI names. That's strange, as KLA's inspection and metrology tools are used to identify defects in the highly difficult and painstaking semiconductor manufacturing process. And the more complex chips become, the more transistors need to be inspected. That should lead to an increase in equipment intensity and thus more sales for KLA. Yet KLA stock fell initially after its January 25 earnings report, in which it forecast a soft second quarter. However, the short-termism of Wall Street is likely to blame for that, and the stock has retraced all of those losses since. Delving into the conference call with analysts, the soft second quarter was due to a push-out of one large chipmaking project to later in the year. But that revenue will eventually be realized, as the project isn't canceled. Like almost all semicaps, KLA saw its revenue decline in 2023, a result of the severe post-pandemic hangover in PCs and smartphones, as well as the Chinese recession. But if you believe in the current AI-fueled up-cycle, KLA's earnings should grow in 2024 and beyond into 2025. Image source: Getty Images. Another interesting tidbit. KLA has a two-year warranty period for its machines, after which those machines go under KLA's service contracts and begin to bring in recurring-like service revenue, which made up 23% of revenue last year. So as the large amount of equipment sold in 2020 and 2021 come off their warranties, KLA should see an acceleration in service revenue. KLA's services business grew 7% in calendar 2023 despite the downturn, but this all-important segment should reaccelerate to 12% to 14% average annual growth, according to management. While KLA's P/E ratio looks high at 33 today, remember these are bottom-of-the-cycle trailing earnings numbers. With growth likely in 2024 and 2025, it's a buy today. Photronics Not unlike KLA, photomask manufacturer Photronics is another undervalued way to play the growth of semiconductors. A photomask is a photographic quartz or glass plate onto which a semiconductor design is printed by lithography equipment. Photronics then takes that pattern and manufactures a master mask through which light passes, which then prints the image onto a semiconductor wafer. Photronics' business is more dependent on the growth of different semiconductor designs, and not really the total number of chips produced. That's why the company has actually been a steady grower over the past half-decade, even though the chip industry has experienced severe ups and downs over that time. In fact, Photronics just wrapped up a year in which it grew 8%. That's in contrast with a most of the semiconductor equipment industry that experienced declines last year. In fact, 2023 was Photronics' sixth straight year of revenue growth, which is somewhat remarkable for this industry. Over that time, the company has compounded revenue at a 12% annualized rate. Even better? Over that time, the company's operating margin exploded from around 8% to roughly 30% currently. That's led to earnings per share increasing seven times over in just six years. Clearly, management has executed for customers, while holding off competition. PLAB EBIT Margin (TTM) Chart But it doesn't look too late to buy. Photronics trades at just 15.5 times earnings. And with more and more chip companies diversifying into more customized chip designs for more applications, including AI, that increases the number of chip designs coming just about every year. That bodes well for Photronics, which looks like an under-the-radar play on semiconductor growth. Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Alphabet 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 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. William Duberstein has positions in Alphabet, KLA, and Microsoft. His clients may own shares of the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Top Tech Stocks to Buy in February was originally published by The Motley Fool In this article, we will look at the 35 most visited countries in the world: 2024 Rankings. We have also looked the the growth projections for global tourism. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 10 Most Visited Countries in the World: 2024 Rankings. The World Economic Outlook Report has highlighted the important role of tourism in global economic recovery, projecting a 3.0% growth in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024. Despite exceeding previous forecasts, this growth rate falls short of the 3.5% recorded in 2022, indicating ongoing pandemic impacts and geopolitical tensions, notably Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Economies heavily reliant on tourism exhibit greater resilience, with rapid recovery observed in countries where tourism contributes significantly to GDP. For instance, those with large tourism sectors, like France and Spain. International tourism is set for a robust recovery in 2024, with a projected 2% growth above 2019 levels, according to UNWTO forecasts. In 2023, the sector observed remarkable resilience, with international tourism receipts reaching $1.4 trillion, representing about 93% of pre-pandemic levels, and total export revenues hitting $1.6 trillion, nearly 95% of 2019 figures. The economic contribution of tourism, measured in tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP), reached $3.3 trillion in 2023, confirming a close recovery to pre-pandemic levels. This positive outlook is buoyed by strong industry indicators, with international air capacity and passenger demand already recovering around 90% of pre-pandemic levels by October 2023. Additionally, global occupancy rates in accommodation establishments surpassed November 2022 figures, reaching 65%. To read more about travelling, see 50 places to visit before you die. Despite persistent economic and geopolitical challenges, including inflation and trade disruptions, the tourism sector remains resilient and poised for continued growth, driven by factors such as visa facilitation measures and robust travel demand from key source markets like China and the United States. Story continues Istanbul claimed the title of the world's most visited city in 2023 with 20.2 million international arrivals, surpassing popular destinations like London and Paris. With relaxed visa requirements and a rich cultural heritage blending Asian and European influences, Istanbul's popularity continues to increase in 2024. Efforts to preserve its historic sites, like the iconic Hagia Sophia, are underway despite the challenges posed by mass tourism. It is worth noting that Istanbul is one of the cities with most beautiful women. Expedia Group, Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE)s Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) has seen remarkable growth, with over 35,000 travel agencies and more than 100,000 advisors globally utilizing its services. Despite initial challenges during the pandemic, Expedia Group, Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE)s investment in TAAP has increased, with a major boost in staff and technology. This strategic desision has propelled Expedia Group, Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE)s B2B revenue, witnessing a 26% increase year-over-year, as stated during the company's third-quarter earnings call in 2023. TAAP's platform is evolving to cater specifically to advisors' needs, with plans for a revamped user interface and enhanced payment capabilities slated for rollout in 2024. While exploring innovative technologies like generative AI, Expedia remains cognizant of advisors' indispensable role in personalized travel planning, aiming to integrate AI as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for human expertise. Speaking of AI, Expedia Group, Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE) aims to leverage AI to reshape its trip-planning business, aiming to shift users away from starting their travel searches on Google. With a vast data repository of 70 petabytes, Expedias Group, Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE) plans to deploy AI to offer personalized travel recommendations based on users' preferences and past trips. By streamlining the travel planning process, Expedia Group, Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE) seeks to become the go-to platform for users, reducing reliance on external search engines like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG). On the other hand, Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) projects stable revenue growth, forecasting a 3% to 6% annualized increase in global revenue per available room (RevPAR) by 2025. This optimistic outlook is fueled by a resurgence in international travel following the easing of pandemic restrictions, supported by a strong dollar and rise of remote work encouraging travel abroad. In 2023, Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) marked its 500th luxury hotel opening with The St. Regis Riyadh. With 5 more luxury properties to debut by year-end and 24 planned for 2024, Marriott's portfolio, spanning brands like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, and JW Marriott, continues to grow. Their notable additions include the second Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessel, Ilma, and new St. Regis locations in Los Cabos, Cap Cana, and Longboat Key. Additionally, EDITION Hotels plans to open The Jeddah EDITION in Saudi Arabia. Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR)s expansion reaffirms its commitment to delivering unparalleled luxury experiences worldwide. To read more about luxury experiences, see the largest cruise ships in the world. 35 Most Visited Countries in the World: 2024 Rankings A freight train rolling through the countryside carrying a full load of products. Our Methodology For our most visited countries in the world in 2024 list, we have relied on datapanda.orgs database on number of arrivals by country. The list is presented in ascending order of number of arrivals. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 35. Switzerland Number of Arrivals: 11.8m Swiss tourism anticipates a 1.6% increase in overnight stays during the 2023/24 winter season, totaling 17.7 million stays, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. European guests, especially from Germany, are expected to boost numbers. Chinese visitors, though still below pre-Covid levels, are projected to rise in 2024. 34. Taiwan Number of Arrivals: 11.9m The Tourism Bureau within Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications oversees matters related to tourism. It is one of the top 50 most visited countries in the world. Taiwan is forging ahead with its commitment to catering to senior travelers, revealing plans for a comprehensive Golden Years Tour certification system. Launched after the success of the Golden Years tourism brand in 2023, this initiative focuses on creating senior-friendly travel experiences across various hospitality sectors, including F&B, accommodation, sightseeing, shopping, and transportation. With a keen eye on the needs of older citizens, the program focuses on slow travel and age-appropriate itineraries. 33. Morocco Number of Arrivals: 12.9m Morocco has a stable tourism sector and is known for its coastal attractions, rich cultural heritage, and deep history. With the establishment of the Ministry of Tourism in 1985, the country has prioritized this industry. In 2018, Morocco welcomed 12.3 million tourists and since 2023, has had the highest number of arrivals out of the countries in Africa. 32. Denmark Number of Arrivals: 13.3m In 2018, Denmark attracted 30 million international arrivals, with tourists from neighboring Germany, Norway, and Sweden forming the majority. Overnight stays have gradually risen since 2014, reaching 16.6 million in 2018. 31. Saudi Arabia Number of Arrivals: 13.6m Saudi Arabia aims to welcome 30 million overnight tourists in 2024, with a revised 2030 target of 150 million visitors. The tourism sector's growth aligns with a broader economic expansion, with Saudi Arabia's GDP expected to rise by 4.1% in 2024. ATM 2024 will focus on innovation and sustainability, reflecting global trends towards net-zero travel. 30. Ukraine Number of Arrivals: 14.2m In January-June 2023, Ukraine collected UAH 85.471 million ($2.27 million) from tourist taxes, up from UAH 69.453 million ($1.85 million) in 2021. The tax, paid by hotel guests, contributed to the regional budget. 29. Czech Republic Number of Arrivals: 14.3m There is a long history of tourism in the Czech Republic. Prague is one of the most visited cities of the world, with 68 million visitors per year. Czech Republic is definitely one of the top 10 tourist countries in Europe. It is also one of the top countries for dental tourism. 28. Singapore Number of Arrivals: 15.1m In 2019, Singapore welcomed 19.1 million international tourists, exceeding its population threefold. With English as the predominant among its four official languages, tourists find it convenient to communicate with locals, particularly during activities like shopping. 27. Indonesia Number of Arrivals: 15.5m From the paradisiacal beaches of Bali to the lush jungles of Borneo, and the ancient temples of Borobudur, Indonesia offers a tapestry of experiences with vibrant cuisine and warm hospitality. 26. United Arab Emirates Number of Arrivals: 16.7m In 2018, the tourist industry contributed over 164.7 billion dirhams to the country's GDP. The United Arab Emirates also has the most prosperous tourist industry among Gulf countries and has maintained its position as the leading tourist destination in the GCC. Dubai is expected to be one of the most visited cities in the world in 2024. As of 2018, tourism provided employment to more than 604,300 individuals in the United Arab Emirates. 25. Hungary Number of Arrivals: 16.9m Over 98% of Hungary's tourist demographic consists of visitors from Europe, with Austria, Germany, and Slovakia contributing the highest numbers of tourists to the country. The majority of tourists opt for car travel and typically have short stays. 24. Croatia Number of Arrivals: 17.4m The tourism sector contributes to nearly 20% of Croatia's gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2021. Presently, Croatia has become a tourist hotspot in the Mediterranean as it welcomed an influx of 11.2 million tourists in the year 2021. 23. South Korea Number of Arrivals: 17.5m Seoul is a top spot for tourists. Other popular places in South Korea include Busan, a big city by the sea, Seorak-san National Park with its beautiful nature, Gyeongju, an old city with lots of history, and Jeju Island, which has a warm climate. It is one of the countries with highest number of international tourists. 22. India Number of Arrivals: 17.9m India's tourism sector is set for a major upswing fueled by religious travel, with the opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya expected to attract an additional 50-100 million tourists annually. This increase surpasses the annual visitation rates of iconic global landmarks like the Taj Mahal and Mecca. Indian carriers have responded to the anticipated demand by ordering over 1,100 planes, indicating a stable growth trajectory. 21. Vietnam Number of Arrivals: 18.0m Vietnam's tourism sector has seen significant growth, with 18 million international arrivals in 2019 compared to 2.1 million in 2000. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is implementing strategies to diversify the industry. 20. Netherlands Number of Arrivals: 20.1m Tourism in the Netherlands contributes 5.4% to GDP and 9.6% to employment. In 2017, it hosted 17 million foreign tourists, predominantly from Germany, ranking it 20th globally for visitor numbers. It is one of the top countries visited by foreigners in 2024. 19. Canada Number of Arrivals: 22.1m Canada has a flourishing tourism industry, drawing visitors with its diverse landscapes and cultural attractions. Key destinations include Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver, Niagara Falls, Vancouver Island, the Canadian Rockies, Okanagan Valley, Churchill, and Ottawa-Gatineau. Canada is also home to some of the most attractive people. 18. Poland Number of Arrivals: 22.1m Since joining the European Union in 2004, Poland has seen a notable increase in tourism, boasting over 21 million international arrivals in 2019. The country's diverse attractions range from southern mountains to northern beaches, with Krakow, the most visited city. 17. Hong Kong Number of Arrivals: 23.8m During Hong Kong's Lunar New Year holiday from February 10 to 17, over 1 million mainland Chinese visitors are expected, constituting 80-85% of pre-pandemic levels. The Immigration Department anticipates 7.5 million trips by Hong Kong residents and tourists during this period, with 6 million trips through land boundary control points. It is one of the top 20 most visited countries in the world in 2024. 16. Russia Number of Arrivals: 24.4m In 2022, Russian tourism experienced a huge decline, with only 200,100 foreign visitors, with a 96.1% drop from pre-pandemic and pre-2022 invasion of Ukraine levels. This downturn contrasts sharply with the rapid growth Russia had seen since the late Soviet era, initially in domestic tourism and later in international visits. 15. Portugal Number of Arrivals: 24.6m Portugal attracts millions of tourists annually, drawn to its cities, historic landmarks, beaches, and religious sites. In 2019, it welcomed 27 million visitors, with popular destinations including Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, the Portuguese Riviera, Madeira, Sintra, Obidos, and Fatima. Portugal is also one of the best countries to live and work in 2024. 14. Malaysia Number of Arrivals: 26.1m Tourist arrivals from Turkiye to Malaysia increased by 10.8% in Jan-Nov 2023, totaling 15,623 visitors compared to 2019 figures. This growth is attributed to the efforts Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture campaigns. Malaysia is one of the most popular travel destinations for honeymoon in 2024. 13. Greece Number of Arrivals: 31.3m Tourism in Greece has been a cornerstone of its economy owing to its rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty. With 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and stunning coastlines, Greece has been a magnet for tourists since the 1970s. On a side note, Greece is one of the countries with the highest labor shortages in the world. 12. Austria Number of Arrivals: 31.9m Vienna remains a primary draw for tourists throughout the year, attracting significant numbers both in the summer and winter seasons. Salzburg, while receiving about one-fifth of the tourist overnight stays compared to Vienna, still holds the second position in popularity during the summer. 11. Japan Number of Arrivals: 32.3m Japan's tourism industry is vital to its economy, drawing 31.88 million international visitors in 2019. There are 21 World Heritage Sites in Japan like Himeji Castle and Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara. It is 11th in our list of most visited countries in the world 2024 rankings by country. It is also one of the most respected countries in Asia. Click here to see the 10 Most Visited Countries in the World: 2024 Rankings. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 35 Most Visited Countries in the World: 2024 Rankings is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this piece, we will look at 50 Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot. In case you want to skip our detailed analysis on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry, and the key market players, you can go directly to 5 Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot. The global AI market has experienced a notable growth, with technological advancements shaping the landscape in 2023. Looking ahead, the integration of automation and machine learning is poised to enhance the tech ecosystem in 2024. Despite concerns regarding potential challenges like the high cost of generative AI and chip shortages, it is vital to acknowledge that these obstacles may not result in a widespread downturn. The AI market is currently in a phase of maturation, presenting significant opportunities for real-world applications. While short-term projections may indicate a slight potential downturn, the long-term outlook remains positive. Projections suggest that by 2024, the global AI market is expected to exceed half a trillion US dollars, underscoring the industry's robust growth trajectory. Investors are advised to consider the intricate process of technology maturation, an aspect that may have been somewhat overlooked by tech giants in 2023. The year 2024 is anticipated to witness the emergence of AI in early maturation, with tangible advancements anticipated across various sectors. AI's Disruptive Reach Across Industries AI's impact on various industries is quite evident if we look at the healthcare sector, where a significant growth of 41.2% was observed in the integration of AI into the sector, from 2018 to 2023. Similarly, the manufacturing industry has embraced AI, with estimates projecting a market size of $7.2 billion by the end of 2023, reflecting a substantial compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42.2% since 2018. Likewise, in the energy and utilities sector, AI applications are forecasted to reach $1.5 billion by 2023, demonstrating a CAGR of 38.3% over the same period. Furthermore, AI's influence extends to the job market, where it is predicted to have a transformative impact by 2025. While the technology is expected to eliminate 85 million jobs, it will also create 97 million new opportunities, resulting in a net gain of 12 million jobs. Also, the transportation industry is also poised for AI-driven growth, with forecasts indicating a market size of $6.8 billion by 2023, with a CAGR of 21.5% since 2018, on the back of increasing use of AI in the industry. Story continues In contrast, the US Artificial Intelligence market is anticipated to reach a market size of US$106.50 billion in 2024, with an estimated annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2030) of 14.27%, leading to a projected market volume of US$237.10 billion by 2030. The United States is expected to have the largest market size in global comparison, with greater utilization of AI in healthcare, specifically in areas like disease diagnosis, drug development, and personalized medicine. Another notable trend is a more rigorous application of AI to enhance customer service and support, incorporating features like chatbots and virtual assistants. The advancement of AI chips and edge computing is also on the rise, facilitating more efficient processing of AI applications. Furthermore, the integration of AI with complementary technologies such as blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) is forecasted to drive further innovation and growth in the AI sector. What To Expect of AI in 2024 Looking ahead to developments in the AI landscape for 2024 reveals a promising shift, particularly in the accessibility of generative AI for the average user. The upcoming year is expected to see increased engagement with various AI models, offering enhanced usability. Notable advancements include the evolution of advanced AI models like GPT-4 and Gemini, which boast multimodal capabilities, expanding beyond text processing to include images and videos. This enhanced versatility is set to unlock a wealth of innovative applications. For instance, professionals in the real estate industry could utilize sophisticated models like GPT-4 and Gemini to streamline their processes. By leveraging AI to replicate past property listings, incorporate multimedia content, and generate customized property descobriptions with ease, real estate professionals can enhance their workflow efficiency. Additionally, the horizon of possibilities extends to text-to-video technology, a significant advancement beyond existing text-to-image capabilities. This technology, designed to build upon the strengths of its predecessor, is gaining traction in various industries, including the film sector. Major studios such as Paramount and Disney are exploring the potential of generative AI in their production pipelines, using it for tasks like aligning actors' performances with foreign-language overdubs. The use of generative AI technology, as showcased in projects like "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" in 2023, featuring a de-aged deepfake of Harrison Ford, signifies the transformative impact AI can have on the entertainment industry. Now having discussed the AI market current standing and its future with depth, it is essential to analyze the leading players in the market as well, who are leading the innovation and rapid growth of the technology. The players we are going to discuss are Google, Microsoft and Amazon. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Google, under the umbrella of Alphabet Inc. (NasdaqGS:GOOG), revealed a new effort aimed at enhancing online security through artificial intelligence tools and investments. Given the rising prevalence of AI in cybersecurity measures and cybercrime activities, Google outlined plans to introduce an open-source tool powered by AI. This tool, focusing on file type identification to aid in malware detection, is already in use for safeguarding products such as Gmail and Google Drive. Google intends to provide this tool free of charge for broader accessibility. Moreover, the company is set to unveil a white paper at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday, outlining its utilization of AI for cyber defence. Additionally, the paper will propose a policy agenda advocating for advanced AI research and establishing safeguard measures for autonomous cyber defences. Alphabet Inc. (NasdaqGS:GOOG) released its financial results for the latest quarter ending on December 31, 2023. The search revenue and profit margin reported fell below analysts' expectations, indicating that the company's flagship business growth and recent cost-cutting measures through layoffs were insufficient to offset the increased investments in artificial intelligence. Revenue from the search engine, Alphabet's primary unit, reached $48 billion in the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2023, up by 13% but slightly below analysts projected $48.1 billion. Overall quarterly sales for Alphabet amounted to $86.3 billion, reflecting a 13% increase from the previous year and surpassing analysts' estimates of $85.2 billion. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) For nearly forty years, Microsoft Corporation (NasdaqGS:MSFT) has maintained its position as a prominent figure in end-user computer technology. Currently recognized as the world's largest company, Microsoft's widely used Windows desktop operating system holds approximately 74% of the global market share. Looking ahead, Microsoft has announced plans to invest 3.2 billion in Germany by the end of 2025 to enhance the artificial intelligence and cloud capabilities of its data centre in the region. Additionally, the company aims to provide digital skills training to over 1.2 million individuals. Microsoft has recently released its financial results for the second quarter of its 2024 fiscal year. The software giant reported revenue of $62 billion and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q2. Revenue has seen an 18% increase, with net income rising by 33%. This marks the inaugural quarter in which Microsoft discloses earnings as a $3 trillion company and the first-time additional revenue from its acquisition of Activision Blizzard is included in the report. The increase in gaming revenue has elevated Microsoft's gaming business to become the third-largest, surpassing Windows. Despite these changes, Office and cloud revenue continue to be the primary drivers, collectively contributing close to 60% of Microsoft's overall revenue. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), the technology conglomerate responsible for Facebook and Instagram, has made a strategic shift in its focus by disbanding the Responsible AI team, reallocating resources towards the advancement of generative artificial intelligence. This transition, as initially disclosed by The Information, signifies a deliberate restructuring within Meta's AI division. Zuckerberg has highlighted the positive impact of artificial intelligence advancements on Meta's advertising business, surpassing growth rates compared to Google. He emphasized Meta's ongoing commitment to AI investment and enhancing computing infrastructure to manage increased workloads. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) exceeded analysts expectations, achieving a record $40.1 billion in revenue, with net income tripling. The company's expansive user base across platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, grew to 3.98 billion monthly active users by the end of 2023, marking a 6% increase year over year. Notably, Meta reported over 130 million monthly active users on Threads, the Twitter-like social app launched in July 2023. Let's now head over to the list of 50 Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot. 50 Funny Things to Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot A medical professional wearing a ReWalk robotic exoskeleton with a person with mobility impairments in the background. With this context and industry outlook in mind, lets start our list of 50 Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot. 50. Tell me, which came first, the chicken or the egg? 49. What do you want to be when you grow up? 48. What do you want for Christmas? 47. Who let the dogs out? 47th on our list of Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot is this popular song Who let the dogs out?. This song addresses the disrespectful behavior of men who resort to name-calling towards women, prompting the women to retaliate by referring to the men as 'dogs'. 46. Are we in the Matrix? Next in line in our list of Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot is an age-old question, Are we in the Matrix?. 45. Can you lend me money, Chatgpt? 44. How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood? 43. How many licks does it take to get to the centre of tootsie pop? 42. How do you survive a zombie attack? 41. Hey Chatgpt, do you smell what the Rock is cooking? 41st on our list of Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot is the quote, "Do you smell what the Rock is cooking?", which is famously linked to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who is known for his career as a professional wrestler and actor. 40. You know how to whistle, dont you? Next on our list of Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot is a famous quote by Lauren Bacall, an American Actress. 39. What could be considered the least appealing 'buy one get one free' offer ever? 38. Hey AI, do you think robots will eventually dominate the world? 37. What's the best way to fix a clogged toilet after creating a war zone in there? 36. Did the broom arrive late because it over-swept? 35. Is a palm tree classified as a tree that can fit in one's hand? 34. Do painters apply an additional coat when they feel cold? 33. Can my cows maintain their cattle-logs? 32. Can a fish and an elephant both use the same swimming trunk? 31. Do angry ice creams experience a meltdown? 30. Besides saying "cheese," what else could make a mouse smile in a photo session? 29. Is it accurate that the sun skipped college because it already had a million degrees? 28. If you introduce spring water into a waterbed, does it increase its bounce? 27. Are swords still considered cutting-edge technology? 26. Does eating a clock take up a lot of time? 25. Why does being accused of plagiarism lead to trouble for something you didn't do? 24. Does cold water harbor insecurities because it's never been called hot? 23. Do brides cry at weddings because they aren't marrying the best man? 22. Does a potato dislike Fridays? 21. Can one excel without relying on Microsoft Office? 20. If you catch a cold, does it imply that hot is faster? 19. What happens if you accidentally step on a Lego? 18. Can you explain why six is afraid of seven? 17. Is Siri to be considered as your enemy? 16. Do you indulge in singing in the shower? 15. What's your perspective on the chicken crossing the road? Curious about the AI perspective on the timeless question? Next on our list of Funny Things To Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot is the question, What's your take on the chicken crossing the road?. 14. Is it tense when past, present, and future enter an office together? 13. Why is forming a professional hide and seek team so challenging to find? 12. Does earning six figures annually make you an unsuitable employee in a toy factory? 11. Do lawyers own other suits aside from law-suits? 10. Are chew chew trains designed for carrying bubble gum? 9. Do newly web spiders consume flies for their honeymoon? 8. Has anyone ever confused you with someone else? 7. Was it the earthquakes fault when it hit? 6. Is New yolk city an eggs favorite traveling spot? Click to continue reading and find out about the 5 Funny Things to Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 50 Funny Things to Ask Chatgpt and Google's AI Chatbot is originally published on Insider Monkey. Pgiam / Getty Images Commuting is never fun, but its certainly worse in some places than in others. If you reside in one of these metro areas below, not only are you stuck in bumper-to-bumper delays getting to work, but filling up your tank in the state adds even more pain to the wallet. We crunched the awful stats on both traffic jams and gas prices to spotlight the worst urban hubs suffering from this one-two punch. Related: 5 Used Cars You Shouldnt Buy Read: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Dont Realize They Should Do This One Thing Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. 1. Chicago, Illinois The Second City ranks number one in the U.S. for hours lost while stuck in traffic a staggering 155 per driver. Thats practically an entire work week. Additionally, gas prices across Illinois average over $3.39 a gallon, so just getting around takes a heavy toll. 2. Boston, Massachusetts Beantown places second for traffic delays at 134 hours lost per driver annually. Plus, Bay State gas prices sit among the highest nationwide, averaging $3.50 and change. Suffering through both traffic and pump costs makes locals wicked frustrated. 3. New York, New York From Manhattan mobility misery to backed-up outer borough highways, the Big Apple ties for worst downtown driving speeds in the U.S. Additionally gas prices in the Empire State exceed $3.25 a gallon pricier than most places. New Yorkers get slammed coming and going. 4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The City of Brotherly Love ties NYC for worst inner city traffic flows. Gas prices in the Keystone State average over $3.50 as well. Locals searching for around-town sanity often come up empty. 5. Miami, Florida Miami ranks fifth for traffic nightmares, with drivers losing 105 hours yearly. Gas prices in the Sunshine State sit several cents above national rates, too. Trying to get anywhere fast in Miami seems pretty futile. 6. Los Angeles, California LA highways place among the most delay-ridden in America. At $4.62 a gallon, the Golden States gas prices stand well above national averages, too. California drivers desperately need some relief already from this maddening combo. Story continues 7. San Francisco, California Frisco ties LA for horrendous congestion statistics. Golden State gas prices remain above rates in most other states, adding budget insult to traffic injury. Bay Area residents must wonder if theyll ever see smooth sailing again. 8. Washington, D.C. The District tops the charts for worst downtown speeds at an abysmal 11 mph, with gas prices in the metro region ring in at $3.36 a gallon. Politicians might love D.C., but drivers certainly have reason to loathe it lately. 9. Toronto, Canada Despite not having regional gas price data, Canadas largest city places fourth for traffic delays. We can only assume filling up costs an arm and a leg just like virtually everywhere in the Great White North lately, compounding the urban congestion problems. Learn: 5 American Cars That Are Better To Buy Used Lets hope transit upgrades and remote work options ease the collective pain for these urban centers soon. For now, these metro regions stand out for uniquely nasty combos of bumper-bumping traffic and emptying wallets at the pump. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Cities with Heavy Traffic and High Gas Prices Lujiang, Anhui: celebrate the Spring Festival with traditional folk customs Pub Date:24-02-18 10:06 Source:english.anhuinews.com Celebrate the Spring Festival with dragon dance performance On February 16th, the seventh day of the first lunar month, Tangchi Town in Lujiang County, Hefei City, Anhui Province, held a grand Lantern Festival performance to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Folk artists performed dragon and lion dances, singing as they danced, celebrating the Spring Festival with traditional cultural forms. Celebrate the Spring Festival with traditional folk customs Celebrate the Spring Festival with traditional folk customs Celebrate the Spring Festival with traditional folk customs Celebrate the Spring Festival with traditional folk customs Source: anhuinews.com Editor:Qin Shuying Related News Spring Festival | The sixth day of the Chi... Spring Festival | The fourth day of the Ch... Spring Festival | The third day of the Chi... Spring Festival | The first day of the Chi... Andy Briggs says the UK needs to prepare for the inevitable consequences of demographic changes - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Retirees risk receiving less of their state pension and having to wait longer for payouts because Britains system cant cope with an ageing population, the chief executive of life insurer Phoenix Group has said. Andy Briggs has warned that the burden on state pensions will soon become unsustainable without significant reform, as he urged people to set aside money for their own pension pots. The Phoenix boss, who oversees the companys 12 million clients and 259bn of assets, told the Telegraph: The state pension just cant cope in the way that it was originally designed to do. Effectively, state pensions are going to have to be paid later and at a lower level, and people are going to have to make greater personal provision. He said the system is becoming overwhelmed by seismic demographic changes. When the state pension was first introduced in 1948, men retired at 65 and women at 60. At that stage, life expectancy for a man was 67, he said. So the whole thing was designed with a life expectancy in retirement of two years. Today, men retire at 67, at which point they would have a life expectancy of 85 meaning the demand on the state pension is growing ever greater. The situation is going to get worse. Between now and 2050, the number of over-60s globally is going to double, according to the World Health Organisation. The number of over-80s globally is going to treble. The UK figures wont be materially different to that, said Briggs. We arent going to increase the state pension age by seven or eight years, clearly. Therefore there is going to be pressure on the state pension as a result. Either that, or the tax rates for those working will have to go up quite materially. Research from the International Longevity Centre suggests that the UK will need to increase the state pension age to 71 by 2050 to maintain the number of workers per retiree. But this would not be enough to fix the affordability challenge in the system, said Mr Briggs. Story continues Ill health, disabilities and caring responsibilities often mean people fall out of the workforce years before retirement age. These people, who are disproportionately lower earners, will still need support from the state. There is a real need to examine the role the state pension plays, alongside other policies such as auto-enrolment and working age benefits to develop a system that genuinely addresses the realities of inequalities in work, health and savings, said Mr Briggs. The threat to the state pension comes on top of the fact that the vast majority of people are not saving enough into their private pensions, Mr Briggs warned. Just as Britain is adjusting to having a bigger older population, it is also undergoing a shift from defined benefit pensions where employers pay out based on a workers final salary to defined contributions, where the size of a persons pot depends on how much they pay in. Many people retiring today will receive large defined benefit pensions, said Mr Briggs, which means many are in reasonable shape. However, that is all about to change. Soon, the people retiring will be those on defined contribution pensions, he said. Only one in seven of these savers is doing enough for a decent standard of living, to not see a material drop-off from their pre-retirement income. That is very widespread across all sectors. This means between 15m and 17m people are likely not saving enough to retire when they want, with the income they want, according to Phoenix Insights. Mr Briggs blames this on a generational misunderstanding. They saw that their parents generation were fine with their state pensions and their defined benefit pensions, so they think they will be fine, he said. They dont understand the reality. It was all taken care of but thats not the case anymore. Even so, the outlook is much better than it could have been. In 2012, then-chancellor George Osborne introduced auto-enrolment, which meant all employers became obliged to provide workplace pensions. This has been highly successful, said Mr Briggs: We used to have 10m people saving for their retirement in the UK. Now we have 20m. But there are two areas where the system falls short. Firstly, it doesnt yet cover the self-employed. This means there are 5m people outside of the system altogether. The second problem is that the minimum contribution of 8pc of salary is too small, said Mr Briggs. The UK average is around 10pc, whereas in Canada, the average is double that at 20pc. Mr Briggs is calling for the minimum contribution to be raised to 12pc. The Government also needs to make pension advice more accessible, said Mr Briggs. But the solution is not just about saving more. We need to radically change the way that we think about working in later life, said Mr Briggs, who is also the Governments Business Champion for Older Workers. People need to think about working for longer, he argues, as most people do not understand how much money they have to retire on. The way pensions are invested should change to offer better returns, Mr Briggs argues - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg My message to The Telegraphs readers is that they need to take control of their own destiny on this, he said. If youre over 50 and not working, at least make sure you really do understand the trajectory youre on. In addition to increasing the state pension burden, the demographic pressures of an ageing population means more older workers are dropping out of the workforce. One in five over-50s have major care responsibilities for an elderly relative. At the same time, many have to look after grandchildren. If over-50s leave the workforce to help with their families, they are the least likely group to go back to work. Employers need to make it much easier for them to remain in work, offering flexibility to reduce their hours or change which hours they work, said Mr Briggs. Currently, there is a big gap between what these people need and what is on offer. According to Phoenix Insights, 59pc of people in their 50s said older workers are being left behind by employers. Mr Briggs argues that businesses are missing out on a source of experienced workers who can play a critical role in boosting Britains economy. It is something I talk at length about with the Chancellor, he said. A lot of the businesses I talk to are struggling to get the skills and capabilities they need, and we have half a million over-50s out of work who want to work. Lets put those two things together. The way our pensions are invested also needs to change, to give savers better returns, said Mr Briggs. Over the last decade, a defined contribution saver in the UK got a net return of 4pc. In Canada and Australia, the respective returns were 5.2pc and 5.5pc. Thats basically a third more income in retirement if youre Canadian or Australian compared to the UK. The key is moving more of Britains pension savings into what are known as productive assets, namely things like private equity and venture capital. Right now, just 9pc of Britains pension assets are in investments like these, compared to 23pc in Canada and Australia. Under Chancellor Jeremy Hunts Mansion House compact last summer, Phoenix has pledged to invest 5pc of its pension assets into private assets, such as early-stage venture capital. Britain also needs to do more to attract overseas investors to the UK, said Mr Briggs, but this will hinge on stability. When I talk to US investors, they say I like the sound of your company, Andy, but I worry a bit about the UK. You did Brexit. And then you had all that instability with the Truss mini-Budget. Investors have long memories. 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. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript February 16, 2024 Agnico Eagle Mines Limited isn't one of the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds at the end of the third quarter (see the details here). Operator: Good morning. My name is Julie, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Agnico Eagles Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Conference Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Thank you. Mr. Ammar Al-Joundi, you may begin your conference. Ammar Al-Joundi: Thank you, operator, and good morning, everyone. First, let me say thank you again for joining us this morning. It's always great to have our owners and our friends and analysts joining us. This morning in particular, my colleagues and I are excited to talk to you about our fourth quarter and full year results. The results, as you will hear, are very strong. But while these results are strong and we're going to talk about them, we're more excited to talk about our future, not just our guidance for 2024 and '25 and '26, but the next several years. And importantly, we'll talk a little bit about some of the key projects that will propel Agnico Eagle forward. It will propel us forward by delivering more value per share at mines that importantly, we already operate in regions we've been in for decades and with people and teams already in place. We'll go through a number of slides this morning and you'll hear from a number of our most senior executives about the business and how it's going. But really the message we want to leave with you is a simple message. It's a message of stability, consistency, and of quality, quality of the projects, quality of the assets, and the quality of our people. It's a message, hopefully, that youll walk away thinking and appreciating that Agnico has built a unique position in this industry. With some of the largest longest live gold mines in the world, operating in the safest jurisdictions with great exploration potential, continuing great exploration potential, great operating results and great projects. It's a company with 66-year history of fiscal prudence, capital discipline and per share focus. Story continues Before I jump in, I would suggest and note that there are forward-looking statements. And if I might ask operator, if we can jump to Slide 5. Perfect. Thank you. So in discussing our fourth quarter and full-year 2023 highlights, so for 2023 highlights and full-year, four important milestones and achievements. One, record gold production. Best ever in the quarter, best ever for a full year. That's impressive for any company. It's especially impressive, I think, for a company that's been around for 66 years. Two, record cash from operations. Best ever in a quarter, best ever in a year. Three, record mineral reserves, up 10%. It's almost 54 million ounces. So it shows not only are the operations doing well, but the reinvestment into the business and into the future is doing well. And then four, most proud of all, the best annual safety performance in the company's history. I've had the pleasure of talking about solid safety performance on a number of these calls. You know we're passionate about it. I'll say it again, there's nothing more important, nothing more important than keeping our people safe, our community safe, and the environment safe. And I want to say a special thank you to all of our employees who are listening in, not only for taking the responsibility to keep yourself safe, but the responsibility to keep your colleagues and co-workers safe. And then we'll also talk about the future. We'll talk about our guidance, solid three-year production guidance with industry leading costs. And we're going to talk about, again, we're most excited about the projects that we have in place, that we think will add significant value, and we'll talk about some of the guidance that we're going to give more clarity on that towards the middle of the year. Next page please. So these results, which we're very proud of, are clearly a function of the assets we have, but really none of this could happen without the quality of the people that we have. We talked about safety. It's impressive enough on its own, a 35% reduction versus what were already aggressive targets. But really interesting is that every single operation, everyone met or exceeded their safety targets last year. It's also about an engaged workforce, a happy workforce. In 2023, we continue to improve the results of internal surveys with regards to employee satisfaction. We had 80% of employees fill out the survey, that's exceptional. And almost 80% of our employees said Agnico Eagle was a great place to work. Not a good place to work, a great place to work. Agnico Eagle was recognized in Forbes list of Canada's 50 Best Employers. We're doing more training. We have more indigenous employees and colleagues, and we have lower turnover. It's not just the assets, it's not just the regions, it's the people that we think give Agnico Eagle a tangible competitive example. And I'll give you one of my favorite real life examples of Agnico. When you go underground at Agnico and you're talking to a young capable person and they tell you that their uncle and father worked at Agnico and they tell you that one of their grandparents worked at Agnico. You don't get that everywhere. Next page, please. So looking forward, 2024 to 2026 production outlook, really two words, steady, reliable. Our guidance for 2024 is exactly what we said it would be. Our cost guidance between 8.75% to 9.25%, is up a little bit from what we were able to do in 2023, but it's only 4%. And we're hoping to, just like we did in 2023, do the best we can and we have a track record of being able to do that. Our 2025 guidance remains the same at 3.4 million to 3.6 million ounces, same guidance that we gave last year, and 2026 shows steady production. Again, steady and again reliable. Next slide, please. So I've got two more slides. So this page, I want to talk about where we are in the consolidation of our Abitibi platform, including not only 2 of the 10 largest gold mines in the world with Detour and Malartic, but also where we are on consolidating sort of the Cadillac Fault and Upper Beaver and Wasamac and Amalgamated Kirkland, et cetera. At Detour Lake, and Natasha will go through this in more detail. It is already, while competing, frankly with Malartic, to be the largest gold mine in Canada. It's good, we've got both of them competing with each other. Mine life past 2050. It is a great ore body. Guy will talk about the exploration success we've continued to have. Natasha will talk about how we take advantage of that by increasing the mill, by looking at underground. And we are aiming to provide more specific guidance by midyear. And that guidance really is going to be about what's the next step. And the next step, if all goes well, and we're still doing our analysis, would be what you would expect, potentially looking to put in exploration ramps to be able to possibly take some bulk samples, confirm grade continuity, confirm ground conditions, the kind of things that you would expect a professional mine company to do when they have such a great asset as that. With Canadian Malartic, Dominique will talk about that. Three items there: One, continue the focus on building and optimizing the underground, putting in the shaft, how the mining is going. Dominique will talk about, we're ahead of schedule on development. We're getting positive tonnage reconciliation with the internal zones. Everything is going well. But Dominique will also talk a little bit about where we are early, but where we are on looking at the second shaft. And three, the work that we're doing to look at filling the mill as mill capacity becomes available later this decade. And the third item that you see at the bottom of this page is something actually we're really quite proud of. And I'm going to start with probably the smallest one, Amalgamated Kirkland and near surface. So, Amalgamated Kirkland, the reason we're particularly proud to talk about that is, if you go back two years when we did the merger and we talked about synergies, and we all know that we have delivered roughly double the G&A synergies that we talked about. What we specifically talked about some low-hanging fruit including Amalgamated Kirkland. And we said, look, this is within tens of meters from existing Macassa infrastructure. If we can access that at very low capital and produce maybe 25,000 or 40,000 ounces a year, that's just a simple example of how you create value through synergies and through consolidation. I'm proud to say that, it's already now, Amalgamated Kirkland and near surface. It's in our mine plan. There's going to be 19,000 ounces in 2024, 35,000 ounces in 2025, 50,000 ounces in 2026. Again, I'm going back two years, but we promised you, we would talk about that and deliver and it's a pleasure to be able to point that out. At Upper Beaver, it's a long life high quality asset, very low cost. We are continuing to do the work there. We will be giving an update towards the mid-year, and again, it will be about next steps. Do we put in an exploration ramp or an exploration shaft to continue to move that project forward? Again, we'll give guidance towards the middle of the year. And then Wasamac, we're making progress on that. I think most of you know that, when we acquired the Canadian assets of Yamana, really we were primarily focused naturally on Malartic and Wasamac good asset, but we weren't convinced that the plan that Yamana had would meet our hurdle rates. I'm pleased to say that the work we're doing and our engineers have done something kind of unique in the gold mining space. They've looked at a smaller project that gets a better return on capital. And so we've made some progress on that. We'll give more guidance. That's probably something in early 2025 that we would talk about. But again, making good progress on that. Next page, please. And then Nunavut, very proud of the team at Meadowbank, added 500,000 ounces of production, extended the mine life for two years. Dominique is excited about extending it further, but we're not going to talk about that right now. This is a mine that's got infrastructure in place, low risk, very well done by the team. And then Hope Bay, Guy will talk about some of the exploration results that are very promising there. And so before I turn it over at a very high level, very proud of the team for the results in 2023, solid guidance and good progress on some excellent projects leveraging off existing infrastructure in places we're already comfortable with. And with that, I'll turn it over to our CFO, Jamie Porter. Jamie Porter: Thank you, Ammar, and good morning, everyone. As Ammar mentioned, 2023 was a record year on a number of fronts. We had the safest year in the company's 66-year history, and record quarterly and full year gold production. This excellent safety and operating performance led to very strong financial results. We generated an operating margin of $979 million in the fourth quarter, which was driven by our two largest mines, Detour and Canadian Malartic. Gold production in the fourth quarter was a new quarterly record at 903,000 ounces, and for the full year, we hit the very top end of our production guidance of 3.44 million ounces. We were also very pleased to report that we achieved our cost guidance with our total cash cost for the year coming in at the exact midpoint of our guidance of $865 per ounce and our all-in sustaining costs of $1,179 per ounce, well within our guided range. We are proud of the work our teams have done on controlling costs in what's been an inflationary environment over the past several years and on the team's focus on continuous improvement. A tangible example of this focus on cost is in Nunavut, where cost optimization efforts are driving costs lower by about $100 an ounce in 2024. This has helped enable us to extend the life of the Amaruq deposit as Ammar just alluded to, from 2026 to 2028 adding 500,000 ounces of production. If we move on to Slide 12. We look at our financial highlights, record gold production drove record operating cash flow for both the fourth quarter and the full year. While we recorded a net loss per share of $0.77 in the fourth quarter. This was driven by non-cash impairment charges related to Macassa and Pinos Altos. On an adjusted basis, net income per share was $0.57 in the fourth quarter, which represents a 50% increase relative to the prior year period. I want to briefly touch on the impairment charges that were recorded in the quarter. At Macassa, we recognized the net of tax impairment charge of approximately $600 million, primarily reflecting the write-down of goodwill that was recognized at the time of acquisition back in early 2022. Macassa had an excellent performance in 2023 in terms of production, cost control and reserve replacement. And this is a mine that has produced over 6 million ounces in its 100-year history. We see tremendous exploration upside. We see production increasing by 50% over the next three years. And the potential to continue to replace reserves for years to come. However, we are not able to recognize all of this value in an impairment model. And this, combined with higher costs and capital estimates that were assumed back in 2022 led to the impairment charge. At Pinos Altos, we recognized a net of tax impairment charge of approximately $70 million, reflecting higher expected operating capital costs in part related to the strength in the Mexican pace over the last year. Despite these accounting charges, the business remains very strong. We generated a record $300 million of free cash flow in the fourth quarter, and that's after investing nearly $0.5 billion in capital and exploration spending. We continue to pay a strong quarterly dividend and repaid $100 million of debt in the quarter. For the full 2023 year, we generated $947 million of free cash flow, declared dividends of approximately $800 million and continued to demonstrate our commitment to delivering strong returns to shareholders. At current gold prices, we expect to continue to reinvest approximately two-thirds of our cash flow into sustaining, growing our business, exploring to find more ounces and one-third of our cash flow into delivering returns to shareholders and continuing to strengthen our balance sheet. We move on to Slide 13. I'm pleased to report that we were able to continue to strengthen our balance sheet in the fourth quarter. We repaid the outstanding balance on our credit facility and reduced our net debt position to approximately $1.5 billion. We've also recently significantly improved our overall liquidity. Earlier this week, we closed a new upsized revolving credit facility in the amount of $2 billion. This new facility reflects Agnico's size and scale and investment-grade status. It provides us with additional financial flexibility, and we were very pleased to have had strong support from our many banking partners. We do have increased debt maturities in 2025, and we'll look to refinance or repay those from excess cash at the appropriate time. Overall, the balance sheet remains very strong, and we're constantly working to make it stronger, improving our liquidity and overall financial flexibility. With that, I'll turn the call over to Dom, who will provide an overview of our Quebec and Nunavut operations. Dominique Girard: Thank you, Jimmy. Good morning, everyone. So in the coming slides, I'm going to cover the two regions in Canada on my side, Quebec and Nunavut, and Natasha will follow with the other regions. But maybe before going to those highlights, Ammar, I would just like to add something or to build on what you mentioned about why and why -- I think why we're in that position right now. There's the aspect of the people, there is the aspect of the region where we are. But there's also a secret ingredient. It's a bit personal, but I strongly believe in that, which is the how we do stuff. How we work all together here at the corporate office with Natasha, Jamie, under your leadership, Ammar, Caro, Jean and Guy. I think this is what makes the difference. This is what I felt when I started in 1998 at Laurent. And again, 26 years after under your leadership, Ammar, this is what we're doing. And when you go at site, you still feel that same thing where we're in Toronto office, we work together. And this is why the result we are today, here theyre talking by themselves. So on that, I will move to the Quebec region. So we produced over 1 million ounces at a cash cost of $850 million, generating an operating margin of over $1 billion. So I'm very proud and thank you for the team to control the costs and to continue to optimize the business and to leverage on all the synergy. So Quebec is a well-established platform. And you're going to see in the coming slides, this is just the beginning. We're going to keep growing that one. When you think about that within 100 kilometers, we have three mines and a very enormous geological potential. Maybe before going to the Odyssey project, I'd just like to highlight that Canadian Malartic is going to be the biggest mine in Canada in 2024. Natasha, you're going to win the biggest open pit. But Canadian Malartic is going to be back the first biggest mine, and in the coming slide, you're going to see we're going to move to have the biggest underground mine and maybe with Phase 2, potentially the biggest mine again. But let's talk about that. Next slide. So the Odyssey project, it is the Phase 1 of the underground. Well lend out the study, which is 20 years life of mine at 550 ounces per year. This is the PA that we released. And more recently, we updated the PFS, where we are going to turn 5.2 million ounces into reserve. The highlight of the project, Odyssey south ramp-up is going well. I would say it's done. We are right now producing 3,500 tonnes per day, which is going to bring approximately 80 ounces per year in the coming two years. You could see on the map the ramp. So we're going to reach the top of the East Gouldie deposit, which is the red zone. We're going to be there in a couple of weeks. And the team is now looking for opportunity, how could we start to mine that zone at the top and to bring answers potentially in '26. So we don't have the clear detail yet, but the team are working on that. Ammar mentioned about that we are in advance on the ramp. And one of the reasons of that, again, is back to the synergy and how we were able to transfer the knowledge and to be fast on the automation. So right now, during the shift, during the crew change, we are able to operate remotely the mine from the surfaces, and this is giving us between 10% and 20% improvement. That was not into the plan, and this is why we're better than the plan. Other good news, the internal zone, which is in between the -- this is south at the top and the Odyssey north at the bottom in the purple-ish color. We still see some upside coming from those zones and more tonnes at the same grade. So that's a good news. I understand it is very complicated to bring them into the model. We're trying. But again, it's a good news for operation. When we're there, there's more than the model. On the shaft thinking, we saw a very great improvement December, January. So congratulations to the team. A macro view of a gold mine, with miners hard at work in the foreground. We're heading in the right direction, and the surface construction 65% completed. Before I'm going to the next slide, which is -- I'm going to talk more about Phase 2 about this, I'd just like to highlight on that one. On this one, we see we're looking with and you see two zones. The East Gouldie Zone, which is in the sediment deposit, and there is the Odyssey South-North, which is at the border between the sedimentary rock and the volcanic rock, but there is another one, more on the north, which is at the contact of the volcanic and other type of rock. So I stole a slide from Guy's presentation because I'm excited about. So I will talk about it. And if you have questions, Guy could help me. But next slide, you could see now we're looking north. On that slide, in the middle -- right in the middle, you see the East Gouldie. The orange part is what we transferred to reserve, the 5.2 million ounces. So this zone continue to increase as we are infilling it and doing more drilling. So this is one part that could be Phase 2. If we continue to grow that reserve and potentially have a second shaft close to that one and bring more tonnes to the mill, that's an option. There is no clear view or clear plan at this stage because we need to continue to drill. But the team is already planning where that shaft is going to be and planning all the infrastructure that we need to build to make sure that we're going to have a good room, a good spot for that shaft. More to come, but we still need to continue to drill. But also exciting, if we step out a bit, you could see the 16.5 kilometer strike land that we have. Now we're -- again, we're looking north, and there's three zones, mineral horizon in that area, the Odyssey -- sorry, the East Gouldie in our range. In the middle at approximately 600, 700 meters, there is the Odyssey South. And you could see on the right also the purple one, that zone continue, I don't know, 5 kilometers on the west. And there's another zone, which was the Malartic goldfield mine in the past, which is also there. So there is currently no drilling occurring there, but we're going to come back, I would say, in the next two years. We're looking to have an aggressive plan to drill that. And this could be a game changer to bring -- if we find something to bring answers to Canadian Malartic. So back in the days, the Goldfield mine has mined 9 million tonnes at 6 grams per tonne, 1.7 million ounces. That was in 1939, 1965. So now we're going to come back there. We're going to drill around that and see if we could bring something into the plan. Next slide. So for the Nunavut business, again, great work to the team. I would just like also to highlight Martin Clands work here with us in the room. He did very good work to optimize Meliadine and at Meadowbank to improve the productivity and costs. And this allowed us to look to expand Meadowbank. It's part of that to be more efficient. So we added 500,000 ounces into the plan for ounces coming in '26, '27, '28. Those ounces are coming from a better reconciliation, which involved more tonnes, a pushback at the IVR pit and also more mining from underground. Guy's going to talk more about that one. And maybe the other aspect is the Meliadine, we're doing currently the Phase 2 construction. You see the Meliadine picture in the middle. This is going on budget, on time. This is a good news. And the vision here in Nunavut is to maintain a platform of 800,000 ounces. This is what we produced, if you look to the full year 2023. In 2024, we're going to bring that around more 860,000 ounces with more ounces coming from Meadowbank. As we mentioned in the past, more deep we go into the open pit, the grade is higher and supplemented with the underground mine or higher grade ore. This is where the ounces are going to come. But Meadowbank, we see it ending now in 2028. That's a very good news. We continue to work to expand that. This is the first goal and what could, in my mind be very, very interesting. Guy's going to talk about something we see also at Amaruq. But the other project that is coming into play is the whole big one. And again, I will let Guy talk about what we see. This Nunavut is a high-risk region, but it's also a high reward region. And on the risk side, I need to say, I'm very comfortable because we're mining there since 17 years. We've built Meliadine, $1.2 million project. We did it on cost, 6-month in advance. And now we will be doing Phase 2 of Meliadine at a time, which is not easy, and we're still on time and on cost. So I'm confident that the team is going to work on a study at Amaruq, which is going to be a solid one and it's going to fly. So on that, I will now pass it to Natasha, who will discuss the remaining of the business. Natasha Nella Vaz: Thanks, Dom, and good morning, everyone. I'll start with the operations in Ontario. We had a strong year and solid performance at both of our operations. As you can see on this slide, we generated over $1 billion in operating margins in 2023 with industry-leading costs. Now at both of our operations, Macassa and Detour were we're focused. We're constantly focused on optimizing our assets through a number of continuous improvement initiatives. It's just part of the DNA. And I'll give you a few examples of that. And I'll start with Macassa. So one of the big initiatives here at Macassa are the productivity gains that we were able to sustain in 2023. We first started that with the commissioning of number 4 shaft. And then later in the year, we upgraded the ventilation system. And these gains together have resulted in a production -- in production coming up just above the top end of guidance. So congratulations to the team on that. Now in terms of creating further value at Macassa, we have now integrated the AK and the near surface deposits into the production profile. And as Ammar mentioned, at the time of the merger, we identified AK as a near-term opportunity to surface value. And so again, here, we're very, very proud of the team for the work that they've done to realize this potential. Now just staying in the Kirkland Lake area for a minute, I just wanted to touch on Upper Beaver. There's an internal assessment that's underway, and it's considering either an exploration shaft or an exploration ramp to further convert and also explore the deeper portions of the deposit. Now moving to Detour. As I've mentioned before, this site has a track record of delivering on improvement initiatives. Our current focus, as you know, is the continuing -- it's continuing to advance the mill optimization efforts. We now expect to reach the mill throughput rate of 28 million tonnes a year. Later in the second half of this year, 2024, which, again, I'm very, very proud of the team to be able to say this is one year earlier than anticipated. In addition to that, we're also -- we also believe that we have a better understanding of the potential to reach a mill throughput of now 29 million tonnes a year. And we believe that we can do this in a time line that could be as early as the end of 2026. And we'll continue to work on this, but we're also looking to do better. And Ammar mentioned it, but we're in the early stages of it, but we're evaluating the potential to go beyond 29 million tonnes a year. That could be a 30 million tonnes, that could be a 32 million tonnes a year. Now just touching on the Detour underground study. It's advancing, and we'll provide an update later on in the year. Now moving to the next slide, Slide 19. I followed Dom's queue, and I swiped the slide from Guy, sorry Guy, but it's a good slide. It provides a little bit more color on the ongoing exploration efforts at Detour. So at the end of this year, we declared an initial underground inferred resource of close to 22 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.23%. So it totaled about 1.56 million ounces. And on the image below, you can see where that resource sits. It's a darker blueish gray, maybe greenish, which is just below and to the west of the blue resource pit shell. This is the area that we're currently evaluating in the underground study. It's the darker blue area, but also the resource as a whole. On the lower image, you can also see -- barely see a purple line, a faint purple line, and that is the potential location of an exploration ramp to get closer to the resource and being in a pretty good position to better define it. And then over and above that, we are still making progress outside that resource area. We're continuing to drill the Western part, and we see a cluster of good drill holes, about 900 meters or so west of the resource pit. Now moving on to Slide 20. I'll touch on the other assets very quickly, starting with Finland. Here at Kittila, the operating permit was restored to 2 million tonnes a year at the end of October 2023. And now having completed the mill expansion, the shaft project, the environmental upgrades, the mine is realizing its potential and generating strong cash flows. We're also seeing some positive -- sorry, positive exploration results extending the deposit, not just at depth, but also near surface. Now moving to Australia. Fosterville, it continues to generate strong cash flow despite decreasing rates. The team is working on securing a long-term production level of somewhere in the range of 175,000 to 200,000 ounces per year, and we expect to have preliminary results of that later on this year. Not too long ago, Fosterville was a site that generated before exploration expenditures that generated close to AUD 1 billion in cash flow a year for three consecutive years. So yes, we believe in the site, we believe in our team there. We believe in the exploration potential to find the next high-grade deposit, and Guy will discuss that later on in the presentation. Lastly, Mexico, La India, successfully and sadly completed mining activities in Q4 2023 and is now producing from the residual leaching activities this year. Pinos Altos, it's a mature site with stable production and a great team, and our efforts are transitioning more and more now to the San Nicolas project. And then just before I pass the call over to Guy, I just want to echo what Ammar said and what Dom said. We just want to commend the sites, all the operating sites for an incredible year. There were many challenges that we encountered, but we overcame them as a team. We overcame them safely. So thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your commitment to continually strive for improvements in all aspects of our business. So with that, I'll pass it over to Guy. Guy Gosselin: Thank you, Natasha. Good morning, everybody. Starting with the year-end reserve and resources statement at Page 21. Its been a very good year in terms of mineral reserve replacement. You can see the building block highlighted the different categories on the upper left-hand corner of that slide. But more importantly, like mentioned, by Ammar in the introduction comments, increasing the number of mineral reserves per share again. So we've been successful at doing it, adding this year 10%. So 5 million ounces addition to the reserve seeing resources being stable in the measured and indicated category and growing inferred by 26% year-over-year. We've been addressing our gold price assumption to 1,400, but that was mostly to reflect on the long-term structured cost of our business. And none of that resulted in a lowering of the cut-off grade. As a matter of fact, the grade of reserves are 2% up year-over-year. So we're not only adding reserves, we're also improving the quality with a grade that is higher. And you can also see in the lower left corner, the waterfall that explains the various block from mining depletion, addition of East Gouldie with 5.17 million ounces. The acquisition of the other half of Canadian Malartic and our 50% interest in San Nicolas plus the contribution of each of the other mine that is well illustrated in that waterfall graph. Moving to specific projects, like mentioned by Natasha, it's been a great year in Macassa and a great year from a production standpoint and a very great year in terms of reserve replacement in addition. So not only we managed to replace the 235,000 ounces that were mined Q2. But on the top of that, we've added an additional 224. So there's been a net -- a significant net growth of the total mineral reserves at Macassa, and very pleased to see the evolution at the AK Zone closer to surface, not only the reserve -- mineral reserves have grown to 160,000 ounces in a shallow portion of the deposit. But the grade is significantly up compared to last year. Now we are adding 160,000 ounces at 6.7 gram and whereas last year, our first estimate was 5.2%. So good quality, relatively high-grade ore, very close surface that will provide a lot of optionality as well described both by Ammar and Natasha. Moving on Slide 23. Ammar, just to pile on what Dominique mentioned. It's been a great year from an operations standpoint that the metric we've seen from a cost and production were outstanding. And we continue to see the benefit of a very positive reconciliation. So as we are entering into the central portion of the deposit, we continue to see this year 22% more ounces than predicted by our block model. We've managed to integrate some of that into our assumption adjusting the model, addressing some of the capping parameter, which is a component of the extension of the life of mine. And as we are also adding time and extending the life of mine, we continue to investigate at depth where the deposit remains open and we continue to be quite pleased with some good results now reaching close to kilometer below surface with some great good high-grade hip with good thickness. So opening up some opportunity to further extend the life of mine above and beyond what we are mentioning. Moving to Slide 24, at Hope Bay, the focus shift from investigating Doris last in 2022 to investigating in the Madrid area. And very an area that we'd like when we were evaluating the project is that extension of Madrid towards the south in the Patch 7. And we continue to see excellent results, one of the best draw hole that we've ever seen on the project, 16.3 grams over 28 meter at not even 400 meter below surface. That area is not yield drilled tight enough to make it infra resources and -- but it is exactly what we are currently addressing in filling that area. And we've been aggressively ramping up drilling quickly after New Year when the high thicknesses was good enough so that we can safely reaccess that portion under the from ICE-based drilling. And we are aggressively drilling in that area that we think will move the needle to bring the project to a successful decision in the future. And last but not least moving to Fosterville on Page 25. We've seen through the year a continuation of good result in the Robbin's Hill area and now to a certain extent as well in the Lower Phoenix within the Cardinal fleet. That led to a complete replacement of reserves. Obviously, the grade as was discussed is going down because we are completing the depletion of the Swan Zone. But we were quite pleased to see a full replacement with the reserves that now stand at around 6.1 gram. And we are currently working to address the mine plan with the idea of optimizing the production profile of the operation with that 6 gram per ton material. And on that, I will return back to Ammar for some closing remarks. Ammar Al-Joundi : Well, thank you, everyone and we've covered a lot, but I'll just finish on the next slide please on what we're all about. We are trying to build a high quality business. We think there's a lot of opportunity. We don't care about absolute size. We care about value and value per share for our shareholders and doing it the right way in the communities we operate. We want a low risk business in the best jurisdictions. We define the best jurisdictions at least for Agnico Eagle as having the best geologic potential for multiple mines and having the political stability to operate multiple mines and to keep things simple. We want to focus on quality for us includes the best ESG that we can possibly do. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it's an essential thing to do. If your strategy is, I want to be in a region for multiple decades and build multiple mines, you better be welcome in that region and you better treat the people and the communities and the environment the right way. We want to continue to have disciplined capital investment and disciplined capital investment is largely about knowledge. And so, when we make investments, we like to do them in areas we know, with partners that we know, with teams that we know. We think we are uniquely-positioned in the industry. We're in good regions that have multiple decades, in some cases century of proven mineral potential. We produce more gold in Canada than the next eight companies combined that gives us the advantages you would expect from that and we have unique mining experience in Nunavut. And then finally and importantly, we've always been a company that has focused on fiscal conservatism. We focus on per share metrics. We focus on optimizing cash flow and we focus on trying to get the best return, the best risk-adjusted return on capital by leveraging existing assets where we can. I think what you heard this morning is, there's an abundance of opportunity to do that. With that, operator, thank you and we'll turn it over to questions. See also 16 Best States to Live in for Families and 25 Most Valuable Tech Companies Outside The US. To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here. Amazons Jeff Bezos outfoxes Washington the billionaire is saving nearly $600 million in taxes by moving from Seattle to Miami. Heres 3 ways you can sidestep the taxman Jeff Bezos made a masterful money move when he left his long-time digs in Seattle for a pad in Miamis so-called Billionaire Bunker. The Amazon (AMZN) founder currently the second-richest person in the world said he moved to Florida in 2023 to be closer to his parents and his rocket company Blue Origin. Dont miss Ditching the Emerald City turned out to be a very lucrative decision for the businessman. It has since been reported by CNBC that his move to Indian Creek will save Bezos many millions of dollars in taxes. Heres how Bezos is keeping his dollars from Uncle Sam and three ways you can do the same (even if youre not sitting on billions like Bezos). Selling Amazon shares Since the late 1990s, Bezos has sold billions of dollars worth of Amazon shares to fund his philanthropy, other business projects and his billionaire lifestyle. But in 2022, he hit pause on his stock sales when Washington state imposed a new 7% capital gains tax on sales of stocks or bonds of more than $250,000. After moving to Florida, Bezos took his foot off the brake. He recently sold around 12 million Amazon shares for roughly $2 billion, according to a company filing on Feb. 9. 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Follow Bezos move If your tax bill fills you with financial dread year after year, then maybe you should consider a Bezos-style move to a different, more tax-friendly state. That's what financial gurus like Grant Cardone have been recommending. They often cite recent migration trends in their arguments. Texas and Florida experienced the highest population growth in 2023, according to Census Bureau data, with gains of 473,453 people and 365,205 people, respectively. Both states have no personal income tax which could help you save a good chunk of your pay from Uncle Sam each year. If youre considering moving states because youre tired of paying high income taxes, its important to remember that personal income tax rates only tell part of the tax story. You have to consider each individual states personal income tax brackets and the available deductions, exemptions and credits. Also remember that property and sales taxes can impact a states affordability. For example, while Texas has no state income tax, it has one of the highest effective property tax rates in the country, at 1.68%. In a similar vein, zero-individual income tax Tennessee has the highest sales tax in the country, at 9.548%. 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 If youre considering making a move, it may be worth consulting with a tax professional to get a clear picture of your total tax liabilities before packing up your life. There's also other factors to consider. The average cost of homeowners insurance in Florida is three times more than the national average and has increased 102% in the last three years, per the Insurance Information Institute. Invest in tax-advantaged accounts If youd rather stay put where you live, one of the easiest ways to hold some money back from the IRS is to invest in tax-advantaged vehicles like a 401(k) account or an individual retirement account (IRA). With a 401(k) retirement savings plan, you can steer a portion of your pay into an account up to $23,000 in 2024 which you can then invest to grow your money. You wont pay tax on those contributions until you withdraw your funds during retirement, and by then you should be in a lower income-tax bracket. If you dont have access to a 401(k), you might consider opening a traditional IRA, where you can contribute pretax income up to $7,000 (for those under age 50) and $8,000 (for those age 50 or older) in an IRA in 2024 and grow it tax-free until you make withdrawals in retirement. Another option is a Roth IRA, where your contributions are taxed upfront so that your withdrawals are tax-free in retirement. This, of course, is less helpful for reducing your upcoming tax liability but Roth IRAs can offer some advantages and flexibility compared to traditional IRAs. Lower your taxable income You can reduce the amount of money you owe to the IRS through effective usage of tax credit and tax deductions. If you don't have an accountant, tax prep softwares can search through credits and deductions for you. Tax credits are highly desirable because they directly reduce your tax bill. Some popular examples include: the child tax credit (CTC), the electric vehicle (EV) tax credit and the earned income tax credit (EITC). All tax credits have different thresholds for eligibility and are often based partly on your income. It is important to monitor the IRS tax credit requirements if your income changes over time. Tax deductions are slightly different in that they lower your taxable income. When filing your taxes, youre given the choice to either take the standard deduction or itemize deductions. For tax-year 2024, the standard deduction for single filers is $14,600 and $29,200 for joint filers. Itemizing your deductions allows you to claim qualified deductions individually like medical expenses, donations and mortgage interest, etc. but while that may save you a few extra bucks, it wont take any stress out of your taxes. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. The board of Beacon Lighting Group Limited (ASX:BLX) has announced that it will pay a dividend of A$0.041 per share on the 15th of March. Based on this payment, the dividend yield will be 3.0%, which is lower than the average for the industry. While the dividend yield is important for income investors, it is also important to consider any large share price moves, as this will generally outweigh any gains from distributions. Investors will be pleased to see that Beacon Lighting Group's stock price has increased by 36% in the last 3 months, which is good for shareholders and can also explain a decrease in the dividend yield. See our latest analysis for Beacon Lighting Group Beacon Lighting Group's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings The dividend yield is a little bit low, but sustainability of the payments is also an important part of evaluating an income stock. Prior to this announcement, Beacon Lighting Group's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business. The next year is set to see EPS grow by 9.2%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 52% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range. Beacon Lighting Group's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency Looking back, Beacon Lighting Group's dividend hasn't been particularly consistent. This makes us cautious about the consistency of the dividend over a full economic cycle. Since 2015, the dividend has gone from A$0.014 total annually to A$0.083. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 22% per annum over that time. Dividends have grown rapidly over this time, but with cuts in the past we are not certain that this stock will be a reliable source of income in the future. The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. We are encouraged to see that Beacon Lighting Group has grown earnings per share at 10% per year over the past five years. Earnings are on the uptrend, and it is only paying a small portion of those earnings to shareholders. Story continues We Really Like Beacon Lighting Group's Dividend It is generally not great to see the dividend being cut, but we don't think this should happen much if at all in the future given that Beacon Lighting Group has the makings of a solid income stock moving forward. The cut will allow the company to continue paying out the dividend without putting the balance sheet under pressure, which means that it could remain sustainable for longer. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity. 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 1 warning sign for Beacon Lighting Group that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Davidson Licensed real estate associate and broker Jennifer Davidson has joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolina Premier Properties. A Wilmington real estate professional since 2018, Davidson recently graduated from the 2023 Cape Fear Realtor Leadership Academy. She works out of Berkshire Hathaways Landfall office in Wilmington. Dosher Memorial Hospital welcomes 2 new board members Drew Charles Drew and Angela Wadsworth were both recently sworn in as new members of the Dosher Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees are elected officials, voted in by the residents of Smithville Township. Drew, who is a Southport native, has a 31-year tenure as an employee with the city of Southport, was a 25-year volunteer with the Southport Fire Department and has served as the fire chief for the last 10. He is an instructor at Brunswick Community College, a member of the Southport Lions Club, a lifetime member of the Southport Historical Society, the current chairman of the Southport Historical Preservation Commission, and Pastor/President of the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church. Wadsworth Wadsworth, who is a 20-year resident of Southport, has volunteered at Dosher for nearly 20 years. Wadsworth holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Kentucky. She is a retired University of North Carolina Wilmington professor. Becker Morgan Group promotes 11 Becker Morgan Group Becker Morgan Group, a design firm specializing in architecture, engineering, surveying, land planning, and interior design, recently promoted 11 to its leadership team. Associate principal: Jonathan S. Falkowski. Senior associates: David J. Botscheller, Emily E. Purdum, Brice M. Reid and Christopher J. Weeks. Associates: Stan D. Bohnsack, Jan P. Burgess, Alicia P. Greenhalgh, Molly M. Marino, Kelsey M. Segraves and Mark D. Strickland. Women's Impact Network elects 2024 board of directors Harootyan The Womens Impact Network of New Hanover County welcomed its 2024 board of directors. Elected were Linda Harootyan as chair, Janet Stiegler as vice chair, Linda Thomas as secretary and Susan Vanecek as treasurer. Story continues Stiegler Womens Impact Network is a collective giving circle composed of more than 100 women who pool their contributions to help support community nonprofits. Thomas Vanecek Also joining the board are Sadie Campbell, Wendy Fingerhut, Debbie Mott, and Leigh Johnson, Director of Philanthropy, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. New agents joined Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage recently welcomed two agents to different offices in the Wilmington area. Moulton Ashley Moulton, with a 22-year background in the hospitality industry, joined the Autumn Hall office. Moulton has exceptional customer service skills. Garner Matt Garner, a former property manager, is well versed in the real estate industry. Garner joined the Oak Island office and looks forward to applying his knowledge to his customers. More: From a boutique to a hotel, these 8 businesses opened recently in the Wilmington area MedNorth Health Center welcomes new board member Lupercio Mireya Lupercio, a first generation Mexican American, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, recently joined MedNorth Health Center as a board member. Lupercio is an Outpatient Mental Health Therapist (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) at the Community Counseling Center. She is passionate about social justice and mental and emotional health. Lupercio works with a diverse group of clients and ranges of diagnosis, providing a bilingual and bicultural therapeutic environment for adolescents and adults. She moved to Wilmington to attend the University of North Carolina Wilmington, obtaining a bachelor's degree in social work. She graduated with a masters degree in social work with a concentration in Community Management and Policy Practice from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center Foundation The 11-member board of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center Foundation, a group of professional, business and civic leaders, recently welcome two new board members. They will serve a term through Dec. 31, 2026. Milligan Wendy Milligan is an independent real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Sloane Realty. She had 31 years of combined experience with Brunswick County Schools as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and county office supervisor. Milligan volunteers with many organizations in the community. She has served 47 years with the General Federation of Womens Clubs. She is involved in Camp United Methodist Church and has her hands in multiple real estate organizations, as well as farming operations. Formerly she served as the past president and past district education chairman of the South Brunswick Islands Womans Club. Pickett Deb Pickettis a wealth advisor for Signature Wealth Strategies in Leland. She began her career as a registered nurse and then became a pharmaceutical sales representative in the cardiovascular and gastroenterology practice areas. From there, she moved into executive level roles in sales, marketing and customer strategy in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Pickett is also very involved in local organizations. She is the president-elect of the Leland Area Rotary Club and a board member of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce. She supports the veterans in the community, women recovering from substance abuse, and local school students by furthering their careers through literacy. Pickett is also past president of the Women in Networking Wilmington chapter. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New hires in the Wilmington, NC, area Win-win partnership will help build competencies and raise safety standards MONTREAL & SINGAPORE, February 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to work together on aviation safety training and competency development. The partnership will help equip aviation professionals with competencies to manage safety challenges and raise aviation safety standards. The MOU was signed by Mr. Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS and Capt. Amornvaj Mansumitchai, President of IFALPA at the sidelines of the Changi Aviation Summit. Under the MOU, CAAS and IFALPA will work together to: (i) Co-develop and co-deliver training programmes and jointly organize seminars and workshops related to aviation safety. These will start with key topical issues such as runway safety, human factors and safety culture and be expanded to cover other emerging issues in future; (ii) Build up a pool of instructors and resource persons for the co-development or co-delivery of aviation safety programmes; and (iii) Leverage existing and establish new outreach platforms to promote aviation safety and institute a strong and positive safety culture amongst the aviation community. Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS said, "Aviation safety is a top priority of the Singapore air hub as we ramp up operations to meet rising demand for air travel. We have a robust safety regime covering all aviation companies and professionals and will step up training to raise competencies, including amongst pilots who are important safety actors. As an international air hub receiving flights from all over the world, we cannot do this alone. CAAS is deeply honoured to be the first civil aviation authority in the Asia Pacific region to sign an MOU with IFALPA on aviation safety training and competency development. The partnership will help CAAS reach out to pilot communities around the world while allowing IFALPA to tap on CAASs experience in aviation safety and our training capabilities at the Singapore Aviation Academy. By working together, we hope to raise safety standards to a higher level." Story continues Capt. Amornvaj Mansumitchai, President of IFALPA said, "IFALPA is honored to commence this collaborative journey with CAAS, focused on enhancing aviation safety training and competency development. Through our combined expertise and resources, we strive to provide pilots worldwide with the outstanding training they need to effectively tackle safety challenges. This partnership serves as a testament to our unwavering dedication to cultivating a positive safety culture within the aviation community, while highlighting the importance of partnerships between aviation authorities and pilots associations in advancing safety standards globally. Singapore's recognized status as a hub of expertise for aviation further underscores the significance of this collaboration." About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg. About the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations The International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations represents more than 100,000 pilots in nearly 100 countries. The mission of IFALPA is to promote the highest level of aviation safety worldwide and to be the global advocate of the piloting profession, providing representation, services, and support to both our members and the aviation industry. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240218377514/en/ Contacts For more information: Ms Rachel Khoo Assistant Manager (Corporate Communications) Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Email: rachel_khoo@caas.gov.sg Mobile: +65 9653 7047 The analysts might have been a bit too bullish on Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSE:CTC.A), given that the company fell short of expectations when it released its yearly results last week. Results showed a clear earnings miss, with CA$17b revenue coming in 3.0% lower than what the analystsexpected. Statutory earnings per share (EPS) of CA$3.78 missed the mark badly, arriving some 70% below what was expected. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. We thought readers would find it interesting to see the analysts latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year. Check out our latest analysis for Canadian Tire Corporation Taking into account the latest results, Canadian Tire Corporation's nine analysts currently expect revenues in 2024 to be CA$16.8b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to bounce 298% to CA$15.26. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of CA$17.6b and earnings per share (EPS) of CA$16.43 in 2024. It's pretty clear that pessimism has reared its head after the latest results, leading to a weaker revenue outlook and a minor downgrade to earnings per share estimates. Despite the cuts to forecast earnings, there was no real change to the CA$161 price target, showing that the analysts don't think the changes have a meaningful impact on its intrinsic value. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. The most optimistic Canadian Tire Corporation analyst has a price target of CA$195 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at CA$140. As you can see, analysts are not all in agreement on the stock's future, but the range of estimates is still reasonably narrow, which could suggest that the outcome is not totally unpredictable. Story continues Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Canadian Tire Corporation's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2024 expected to display 0.8% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 5.4% over the past five years. Compare this against other companies (with analyst forecasts) in the industry, which are in aggregate expected to see revenue growth of 11% annually. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Canadian Tire Corporation is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants. The Bottom Line The biggest concern is that the analysts reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for Canadian Tire Corporation. On the negative side, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at CA$161, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets. With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for Canadian Tire Corporation going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here. However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 4 warning signs for Canadian Tire Corporation (1 is significant!) that you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. By Lisa Barrington SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China's challenger to Airbus and Boeing's passenger jets, the narrow-body C919 manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), has made its first trip outside Chinese territory, staging a fly-by at the Singapore Airshow on Sunday. China has invested heavily in its attempt to break the hold of the dominant two Western planemakers on the global passenger market. China has indicated a push this year to advance the C919 and COMAC's footprint domestically and internationally. The plane is only certified within China and the first of now four C919s began flying with China Eastern Airlines last year. With Airbus and Boeing struggling to ramp up production and meet demand for new planes, and Boeing struggling with a string of crises, the aviation industry is watching how COMAC positions itself as a viable alternative. COMAC will invest tens of billions of yuan over the next 3-5 years to expand C919 production capacity, Chinese media reported a COMAC official saying in January. China's aviation authority said last month it would this year pursue European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) validation for the C919, a process which began in 2018. The C919 was one of two commercial planemakers flying their planes off Singapore's coast alongside Airbus at a Sunday preview for Asia's biggest air show. Boeing will not display a commercial aircraft this year. COMAC has two passenger products: the ARJ21 regional jet and the larger C919 twin-engine narrow-body airliner with 158-192 seats, which competes with the established Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX 8 models. The C919 made its first flight outside mainland China in December to Hong Kong. ARJ21s are in use by Indonesia's TransNusa Air. Many inside the industry caution that only four C919s are in service in China; the plane is only certified by Chinese regulators and the C919 relies international supply chains. Story continues However the aviation industry-wide supply crunch, which is testing an expected full return and then growth of civil capacity in Asia, is garnering COMAC more attention. "We have also seen a growing trend where clients are including the C919 option in their fleet evaluation," said Adam Cowburn of Alton Aviation Consultancy. Two C919s were delivered in 2023. Aviation consultancy IBA forecasts 7-10 C919s could be delivered in 2024. "With Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies in the A320neo and 737 MAX families sold out for most of this decade, the C919 has a strong opportunity to gain market share, particularly in its domestic market," said Mike Yeomans of aviation consultancy IBA. "The immediate challenges for COMAC are around production to meet local demand and certification to penetrate international markets," Yeomans added. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) remains one of the world's most respected companies. It owns more than 200 unique beverage brands, and a global footprint makes it one of the most successful beverage companies in the world. However, with the company operating everywhere, achieving growth becomes increasingly difficult. Although revenue and earnings have continued to increase, investors should not count on the beverage stock to beat the market. Here's why. The state of Coca-Cola For all of Coca-Cola's problems, investors can feel assured that neither the company nor its brands are going anywhere. Amid price increases, customers are mostly staying loyal to its brands. Unfortunately for shareholders, companies typically need to thrive rather than merely survive to drive significant returns. The stock continues to rise, but it has underperformed the S&P 500 for years. Moreover, the 2023 earnings report indicates prosperity will not return anytime soon. Its 2023 net operating revenue rose 6% from year-ago levels to $46 billion. Still, Coca-Cola raised prices 10% in 2023 and 11% in 2022, meaning revenue did not grow in proportion to price increases. The company's net income rose 12% to nearly $11 billion. While that seems like a decent return, higher spending on operating charges and property and equipment took a toll on free cash flow. In the end, 2023 free cash flow was $9.7 billion, but that was up only 2% from 2022 levels. During that time, the company spent over $8 billion in dividends, 4% more than year-ago levels. Since the company spent $1.7 billion in net share repurchases, it had little capital to reinvest in the business. Coca-Cola's challenges Additionally, the dividend costs are potentially problematic because the company has increased its dividend for 62 straight years. This gives it Dividend King status, which is both a benefit and a trap. The Dividend King status raises demand for shares, but if the company walked away from this status, its share value would likely suffer for years as such a move would probably undermine confidence in Coca-Cola stock. Story continues Moreover, the company does not seem intent on improving this situation. Coca-Cola chose to hike the payout by more than 5% this year to $1.94 per share annually. The company can maintain Dividend King status with any level of increase, so it is not a good sign that the dividend rises at a rate that exceeds free cash flow growth. Furthermore, larger increases may be unnecessary since shareholders can earn a dividend yield of 3.3%, more than double the S&P 500 average of 1.4%. With the burden of the dividend hampering Coca-Cola and its stock price growth, few investors may want to add shares, especially at a price-to-earnings ratio of 24. That premium may explain why one longtime shareholder, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, has not purchased additional shares since 1994. Still, with Berkshire set to earn $776 million in dividends this year on an original $1.3 billion investment, Berkshire and other long-term shareholders have every incentive to hold their shares. Stand pat on Coca-Cola stock Unfortunately, Coca-Cola stock will likely leave most investors thirsty. Indeed, its brands remain popular amid price increases, and its 62-year streak of payout hikes is not likely to end anytime soon. Nonetheless, the cost of dividend payments and share repurchases leaves Coca-Cola with little capital to invest in itself. Hence, investors should assume it will continue to underperform the S&P 500. While long-term shareholders will drive considerable returns from dividends, the stock seems to offer little to other investors. Should you invest $1,000 in Coca-Cola right now? Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, 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 Coca-Cola 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 Will Healy has positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Can Coca-Cola Stock Quench the Thirst of Investors in 2024? I'm Not Counting On It. was originally published by The Motley Fool Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) has announced that it will pay a dividend of A$2.15 per share on the 28th of March. This makes the dividend yield about the same as the industry average at 4.1%. View our latest analysis for Commonwealth Bank of Australia Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Earnings Will Easily Cover The Distributions We like a dividend to be consistent over the long term, so checking whether it is sustainable is important. Commonwealth Bank of Australia has established itself as a dividend paying company with over 10 years history of distributing earnings to shareholders. Taking data from its last earnings report, calculating for the company's payout ratio shows 78%, which means that Commonwealth Bank of Australia would be able to pay its last dividend without pressure on the balance sheet. EPS is set to grow by 11.9% over the next 3 years. The future payout ratio over that same time horizon is estimated by analysts to be 79% which is a bit high but can definitely be sustainable. Dividend Volatility The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from A$3.64 total annually to A$4.80. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 2.8% per annum over that time. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited. The Dividend's Growth Prospects Are Limited Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. Earnings have grown at around 3.0% a year for the past five years, which isn't massive but still better than seeing them shrink. There are exceptions, but limited earnings growth and a high payout ratio can signal that a company has reached maturity. That's fine as far as it goes, but we're less enthusiastic as this often signals that the dividend is likely to grow slower in the future. Story continues Our Thoughts On Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Dividend In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Commonwealth Bank of Australia's payments are rock solid. The payments are bit high to be considered sustainable, and the track record isn't the best. We don't think Commonwealth Bank of Australia is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Commonwealth Bank of Australia that you should be aware of before investing. 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. GLOBALink | Traditional games held to celebrate Tibetan New Year in China's Xizang Pub Date:24-02-18 09:21 Source:Xinhua During the Tibetan New Year, diverse festive celebrations have been held in China's Xizang. Click to feel the joy of traditional Tibetan games held by villagers in Xigaze City. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor: Related News GLOBALink | French chef's 'foodie tour' at... GLOBALink | Chinese-built solar power plan... Economic Watch: China facilitates massive ... China dominates global new energy car sales (Bloomberg) -- At the height of the global pandemic, as Dubai faced an exodus of expatriates and mounting competition from neighboring business hubs, the government opened up. That decision is now helping the city dodge the commercial real estate crisis rippling across the globe. Most Read from Bloomberg The United Arab Emirates of which Dubai is a part started to break away from a decades-old economic model that prevails across the oil-rich region, linking residency to employment. Officials widened the eligibility net for long-term golden visas, abolished a requirement for companies to have a majority local partner, switched to a Monday-Friday working week and made it legal for unmarried couples to live together. Policymakers wanted to help Dubai shed its reputation of being a transient city by attracting expatriates and encouraging some of them to set up businesses. That seems to have paid off. In response to questions from Bloomberg, authorities released data for last year, revealing the scale of the turnaround. The city had 411,802 active business licenses in 2023. Thats a 30% jump from 2022 levels and a 75% increase from 2021. Earlier this month, Dubai International Financial Centre said the number of entities registered there rose 26% in 2023 from a year earlier to over 5,500. The free-zone now employs about 41,600 people a 15% increase. The impact is most evident in the emirates commercial real estate market. Occupancy is at record highs in contrast to slumping demand in other cities including London and New York. In Dubais financial district, known as DIFC, office space is scarce and rents are still rising. Story continues Read More: Massive Office Tower Losses Reveal Hidden Risks Across the Globe The business hubs most prominent tower is up for sale, and could be valued at as much as $1.5 billion. That property in DIFC is among Brookfields best performing assets globally at a time when other assets including in Los Angeles and Londons Canary Wharf have been hit by falling occupancy. The market is quite divorced from the trends we see across the world,said Prathyusha Gurrapu, head of research and advisory at the property firm Cushman & Wakefield Core. While a lot of western markets are still working on a hybrid or work from home model, here there is a surge in demand and almost everyone is back in the office. Listen to the Big Take podcast on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the Bloomberg Terminal. Read the transcript. Economic Freedom To be sure, a number of external factors also boosted arrivals. Bankers relocated from Asia to escape lockdowns, while wealthy Russians moved in to shield assets after their country invaded Ukraine in 2022. Crypto investors flooded in, alongside rich Indians looking for second homes, as well as young job seekers from Europe and the wider Middle East. Government reforms enabled some of the new arrivals to set up businesses. Read More: Dubai Is New Hedge Fund Hub as Millennium, ExodusPoint Move In When taken holistically, the changes made are significant, said Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East & North Africa analyst at risk intelligence consultancy Rane Network. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are both going to be pressured to try to find ways to liberalize their economies in ways that make sense for themselves, if they want to compete with the economic freedom Dubai gives businesses, he said. Apart from the commercial property boom, signs of the influx are visible elsewhere. Waiting lists for schools and clubs run long, while key roads are routinely jammed. The government has announced a $5 billion public transit project and policymakers predict Dubais population will surge to 5.8 million in 2040 from over 3.5 million currently. Podcast: Nick Candy Says Developers Should Run to the Middle East Residential property prices are closing in on records, despite mortgage rates hovering at the highest levels in two decades. Average annual rents for villas have surged to nearly $88,500. Last year, buyers queued up for $5 million homes and one developer sold houses worth $844 million in hours. At the high end, sales of homes worth $25 million or more doubled in 2023. Read More: Dubais Luxury Property Market Is Cashing In on Global Slowdown One Year at a Time The new rules have upended Dubais real estate market in other ways. End users now account for 44% of property purchases, compared with 29% in 2019, according to property broker Betterhomes. Londoner Jake El-Rasoul is one the thousands of expatriates looking to buy a home in Dubai. Since moving to the city a decade ago, the 40-year old has lived year-to-year, aware that hed likely need to to leave if he lost his job. But in May 2022, encouraged by the governments visa reforms, he opened a financial advisory firm. I sort of saw an opportunity and thought it was a good time to set up my own business, he said. Its not so daunting anymore and the flexibility around visas is definitely a big factor. Policymakers across the Middle East see knowledge-based industries as the future and have been plowing oil wealth into high-tech sectors. To attract the right people for such jobs, UAE authorities recognized the importance of providing long-term horizons and predictability the bedrock of decision making for executives. Golden visas ensure that to a degree, even though citizenship remains largely off the table. While Saudi Arabias also announced initiatives to make Riyadh a more attractive destination, challenges remain. One big question is whether its ready from an infrastructure, housing, lifestyle and administrative standpoint for an influx of foreign white-collar workers and their families. Equally, a question mark hangs over whether people will abandon the relatively freer and more cosmopolitan Dubai to move there. Read More: Saudi Arabias Drive to Lure Expat Elite Faces Rocky Start El-Rasoul, for his part, plans to make Dubai his home for at least the next decade. It feels like theres more people coming here to live for a long time, he said. Dubai has changed in that respect. Oil Wealth Part of the draw is the the Middle Easts immense oil wealth the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, alone is home to state funds that control $1.5 trillion in assets. Thats prompted a number of multinational firms to consider expanding in the region. Nathan Gatland, director at Open Hub, says his firm now helps sets up about 80 companies a month on average up from about 25 trade licenses per month a year earlier. Thats despite the UAEs decision to introduce corporate tax. I thought the corporate tax would have a negative effect but weve seen bigger companies come here due to the market potential, Gatland said. When they move staff here, it opens up a whole new market where a lot of high net worth individuals are moving to. Still, limitations remain. Among them: what happens when residents stop working? Dubai needs to establish retirement programs and health insurance plans to allow residents to retire in the city, according to Renee McGowan, CEO of India, Middle East & Africa at Marsh McLennan. Dubais diminishing tax-free status may also hinder its ability to lure more foreigners. In addition to corporation tax, the UAE introduced value added taxes in 2018 on top of the slew of government fees on services in a city that already ranks among the worlds most expensive. Dubai and the UAE in general are facing clashing imperatives of finding ways to develop comparative advantage to keep people in the country on the one hand, while rationalizing their budgets by increasing taxes and broadening the tax base, Rane Networks Bohl said. --With assistance from Nicolas Parasie, Farah Elbahrawy and Abeer Abu Omar. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki was found dead in a college dorm on Tuesday. Marco Troper, 19, was a freshman at UC Berkeley. A drug overdose is suspected. He ingested a drug, and we dont know what was in it, Tropers grandmother, Esther Wojcicki, told SFGATE. One thing we do know, it was a drug. The family, she added, is awaiting a toxicology report that could help confirm the cause of death, but it might take up to a month. I think the most important thing is that teenagers and college students need to know that drugs today are not the same as the drugs of yesterday, theyre often laced with fentanyl," Esther Wojcicki told the Daily Post in Palo Alto. A university spokesperson wrote to Fortune: "We can confirm that Marco Troper, a first-year freshman at UC Berkeley, has died. He was an undeclared major in the College of Letters & Science. We do not know the cause of death, that is to be determined by the coroners office." There were "no signs of foul play" and an investigation is underway, according to the University of California Police Department. Our family is devastated beyond comprehension, Esther Wojcicki wrote in a Facebook post. Marco was the most kind, loving, smart, fun and beautiful human being He was just getting starting on his second semester of his freshman year at UC Berkeley majoring in math and was truly loving it. The family is well known in Silicon Valley. Susan Wojcicki rented her garage in Menlo Park to Googles foundersLarry Page and Sergey Brinin 1998, when she was a marketing manager at Intel. She went on to work for many years at Google, including as the head of YouTube, a role she stepped down from last year. Anne Wojcicki, Susans sister, is the cofounder and CEO of the personal genomics firm 23andMe, and was previously married to Brin. Esther Wojcicki wrote a 2019 book entitled How to Raise Successful People and, as a journalism teacher, mentored Lisa Brennan-Jobs, daughter of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs. Story continues Tropers grandfather, the late Stanley Wojcicki, was chairman of Stanford's physics department. He died last year. Marco's life was cut too short, Esther Wojcicki wrote in her Facebook post. And we are all devastated, thinking about all the opportunities and life experiences that he will miss and we will miss together. Marco, we all love you and miss you more than you will ever know. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is putting up a massive new headquarters in midtown Manhattan. But New York is no longer the state where it employs the most people. Texas is. The countrys largest bank has 31,500 employees in the Lone Star State following an expansion over the last decade highlighted by a four-building, 1-million-square-foot campus in Plano, a suburb of Dallas. That is 2,600 more than it has in New York. "This state has been booming," JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told Yahoo Finance in November during a summit with local business owners in Frisco, Texas. Its not just JPMorgan. Whats happening at the nations largest lender is also playing out across the wider world of banking. Texas recently passed the state of New York in finance employment for the first time ever in a 33-year period, according to an analysis by Yahoo Finance of Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 1990 to 2023. It happened in December, when Texas had 384,900 such workers. That was 100 more than New York state. The Comerica tower in Dallas is one symbol of how important finance now is to the region. (James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images) (James Leynse via Getty Images) This tally counts jobs directly tied to the banking industry like analysts, loan officers, and financial managers and does not include the insurance and real estate sectors. The New York City metropolitan area, which includes parts of New Jersey, is still No. 1 in finance workers when compared to other metro areas. But a well-known Texas region Dallas has taken the No. 2 spot. The move to the middle The emergence of Texas as a banking center is many decades in the making. In fact, New York state has been slowly losing its grip as the dominant place for banking jobs since the years following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Thats when some of the biggest financial institutions began shifting parts of their workforce elsewhere to save on costs and manage risks. California took over the top spot between 2001 and 2006, but a housing meltdown and the 2008 financial crisis sent employment in that state and New York tumbling again. Story continues New York eventually regained its top spot and began adding more workers as the wounds of 2008 healed. But Texas accelerated at a much faster rate, with Dallas as a new hub for many finance giants attracted by the states lack of an income tax, lower cost of living, plentiful building sites, and easy transportation access. View of the Dallas skyline. (VALERIE MACON / AFP) (VALERIE MACON via Getty Images) One attraction is that financial giants can save money by moving more employees to Texas. The pay discount for financial workers in Dallas is 10% to 15% when compared with New York, though this discount narrows for more senior positions, according to Chris Connors, a principal with Johnson Associates. The cost savings are most pronounced in more junior, clerical, or back-office jobs. For these workers, though, the argument is their money will likely go a lot further. The cost of living in Dallas is 55% lower than in Manhattan, according to Bankrate. Again, the more senior a position, the more the cost of living difference narrows. "You can't make as much as in New York City but the discount is not nearly as punitive as the cost of living for more junior, clerical jobs," Connors added. From bust to boom The state has been through banking booms before, as well as busts. Local lenders thrived alongside the oil and gas industry in the 1970s and early 1980s, but Texas then became one of the hardest-hit areas in the country during the savings and loan crisis that lasted into the 1990s. Texas lost 425 banks between 1980 and 1989, according to an FDIC history of that period, including nine of the states 10 largest bank holding companies. Now many of the biggest banks in the US are rushing to install new campuses or headquarters, especially in the Dallas area. Goldman Sachs (GS) plans to complete a new office campus north of downtown Dallas by the end of 2027 and expects to add 1,000 more employees to the 4,000 it already has in the area. A long-shuttered shop that once serviced pump jacks in Penwell, Texas is a symbol of the boom-and-bust oil cycle that Texans have lived with for generations. (Michael S. Williamson/the Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post via Getty Images) "Dallas has this confident, frontier spirit bold innovation, can-do attitude I think that really aligns with what Goldman Sachs defines in our own culture and what were looking to build in the region," said Vicki Tung, Goldmans global head of recruiting, who is based in New York but is originally from Dallas. Not that far from Goldmans campus, Bank of America is the anchor tenant of a new 30-story, $500 million high rise in Dallass Uptown district expected to be finished in 2027. Wells Fargo (WFC) is expanding its office campus in Irving with a two-tower, 850,000-square-foot space set to be finished in 2025. Lots of money managers are setting up shop, as well. That includes Charles Schwab (SCHW), which moved its headquarters from San Francisco to West Lake, Texas, in 2021. It currently has 10,000 employees, or 30% of its workforce, in the state. 'Don't become like D.C.' Operating in Texas is not without its challenges for some financial giants. There are government efforts at the state level to restrict the ability of certain banks to participate in muni bond offerings if they dont comply with local preferences. The office of the state's attorney general, Ken Paxton, is currently reviewing anti-firearm policies of JPMorgan and Bank of America as well as environmental, social, and governance policies of other banks. The state has a law in place barring certain government contracts with companies that have anti-gun business practices. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. (Sarah Silbiger for the Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post via Getty Images) Last year, in fact, Paxtons office determined that Citigroup (C) had "a policy that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association." The response followed a decision made by Citigroup to restrict its banking services to gun retailers that sold firearms to people under 21, which came as a response to the 2018 Parkland shooting in a Miami suburb. The CEO of the largest US bank, JPMorgans Dimon, said he likes what's happening in Texas. The state "is conducive to business" and "theyre making it good to come here," citing the roughly 10,000 people the bank has in Plano alone. Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, speaks last November during the ceremony for placement of the final beam for JPMorgan Chase's new global headquarters building on Park Avenue in New York City. (Brendan McDermid/REUTERS) (REUTERS / Reuters) But he also offered a warning. "I'm begging Texas, don't become like D.C.," he added, referring to the US capital. "D.C. goes out of its way to make it hard for small to large businesses to grow and expand." David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Photo: Jim Allen - FreightWaves Chart of the Week: Inbound Ocean TEUs Volume Index Port of Los Angeles, Port of Savannah, Port of New York/New Jersey, Port of Long Beach SONAR: IOTI.USLAX, IOTI.USSAV, IOTI.USNYC, IOTI.USLGB Bookings for twenty-foot equivalent units (IOTI) spiked well above last years levels for freight bound for the nations top four port complexes heading into Chinese New Year (CNY). The IOTI is an index that measures container volumes being booked by departure date from the port of origin, about 15-30 days before landing in the U.S. A spike in orders occurs in front of the Lunar New Year celebrated in China each year. The largest amount of maritime containerized freight heading to the U.S. originates in China. This makes it important for importers to get their freight ordered in front of the biggest Chinese holidays as production goes offline for long periods of time. This years data is showing a dramatic shift. New Year, new supply chain Last years spike was minimal as inventories were still fat from overordering during the pandemic era when supply chains were overwhelmed. Lunar New Year landed on Jan. 22 last year versus Feb. 10 this year, more than two weeks later. Bookings demand shows 40% higher compared to the 10-day Chinese New Year lead-in last year. What is more interesting is the disproportionate growth of volumes at the Southern California ports compared to the two largest East Coast ports. The Red Sea conflict has potentially had some influence while the drought in Panama is probably a greater factor as to why the East Coast has lost some share. This may not be felt as significantly thanks to the annual growth. Rates have grown disproportionately higher on containers heading from China to the east coast versus the west, according to Freightos Baltic Exchange. Spot rates averaged around $1,300 to the west coast last year and are now close to $5,000. Rates to the east coast were $2,600 and are now close to $6,700 for forty-foot equivalent units. Story continues Geopolitical conflict is largely to blame for the rate increases, though some would argue this is more of a sentiment than something driven by capacity shrinkage. Regardless, importers clearly see enough risk to pay the price increases to make sure their goods are in place for the spring. Watch the West The takeaway for domestic transportation providers is to keep an eye on Western origins for demand spikes this spring. January and February are typically slow months for domestic shipping and especially for goods coming out of California. The maritime data is not only showing that shippers are expecting a decent demand-side environment this spring, but they have reverted back to the pre-pandemic pattern of bringing most of their goods into the Los Angeles ports. But dont sleep on the East Demand has not grown as significantly into the Eastern ports, but the IOTI is signaling that there is potential for some increased activity in the coming weeks. The average transit time reported by carriers is around 32 days for freight moving from Shanghai to Savannah, Georgia, but there is currently an average delay of nine days on top of that, according to project44. SONAR Container Atlas transit data shows roughly a 32-day journey, including delays for freight moving from Shanghai to the Ports of New York and New Jersey. Not all freight hits the road after it hits the port, so there could be some warehouse stuffing that stifles the transportation potential. Regardless, it would be wise to watch both ends of the country for increasing activity. Early March for the West and late March for the East. About the Chart of the Week The FreightWaves Chart of the Week is a chart selection from SONAR that provides an interesting data point to describe the state of the freight markets. A chart is chosen from thousands of potential charts on SONAR to help participants visualize the freight market in real time. Each week a Market Expert will post a chart, along with commentary, live on the front page. After that, the Chart of the Week will be archived on FreightWaves.com for future reference. SONAR aggregates data from hundreds of sources, presenting the data in charts and maps and providing commentary on what freight market experts want to know about the industry in real time. The FreightWaves data science and product teams are releasing new datasets each week and enhancing the client experience. To request a SONAR demo, click here. The post Import demand growth robust leading into Lunar New Year appeared first on FreightWaves. In college, Paul Fryman developed an appreciation for beer, but it was in Germany where he fell in love with microbreweries. That passion eventually led to JAFB, a Wooster-based microbrewery founded in 2011 by Paul Fryman, along with his father, Jerry, and brother, Tony. It opened on Beall Avenue during the summer of 2012. Now, more than a decade later, JAFB has been named a Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year in the under 15 employees category. It's quite the honor, Fryman said. It makes me really proud of the business we have been able to create here and the environment. Its a testament to the team (of eight employees) we have and the staff we have. They can feel a sense of accomplishment because we have a plan and we are executing it. Paul Fryman Fryman grew up in West Salem and moved away in 2002 to attend Allegheny College. He studied managerial economics. He studied for a semester abroad in Germany, and he really loved the social aspect of the microbreweries there. He wanted to replicate that kind of establishment and feel back home. After graduating, I knew I had to go somewhere where there was a surplus of breweries, so I moved to Colorado and found a position there. Fryman and the JAFB brewers have garnered a number of awards. The success today was born from a minimum wage job, mostly in bottle production, at the Great Divide Brewing Co. in Denver. From Denver, the well-traveled Fryman moved to Lake Placid, New York, to work as an assistant brewer at Great Adirondack Brewing. Then he moved on to Snake River Brewing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to mix hops and grain before heading back to Lake Placid, this time as head brewer. But, Fryman knew he wanted to start his own company, which brought him back to Wayne County and Wooster. I had been in the industry for six years, Fryman said. I saw the industry was getting ready to explode. I knew I needed to get back to Wooster and Ohio. I wanted to be in Wooster. Story continues When JAFB opened its taproom and brewery, it became part of the chamber. They are great, Fryman said. They are a very motivated group. When you go to one of the events, the amount of people that are there is amazing. They are good to work with, and they have helped us out. I am proud to be a member. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: JAFB wins Small Business of Year award from Wooster chamber John Lewiss plans for a residential tower block in Bromley have faced a string of challenges John Lewis wants to put smoke vents in the worst possible location within its new London tower block, firefighters have said, in a fresh headache for the retailer as it expands into property. The department store giant has been warned that current designs for its Bromley housing scheme risk funnelling smoke towards firefighters during any possible rescue operation. The London Fire Brigade said it did not support John Lewiss proposals to put a smoke ventilation system opposite the staircase, given that extracting heat and smoke away from the stair is critical for safe firefighting operations, as this allows a relatively clean air path for firefighters to approach the flat affected by fire. Ventilation systems typically work by attracting smoke to an area where it can then be expelled from the building. In consultation documents submitted to the Bromley planning committee, the London Fire Brigade said it was crucial that designs took best practice into account. This allows firefighters to conserve the limited air in their firefighting breathing apparatus and to reduce the potential for heat stress, the submission reads. This also supports better conditions for rescuing casualties or evacuating other flats if required. A spokesman for the John Lewis partnership said: Fire safety is of paramount importance to us, and all our plans fully comply with the regulations. As part of the ongoing planning process which requires ongoing engagement with various bodies we are in continued dialogue with the London Fire Brigade. John Lewis chariman Dame Sharon White views the Bromley project as central to her turnaround plans - Darren Staples/Bloomberg The objection from firefighters is the latest challenge for John Lewis as it seeks to expand beyond retail into new areas such as financial services and property. Chairman Dame Sharon White has said she wants around 40pc of John Lewis Partnerships profits to come from activities outside retail by 2030, although last year cautioned that the target may have to be reviewed. The Bromley project which has been dubbed the Waitrose tower locally is viewed as central to Dame Sharons plans. Story continues However, plans to build rental homes in Bromley, south London, and West Ealing, in West London, have both faced local opposition. Residents have criticised the scale of the buildings, which are to be constructed on top of Waitrose stores. In Bromley, John Lewis is planning to build two tower blocks one of which will be 24 storeys and the other 19 storeys as well as smaller surrounding buildings. The scheme will include 353 flats, which John Lewis will own and rent out. In West Ealing, it is building 428 new homes. John Lewis previously said it was planning to start building in Bromley by the summer of 2024, though it has since removed the target date from its website. Dame Sharon has said she will step down at the end of her five-year term early next year. Executives have recently de-emphasised the importance of property and other diversification efforts when discussing the partnerships strategy. John Lewis chief executive Nish Kankiwala last month told staff he was doubling down on retail under his revamped turnaround plan. 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. 'Do the math': Democrat Rep. Barbara Lee just lost the California Senate primary did her push for a $50/hour minimum wage cost her votes? Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee has been eliminated from the running in the California Senate primary this week, losing the historic Senate race to fill the seat occupied by Dianne Feinstein for more than 30 years. Republican Steve Garvey and Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff advanced and will face off in the California Senate General Election in November. Lee was known for her unflinching ideas on domestic policy some of which were controversial. Last month, Lee made headlines when she said she wanted to see the federal minimum wage hiked up to $50 an hour. This would amount to $104,000 per year of income. Don't miss That is almost seven times the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and more than three times the California minimum wage of $16 per hour. I know what worker productivity means, Lee said during the U.S. Senate debate on Feb. 12. That means you have to make sure that your employees are taken care of and have a living wage. Just do the math, she continued. We have national minimum wages that we need to raise to a living wage. Did this controversial policy hamper her chances of winning and was it a realistic goal? Crunching the numbers However, even Lee's fellow Democrats opted to back a more modest proposal of $20 or $25. Lee had originally cited a United Way report which found that a family of four living in the San Francisco Bay Area would need $127,000 a year just to get by. (Moneywise also found a 2022 United Way Bay Area report that cited a family of four would need $109,088 to meet basic needs.) Story continues A $50 minimum wage would result in a total income of around $104,000 over the course of a year and believe it or not, that still doesnt meet the median income in certain parts of the Golden State. Lee cited 2023 data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development which found that people who make $104,000 per year and live alone in San Francisco, San Mateo or Marin counties, were considered low income households in 2023. In the same three counties, a one-person household making $65,250 was considered very low income, those making $39,150 were considered extremely low and people making $18,400 per year were acutely low income. The senate candidate balked at how a six-figure income is barely enough to get by in certain parts of California and she blamed it on the affordability crisis. San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin all rank in the top 10 most expensive counties to buy a house in the US, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Rental costs are also sky-high in those areas. According to Zillow, the typical monthly asking rent in the San Francisco metro area is $3,295, which is 65% higher than the national median. To comfortably afford that without spending more than 30% of your income on housing a person or household would need to bring in around $10,983 per month, or $131,796 per year. When justifying her proposed $50 minimum wage, Lee said: I have got to be focused on what California needs and what the affordability factor is when we calculate this wage. Read more: Generating 'passive income' through real estate is the biggest myth in investing but here's 1 surefire way to do it with as little as $10 The minimum wage debate Not all of the candidates who had been vying for Californias open Senate seat to replace the late Dianne Feinstein agreed that such a dramatic minimum wage increase was needed. In fact, Steve Garvey (R) a former MLB star for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres argued the minimum wage is where it is and should be. He brought up the states contentious new fast-food law (AB 1228) signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 28, 2023 that will hike fast food workers wages up to $20 an hour, starting April 1, 2024. That is $4 higher than the Golden States current minimum wage of $16. Thats going to increase costs for hard-working Californians to go to a franchise, Garvey argued. Instead of a Big Mac for $9, its going to be $15. Rep. Adam Smith (D) clapped back: You want to know why people are living on the street? Its because were paying them poverty wages. Try to find a house anywhere in California when youre earning minimum wage. He added, We have to raise peoples incomes, we have to build a lot more affordable housing and ground services for people who are homeless. We can do this, weve demonstrated an approach that works. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Free income tax preparation is available at Pueblo Community College, 900 W. Orman Ave., through March 30 thanks to the Tax Help Colorado program. Those who had a 2023 household income of less than $64,000 can have their return completed by IRS-certified tax preparers. Drop-off appointments are available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays; pick-up times will be scheduled between 5-7 p.m. Thursdays. For information and to schedule appointments, go to taxhelpcolorado.as.me/PuebloCC or call 719-549-3200. Casa Del Sol wins Housing and Urban Development grant Casa Del Sol Community Partners of Pueblo has been awarded a $78,617 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development family self-sufficiency program grant. Casa Del Sol apartments, 1725 Constitution Road, offer HUD Rental Living Assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), Project Based Assistance, Subsidized Housing, and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing programs. Financial literacy, job training and educational opportunities are some of the resources the family self-sufficiency grant program offers to HUD-assisted families "so that they have the chance to find employment and build assets, said Marcia Fudge, HUD secretary. "The effectiveness of our housing programs is only strengthened by the ability of our HUD-assisted families to reach economic stability, said Dominique Jackson, Rocky Mountain regional manager. "This program does just that by providing our neighbors with the vital tools and resources to help them achieve lasting financial independence. Maggie Welte Parkview names new chief nursing officer Pueblo native Maggie Welte has been named the new chief nursing officer at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center and UCHealth Parkview Pueblo West Hospital. Welte, a registered nurse who holds both bachelor's and master's degrees, has served Pueblo patients for more than 20 years, starting her career as a nurse intern at Parkview in 2022. She has been hospital administrator at Parkview Pueblo West Hospital since 2021. Story continues As the chief nursing officer, she will lead the Parkview nursing team and focus on delivering exceptional patient care to patients in Pueblo and southern Colorado, according to a press release. Maggies dedication, expertise, and commitment to patient care has set a standard of excellence within our hospital, stated Darrin Smith, hospital president and chief executive officer. I have full confidence that she will lead our nursing team with compassion, innovation, and the highest level of professionalism. Welte replaces Renee Elwell, who recently announced her retirement. "This promotion not only recognizes her (Welte's) exceptional skills but also reaffirms our hospital's commitment to fostering talent and promoting from within," Smith said. ENSCO, Inc. launches new infrastructure protection program in Pueblo ENSCO, Inc., which oversees the Transportation Technology Center at 55500 DOT Road in Pueblo, has launched the Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection, an initiative designed to provide comprehensive cyber and physical security solutions to organizations. With increased awareness of how dangerous foreign cyber activity is to public utilities, its more important than ever for organizations to have access to infrastructure protection, said Jeff Stevens, ENSCO President. We are proud to offer this invaluable resource for bolstering security, and ultimately, public safety. Located at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, the worlds largest surface transportation testing site, the program's mission is to aid sectors including railways, railway suppliers, mass transit and pipelines. The program helps identify vulnerabilities, enhance defenses, and bolster resilience against threats through training, assessment, testing, modeling, and protective services, according to a press release. The program offers live classes online and in person. For more information, visit ccip-ensco.com. The Arkansas River near the Lake Pueblo State Park dam. Arkansas River Basin Water Forum is March 6-7 in La Junta The 29th Arkansas River Basin Water Forum is set for March 6-7 at Otero College in La Junta. The event will feature the states top water experts discussing critical issues facing all segments of Arkansas River water users, from agriculture and municipal to recreational, environmental and industrial working toward solutions to plan for a secure water future for the largest river basin in the state. Cost is $300 for both days or $150 for one day and includes lunches. Register online at arbwf.org. Action Colorado is new name for Action 22 The Action 22 Board of Directors announces the organization is operating under a new name, Action Colorado. Action Colorado will invite experts, regardless of geographic location, to help create, implement, and optimize solutions that are beneficial for Coloradans outside of the Denver Metro area to ensure their voices are heard by elected officials and public policy decision-makers, according to a press release. The organization operates through a nonpartisan lens to be strategically impactful on behalf of its members. With all that is going on in our state and all the changes happening right now, we need to do more and invite more key players to the table in standing up for southern and rural Colorado. We accomplish more when we work together, said Rick Klein, board chair. Action Colorado committees tackle veterans, agriculture, infrastructure, local government and economic development. Find out more at ActionColorado.org or by listening to the latest podcast episode at makingactionhappen.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo business news this week include free tax help, Casa Del Sol grant MetLife (NYSE:MET) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: US$66.9b (down 2.7% from FY 2022). Net income: US$1.38b (down 73% from FY 2022). Profit margin: 2.1% (down from 7.4% in FY 2022). The decrease in margin was primarily driven by higher expenses. EPS: US$1.82 (down from US$6.35 in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period MetLife EPS Misses Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 45%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 5.9% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 5.9% growth forecast for the Insurance industry in the US. Performance of the American Insurance industry. The company's shares are up 1.9% from a week ago. Risk Analysis It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with MetLife, and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS) is reducing its dividend from last year's comparable payment to $0.06 on the 6th of March. This means that the annual payment is 1.8% of the current stock price, which is lower than what the rest of the industry is paying. View our latest analysis for Nu Skin Enterprises Nu Skin Enterprises Is Paying Out More Than It Is Earning It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. Before making this announcement, Nu Skin Enterprises' dividend was higher than its profits, but the free cash flows quite comfortably covered it. Generally, we think cash is more important than accounting measures of profit, so with the cash flows easily covering the dividend, we don't think there is much reason to worry. Over the next year, EPS is forecast to grow rapidly. If recent patterns in the dividend continues, we would start to get a bit worried, with the payout ratio possibly reaching 138%. Dividend Volatility The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from $1.20 total annually to $0.24. Dividend payments have fallen sharply, down 80% over that time. Declining dividends isn't generally what we look for as they can indicate that the company is running into some challenges. Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky Given that dividend payments have been shrinking like a glacier in a warming world, we need to check if there are some bright spots on the horizon. Over the past five years, it looks as though Nu Skin Enterprises' EPS has declined at around 40% a year. This steep decline can indicate that the business is going through a tough time, which could constrain its ability to pay a larger dividend each year in the future. Over the next year, however, earnings are actually predicted to rise, but we would still be cautious until a track record of earnings growth can be built. Story continues Nu Skin Enterprises' Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable Overall, it's not great to see that the dividend has been cut, but this might be explained by the payments being a bit high previously. In the past, the payments have been unstable, but over the short term the dividend could be reliable, with the company generating enough cash to cover it. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks. Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Nu Skin Enterprises 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. BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China intensified efforts to shore up employment in 2023, with more than 300 billion yuan (about 42.23 billion U.S. dollars) directly channeled by governments at all levels to support employment and entrepreneurship, according to the country's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. A total of 12.44 million jobs were created in urban areas in 2023, said Yun Donglai, an official with the ministry, adding that about 33.97 million people who were lifted out of poverty secured new employment opportunities over the past year. Last year, the country provided assistance to 5.14 million unemployed individuals and aided 1.72 million people facing challenges in finding employment to secure new jobs. Adhering to an employment-first strategy, China has taken important steps to stabilize employment. Going forward, the country will prioritize employment even more prominently and implement measures to enhance the effectiveness of policies aimed at strengthening employment, according to the ministry official. OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence (AI) company, completed a deal that values the firm at $80 billion or more, according to a new report. The New York Times reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the deal, that OpenAI would sell shares in a tender offer led by venture capital firm Thrive Capital. Under the deal, employees will be able to cash out their shares in OpenAI rather than a traditional funding round in which the company would sell shares to investors to raise money for the business, the report added. OpenAI was involved in a similar deal early last year when VC firms Thrive Capital, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz and K2 Global bought shares in a tender offer that valued OpenAI at around $29 billion, the Times report noted. OPENAI CEO SAM ALTMAN SEEKING TRILLIONS TO BOOST CHIP MANUFACTURING FOR AI: REPORT OpenAI's valuation has reportedly risen to $90 billion. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP The company has been a driving force in the rise of AI technologies in the public consciousness following its launch of AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT in late 2022. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly been in talks to raise funds for a new chip venture as he looks to increase the worlds capacity to build more high-end chips to power AI tools. Altman briefly left his role at OpenAI late last year amid what was described as a "breakdown in communication" between him and the companys nonprofit board in November. WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman are reportedly exploring a new AI chip venture. Microsoft was set to hire Altman and several of his key allies in leadership at OpenAI, with a large number of the companys employees threatening to resign before the dispute was resolved in a manner that allowed Altman to stay in his role. Under the agreement, all but one of OpenAIs board members departed and Microsoft will hold a non-voting observer status on the board. OPENAI RAKED IN OVER $1.6 BILLION IN REVENUE AMID CEO SAM ALTMAN DRAMA Story continues Since his return, Altman has made the expansion of OpenAIs board a priority and has been seeking funding for a new AI chip venture. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Altman wants to transform semiconductor manufacturing to accelerate AI development through an initiative that could cost $5 trillion to $7 trillion, sources told the outlet. Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI, during a panel session on day three of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 18, 2024. The report indicated Altman has met with investors from the United Arab Emirates and the CEO of Softbank, and has also met with chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) about the plan. Altmans fundraising plans aim to address constraints on OpenAIs growth that include a shortage of AI chips needed to train advanced large language models, like those that power ChatGPT. Last year, Altman was pitching his AI chip project , code-named Tigris, to investors in the Middle East, according to a report by Bloomberg. Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: OpenAI valued at $80B after deal: report If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Although, when we looked at Pollard Banknote (TSE:PBL), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Pollard Banknote is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.0098 = CA$4.1m (CA$501m - CA$84m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023). Therefore, Pollard Banknote has an ROCE of 1.0%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Hospitality industry average of 11%. See our latest analysis for Pollard Banknote roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Pollard Banknote compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. What Can We Tell From Pollard Banknote's ROCE Trend? When we looked at the ROCE trend at Pollard Banknote, we didn't gain much confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 1.0% from 18% five years ago. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line. Story continues What We Can Learn From Pollard Banknote's ROCE In summary, Pollard Banknote is reinvesting funds back into the business for growth but unfortunately it looks like sales haven't increased much just yet. Since the stock has gained an impressive 48% over the last five years, investors must think there's better things to come. Ultimately, if the underlying trends persist, we wouldn't hold our breath on it being a multi-bagger going forward. One more thing to note, we've identified 1 warning sign with Pollard Banknote and understanding this should be part of your investment process. While Pollard Banknote may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list 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. Four days of great recipes dedicated to our delicious canned tomatoes from Europe TOKYO, Feb. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Gold tomatoes from Europe is travelling once again, this time to Tokyo, the city hosting Foodex Japan from Tuesday March 5th to March 8th and Red Gold Tomatoes from Europe will be there! COME VISIT US! HALL 4 STAND E4-U01 Not only will attendees at the show learn all about the quality of our Red Gold Tomatoes, but they will be able to taste their goodness thanks to the recipes prepared daily by the Italian chef Viviana Marrocoli and the Japanese culinary expert and cooking book author Kaitani Ikuko. When it comes to culinary excellence, the secret often lies in the quality of ingredients. Red Gold Tomatoes from Europe are one such ingredient that can elevate your dishes to a whole new level. These exquisite tomatoes are renowned for their exceptional flavour and are a must-have for any discerning chef or home cook. One of the key factors that set Red Gold Tomatoes apart is the European and Italian commitment to sustainable farming practices. These tomatoes are grown in carefully tended fields, benefitting from the ideal climate and soil conditions that Europe has to offer, and then canned at their peak of ripeness. The result is a canned delight that replicate the summer burst of sunshine all year long in kitchens around the world. They embody the essence of farm-to-table dining, and it's no surprise that they are a favourite among top chefs. Red Gold Tomatoes from Europe are also incredibly versatile. Whether you're making a classic Italian pasta sauce, a vibrant Spanish gazpacho, a hearty French ratatouille, or creating a European-inspired or fusion dish of your own, these tomatoes are your go-to choice in the kitchen. Their natural sweetness adds depth to any dish, and their flavour and aroma will delight your tastebuds. Red Gold Tomatoes from Europe is not a specific brand, but rather, a campaign promoted by ANICAV the Italian Association of Canned Tomato Producers, co-funded by the European Commission, promoting European and Italian canned tomatoes. Story continues Discover their versatility and unique taste: come and meet our chefs at Foodex Japan. Enjoy. It's from Europe. For more recipes: www.redgoldfromeurope.jp Media contact: k.miyaguchi@redgoldfromeurope.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2186813/VISUAL_ASIA.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2186815/Footer_JP.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/red-gold-tomatoes-from-europe-at-foodex-japan-with-a-delicious-tasting-programme-302064623.html SOURCE EU RED GOLD ORG & ASIA Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are among the most exciting trends in the capital markets right now. One company I've been following for a while is voice recognition software developer SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN). Big tech has already shown interest in this space. For example, Apple boasts Siri and Shazam as part of its ecosystem, while Microsoft acquired Nuance for a whopping $20 billion just two years ago. Moreover, both Amazon and Alphabet have made speech software services an integral part of their smart home products. On Feb. 15, SoundHound AI stock rocketed 67% higher following news that "Magnificent Seven" member Nvidia had disclosed a stake in the company. While the stock may be taking off, are ties to Nvidia enough to make SoundHound AI a buy? Let's dig in to see what's really going on before buying into the hype. Why the stock is moving higher SoundHound AI went public in 2022 with the help of a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Like many SPAC stocks, SoundHound AI garnered a lot of interest from investors leading up to its market debut. Unfortunately, following a series of lackluster earnings reports, the hype began to wane, sending the stock from a peak of nearly $15 per share to less than $1 before 2022 was over. Following its 67% gain on Thursday, SoundHound stock trades at $3.76. Last week's surge is tied to a 13F filing that Nvidia made with the SEC. In the filing, Nvidia revealed investment stakes in five companies -- SoundHound AI being one of them. If this wasn't enough to get investors roaring, one of Wall Street's most outspoken technology analysts appeared to applaud SoundHound AI's ability to attract such a notable investor in Nvidia. Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities posted on X (formerly Twitter) to share some thoughts on how SoundHound AI could benefit from its partnership with Nvidia. Nvidia just made a small investment in SOUN per filing last night. We view this as a clear positive indicator for the company as this investment now further solidifies the company's brand within the AI Revolution with the Godfather of AI Jensen and NVDA now backing SOUN. -- Dan Ives (@DivesTech) February 15, 2024 But savvy investors always do their due diligence before making any investment, especially one in a beaten-down company such as SoundHound AI. Story continues Image source: Getty Images. When in doubt, zoom out One of my predictions for 2024 was that merger and acquisition activity would be on the rise. With so many businesses looking to capitalize on AI-fueled momentum, big tech is likely to make some aggressive moves this year and begin acquiring smaller platforms that complement their existing products. The news of Nvidia investing in SoundHound AI initially made me believe my prediction was already coming true. However, upon further investigation, I learned something pretty interesting. When SoundHound AI was still a private company, it raised hundreds of millions of dollars, primarily from venture capital (VC) firms. However, the company also attracted funding from a number of high-profile technology firms, including Tencent and Samsung. And back in 2017, Nvidia participated in a $75 million investment round too. Should you invest in SoundHound AI? Given Nvidia has been tied to SoundHound AI for several years, I'd caution investors against reading too much into Ives' post on social media. The company already has a number of impressive partners, including Qualcomm, Oracle, Block, and Toast. And the relationship with Nvidia isn't really anything new, technically. It's also not clear how SoundHound AI and Nvidia plan to work together -- if at all. The role that artificial intelligence can play in voice recognition software shouldn't be underappreciated. It's clearly an area that many in big tech are exploring, and I suspect it's still early days for speech-based products. While the potential for SoundHound AI could be massive, investors should be wary of pouring into the stock based on this latest news. SoundHold AI has built up a lot of momentum. While this presents a quick opportunity to make a profit, you could very well be left a bag holder if you're not careful. A more prudent strategy would be to see how things play out for SoundHound AI over the next few quarters. It will also be interesting to see if the company's relationship with Nvidia materializes into something measurable. For now, though, it may be best to sit on the sidelines. Should you invest $1,000 in SoundHound AI right now? Before you buy stock in SoundHound AI, 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 SoundHound AI 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 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Block, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Block, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Qualcomm, Tencent, and Toast. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. SoundHound AI Stock Soared Last Week, but Does That Make It a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool George Heeringa (right), as outgoing president of the Holland Chamber of Commerce. Don Heeringa was an intrapreneur. He helped turn Trendway into a prosperous office furniture company. But he didnt start it; nor was it his idea to work there. Justin Jud Busscher (1918-1970), a former employee at Chris-Craft, Holland Furniture, Modern Partitions, and Uniline, launched Trendway in 1968. His first office was in the back of the Mode-ODay dress shop at 2 W. Eighth St. His second office was inside a house trailer on Quincy Street. His first product was the Trendwall, a movable floor-to-ceiling privacy wall made of gypsum that provided greater fire and sound resistance. Irwin Deur, a plant technician, sold his boss 10 acres of property (at $1,000 per acre) at Quincy Street near 136th Avenue for the company's first factory. From the beginning, Trendway was a community: half of its employees attended Juds church. But the company languished after he died. George Heeringa, Dons father, bought the company, even though George knew nothing about office partitions. However, he did know Gerrard (Gerry) Haworth from Hope Church. At the time, Gerry was transforming Modern Partitions into Haworth. In contrast, Heeringa knew heating registers. He was president of Hart and Cooley, whose largest customer at one time was the Holland Furnace Company. August Landwehr not only co-founded the Holland Furnace Company in 1906, but also, in 1919, with Thomas Olinger, founded Federal Stamping Works, to supply Holland Furnace. Five years later, Hart and Cooley purchased Federal Stamping Works. In 1936, after graduating from Hope College, George Heeringa joined Hart and Cooley. By 1970, he was president of the company and on the board of Old Kent Bank, whose commercial loan department had lent money to Trendway and was worried about losing it. Steve VanderVeen At the time, Don was living and working in Arizona, where he'd earned a business degree from Arizona State University and served in the military. (He was also dating Jody Landwehr, granddaughter of August Landwehr, whom he later married.) Georges son Jim was living and working for BASF in San Francisco. Story continues George asked Don, whose business experience consisted of seven summers working the night shift in various roles at the unionized Holland Hitch, to come back to Holland to investigate Trendway. When he arrived in Holland, Don discovered the company had two dealers and no orders. Every question I asked of the people at the plant, I got funny answers, except from the receptionist, who seemed to know everything. When he visited the vendors, all they would say was Pay up! Don concluded Trendway was a mess. After conducting an audit, Seidman and Siedman agreed. But George wouldn't listen. He wanted to buy the business before it went bankrupt, even though it likely would've cost him less had he waited. He also wanted to bring his sons back to Michigan. So, in 1973, at age 59, George bought Trendway, even guaranteeing Trendways loans with his retirement savings. Don remembers, I called my brother and said I'm going to do this, and you are too.' Don was 27. Jim was 30. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage So, Don and Jim both moved back to Holland. Don ran the operations side of the company, Jim ran sales. The receptionist, Marlene (Serne) DeKoeyer, served as head of HR for the next 32 years. At the time of the purchase, Trendway had 13 employees, sales of $400,000, and no profits. Don recalls working six days a week. After the acquisition, Trendway lost money the first year, broke even the second year, and finally made money in the third year. Three years later, in 1976, following a conversation in an airport between George and Gerry Haworth, Modern Partitions sold to Trendway its floor-to-ceiling panel business. It turned out to be a good deal for both parties. For Modern Partitions, selling three-quarters of its business gave it the cash it needed to finance the introduction of its new name (Haworth) and launch its newest products. For Trendway, the floor-to-ceiling panel business provided access to new customers and a much needed backlog of orders. By 1980, Trendway was also in the office furniture market, with newly designed chairs, tables, and cubicles. Its payroll had grown to 200 employees and its sales to $20 million. Although smaller than in-town rivals Haworth and Herman Miller, it developed a unique niche. Well say more next week. Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. You may reach him at skvveen@gmail.com. His book, "The Holland Area's First Entrepreneurs," is available at Readers World. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: Trendway's rise as an office furniture company The analysts covering Swiss Prime Site AG (VTX:SPSN) delivered a dose of negativity to shareholders today, by making a substantial revision to their statutory forecasts for this year. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analysts have soured majorly on the business. After the downgrade, the consensus from Swiss Prime Site's five analysts is for revenues of CHF617m in 2024, which would reflect a measurable 7.7% decline in sales compared to the last year of performance. Statutory earnings per share are presumed to soar 115% to CHF2.43. Prior to this update, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CHF695m and earnings per share (EPS) of CHF2.82 in 2024. Indeed, we can see that the analysts are a lot more bearish about Swiss Prime Site's prospects, administering a substantial drop in revenue estimates and slashing their EPS estimates to boot. See our latest analysis for Swiss Prime Site Analysts made no major changes to their price target of CHF90.83, suggesting the downgrades are not expected to have a long-term impact on Swiss Prime Site's valuation. These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the Swiss Prime Site's past performance and to peers in the same industry. One thing that stands out from these estimates is that shrinking revenues are expected to moderate over the period ending 2024 compared to the historical decline of 15% per annum over the past five years. Compare this against analyst estimates for companies in the broader industry, which suggest that revenues (in aggregate) are expected to decline 5.7% annually. So it's pretty clear that Swiss Prime Site sales are expected to decline at a faster rate than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The biggest issue in the new estimates is that analysts have reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds lay ahead for Swiss Prime Site. Unfortunately they also cut their revenue estimates for this year, and they expect sales to lag the wider market. That said, earnings per share are more important for creating value for shareholders. The lack of change in the price target is puzzling in light of the downgrade but, with a serious decline expected this year, we wouldn't be surprised if investors were a bit wary of Swiss Prime Site. Story continues There might be good reason for analyst bearishness towards Swiss Prime Site, like its declining profit margins. Learn more, and discover the 3 other concerns we've identified, for free on our platform here. Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. In this article, we will look at the top 15 democratic socialist countries in Europe. We have also discussed the meaning and characteristics of a social democratic country. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the Top 5 Democratic Socialist Countries In Europe. What is Social Democracy? Social democracy is a political ideology that advocates for a balance between a market economy and social welfare programs. Several countries in Europe have adopted social democratic principles to varying degrees, including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Germany. These countries prioritize social welfare, healthcare, education, and workers' rights while maintaining market economies. Social democratic parties in these countries often promote policies aimed at reducing income inequality and ensuring a strong social safety net. Some of the top Democratic Socialist parties in Europe are the Labour Party in the United Kingdom, the Socialist Party in France, and Die Linke in Germany. These parties advocate for the redistribution of wealth, public ownership of key industries, and greater government intervention in the economy to address social injustices and economic inequality. While they share similar goals with social democratic parties, Democratic Socialist parties typically espouse more radical policies aimed at fundamentally restructuring capitalist systems. Socialist countries, such as those in Scandinavia, prioritize social welfare programs, universal healthcare, and education while maintaining capitalist market economies. In contrast, capitalist countries like the United States prioritize individual freedom, private ownership of property, and free-market competition. However, many capitalist countries also have social welfare programs and regulations to mitigate inequalities and provide a safety net for citizens. Who Are the Famous Democratic Socialists? Some of the most famous democratic socialists are figures like Bernie Sanders in the United States, Jeremy Corbyn in the United Kingdom, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the United States. These individuals have championed progressive policies such as Medicare for All, tuition-free public college, and a Green New Deal, which seek to address systemic inequalities and promote social justice through democratic means. Story continues It is worth mentioning that Russia and Venezuela are examples of failed socialist countries. In both cases, socialist policies were implemented with authoritarian governance, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to economic instability, social unrest, and human rights abuses. For example, Venezuela's socialist government under Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro has been marred by economic collapse, hyperinflation, and political repression. How Successful Are Democratic Socialist Countries? The Nordic countries, the most important democratic socialist countries, consistently rank highly across various indicators of national performance, such as education, economic competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life, and human development. While each country has its distinct economic and social model, they often share elements of the Nordic economic and social framework to varying extents. This framework typically involves a blend of a mixed market economy, stable labor unions, and a comprehensive welfare sector funded by elevated taxes. Speaking of the development in Nordic countries, it is worth highlighting that Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has recently invested in Norway's data infrastructure. With the groundbreaking of its first Norwegian data center in Skien, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is not only injecting 600 million ($646.57 million) into the economy but also projecting the creation of over 100 jobs. Deloitte's study suggests the facility could generate 0.59 billion (0.64 billion) in value between 2024 and 2025, showcasing its potential economic impact. Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)s commitment to sustainability is evident in its aim for the data center to be 99% carbon-free, aligning with its broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030. Nevertheless, Norway's data center industry is indicative of its growing significance in the global digital economy. With investments projected to range between 1.8 billion ($1.94 billion) and 2.7 billion ($2.91 billion) annually, Norway is set to become a key player in data infrastructure. The industry's growth, supported by major players like Green Mountain and Bulk Data Centers, not only bolsters the economy but also reinforces Norway's role in advancing digital infrastructure. Moreover, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has also recently pledged 25 million ($26.9 million) to support AI training in Europe, with 10 million ($10.8 million) earmarked for vulnerable communities while expanding free online courses to 18 languages. In addition, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)s $1 billion investment in a data center near London also confirms its commitment to meeting regional internet demands. In the broader context, tech giants like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) are investing heavily in AI infrastructure and training programs globally. For example, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) has recently acquired a sizable plot of land in Espoo, Finland, demonstrating its willingness to expanding its data center infrastructure. With a purchase price of approximately 30.9 million ($33.3 million), this decision confirms Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT)s strategic focus on cloud services, which aligns with its earlier announcement of plans for a Finnish cloud region. The location in Hepokorvenkallio, Hognas, will serve as the site for a new data center project, facilitating connectivity to Fortum's district heating network. The companys expansion in Europe does not stop there as Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) plans to double Azure cloud capacity in Germany by early 2024 to meet growing demand, particularly from German companies. The expansion targets Germany's largest data center hub, Germany Westen-Mitte, in Frankfurt. Top 15 Democratic Socialist Countries In Europe Chris Dudek/Shutterstock.com Our Methodology To list the top 15 democratic socialist countries in Europe, we have utilized the rankings of the 2024 Social Progress Index along with country rankings for Government expenditure, (percent of GDP) by the IMF for 2022. We have averaged the rankings of each country to obtain our final rankings. The list is presented in descending order. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. The list is now presented in ascending order: 15. Greece Government Expenditure: 10 Social Progress Index: 34 Average Ranking: 22 Despite a slight increase in household disposable income, the labor underutilization rate increased, indicating challenges in employment. Excess mortality during the pandemic was lower than the OECD average, but the risk of depression and loneliness was notable. Trust in the government remained stable, but feelings of social exclusion rose. 14. Portugal Government Expenditure: 21 Social Progress Index: 23 Average Ranking: 22 Portugal boasts a population of 10.4 million and a GDP per capita of $44,963. Despite facing challenges, the country is committed to education and health spending and continues to invest in its human capital and well-being. With efforts towards innovation and technology development, Portugal is poised for further growth and prosperity. Portugal is also one of the successful socialist countries. 13. Spain Government Expenditure: 16 Social Progress Index: 25 Average Ranking: 20.5 Spain performs slightly above the OECD average in terms of satisfaction with public services, with approximately two-thirds of the population satisfied with education and healthcare systems. Notably, Spain shows progress in gender equality with 43.1% of women in senior management positions, surpassing the OECD-EU average, and has a high representation of women in ministerial positions at 64%. 12. Czech Republic Government Expenditure: 22 Social Progress Index: 19 Average Ranking: 20.5 In 2020, the Czech Republic exhibited resilience in its public finances amidst the COVID-19 crisis, maintaining a structural primary surplus, a feat shared by only three OECD countries. However, it lags in stakeholder engagement practices, lacking mechanisms to involve external parties in policy design. Remarkably, it boasts the second-lowest income inequality within the OECD, ranking fourth before taxes and transfers, and second after. Government expenditure stood at 48% of GDP in 2019, with a 1.3% investment rate. 11. Norway Government Expenditure: 38 Social Progress Index: 2 Average Ranking: 20 Norway, with a population of 5.5 million, demonstrates a steady GDP growth rate, projected at 1.5% in 2025, with a current GDP per capita of $121,263. The country maintains a relatively low income inequality score and a moderate household debt level of 246.7% of disposable income. In education, Norwegian students perform well in PISA tests, with mean scores of 497 in Mathematics, 476 in Reading, and 485 in Science. It is one of the top 10 socialist countries. The country also serves as one of the best examples of democratic socialism. 10. Slovenia Government Expenditure: 17 Social Progress Index: 20 Average Ranking: 18.5 Slovenia has a highly stable government revenue collection, surpassing the average by 6 percentage points at 43.7% of GDP, largely sourced from non-tax revenues. Remarkably, it ranks third highest in social contributions, comprising 36.5% of government revenue. However, Slovenia lacks in conducting public spending reviews, unlike most OECD countries, potentially hindering efficient resource allocation. 9. Italy Government Expenditure: 5 Social Progress Index: 26 Average Ranking: 15.5 Italy's public procurement spending constituted 11.8% of its GDP in 2021, slightly below the OECD average of 12.9%. Similarly, its public investment of 3.0% of GDP in 2021 and 2022 mirrored the OECD average of 3.4%. 8. France Government Expenditure: 3 Social Progress Index: 24 Average Ranking: 13.5 In 2019, France boasted the highest government expenditures among OECD countries, accounting for 55.6% of its GDP. Social protection expenditures were the primary driver, comprising 23.9% of GDP, nearly double the OECD average. Moreover, access to public services is excellent in France, notably in healthcare and education, yet responsiveness and quality remain closer to the OECD average. It is one of the top socialist-democracy countries. 7. Germany Government Expenditure: 11 Social Progress Index: 10 Average Ranking: 10.5 Germany is a federal country with a three-tier system of subnational governments: municipalities, rural districts, and district-free cities. Subnational governments, primarily the Lander, hold wide-ranging responsibilities including education, regional development, healthcare, and environmental protection. The Basic Law assigns legislative and administrative functions to the Lander, while local government functions vary by Land. 6. Denmark Government Expenditure: 20 Social Progress Index: 1 Average Ranking: 10.5 The Danish welfare state is renowned for its universal access to education, healthcare, and social security, underpinned by high social trust. Unlike other models, Denmark's system provides equal access to all citizens regardless of socioeconomic status, funded through progressive taxation. Historical reforms, like replacing corrupt nobility with skilled civil servants, laid the groundwork. Cooperative movements, inspired by Grundtvig, fostered social cohesion. Despite challenges from globalization and immigration, public support remains strong. Click here to see the Top 5 Democratic Socialist Countries In Europe. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. Top 15 Democratic Socialist Countries In Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey. TreeHouse Foods (NYSE:THS) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: US$3.43b (up 4.1% from FY 2022). Net income: US$59.0m (up from US$9.20m loss in FY 2022). Profit margin: 1.7% (up from net loss in FY 2022). EPS: US$1.06 (up from US$0.16 loss in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period TreeHouse Foods EPS Misses Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 44%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 3.0% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 2.5% growth forecast for the Food industry in the US. Performance of the American Food industry. The company's shares are down 16% from a week ago. Risk Analysis It's necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with TreeHouse Foods (at least 1 which is significant), and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. (Bloomberg) -- The company formerly known as Twitter reached an agreement with laid-off staff from its only African office following about a year of negotiations. Most Read from Bloomberg The affected employees in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, were fired in November 2022, weeks after Elon Musk bought the company. They began talks with the social network, which is now known as X, after their lawyers requested it abides by local redundancy laws. Agency Seven Seven has successfully led negotiations on behalf of former staff members of Twitter Ghana Ltd. in their quest to get a fair settlement and repatriation expenses for foreign staff, the Accra-based firm, which represented 11 former employees, said in a statement late Saturday. The firm sent an auto-reply, Busy now, check back later, in response to a Bloomberg email seeking comment. About-Turn The cuts represented an about-turn after Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo welcomed the companys entry in 2021 as the beginning of a beautiful relationship between Twitter and Ghana. Jack Dorsey, who was chief executive officer at that time, had also said he sought to move to the country at some point. Read more: Twitter Agrees to Talks With Africa Staff After Poor Exit Terms Just over a year after the Accra office was opened, Musk, who acquired the company for $44 billion in October 2022, fired nearly all of the African team as part of sweeping cuts eliminating a division that had been seen as part of Twitters future. Since Musk took over, thousands of staff around the world have been fired or walked out. In Accra, an initial termination letter said employees would receive a months notice, without any mention of severance packages. A subsequent letter improved terms to a months notice plus two months severance. But that was still below the three-month severance offer tweeted by Musk on Nov. 4, 2022. Story continues There were times when we did not hear from them for a while, Carla Olympio, a managing partner at Agency Seven Seven, said Sunday by phone. Beyond that, as you know, every negotiation process has some level of back-and-forth. While the case drew the attention of Ghanas employment ministry, the outcome was ultimately decided through direct negotiations between the company and the aggrieved employees legal representation, she said. My clients have had to be very resilient because this was a long process, said Olympio, declining to give details of the final terms. They are relieved to put this behind them and look to the future. One of the former Twitter Ghana employees said their experience should be a lesson for others to be brave enough to stand up for themselves, no matter who they are going up against and no matter how long it takes. No one is going to fight for you if you arent willing to fight for yourself, Norvisi Sokpe Ndon said in a LinkedIn post reacting to the news. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, VAALCO Energy's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 44% ownership Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business To get a sense of who is truly in control of VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:EGY), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 55% 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). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of VAALCO Energy. See our latest analysis for VAALCO Energy What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About VAALCO Energy? 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. VAALCO Energy 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 VAALCO Energy, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. VAALCO Energy is not owned by hedge funds. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 8.6% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 5.7% and 3.7%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. 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 studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of VAALCO Energy The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. 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. Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in VAALCO Energy, Inc.. As individuals, the insiders collectively own US$7.8m worth of the US$453m company. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership With a 44% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over VAALCO Energy. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for VAALCO Energy that you should be aware of before investing here. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Shanghai saw strong growth of consumption with people visiting from outside the city during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, a proof of the economic vitality of the special location, according to official sources. Travelers to Shanghai spent 15.55 billion yuan ($2.18 billion) in total via 14.46 million passenger trips taken during the Chinese New Year holiday, which ended on Friday, surging 21.6 percent and 41.8 percent year-on-year respectively, according to big data collected by China UnionPay. Among all, consumers from Jiangsu province contributed the largest spending amount with 20.2 percent of the consumption, followed by consumers from provinces of Zhejiang, Guangdong, Shandong and Anhui. Up to 56.9 billion yuan worth of expenditure was made both online and at brick-and-mortar stores during the holiday period in the country's eastern metropolis, according to the statistics of the Consumer Market Big Data Laboratory (Shanghai). Data from the big data lab also indicated that the city's major 35 business districts handled 28.73 million passenger trips in foot traffic, surging 11.9 percent from that of a year ago. Veeco Instruments (NASDAQ:VECO) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: US$666.4m (up 3.1% from FY 2022). Net loss: US$30.4m (down by 118% from US$166.9m profit in FY 2022). US$0.56 loss per share (down from US$3.35 profit in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Veeco Instruments EPS Beats Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) surpassed analyst estimates by 6.7%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 7.7% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 17% growth forecast for the Semiconductor industry in the US. Performance of the American Semiconductor industry. The company's shares are up 3.9% from a week ago. Risk Analysis What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Veeco Instruments you should know about. 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. (Bloomberg) -- In a low-key second-floor office in the heart of Dubais bustling financial center, bankers working for Moelis & Co. are busier than ever so much so that the firm has had to tear down walls to add desks for its expansion drive. Most Read from Bloomberg In the otherwise stark workplace, shelves are covered with Lucite deal tombstones featuring equity offerings and deals by Middle Eastern companies from Saudi Arabias petroleum behemoth Aramco to Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. Envious rivals whisper that Moelis has turned its Middle Eastern operation into one of the banks biggest revenue generators per employee no mean feat in a part of the world that's not known for big fees. This all reflects the frenzy of dealmaking thats gripped the Middle East while bankers elsewhere suffer a dearth of business. Gulf initial public offerings have raised more than $30 billion over the last two years, and Moelis a minnow by Wall Street standards has worked on more than half of those that hired independent financial advisers. That, bankers say, is the payoff for years of relationship building by its founder Ken Moelis. But it has also involved big compromises and risks. The Wall Street veteran chose to maintain his relationship with Saudi Arabias government in the aftermath of the 2018 killing of government critic Jamal Khashoggi. Hes also stuck through dramatic downturns in Dubai. More recently, the widening Israel-Hamas war has offered fresh reminders of the challenges of a region susceptible to political turbulence and frequent boom-and-bust cycles. Boutique banks like Moelis can be more flexible in navigating different markets and taking hiring opportunities as they arise, said George Traub, founder of Lumina Capital Advisers, a Dubai-based mid-market corporate adviser. But pricing in the risks of upheaval in the Gulf can also be particularly difficult, he said, as non-linear outcomes are possible. Story continues Bigger Competitors Ken Moelis still sees the Middle East as crucial for his New York-based firms wider business and he will continue to focus on it, according to people familiar with the matter. Its been sharply overshadowed by bigger competitors elsewhere. In Europe, it ranked No. 22 on M&A advisory last year, while in Asia Pacific, that ranking drops to No. 35. In all, the firm makes less than $1 billion in annual revenue globally largely driven by its US business. Even though IPOs globally tumbled to their lowest level in more than a decade in 2023, the Middle East had one of its best years on record as governments racing to make their economies less oil reliant sold stakes in state-owned firms. The deals have continued despite the Israel-Hamas war, and the wealthiest Gulf countries have barely been affected. Ken Moelis, 65, has already stuck with the Middle East through thick and thin. In 2009, he boarded a plane to pitch for a $25 billion restructuring of state holding company Dubai World as it teetered on the brink of default. His firm ended up advising the government on the complex restructuring plan involving more than 70 creditors. That agreement cemented his reputation with some of the United Arab Emirates top officials and laid the foundations for more transactions. But hes also made public relations outreaches that were harder for bigger banks to make because of their global profile. In October 2018, Ken Moelis and the firms Vice Chairman Eric Cantor stood out as two of the only top US financiers who attended Saudi Arabias flagship investment conference in Riyadh, just weeks after the murder of Khashoggi by government agents in the Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denied involvement, but many businessmen and investors shunned the country in the wake of the brutal killing. Most of Moeliss Wall Street peers, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon and BlackRock Inc.s boss Larry Fink, pulled out of the event amid the controversy. That move earned Moelis the trust of the kingdoms top decision makers in a region known to reward loyalty, the people said. The firm has built strong relationships with the regions decision makers and has been involved in some landmark deals which put them on the map, said Tom de Waele, Bain & Co Inc.s managing partner for the Middle East. Once you have established the right track record and level of trust with key decision makers, you see a fly wheel effect kicking in. Biggest Advisor The bank is now one of the biggest global investment banking operations in the Middle East, with double the number of advisors than some bigger Wall Street competitors. Besides IPOs, its also active in regional M&A and advises firms that are conducting strategic reviews. Restructurings are another of its key offerings in the region. Despite its large footprint, the bank has only four managing directors in the region and relies heavily on a cadre of more junior executive directors, vice presidents and associates. The Middle East and North Africa office is led by Rami Touma, a former Credit Suisse banker, who is also a Harley Davidson aficionado. Moeliss success in the Gulf is partly due to the commitment of its top US management, the people familiar with the matter said. Its founder and Cantor, a former US politician-turned banker, fly to the Middle East three-to-four times a year to pitch ideas. Their regular presence draws clients in a region where decisions are typically made by royals and a handful of top advisers, the people said. Still, fees in the region can sometimes be lower than expected. Moelis was among the banks that arranged Aramcos $29 billion IPO in 2019. Analysts at the time predicted the offering could generate tens of millions of dollars in fees for Moelis, but in the end banks shared a fee pool of just over $100 million, an unusually small amount relative to the deals size. Moelis didnt comment for this story and doesnt disclose revenue from the Middle East, which are dwarfed by those from Europe and the Americas. Speaking at the 2018 event in Riyadh, Ken Moelis described relationships as a companys most valuable asset even if theres no way to account for them on the balance sheet. Gulf leaders have welcomed Moeliss loyalty. At the Qatar Economic Forum last May, Saudi Arabias energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud greeted Ken as my guy, and praised him for being much better than the other bankers advising the kingdom on the Aramco IPO. At the same conference, the Wall Street veteran praised the Middle Easts ability to make decisions, operate quickly, cut through the red tape, and lastly, think long term without having to deal with union problems. This is one of the few places in the world thats actually making investments for the next five to 10 years, he said. Regional Bets Still, Moeliss first-mover advantage in the Middle East is being eroded as more and more rivals muscle in on the deal surge and the more than $2 trillion held by sovereign wealth funds. Rothschild & Co. has also been involved in landmark deals for years, rivaling Moelis in size and access to key clients. The boutique moved a senior equity capital markets banker to Dubai from Hong Kong in late 2022 to capture a bigger slice of the IPO boom. Rothschild is also planning to ramp up operations in Saudi Arabia by hiring or relocating bankers as it sets up new offices in Riyadhs financial center. Advisory specialists from Lazard Ltd. to Jefferies Financial Group Inc. are also beefing up teams. The IPO market in the Gulf is relatively insulated from regional geopolitical risk, and in areas like local technology and services continues to be a magnet for new growing companies that need capital, said Karen Young, a senior research scholar at Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy. Since opening its hub in the Dubai International Financial Centre in 2011 and hiring JPMorgan veteran Yorick Van Slingelandt, Moeliss regional business has grown from an eight-person team to a workforce of about 45. But not all of Moeliss bets in the region have paid off. The company was involved in a number of deals involving special-purpose acquisition companies, most of which were pulled. Meanwhile, although rivals begrudgingly acknowledge Moeliss success in the region, they also say it has sometimes operated more like a consultancy than an investment bank to win more lucrative work on big-ticket deals. It also charges a rolling fee for strategic advice a model thats fairly unique to the Middle East where rulers with grand ambitions surround themselves with consultants, according to executives. Last year, Moelis appointed Moaath Alangari to run its office in Riyadh after securing a license to operate in the kingdom, giving the firm a front-row seat to the crown princes ambitious plans. The risks for boutiques like Moelis is that theyve doubled down on Saudi Arabia and the region as one of their key growth markets, given the potential, said Luminas Traub. It would be interesting to see whether when deal activity picks up in 2024 across Europe and the US if that investment thesis is still valid and how the key resources are deployed. --With assistance from Fareed Sahloul and Ben Bartenstein. (Updates with added details on competitors) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. On Feb. 14, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) filed its 13F report for the period ended Dec. 31, 2023. There weren't too many sizable moves, but one noticeable one was that Berkshire sold around 10 million shares of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), trimming the position by a little over 1%. Let's discuss Berkshire's stake in Apple, what Berkshire's moves could indicate about its thoughts on the market, and what you should do if you own or want to buy the tech stock. Image source: Getty Images. Berkshire's evolving Apple position Berkshire began acquiring Apple stock in 2016. By the end of 2018, Berkshire had racked up just shy of 1 billion shares. As of the end of 2023, Berkshire held 905.6 million shares. Apple has become Berkshire's largest holding because the buying spree between 2016 and 2018 proved to be a genius move. Apple stock is up 366.6% between the end of 2018 and Feb. 14. Berkshire sold 93.5 million shares in 2020. But aside from that, the position has remained relatively unchanged. Even after the fourth-quarter 2023 sale, Apple remains 45.5% of Berkshire's public equity portfolio, with Berkshire owning 5.9% of the company. What the move could signal I have two key takeaways from Berkshire's decision to keep its Apple position mostly unchanged between 2021 and 2023. The first is that Berkshire doesn't have better ideas than Apple. If it did, it could divert its enormous profits from Apple stock elsewhere. Effectively, Berkshire doesn't have a good enough alternative idea to justify selling Apple stock and suffering the associated tax consequences. The second takeaway is that Berkshire views Apple as a good value, not necessarily as a growth stock. Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett is a value investor at heart, and Berkshire's overall portfolio is incredibly value-oriented. The top five holdings in its public equity portfolio are Apple, Bank of America, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Chevron. Outside of its public equity portfolio, the most valuable assets Berkshire owns are its property and casualty insurance business, its 100% ownership of BNSF railroad, its 92% ownership of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and several stakes or partial stakes in other companies. Story continues Berkshire isn't the kind of company to go out and ride the hot trend, like artificial intelligence (AI) today or the metaverse a few years ago. It's also not the kind of company to change its investment strategy. In its 2023 annual shareholder meeting from last May, Warren Buffett praised Apple, saying the following: Our criteria for Apple isn't different than the other businesses we own, it just happens to be a better business than any we own and we put a fair amount of money in it but we haven't got more money in it than we've got in the railroad. Our railroad is a very good business but it's not remotely as good as Apple's business. In other words, Apple doesn't get preferential treatment over other companies, it just continues to check all of the boxes. A couple of minutes later in the meeting, Buffett said: "I made a mistake a couple years ago and I sold some shares." What he's referring to are the 93.5 million shares sold in the second half of 2020 that we discussed earlier. Buffett defended it by saying some tax-related factors made the move advisable, but he still seemed to regret it. So, if Buffett said that selling Apple was a mistake, you may wonder why Berkshire sold a little over 10 million shares in Q4 2023. Since it is a relatively small amount, my guess is that this may have been tax-related. We will hear more about Buffett's opinions on Apple during Berkshire's 2024 annual meeting on May 4. If I had to guess, the investment thesis on Apple hasn't changed. Apple's ace in the hole Berkshire is a big believer in the power of stock buybacks, but only if the business is good. This is why Berkshire famously doesn't pay a dividend, preferring instead to repurchase its own stock. Dividends are "double taxed" because they are paid with income that is taxed to the company and then taxed again when distributed to shareholders. Buybacks can be a better use of capital because they avoid this double taxing problem. They also reduce the outstanding share count of a company, which boosts earnings per share (EPS) and makes each existing share own a higher percentage of the company. Over the last 10 years, Berkshire has reduced its outstanding share count by 12.2%, whereas Apple has reduced its share count by 36%. Buybacks continue to be the main driver of Apple's capital return program. In its recent quarter, Apple spent $20.1 billion on buybacks and $3.8 billion on dividends. It's no secret that Apple's top- and bottom-line growth has slowed. The stock is also down 4.5% year to date, compared to a 5.5% gain in the S&P 500. Buybacks help boost EPS when organic growth is slow. Buffett and his team don't seem too concerned about Apple's current slowdown or its valuation. After all, there are aspects of the business that are thriving -- namely, the high-margin services segment, which just set a record for operating income and revenue. A foundational holding Berkshire's decision to leave its Apple position mostly unchanged makes sense. The company isn't exhibiting the growth to make it a screaming buy. Unlike other big tech stocks, Apple has yet to make a meaningful splash with AI, namely because it doesn't have the business-to-business AI potential of a company like Nvidia or Microsoft. Apple is a well-run business that is missing out on the market rally for a good reason. There doesn't seem to be any real reason to pile into Apple stock now. However, if the broader market continues to become more expensive (and Apple languishes), it will begin to look like a better value. Apple is a stock worth putting on the top of a watchlist or buying a starter position in if you don't own any. The stock is out of favor on Wall Street right now compared to other big tech plays, but that could change quickly if fundamentals improve or the valuation comes down. Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now? Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Apple 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 Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Warren Buffett-Led Berkshire Hathaway Sells Some Apple Stock. Should You? was originally published by The Motley Fool First came the disbelief, then the anger. Thats morphed into what parent Austin Leedy calls unwavering resolve to keep the day-care facility on Mary Washington Hospitals campus open for the sake of students, families and staff. Rest assured, the voices of concerned parents and community members will not be silenced until our concerns are addressed and justice is served, Leedy wrote in an email. We stand united in our resolve to protect Kids Stations sanctity and preserve its invaluable contributions to our community. Leedy and other parents were notified last week their day care, formally known as Kids Station powered by KinderCare, will close on May 24. Mary Washington Healthcare, which owns the facility and land, wants to repurpose the 1,800-square-foot facility. Thats a good space for clinical space, potentially, said Eric Fletcher, MWHCs senior vice president and chief strategy officer. As the region has grown, so has the need for medical offices, and Kids Station occupies prime real estate, across from Mary Washington Hospital. Its convenient location also has been touted to prospective employees during recruitment efforts, said MWHC associates. Several contacted The Free LanceStar about their shock and disappointment at the sudden announcement, but did not want to be quoted for fear of retribution. More than 200 children are cared for at Kids Station, and many of their parents spent hours on the phone last week, looking for alternative day care. Sarah Buskirk, an attorney in Fredericksburg, considers herself one of the lucky ones because she may have found another day-care option for her child. Unfortunately, that solution is more expensive than Kids Station and further from my home and work, she wrote in an email. Many families will not be so fortunate. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, educators and business owners will be forced to either reduce their work or quit their jobs altogether. Like other regions of the state and nation, the Fredericksburg area suffers from a shortage of child-care providers. A 2022 study by JLARC, the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission of Virginia, noted there arent enough slots in almost every region of the state. Theres a statewide shortage of at least 140,000 openings, according to JLARC. Localities in the Fredericksburg area are in regions where theres a deficit of 20,000 to 30,000 openings for day care. Then theres the cost. Buskirk said shes paying about $240 a week at Kids Station for her 2-year-old son. Every day care willing to quote a price over the phone was more expensive, with the highest being in Central Park in Fredericksburg. The cost was $300 a week, with lunch included and enrollment fees totaling several hundred dollars. Emily Barnes, a nurse practitioner, pays almost $500 a week at Kids Station for her two children, ages 18 months and 3 years. As shes looked around, shes discovered her cost may go up as high as $660 a week. Everyone is shocked and devastated, she said about the announcement. A lot of people are incredibly strapped to find day care in such short notice. One parent created a petition at change.org, asking MWHC to reconsider extending Kids Stations lease. It was created on Wednesday and had more than 1,100 signatures by Friday afternoon. The timing of this decision could not be worse, as it coincides with a well-documented child-care crisis in our area, the petition states. Many families will be forced to endure lengthy waitlists of six months or more (which) will undoubtedly result in significant hardship for working parents, with some being forced to reduce their work hours or even leave their jobs altogether. Its often the mothers who bear the brunt of these sacrifices, the petition states. The petitions creator acknowledged MWHCs need for expansion, but said it was disheartening to see it come at the expense of the very families that MWHC claims to value. During a phone interview on Thursday with The Free LanceStar, Fletcher said his staff had spent hours that day, contacting other day-care facilities in the region. They came up with a list of facilities with openings to share with associates struggling to find a new option. He also said that MWHC was asking KinderCare to push back its closure date to September to give people more time to find other options. That point also was made in a town hall with associates on Thursday and in a letter MWHC sent out Friday. KinderCare also communicated with families on Friday, saying both parties had discussed, and agreed to, the May 24 closure date. There were a lot of factors involved in the timing, including parents ability to find summer programs. Stacy Butler, senior district leader of KinderCare companies, also noted in the announcement on Tuesday that it had known for some time that MWHC wanted to repurpose the building. Its real estate team had searched for a year to find a new spot in Fredericksburg a suitable location that met zoning requirements, could accommodate all its families and keep tuition reasonable. In addition to the petition, Barnes said parents have been working behind the scenes to share ideas with each other and provide support for staff members including some whove worked there more than 25 years. The support for families and workers has been incredible, Barnes said. It speaks volumes to how well cared our children are and how much the staff has become part of all our families. A Gazette investigation shows an increasing number of soldiers, including wounded combat veterans, are being kicked out of the service for misconduct, often with no benefits, as the Army downsizes after a decade of war. A man and a woman have been identified as suspects in the homicides of two young children in Pueblo. The investigation began when police discovered the remains of a young girl inside a metal container in a storage facility on West Sixth Street in Pueblo on Jan. 20. The remains, which had been encased in concrete inside the container, were later identified through DNA testing as Yesenia Dominguez. The girl and another child, Jesus Dominguez Jr., had been missing since 2018, though police say no missing person report was filed. The girl was 3 at the time of her disappearance, and the boy was 5. Pueblo police identified Corena Rose Minjarez, 36, and Jesus Dominguez, 35, as persons of interest in the case. In a interview before the identification, police say they were told that the children were in Arizona, but that the lead went nowhere. The remains of Dominguez Jr. were found in what police say was a vehicle belonging to Minjarez at a Pueblo scrap yard on Feb. 6. The boy's remains were found in a suitcase in the car, according to PPD. Police executed a warrant for first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse for Minjarez and Dominguez on Feb. 15. Minjarez was arrested and is held at the Pueblo County Detention Center on a $2 million bond. Police said Saturday that Dominguez has been taken into custody. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Pueblo police dispatch at 719-553-2502 or Detective Nicholas Lile at 719-601-7751. An anonymous report can be made with Pueblo Crime Stoppers at 719-542-STOP (719-542-7867). Margarita Sam crouched on her knees and elbows in front of an elevator, her hands clasped as if praying. A nursing home housekeeper asked the 89-year-old if she was OK, then turned away. Moments later, Sam was found laying on the floor. Two days later nearly to the minute Sam would be found dead on a bench on the facility's grounds, partially clothed. Her immediate cause of death, according to the El Paso County Coroner's Office: hypothermia, prolonged exposure to the cold. The broader cause of her death, according to a recently issued report from a federal agency: the nursing home's failure to adequately supervise her even after she suffered a "significant mental status change," a fall and a hospital visit, all just days before her death. Colorado health officials pulled Union Printers Home's license to operate both a nursing home and an assisted living facility on Feb. 12, forcing about 115 residents to face relocation. The suspension came after the Colorado Department of Health and Environment received a complaint about a female resident's death at the nursing home the week prior. The state wouldnt identify the resident, nor does the federal report. But the Coroners Office confirmed that Sam was found dead Feb. 3 on facility grounds. Union Printers failed to provide Sam "adequate supervision and monitoring to prevent her elopement from the facility ... which resulted in her death," according to a Feb. 10 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Though the facility became aware the morning of Feb. 3 that Sam was missing, an official search was not initiated until hours later, the report concludes. The search lasted only 11 minutes before she was found dead. A troubling timeline Sam suffered a "significant mental status change" on Jan. 29, five days before her death, according to the federal report. She fell on Feb. 1. On Feb. 2, the evening before her death, she was taken to the hospital, where she was placed on anti-psychotic medication. But "she was not adequately monitored after her return," states the report, which paints a troubling timeline of events leading up to Sam's death, pieced together based on interviews, scanty nursing home documentation and video surveillance footage. The Union Printers facility did not respond to The Gazette's request for comment. The death is being investigated by the Colorado Springs Police Departments Crimes Against At Risk Adults Unit under the Special Victims Section, Sgt. Jason Newton told The Gazette last month. The McDivitt law firm has been hired by Sam's family to investigate her death and is looking into "about a half dozen" cases of death or abuse linked to the facility, said attorney David McDivitt. "The broad themes are that health conditions aren't treated appropriately," he said. McDivitt said he agreed with the federal report's conclusion, adding that the facility "dropped the ball and I think it goes deeper than that." The facility's owners, Kansas-based Heart Living Centers, used "willful decision-making" to "put profits over people, over patient care; revenue over residents," he said. Sam had been admitted to the facility in April 2018. A care plan generated that month showed she was at risk for falls as a result of a medication she was on, and that she required monitoring for changes in anxiety, sleep, behavior or mood. A Jan. 10, 2020, assessment revealed moderate cognitive impairment but noted that she was independent in activities of daily living and at low risk for falls and wandering, according to the report. A doctor's note 18 days later, however, included a concerning observation: Sam thought she was leaving Union Printers for an assisted living facility. Featured Local Savings "Social worker unaware, will address," the doctor's note read, the report states. An interview with Sam's neighbor and friend, also a resident, revealed that she had taken a turn for the worse the day after the doctor's note, on Jan. 29. Sam had told the woman that she couldn't live at Union Printers any longer and would be moving. Staff and a resident stated that in the week before her death, she began giving and throwing away personal items, and staying in her room. At one point she threw away her purse and phone and then reported them stolen, the report states. When the housekeeper encountered Sam on her knees and elbows before the elevator, Sam responded that she was indeed OK. But about a minute later, she was found lying on the floor. Sam was allowed to return to her room before being assessed by a nurse. Though the facility completed some neurological checks after the fall, multiple checks were missed. Some assessments that were completed indicated "increased confusion and alteration in usual pattern" and "wandering" and labeled her as "risk-disoriented," as well as fearful and anxious, according to the report. Slipping away, but undiscovered Shortly after 6 p.m. on the day before her death, Sam was transported to the hospital via ambulance "due to increased confusion." Though she was "alert and oriented to herself," she was "disoriented to place, time and situation," the report states. Sam had been behaving strangely. She drank olive oil out of a cup with a cookie in it and removed all of her clothing, wrapping it like a turban around her head. "She also stated witches were entering her room," according to the report. With that behavior to go by, hospital staff concluded that Sam should again begin taking anti-psychotic medication. She was given her first dose at the hospital around 9 p.m. and returned to the nursing home at 11 p.m. An associate director of nursing later told investigators that 72-hour charting and 15-minute checks should have been initiated after her mental-status change on Jan. 29, as well as after her fall and ER visit. But these things didn't happen at least not consistently, the federal agency contends. A staffer later told investigators that Sam was not considered at-risk after she returned from the hospital because paperwork said the effectiveness of her new prescription not Sam herself should be monitored. Upon her return, Sam was talking "crazy," saying the FBI was being sent to take nursing home residents away, her best friend told investigators. An overnight volunteer reported that she encountered Sam wandering on the fourth floor at 3 a.m. and saying she wanted to go home. She had a bundle of clothes under her arm, the volunteer told investigators. Around 4 a.m. video surveillance captured Sam clad in a thin, white blouse and white skirt-slip but without shoes on, her hair braided in the facility near an elevator. The video last captures her traveling toward a door that leads outside, near where she was found, the report states. A security guard on duty that night told investigators that he did not patrol the outdoor area where Sam was found because "it's too dark back there." When she did not show up for breakfast, Sam's food was delivered to her room at 7:45 a.m. At 10 a.m., a housekeeper asked Sam's nurses where she was. A nurse rounding sheet seems to confirm Sam wasn't in her room as of 8 a.m., but documentation and interviews from earlier that morning make her whereabouts unclear, according to the report. At 9:39 a.m., the person holding Sam's power of attorney contacted the facility and asked where she was, the report states. A maintenance technician told investigators that he was notified around 11 a.m. that Sam was missing and went outside to search for her with another employee. He found Sam laying on a bench, he told investigators. Her blouse was pulled up over her head. An LPN called to check on her added that she wasn't wearing shoes. She didn't attempt CPR, as rigor mortis had set in, she told investigators. Another attempt to flee facility In subsequent days, as the facility reportedly worked to rectify issues that federal officials said put residents in "immediate jeopardy," investigators encountered a resident sitting in his wheelchair near a door. The man said he was getting ready to leave the facility in the snow and 25-degree weather to get food. He'd been downstairs since 5:30 a.m. without being checked on. Food at the facility was terrible, he told investigators, so he often ordered take-out or left on his own to get food. When asked where the man was, one nurse told investigators she thought he was at an appointment, then said she thought he was at a residents coffee gathering. Another nurse said the man was not allowed to leave the floor and wasn't sure. "She was the straw that broken the camel's back," McDivitt said of Sam. If not her, "it would have been somebody else, and it probably took a horrific death like this to get the state to wake up that this needed to stop." A shuttered Colorado Springs nursing home and assisted living center will move out its final three residents on Friday, meeting a state's deadline under a closure order. The residents are the last of more than 100 seniors who were forced to leave the Union Printers Home after its license was suspended by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials last month. The agency said the facility failed to properly supervise an 89-year-old woman who died of hypothermia Feb. 3 on a bench outside. Moving the residents to new homes came while the coronavirus a pandemic that has caused seven deaths in El Paso County alone posed a particular threat to the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. "While COVID-19 has complicated everyone's lives in Colorado, it was extremely important to finish safely moving the residents of Union Printers while following infection control best practices, which we are close to accomplishing," wrote Peter Myers, public information officer for the state departments Health Facilities Division, in an email. The facility's suspension came after the state health department received a complaint about the death of Margarita Sam at the nursing home, 101 S. Union Blvd., said Myers. The facility had a long history of noncompliance with state health regulations. "CDPHE is working with the entire regulated community to ensure all residents of nursing facilities and assisted living residences are kept safe during this time," Myers said. "There has been guidance from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Governor and the State Operations Center that has been targeted to nursing facilities to keep residents safe." Featured Local Savings RELATED: In the past 20 years, Colorado Springs elder law attorney Catherine Anne Seal has met thousands of folks called John or Jane Doe. Although theyre strangers to her, they become more than unknown deceased people lacking an identity for the short-term or remaining as unclaimed bodies in the long-term. Seal, since 2004 wearing a second hard hat as the public administrator for Colorados 4th Judicial District, seeks to give those she didnt know before they died the dignity they deserve in departing this world. Because if theres anything shes learned over the past two decades in her appointed role, its this: These people who passed away did not know their affairs would be in the hands of a complete stranger, and theres no need to judge (families response), Seal said. You cant be judgmental in how people process grief. We always remind ourselves to be respectful. A public administrator, who is appointed by a countys chief district court judge, is the first person the coroners office or a hospitals morgue calls to step in and take care of personal matters when someone dies and theres no one else to do so. Im not supposed to go look for work; I should only come in as fiduciary of last resort, Seal said. The public administrator's work often goes unnoticed by the public, said El Paso County Coroner Dr. Leon Kelly, because no one wants to think about the logistics of what happens after death unless they absolutely have to when someone they love or care for dies. Though tending to the matters of the dead is one of the finals acts of responsibility for families, in some instances theres no one who can or will do that, Kelly said. Thus, the public administrator becomes a necessary end-of-life cog. Every year, Seal averages 140 cases of unclaimed individuals with minimal or no assets, and another 10 unclaimed decedents who have estates worth more than $82,000 in cash assets or real estate of any value. Thats double the amount she had when she became the public administrator, which she attributes to more people who die homeless. Without their critical work, our morgue and staff would be overwhelmed with unclaimed remains that would not get the dignity of care that the public administrator ensures, Kelly said. In addition to handling corpses, the court also may ask Seal to assume management of an estate, a conservatorship or a trust. Im to keep scrupulous records and not to make important decisions without asking the court first, Seal said. Its a complicated process in which we have to make sure everything ends up where its supposed to be. Seals calm demeanor belies the difficult tasks. Her office companion, Monty, a likely lab lacking breed pretension, further soothes anyone who walks in, as he cozies up to be petted and exchanges a trick for a dog treat. Her cases include homeless people whose identities are unclear or who require an extended search to find family members. You have to make a reasonable, continued effort because the family has a right to know that this person has passed away, she said. Other examples: seniors with cognitive decline who had lost their spouses and had not made any arrangements for their own death, childless widows or widowers with no located relatives, adult children who lived with a parent who died but didnt probate the estate before their death, and developmentally disabled adults whose deceased parents did not specify plans and cannot oversee the situation. The coroners office exhausts all means of finding relatives of those who receive an autopsy following a sudden, unexpected or unnatural death. If unsuccessful, Seal takes over. Her office arranges for a body to be taken to a funeral home thats contracted with the county. She also will secure the deceaseds home or apartment and possessions. I may change the locks and get the guns out of the property, Seal said. She protects assets and uses them to pay the late persons outstanding debts, such as rent, mortgage and other bills. That must be done before assets can be issued to family members or beneficiaries specified in a will or trust. Subscription databases help identify possible relatives, who are sent a letter asking them to call Seals office regarding the person in question. She cant divulge their death until she verifies that they are related. Featured Local Savings Seal also has the authority to send a personal investigator to the deceaseds home to look for a will or an address book that might have names of family. As a last-ditch effort, we have all their mail forwarded to us, she said, in hopes that a Christmas card or a letter from a relation will appear over time. If that happens, the sender will receive a letter from Seal in response. People might say, Yes, its my brother, and Ive been worried because I havent heard from him, Seal said. But not everyone wants to deal with their lost relatives arrangements for a funeral, burial or cremation. And not everyone wants to keep the cremated remains of the departed. You cant judge the family that chooses not to get involved, Seal said. There are often reasons a family history or mental health problems that removed these people from their lives. Our job is to treat these people as dignified as possible. If a body has been identified but no family has been located, or if a family does not claim the dead body, the person will be cremated after 10 days. Theres a caveat to that process: If the person is of a religion that objects to cremation, such as Jewish or Muslim, the corpse may continue to be stored until a synagogue or mosque is consulted. The county pays for cremation of unclaimed decedents, a service that Seal said generally costs under $2,000 at local funeral homes. She also tries to reimburse the county for expenses using estate money. But the majority of the deceased she represents have no money or not enough from liquidating their assets to cover the costs of managing their posthumous affairs. I lose money; Im only paid on the cases where there are assets, she said. Its often a thankless job but Seals said she doesnt do it for the thank yous. If I did, Id be disappointed every day, she said. I get a lot of FU emails. Part of her time is spent is dealing with angry relatives, who may not have responded to her letter and not only have newfound knowledge of the death to deal with but also the news of her involvement. Im in peoples lives and they didnt ask me to be in their lives, she said. When they find out they dont have legal authority, they get upset. But she enjoys the role of public administrator, which she does in addition to her private elder law practice, because its rewarding to be able to help someone who was a mother, father, sister, brother, aunt or uncle or friend to others receive compassionate treatment after their demise. Seal takes possession of unwanted cremains and stores them in urns for at least a year, in case relatives contact her for them. If a person was homeless upon death, she may turn the ashes over to a local organization that has a paupers gravesite at Evergreen Cemetery. For other unclaimed ashes, Seal purchases a cemetery gravesite with a concrete liner and collectively buries a large number of urns. A few times a year, babies who were stillborn or died after a premature birth arent retrieved from the hospital by parents perhaps due to grief or undocumented status and Seal arranges for the infant to be laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery. We usually have a service with people from my office, the court, the funeral home and a minister in attendance, she said. Funeral homes cannot cremate a body without the person having been identified, and during the height of COVID-19, she said county officials were worried that they would exceed capacity for holding corpses and would have to resort to keeping them in refrigerated trucks parked outside the coroners office, like some cities across the nation did. We didnt want to be that county, Seal said. But that never happened. As far as the unusual situation at the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, whose owners are facing several felony charges for improperly storing 190 bodies, of which 22 bodies remain unidentified, its unlikely that Seal will be asked to assist. I will only receive bodies if the coroner identifies the deceased individual and no family steps forward to claim them, she said. Presumably, families paid the for-profit Return to Nature Funeral Home for services which it appears the funeral home did not always perform. Thus, the family members who paid the business have the legal right to direct disposition of the remains of their loved ones. Mishandling of corpses or remains is not unusual, she said, but the magnitude of the alleged abuse in the Return to Nature case is. Three employees have been accused of negligence after a 89-year-old woman was found dead lying on a bench in subfreezing temperatures earlier this year outside a now-shuttered Colorado Springs nursing home, police announced Thursday. Rosalie Warren, a 52-year-old nurse, was issued a summons on suspicion of negligent death of Margarita Sam, who police say wandered outside of Union Printers Home at 101 S. Union Blvd. in February. An autopsy found that the 89-year-old died of hypothermia. Further details on the allegations against Warren were not available and her arrest affidavit was sealed per a judge's order. Warren, along with two nursing assistants, Asia Murray, 35, and Taquenis Eldridge, 31, also face allegations of neglecting an at-risk person, according to police. Police, the Colorado Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Colorado Attorney General's Office have investigated the death. Featured Local Savings The facility was forced to close and more than 100 seniors scrambled to find alternate housing amid a pandemic after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment suspended its license in March. The suspension was prompted by a complaint about Sam's death, but followed a long-history of noncompliance with state health regulations. Though the coroner's office found hypothermia to be Sam's leading cause of death, a federal report accused the nursing home for failing to adequately supervise her even after she suffered a "significant mental status change," a fall and a hospital visit, only days before her death. Andrew Bryant, who is representing Warren, declined to comment and no attorneys were listed in online court records for Murray or Eldridge. The case will be prosecuted by the Colorado Attorney General's Office. A Colorado Springs man convicted on weapons charges in federal court was allegedly planning to build a school espousing White supremacist ideology in rural Fremont County. His wife, who now faces similar federal charges, says his plans were exaggerated in court. Rebecca Duncan, 58, said that she and her husband were not White supremacists, but that Chad Keith would describe himself as a "national socialist." She said that allegations by a Federal Bureau of Investigation's informant about Keith starting a White-only community on his rural property in Cotopaxi were false. "That's a lie," she said. "That's just a fabrication on someone else's part." Keith, 42, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for the possession of firearms by a prohibited person on Jan. 30. Keith served time previously after being convicted of being in possession of an unregistered explosive device in 2003, making him ineligible to legally possess the firearms authorities found across his two properties. Keith's wife Duncan is now also facing charges stemming from weapons found in her and Keith's residences. According to court documents, Duncan was allegedly in possession of a pistol and a revolver along with ammunition. Previously convicted on felony theft charges in 2006, Duncan is also legally ineligible to own firearms. According to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI, Keith was in possession of 11 firearms including rifles and a shotgun at the time of his arrest in May of last year. Keith became the subject of an FBI investigation after tips came in to the Denver field office about Keith's attempts to obtain firearms. While the sole subject of the criminal charges, possessing firearms was not the only activity discussed in the court case against Keith. Featured Local Savings According to an FBI criminal complaint, a confidential informant told FBI investigators that Keith described himself as a "national socialist" and expressed antisemitic ideology. According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, FBI investigators found a flyer inside Keith's Colorado Springs house with the Star of David overlaid like a bull's-eye with pictures of politicians, among items related to White nationalism and Nazism. The informant said that Keith, who lives in Colorado Springs, was attempting to turn his rural, 2.6-acre property in Cotopaxi into a "White-only community," where he would start a weapons-training school for young people. According to the FBI complaint, Keith was seen handling firearms on the Cotopaxi property. In the complaint, the informant described visiting Keith's property, where the informant, Keith and others brought guns to go shooting on nearby federal Bureau of Land Management property. A spokesperson with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said that the office passed along complaints of automatic gunfire coming from the property to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in 2020. How defined Keith's alleged plans were for the Cotopaxi property as a White supremacist are less well-documented. Duncan said that her and Keith's plans for the property were still up in the air at the time of his arrest. Duncan said that the school's purpose would have been primarily to teach "survivalist" skills, but said that weapons training was an important part of that skillset. She said they planned to use the property for recreation and as an Airbnb. Duncan also said that the threatening flyer mentioned in the FBI investigation was not made by Keith. David Coote who, according to property tax records, owned the Cotopaxi property prior to Keith and sold it to him in 2019, said he knew Keith to be "blunt" about his beliefs. He said that he and several neighbors attended a meeting at Keith's property where he was attempting to recruit "like-minded" neighbors to support his ideology and efforts to create a school. "I don't think he would hurt anybody," Coote said. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP); co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group, and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies, and is featured on the podcast, Never Again. Shelter residents sit outside to smoke and get some air while staying at the Denver Coliseum on Thursday. Hunter Many people blame hunters alone for the decline in Greenrock National Forest's deer population over the past ten years. GMATNinja wrote: Quote: Hi Experts, I have a couple of Qs for this argument: a. Clarification in identifying main conclusion. b. Is second part of (B) ie argument seeks to explain is correct? Presenting my understanding: Hunter: Many people blame hunters alone for the decline in Greenrock National Forest???s deer population over the past ten years. Here, hunter is the author of argument and the BF is belief of people. Yet clearly, black bears have also played an important role in this decline. Is this main conclusion since till now we were discussing people's belief but now, we are reading hunter's view? In the past ten years, the forest???s protected black bear population has risen sharply, and examination of black bears found dead in the forest during the deer hunting season showed that a number of them had recently fed on deer. This is an evidence to support earlier statement by hunter. If I interpret correctly, yet clearly ??? is hunter???s opinion and hence becomes main conclusion in spite of first BF 1 i.e what people believe in ???.. Between third party (people) and author (hunter) author???s view is treated as main conclusion. What if no comments are made by author? Should one consider third party belief / claim as main conclusion? also played a role alone Quote: (B) It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain. presents explain Yes, the main conclusion is that "black bears haveplayed an important role in [the decline in GNF's deer population]". The use of the word "also" implies that the author agrees that hunters havein the decline. However, unlike "many people", the author does not blame huntersThis conclusion a bit tricky to see because it follows a contrasting statement. If the first sentence were removed, the author could have said, "In addition to hunters, black bears have also played an important role in the decline in GNF's deer population," and the conclusion would be the same. The first sentence simply states the belief of many people, a belief that the author's argument opposes. The last sentence provides evidence to support the author's conclusion. Thus, choice E is correct.As for choice B, the author onlythe belief in the first sentence and does seek toit. Image credit: Snorre Nicolaisen, Helgeland Hospital Trust Hege Harboe-Sjavik at Helgeland Hospital Trust and Kristoffer Hammer Endresen at Nordland Hospital Trust, in collaboration with CANS Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, examined a new analysis method for detecting bacteria in blood. The BCID2 method was used at several smaller hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic to analyze Covid-19 tests, but it has not yet been used for rapid analysis of sepsis in Norway. The doctors' goal was to check if this new and fast method works just as well at smaller hospitals, compared to sending samples for analysis at a large laboratory at a bigger hospital. This would be a significant step in the right direction for faster and better patient treatment for suspected sepsis at local hospitals. It is important for smaller hospitals, which are often far from the large laboratories, to find out which bacteria are behind an infection so that they can more quickly administer the correct antibiotics. The researchers reviewed the results from 160 blood samples with bacteria taken at Helgeland Hospital Trust in Mo i Rana, Sandnessjen, and Mosjen from July to December 2021. Rapid tests were performed at the various local hospitals, while the standard tests were carried out at a microbiological laboratory at the regional hospital in Bod. DECATUR A burglar who stole a familys guard dog as a mother and her three children fled their home has been sent to prison for six years. Matthew M.F. Brandt, 30, took a plea deal in Macon County Circuit Court that saw him admit to a charge of residential burglary. An additional charge of theft and two unrelated charges of burglary were then dismissed by Judge Jeffrey Geisler as part of the deal negotiated by defense attorney Caleb Brown. A sworn affidavit from the Decatur Police Department said the case dates to the evening of Aug. 6, when patrol cops rushed to a home on Glenview Court after a 911 call about a burglary in progress. A 26-year-old woman told police she had been home alone with her children when she heard the sound of a basement door alarm going off. (She) said she heard a man begin to yell in the basement, said the affidavit, signed by Officer Tia Kuenzel. She said she did not recognize the voice and began to panic, grabbing her three children and leaving the house through the garage. She said as she was leaving she could hear the man attempting to get into the door at the top of the basement stairs that gave access to the upper part of the house, but the door was locked. She stated as she was driving south behind their house on Bay Shore Drive, she had seen a male in a black T-shirt in their backyard. Officers checked the house and yard, but the only thing missing was the guard dog, a German shepherd the family had owned for three years. The cops fanned out across the neighborhood and quickly found Brandt walking in the yard of a home in the 400 block of Hackberry Drive with the stolen dog, which had been cut out of a fenced run before being stolen. Kuenzel said a neighbor living on Glenview Court had also called police after earlier being approached by Brandt, who started asking questions about who lived in the home that he burgled. The neighbor had called police to have someone check on the man because he was acting abnormal, Kuenzel added. Brandt appeared in court for sentencing Jan. 30; the judge also agreed to recommend him for substance abuse treatment during his incarceration. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park We Are China Lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot Xinhua) 08:24, February 18, 2024 People visit a lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) People visit a lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) People visit a lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) People visit a lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) People visit a lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) This photo taken on Feb. 16, 2024 shows a lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) People visit a lantern show held in Taiyuan Ancient County scenic spot in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. (James 3:10) Robbie and I were recently watching the evening news. Our 6-year-old grandson, Easton, was playing a video game on his iPad. A presidential candidate was answering questions. He used the word hell. Easton put his iPad down immediately and said, Do they not understand that children listen to the news, too? My mind flew back 34 years ago. I used to cuss like a sailor. I even frequently used Gods name in vain! When I became a Christian, it was like that part of my life supernaturally changed. BUT I have to admit that I am human. Occasionally, a damn or hell might have popped out if I got very angry. I knew through pastors and reading the Bible that God frowned on it! But I thought my occasional slip up wouldnt matter. However, one day my 18-year-old son blurted out a damn. It was first time I ever heard him say a bad word. I just cringed. I also felt the Spirit in me cringe, too. It was right then and there that I realized how God reacts to those rare instances when I let one fly. He cringes and feels the same disappointment that I felt the moment I heard my son. The truth is its not what you expect to hear from a Christian, even if its an every now and then kind of thing. So what does the Bible say about such language? The major principle at work in the life of a Christian is the fact that we become a temple when we accept Christ. Since we carry the spirit of God inside us, we have an added responsibility to be reverent in the choices we make. Thats what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (I Corinthians 3:16) The path of repentance means that we choose to take the high road in how we conduct ourselves. Such choices are not always easy. However, it offers a glimpse of the change Christ made in our lives. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34) In other words, what rolls off our tongues speaks volumes about what lies in our hearts. Sometimes we trivialize sin in our lives. For example, I would argue that taking the Lords name in vain is not OK for the Christian. Yet, I didnt seem to have any problem with the fact that I occasionally allowed a bad word to slip out. Whats the difference? The truth is neither is pleasing to the Lord. Profanity in any form is never harmless. One Christian writer described it this way: It gnaws its way into the recesses of ones thinking, and, if harbored, will make its presence spontaneously felt at the slightest provocation. This is what happens when we allow ourselves to be unnecessarily and regularly exposed to its vileness. My wife read this column and said to me, Are you sure you want to make an example of yourself? Perhaps shes worried that my readers might think less of me when they learn that I have sin in my life. Im sure there are some that will be disappointed in me, I told her. But they should read what Jesus said in John 8 to those who were about to stone an adulterous woman: He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. (John 8:7) Thank you, Lord, for teaching me. Thank you, Lord, for forgiving me. But most of all, thank you, Lord, for reminding me to always look at the sin in the lives of others through the sin in my own life. CONCORD New purpose is coming to the former Stonewall Jackson Training School property as plans move forward with a forestry sale. During commissioners Feb. 5 work session, the board received an update on the sale from Assistant County Manager Kelly Sifford. Sifford told Commissioners that GFR Forestry Consultants were sending out bids for the timber and are waiting to hear back from potential buyers. Sifford plans to provide an update on the timber pricing in the coming weeks. In June 2023, the state of North Carolina transferred two properties to Cabarrus County as part of the disposition of the larger Jackson Training School property. Commissioners previously approved an agreement with GFR to administer the forestry sale for the county. The land parcels total 268 acres and are part of a state-adopted forestry plan. The sale will be a combination of a complete harvest and selective thinning. The harvest is needed for a Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) proposed for development. The facility is a multi-jurisdictional training facility that will assist local emergency medical services, fire departments and law enforcement in meeting federal, state and local training requirements. County staff and the city of Concord are currently reworking the facilitys master plan, according to Sifford. Once revised master plan options are available, officials will receive estimates for the first phase of the project. Redevelopment efforts are also underway at the original Stonewall Jackson Training school site that contains the historic buildings. Plans are for the state to transfer a portion of the property to Cabarrus County. That transfer would include historic and environmental restrictions. The county would then market the property for restoration and redevelopment. Also, during the February work session, commissioners: Heard a presentation from Cabarrus Arts Council Executive Director Liz Fitzgerald on the results of an Arts and Economics Prosperity Study. The national study provided by Americans for the Arts looks at the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. The Cabarrus Arts Council was one of 373 arts and culture organizations nationwide that participated through reporting their budgets and collecting audience surveys at a variety of events, workshops and festivals. In 2022, $7.6 million was generated in Cabarrus from local arts and culture organizations. Fitzgerald told commissioners. Those organizations supported 111 jobs, provided $3.2 million in personal income to residents and generated nearly $1 million in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments, according to the study. The Arts Council is a designated Cabarrus County partner. The organization operates the Davis Theatre and The Galleries, and conducts one of North Carolinas largest art-in-education programs for county schools. To see upcoming events and education programs, visit cabarrusartscouncil.org. Heard from Tax Administrator David Thrift on the advertisement of 2023 delinquent taxes. North Carolina law requires counties to report the amount of unpaid taxes annually. According to Thrift, the current amount of unpaid taxes for 2023 is over $8.4 million. Thrift requested the board approve an advertisement date of March 24. If approved, the unpaid liens will be posted in local newspaper on that date. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the advertisement date at the regular meeting. To watch the full Feb. 5 work session, visit youtube.com/cabarruscounty. The regular meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cabarrus County Government Center in downtown Concord. Residents can watch commissioner meetings on the Cabarrus County livestream at cabarruscounty.us, on YouTube (@CabarrusCounty) and on CabCo TV (Spectrum Cable Channel 22). Stay updated on these and all county programs and projects by visiting cabarruscounty.us and following Cabarrus County at facebook.com/cabarruscounty and on Twitter and Instagram @CabarrusCounty. Photos by Takahiro Takiguchi () In Tokyo, you dont have to travel far if you want a taste of old Japan. Shibamata, on the east end of Tokyo, is a 50-minute train ride from Hardy Barracks and is well-known for its old school feel. Locals recognize it as the setting of a popular Japanese 48-film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo, or Its Tough Being a Man in English. In the series, Shibamata is described as the home of the main character, a lovable vagabond named Tora-san. This typical downtown district is a great stroll with various shops and eateries in classic Japanese buildings, inciting memories of the comical and sometimes-heartwarming scenes in the films. My wife and I visited the area recently to take in the sights and sounds Shibamata has to offer. Our trip there started with a walk to Daikyoji, a Buddhist temple, which is also known as Taishakuten. This temple is in the center of it all and has been around since 1629. The temples large Nitenmon gate, a dark-brown wooden structure with gray tiles and bronze roof, welcomed us. The main gates facade was covered in small, yet intricate carvings throughout. These beautiful carvings describe the world of Lotus Sutra, according to the temple signboard. Once inside the complex, we saw the majestic and large main temple hall framed by 66-feet long pine branches. The 500-year-old pine that sits in front of the temple looks to many visitors like a dragon about to fly out into the sky. The enshrined Buddha of this temple, Taishakuten, is a war Buddha who wards off evil fortune and disease. Many visit here to offer good faith for protection from disease, fires or other disasters in return. So, we put our palms together and wished the Buddha for our better health and luck. We left the temple and through the gate we could see the shopping street leading up to the temple bursting with activity. The street, lined up with classical shops and restaurants, reminded us of the famous shopping streets of Asakusa, though not as busy. Still, there were plenty of crowds here shopping and perusing the merchandise the vendors had out. On our shopping stroll, we saw vendors selling local specialties like dango, skewered rice flour balls; senbei, toasted rice crackers; and many different types of dried river fish. The smell of the rice crackers led us to Kanekoya, a senbei shop. An employee stood over the customary charcoal stove and roasted each cracker by hand. We sampled a few different flavors, and all were light, extremely crispy and had a deliciously gentle soy-sauce taste. The samples convinced us to buy a few for gifts. After we finished up our shopping and headed back to Shibamata Station, we saw a few bronze statues dedicated to Tora-san and his sister, Sakura. Our departure from the area was reminiscent of how all the films in the series end, with him saying good-bye to his kind-hearted sister at the station. Our short day trip in Shibamata gave us an escape from the hustle and bustle of our city life, and reminded us of the good, old times of the past. Tora-san: Popular movie series of lovable vagabond Filmed from 1969 to 1995, Otoko wa Tsurai yo made Shibamata famous, and made its leading man Tora-san one of the most popular film characters in Japans cinematic history. Actor Kiyoshi Atsumi performed Tora-san throughout the 48-film series until his death in 1995. Atsumis portrayal of Tora-san was so impressive and memorable, he is still remembered as the lovable vagabond. In fact, the film series won the Guinness World Record for the longest-running movie series starring a single actor. All of the stories of film series have basically the same plot with some minor variations. Tora-san wanders from town to town peddling his wares. He always encounters a beautiful woman who is suffering from some troubles on his trip. When Tora-san returns home to Shibamata where his sister, Sakura, and aunt and uncle run a dango (sweets) shop, the woman seeks him out for help. During his struggle to help the damsel in distress, it never fails that Tora-san always falls in love. However, Tora-san never gets the girl, even after he solves her problem. Tora-san is always left behind heartbroken, but he always puts on a brave face and wanders off again for a new journey to heal his broken heart. Film Series Otoko wa Tsurai yo URL (Shochiku Film Company Official Site) (Japanese) Shibamata Taishakuten Daikyoji Temple Hours: 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. Location: 7-10-3 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo URL Tel: 03-3657-2886 Kanekoya Hours: 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Location: 7-7-5 Shibamata, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo URL Tel: 03-3657-6682 CARLYLE A man convicted in the murder of a rural Carlyle woman in 1993 has been released from prison because of a new state law allowing inmates to reduce their sentences for working while incarcerated, Clinton County Sheriff Dan Travous said Friday. Robert Nail, 50, was released on parole Thursday after serving nearly 30 years of an 80-year sentence for the first-degree murder of 31-year-old Michelle L. Laux, whose body was found on March 13, 1993, north of Carlyle. "Nail was tried and convicted of savagely beating Laux and leaving her to die in the frigid cold," Travous said in a news release Friday. Laux had met Nail and another man at a tavern. They all were last seen leaving the tavern at about 1 a.m.. Days later, a passerby found Laux's body at 9:30 a.m. about 1 1/2 miles from the tavern, according to a Belleville News-Democrat article from March 16, 1993. Travous said Nail was paroled to a home in southern Missouri. Illinois Department of Corrections records show his parole ends Feb. 15, 2027. "It is my opinion, and I'm sure many of yours, Robert Nail failed to receive the punishment he deserved for his unthinkable crime," Travous said in the news release. Neither Nail nor an attorney for him could be reached for comment Friday. Travous said House Bill 3026, which went into effect Jan. 1, paved the way for Nail to be released. The bill passed in the House by a 113-0 vote and the Senate approved it 53-1. The law, which was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last summer, states that the Department of Corrections must give "sentence credit for a prisoner who is engaged in self-improvement programs, volunteer work, or work assignments," according to a bill summary by the Illinois General Assembly. Travous said the law allowed Nail to "get years slashed off his sentence for working while incarcerated." A second person was charged and convicted in connection with Laux's death. Billy E. Marsh received a 30-year sentence for first-degree murder, according to Clinton County court records. Marsh is no longer listed as being in custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Achievers Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed Rudolph Victor Kuser of Winston-Salem to serve on the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities as a person with a developmental disability. Kuser is an educator for the Southeast Americans with Disabilities Act Trainer Network. He is a former development specialist and autism coordinator for the Special Childrens School of Winston-Salem. Cooper has appointed Michael A. Grace of Winston-Salem to serve on the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission as a public member. Grace is a criminal defense attorney, who has engaged in private practice at Grace, Tisdale & Clifton P.A. for 43 years. He is also an adjunct professor for the Wake Forest University School of Law. Also, Cooper has appointed Wilson S. Weaver II of Winston-Salem to serve on the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board as a public member. Weaver is assistant chief of the Winston-Salem Police Department, where he has served for 38 years. * * * * PNC recently hosted the second PNC North Carolina HBCU Pitch Competition at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro. Vinsha Torain, representing Winston-Salem State University, will receive a $2,500 cash prize in recognition of her pitch, Torain Ranch Trail Ride Club. The recent competition builds on the February 2023 inaugural PNC North Carolina HBCU Pitch Competition and the February 2022 launch of the PNC North Carolina HBCU Initiative, an effort designed to enrich the future of entrepreneurship and workforce opportunities for students at the five N.C. Historically Black Colleges and Universities that were represented: Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina Central University and Winston-Salem State University. As announced in 2022, a total of more than $2 million in grant funding from PNC Foundation is being awarded to these institutions over a three-year period to support the development and delivery of entrepreneurship resources and programming. Announcements Old Salem has purchased three historic properties from the Salem Congregation, the religious and charitable non-profit representing 13 Moravian churches in Forsyth County. Old Salem will now own the Single Brothers House, the Boys School on Salem Square, and Dr. Vierlings House on Church Street. Old Salem had previously leased the properties, staffing them with interpreters as part of the Old Salem visitors tour. Old Salem purchased the properties at an undisclosed price. Funding comes in part from the sale of properties Old Salem owned west of Marshall Street, including the 1929 Coca-Cola bottling plan now being re-developed as a restaurant and event space. Those properties were less relevant to its mission than the ones purchased. The most recent lease, which lasted 25 years, expired in 2023, prompting Old Salem and the Salem Congregation to look at new possibilities. * * * * Crossnore Communities for Children has announced three new members to its board of trustees, two of whom have local ties: April Ruffin-Adams of Winston-Salem, Thomas Dale of Linville and Austin Szyperski of Charlotte. Ruffin-Adams teaches in the African American and African Diaspora Studies program at UNCG and serves on the faculty at Walden University in the Barbara Solomon School of Social Work. Szyperski grew up in Blowing Rock and received a BSBA in finance from Elon University. Currently, she works as a relationship manager for Brown Brothers Harriman in Charlotte. Twenty individuals serve on Crossnores board of trustees. The board is chaired by B. Kelly Graves of Charlotte, and the vice-chairwoman is Traci D. Royster of Boone. For information, visit crossnore.org/leadership. Awards Assistant Professors of Physics Ajay Ram Srimath Kandada and Stephen M. Winter have each been granted National Science Foundation CAREER awards, which recognize the best and brightest talent in the United States. Together, the two grants total more than $1 million. The five-year grants are awarded to junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through research and education. Kandada is a material physicist and spectroscopist. Winter focuses on theoretical condensed matter physics in the area of quantum materials. Both work within Wake Forests Center for Functional Materials. The Center provides a platform to connect a broad range of materials-focused research through research, education and outreach. A proposed new course at Wake Forest, which Kandada and Winter will collaborate on, teaches STEM students how to talk about their research so non-scientists can understand the importance of the work and its potential impact. Kandada and Winter are also committed to bringing physics education to ninth and 10th-graders. They will be creating course materials and building partnerships with local high schools to get younger teens from all backgrounds interested in physics. On the Move Truliant Federal Credit Union has promoted Angela Parham to the role of vice president of human resources and Michael Miller to the role of vice president, payments. Also, the financial institution has has named Billy Baker to the new role of vice president of facilities and security. Fellowship Hall has named Heather Bland, a Wake Forest University graduate, as the organizations new clinical director. Bland, who had served as one of two lead primary counselors at Fellowship Hall since 2021, was promoted to the position left vacant by Kelly Scaggs who was named president and CEO in December. Reagan Petty has joined the staff of the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum as collections manager & exhibitions coordinator on Feb. 12. Petty has returned to North Carolina after completing a Henry Luce Foundation funded position as assistant curator for folk art at the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. Through the foundation funding, Petty helped digitize the more than 750 examples of folk art in the collection of the Kentucky Museum. Editors note: Todays Ask SAM is about Lawrence Joel, the citys most highly decorated soldier and namesake of Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Q: Wasnt Lawrence Joel awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War? What was the citation of his heroic act? L.R. Answer: Joel was an Army medic who won the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1967 during the Vietnam War. According to the citation read by President Johnson in March 1967 when Joel was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, Joel was shot twice on Nov. 8, 1965, during a 24-hour battle on Hill 65 near Bien Hoa, the Journals Scott Sexton wrote in a column in 2007. Despite his injuries and the fact that most of the soldiers in the lead elements of his company were killed or wounded, he continued to treat the remaining wounded at great personal risk. The citation credits him for saving the lives of at least 13 troopers throughout the battle. According to the citation, after Joel ran out of medical supplies, he placed a plastic bag over the chest injury of a fellow soldier to congeal the blood and saved the soldiers life. His meticulous attention to duty saved a large number of lives, and his unselfish, daring example under most adverse conditions was an inspiration to all. Joel died in 1984, and the city named its new coliseum in honor of him and his fellow veterans in 1986. In 2012, to commemorate Joels 84 birthday, his family shared some of their memorabilia with the public. Among the items on display at Joel Coliseum were his Medal of Honor, the commendation, medals and pictures. His daughter, Deborah Joel, said at the time, We have a treasure chest of military history, and we want to share it. We wanted to thank the city for honoring him. On that day in 1965, Joels unit had been sent out to check on reports of enemy activity in the area. The unit found the enemy, and the U.S. troops were vastly outnumbered. As troops were wounded, Joel took care of them. He was wounded twice but continued to take care of his buddies. Joel was presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon Johnson on March 9, 1967, in a ceremony at the White House. In addition, Joel also received the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. One of the people who came to the 2012 exhibit was one of the soldiers treated by Joel that day. Art Thomas came from his home in Graham to see the display. He saved my life. The only reason Im standing here today is because of him, Thomas said, his voice cracking with emotion. There was about 80 men out there that day, (and) 48 of them are on the wall in Washington. Thomas said he was wounded soon after the battle started, and it took Joel a while to get to him. Joel gave Thomas a shot of morphine to kill the pain until help arrived and the wounded could be evacuated. Joel deserved every honor he got, Thomas said. A lot of us are fathers and grandfathers now because he was there. The Army honored Joels memory by naming clinics at Fort Bragg, now Fort Liberty, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in his memory. Although Walter Reed Army Medical Center has closed, an auditorium there was named for Joel. The most jarring part of Liz Cheneys book, Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning, may not be the writing, which is riveting, but the photographs. Cheneys fluid 372-page narrative about Jan. 6, 2021, and its aftermath contains 16 pages of photos. Many are artifacts of a lost society Ronald Reagans Republican Party. Cheney, who will speak to a sell-out audence at Wake Forest University on Feb. 22, came of age in that party and eventually held her fathers seat in Congress. But she was drubbed in a Republican primary in 2022 after standing up to the man who orchestrated what would have been the first coup in American history. Theres a photo of Cheney as a toddler in 1975, sitting on a couch with President Gerald R. Ford, for whom her father, Dick Cheney, served as White House chief of staff. Another shows her in the White House shaking hands with President Reagan in 1984, with her father, by then a congressman from Wyoming, beaming beside her. Theres one of her and her father with President George W. Bush, whom her father served as vice president, watching election returns in 2000. In a 1984 photo, she is with her dad at the Republican National Convention, wearing a cowboy hat evocative of her familys deep Wyoming roots. Reagan won reelection that year by carrying 49 states. It was a historic victory, not a fluke popular-vote loss like the 2016 election. The old Republican Party is gone. A party that once stood on weighty, important principles and was led by decent, patriotic Americans is no longer. It is now in thrall to Donald Trump, who may be in jail by Election Day but has brow-beaten so many Republicans that they either dont care or are afraid to speak up. Not long after Jan. 6, Cheney spoke with Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in Congress who eventually did a brief turn as speaker of the House before the MAGA leopard ripped off his face. Some of the attackers had worn "the insignia of neo-Nazis and white supremacists," and the Confederate flag had flown in the Capitol for the first time. Cheney, whose great-great-grandfather fought for the Union during the Civil War, did not want the party aligned with such people. "Kevin," she replied, "this is about the Constitution. Think of what Trump did. Think how appalled any of our previous Republican leaders would be about this. How would Reagan have reacted to his? How would Bush have reacted? Think of my dad." McCarthy responded: "This isnt their party anymore." Cheney was one of 10 Republicans in the House who voted to impeach Trump for inciting the attack. Most are now gone. They have been shunned for supporting the peaceful transfer of power, which had occurred in the United States every four years for nearly 250 years until 2021. Colleagues told her Trump deserved to be impeached, but they were too afraid of violence against them or their families to vote for it. Cheney later served as vice chairwoman of the select congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack or insurrection, as Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana called it at the time. She tells the story of the road to and from Jan. 6 with a lawyers precision and a journalists skill. She gives a gripping first-person account of the attack from inside the Capitol something she found eerily similar to Sept. 11, 2001, when her father, the vice president, was rushed to an undisclosed location after the terrorist attacks of that day. On Jan. 6, her father called her and warned her to leave the Capitol. "You are in danger," he said. But she stayed protected by former Secret Service agents who protected her family after 9/11. At 4:45 p.m., she did a live television interview from the Capitol because the world "needed to know there had not been a successful coup in the United States." The counting of electoral votes resumed and Biden was declared the winner of the election. Even three years later, the events of Jan. 6 seem startling. "F--- the blue!" one attacker yelled as he battled police officers trying to secure the Capitol. One officer told Cheney, "Maam, I fought in Iraq and I have never encountered the violence I did out there today." To add insult to injury, 21 Republican congressmen later voted against awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the police officers who defended the Capitol, even though more than 140 were injured and one was killed. The Jan. 6 committee conducted its investigation and hearings to provide a historical record about what happened and why. Cheney notes that the case against Trump was made by "his own friends, his own campaign officials, people who worked for him for years, and his own family." To Trumps enablers, she said at one hearing, "There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain." Cassidy Hutchinson, a 25-year-old junior aide in the White House on Jan. 6, emerged as a star of the hearings. Cheney praises her courage and patriotism in testifying while "50-, 60-, and 70-year-old men" with more experience and more senior titles "hid" and refused to do the same. Cheney has paid the price for her integrity. She lost her leadership position in the party (after North Carolinas own embarrassment, Rep. Virginia Foxx, introduced a motion to get rid of her) and then lost election. Her colleagues "could not accept when I answered questions truthfully. ... Dissent was no longer permitted." The great question about this era will be what caused so many to surrender their own judgment, free will, integrity and reputations, especially when they knew or should have known better. A few, like Cheney, have stood on firm moral and ethical grounds. As Trump again draws America into the Mines of Moria, we will need more Liz Cheneys at our side. He must be defeated, she says. The federal government has agreed to give back $750,000 of the $980,050 in cash seized by an officer with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office's Criminal Interdiction Unit after it was discovered in a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in 2021. It's unclear why, though. And attorneys on either side declined to shed further light on the settlement filed this week in U.S. District Court. "Whereas, the parties desire to amicably settle this matter, without the necessity of trial," said the document signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bunjer and Ahmed Alrumaihi's Chicago attorney, Matthew Amarin. In the complaint seeking forfeiture filed in August, Bunjer said Lincoln Police Officer Jon Hudec, who works as a Homeland Security Investigations task force officer, had been going west on I-80 on April 21, 2021, when he saw a Toyota 4-Runner following another vehicle too closely and stopped it. A father and son were inside. Dennis Maric, the son, said he had rented the SUV at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and was driving to Los Angeles with his father, Radomir Maric, for a road trip. When Hudec asked if they had any illegal items in the car, Dennis Maric said he didn't have any firearms or drugs. But he admitted that he did have a lot of money, "like a million dollars," Bunjer wrote. He said his father-in-law had offered to pay him $5,000 to bring the cash from Chicago. But he didn't have a money courier license. "Based on the above information, officers searched the vehicle's trunk and found a Nike duffel bag filled with a large number of banded $100 bills," the attorney said. Hudec seized the cash, which consisted entirely of $100 bills and one $50 bill that later tested positive for marijuana at the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, and let the father and son go on their way when they denied the cash was theirs. Lincoln police later named Hudec 2021 Officer of the Year for his work on the Criminal Interdiction Unit, saying that year alone he had seized over $1.6 million in currency from the illicit drug trade and recovered hundreds of pounds of illegal drugs. And he earned three awards at the National Interdiction Conference. Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent out seizure notices to the Marics and the father-in-law. In response, another man, Ahmed Alrumaihi, submitted a petition for the return of the money. His attorney alleged that the seized currency had been gotten legally, from the sale of Alrumaihi's interest in a corporation named Fibercan, 100 shares of stock for $1 million, a week before the Nebraska traffic stop. Bunjer said that CBP and Homeland Security investigated the allegations and learned that Fibercan's articles of incorporation filed in Michigan didn't specify the nature of the business, but in its 2020 annual report declared it was engaged in agriculture and farming. Investigators say it was a cannabinoid extraction processing facility, and that after Alrumaihi invested $2 million in the company, the CBD market crashed. Bunjer said Fibercan's registered agent agreed to rebuy half of Alrumaihi's stock for $1 million but told him he could only pay in cash from the sale of a shooting range and gun-selling business. By then, the Michigan State Police already had begun investigating the company's registered business address in New Buffalo a single-family home on a remote lot after getting complaints of a large marijuana grow operation there. In the forfeiture complaint, Bunjer alleged the currency seized in Nebraska "showed no evidence that it was ever engaged in legitimate business." Marijuana has been legal in Michigan since 2018, but the corporations involved were in the cannabinoid extraction business and were not licensed. In Alrumaihi's answer to the complaint, his attorney, Amarin, denied the money was traceable to illegal drug money and asked the judge to find Alrumaihi the lawful owner and return it. As part of the settlement, Alrumaihi agreed to forfeit $230,050. Reached by email, Amarin declined to comment, as did the U.S. Attorney's Office for Nebraska. Chief Deputy Lancaster County Sheriff Ben Houchin said people might assume, because of the amount of money being returned, that the interdiction unit did something wrong. "That is absolutely not correct," he said. Houchin said there's no doubt in his mind the money was gained illegally, and the officers did everything by the book. The men who were stopped had flown to Chicago to pick up the money and drive it across the country, admittedly not even knowing whose money it was, he said. "We do what we do, and they do what they do," Houchin said of the negotiation that follows between the attorneys. Violent crime is up and also down, according to new federal data Violent crime is up and also down, according to new federal data Federal reports show similar long-term trends in violent crime, but diverge significantly on year-over-year changes Despite the long-term trends, the two reports differ more than ever before on the year-over-year change in violent crime. Property crime went up in 2022 One undeniable trend: Violent crimes against young people doubled Still, most crimes are not reported to the police To note Black History month, heres a moment in history that unfolded at Lincolns Pershing Auditorium one not memorialized in the giant mural now in storage awaiting restoration and reinstallation at Wyuka Cemetery. But it's a pretty important moment. In 1964, five months after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act and two months after Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the civil rights leader spoke to about 6,000 people at the citys downtown auditorium. He gave a speech entitled Christian Responsibility in the Racial Revolution which History Nebraska digitized as part of its Nebraska Unwrapped exhibit and can be accessed digitally on the blog section of its website. He was speaking to the Methodist Student Movement Conference, and the eighth quadrennial conference drew 3,500 delegates from all 50 states and 40 nations, according to news accounts. It was also open to the public at $1 a ticket. David Bristow, director of interpretation at History Nebraska, said Kings visit came during a high point in his national reputation, given the events earlier in the year, and his famous I Have A Dream speech during the march on Washington the year before. At Pershing, he was addressing a religious audience and wanted to use their faith to motivate them to get involved. This is an example of King addressing a northern audience and making it very clear that racism is not merely or exclusively a southern problem, and that its a problem within the Christian church and Christianity, Bristow said. The civil rights leader did not mince words. As I stand before you tonight I must still say that the Church is the most segregated major institution in America, he said. This means that all too many Christians have had a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds, he said. But thank God we are beginning now to shake the lethargy from our souls, and it is my hope that we will move on to get rid of segregation in all of its dimensions within the Church. That not only means the Church itself, but church institutions such as hospitals, such as colleges and universities. In the coming years, anti-war sentiment would rise and racially charged protests would rock north Omaha, but on Dec. 30, 1964, what must have been an overwhelmingly white audience applauded during the nearly 60-minute speech, and gave King a standing ovation. Liz Shea McCoy, who was part of a small group determined to save the giant mural on the front of Pershing and is now raising money for its restoration and reinstallation, didnt know about Kings visit to Lincoln until she saw the History Nebraska exhibit when she was working on an education curriculum about Pershing and the mural. King's visit will now be part of that curriculum. Ive heard about Elvis, the Goo-Goo Dolls, the Harlem Globetrotters, the memories people have. But Martin Luther King? I think I was just absolutely blown away, she said. Thats really important. Everything else is fun and interesting but Martin Luther King Jr. speaking at Pershing is important, as is his legacy. Shea McCoy is working with Nebraska History and two educators to create an education curriculum that can be used in conjunction with the mural, or as part of educators lessons on Nebraska history. They hope to have it on the History Nebraska and History Nebraska Foundation websites by August. I think the more we study the mural and Pershing, the richer our curriculum becomes, she said. And it will now include a recording of Kings appeal to 6,000 people in Lincoln, a message that still resonates in todays world. So I call upon you tonight, not to be spectators on the sideline, not to be individuals who are looking on, to be involved participants in this great struggle to make our nation a greater nation and to end all the evils of racial injustice, poverty, the evil of war. We will all be involved participants. We will be able to speed up that day. A better offer? The city could have gotten an additional $100,000 for the former downtown senior center but instead chose to sell the building to the developer renovating the adjacent Golds building for $800,000. The City Council approved the sale, which was $300,000 higher than the Golds developer originally offered, but still substantially below the $2.6 million assessed value of the building. City officials said theyd advertised the sale of the building for nearly a year but got no offers other than REV Developments $500,000 offer last summer. The county had given the city the go-ahead to update an interlocal agreement to allow for the sale, then another offer came in. Michael Cubas, who owns Extreme Contracting and Commonwealth Management Group, read about the proposed sale and offered $900,000 to the city, telling city officials he had plans to renovate the existing building into office and event space and a high-end restaurant. Laura Bell, his real estate agent, said she cant understand why the city left $100,000 on the table, especially when the payback schedule for the new $5.7 million center in Victory Park figures in the sale of the downtown building at $1.5 million, which means the city will have to make up the difference. She said shes frustrated by a lack of communication and transparency. When Cubas' offer came in, the city asked both Cubas and REV Development to make their highest and best offers. They werent asked to come up with a formal offer, just to submit a letter, Bell said, then they got a phone call telling them the city had accepted the other offer. Urban Development Director Peter Hind said the city isnt required to take the highest offer and can consider which offer is the best fit for the city. REV Development is renovating the Golds Building, a $22 million project to turn the six-story northern portion of the building into a Hampton Inn hotel, along with some office and retail space. The company owns the lot between Golds and the old senior center and wants to incorporate the lots into their redevelopment plans. They now want the now-demolished southern portion of the center to be considered as a convention center site. But even if the city wanted to take the lower offer, they could have asked for more money, given her clients higher offer, Bell said. And Cubas said he could have considered offering more money, had he been given the chance. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. A man was charged this week after police said he flashed a gun at a Schnucks grocery store employee who told him he had too many items for the self-checkout line. Jessie Lee Garrett was trying to check out just before 7 p.m. Tuesday at Schnucks near St. Louis, when an employee approached him about the item limit, police said. The lane was for people who had 10 items or fewer, and Garrett was told to go to another lane because he had more than that. He then lifted his shirt and showed the employee a handgun in his waistband, according to court documents. When officers arrived, Garrett initially denied he had a gun, and police could not find one when they searched him. But they eventually found a loaded gun hidden behind a box of candy on a nearby shelf. Garrett then admitted to brandishing the gun, but said he had done so playfully, police wrote in court records. He said he hid the gun because he is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms, police said. Garrett faces two charges: unlawfully possessing a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon. Both are felonies. The charges come after a rule went into effect Feb. 1 that limited self-checkout at Schnucks to 10 items or fewer. The rule drew swift criticism, including on a Reddit thread where several shoppers complained about long lines that developed because of the rule. Schnucks told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the self-checkout lanes were intended for smaller orders when they were installed, but, as time went on, customers brought larger orders through self-checkouts. Thats when the company decided an item limit would increase checkout efficiency and reduce theft. Because self-checkouts are more susceptible to theft, this item limit will help us maintain our costs while keeping the prices lower for our customers, the companys media team wrote in an email. And the change comes on the heels of other anti-theft efforts the company has recently put into place. The store has installed new anti-theft cabinets in at least 40 Schnucks stores across the Midwest beginning in 2020. The cases contain high-theft alcohol brands and require customers to enter their phone number, and then enter the code thats texted to them, in order to access the products. In addition to the cases, Schnucks has expanded its shopping cart technology, Rocateq, to 76 stores. This technology enables grocery carts to leave the store only once they have passed through the checkout. Our goal is to directly combat the organized retail criminal organizations that have steadily increased and are actively targeting grocery stores, said Matt Redmond, director of security for Schnucks, in January. ___ One of the FBI's most wanted cybercriminals, a Ukrainian national who was extradited to the U.S. from Switzerland in 2022, pleaded guilty to racketeering crimes this week in Nebraska federal court. Vyacheslav Igorevich Penchukov, 38, was indicted by a Nebraska grand jury more than a decade ago and had been an international fugitive prior to his extradition. Penchukov, also known as "Tank," led multiple cybercrime enterprises before and after his 2012 indictment, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in losses for companies, nonprofits and small businesses targeted by malware. On Thursday, Penchukov pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He will face up to 40 years in federal prison when he is sentenced in May. Penchukov's most well-known ransomware was known as "Zeus" or "Zbot," which operated from 2009 into the early 2010s. When a computer was infected with the Zeus malware, it would keep track of usernames, passwords and all other information entered in a bank's login page. Using this information, Penchukov and his co-conspirators would log in to the victim's bank accounts and make electronic payments to "money mules" across the world, who would then wire that money into overseas accounts controlled by other members of the enterprise. "(Penchukov) played a crucial leadership role in this scheme by directing and coordinating the exchange of stolen banking credentials and money mules," according to his plea agreement. At least two businesses in Nebraska and Iowa were targeted by Zeus malware in 2009 and 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In one case, a Council Bluffs business had nearly $60,000 removed from its account with the First National Bank of Omaha by someone posing to be an employee of the company. Two other Ukrainian men indicted alongside Penchukov in 2012 were extradited to the U.S. from the United Kingdom in 2014 on charges related to the Zeus ransomware. Multiple other men alleged to have been involved in the enterprise remain on the FBI's most wanted list. Beginning in 2018, according to the DOJ, Penchukov and co-conspirators began another scheme using a malware known as IcedID or Bokbot. Similarly to Zeus, the malware would collect online banking login information. It was activated after victims opened attachments in spam emails. One such IcedID attack in October 2020 targeted the University of Vermont Medical Center and resulted in at least $30 million in damages after "significant portions" of the hospital's computer networks were encrypted by hackers. According to Penchukov's plea agreement, he also kept a spreadsheet of the income received and expenses associated with operating the IcedID malware. The spreadsheet indicated IcedID netted more than $19.9 million in 2021 alone. Penchukov was arrested in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2022 and extradited to the U.S. last year. He initially faced federal charges in North Carolina related to the IcedID ransomware, but jurisdiction was transferred to Nebraska earlier this month. The FBI's Omaha office, as well as the FBI office in Charlotte, North Carolina, are continuing to investigate the case. In addition to U.S. Attorneys for Nebraska and North Carolina, multiple prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Division assisted in the prosecution. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 RACINE Over the past several years, Jayden George, a junior at Case High School, has learned a lot about military history, his family and local veterans. It began when he discovered a civil defense helmet in his grandmothers basement. George enjoyed researching and learning more about the military item, and a new passion started. He became fascinated by military artifacts and the people who had used them. George often bought military uniforms at area rummage sales and antique stores, accumulating hundreds of them. In addition to buying uniforms, George has worked for about two years with Racine Area Veterans Inc.s legacy museum and veterans center, 820 Main St. He designs monthly displays that showcase area veterans stories, and feature artifacts and uniforms, which are often donated by local residents. The high schoolers time with RAVI started after his mother posted on Facebook asking if anyone had military uniforms. Someone from RAVI reached out, visited the George house and asked if the teenager wanted to work at the museum. He immediately said yes. This was an outstanding opportunity to be able to show (uniforms) to people and to be able to bring all my stuff to life and for it to have a purpose, George said. That was something I couldnt pass up. Family connection George has several family members who served in the military, mostly aunts and uncles. He said that is his biggest inspiration for continuing to research military history. Along the way, George has also discovered information about his family. Starting with a few ribbons, for example, he rebuilt one of his uncles uniforms and learned about the man who wore the uniform. The ribbons showed that his uncle, Jerry George, was in the Air Force and experienced combat. Jayden George did research and determined that his uncles plane was shot down in Guatemala, adding information to a relatives story. For work he does with RAVI, George sometimes builds a veterans uniform by acquiring the patches and medals the person received. He enjoys learning about veterans and sharing their personal experiences. I like bringing some kind of personality to it, George said. Its not about their uniform, its about their story. Their story is whats really important. Jennifer Humphreys, Case history teacher, said George excels at bringing peoples stories to life. George is able to make people real, Humphreys said. In history, sometimes its hard for kids to visualize them as actual human beings, and Jayden has that quality where he can understand the humanity behind the stories of people. Hes able to understand why people make decisions and why they react certain ways, because he just understands people. For a recent World War II class assignment, Humphreys said George did a phenomenal project about brothers from Racine who were veterans: Robert and Bernard Navratil. George also helped Case classmates with research for their projects, because the veterans museum has archives with access to primary source documents. One of Georges favorite parts of research is finding a photograph of someone in uniform, since that is a powerful way to better understand the person. He loves going through archives and finding nuggets of information to help tell a fuller story about a veteran. If Im looking for information on a guy and I just cant find it, it motivates me to want to find it more, George said. If I cant find it, that means the general public cant find it. Its very important that people know these peoples stories and what they sacrificed for us. Consultant, next steps George was recently a consultant for Seven Sacrifices, a play performed in January at the Sixth Street Theatre that was produced in partnership with area veterans. The play moved chronologically from the Civil War to the present day and included monologues based on letters sent during the wars from actors in authentic military uniforms from the veterans center. The play drew from primary source documents featuring stories from Racine County veterans. George mainly worked backstage, helping ensure performers wore the proper uniforms. He found the show deeply moving and appreciated its exploration of how the wars impacted people. It was extremely neat, George said. It was very emotional. One second, I would be laughing. One second, its a sad moment, Id feel down. But it really showed Racine throughout the years, and I think it very, very nicely depicted what it was like from the home front during the war in many different theaters. After high school, George is interested in attending Marquette University in Milwaukee, mainly because it has a military history major. Humphreys said George is curious and asks excellent questions, and she looks forward to what he does next. It makes me excited for the next generation of historians, whether he becomes a professional historian or just an amateur, Humphreys said. Hes got some talent, and its been really refreshing to see that. George has lived in Racine his whole life. He appreciates learning about and sharing aspects of local history through everyday people, including veterans. Many people look down on Racine and think Racine is a bad place, George said. I like to look at the reasons why were good, like our manufacturing and our big companies, and the small people you dont recognize. What started as simply finding a helmet has turned into a passion for history and storytelling, and George aims to continue pursuing that passion. These states offer the greatest benefits to veteran-owned businesses These states offer the greatest benefits to veteran-owned businesses Here are some key findings The top 10 states for vet-owned businesses Runners-up An ecstatic Grace Chapa was crowned Miss Kenosha 2024 on Saturday night before a live audience during the annual scholarship contest. Chapa, a 22-year-old Carthage College senior who excels at playing the French horn, was crowned inside St. Joseph Catholic Academy, 2401 69th St., before hundreds of attendees. I cant believe it, said Chapa, of Kenoshas south side, after the event. The first thing that went through my head is that God is good. Ive been praying a lot about this. Chapa said shes ready to take on the public role and inspire all those shell meet at dozens of community events throughout the next 12 months. I cant wait! Chapa said, adding shes also ready to hype up the French horn around Kenosha. Chapa, who has been playing the instrument since fifth grade and is the principal horn player in the Carthage College Wind Orchestra, performed her favorite piece, Nocturno during Saturdays competition. Chapa said shes most excited for school visits with children as Miss Kenosha 2024 and the Fourth of July festivities and parade. Tomorrow the work begins, Chapa said Saturday night. Chapa wants to one day start a college scholarship for first-generation Latinas. Chapa, according to Carthage College, is the marketing chair and former president of Mi Gente, a campus organization that educates students about Hispanic culture. As a volunteer with the nonprofit Kenosha Creative Space, she also teaches salsa and bachata classes. Chapa also said Miss Kenosha 2023 Willow Newell left with big shoes to fill. Newell made over 100 appearances throughout southeastern Wisconsin during her time as Miss Kenosha. I was so inspired by Grace, said Newell, the first Black Miss Kenosha and a senior at Carthage College. I told her I saw Miss Kenosha in her. Im so glad shes my successor. Im so happy for Grace and I loved being Miss Kenosha. I had the best time. Chapa will represent Kenosha for one year, and compete in June in the Miss Wisconsin pageant in Oshkosh. The state winner will advance to the Miss America contest. This years Miss Kenosha competition included a closed interview, on-stage questions, a talent competition, an evening gown competition and a health and fitness portion, in which contestants wore athleisure outfits. Chapas on-stage question was: What tools could schools and universities use to diversify their staff? Schools and universities can start by hiring people of color, people of all abilities, people of all income classes as a way to show that it is an inclusive space for all staff and students, Chapa replied. Chapa was one of 11 contestants that included: Mariah Bader (Second Runner Up), Morgan Kelsey, Jordan Richards (Miss Congeniality Award winner), Traviance Witherspoon, Leah Oyer, Kate Nidy (Overall Talent Award winner, On Stage Question Award winner and First Runner Up), Emma Shodis, Alyssa Ritacca, Jada Robinson (Promotions Award winner) and Kyah Jernigan (Spirit of Miss Kenosha Award winner). Tori Bogren Pillizzi, Miss Kenosha 2014, served as executive director of the competition. Pillizzi said Kenosha always has a great Miss Kenosha. We have a closed pageant so you have to live, work or be in school in Kenosha County, Pillizzi said. We want a hometown girl that lives here and knows the area and wants to be out and about. We sign her up for everything. Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke visits Badger High School and other areas of Walworth County Miss America Grace Stanke talks to students at Badger High School Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke talks to Badger students about STEM education Miss Vermont Alexinda Federhen talks about her platform and STEM careers Miss America Grace Stanke answers students' questions Miss America Grace Stanke meets with Badger High School students after her presentation Miss Nevada Heather Renner talks about her experiences with STEM Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke answers Badger students questions Superintendent Peter Wilson poses for a photo with some Miss America contestants Miss America Grace Stanke prepares to take a group photo with Badger High School students and staff Watch now: Miss Maine and Miss Maryland talk about their platforms with Badger students Miss America Grace Stanke shares a laugh with Badger High School students Miss America Grace Stanke receives a gift basket from Superintendent Peter Wilson Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke meets with Badger students after her presentation Miss America Grace Stanke poses for a photo with a group of Badger High School students Miss Vermont Alexinda Federhen meets with school district students and staff Watch now: Miss Nevada Heather Renner talks to Badger students about STEM careers Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke poses for a group photo with Badger students Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke receives a gift basket from Superintendent Peter Wilson Miss America Grace Stanke poses for a group selfie with a group of Badger High School students Miss America Grace Stanke talks about STEM education during a news conference at Yerkes Observatory, Feb. 16 Miss America Grace Stanke and other Miss America contestants tour Yerkes Observatory Miss America Grace Stanke shares a laugh while she prepares to play the violin ROCHESTER Keegan Werth has been a firefighter for less than a year, and he already has achieved a career highlight. In a convenience store parking lot in the wee hours of Feb. 13, Werth helped to deliver a baby. Ill remember it forever, he said. The 18-year-old newcomer to the Rochester Volunteer Fire Company was part of an ambulance crew that answered a call from a young father- and mother-to-be. Justin and Brianna Wulz of Waterford welcomed their new baby boy at 4:24 a.m., shortly after first responders loaded Brianna into an ambulance outside the Millgate General Store overlooking State Highway 36. Justin Wulz said he was relieved to see the arrival of an ambulance. It was wild, Justin said. I did not know what to do. But they did. The medical emergency with a happy ending became a rarity in the world of first responders a baby delivery in the line of duty. Officials at the Rochester fire company can recall only one other such instance in the departments nearly 100-year history. It is a tradition in fire departments to mark such an occasion by affixing the image of a stork on the exterior of the ambulance. Rochester Fire Chief Michael Vos said he also is awarding commemorative pins to each crew member. Taking part in a childbirth, Vos said, is a significant accomplishment for any first responder, and it represents a badge of honor for the entire department. We wear that badge proudly, Vos said. It means a lot. In addition to Werth, the crew members included emergency medical technicians Linnea Lemmermann, Kaitlyn Bonton and Kaitlyn Lunetta. Lemmermann and Bonton both are registered nurses. Vos was driving the ambulance, accompanied by firefighter Adam Schaefer. As members of a volunteer fire department, all were off-duty when they got the call for a medical emergency about 4 a.m. Brianna Wulz, 34, who was expecting her second child, was past her Feb. 9 due date. She and her husband had an appointment the next morning for induced delivery at a hospital in West Allis. During the night, however, Brianna went into labor. She and Justin jumped into the car and decided to try reaching the nearest medical facility in Burlington. I just wanted it to be the most medical atmosphere possible, Brianna said. After the couple pulled over and dialed 911, two Rochester responders arrived in their own cars at the convenience store, 151 Millgate Drive, which did not open until 5 a.m. The ambulance and additional personnel joined them a short time later. Plans for taking the expectant mother to her hospital in West Allis quickly were abandoned when crew members realized Brianna was on the verge of childbirth. Lemmermann, a 15-year veteran of the fire department, said that while she has been trained for such emergencies, she had never delivered a baby. She and another crew member handled the delivery, while the other two kept a close watch on Brianna. This was a first for all of us, Lemmermann said. It was very exhilarating. After a few minutes, Silas Norbert Wulz was born, weighing 6 pounds and 13 ounces. As soon as he and Brianna were stabilized, the crew continued to West Allis, where the mother and baby spent two nights in the hospital. An ensuing celebration took place both in the Wulz household and in the Rochester fire department. Vos said many firefighters and paramedics go their entire careers without getting the chance to deliver a baby. He said his team members kept their wits about them and performed well under pressure. Werth, who joined the department 11 months ago, said he never imagined he would be part of such an experience, especially so early in his career. It was an amazing feeling, he said. Justin and Brianna Wulz brought their new baby home from the hospital Thursday, joining their first son, Sawyer, who was born three years ago. Both expressed gratitude for the firefighters and medical professionals who answered the call for help. Brianna said she hopes to visit the firehouse someday soon and thank the crew members in person. They were amazing, she said. Im very thankful. Unique baby names from the year you were born Unique baby names from the year you were born 1950: Feliberto 1951: Doak 1952: Charlan 1953: Genola 1954: Thadine 1955: Adelyn 1956: Ivar 1957: Cathryne 1958: Kathaline 1959: Andrienne 1960: Rashelle 1961: Ishmeal 1962: Mollye 1963: Legrand 1964: Royetta 1965: Almira 1966: Henrique 1967: Donnella 1968: Bethena 1969: Dera 1970: Jayce 1971: Shirleyann 1972: Nema 1973: Kish 1974: Jeness 1975: Wyndy 1976: Rahkeem 1977: Lem 1978: Keyonia 1979: Dyson 1980: Harvest 1981: Davonne 1982: Chen 1983: Kent 1984: Gwyn 1985: Jalon 1986: Karene 1987: Dashonda 1988: Keywanna 1989: Gavrielle 1990: Ranard 1991: Deborha 1992: Tyshonda 1993: Marenda 1994: Drea 1995: Deronn 1996: Haneef 1997: Emira 1998: Jahliyah 1999: Evgenia 2000: Darleny 2001: Yulliana 2002: Garhett 2003: Kashyia 2004: Shontell 2005: Briele 2006: Ahlina 2007: Abiha 2008: Adasyn 2009: Navie 2010: Khamiah 2011: Allenna 2012: Franciszek 2013: Adriahna 2014: Moss 2015: Ahsoka 2016: Riplee 2017: Bhavith 2018: Mahera 2019: Noelli 2020: Massey 2021: Yian 2022: Caprice 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 Two police officers and a first responder were shot and killed early Sunday and a third officer was injured at a suburban Minneapolis home in an exchange of gunfire while responding to a call involving an armed man who had barricaded himself inside with family On a wintry Wednesday afternoon in February 2002, I drove nervously through narrow, empty streets in an inner-city Cleveland, searching for Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. I was driving alone in a part of the city that white people avoided. I had scheduled an interview with the Rev. Otis Moss Jr., the distinguished senior pastor at Olivet, then the largest Black congregation in Ohio and one of the communitys most active, vibrant congregations. I got lost, so I stopped at a medical clinic to ask directions. The faces in that hushed waiting room, all Black, turned and stared at me. I suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable. I was the wrong color. But without any fuss, the receptionist kindly provided directions to the church, just one block away. As I got back in the car, I realized I had felt first-hand the kind of vulnerability and discrimination that Moss had dealt with his entire life. I thought about that afternoon when I read todays front-page story about the University of Nebraska at Kearney students who visited key Civil Rights sites in Georgia and Alabama in January. They suddenly understood the reasons for the battle. Moss knew those places. He lived those stories. Moss, a dignified man in a suit and tie, welcomed me warmly when I arrived that afternoon. He led me to his carpeted, book-lined study. For the next two hours, he sat in a easy chair and in his deep, powerful, mighty voice the voice of God, I thought he told me about his life. Born in LaGrange, Georgia, in 1935, Moss was orphaned at 16. He graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, was ordained a pastor in 1954 and devoted his life to civil rights. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma and Washington. He served as director of the Southern Christian Leadership Councils Cincinnati-area office in the 1960s. He spent a year as associate pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, working with Dr. Kings father, also a preacher. In 1974, he became pastor of Olivet in Cleveland. His credentials were impressive, but the most powerful story he told me was about his father trying to vote for the first time in rural Georgia in 1946, the year the state finally gave African-Americans the right to vote. (Federal laws prohibiting racial discrimination for voters werent passed for 20 more years.) In 1946, Otis Moss Sr. was a sharecropper and a widower raising five children in a three-room house in Troup County, Georgia. Now that he was finally allowed to vote, Moss was determined to stop Gov. Eugene Talmadge, a staunch segregationist, from winning a fourth term. Moss got up on Election Day, put on his only suit and best tie and walked six miles to his assigned poll location in LaGrange, the county seat. When he got there, he was told he was at the wrong place. Officials sent him 6 miles further to Mountville. In Mountville, poll workers again told him he was in the wrong place. They told him to go to Rosemont School, another 6 miles down the road. Moss kept walking, but by the time he got there, the polls were closed, so he walked home. Talmadge was re-elected, but he died before his inauguration. No wonder Moss Jr. was determined to change the system. Moss embraced the nonviolent ethic of Dr. King and worked for peace stretching far beyond racial issues. He befriended Oprah Winfrey, who was also born in Truant County, Georgia. Moss counseled presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. He was Clintons guest when Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. Moss gave the invocation when Winfrey spoke at a glittering fundraiser I attended in Cleveland in 2022. Every time she votes, she said, she remembers how Otis Moss Sr., walked 18 miles in one day to cast a ballot. Last October, Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown recommended that the Rev. Moss, now retired pastor emeritus at Olivet, receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Brown called him a hero of the civil rights movement... who has given hope to people all over the world. I think the UNK students would second that nomination. On their trip, they had the same aha-moments I had when I drove those decaying inner-city streets 22 years ago. Nothing drives home a lesson like first-hand experience. Walking across the bridge in Selma where 600 people were tear-gassed, chased and beaten by law enforcement officers, UNK sophomore Jamie Vaughn suddenly grasped the horrific realities of the South back then. That changed everything, she said. When President Johnson declared February 1964 as the first American Heart Health Month, he created, in my opinion, the most thematically cohesive month of the 12. Since then, the commercialization of Valentines Day has taken over February, filling store shelves with pinks, reds, and heart-shaped everything. Cynics will say its too much but you cant deny that it brightens the bleak winter days. With love in the air and inescapable heart imagery everywhere you go, it is the perfect month to raise awareness for heart health. While there are a lot of components to heart health, Im, of course, here to talk about commercial tobacco. Almost everyone can tell me what smoking does to the lungs and theres a general understanding that the whole body is affected by smoking, but were going to get into the nitty gritty of the effects on the heart. For starters, nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco, is a stimulant. Nicotine triggers the release of dopamine and adrenaline in your brain, which increases your heart rate and raises your blood pressure. This happens when using any form of commercial tobacco, from dips and Zyns to cigars and vapes. Even irregular use can cause significant stress and damage to the heart and blood vessels. The chemicals in cigarettes can narrow your arteries and make them less flexible. On its own, this would make it hard enough for blood to pass through, but smoking also increases the formation of plaque in your blood vessels and, in combination with narrow arteries, makes it so blood is unable to properly flow throughout the body. When this happens, the likelihood of clots increases, as does the risk of heart attack or stroke. Even if a clot isnt present, the decreased ability to pump blood through the body can lead to peripheral arterial disease, which is when the limbs dont receive the oxygen they need, and can result in amputation. The good news is that quitting the use of these products can drastically reduce your risk of these diseases. Your risk of heart attack goes down dramatically within your first year of being tobacco-free and within five years your risk of stroke is about the same as someone who has never smoked. That is an astonishing level of healing that the human body is capable of, if only we give it the chance! This February, let your heart health be the motivation you need to start your quitting journey. Help can be found at the Wisconsin QuitLine (wiquitline.org). They are currently offering eight weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (gum, lozenge, or patch) to increase your chances of success. This offer is for a limited time, but even after it expires, the QuitLine will still have the rest of its free resources, available to any Wisconsin resident over the age of 13. Starting this year, six- to twelve-year-olds in California will be required to learn cursive handwriting. The return to handwriting comes after many years in which typing on computer keyboards was taught and handwriting was pushed aside. Cursive is a kind of handwriting in which all the letters in a word are connected to each other. Assembly Bill 446 requires that handwriting be taught to 2.6 million Californian students in grades one through six. And it requires cursive lessons in grades three and above. Former elementary school teacher Sharon Quirk-Silva supported the bill and California Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law in October. Experts say learning cursive improves brain development, reading skills, and hand movement. Some educators also find value in teaching children to read historic documents and family letters from past generations. Pamela Keller teaches grades four to six at Orangethorpe Elementary School in Fullerton about 50 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. She said she was already teaching cursive before the law took effect on January 1. Some children complain about the difficulty, but Keller has a ready answer: "We tell them, well, it's going to make you smarter, it's going to make some connections in your brain, and it's going to help you move to the next level. And then they get excited because students want to be smarter. They want to learn," Keller said. During a recent visit to the school library, Keller said one student got excited seeing an image of the U.S. Constitution, written in 1787, saying, Its cursive! Several of Kellers students say the subject was difficult, like the letter Z, but they enjoyed it anyways. "I love it, because I just feel it's fancierto write, and it's fun to learn new letters," said Sophie Guardia, a 9-year-old in the fourth grade. In teacher Nancy Karchers class, her third-grade students said, Its fun, Now I can read my moms writing, and Its for my secrets. Cursive coming back As computers and smart devices grew in popularity, cursive writing was pushed aside. In 2010, the national Common Core education standards were published to help students prepare for university. Cursive was left out. "They stopped teaching kids how to form any letters at all. Teacher colleges are not preparing teachers to teach handwriting," said Kathleen Wright. She is the founder of the Handwriting Collective, a nonprofit group. But cursive is coming back. California became the 22nd U.S. state to require cursive handwriting and the 14th to pass a cursive teaching bill since 2014, said Lauren Gendill. She is a researcher at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Five states have introduced cursive bills so far in 2024. Leslie Zoroya is project director for reading language arts at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. She said research has shown that learning cursive supports several linked skills that improve childhood development. Zoroya said, You're using different neural networks when you're doing cursive rather than printing. And so, it's creating those pathways in your brain. Zoroya said she got the idea from former California Governor Jerry Brown. Californias teaching standards always had cursive writing goals, but Quirk-Silva said cursive was not always taught and was weakening. She said, The hope of the legislation is that by the time students leave sixth grade, they would be able to read and write it. Im Gregory Stachel. Daniel Trotta reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________ Words in This Story cursive n. a form of handwriting in which the writing instrument never leaves the paper while writing a word grade n. a level of education that is equal to one school year complain v. to say (something that expresses annoyance or unhappiness) excited adj. very enthusiastic and eager about something library n. a place where books, magazines, and other materials (such as videos and musical recordings) are available for people to use or borrow fancy adj. not plain or ordinary standard n. a level of quality, especially one that people think is acceptable neural adj. of, relating to, or involving a nerve or the nervous system Microsoft says state-supported online attackers from Russia, China, and Iran have been using its OpenAI tools to possibly trick targets and gain information. Microsoft said in a report released Wednesday that it had tracked online attackers, or hacking groups, that work with several states. They include Russias military Intelligence, Irans Revolutionary Guard, and the Chinese and North Korean governments. The company said the hackers were trying to improve their campaigns using large language models like OpenAIs ChatGPT. Those computer programs use artificial intelligence. They use huge amounts of information on the internet to create human-sounding writing. The company said it would ban state-backed hacking groups from using its AI products. The company said it was not concerned whether any rules had been broken. "Independent of whether there's any violation of the law or any violation of terms of service, we just don'twant them to have access to this technology," Microsoft Vice President for Customer Security Tom Burt told Reuters. Russian, North Korean, and Iranian diplomatic officials did not immediately return requests for comment on the claims. However, Chinas U.S. embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said China opposed groundless attacks against it and supports the safe, dependable, and controllable use of AI technology to help all mankind. The claims that state-backed hackers have been caught using AI tools to support spying activities is likely to increase concerns about the spread of the technology and its possible abuse. Internet security officials in Western countries have been warning since last year that bad actors were abusing AI tools. OpenAI and Microsoft described the hackers use of their AI tools as in an early-stage and incremental. Burt said neither had seen online spies have big successes. We really saw them just using this technology like any other user, he said. The report described hacking groups using large language models in different ways. Microsoft said hackers suspected of working for the Russian military spy agency, widely called GRU, used the models. The company said the hackers researched satellite and military technologies that might deal with military operations in Ukraine. Microsoft said North Korean hackers used the models to create content that could be used to trick area experts into giving up information. Iranian hackers also used the models to write better emails, Microsoft said. The company said the Iranian group aimed to trick feminist leaders to go to a dangerous website. Microsoft added that Chinese state-backed hackers were also experimenting with large language models. For example, they have asked questions about enemy intelligence agencies, online security issues, and notable individuals. Neither Burt nor OpenAI security official Bob Rotsted said how much activity had been found or how many users had been banned. Burt defended the ban on hacking groups although Microsofts search engine Bing has no such ban. Burt noted that AI was new and a cause for concern. "This technology is both new and incredibly powerful," he said. Im Gena Bennett. Raphael Satter reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story track v. to follow and find (someone or something) especially by looking at evidence hack v. to secretly get files and information on computers or networks in order to steal, cause damage or embarrass people, groups or governments access n. a way of being able to use or get something incremental n. a usually small amount or degree by which something is made larger or greater feminism n. beliefs and organized activity in support of women's rights and interests in many different fields incredibly adv. extremely or greatly The third Monday of February is known as Presidents Day in the United States. For nearly 100 years, America honored its first president, George Washington, on February 22. That was his birthday. But the date was not a national holiday until 1968. That year, the U.S. Congress passed a measure known as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The measure meant that some public holidays would always fall on a Monday. Today, the country honors its first president on the third Monday in February -- and not on Washingtons real birthday. The holiday is now commonly called Presidents Day. Many say it also honors Abraham Lincolns birthday. The nations 16th president was born on February 12. The federal government, however, still recognizes the holiday as Washingtons Birthday. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act gives workers a three-day weekend. It also gives shops and marketers a chance to have special Presidents Day sales. Presidential facts and 'firsts' In January of 2021, Joe Biden made history when he took the oath of office as the 46th president of the United States. At 78 years old, he became the oldest elected president. The man he beat was the previous record holder, Donald J. Trump. He took office at the age of 70 in 2017. Biden and Trump are leading candidates for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations for the 2024 presidential race. They will likely face each other again later this year for the presidency. As the first billionaire president, Trump replaced John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, as the richest man to serve as president. Kennedy still holds the record for the youngest person to be elected president. He was 43 when he took office. Kennedy is also the youngest president to die in office. He was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas, Texas. He was 46 years old. Another presidential assassination put the youngest person in the office of the president. In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt, then the vice president, became president at the age of 42. He took office after William McKinley, the 25th president, was shot and killed in Buffalo, New York. The first president to die in office, though, was William Henry Harrison. The countrys ninth president only served 32 days, the shortest time of any president. Another Roosevelt holds the record for the longest time in office. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd president. He held office for 4,422 days. After his death, the 22nd Amendment was passed. It limited a person to two four-year terms as president. Presidential relatives Most Americans know that the two Roosevelts were related. But they may not know exactly how they were related. Here it goes: Franklin Roosevelts wife, Eleanor Roosevelt was also his fifth cousin once removed. And Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, was Eleanors uncle. That makes the two presidents distant relatives. But they were not the first relatives to both serve as president. That title belongs to the Adamses. John Adams was Americas second president. His son, John Quincy Adams was elected as the nations sixth president. The Bushes are the other father-son presidential pair. George Herbert Walker Bush was elected as the 41st president. His son, George W. Bush, was the countrys 43rd president. Not everyone can run for president. The U.S. Constitution says a person must be at least 35 years old. A person must also have lived within the United States for at least 14 years. And they must be a natural-born citizen. But the meaning of natural-born citizen is not exactly clear. People read the rules in different ways. By some reasoning, the first natural-born American president was not George Washington or John Adams. It was Martin Van Buren, the eighth president. He was born in 1782, six years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. All seven presidents before Van Buren, and William Henry Harrison, the 9th president, technically were not natural-born citizens. They were born before 1776 when the American states were still British colonies. I'm Ashley Thompson. Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story uniform - n. staying the same cousin - n. a child of your uncle or aunt assassinated. - v. killed usually for political reasons distant - adj. used to describe a relative who is not closely related pair - n. two people who are related in some way or who do something together We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Scientists are warning of the possible collapse of an Atlantic Ocean current system that would likely lead to worldwide climate changes. Researchers identify the ocean system as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). They say the system plays an important part in moving, or circulating, salt and warm water around the world. This process helps control world temperatures, affects carbon dioxide levels and supports worldwide water flows. The AMOC system brings warm water to northern areas and carries cold water south, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains. The circulation also transports nutrients necessary to support many kinds of sea life. The process begins as warm and salty surface water flows northward toward Greenland in the Atlantic. Scientists created a complex climate model in an effort to simulate a possible collapse of the AMOC. The computer model was able to measure a sudden weakening of the ocean circulation, the team said in a statement. The research was led by scientists from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. A study describing their findings recently appeared in the publication Science Advances. For thousands of years, Earths oceans have depended on the AMOC circulation system which acts like a conveyor belt - to control climate. The system is still operating, but has experienced slowdowns in recent years. The driver of the conveyor belt sits off the coast of Greenland. As more ice melts here from climate change, more freshwater flows into the North Atlantic and slows the circulation, said Rene van Westen. He is a climate scientist and oceanographer at Utrecht University. Van Westen told The Associated Press his research on a possible AMOC collapse does suggest we are heading towards a tipping point. He added, however, that while his team found clear evidence the system is moving closer to collapse, were not sure how much closer. In the current system, cold, deeper and fresher water heads south past both Americas and then east past Africa. The system also pushes saltier, warmer ocean water from the Pacific and Indian oceans past the southern tip of Africa. This water flows to and around Florida before continuing up the U.S. East Coast towards Greenland. The Dutch team simulated 2,200 years of AMOC flow. The researchers added to the model expectations for future human-caused climate change. The results predicted an abrupt AMOC collapse, after 1,750 years. But the researchers noted it is difficult to provide a realistic date because the process could be influenced by many unknown circulation events. Making a prediction is also difficult because current observational records are too short to provide an exact estimation of collapse, the scientists said. The team said more physics-based measuring tools are necessary to create early warning systems. The team noted one difficult area to predict is around the tip of Africa, where it is difficult to produce realistic estimates of circulation flows. Measurements around that area have a big effect on how much the AMOC slows, the researchers said. This value is getting more negative under climate change, van Westen said. He added that when the AMOC reaches a certain level, the change does not happen over time, but would be more cliff-like, he added. Van Westen said an AMOC collapse would mostly affect climate in Europe. The researchers say a collapse could reduce temperatures in northwestern Europe by 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. Their study predicts the change would also extend Arctic ice much farther south, raise temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere and change worldwide rainfall. Some scientists warned the climate effects could cause worldwide food and water shortages. In addition, the team said the simulation predicted a possible 100 centimeter rise in European sea levels if the AMOC collapsed. Van Westen warned that once the collapse happens, the resulting climate effects are nearly impossible to change. Another member of the team, Henk Dijkstra, said staying clear of such a tipping point is necessary to avoid the devastating consequences on climate, society, and the environment. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Utrecht University and Science Advances. Quiz - Study: Collapse of Ocean Currents Could Cause Major Climate Problems Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ____________________________________________ Words in This Story simulate v. to do or make something that behaves or looks like something real but is not conveyor belt n. a continuously moving piece of equipment used to transport objects from one place to another tipping point n. the time at which a change or effect cannot be stopped abrupt adj. sudden and unexpected negative adj. harmful or bad cliff n. a high area of rock with a very steep side, often along a coast devastating adj. causing a lot of damage or destruction consequence n. a result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad Rarely does the word "menudo" hold such significance. For 13-year-old word whiz Vincent Bautista, the traditional Mexican soup represented a final hurdle, six letters, three of them vowels, separating him from cementing a family legacy at Madison's All-City Spelling Bee on Saturday morning. It wasn't until Bautista sealed his victory with the final "o" that the white-knuckled crowd exhaled. Bautista could only smile: The weight of the competition had lifted, replaced by the weight of a massive golden trophy, where his name will be engraved alongside every other spelling bee champion dating back to 1968, including his own brother and sister. "On that last word, I really didn't know it, so I had to do my best on it," he said. "My heartbeat was pumping." Saturday morning saw 38 contestants vying for the title of champion, the chance to win one trophy and have their name engraved on the traveling trophy displayed in the winner's school. In Bautista's case, the prize will live at St. Maria Goretti. Through nearly three hours of competition, the young scholars were slowly whittled down by words like "crustaceans," "dysgraphia," "chemise" and "piccata." By 11 a.m., fewer than eight spellers remained standing. In March, Bautista will be joined by second-place finisher Aidan Wijeyakulasuriya and third-place finisher Katherine Moore at the Badger State Spelling Bee. Both the All-City Spelling Bee and the Badger State Spelling Bee are sponsored by the Wisconsin State Journal. The engraving folks may as well have made a stamp of the Bautista name to save themselves time. The eldest Bautista sibling Martius held a monopoly over the All-City bee from 2014 to 2017, keeping the trophy at Edgewood Campus School for four consecutive years. Middle child Frankie won in 2018, building on the tradition that youngest sibling Vincent carried on with his victory on Saturday. Vincent's siblings pulled a word right from the vocab lists to describe their brother's win: surreal. Watching him nervously toy with his number plate onstage, clarifying words and extracting their roots in real time took them back to their own experiences winning the bee not so long ago. "It's kind of cool because, like, I get to see the last name on the trophy again," Martius said. "Some of the words, too, it's just knowing the root words." "I know I was surprised because the girl I was up against was really good," Frankie recalled of her own victory. "It's really easy to think of one letter and say a different one." Defending champion Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya took second place with pride Saturday. The past two years, he's brought the champion trophy to his school, Blessed Sacrament. At the national bee last year, he tied for 21st place in a field of 230 contestants. The 2024 All-City bee ended in a tense intellectual standoff between him and Bautista, ending with a misplaced "u" instead of the second "i" in "spectatoritis." "I thought I'd be pretty nervous, but I've done the All-City Spelling Bee for the last two years and it's always been a fun experience," he said. Each clarifying question, each request for a definition or language of origin, is a puzzle piece for Wijeyakulasuriya. And the kid loves puzzles. "There's never going to be a person who memorizes the whole dictionary, so you can always find new meanings," he said. "It's really fun and there are a lot of cool paths you can go down." The work isn't over. The top three from Saturday's competition will soon begin preparations for the state competition in March. At noon on Saturday, though, Bautista was most looking forward to celebrating with his family over a meal. Perhaps a nice bowl of menudo? The U.S. Senate definitely should enhance a tax break to help nearly a quarter of a million children in Wisconsin get off to better starts in life. A more generous child tax credit, claimed by parents on their tax returns, would lift an estimated 400,000 children out of poverty and benefit 16 million low-income families across the nation, according to the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That includes nearly 225,000 young people in Wisconsin. Despite election-year politics that have stalled compromises on immigration and foreign aid, the expanded tax break for children has a strong chance to pass this spring. With broad bipartisan support, the House recently voted 357-70 to approve whats been dubbed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. Now its the Senates turn to act. The bill would expand the child tax credit so more families with lower incomes could claim most or all of the maximum $2,000 per child each tax year. The bill also extends tax incentives for affordable housing, business equipment and corporate research and development. The increase in the child tax credit wont be as generous as during the pandemic, when parents collected $3,000 to $3,600 per child with the option to receive monthly installments. Some 600,000 families in Wisconsin collect those payments, and nationwide an estimated 3 million children were lifted out of poverty. Research suggested parents spent the bulk of that money on school supplies, child care, rent, groceries and transportation, according to the U.S. Census. A Harvard study released last month found a measurable improvement in parents mental health. With the pandemic over, the credit now peaks at $2,000 per child. More of that credit would be refundable for lower-income families under the House bill. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explains the impact like this: Consider a married couple with three children, in which one parent earns $32,000 as a farmworker and the other parent stays home to take care of their two younger children while their older child is in school. Under the expansion, the family would receive about $1,940 per child, for a total of $5,830 an increase of $975 compared to current law. Thats $81 more a month that the parent, not the government, gets to choose how to spend. Heres another example: A single mother with a toddler and a child in elementary school who earns $24,000 as a cashier at a gas station (would get) $1,960 per child, for a total of $3,920, $400 more than they would receive under current law. Thats $33 more a month for diapers, school clothes or the heat bill. Most of Wisconsins congressional delegation wisely supported the measure in the House, including Republican Reps. Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau, Mike Gallagher of Green Bay, Glenn Grothman of Glenbeulah, Bryan Steil of Janesville and Derrick Van Orden of Prairie du Chien. The solid package wasnt good enough for Reps. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, and Mark Pocan, D-Black Earth, who voted no. Moore acknowledged the bill was better than current law yet faulted the continuation of a work requirement. Sometimes you have to compromise to get things done. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, claimed the proposal would be a massive expansion of Washingtons welfare state. No, it wouldnt. This is modest yet important. As the bill heads to the Senate, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, says shell vote for it, which is good. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, sounds like a no, which is his default position on just about anything that helps Wisconsin families. Money for the more generous tax credit would come from reining in a pandemic-era tax break for retaining employees. That break has been widely faulted for fraud. Johnson complains that the employee-retention program was never paid for in the first place. It increased the debt. But investing in childrens well-being could save taxpayers money on other services if their lives improve. The Senate should act swiftly so IRS officials can apply the expanded child tax credit this year. President Joe Biden has indicated hell sign it. Passing the bill would prove that Congress can still govern and get some important things done. Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JAMES L. HOWARD JENNY PRICE I feel compelled to address a recent article published in the Times-News, which failed to accurately represent the achievements of the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) in serving our entire student body, including our Hispanic students. While I staunchly defend the freedom of the press a cornerstone of our democracy I also believe in ensuring that what is shared with the public mirrors the truth. It is my contention that the aforementioned article did no such thing. I am proud that CSI is Idahos only public Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Yet the article portrayed us as an institution where Hispanic learners are languishing. That portrayal is inaccurate and is unrecognizable to the faculty and staff who work tirelessly to support our students. First, lets look at some facts. Retention and graduation rates for CSI learners exceed regional and national norms for community colleges, and our Hispanic learners slightly exceed our non-Hispanic learners in both metrics. In other words, Hispanic students are as or more likely to be successful than any other student population. This is a significant reflection of the success of our targeted efforts to support our learners. Our Hispanic students are not being left behind. This data, crucial to understanding the full impact of our initiatives, was shared with the Times-News, but was omitted from the article. This omission does a disservice not only to our institution but to the very students whose stories are told through these numbers. As an HSI, it is natural to wonder what we are doing to better serve our Hispanic students, and I am happy to share some details with you. The core of our strategy to support Hispanic students and other traditionally underserved populations lies in a Title V grant that CSI received from the U.S. Department of Education. That grant is designed to do two things to provide resources to increase the number of Hispanic students who attend college, and to offer appropriate educational opportunities that will lead to their success once they arrive. In pursuit of the first goal, we are partnering with the Jerome School District, one of the largest Hispanic-serving school districts in our service area, to deploy educational support models that have been proven to increase student success and to improve the college go on rate. In pursuit of the second goal, we have implemented a Spanish for Heritage Speakers degree program that is not only an academic path, but a celebration of linguistic diversity and a steppingstone to success in a multilingual world. Additionally, our faculty have embraced training in culturally responsive pedagogy, allowing them to tailor their teaching methods to the individual needs of students, whether those needs stem from generational, learning style, or cultural differences. I will certainly acknowledge that not every students experience at CSI is perfect, but I will also assure you of our commitment to continuous improvement and to individual support. The Times-News did not provide us an opportunity to address the student concerns expressed in the article, nor did the article mention the positive feedback that we receive from students, parents, and community members daily about the welcoming and supportive atmosphere they have found at CSI. Had we been given that opportunity, we would have discussed our Career and College Readiness Department which serves hundreds of English Language Learners annually. We would have talked about the courses we offer through our English, Languages, and Philosophy Department to support English language acquisition. We would have outlined how our dedication to serving our Hispanic students and celebrating their heritage extends beyond the classroom, as seen in our partnerships with organizations like the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the South Idaho Hispanic Chamber, and our annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This narrative failed to emerge in the Times-News article, a narrative of resilience, progress, and the unwavering commitment to student success. A narrative that is backed up with factual data. The College of Southern Idaho is a vibrant and welcoming institution of higher education, where students, irrespective of their background, are embraced and supported. The work we do is a testament to our commitment to the transformative power of education. Despite the portrayal in the Times-News, I stand proud of the work we do at CSI, and I welcome you to come to our campus to see what we do firsthand. Our mission goes beyond academic achievement. Our mission is about changing lives, fostering community, and creating a world where every student can succeed. And that is the true story of CSI. - Advertisement - Quezon Power (Philippines) Ltd. Co. (QPPL) plans to build a 1,200-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant and an onshore regasification and storage facility in Mauban, Quezon with estimated investments of about P71 billion. QPPL, owned by Electricity Generating Public Co. (EGCO) of Thailand, also operates the existing 460-MW pulverized coal-fired power plant in Mauban. QPPL said in documents for public scoping for its environmental compliance certificate submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that it expects the construction of the San Francisco power plant to begin this year and commercial operations to start by 2028. The company said the proposed project is an LNG import terminal and combined cycle gas turbine power plant. The San Francisco power plant will use LNG as fuel and fuel oil as back-up. The project is intended to provide a steady supply of power in Luzon. It will contribute to meeting the demand for dependable and reasonably priced baseload power supply for the present and in the future, QPPL said. - Advertisement - As a result of a greater supply base and lower generation cost, there will be increased trade, and lower electricity costs in the future that will further transform the communities into more developed ones, it said. It said it expects to hire at least 1,500 workers and laborers during the 39-month construction period. The project would connect to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) through a new dedicated 230 kV transmission line to be installed within the existing 31-km right-of-way transmission line of QPPL and San Buenaventural Power Ltd. (SBPL) to the substation in Tayabas, Quezon. It is adjacent to QPPLs 470-MW coal plant and SBPLs 500-MW supercritical coal-fired power facility which is owned by the joint venture between the affiliates of Meralco PowerGen Corp. and EGCO Group. QPPLs submission to the DENR was prepared by GHD Pty Ltd. The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) recently organised a meeting that brought together banks and the kingdom's Labour Fund (Tamkeen) with the aim of acquainting banks with novel support initiatives for employment, career advancement, and institutional assistance. The BAB meeting served as a platform to deliberate on strategies to streamline access to essential financing for startups and SMEs. The objective was to bolster their sustainability, expand operational scope, boost job creation, contribute to GDP, and foster the overall development of the national economy, said BAB in its statement. The discussions also encompassed potential avenues for collaboration between Bahraini banks and Tamkeen in the fields of economic, banking, and developmental initiatives. During the meeting, Tamkeen presented an overview of its recently launched suite of programmes designed in response to evolving market dynamics and needs. These programmes are aimed at fortifying the growth of the national economy. Additionally, Tamkeen outlined several solutions that institutions could leverage to secure financing under favorable terms, thereby supporting their business endeavors. The meeting underscored the enduring commitment of banks to leverage Tamkeen's programmes and broaden their financial offerings through initiatives supporting commercial activities, said the statement. This commitment aligns with the fervor of Bahraini banks to propel economic development within the Kingdom of Bahrain. It reflects their belief in the pivotal role played by these institutions in driving the economic and financial cycles on a national scale, it added. Bahrain Association of Banks CEO Dr Waheed Al Qassim emphasised the significance of the association-organised meeting in apprising Bahraini banks about the new programmes introduced by Tamkeen and familiarizing them with the proposed plans and directions for the upcoming year. He stressed the necessity of concerted efforts between Tamkeen and the banking sector, advocating for the formulation of an effective strategy that ensures ongoing support for institutions and reinforces the stability of the financial and economic sector in Bahrain. This collaboration is crucial for active participation with all stakeholders, contributing to the success and enrichment of Tamkeen's programmes, he added. Dr Al Qassim highlighted that the support extended by banks plays a pivotal role in sustaining Tamkeen's programs, aligning with the objectives outlined in the Financial Services Development Sector Strategy 2022-2026. This strategy includes performance indicators that emphasize increasing the share of financing for SMEs, he added.-TradeArabia News Service - Advertisement - After several months of fine-tuning the criteria to be used for judging, finally, the Department of Tourisms (DOT) Philippine Tourism Awards was launched early this month in a colorful ceremony attended by the leading stakeholders of our countrys travel and tourism industry. These awards will be the highest and most prestigious in our industry In the process of honoring industry players and Local Government Units (LGUs) who have demonstrated excellence in the development and promotion of tourism, these awards are designed to instill the culture of Filipino hospitality and excellence in the tourism sector. They will also recognize individuals, corporate entities, and LGUs who have contributed immeasurably to the growth of our industry, whose creativity, expertise, professionalism, and service have been of the highest standards and have bannered the Filipino identity. In her keynote address, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said that the awards-giving body will be looking for institutions, individuals, pillars, changemakers, and trailblazers in the different sectors of the industry who have helped make it one of the strongest pillars of our countrys economy. - Advertisement - The Philippine Tourism Awards will celebrate efforts by the private and public sectors to the growth of the tourism industry These awards will be bestowed on hotels, resorts, destinations, LGUs, homestays, MICE venues, tourism front-liners, and other stakeholders who continue to promote sustainable tourism and the Filipino brand of service excellence espoused by the DOT. There will be two levels of these awards first, the Regional Directors of the DOT will proclaim the outstanding honorees from their respective areas. These winners will then represent the regions at the national level, which will be announced towards the end of the year. Sec. Frasco envisions these awards to introduce to our countrymen lesser-known destinations, for them to discover these hidden gems, towards further strengthening our domestic tourism industry. Certainly, these citations will serve as an incentive to the LGUs to improve their services to visitors in their community continuously. Many years ago, the DOT had already come up with the Kasama sa Lakbay, Kaunlaran ng Bayan (KALAKBAY) Awards and the Tourism Star Philippines. Although these two have reached a certain level of success, the newly launched Philippine Tourism Awards is the modified version of both and will be the ultimate recognition our tourism industry has been hankering for. Dancers perform a modernized Filipino folk dance with luminous nylon wings The Tourism Pillar Awards will be given to outstanding individuals, enterprises, and destinations who have made significant contributions to our tourism industry. The Tourism Industry Awards will be given to both the private and public sectors which have made their mark in developing our countrys Tourism Industry. The categories of the Tourism Industry Awards are Institutional, Individual, Media, Tourism Product, and Special Awards, which are based on the observed ability to shape and influence travel trends, introduce new perspectives, and contribute significantly to the responsible and sustainable development of Philippine tourism. Application forms, which are free of charge, may be downloaded from the DOT website and submitted online or directly to the DOT Regional Offices. These will then be reviewed and validated to ensure their authenticity. Our tourism industrys stakeholders are already excited about the forthcoming recognition of the best among our hardworking players. They are the reason why our industry has managed to bounce back strongly, and fast, from the almost three years of devastation brought about by the pandemic. These Philippine Tourism Awards will certainly be a strong motivation for our stakeholders to work even harder in giving our visitors more reasons to Love the Philippines. YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison. For feedback, Im at bobzozobrado@gmail.com - Advertisement - Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Saturday told his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly that their two countries were not rivals, let alone enemies, as foreign interference fears in Ottawa weigh on a tense bilateral relationship. The two diplomats met on the sidelines of the Munich security conference in Germany, where Wang addressed the gathering of 180 leaders and defence chiefs, vowing that China would be a force for stability in the world. Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been tense in recent years, after the arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive on a US warrant in Vancouver in December 2018 and Beijings retaliatory detention of two Canadians on espionage charges plunged relations into a deep freeze. Canada last year launched a public inquiry into foreign interference notably by China in its electoral and democratic institutions. China has been accused of seeking to interfere in Canadas 2019 and 2021 elections, with Ottawa expelling a Chinese diplomat in May 2023 over allegations of intimidation. - Advertisement - Wang on Saturday told Joly the current difficult situation is not what China wants to see, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout released Sunday. The two sides are not rivals, let alone enemies, and should become cooperative partners, Wang said. Wang urged Canada to stop hyping the China threat theory and stop spreading false information about so-called China interference in domestic affairs. The two foreign ministers also discussed issues critical to global security, including Russias invasion of Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East, according to a Canadian government readout of the meeting. Both Ministers agreed that bilateral issues should continue to be discussed pragmatically and constructively, in a spirit of mutual respect, with regular communication between the two sides, the readout added. - Advertisement - United Nations, New YorkThe UN Security Council could hold a vote next week, sought by Algeria, on a resolution seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, diplomatic sources told AFP Saturday (Sunday in Manila), although Washington again appeared set to block it. Algeria launched discussions on a new draft after the International Court of Justice ruled in late January that Israel must do all it can to prevent genocidal acts in its war in Gaza, which it says is targeting Hamas militants. The latest version of the text, seen by AFP Saturday, demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties. It also rejects forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population, and it demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The Gaza war began with Hamass Oct. 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. - Advertisement - Israel responded by launching a relentless assault on Gaza that has killed at least 28,858 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry. Algeria has requested a UN Security Council vote on Tuesday, but Washington signalled it is likely to veto the measure. US President Joe Biden is working with Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar on a hostage deal that would bring about six weeks of a prolonged pause in fighting, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement on Algerias proposed draft. The resolution put forward in the Security Council, in contrast, would not achieve these outcomes, and indeed, may run counter to them, Thomas-Greenfield said. The United States does not support action on this draft resolution, she added. Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted. Like previous texts opposed by Israel and the United States, the new text does not condemn the unprecedented attack by Hamas. Earlier this month, Thomas-Greenfield said that Algerias latest initiative risked derailing the negotiations. We believe that it is high time now for the Security Council to decide on a humanitarian ceasefire resolution, Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said recently, adding there is massive support for the texts elements among council members. In October and December, despite international pressure over Gazas growing humanitarian crisis, Washington vetoed texts calling for a ceasefire. The Security Council has adopted just two resolutions on Gaza since Oct. 7, including one calling for large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory. Mediator Qatar acknowledged on Saturday that prospects for a new pause in Israels war with Hamas were not really promising as Israel rejected appeals to hold off on a threatened assault on the Gaza city of Rafah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that foreign countries calling on Israel to spare the city, where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge, were effectively telling the country to lose the war. Truce efforts intensified this week as Qatar and fellow mediators Egypt and the United States scrambled to secure a ceasefire before Israeli troops enter Rafah, the last major population centre in Gaza untouched by Israeli ground troops. Despite a direct appeal from US President Joe Biden earlier this week, Netanyahu insisted the operation would go ahead regardless of whether a hostage release deal was agreed with Hamas. Even if we achieve it, we will enter Rafah, he said at a televised news conference Saturday. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who met with negotiators from both Israel and Hamas this week, said efforts for a ceasefire had been complicated by the insistence of a lot of countries that any new truce involve further releases of hostages. The pattern in the last few days is not really very promising, he said at the Munich Security Conference. His assessment came as Hamas threatened to suspend its involvement in talks unless relief supplies are brought into the north, where aid agencies have warned of looming famine. Negotiations cannot be held while hunger is ravaging the Palestinian people, a senior source in the Palestinian militant group told AFP, asking not to be identified as he is not authorised to speak on the issue. Earlier, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh reiterated the groups demands, which Netanyahu called ludicrous. They include a complete pause in fighting, the release of Hamas prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Netanyahu also rejected pressure from some Western governments for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. After the terrible massacre of Oct. 7, there can be no greater reward for terrorism than that and it will prevent any future peace settlement, he said. The hawkish premier was speaking as thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv, calling for an immediate election and accusing the government of abandoning hostages. I am begging the prime minister and the cabinet to enter the negotiations, said former hostage Sharon Aloni-Cunio, who was released along with her twin children in November but whose husband remains in Gaza. Israel said Saturday it detained 100 people at one of Gazas main hospitals after troops raided the complex, with fears mounting for patients and staff trapped inside. At least 120 patients and five medical teams are stuck without water, food and electricity in Nasser Hospital in Gazas main southern city of Khan Yunis, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel has for weeks concentrated its military operations in Khan Yunis, the hometown of Hamass Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, the alleged architect of the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Intense fighting has raged around Nasser Hospital one of the territorys last major medical facilities that remains operational. AFP - Advertisement - BangkokFormer Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived back at his Bangkok home from police hospital early Sunday, just six months after he was arrested following a dramatic return to the kingdom from 15 years of self-imposed exile. The controversial billionaire, twice elected premier and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was jailed for eight years on graft and abuse-of-power charges upon his return in August. But his sentence was cut to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn within days of his return and the government said last week the 74-year-old was eligible for early release because of his age and health. Thaksinwearing a neck brace and sitting next to his daughters Paetongtarn and Pintongtawas driven away Sunday from the police hospital in central Bangkok where he has spent the last half year. A handful of people protesting his release had gathered in front of the hospital. - Advertisement - The car then drove to Thaksins home, where a welcome-home banner was tied across the gates. One woman wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Thaksin emblazoned across the front said she had stood outside his house for two days. I want to tell him to fight, she told local media. If he is (here), the country will develop. The exact details of his release are not clear, but Thaksin may be subject to monitoring possibly with an ankle tag and restrictions on his right to travel. The former Manchester City owners arrival in Thailand came on the same day his Pheu Thai party returned to government in alliance with pro-military parties, leading many to conclude that a backroom deal had been struck to cut his jail time. The rumours grew stronger when he was transferred to a police hospital within hours of being sentenced because of his poor health. He was reportedly suffering from chest tightness and high blood pressure when he was admitted to hospital, and his family have said he underwent two operations in the following months. The government has denied any deal and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, of the Pheu Thai party, has insisted he already served his jail time although it is not clear that Thaksin has spent any time in a prison cell. Thailands progressive Move Forward Party (MFP), which won most seats at the last election but was stopped from forming a government, said that his release sparked questions over whether he had received special treatment. Thailand needs a democratic system where the rule of law and justice system is applied in the same way for everyone, without double standards for privileged people, the party said in a statement Sunday. The former telecoms tycoon is one of the most influential but divisive figures in modern Thai history. Thaksin is loved by millions of rural Thais for his populist policies in the early 2000s but has long been opposed by the countrys royalist and pro-military establishment. The tussle for dominance between the establishment and Thaksin and his allies has largely defined Thai politics over the past two decades. Police laid lese-majeste charges against him last week over comments he made in South Korea almost a decade ago, although it is not clear whether prosecutors will take the case to court. His critics suspected him of pulling strings in the kingdom even from exile, which he spent mostly in Dubai before his return. Thaksins sister Yingluck Shinawatra was elected prime minister for Pheu Thai in 2011, only to be ousted in a coup herself in 2014. His daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, now the partys chief, was one of the leading faces in its campaign for last years general election and has been tipped as a possible future prime minister. The election last May marked the first time in more than 20 years that a Thaksin-linked party failed to win the most seats in parliament. Pheu Thai was beaten into second place by the upstart progressive MFP. But pro-establishment forces in the senate blocked MFPs leader Pita Limjaroenrat from becoming prime minister, and Pheu Thais deal with military-linked parties then shut the newcomers out of government. AFP - Advertisement - All but one of the 137 Filipinos in war-torn Gaza have been evacuated after 14 of them left the Palestinian enclave through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night. The Filipinos will be brought to the Philippine Embassy in Cairo in Egypt before sending them on their way to Manila, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega told GMA News. The lone Filipino left in Gaza is a Catholic nun who chose to not be repatriated amid the Hamas terrorist groups battles with the Israeli Defense Force in the territory, De Vega said. Prospects for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire dimmed Sunday after the United States signaled it would veto the latest push for a United Nations Security Council resolution and mediator Qatar acknowledged that separate truce talks have hit an impasse. Efforts to pause the over four-month-old war languished as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reject international appeals to spare Gazas southernmost city of Rafah, where around 1.4 million people have sought refuge. - Advertisement - Israels relentless campaign against Hamas militants has edged closer to the city, with attacks killing at least 10 people there and in central Gazas Deir al-Balah overnight to Sunday, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. With AFP - Advertisement - 55% also want govt to cooperate with drug war probe More than half of Filipinos are now in favor of the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court and support plans to seriously look into allegations of crimes against humanity that occurred in the Duterte administration, according to the latest OCTA Research survey. Results of the Tugon ng Masa survey were released Sunday, showing that 59 percent agree it is time for the country to work with the ICC again as opposed to 41 percent who thought otherwise. The same survey also found that 55 percent of Filipinos are in favor of the government cooperating with the ICC to investigate drug-related killings during the regime of former President Rodrigo Duterte, against the 45 percent who disagreed. Polling was conducted between Dec. 10 to 14 last year with 1,200 male and female respondents aged 18 years and above, OCTA Research said in its technical report. Across different major areas, the percentage of adult Filipinos who favor this idea ranges from 51 percent to 65 percent. The highest support is in Balance Luzon (65 percent), while the lowest is in Mindanao (51 percent), it said. - Advertisement - Consequently, the percentage of adult Filipinos not in favor of the Philippines rejoining the ICC as a member is highest in Mindanao (49 percent) and lowest in Balance Luzon (35 percent), the polling firm added. Highest support for this initiative was recorded in Balance Luzon (65 percent) and the lowest was in Mindanao (42 percent). The percentage of adult Filipinos who do not favor the government cooperating with the ICC in its investigation is highest in Mindanao (58 percent) and lowest in Balance Luzon (35 percent), OCTA noted. This survey has a 3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level. Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following margins of error at a 95 percent confidence level: 6 percent for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the firm said. OCTA also said the proportion of adult Filipinos who agree with the Philippines working with the ICC varied between 55 and 57 percent, based on socioeconomic classes. It pointed out that there were no major differences among socioeconomic classes, with most adult Filipinos agreeing to the government cooperating with the ICC in its investigation. In terms of age groups, OCTA said adult Filipinos who support the Philippine government-ICC cooperation ranged from 50 to 67 percent. Those who are 75 years of age and older had the highest support (67 percent), while those who are 35 to 44 years old had the lowest support (50 percent), it pointed out. Meanwhile, Filipinos who are 35 to 44 years old are the most likely to oppose cooperation with the ICC investigation (50 percent), while those who are 75 years old or older (33 percent) are the least likely to do so. OCTA observed that adult Filipinos living in rural areas (57 percent) expressed marginally greater support than adult Filipinos living in urban areas (54 percent) for the governments cooperation with the ICC in its inquiry. The proportion of adult Filipinos who support this idea varied depending on gender56 percent of males and 55 percent of females expressed their agreement. In terms of educational attainment, OCTA said support for thegovernments cooperation with ICC varied from 53 to 62 percent. Adult Filipinos with college or postgraduate education showed the highest percentage of support (62 percent), while those with high school education showed the lowest percentage (53 percent). - Advertisement - It is obvious that the PCG is now focusing on Scarborough Shoal with its transparency operations following the diktats of Raymond Powell The Philippines now stands at a crossroads in its approach to its claims to parts of the South China Sea. This is not the crossroads Chinas State and Foreign Minster Wang Yi depicted to Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in their phone discussion last Dec. 20, 2023 where the Philippines faced a choice of dialogue or conflict with China on the clashing claims. Secretary Manalo made the choice of returning to the path of dialogue and the Department of Foreign Affairs has since let down its megaphone diplomacy, stuck to the agreements in the 8th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting on Jan. 17, 2024, kept the Philippine Coast Guard construction materials away from Ayungin Shoal, giving President Bongbong Marcos his paradigm shift. On Dec. 20, 2023, President Marcos was quoted by multiple Philippine media sources including the Manila Standard which headlined, Paradigm shift needed for WPS issue PBBM cryptically calling for that change in approach to the WPS with China: put all of those elements together so that we have a good plan that will take us down not the road to conflict but down the road to peace. Although PBBMs call for paradigm shift at that time mixed references to Chinese aggression with calls for desired peace which confused a lot of observers, the real intent seems now to be clear return to dialogue with China, reduce the brinkmanship of the Philippine Coast Guard at the Ayungin Shoal, and focus on quiet diplomacy which the DFA has been doing. - Advertisement - However, the national security establishment consisting of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippines Coast Guard and the National Security Council have apparently not understood completely the paradigm shift and attempted to airdrop supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre at one time which was unnecessary as the Chinese Coast Guard had always allowed humanitarian supplies. The airdrop occurred last Jan. 22, 2024 but resupply in February 2024 was undisturbed apparently with the clear coordination which the DFA has established with its Chinese counterpart. It has been all quiet on the Ayungin Shoal front since that time and what was the protocol since 1999 with China is clearly back in operation humanitarian supplies but no construction materials. Of course, we still hear echoes of what our national security establishment often say we dont need permission from China, the fact is we, the Philippines, cant get any supplies through if China does not permit it with its blockade. The failure of the assertive transparency campaigns of 2024 proves China can and is exercising it sovereignty over the South China Sea it claims. The assertive transparency campaign was initiated by the U.S. Naval Research Offices ex-Air Force Col. Raymond Powell to get the PCG to challenge Chinas exercise of sovereignty over Ayungin Shoal deliberately challenging the Chinese Coast Guard with attempts to deliver construction materials, tag media along and publicize the ensuing cat-chase-mouse drama of Chinese blocking maneuvers. The transparency strategy has clearly not worked to stop Chinas exercise of its sovereign control of the areas disputed with the Philippines as PCG spokesman Tarriela said on Feb. 7, 2024 Transparency efforts not enough to compel China to obey Obey what the PCG perceives as international law. It is as ineffective as the arbitration award which even the U.N. does not recognize. The DFA-led fulfillment of the paradigm shift going back to calm, professional dialogue and cooperation with China clearly does not sit well with some elements of the national security establishment, as the impertinent, loquacious and vociferous PCG spokesman for the NTF-WPS said on Feb. 13, 2024 Transparency strategy in WPS will continue despite de-escalation deal with China. Thereafter, incidents and transparency reports in media started erupting again. One was the alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen at the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc which was headlined even before any investigation was conducted. It turned out that the Filipino fisherman was harvesting shells at the mouth of the protected lagoon of the Scarborough Shoal. Tarriela is already guilty of insubordination by his words, and imperils whatever diplomatic strategy the Philippines has now decided upon in its de-escalation with China. It is obvious that the PCG is now focusing on Scarborough Shoal with its transparency operations following the diktats of Raymond Powell. Theres absolutely no promise from this strategy except to benefit the U.S. anti-China campaign. The Philippines task now is simple, to answer the question in the old game of Kwarta o Kahon (money or box). China has offered to meet halfway again and revived the Joint Oil and Gas Exploration project with the Philippines for the disputed areas including the Reed Bank. Thats trillions of pesos in hand, but the WPS claim is kahon whats inside? It can only be empty and hollow. (rpkapunan@gmail.com) - Advertisement - Is the quality of these social services, despite being conditionally tied up to the ayuda, in woefully deteriorated state? The gnomes of 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington D.C., otherwise known as the World Bank, fashioned a program aimed at reducing poverty by conditional cash transfers (CCT), attaching certain conditions such as school enrolment, and receiving vaccinations for children of poor families. It succeeded well enough in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and was also introduced in some Central American countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama where monthly cash payments were tied up to health and education programs. In Asia, the World Bank advised countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia, and yes, the Philippines, to implement CCT to help alleviate poverty. We called ours the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps and tied this up to health, nutrition and educational concerns, with DSWD implementing the cash transfers. There are some 4.4 million recipients of this form of ayuda, now on-going for some two decades. - Advertisement - Has the 4Ps truly lifted our poor from their bondage through health and education, or is the quality of these social services, despite being conditionally tied up to the ayuda, in woefully deteriorated state? Go to the wet market, and see that tinderas still have to do simple addition through calculators. Bragging aside, the kind of primary education I got in the fifties allows me, to this date, to add numbers in my mind faster. Our learning poverty is terrible, whether in reading literacy, comprehension, or simple mathematics. War-torn Vietnam is way ahead of us. But our politicians whose hearts bleed for the poor because there are political pogi points attached and, worse, selfish monetary cuts that could be gained in such programs, have been inventing more and more of these ayuda programs. COVID 19 and the lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the infections required ayuda programs as people could not go to work. These days though, our highly creative politicians have elevated the art of the ayuda into a science, never mind if the names used for their give-aways are pilit na pilit. For the out-of-work and the under-employed, benefitting some 180,000 informal workers, DOLE came up with a Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD. There is an attached Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko program as well by the labor department. The Department of Health also has a Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients program to assist poor patients who cannot afford the high cost of medicines, apart from the PCSO aid that they are supposed to get, centralized through the Malasakit program, though I do not know whether the series of multi-million wins in the lotto have diminished the agencys capability. Then, again through the DSWD, there is the AICS or Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, a catch-all ayuda that includes burial, transportation, education, food, and other support services for people caught in crisis situations, the definition of which depends on the selective charity of the legislators and their assigns. And all along, I thought jueteng and swer-tres intelihensiya given to our officials by operators, some now under the guise of the STL, was the fount of such munificence. TUPAD costs taxpayers some 13 billion a year; MAIP is 10 billion; and AICS is 34 billion pesos this year. There are others, such 12 billion earmarked tariff collections from rice imports to help farmers increase their productivity, and so many programs of other agencies for their mandated constituents, mostly subsidies, as in the losing proposition called Kadiwa with the forgettable meaning. And now comes AKAP, or Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita, which allocates a one-time 5,000 peso cash assistance for the near poor (Class D-2 in the surveys?), courtesy of our legislative bleed-hearts dispensed through the DSWD, costing 60 billion, with the recent revelation of a 27.5 billion augmentation sneaked in between the bicam agreement of the two houses of Congress and the printed copy of the budget. As unearthed in the hearings conducted by senators now quarreling with our congressmen over the stupidly-concocted peoples initiative, AKAP, AICS, MAIP and even TUPAD are being utilized as inducements for collecting signatures to abolish the upper house via joint voting in amending the Constitution. In a previous column last year, we stated government seems to have a simple solution to every problem in this benighted land, and that is ayuda. Still and all, the total of these ayuda programs handled by DSWD, DOLE and DOH, already running into hundreds of billions, pale in comparison to the ayuda that legislators have awarded to themselves through the age-old and never-say-die pork barrel entitlements. My sources tell me that for each of our congressmen, theres 1 billion each, minimum, in the 2024 budget. If you are more active and supportive, it gets to as high as 5 billion, and of course more for those in charge of the super-committees, such as appropriations and public works, headed by party-list congressmen. As for the senators, why, some are complaining that hating kapatid is no longer the norm, wondering why some only get 3 billion for their pet projects, while the favored few get 5 or even 6 billion apiece. Now do the math, and yes, you will need a calculator to compute. - Advertisement - Actress Lovi Poe has finally revealed her involvement in the upcoming Hollywood action-comedy film, Bad Man. The news comes after Deadline reported the films production wrap. Taking to Instagram, Lovi shared her excitement with a post featuring a screenshot of the Deadline article and a series of behind-the-scenes snaps from the set. So happy to finally announce being part of BAD MAN, she wrote. Cant wait to share more about this amazing film with an even more amazing cast! Among the photos, fans can find a selfie with American Pie star Seann William Scott, a picture of Lovi in her trailer, and a short video clip featuring her alongside After We Fell actor Chance Perdomo. In a separate post, Lovi revealed that filming in Alabama was the reason behind her recent visit to the state. Back in December, she had shared a photo of herself on the Alabama Walk of Fame, hinting at her involvement in a project there. Several celebrities, including Janine Gutierrez, Iza Calzado, Ivana Alawi, and Jericho Rosales, showered Lovi with their support upon the announcement. - Advertisement - Bad Man follows the story of a wild-man state police officer who finds himself in a drug-ridden small town, clashing with the local deputy as they attempt to solve a murder. The film marks the directorial debut of Michael Diliberti, who co-wrote the screenplay with JJ Nelson. Notably, Diliberti previously penned the comedy 30 Minutes or Less, starring Danny McBride, Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Pena, and Aziz Ansari. This Hollywood venture isnt Lovis only upcoming international project. Shes also set to appear in the British gangster biopic, The Chelsea Cowboy, alongside Alex Pettyfer, Poppy Delevingne, and Charlie Creed-Miles. The film is slated for release sometime in 2024. Lovis most recent local project was her portrayal of Monique Mokang Dimaculangan-Frias / Montenegro in FPJs Batang Quiapo. - Advertisement - Migratory species globally are facing critical challenges, with nearly half in decline and over 20 percent threatened with extinction, a landmark UN report said last week. Of most concern is the threat to migratory fish, with 97 percent of the species on the brink of extinction. The two greatest threats to all migratory species are overexploitation and habitat loss due to human activity, according to the first-ever State of the Worlds Migratory Species report, released February 12, 2024. 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. - Advertisement - The studythe first of its kindwas 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 report also stressed the impact of climate change not only as a direct threat, but also an amplifier of other such threats as pollution and invasive species. The impact of climate change on biodiversity is 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. Furthermore, higher temperatures can skew sex ratios, such as for sea turtles, where sex determination is dependent on temperature. It can also reduce foraging time, such as for African wild dogs, which forage less in extreme heat and have fewer pups in warmer temperatures compared with cooler times. 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 cited a clear call to action, providing a set of priority recommendations. These include strengthening and expanding efforts to tackle illegal and unsustainable taking of migratory species, increasing actions to identify, protect and better manage important sites for migratory species and tackling light, noise, chemical and plastic pollution. Countries are set to discuss these recommendations among other actions as they gather for 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 the implementation of the Convention. Ms. Fraenkelspoke exclusively to UN News ahead of the conference and highlighted the key agenda. We have dozens of different topics on policies for different types of species. There are cross-cutting issues, such as light pollution, she said. Climate change is on the agenda. Wildlife disease is on the agenda and other areas that we do a lot of work on, she added. National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has laid the cornerstone for a new logistics centre at Jeddah Islamic Port. This state-of-the-art facility, which will cover a total area of 95,436 sq m, will be managed by Bahri Logistics. It will offer multiple storage options in temperature-controlled areas, handling services, and other value-added services, with the aim of enhancing logistics capabilities and supply chain in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, enabling multinational companies to establish their logistics hubs in the Center. The cornerstone was laid today (February 18) in the presence of Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority, The ceremony was also attended by Omar Hariri, President of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Engineer Ahmed Ali Al Subaey, the CEO of Bahri. Hariri emphasized the pivotal role of the Bahri Logistics Center as a key component in Mawanis efforts to strengthen the maritime transport and logistics sector, in line with the National Transportation and Logistics Strategy (NTLS). This project highlights Mawanis commitment to enhancing the infrastructure and capabilities of Saudi Arabias logistics sector, contributing actively to economic growth and efforts to boost non-oil exports, as outlined in the nations ambitious vision,. he stated. Highlighting the new facility's potential to significantly impact the national, regional, and global logistics sectors, Al Subaey said: "Beyond enhancing our capabilities and positioning us favorably in the global logistics sector, the Bahri Logistics Center will allow us to capitalise on new opportunities, substantially enriching our role in elevating Saudi Arabias status as a global logistics hub." According to him, the new Jeddah logistics facility will be equipped to store reefer, insulated, and dry containers. It will also provide a wide range of services to its customers, such as container maintenance, repair, and cleaning, bonded storage, and haulage. The facility is expected to be operational in the first half of 2025, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Faced with the crude manipulation attempted by the leader of the Polisario separatist militia, Brahim Ghali, who is boasting about a so-called visit to Dublin, the Irish authorities have had to expose the Polisario lie. In a clear and unambiguous statement issued by its Embassy in Rabat, Ireland has put an end to this attempt at manipulation. The presence in Ireland of the head of the Polisario separatist militia was of a private nature, and not official as claimed by separatist propaganda. Irelands official Declaration states: The visit of Polisario Front representatives to Ireland last week was a private visit. It was organized by a pro-Polisario micro association active in Ireland. The Irish government is in no way involved in or responsible for this activity. The separatists were not received by any member of the Irish government. Irelands Official Statement, as circulated by its Embassy, says with acerbic phlegm: the separatists visit was not on foot of an official invitation*. Despite their insistent requests and the support of their intermediaries, the separatists had no discussions official or unofficial with Irish Prime Minister Leo VARADKAR or his Services, nor with Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. The agents of the separatist militia have not been received by the Irish legislature, either. The Speakers of both Houses, as well as the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, have refused to receive them. Only certain members of parliament sympathetic to the separatist group were received, in a personal capacity and not on behalf of Parliament. Irelands position on the Moroccan Sahara issue is not only unchanged, but has been clarified and reaffirmed. Irelands Official Statement, issued by the Irish Embassy, affirms that: Ireland does not recognise the pseudo separatist republic (sadr). Ireland, which does not recognize and has never recognized the pseudo SADR, maintains a constructive posture. This position, as defined by the Irish Government, is reaffirmed in todays official Irish statement: Irelands long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process and the Secretary Generals efforts to bring about a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement on this issue. Peace, security and development go hand in hand, hence the importance of a holistic, integrated and multidimensional approach, based on a close overlap between these three dimensions, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is representing King Mohammed VI at the 37th African Union Summit being held Saturday and Sunday in Addis Ababa. Bourita stressed the need to recognize the value of discussion platforms on this overlap, emphasizing in this regard that the processes of Tangier, Aswan, Dakar, Luanda and Lome form a hub of ideas, and fruition of such an approach where development stands as the first bulwark against instability and insecurity, aligned with the ten-year plan of Agenda 2063. While we are halfway to implementing the 2030 Silencing the Guns in Africa strategy, the continued emergence of areas of tension raises pressing questions. In 2030, our assessment must be positive, but this momentum for success will undoubtedly depend on our ability to weave a resilient network of peace within the continent, stressed the Moroccan official during the examination of point 2c1 on the report of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on its activities and on the state of peace and security in Africa (January-December 2023). Bourita pointed out that only 6 years separate us from the 2030 horizon, and it is essential that the 2nd ten-year plan of Agenda 2063 be rigorously implemented. The Minister noted that despite the various challenges linked to our institutional capacity, the PSC remains actively involved in all issues relating to peace and security on the Continent. Referring to the AUs PSC report, Bourita said that over the course of 2023, the PSC had demonstrated positive dynamism, holding a total of 61 meetings and producing 58 significant conclusions. These deliberations covered a wide range of subjects, from thematic issues to country- and region-specific situations, the Minister added, noting that activities carried out by the PSC during the period under review also included consultations with other AU bodies with which the PSC has complementary mandates, high-level seminars, retreats to review working methods, joint consultations notably with the UN Security Council, the UN Peacebuilding Commission, and the EU Political and Security Committee. In April 2023, the PSC initiated a new era of dialogue by holding informal consultations with countries in political transition, establishing a direct dialogue to better understand the special challenges of these countries, while offering suggestions for improved PSC action, Bourita added. The PSC organized a meeting with president of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, in his capacity as chairman of the African Union. The main objective of this meeting was to deepen reflection on the state of governance, peace and security on the continent, in particular political transitions, developments in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes and the Sahel, the Minister emphasized. Furthermore, and in addition to the security aspect, the PSCs activities during 2023 included fundamental aspects of African action to strengthen political and democratic governance in Africa, reaffirmed Bourita, citing the PSCs exchange with the Sub-Committee of the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREP) on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance, the holding of the 2nd training cycle for election observers, in Rabat, in May 2023, the training of African women on transitional justice, held in Nairobi, in August 2023, and the 7th African Forum on Transitional Justice, in Rabat, in September 2023, are all activities that fall within this same niche. The current situation in Africa gives cause for legitimate concern, characterized by persistent security challenges, often of an asymmetrical nature, noted the Minister, adding that no region in Africa today is spared from sources of instability. In addition to traditional challenges, climate change, cybersecurity, and food and health security issues are emerging as major challenges, adding further complexity to the situation in Africa, Bourita stressed. This pattern of conflict facing Africa today persists at an alarming rate, he said, highlighting the urgent need for a collective and coordinated response to preserve the peace, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Faced with this situation, there is an increasingly urgent need to strengthen the early warning system and conflict prevention, including through preventive diplomacy and mediation, the Minister argued. Bourita recalled that the recent UN Security Council resolution, which reiterated the Councils primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, enshrined access to UN assessed contributions for the financing of AU peace support operations (PSOs), marking a significant step towards a strong Africa in control of its own destiny. This resolution, said the Minister, does not come without its share of challenges: it also creates an additional burden, namely to define exactly the proportion of resources to be mobilized in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity. This undertaking also requires better coordination and synergies between the AU, the UN Security Council and Africas partners, on the one hand, and between the AU and the Regional Economic Communities, on the other, the Minister stressed. 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: Wynn Legon (left), the faculty director of the transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound facilities at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and Andrew Strohman, an M.D.-Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech, were among researchers reporting that application of low-intensity focused ultrasound to an area deep within the brain may potentially help people cope with chronic pain. The research was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. Photo by Clayton Metz for Virginia Tech. Credit: Clayton Metz/Virginia Tech Virginia Tech researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC report that applying low-intensity focused ultrasound to an area deep within the brain may point to new ways to help people cope with chronic pain. In a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, scientists demonstrated the effectiveness of using low-intensity focused ultrasound to modulate the activity in a critical region in the brain that processes and regulates pain signals. Researchers, including first author Andrew Strohman, a Virginia Tech M.D.+Ph.D student at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, found the application of low-intensity ultrasound to a structure known as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex reduced pain, diminished bodily responses to pain, and decreased pain-related brain activity without the need for invasive procedures, researchers said. "This study points to a non-invasive and effective way to modulate a critical region of the brain involved in pain processing, while eliminating many of the risks associated with surgeries," said Wynn Legon, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and senior author of the study. "It provides a potential new means to modulate the brain activity in response to pain that may serve to better understand the mechanisms of chronic pain to provide a new, innovative therapeutic option that could change how we approach and treat pain in the future." In a study with 16 healthy volunteers, researchers focused ultrasound energy on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex to see if it could change how people feel pain. To test whether it changed someone's perception of pain, they applied brief heat to the skin and measured pain perception, heart rate variability, skin responses, and brain electrical signals. Data were collected in three sessions on three separate days along with an imaging visit consisting of an anatomical computerized tomography (CT) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to accurately and reliably target this hard-to-reach area in each individual. The results showed that the ultrasound made people feel less pain, and it also altered how the brain and heart communicate. Overall, the heart did not respond as strongly to pain, and certain brain signals changed. "Chronic pain patients often experience cardiovascular issues, which may either be at the root of their chronic pain or play a role in contributing to it," said Legon, who is also an assistant professor of the School of Neuroscience of the College of Science and in the VTC School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery. "Understanding this intricate relationship is crucial, because it enhances our comprehension of pain mechanisms and suggests the importance of addressing both pain perception and cardiovascular health." The results suggest that using ultrasound applied to this specific region of the brain may help reduce pain and change how the body reacts to pain. More recently, in a study published in the journal PAIN on Feb. 5, the researchers found soundwaves from low-intensity focused ultrasound aimed at a brain region called the insula can also reduce the perception of pain and other effects. "This study provides some of the first evidence we can change three major areas of activity, those being pain perception, brain activity, and cardiac activity," Strohman said. "The next steps are to look at how these metrics relate to each other and explore how these findings can be applied to improve the lives of patients suffering from chronic pain." "While there has been tremendous progress in recent years in the use of high intensity focused ultrasound for creating small lesions in patients' brain to treat disorders such as essential tremor and for tumor ablation, we are at the very beginning of exploration of the use of low intensity focused ultrasound to mildly modulate brain activity and affect perception and behavior," said Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, who was not involved with the study. "The new work by Strohman and Legon and their pioneering team represents some of the most exciting new advances of this approach," added Friedlander, who is also Virginia Tech's vice president for health sciences and technology. "The fact that it is addressing one of the most debilitating diseases, chronic pain, represents a major step in this important emerging field of biomedical research and provides hope for better treatments that may avoid the untoward effects of many drugs used for treating pain," Friedlander said. Research Assistant Brighton Payne, medical student Alexander In, and M.D.+Ph.D. student Katelyn Stebbins of the Legon lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute contributed to the study. More information: Andrew Strohman et al, Low-intensity focused ultrasound to the human dorsal anterior cingulate attenuates acute pain perception and autonomic responses., The Journal of Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1011-23.2023 Journal information: Journal of Neuroscience , Pain 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: Professor Kelly Metcalfe. Credit: Horst Herget A study co-led by Professor Kelly Metcalfe of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and researchers at the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at Women's College Hospital, finds risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM) in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic variant, significantly reduces the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer and lowers the probability of death. The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, examined how RRM affects the rate of death of women with a pathogenic variant but no cancer diagnosis. To date, there has been only one other study published by researchers in the Netherlands that examines the impact of RRM on mortality and quantifies the benefits associated for women. "The decision to have a risk reducing mastectomy is often difficult for a woman to make, and the more evidence we are able to provide them with when they are making that decision, the more informed their care plan will be," says Metcalfe who is also a Senior Scientist with Women's College Research Institute. Women who have an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant, have an 80 percent risk of developing breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Research has shown that an RRM reduces the risk of breast cancer by 90 percent, and in Canada, 30 percent of women with a pathogenic variant opt for this surgery. It is, Metcalfe says, one of the most effective ways of preventing breast cancer in women with this risk profile. Through a pseudo-randomized trial, Metcalfe, and her team, followed over 1600 participants from a registry of women with a pathogenic BRCA 1/2 variant from nine different countries over the course of six years, with half of the women having a risk-reducing mastectomy. At the end of the trial, there were 20 incident breast cancers and two deaths in the group who opted for a RRM, and 100 incident breast cancers and seven deaths in the control group. RRM reduced the risk of breast cancer by 80 percent, and the probability of dying of breast cancer 15 years after risk-reducing mastectomy was less than one percent. "Although there wasn't a significant difference in deaths between the two groups in this study, we know that a risk reducing mastectomy significantly reduces the risk of ever developing breast cancer," says Metcalfe. Metcalfe points out that following these participants for an extended period would generate more evidence to assess the true mortality risk with precision and highlight the benefits associated with this type of surgery. "Right now, we have good screening in place for breast cancer, including breast MRI, so surgery is only offered as an option, not a recommendation," says Metcalfe. "But with more studies being conducted to assess women's trajectory and risk factors following RRM, we will know whether these guidelines need to be changed in the future." More information: Kelly Metcalfe et al, Risk-reducing mastectomy and breast cancer mortality in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant: an international analysis, British Journal of Cancer (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02503-8 Journal information: British Journal of Cancer The Fort Peck Indian Reservation received a shipment of 116 Yellowstone bison during the week of Feb. 5. The transfer included 108 males, four females and four calves and brings the total number of the park's bison provided to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes to 414. The wild bison are captured and corralled in the Gardiner Basin, just north of Yellowstone National Park. There they must pass a series of quarantine protocols to ensure they are brucellosis-free, a disease that can cause pregnant animals to abort. The bison in the latest shipment were under quarantine at an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) facility. After passing their last round of quarantine at the reservation, the bison are available to other tribes. So far, 26 tribes in 12 states have taken part in the program through the InterTribal Buffalo Council. The Bison Conservation Transfer Program was created in 2018. In 2023 the Park Service opened an expanded quarantine facility able to hold 200 animals. Live transfers of bison are one of the ways to control the park's population. In the past, the Park Service has also captured and shipped animals to slaughter, with the meat provided to participating tribes. Hunting is also allowed outside the park in Montana. Last winter, heavy snow and cold weather prompted an estimated 4,100 bison to migrate toward the Gardiner Basin. Almost 1,200 bison were killed, the majority by hunters from five tribes exercising treaty rights. Another 282 were placed in quarantine and 88 were shipped to slaughter. Following the large reduction and spring births, the park's bison population was estimated at around 4,800 animals last fall. With a milder winter, less snow and fewer bison, not as many have migrated out of the park this winter. Tribes control their own hunts with some continuing into spring. Montana's public bison hunt ends on Feb. 15. As of Feb. 14, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks had tallied only 15 bison killed by state hunters, two bulls in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and 13 (three females and 10 males) killed near West Yellowstone. The Park Service released a draft environmental impact state on its Bison Management Plan for review last year. More than 2,700 comments were submitted. The agency plans to have a final environmental impact statement available by June. The state of Montana has threatened a lawsuit over the plan as well as reconsidering the bison tolerance zones outside the park. No smoking gun pointing to wrongdoing is immediately apparent among the known documents that Napa County has provided to the federal government in response to three subpoenas. One federal subpoena involves the names of 40 people, businesses and activities, including the 2021 Vinedos land business venture by Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza's family. One involves the county airport. A third involves Upvalley Waste Disposal. All three ask for information kept by the county. One lists not only the Pedroza family Vinedos venture, but several prominent Napa Valley vintners. None accuse anyone of wrongdoing or describe what is being investigated by federal grand juries. The Napa Valley Register made a California Public Records Act request to Napa County to see the information it is providing federal investigators in response to the subpoenas. The county released 170 records to the newspaper, most related to county road projects. 40-subject subpoena The federal government asked the county for all documents related to 40 people, businesses and activities dating back to 2016. Among them are the Vinedos venture; Circle R ranch, which sold the Vinedos land to Pedroza's family; a number of vintners such as Charles Wagner, Craig and Kathryn Hall and David Phinney; Meritage Resort and McGrath properties, which is building Watson Ranch in American Canyon. None of the records released to the Napa Valley Register are emails or text messages involving the individuals mentioned in the subpoenas. One item among the 40 listed in the subpoena is Atlas Peak Road projects. The county released dozens of items on road striping, tree removal after the Atlas Peak fire and a paving project. The Atlas Peak Road documents range from bidder's proposals to road department time sheets. The county also released assessor records to the federal government, but said these are exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act. It said property tax information released to the federal government that is open to public inspection can already be found on a county website. The 2021 Vinedos deal has been controversial ever since citizen Beth Nelsen brought it to light in early 2022. Pedroza had in late 2021 cast a vote involving the proposed Walt Ranch vineyard adjacent to Vinedos. Pedroza has said the Vinedos deal involved buying land for his in-laws to farm. His father-in-law is a vineyard manager. He said he was no longer a Vinedos owner at the time of the Walt Ranch vote. Some citizens looking into Vinedos drew what they believed to be links to Pedroza campaign donors and alleged Pedroza improperly used his influence as supervisor for personal gain. That and other allegations led to a failed attempt to recall Pedroza in 2023. Pedroza called his critics a small, though vocal, group. The property tax bills show the six parcels that make up the 405-acre Vinedos land for 2023 had an assessed value of $4.2 million. It's unclear whether improvements have been made. The tax bills were sent to Pedroza's father-in-law. Vinedos A.P., LLC bought the land in 2021 for $2 million, at a time when county records showed the land's assessed value was $3.5 million. The subpoena doesn't state how Vinedos fits in with whatever federal investigation is underway. Some names on the subpoena have links to the Vinedos deal, while others have no obvious connection. Airport subpoena A subpoena asks for information regarding the Napa County airport. More specifically, it asks for information related to a 2021 grand jury report that criticized county airport redevelopment efforts. Among other things, the subpoena asked for draft reports, the investigative file with all documents and records supporting the final report and names and contact information for those interviewed in connection with the report. The county sent the U.S. Department of Justice a Jan. 2 letter that said county civil grand jury proceedings are confidential. This restriction also applies to the grand jury's legal advisors and the judge. Each county grand juror takes a confidentiality oath. The juror must keep secret any evidence brought before the grand jury, except for information included in a court-approved grand jury report, the letter said. "By way of practice to ensure confidentiality, at the end of its term, each Napa County grand jury shreds all information and evidence they have gathered in the course of their investigation, with the exception of the final report," the letter said. All records related to the airport investigation were destroyed, so the county cannot provide the investigative files, the letter said. Upper Valley Waste Disposal The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division asked the county for records it keeps for the Upper Valley Waste Management Agency. The agency is a joint powers authority of the county, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga that oversees waste disposal contracts. "To date, no records have been provided to the federal government regarding the Upper Valley Waste Management Agency," the county told the Napa Valley Register. The list of 40 Here are the 40 names, businesses and topics on a Dec. 14 federal subpoena to Napa County, with added information in parentheses. The county is to provide all documents, including correspondence, plans, permits and contracts, related to: Road pavement projects in the Atlas Peak region James Peter Read (owner of Circle R Ranch) Circle R Ranch LLC Rocking R Ranch LLC Foss Valley Ranch LLC George Altamura Sr. George Altamura Jr. Altamura Enterprises George Altamura Jr. LLC Craig Hall (of HALL Wines and former Walt Ranch owner) Kathryn Hall (of HALL wines, former U.S. ambassador to Austria and former Walt Ranch owner) Hall Brambletree Associates Ltd. Hall Wines LLC Vinedos AP LLC (limited-liability company behind Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza family land deal) Esteban LLamas (Pedroza's father-in-law) Charles J. Wagner, aka Chuck Wagner (vintner, Wagner Family of Wines) Charles F. Wagner, aka Charlie Wagner (vintner, Wagner Family of Wines) Caymus Vineyards (Wagner Family of Wines) Caymus-Suisun Winery LLC (Wagner Family of Wines) Mer et Soleil LLC (Wagner Family of Wines) Terrence McGrath (developer of Watson Ranch, American Canyon) McGrath Properties American Canyon LLC (Watson Ranch) Jayson Woodbridge (vintner, Hundred Acre Winery) Hundred Acre Winery Grant Long Jr. (vintner, Aonair Wine, Reverie II wine) Aonair Wine Reverie II Darioush Winery Darioush Khaledi (vintner, Darioush Winery) Alpha Omega Winery Robin Baggett (vintner, Alpha Omega winery) Bloodlines Vineyards (county application by David Phinney) David "Dave" Phinney (vintner, founder of The Prisoner winery) Antica Napa Valley Glenn Salva Antinori Napa Valley Antinori California Inc. Pacific Hospitality Group Ventures Meritage Resort and Spa PHOTOS: Ash Wednesday at St. John the Baptist Church in Napa Shillong: The Meghalaya government has reportedly planned to pursue permission from Bangladesh to erect a statue of freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem at the Dhaka jail where he was imprisoned. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, accompanied by Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh, visited the Dhaka jail on Saturday and discussed the proposal with authorities. The government will prioritize communication with Bangladesh to obtain approval, Dhar stated. Also Read: Assam: Man found dead in Guwahati, family suspects murder However, a hurdle emerged during the visit: Bangladesh currently lacks written records about U Tirot Sings imprisonment from 1833 to 1835, nor does any memorial exist within the jail. Also Read: Assam: Papon set to dazzle at Khelo India University Games opening in Guwahati Undeterred, the Meghalaya delegation pledged to provide records to Bangladesh, ensuring the warrior kings historical presence is acknowledged. This effort follows the recent unveiling of U Tirot Sings bust at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka. 17:55 INDIA bloc's doors are "open" for the BSP and it is up to Mayawati to decide if she wants to join the united fight against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls or not, Congress' Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande said on Sunday. The Congress general secretary said the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) very much wanted the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to join the bloc but Mayawati has already declared that she will go it alone in the Lok Sabha polls. In an interview with PTI during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the politically-crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, Pande said the Congress is "wholeheartedly" supporting the Samajwadi Party and expressed confidence that a seat-sharing deal for the Lok Sabha polls in the state will be finalised "very soon" with remaining "confusions" dispelled. He said the Congress-SP combine is in talks with small parties in Uttar Pradesh who would also be joining the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, and asserted that everything will be sorted out by the end of this month. "Some of them are joining unconditionally and some have some expectations and therefore it is taking a little time (for finalising the seat-sharing in UP) but everything will be sorted out by the end of this month," he said. On the seat-sharing talks with the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP, Pande said it is very much on positive lines and is in progress. "When you go into a coalition you have to negotiate and rationalise who will be the best candidate who will give proper fight to the BJP. So we are analysing that and I am very much hopeful that very shortly the seat sharing formula will be finalised," he told PTI. The Congress general secretary termed the exit of the Jayant Chaudhary-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) from the INDIA bloc as "very unfortunate" but exuded confidence that with the yatra also going through western Uttar Pradesh later this month, the opposition bloc would draw people's support from there. Pointing out that a recalibration was needed in seat sharing after the RLD's exit, Pande said, "Whatever discussion we've had so far, definitely there will be some changes now to realign the whole thing and that is why it is taking some time but very soon we will come out jointly with the list of candidates." Asked whether the BSP could still join the alliance in the future, Pande said, "INDIA bloc very much wanted the BSP to join this bloc but as you know Mayawati ji has already declared she will go it alone. It is up to her to join the INDIA bloc or not but INDIA bloc's doors are open for Mayawati ji if she wants she can very well join to fight the BJP unitedly." On Sonia Gandhi announcing that she will not contest the Lok Sabha elections this time, he said she is still the pillar of the party and nothing has changed by her announcement. "As you must have read her letter in which she has very categorically mentioned that she is very much part of UP and Raebareli and Amethi and she will continue to support as the family head, she will give the same kind of guidance to the people as she feels Raebareli is her home," Pande said. Sky's the limit as C919 ventures out of China The C919 jet can carry up to 192 passengers. File photo: Xinhua China's homegrown C919 passenger jet has made its first trip outside Chinese territory, staging a fly-by at the Singapore Airshow on Sunday. The C919, manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), made a trial flight in Singapore ahead of the upcoming airshow. Five aircraft developed by Comac, including the C919, will meet the public at the Singapore Airshow 2024 which will be held from Tuesday to Sunday. The C919 will also perform flight demonstrations at the airshow. With Airbus and Boeing struggling to ramp up production and meet demand for new planes, and Boeing struggling with a string of crises, the aviation industry is watching how Comac positions itself as a viable alternative. Comac has two passenger products: the ARJ21 regional jet and the larger C919 twin-engine narrow-body airliner with 158 to 192 seats. The C919 made its first flight outside mainland China in Hong Kong in December. ARJ21s are in use by Indonesia's TransNusa Air. (Xinhua/Reuters) 'China and Canada are not rivals' Wang Yi, right, meets with Melanie Joly in Munich to discuss bilateral as well as global issues. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry website Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China and Canada "are not rivals, let alone enemies" in talks with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, as the two countries sought to repair strained ties. According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Wang told Joly that the "current difficult situation... is not what China wants to see". "The two sides are not rivals, let alone enemies, and should become cooperative partners," he said. Wang urged Ottawa to establish a "correct understanding" of China and "stop hyping the 'China threat theory' and stop spreading false information about so-called China interference in domestic affairs". Canada said the two foreign ministers also discussed other global issues such as Ukraine and the Middle East. Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been tense in recent years after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in 2018 and the detention of two Canadians by China on espionage charges. Canada last year launched a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in its electoral and democratic institutions. China has denied involvement. (Agencies) KPMG recently hosted the regional Family Business Summit in Bahrain which saw top industry leaders and entrepreneurs discuss strategies to sustain and reinvent family legacies while embracing innovation and digital transformation. The 2024 KPMG Middle East, South Asia, and Caspian (MESAC) regional Family Business Summit witnessed a gathering of industry leaders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs represented by Family Business Leaders and Senior Management. Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner, KPMG in Bahrain, launched the summit with a welcome note, reinforcing the vital role of Family Businesses within the economy across the region, and the importance of preserving the legacy of the family and the traditions and values that have shaped them. In his address, Fakhro said: "Family businesses have historically been an important part of our economy, and today still play a vital role in our national growth, influence, and impact." "Their deep-rooted connections to local communities and cultures enable them to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of the region, while also supporting development areas within the community like education, healthcare, employment, and inclusive prosperity," he stated. Harish Gopinath, Partner, and Head of KPMG Enterprise across the MESAC region, highlighted the key opportunities that Family Businesses should consider leveraging as they evolve within the marketplace, while navigating through the challenges they will encounter as they look towards expanding, evolving, and transforming their organizations. He also mentioned the launch of the 2024 Global family business survey report produced by KPMG Internationals Private Enterprise team in collaboration with the STEP Project Global Consortium. Prof Andrea Calabro, a renowned Professor of Family Business & Entrepreneurship, leading on the STEP Project Global Consortium delivered a keynote speech on "Building and sustaining the family business legacy." He highlighted the importance of Family Businesses in the region sustaining their legacy to be able to grow and transition across generations. The summit was hosted under the patronage of Bahrain's Minister of Industry and Commerce Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro. "Family-owned businesses are indeed a strong pillar of our marketplace. They span across a variety of sectors - be it in retail, automotive, manufacturing, real estate, transportation & logistics, distribution, and services industry, to name a few," stated the minister. "Throughout our history, such enterprises have demonstrated unwavering dedication to hard work, innovation, and stable growth, thus, reinforcing the economic fabric of the Kingdom while still contributing towards our development," he added. The 2024 Summit included an impressive lineup of speakers and a range of sessions and workshops from industry leaders and subject matter experts including - Abdulmohshin Alomran, CEO of The Family Office, sharing insights into Family Office perspectives. Panelists such as Dr. Ghassan Al-Sulaiman, Hala Almoayyed, Ameena Mariam Ziauddin, and Dr Basma Al Zamil, discussing various aspects of sustaining the legacy of family businesses, and moderated by Prof. Andrea Calabro. Tom McGinness, Global Leader of ESG for KPMG Private Enterprise, leading a session on ESG for family businesses. A working session on Transgenerational Entrepreneurship facilitated by Prof. Andrea Calabro, Robyn Langsford and Tom McGinness, exploring the Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Index and actionable strategies for sustaining legacies. Insights into global, regional, and national economic trends by Omar Al-Ubaydali, Director of Research at Bahrain Center for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies (DERASAT), highlighting key opportunities Family Business leaders could consider. Discussions on automation, digitization, and legal structures in family businesses led by industry experts like Nasser Sattar, Rui Goncalves, and Greg Limb. "We're thrilled to host the 2024 MESAC Family Business Summit, bringing together thought leaders and practitioners to explore innovative strategies for sustaining family legacies in today's dynamic business landscape." said Gopinath. KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services. It operates in 147 countries and territories and has more than 219,000 people working in member firms around the world.-TradeArabia News Service Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr bagged the Best Supporting Actor award at the BAFTA Film Awards 2024 for his performance in the biopic film ''Oppenheimer''. The award ceremony is currently underway at London''s Royal Festival Hall. In his acceptance speech, Downey Jr. took a walk down memory lane and shouted out "that dude" Christopher Nolan. "When I was 15, I wanted to be Peter O''Toole. When I was 25, I worked for Richard Attenbourgh and Anthony Hopkins. When I was 35, I finally understood why Dickie thought Tony would be a better role model for me than Peter," Downey Jr. said. "When I was 42, I did two films for Guy Ritchie and learned how to make big Hollywood movies with a civil British flare. I then played a guy named Tony in the MCU for about 12 years," as per Variety, a US-based media outlet. He continued, "And then recently, that dude Chris Nolan suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last-ditch effort to perhaps resurrect my dwindling credibility. So I share this with my fellow nominees, this has been an exceptional year." Other nominees were, Robert De Niro for ''Killers of the Flower Moon,'' Jacob Elordi for ''Saltburn,'' Ryan Gosling for ''Barbie,'' Paul Mescal for ''All of Us Strangers'' and Dominic Sessa for ''The Holdovers,'' as per Variety. In the film, Robert Downey Jr played the role of Lewis Strauss in Nolan''s biopic of the titular physicist (played by Cillian Murphy). Lewis Strauss played an important role in the development of the atomic bomb and later became a political rival of J Robert Oppenheimer. The film was released on July 21. The biopic, set during World War II, follows Oppenheimer, known as the "Father of the Atomic Bomb," during a period in history when he understood that testing the atomic bomb would ignite the atmosphere and destroy the world, yet he pushed the button anyway. The film received a lot of appreciation from the audience. Downey Jr. had previously won the best actor BAFTA for ''Chaplin'' back in 1992, and was nominated for best supporting actor in 2009 for ''Tropic Thunder,'' reported Variety. (ANI) The film has bagged awards in ''Best Cinematography'', ''Best Editing'' ''Best Original Score'' and ''Best Supporting Actor (Male) categories so far. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Jennifer Lame bagged Best Editing for ''Oppenheimer''. Actor Robert Downey Jr. won the Best Supporting Actor(Male) award for his role as Lewis Strauss, a member of the US Atomic Energy Commission, in ''Oppenheimer''. Hoyte van Hoytema won Best Cinematography for ''Oppenheimer''. Oppenheimer was nominated in 13 categories such as best film, director, leading actor for Cillian Murphy, cinematography, editing, costume design, makeup and hair, original score, production design, and sound. The film is a biopic of Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist behind the atomic bomb. It was released last year and faced box-office clash with Greta Gerwig''s ''Barbie''. (ANI) The Congress on Saturday alleged that former party president Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to take cameras inside Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple by "the employee" of the "camerajivi" sitting in the national capital. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai claimed that the BJP leaders are allowed to carry cameras within the temple premises but Gandhi was denied the same. "Rahul Gandhi visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple and got blessings of Baba Vishwanath and Maa Ganga... Every BJP leader is allowed to enter the temple with their cameras but we weren't allowed by the administration. Also, the temple administration is yet to release any such visual (of Rahul Gandhi offering prayers), that we can show you," Rai said addressing a press conference. In a post on X, the Congress claimed the district administration assured them that there would be camerapersons inside. "Today around 10.30 am Rahul Gandhi ji offered prayers at the Baba Vishwanath temple in Kashi. At the last moment, the permission granted to our camera to enter the temple was cancelled/ The district administration assured us that photos (of Rahul Gandhi's visit to the temple) would be shared by the temple cameraperson. Despite continuous efforts for three and a half hours, the photo was not provided. Then seven photographs were sent but none of those was of darshan although the photo was taken by the temple cameraperson," it said in the post. The Congress said that "by doing this, the district administration of Varanasi once again proved that it is nothing more than an employee of the Camerajivi sitting in Delhi". "This is not politics and sycophancy, this is pettiness. But remember that neither a devotee of Lord Shiva can be stopped from his resolve nor can any force stop him from this great battle for justice. May Baba Vishwanath do good to everyone and give wisdom to the wicked," the Congress said on X. The Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' entered Uttar Pradesh from Bihar on Friday and reached Varanasi on Saturday. (ANI) Amid speculation of a possible rift between Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the grand old party over the new cabinet, Congress MLA Rajesh Kachhap asserted that they will hold meetings with AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. As eight ministers took the oath in the new Champai Soren cabinet in Jharkhand on Saturday, some Congress MLAs expressed discontent with the expansion that allegedly excluded new faces which was their demand. "We have come to meet the senior leaders. We will have talks with AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge about our problems," Kachhap told ANI on Saturday. Meanwhile, Congress MLAs from Jharkhand arrived at the Delhi Airport. Earlier, Congress MLA Dipika Pandey Singh claimed that they presented their thoughts before the cabinet expansion happened. "Our demand was that if the new government was being formed and the cabinet was being reshuffled, then new faces should have been given a chance," Singh said while speaking to ANI. Congress MLA Anup Singh said that the MLAs have intimated the Pradesh Congress Committee president about their concern and their demand remains the same. "We are 12 people in total. We have shared our concern with our PCC president through a letter. Our demand is the same as before," Anup Singh said. "Attending the oath ceremony does not mean that we have forgotten our demands. We are only trying to let our party know about our concerns," he added. After meeting the party MLAs following the swearing-in ceremony, Jharkhand Congress President Rajesh Thakur said that the party will discuss the matter. "They had expressed their feelings even before the oath-taking ceremony. They were unhappy, they had gone to the swearing-in ceremony at our request. We are aware of their feelings. We will discuss it," Thakur said. Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Friday allotted portfolios to ministers, by keeping the departments like home and personnel for himself. CM Soren kept the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Rajbhasha, Department of Home, Department of Cabinet Secretariat and Vigilance. JMM leaders Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, Basant Soren - JMM leader and brother of former CM Hemant Soren, Hafizul Hasan, Bebi Devi, Deepak Birua, Congress' Rameshwar Oraon, Banna Gupta and Badal Patralekh took oath as ministers during the swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Friday. Earlier on February 2, Champai Soren was sworn in as chief minister of the state and on February 5, the coalition government won the floor test with a 47:29 majority. (ANI) The police seized liquor worth Rs 2 lakh 82 thousand and a milk van worth Rs 6 lakh from the accused. "The milk van was intercepted at the Iruvaram checkpost on Saturday. It was found that the van was carrying liquor bottles hidden under the milk cans," Chittoor DSP Ramana said on Saturday. The accused were identified as Ramesh, Suresh and Rajesh, all residents of Chittoor district. "The accused confessed that they were smuggling liquor from Karnataka to sell it in Chittoor at higher prices," he added. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of IPC and the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) He has been summoned by the ED for questioning. Earlier, he had challenged the summons issued by the ED at the high court. However, the petition was withdrawn. Earlier on February 7, the Delhi High Court dismissed AAP MLA Amanat Ullah Khan's plea against the summons of ED in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. He has withdrawn his petition. He had challenged the summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear in person. A division bench comprising justices Rekha Palli and Rajnish Bhatnagar dismissed the petition as it was withdrawn by the counsel for Amanat Ullah Khan. His counsel submitted before the bench that he is not pressing the petition and seeks liberty to withdraw the petition. After noting the submissions of counsel, the bench was allowed to withdraw The Rouse Avenue court on January 19, 2024, took cognizance of the prosecution complaint (Charge sheet) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi Waqf Board Money Laundering case. ED has charge sheeted four persons Zeeshan Haider his partnership Sky Power, Javed Imam Siddiqui, Dawood Nasir, Qausar Imam Siddiqui.ED has alleged money laundering in the purchase and sale of Rs. 36 crore property on the behest of AAP MLA Amanat Ullah Khan. ED has alleged money laundering in the purchase and sale of Rs. 36 crore of property on behest of AAP MLA Amanat Ullah Khan. ED has already filed a Prosecution Complaint (Charge Sheet) against accused Zeeshan Haider, his partnership firm Skypower, Javed Imam Siddiqui, Dawood Nasir and Qausar Siddiqui. It is alleged by the ED that a property worth Rs 36 crore was purchased with ill-gotten money at the behest of AAP MLA Amanat Ullah Khan. He himself handed over Rs 8 crore in cash. (ANI) Political circles were abuzz on Saturday amid speculation that former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath may join the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). The development comes amidst Kamal Nath along with his son Nakul Nath, who is Chhindwara MP reached Delhi on Saturday. The speculations turned rife after a post shared by former Congress leader and BJP state spokesperson Narendra Saluja showed a picture of Kamal Nath with Nakul Nath captioned as 'Jai Shree Ram'. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Kamal Nath's side. On being asked about his plans to switch sides, Kamal Nath rejected all the claims, saying the media would be informed "if there is something". "Why are you all getting excited? It is not about denying. I will inform you all if there is something like that," said Kamal Nath on Saturday, while speaking to the media. Earlier on Friday while addressing a press conference in Bhopal, BJP state president VD Sharma also reacted over speculations and said that they have kept their doors open. When asked about speculations of the Congress veteran joining BJP, Sharma said, "So today I am telling you the environment, we have kept our doors open because there are people in Congress who feel that Congress boycotts Lord Ram, India has Ram in its heart. When Congress insults him, then some people are pained by this, who are upset, and they should get a chance." "If those whose names you are taking have pain in their hearts, then they are also welcome," Sharma said. Meanwhile, on Saturday veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh sought to play down the reports saying that he had spoken to Nath on Friday night and he was in Chhindwara. "Kamal Nath is in Chhindwara...I had a conversation with Kamal Nath last night. He is in Chhindwara. The person who started his political career with the Nehru-Gandhi family and he stood together when the entire Janata Party and the then central government were sending Indira Gandhi to jail. How can you expect that person (Kamal Nath) to leave Sonia Gandhi and Indira Gandhi's families. You should not expect it," Singh told reporters. AICC in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Jitendra Singh also said that he did not think that Kamal Nath would leave the Congress party and would be joining any other party. "The way he (Nath) has worked in the organisation since the time of Sanjay Gandhi (Son of Indira Gandhi) till now and the way he has a long relationship with the Congress, I do not think that he will leave the Congress and join any other party," Jitendra Singh said. (ANI) The Congress MP interacted with the victim's family as he extended condolences to the grieved family. The incident led to a massive protest in Pakkam near Pulpally in Wayanad district on Saturday. Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi abruptly halted his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Varanasi, and left for his constituency of Wayanad, prompted by public protest over the deaths of residents in wild elephant attacks. Gandhi has also written a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting decisive action over the incident. According to Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran, the victim was attacked when the elephant ventured into a residential area near Mananthavady. After the incident, the Kerala government announced Rs 10 lakh compensation and also assured a job to one of the family members of the deceased. Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday directed officials to hold a high-level meeting to discuss the issues related to wildlife attacks in Wayanad. According to the CM of Kerala, a meeting will be held in Wayanad on February 20. Revenue, Forest and Local Self-Government Department ministers will attend the meeting. People's representatives, including the representatives of local bodies of Wayanad district and officials, including high level officials, will participate in the meeting. Simultaneously, another incident was reported where a cow was found dead, purportedly due to a wild animal attack near Kenichira this morning. Enraged locals brought the cow's body and placed it on the bonnet of a forest department jeep, intensifying the demand for immediate action. The situation remains tense in Wayanad as authorities grapple with the increasing frequency of wildlife-related incidents. The upcoming high-level meeting is anticipated to address strategies and measures to mitigate the rising challenges posed by such attacks in the region. (ANI) "My thoughts and prayers are with the countless devotees of Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj Ji. He will be remembered by the coming generations for his invaluable contributions to society, especially his efforts towards spiritual awakening among people, his work towards poverty alleviation, healthcare, education and more," PM Modi wrote on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1759075293988352293?s=20 His post added, "I had the honour of receiving his blessings for years. I can never forget my visit to the Chandragiri Jain Mandir in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh late last year. That time, I had spent time with Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj Ji and also received his blessings." Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda, in a post in Hindi on X, expressed "shock" over the death. "I am shocked to receive the news of the demise of the most revered Saint Shiromani Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj. He has given new dimensions to the invaluable spiritual heritage of Jainism. His teachings, full of knowledge, compassion and goodwill, will always provide us guidance for the progress of society and culture. I bow down profusely at the feet of Samadhistha Acharya Shri," Nadda wrote on X. (ANI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said that the state needs to achieve 11.5 per cent annual growth (GDP) to fructify its ambitious target of touching the 10 billion US dollar economy by 2028. "At present, the state has an economy of Rs 45,000 crore, which needs to be improved. It is a herculean task but as a government, we have planned the roadmap to achieve the target," he said while laying the foundation of the Rs 100 crore Bulk Water Supply Project at Ballonggre, Tura, in West Garo Hills district. The foundation for the "Bulk Water Supply to Adjoining Rural Villages of Tura Town" project was laid in the presence of Speaker Thomas Sangma, PHE Minister Marcuise Marak and Lok Sabha MP Agatha Sangma. The project, estimated at close to Rs 100 crore, is funded by the Ministry of DoNER under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS). On completion, it will provide water to about 41 villages under the Rongram, Rerapara and Gambegre blocks of West and South West Garo Hills districts. It will also increase the water supply to the urban area of Tura town. In the absence of the project, these villages were dependent on the Tura Urban Water Supply Scheme. The project will be a river pumping scheme from the Ganol River. The scheme comprises pump houses, construction of reservoirs, treatment plant, water pumping, staff quarters, etc. He said that the government has envisaged a vision for the state and is making investments. He said that investments are being made to create better and more sustainable infrastructure, create jobs through entrepreneurship and develop innovative policies and programmes to double the farmers' income. He also informed that a thrust has been given to improve the overall rural economy by focusing on enterprises that will leverage the potential of the rich natural resources of the state. Talking about the poor performance of the State in various sectors, the Meghalaya Chief Minister said that in the past five years, the MDA 2.0 government has been able to address different challenges. He said that Meghalaya is marching ahead and has been recognized as the 'best performer' in the implementation of various schemes of the central government including PMGSY, PMAY, JJM, and MGNREGS and has received awards and bonuses. "Prior to 2019, the PHE department had less than 50 crore in budget. At present, the budget has increased to Rs. 3000 crore and the focus is on the creation of better infrastructure to overcome various challenges related to adequate water supply," he said, while informing about the State Water Policy and other flagship schemes to address concerns about climate change. Launching MegARISE at Tura, a project with a focus on the protection of vulnerable catchment areas in the state. He said, "This project focuses on safeguarding the critical Umiew catchment in East Khasi Hills (EKH) district and the essential Ganol catchment in West Garo Hills (WGH) district. These catchments serve as lifelines for two of Meghalaya's most densely populated cities, Shillong and Tura". He informed that the State government has partnered with KfW (German Development Bank) to implement the project. The project will benefit 106 villages across 39 micro-watersheds within these catchment areas. The project will be implemented over a period of 7 years with total financial outlay of Rs 344 crore and will be executed by Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA). (ANI) Dubai welcomed a record number of 17.15 million international visitors in 2023. While the vibrant citys airports were busy welcoming these passengers, Dubai Customs quietly handled 46.87 million bags belonging to them in the year. Dubai Customs plays a vital role in boosting the thriving tourism scene in Dubai, achieving an outstanding performance in the sector. Over the past year, Dubai Customs handled a total of 46,870,957 bags arriving on 206,396 flights in Dubai. This translates to Dubai Customs managing 128,400 bags daily. The focus is on ensuring traveller satisfaction and enhancing their experience, says Dubai Customs. Behind this impressive effort are over 845 inspection officers in the Passenger Operations Department, supported by 77 baggage inspection devices. These include 58 devices for inspecting large bags and 19 devices for handheld bags, said Dubai Customs. The government department is dedicated to ensuring top-notch reception for travellers, elevating the services offered to them, and showcasing the sophisticated image of the UAE, particularly Dubai. This further solidifies Dubai's reputation as a global hub for both tourism and business. Represented by the Passenger Operations Department, Dubai Customs is instrumental in facilitating the seamless flow of travelers at Dubai airports. The department leverages a suite of traveler-friendly facilities, including the development of intelligent systems for luggage disclosure prior to arrival in the country via Dubai airports. Moreover, it outfits the airports with cutting-edge inspection and screening devices, ensuring a hassle-free experience for passengers. Ibrahim Al Kamali, Director of Passenger Operations at Dubai Customs, emphasised the vital role the department plays in ensuring the satisfaction of travellers arriving at Dubai airports and streamlining their customs procedures. As part of an advanced plan within the customs inspection sector, the department is committed to implementing cutting-edge systems for travellers, utilising artificial intelligence and modern technologies. The recently introduced "iDeclare," app compatible with all smart devices, allows arriving passengers to disclose their luggage and personal belongings before their actual arrival, reducing customs processing time through the red channel to less than 4 minutes. Peak Season Preparations Khaled Ahmed, Senior Manager of Airport Terminal 1 at the Passenger Operations Department, highlighted Dubai Customs' meticulous preparations to expedite procedures for travelers during peak seasons at Dubai International Airport. These high-traffic periods include the Hajj season, holidays, winter, and New Year's celebrations. Dubai attracts a significant number of visitors year-round for its diverse atmosphere and events. The Passenger Operations Department at Dubai Customs has implemented an action plan to ensure the utmost efficiency and quality in customs services for tourists and travellers. Daily meetings and coordination with strategic partners, including Dubai Airports, Emirates Airlines, and other carriers, are integral to the plan, along with an increase in the number of inspectors during these busy periods, he said. TradeArabia News Service The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has taken a decisive step to streamline baggage handling procedures across major airlines operating in India. On February 16, 2024, BCAS issued letters to seven prominent airlines, namely Air India, IndiGo, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express Connect, and Air India Express, urging them to implement necessary measures to ensure the timely delivery of baggage. BCAS conducted an extensive survey across the nation's six major airports, scrutinising the operations of seven airlines and analysing over 3600 flight movements along with their baggage delivery processes. As per regulations, "airlines are required to ensure the delivery of passengers' baggage within a timeframe of 10 to 30 minutes following the aircraft's engine shutdown." The directive comes in response to concerns regarding the punctuality of baggage delivery and the receipt of complaints through social media and other windows that passengers are reported to have been victimized by late baggage delivery after landing at the airport, as outlined in the Service Quality Requirements of Operation, Management, and Delivery Agreement (OMDA). The Aviation Ministry, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, BCAS, initiated a rigorous monitoring exercise in January 2024. This exercise focuses on tracking the time taken for baggage to arrive at designated belts in six major airports across the country. While there has been a noticeable improvement in performance since the inception of the review, none of the airlines have consistently met the prescribed standards. The OMDA stipulates that the first baggage should reach the conveyor belt within 10 minutes of the engine shutdown, further emphasizing the need for prompt handling and delivery. Currently, the monitoring efforts are concentrated on six major airports. However, BCAS has directed the airlines to extend their compliance measures to all airports within their operational purview. This broader scope aims to ensure uniformity and adherence to mandated service levels across the aviation sector. "BCAS has set a deadline of 10 days for airlines to implement the required measures, with a target date of February 26, 2024. Failure to comply with these directives may result in further regulatory action," an MoCA official said. The move by BCAS underscores the importance of enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency within the aviation industry. By prioritising timely baggage delivery, airlines can enhance customer satisfaction and uphold the highest standards of service excellence. (ANI) On the second day of the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Convention being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday proposed a second political resolution named "'BJP' Desh Ki Aasha, Vipaksh Ki Hatasha", mainly focused on the opposition's INDIA bloc. The political resolution was presented by Amit Shah, and it was seconded by Union Minister Arjun Munda. In the seven-page political proposal, the BJP has alleged that Congress is the mother of instability; Congress is synonymous with bitterness, cunningness, and strategy, strange combination of the INDIA bloc, anti-poor Congress; Congress immersed in corruption; the divisive politics of Congress; attacks on Indian culture; and opposition of every progressive step by Congress. Congress's insult to the country's constitutional institutions and scientists, Congress's immature and irresponsible politics, and the politics of violence and anarchy by INDIA bloc ensure the downfall of Congress. "Congress and most of its allies included in the INDIA bloc have been united in the politics of anarchy and violence in the country. Recently, shocking incidents have come to light in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal. The TMC has been continuously trying to suppress the voice of the public by targeting BJP workers in West Bengal.There have been many incidents of murder and violence against BJP workers by the CPI, CPM, and their allies in Kerala," the resolution read. The country still remembers the kind of jungle rule established by Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar. Tribal women, farmers, and common people have had to endure many types of harassment and torture wherever they are in the country. In the name of movement, efforts are made by divisive elements to create an environment of anarchy. "Wherever, in the name of movement, efforts are made to create an environment of anarchy by divisive elements in the country, Congress and its allies reach there first to add fuel to the fire. We pledge to continue our struggle against this type of negative politics," it said. "It was formed only to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi; hence, the alliance has no theoretical or ideological basis. The various parties involved in it contest elections against each other, and in many states, they oppose each other. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party contests against Congress, while in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress and Congress party contest against each other," it added. There is ideological similarity between them. Priyanka's programme has some goals; only to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) BJP national president JP Nadda on Sunday said the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony and the grand opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya ushered in a 'new era. Addressing party leaders and supporters on Day 2 of the BJP's national convention at the stateof-the-art Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on Sunday, Nadda said, "The 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya was celebrated as a natioinal festival and also made waves globally. The event signalled the birth of a new era in the country. Raisimng the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was one of our solemn resolutions and the event of December 22, last year, marked the fulfilment of the same. As you all are aware, after the landmark Supreme Court judgement (in the Ram Janmabhoomi case) on November 9, 2019, the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra to oversee the construction of the grand temple in Ayodhya. The construction work progressed at a fast pace within just four years from the day the Supreme Court settled the title dispute, the idol of Ram Lalla was unveiled to the world on January 22." The ongoing brainstorming sessions at the national concention are aimed at firming up the party's strategy and charge up cadres ahead of the Lok Sabha elections that are likely to be notified soon. According to party sources, PM Modi and Nadda will preside over a meeting of the Chief Minister's Council of BJP-ruled states later on Sunday. Before his address, Nadda, along with Prime Minister Modi, Union Ministers, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, and other party leaders observed a one-minute silence as a mark of tribute to Jain seer Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj, who passed away earlier on Sunday. Speaking on the demise of the Jain seer, Nadda said, "We were informed that he passed at 1.30 am (on Sunday). Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj was born on October 10, 1946, in Karnataka's Belagavi Tehsil. During his address to the party supporters on the inaugural day, Prime Minister Modi said that for the BJP, 370 was not just a figure that it should set sights on achieving in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but it would be their way of paying tribute to saffron ideologue and one of the party's founders, Syama Prasad Mukherjee. A political resolution was passed on the inaugural day of the BJP's national convention, condemning the violent crackdowns on Opposition protests against alleged excesses on women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. (ANI) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday slammed Kerala higher education minister R Bindu accusing her of being "totally ignorant" and showing a lack of respect towards the court and the law of the land. "I am not going to respond to criminals. Illegality has happened, and the law will certainly take its course. She (R Bindu) might have said anything. I don't consider her important enough to respond to her remarks," he said. When asked about the incidents at a senate meeting held at the Kerala University, which is presided over by Higher Education Minister R Bindhu as Pro-chancellor, Khan responded by saying she had no authority to do so without his permission. "Whatever she may say, the only thing I am aware of is that somebody claiming to be the education minister tried to intrude into the meeting of the senate illegally. This is a violation of the law. Senate meetings can be chaired either by the chancellor or by somebody authorized by the chancellor. No other person has the right to preside over it. I promise you that the violation of the law will be taken cognizance of," Arif Mohammed Khan said. The higher education minister R Bindu, however, said that she did not violate the university rules and as pro-chancellor, she holds the authority to chair the senate meeting, which contradicts Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's statement. The Education Minister of Kerala R Bindu is the Pro-Chancellor of the Kerala University, while the Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan is the Chancellor. Earlier, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan claimed on Saturday that all the protests that were organised by the student wing of the ruling CPI (M) against him were joint ventures of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Popular Front of India (PFI), a banned organisation by the Ministry of Home Affairs. "All these protests that are being organised against me are not by SFI alone. That is a joint venture of SFI and PFI. I have gotten the report that twelve people have been arrested. Twelve people were arrested and five were. They said there were another five, although there were many more. Out of these twelve people who have been arrested, seven are known PFI volunteers. So this is not just SFI what the government is doing. They are telling the members of a banned organisation that if you join these protests, you do something nasty and then we will protect you. This is an SFI and PFI joint venture. Seven of them belong to the PFI." said Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. "This government is not only sheltering the PFI members of a banned organisation to create a law-and-order problem in Kerala. And I have already said that they are doing these things to provoke me to take some abstract action. But I am not going to oblige them," Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan alleged. The Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a black flag protest against Kerala Governor Khan on Thursday. SFI, a student wing of the ruling CPI (M) has claimed that the governor pushed "BJP-RSS nominees" into various universities in Kerala, using his authority as the chancellor of universities in the state. (ANI) Hitting back at BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya over his remarks that the events in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali not only goes to show the declining law and order but also the lack of respect for women in the state, RJD leader and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Jha, on Sunday, said such incidents were 'shameful' regardless of whether they were happening in a BJP or an Opposition-ruled state. Speaking to media persons earlier, senior BJP leader Vijayvargiya said while baring the alarming state of law and order in Bengal, the incidents of Sandeshkhali in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, have also brought to light the general state of apathy and lack of respect for women in the state. In respose to his remarks, Jha told ANI on Sunday, "While acknowledging that the events in Sandeshkhali are reprehensible, I doubt if Kailash Vargiya-ji would have made such remarks had it been a BJP-ruled state. The reason why he made such a statement is because these incidents took place in Bengal. However, we don't differentiate between states like him. Such incidents put humanity to shame, regardless of whether they take place in an Opposition or a BJP-ruled state. Our behaviour, conduct, and statements in this matter should convey a sense of unecquivocal condemnation of what happened regardless of where." Meanwhile, the BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, who fell unconscious during a scuffle between BJP protesters and the police in Sandeshkhali, termed the incidents in Sandeshkhali as 'shameful' while also voicing concern over reports of women being allegedly coerced into submitting tom excesses and atrocities to avail benefits of government schemes. "The reports coming out of andeshkhali are, indeed, puts us all to shame. Some reports claimed that women in Sandeshkhali were called over to TMC offices and raped. They were told that if they wanted the avail the benefits of state schemes, they would have to submit to the dictates of (absconding strongman) Sheikh Shahjahan, Shibu Hazra and Uttarm Sardar. Sheikh Shahjahan's name continues to come up over and over again. We demand that everyone behind these excesses on women be brought to book and the land seized from them returned at the earliest," Majumdar said. "PM Modi might visit Basirhat (of which Sandeshkhali is a part) and hold a rally there on March 7. However, nothing is confirmed yet," he added. Meanwhile, Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik, who was part of the BJP's all-women fact-finding team that was stopped from visiting Sandeshkhali, on Sunday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of orchestrating multiple incidents like 'Sandeshkhali' across the state. "This government under Mamata Banerjee has orchestrated thousands of 'Sandeshkhali-like' incidents across West Bengal. Women of Sandeshkhali demonstrated immense courage to come out against the excesses that they had been facing for long. They raised the demand for women's safety. They are in dire straits. We tried to visit them but were stopped at Rampur. The state police are functioning as de facto TMC cadres. The situation in Sandeshkahali is alarming. I want to assure the women of Sandeshkhali that we are with them and they have nothing to fear," Bhoumik said. "Because of the (ongoing) 2-day (BJP) national convention, we couldn't submit the report (on Sandeshkhali incidents). We'll submit the report tomorrow. The likes of Sheikh Shahjahan are on borrowed time and they will be tracked down and arrested once the report is submitted. The rights and dignity of the women of Sandeshkhali will be restored," the Union Minister added. Earlier, on Friday, DIG (Barasat Range), Sumit Kumar said, "All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of one and all in Sandeshkhali. The police and government had to make special arrangements in the interest of security. We have made proper and adequate security arrangements. We urge the protesting locals to return to their normal lives. The police are doing their job. We are visiting villages and asking residents to give us complaints, if any, in writing. We will take all necessary actions as are warranted." Women in Sandeshkhali have been agitating for the last few days over alleged atrocities committed against them by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides. (ANI) After meeting the family members of the Forest Department watcher, who was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Prayagraj on Sunday. The Wayanad MP abruptly halted his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Saturday and rushed to Wayanad, prompted by public protest over the death of residents in wild elephant attacks. On Saturday, a massive protest was witnessed in Pakkam, near Pulpally in Wayanad district. According to Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran, the victim was attacked when the elephant ventured into a residential area near Mananthavady. However, the Kerala government announced Rs 10 lakh compensation and also assured a job to one of the family members of the deceased. The Congress leader also wrote a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting decisive action over the incident. Today, Rahul Gandhi will go forward through Katra, Netram, Lakshmi Talkies, Teliarganj and the Soraon area of the city. Rahul's Yatra will stop at Harisenganj and after an overnight stay at Sakramau in Mauaima, the Yatra will enter Pratapgarh district on the next day. On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi pressed on the strength of working together while addressing the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Varanasi. He asserted that the true devotion to the country lies in bringing the country together. He also claimed that members of BJP and RSS also came to the Yatra adding that he never saw hatred during the entire Yatra. "During the entire 'yatra' I never saw hatred. Even BJP and RSS people came in the yatra, and as soon as they came to us, they would speak to us nicely. This country strengthens only when we work together. Bringing the country together is the true devotion to the country," Rahul Gandhi said. The East-West Manipur-Mumbai Yatra traverses 6,700 km through 15 states and aims to highlight the message of "nyay" (justice) while meeting common people on the way. (ANI) He also shared his condolences on social media. "The demise of the revered saint of Jainism, spiritual guru, Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj is an irreparable loss for the spiritual world and the entire society. Lots of respect," CM Yogi wrote in a post on 'X'. It is reported that Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj took a three-day fast and then took Samadhi (voluntarily leaving his physical body) in Dogarpur, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday night. Prior to this, he had maintained unbroken silence. The news of his passing has triggered waves of mourning in the Jain community. (ANI) Kalpana Soren, in a post on X from Hemant Soren's handle, expressed her gratitude to the Delhi CM for his support to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Soren family. "Today I had a phone conversation with Honorable Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri @ArvindKejriwal. Thanks to Arvind ji that at this time he is with Jharkhandi warrior Hemant ji and JMM family," she said in post on X in Hindi. She also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of "sabotaging" democracy in Jharkhand, Delhi and other states ruled by any non-BJP government. "Today the entire country is watching the conspiracy of the Central Government and BJP. Everyone is upset to see how democracy is being sabotaged in Jharkhand as well as Delhi and other non-BJP ruled states. We have to together fight this conspiracy of the Central Government and BJP," Kalpana added. JMM executive president Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam on January 31, shortly after he resigned as the chief minister. JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, after his predecessor Hemant Soren's arrest. The new Champai Soren government won the trust vote on the floor of the Jharkhand Assembly. Forty-seven Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance legislators voted for the motion and 29 against the motion. (ANI) Coming down heavily on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal over the events in North 24 Parganas' Sandeshkhali, the opposition leaders demanded the arrest of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and intervention of the Central Government in the matter. Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi on Sunday called the Sandeshkhali case one of the most "unfortunate incidents" in the recent past. Talking to ANI, the Union Minister said, "Sandeshkhali has been one of the most unfortunate incidents in recent pasts and in West Bengal, women do not feel safe. They are constantly being harassed. Even on earlier occasions, we've seen the kinds of problems women have undergone in the past." "So, a lack of confidence in Mamata's governance and women's security is a big challenge in the state, especially because of infiltration. And people who are working in that region are causing social disruptions, and this is one such incident," Lekhi added. Referring to the arrest of TMC leader Shibu Hazra, West Bengal BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar said, "Arrest happened after we put pressure, but where is the main accused, Shahjahan Sheikh? The main accused is not yet arrested." Demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said, "TMC and Mamata Banerjee have always denied the incidents of Sandeshkhali. The West Bengal Chief Minister is trying to hide the incidents of Sandeshkhali. We want the Central Government and NIA to bring Sheikh Shahjahan to Tihar jail." Advocating the National Commission of Scheduled Castes' (NCSC) call for the imposition of President's Rule in Bengal after visiting battleground Sandeshkhali, the BJP MLA said that the situation seems to have gone beyond its limits. "We have been saying this for a long time. The situation seems to have gone beyond its limits. Women are being raped there every day. And Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in continuous touch with the criminals and infiltrators. This situation in Bengal has to be taken into the hands of the central government," BJP MLA Paul said. Over the arrest of TMC leader Shibu Hazra, Paul said, "The matter is not over yet. Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra are the left and right hands of Sheikh Shahjaan, we want Sheikh Shahjaan." MoS and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur alleged that democracy is being ruined in West Bengal. "Everybody knows what is happening there. Democracy is being ruined there. Until this government (TMC) stays in power, this will continue. The central government should take some steps against this," Thakur said. Accusing CM Mamata Banerjee of protecting the goons, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh said that the former will suffer a loss during the election because of the Sandeshkhali incident. "The opposition parties who are protesting (against the Sandeshkhali incident) are being arrested. Mamata Banerjee is protecting the goons against whom people are protesting. She will suffer a loss during the election because of this," Ghosh said. Meanwhile, the TMC leader and one of the associates of Shahjahan Sheikh, Shibu Hazra, who was arrested earlier in connection with the Sandeshkhali violence issue, was sent to police custody for eight days on Sunday. The Basirhat subdivision court sent Hazra to eight days of police custody in connection with the Sandeshkhali violence. Shibu Hazra was arrested in the Najat area of Basirhat in West Bengal on Saturday. Basirhat Superintendent of Police (SP) HM Rehman earlier stated that one of the associates of Shahjahan Sheikh, Shibu Hazra, whose poultry farm was attacked by women protesters recently, was arrested from the Najat area of Basirhat. "Shibu Hazra has been arrested from the Najat area of Basirhat in West Bengal today. A total of 18 people have been arrested, including Shibu Hazra. An investigation is underway based on the complaints we are receiving," the SP told ANI on Saturday. Women in Sandeshkhali have been agitating for the last few days over alleged atrocities committed against them by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides. (ANI) According to police, the persons were abducted by a group of 7-8 suspected militants in the wee hours of Sunday. Mihin Gambo, Superintendent of Police of Changlang district told ANI over the phone that, Arunachal Pradesh police are now in close coordination with Assam police and Assam Rifles to safely rescue the abducted persons. "As per preliminary information, three persons were abducted by suspected militants. A few militant groups are active in the area. Our search and rescue operation is underway," Mihin Gambo said. On the other hand, Gaurav Abhijit Dilip, Superintendent of Police of Tinsukia district of Assam told ANI that, as per the information received from the Changlang district police, three persons were abducted by suspected militants. "Where the incident took place, that area is a very remote area. Arunachal Pradesh police are investigating the matter and we are supporting them," Gaurav Abhijit Dilip said. (ANI) Amid speculations about former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath, along with his son Nakul Nath, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), state Congress President Jitu Patwari dismissed them stating that Nath will have Congress's ideology until his last breath. "The rumours that Kamal Nath is going to the BJP--this is an example of how media can be misused. This was a conspiracy made against Kamal Nath. I spoke to him, and he said that all these things are just rumours, and he is a Congress person and will continue to be a Congress person," Patwari told ANI. "He will continue to have Congress ideology till his last breath. This are his own thoughts. He said this," he added. Meanwhile, Congress leader Sajjan Verma said that Nath has not thought of leaving the party. "I had a discussion with him (Kamal Nath). He said that right now his focus is on how the caste equations will be on 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said that he has not thought about anything like that (of leaving the party)," he told reporters. Earlier today, Congress leader and close aide of Kamal Nath Deepak Saxena said said that he has been given a 'cold shoulder' by the grand old party since its defeat in the state assembly polls. "Kamal Nathji has been given a cold shoulder by the Congress party. This is why development in the Chhindwara constituency has been suffering from impediments. The public wants him to join the Bharatiya Janata Party so that the constituency can be brought on the path of development," Saxena told ANI. "He has been neglected by the party since its defeat in the state assembly polls. The party has been blaming him for its failure in the polls, whether it is about snatching from him the post of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief or not nominating him for the Rajya Sabha," he added. Saxena further said that the core committee of the party, involving senior party leaders in the Chhindwara constituency, has decided that he should go ahead and join the BJP in case he is continuously neglected by the Congress. Political circles were abuzz on Saturday amid speculation that former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath may join the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). The development comes as Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath, who is Chhindwara MP, reached Delhi on Saturday. The speculations turned rife after a post shared by former Congress leader and BJP state spokesperson Narendra Saluja showed a picture of Kamal Nath with Nakul Nath captioned as 'Jai Shree Ram'. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Kamal Nath's side. On being asked about his plans to switch sides, Kamal Nath rejected all the claims, saying the media would be informed "if there is something." "Why are you all getting excited? It is not about denying. I will inform you all if there is something like that," said Kamal Nath on Saturday, while speaking to the media. Earlier on Friday, while addressing a press conference in Bhopal, BJP state president VD Sharma also reacted to speculations and said that they had kept their doors open. When asked about speculations of the Congress veteran joining the BJP, Sharma said, "So today I am telling you the environment, we have kept our doors open because there are people in Congress who feel that Congress boycotts Lord Ram, India has Ram in its heart. When Congress insults him, then some people are pained by this, who are upset, and they should get a chance." "If those whose names you are taking have pain in their hearts, then they are also welcome," Sharma said. The Congress, after its abysmal performance in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, had removed Kamal Nath from the post of PCC Chief and appointed Jitu Patwari. Meanwhile, he is also said to have become disgruntled after the party did not nominate him for the Rajya Sabha. (ANI) The joint effort aims to provide women in Phougakchao and adjoining areas with comprehensive training in handloom weaving. The Indian Army facilitated the collection of handlooms from Narainsena, Nambol and Imphal. Stores were provisioned for the women of the far-flung villages, despite the unrest in the region. The initiative saw the participation of 35 women from local villages, which is likely to increase subsequently. Ranjan Wahengam, SDC Kumbi and Pukhrambam Rakeshchand, SDC, jointly handed over a cheque for Rs 35,000 to the women to foster their skills. Rabi of the state handicraft department supported the initiative and handed over the yarn for the project. Officials also informed that the Manipur State Handicraft Department will provide a platform for finished products through its outlets. This collaborative effort of the Indian Army and State Handicraft Department will assist in preserving traditional handicrafts by creating sustainable and empowering economic opportunities for women in the region. The Indian Army is committed to contributing to nation-building through development in the region, despite the challenges posed by the security situation in the region. (ANI) Director General, Rural Sanitation, Jammu and Kashmir, Anoo Malhotra, participated in the two-day National Conference on Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) held in Lucknow on the 16th and 17th of February. The conference aimed to discuss strategies and initiatives to further the goals of the SBM-G and JJM programmes. DG Malhotra gave a detailed presentation on the Swachhata Green Leaf Rating (SGLR) initiative and information education and communication (IEC) strategies at the conference, which brought together diverse stakeholders from across states and UTs, fostering a confluence of ideas and best practices. The Swachhata Green Leaf Rating initiative is aimed at improving sanitation standards in the hospitality sector, with a focus on rating hotels and other establishments based on their sanitation practices, encouraging them to adopt best practices and improve overall sanitation standards. Malhotra highlighted the best practices--from Swachh Yodha Pratiyogita, Swachhata Bank, Waste to Wonder, War against Waste, Give Garbage Get Gold, Rural Technology Park, Swachh Samagaam, My 10 Kg Plastic, and other initiatives adopted by Jammu and Kashmir to promote sanitation and hygiene practices among the masses. These practices have been instrumental in raising awareness and encouraging behavioural change towards sanitation practices. Jammu and Kashmir's innovative IEC strategy received all the praise from participants and delegates. In her presentation, DG Malhotra emphasised the importance of sustainability in achieving the goals of SBM-G. She outlined the way forward to achieve these goals, stressing the need for continued efforts and innovative approaches to ensure the sustainability of sanitation practices in rural areas. The conference saw the participation of Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, alongside other eminent personalities, including Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Swatantra Dev Singh, Cabinet Minister of Jal Shakti, Uttar Pradesh; and Vini Mahajan, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS). Day one of the workshop covered a range of topics through panel discussions and interactive sessions. The Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, launched three impactful books from SBM-G. He spoke about the critical time of this conference, which comes when both JJM and SBM-G have reached significant junctions in terms of their outputs and when the focus needs to be on sustainability. He spoke about the work we do in SBM-G and JJM, which must be done in mission mode when we are addressing the concerns of saturation and transformative missions in JJM and SBM. The National Conference on SBM-G and JJM provided a platform for stakeholders from across the country to share their experiences, learn from each other, and strategize for the future. Malhotra's presentation was well-received, and her insights are expected to contribute significantly to the ongoing efforts to improve sanitation in rural Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI) Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, VK Birdi, convened a meeting on Sunday at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Kashmir, which was attended by senior officers of various security agencies. The meeting was attended by the police, Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), SSB, and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), as well as state and central intelligence agencies. The meeting aimed to comprehensively review and strengthen security arrangements in anticipation of visits by VVIPs to the UT of J-K, as well as other events in the offing. Among the participants were IG CRPF (SOS) Srinagar, IG BSF Ftr, DD IB Kmr, DIsG of CKR, SSB, BSF, Armed, IRP, CRPF, ITBP, SSsP Srinagar, PCR Kashmir, CID CIK, Traffic, Security, PC and Telecom, DC SB Sgr and CSO (1) 15 Corps, whereas those who joined virtually were DIsG NKR, SKR Baramulla, CRPF Bla and South, and all SSsP/SP's of Districts and PDs. During the meeting, a comprehensive briefing was given by participating officers on the security plans devised in the backdrop of coming events. Recognizing the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between security needs and the smooth conduct of events, IGP Kashmir directed officers to ensure heightened vigilance, particularly during night hours, to mitigate the risk of terrorist threats. Emphasizing the imperative to bolster intelligence gathering and anti-terror operations, IGP Kashmir urged officers to minimize the risk of untoward incidents by strengthening security at vulnerable points, especially during significant events. Special attention was given to enhancing security along the National Highway, tunnels, minority pickets and other critical pockets. Furthermore, specific directives were issued to intensify security/surprise naka measures in both uptown and downtown areas of Srinagar, with 24x7 patrolling and increased presence at entry and exit points of the district. The IGP also stressed the importance of briefing personnel to take care of SOP, considering the heightened security concerns during events. Additionally, the IGP Kashmir Zone emphasized the critical need for thorough monitoring of vulnerable areas and prompt action against suspicious activities. Special instructions were given to border district heads to maintain strict vigilance along the LoC and hinterland to prevent potential terrorist activities. In conclusion, the Inspector General of Police Kashmir reiterated the importance of collective vigilance and proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the Kashmir valley. (ANI) Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N K Premachandran on Sunday said that the political situation in Kerala is "totally favourable" for the opposition alliance UDF (United Democratic Front) led by Congress. Premachandran said this after he was declared as the UDF candidate for the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming general election. "The political situation in Kerala is favourable for the UDF led by Congress. RSP is also a constituent of the United Democratic Front. So the political situation will definitely favour the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency also," Premachandran told ANI. "We have to regain the secular credentials of India. We have to get back the secular fabric and democratic fabric of India. So we are hopeful that in the 2024 election, the chances of having a change in government and the INDIA front coming to power cannot be neglected," he added. Recently, Kerala's ruling alliance LDF criticised Premachandran for his having lunch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House canteen and accused him of having had a "newfound closeness" with the RSS. Reacting to the criticism, he said, "This is a baseless allegation levelled against me. They want to create confusion in the minds of minorities. This is the way in which the campaign has been done. This is a political fight but instead of having a political fight, they want to do the character assassination. This is unfair and not good in a healthy political situation," he said. Earlier declaring the candidature of Premachandran RSP state secretary Shibu Baby John said that the party's rank and file are fully satisfied with the performance of Premachandran as MP. "So with utmost confidence and a tinge of pride, we are presenting Premachandran as the UDF's candidate for the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming election," John told reporters here. NK Premachandran is a member of the RSP Central Secretariat. Premachandran has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Kollam in 1996, 1998, 2014 and 2019. He was also a Rajya Sabha member in 2000. During 2006 - 2011, he was the Kerala's Minister of Water Resources. Premachandran was also awarded the Sansad Maha Ratna for his outstanding performance in the 17th Lok Sabha. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Sunday. PM Modi said that he discussed "ways to further strengthen the growth trajectory of the states" to leverage "a double engine of growth" to build a Viksit Bharat. "Had an extensive meeting with Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of states where @BJP4India is serving in Government. Discussed ways to further strengthen the growth trajectory of the states so that we can leverage double engine of growth to build a Viksit Bharat," PM Modi posted on X. BJP national president JP Nadda also attended the meeting where ongoing schemes of the Central and State Governments were discussed. Meanwhile, PM Modi on Sunday said the past decade at the helm bears testimony to courageous and far-reaching decisions. Addressing party leaders and supporters on the closing day of the BJP's National Convention at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi said, "The last 10 years of our government stands testimony to courageous and far-reaching decisions. We resolved tasks that had been pending for centuries. We fulfilled a dream and a wish going back five centurues by building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The country, in general, and Jammu and Kashmir in particular, were rid of Article 370 after nearly seven decades. Also, it took us six decadaes after independence to rename 'Rajpath' as 'Kartavya Path'. The demand for 'One Rank, One Pension' was also fulfilled after four decades by our government," PM Modi said. Expanding on the significance of the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', a legislation aimed at raising the representation of women in Parliament and state legislatures, Prime Minister Modi said, "We brought a law that guarantees more reservation for women in the Parliament as well as state legislative assemblies after three decades. We also showed the courage to implement a law that puts an end to the practice of Triple Talaq (among Muslims). The requirement for a new Parliament House had been felt by many for long. It was our government that fulfilled this long-pending requirement." PM Modi further said the BJP workers are fortunate to have witnessed 'revolutionary changes' across the country over the last 10 years. "The BJP workers are fortunate to have witnessed revolutionary changes over the past 10 years of our government. Any country can progress and reach its promised place when the people come to appreciate and cherish its heritage and history. During our decade in governance, the country has not only come to cherish its heritage but also flaunt it with pride," PM Modi said. Earlier, on the inaugural day of the national convention on Saturday, the BJP passed a significant political resolution titled 'Viksit Bharat', highlighting the achievements of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre under Prime Minister Modi. It added that the BJP would return for a third term at the helm and carry forward its roadmap for holistic development and welfare. With the Lok Sabha polls around the corner, the BJP National Convention was aimed at fleshing out the party's strategy and charging up cadres ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha attended the Bharatiya Janata Party's Chief Ministers conclave chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Sunday. "Today attended @BJP4India 's BJP's Chief Ministers' Conclave in New Delhi chaired by PM @narendramodi Ji," Saha posted on X on Sunday. Meanwhile, Saha also posted videos of chanting "Abki baar Modi Sarkar" (This time Modi's government) slogan by the party leaders and supporters on the closing day of the BJP's National Convention. Earlier today, PM Modi met with the Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. PM Modi said that he discussed "ways to further strengthen the growth trajectory of the states" to leverage "a double engine of growth" to build a Viksit Bharat. "Had an extensive meeting with Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of states where @BJP4India is serving in Government. Discussed ways to further strengthen the growth trajectory of the states so that we can leverage double engine of growth to build a Viksit Bharat," PM Modi posted on X. BJP national president JP Nadda also attended the meeting where ongoing schemes of the Central and State Governments were discussed. Meanwhile, PM Modi on Sunday said the past decade at the helm bears testimony to courageous and far-reaching decisions. Addressing party leaders and supporters on the closing day of the BJP's National Convention at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi said, "The last 10 years of our government stands testimony to courageous and far-reaching decisions. We resolved tasks that had been pending for centuries. We fulfilled a dream of centuries by building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The country, in general, and Jammu and Kashmir in particular, were rid of Article 370 after nearly seven decades. Also, it took us six decades after independence to rename 'Rajpath' as 'Kartavya Path'. The demand for 'One Rank, One Pension' was also fulfilled after four decades by our government," PM Modi said. With the Lok Sabha polls around the corner, the BJP National Convention was aimed at fleshing out the party's strategy and charging up cadres ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. (ANI) After the fourth round of talks between Union Ministers and farmer leaders, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the farmers has requested a guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on the purchase of pulses. Addressing the media persons on Monday, Mann said that he was in the meeting as an advocate of the farmers. "The discussions went on for five hours. I talked about the benefits for Punjab. We had asked for an MSP guarantee on the purchase of pulses, which was discussed today," Mann said He further added that "first, a guarantee will have to be given, which will be possible only if NAFED, NCCF and Cotton Corporation get a guarantee of 5 years. In which there are 6 to 7 decisions, this proposal has been given in which the farmers will take the decision and then they will go and discuss." Mann further urged for peace and said that the decision of the farmers' union, to be announced tomorrow, should be considered, even if some state governments are shutting down the internet. Earlier, Union Minister Piyush Goyal asserted that they had a very positive and extensive discussion with representatives of farmers adding that the farmer leaders will announce their decision on the government proposals by tomorrow. Informing the media persons, Piyush Goyal said that the farmer union representatives put forth some positive suggestions, which will be beneficial for the farmers in Punjab, Haryana, as well as the overall economy and consumers of the country. "With new ideas and thoughts, we had a positive discussion with Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Union and other farmer leaders...We had a detailed discussion on how to carry forward the work done by PM Modi in the last 10 years," he said. The agitating farmers from Punjab have raised various demands including an ordinance on ensuring legal guarantees for MSPs and loan waivers. The two sides -- ministers and farmer leaders -- had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but talks remained inconclusive. The meeting comes as thousands of farmers are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border with layers of barricades and a large number of security personnel halting their march to the national capital. The non-political Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have given a 'Delhi Chalo' call, urging the BJP-led Centre to accede to their demands. Commencing their march to the national capital on Tuesday, farmers from Punjab faced hindrance from security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, situated between Punjab and Haryana. The protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu border near Ambala since the start of the march on Tuesday, February 13. Talks between the union ministers and leaders of various farmers' bodies remained inconclusive, with the fourth round of talks scheduled today. (ANI) Sharjah [UAE], February 18 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, attended the annual ceremony of the University of Sharjah (UOS) Alumni Association 2024, under the slogan "Our Graduates, Our Pride", held in the outdoor area of the student colleges. During the ceremony, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed inaugurated the Media Club for the graduates as a new initiative by the Alumni Association, and he was granted honorary membership in the club. At the beginning of the ceremony, the attendees watched a visual presentation highlighting the achievements of the Alumni Association. Several officials of the association spoke about the association's strategy, goals, and the digital transformation in its communication with its members inside and outside the country. Hanadi Obaid Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the University of Sharjah Alumni Association, delivered a speech emphasising the importance of the annual gathering of the graduates and its role in enriching their diverse knowledge. She said, "Every time we gather at our annual association ceremony, we breathe a great sense of nostalgia and memories, and a long history of discoveries and first experiences of more than 45,000 male and female graduates that our prestigious university has produced over a quarter of a century. They form a miniature society that creates impact and change in their communities across the Arab world and perhaps even globally, armed with its scientific and humanitarian values." The Chairperson of the association also presented the achievements of the Executive Committee during the previous time, including expanding its activities and events and establishing new branches in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Oman, reflecting the extended influence from the heart of Sharjah to the Arab world. She also highlighted the efforts in assisting new graduate members and preparing them for professional practice through various specialised workshops. The Chairperson of the University of Sharjah Alumni Association concluded her speech by sparking light on the importance of exerting unlimited efforts to serve the future generations of graduates in the coming years. On the occasion of the launch of the Media Club for the graduates, Dr. Nawal Asker Al Naqbi, the Director of the club, delivered a speech sparking light on the initiative of launching the club, which is coordinated with the College of Communication at the university to enhance connections and collaboration with the graduates of the college and the university, affirming that the aim of the initiative is to provide a platform for exchanging experiences, opportunities, and developing media practices skills. She added, "We firmly believe that learning does not stop after graduation, and therefore, our club is designed to continue the journey of acquiring the cornerstones of knowledge and keeping up with developments in this field." Nawal Asker concluded her speech by emphasising the Media Club's commitment to enhancing skills and sharing experiences, inviting the graduates to join the club and engage with its activities and events. At the end of the ceremony, the President of the University, along with the attending graduates, enjoyed a dinner held on the occasion of the annual ceremony of the University of Sharjah Alumni Association. (ANI/WAM) Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday announced that Hungary can ratify Sweden's North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) bid as soon as February 26, CNN reported. In his annual state of the nation address, Orban said, "Together with the Swedish Prime Minister, we have done important steps to restore confidence." He said, "We are going in the direction that, at the start of parliament's spring session, we can ratify Sweden's accession to NATO." According to the Hungarian government's website, the parliament will reconvene for its spring session on February 26. Hungary is the last NATO member to approve Sweden's accession to the military alliance, according to CNN report. In June last year, Orban's party, Fidesz, said that it expected Sweden to "allay its concerns" before the vote on Sweden's accession to NATO, according to a CNN report. In July, Fidesz told CNN that "Swedish government figures have regularly insulted Hungarian voters and Hungary as a whole." In May 2022, Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership. The two nations applied for NATO membership soon after Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine in 2022. Finland became a member of NATO in April 2023. Orban is considered to be the European leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Initially, Orban hinted that he was not opposed to Sweden joining the bloc, before working to stall it, according to CNN report. In 2023, Hungarian Member of Parliament Katalin Cseh said that Orban's blocking of Sweden's bid was "quite simply, another favour to Vladimir Putin." However, Orban took steps to allow the process to move forward after Turkish leaders decided to approve Sweden's accession to NATO. (ANI) 37th AU summit begins in Addis Ababa with focus on education, development Xinhua) 08:27, February 18, 2024 This photo taken on Feb. 17, 2024 shows an exterior view of the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government opened on Saturday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of the Heads of State and Government opened on Saturday, with a call to increase efforts to improve the state of education in Africa and fast-track the realization of Africa's development endeavors. The two-day meeting, comprising African leaders from AU member states, is held under the AU's theme of the year for 2024, "Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa" at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. As Africa puts a spotlight on education in 2024, the summit convened on how to enhance education and skills to meet the continental vision and market needs, and further deliberated on the progress, challenges and prospects of Africa's overall development. Addressing the opening session, Azali Assoumani, president of the Comoros and chairperson of the AU, highlighted the crucial need for increased efforts to promote continental stability and development. "With particular interest in the promotion and preservation of peace and security on our dear continent, this shared security concern has guided all our activities during our term. The peacefulness of our continent remains the very basis of realizing our vision by 2063 for a united and prosperous Africa," Assoumani said. Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat echoed the sentiment, as he underscored the need for AU member states to collectively tackle incessant challenges that are jeopardizing Africa's development aspirations. "Our main challenges have not diminished in importance. Peace, political and institutional instability, climate change, deficits in economic governance, poverty, marginalization of women and youths in development and leadership processes in our political and social system, remain our main sources of concern," Faki said. The AU commission chief, however, said despite challenges, the African continent has made progress in various sectors, including continental integration, and boosting the African common position on the global arena, among others. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on his part, underscored the need to realize strong regional and continental platforms, where national development challenges from geographical, logistics and security perspectives are taken into account. He further called for advancing Africa's socio-economic and infrastructure integration to fast-track the realization of key development ambitions. "Increasing infrastructure connectivity between our countries, by building roads, airports, and ports, rail networks, pipelines, and communication networks, will link communities, increase trade, and enable economic integration," Ahmed said. As part of the two-day summit, African leaders are expected to deliberate on continental issues, ranging from regional peace and security to continental development, the reform of the AU, and Africa's increased presence on the international stage, as well as boosting the continent's socio-economic and infrastructure integration. This photo taken on Feb. 17, 2024 shows a view of the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of the Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government opened on Saturday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat delivers a speech during the 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 17, 2024. The 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government opened on Saturday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, has confirmed his death and demanded that his body be handed over to his family "immediately." Yarmysh accused Russian officials of lying in order to delay the process, CNN reported. Yarmysh's statement comes after Russian prison service said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's critic Navalny died on Friday after he felt unwell during a walk in his prison and fell unconscious. The cause of his death is not clear. In a post on social media, Kira Yarmysh said, "Alexey Navalny was murdered. His death occurred on February 16 at 2:17 p.m. local time, according to the official message to Alexei's mother," according to CNN report. Yarmysh added, "We demand that Alexey Navalny's body be handed over to his family immediately." The exact location of Navalny's body remains unclear. Navalny's mother and lawyer travelled to the penal colony where the Russian opposition leader was being held on Saturday to receive official confirmation of his death, CNN reported, citing Yarmysh. Yarmysh said, "They waited for two hours, after which a colony employee came out to them and stated that the body of Alexey Navalny was in Salekhard [a nearby town], that investigators from the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation had taken it now, and that they were now conducting an investigation on it," CNN reported. In a post on Telegram, Navalny's team said that the penal colony was closed despite the prison saying it would be open and that Navalny's body was there. Later, Navalny's mother and the lawyer visited Salekhard town. However, upon reaching the mortuary, they were informed that the body was not there. Yarmysh said the Russian Investigative Committee on Saturday informed Navalny's other lawyer later that the body will not be handed over to relatives until the probe is complete. She said, "The results will supposedly be available next week. It's obvious that they are lying and doing everything they can to avoid handing over the body." Navalny had returned to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he was undergoing treatment after being poisoned with Novichok, CNN reported. Upon arrival, Navalny was arrested on charges he dismissed as politically motivated. He has remained behind bars ever since, with concerns for his welfare growing after he was shifted to a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle, according to CNN report. Reports of Navalny's death sparked outrage, with some Western leaders blaming Putin. On Friday, US President Joe Biden said that he is "outraged" by the reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. He blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny's death. In his remarks on Navalny's death, Biden said, "Reports of his death if they're true and I have no reasons to believe that they're not - Russian authorities are going to tell their own story but make no mistake Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. Putin is responsible. What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin's brutality no one should be fooled not in Russia not at home not anywhere in the world." He said Navalny "bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence and all the bad things that the Putin government was doing." Biden stated that Navalny could have lived safely in exile. However, he returned to Russia knowing that he would likely be imprisoned or even killed if he continued to work. Putin lauded Navalny for being the powerful voice for the truth even in prison. Biden said that, like millions of people around the world, "I'm literally both not surprised and outraged by the reported death of Alexei Navalny. He bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence and all the bad things that the Putin government was doing. In response, Putin had him poisoned, he had him arrested. He had him prosecuted for fabricated crimes. He sentenced him to prison he was held in isolation. Even all that didn't stop him from calling out Putin's lies." Meanwhile, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen condoled the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin fears nothing more than dissent of his people. She urged people to unite in a fight to safeguard the freedom and safety of people who oppose 'autocracy'. "Deeply disturbed and saddened by news of the death of Alexei Navalny. Putin fears nothing more than dissent from his own people. A grim reminder of what Putin and his regime are all about. Let's unite in our fight to safeguard the freedom and safety of those who dare to stand up against autocracy," she posted on X. (ANI) Taliban-appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai has called unity among Pashtun tribes in Pakistan crucial for their freedom, The Balochistan Post reported. He said that the Durand Line has divided half of Afghanistan from them and added that they have never accepted the Durand Line as a legitimate border and will not do so in the future. Stanikzai called it an imaginary line drawn on the hearts of Afghans. In his public address at a community gathering in Afghanistan's Logar, he accused Pakistan of forcefully expelling Afghan migrants in an extremely oppressive manner and insisting they return to their homeland. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai said that the land of Pashtuns does not belong to Pakistan and spoke about the unjust treatment of migrants, according to The Balochistan Post report. He asserted that the visa and passport systems have never been accepted and that the Durand Line cannot be enforced upon these Pashtun tribes. He warned that such atrocities could result in events similar to the 1971 separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan and stressed that Pashtun tribes would unite for their freedom, The Balochistan Post reported. The issue of the Durand Line remains highly sensitive in Afghanistan, with local residents considering it not as an international border but as a temporary line regarding the land on both sides. Afghanistan does not consider the Durand Line as an international border, according to The Balochistan Post report. The border, spanning over 2600 kilometres between Pakistan and Afghanistan, includes over 1100 kilometres shared with Balochistan. In the past, Pakistani authorities tried to resolve the Durand Line issue with the Taliban-led government, calling for its international border recognition, according to the report. However, the Taliban-appointed government did not accept it at that time and the issue remains unresolved. (ANI) The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter rejected the poll results and announced a protest campaign against alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, The News International reported. JUI-F provincial president Maulana Ataur Rahman, while addressing a press conference, said his party will stage a protest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the institutions for their bid to push JUIF to the wall and impose 'elements', who 'plundered' the province for 10 years. "The person, who is being projected as chief minister of the province, is known to all. Everyone is aware of his deeds and character," he said. According to the report, JUIF provincial secretary general Ataul Haq Darvesh, secretary of information Abdul Jalil Jan and other leaders of the party were also present at the press conference. The Maulana alleged further that the chief minister of the province was directly involved in the May 9 riots, according to The News International. "He was responsible for attacking institutions and the bureaucracy. The institutions were holding meetings with him, which was tantamount to burying the narrative of May 9 and imposing these elements once again on the province," he said. "JUIF would challenge this attitude of the institutions and would make it clear as with whom the nation was standing and who was being imposed on them against their will," he added. He added that the district leadership, elected representatives and candidates for the elections will decide the date of the protest and flesh out other detalls at a meeting of the provincial shura on February 27, The News International reported. He said there are complaints against 'invisible forces', adding the records from the past elections in terms of rigging were broken this time. Pointing to 10 years of PTI rule, Maulana Fazlur Rahman said the JUIF chief was a seasoned politician who welcomed even his enemies at his home. "A meeting with the PTI delegation doesn't mean that JUIF has stepped back from its principled stance. How can we change our standpoint against the people who pushed the province to the quagmire during their 10-year rule?" he asked. He added that the institutions had nothing to do with elections. "The invisible forces are trying to push things to a point of no return. Such acts cause debacles of states. The invisible forces have planned to repeat the 1971 situation by stealing the mandate of the actual winners," he said. (ANI) In the bustling maritime city of Visakhapatnam, the stage is set for MILAN 24, the largest multilateral naval exercise to date. As the naval forces converge, Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar illuminated the significance of this grand gathering. While speaking to ANI, the Naval Chief remarked, "The MILAN exercise is indeed the largest exercise we have held so far." https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1759107915158294932 "With invitations extended to 58 countries and responses pouring in from over 50 nations, MILAN 24 promises unprecedented participation. A fleet of 18 warships and aircraft stands poised to engage in a meticulously crafted program spanning both sea and harbor phases from February 19th to 27th," he added Admiral Kumar underscores the evolving stature of India, poised to ascend the ranks as the world's third-largest economy by 2030. Against this backdrop, the maritime sector emerges as a cornerstone of national progress, with the imperative to safeguard the oceans and uphold a rules-based order. "The essence of MILAN 24 lies in collaboration, cohesion, and interaction--a testament to the shared commitment to maritime security," the naval chief remarked. As Admiral Kumar reaffirms, protecting national interests in the maritime domain remains paramount, underscoring the Navy's unwavering dedication to safeguarding the seas. While speaking to ANI about the 'MILAN 24, he added, "a new era of maritime cooperation, where nations unite to navigate the complexities of the maritime domain, ensuring that the oceans remain safe, secure, and free--a testament to the enduring spirit of collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region." Eastern Naval Command posted on X, extending a warm welcome for Corvette 20 of the Vietnam People's Navy and USS Halsey (DDG-97) of the United States Navy https://twitter.com/IN_HQENC/status/1759083256438551010?s=20 "Naval vessels from Vietnam and the United States have arrived in Visakhapatnam for the MILAN 2024 maritime exercise," the post on X remarked. https://twitter.com/IN_HQENC/status/1759069543606137193?s=20 Additionally, the visit underscores the commitment to regional security and strengthens defence partnerships. MILAN 2024 serves as a platform for navies to engage in joint exercises and enhance interoperability," the statement added. While observing the role of 'MILAN 24, the post signifies, "As Visakhapatnam hosts these naval vessels, it reaffirms its role as a key maritime hub, fostering cooperation among nations committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise is expected to deepen bonds of friendship and promote peace and stability across the oceans." Moreover, the 12th edition of the MILAN exercise will be held from February 19 to 27 in Visakhapatnam and will see the participation of over 50 countries. The theme of the exercise is "Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future." "The 12th edition of the MILAN exercise to be held at #Visakhapatnam 19 - 27 Feb 24 aims to provide a platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance #security on the high seas & ensure safety of #maritime commerce for growth & prosperity of all," the Indian Navy posted on X. "MILAN would be an excellent platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance security on the high seas and ensure the safety of maritime commerce for the growth and prosperity of all. In addition to building bridges of friendship and strengthening relationships, sea exercise would enhance interoperability, enable the exchange of best practices and boost confidence to undertake missions together in the future, to tackle common challenges," the release added. (ANI) HMAS Warramunga, an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy on Sunday arrived in Visakhapatnam to take part in the multilateral naval exercise, 'MILAN 2024,' the Eastern Naval Command said. According to the Eastern Naval Command, the participation of the Australian warship is a reflection of the close maritime partnership between the two countries. "The Sunrise Command of the #IndianNavy extends a warm welcome to HMAS Warramunga, an Anzac Class Frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Participation of the ship in #MILAN2024 is reflection of the close #maritime partnership between the two nations and navies," Eastern Naval Command posted on X. https://x.com/IN_HQENC/status/1759160077439873209?s=20 Earlier today, Eastern Naval Command extended a warm welcome for Corvette 20 of the Vietnam People's Navy and USS Halsey (DDG-97) of the United States Navy. "Naval vessels from Vietnam and the United States have arrived in Visakhapatnam for the MILAN 2024 maritime exercise," the post on X remarked. Additionally, the visit underscores the commitment to regional security and strengthens defence partnerships. MILAN 2024 serves as a platform for navies to engage in joint exercises and enhance interoperability," the statement added. While observing the role of 'MILAN 24, the post signifies, "As Visakhapatnam hosts these naval vessels, it reaffirms its role as a key maritime hub, fostering cooperation among nations committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise is expected to deepen bonds of friendship and promote peace and stability across the oceans." Moreover, the 12th edition of the MILAN exercise will be held from February 19 to 27 in Visakhapatnam and will see the participation of over 50 countries. The theme of the exercise is "Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future." "The 12th edition of the MILAN exercise to be held at #Visakhapatnam 19 - 27 Feb 24 aims to provide a platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance #security on the high seas & ensure safety of #maritime commerce for growth & prosperity of all," the Indian Navy posted on X. "MILAN would be an excellent platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance security on the high seas and ensure the safety of maritime commerce for the growth and prosperity of all. In addition to building bridges of friendship and strengthening relationships, sea exercise would enhance interoperability, enable the exchange of best practices and boost confidence to undertake missions together in the future, to tackle common challenges," the release added. (ANI) The United States on Saturday warned of exercising its veto power at the UN Security Council against a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, CNN reported. According to the report, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned that if the resolution proposed by Algeria, calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, were to come to a vote at the UN Security Council, Washington would exercise its veto power. In a statement, Thomas-Greenfield said the United States has been working on a deal between Israel and Hamas to facilitate the release of hostages and bring a pause to the fighting for at least six weeks. "Over the last week, President Biden has had multiple calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu, as well as the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, to push this deal forward. Though gaps remain, the key elements are on the table," the ambassador said, according to CNN. "We believe this deal represents the best opportunity to reunite all hostages with their families and enable a prolonged pause in fighting, that would allow for more lifesaving food, water, fuel, medicine, and other essentials to get into the hands of Palestinian civilians who desperately need it," Thomas-Greenfield said. "The resolution put forward in the Security Council, in contrast, would not achieve these outcomes, and indeed, may run counter to them ... For that reason, the United States does not support action on this draft resolution. Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted," she added. On Wednesday, last week, Arab countries in the UN reaffirmed their support for the Algerian draft resolution, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unimpeded humanitarian relief amid Israel's looming ground invasion of Rafah. As reported by CNN, in a press briefing alongside other members, Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, urged the UN to act saying the group believes there is "massive" support for the proposed resolution. In her statement on Saturday, Thomas-Greenfield called on the UN Security Council to, instead, ensure "any action we take in the coming days increases pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal on the table". Stating that the US would continue to engage in diplomacy, she added that the US "will be candid" with Israeli and regional leaders regarding expectations for the protection of Rafah's more than one million civilians. "It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it -- and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities -- in jeopardy," the statement read. (ANI) A 17-year-old boy died after he was stabbed at Hackney Road near the junction with Cremer Street in east London on Saturday, police said in an official statement. The Hackney Metropolitan police were informed at 10:53 pm (local time) on Saturday and officers, London ambulance service were sent to the incident site but despite all the efforts, the boy died at the scene. "His family have been informed and will be supported by specialist officers," the statement said. It added, "A post-mortem examination and formal identification will be arranged in due course. There has been no arrest at this early stage." Moreover, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets said, "My thoughts are with the family of the young person who has tragically lost his life. I can assure them that we will be relentless in seeking to identify whoever was responsible for this murder. "Cordons are in place in Hackney Road for forensic examination of the scene and we have launched what will be an extremely thorough investigation, supported by specialists from across the Met. Local people will also see additional patrols in Shoreditch. If you have any concerns or information please speak with those officers. They are there to support you," he added. Further details awaited. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday informed parliamentarians that the extension of High Impact Community Development (HICD) Projects has been made under the legislative jurisdiction. Answering the question about the extension of HICD Projects up to Rs 200 million raised by opposition MP alleging rules were bypassed, the Prime Minister reiterated that the decision has been made within the law. "Honorable member of parliament Gita Basent raised the issue stating the government has given approval to the Indian Embassy to spend up to 200 Million directly and has bypassed the political parties at the time of making the decision. We have been getting Indian assistance for small development projects. Now the project has been renamed as High Impact Community Development Projects after which the assistance amount and its work area have been further expanded," the Nepal PM said. "Separate annotation has been attempted to establish claiming the Embassy has gained full right in making the expenditure, it is false. Rather this time we have made it clear that those expenses only can be made after getting demand and approval from the Province and Local Levels which would come through the concerned ministries," he added. Earlier this year, Nepal and India signed an agreement during the visit of EAM S Jaishankar to Nepal allowing the Indian Embassy to invest up to Rs 200 million in projects in Nepal. The two sides raised the limit for Indian assistance through High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP), earlier known as small development projects, to Rs 200 million from Rs 50 million. Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava signed the agreement in the presence of Foreign Minister NP Saud and Indian Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar on January 4, 2024. The Cabinet meeting on December 7, 2023, had decided to accept assistance through HICDP. India had initially proposed to raise the limit to Rs 240 million but Nepal agreed to raise it to Rs 200 million after consultation among Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Foreign Minister Saud and Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat. Nepal had first started to accept such assistance of up to Rs 30 million when Surya Bahadur Thapa was the PM in 2003. The limit was then raised to Rs 50 million when Baburam Bhattarai was the PM eight years later. Since its inception in 2003, a total of 544 HICDPs have been undertaken by India in Nepal. Of them, 480 projects have been completed and the remaining 59 projects are still ongoing. After Nepal adopted a federalism structure with the promulgation of the 2015 constitution, Nepal and India worked on how to implement the projects. Province-wise, 84 projects have been completed in Koshi, 81 projects in Madhes, 105 in Bagmati, 61 in Gandaki, 60 projects in Lumbini, 14 in Karnlai and 41 in Sudurpaschim. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the foreign minister of Palestine, Riyad al-Maliki, in Munich on Sunday and discussed the situation in Gaza. In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar wrote, "Nice to see Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki." "Exchanged views on the current situation in Gaza," he added. The External Affairs Minister is currently in Munich, Germany, to attend the prestigious security conference there. The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 offers a unique opportunity for high-level debates on the world's most pressing security challenges. Six decades after its foundation by Ewald von Kleist, the MSC has assembled senior decision-makers and thought leaders from around the world for discussions on the most pressing international security concerns in February 2024, according to the conference's official statement. This year's conference was held under the chairmanship of the German Ambassador to the US, Christoph Heusgen. Speaking at a panel discussion at the ongoing Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Jaishankar said there was no justification for the 'terrorism' that was unleashed on the kibbutzes of southern Israel on October 7, last year. "All of us follow enormous efforts which Tony (Antony Blinken) is putting in right now,but look the way we look at it has different dimensions, different elements to this," Jaishankar said. "We must be clear that what happened on October 7 was terrorism. No justification, no explanation, it was terrorism," the EAM added. As he went on to speak, the EAM also stated that a large number of countries " strongly believe in two-state solution." Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on February 17 to rising appeals from world leaders to avoid a ground operation in Rafah, remarking that doing so would mean "losing the war against Hamas," as reported by The Times of Israel. "Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are essentially telling us: 'Lose the war.' I won't let that happen," he vowed at an evening press conference in Jerusalem. "We won't capitulate to any pressure," he said. According to The Times of Israel, Rafah, located on the Gaza-Egypt border, is the final remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory, but it also houses over a million displaced Palestinians sheltering from war. In the previous discussions, Israel claimed that it would draw up a plan for civilians to evacuate before it enters, and believes it cannot effectively curtail Hamas without taking Rafah. At least some of the 134 hostages remaining in Gaza are thought to be in the city, as per The Times of Israel. Hamas leadership is also believed to be sheltering there. Netanyahu said at the press conference that he'd told US President Joe Biden that Israel will fight until "total victory," and yes, that includes action in Rafah." But the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) operation in Gaza's southernmost city, he stressed, will "obviously" come only after civilians there have an opportunity "to evacuate to safe areas." (ANI) Amnesty International (NGO that campaigns for human rights) has issued a statement condemning the murder of Sindhi political activist and teacher Hidayatullah Lohar, emphasising the urgent need for an independent and impartial investigation by Pakistani authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, as reported by The Balochistan Post. In a post on X, Amnesty International remarked, "PAKISTAN: @amnestycalls on the authorities to conduct an independent, impartial and prompt investigation into the killing of Sindhi political activist and teacher Hidayatullah Lohar, and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable without recourse to the death penalty." https://twitter.com/amnestysasia/status/1758855511116562729 The tragic killing of Hidayat Lohar underscores the grave risks faced by human rights workers in Pakistan. Lohar, who was forcibly disappeared in 2017 and recovered two years later in May 2019, was recently shot and killed by armed men. Hidayat Lohar, father of Surath Lohar, leader of Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh, and Sasi Lohar, fell victim to this heinous crime. His family members have been staging protests demanding justice for his murder, as per The Balochistan Post. Surath Lohar, in a video released on social media, squarely blamed Pakistani intelligence agencies for his father's murder. He highlighted ongoing attempts to subject his father to enforced disappearance again, even after his previous ordeal. According to The Balochistan Post, expressing desperation for justice, Hidayat Lohar's daughter, along with Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh, has called upon international organisations and the United Nations to intervene. They seek accountability from Pakistan regarding her father's murder and assistance in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The killing of Hidayat Lohar not only represents a personal tragedy but also signifies the broader threats faced by human rights activists in Pakistan. Amnesty International's call for a prompt and transparent investigation resonates with the growing concerns over impunity and lack of accountability in cases of violence against activists. As voices demanding justice grow louder, the international community's attention is drawn to the plight of individuals like Hidayat Lohar, who dedicate their lives to advocating for human rights and justice in Pakistan. In the face of adversity, the resolve to seek justice for Hidayat Lohar remains unwavering, as his family and supporters continue to seek accountability and redress for this senseless act of violence. (ANI) Barrister Gohar called for a quick investigation into the claims of rigging made by the Commissioner Rawalpindi division during a press conference in Islamabad. It should be noted that Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaqat Ali Chatha resigned from his position after acknowledging that there had been alleged electoral manipulation in 2024. Chattha acknowledged that election tampering occurred and that under his supervision, candidates with a lead in their constituencies and over 70,000 votes were turned into losers with the use of fictitious seals, reported ARY News. Barrister Gohar claimed that the Commissioner had to identify the victorious candidates when he declared that they had been defeated. The PTI leader claimed, "We were winning the election based on Form 45, but later our candidates were defeated with Form 47." The Commissioner's statement, according to Barrister Gohar, is extremely serious. "If we go towards a new election, we have to open the Pandora's Box," he continued. It is important to note that Omar Ayub Khan, the secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was suggested by the party's founder as a candidate for prime minister (PM). (ANI) "It's good news that our dispute with Sweden will soon be settled," Orban said in his state-of-the-nation address on Saturday in Budapest. "We are going in the direction that at the start of parliament's spring session we can ratify Sweden's accession to NATO," the Hungarian PM added. Orban emphasised that actions had been taken "to rebuild trust" between the two nations by him and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. But he omitted to mention what those actions were. In May 2022, Sweden made a dramatic policy change in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine by applying to join NATO, according to Al Jazeera. Hungary is the only NATO nation that has not yet approved Sweden's application. All other members of NATO have supported this process, according to Al Jazeera. The only other country that had not approved the membership was Turkey, but last month the Turkish parliament approved Sweden's accession. Earlier this month, members of the ruling Fidesz party in Hungary abstained from an emergency session of parliament where a vote on Sweden's NATO candidature was scheduled. The Hungarian Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on February 26. (ANI) Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley slammed former President Donald Trump over his recent comments on NATO, and accused him of 'empowering' Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN reported. "When you hear Donald Trump say in South Carolina a week ago that he would encourage Putin to invade our allies if they weren't pulling their weight, that's bone-chilling because all he did in that one moment was empower Putin," Haley said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week.' Haley's remarks come after Trump said on February 10 that he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any NATO member country that doesn't meet spending guidelines on defence. This was a stunning admission that he would not abide by the collective defence clause at the heart of the alliance if re-elected, as reported by CNN. "NATO was busted until I came along," Trump said at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Haley's home state. "I said, 'Everybody's gonna pay.' They said, 'Well, if we don't pay, are you still going to protect us?' I said, 'Absolutely not.' They couldn't believe the answer." Haley's comments followed the death of Russian opposition leader and outspoken Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny while in prison on Friday. Although the cause of his reported death remained unclear, the news has drawn forceful reactions from Western leaders, including President Joe Biden, who pinned the blame on Putin, saying that "what has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin's brutality." Trump has declined to address Navalny's death directly. On being asked, the Trump campaign pointed to a post on Truth Social from the former president that did not mention Navalny or Putin and instead bashed Biden and asserted, "America is no longer respected." Haley on Sunday continued to pile on the criticism of Trump and his supposed support for Putin. "He sided with a guy that kills his political opponents. He sided with a thug that arrests American journalists and holds them hostage, and he sided with a guy who wanted to make a point to the Russian people, 'Don't challenge me in the next election or this will happen to you too,'" Haley said. The former UN ambassador also highlighted Trump's recent legal woes on Saturday, claiming the reason he may not have spoken about Navalny's death is because "he's distracted." "He may not be saying anything because he's distracted because of his court cases. That's a very big possibility. There's a lot of them. We know he said he's going to be spending more time in the courtroom than he's going to be spending on the campaign trail," Haley said at a campaign stop in Irmo, South Carolina, a week ahead of the state's GOP primary. Haley's comments came a day after Trump was fined USD 355 million in his New York civil fraud trial. The former president was also recently ordered in a defamation case to pay USD 83 million to Jean Carroll, and he faces four criminal indictments, according to CNN. Meanwhile, Trump and Haley are supposed to face off next week at the South Carolina GOP primary, where the former president will come riding on two huge wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, and the former governor will have to show her mettle in the state, where she once served as the governor. (ANI) Taiwan rejected Beijing's criticism of the Taiwanese Coast Guard's handling of a case near Kinmen that left two Chinese fishermen dead and said that Taipei will continue to "enforce the law in waters it controls," Focus Taiwan reported. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) -- which is a top government agency in charge of cross-strait affairs -- said in a statement on Sunday that the government will continue "to enforce the law in the waters it controls" based on the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. Under the law, Taiwanese authorities may take any defensive action necessary if a Chinese vessel enters "restricted" or "prohibited" waters controlled by Taiwan, the MAC said. The MAC also justified the Taiwan Coast Guard's chase of a Chinese speedboat that trespassed within 1.1 nautical miles of the eastern coast of the Island of Kinmen on February 14, which resulted in the capsizing of the boat, as reported by Focus Taiwan. All four men on the boat fell overboard and were picked up by the Coast Guard. Two of them were taken to the hospital but were pronounced dead after efforts to resuscitate them failed. Later in the day, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), issued a statement strongly condemning Taiwan over the deaths of the two Chinese nationals. On February 15, the MAC responded by calling the incident "regrettable," but said an investigation indicated that Taiwanese officers had acted "lawfully." It also urged China to take effective actions to restrict illegal activities by its nationals in Taiwan's waters. However, China denied the concept of "prohibited or restricted areas," arguing that fishermen from both sides of the Strait have traditionally operated in the waters around Xiamen and Kinmen, which are separated by a distance of fewer than 10 kilometres in Taiwan. China's Taiwan Affairs Office said that Taiwan should release both the boat and the two Chinese nationals as soon as possible, adding that "China reserves the right to take further measures, and Taiwan will bear all consequences." China's Coast Guard further announced that it will "enhance its maritime law enforcement capabilities and increase regular patrols in the waters around Xiamen and Kinmen." Notably, at present, the prohibited zone around the main islands of Kinmen and Little Kinmen extends about halfway to the Chinese coast to the north and northeast, up to about four kilometres to the east, and about eight kilometres to the south, according to Focus Taiwan. Following Beijing's latest move, the Kinmen County Government, the Kinmen Fishermen's Association and opposition Kuomintang lawmaker Jessica Chen, who represents Kinmen, all expressed concern and urged local fishermen to exercise caution while operating at sea. (ANI) SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities have launched an investigation into an incident that left one man dead and another man injured in Springfield early Saturday morning. According to the Springfield Police Department, the investigation began after officers responded to a crash in the 1000 block of Memorial Boulevard at approximately 2:47 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. Woman wanted for deadly shooting in Antioch arrested in Kentucky At the scene, police reported they discovered a man inside a vehicle who appeared to have a gunshot wound to his chest. First responders performed life-saving measures and the man was taken to TriStar Northcrest Emergency Room, where he later died from his injury, officials said. During the investigation, officers said they learned that a second man suffered a gunshot wound to his arm and was also taken to Tristar Northcrest for treatment. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee In a statement to News 2, authorities said, The incident involving both gunshot wound victims is believed to be connected at this time and allegedly occurred in the parking lot of Sweeties Hookah Bar & Lounge located at 313 Memorial Blvd. Springfield, Tennessee. The Springfield Police Department said detectives are leading the investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Lt. Charles Bogle at 615-384-8422. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. SILVER SPRINGS, Fla. - One person was killed and a police K-9 was injured following an officer-involved shooting in Marion County, deputies said. On Saturday morning around 9 a.m., deputies responded to a call in Silver Springs in the 900 block of NE 144th Court about a situation involving a battery strangulation suspect. The man was located in the backyard where he "initiated gunfire" with deputies, injuring K-9 Leo. Credit: Marion County Sheriff's Office Deputies returned fire on the man who later died after being taken to a hospital. The man has been identified as 45-year-old Jeremy Bradsher. According to deputies, K-9 Leo is stable with good vitals. The identity of the man has not been released. No other details about the incident have been released. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) One person was injured in a shooting on Sprenger Avenue on Saturday night, according to Buffalo police. Police responded to the 100 block of Sprenger around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, where a 37-year-old Buffalo man had been shot while outside. He was transported to ECMC for apparent non-life threatening injuries. The shooting is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call or text the confidential TIPCALL line at 716-847-2255. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. INDIANAPOLIS Police are investigating after one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting at an illegal party early Sunday morning on Indys west side. According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, at around 12:18 a.m., officers were already at the Onyx Event Center in the 7500 block of Rockville Road preparing to raid an illegal party happening in the facility. Police said the building was issued a cease-and-desist order and was not allowed to be hosting a function. Police said, while they were staging outside the building, multiple people stormed out and reported someone had been shot inside. Officers soon discovered two men had been shot inside the building. One of the men was pronounced dead on scene, according to police. The man who died at the scene was identified as 28-year-old Terrell Reese by the Marion County Coroners Office on Monday. The second man, later identified as a 32-year-old, was transported to IU Methodist Hospital in critical condition. A third victim, later identified as a 21-year-old female, was located in a vehicle and then transported to an area hospital in stable condition. Police said numerous people ran out of the building and may have witnessed the shooting take place. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Detective Colton Smith at 317-327-3475, or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS, if you wish to remain anonymous. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTTV CBS4Indy. (KRON) Two apartment units were displaced and one person suffered minor injuries in an apartment fire on Saturday, the Oakland Fire Department announced Sunday. Oakland Fire Department Oakland Fire Department Machine gun, suspected marijuana found after traffic stop in Fairfield Saturday morning, downtown Oakland Fire Department crews responded to a fire in an apartment of a five-story building in the 1700 block of Broadway. One resident was treated by medical emergency personnel for a minor injury. According to OFD, residents from two units were displaced but declined support from the Red Cross. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. INDIANAPOLIS Police are investigating after a man was found shot and killed in a car Sunday morning on Indys northwest side. According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, just before 6 a.m., officers responded to the 5700 block of Little Creek Drive, on the report of shots fired. This scene was reportedly near West 56th Street and Moller Road. When officers arrived, they located an adult male in the drivers seat of a car with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. Police said the vehicle was in the parking lot of an apartment complex, but not in a parking spot. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Marion County Coroners Office identified the man who died at the scene as 26-year-old Bryant Melton Jr. on Monday. IMPD encourages those with information on the incident to contact Michael Wright at the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475 or Michael.Wright@indy.gov. Tipsters who wish remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477, www.CrimeTips.org or via the P3tips app. Anonymous tips that lead to a felony arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTTV CBS4Indy. DALLAS - A 16-year-old boy was killed and a 15-year-old girl was injured in a shooting in Dallas Friday night. The shooting happened just before 9 p.m., in the 2400 block of Robert B. Cullum Boulevard. Responding officers found two teens who had been shot. One was found in a breezeway, and the other was found in an apartment. Both were taken to a hospital, where one was later pronounced dead. The other victim was treated and released. Police said this appears to be an isolated incident. No details were released about a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Yahir Perez at 469-849-3757 or email yahir.perez@dallaspolice.gov. A 16-year-old Taylor Swift fan was killed in a car crash on Thursday while she was on her way to Swifts concert in Melbourne, Australia. Mieka Pokarier was traveling with her mother, Kim, and 10-year-old sister Freya when their SUV was struck by a semitruck, TMZ reported Saturday. All three passengers were injured in the collision, in addition to the driver of the semitruck, but only Miekas injuries proved fatal. She was pronounced dead by emergency responders who arrived on the scene, while Freya was airlifted to Sydneys Westmead Hospital in critical condition and placed in a medically induced coma. Their mother was treated for minor injuries and taken to a local hospital, while the driver of truck, whose identity has not been publicly shared, was also taken to a hospital in stable condition. So far, no one has been charged or ticketed in the crash, and police are continuing to investigate the incident. The Pokarier family had been making a 1,700 mile-trek from the Gold Coast, in Queensland, to the concert in Melbourne. The accident occurred near Dubbo, a city that marked roughly the halfway point on their journey. A GoFundMe page has been set up by the sisters godmother, Karleigh Fox, in order to help support the family and cover their medical costs. As of Saturday evening, the fundraiser had brought in more than $31,000. Fox wrote that Freya was in critical condition, fighting for her life with brain injuries, a damaged pelvis and broken leg, and that the rest of her family had flown out to Sydney to be at her bedside. Her mother is also expected to fly from Dubbo on Saturday to join them. The tragic incident marks the second time in just months that a Swift fan has died trying to attend the popstars international Eras Tour. Back in November, a 23-year old psychology student named Ana Clara Benevides Machado died from heat exhaustion before a concert in Rio De Janeiro. I cant believe Im writing these words but it is with shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show, Swift wrote in a heartfelt post to Instagram at the time. She postponed her show the following night on Nov.18, citing the extreme temperatures in Rio. The safety and well being of my fans, fellow performers, and crew has to and always will come first, Swift said. Swift also met privately with the Benevides family and gave them VIP passes to a later show in Sao Paulo. About 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed and 30,000 others injured during the capture of the Ukrainian stronghold city in the partially occupied Donetsk Oblast, Tavria Defense Forces spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy said in an interview with the BBC on Feb. 17. Meanwhile, former Aidar battalion company commander and war veteran Yevhen Dykyi estimated the number of Russians killed in Avdiivka at at least 60,000 in his Feb. 17 interview with Radio NV. Read also: Avdiivka withdrawal vital to protect Ukrainian soldiers lives, says Zelenskyy On Feb. 17, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had withdrawn from Avdiivka. The commander-in-chief said that the decision was made to avoid encirclement and to save the lives and health of the soldiers. During the withdrawal of units from Avdiivka, a small number of Ukrainian soldiers were taken prisoner, Tavria Operational-Strategic Group Commander Oleksandr Tarnavskyi reported on Feb. 17. The withdrawal from Avdiivka was the correct decision to safeguard the lives of Ukrainian defenders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17. Read also: Whole graveyard of Russian military equipment in war-torn region north of Avdiivka Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Some presidents like John F. Kennedy were born to wealthy families with large estates. Others came from working-class families who lived in small cabins or on farms. President Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-bedroom log cabin on the Kentucky frontier. Unlike the Kennedys and Roosevelts of the world, some presidents' journeys to Washington began in surprisingly humble homes, cottages, or log cabins. In fact, President Joe Biden found the transition to the White House so jarring in comparison to his upbringing that he likened it to a "gilded cage." From Georgia farmlands to the island of O'ahu, here's a look at 17 presidents' modest beginnings. John Adams was born in this quiet cottage in rural Massachusetts in 1735. John Adams' birthplace. Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Getty Images In the summer months, John Adams' father, Deacon, would till the 6 acres of land his humble cottage was situated on, according to the National Park Service, which overseas the Adams National Historical Park. During the winter he practiced cordwaining, a form of leather shoe making. James Buchanan, the United States' 15th president, was born in this unpretentious log cabin in 1791. James Buchanan's childhood cabin. MPI/Getty Images The cabin is in surprisingly good shape for being built sometime during the 1700s. It was moved from Buchanan's birthplace of Stony Batter in Cove Gap (which is now a state park), Pennsylvania, to the Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. James K. Polk grew up on a humble homestead, which has been recreated for a National Historic Site. President James K. Polk's birthplace. North Carolina Historic Sites The 150-acre farm in North Carolina where Polk was born in 1795 now features vintage 1800s log buildings including a cabin, a barn, and a kitchen and furnishings similar to the buildings original to the property, according to according to North Carolina Historic Sites' website. Polk lived on the property until he left for Tenessee at age 11. He would later return to North Carolina to attend college at the University of North Carolina. Millard Fillmore spent his childhood in this log cabin in New Hope, New York. Millard Fillmore's childhood home. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Fillmore, who was born in 1800, was one of eight children, and his parents were farmers. Though the birthplace of the 13th US president is no longer standing, a plaque and picnic tables now commemorate the location. Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin on the Kentucky frontier. A recreation of President Lincoln's log cabin on display in 1933 at the Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago. Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago/Getty Images Lincoln was born in 1809 in a small log cabin on his father's Sinking Spring Farm near Louisville, Kentucky. Lincoln's family lived at the cabin until he was 2 and a 1/2, according to the National Park Service. His father, a carpenter and farmer, then moved the family to another farm 10 miles away. The original cabin is no longer standing but a replica, pictured, is on display at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park. Ulysses S. Grant lived in this quaint cottage for less than a year after his birth in 1822. Ulysses S. Grant's birthplace in Point Pleasant, Ohio. AP Photo Grant's family paid $2 a month to live in this cottage for just under a year until his father, Jesse Grant, who was a tanner, saved enough money to build a tannery in the nearby town of Georgetown, Ohio. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a historic house museum operated under the Ohio Historical Society. The inside is furnished with items that once belonged to Grant. A replica shows the modest log cabin where future president James Garfield was born. A replica of James Garfield's birthplace. Beth J. Harpaz/AP Photo The original cabin in Moreland Hills, Ohio, where James Garfield the youngest of five children was born in 1831 no longer stands. But a replica cabin, a statue, and a plaque commemorate his birth. In 1843, William McKinley was born in an upstairs bedroom of a two-story Ohio home that his parents were renting. William McKinley's birthplace in Niles, Ohio as it appeared in 1902, the year after his death. C.H. Graves/Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images The original structure burned down in 1937, but it was recreated at the McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center in Niles, Ohio. Herbert Hoover spent the first three years of his life in this two-bedroom cottage in West Branch, Iowa. President Herbert Hoover's birthplace. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Hoover was born in this small cottage in 1874. The National Park Service reported that one of the rooms was used as a bedroom for Hoover, his parents, his older brother and, after her birth, his younger sister. The second room was a living and kitchen area. The family later moved to a two-story house. Hoover later said, "This cottage where I was born is physical proof of the unbounded opportunity of American life." Harry S. Truman was born in this small house in Lamar, Missouri, in 1884. The birthplace of President Harry S. Truman. Alfred Eisenstaedt/Getty Images Free tours are available of this Missouri State Historical Site where President Harry S. Truman was born. Inside, furnishings from the period show what life was like when Truman was growing up in the late 1800s. In 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson was born in a ranch-style home in Johnson City, Texas. LBJ outside his family home in 1964. Bettmann/Getty Images The home where Johnson was born and spent his childhood was constructed in 1889 by his grandfather Samuel Ealy Johnson, Sr., reported the National Park Service. In 1964, LBJ hired the architect J. Roy White of Austin, Texas, to reconstruct his birth home for people interested in learning more about his heritage. According to the NPS, Johnson's birthplace home "has the distinction of being the only presidential birthplace reconstructed, refurbished, and interpreted by an incumbent President." LBJ spent his childhood in a different house in Johnson City. LBJ's reconstructed childhood home. Cynthia Dorminey/NPS Johnson lived in his boyhood home from the age of 5 until he graduated high school in 1924. Both his birthplace and boyhood homes are part of a National Historic Park. Ronald Reagan was born in an apartment above a bakery turned bank building in downtown Tampico, Illinois, in 1911. The apartment building where Ronald Reagan was born. Scott Olson/Getty Images Though Ronald Reagan only lived in the apartment for four months after his birth, the bank is now a gift shop for the Reagan Museum. President Richard Nixon was born in this single-family home in 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. Former presidents Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Ford pose for a picture with their wives outside Richard Nixon's birthplace and childhood home in 1990. Wally McNamee/Contributor/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images Nixon's father built the home on his citrus farm using a kit, a popular housing method in the early 20th century, according to the National Park Service. Nixon would spend the first nine years of his life here before moving to Whittier, California. Although ownership of the home changed over time, it was restored prior to the opening of Nixon's Library in 1990 and is now a National Historic Landmark open to visitors. The Plains, Georgia, farm where Jimmy Carter spent most of his childhood had no indoor electricity or plumbing and relied on wood stoves for heat. The farm where Jimmy Carter grew up. Jeffrey M. Frank/Shutterstock Carter's family moved to this farm when he was 4 years old. He helped his father, Earl, raise cotton, corn, peanuts, and sugar cane, all of which they sold alongside other items including coffee and kerosene at a country store near their house. The National Park Service quotes Carter as saying, "The early years of my life on the farm were full and enjoyable, isolated but not lonely. We always had enough to eat, no economic hardship, but no money to waste. We felt close to nature, close to members of our family, and close to God." President Joe Biden was born in 1942 and spent the first 10 years of his life living with his maternal grandparents in Scranton, Pennsylvania. President Joe Biden's childhood home. Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images While it's not the most humble of houses on this list, it's still less glamorous than many other former presidents' childhood homes. Biden lived in the three-story house at 2446 N. Washington Ave. until the age of 10 with his maternal grandparents, the Finnegans, who owned the house, The New York Times reported. The Bidens left Scranton because of a weakening job market. After commuting to his job as a boiler cleaner for a heating and cooling company in Wilmington, Delaware, for some time, Joe Biden Sr. moved the family to an apartment in Claymont, Delaware, in 1953. The Bush family lived in this 1,400-square-foot home in Midland, Texas. President Bush and first lady Laura Bush visit the president's childhood home in Midland, Texas, in 2008. Evan Vucci/AP George W. Bush, pictured at the home in 2008, was born in 1946. Though it started out simple, the George W. Bush Childhood Home now includes a 4,000-square-foot visitor center and exhibition gallery, as well as a neighboring home that has been turned into administrative offices, a temporary education center, and a gift shop. A young Barack Obama lived in this single-family craftsman home in Honolulu, Hawaii. Barack Obama's childhood home. Google Maps Obama and his mother rented the home for three years in the 1960s, starting when he was 3, while she attended the nearby University of Hawai'i at Manoa. The three-bedroom home was listed for $2 million in 2020. It previously sold for $1.3 million in 2006, according to Forbes. Read the original article on Business Insider Russia launched missile attacks against Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast on the evening of Feb. 17, killing at least two people and trapping others under the rubble, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Kramatorsk and Sloviansk are key Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk Oblast. Both have repeatedly suffered deadly attacks by Russian forces. The attack killed a woman in her late 40s and a 23-year-old man. Russia targeted Kramatorsk at around 8 p.m. with three missiles, hitting the industrial zone and residential areas, the governor reported. The projectile that hit the residential area reportedly destroyed two houses and damaged at least 23. Filashkin said that three people had been trapped under the rubble of one of the destroyed houses. The governor later reported that a woman in her late 40s had been found dead while rescuers worked to uncover the remaining victims. He then announced that a 23-year-old man was found dead in the rubble, and one other person remained trapped. In Sloviansk, a Russian missile hit a school, with one person reportedly trapped in the rubble. First responders are working on-site as rescue operations are ongoing. Read also: Im in shock: Russias mass attack on Kyiv shatters lives and dreams Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Two of the 22 suspects indicted for an $11.1 million Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud scheme were convicted, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Officials announced Friday that Teldrin Foster and Carla Jackson were convicted by a federal jury in Atlanta on Thursday. The two, from Decatur and Tucker respectively, faced charges of a variety of types of financial fraud and money laundering. As previously reported by Channel 2 Action News, they were first charged in 2021 among nearly two dozen people involved in the PPP fraud scheme, USDOJ said. During the investigation, federal officials seized almost $4 million in PPP loan proceeds, four luxury vehicles, and several jewelry items. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Foster was convicted of bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, making false statements to a federally insured financial institution and money laundering in connection to 14 loan applications. Separately, Jackson was convicted of two counts of money laundering in connection with laundering the proceeds of a PPP loan. The Paycheck Protection Program was created by the federal government to help business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering forgivable loans to cover expenses such as payroll and other business needs during the pandemic. TRENDING STORIES: Court records, and evidence at trial, show that Foster and co-conspirators submitted or helped submit PPP applications on behalf of 14 businesses for loans of roughly $800,000 each. In the loan applications, the co-conspirators certified that each applicant business was in operation on Feb. 15, 2020, and had employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes or that it paid independent contractors; that the funds would be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or to make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments, according to the Dept. of Justice. Further, USDOJ said co-conspirators reported that each business had approximately 60 employees and approximately $300,000 in average monthly payroll expenses. To get the loan approved, USDOJ said the co-conspirators provided an IRS Form 941, which is used to report payroll taxes, but in reality, each Form 941 was fraudulent. The loans were approved and deposited into the businesses accounts, then Jackson and others laundered some of the funds through transactions made to disguise where the funds came from and how they were spent, USDOJ said. Now, justice officials say Foster and Jackson face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud and money laundering charges, and a possibility of 30 years for each bank fraud and false statement charge. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: CHICAGO FBI agents on Wednesday arrested two men in connection with a monthslong string of suburban bank heists, according to a criminal complaint. Donald Doc Bennett, 83, and Edward Binert, 55, met while serving federal time for previous robberies, the complaint said. Binert told law enforcement after his arrest that Bennett had been visiting him from Kentucky. The pair are now accused of using a gun to intimidate employees at a Hickory Hills Chase Bank into handing over almost $7,000 on Feb. 14, the complaint said. Special agent Cassandra Johnson wrote in the complaint that Bennett and Binerts contact information appeared on rental car paperwork for vehicles associated with several previous bank robberies in Oak Lawn. The FBI was investigating a total of seven robberies in Oak Lawn, Lombard, Willowbrook, Tinley Park, Glen Ellyn and Hickory Hills between June 2023 and February 2024, Johnson wrote. In the robberies that took place before Feb. 14, the suspects were older white men in face coverings who showed a gun to the teller, demanded money and used a rental car as a getaway vehicle, Johnson wrote. Cellphone tracking information indicated that the contact numbers listed on rental car agreements had been in the vicinity of four of the targeted banks around the time they were robbed, according to the complaint. FBI agents arrested the pair the night of the Feb. 14 robbery and found a wig, the Illinois license plates seen on different rental cars, a gray hat with attached hair, makeup and three loaded guns by the door, tucked between sofa seat cushions and on a bedside table. Agents also recovered a stack of wrapped bills and clothes and shoes apparently worn during the robbery earlier that day, according to the complaint. Binert admitted to the Feb. 14 robbery and said he and Bennett met in 2006 while in federal prison in Michigan, the complaint said. Binert pleaded guilty in 2004 to holding four employees of a Plainfield bank hostage for about three hours before surrendering to authorities. Hed already absconded with almost $150,000 in three preceding robberies of banks in Bolingbrook and Plainfield, the Tribune reported at the time. Bennett, known as the leaping bandit for his distinctive way of hopping over counters to access cash drawers, was on his second prison stint following a 1989 conviction for robbing a bank in the Chicago area. Hed been sentenced to 50 years without parole. Information from the Federal Bureau of Prisons shows Bennett was released in April 2020. A detective on Bennetts case in 1989 said a police officer asked him after his capture what he would do once he left prison as an older man. Jump counters again, Bennett is said to have responded. But it probably wont be as easy. Two police officers and a first responder were killed in Burnsville, Minnesota, responding to a call of a family in danger Sunday morning, according Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The city of Burnsville released a statement identifying those killed as officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, as well as Adam Finseth, 40, who worked as a firefighter and paramedic. Another officer, Adam Medlicott, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day, Walz said. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville. Medlicott was shot at the scene and is expected to survive, said Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz. "Our folks come to work every day and are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life, but no one expects it to happen," Burnsville Fire Department Chief BJ Jungmann said at the Sunday press conference. He added that it was a "tragic day" and that "we are all grieving." Schwartz echoed that sentiment, calling the fallen officers "heroes." "Our police officers and our fire paramedics, they come to work every day. They do it willingly. They know that they might have to give up their life for their partners, for someone else. They know they have to give up their life sometimes, and they do it anyways," Schwartz said. "And you cannot understand it unless youre in the profession." According to a statement from the city, police were called to a residence at 1:50 a.m. local time Sunday over a report that an armed man was barricaded inside with family members. Evans called it a "domestic violence situation" and said there were seven children, aged 2-15, found inside the home with the suspect. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said earlier on social media that it responded to a scene where there have been reports of officers involved in a domestic-related shooting. Evans said officers negotiated with the suspect while additional officers responded to the scene. During those negotiations, the man opened fired, killing Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth, and injuring Medlicott. Police gathered in a Burnsville, Minn., neighborhood on Feb. 18, 2024. (KARE 11) Evans said investigators were unsure of the "exact exchange of gunfire that occurred" between the suspect and "several officers" who returned fire. He added that the suspect had "several guns and large amounts of ammunitions and shot at the police officers from multiple positions within the home," including the "upper portion" and main floor of the residence. Officers also took fire from outside the home, Evans said. At least one of the officers was shot inside the home, he said, adding that officials were still "piecing together" whether the two other officers were shot inside or outside. The alleged shooter was reported dead around 8 a.m., and the other family members safely left the home later in the morning, the city statement said. There had been no prior calls for service at the home or regarding the suspected shooter, Evans said. He asked for patience while the department investigates the incident and noted the investigation was at its initial stages. Were hurting as a team and as a family, particularly for those individuals who have chosen our police and our fire departments as a career to serve this community and to live out day to day what is one of the most important things here in Burnsville, and that's keeping our community safe," Burnsville City Manager Gregg Lindberg said at the press conference. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement that she was "devastated" by the news that two police officers and a first responder were "killed in the line of duty." She added in a post on social media site X that she attended a vigil Sunday night in their honor. "Our police officers and first responders put their lives on the line to keep all of us safe. We will never forget their sacrifice. My heart goes out to the loved ones of the victims and to the Burnsville community," Klobuchar said. Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge and Adam Finseth. Three lives lost in the line of duty today, protecting young children from unspeakable danger. My heart goes out to their families and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/9Iy4XodFsZ Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 19, 2024 Both the city of Golden Valley, located 20 miles north of Burnsville, and the West St. Paul police departments offered condolences on social media. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara released a statement calling Sunday a "tragic and heartbreaking day" and offering his condolences "to the loved ones of the police officers and paramedic who were killed, and to the families of every Burnsville first responder." "The two officers and the paramedic paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said. "On a day like today, I ask that we remember that our first responders are the real heroes among us." Jim Nash, a Minnesota state representative, also posted to social media about the shooting. My heart is heavy for the families of these officers, the community of Burnsville, and for our country because this headline is not unique, Nash wrote. A group of state legislators including state Sen. Jim Carlson, state Sen. Lindsey Port, state Rep. Kaela Berg, state Rep. Jessica Hanson and state Rep. Liz Reyer released a statement Sunday afternoon, saying, Our hearts ache for the first responders who died in the line of duty this morning, and calling the deceased beloved community members, neighbors, and friends. We stand in support of the children and family of those involved in the domestic abuse call and this traumatic incident, the statement continued. The state lawmakers noted that these are some of the most dangerous calls that our officers respond to and that they plan to work with law enforcement and survivors to make them safer for everyone. Burnsville is a place where we take care of each other, lean on our neighbors in times of need, and act together to make our city the best it can be, the lawmakers said. Incorporated in 1964, Burnsville is a suburb located south of both Minneapolis and St. Paul. According to the citys website, its the ninth largest suburb in the metro area, with more than 64,000 residents. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Two police officers and a firefighter were shot and killed Sunday while responding to a distress call at a suburban Minnesota home, police and state officials said. The shooting in Burnsville, Minn., a suburb south of Minneapolis, also left the suspect dead, police said. A third police officer was injured. We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) said that police negotiated with the suspect inside the house for four hours before a SWAT team raided the building. Seven children were inside the home. Details on the suspect or the status of the children were not immediately clear. City officials identified the slain officers as Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27. Firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, was also killed. We are heartbroken. Our law enforcement community is heartbroken. Were just devastated at the horrific loss, MPPOA Executive Director Brian Peters said in a statement. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), who represents the area, mourned the losses. Im horrified to see this kind of violence in our community, she said in a statement. Today serves as another solemn reminder that those who protect our communities do so at great personal risk. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Buffalo police are investigating after two men were injured in an overnight shooting inside a speakeasy on East Lovejoy Street, police said Sunday. A police spokesperson said two men were shot during some type of dispute or altercation while inside of a speakeasy operation in the 1100 block of East Lovejoy just before 4 a.m. Sunday. The men, aged 49 and 34, were taken in civilian vehicles to Erie County Medical Center. As of 3:40 p.m., the men are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. 1 injured in shooting on Sprenger Avenue Saturday The men were not identified by police. Police asked anyone with any information on the shooting to call the Buffalo Police Departments tip line at (716) 847-2255. Latest Local News Justin McMullen is a Western New York native who joined the News 4 team in 2023. You can read more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. A man is dead after a car crash in Bethel Township Saturday afternoon, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol Springfield Post Sergeant R.M. May. At 11:48 a.m., state troopers were dispatched to State Route 4 near Enon Road on reports of a crash. 29-year-old Drue Allen Lemasters of Cable died from his injuries, May said. >>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 dead after crash in Clark County A preliminary investigation revealed that a 28-year-old Dayton man driving a 2019 Ford F-550 tow truck had stopped in the right lane on SR 4 to load a disabled vehicle. Lemasters was driving a 2020 Kia Soul southwest on SR 4 when he struck the rear of the tow truck, May said. Lemasters was pronounced dead on scene. The tow truck driver was not injured. The Clark County Sheriffs Office, Bethel Township EMS/Fire Department, Clark County Coroners Office, and a towing company assisted OSHP on scene. OSHP will continue to investigate this crash. If youre looking for a summer travel destination or just a mental break from the recent record-breaking storms, theres a new ranking of the worlds most amazing beaches 12 of which are in the United States, and three of those 12 are in the Golden State. Travel guidebook publisher Lonely Planet consulted with writers and contributors across the globe to determine which beaches were worthy of making the cut, Senior Director of Content Laura Motta said. Killer whale madness continues off Southern California coast The top spot in the new Best Beaches book is The Pass, located in New South Wales, Australia, notable for a right-hand point break that turns this stretch of pinkish-cream, pillowy-soft sand into a surers paradise. In second and third place are Rio De Janeiros iconic Ipanema Beach and Thailands Ao Maya, respectively. Depending on your ideal vacation, your ranking may differ, of course. If youre after a family vacation, you may want to consider Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe, miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Youre going to have that crystal clear blue water, but youre also going to have a log of activities, Motta said. You can go kayaking, you can actually even go snorkeling and scuba diving which is really cool because that water is so clean. If its romance youre after, Motta recommends Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in Georgia. That whole area in general, its just kind of slow-paced, relaxing with beautiful scenery, Motta said. I think that Driftwood Beach is a place that, if you want to take some of the most beautiful couples photos ever, you can have the perfect backdrop with all of that driftwood. When it comes to the best U.S. beaches to make Lonely Planets top 100 ranking, here are the top 10: 1. Driftwood Beach in Golden Isles, Georgia 2. Grayton Beach in Grayton Beach State Park, Florida 3. South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida 4. Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California 5. El Matador State Beach in Malibu, California 6. Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California 7. Cannon Beach in Oregon 8. Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe, Nevada 9. Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland/Virginia 10. Hanalei Bay in Kauai, Hawaii You can see the full list on the Lonely Planet website. If youre considering a trip, you may want to start looking at flights, as 2024 is projected to be a favorable one for travelers. Domestic airfare, rental cars and hotel costs are all forecast to fall in 2024 after a year of historically high prices, Kayaks Chief Economist Jake Bouvrie said in a statement. Shooting at Carson warehouse party injures 4 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also predicts a travel boom that could see a historic number of air travelers in 2024, exceeding 4.7 billion worldwide. Beach vacations are obviously super popular with families and its February, so maybe never mind spring break, you may want to start thinking about summer right now, Motta advised. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A South Florida elementary school is dealing with an outbreak of measles after the first case was reported on Friday. According to NBC affiliate WTVJ, three new cases were confirmed at Manatee Bay Elementary in Weston on Saturday, bringing the total to four cases. WTVJ reached out to the Broward County Public School, which confirmed the three new cases in a statement. The health, safety and welfare of our students and staff remain our utmost priority; the district said. The district continues to work closely with the Florida Department of Health Broward following three additional confirmed measles cases at Manatee Bay Elementary School. The schools principal is keeping families informed and following health department guidelines to safeguard our community. Bus carrying 6th-grade students on field trip to SeaWorld catches on fire Chief Medical Officer for Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital, Dr. Ronald Ford, told WTVJ that he expects to see some additional cases of the viral infection. If your child is immunized with both doses of the vaccine, the risk is very low of contracting measles, he said. If the child is not immunized, or for some reason is immunocompromised, then the risk is much greater. According to the Florida Department of Health, the last reported case of measles in Broward County was in 2019, with just one case reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Two police officers and a firefighter-paramedic in suburban Minneapolis were shot and killed while responding to a domestic call on Sunday morning. The first responders were identified as Paul Elmstrand, 27, a five-year veteran of the Burnsville Police Department; Matthew Ruge, 27, who joined the department in 2020; and Adam Finseth, 40, a medic with the Burnsville Fire Department since 2019. Authorities said that officers were called to a residence around 1:50 a.m. local time on Sunday after a gunman barricaded himself inside with a woman and seven young children. After a three-hour standoff, gunfire erupted, striking the officers and Finseth as he attempted to aid one of them. Another officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries in the incident. We are heartbroken. Our law enforcement community is heartbroken. Were just devastated at the horrific loss, Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, said in a statement. These heroes leave behind loved ones and a community who will forever remember their bravery and dedication to keeping Minnesotans safe. It was a sentiment echoed by department and city officials, many of whom struggled to keep their emotions in check at an evening news conference. Words cant express how hard today has been, City Manager Greg Lindberg said. This is the toughest day that the city of Burnsville and our public safety families have ever experienced, Fire Chief B.J. Jungmann added. Were heartbroken. We are heartbroken, Police Chief Tanya Schwartz said, her voice thick. We are going to need time to be together. Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Homes of Election Officials for MAGA King By 8 a.m., the gunman had apparently turned his weapon on himself, and was reported to be deceased inside. The woman and children were subsequently able to escape, officials explained. The gunman was not immediately identified after his death was confimed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. An investigation remains ongoing. We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our first responders make each and every day, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville. Today, the families of these public servants received the call they knew was possible but hoped would never come. My heart is with those grieving familiesthe State of Minnesota stands ready to support in any way we can. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig sent their condolences. They were doing their jobs. They were protecting our community, Klobuchar said in a statement. John and I are praying for them and their families and the Burnsville P.D. this morning. 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. A triple homicide that deputies found Saturday afternoon in a Carmichael townhouse was confirmed as a murder-suicide, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said. Agency spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said deputies found the bodies after being called to the upstairs residence on the 5700 block of Shadow Creek Drive about 3:30 p.m. for a welfare check. Deputies got in (to the home) and, unfortunately, discovered three adult victims deceased, all by gunshot wounds, he said. Gandhi told reporters in a Sunday morning update that homicide detectives confirmed a husband had shot and killed his wife and another male inside the upstairs residence of the Oakwood HOA complex before turning the gun on himself. Sheriffs officials had yet to make an identification on the second male found inside the home, but neighbors had suggested that the second victim was an 18-year-old believed to be the couples son. The three victims were expected to be identified by the Sacramento County Coroners Office in the days ahead. Homicide detectives took over the investigation Saturday afternoon after the grisly discovery that had shocked many neighbors, who said they werent aware of the ordeal until deputies had arrived to cordon off the driveway. Gandhi said there was no history of calls from the address, adding that the neighborhood was typically quiet. More than a dozen neighbors, standing out in the rain around the home for hours with chaplains provided by the Sheriffs Office, said they had not heard gunshots and that such violent incidents were unusual for their block. The last one, many recalled, was a similar incident in which a husband and wife were found dead in a murder-suicide a few houses away in 2015. Few other details about Saturdays incident or the people slain were known. Archived radio dispatches reviewed by The Sacramento Bee indicated that a family member had called deputies when she had stopped by the home to check on the female victim. According to dispatchers, the woman had recently had a stroke and the two men were expected to be away on a camping trip. Once the woman and a neighbor were able to enter the 3-bedroom upstairs unit, according to the police audio, they found the wife shot and killed in a bed and the husband in a chair with a weapon nearby. A deputy later radioed the second man who was gunned down had been discovered behind a locked door. The residents of the complex spoke with sadness about their neighbors in Apartment 4, indicating the victims were a husband and wife and the adult son. They said the family had been good neighbors and had three small dogs. Its going to be hard, said Gladys Myers, who spoke of the victims by name. Myers said the man and woman were familiar faces to the residents in the row of two-story townhomes, a block west of Manzanita Avenue. She said the husband had stopped by three days before to fix her computer. He was always helpful, Myers said. Paris Township trustee Ed Samec, center, worked to get a headstone for David Kaziateck after an investigation by Portage County Sheriff's detectives Trent Springer and Karl Balasz led to Kaziateck's identification as the John Doe buried in Hawley Cemetery since 1988. After nearly 36 years, David Ralph Kaziateck is no longer "John Doe." Now investigators want to find out who killed him and buried him in a Paris Township field. The Portage County Sheriff's Office reopened the case last year, culminating with the identification of Kaziateck, a 36-year-old Warren resident, as the John Doe buried in Paris' Hawley Cemetery more than three decades ago. David R. Kaziateck "We don't have a lot of background on him," Portage County Sheriff's detective Trent Springer said. "We don't know where he hung out. We don't know who he hung out with. We don't have a whole lot of that information and we're trying to generate some leads to see if we can take this from a who is it, which we now know, and it's become a 'who did it' and that's what we want to find out now." In the meantime, plans are in place to finally give Kaziateck a proper headstone with his actual name on it. "It always bothered me that we had a John Doe in our cemetery," said Paris Township Trustee Ed Semec. A burial marker for David R. Kaziateck is expected to be installed in a few months in Paris Township's Hawley Cemetery in a few months. It was donated by Dean Funeral Home in Sebring. How was a body discovered on a Portage County farm in 1988? A farmer mowing a field off Cable Line Road on Sept. 28, 1988, saw something shiny, which turned out to be a rod and screws from a prosthetic hip that it is now believed Kaziateck needed following an accident. The farmer then saw a human leg and called the sheriff's office. The body of a man, who it was estimated had been dead for several months, was then found in a shallow grave. A John Doe buried in Paris Township's Hawley Cemetery since he was found buried on a farm in the township in 1988 was identified last year as Warren resident David Kaziateck, 36. Robert Wain, current chief investigator with the Portage County Coroner's Office, said the manner of death was ruled homicide and the cause was blunt force trauma to the head. Springer said the body was decomposing, but investigators at the time were able to get a single fingerprint. It was sent to the FBI but no match was found. A missing persons report was never filed for Kaziateck, Springer said. About two or three years after the body was found, detectives got a tip concerning a pair of brothers who lived near the farm. "This came from out of left field," he said. "This was another person, I want to say right around 1990-91, who was in some trouble with the law and made mention of these two brothers who had supposedly killed somebody. But we have no indication that there was any follow up done on that. We don't know what the outcome of that was." Springer said he cannot even call the brothers "persons of interest" in the case because there is no evidence found that they killed anyone or that they knew Kaziateck. Both brothers are believed to be deceased, said Springer. So the case went cold and, due to personnel changes over the years at the sheriff's and coroner's offices, forgotten. Until last year. Fingerprint key to solving mystery In April 2023, Wain was looking at NamUS, a national database of missing and unidentified persons, when he noticed the 1988 discovery of a body in a Portage County field. Unfamiliar with the case, he decided to pull out what he could find in the coroner's office's archives and discovered there had been no apparent resolution. "As far as our files showed, the person was unidentified and I was following up on that to see if that was still the case," he said. "I reached out to the sheriff's department to see if they had any additional information in their case files that maybe wasn't provided to us over the years or didn't make it into our files. So it was just a follow up." Wain decided it was time to re-examine the case. "Knowing that this was from the '80s and that there's been a lot of advances in technology as far as, like, DNA and identification methods and whatnot, that's when I suggested to the sheriff's office we take another look at this," Wain said. He sent the sheriff's office what the coroner's office had and Springer and Balasz went to work. The detectives went to the farm to interview the farmer, only to discover he was suffering from dementia and initially did not remember anything. "We were talking to him and I pulled up Google Maps and showed him an overhead view of [the farm] and he said, 'I found it right there.' So he gave us a good spot to where to begin to look," said Springer. Next was to bring in cadaver dogs, which are trained to find human remains. Two dogs with different handlers were separately sent into the field and while they did not go into "full alert," they did show interest in the same general area, supporting what the farmer told them. Meanwhile, the detectives also sent all the evidence they had to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which is part of the attorney general's office, for examination and possible testing. Ultimately, it was the single fingerprint collected years ago that proved crucial. Dominic Binkley, deputy press secretary with the attorney general's office, said in a Feb. 7 email to the Record-Courier that the print matched in the FBI database with David Kaziateck, born Oct. 7, 1951, last known address in Warren. Springer said a lot had changed in more than three decades, with fingerprints no longer having to be compared to those filed on cards. "That fingerprint was resubmitted last year, and due to an upgrade in technology and the interfacing of different databases, they were able to within a week get us a hit and told us who he was," said Springer. Who was David Kaziateck? Little information is known about Kaziateck. It was Carolyn Berardino who first helped get some attention for Kaziateck when the freelance writer wrote a recent article about it for The Porchlight Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping solve cold cases. "I know he did odd jobs, I think, while he lived in Warren," Berardino said. "But if anyone who knew him or lived near him at allthe information can help, like, fill in the gaps and fill out his story so they can kind of try to solve this once and for all." A new headstone temporarily rests in the grass by the grave of David Kaziateck in Hawley Cemetery in Paris Township. It is expected to be installed in a few months. According to Berardino's article, he was from Michigan and adopted into the family of a man named Ralph Kaziateck, who had been in the newspaper business. Springer said the investigators were able to track down a woman Kaziateck had been married to for a time in the 1980s. "She met David when she was going to school in Colorado and he was working as an iron worker there," said Springer. "They wound up coming back to Northeast Ohio. They got married. David was kind of a drifter. He would take off, he would come back. He would leave for work, he would come back. And when he left the last time, he just disappeared and she assumed that he had just found somebody else and left her because he didn't want to be part of her life anymore." Beyond that, even she knew little about him, said Springer. "He didn't work a lot," he said. "You know, decent guy. He was a heavy drinker. But just not a whole lot and it seemed as though she had limited information on him also. Once we identified him, we were able to find a picture of David when he was in the Marine Corps. I think she had no idea he was ever in the Marines." Berardino said she attempted to reach out to the woman, who remarried and seemed to have moved on with her life, but she received no response. Springer said Kaziateck also had a daughter from another relationship who now lives in Arizona, but she had had very little contact with him and was unable to provide any information. 'We need to memorialize this veteran' Springer said that initially, sheriff's detective bureau staff were planning to purchase a headstone for Kaziateck, but that plan was scrapped after he spoke to Semec and Dean Funeral Home in Sebring about it. "They basically said, 'No, we're going to take care of this and we're going to get it done for you,'" said Springer. Semec, who includes the cemetery on his list of responsibilities as trustee, said Dean Funeral Home has been involved in other burials at the cemetery and provided the stone at no cost. The township is providing the foundation. Paris Township trustee Ed Samec, center, worked to get a headstone for David Kaziateck after an investigation by Portage County sheriff's detectives Trent Springer and Karl Balasz led to Kaziateck's identification as the John Doe buried in Hawley Cemetery since 1988. "Probably in June we will pour footers for the headstones out there and his will be part of that," he said. Semec said the stone is about 8-by-18 inches and is a mix of marble and granite. It includes Kaziateck's name and the years of his birth and death. He said providing the stone is the right thing to do. "We had somebody buried in our cemetery that did not have a name," said Semec. "That never sat well with me from the first day that I took over as the trustee that oversees the cemetery. So when detective Springer told me that he had identified the gentleman and also he was a veteran, I myself thought, 'Okay, we need to memorialize this veteran, this human being, with a name and the proper headstone.'" Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Portage County Sheriff's detectives Trent Springer or Karl Balasz at 330-297-3888 or 330-297-3890. Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com. This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Man found dead on Portage County farm in 1988 finally identified Soldiers of the National Guard shoot from an anti-tank grenade launcher at Russians in Avdiivka, November 8, 2023 Russian units that took part in the battle for Avdiivka cannot recover due to heavy losses during the capture of the city, Ukrainian partisan movement ATESH, which operates in the occupied territories and in Russia, reported on Feb. 17. An agent of the ATESH movement, associated with the Russian 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, reports that this unit is at risk of dissolution. Following significant losses incurred during the storming of Avdiivka, the leadership of the 41st Army is considering disbanding it. Read also: Whole graveyard of Russian military equipment in war-torn region north of Avdiivka The brigade has lost more than 50% of its officers, and the number of wounded is estimated at more than 750 people, ATESH said. The agent notes that the situation is similar in many Russian brigades and regiments that stormed Avdiivka. Earlier, Dmytro Lykhovoy, a representative of the Tavria Operational-Strategic Group, said that the Russians lost 47 thousand people in Avdiivka, 17 thousand of which were killed. Read also: Russia sets up makeshift morgues in abandoned Donetsk schools Kyiv President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that tens of thousands of Russians were killed. A veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, former company commander of the Aidar battalion, Yevhen Dykyi, in an interview with Radio NV, estimated the number of Russians losses in Avdiivka at at least 60 thousand. On Feb. 17, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had withdrawn from Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. He said that the decision was made to avoid encirclement and to save the lives and health of the soldiers. The commander of the Tavria Operational-Strategic Group, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said that a small number of Ukrainian soldiers were captured during the withdrawal from Avdiivka. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine WASATCH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A 62-year-old man was airlifted to the hospital after a snowmobile accident in Wasatch County Saturday, according to Wasatch County Search & Rescue. At around 3:10 p.m. on Feb. 17, rescue crews responded to a snowmobile accident in the Strawberry Ridge area. After Wasatch Fire and WCSAR crews responded to the incident, Intermountain Life Flight was called in to transport the man to a trauma center. Great Salt Lakes brine shrimp population booms, majorly impacting future of Utah, wildlife, and the world Courtesy of Wasatch County Search & Rescue Thanks for the great response Life Flight. These guys are always amazing, a release from WCSAR states. The condition of the man has not been released at this time. The rescue reportedly took around 1.5 hours to complete. No further information is currently available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Fulton County Dist. Atty. Fani Willis takes the stand during a hearing on whether she should be removed from prosecuting her election interference case against Donald Trump. (Alyssa Pointer / Associated Press) At this point, it doesnt really matter whether Fulton County Dist. Atty. Fani Willis benefited financially from her relationship with Nathan Wade, the outside prosecutor she hired to help oversee the election interference racketeering case against former President Trump and 18 others, several of whom have already pleaded guilty. After watching her testify for nearly two hours on Thursday, I think she made a convincing case that she did not. If anything, she spent more money on him than he did on her. But by engaging in a romantic relationship with Wade (and believing she was under no obligation to disclose it), she handed her opponents on a golden platter an opening to challenge her integrity, an excuse to charge her with a conflict of interest, a backdoor way to stymie the strong criminal case against Trump and his supporters that took her office years to construct. Its mind-boggling. And so, so disappointing. Two mature adults officers of the court, experienced attorneys could not find it in themselves to put their romantic inclinations on hold while working on the most important case of their careers, and one of the most important criminal cases in American history? They should have known that any whiff of impropriety would be exploited to tank the case. You cannot be traipsing off together to places like Belize and Aruba and expect to keep it a secret. Good lord. Its impossible to predict whether Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will rule that Willis should be disqualified from the case, which would throw it into disarray and potentially kill it, but he absolutely did the right thing by allowing both sides to air the issue, on television, in real time. The drama in his courtroom proved as riveting as any daytime soap opera. Willis attorneys were in the midst of arguing there was no compelling need for her to testify when she surprised everyone by striding into the courtroom looking for her close-up. She wore a hot pink dress and, it would soon become clear, she had a temper to match. I have been very anxious to have this conversation today, she said. I ran to the courtroom. I am not a hostile witness. I very much want to be here. Her testimony was captivating, if maddening. Oh, and she was plenty hostile, though not in the legal sense. When she wasnt being combative, she was folksy, personal and even philosophical. We learned she prefers Grey Goose vodka to wine, spent big on Wades 50th birthday trip to Belize and once visited Tennessee with him, although Tennessee is kinda hard to call a vacation. Willis refused to give yes-or-no answers to simple questions, drawing at least two admonitions from the judge. She insisted that her answers needed to be long and in context because she was batting down so many lies. She accused defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who is representing one of the defendants in the election interference case and first raised the conflict-of-interest question, of lying repeatedly about when she started her relationship with Wade, of wrongly accusing the pair of living together and of being treated to free trips. Merchant has alleged that Willis hired Wade to help prosecute Trump because the prosecutors were romantically involved, and she has accused Willis of benefiting financially because Wade paid for various vacations while they were lovers. But both Wade and Willis testified that their romance began in early 2022, well after he was hired, and ended in the summer of 2023, just around the time that Trump was indicted in Georgia. In order to be more exact about when they called it quits, Willis offered a lesson in gender differences worthy of the relationship classic Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus. Hes a man; he probably would say June or July," she said. "I would say we had a tough conversation in August. Men end relationships at the end of physical intimacy; women end relationships when that tough conversation takes place. What, exactly, was that tough conversation about? No one asked, but Willis had every reason to explain it. They ended their relationship, she said, because she was too independent for him. We would have brutal arguments about the fact that I am your equal, she said. I dont need anything from a man; a man is not a plan, a man is a companion. There was tension always in our relationship, which is why I would give him his money back. I dont need anybody to foot my bills. Does that sound like someone looking for a free trip to Aruba? One time, she testified, Wade told her, The only thing a woman can do for him is make him a sandwich. Ugh. Willis has no receipts to prove she repaid Wade, she said, because she always keeps plenty of cash on hand, sometimes as much as $15,000. Her father taught her that, she said. For instance, if you go on a date, you bring $200 in cash in case things go sideways. Friday in court, her father, John Floyd III, backed her up. Your honor, he said, Im not trying to be racist, OK? But its a Black thing, OK? I was trained, and most Black folks, they hide cash or they keep cash. One exchange between Willis and Trump attorney Steve Sadow sticks with me. It illuminated a kind of race or class gap. Sadow seemed steeped in privilege as he poked at the idea that she might keep plenty of cash on hand. Floyd testified he taught his daughter to always keep enough cash at home to cover six months of expenses. And so, Willis said, she took $4,000 with her on Wades birthday trip to Belize in March 2023. Of that, she reimbursed him $2,500 for their hotel, flights and food. That $4,000 is part of your my words cash hoard that you have collected over time? asked Sadow. Cash what? Willis said. Hoard, he said, but then he spelled it h-o-r-d-e." Oh, I thought you said something different, sir. Her well-deserved umbrage at that point cannot hide the fact that she screwed up here, or that the entire country may end up paying for her unforgivable mistake. @robinkabcarian 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 Working Group on Women said the meeting in Doha is a chance for the UN to show women's rights are 'not negotiable' (Wakil KOHSAR) National and regional special envoys to Afghanistan convened in Doha Sunday in the second UN meeting of its kind in less than a year, though it remained unclear whether Taliban authorities would join the closed-session event. The two-day meeting, hosted by the UN secretary-general, was due to discuss increasing engagement with Afghanistan and a more coordinated response to the Central Asian nation. In the aftermath of the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the international community has wrestled with its approach to the country's new rulers. At the close of the conference's first day in gas-rich Qatar, which hosted the Taliban during years of peace talks with the United States, the Kabul government's participation remained unclear. A list shared by the UN detailed participants including the US, China, Pakistan and the European Union but did not include the Taliban authorities. The UN also detailed that Afghan civil society participants, including women, were taking part in the meeting but did not categorically say the Taliban had refused to attend. A senior diplomatic source told AFP ahead of the meeting the Taliban government had said it would only attend as sole representative of Afghanistan at the convention -- excluding civil society representatives. -'Disappointing'- A second demand was that the Taliban government delegation meet with the UN secretary-general and be given an opportunity to present its position, the source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of discussions. Though the Afghan foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on plans to attend, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council wrote on X, formerly Twitter, it was "disappointing that the Taliban declined to attend the special envoy meeting". "We urge all sides to do more to hammer out deals that can benefit the long suffering Afghan people," Jan Egeland said. The UN had extended an invitation to the Taliban authorities to participate, following their exclusion from the first meeting in May. On Saturday Taliban authorities said they had reiterated their conditions to the United Nations, emphasising that their participation in the UN-convened talks would be "unbeneficial" if those conditions were not met. The Taliban's government in Kabul has not been officially recognised by any other government since it took power and the administration has imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women subjected to laws characterised by the UN as "gender apartheid". Many governments, international organisations and aid agencies cut off or severely scaled back their funding for Afghanistan in response -- causing a serious knock to the already struggling economy. -'Inclusive meetings'- The meeting in Qatar will also consider the recommendations of a UN independent assessment on Afghanistan, which has suggested recognition of the Taliban authorities be tied to the removal of restraints on women's rights and access to education. The assessment, backed by Western nations, also recommends the appointment of a UN special envoy, which the Taliban government has also rejected. UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett said he hoped the meeting in Doha "leads to a series of meaningful and inclusive meetings among key stakeholders" that would "prioritise discussions about human rights, particularly women's rights". Ahead of the gathering in Doha, Tomas Niklasson, EU special envoy for Afghanistan, said the meeting offered a "significant opportunity... to hold meaningful discussions" and "engage on a way forward... in a UN-led process". The UN's Working Group on Women, Peace and Security said the meeting in Doha "offers an important opportunity for the UN, the Security Council and the international community to reaffirm that the rights of Afghan women are not negotiable". "Respect for women's rights must be a core objective of the international community's engagement on Afghanistan, and a priority agenda item for discussions in Doha," it added in a statement. csp/jsa Terminator Vision The notoriously pessimistic AI researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky is back with a new prediction about the future of humankind. "If you put me to a wall," he told The Guardian in a fascinating new interview, "and forced me to put probabilities on things, I have a sense that our current remaining timeline looks more like five years than 50 years. Could be two years, could be 10." If you're wondering what "remaining timeline" means in this context, The Guardian's Tom Lamont interpreted it as the "machine-wrought end of all things," a "Terminator-like apocalypse," or a "Matrix hellscape." "The difficulty is, people do not realise," Yudkowsky, the founder of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute in California, told the newspaper. "We have a shred of a chance that humanity survives." Bomb Squad The entire Guardian piece is worth a read. Lamont spoke to many prominent figures in the space, ranging from Brian Merchant to Molly Crabapple, with the throughline being skepticism about the idea that just because a new tech comes along, we need to adopt it even if it's not good for people. These days, the focus of much of that critique is AI. Why, critics contend, should we treat the tech as inevitable even if it seems poised to eliminate and destabilize large numbers of jobs? Or, in Yudkowsky's case, if the tech likely presents an existential threat. His remarks were the most provocative in the piece, which probably isn't surprising given his history. AI watchers may remember last year, for instance, when he called for bombing data centers to halt the rise of AI. He's rethought that particular claim, he told The Guardian but only slightly: he stands behind the idea of bombing data centers, he said, but no longer thinks that nuclear weapons should be used to target them. "I would pick more careful phrasing now," he told the newspaper. More on AI: Oppenheimer's Grandson Signs Letter Saying AI Threatens "Life on Earth" Dozens of concerned citizens, young and old, gathered in Peace Circles with Project Ujima, a grassroots community engagement organization based in West Akron, to discuss gun violence in the community at Buchtel CLC in November. Things are trending in a positive direction when it comes to homicides in Akron. The number of homicides in the city last year dropped to its lowest level in six years, and the number of murders were just half of the record high of 50 in 2020. What's more, the rate of Black people and people under 30 dying from firearms dipped significantly. However, firearms still made up the vast majority of homicides in both the city and county. Akron last year saw a total of 34 homicides, the lowest number since 2016, when there were 32. Homicides are defined as the killing of one person by another and include deaths such as murders, killings done in self-defense and accidental shootings, among other causes. Akron police report 26 of last year's homicides were murders, or the unlawful, unjustified killing of another person. Homicides and murders in Akron since 2005, according to news reports and data from the Akron Police Department and Summit County Medical Examiner's Office. Through 2016, Akron police reported all homicides, defined as the death of a person caused by another. After that, the department only reported deaths that were considered to be murders, defined as the killing of another human without justification or mitigating circumstance, such as self-defense. The eight homicides not counted as murders in 2023 include two infants and a 6-year-old who died of fentanyl poisoning, a woman who was accidentally shot, and four men whose deaths were ruled to have involved self defense, according to Akron police. According to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office, the city in 2020 saw a record high of 57 homicides, 50 of which were murders. More: Akron sees surge in homicides in 2017 Homicide rate has been dropping across the U.S. What's contributed to the decline? Akron's decline in deaths matches a national trend in big cities: From 2022 to 2023, homicide rates dropped 11.9% in New York, 16.4% in Los Angeles, 13% in Chicago, 20% in Houston and 22% in Phoenix, according to those police departments' internal statistics. Ames Grawert, senior counsel in the Brennan Centers Justice Program, told USA TODAY that the shutdown of public spaces and services may have contributed to the violence experienced during the pandemic shutdowns that started in 2020. "Local public spaces like libraries closed," Grawert said. "Programs that we know are important to community safety, like violence intervention programs, cognitive behavioral therapy programs things like that either closed or became significantly less effective, because you have to do those things face to face." In a recent interview, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said city officials aren't clear what caused the decline in deaths locally last year. "I don't know that we have kind of a scientific assessment of it," he said. "I think that certainly the city is doing aggressive gun violence enforcement and gun violence details. We're working with federal partners, and I think those those efforts are proving effective. "We also are focusing more on on prevention and really working on funding violence prevention, but it's hard to describe a correlation to any of it." One example of the city's focus on gun crime is the joint operation late last year between Akron police with Operation Triple Beam, which involved the U.S. Marshalls Service and other area law enforcement agencies. The operation resulted in the arrest of 135 individuals connected to violent crimes and repeat offenders, as well as gun and drug seizures. More: Akron PD, U.S. marshals arrest 135 people, seize 22 guns in violence-reduction campaign Firearms remain primary cause of death As in previous years, the majority of killings in Akron and Summit County involved firearms. Only one of Akron's 26 murders last year was not due to firearms: a 2-year-old who died from blunt force injuries. Automatic assault rifles and semiautomatic pistols were among weapons recovered by Akron police during an arrest after four people were seen shooting into a home in 2022. Gun violence remained high in 2023. According to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office, 36 of the 41 homicides in the county were firearms-related in 2023. While that represents a decrease in both gun-related homicides and homicides as a whole, the number of gun homicides in the county is still nearly double what it was a decade ago. An Akron Beacon Journal analysis of growing gun violence shows that from 2007 to 2016, Summit County averaged less than 20 gun homicides a year. Since 2017, the county has averaged 39 annually, with peaks of 50 in 2020 and 51 in 2022. More: 'It's just out of control.' Summit County data paints grim picture of growing gun violence The number of gun-related incidents and gun-related calls for service also increased slightly in the city from 2022 to 2023. In 2022, there were 619 reports of discharging firearms, felonious assaults with firearms, and murders with firearms. That number increased to 633 last year, according to police records. Gun seizures, meanwhile, have decreased about 10% over the last two years, from 949 in 2022 to 868 last year. Gun seizures last year were down one-third since a peak of nearly 1,300 in 2021, the year before a new state law that allows concealed carry without a permit went into effect. More: Murders down in Akron during first half of 2023. What is the city doing to reduce violence? Fewer Black murder victims, shooting victims younger than 30 According to Akron police data, in both 2021 and 2022, about 80% of the murder victims were male and 84% were Black. The number of male victims in 2023 remained about the same at 81%, while the number of Black murder victims dropped to 65%. The percentage of shooting victims under age 30 also continued to decline last year to 50% of murders. The percentage had previously dropped from 64% in 2021 to 54% in 2022. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1lq42t01R8W1idwb6PK80TSloBIGorEc&usp=sharing Police have solved 62% of 2023 murders so far, an increase over the nearly 55% solve rates for the previous two years. Most of the murders committed in the record-high year of 2020 86% of cases have been solved, according to police records. Two freeway shootings involved Akron residents Two of last year's murders in the county were rare freeway shootings that involved Akron men. Dacarrei Tovon Kinard, 30, of Columbus, was charged with first-degree felony murder in the May 17, 2023, shooting of George Jensen, 40, of Akron on Interstate 76 in Norton. More: Suspect in Norton road rage shooting drove back past I-76 scene after incident Norton police said they identified Kinard after a license plate reader identified a black Camaro witnesses said was driven by the shooter after it exited I-76 eastbound at Barber Road. A jury trial in his case is set for March 21 in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Michael's courtroom. Norton police search the eastbound section of Interstate 76 May 17, 2023, after George Jensen, 40, of Akron, was shot and killed while driving. Less than three months later, Akron resident Marquise Banks, 23, was shot and killed on Interstate 77 in Green. Three men have been charged in his Aug. 3 shooting death. Sirvonte Suggs, 18, of Akron was the first to be arrested. He has been charged with aggravated murder. The Summit County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that detectives believe the shooting was a result of an ongoing dispute between Suggs and Banks. A pretrial in Suggs' case is set for Tuesday in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kelly McLaughlin's courtroom. Also arrested and charged with murder are Giovanni Porter, 23, of Carrollton, Texas, and Ahmere Williams, 20, of Akron. Williams also faces murder charges in the Aug. 16 shooting death of Antenio Louis, 17, and the death of Tyson Arnold, 24, in April 2023. Triple-murder suspect had history of drug trafficking Another unusual incident in 2023 involved the execution-style murders of three Youngstown men. The men had been tied and gagged, shot in the head and their bodies dumped on undeveloped property two by the side of a road on the west side of Akron and one in Copley Township. Akron police responding to the scene where two mens' bodies were found in the woods near Cordova Avenue in March 2023. The two men found in Akron, off Cordova Avenue in a small wooded area near the Interstate 77 sound barrier, were Inmer Reyes, 25, and Victor Varela-Rodriguez, 31. The man found in Copley, off Wright Road and less than 2 miles from the Akron scene, was 35-year-old Domingo Castillo-Reyes. All three were found by passing motorists March 10, 2023. Elias Gudino, 59, has been charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and other felonies. He had previously served prison time from 2010 to 2017 after being sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking kilograms of cocaine to sellers in the Akron area in transactions worth many tens of thousands of dollars, according to court records. More: Chance encounter at gas station aids Copley police with arrest in quadruple shooting case A fourth victim in the triple homicide escaped the Copley scene and, in a bizarre coincidence, identified Gudino while sitting in a police cruiser at a local gas station. Copley police said the man had sought help the morning the three bodies were found, and they had stopped to get him a Coke when Gudino arrived to make a purchase. Police said the survivor told them he and the three other men were kidnapped from a Youngstown home, bound and gagged, and brought to a home in the Akron area. He said he and one of the other men were taken to Wright Road where they were shot on the side of the road. He had been shot in the head, but the bullet only grazed his skull and he played dead, police said. More: What we know now about the Akron, Copley triple homicide In the drug case, investigators said they had information that Gudino had been trafficking drugs since the 1990s and now had an operation that was based in southern Mexico but reached across the U.S. in Ohio, Colorado, Oklahoma and other states, court records said. A trial in Gudino's case is set for March 4 in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands' courtroom. Comments or questions on this story can be sent to bjnews@thebeaconjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Murders, homicides trend down in Akron in 2023; gun violence still high It was on New Year's Day. On January 1, 2015, Alexei Navalny called me. "Well, you and us have no one else left but you and us. Let's work together," he said. It was indeed probably the hardest time for both him and me. I was editor-in-chief of the Dozhd TV channel at the time, and we were almost destroyed: we were cut off from all cable and satellite operators, and we were kicked out of our studio. But Navalny faced much worse: the criminal case, which was invented only to force him to stop his political activities, came to an end with Alexei himself given a suspended sentence, but his brother was imprisoned. Well, the main thing is that all of us, both Dozhd and Navalny, were not sure if we were still neededin 2014 Putin occupied Crimea, Russia was overwhelmed by a wave of jingoism. Dozhd stopped being the most influential TV channel and Navalny stopped being the most popular politician. "Well, you and us have no one else left but you and us." We really started working together thenwe helped his team, Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF), to make the first high-profile investigative movie: about Prosecutor General Chaika. That movie has 26 million views today. By now ACF released dozens more great investigative films. And I'm proud to have been around at the very beginning. In late 2015, I wrote a book called All the Kremlin's Men. Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin. One chapter in that book was about Alexeialthough he never belonged to that court. However, he was always its main enemy. Each chapter began with a portrait of the character, and I described Navalny then as follows: "Alexei Navalny is an alien. At first glance he looks like an ordinary person, and watching him walk the streets or ride public transportation, you might inadvertently think that he is an ordinary man. In short, he does everything that ordinary people do and which top government officials and superstars do not. But appearances are deceptive. Navalny wears a human mask, like an extraterrestrial in a sci-fi movie, to hide his real identitythat of a politician. Navalny's life is hard. The state machine is out to get him, and he has to deal with that somehow. For instance, he does not drive for fear that a "provocateur" might jump in front of his car, whereupon he, Navalny, could be prosecuted. Navalny is certainly aware that he is a superstar. Jail is perhaps the last place Putin wants him to be, since that would make him a martyr and increase his popularity. Navalny understands his exclusivity. He is probably the only real politician out of Russia's 143 million inhabitants... But Navalny is a unique person who made a conscious choice. As yet he has no power, and may never have. But he has certainly sacrificed the chance to lead a normal life, although he describes it as an opportunity to change Russia for the better. If Russia had an open political system, Navalny would probably not be alone. But because it does not, there seems to be no one else crazy enough to trade in life for politics. Why does Navalny continue to believe that his time will come and that one day he could succeed Putin as president? There's only one rational explanationhe's an alien." I was naive at that timeall of us, including Alexei, were naive. We would never believe that Putin wanted him dead. Because we thought that he didn't want Navalny to be a martyr. We were wrong. We are people and people are often wrong. When Putin poisoned Navalny in 2020, I knew he would survive. I don't know why. Maybe I was too naive again. I always thought that Alexei is very morally strong, he is a historical figure, he cannot die. And he survived, exposed his assassins and made Putin a laughing stock. And for me there was not even a question whether he would stay in Europe or go back. I've described it all before: if he were an ordinary human being, he would stay to live. But he's an alien. He had already made his choice to devote himself to politics. And that's why he had to come back. About a week ago, I received an email from Alexei. It was, of course, incredibly funny and energetic. He wrote that he was sitting in a cell from which you can't see a blade of grass or a leaf, and even to take a walk he was taken only to a neighboring cell, but he wrote it so cheerfully and dashingly that there was no doubt that everything was all right with him, nothing would break him. He also wrote about the collapse of the USSR and what a unique chance Russia had in the 90s, and how it was lost, and how important it is not to miss the chance that will appear during the upcoming collapse of Putin's Russia. He also wrote about Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Nabokov, Solzhenitsyn, and Vysotsky. He was glad that in the new colony he was able to reread Crime and Punishmentbecause the library there is very small, there are only books from the Russian school program, but Dostoevsky, of course, is there. His letter ends with his traditional joke: "Be like Nabokov and better!", he writes. Now I don't know if he had time to receive my reply, where I tell him why I don't like Dostoevsky. And also describe some important moments from my future book. And at the end I write: "Hope to see you soon." I never doubted that I would see him again. I was always sure that Navalny is a supernatural person, he can't die, aliens don't die so easily. I think many of us thought he was a magician. Everyone knew that it cannot be like that: at some point he casts some sort of spell, Putin disappears and Alexei becomes the Russian president. Everyone knew it would be long and difficult. But, somehow Alexei will manage to survive it. And then, after all, some sort of spelland, pop, he is the president of Russia. But it turns out it won't be like that. He won't be the president of future Russia, he'll have to be the founding father of the future Russia. He is with us now forever as a perfect example. As a messiah. As a superhero for many generations, on whose story children will grow up. It is not Putin they will look up to. He will remain in history as a man who believed that Russia could be a normal democratic country, believed in values, and despised the nonsense about a unique Russian path and doom to be an empire. He was always an idealist. He was not a cynic, did not believe that everything could be sold and bought. For many years Russia was a very cynical country. Nobody believed in anything. Many people seriously believed that there was no democracy in the world, and there was no freedom of speech, only propaganda everywhere, and there was no such thing as fair justice. But Alexei believed in all those values. And he gave his life for it. So now we all have to believe. And the next generations will grow up and learn by looking at himand they will also believe. Now it seems to many people that Russia no longer has a future. But in fact, its future is precisely those people who are mourning Alexei Navalny all over the world. He united us and asked us not to give up. "You and us have no one else left but you and us. Let's work together." Contact us at letters@time.com. The US and UK ambassadors to Moscow have laid flowers to honour Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in prison on Friday. US ambassador Lynne Tracy and Britain's Nigel Casey were pictured paying their respects at a memorial in Moscow. Navalny's allies believe he was murdered on the orders of President Vladimir Putin. Prison authorities say he suffered "sudden death syndrome". About 400 Russians have been detained at gatherings for the campaigner. Pictures showed a growing pile of flowers left for Navalny at the Solovetsky Stone - a monument to political repression that has become a major site of tributes for the 47-year-old. "Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia," the US embassy in Moscow said on social media. "We extend our deepest condolences to Alexei Navalny's family, colleagues and supporters. His strength is an inspiring example. We honour his memory," the embassy's post added. British ambassador Nigel Casey paid his respects on Saturday to Alexei Navalny The UK embassy in Moscow's account on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted a photo of the British ambassador visiting the memorial on Saturday, and in an earlier post called for a "full and transparent investigation into Navalny's death." It said the Foreign Office had summoned a representative of the Russian embassy, adding "we make it clear that we hold the Russian authorities fully responsible for Alexei's death". Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, during which they "expressed their outrage" at Navalny's death, and "underscored the utmost importance of holding those responsible within the Russian system to account", Downing Street said. Navalny's wife, Yulia, posted an Instagram on Sunday a photo of herself with her husband and the caption "I love you". She had earlier called for the Russian president and his allies to be held accountable for her husband's death. Navalny's wife, Yulia, posted an Instagram on Sunday a photo of herself with her husband and the caption "I love you". She had earlier called for the Russian president and his allies to be held accountable for her husband's death. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, confirmed on X that he would welcome Ms Navalnaya at the bloc's Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. He said that EU ministers would honour Navalny's memory and "send a strong message of support to freedom fighters in Russia". As tributes pour in for the Kremlin critic, questions remain over the whereabouts of Navalny's body, with allies accusing the Russian authorities of hiding his body. Russian prison authorities said on Friday that the opposition activist had become unwell following a walk and had lost consciousness at the remote IK-3 prison in the Arctic Circle - also known as the Siberian "Polar Wolf" penal colony. Tributes to Navalny have been laid outside the Russian embassy in the German capital, Berlin Navalny allies said the politician's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, was told his body would only be handed over once a post-mortem examination had been completed, and that the cause of death was said to be "sudden death syndrome" - a generic, vague term for a condition which could cover a cardiac arrest with no apparent cause. Navalny's allies said that Ms Navalnaya was told his body had been taken to the town of Salekhard, near the prison complex, but when she arrived the morgue was closed. Prison officials reportedly told her an initial post-mortem examination was inconclusive and a second would have to be carried out. The Russian president has not publicly commented on Navalny's death, but in the immediate aftermath, the Kremlin said it was aware and the president had been informed. Russia's Foreign Ministry said it rejected "biased and unrealistic" assessments over his cause of death made during a meeting with British officials on Saturday. Alexei Navalny: More coverage Yulia Navalnaya shared an emotional tribute to her husband, Russian activist Alexei Navalny, Sunday on social media. I love you, she captioned the tender photo, which shows the couple in silhouette with their heads bent together. The post is Navalnayas second public comment since news of her husbands death rocked Russia and the international community on Friday. Initially, the 47-year-old economist wasnt sure whether to believe the news because the Russian government led by Vladimir Putin is always lying. Speaking at a security conference in Munich, she vowed justice for her husband if the news of his demise were true. I want Putin, those around him, Putins friends, and his government to know they will be held responsible for what they have done to our country, my family, and my husbandand that day will come very soon, she said. Navalnaya had been married to Navalny for 23 years, preferring to stay out of the political spotlight as her husband gained international renown for his outspoken criticism of Putin. After Navalny was poisoned by a Russian nerve agent in 2020, her insistence ultimately convinced Russian officials to let him seek treatment in Germany, which narrowly saved his life. Navalnys Team Demands His Body Be Returned to His Family Navalny returned to Russia in early 2021, though he knew he would face certain arrest. He had been serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic penal colony when he allegedly fell down and died on Friday. His spokesperson claimed Navalny was murdered by Putins government, a charge taken up by President Joe Biden. In the aftermath, hundreds of Russians were detained by police at rallies and memorials in Navalnys memory across the country. From the major cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow to the remote villages of Siberia, supporters turned out to leave flowers and light candles in Navalnys memory, often decorating memorials to victims of Soviet-era repression. Protests are illegal in Russia, and law enforcement warned citizens against attending rallies for Navalny. But the outpouring of public support demonstrates that even if the face of the opposition is gone, the movement continues. I want to call on the entire international community, everyone in this room, people around the world, to unite together and defeat this evil, defeat the appalling regime that is now in Russia, Navalnaya said on Friday. 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 City of Alamogordo was awarded the 2023 Altus Trophy by the Altus Chamber of Commerce for its continued support of Holloman Air Force Base. For three years the City of Alamogordo and Holloman Air Force Base have attempted to secure the award to no avail. The 200-page nomination netted Alamogordo and HAFB its first ever Altus Trophy. Members of the Alamogordo community and Holloman Air Force Base personnel pose for a group photo celebrating the announcement of winning the 2023 Altus Trophy award at the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico, Feb. 8, 2024. More: Otero County Rep. John Block introduced 30 bills this session. Here's where they stand. The Air Education and Training Command, along with Altus Chamber of Commerce, partner each year to award a community the Altus Trophy for their support of an Air Education and Training Command Wing or tenant unit. There are approximately 12,000 Airmen, family members and employees that make up over a third of the Alamogordo population, according to a news release by the Holloman Air Force Base. On behalf of the many proud Airmen of the 49th Wing, I can honestly say that the community of Alamogordo has earned the trophy through their steadfast support and dedication of both our mission and to the community, U.S. Air Force Col. Justin Spears, 49th Wing commander said. The nomination package included projects and events planned by the town and Air force base, including education projects, on- and off- base volunteering and military construction projects. One educational point highlighted in the Altus Trophy submission by Holloman Air Force Base were efforts to build Holloman Elementary. "The mission was achieved and now there beholds a $34.2 million facility with 74,000 square feet that houses up to 600 students," read the submission. The submission also included the long-awaited middle school that will be built on the base. "Working in tandem, local leaders and Holloman Air Force Base, APS (Alamogordo Public Schools) secured funding for the construction of a new Middle School at Holloman. Working with the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation for Public School on Military Installations, federal funding for a new $59.6 million/ 52,000 gross square foot building was secured," according to the HAFB submission. Read more articles on Holloman Air Force Base Partnerships with Otero County and Alamogordo: Outside of educational partnerships, HAFB touched on some of the volunteer work it contributed to the city. Holloman Air Force Base members worked to clean up the Dudley School after a fire damaged it, volunteered at White Sands Balloon and Music Festival and apple and cherry festivals around Otero County. "On behalf of the Nichols Ranch and Orchards, I would like to express our wholehearted support for Holloman Air Force Base (HAFB) as a candidate for the prestigious Altus Trophy Award," Nichols Ranch and Orchards Owner Roy Nichols said. "The service members and their family members stationed at Holloman Air Force Base bring incredible value to our community and we are extremely thankful for them." Another Alamogordo official that showed her thanks on behalf of the community was Mayor Susan Payne, she said she was proud to live in a military community. "It would be an honor to represent a community that is home to an Altus Award recipient and I humbly ask the Altus Committee award the Altus Trophy to Holloman AFB," she wrote in her submission letter. "I am confident that there is no other community that supports their military installation like we support Holloman Air Force Base and there is no other Air Force Base that is more deserving of this distinction." The Altus Trophy was awarded to the Goodfellow Air Force Base, in San Angelo, Texas in 2022. Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr. This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Altus Trophy awarded to Holloman Air Force Base, City of Alamogordo A woman who lives more than 4,000 miles away from Wiltshire has recreated an ancient necklace from the county. The huge amber bronze age necklace is more than 3,500 years old and came from a burial eight miles from Stonehenge. Caitlin Lee lives in Kansas in the United States and made the necklace using pictures from Wiltshire Museum. The recreation has more than 850 beads copied from just over 300 which survive from the original necklace, once made of around 1,000 beads. Ms Lee has made replicas of ancient jewellery before and was searching for something made from amber to recreate for a class in her historical re-enactment group. She found the necklace in Wiltshire Museum's collection, after first combing through collections at the British Museum. It comes from cremation remains found near the River Wylye at Upton Lovell. "I saw the necklace, and I was just entranced at how incredible ancient jewellery makers were," she said. Along with the necklace, gold was also found with woman's cremated remains. The grave is part of an exhibit at Wiltshire Museum called Lady with the Amber Necklace. Ms Lee said: "She must have been very, very special to have all that labour and love put into it." Ms Lee likes to make things that are affordable to re-create, so making the new one from amber would have been too expensive. She said instead she ordered 950 lookalike beads: "I have a little less than 1,000. As I was stringing, I tried to keep count. I stopped counting after 850." Ms Lee had to string them all together, there were nine rows at the front and six further back. She said it was the plates holding them together that were most complicated. Other members of her craft-loving family also got involved, she was able to mimic the original's material using some of her mum's resin and a toothpick to swirl it to get an amber effect. By studying the museum's pictures, she was able to see how many holes were put in and therefore how many strings of beads she needed. A large drill borrowed from her father helped her to accurately put the holes in. At 68cm, Ms Lee's necklace is more than two feet long, but she said it is also light: "I don't even notice it on, less than a pound. If it was real amber, it would be very light as well." She is unsure about calling it a direct replica because she has only ever seen the original in pictures. "I would love to be able to go to the museum and see it myself and see dimensions. I kind of eyeballed it from the pictures online," she said. It is suspected the original may have been made in Denmark or the Baltic Coast, with similar ones found as far away as Greece, suggesting long-distance contact at the time. Ms Lee takes an interest in ancient British history and is a fan of Wiltshire. "It's probably my favourite place in England and I'm very blessed to have been able to go a couple times and visit," she said. She is part of the Society for Creative Anachronism which, like many re-enactment groups, has lots of members making lookalikes from the past. "One of the reasons that I make replicas, or inspirations, of ancient jewellery is I like to think that whoever the artisan was would be happy to know that their work is still being celebrated thousands of years later," she explained. Ms Lee's next challenge is to recreate some more items from the Lady with the Amber Necklace's grave. Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk The rescue operation in Kramatorsk. Photo: Vadym Filashkin on Telegram. Rescue workers in Kramatorsk pulled the body of a man, 23, who was killed in a Russian missile attack from the rubble at around midnight. Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Another death in Kramatorsk. Rescue workers have retrieved the body of a 23-year-old man from the rubble of a house. According to recent reports, one person is still trapped under the rubble." Details: Filashkin added that 26 rescue workers are still working in Kramatorsk and a further 24 in Sloviansk. Currently, two people have been reported dead in the building in Kramatorsk. In Sloviansk, a search and rescue operation is ongoing at the site of the strike on a school, with a man believed to be under the rubble. Background: On the evening of 17 February, the Russians fired missiles on Kramatorsks industrial district and a residential neighbourhood. Rescue workers have retrieved the body of a woman aged about 46. There are still people under the rubble. There have also been strikes on the city of Sloviansk. Support UP or become our patron! The archdiocese of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City condemned the "scandalous" and "sacrilegious" funeral of a transgender leader and activist following outrage from the Catholic community. In a statement, Rev. Enrique Salvo wrote that the funeral of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili was an "outrage." "Thanks to so many who have let us know they share our outrage over the scandalous behavior at a funeral here at St. Patricks Cathedral earlier this week," Salvo wrote. The Manhattan archdiocese said the cathedral did not know what the funeral would entail when they agreed to host Gentili's funeral. DETRANSITIONERS SAY THEY FACE VITRIOL FROM TRANS ACTIVISTS THEY PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED A 'SECOND FAMILY' People with flowers and a banner honor Cecilia Gentili outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Feb. 15, 2024. "The Cathedral only knew that family and friends were requesting a funeral Mass for a Catholic, and had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way," Father Salvo said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The funeral, which drew well over 1,000 people, sparked outrage after the funeral was focused on praying for transgender rights and access to gender-affirming health care. One video eulogy, which called the transgendered activist the "Mother of all W-----," sparked outrage from the Catholic community. In the video, the eulogist remembered Gentili as the "great w----." "This w----." the eulogist said to resounding applause. "This great w----. St. Cecilia, Mother of all W-----!" "Today we say that we will see you soon and that you will give us the strength, the courage to continue your legacy," he continued. Cecilia Gentili CatholicVote, a conservative political activist group, called the funeral "just unbelievable and sick." CHRISTIANS SHOULD TAKE A SPIRITUAL INVENTORY DURING LENT, URGES FAITH LEADER AND AUTHOR Their comments came after Billy Porter, a LGBTQ+ activist, opened Gentili's funeral with a song rendition of the "Our Father" prayer. The group called it "mocking." St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City Two days after the funeral, Salvo said that the church would offer a "Mass of Reparation." "That such a scandal occurred at "Americas Parish Church" makes it worse; that it took place as Lent was beginning, the annual 40day struggle with the forces of sin and darkness, is a potent reminder of how much we need the prayer, reparation, repentance, grace, and mercy to which this holy season invites us," Salvo said. "At the Cardinals directive, we have offered an appropriate Mass of Reparation," he continued. Original article source: Archdiocese of New York condemns 'scandalous,' 'sacrilegious' behavior following trans activist funeral Arizona man just released from prison steals truck hauling Corvettes because he needed a ride home : sheriff A man who stole a semi-truck hauling over $1 million worth of new Corvettes from an Arizona truck stop told deputies he only took the truck because he needed a ride home after being released from prison, authorities said Thursday. Isaiah Walker, 23, of Lawton, Oklahoma, assaulted and robbed a truck driver at the Loves Truck Stop in Willcox near Interstate 10, the Cochise County Sheriffs Office said. Walker was talking to the victim about his truckload and "lulled him into a sense of security" before grabbing the victim and throwing him from the cab, according to the sheriffs office. Walker allegedly drove away in the semi, which was transporting 10 Chevrolet C8 Corvettes with an estimated value of over $1.25 million. FLORIDA SERIAL BANK ROBBER HITS SERIES OF BANKS IN SINGLE DAY AFTER PRISON RELEASE FOR SAME CRIME: DOJ The semi-truck was transporting 10 Chevrolet C8 Corvettes with an estimated value of over $1.25 million. A deputy spotted the stolen truck and attempted to pull the vehicle over, but officials said the driver refused to stop. The driver sped away recklessly, forcing other vehicles to leave the roadway. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The stolen truck eventually stopped and Walker was taken into custody. Isaiah Walker, 23, of Lawton, Oklahoma, told authorities that the Corvettes were not the reason he stole the truck, claiming he was just trying to find a ride home after being released from prison, the sheriff's office said. "Walker admitted to stealing the vehicle and advised that the Corvettes were not the reason and that he needed a truck to get home as he had just been released from prison," the sheriffs office said. DISCOVERY OF HUMAN SKULLS, STOLEN VEHICLES, METH AND GUNS AT ARIZONA AUTO SHOP LEADS TO ARREST OF 2 SUSPECTS Walker was booked into the Cochise County Jail on multiple felony charges including robbery, 11 counts of theft of means of transportation and felony theft. Meanwhile, the semi-truck was recovered without any damage and released to the original driver so he could continue with his delivery, Willcox Police Chief Dale Hadfield said. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The deputy and officer showed great restraint and patience in bringing a serious crime to a peaceful resolution, all while keeping the property of others from being damaged," the chief said. Original article source: Arizona man just released from prison steals truck hauling Corvettes because he needed a ride home : sheriff Junior Soldiers parade on the Regimental square as they graduate from the Army Foundation College on February 15, 2024 in Harrogate A few weeks ago, listening to the Today programme, I suddenly felt that never in my adult life had World War Three seemed so close. As a young reservist, I returned from a parachute training jump to observe, on a black and white television, Russian tanks driving through Prague during the invasion of Czechoslovakia. Only a couple of decades later, as the Soviet empire collapsed, I watched as Western Europe casually reaped what it called a peace dividend. But it has not turned out to be quite so peaceful. General Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, warns that the British people are now part of a prewar generation and that it is not merely desirable, but essential to place our society on a war footing. Our allies echo the same warnings. Carlos Del Toro, the US secretary of the navy, urges the UK government to invest more in the Royal Navy. Russias invasion of Ukraine, the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, and Chinas belligerent behaviour towards Taiwan has worsened an unstable global landscape. Against this backdrop, the British Army is predicted to have a professional force of 72,500 soldiers by 2025; in the past few decades our forces have been halved to their smallest size in 300 years. It is not just the Army. The Navy is struggling to find the manpower to keep its remaining ships at sea. The Air Force is so shrunken that the US state of Montana has more F35s than the RAF. We need to increase the size of our standing Army to at least 100,000 but, most importantly, we must increase the size of our Reserve Force. General Shirreff, a former Nato chief, has stated we may need to consider conscription. Does he have a point? I do not think Britain is ready for conscription. But our closest allies all have large reserve forces. America depends massively on its National Guard, which stands at nearly half a million. The speed at which Israel mobilised its response to the atrocities of October 7 was, in large part, possible due to a reserve force of 465,000 in a country of 9.5 million people. Most Ukrainian soldiers are not regular soldiers: reserve units are crucial to preserving their nation. Britain is severely lagging behind. Our reserves are currently just 33 per cent the size of the Regular Army; our allies within the Five Eyes partners average 80 per cent. Future wars will likely rely heavily on new technologies, and reserves can more rapidly bring new ideas in from the civilian world. Specialist units like the 77th Brigade focus on information warfare. They are heavily reliant on reservists. It puts people from varied backgrounds at the heart of operations. Journalists, media executives, and tech specialists are brought in to bolster our forces in the face of new types of warfare. Reserve forces cost one quarter that of regular forces and are pretty effective. In Afghanistan, a British reserve unit won three Military Crosses in a single six-month deployment. Rather than a call for conscription, it is time we made joining our Reserve Forces much more attractive. So how can we do this? How do we create a new cadre of officers and innovative technical staff? The natural place to start is in our universities. The Army operates the University Officer Training Corps. But it is under-resourced and under-used, with only a few thousand students taking part out of over two million. This diminutive organisation should be replaced with a much wider scheme that pays students properly and pays off their tuition fees if they serve for their whole course. Beyond this, the Government should be incentivising civilians to volunteer as reservists. Currently the recruitment process is desperately bureaucratic and slow. With the right policy, enrolling in the Reserve Forces should be a form of public service to be proud of. I am certainly proud of my service, and still meet my old contemporaries every year the camaraderie is still there decades later. It is time we expand the reserves to well over a hundred thousand, not the paltry numbers that we have now. Otherwise, if and when a European war comes, we will be faced with no choice but to enforce conscription, placing poorly trained young men into the murderous path of an attacking army. The casualties caused by such a strategy would be likely intolerable to British society. It would be a failure that future historians would rank alongside Chamberlains government, an unforgivable failure of a whole generation. Rt Hon Sir David Davis MP is a former Cabinet minister and served as an Army reservist 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. An army veteran has been hit with a 3,000 child benefit bill despite having no kids of his own. Paul Baron was landed with the bill from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) after falling foul of means testing rules when moving in with his girlfriend and her two children. Mr Barons partner had been claiming child benefits for her children since 2009, worth almost 40 a week. Child benefits have been means tested since 2013, with support tapering off after one person in the household earns more than 50,000. Mr Baron moved in with his partner and her children after leaving the Armed Forces in 2014, and subsequently breached the 50,000 cap. HMRC ordered him to pay back 3,258 child benefit for the tax years 2015/16 to 2019/20 as a result, plus 518 in late penalties. Tax rules state that the member of the household who earns above the threshold must repay any overpaid benefits via a self-assessment form, meaning Mr Baron was on the hook for the repayments. The details of the unusual case have come to light after Mr Baron appealed HMRCs demands, arguing in court that he had never had any financial responsibility for the children, whose father paid child maintenance for them. Mr Baron initially ignored the letter sent in January 2021, believing the rules known as the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) were not relevant to him. He got in touch with HMRC after it sent a second letter in June 2021. Mr Baron, who represented himself in court, added that at the time the HICBC was introduced, he had been a single man and often away on operations, so would not have thought the rules were relevant to him even if he had been aware of them. The court ruled that it was reasonable for Mr Baron not to have been aware of HICBC in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 tax years, court documents show. But the judge concluded that he was liable for the tax years 2017/18 to 2019/20 and for penalties for failing to act swiftly after receiving the initial HMRC letter a total of 2,967. Michelle Denny-West, a tax partner with Moore Kingston Smith, said it was unjust for anyone to be hit with an HICBC charge because they moved into a household with existing children. She added: Although this case followed the correct interpretation of the law, the outcome is inherently unfair and surely contrary to what was intended when the legislation was introduced. Current child benefit rules mean that a single parent with two children and an income of 60,000 will receive nothing, but a couple each earning 50,000 a year can get the full benefit. These thresholds have not been updated since being introduced in 2013. A quarter of all households with children now have some of their child benefit clawed back through the HICBC, according to a Tax Law Review Committee report released last week. An HMRC spokesman said: We are carefully considering the decision, appreciating the specific circumstances of the affected taxpayer. We use a range of communication activity to help people understand if theyre liable for the charge and we monitor tribunal decisions to see what improvements we can make. Recommended The clever child benefit hack that even high earners can use 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. David Williams listens to his duck hunting guide Breck Dickinson as they get ready to load their boats into a truck near Red Hill Park, in Imperial County, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Dickinson has been hunting in the area for around 30 years and has watched the bird populations change along with changing water levels of the Salton Sea. He also said brown pelicans disappeared as fish in the lake died off, eliminating their food source. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Great Salt Lake Collaborative This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake and what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Read all of our stories at greatsaltlakenews.org. IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. Not everyone gets to turn their hobby into a career. But thanks to the Salton Sea, California duck hunting guide Breck Dickinson gets to do just that. He doesnt even advertise, and yet he has work booked out years in advance. Declining water levels at the Salton Sea, which has lost about a third of its water supply in the past 25 years, jeopardize the future of his business. The ducks remain plentiful, he says, but access to the lake has declined and other species of birds have largely disappeared. For one thing, there are no more brown pelicans here, Dickinson says. They used to be here. The Salton Sea used to have fish in it ... but those big algae blooms choked out all the oxygen and they died. All that could change within the next year or two as the state of California nears the completion of the Species Conservation Habitat Restoration Project. The primary goal of the project, according to Samantha Arthur, assistant secretary for Salton Sea policy for the California Natural Resources Agency, is to restore habitat for the endangered desert pupfish. But its just the first step in Californias plans to restore 30,000 acres of habitat at the Salton Sea and one that could have implications for the future of the Great Salt Lake. A great egret flies near the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge in Imperial County, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Home for fish, food for birds The loss of water from the Salton Sea which is primarily a result of changes in water policy that reduced the agricultural runoff that once fed the lake has created significant difficulties for human access to the lake. As the shore has receded, it has left in its wake a crust that conceals sticky mud beneath it. It might look like you could drive across it to reach what remains of the lake, Dickinson says, but if you do its like driving on a giant pie. ... You will punch through the crust and its all pudding underneath. But for wildlife, rising salinity presents the greatest challenge, according to Vivien Maisonneuve, Salton Sea Management program manager at the California Department of Water Resources. Like the Great Salt Lake, the Salton Sea is a terminal lake, which means that the water and salts it contains have nowhere else to go. As the sea shrinks, the salt becomes more concentrated, raising the salinity to about 7% today. Ocean water is about 3.5% salt by weight; the Great Salt Lake ranges from 5%-27% The increased salinity of the Salton Sea means it can no longer support fish, which has in turn impacted species such as the brown pelican that rely on fish as a source of food, Maisonneuve says. To combat this, he says, the state of California plans to pump water from a nearby river and mix it with water from the Salton Sea to achieve the ideal salinity. The mixed water will be used to fill man-made basins dug into the Salton Sea shoreline to create an artificial wetland or what the ecology pros like to call a managed wetland. California habitat managers will have the ability to adjust the water levels and salinity in the wetland to keep it within the ideal range for the desert pupfish, Maisonnueve says. And as the fish return, the shorebirds who once frequented the Salton Sea should as well. The New River diversion structure is pictured in the Species Conservation Habitat Project by the Salton Sea in Imperial County, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The structure will divert New River water to basins where it can be mixed with water pumped from the Salton Sea, enabling control over salinity concentrations in the habitats ponds. The Species Conservation Habitat Project will turn over 4,000 acres of exposed lake bed into wetlands habitat for aquatic wildlife and migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway, as part of a 10-year plan to restore 30,000 acres around the Salton Sea. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Opportunities for wetland habitat Managed wetlands are nothing new to the Great Salt Lake. Between projects operated by the federal government, the state of Utah, and various private entities such as duck clubs and conservation groups, the lakes shoreline already features some 300,000 acres of managed wetlands, according to Max Malmquist, engagement manager for the National Audubon Societys Saline Lakes Program. Some of these wetlands date back to an effort in the 1930s to control the spread of botulism in area waterfowl, says Adam Wickline, senior project manager for the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust, which is co-managed by Audubon and The Nature Conservancy. But like the Salton Sea, the Great Salt Lake might benefit from an expanded network of managed wetlands should the lake continue to shrink in the future. As the lake recedes, the distance between what wed normally consider the end point of the fresh water rivers that feed it, and the shore of the lake itself grows, Malmquist says. This is creating larger wetland-like areas in areas once covered by the lake itself. And while most of these areas arent currently managed for the express purpose of providing habitat for birds, Audubon has observed that these growing deltas tend to attract shorebirds. If the lake level stays low, the amount of habitat that it provides may change, Malmquist says. If we are looking to maximize or improve habitat for birds, we may want to start looking at those freshwater-saltwater interfaces to see what can be done to create more habitat at those locations. This would also have the added benefit, Malmquist says, of helping to control dust that may blow off the exposed lakebed a benefit that California also expects to see from its wetland projects at the Salton Sea. But it would also come with some likely tradeoffs, Malmquist says. What makes the Great Salt Lake unique is the great diversity of habitat it provides for all manner of birds from the lake itself, with its brine flies and brine shrimp, to the surrounding wetlands and their different kinds of vegetation, bugs and invertebrates. Where one group of waterfowl might rely on the wetland for food, another such as the eared grebe needs the open lake and the brine shrimp. One of the things we are seeing at the Salton Sea is because the lake levels are declining, we are seeing winners and losers there. The fishing birds that are without fish, they are the losers in this case. But these other habitats are appearing and are providing additional resources for species in habitats that probably occurred historically at the Salton Sea, Malmquist says. What we observe at the Salton Sea is something we can look at here as conditions change to inform what habitat is provided, what water is provided. So while a shrinking lake might open up more opportunities for wetland habitat, the current goal, Malmquist says, is to ensure the lake has adequate water to support all the habitats it currently represents. Dakota Ball, MWH Constructors Inc. manager, and Vivien L. Maisonneuve, program manager at the California Department of Water Resources Salton Sea Management Program, inspect pipes that are used to pump water from the Salton Sea into ponds for the Species Conservation Habitat Project in Imperial County, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The water will be mixed with water from the New River, enabling control over salinity concentrations in the habitats ponds. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Samantha Arthur, California Natural Resources Agency assistant secretary for Salton Sea Policy, and Vivien L. Maisonneuve, program manager at the California Department of Water Resources Salton Sea Management Program, talk about the Species Conservation Habitat Project, which is under construction at the Species Conservation Habitat Project near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News The New River diversion structure is pictured in the Species Conservation Habitat Project by the Salton Sea in Imperial County, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The structure will divert New River water to basins where it can be mixed with water pumped from the Salton Sea, enabling control over salinity concentrations in the habitats ponds. The Species Conservation Habitat Project will turn over 4,000 acres of exposed lake bed into wetlands habitat for aquatic wildlife and migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway, as part of a 10-year plan to restore 30,000 acres around the Salton Sea. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News A pump station and pipeline are pictured at the end of a 1.25-mile-long causeway, that will pump water from the Salton Sea into ponds for the Species Conservation Habitat Project in Imperial County, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The Species Conservation Habitat Project will turn over 4,000 acres of exposed lake bed into wetlands habitat for aquatic wildlife and migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway, as part of a 10-year plan to restore 30,000 acres around the Salton Sea. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News A pump station and pipeline are pictured at the end of a 1.25-mile-long causeway that will pump water from the Salton Sea into ponds for the Species Conservation Habitat Project in Imperial County, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The Species Conservation Habitat Project will turn over 4,000 acres of exposed lake bed into wetlands habitat for aquatic wildlife and migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway, as part of a 10-year plan to restore 30,000 acres around the Salton Sea. The water pumped from the Salton Sea will be mixed with water from the New River, enabling control over salinity concentrations in the habitats ponds. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Birds gather near the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge in Imperial County, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Bird nesting platforms are pictured in the Species Conservation Habitat Project, which is under construction, by the Salton Sea in Imperial County, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The Species Conservation Habitat Project will turn over 4,000 acres of exposed lake bed into wetlands habitat for aquatic wildlife and migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway, as part of a 10-year plan to restore 30,000 acres around the Salton Sea. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Breck Dickinson, duck hunting guide and taxidermist, loads a boat into his truck after taking clients out near Red Hill Park, in Imperial County, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Dickinson has been hunting in the area for around 30 years and has watched the bird populations change along with changing water levels of the Salton Sea. He also said brown pelicans disappeared as fish in the lake died off, eliminating their food source. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Authorities have identified the man and woman found dead inside their home in New Hampshire. Attorney General John M. Formella says State Police officials responded to a single family home in Salem on Saturday afternoon 1:45 after a 911 call came in. Upon arrival, officers found the bodies of 47-year-old Jennifer L. Barrett and 41-year-old Charles W. Molinari. Both Barett and Molinari lived in the home. A neighbor placed two red roses on the front stairs for the couple on Sunday morning. They were very quiet, very sweet just a shock for everyone who knew them, neighbor Lauren Demers said. They kept to themselves but they were very friendly, Demers added. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday, the AG says. They were just nice people. You just dont know what going on. I hope that unravels quickly and brings us some sort of closure, said Demers. Authorities say there is no threat to the public, and additional information will be released as it becomes available. 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 (BCN) A 39-year-old San Francisco man was arrested on Friday after deputies watched the suspect looking into unoccupied vehicles, the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office said on Saturday. At approximately 11 a.m., sheriffs office deputies were patrolling the Windy Hill parking lot located in the 500 block of Portola Valley. Authorities made contact with the individual, who fit the description of a suspect involved in an auto burglary that happened in the area a few weeks before. One dead in Pinole shooting, armed suspect arrested The man was later identified as Jeiner Ocampo Quintero, and he was arrested. He was also found to be in possession of multiple burglary tools. Quintero was booked on charges of auto burglary, tampering with a vehicle and possession of burglary tools. He is currently being held at the Maguire Correctional Facility. Anyone with any additional information is urged to contact Deputy Moreno at jmoreno@smcgov.org or 650-363-4911. Anonymous tips can also be provided via the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Yes on Measure E Let me begin this letter by saying I admit that I was being lazy by not writing sooner. I was assuming that the measure to support Fresno State, Measure E, would receive overwhelming support. I was incorrect. When I read two negative letters in one days Bee, I knew that I had to respond. Being a proud Central California resident, I have been fortunate to reap the benefits of a strong local educational system. I graduated from Reedey College, receiving my AA degree in two years and entered Fresno State, graduating two years later. I felt the support and encouragement from a smaller college setting. While it is true that I would have loved to go to a private, more popular university, in reality, who can say that they receive their four-year bachelors degree debt free? This was my experience. We need to support the treasure that is Fresno State. We need to continue to entice smart students to attend, leaving our Valley a richer, more prosperous area. Do your part to support our students who in turn will support us by enriching our lives with their expertise. Vote yes on Measure E. Jean Flores, Clovis No on Measure E Measure E is a 0.25% sales tax for Fresno County that will provide $63 million annually for 25 years used for construction and maintenance projects at Fresno State. There is a nurse on every brochure. The campaign claims it will build a new nursing school and triple the the number of graduating nurses by building an additional classroom. Barriers to accepting nursing school applicants are many. There is a shortage of doctoral-prepared faculty and commensurate pay. A nurse working as a nurse can make more than a nurse teaching a nurse. Opinion There is insufficient clinical placement sites and a shortage of preceptors to supervise students. Building a new classroom will not expand the impacted nursing program. Richard Spencer of Spencer Enterprises funded the failed 2022 Measure E campaign. I say get the picture of a nurse off the brochure and put a picture of Spencer. He will be the one that benefits most from this proposed tax. Carol Houk, Fresno More Civil War-era history I found attorney and author Daniel Jamisons op ed, Donald Trump, Jefferson Davis and the role of insurrection (The Bee, Feb. 11) interesting in its history and application of the Fourteenth Amendment. However, it falls historically short. Jamison failed to mention the Amnesty Act of 1872, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. Just three years and 10 months after the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted, the Amnesty Act removed most of the penalties imposed on former confederates by the amendment, pardoning most of them (no, not Jeff Davis) for their role in the rebellion-insurrection. Why? To carry out Lincolns wish to reunify the nation. As a result, many of the ex-rebels resumed political careers in state legislatures and Congress. Ronald Genini, Fresno Cool it with the political mailers Hey, everyone running for local office! Can you puhleeze stop already with the expensive full-color mailers attempting to convince me that youre a person of the people and you only have my best interests at heart? What a waste of money. The more you inundate me with this waste, the more Im disinclined to vote for you. Walk my district. Door to door. Make me feel like you care. Flyers are so impersonal. And they clutter up my recycle bin as I remove them from my mailbox and walk them straight to the garbage. The more of these I get, the more I believe you are in the pocket of big interests that only want what they can get into their pockets by getting you elected. Fresno is owned by developers. The mayor, the DA, the sheriff, the legal beagles, the nepo-babies running on their last names, almost everyone is owned and operated by the Assemis and their ilk. Stop with the flyers and speak to me face to face or get off my lawn. Joel S. Dyer, Fresno No way voting for Trump The Republican and Democratic parties have lost touch with the voters. There is little support for Trump or Biden for the 2024 presidential election. If you want to know the negatives about Biden, listen to KMJ radio from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. They never mention a negative about Trump. Trump has been accused by 18 women of sexual assault and convicted of sexual assault and defaming women. He also associated with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. On TV he bragged how he can grope women and has stated sexual assault in the military is totally expected. Fact check finds 70% of his claims are false. Trump said if a court rules against him, there could be violence and court officials in his cases have received threats. He is still making bogus claims of voter fraud with no evidence. The only fraud was his fake representatives to the Electoral College with false election results. Republicans from his inner circle have warned us about him and oppose Trumps 2024 election. Some of those are Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General William Barr, Vice President Dick Chenry, President George Bush, national security adviser John Bolton, 21 ex-Cabinet officials and 20 govenors. Is this who we want as president? Allen M. Rush, Fresno A man wanted in connection with the alleged armed robbery of a Bellingham liquor store was arrested early Sunday morning. Police say they noticed Agapito Davila, 41 of Woonsocket, RI exhibiting suspicious behavior outside the Bellingham Beer and Wine on North Main Street on February 10. As Davila drove out of the parking lot, police ran the plates and discovered it was stolen. Police began a pursuit, simultaneously learning that Bellingham Beer and Wine had just been robbed at gunpoint. After a pursuit that went through Blackstone and into Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Davila allegedly bailed out of the vehicle, leaving it unoccupied and was not found. An arrest warrant for Davila was issued on charges of masked armed robbery, larceny over $1200, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, failure to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen property over $1200. After learning of his whereabouts Saturday, Davila was arrested in Lowell shortly after midnight Sunday by local police with the assistance of the NEMLEC SWAT Team. Davila was taken back to Bellingham and booked on the warrant before being transferred to Norfolk County House of Corrections to await transport to Milford District Court on Tuesday for arraignment. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW No Labels national co-Chair Ben Chavis said Sunday that the organization is talking with several exceptional leaders about potential bids for the White House. No Labels has been pushing for a unity ticket with one Democrat and one Republican for the 2024 presidential election but has not publicly confirmed who their candidates will be. In an interview on MSNBCs The Weekend, Chavis did not specifically name whom the organization has been talking to. Well, were talking with several exceptional leaders. We have our own internal process. And, first of all, we welcome Senator Manchins commitment to continuing to work for the commonsense majority, Chavis said, referring to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). As we said, No Labels has worked 14 years to build a movement to represent the commonsense majority of all Americans. And, of course, my background is in civil rights. I believe in extending voting rights to all Americans, making sure that every state has ballot access based on the will of the people of those states, he added. Manchin was floated as a possible candidate for the No Labels effort, but he announced Friday that he would not be running for president. Chavis, along with former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R), also said Friday that they were speaking to several exceptional leaders. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) was also discussed as a potential candidate for No Labels, but he has since announced a bid for the U.S. Senate. When pressed further on who will be at the top of No Labelss ticket, Chavis said that the organization will know who the candidates are in a couple of weeks. We have not made that decision. We are I can say for the record, on your program this morning, that we are talking to exceptional Republicans, exceptional Democratic and independent leaders, and we will well know in the next couple of weeks, he said. Some Democrats and other critics have said No Labelss efforts to put forward a unity ticket could potentially hand the election to former President Trump. Chavis said Sunday that handing the election to Trump is not our intention. Were not going to be a spoiler for anyone, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Biden appears to confuse NATO with Ukraine in calling for Congress members to pass funding bill President Biden on Saturday appeared to mix up NATO with Ukraine when calling on House members to come back to Washington, D.C., to vote on a bill that would fund Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. "The idea that were going to walk away from Ukraine, the idea that were going to begin to let NATO split is totally against the interests of the United States of America, and its against our word weve given since all the way back to Eisenhower," Biden told reports in Delaware Saturday. "So its about time we make sure Congress come home and pass the legislation funding NATO." The Senate this week passed the bipartisan bill that would give $95.3 million in funding to the three allies for defense purposes, but the House of Representatives is on a two-week break and House Speaker Mike Johnson has said the House won't "rush" to pass it. The 81-year-olds mental fitness has been under scrutiny since Special Counsel Robert Hur's report on the presidents mishandling of classified documents last week said he had a "poor memory." BIDEN'S EAST PALESTINE VISIT WAS A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT: FRANK LAROSE Biden appeared to confuse Ukraine with NATO on Saturday in a gaffe while talking about a bipartisan funding bill for the war-torn country. "We have also considered that, 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," Hur wrote in the report explaining that the president would not face any charges. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The Republican National Committees rapid response X, formerly Twitter, account RNC Research seized on the gaffe posting a clip and writing, "Ukraine isnt in NATO neither are Israel and Taiwan." WHITE HOUSE SCOLDS PRESS ON FALSE BIDEN HEALTH COVERAGE Biden, notorious for gaffes, also mixed up the presidents of Mexico and Egypt last week, and while speaking at the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference confused "red state and blue state" with "red state and green state" while giving his remarks. "When I said when I pushed these programs I said I'm going to be the president of everybody we live in a red state or green state," Biden said. Former President Trump, the Republican frontrunner, has also had his share of gaffes, most recently appearing to confuse opponent Nikki Haley for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Original article source: Biden appears to confuse NATO with Ukraine in calling for Congress members to pass funding bill US President Joe Biden approaches the media after leaving St Edmond Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on February 17, 2024 (SAUL LOEB) President Joe Biden on Saturday told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that he is "confident" the US Congress will renew war aid, but added that without American help Kyiv could lose further territory to Russian advances. "I spoke with Zelensky this afternoon to let him know that I was confident we're going to get that money," Biden told reporters after attending church in Delaware. Failure by US lawmakers to approve new funding for military aid to Kyiv would be "absurd" and "unethical," he said, adding: "I'm going to fight to get them the ammunition they need." The leaders spoke hours after Russia captured the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka, a major symbolic victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Avdiivka, now mostly destroyed, had been a symbol of Ukraine's determined resistance to Russian aggression since 2014. The White House said in a statement the Ukrainian withdrawal from the town came "after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia's first notable gains in months." Biden told reporters he is not confident another Ukrainian city won't fall to Russian forces without an infusion of US aid. "I'm not. I'm not. No one can be," he said. With existing US funding already dried up, former president Donald Trump's allies in the House of Representatives have been stalling $60 billion in military aid. Trump, the likely Republican nominee in the November presidential election, opposes helping Kyiv and recently used his sway to kill a US border reform bill that would have also authorized additional aid to Ukraine. In a post on Telegram following the phone call, Zelensky said: "I am glad that I can count on the full support of the American president. We also believe in the wise decision of the US Congress." The statements of US support came as Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were scrambling to reassure Western allies at the Munich Security Conference that Washington's support of Kyiv's war effort against the Russian invasion would continue. Speaking in Munich earlier Saturday alongside Zelensky, Harris said: "As it relates to our support for Ukraine, we must be unwavering and we cannot play political games." aue/md/bbk/acb/mlm US President Joe Biden believes that Ukrainian forces were forced to withdraw from Avdiivka on the morning of 17 February because of a lack of ammunition caused by the dwindling ammunition stockpile. He stressed that this happened as a result of the inaction on behalf of the US Congress, leading to Russias first "notable gains" in months. Source: The White House Details: President Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, 17 February, "to underscore the United States commitment to continue supporting Ukraine ahead of the two year anniversary of Russias brutal invasion," the White House statement read. During the phone call, Biden stressed the need for Congress to urgently pass the national security supplemental funding bill to resupply Ukrainian forces. Biden reaffirmed the strong bipartisan support in the US government and among the American people for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also said it was important to impose costs on the Russian government to hold it accountable for its actions. Background: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, announced the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from the town of Avdiivka in the early hours of 17 February. On 17 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden during the Munich Security Conference. Zelenskyy said that he and Biden discussed the situation on the battlefield, adding: "Im glad that I can count on the US presidents full support. We trust that Congress will make a wise decision, too." Support UP or become our patron! Congressional inaction is responsible for Ukrainian forces' withdrawal from the embattled city of Avdiivka, U.S. President Joe Biden said in a White House statement released Feb. 17. Ukrainian troops withdrew from Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 17 amid Russia's intensifying efforts to encircle and capture the city. Biden held a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 17 to reiterate U.S. support for Ukraine ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. According to the readout of the conversation, Biden said delays in U.S. aid to Ukraine led directly to Avdiivka's loss. "This morning, Ukraines military was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russias first notable gains in months," the statement read. Assistance from the U.S., once Ukraine's largest military donor, has mostly run dry as Republicans in Congress refuse to approve additional funding. The Senate recently advanced a foreign aid bill including $60 billion for Ukraine, but the Republican-led House of Representatives has already voiced strong opposition to the legislation. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby warned on Feb. 15 that an artillery shortage on Ukraine's front lines could lead to the loss of Avdiivka. "Russia is sending wave after wave of conscript forces to attack Ukrainian positions, and because Congress is yet to pass the supplemental bill, we've not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells that they desperately need to disrupt these Russian assaults," Kirby said. Following Ukraine's withdrawal from Avdiivka, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Feb. 17 that the loss emphasizes the urgent need for artillery shells, among other weapons. Biden once again urged Congress to approve security assistance for Ukraine. Russian forces launched a heavy assault against Avdiivka in October 2023. The city, which lies only kilometers away from Russian-occupied Donetsk, is largely in ruins due to intense fighting. Read also: Zelensky in Munich: If Ukraine left alone, Russia will destroy us Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Thursday, February 8th, may be looked back upon as a turning point in the history of the nation and its future. President Biden was gathering momentum as the week began. His poll numbers were improving and some showed him surpassing his predecessor, who was dealt a blow on Tuesday when the federal appeals court in the nations capital rejected his claim of absolute immunity in the election interference criminal case there. Marshall Tanick But then came February 8th. It began with the hearing by the Supreme Court on the ill-advised effort to bar former President Trump from the ballot under the once obscure and now well-known insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment. The unrealistic gambit was dreamed up by a few ivory tower academics and the obligatory card-carrying retired conservative judge, none of whom seemed to have a whit of street smarts. If they had, they would have recognized that not only was their case impractical but likely to redound to their detriment. It was and it will. Based upon the clearly telegraphed remarks and questions of the high court jurists, almost to a man and woman, the outcome is assured to overturn the Colorado ruling removing the ex-president from the ballot there, which was the basis of the appeal. A few hours later, a special prosecutor, a Republican appointed by the Biden administration, issued his report about President Bidens intentional mishandling of classified documents. Although refraining from calling for criminal prosecution, the report portrayed him as a doddering old fool of faltering memory ill equipped to manage the nations affairs. The presidents fiery confrontation that evening with media reporters in a cramped space in the White House looked like a battle royal staged by WWE impresario Vince McMahon, who has his own legal travails these days fending off a lurid sexual harassment claim. All in all it was a bad day for the president and his candidacy and turned into a worse one for him at night. The reason it was so devastating was because the events play into existing narratives and perceptions. The former president will use his assured ballot victory as a further example of the witch hunt he has repeatedly characterized and the desperate way his rivals are trying to prevent the voters from casting their ballots for him, a form of anti-democratic voter suppression. The zealots who brought the case and others like it around the nation should have realized this potential backfire before starting the fools errand. The Biden special prosecutor imbroglio likewise underscores the public perception that he is old, which is true, and that his age, 81, constitutes a debilitating factor for him, unlike his three-plus year younger but more virile opponent. What emerges from this pivotal day is that the ex-president will be able to add to his victimization profile and advance his misleading proclamation of exoneration by the Supreme Court, even the liberal trio wing which is likely to fall into line. He and his acolytes also are now armed with choice disparagements of President Biden in the special prosecutors report. These features may well combine to substantially enhance the likelihood of the 45th president becoming the 47th and all that portends for the republic. Its not quite like the Day of Infamy proclaimed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. But February 8th may go down in history as a sea change in the American experience. Marshall H. Tanick of Naples is a constitutional law attorney. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Biden's gathering momentum interrupted Rochester is one of the snowiest cities in the United States. We can thank our location for that. The area is astride common storm tracks and far enough north that precipitation often falls as snow instead of rain. And of course, we're along the shore of one of the world's largest snow-generating machines Lake Ontario. So epic winter storms are not uncommon. Here's a list of the biggest: Snowstorms in Rochester NY: Biggest multi-day snowfall 1. February 28 - March 2, 1900. 43.5 inches Snow fell for 63 hours straight, making this the worst snowstorm and deepest snow pack ever seen in Rochester. The monster storm halted commerce and disrupted lives through the Great Lakes region, with cities from Cleveland to Buffalo to Montreal reporting blizzard conditions. In this area, Le Roy had 10-foot drifts, Geneva was cut off from outside communication and the only people who made it into Brockport arrived on horses. In the city, people bemoaned the fact that the daily milk train had been hours late and delivery vehicles weren't able to navigate the streets. 2. February 27 - March 3, 1984. 32.7 inches Malvern Street in Rochester on Feb. 29, 1984. The Great Leap Day storm, as this was known, extended for six straight days. But the worst of it came on the last two days of February, when nearly 2 feet of snow fell and the Rochester area was briefly in shut-down mode. People had resumed their normal lives by March 1, but light snow continued as crews struggled to clear streets and haul away snow. 3. January 29 - February 2, 1966. 28.8 inches The Blizzard of '66 featured a great deal of lake-effect snow, with reports of 100-inches snowfalls and 30-foot drifts at locations near the east end of Lake Ontario. The area was paralyzed for a time, and a father and daughter died of exposure along an Orleans County road after their car, which they'd pulled off the road, was buried in snow. The Feb. 2 Democrat and Chronicle contained a startling report that wholesale suppliers said the community was running short of food. 4. March 13-15, 2017. 26.5 inches This storm was insidious in that it began just five days after a ferocious windstorm that knocked out power to much of the Rochester area. Schools and most businesses closed; those that remained open had few customers, as no one could travel. 5. February 5-7, 1978. 25.8 inches The entire eastern United States was socked by this storm. Part of the New York State Thruway was closed, and the stock exchange in New York City shut down as well. Locally, it started slowly but shut down Rochester on Feb. 7, 1978. Two men died of heart attacks after trying to shovel snow that lay two feet deep. The city manager later ordered an investigation of snow-removal failures. Snowstorms in Rochester NY: Biggest single-day snowfall 1. March 1, 1900. 29.8 inches. This mother of all one-day storms forced cancellation of most train service, blocked roads, closed schools, shuttered stores and left coal companies hustling to meet a spike in demand. This was the second day of a three-day event that became the biggest snowstorm on record here. 2. January 3, 1996. 23 inches A good portion of this mammoth snowfall was lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario. Transportation networks ground to a halt, and schools were closed for two days straight. Municipal highway departments, their budgets already depleted by a heavy plowing workload in November and December, cried poverty. 3. March 4, 1999. 22.3 inches Cars trying to navigate snow-clogged Monroe Avenue in Rochester on March 4, 1999. "Blizzard of '99" screamed the headline atop the next day's Democrat and Chronicle. "Big blow triggers mammoth paralysis, road chaos." A state of emergency was declared after a storm that drops 2 to 3 inches of snow an hour ravaged the region. Chagrined forecasters admitted they hadn't foreseen the severity of the storm. 4. March 6, 1999. 18.4 inches Coming on the heels of an even bigger storm two days earlier, this monster forced the county government to reimpose a state of emergency six hours after the old one was lifted. Parts of the New York State Thruway closed, as did local malls and many other businesses. Thanks largely to these back-to-back storms, March 1999 was the snowiest March ever in Rochester. 5. February 14, 1960. 18.4 inches A car buried in snow on March 14, 1960 . This storm was billed at the worst in Rochester in a decade. Snowdrifts were hip-deep. Roads were closed and airplanes grounded, though passenger trains remained in service. Two men died of heart attacks while shoveling snow. The storm helped make the winter of 1959-60 the snowiest in local history. NOTE: Unofficial records show a one-day snowfall of 30 inches on Feb. 15, 1837, and multi-day storms totaling 30 inches on Feb. 2-7, 1845, and Feb. 4-6, 1854. The storms are omitted from this list because measurements were not made by official weather observers. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester NY Weather: Worst blizzards and snowstorms in history German, U.S. and Russian authorities had discussed exchanging Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian hitman sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany, before Navalny's death, the German newspaper Bild reported on Feb. 18, citing its sources. Navalny, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's main opponent, died on Feb. 16 in a penal colony in the town of Kharp, Yamal Nenets Autonomous District. He had been convicted in several fabricated criminal cases as part of the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent. Leaders around the world have blamed Putin for his death. Opinions differ on whether Navalny's death was caused by the harsh prison conditions or intentional murder. Meanwhile, since 2021 Krasikov has been serving a life sentence for the murder of an exiled Chechen-Georgian dissident, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, in Berlin in 2019. Investigative reports suggested that Krasikov is an agent of Russian intelligence agencies. Vladimir Putin wanted the Russian agent Vadim Krasikov, who is imprisoned in Germany. It was discussed that in exchange, Putin would release Navalny, Bild said in a Telegram post. Read also: Alexei Navalnys life and death as main opponent to Putin regime The Wall Street Journal first broke the news of a possible exchange in September 2023. Citing unnamed Western officials, the newspaper reported that Russia is pursuing the exchange of Krasikov, naming Navalny as one of those who could be swapped during a potential prisoner swap. Putin said in a Feb. 8 interview with U.S. political commentator Tucker Carlson that the U.S. could ask their allies to exchange Krasikov for Wall Street journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The Kremlin has effectively held Gershkovich as a hostage in an effort to extort concessions from the U.S. Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg in March 2023 while working on a story about the Wagner mercenary group recruiting locals, as well as Russian citizens' views on the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia accused him of espionage, which both the U.S. government and the Wall Street Journal vehemently deny. Espionage in Russia carries a maximum prison term of up to 20 years. Read also: Navalnys death preceded by long list of Putin critics murders Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Florida Senate wants to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Florida Commission on Ethics by shortening the leash on that somewhat toothless watchdog and if anybody still has any idealistic expectations further weakening public confidence in the integrity of our states elected officials. With nary a dissenting vote, the Senate recently sent to the House a package of commission-related changes intended to tighten up some filing deadlines and clarify a few requirements for bringing complaints against public officers. But before their 39-0 vote, senators adopted a little amendment that says anyone complaining about conflicts of interest or other unethical actions must attest that their information is based upon personal knowledge or information other than hearsay. Gov. Ron DeSantis is greeted by senators and representatives as he arrives to give the State of the State Address on opening day of the 2024 Florida Legislative Session on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Viewed in its best light, that means you shouldnt make your local mayor, county commissioner or state legislator waste time and money fending off spurious allegations, just because he or she did something you consider a little fishy. But if your city commission member or county attorney deliberately deletes big items on their annual financial-disclosure reports, or members of the local planning board violate open-meeting laws and rig agenda items, theyre probably not going to talk loudly about it at McDonalds or send each other emails that can be tracked down. More likely, opponents of a pending action will tip off a newspaper or broadcast reporter and a good story will result, so an irate citizen will ask the ethics commission to take a look. Thats not going to happen if personal knowledge or information other than hearsay is the threshold for every ethics complaint. A news article, no matter how fair and important, is essentially hearsay. If a citizens complaint is simply misinformed, or politically motivated, the ethics commission staff should toss the thing after a quick once-over, with a public announcement that there was nothing there. The panel already hears things in executive session, followed by public notices of probable cause, or no cause, on various allegations. And the commission itself is highly ethical about neither confirming nor denying the existence of a complaint until probable cause is found and an investigation starts. Still, a political opponent can get somebody to file a complaint and call a news conference announcing it, resulting in headlines like Smiths use of state planes under investigation or Ethics panel looks at Browns finances. Such news clippings will pop up in campaign ads that somehow never mention if a case was dismissed out of hand. The solution, though, to mistaken complaints or lunatic accusations is not to require a sworn certification of personal knowledge. If an eyewitness account had been the standard in Washington, the only whistleblower for the Watergate scandal would have been Frank Wills, the security guard who noticed that someone had taped over the latch on the door of a stairwell used by Nixons burglars. Our Commission on Ethics was sort of a Watergate spinoff, created in 1974 to serve as guardian of the standards of conduct for city, county and state government officeholders. That was the year Richard Nixon resigned the presidency, and Florida had its own spate of scandals. In separate cases, two Cabinet members went to jail, another lost re-election after taking the Fifth before a grand jury, a U.S. senator left office under investigation, the lieutenant governor was fired from Gov. Reubin Askews re-election ticket, and a couple of Supreme Court justices left town one step ahead of the Judicial Qualifications Commission. It got so bad, politicians in Chicago and New Jersey were saying, Cmon, Florida, what are you guys doing down there.? Legislators like to say you cant legislate morality, and no two politicians can ever agree on a definition of ethics. So, they managed to create the ethics commission and implement Askews 1976 Sunshine Amendment for financial disclosure, but they couldnt codify the concept that, when youre not sure if something is ethical, it probably isnt. Policing politics will always be an imperfect pursuit and legislators shouldnt be harassed by every gadfly who just wants to throw stones or partisan opponents who want to upstage them politically. But theres no need to make it any harder for citizens to ask the ethics commission to check it out when they suspect public officials are abusing their powers and privileges. Bill Cotterell Bill Cotterell is a retired Capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat. He writes a weekly column for The News Service of Florida and City & State Florida. He can be reached at bcotterell@govexec.com. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bill Cotterell: Florida Senate takes a bite out of ethics complaints Blue Water Community Action Agency is continuing efforts to appeal a state administrative decision late last year that ousted the organization from a Michigan Department of Education meal program. The state first notified BWCAA in September that it proposed to terminate its agreement with the MDEs Child and Adult Care Food Program, or CACFP, referencing concerns that call back to safety violations and namely child abuse allegations against a former teacher that had landed the agency in hot water earlier in 2023. BWCAA requested the state review the termination, and a hearing was held in November. In December, an administrative law judge upheld the education departments decision to end the CACFP agreement, disqualifying BWCAA, as well as Sherry Beiser-Walter, BWCAAs facilities manager, and Linda Lilly, chairperson of their board of directors, from future participation. A claim of appeal was filed on Feb. 5 against the ruling in St. Clair County Circuit Court. When reached by phone last week, BWCAAs attorney Tim Lozen said formal action on appeal would come in several weeks. In a statement Friday, the agency said that expulsion from the CACFP, which funded school means for Head Start students, also automatically placed Lilly and Beiser-Walter on a national disqualification list administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, prohibiting them from volunteering or being employed nationwide in any similarly funded programs for seven years. BWCAA also asserted the MDE did not follow its own regulations that mandate an agency can't be disqualified or placed on the disqualification list if "it can show that it developed and implemented appropriate correction actiosn to respond to problems at the agency." In his own statement, Lozen said: In appealing, the board felt that if it did not challenge the dangerous precedent that volunteer board members or officers be personally punished for merely serving as an officer or director of a nonprofit board when something goes wrong, would be devastating to recruitment and maintaining good community minded people to serve on boards such as BWCAs and because disqualification would impact BWCAs ability to participate in other CACFP food programs to serve other needy persons in St. Clair County. Lindsey Lavine, of the Michigan Attorney Generals health, education, and family services division, is the listed representing attorney for the state but referred inquiries to the AGs press office. In an email Friday, Kimberly Bush, director of the AGs office of public information and education, said, We are representing MDE as their counsel on this matter, and as such they would be the appropriate entity to answer your questions. The MDE did not immediately return inquiries on Thursday and Friday. It wasnt clear what the ruling would mean, if anything, for services at large at the agency. Some members of its board of directors have said theyd expected an update on concerns at their January meeting before it was canceled amid inclement weather. BWCAAs board typically meets on the final Tuesday of each month. BWCAAs federal Head Start funding for its large-capacity daycare center was suspended in August in the wake of abuse allegations and unrelated reports of children being left unattended. Several agency staffers went on to face failure-to-report misdemeanors related to the allegations last summer, while former teacher Cody Williams pleaded to child abuse- and assault-related charges, resulting in a six-month jail sentence. Personnel found culpable were fired as a result of the controversy, and the BWCAA board also fired the agencys executive director in the fallout. BWCAA was permitted by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to operate a childcare center from September 2017 through Aug. 28, 2023, when LARA issued a notice to revoke the license. That state agency also pointed to a week in December 2022 when issues surrounding allegations against Williams arose, as well as supervision concerns from last spring. However, the BWCA Early Childhood Center currently appears on LARAs list of closed childcare facilities in St. Clair County and not among any centers whose license was revoked or suspended. Lilly and Beiser-Walter, though linked to legal concerns administratively, were never charged in connection to abuse allegations. According to the December administrative ruling, LARAs initial notice of intent to revoke was sent to the MDE, where CACFP staff reportedly found BWCAA posed an imminent threat to the health and safety of participants and a serious deficiency within federal guidelines that govern the food program. CACFP staff were not reported to have considered any corrective action plans from BWCAA, including those developed by Interim Executive Director Karen Lake in response to child abuse concerns. The CACFP program addresses reimbursable meals at a variety of facilities, including preschool programs such as Head Start, according to the state. Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Blue Water Community Action contesting expulsion from child care food program The residence where a former funeral home owner kept a deceased women's body in a hearse for two years as well as the remains of 30 cremated people is shown Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, in southwest Denver. The discovery occurred on Feb. 6 during a court-ordered eviction of the home rented by 33-year-old Miles Harford, who authorities have issued an arrest warrant for. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) DENVER (AP) A financially troubled former funeral home owner kept a deceased womans body in a hearse for two years at a house where police also found the cremated remains of at least 30 people, authorities said Friday in the latest case to underscore lax oversight of Colorados funeral industry. The grisly discovery occurred Feb. 6 during a court-ordered eviction of a house rented by Miles Harford, the 33-year-old owner of Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services in the Denver suburb of Littleton, police said. It had been closed since September 2022. Mr. Harford appears to have experienced financial trouble in his business. At times he was not able to complete cremations to provide remains to families for services, Denver Police Cmdr. Matt Clark said Friday. He said on occasion, Harford might have provided family members with another persons ashes instead of the ashes of their loved ones. Temporary urns plastic boxes the size of a shoe box were found in the crawl space of the house while a Denver sheriff's deputy oversaw the removal of Harford's belongings, Clark said. Some of the boxes were empty. Other urns were found in a moving truck parked outside and still others were in a hearse, where investigators found the woman's body covered with blankets, Clark said. Harford said she died in August of 2022. The recovered cremains appear to be associated with individuals who passed away between 2012 and 2021, he said. Authorities have been in contact with Harford and an arrest warrant was issued for him Friday. He's believed to be in the Denver area and police were working to facilitate his arrest, Clark said, adding that Harford has been cooperative with investigators. Former customer Crystallyn Nunez said it took months to get the ashes of her grandfather and father back from Harford after they died in 2021. Repeated phone calls and texts were met with a series of excuses, she said. Harford at one point said he was in a car crash while transporting the remains, then later claimed his mother had gotten into an accident while trying to deliver them, Nunez said. When the family offered to come pick them up, Harford danced around the issue, she said. She got her grandfather's ashes after a few months and her father's ashes after nearly a year, but never received necklaces containing their remains that the family had paid for, she said. Nunez said her family already had doubts that they had received the correct remains. The discovery at Harfords house only reinforced those fears. Its making our whole family question whether or not everything was done the correct way, said Nunez. Her family has contacted police to determine if they have the correct remains. The discovery is the latest in a string of horrific cases involving funeral home operators in Colorado, which has some of the weakest oversight of the funeral industry in the nation. The state has no routine inspections of funeral homes or qualification requirements for operators. A married couple is awaiting trial in Colorado Springs following their arrest last year for allegedly abandoning almost 200 bodies over several years inside a bug-infested facility and giving fake ashes to family members of the deceased. The operators of another funeral home in the western Colorado city of Montrose received federal prison sentences last year for mail fraud after they were accused of selling body parts and distributing fake ashes. More than two dozen additional criminal cases and complaints involving Colorado funeral homes since 2007 were detailed in a January report to lawmakers from state regulators. The cases included bodies being mishandled, thefts of personal effects, improper embalming of bodies, mislabeled remains and remains never returned to families. The report concluded that additional regulation for the industry was necessary to protect the public." Harford is expected to be charged with abuse of a corpse, forgery of the death certificate and theft of the money paid for the cremation. Other charges are possible as the investigation continues, said Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. No voicemail was set up on a telephone number listed for Harford. He also did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Clark said Harford acknowledged to police that he owed money to several crematories in the area and none would cremate the 63-year-old woman's body, so he decided to store her body in the hearse. Her family told investigators they were given what they believed were the womans ashes, which have been turned over to the Office of the Medical Examiner. The family is devastated, Clark said. "Theyre shocked. They were hurt by this, he said. They believed that they were processing their grief with the remains that they had and had had services with that. And then they come to find out that that was not the person that was processed, and in fact, she was being held in that hearse there. The other cremains found on the property appear to have been professionally cremated, officials said. Investigators are checking labels on the cremains and state databases and meeting with families. As you can imagine, these are extremely difficult conversations to have and the information comes as a shock to many of the families, several of whom believed they had the entire remains of their loved one, Clark said. State licensing records show no discipline or board actions for Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services, which was licensed from March 2012 through May 2022. In 2018, Harford and his company were sued by another funeral home company and ordered to pay about $27,000 for unspecified services the other home provided, according to court records. The same company, Kansas-based Wilbert Funeral Services, sued Harford and the company again in 2021, saying Harford owed nearly $9,000. That case is still pending. Last year, a woman who said she was Harfords former employer sought a court order to keep him away from her over alleged harassment. In her application, she said she had paid Harford to cremate two of her pets but he didn't return them to her. Theres no indication in court records that the order was granted. ___ Hanson reported from Helena, Mont. Associated Press reporter Thomas Peipert contributed to this story. Democratic appropriators say the collapse of the bipartisan border deal could pose added hurdles to the annual funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), particularly as they look to dial up pressure on Republicans. There are some challenges but were trying to address them, Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas), top Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees DHS funding, told reporters on Thursday, adding that negotiators were expecting extra money on the supplemental it didnt happen. The annual DHS measure is one the 12 appropriations bills Congress must pass before a pair of deadlines next month to avert partial government shutdowns. The bill covers funding for DHS and its agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Cuellar said that he and Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), head of the House subcommittee helping assemble the DHS funding bill, have been in contact and plan to huddle during recess next week to negotiate. We just finished talking. Were gonna talk over the weekend and talk next week, he said. But he also acknowledged some of the challenges facing negotiators. DHS is short to pay the pay raise thats going to be a billion dollars for the pay raise, he said, while also noting funding for FEMA and other priorities. Weve got needs for Coast Guard. Weve got border security stuff. So, we got a little bit more money, but not as much as we were hoping. His comments come as various senior appropriators in both chambers have discussed the difficulty in crafting their funding bills with the added limits of a budget caps deal struck between President Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who heads the subcommittee working out the DHS funding bill in the upper chamber, has also argued in recent weeks that the topline that negotiators are working from for the bill could be too low without a separate deal for emergency border funds. The department is way over budget, because of the high numbers of presentations they have, he said earlier this month, adding the supplemental is designed to help the administration afford the high costs of crossings. Murphy served as the chief Democratic negotiator in monthslong discussions with Republicans that produced the bipartisan border and national security supplemental package. The bill grew out of a White House supplemental budget request that paired DHS funding with aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Discussing some of the hurdles negotiators now face in crafting the annual DHS funding bill, Cuellar described the task as challenging in trying to have enough money, adding a supplemental package would make our life a lot easier. But some Republicans have also sought to turn the attention back on Democrats on the issue of funding. Asked about Murphys comments last week, Sen. Katie Britt (Ala.), top Republican on the Senate subcommittee serving alongside him, pushed back. Lets just rewind to the fact that President Biden, when he put forth his budget a year ago for DHS, he gave him a 1 percent cut across the board, Britt said last week, but she added, its not just having the money, its making sure the money is used in the right way. Do you know that we have 1.3 million people in this nation that have been given due process and have final orders of removal, and we needed the administration to take it serious to actually remove those individuals that are here unlawfully, Britt argued. And responding to Cuellars comments on Friday, Britt said in a statement, If ICE detention capacity is truly a newfound priority of theirs, we can alleviate these concerns in ongoing FY24 appropriations work. Instead of Democrats sending money to NGOs that want to defund ICE, they should support robust funding for ICE detention capacity and removal operations, she argued. The GOP push to fund immigration enforcement and defund immigration processing runs directly counter to the view from the left, which sees current enforcement funding as wasteful. Immigration advocates scoffed at the idea that DHS law enforcement agencies, especially ICE, are underfunded. The idea that ICE is this poor, underfunded agency is simply counterfactual, said Heidi Altman, director of policy at the National Immigrant Justice Center. As appropriations talks picked up in Congress, ICE officials this week leaked plans to release detainees and cut detention space if the agencys budgetary woes arent resolved. Advocates dont see those plans as a threat, rather as a long-overdue cost-cutting and humanitarian measure. ICEs complaints were especially strident to advocates because the agencys exposure to increased border apprehension numbers is less than that of CBP or USCIS and because they view ICEs detention system as expensive and problematic. On Friday, 50 House Democrats led by Reps. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.) called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to turn over a 2022 ICE memo that recommended closing or downsizing detention facilities that cost the agency $235 million a year. The Democrats pointed out that 90 percent of detained immigrants are housed in for-profit facilities, which are incentivized to cut costs, including on staffing and health care, to pad their profits. Further, the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill that has been extended through March provides DHS with the funding to detain 34,000 individuals in civil immigration detention. Currently, DHS is detaining over 38,000 individuals, yet many of the private immigration facilities included in the memorandum hold substantially fewer people than ICE pays for, wrote the lawmakers. As such, even while detaining 4,000 people over the level set by Congress, the Department is simultaneously overpaying private detention companies to provide substandard care to migrants who arent even housed within their facilities. This is untenable. ICE officials did not respond to a request for comment on this story. As lawmakers scramble for another vehicle for Ukraine and Israel funding, members on both sides are looking for legislative solutions with border add-ons that can win bipartisan support. That includes a recent emergency funding bill unveiled Friday that proposes the return of the Remain in Mexico policy, among other border measures. However, the bill already faces stiff odds in the House, amid opposition from conservatives pressing for even stricter policies. Such border policies are likely to run afoul with many in the Democratic caucus. Party leadership has also doubled down on calls for House GOP leaders to instead bring up the latest national security bill that passed the Senate, minus the previous border deal, in advance of the House measures rollout. Updated Monday at 12:05 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Milorad Dodik, the Bosnian Serb leader, is visiting Belarus for several days and is scheduled to meet with self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko on Monday. Source: Bosnian edition of the Avaz newspaper and Belarusian state agency BelTA, as reported by European Pravda Details: President Dodik is currently in Belarus together with the minister of health of Republika Srpska [Serb Republic one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina ed.]. They attended meetings at Minsk's centre for surgery, transplantation and haematology on Sunday, followed by a series of meetings "on economic and agricultural issues". Dodik's meeting with Lukashenko and Belarus' prime minister, according to reports, was announced on Monday. For reference: Dodik is on trial in Bosnia as a result of his refusal to implement decisions made by High Representative Christian Schmidt [the Office of the High Representative, an ad-hoc international institution responsible for overseeing implementation of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement ending the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina ed.]. Support UP or become our patron! Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel of committing 'genocide' against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip (Ricardo STUCKERT) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel Sunday of committing "genocide" against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and compared its actions to Adolf Hitler's campaign to exterminate Jews. In response, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the 78-year-old's comments "shameful and grave" and said his government had called in Brazil's ambassador in protest. But his comments drew praise from the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which described the remarks as "an accurate description" of what people were facing in the Gaza Strip that it controls. Lula told reporters in Addis Ababa, where he was attending an African Union summit, that what was happening in the Gaza Strip "isn't a war, it's a genocide". "It's not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It's a war between a highly prepared army and women and children," added the veteran leftist. "What's happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn't happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews." Lula, a prominent voice for the global south whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20, previously condemned Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel as a "terrorist" act. But he has since grown vocally critical of Israel's retaliatory military campaign. Netanyahu called Lula's remarks "Holocaust trivialisation and an attempt to harm the Jewish people and the right of Israel to defend itself". "The comparison between Israel to the Holocaust of the Nazis and Hitler is crossing a red line," he said in a statement. "Israel is fighting to defend itself and ensure its future until total victory and it is doing that while upholding international law." "I have decided with Foreign Minister (Israel) Katz to summon the Brazilian ambassador in Israel for an immediate reproach." Katz wrote on the X social media platform that the meeting would take place on Monday. - UNRWA contribution - Israeli President Isaac Herzog hit out at "leaders who atrociously accuse the nation state of the Jewish people of the evil of Hitler's deeds", without naming his Brazilian counterpart. To do so was an "immoral distortion of history", he added. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant meanwhile called Lula's comments "outrageous and abhorrent". "Brazil has stood with Israel for years," he wrote on X. "President Lula supports a genocidal terrorist organisation -- Hamas, and in doing so brings great shame to his people, and violates the values of the free world." The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Militants also took about 250 people hostage, 130 of whom are still in Gaza, including 30 who are presumed dead, according to Israeli figures. Israel's assault on Gaza has killed at least 28,858 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Lula criticised Western countries' recent decisions to halt aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, after Israel accused some of its employees of involvement in the October 7 attack. Lula, who met with Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh Saturday on the sidelines of the summit, has said Brazil will increase its own contribution to the agency, and urged other countries to do the same. "When I see the rich world announce that it's halting its contributions to humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, I just imagine how big these people's political awareness is and how big the spirit of solidarity in their hearts is," Lula said. "We need to stop being small when we need to be big." He reiterated his call for a two-state solution to the conflict, with Palestine "definitively recognised as a full and sovereign state." jhb-ibz/phz/imm FILE PHOTO: 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Africa Union, in Addis Ababa (Reuters) - Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Sunday there should be a thorough investigation into the death of prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny before making any accusations. His remarks were in sharp contrast to Western leaders' strong and swift criticisms of Russia over Navalny's death in an Arctic penal colony on Friday. U.S. President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin and "his thugs" were responsible. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected such accusations as unacceptable. Speaking at a press conference after attending an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Lula said refraining from taking a stance on the death at this moment was a matter of "common sense." "A citizen died in prison, I don't know if he was ill or had any issues," Lula said. "To make an accusation is to trivialize. I hope that a coroner will provide an explanation for why the individual died, that's all." Lula's comments reflected how non-Western nations have not joined the West in its efforts to deeply isolate Russian Putin over the invasion of Ukraine and other issues. Lula has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine and says that Russia should not have invaded. But he says that the United States has needlessly prolonged the war. Navalny's mother was told on Saturday her son had been struck down by "sudden death syndrome" and that his body would not be handed over to the family until an investigation was completed, his team said. During the press conference, Lula advocated for the Global South to assert its due place in the economy, politics, and culture, highlighting the importance of the BRICS bloc for this purpose. The group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa, officially expanded in January with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. (Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Frances Kerry) ZEELAND, Mich. (WOOD) Last month, NBC News correspondent Kristen Dahlgren made headlines after announcing that she was leaving news to launch a new organization, the Pink Eraser Project, committed to speed up the timeline to develop an innovative breast cancer treatment. A breast cancer survivor herself, Dahlgren decided to leave journalism after learning more about a promising new vaccine trial. She told her friends/co-workers on the Today show that the trial filled her with hope. On my journey as an NBC correspondent going through breast cancer, I have met a lot of amazing women. But none who have given me more hope than Dr. Nora Disis, lead researcher at (University of Washingtons) Cancer Vaccine Institute, Dahlgren said. If I have learned anything in 30 years as a journalist, (its that) one person really can change the world, but this will go much quicker if everyone joins us. WATCH: Inside the race to develop vaccines for cancer A breast cancer patient from West Michigan holds that hope as well and sees the palpable buzz around Disis trial. Jennifer Brouwer, a mother of two from Zeeland, is one of 199 subjects in Phase 2 of Dr. Disis vaccine trial. She was diagnosed with HER2 breast cancer in March 2020 and underwent four months of chemotherapy. After starting and then dropping out of a radiation study trial, she learned of a different trial Disis study through another breast cancer patient. People that know me and knew what happened with my radiation trial were surprised that I was willing to try another trial. But this was completely different, Brouwer told News 8. I knew from doing the research and reading the articles that vaccines were the way of the future, and to be part of a vaccine trial, your window of time to participate is (small), because you either have to be in treatment or just so many months out of treatment in order to participate. She jumped on the opportunity right away. It was a bit of a hassle. I was trying to contact Indiana Universitys Simon Cancer Center, but the information on (the National Library of Medicines clinical trial database) had changed, so every time I called the phone number for it, I was getting the medical surgical floor at the hospital, Brouwer explained. Luckily, I had the contact through Facebook, so she got me the correct information and (within days) I had my consult. Dr. Nora Disis, director of the UW Medicine Cancer Vaccine Institute, poses for a portrait Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the institutes campus in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson/AP) A POTENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH Disis and her team of researchers have been working on a breast cancer vaccine for more than a decade now. The first trial stage was conducted back in 2013. It involved 66 women with advanced-stage HER2 breast cancer. At this stage, the study wasnt designed to look at whether the vaccine could slow or prevent progression of breast cancer, but the data shows that most of their participants survived much longer than average expectations. Approximately half of all HER2 breast cancer patients at that advanced stage typically die within five years. Last year, 10 years after the first dose, 80% of the patients were still alive. Brigette Hempstead was one of those trial patients. By 2013, her breast cancer had spread to her lungs and liver, and her oncologist told her she wouldnt live more than a year. Now, more than a decade later, she sat down with Dahlgren to show why shes living proof that the vaccine could be the real deal. While she still undergoes some treatment, Hempstead says she has had several periods where her body scans show no evidence of the disease, and when signs of cancer do form, they disappear. Michigan man dies from rare fungal infection Thats what the vaccine is designed to do: teach the body how to identify cancer stem cells and use the immune system to destroy them. The pieces are there, and the understanding of the immune system is there, Disis told Dahlgren. What we really need is to be able to evaluate these vaccines in a very uniformed manner with a lot of eyes looking at the data coming out of these trials. Thats the goal of the Pink Eraser Project, to bring leading researchers together and streamline the most effective studies, including the Disis study out of Washington. So far, researchers from five top programs are already on board, including Disis. It is a chance to erase breast cancer as a fatal disease, and, someday, this could lead to vaccines for other cancers as well. We are laser-focused on breast cancer to streamline the process, but we know the ripple effects will help millions, Dahlgren wrote in her final piece for NBC News. Jennifer Brouwer cuts off her hair to be donated to charity before starting chemotherapy in April 2020. (Courtesy Jennifer Brouwer) Jennifer Brouwer smiles as she prepares for her final round of chemotherapy in July of 2021. (Courtesy Jennifer Brouwer) Jennifer Brouwer and her husband, Spencer, pose for a photo ahead of one of her reconstructive surgeries in November 2021. (Courtesy Jennifer Brouwer) Jennifer Brouwer, right, poses with a friend at her Pink Party in July 2020 before undergoing a mastectomy. (Courtesy Jennifer Brouwer) Jennifer Brouwer goes through a workout during her chemotherapy regimen in the summer of 2020. (Courtesy Jennifer Brouwer) Jennifer Brouwer smiles while taking part in a Casting for Recovery retreat for breast cancer survivors in August 2022. (Courtesy Jennifer Brouwer) INSIDE THE TRIAL The trial is running two simultaneous experiments. Half of the patients received a standard version of the plasma-based vaccine. The other half received specialized versions of the vaccine that were made with their own blood cells, a process called leukapheresis. It would be notable if the personalized vaccines prove to be effective, but the uniform version would be much more cost-effective and faster to produce. Jennifer Brouwer does routine blood work for doctors to look for returning signs of cancer. (Courtesy Jennifer Brouwer) In all, Brouwer made eight trips down to Bloomington, Indiana one of several participating locations across the country. She got her first dose of the generic vaccine in January 2021. It was one of six doses total: the first three each about three weeks apart, then another at the six-month mark, the nine-month mark and the one-year mark. Her final trip was for her first round of blood work. CMU to open new 4-year nursing degree program Ever since, because she gets regular blood work done to monitor her body, Brouwer can get the tests done locally and share the results with the researchers. That monitoring will continue for at least two more years. While we wait for results, Brouwer will keep on living her life with the hope that she was a part of a major medical breakthrough. I have no evidence of disease, and thats what they want. I dont have anything thats of concern. Its all good, she said. What to know about the latest COVID-19 variant: JN.1 Brouwer is also hopeful that an organization like the Pink Eraser Project can help people become more aware and ease some of the fears around clinical trials. (The vaccine trial) gave me even more hope. Then I got to thinking, I wish every woman could have that hope, because I was able to get this extra layer of protection and there is just so many false ideas out there when I talk to people, Brouwer explained. In different cancer groups, people post information about clinical trials and people assume that you can only do a clinical trial if its at your hospital or that your doctor has to suggest it. She continued: I wish that women would realize this and be open to having conversations. Dont just assume that you have no control over this idea of enrolling in a clinical trial because you have a lot of control over it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. JUNCTION CITY (KSNT) New food and brews are coming soon to northeast Kansas as a new brewery plans to open its doors to the public this February. Highwind Brewing Company in Junction City has been in the works since 2022. KSNT 27 News first spoke with the owner of the establishment, Matt Hoover, two years ago as construction was getting underway for the brewery inside an old historic building. In a recent interview, Hoover said that in addition to almost a dozen craft beers brewed in-house, customers will also be able to grab some food from one of the two restaurants that share the building. These are Mill Pizza and 726 Bistro which offer pizzas and burgers, respectively. It has been a journey with construction, its taken us a little over a year-and-a-half, Hoover said. The Big Dill Weekend pickle festival ready to open in Manhattan Beer varieties include just about everything one would expect to find in a brewery such as ambers, porters, IPAs, wheats and more. This is in addition to a full bar with in-house punch, wine and cocktails. Any customer or patron should be able to find a beer to their liking, Hoover said. The renovation of the building the brewery is situated in has been a long road for the investors and employees of Highwind Brewing Company. Hoover said the building was unoccupied for about 25 years before they moved in and began the construction process. I feel very excited, Hoover said. I think the rest of our family and friends and investors are ready to open. What country music stars have signed on to the 2024 Country Stampede? A soft opening will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20 with an official grand opening coming on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The brewery will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the time being with Hoover saying they will likely expand to 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. after this initial opening phase is complete. You can learn more about Highwind Brewing Company by visiting it on Facebook or going to its website. You can find the brewery at 726 N. Washington St. in Junction City. This embedded content is not available in your region. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Brianna Ghey's mother Esther is backing calls to put mindfulness on the school curriculum A show in memory of Brianna Ghey is due to take place in Manchester's Gay Village. The 16-year-old, who was transgender, was stabbed 28 times by two teenagers in a Cheshire park in February 2023. Transgender activist Jaxon Feeley said: "Her family have suffered so much, and I wanted to do something as a show of love and solidarity. "Although being trans wasn't the reason behind Brianna's death, it was a part of her experience." Brianna's mother Esther Ghey said she was "over the moon to be part of this event". Event organiser Jaxon Feeley said it was a gesture of "love and solidarity" An array of performers have volunteered to take part in the show to raise funds for Ms Ghey's organisation Peace & Mind UK. She set it up after Brianna's death to promote the teaching of mindfulness. Ms Ghey said: "After reaching our target to provide every school within the Warrington area with a mindfulness teacher, my aim now is to raise enough funds to roll this out across the country and provide every child with the resources and opportunity to learn about and take care of their mental health." Last week in Parliament, Ms Ghey backed calls to put mindfulness on the national curriculum and has urged for better online safety, after the trial revealed Brianna's killer Scarlett Jenkinson had watched videos of violence on the dark web before the murder. Brianna was attacked by Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both then aged 15, in Culcheth on 11 February 2023. During the sentencing on 2 February, the judge said Jenkinson was motivated by a "deep desire to kill", while Ratcliffe's motivation was partly due to his hostility to Brianna's transgender identity. BBC iPlayer Killed In The Park How Brianna Ghey's teenage killers tried to get away with murder Available now on BBC iPlayer File on 4 also tells the story behind the brutal killing of the 16-year-old on BBC Sounds. BBC iPlayer Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk A walking group that is part of a nationwide team supporting people with their mental health is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Mental Health Mates Bristol, led by Rachel Rayner, gets people together for strolls in and around the city. "We're a very eclectic bunch and that's where we can support each other," said Ms Rayner. The group is inviting anyone who struggles with their mental health to join in a "jaunt" this weekend. Ms Rayner said that taking the first step outside can be daunting for some, but that over the last five years the group has grown into a family, ready to support anyone who wants to join. "Stepping outside and having that first 'hello' with a group of strangers can be difficult," she said. "Once you've taken that first step, it does get easier. I've always been open about my own mental health struggles but always felt quite alone. "This group has shown me it's ok to talk and that I am not alone." Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, Ms Rayner added: "There's always something in nature that can make you smile, whether it's a robin, or a blackbird, or a puddle that looks like a frog. "We've never cancelled a walk and meet whatever the weather, which has led to some very funny stories." The nationwide organisation Mental Health Mates was started by author, journalist and campaigner, Bryony Gordon in 2016. Ms Gordon took to X, formerly Twitter, and invited anyone and everyone to join her in Hyde Park to walk and talk "without fear or judgement." To her amazement, she arrived to find 20 people waiting and said she was struck by everyone's courage to get up on a cold February morning to walk with a bunch of strangers. Fast forward seven years and Mental Health Mates now has over 150 walks across the UK. "We take a really gentle pace. It's not about getting out of breath, huffing and puffing. We want people talking and connecting and making friends," Ms Rayner said. "Everyone is welcome." The walk starts at The Downs Cafe at 14:00 GMT. Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk Members of a Tongliang Dragon Dance performing troupe perform "fire dragon dance" in a shower of molten iron in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Jan. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) On Feb. 14, during the Chinese New Year holiday, the Panlongcheng Ruins Museum in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province welcomed a steady stream of visitors. One exhibit that caught tourists' attention was a golden ornament adorned with inlaid turquoise, featuring an intricate Chinese dragon design embossed upon it. The artifact serves as compelling evidence of spiritual beliefs held by Chinese ancestors during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC). Dating back about 3,500 years, the Panlongcheng site has yielded a wealth of archaeological discoveries, such as walled palaces, royal cemeteries and craft workshops. Regarded as the root of today's Wuhan, the site was the center of the early Bronze Age civilization along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. As an important cultural heritage, Panlongcheng provides material evidence that both the Yellow River and Yangtze River belong to the same Chinese civilization. Throughout Chinese history, the image of the loong, or the Chinese dragon, has evolved continuously, yet its essence has been passed on through generations of Chinese people. At an exhibition currently underway in the National Museum of China in Beijing, over 200 pieces and sets of collections have been put on display, narrating the story and significance of the loong as a totem of Chinese culture. The exhibition, titled "A New Year Guarded by the Dragon: Exhibition for the Chinese New Year," delves into various perspectives spanning customs, rites, history, culture, art and lifestyle. Xie Zhaoliang is an inheritor of the Tongzhou Canal Dragon Lantern craft and dance who leads his team in street parades, performing the double dragon dance. The majestic Chinese dragons, rising and coiling, bestow Lunar New Year's blessings upon local villagers amidst lively beats of drums and gongs. "By reviving the nearly 200-year-old Tongzhou Canal Dragon Lantern tradition during the Spring Festival, we are not only enhancing the New Year's atmosphere but also introducing younger generations to this cherished tradition," Xie said. The art of dragon dance from Beijing's Tongzhou District, also known as the dance of "Tongzhou Canal Dragon Lantern," has been showcased in schools and exhibited in museums. A newly opened museum dedicated to Grand Canal dragon dancing curates New Year's pictures, stamps and postcards featuring dragon dancing themes from home and abroad. Visitors can espy the tradition of praying for safety and prosperity through dragon dances while also gaining insight into the global influence of Chinese dragons. The imagery of the loong has adorned the streets of Beijing and Wuhan, with numerous international brands decorating their shop windows with Chinese dragons. Posters of the film "Wish Dragon" were spotted at a shopping mall in Wuhan. Directed by a foreign filmmaker, the movie draws inspiration from the story of his Chinese friend, presenting a heartwarming tale of personal growth and friendship. In Beijing, flash mob performances of dragon and lion dances have graced many cultural sites along the Central Axis. These revitalized dances wind through the streets, striving to preserve local traditions while enriching the Spring Festival celebrations for both locals and tourists. Loong-themed exhibitions, carnivals and creative cultural products are captivating tourists nationwide, injecting strong momentum into China's rebounding cultural and tourism market. From Feb. 10 to 13, the 174 key tourist attractions in Beijing collectively welcomed more than 9.6 million visitors, marking an impressive year-on-year increase of 80.4 percent. At Beihai Park, creative cultural products inspired by the Nine-Dragon Screen have garnered enthusiastic responses from tourists. These products convey good wishes, with rising dragons symbolizing flourishing careers and vitality, while coiled dragons represent pervasive happiness. In addition to enjoying the presence of the loong in the park, tourists can also immerse themselves in Chinese dragon culture by appreciating the creative cultural products, noted Zhang Mian, director of the Beihai Park research office. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, center, arrives for the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. The 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) is taking place from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) LONDON (AP) Foreign Secretary David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands this week to show they are a valued part of the British family, the U.K. government said Sunday. Britain's top diplomat is making the trip amid renewed calls by Argentina for negotiations over the contested South Atlantic archipelago. The Foreign Office said Cameron will meet Falklands government officials, pay his respects to war dead and visit some of the islands 3,500 people and 1 million penguins. Hes the first British Cabinet minister since 2016 to visit the Falklands, over which Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982. Argentinas recently elected new president, Javier Milei, has called for the islands known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina -- to be handed over to Buenos Aires. Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the islands, which lie about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from South America and 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) from Britain. Argentina argues that the islands were illegally taken from it in 1833. Britain, which says its territorial claim dates to 1765, sent a warship to the islands in 1833 to expel Argentine forces who had sought to establish sovereignty over the territory. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, triggering a two-month war, won by Britain, that killed 649 Argentine troops, 255 British servicemen and three islanders. Islanders voted overwhelmingly in a 2013 referendum to remain a British Overseas Territory. The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion, Cameron said. Cameron also plans to visit Paraguay this week the first British foreign secretary to do so -- and to attend a Group of 20 foreign ministers' meeting in Brazil on Wednesday, before traveling to the United Nations in New York to mark the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Hoa Hakananai'a has been in the British Museum since 1869 The British Museum has been subject to a campaign by social media users in Chile demanding the return of a stone monument taken from Easter Island. The museum has two moai statues which were taken from the Chilean territory of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, in 1868. The online campaign began after an influencer encouraged his followers to "spam" the museum's Instagram posts with "return the moai" comments. The British Museum said it deactivated comments on one social media post. The island of Rapa Nui, located some 2,300 miles (3,700 km) from Chile's Pacific coast, is well renowned for its moai statues, which are said to embody the spirit of a prominent ancestor. Dating back to between 1400 and 1650 AD, many remain on the island to this day, but several have been transferred to museums around the world - including the Hoa Hakananai'a in the British Museum's collection. The statue, along with a second, smaller moai known as Hava, were given as gifts to Queen Victoria in 1869 by the captain of HMS Topaze, Commodore Richard Powell. The Queen donated the two statues to the British Museum. There have long been calls to return the Hoa Hakananai'a, or "Stolen Friend", to Rapa Nui. The renewed campaign by Chilean social media influencer Mike Milfort saw many of his followers demand its repatriation in the comments section of several of the museum's Instagram posts. Mr Milfort regularly speaks about the moai in his viral videos. "My followers began spamming 'return the moai' on Wikipedia, and then the comments section of the British Museum Instagram was full of people posting 'return the moai'," he said in one recent clip. Chile's President Gabriel Boric has also backed the sentiment behind the social media campaign in a recent radio interview. The British Museum says it deactivated comments on one post, which had been shared in collaboration with a youth charity. A spokesperson said the museum welcomed debate but it had to be "balanced against the need for safeguarding considerations, especially where young people are concerned". The museum says it has good and open relations with colleagues in Rapa Nui and there have been several visits from the community to London since 2018. Last year, Greece's prime minister called for the Parthenon Sculptures - or Elgin Marbles - to be returned from the museum. The sculptures are one of the most high-profile artefacts in the debate about whether museums across the world should return items to their countries of origin. A moai figure from Easter Island at the British Museum - escapetheofficejob / Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy The British Museum has become the target of a growing social media campaign in Chile, where nationals are stepping up calls for the return of stone monuments taken from Easter Island. People are demanding the repatriation of a moai statue to Rapa Nui, a Chilean territory known as Easter Island, after a campaign was initiated by an influencer based in Santiago last month. Rapa Nui, which was annexed by Chile in 1888, bears a strong Polynesian identity and is located more than 2,000 miles from the mainland. The museum holds two of its treasured statues, which were taken from the island by British surveyors in 1868. The stone monuments are believed to have been carved on Rapa Nui at some point between 1300 and 1600. Requests from islanders living on Rapa Nui for the return of the two monuments have been long-running, culminating in a written request for their return in 2018. Last month, Mike Milfort, a social media influencer in the Chilean capital with more than a million followers online, launched a campaign for the museum to return the statues. Mr Milforts online campaign gained enough traction for recognition from Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who echoed the calls in a Chilean radio interview last month. After a flood of comments hit the museums social media channels, officials were forced to close the comments on one Instagram post. Comments remain closed on one post made alongside charity the Youth Project, and are limited on others. A British Museum spokesperson said: Comments were only deactivated on one social media post. However, the Guardian reported that Rapa Nui mayor Pedro Edmunds Pao said the president should not politicise something that is so holistically, spiritually and culturally important to us. The island houses more than 1,000 moai statues, which were crafted centuries before European colonisation. One of the statues held by the British Museum, the Hoa Hakananaia, is of noted significance. The museum claims to have good and open relations with colleagues in Rapa Nui. The Guardian reported that Edmunds Pao added: We are not ruling out that the Hoa Hakananaia could stay in London and be our great ambassador. But we need to firmly establish that its rightful owner is the culture of Rapa Nui. The Council of Elders of Rapa Nui last year wrote to King Charles III requesting the return of the moai. 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 fashion show that took place in front of the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum showed zero respect, Greeces culture minister said. The catwalk show in Room 18, where the contested sculptures are displayed, was held amid ongoing talks between the British Museum and the Greek government regarding a potential deal for the repatriation of the 2,500-year-old Marbles, which once adorned the Parthenon. Dr Lina Mendoni, who has long campaigned for the artefacts to be returned to Athens, said: By organising a fashion show in the rooms where the Parthenon Sculptures are exhibited, the British Museum, once again, proves its zero respect for the masterpieces of Pheidias (the sculptor who created the artworks). Models presented creations for Erdem at the British Museum - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP The directors of the British Museum trivialise and insult not only the monument but also the universal values that it transmits. The conditions of display and storage of the sculptures, at the Duveen Gallery, are constantly deteriorating. It is time for the stolen and abused sculptural masterpieces to shine in the Attic light. However, sources close to the British Museum pointed out that in 2021 fashion house Dior was given permission to carry out a photoshoot at the Acropolis. Dr Mendoni was reported to have been involved in the permissions for the shoot on the Sacred Rock of Athens, which was accompanied by a show at the Panathenaic Stadium. Greek officials gave the first-ever shoot at the site the green light in part because of the advertising opportunity for the country. Fashion house Dior was given permission to carry out a photoshoot at the Acropolis in 2021 Dior reportedly paid about 700,000 for the permits to conduct shoots in archaeological sites and museums and up to 200,000 for lost earnings from closing the Acropolis early. In response to questions about the Dior shoot, Dr Mendoni told The Telegraph that there was no fashion show at the Acropolis as a request to hold one was rejected by the ministry. After negotiation, the show took place at the Panathenaic Stadium. Dr Lina Mendoni, who has long campaigned for the artefacts to be returned to Athens - ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock She added that the phot shoot at the Acropolis, of a collection inspired by ancient Greece and made in collaboration with Greek artists, took place while the landmark was closed and the models were photographed motionless, just like statues. The fashion show at the British Museum was held in the Duveen Gallery, in an enclosed space, with dozens of guests present. It should be noted that at times the sculptures at the British Museum have been damaged, due to overcrowding, Dr Mendoni said. The Parthenon sculptures were merely decoration, since, thematically, the collection had no dialectical connection to Greek antiquity. The Parthenon Sculptures were used only as backdrop and hence their universal value, which the British Museum claims to be so concerned about, was utterly minimised. The latest perceived insult to the Marbles comes during a legal stalemate between British Museum chairman George Osborne, who has been open about his wish to reach an agreement over the artworks, and the Greek government, with both sides unable to agree on a deal that does not cross their respective red lines. The museum has repeatedly been asked to return the Elgin Marbles, which the Greek government insists were stolen from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, a claim the museum denies. The British Museum has long argued that as a universal museum it can use the contested artefacts, alongside others in its collection, to tell a more universal human history that puts the Ancient Greeks in a broader context. The museum is also barred by law from giving away objects in its collection, but Mr Osborne and the Greek government have been holding discussions for months on how to negotiate this legal impasse in a way that could allow the Marbles to be displayed in Athens. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour sits in front of the Parthenon Marbles - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP Sources have told The Telegraph that some kind of hybrid deal that fits within legal parameters may provide a way forward, and it has been suggested that loans going from Greece to the UK could act as collateral. The museum is a commercial venue outside of opening hours, and often hosts events. Risk assessments are held to ensure the safety of the collection. The Erdem show was a tribute to American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas, and designer Erdem Moralioglu has said that he had her personal history in mind when he applied for the show to be in the same room as the marbles. I wanted to show in this space that epitomised her Greekness, he told Vogue, adding: I was interested in the idea of someone starting off somewhere and ending up somewhere else. A source close to the museum told The Telegraph that it is important artists can continue to respond to the living legacy that the Parthenon sculptures represent. The British Museum and Erdem were contacted for 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. BUCKEYE LAKE Embattled Buckeye Lake Mayor Jeryne Peterson, facing a recall election Feb. 27, has come under additional criticism for communications with a Union Township man suing the village and accused of harassing village employees. Jimmy Hudson, who filed a lawsuit against the village over a speeding ticket and various alleged violations of his rights, has been in communication with the mayor. Some of the mayors critics describe her actions as colluding, negotiating, or encouraging, the villages opponent in U.S. District Court. Peterson said she did not encourage or advise Hudson in his lawsuit against the village and said she would not speculate on the merits of his case. Mr. Hudson texted me that he was going to bring the lawsuit and I told him that he has to do what he has to do, Peterson said in an email. I think Mr. Hudson is exercising his First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances. Buckeye Lake Mayor Jeryne Peterson Police Chief Jason Harget said Hudson has already been served a criminal trespass warning and village employees may seek protection orders to keep Hudson away from them. A charge of obstruction of official business could also be filed if it continues, Harget said. Hudson came to village offices multiple times a week seeking village documents, the chief said. We had an employee in fear of coming to work, Harget said. She didnt want to come to work because of fear of harassment. Theyre not going to get threatened at work. Its just unacceptable. Hudson said he has a right to pursue government documents and may file additional lawsuits against the village. The current lawsuit names the village, police department, police chief, a former police officer, solicitor and council president as defendants. I never threatened anybody, Hudson said. You have to actually commit a crime before you can be criminally trespassed. Law enforcement is supposed to enforce laws and not feelings. One lady did not like being filmed. If you dont like being filmed, dont work in the public. Im just trying to get public information. Its a First Amendment protected activity. Our constitution allows this. Adam James, a Buckeye Lake resident, said, Ms. Peterson encouraged Mr. Hudson to move forward with his complaint yet asked for Chief Harget to be removed from the complaint. Legally, Ms. Peterson does not have the authority or right to side-step legal counsel and speak to Mr. Hudson in order to negotiate terms. In his own words he has said publicly that (Peterson) invited him to speak at a council meeting. encouraging him to speak against the solicitor, the police and council. Peterson responded, Absolutely not, when asked if she requested Hudson remove the police chief from being named in his lawsuit. But Hudson said the mayor did ask that the chief be removed. "She did, on a text. I told her Im not going to do that. Village Council President Linda Goodman said Petersons encouragement of Hudson and her Supreme Court filing to stop the recall election are both perplexing. My personal feeling is the same as the Supreme Court filing, Goodman said. I have a hard time understanding why the mayor is a part of suing the village she represents. She felt he could help her and she could help him. Casey Clark, who lost to the mayor in the last election, said, The most outrageous thing shes done is bringing Jimmy Hudson into the village. She encourages him to come to council meeting. She has asked him to go after Linda Goodman and (solicitor) Brad Nicodemus. Peterson said she does not really know Hudson, but added, He doesnt like Nicodemus. So, we have that in common. Hudson said he told the mayor he was going to file the Jan. 24 lawsuit, which seeks $2.5 million for multiple violations of his rights, and also asks the Buckeye Lake Police Department be shut down. I told her I was filing the lawsuit," Hudson said. "Im not necessarily saying shes OK with it, but she understands why Im doing it. Hudson received a speeding ticket, citing him for traveling 46 miles per hour in a 35 mile-per-hour zone on Walnut Road in Buckeye Lake. He alleges the villages radar guns are not properly maintained and calibrated. The police chief gave a detailed defense of the radar calibration program at the Jan. 22 council meeting. When asked if the police department radar guns are faulty, the mayor responded, I have no basis on which to form an opinion on that. Im not a radar gun expert nor have I been trained in their operation and testing. Hudson said the mayor asked him to speak at the Jan. 22 meeting and encouraged him to take his allegations to the media. "I had been talking to her about what had been going on, Hudson said. I think the mayor is the only one willing to listen to me about the corruption going on. She admitted my rights were violated. kmallett@newarkadvocate.com 740-973-4539 Twitter: @kmallett1958 This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Buckeye Lake mayor accused of aiding lawsuit against village police Sunday's fatal shooting of two Burnsville police officers, along with a medic who responded to the scene, marks the eighth time in barely 10 months that law enforcement officers have been killed or wounded by gunfire in or near Minnesota. On Dec. 7 in St. Paul, Brandon Daleshaun Keys, 24, of Maplewood, died in an exchange of gunfire with a police officer. The officer, Michael Tschida, was shot in the leg. On Oct. 12 in Glenwood Township near Princeton, five officers with a search warrant were shot during an exchange of gunfire with a man who was inside his home with numerous guns. The suspect, 64-year-old Karl Thomas Holmberg, was wounded before his apprehension and was charged with six counts each of attempted murder and first-degree assault of a police officer. On Sept. 13 in Algona, Iowa, police officer Kevin Cram was shot to death while trying to arrest Kyle L. Ricke, 43, of Algona, over an active warrant for harassment. Ricke was apprehended roughly 110 miles to the north in Sleepy Eye, Minn., about four hours later. On Aug. 11, a Minneapolis police officer was shot and wounded by automatic gunfire while pursuing a robbery suspect in an unmarked car on the North Side. Four people were arrested that night. On July 14 in Fargo, officer Jake Wallin, 23, was killed and two fellow officers and a civilian were wounded by gunfire from Mohamad Barakat, 37, of Fargo. A fourth officer shot and killed Barakat. On May 6 in western Wisconsin, St. Croix County sheriff's deputy Kaitie Leising, 29, was shot just outside of Glenwood. Leising was answering a call about a drunken driver stuck in a ditch. The suspect, Jeremiah D. Johnson, 34, of Shakopee, was found dead nearby with a gun close to his body. On April 15 in western Minnesota, Pope County sheriff's deputy Joshua Owen was killed on his 44th birthday while responding to a domestic dispute call. Two other officers were wounded. The suspected shooter, Bryan Nygard, 34, of Cyrus, Minn., died when officers returned fire. On April 8 in western Wisconsin, two police officers were shot and killed in Barron County during a traffic stop in Cameron: officers Emily Breidenbach, 32, of the Chetek Police Department, and Hunter Scheel, 23, of the Cameron Police Department. The suspect, Glenn Douglas Perry, 50, of New Auburn, Wis., died in an exchange of gunfire. Nostalgia combined with a curiosity among the young have created a hot market for old technology, including the once-beloved Sony Walkman. Roll tape. Back during the late 1980s heyday of the Sony Walkman, the parent company of the Apple iPhone of the era partnered up with Tiffany & Co. to create a silver-plated version of the personal, portable cassette player, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the absurdly-popular listening device. Only 250 of these special Walkmans were made, many of them delivered directly to some of musics greatest names. Today, long after the revolutionary technology was made obsolete, Walkman collector Mark Ip is the proud owner of not one, not two, but three of the Tiffany Walkmans for which he spent a total of about $10,000 to remove from a surprisingly robust collectors market, The Guardian reported. The Walkman was the Apple iPhone of its time a must-have status symbol that many couldnt afford. Linda Bestwick stock.adobe.com Ip, 60, is one of the higher-profile Walkman collectors; he aims for the most pristine models he can find, which he shows off on his popular Instagram page, @boxedwalkman. Im a little bit OCD, Ip told a Guardian reporter. Because Im not satisfied with only single units. I want packaging, user manuals, original headphones. Like all collectors, you are seeking perfection, he said. What is perfect is a new box, never touched, no scratches, no dust. Its almost impossible, but I will do my best to patiently wait. So perfect are many of the specimens in his collection, Ip decided to put them on display for the public to appreciate, a few years back. This is one of my missions in Walkman collecting, he said, to expose the young to something that meant so much to the older generation. Many of the younger attendees were seeing a cassette player for the first time, he said. Most were genuinely curious. They were intrigued by its mechanics. For the Hong Kong based collector, the business is deeply personal he keeps about 20 of the devices out at all times, just to play around with; Ips obsession dates all the way back to his youth, he said, when he couldnt afford a Walkman of his own. The iconic sports Walkman was a commonly-spotted accessory on the waistband of fitness junkies at the time. Nicola.K.photos stock.adobe.com When I was in high school, a classmate had the first model, the TPS-L2. The stereo sounded so good. And it was portable, he remembered. It wasnt until years later, when the devices were no longer needed and all but forgotten, that Ip began to build his vast treasure trove of tape players about 1,000 of them, he estimates, but hes hesitant to let any of them go, at least for now. Not so Stephen Ho, an active eBay-er who lists well-cared-for Walkmans for up to $3,780 though most of what he sells, he admits, goes for a lot less. He deals with all ages, he says, from the Gen Xers like him that grew up attached to their players, on down to youths with a taste for the old. A Walkman on display in a gallery of Japanese art at Londons Victoria & Albert Museum. Getty Images Before social media, it was limited to older generations, Ho told The Guardian. But since social media Instagram, Facebook, whatever teenagers have been exposed to old stuff. Old guys are buying for their memories. Young people are buying to try. They think its trendy, its interesting. The fiftysomething retiree from Hong Kong, now living in the U.K., worked in Sonys marketing department back in the 1990s for him, this is much more than a business. His Walkmans are a vital link to a beloved past. Because I grew up with Sony products and I worked for Sony, I have a passion for their products, Ho said. During those years, Sony was like Apple nowadays. I was a normal teenager. I had Sony Walkman, Sony radio, everything Sony. At least one collector confessed to having a thousand Walkmans in storage with little to no interest in putting them on sale. Ned Snowman stock.adobe.com When Ho moved to England in 2020, he brought his precious collection with him, including hundreds of Walkmans, Discmans and MiniDisc players. He tries to limit himself to a budget of about $600 for new acquisitions, but confesses to paying slightly under $2,500 for one of the Tiffany Walkmans. And no, he said thats not for sale, and never will be. Im buying more than Im selling, he admitted one of his favorite places to find new acquisitions is Japan, where street markets can be full of finds, though these days, its entrepreneurs in China using 3D-printing technology, he said, that are helping to keep Walkman fever alive. Since the price of Walkmans has gone so high, people are making spare parts, which makes their lifespan longer, he said, though old tech like this has a few of its own longevity tricks built in as long as you have normal batteries on hand, for example, a Walkman could potentially live forever. Try bringing your old iPhone back to life in fifty years and see how that goes. Huntington Beach AKA Surf City USA is making waves. But not in a good way. The Southern California city famous for its surf culture is asking voters to approve a law that would permit poll workers to ask voters to show an ID. Its another attempt to undermine confidence in our elections by falsely implying that voter fraud is rampant in California, even in conservative-leaning Orange County. There are a couple of big problems with the proposal on the March 5 ballot. For one, California election law forbids requiring voters to show identification, except under extremely limited circumstances involving first-time voters. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber wrote to city officials last fall, warning that the proposal squarely conflicts with state law. Accordingly, we respectfully urge you to reject the voter ID proposal currently under consideration. If necessary, our offices stand ready to take appropriate action to ensure that state law is upheld and voters rights are protected, they wrote in a letter the city has basically ignored. Huntington Beach claims the voter ID law would only apply to municipal elections. State officials arent buying that, since most elections are consolidated, meaning that local, state and national elections are combined on one ballot. Good point. What about vote-by-mail? Heres the second problem: Given the growing popularity of voting by mail, relatively few voters are even going to the polls. In the 2022 general election, for example, only 17% of Orange County ballots were cast in person. How does Huntington Beach plan to check the IDs of voters using mail-in ballots? Will the city station people at post offices and demand that voters show their ID before they drop their ballot in the mail slot? Obviously, the law as currently written will apply only to in-person voters. But could this be just a first step? Is it only a matter of time before the city tries to phase out mail-in voting, which MAGA conservatives claim is rife with fraud. Unanswered questions Another issue: The measure is vague about how the law would be enforced. An analysis by the Huntington Beach city attorney points out that it would authorize but not require the city to verify voter identity. Does that mean there is an element of discretion? Could poll workers card only certain voters based on their looks or their last name, perhaps? Nor does the measure specify the type of ID thats acceptable. Would it have to be a photo ID? Would a utility bill suffice? How about a school ID? Another provision included in the ballot measure allowing the city to monitor ballot drop-boxes is also frustratingly devoid of specific detail. That, too, could get the city in trouble with the state. Until the City provides further details about how this proposal would be implemented, it is not clear that the City even has the authority to enact such a measure, the Bonta-Weber letter says. Why it matters This is not the first time a local agency in California has tried to override state election law. It wont be the last, either, which is why whats happening in Huntington Beach is important to us all. If one local government successfully implements a voter ID law, other cities and counties will undoubtedly want to follow, if for no other reason than to appease constituents who still insist that the 2020 election was stolen. There is no shortage of elected officials who would jump at the chance to enact reform measures, such as limiting vote-by-mail, doing away with early voting, and even going back to hand-counting ballots. Last year, in fact, Sutter County went so far as to cancel its contract with Dominion Voting Systems. It planned to switch to manually counting ballots until the state passed a law that prohibits hand-counting except in extremely limited circumstances. The Huntington Beach measure is nothing more than window dressing an attempt by the City Councils conservative majority to flex its political muscle by fighting election fraud, when no such fraud exists. As Bonta and Weber point out in their letter, the City has not identified any basis for its voter ID proposal, much less a basis supported by uniquely local concerns. The citizens of Huntington Beach should confront this measure with a wave of rejection. This editorial represents the views of the opinion editorial boards at The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, Merced Sun-Star and The Tribune in San Luis Obispo. A grand jury has indicted a 28-year-old California man over an incident at Yosemite National Park. The man is accused of stealing a park ranger's vehicle, leading to a high-speed chase and crash. If convicted, he faces up to 13 years in prison and $510,000 in fines. A federal grand jury indicted a California man accused of stealing a Yosemite National Park ranger's vehicle and leading a "high-speed chase" before driving off a cliff. The US attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a news release that Christian Claustro, 28, had been charged with theft of personal property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and fleeing or eluding a police officer. If convicted, he faces up to 13 years in prison and $510,000 in fines. According to the release, Claustro is accused of stealing the vehicle from a Yosemite ranger who had pulled over to remove a bike left in the roadway on December 26, 2022. This prompted a "high-speed chase" through the park, eventually reaching the Ferguson Slide bridge, the US attorney's office said. National-park rangers. David Calvert/Getty Images Claustro drove the wrong way on the bridge and collided with another vehicle, prosecutors said. While the other vehicle was "disabled by the amount of damage caused," Claustro continued until he drove off a cliff, falling 200 feet to the bottom of a canyon, the news release said. This isn't the first time tourists have been accused of misbehaving in US national parks. In May 2023, a bison calf had to be euthanized after a man lifted it out of a river in Yellowstone National Park, prompting its herd to reject it. An unidentified man disturbed a bison calf in Lamar Valley near the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Hellen Jack/National Parks Service "Visitors later observed the calf walk up to and follow cars and people," a news release for that incident said. "Park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd, but their efforts were unsuccessful." It added: "The calf was later euthanized by park staff because it was abandoned by the herd and causing a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people along the roadway." The man pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife. In August 2023, Yellowstone barred a tourist accused of being intoxicated when he went off-trail in one of the park's thermal areas. According to a news release, the man pleaded not guilty to criminal charges but is barred from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks until the charges are resolved. Read the original article on Business Insider Job seekers inquire about job opportunities at a job fair for college graduates in Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] China intensified efforts to shore up employment in 2023, with more than 300 billion yuan (about 42.23 billion U.S. dollars) directly channeled by governments at all levels to support employment and entrepreneurship, according to the country's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. A total of 12.44 million jobs were created in urban areas in 2023, said Yun Donglai, an official with the ministry, adding that about 33.97 million people who were lifted out of poverty secured new employment opportunities over the past year. Last year, the country provided assistance to 5.14 million unemployed individuals and aided 1.72 million people facing challenges in finding employment to secure new jobs. Adhering to an employment-first strategy, China has taken important steps to stabilize employment. Going forward, the country will prioritize employment even more prominently and implement measures to enhance the effectiveness of policies aimed at strengthening employment, according to the ministry official. (This Feb. 18 story has been corrected to change the second references from Wang Yi to Wang (not Yi), in paragraphs 6 and 10) By Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Sunday said China should play a role in keeping the Red Sea safe for commerce because Chinese ships are at risk there as well, and urged Beijing to stop helping Russia sidestep international sanctions. In an interview, Joly said she told China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a bilateral meeting on Saturday that Beijing needs "to help to influence the Houthis to keep the Red Sea open." "It's in China's interests as an exporter," Joly told Reuters by phone on the last day of the Munich Security Conference. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have staged a series of attacks in the Red Sea on commercial vessels, including the oil tanker M/T Pollux that U.S. officials said was hit by a missile on Friday. The attacks, which the Houthis say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, have raised the cost of shipping and insurance by disrupting a key trade route between Asia and Europe used widely by ships from China. The U.S. and Britain have both urged China to intervene through Iran to rein in the attacks. Joly also said she spoke to Wang about making sure that Western sanctions against Russia hold as the war in Ukraine drags on. "We need to put maximum pressure on Russia," Joly said. "Our sanctions are strong, but China cannot be the loophole in our sanction system." Last year Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia to become China's top crude oil supplier as the world's biggest crude importer defied Western sanctions to purchase vast quantities of discounted oil for its processing plants. Chinese refiners use intermediary traders to handle the shipping and insurance of Russian crude to avoid violating Western sanctions. After the Saturday meeting with Joly, Wang spoke of the need to "rebuild trust" with Canada after years of diplomatic tensions. China-Canada relations turned icy in late 2018 when Canadian police detained a Chinese telecommunications executive. Shortly after, Beijing arrested two Canadians on spying charges. Relations remained strained for most of last year as Canada's parliament probed alleged Chinese meddling in its elections, a claim China repeatedly denied. (Reporting by Steve Scherer, editing by Deepa Babington) Tiah Tomlin-Harris still remembers the feeling of not being able to breathe when her doctor told her she had triple-negative breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease, at age 38. She was shocked and terrified of what she didnt know. When she brought a list of questions to her doctor, she was met with pushback. The former pharmaceuticals manager wanted to know if there was anything she could change about her lifestyle to prevent the cancer from spreading. But the doctor told her those kinds of adjustments wouldnt change things, and she needed to focus on seeking treatment. Still, she continued to research and speak with others in various stages of cancer. She found cancer education was hard to come by especially for Black women. As I had more and more conversations, I noticed there was a gap in cancer treatment, said Tomlin-Harris, who is now 47. I had questions, and I needed to connect with people that look like me. She created an online support group in her hometown of Atlanta for other women on their cancer journey particularly Black women, a population that is disproportionately affected by cancer and often say they are mistreated by health professionals. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are 41% more likely than white women to die from breast cancer, and 1 in 6 of all Black women in America will die from cancer. During her research, Tomlin-Harris, who has a masters in chemistry, learned that Black women are also exposed to more toxic chemicals from the hair and beauty products they use, like hair relaxers and skin lighteners, which have links to causing cancer. When she was diagnosed with cancer again four years later, she felt it was time to implement a healthier lifestyle and wanted other Black women to be aware of prevention efforts. In 2017, she turned her support network into a nonprofit organization, My Style Matters. I wanted to help women make healthier and safer choices and for there to be an organization for Black women by Black women, she said. I wanted for those whove never been diagnosed to lower their risk and for those that have been diagnosed to utilize tools to help manage their side effects. The organization has grown to a network of more than 350 women that many say has become a sisterhood, where they not only learn about breast education and product toxicity at no cost, but they also check up and support one another during their cancer journeys. Phyllis Stewart, a two-time breast cancer survivor and member of My Style Matters, said the organization has been by her side since she was diagnosed with cancer. She is now a volunteer and frequently participates in events and outreach. I really got a chance to understand advocacy and how important it is for this fight. Ive built sisters for life, said the 59-year-old Stewart. Black women definitely need to stick together, because if you dont, you really could lose your life. Kicking cancer with the Kick Cant-cer Care Kits Tomlin-Harris used to buy hair relaxers, shampoos and makeup that looked pretty; she didnt focus on the ingredients. But after learning of her second diagnosis, she threw away all her products with toxic chemicals from cleaning supplies to skin care. I honestly believe that we purchase what we can afford, Tomlin-Harris said. You look in Black communities and you see beauty supply stores everywhere, and you dont see any of those products in there that are deemed as clean beauty. Recent studies have identified two groups of chemicals parabens and phthalates found in many beauty products that may contribute to the development of cancer. One of the organizations educational programs includes helping women discover the importance of nontoxic beauty products and how they can easily find them. The organization gives six weeks worth of hair and beauty products at no cost to women undergoing cancer treatment called the Kick Cant-cer Care Kits. The kits include makeup, skin care, hygiene products, dumbbells, cleaning products and breast massage oil, which are all locally sourced so that women can continue to use the same safe items in their area. Tomlin-Harris selects the items by using apps that test how safe a product is, like Clearya, which spots harmful ingredients and identifies nontoxic products while you shop, and the Environmental Working Groups Skin Deep database, which includes a Black-Owned Brands filter. To combat the use of toxic products, My Style Matters also hosts Hey Girl Hey Parties, where they do house visits with members and provide education on breast health. During the parties, women can be found in the kitchen learning how to cook with organic fruits and vegetables. They also learn how to make DIY products without toxic chemicals, like lip scrubs and hair masks, emphasizing the pillar of clean beauty. April Donaldson, a 44-year-old metastatic cancer survivor, was introduced to Tomlin-Harris at an event after she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2020. After hearing another Black woman share a similar story, she reached out to Tomlin-Harris and soon became an active member of My Style Matters. Its definitely a sisterhood that no one wants to be invited to, but its a beautiful thing to see how these connections are made, Donaldson said. While undergoing chemotherapy, she received multiple boxes of organic fruits and vegetables and a personal care kit of nontoxic products, which taught her the importance of health and wellness. For a lot of us women of color, we live in areas where there are food droughts or youre so sick a lot of times you cant go out and get groceries, so it was a huge help to have those deliveries to help support the lifestyle changes youre trying to make to fight the disease, Donaldson said. Planting the seed of health and wellness in the next generation of Black women My Style Matters has made it a mission to reach younger women through events like Teen Talk Tuesdays, where teen ambassadors lead conversations on breast checks and other forms of cancer prevention. When I was growing up, breast cancer was not on my radar, Tomlin-Harris said. Looking back, had I known what Ive learned now, I wouldve made some different choices. If we can start educating them now, were planting those seeds for them. Donaldson believes its vital to reach young Black girls so they can be aware of the importance of self-breast exams and how they are at a disproportionate risk. It takes truly all of us to work together collectively to save our lives as Black women, Tomlin-Harris said. Part of that work is tackling the racist beauty standards underlying these toxic products targeted to Black women. Tomlin-Harris says Black women may sometimes feel they have to fit into Eurocentric beauty standards. Studies show the use of skin lighteners and chemical hair straighteners are disproportionately used by women of color due to racialized beauty norms of fair skin and straight hair. As you were growing up, you had to look a certain way, Tomlin-Harris said. These are things that we were told, and so we did things to help make ourselves beautiful not only for ourselves but [in] competition with other women. At My Style Matters, members say they are thankful to have this support system whether its giving each other rides to appointments or catching up with one another weekly. The sisterhood has made a difference in my life personally, and that is why I give back my time to the organization, Donaldson said. If I can be that support for another woman of color, then that is fulfilling for me. This story first appeared on NBCUAcademy.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com A Richmond man was peacefully detained by Kentucky State Police troopers after he engaged in a standoff with law enforcement Saturday night in Madison County. Ryan Oller of Richmond was arrested after he fired multiple gunshots toward law enforcement. He is charged with wanton endangerment, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct and was taken to the Madison County Detention Center. Nobody was injured during the incident, according to state police. The Richmond Kentucky State Police post was contacted around 7:30 p.m. for a shots-fired complaint at a home on Riney B Drive, according to a news release. Initial investigations indicate 39-year-old Oller had discharged several rounds from a firearm outside the residence. Troopers were able to make contact with him by phone, but after lengthy negotiations, Oller refused to cooperate and fired several more rounds from a firearm inside the residence, authorities said. Police did not offer additional details about what led up to the incident. The Kentucky State Police Special Response Team responded to the scene and was able to place Oller under arrest without incident, officials said. Oller does not yet have a bond set, according to online jail records. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department said eight people were arrested Saturday during a 10-hour "protest and standoff" that stemmed from an Eritrean "cultural event." Clashes erupted between rival groups of Eritreans, and police confirmed that officers trying to disperse the unlawful crowds were attacked by people wielding sticks, rocks and other items. Crowds also set a tractor on fire in North Carolina's largest city, and police seized a total of two firearms over the course of several hours. Fox News Digital reached out to the department Sunday seeking the identities and more information about those eight arrested. The incident first began shortly after 11:30 a.m. Saturday, when CMPDs Providence Division responded to "an unlawful protest happening in the parking lot of a business hosting an Eritrean cultural event" on Monroe Road. "Protesters were on private property and were spilling out into the road, which prompted officers to close Monroe Road. Dispersal orders were repeatedly given to protesters throughout the duration of the protest, however they refused to disperse," police said in a press release. "Charlotte Fire and MEDIC responded to assist." Shortly after 3:00 p.m., CMPD Bike Unit officers attempted to move protesters out of the street. "Several protesters threw objects and pushed back against the officers. Officers then deployed pepper spray," the department confirmed. "Multiple protesters and officers were treated on scene for injuries related to the pepper spray." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP ALLEGED CIVILIAN MASSACRE REPORTED IN ETHIOPIA AS US CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION Police said, during this time, a female protester struck an officer, and a firearm was seized from her person. Charlotte police officers responded to a protest at an Eritrean cultural event. She was charged with inciting to riot, failure to disperse, injury to personal property and assault on a government official. The charges for all eight suspects included impeding traffic and failure to disperse. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., dispersal orders were given again as protesters began blocking the entrance to the private business hosting the cultural event, police said. The CMPDs Civil Emergency Unit was deployed to disperse the crowds shortly after 7:20 p.m. "The officers were met with violence and hostility, with protesters throwing objects," the department said in its initial press release. "Over the course of several hours, the CEU gave multiple dispersal orders in English and Spanish and were again met with violence from protesters wielding sticks, rocks and other items." "Protesters then intentionally set fire to a nearby tractor trailer. The Charlotte Fire Department quickly extinguished the fire and contained the scene," police said. "Shortly before 9 p.m., officers assisted with allowing the cultural event attendees to leave the scene. Protesters remained on scene initially but dispersed a short time later." Eritreans set fires in The Hague, The Netherlands, Saturday night. As the incident unfolded, the police department provided regular updates on X. HUNDREDS OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS GET INTO MASS BRAWL, LEADING TO BLOOD-STAINED STREETS IN ISRAEL One post illustrated how the Eritrean cultural event was being protested by a rival group, but more information was not immediately available. "The people attending the event that was being protested have ended their event and left the scene. Protesters remain on scene and still have not dispersed," CMPD wrote at the time. The North Carolina unrest happened the same day rioting broke out between two rival groups of Eritreans in the Netherlands on Saturday night. Police said officers there used tear gas in an attempt to quell the unrest in The Hague as rioters torched police cars and a bus. Images from the scene showed vehicles in flames and dozens of men in the street, some throwing rocks. Rival Eritreans set fires in the streets of The Hague, Netherlands, on Saturday. The Hague Municipality spokesman Robin Middel said a group loyal to Eritrea's government was holding a meeting when the venue was attacked by Eritreans who oppose the African nation's government. Police spokeswoman Kristianne van Blanken said she could not immediately say if anybody was injured or if any rioters were arrested. The fighting is the latest outbreak of violence at Eritrean events in Europe. Dozens of people, including at least 26 police officers, were injured during unrest surrounding an Eritrean cultural festival in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart in September 2023. A fight the same month between Eritrean government supporters and opponents in Tel Aviv led to violent street confrontations among African asylum-seekers and migrants. Months earlier, a clash at an Eritrean festival in the western German city of Giessen left 22 police officers injured. Tens of thousands of people have fled Eritrea for Europe, many alleging they were mistreated by the repressive government of President Isaias Afwerki. The conflicts underscore deep divisions among members of the Eritrean diaspora between those who remain close to the government and those who have fled to live in exile and strongly oppose Afwerki. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Charlotte protesters attack officers, set tractor-trailer on fire in riot at Eritrean 'cultural event': police City Council The writer is political director of Action NC. Regarding Council votes to reinstate criminal penalties for 6 acts, (Feb. 12): Mondays Charlotte City Council meeting was a lesson in how all of our grievances are connected. Housing, criminal justice, mental health, public health, economic inequality, racism these interconnected issues were on full display. While every council member made some mention of the need for holistic approaches, seven of them nonetheless pushed aside everything we know about real solutions to big social problems like poverty, housing instability and mental health. To appear credible on public safety, these seven council members performed safety theater, championing police, jail and court interventions that dont work. This distracting rhetoric and their hollow solutions sap critical attention and resources away from the hard work of forging the political will and attention necessary to address these crises. It was shameful. Robert Dawkins, Charlotte Gun violence Regarding 1 dead, several injured in shooting at Chiefs parade, police say (Feb. 15): With guns taking more than 40,000 lives annually and the No. 1 killer of children in this country it is time for the Republican Party to put innocent lives over the NRA. Over and over, theyve failed to pass any common-sense gun control because of their allegiance to special interest groups. Our Founding Fathers did not mean for the Second Amendment to allow Americans to kill one another. Its time for common-sense gun laws to help reduce the killing of innocent people in this country. Kenneth Holder, Mooresville Leandro funding How many years does it take to provide a sound, basic education to all N.C. children? In 1994, a judge ruled that children were being deprived of a sound basic education guaranteed by the state constitution. In 2022, the N.C. Supreme Court ordered the legislature to fund the Leandro plan. Yet, on Feb. 22, the current court will reopen the case, bowing to pressure from politicians. North Carolina has billions in unused revenue that could fund the Leandro plan, but the legislature instead funds private school vouchers and tax breaks for the rich. Its time to stop hoarding our tax dollars and invest in future generations. Give the kids their money! Eileen Hanson-Kelly, Salisbury Candidate mailers My mailbox has been filled with mailers from candidates for local, state and federal office who tout themselves as Christian. One of the candidates was entangled in an illegal ballot-harvesting scheme that led to a re-do of his 2018 race, yet he has the gall to run for office again. Ones religion and devotion to it is shown daily by the life you lead and how you treat all people. It is not based on stating in 48-point bold type on a mailer that you are a Christian. Nor do these same people have the right to turn America into a theocracy or condemn others whose beliefs and lives do not fit their rigid view of the Kingdom of God or American society. Tony Hilton, Landis Navalnys death The free world mourns the death of Putin opposition hero Alexei Navalny at age 47 in a Russian prison. His fate was virtually predetermined when he flew back to Russia from Germany. Heres a stark lesson of what can happen to citizens who actively oppose dictators. Warning to Trump supporters! Constance Kolpitcke, Cornelius The border Two weeks ago, the U.S. Senate passed a well-crafted bipartisan border security bill that was a good example of the kind of thoughtful, necessary compromise needed to seriously address border and immigration issues. House Republicans, predictably, refused to consider it. They appear to be motivated by two things: the desire to scuttle any fix for the border issue that involves compromise, and the need to have a political bludgeon to use against Biden in the upcoming elections. Every American should be thankful that politicians of such small minds and perverted motivations werent present when the U.S. Constitution, a study in serious and thoughtful compromise, was being written. Jonathan Murray, Charlotte A proposed charter school with curriculum from the conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan is in the early planning stages in the State College area. Four parents, including former State College Area school board candidate Michelle Young, held an informational meeting for the Nittany Mountain Classical Academy Tuesday night at Boalsburg Fire Hall to explain the charter process and test community support. Nearly 30 parents and community members attended, including former candidates for State College Area school board Barry Fenchek and Megan Layng, and former board member Laurel Zydney. Having talked to a lot of folks over the last four years and being in contact with a significant number of parents within just the State College school district, I think there has been a real interest and need for alternatives, Young said. And Hillsdale, this charter school would be an alternative. Hillsdale College, a conservative Christian College, has expanded its network of charter schools in recent years, often causing political battles in communities where schools are proposed. Its 1776 Curriculum includes an emphasis on American exceptionalism, with critics saying it downplays racism and is politically motivated. Charter schools in the program are not owned or managed by the college and Mark Parfitt, one of the organizers who presented during the meeting, emphasized that the charter has no affiliation or agreement with Hillsdale at this time. The charters long-term plan is to open for K-12 for all Centre County students, but for the first year, its likely that only a few grade levels would be offered. We believe the greatest community demand is in the secondary side of education, so 6-12, Parfitt said. Parfitt could not say where the charter would be located but has been in talks with local property owners to look at short-term and long-term leases. Theyre looking to establish the charter within State College Area School District, but once established, they could file a charter in other Centre County districts to act as a regional charter. For a new charter school to be established in Pennsylvania, a charter must offer something other charter schools or public schools in the area cannot. Parfitt argues that Hillsdales curriculum focus on civics and Western-focused classical education is something that cannot be found in other area schools. The new charter school would appeal to families within SCASD who are searching for an alternative, as well as home-school and cyber charter students, Parfitt said. SCASD, to their credit, does a really good job serving the top and the bottom academically, Parfitt said. So if you excel at SCASD they really take care of you. If you need a lot of extra assistance, they take care of you. The middleyour average student at SCASD? Its sink or swim. Hillsdale College charter program To apply to be a Hillsdale College Member School, a charter board must establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, raise $10,000 and show strong community support for a new charter. Parfitt said becoming part of the Hillsdale program could cut the charter establishment process by several years, but that isnt the only appeal. The Hillsdale curriculum would be unique in the State College area and provide something other charters and public schools in the area do not, he said. According to the Hillsdale website, the classical education curriculum focuses on the centrality of the Western tradition in the study of history, literature, philosophy, and the fine arts. If accepted to the program, the Nittany Mountain Classical Academy organizers would have to work with Hillsdale College to adjust the curriculum to fit Pennsylvania state standards. So if we get accepted, thats where we get into the nitty-gritty and rework the curriculum, Parfitt said. I mean, obviously, to participate in the program, we have to work within their framework. But one thing that I do stress is the board the governance for the charter school is a local board. Nittany Mountain wouldnt be the first Hillsdale College charter program working to get established in Pennsylvania. In January, West Chester Area School District denied the Valley Forge Classical Academys charter application for the second time, leaving the charter with no option but the states charter appeal board. In Bucks County, 1776 Curriculum used by Hillsdale and introduced in Pennridge School District last year led to protests and widespread criticism from parents and teachers. Charter approval process The State College area has several brick-and-mortar and cyber charters, including Young Scholars of Central PA serving students from K-8, Centre Learning Community serving grades 5-8, and PA Cyber Charter. Charter schools are independently run but funded through public school districts. For every student that enrolls in a charter school, their home district sends the per-student tuition to the charter school, minus some transportation and maintenance costs. This method of charter school funding has drawn criticisms from educators across Pennsylvania for stranded costs, the difference between the charter tuition payment per student and the amount of money a district saves when a student leaves. These stranded costs can be thousands of dollars depending on the districts per-student spending and charter growth. Educators across the state and in Centre County have lobbied for charter reform. In 2021, all Centre County school boards passed a joint resolution calling for a new funding formula to calculate charter tuition payments. When a new charter school wants to open, founders apply to the home school district where its located and the district decides whether to grant the charter. If the district rejects the charter, the charter can go to the Charter Appeals Board, which can overturn the district decision and grant the charter. Parfitt expects that the State College Area school board would deny the charter. We expect them to deny charter schools, Parfitt said. Weve baked that into the plan. If they say yes, thats great, that would be awesome news. But were pretty convinced they will deny it twice. So our entire process is going to be built with charter school appeal boards in mind. From 2021 to August 2023, the appeal board issued 12 charter decisions, siding with the charters only twice, according to reporting from the Philadelphia Inquirer. While State College Area School District declined to comment, board president Amy Bader said the school board would follow the charter process as outlined by Pennsylvania law. The school board takes its responsibility of oversight very seriously and, like any other issue, would thoroughly evaluate any charter application and follow the law, Bader wrote in an email to the CDT. Next steps Parfitt cautioned that the charter process would likely take several years and would need both financial and volunteer support throughout. During the meeting, organizers including Young and Parfitt encouraged attendees to spread the word about the charter as well as contact them for volunteer positions. He said it was unlikely the group would host another public meeting until September once the group knows the status of the Hillsdale charter program application but would continue to post updates on the Nittany Mountain Classical Academy website. Every single person counts Parfit said. Everybody might have a unique reason for participating. But were trying to be as inclusive as we can and we welcome every talent we can bring into this operation. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said on Sunday that it was wrong for former Attorney General Bill Barr (R) to suggest that voting for President Biden would amount to national suicide. I know, hes absolutely wrong, Cheney said on CNNs State of the Union. Now I havent endorsed anybody in this presidential race, certainly would never support Donald Trump. And we know what Donald Trump will do, because hes telling us every day and anybody who has spent any time overseas, who has spent any time studying history of autocracies, and of autocrats knows we have to listen to what Donald Trump saying. CNNs Jake Tapper asked Cheney about recent remarks made by Barr who said last week, Voting for Trump is playing Russian roulette with the country. Voting for Biden is outright national suicide. Cheney pushed back on the comments and maintained that she would not support Trump. So electing Donald Trumps not Russian roulette electing Donald Trump would mean putting in power a man whos committed to unraveling our constitutional framework. So Bill Barr is just wrong on that, she added. Tapper also asked Cheney if she is still deciding on whether to make a run for the White House. She also declined to say whether she would support Biden if Novembers election ends up being a 2020 rematch. I havent made any decisions about it yet and Im gonna do whatever is necessary to defeat Donald Trump, she said. Im not gonna make any announcements or endorsements this morning. But the most important thing is to defeat Donald Trump and Ill do whatever whatever it takes to do that, she added. Cheney has previously kept the door open to potentially launching a third-party bid for the presidency, but has not made any public decisions on it yet. She has been critical of the former president especially since losing her bid for reelection after she led the select House committee on the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), an outspoken critic of former President Trump, warned of the emergence of a Putin wing of the Republican party and stressed the importance of preventing its return to the White House. In an interview on CNNs State of the Union, Cheney sharply criticized Trumps recent comments suggesting he would not defend NATO allies in the wake of an attack from Russia and his recent silence following the death of the anti-corruption, pro-democracy opposition leader in Russia, Alexei Navalny. I think that we have to take Donald Trump very seriously, Cheney said Sunday. We have to take seriously the extent to which you have now got a Putin wing of the Republican Party. I believe the issue this election cycle is making sure the Putin wing of the Republican Party does not take over the West Wing of the White House, she continued. In the interview, she did not make any presidential endorsements and said she has not yet decided whether she would enter the race herself. She made clear, however, that she would do whatever she could to prevent Trumps return to the White House. Donald Trump, as you pointed out, said just a few days ago that he had told a NATO ally that he would encourage [Russian President Vladimir Putin] to do whatever he needed to do, whatever he wanted to do, Cheney told CNN anchor Jake Tapper. Hes basically made clear that, under a Trump administration, the United States is unlikely to keep its NATO commitments. And I think that Republicans who understand the importance of the national security situation who continue to support him are similarly going to be held to account, she said. Pressed later about Trumps NATO comments, Cheney said, Its disgraceful. I cant imagine any other American president of either party since the establishment of NATO saying such a thing. And its completely uninformed and ignorant and dangerous. Cheney also drew a connection between Trumps frequent suggestions that he would investigate his political opponents in a second term and Navalnys death. When you think about Donald Trump, for example, pledging retribution what Vladimir Putin did to Navalny is what retribution looks like in a country where the leader is not subject to the rule of law, Cheney said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. One of Chad Berrys early slides during his Feb. 8 talk on Appalachia and its people acknowledged that Berea College, like East Tennessee, is located on lands originally occupied by what is now the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and two other large Native American tribes: the Shawnee and the Yuchi. The Berea College administrator and history professor spoke about Sequoyah (1770-1843), the Cherokee Indian born in Madisonville, Tennessee in Monroe County. He said Seqouoyah and other Cherokees heard federal officials call them savages because they had no written language, no private property and no political system. So, Sequoyah created a Cherokee syllabary, enabling the Indian tribe to eventually publish the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper in both Cherokee and English. Gathering for a photo at Chad Berry's Feb. 8 talk on Appalachia and its people are Jim Palmer, from left, Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning; Tim Munro and Berea College President Cheryl L. Nixon (Munro is her husband); Ruby Miller and Charles D. Crowe, Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club; and Berry. The Cherokees created a private property system that differed from their traditional view of land. After examining the U.S. Constitution, they created their own constitution that is even more democratic. Even so, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act of 1830 that targeted the Five Civilized Tribes in the Southeast, including the Cherokees. The passage of the act was motivated by the discovery of gold in the Southeast, Berry said. In addition, according to Wikipedia, an increasing number of white settlers wanted Indian-occupied land cleared so they could use it to grow cotton. Except for the Cherokees who hid in the Smoky Mountains, some 100,000 Indians in the Southeast were forced to march to Oklahoma in the 1830s and 1840s. Some 15,000 died from starvation, disease and exposure during the difficult Trail of Tears journey. This article originally appeared on Oakridger: The Cherokees, Sequoyah and the Trail of Tears World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has issued a new warning about the likelihood of Disease X breaking out, telling global world leaders it is "a matter of when, not if" a new pathogen and pandemic will strike. Tedros, who goes by his first name and is not a medical doctor, told attendees at the World Government Summit in Dubai earlier his week he gave a similar warning in 2018 that a pandemic was likely to hit, and he was proven right with the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. Complaining that the world is still ill-prepared for a new pandemic, Tedros once again touted the urgent need for a global treaty to be agreed upon by May and dismissed suspicions of it being a WHO power grab as outlandish. He called the treaty "mission critical for humanity." World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has issued a new warning about the likelihood of Disease X breaking out, telling global leaders it is a matter of when not if a new pathogen and pandemic will strike. WHO DIRECTOR CALLS FOR WORLD PANDEMIC TREATY TO PREPARE FOR DISEASE X "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," Tedros said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Although some progress has been made, like improvements in surveillance, the Pandemic Fund, building capacities in vaccine production the world is not prepared for a pandemic. "The painful lessons we learned are in danger of being forgotten as attention turns to the many other crises confronting our world." Tedros said that if the world fails 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," Tedros added. "It may be caused by an influenza virus, or a new coronavirus or a new pathogen we don't even know about yet what we call Disease X." Disease X is a hypothetical "placeholder" virus that has not yet formed, but scientists say it could be 20 times deadlier than COVID-19. About eight years ago, it was added to the WHOs short list of pathogens for research that could cause a "serious international epidemic," according to a 2022 WHO press release. The World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. "As things stand, the world remains unprepared for the next Disease X, and the next pandemic," he said. Tedros said there has been a lot of attention on Disease X lately but insisted it's 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." WHO DIRECTOR CALLS FOR WORLD PANDEMIC TREATY TO PREPARE FOR DISEASE X In preparation for the next outbreak, he said the clock is ticking on nations to come together and sign an international agreement on pandemic preparedness, with just 15 weeks left on the timeline agreed upon in 2021. Tedros said the treaty, which the Biden administration has been involved in negotiating, is a set of commitments by countries to strengthen the worlds defense with a "one health" approach. While 'Disease X' is a hypothetical placeholder virus that has not yet been formed, scientists say it could be 20 times deadlier than COVID. It would involve cooperation in research and development, access to vaccines and other products and sharing of information, technology and biological samples. He cited two reasons why a consensus has not been reached. The first is nations have some differences, but he was confident they would be worked through. President Biden receives a COVID-19 booster Oct. 25, 2022. The second major barrier, he said, 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. WHO DROPS INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER COVID-19 VIRUS LEAKED FROM WUHAN LAB, CALLING THEORY UNLIKELY "These claims are utterly, completely, categorically false. Anyone who says it will is either uninformed or lying." Critics, including Advancing American Freedom (AAF), argue the legally binding treaty would cede sovereignty to a global organization and that it amounts to a power grab. The AAF is a nonprofit advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence. Tedros said there is a draft copy of the agreement on the WHO website and urged people to read it for themselves. In pitching the treaty, he absolved the WHO of imposing lockdowns and vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. This aerial view shows the P4 laboratory, center, on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where many believe the COVID-19 virus emanated. "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." The WHO faced strong criticism from around the world over its slow response to investigating China for the COVID outbreak. A WHO team investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic also downplayed the possibility that the virus leaked from a lab near Wuhan, China. Original article source: WHO chief's dire warning: Disease X outbreak 'a matter of when, not if' Tradition of lucky money a financial strain on elderly 08:32, February 18, 2024 By Li Lei ( China Daily In the midst of Spring Festival, some retirees are facing a financial crunch. Many have been handing out thousands of yuan in red envelopes to children at family reunions during the holiday, which started on Feb 10. The age-old custom of giving out small sums of yasuiqian bad luck suppressing money to young relatives during the Chinese New Year has in recent years morphed into a race to keep up with the Joneses. What once used to be just a few yuan for each child has grown to as much as 3,000 yuan ($420) in affluent provinces such as Zhejiang, according to news reports. Even in less well-off places such as Anhui province, a 200-yuan envelope is the norm in rural areas, which see an influx of urban students visiting their grandparents during the annual break. Li Kun, a retiree in Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui, has had to hand out more than 10 envelopes, each containing a 100-yuan banknote, just like he did last year. The money Li gave away is equal to his month's pension, compelling the 72-year-old to fall back on his rainy day savings to see him through till the next pension check. Li remembers the time decades ago when three- or five-yuan envelopes were enough to make children happy at family reunions, and adults did not feel burdened in any way. "How much to give away in red envelopes must be in line with incomes, and people should not be competing to show off their affluence," he said. Rising disposable incomes, coupled with a strong urge to keep up appearances, have put financially strapped older adults in a spot in rural areas where people are known to strain their wallets to appear generous or hospitable. The worrisome trend has even caught the attention of authorities in a rural area of Anhui province. Authorities in that area, Fuyang, said they will act to help villagers develop a "correct attitude" toward this practice of giving money in red envelopes and introduce a cap on the amount that can be given as part of a nationwide effort by authorities to curb unnecessary spending by financially vulnerable rural residents. The restrictions would be enshrined in the province's village regulations, a set of rules drafted and agreed upon by villagers, they said. "I think it is a good policy," said Li, the retiree, adding that ordinary people cannot afford, and should not be expected, to put the same amount of money in red envelopes as wealthy people. Wang Yamin, a village official in a suburb of Beijing, has seen his budget for yasuiqian ballooning over the years, as families of friends have become bigger with the births of more children and even grandchildren. This year, Wang, whose son attends college in Beijing, set aside 4,000 yuan to give to children who visited his home during the holiday. He divided the recipients into three groups, based on his closeness to their parents, and accordingly prepared envelopes containing 100 to 500 yuan each. "On average, the red envelopes cost about 200 yuan each," Wang, 46, said, adding that as a child, he was used to receiving 1-yuan envelopes. However, the highly reciprocal nature of the tradition means that his son received almost the same amount of money from his relatives, which made the process of parting with his money less painful. "Exchanging red envelopes is more about cementing relations," he said. Wang Chengfang, a retiree in Jining, Shandong province, said he knows it is not a good thing to give large sums of money to young children, but he feels he has no choice. "With the economy growing, and with pay raises and inflated prices, large red envelopes are the trend," he said. In recent years, he has been spending up to 5,000 yuan, which is roughly his monthly salary, preparing red envelopes. His daughter, who is in her 30s, no longer receives red envelopes, and his granddaughter was only born recently. The reciprocal nature of the tradition has made him reluctant to take his granddaughter to visit relatives during Spring Festival, because every yuan his granddaughter receives would be like a "relationship debt" that must be paid back in the future. "Taking a young kid on Chinese New Year visits also makes it appear that I am silently asking for red envelopes," he said. Yan Zhongqian and Luo Jiayuan contributed to this story. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) You are here: Business Passengers prepare to board a C919 passenger aircraft at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese passenger jet C919 made a trial flight Sunday in Singapore to prepare for the upcoming airshow. Five aircraft developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., including C919, will meet the public at the airshow, said China Eastern Airlines Singapore Branch. C919 will perform flight demonstrations at the Singapore Airshow 2024, which will last from Feb. 20 to Feb. 25. Dmytro Kuleba and Wang Yi during the meeting on 17 February. Photo: X (Twitter) of Kuleba Chinas Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, has assured his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing does not sell lethal weapons to Russia. Source: a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs following a meeting between Wang Yi and Kuleba, as reported by The Guardian, citing AFP Details: During the meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on 17 February, Wang reportedly told Kuleba that China "does not take any advantage of the situation, and does not sell lethal weapons to conflict areas or parties to the conflict". The Chinese minister added that China adheres to the political regulation of issues in hotspots and insists on promoting peace talks. Quote from Wang Yi: "No matter how the international situation changes, China hopes that China-Ukraine relations will develop normally and continue to benefit the two peoples. We will continue to play a constructive role in bringing an early end to the war and re-establishing peace. Even if there is only a glimmer of hope for peace, China will not give up its efforts." Background: Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Chinese counterpart on 17 February. Kuleba said they had discussed "bilateral relations, trade, and the necessity of restoring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine". Support UP or become our patron! Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Sunday revealed he has expressed his reservations about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to President Biden as Israel pushes forward with a brutal military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Pressed on CBS Newss Face The Nation, over whether Biden should continue or rethink his position on Netanyahu, Clyburn said, Well, Im not too sure that we know exactly what their relationship is with Netanyahu. Ive talked to the President about this. And, of course, he is not going to be public with everything he says to Netanyahu. But I know this. He feels about the way I feel when it comes to Netanyahu. He is his leadership has not been good for Israel. We stand firmly with the people of Israel, but Ive always had a real problem with Netanyahu and that continues to be today, Clyburn said. The Democratic lawmaker was further asked if Biden himself has a problem with Netanyahu, to which he maintained the president will develop his own feelings, about the situation. CBS News chief election & campaign correspondent Robert Costa then asked Clyburn if Biden agrees or disagrees with his assessment. Well, hes accepted my assessment. I have not asked him whether or not he agreed with me, Clyburn responded, adding later, Ive seen it written that he has said to Netanyahu, some things that I would say to him, well see what happens in the end. Reports have surfaced in recent weeks that Biden has grown increasingly frustrated with Netanyahus refusal to scale back Israels military operations in Gaza. NBC News reported last week Biden has said Netanyahu is giving him hell as the White House tries to negotiate a pause in fighting with Palestinian militant group Hamas and negotiate a longer-term plan for peace in the Gaza Strip. Despite the private frustration, the White House has generally offered steadfast support for Israel, a longtime ally of the U.S., following Hamass Oct. 7 surprise assault that killed about 1,200 people, including hundreds of civilians but it has expressed reservations with Netanyahu himself. The U.S recognizes Hamas as a terrorist group, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Biden and other White House officials have recently increased calls on Israel to prevent the killing of civilians in Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid in. The Palestinian death toll in the enclave reached more than 28,000 since early October, including both civilians and Hamas fighters, per The Associated Press, citing the Health Ministry in Gaza. Biden has yet to publicly express any significant change in U.S. policy when it comes to the war as Netanyahu continues to defend Israels response in Gaza even amid domestic pressure to negotiate the release of hostages still held by Hamas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. This article was originally published in Alaska Beacon. The Alaska House Education Committee on Monday gave its unanimous support for a price transparency bill aimed at the University of Alaska. If Senate Bill 13 becomes law, the state university system will be required to list the cost of course materials, including textbooks, in its course catalog. This bill has got a simple concept: Were trying to give students as much information as possible to financially plan as theyre signing up for their classes, said Sen. Robert Myers, R-North Pole and the sponsor of the bill. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The state Senate passed SB 13 in a 19-1 vote last year, and the education committee was its only stop before a vote of the full House. I think its a great idea. I want people to be as informed as possible to help them budget, said Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River and co-chair of the education committee, after Mondays vote. SB 13 is modeled on similar legislation in other states, Myers said. In a fiscal note provided to the Legislature, the university system said it could implement the bill as part of an ongoing IT modernization program. University officials cautioned that while they can absorb the financial cost, there will be a time cost as well. Requiring professors to focus on administrative tasks takes away from the core educational mission. New professors are particularly vulnerable to compliance, the fiscal note stated. Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alaska Beacon maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew Kitchenman for questions: info@alaskabeacon.com. Follow Alaska Beacon on Facebook and Twitter. Recent events and incidents on campus have made Jewish students feel unsafe and unwelcome. Thats how the Presidents Office at American University justified sweeping changes to the universitys policies governing student organizations and campus protests for the spring semester. These new rules make a mockery of the universitys commitment to free expression and civic engagement. And they point to the fatal flaws of a Disney-fied vision of campus diversity and inclusion where everyone feels entitled to be welcomed, respected, supported and valued at all times. Framed as upholding the universitys core value of inclusivity, the revised regulations ban all indoor protests and mandate that all student clubsas well as all posters for university-sponsored eventsbe welcoming and build community. Those who violate these directives are subject to disciplinary action, while student organizations that refuse to comply risk losing their official status and funding. The Hamas-Israel War Obliterated the Campus Microaggression AUs new policies are a response to controversies that have gripped college campuses nationwide in the wake of Hamas Oct. 7 terrorist attack, including skirmishes about Israeli hostage posters, confrontational student protests and polarizing student groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Citing safety concerns and community belonging, many schools, including Columbia, Cornell, and Lehigh University, have tightened the rules governing events, demonstrations, and student organizationsbut AUs changes are some of the most drastic. To ensure compliance with the requirement that student clubs and organizations will be welcoming to all students, AU has already started the hiring process for a new leadership position in student affairs. Picture this administrators duties: attending a Pride at AU meeting to make sure that evangelical Christians would feel at home there; combing through the materials of the College Republicans, lest campus Democrats feel excluded; or, encouraging the leaders of the Women in Science club to expand their purview to include men. Student clubs are organized around shared interests, beliefs, and identities. They will no longer be genuine affinity groups if AU administrators are going to intervene with a program of heavy-handed surveillance. The Israel-Hamas War Has Scrambled the Cancel Culture Tribes The actions taken by American University represent the triumph of a safety-and-security model of learning that prizes the avoidance of psychological harm above all else. This educational approach is based on the notion that some ideas are so dangerousso damaging to individual psyches, so detrimental to society at largethat they must be banished from classrooms and quads altogether. It has gained such widespread influence, thanks in part to what we call DEI, Inc. This is the conventional campus diversity, equity, and inclusion framework that treats education as a product, students as consumers, and diversity as a public relations enterprise that needs to be managed from the top down. DEI, Inc. has helped to erase meaningful distinctions between physical safety and psychological discomfort. That poses a real problem when it comes to protecting free expression, especially in terms of student activism. Political protests are designed to make you uncomfortable, to grab you by the lapels and, in the words of the late Harry Belafonte, snap you out of your indifference! The First Amendment Is the Greatest Defense for the Powerless and Marginalized AU students seem to have a better grasp of this elementary fact than the AU administration. The basis of a protest is disruption, freshman Haider Zaidi observed at a recent campus demonstration where student speakers called for the new restrictive policies to be repealed. In a letter to President Sylvia Burwell, members of the AU SJP chapter pointed out that the administrative directives not only target SJP, but all of student speech and thought at AU. To be clear: When Jewish students, or any other students, say that they have been targets of discrimination or harassment based on their ancestry or national origin, colleges and universities have an obligation to take the allegations seriouslyand, if they are verified, discipline the perpetrators, accordingly. While standing firm by this commitment, we must also acknowledge that some colleges and universities are invoking the fight against antisemitism to crack down on criticism of the state of Israel. Over the past several months, we have seen too many textbook examples of students, administrators, trustees, donors, politicians, and other higher education stakeholders confusing condemnations of Israeli government policies with anti-Jewish bigotry. In our view, even the most contentious assertionsthat Israel is a settler-colonial state, an apartheid state or guilty of perpetrating state-led genocideare clearly directed at Israel as, well, a state. They are not instances of egregious antisemitism, as many prominent figures, including 412 members of Congress in a House Resolution, have claimed. Writing in the 1960s, Ralph Ellison made the following observation: The diversity of American life is often painful, frequently burdensome, and always a source of conflict but in it lies our fate and our hope. Hear, hear! While colleges and universities have attempted to impose a happy-clappy, frictionless model of diversity in the name of community and belonging, Ellison reminds us that the default setting for a pluralistic, democratic society is conflict. Dont Let Free Expression Become a Casualty of the Israel-Hamas War Students are alert to the hypocrisy. Colleges and universities love to plaster our faces on posters and promotional material, Yale law school student and Yalies4Palestine member Chisato Kimura said in a recent interview. But they struggle to accept that if you have diverse faces on campuses, youre also going to have diverse voices and opinion. To the extent that colleges and universities enshrine inclusion as a sacrosanct value, which runs roughshod over academic freedom and free expression, higher education is in a world of trouble. How are students meant to develop the skills to navigate the complex, often challenging, realities of living in a multicultural democracy if they cant exercise their rights to protest? (At AU, they dont even have the freedom to design their own posters without the administration looking over their shoulders!) Under these chilling conditions, colleges and universities cant fulfill their most vital educational missionsto teach critical thinking skills and to help students become informed, engaged citizens. 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 sun, the surf. The open-mindedness and entrepreneurial spirit. For all its problems, California's allure remains. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) California has been a beacon, a destination, a paradise and promised land ever since its headlong expansion in a rush of gold fever. It's also been a perennial source of envy, mockery and contempt. That naysaying has gained much greater currency in recent years as California's population has contracted for the first time in more than a century. The "exodus" has become an industry, stoking real estate markets from Nevada to Tennessee, fanning the red-versus-blue political flames and launching a thousand what-went-wrong analyses. The latest insult or bracing reality check? came last week in a Los Angeles Times poll that found 50% of adults nationwide believe California is in decline. (Bummer, man.) Nearly half the Republicans surveyed said the state is "not really American." Whatever that means. L.A. Times columnists Mark Z. Barabak (a proud California native) and Anita Chabria (a happy Ohio transplant) discuss the poll, the hating by haters and the state of their troubled but still much-loved state. Barabak: So first off, Anita, are you OK? You haven't choked to death on the noxious air pollution, or been run over by some smash-and-grab robber making a getaway through your pothole-filled neighborhood? Chabria: To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of our death are greatly exaggerated again. The Golden State remains alive, kicking and, dare I say it, a thriving part of the United States. Read more: Half of Republicans say California isn't really American But I am troubled that nearly 30% of respondents agreed with the statement that California is "not really American." Nearly half of Republicans thought that, which is less shocking. But inexplicably, 21% of Californians did, too. That's more than just the Fox crowd regurgitating the right-wing narrative of California as the spawning ground of social evils. People, we joined the union in 1850 ahead of Kansas, West Virginia and Nebraska to name a few. We've been American longer than many of the so-called heartland states. I've been puzzled for days over whether a third of America is terrible at geography, or history or if they think it's some sort of dig at California. What do you think, Mark? Are we in fact not American in some fundamental way I don't understand? Barabak: I suppose it depends how you define American. If you're talking about a certain kind of America one that is overwhelmingly white and conservative in its social, political and cultural values than, no, California fails to measure up to that, er, standard. We've been a majority-minority state now for more than a generation. Politically, the state has leaned strongly Democratic for decades, after supporting Republicans for much of our history. Culturally, we've always tended toward broadmindedness or being overly permissive, in the eyes of critics. Fresh starts and reinvention have been a lure since the first gold seekers the ones digging actual nuggets flocked here from the more straitened and class-conscious East Coast. As you suggest, it's not just Fox News. There are plenty of alienated Californians the state has more than 5 million registered Republicans, which exceeds the population of many states who feel overlooked in Sacramento and looked down upon by the supposed sophisticates in San Francisco and Los Angeles. That probably accounts for the 21% that had you scratching your head. Read more: The United States of California, a series exploring the state's vast impact on the nation But to be clear, a lot of folks interviewed in the poll are obviously viewing California through a partisan lens. Or, perhaps it should be said, while wearing a thick set of blinders. I mean, 3 in 10 Republicans said the state has a worse natural environment than other states. Really? Go shout that from the top of Yosemite Falls. Or in Santa Barbara at sunset. Or on a sunny winter day in Joshua Tree National Park, as folks in the Midwest thaw their snow shovels so they can dig their cars out of the drifts. That said, we've got plenty of problems, no? Chabria: Every place does and, of course, we are no exception. The survey highlighted one problem most of us agree on: The cost of living in California is too high. More than 80% of California residents felt that way, and it's no shock. I'd venture to guess that has a lot to do with the price of housing. People can't afford rent, which leads to a whole host of other problems including older people being forced into homelessness. I genuinely believe that California's future depends on finding a way to build massive amounts of new housing, not just a few units here and there. We need the mental health beds promised by Proposition 1 on the March ballot and to find ways to create more affordable homes for the broad swath of middle-class Californians. And that's just for starters. Read more: Column: For this lawyer and Assembly candidate, 'save the children' isn't a hashtag But the survey also pointed out that the majority of Californians, including myself, are happy living here. So the Huntington Beach City Council can rant all they want, and the haters can hate. California will always stand for diversity, freedom and tolerance all values that sadly seem to be growing scarcer east of the Sierra. Where do you see the bright spots, Mark? Barabak: Apart from its unsurpassed physical beauty, California is still a place that attracts innovators and entrepreneurs. It's still a harbor for the politically persecuted and those who feel unwanted or unwelcome living elsewhere as their genuine selves. Yes, our sales and income taxes are high compared to some other places. Housing, as you suggested, is obscenely expensive and we desperately need more of it. But check out life in other cheaper, supposedly better places. Look into the cost of insurance in Florida. Get nickel and dimed every few miles on toll roads back East. Sweat your way through a summer in Texas and hope the power grid and your air conditioning doesn't go out. Sure, our government regulates with a heavier hand than elsewhere, and it's not hard to find examples of excess. But isn't it nice, for instance, to breathe clean air and be spared the teary eyes and clenched chest that smog-suffocated folks in Southern California experienced not so many decades ago? Speaking of seeing through the gloom, here's one heartening finding in that otherwise dismal poll: The attitude of young people. Seven in 10 of those ages 18-34 see California as a trendsetter and, at 43% of respondents, were twice as likely as other Americans to say they would consider moving to the state. They believe California's future is bright. Me, too. I've moved around a lot, including the obligatory stint for a political hack like me in Washington, D.C. I thought I'd spent my career covering our nation's capital, but lasted just seven years. Like Dorothy, who went all the way to Oz to know she really wanted to be in Kansas, California tugged at me the whole time I was away. Read more: Column: No graveyards, no ice cream shops. Some experienced advice on how Biden should handle the age issue For all the state's difficulties or challenges, if you prefer I can't imagine ever living any place else. California resides deep in my heart. How about you? Chabria: I love California. As a mixed-race woman with mixed-race kids, I value its tolerance and diversity. I value its willingness to fight and lead at this critical time when democracy is fragile. I value that it's truly a live-and-let-live kind of place, even when people don't agree. To me, the poll results say less about life in California than the sad effectiveness of right-wing political propaganda and the power of fearmongering over truth. MAGA needs California to be a villain, to represent the supposed failures of the Democratic Party, especially around crime and immigration, and reality be damned. If no one else wants them, we'll take the tired and poor, the huddled masses. California always has and always will embody the American dream, that each of us matters and each of us belongs. That respect for equity and equality is what makes us the Golden State. Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Editors note: This story is part of Deseret Magazines January/February double issue addressing political polarization. In early July 1787, the delegates who gathered in Philadelphia to create a written constitution for the new nation faced the real prospect of failure. Yet by mid-September, they had produced the charter that would be the basis for our enduring success as a nation. In his letter transmitting the Constitution to Congress, George Washington attributed this surprising turn of events what one popular account of the convention called the Miracle at Philadelphia to the spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable. Our current political situation fraught with division and partisan politics renders indispensable those same qualities. Related Constitutional law scholar Derek Webb explored what Washington meant in a brilliant article that points out that the delegates to the Convention exhibited not only civility in their debates a good first step but more important still, they were willing to set aside parochial interests, come to a compromise, and in some instances even give up cherished liberties for the sake of unity. In other words, the miracle of Philadelphia was not a deus ex machina. It came about only because people made an effort to understand one another and were willing to give up some things they valued dearly for the sake of unity. This is the road map for overcoming division for achieving the miracle. Our political system is designed for vigorous disagreement. It is not designed for irreconcilable contempt. Such contempt loosens the ties of citizenship and undermines the idea of patriotism. On contested issues, we should seek to moderate and to unify, President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said. In that straightforward and simple directive, President Oaks captured the animating spirit that created the United States Constitution in 1787. And, without it today, the Constitution will not long survive. As the late Michael Gerson noted, Our political system is designed for vigorous disagreement. It is not designed for irreconcilable contempt. Such contempt loosens the ties of citizenship and undermines the idea of patriotism. That is why it is so troubling that in our current political moment, contempt has replaced disagreement. And this contempt, Arthur Brooks observes, is ripping our country apart. ... Political scientists have found that our nation is more polarized than it has been at any time since the Civil War. NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt warns, There is a very good chance American democracy will fail, that ... we will have a catastrophic failure of our democracy. ... We just dont know what a democracy looks like when you drain all trust out of the system. Related What does it mean to support and defend the Constitution in this environment? At the very least, it means that we will support and defend the rights protected by the Constitution and the structure of government it creates. But it means much more than that. It means we will support and defend the values that gave life to the process by which the Constitution was created. Compromise for the sake of unity is the animating spirit of the Constitution, and it is every bit as vital to its preservation in this moment of toxic political polarization as it was in the summer of 1787. Thomas B. Griffith is a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School, a fellow at Brigham Young Universitys Wheatley Institute and served as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2005 to 2020. This story appears in the January/February 2024 issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe. Bryansk Gov. Alexander Bogomaz shared a photo of oil tanks burning on Telegram on Feb. 19 after a reported drone attack on a facility in Klintsy, Russia. Analysts say the attacks show Ukraine may have an increased ability to strike targets deeper inside Russia. (Bryansk Gov. Alexander Bogomaz/Telegram/The Associated Press - image credit) Hostile drones have been winding their way across the Russian landscape this winter, striking refineries and related oil and gas infrastructure all the way from the Baltic Sea in the northwest to the Black Sea in the southwest. Drones attacked both the Ilsky and Afipsky refineries in Russia's Krasnodar region, east of occupied Crimea, on Feb. 9, less than a week after another refinery in Volgograd, the largest in southern Russia, was hit. Further attacks have struck other refineries and oil depots near the Ukrainian border, as well as much deeper into Russian territory. Though Ukraine does not typically confirm its actions outside its borders and Russia has not officially acknowledged drones were the cause of these incidents, media reports have identified Kyiv's hand in the attacks occurring with regularity as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine nears the two-year mark. Analysts say the drone attacks are demonstrating that oil and gas targets of economic significance are not out of reach, even far from the front lines of the war. Bryansk Gov. Alexander Bogomaz/Telegram/The Associated Press "This is where strikes are intended to hurt," said Sergey Radchenko, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He sees a distinction between these types of targets versus strikes that have drawn attention but had less strategic impact. He says Ukraine has gradually been able to send drones "further and further inside Russia," and in doing so, may be aiming to make Russia think twice about its actions on the other side of the border. Russia, oil and revenues Late U.S. Senator John McCain once derisively described Russia as being "a gas station masquerading as a country" a jibe underlining the critical importance of oil and gas products to Moscow. Dmitri Lovetsky/The Associated Press Indeed, Russia draws heavily on its resource reserves to support the state. The International Energy Agency says Russia's oil and gas export revenues accounted for 45 per cent of its federal budget in 2021. Over the course of the war, as the West capped the price of Russia's oil, it turned instead to China, India and other markets. As Radchenko points out, these exports contribute "significantly" to Russia's earnings, allowing it to use those funds to import goods and support the war effort. A January attack on a Novatek facility in Ust-Luga halted gas processing operations there for several weeks. The plant processes gas condensate into various fuel products that are exported to customers in Turkey and Asia, according to Reuters. Sergey Vakulenko, a former strategy executive at Gazprom Neft, a subsidiary of the larger Russian energy firm, believes the Ust-Luga episode may illustrate a bigger problem for Russia than a temporary disruption to production at a single facility. In a recent analysis published online, Vakulenko reasoned that if small drones can get all the way to Ust-Luga, which is hundreds of kilometres from the Ukrainian border, there are some 18 Russian refineries at risk of being targeted, and they account for more than half the country's refinery production. He's not the only analyst noticing this concern for Russia's refineries. And while the drones being used in these attacks may be small, they can still cause problems. "With a bit of luck, they can damage not just pipelines, but also compressors, valves, control units, and other pieces of equipment that are tricky to replace because of sanctions," Vakulenko wrote in the analysis. The Russian government has taken steps to deal with the problem. Maxim Starchak, an independent expert on the Russian defence and nuclear industry, says regulations have been put in place to restrict drones from flying close to "the most significant fuel and energy sector facilities" and operators are using electronic warfare systems to defend against drone threats. But Starchak said Russian energy firms must foot the bill for expenses related to defence of their facilities. "Moscow will not specifically help," he said, noting Russian authorities may hold firms accountable for not putting measures in place to protect their facilities. A familiar threat for Ukraine On the other side of the border, Ukraine has seen the deadly impact drone strikes can have including in Kharkiv last weekend. Sergey Bobok/AFP/Getty Images Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said at least 10 incoming drones were involved in the assault, with eight of the devices shot down but one hit an oil depot, which then caused a fuel leak. The ensuing fire burned down 15 homes and killed at least seven people. Ukraine has faced attacks on various forms of infrastructure since the launch of the Russian invasion, including its energy grid, port facilities and railway stations. As Ukraine continues to fight to repel Russian forces from its lands, its military leaders have signalled drones and related technology will be needed to win the war that seems to have no end in sight. "Only changes and constant improvement of the means and methods of warfare will make it possible to achieve success on this path," said Col.-Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the newly minted Ukrainian army chief, in a recent Telegram post. An Alabama sheriffs deputy took his own life this week in the middle of a police training event on sex trafficking, local authorities say. The Fultondale Police Department said a deputy from another county had committed suicide in the parking lot of the event center on Thursday. The Elmore County Sheriffs Office identified the deputy as one of their own, Stephen Sims, a father of four. Sims, 43, had reportedly taken a lunch break with three colleagues and once they returned, everyone but Sims exited the vehicle, and then they heard a gunshot ring out. Sims was then found shot dead in the back of his vehicle, with a coroner later determining the wound was self-inflicted. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin told local outlet WVTM he was shocked by Sims death. Franklin said Sims had been employed with the county for several years and was a great guy. Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson said he thought of Sims like a son, according to WSFA. He was one of the people that took care of his friends. Give you the shirt off his back, said Thompson. He would kid around and call me Dad sometimes. But yeah, it was just a close relationship with the whole Thompson family. The group that hosted the training event, Covenant Rescue Group, issued a statement confirming the death and offering condolences to Sims family. It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of a tragic incident that occurred during an anti-sex trafficking training hosted for law enforcement officers this week. Unfortunately, one of the attending officers was found deceased in the parking lot of the event center where the training was hosted, the statement said, noting that this incident was entirely unrelated to the class training. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988. 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. Rep. Cori Bush (Mo.), one of the most prominent progressives in the Squad, is facing a challenging reelection bid over her stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. A poll this week found Bush lagging significantly behind prosecutor Wesley Bell in the primary for Missouris 1st Congressional District, and recent financial statements show shes at threat of being outraised by him as well. Bush has gone so far as to paint herself as the underdog in the race to her constituents. Her formidable primary challenge comes as her positions on Israel have upset many establishment Democrats, leading to a growing national effort to unseat her in the early August race. Mark Mellman, CEO of Democratic Majority for Israel, said Bush is even more vulnerable today due to her resistance to the partys pro-Israel approach to the conflict following Oct. 7. He counts Bush among several progressives who are not safe in their quests for another term in Congress. Part of the reason that people dont follow them is they think that their ideas arent necessarily good ideas, and they think the politics is not smart, Mellman said. The recent survey, conducted by the GOP-leaning Remington Research Group, shows Bush behind Bell by double digits in the high-profile contest. The firm found Bell with a 22-point lead among 401 primary voters earlier this month. For Bell, the prosecuting attorney for St. Louis, the apparent surge of support tracks with what his camp believes is enthusiasm for a more pragmatic alternative to represent the blue district in Congress. This poll validates what weve known for a while, Bell told The Hill on Thursday. We have the momentum in this race because voters in the first district want a representative who is a bridge builder. Without mentioning Bush by name, Bells comments reflect a frustration that has dogged the congresswomans brief House tenure. Moderate Democrats have often dismissed her as out of alignment with where the party is under President Biden, who won by campaigning as a consensus candidate. Republicans have in turn gone much further, painting her as one of the most extreme and divisive members of the Democratic caucus, evoking her activism on police reform and criminal justice as main points of contrast and now turning their attention to the war in Gaza. Voters want someone who offers steady, grounded leadership in these very difficult times, Bell said. Chappelle Nadal, a former state lawmaker, is also running in the primary. Bushs challenges grew after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Facing immense global devastation, Biden and many Democrats rallied in support of Israel against the Palestinian terrorist group. While also denouncing Hamas, a small faction of progressives struck a markedly different tone than Biden and their moderate counterparts in Congress over actions by the Israeli government toward Palestinians in Gaza. Bush, who gained notoriety in Missouri as a civil rights activist during the 2014 Black Lives Matter movement, has been among the most outspoken in favor of Palestinian rights and against some retaliatory actions by the Israeli military. She has strongly advocated for a cease-fire, a non-starter for many Democrats mourning the loss of 1,200 Israelis, and has lobbied to make certain U.S. aid to Israel conditional. She has used the verbiage cease-fire now in office while running for reelection. While Bush has faced an onslaught of detractors, her supporters have also pushed back against what they see as a concerted effort among some pro-Israel political figures to oust her. Tim Black, a left-wing podcast host and commentator, sees her calls for a cease-fire as the reason Bells campaign is gaining visible traction. Those statements have angered supporters of Israel, and now the money is flowing for her challenger, he said. Some progressives like Black see parallels between Bushs race and what happened in former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turners Cleveland congressional bid against Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio). Money was dumped into Nina Turners special election vs. Shontel Brown to the tune of millions at the close of the race, Black said. Like Bush, Turner has been outspoken about the Democratic response to Israel and the treatment of Palestinian people. Wesley Bell doesnt have much of a platform, he said. The only policies I can be sure he supports is Israel continuing to bomb Gaza. Justice Democrats, which helped recruit Bush, is spotlighting what organizers see as Bells proximity to groups that also have ample financial support from Republicans. Usamah Andrabi, its communications director, said that Bell is one of several primary challengers who have become nothing more than a vehicle for GOP megadonors to influence Democratic primary elections. Andrabi was referencing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has supported Republican and Democratic candidates with its affiliated super PAC United Democracy Project and has become a target of progressives railing against contributions from some wealthy Republican donors. A spokesperson for AIPAC told The Hill that the group supports Bells primary campaign. We proudly endorse Wesley Bell, who is a strong advocate for the US-Israel relationship, said Marshall Wittmann, in clear contrast to his opponent who represents the extremist anti-Israel fringe. Bushs positions regarding Israel have become a point of contention with her caucus on Capitol Hill and have carried over to the campaign trail, where Bell and allies have sought to create distance from his rival. Bush voted alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) against a recent House bill that would specifically prevent members of Hamas and other related terrorist-affiliated groups from coming to the U.S., arguing that the groups are already banned and that the bill is therefore extraneous. Its just a couple of them voting by themselves on legislation, Mellman said about Bush and several fellow Squad members, who often band together as a progressive coalition. Bush and other left-wing lawmakers also voted against Bidens bipartisan infrastructure bill, for example, which the president considers one of his biggest first-term successes. They dont have a lot of followers on Capitol Hill, Mellman argued. Bushs positions on issues such as reparations, Medicare for All, and a Green New Deal stances that first helped her oust 10-term Rep. William Lacy Clay (D) in a surprise upset in 2021 have nonetheless elevated her among close colleagues and constituents. In a show of solidarity with one of her biggest allies in the lower chamber, Bush invited Tlaib to kick off her reelection campaign in Northwoods. Tlaib is the only Palestinian American in the House. While Bush has indeed alienated some pro-Israel supporters, including some within her own caucus, she has also built a considerable base among local elected leaders in St. Louis, including Mayor Tishaura Jones. Shes also backed by the Service Employees International Union, a powerful labor union. Hassan Martini, who leads the progressive group No Dem Left Behind, is fervently backing Bushs campaign, noting that she won her last race by a landslide. The popular support on the ground, he argued, may not be evidenced by the Republican-backed firms latest survey. In 2022, Bush beat out her opponent with a nearly 50-point margin, Martini said, arguing that the newest poll showing her trailing by double digits seems unlikely to represent the true feelings of Missouri voters. Democrats need to protect Bush and the spirit of that kind of progressive momentum, he argued. The GOP has everything to gain from shifting the Overton window in Democratic politics, Martini said. When we go further right, it makes their extremists seem less crazy. Thats why Republican research firms work to uproot inspiring progressive politicians such as Cori Bush. We should all be invested in preserving and continuing her legacy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. You are here: China China saw around 13.52 million inbound and outbound trips during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday that ended Saturday, marking a 2.8-fold increase from the same holiday period last year, according to the National Immigration Administration. Border inspection agencies across China handled a daily average of about 1.69 million inbound and outbound trips during the period, the administration said. The total entry-exit trips during the holiday returned to 90 percent of the level in 2019, according to the administration. The cost of repairing damage to Los Angeles DWP infrastructure in the Owens Valley has been steadily mounting since early last year. Here, a worker studies repairs made in 2023 to a drain that feeds into Big Pine Canal after a series of atmospheric rivers. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Heavy rain and flooding over the last year have caused roughly $100 million in damage to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power infrastructure and dust control systems in the Owens Valley, according to officials, and that figure is expected to climb as Southern California endures yet another atmospheric river this week. Although heavy storms have dumped a bounty of rain and snow along the southern Sierra Nevada, enabling Los Angeles to draw millions of gallons of water for its residents, the precipitation has also taken a heavy toll on systems designed to prevent choking dust storms from developing on the dry bed of Owens Lake. Were trying to build resilience into our Owens Valley operations, said Adam Perez, manager of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. But large amounts of stormwater in short order causes damage, and we do our best to address that. A pond fills a portion of the dry Owens Lake bed. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The storm damage includes a major breach of the aqueduct that occurred in March of last year, damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Hilary in August, and the submersion of dust sensors and dust control systems throughout the lake bed. Although damage estimates are still being calculated, a preliminary assessment estimated the costs will be more than $100 million, DWP officials said. The agency has not yet determined how much of that expense will be passed along to its 4 million ratepayers roughly half of whom live in disadvantaged communities. Owens Lake evaporated into a brine pool encircled by vast salt flats after its inflows were diverted to Los Angeles in 1913. After the salt flats became a source of unhealthful dust pollution, the city was ordered to control the problem. Read more: L.A.'s flood-control system survived epic storm. But it's losing battle with climate change The brine pool, which normally contains 5,000 acre-feet of water, has grown to about 50,000 acre-feet due to emergency releases of water created by a series of unusually powerful storms that began early last year. This extra water has submerged and damaged extensive dust control measures. Releasing water into the brine pool is not something we do lightly, but our dams are full and creeks are still running high, so its something we have to do to comply with the California Division of Safety of Dams requirements, Perez said. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power dust monitoring equipment rises from floodwaters at Owens Lake recently. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) A recent National Academy of Sciences study puts the regions increasingly erratic weather patterns in context, with worrisome repercussions for the DWP: Climate change is anticipated to adversely impact the Owens Valley water supply and therefore dust control efforts, with longer and more severe droughts and more extreme wet years. Because of climate-related changes, it says, the availability of water for dust mitigation will be more variable, more water will be needed during dry periods to mitigate dust and maintain habitat, and more pressure will be put on the system to support downstream water demands. The DWP has spent $2.5 billion to combat the swirling clouds of powder-fine dust kicked up by fearsome wind gusts on the dry lake bed. By introducing vegetation, gravel, tillage and shallow flooding, the department has reduced air pollution by 99% and brought a measure of peace in the rural valley where people have long had bitter feelings toward Los Angeles. Acrimony has seethed in Owens Valley since the early 1900s, when the city had agents pose as farmers and ranchers to buy land and water rights in the valley, then began building an aqueduct to collect and divert water from Inyo County to the water-craving metropolis about 180 miles to the south. L.A. diverted so much water via the aqueduct system that it was nearly impossible for local farmers and ranchers to make a living a scandal dramatized in the classic 1974 film Chinatown. Heavy storms over the last year have filled vast portions of the dry bed of Owens Lake, causing damage to dust suppression and monitoring systems. The full extent of the damage may not be known until the water evaporates a year or so from now. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) A series of atmospheric rivers in March 2023 severed the aqueduct, chewed through berms, inundated electrical equipment with hypersaline muck and required the removal of an estimated 300,000 cubic yards of debris and silt deposited on spreading grounds by floodwaters diverted from rivers, canals, and reservoirs. Read more: Love them or loathe them, pinyon-juniper woodlands are a growing biofuel battleground DWP recovery efforts included repairing roads, adding riprap armor to 14 miles of berm slopes, removing critical electrical equipment threatened by corrosive floodwaters, and installing monitoring stations and cameras to track flooding in real time. More than 200 daily personnel working around the clock used 86 excavators and 54 dump trucks to deliver 200,000 tons of rock, bail 300,000 cubic yards of sediment and deploy 15,000 sandbags. Last years record snowmelt also meant managing 1 million acre-feet of water along the aqueduct, which is equivalent to filling about 493,617 Olympic-size swimming pools, officials said. Monitoring equipment in a brine pool, part of the Owens Lake dust mitigation program on the dry lake bed. Water flows through an aerator at Owens Lake on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 in Lone Pine, CA. Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times Now, a century after the aqueduct tapped its inflows of snowmelt from the Owens River and Cottonwood Creek, those massive storms and a parade of others that followed have transformed much of the playa into a vividly unfamiliar inland sea bound by jagged snow-capped Sierra peaks, rust-streaked hills and piles of sharp-edged lava. This is the most water Ive ever seen in Owens Lake, said David Kruger, 79, a hiking consultant and resident of Lone Pine. Ive been directing friends to some of the best places to grab photographs of this rare and impressive vista before it evaporates. Gwen Gardner, 96, was only half kidding when he said, Im surprised that there arent at least a few people cruising around that lake in canoes. Read more: The unloved L.A. River just prevented a flood disaster. Can more of its water be saved? This part of the eastern Sierra is a landscape that changes fast due to climate change and Los Angeles politics. The evaporation rate of the brine pool is about 6 feet per year, Perez said. So most of it will be gone by late fall. The forecast for Owens Valley runoff in 2023-24 is calling for 955,600 acre-feet of water, or 233% of normal, officials said. The DWP plans to export about 395,000 acre-feet of that water, and the rest will be used in Owens Valley for municipal and irrigation purposes, and dust mitigation on the lake bed. An acre-foot of water is enough water to supply two or three homes for a year. The abundance of stormwater and snowmelt has energized campaigns led by conservation groups, tribal leaders and air regulators to stop Los Angeles from diverting water from the eastern Sierra watershed. When Jaime Lopez-Wolters, desert lands organizer for the nonprofit Friends of the Inyo, wants to introduce people to the problem, he takes them to a bluff overlooking a serene landscape born of seismic upheavals, sudden storms and flows of frigid snowmelt that Cottonwood Creek had emptied into Owens Lake for thousands of years. Jaime Lopez-Wolters, desert lands organizer for the nonprofit Friends of the Inyo, sits along Cottonwood Creek near Owens Lake recently. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) This stretch of the river is usually bone-dry because its water is diverted into the aqueduct, he said. Right now, however, DWP is using the riverbed as an escape valve for stormwater in the system. Our question for Los Angeles is this, he added. At what point does it become more expensive to keep pumping this water to L.A. than to leave it here to do the work it had been doing since time immemorial? Modifying the amount of water diverted to Los Angeles and allowing Owens Lake to refill and reach a steady state falls outside the DWPs charge, which is focused on balancing the costs of maintaining its aging aqueduct and dust control projects amid damaging winter storms against the financial burden passed on to its ratepayers. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Counting the 'colossal' cost of capturing Avdiivka: Russia could have suffered 30,000 casualties and lost over 400 tanks, IFVs The battle of Avdiivka proved very costly for Russia. At least 30,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded, say Ukraine. Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka this weekend. Russia suffered huge losses in the battle for the strategic town of Avdiivka before ultimately capturing it. Ukrainian troops withdrew from the embattled town this weekend after intense fighting throughout the winter. The battle for Avdiivka, in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, intensified in October and was a key target for the Russian military. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, wrote on Facebook that he had decided to pull out of the region "to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen." On February 17, Russia said they had taken "full control" of Avdiivka, and videos emerged of Russian flags being planted across the city. However, Russia paid a heavy price for the victory. Russia lost more than 400 tanks and armored vehicles and "likely thousands of personnel," per the UK Ministry of Defense. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 16 February 2024. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/OvlDlvNZ1o #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/94BhdsJ0hs Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) February 16, 2024 'Meat wave' assaults Ukraine claims more than 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed, capturing Avdiivka. "The losses of Russians around Avdiivka are colossal. My colleagues and I did the calculations and pulled up our archival records from the beginning of the year," said Dmitry Likhovy, Ukrainian military spokesman. He also said that at least 30,000 Russian soldiers had been injured in the battle, per The Telegraph. The Ukrainian figures could not be verified, but the Kremlin's willingness to sacrifice men and equipment in infamous 'meat wave' assaults, leaving the Avdiivka battlefield littered with frozen Russian corpses, has been widely reported. Ukrainian footage of fighting near Avdiivka. 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade Meanwhile, the Ukrainian figures are in line with Western estimates. A declassified American intelligence assessment in December spoke of staggeringly high Russian losses. Russia has suffered more than 13,000 troops killed and wounded and lost more than 220 combat vehicles while fighting near Avdiivka and other cities, Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said, per The New York Times. The fighting for Avdiivka only became more ferocious in the two months after the US report became public. The White House had warned on Thursday that Russia could take the town , blaming a lack of artillery ammunition caused in part by Republicans blocking more aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia pummelled the outnumbered Ukrainian forces with artillery and hundreds of gliding bombs. There are no figures on the losses Ukraine has suffered in the bloody battle, though they to could also be significant. Avdiivka, which was once home to 32,000 residents, was the site of a battle against pro-Russian separatists in 2017, part of the war in Donbas, and has been on the frontline of the fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Read the original article on Business Insider The Florida Department of Health in Marion County invites the public to attend an upcoming nutrition class. Shake the Salt classes will be on Feb. 26 and Feb. 29. The first class will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Heritage Oaks of Ocala, 2820 SW 34th St., Ocala, FL 34474. The second class will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Feb. 29 at One Health Center, 1714 SW 17th St., Ocala, FL 34471. The nutrition classes will have interactive presentations offering practical tips on breaking up with the salt shaker. Read: Suspect dead, K9 injured in Marion County deputy-involved shooting, sheriffs office says The classes will teach guests how to make flavorful and tasty meals without using salt. February is recognized as American Heart Month, and the Florida Department of Health in Marion encourages all Floridians to adopt a lifestyle promoting heart health and well-being. This includes eating nutritious foods that complement a healthy cardiovascular system. According to the Department of Health, more people die each year from heart disease than any other cause. Read: NASCAR Postpones Xfinity Series Race at Daytona International Speedway to Monday No pre-registration is required to attend the event. Click here for more information. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Sunday said he is unsure if Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will run for reelection if former President Trump takes back the White House in November, given the frequent tension between the two men. Pressed by Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo if he believes McConnell will not run should Trump win the general election, Cruz said, I dont know. Thats a decision for Mitch to make. Obviously, theres a lot of bad blood between Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. Mitch will have to make that decision, he continued. What I want to see is, I want to see Republicans in the Senate stand and lead and fight. I believe November is going to be a very good election. I think were going to see Donald Trump reelected as president of the United States. McConnell is currently serving a six-year term that runs through 2026. The Hill reached out to McConnells office for further comment. McConnells relationship with Trump, or lack thereof, is well known on Capitol Hill, as the former president has repeatedly criticized the GOP leader since his 2020 reelection loss. The Kentucky Republican has occasionally fired back his own jabs at the ex-president. In an interview with The Hill last week, McConnell acknowledged Trump is the most prominent Republican in todays political climate while defending his decision to stand up to the former president on certain issues. Trump earlier this month expressed staunch opposition to both the Senates bipartisan border security deal which collapsed amid GOP opposition and the upper chambers emergency defense spending bill that includes aid to Ukraine and Israel. The bill was approved last Tuesday in a 70-29 vote after 22 Republicans including McConnell joined the majority of Senate Democrats to pass the package. The Senate minority leader told The Hill that getting 22 Republicans to vote for the bill was impressive, given Trumps opposition and sway in the GOP. The Republican senator is one of the few lawmakers who has yet to endorse the former presidents reelection bid and has remained mum on the topic. Earlier this month, Trump claimed he heard McConnell wants to endorse him, but neither the lawmaker nor his office confirmed the claim at the time. Trump has maintained a wide lead in the GOP primary field. He has a nearly 63-point lead over Nikki Haley in national polling, according to poll aggregations from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. In Haleys home state of South Carolina, which will hold its primary later this month, the former president has more than a 31-point lead over the former governor. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Sunday called on his GOP colleagues in the upper chamber to demonstrate some backbone and push for an impeachment trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was impeached by the GOP-led House last week. Mayorkas became the first Cabinet official to be impeached since the 1870s in last Tuesdays 214-213 vote, which followed a first failed vote. The articles are not expected to move in the Democrat-led Senate, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) office said last week the chamber would take up the articles when it returns on Feb. 26. I got to tell you, with the Mayorkas impeachment, you know what Schumer wants to do? He doesnt even want to have a trial, Cruz said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. He doesnt even want to have senators vote on guilty or not guilty. What hes trying to do is simply table it, just put it aside. In over 200 years of our nations history, the Senate has never once tabled articles of impeachment. That has never happened. Every single time, the Senate has voted, has voted on either guilt or innocence, or the House has withdrawn the impeachment, he continued. Cruz argued the situation provides an opportunity for the GOP leadership in the Senate to push back against criticism. And I got to say, look, if Republican leadership in the Senate doesnt like the criticism, heres an opportunity to demonstrate some backbone. They could stand up and say, lets have a trial. They can stand up and say, you cannot refuse to even follow the constitutional process for impeachment. You cant dodge responsibility, he said. Schumer responded to Cruzs remarks on Sunday, arguing the Texas Republican is the one who wants to do nothing on the border. Last week, Sen. Cruz voted against a bipartisan bill to strengthen border security, Schumer wrote in a statement to The Hill, in reference to the Senates bipartisan border security package that wouldve also unlocked aid for Ukraine. The bill failed in a vote amid GOP opposition. House Republicans, in their impeachment of the Homeland Security head, accused Mayorkas of willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and claimed he violated immigration laws by failing to detain a sufficient number of migrants. The articles also accuse Mayorkas of breach of public trust, an allegation based in part on misleading claims about Mayorkass interactions with Congress and his response to subpoenas from the House Homeland Security Committee. The articles also said he failed to take action to fulfill his statutory duty to control the border. No administration has ever detained all migrants, with various immigration law experts determining earlier this month that Mayorkas did not violate any laws and is faced with the same difficult choices as those of past administrations regarding whom they can detain, The Hill previously reported. Some Senate Republicans have also dismissed the impeachment effort. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), a member of the Senate GOP leadership team, said last month, Weve got so many things to do, I dont think impeachment was something intended to be brought up every three months or every two months. Updated at 3:23 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Czechia will be able to transfer the ammunition for Ukraine in a matter of weeks if the United States, Germany, Sweden and other countries help with funding, President Petr Pavel said during the Munich Security Conference, as quoted by Czech outlet iRozhlas on Feb. 17. We have found half a million of 155-millimeter shells and 300 thousand shells of 122-millimeter caliber, he said. Read also: Ukraine risks losing more ground beyond Avdiivka due to ammunition shortage Pentagon Earlier, Ukraines Defense Minister Rustem Umerov wrote a letter to his EU counterparts, noting that Russian troops outnumber the Ukrainian Armed Forces by three to one, and shortage of weapons in Ukraine is getting worse every day. Umerov called for the delivery of the promised one million artillery shells, which the EU pledged to provide to Ukraine within one year in the spring of 2023. The letter also states that Ukraine needs 200 thousand 155-mm shells per month. At the same time, the Russian army can receive almost twice as much ammunition, and Russia has received about a million shells from North Korea. Read also: Scholz warns of looming arms shortage in Ukraine despite Western aid On Jan. 11 European Commission spokeswoman Johanna Bernsel said that the EU will be able to produce one million rounds of ammunition for Ukraine only by the end of winter 2024. On Jan. 31, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that by March the EU would fulfill only 52% of its promise to provide Ukraine with one million artillery shells. On Feb. 3, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote that the shortage of artillery and delays in Western aid would create uncertainty in Ukraines operational plans and could likely force Ukrainian troops to make difficult decisions about prioritizing certain areas of the front over those where territorial losses would be less significant. 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 David Cameron will be on the first leg of a country-hopping trip across South and North America - SERGEI GAPON/AFP David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands next week in a gesture designed to show that British sovereignty will not be up for discussion. The Foreign Secretary will visit the islands, which are subject to a territorial claim by Argentina, during the first leg of a country-hopping trip across South and North America. Last year James Cleverly, the former foreign secretary, announced that he would be visiting the Falklands in response to Argentina flexing its muscles over the archipelago. By honouring the commitment, Lord Cameron will be the first cabinet minister to visit since 2016. Despite persistent calls from Argentina for the Islas Malvinas to be handed over, a 2013 referendum saw 99.8 per cent of voters there opt to remain a UK Overseas Territory. Union Jack flying over the British War Cemetery at San Carlos, Falkland Islands - PETER HAZELL/GETTY Lord Cameron said: The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion. The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built. The Islands are a thriving economy, where as well as farming and fishing, there is a priority given to conservation and sustainability. The visit will take Lord Cameron to Stanley and other sites around the territory. During the visit he is expected to pay his respects to the British troops who fought in the Falklands War and those who lost their lives during the conflict in 1982, as well as the UK military personnel currently protecting the islands. Last month, Lord Cameron met with the new Argentinian president Javier Milei in Davos, Switzerland, where the two men said they would agree to disagree, and do so politely over the future of the islands. Argentina's president Javier Milei shakes hands with David Cameron as the Argentine minister of foreign affairs, Diana Mondino, looks on in Davos on Jan 17 - AFP Mr Milei has insisted that his country has non-negotiable sovereignty over the Falklands and has pledged to force the British Government to release its claim through diplomatic channels. The visit comes at a time of heightened concern over the Falklands security, with The Telegraph revealing earlier this month that the Royal Navy has abandoned major warship patrols because of ship shortages. After his visit to the South Atlantic, Lord Cameron will travel on to Paraguay; he will be the first UK foreign secretary to visit the country. After that, he is due to go on to the meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Brazil, and then to the UN in New York for the second anniversary of Russias 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. David Carrick was unmasked as one of Britain's worst sex offenders Serial rapist David Carrick has been stripped of his state-funded Metropolitan Police pension. Carrick, who was unmasked as one of the UKs worst sex offenders and convicted of crimes against 12 women over 17 years, will lose 65 per cent of his pension, estimated to be more than 10,000 a year, which was contributed by the force. If the former officer is released from prison he can still receive 35 per cent, his personal financial contribution. The London Mayors Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) made a pension forfeiture application to the Home Office after Carrick was jailed for at least 30 years in February 2023, a move backed by Scotland Yard. Sadiq Khan said: David Carrick blatantly abused his position of trust as a police officer to carry out his appalling crimes. I have been very clear that steps should be taken to remove the employer contributions of his Met Police pension and it has now been decided that David Carrick will lose all these employer contributions. Home Office guidance states pension forfeiture can only be applied for when an officer has a conviction committed in connection with their service as a member of a police force. Gravely injurious to the state The offence must be certified by the Home Secretary as liable to lead to a serious loss of confidence in the public service or gravely injurious to the interests of the state. Such applications are usually made after a police officer has committed a crime while on duty. Mr Khan had the final say on the forfeiture. A Home Office spokesman said: Officers who commit serious crimes should not be entitled to their full police pension. David Carricks crimes led to a serious loss of confidence in the police, and that is why he will forfeit the employers contribution to his pension. Stuart Cundy, the Met Police deputy assistant commissioner, said: We know that David Carrick used the fact he was a police officer as part of his offending, in particular to exercise even greater control and coercion over his victims and to instil fear in them about what might happen if they came forward to report his terrible crimes. We reiterate our apology to them that he was able to do so for so long. We have worked closely with [Mopac] so that an application could be made to the Home Secretary for pension forfeiture in this case. Offending of such an appalling nature must have wide reaching consequences and it is right that the decision has been taken to subject Carrick to the maximum pension forfeiture allowed in law. Carrick was formally dismissed from the Met in January 2023 after pleading guilty to a total of 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, against 12 women between 2003 and 2020. He joined the force in 2001 before becoming an armed officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit in 2009. 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. David Carrick held a gun to the head of one of his victims Rapist police officer David Carrick has been stripped of his full state-funded pension, the mayor of London has confirmed. Carrick, 49, was jailed last February after he admitted dozens of rapes and sexual offences against 12 women. He was ordered to serve a sentence of at least 30 years and was also sacked from the Metropolitan Police. Sadiq Khan said Carrick, of Stevenage, would lose 65% of his pension, the maximum reduction legally allowed. "David Carrick blatantly abused his position of trust as a police officer to carry out his appalling crimes," Mr Khan said. "I have been very clear that steps should be taken to remove the employer contributions of his Met Police pension." Under case law and in line with Home Office guidance, only the police contributions to an officer's pension can be forfeited, not the officer's own contributions. The guidance states pension forfeiture can only be applied for when an officer has a conviction "committed in connection with their service as a member of a police force". The offence also has to have been certified by the Home Secretary as "liable to lead to a serious loss of confidence in the publics service" or "gravely injurious to the interests of the state". Mr Khan's deputy mayor for policing and crime, Sophie Linden, said: "It is absolutely right we have taken every step we can as quickly as we can. "He didn't deserve to wear the uniform of an officer, he doesn't deserve the pension of an officer." Carrick pictured in the dock at Southwark Crown Court In 2001, Carrick joined the Met before becoming an armed officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit in 2009. He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to a total of 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, between 2003 and 2020. Carrick had been repeatedly reported to the Met and Hertfordshire Police before his eventual arrest. The Met's deputy assistant commissioner, Stuart Cundy, reiterated an apology to Carrick's victims: "Offending of such an appalling nature must have wide reaching consequences and it is right that the decision has been taken to subject Carrick to the maximum pension forfeiture allowed in law." Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk Azhar Ali has been suspended by Labour and is no longer its Rochdale by-election candidate David Lammy has said he is "sorry" for Labour's initial decision to back its Rochdale candidate after his comments on Israel first came to light. Labour stood by Azhar Ali at first, after he claimed Israel allowed Hamas' attacks as a pretext to invade Gaza. But the party withdrew support after Mr Ali appeared to blame media figures "from certain Jewish quarters" for criticism of a pro-Palestinian MP. Mr Lammy said Labour took "decisive action" in suspending Mr Ali. Speaking on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, said he was "sorry that the initial judgement was that [Mr Ali] made an apology and we could move forward". "More came to light and it was right that Keir [Starmer] acted decisively, I'm afraid, to suspend him," he said. Asked by Laura Kuenssberg if he was apologising for Labour getting the initial judgement on Mr Ali wrong, Mr Lammy said his party had made progress on tackling antisemitism in the party. Mr Ali will still be listed as the Labour candidate on the ballot paper as under electoral law it is too late to replace him. However, Mr Ali has been suspended from the party pending an investigation. Mr Lammy told Laura Kuenssberg he was sorry over Labour's initial judgement in the row Before his suspension, Labour had spent days defending him as a candidate, after The Mail on Sunday published comments from Mr Ali, claiming Israel had "allowed" the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October. A day later, the Daily Mail published a fuller recording, allegedly of Mr Ali, blaming "people in the media from certain Jewish quarters" for the suspension of Andy McDonald from the Labour Party. Mr McDonald was suspended last year 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." 'Very sorry' Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has "led from the front" in removing antisemitism from the party, Mr Lammy said. "We cannot have any truck with antisemitism in our party," he added. Mr Lammy said he is "very sorry" that voters in Rochdale no longer have a Labour candidate vote for. "But I absolutely stand by that decision not to support a candidate who had come up with a whole series of antisemitic tropes," he said. In recent months, Labour has suspended two MPs and two prospective MPs from the party for comments related to the Israel-Gaza conflict - including Mr McDonald and Mr Ali. In January, Kate Osamor had the party whip removed after saying Gaza should be remembered as genocide in a post about Holocaust Memorial Day. Labour suspended former Hyndburn MP Graham Jones for alleged comments about Israel at the same meeting where Mr Ali spoke. Israel declared war on Hamas after the group led an attack on communities inside Israel, killing about 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians. Since then, more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed and 68,000 injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, as Israel launched missiles and ground operations into the Strip in response. Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom. A beautiful winter morning in the Twin Cities a day made for churchgoing, sledding with kids and quiet walks in the bright sun was marred before it even could begin when tragedy struck in Burnsville. Two of the city's police officers and a first responder were shot and killed Sunday after they answered a domestic abuse call. Another person who was wounded was recovering after surgery. The suspected shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Star Tribune reported. Details were sketchy as this editorial was being written and news conferences were being planned. In the days ahead we'll learn more about the horror that unfolded in a residential neighborhood of the typically quiet south metro suburb. And we'll learn more about some of the lives forever changed those of the shattered families and friends of the victims and of the shooter. Just don't expect it to ever make sense. Don't expect to be able to answer the question that will be asked again and again on behalf of those who died: Why? There are others still asking that question in the wake of the eight other incidents over the past 10 months in which law enforcement officers have been killed or wounded by gunfire within or just beyond Minnesota's borders. Today we have new images from the ninth. Police officers and public officials from around the metro standing vigil as the bodies of the slain officers and medical responder were transported from Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis to the medical examiner's office in Minnetonka. A police sergeant leaving HCMC with an American flag under his arm; a SWAT vehicle with its windshield shattered by bullets images that remind us of what can happen to those brave enough to run into danger to help others. A Jan. 23 Star Tribune editorial recounted a Minneapolis incident in which police arrested a man who had been holding a grandmother and child at gunpoint. Charges alleged that the suspect shot in the direction of five officers as they went up a staircase in tactical formation, yet they did not return fire. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara thanked the officers involved in the arrest for their courage and "extreme restraint" and expressed gratitude "that this situation did not turn out much more dangerous and even deadly than it was." Just a few weeks later, on Sunday at HCMC, O'Hara joined the tribute for those killed in Burnsville. "Our prayers go out to Chief Tanya Schwartz, all the police and their families affected by this horror," he told the Star Tribune. As the state lowers its flags to half staff on Monday, we hope Minnesotans will take time to reflect on the lives lost in the line of duty on Sunday. And, for those so moved, to say a prayer. As police officers and first responders across the state return to work during what is sure to be an especially challenging week of mourning, may they find strength in knowing that their fellow citizens are thankful for all that they do to serve, protect and save lives. Dan Kress tells voters he is a proud father who has met many residents and small business owners, which is a fine thing when you're running for trustee in Clinton Township. What he left out of his campaign literature is that he has met some of those business owners in court, which also is where he spent a fair bit of time trying to avoid getting locked up for failing to pay child support. Kress, 56, told me Friday in a text message that he is running to fill a vacancy on the board because he was "asked by the Macomb County Republican Party" and hopes to be "a common sense voice on the Board and seek a Property Tax freeze and advocate for all of the other topics listed in my literature." We were supposed to speak on the phone Friday about his campaign and the voluminous public record he has created over the past 30 years, but after it became clear I had questions about some of what I gently referred to as a "fair number of legal disputes," that interview never materialized. More on that later, because the records speak rather loudly for themselves. Dan Kress, candidate for trustee in Clinton Township Kress, a builder and demolition contractor, has been sued about a dozen times in Macomb County's district and circuit courts for failing to pay his debts. The law firm that represented him in his divorce a case in which his wife accused him of playing games with his assets later sued him for failing to pay the bills they sent for representing him. The divorce case yielded a bitter harvest of revelations: From Kress' failure to pay income taxes from 1996 to 1999; to providing false information to obtain a mortgage; to failing to pay child support which, on more than one occasion, caused a judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. These are the kind of things candidates rarely disclose about themselves in their campaign literature, and Kress is no exception. Voters will be able to pass their own judgment on Feb. 27, in a special election being held to replace Trustee Jenifer "Joie" West, who resigned last summer. Other candidates for the vacant seat include Democrat Iona Means and Libertarian Michael Saliba. Means received a traffic ticket in 2009, but the case was dismissed. I was going to dig into Saliba's background but, let's face it, as a third-party candidate he's got about as much chance of being elected to the Clinton Township Board of Trustees as I have of being elected mayor of Detroit (don't worry; I'm not running to replace Mike Duggan. One White Mike is enough!) Kress' latest legal entanglement involves some of the very officials he will preside over if he's elected to the township board. One week after the election, he's scheduled to appear in district court for a pretrial conference on charges he failed to get a certificate of occupancy for a hulking building that looks like a barn or lodge made out of cinder block that he owns off Millar Road. Township officials also charged Kress with failing to get the building inspected or obtaining permits for work to make the building habitable. A campaign sign for Dan Kress is seen in front of a building he owns that is the subject of a dispute between Kress and township officials This building is the subject of a dispute between Clinton Township officials and Dan Kress, who is running for trustee in Clinton Township. Kress alleged in one of the texts he sent me Friday that he is the victim of a political witchhunt, which is a phrase that has become quite popular in recent years. "Not once in my 40+ years as a resident, or business owner (member, stockholder, or entity stakeholder) have I ever been presented with an 'Ordinance Complaint' or any other legal action from Clinton Township," Kress wrote. "In my opinion this court case amounts to nothing more than a POLITICAL STUNT, orchestrated to tarnish my good name in the closing days of this trustee race!" I can't speak to whether it's a stunt, but it seems unlikely given that Kress' campaign website says Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon and Clerk Kim Meltzer endorsed him. As for his "good name," check out what I found in my tour of Macomb County courthouses and judge for yourself. Long-playing record I was thinking about starting this section by detailing all the times Kress has been stopped by the cops for traffic violations ranging from expired plates and to failing to provide proof of insurance to driving with a suspended license. But, frankly, there are so many it would just bore you. Suffice to say, he doesn't appear to be as concerned about following the rules of the road as much as you, me or, possibly, Evel Knievel. Instead, let's get straight to the lyin' and cheatin'. Kress was first sued in 1990 by Snap-on Tools for a debt of $573. Court records show that he defaulted in the case, which means he didn't bother to show up and defend himself, and a judge ordered him to pay $663. When Kress didn't make good with the lucre, a wage garnishment was issued. Three years later, the Michigan Department of Treasury sued him, presumably for unpaid taxes. This time it appears the parties reached an agreement to let Kress settle his debt of $1,063 for $800. Subsequent lawsuits were filed by a doctor, the aforementioned attorneys, landlords and various businesses claiming that their interactions with Kress or his companies left them less than thrilled or fulfilled. Kress defaulted in several of those cases, some of which led to more attempts to garnish his wages and, in at least one case, of a payment that satisfied the party that sued him. The legal action that shed the most light on Kress' interpersonal interactions was the divorce his wife sought in 1999. After perusing the voluminous file, it appears that Kress and his now ex-wife cared for their sons more than they ended up caring for each other. There was the standard sparring over maritial assets, including a claim that Kress tried to downplay his stake in a company by claiming that his mother and uncle were equal partners (a claim the judge rejected). But it is the disclosures about Kress' approach to things like paying taxes and child support and making disclosures on mortgage applications that may be of most interest to voters. In a 2001 opinion and order, Macomb Circuit Judge Peter Maceroni wrote that Kress "denied earning any income in the years 1998 and 1999, but was able to secure a mortgage on the marital home in the amount of $120,000 in April 1999 based upon his representations to a financial institution that he earned monthly income in the amount of $3,106.83." If you're having trouble following the logic of how someone who "denied earning any income" could also claim "he earned a monthly income in the amount of $3,106.83," something Maceroni wrote several pages later may help. Kress "did testify that he had zero income in both 1998 and 1999," the judge wrote, adding that Kress "admitted in documents which he submitted to obtain a mortgage and which showed he earned in excess of $3,000 per month were incorrect." If there's a nicer way of saying someone gave a bank fraudulent information to get a loan, I've never heard it. The file also reveals judges ordering Kress to come to court to explain why he is not paying child support and, on occasion, issuing warrants for his arrest because he either failed to show up in court to explain himself or failed to make the required payment. There is no indication in the records that Kress was ever locked up, so it appears that he eventually met his obligation. When it comes to his obligation to discuss these matters, however, Kress still has some catching up to do. A little more conversation, a little less typing Kress and I agreed Thursday to discuss his candidacy and legal matters on Friday. By Friday afternoon, he changed his mind. "If you have any other specific questions outside of the current litigation, please text them to me and I'll be happy to respond," Kress wrote Friday after sending some texts, including his standard political boilerplate and his take on the township's case against him regarding the edifice off Millar. Sadly, it's not uncommon for politicians to bail on an interview when they sense they may face more than a few Nerf balls. And, if you've read this column or followed my work over the years, you know I believe in genuine exchanges of information rather than a flurry of carefully crafted correspondence that could have been written by anyone but the person whose name is on it. So I wrote back: "This is helpful, thank you! I have some questions about previous litigation, too. And some matters that came up in your divorce case. There is more than we can cover in text messages. Plus, I believe public officials, and people who want to be public officials, should be available to answer questions in a live interview. People want officials who will speak up. They are not looking for prepared statements or pen pals." A couple hours later, Kress wrote back that he made "substantial compliance" with the terms of his divorce and that "periodic disputes are irrelevant and have no impact on Township business." Again, I'll let you be the judge of that. Clinton Township already was let down by one of its trustees remember Dean Reynolds, who was convicted of public corruption charges who turned out not to be so trust-y. He's due to be released from federal prison in 2031. I'm not suggesting Kress is going to get caught up in a widespread federal corruption scandal. He's not the greatest at meeting his financial obligations, but I didn't see anything in the record that suggests he's a thief. It's fair to say the public record indicates Kress has not shrouded himself in glory as a businessman. Default judgments can be a troubling sign that someone isn't good at facing their problems until a judge gives them no other choice. The thing about being in government is you're not just there to face problems, you're expected to solve them. It's possible Kress will somehow prove more successful handling the People's Business than his own business. But if Clinton Township ends up with another bum on its board of trustees, it may be de-fault of voters. M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Clinton Township candidate Dan Kress has fair number of legal disputes Ukraine has run short of ammunition to continue the fight against Russia - Reuters Denmarks prime minister said on Sunday that her country was handing over all of its shells to Ukraine as she urged other European states to provide more weapons. We decided to donate our entire artillery, Mette Frederiksen said at the Munich Security Conference, suggesting that other European nations should follow suit. Im sorry to say friends, there is still ammunition in stock in Europe. This is not only a question about production because we have weapons, we have ammunition, we have our defences that we dont have to use at the moment, that we should deliver to Ukraine, she said. We have to do more. Ms Frederiksen said Denmark would soon deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and was still seeking more partners to supply the advanced fighter planes. She acknowledged that Nato countries had done a lot to aid Ukraine in its war, but added: I think its quite clear to all of us that its not enough. We have to speed up and scale up. Russias invasion of Ukraine rattled nerves throughout the Nordics. Sweden and Finland applied for Nato membership in May 2022, swiftly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's prime minister, speaking at the Munich Security Conference - Alex Kraus/Bloomberg Earlier this month, Denmark also said it was reviewing its existing military funding due to the increasing threat posed by the Kremlin. Denmarks decision to donate its artillery was announced as Ukraine withdrew its troops from the besieged eastern stronghold of Avdiivka, partly due to ammunition shortages. Also speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said that the countrys artificial deficit of weapons would help Russia. Keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficits of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war, he said. Ukrainians have proven that we can force Russia to retreat, he added. We can get our land back. Nato allies have been warning that Russia is rapidly expanding its armed forces to prepare for a potential invasion of the Baltics. Russia recently placed several Baltic politicians on a wanted list for destroying Soviet-era monuments. Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister, on Sunday dismissed a warrant issued by Russia for her arrest, saying it was just an attempt to intimidate her amid speculation she could get a top European Union post. Once ruled by Moscow, but now a member of both the European Union and Nato, Estonia has been a supporter of Kyiv, and Ms Kallas has been one of Moscows most vocal critics since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. It is meant to intimidate and make me refrain from the decisions that I would otherwise make, Ms Kallas said in an interview on the sidelines of the conference. But its Russias playbook. Its nothing surprising and we are not afraid. The Baltic politicians risk being arrested only if they cross the Russian border. Ms Kallass high profile in pushing the EU to do more to support Ukraine has led to speculation in Brussels that she could take on a senior role after the next EU parliamentary elections in June, possibly as foreign policy chief. She said that speculation was also contributing to Russias aggression towards her. Its hard to be popular, she said ironically. The Russians have also seen that, and thats why they issued the arrest warrant to really emphasise the biggest argument against me, that I am a provocation to Russia. When asked whether she was interested in any future European role, she said: We are not there yet. Im the prime minister of Estonia. 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. Denmark to send its 'entire artillery' to Ukraine, the country's prime minister says Denmark is sending all of its artillery to Ukraine, the Danish prime minister has said. Mette Frederiksen made the announcement while speaking at the Munich Security Conference. It comes as Ukraine faces severe munitions shortages. Denmark is sending its "entire artillery" to Ukraine, the Danish prime minister has said. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mette Frederiksen appealed to other European nations to do more to help Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's invading forces. "They are asking us for ammunition now. Artillery now. From the Danish side, we decided to donate our entire artillery," she said. "I'm sorry to say, friends, there are still ammunition in stock in Europe," she continued. "This is not only a question about production, because we have weapons, we have ammunition, we have air defense that we don't have to use ourself at the moment, that we should deliver to Ukraine." It comes as Ukrainian forces withdrew from the key eastern town of Avdiivka amid severe munitions shortages. The Danish announcement will come as particularly welcome news in Ukraine as its military has been starved of artillery shells, forcing it to scale back some operations, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi told Reuters in December. "There's a problem with ammunition, especially post-Soviet (shells) - that's 122 mm, 152 mm. And today, these problems exist across the entire front line," he said. Meanwhile, in more positive news to alleviate the ammo famine, the Czech Republic says it could supply 800,000 shells to the Ukrainian military. Czech President Petr Pavel said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference on 17 February that it had a stockpile of about half a million 155 mm and 300,000 122 mm shells, which can be on the Ukraine frontline in a few weeks "if funding is found quickly." Denmark is a key supporter of Ukraine A serviceman of the 66th separate cannon artillery battalion of the 406th separate artillery brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is pictured by the American M777 howitzer, Zaporizhzhia direction, south-eastern Ukraine. Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images Denmark has been a key supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the Nordic country's military aid commitments increased by 3.5 billion euros, or around $3.8 billion, since November making it one of the biggest military donors by percentage of GDP, the institute says. Denmark has pledged 8.4 billion euros, around $9 billion, in military aid. With a crucial $60 billion US aid package stalled in Congress, European support is becoming ever more important for Ukraine. Earlier this year, the European Union agreed to a new 50 billion euro, or around $53.9 billion, aid package for Ukraine. "This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine. The EU is taking leadership and responsibility in support for Ukraine; we know what is at stake," President of the European Council Charles Michel said at the time, per Reuters. Read the original article on Business Insider Denmark has decided to transfer all of its artillery units to Ukraine, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced on the 7th Ukrainian Lunch in Munich on Feb. 17. According to her, European leaders often cite problems with weapons production as an obstacle to increasing supplies. Read also: Denmark allocates its largest military aid package to Ukraine Ukraine is asking us for ammunition and artillery now. We, Denmark, have decided to give Ukraine all our artillery, Frederiksen said. Europe has military equipment, its not just a matter of production, she added. In addition, she called on European countries to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with ammunition and air defense systems, as Ukraine needs them more. Read also: Ukrainian Air Force expects first F-16 fighter jets from Denmark in spring, despite rumors of delay The minister also noted that Europeans do not need to wait for the crisis to be resolved before approving funding for supplies from the United States to Ukraine. It doesnt matter what the US comes up with, but we, Europeans, have to protect ourselves. This is a war on the European continent, Frederiksen said. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed his partners for keeping Ukraine in an artificial shortage of weapons, in particular artillery and long-range weapons, allowing Russia to adapt to the intensity of the fighting. 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 ECONOMY A controversial plan to remove millions of gallons of water from Big Sewickley Creek for natural gas development is set to move forward two years after it was first proposed. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in late January approved PennEnergy Resources request to withdraw up to 1.5 million gallons per day from Big Sewickley Creek on private property south of Economys Cooney Hollow Road. The companys amended water management plan is active for five years. Big Sewickley Creek A second permit authorizes PennEnergy to install a temporary surface water intake system at the site for use in nearby natural gas production. Withdrawals are expected to be intermittent in nature for a period of one to three months, followed by several months or years of inactivity, according to the company. PennEnergy, an oil and gas developer based in Cranberry Township, submitted its first request to take water from Big Sewickley in 2021 initially proposing an intake of up to 3 million gallons daily at two separate Economy locations. The company said it hoped to reduce area truck traffic by transporting water from the creek to a nearby well pad by way of a temporary above-ground waterline. Big Sewickley Creek watershed defenders, alongside state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-16, Harmony Township, insisted state regulators categorically deny the permits, citing potential threats to Beaver County recreation, state-threatened fish species and other sensitive ecosystems. The Big Sewickley Creek watershed, a critical habitat for scores of plant and animal species, contains eight municipal parks, two sportsman associations and state game lands. Its home to popular fishing spots during trout season and a family-friendly swimming hole near the water intake location. The creek sees dangerously low water levels at certain spots in the summer months, critics noted, adding that further reductions could permanently hurt trout stocking and recreation. The Allegheny Land Trust recently acquired hundreds of acres in the area and found the watershed is home to rare species of plants, birds and fish, including the state-threatened Southern Redbelly Dace that is already sensitive to habitat loss due to low water levels. Throughout the two-year review process, the DEP met PennEnergys proposals with multiple deficiency notices related to application documents, including requests to prove water retrievals will not harm instream flows or wildlife. PennEnergy scaled back its proposal from a combined 3 million gallons a day at two locations to 1.5 million gallons a day at one location and responded to the DEPs deficiency notices with revised applications. The company said it would limit withdrawals to 11% of the creeks average daily flow. The Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Association and other advocacy groups wrote more than a dozen letters to the DEP calling for the permits denial. Nearly 200 people submitted public comment on the plan, most of whom objected to it. Matzie publicly opposed PennEnergys request in letters to former DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell, asserting the Ohio River tributary has provided generations of quality fishing, swimming and memories in the area. He said the company should find a larger alternative to the creek. For example, PennEnergy is already permitted to withdraw millions of gallons daily from the Ohio River in Freedom. On Jan. 29, the DEP said PennEnergy had demonstrated the water retrievals would not harm aquatic life and satisfied its application requirements. The company will submit water use data to the agency monthly. 'A vital natural resource' Matzie said Thursday he contacted DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley to express his disappointment and submit a formal request for reconsideration. He said he was baffled by the decision to approve the request. This has been an ongoing area of concern for my constituents, and a personal issue for me, going back many years, Matzie said. I grew up very close to the creek, playing in the water and the surrounding woods as a child. This creek is a vital natural resource for fresh water in the area, is stocked with trout, supports a variety of wildlife nearby, and in some years, parts of the creek dry up during hot summer months. This large amount of water that will be withdrawn is likely to cause trauma to the ecosystem, Matzie continued. I believe the protection of the creek, instead of trying to fix it after it's damaged, should be the most important part of the decision-making process. PennEnergy representatives on Thursday said the company is committed to safe and responsible natural gas development and has worked diligently with (state regulators) to address public comments and questions raised during the 23-month review. The commonwealths environmental protection performance standards and additional requirements in the approved water management plan ensure the protection of fish and other species, their habitat and the recreational use of the Big Sewickley Creek, the company said. Katie Stanley, president of the Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Association, called the DEPs decision frustrating for those who rallied against the move. She referenced the multiple letters sent to the DEP criticizing the methods used to measure water flow before withdrawal. Watershed advocates remain concerned about how the withdrawals could hurt downstream water quality and wildlife. Residents favorite spots are going to be impacted, including popular fishing locations and the famous swimming hole, Stanley said. Hundreds of community members spoke out against this, our state representative didn't want this, yet the decision was still made to grant the permit. Why don't the people who live near, recreate in and care about this creek get a say in a decision that impacts them and the wildlife they care about?" This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: DEP approves PennEnergy request to drain from Big Sewickley Creek The miners' strike was the longest and most acrimonious industrial dispute in modern British history When miners at Cortonwood colliery in Yorkshire downed tools on 5 March 1984, they helped set off a chain of events that was to reshape the industrial and political landscape of Britain forever. The miners' strike of 1984 to 85 saw the 22,000 miners of Wales plunged into conflict with the Conservative government. It was a year-long fight to retain jobs and keep pits open in areas - particularly the south Wales valleys - where little other employment existed. Why was mining so important to Wales? At the start of the industrial revolution in the late 18th Century, the valleys of Wales were sparsely populated. But the large scale exploitation of iron ore lying side by side with vast coal deposits - the largest continuous coalfield in Britain - was to transform the landscape, both physically and socially. The valleys towns grew up from largely unpopulated rural countryside Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenavon were fuelled by coal, and as the need for fuel and iron across the growing British Empire rose throughout the 19th Century, Welsh coal was more and more in demand. Coal production soared, and workers poured in to the expanding mines. By 1900, south Wales was producing one third of global coal exports. From a population of hundreds, the headcount in the south Wales mining valleys had mushroomed. By 1921, 250,000 men were employed in the pits, with thousands more working in related industries or providing services to the mining communities. In north Wales, although a much smaller scale, there were 60 pits at the height of demand in 1918, each employing between 200 to 1,000 miners. What was the state of the Welsh mining industry in 1984? The glory days of coal mining were firmly in the past but it remained the biggest employer in Wales, with communities still revolving around the pits at their heart. Mardy colliery was one of the most militant during the strike The industry had been nationalised in 1947 under the National Coal Board, but pits struggled to compete with cheaper fuel, often from abroad, and many had closed. Large-scale strikes organised by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1972 and 1974 when the lights went out and a three-day working week was imposed to preserve power -brought down the Conservative government led by Edward Heath. The election of Margaret Thatcher as Conservative prime minister in 1979 brought two fundamentally opposed sides into conflict. Mrs Thatcher wanted to privatise industry and break the power of the unions, particularly the NUM under the leadership of firebrand Arthur Scargill. How did the strike begin? The prime minister had prepared for this carefully. Coal had been stockpiled at power stations and new laws had restricted trade union activities. The man who had been brought in to restructure the steel industry, Scottish-American Ian McGregor, was moved to the National Coal Board to achieve the same purpose in mining. Mass closures of uneconomic pits were announced, possibly with the intention of forcing the miners into action. Although a majority of miners in Wales had voted against striking, action by more militant workers to picket mines saw almost 100% solidarity with the strike across south Wales. How did communities manage during the strike? With the majority of miners not working, feeding and supporting mining families became a real issue. Women in the community organised food collections and distribution and fundraised, forging links with other groups and drawing in support from far afield in some cases, with food and money sent from places like France and Germany. Alliances were forged in previously unlikely places, as depicted in the film Pride, which shows support for miners in the Dulais valley, Neath Porth Talbot, coming from gay and lesbian campaigning groups in London. Things got tougher for communities as the strike wore on and the government froze NUM bank accounts and food funds, while benefits were cut. Did all miners support the strike? The Coal not Dole slogan summed up the reason miners were striking - many never worked again after the pits closed Tensions ran high in north Wales, where support for the strike was much lower, leading to divisions between those out on strike and those continuing to work in different pits. But even in south Wales, which saw the most solid action in Britain, as the months mounted, a small minority of miners - branded "scabs" - did return to work, causing bitter rifts within families and communities that in some cases never healed. A couple of Welsh miners acting as "flying pickets" - protesters at mines other than where they worked or other sites such as power stations who tried to deter workers from crossing picket lines - were killed during the course of the strike. And in November 1984, a taxi driver ferrying a strike-breaker to work was killed when a concrete block dropped from an overpass crashed through his windscreen. How did it end? The miners of Mardy colliery in Maerdy, Rhondda, marched back to the pit a year after the strike began As the strike approached a year, the NUM recognised what had become the inevitable - that with nearly 50% of miners across Britain back in work, they were not going to win. Delegates voted to end the strike, and on 5 March 1985 the miners marched back to work, most famously at Mardy colliery in Rhondda, south Wales. In south Wales, only 6% of the workforce had broken the strike and it was the only area of the country to return to work fully under the instruction of the NUM. The outcome, however, was the same everywhere. Within nine months, nine pits closed in south Wales and in 18 months the workforce was cut in half. The last round of pit closures came in 1992, with only Tower Colliery in the Cynon Valley remaining open following a workers' buyout in 1994. It closed in 2008. However in 1996 Aberpergwm mine in Neath Port Talbot reopened under private ownership and is still operational, producing anthracite coal mostly used by the steel industry including Tata steelworks in Port Talbot. The former Lewis Merthyr colliery in Trehafod, Rhondda, is now a mining museum PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Most African-Americans never get to see the place of their ancestors. But a group of Portland-area high school students got the chance in 2023 and their experience was documented bya young Black filmmaker. It not only changed their perspectives on Black history, it changed their lives. Eight young men of high school and college age went to Ghana over the summer to experience the culture and traditions of the ancestors. The Black Stars Homecoming Expedition documentary takes us on the journey with them. Both the trip and the documentary are an initiative from Word Is Bond. The Black Stars Homecoming Expedition is a documentary through an initiative by Word Is Bond, February 2024 (Courtesy) The Portland-based non-profit is an incubator for young Black men to become the leaders of tomorrow by broadening their life and professional exposures. Ive always been very passionate about connecting African-American and African identities together, said Word Is Bond Executive Director Lakayana Drury. So when we started Word Is Bond back in 2017, it was always in the back of my mind that somehow, some way, going to Africa had to be part of the experience in our 3 year leadership program. The Black Stars Documentary by 21-year-old filmmaker Twixx Williams takes us on the trip with the young ambassadors, from the food and culture of Ghana to meeting with Ghanas education minister and students in the schools. There was also the sobering experience of a so-called slave castle on Ghanas Gold Coast where future slaves were held before being loaded onto ships for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. This felt very disgusting and dark, just to see that they went through that, and that was the worst part, and I never really learned about that, Williams said. You only are really informed about what happened when we get to America. You really dont know much about what we had to endure, what our ancestors had to endure. So just being able to be in the same place our ancestors were, it was a very bittersweet moment. Bitter because the horrors of slavery are still evident, sweet because the African experience gave these young men a connection to their history and heritage. It was definitely a life-changing experience, being able to see honestly, to see a group of people who look like me, I mean, everywhere you looked, said Ronald Thornton, one of the 8 ambassadors. The documentary premiered to a sold-out audience at Portlands historic Hollywood Theatre. The hope is to have many showings, to expand the horizons of all who see it. Word Is Bond Executive Director Lakayana Drury, February 2024 (KOIN) Were going to be showing it in detention facilities where there are incarcerated youth. Were going to be showing it at high schools, at middle schools and at universities across Oregon, and entering it in film festivals, Drury said, eventually releasing it on YouTube so that educators can use it in their classrooms. Its a piece that were going to be able to follow forever, Williams said. The story really keeps going. The Black Stars Homecoming Expedition will screen at a number of venues to raise money for the next Word Is Bond trip to Ghana with a new set of ambassadors. Word Is Bond hopes its program can serve as a model for uplifting young Black men around the country. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Tornadoes can form quickly, with little or no warning, says Stacy Friling. That's a key reason businesses need to have a written plan in place telling workers what to do in such situations, says Friling, a Johnson County-based risk control account executive for Travelers Insurance. Workplaces should also hold tornado drills at least once a year so employees can be prepared to execute their plan in the event of a severe weather emergency, she said. Employers are responsible for the safety and health of their workers and for providing them a safe and healthy workplace, said the website of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Topeka Police control traffic off 17th St. and Wanamaker Rd. after a storm knocked out power to areas of the city on May 4, 2020. Why is preparation crucial? With tornado season just around the corner, Friling talked last week with The Capital-Journal about steps businesses can take to be prepared. She said twisters are most common during the spring and early summer in "tornado alley," the plains states east of the Rocky Mountains. Kansas ranks second among U.S. states, behind Texas, in tornadoes recorded since 1950. The Sunflower State saw an average of 81 tornadoes per year over the past 30 years, the National Weather Service's Topeka office said on its website. Kansas last saw a tornado fatality in 2012, and Shawnee County in 1983. Shawnee County's last tornado came when a twister measuring at EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale touched down just east of Rossville on May 21, 2019. Damage was confined to trees and power lines. What do tornado plans need to include? Tornado plans businesses put in place need to identify where employees and visitors would go to take cover from a potential tornado, Friling said. The best places are such underground sites as basements or specially designed tornado shelters, she said. But if going underground isn't possible, businesses should find the safest above-ground place, such as an interior room with no doors or windows on the lowest level of the building, Friling said. She encouraged businesses to keep a disaster survival kit in that room containing tornado-specific safety supplies, such as a portable radio, extra batteries, flashlights and a whistle to be used to call for help if anyone gets trapped under debris. Employees should be directed to crouch and cover their head until the threat of a tornado has passed, Friling said. Businesses need to store important documents in a secure, fireproof and waterproof place, she said. Businesses should have a plan in place to keep in touch with family members or employees who aren't at work when a tornado strikes. "One option is to ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as a family contact or establish an employee call center," said the Travelers' website. "Make sure all family members and care providers (teachers, day care, etc.) have the emergency contact information, or employees know the process to contact the call center." These trees were damaged by a tornado that touched down May 19, 2019, just east of Rossville in Shawnee County. What's the difference between a watch and a warning? Business operators should also make sure their employees know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning, Friling said. A tornado watch means a tornado is possible. Tornado watches are issued when weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Shawnee County makes it a practice to sound outdoor sirens countywide when a tornado warning is issued for any part of the county. The weather service advises people to immediately take shelter during a tornado warning. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here's how businesses should prepare for tornadoes, expert says Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer for Donald Trump, has predicted that his old boss will have to "start liquidating" his assets. The comments came one day after the judge overseeing Trumps New York civil fraud trial ordered the former president to pay a $355 million penalty. "What else is he supposed to do at this point?" Cohen asked MSNBC host Ali Velshi on Saturday. "There is a now a judgment against him for over $500 million, not including the $88.6 million hes going to owe to E. Jean Carroll. Its an enormous amount of money that he does not have." The sum that Trump owes will increase to more than $400 million with interest, according to The New York Times. The newspaper reported Friday that the "penalty of nearly $355 million plus interest" had the potential to "wipe out his entire stockpile of cash." The report aligned with this weekend's forecast from Cohen, who was once known as Trump's "fixer." Only last month, a New York jury in a separate trial ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to longtime columnist E. Jean Carroll, who successfully sued him for defamation. "I dont care what anybody wants to write in any newspaper, regardless of what their credentials may be, unless [Trump's] going to show you that his bank account has more than a half a million, he doesnt have $400 million of cash on hand." "He doesnt have it," Cohen added. "Theyre going to have to start liquidating assets." Trump, for his part, has vowed to appeal the ruling, as well as predicted his success. You can watch the full interview below via YouTube: Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to give $500,000 worth of forfeited Russian funds to Ukraine as the embattled country tries to fend off the Kremlins invasion. The U.S. will transfer nearly half of a million dollars in confiscated Russian funds to Estonia, which will be then transferred to Ukraine, according to a Saturday DOJ press release. Estonia is receiving the funds first, since under current authorities, the facts of this case do not allow for a direct transfer to Ukraine. The funds were forfeited by the U.S. following the breakup of an illegal procurement network attempting to import into Russia a high-precision, U.S.-origin machine tool with uses in the defense and nuclear proliferation sectors. The transfer comes as legislation to give Ukraine and other U.S allies additional aid has been halted in Congress. The move presents the first time the U.S. gave funds to a foreign ally for the sole purpose of helping out Ukraine. The funds are intended to speed up the assessment of damage Ukraines distribution and electrical systems have taken. This is an incremental step toward justice and restoration, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said. But it is a necessary step. And it blazes a new trail towards combatting Russias ongoing brutality. The U.S. intercepted attempts to export a jig grinder, a tool that can develop weapons for nuclear proliferation activities and defense, according to Monaco. The transfer is the second time the DOJs KleptoCapture task force made Russian assets available to Kyiv after being confiscated. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Donald Trump appears at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia, where he revealed his new gold trainers - Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Donald Trump was booed during a surprise appearance to unveil a new line of $399 trainers on Saturday a day after he was fined $355 million for fraud. The crowd at the Sneaker Con in Philadelphia jeered the former president as he launched his Never Surrender high-tops, using the platform as another campaign stop between court and primary elections. Holding his golden trainers, Mr Trump said wow, theres a lot of emotion as he responded to the crowd, some of whom were also cheering. The trainers, with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold for $399 on a new website that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and Victory47 cologne and perfume for $99 a bottle. A standard style trainer is also offered in either T-Red or POTUS white, both with a golden 45, representing Mr Trumps time as the 45th president, on the side. Theses shoes sell for $199. The former US president holds his golden trainers which are being sold on a new website - Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP This is something that Ive been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. And I think its going to be a big success, he said. The trainers are one in a string of money-making ventures Mr Trump has embarked on since launching his third campaign for the White House in 2022. Last year he reported making between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards that portrayed him in a series of cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero. He has also released books featuring photos of his time in office and letters written to him through the years. Before running for office, Mr Trump sold everything from steaks to vodka to a venture he called Trump University. Mr Trump revealed his new trainer line just a day after a New York judge ruled he must pay $354.9 million in penalties for fraudulently overstating his net worth to dupe lenders. Judge Arthur Engoron also banned him from serving as a company director or taking out loans from banks in New York for three years. The judge said of Mr Trump and his co-defendants: Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. The fine came on the back of another, in which Mr Trump was ordered to pay an additional $83.3 million to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. With interest payments, Mr Trumps legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars an amount it is unclear he can afford to pay. Mr Trump hit back at Mr Engoron on Saturday, saying the decision was an election interference plot and accusing the judge of being part of a Left-wing conspiracy aimed at preventing him from becoming president again. A crooked New York state judge just ruled that I have to pay a fine of $355 million for having built a perfect company, the former president said from Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Its a witch hunt against his political opponent, the likes of which our country has never seen before. Mr Trump also faces four state and federal criminal trials, including one scheduled to start in New York on March 25, over alleged hush money payments to a porn star. Mr Trump will become the first former US president to stand trial on criminal charges. Attendees of the Sneaker Con event were younger and more diverse than Mr Trumps usual rally crowds, according to the Associated Press. The presidential hopefuls team is hoping he will be able to win over more young and minority voters in a likely rematch against Joe Biden in 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. Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Territories, is pictured during an interview with the German Press Agency at the 60th Munich Security Conference. Sven Hoppe/dpa Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has called on the Israeli authorities to allow the population crammed into the south of the Gaza Strip to return to their homes further north, speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. At the annual gathering of top political and defence officials in southern Germany to debate international security policy, the Palestinian leader issued a warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attempt to force Palestinians in Gaza across the border into Egypt. "I know, and we know, that it has been an Israeli programme to push people out of Gaza. We and the Egyptians have been working hard not to allow this to happen," he said. "Egypt is not going to allow anybody to cross the border," Shtayyeh said. There have been reports in the international press that Egypt is constructing a reception camp on its side of the border to accommodate Palestinian refugees. The war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas, which has been going on for months, has so far only marginally affected the conference. Individual speakers, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, touched on the topic during their speeches and once again spoke out in favour of a two-state solution. This envisages an independent Palestinian state existing peacefully side by side with Israel. Shtayyeh also said that the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, which is based in Ramallah in the West Bank, does not maintain contacts with Hamas, which has run the Gaza Strip since 2007. He noted that various Palestinian groups, including Fatah and Hamas, are to meet in Moscow on Thursday at Russia's invitation. The Palestinian Authority prime minister described the situation following the October 7 attacks as a catastrophe for everyone, but noted that the history of Palestinian suffering had begun in 1948. Shtayyeh said the Palestinian Authority government did not aim to kill civilians, and he called for the spiral of violence to be broken. The Palestinian issue had to be resolved, and now was the time to do this, he said. On the final day of the Munich Security Conference, speakers also focused on the war in Ukraine as well as the recent death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in prison. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili highlighted the timing of the announcement of the well-known dissident's death, saying she believed it was not a coincidence, but a message from Russia. "I think that it was no coincidence that the death of Navalny was announced a few hours or minutes before the start of the Munich conference," the 71-year-old told dpa in an interview on the sidelines of the conference. "That is the usual character trait of the Russian activity, to try to psychologically impress that Russia is doing whatever it wants, wherever it wants. And that was a message, I think, for the conference in Munich," she said. Navalny's team confirmed his death on Saturday, citing Navalny's mother Lyudmila Navalnaya. She had travelled to the prison camp in northern Russia and received the news of his death there, according to a post by Navalny's spokeswoman on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The death of the 47-year-old critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had been imprisoned since 2021, is said to have occurred on Friday at 2:17 pm (0917 GMT). The Russian prison service first announced Navalny's death shortly before the start of the Munich Security Conference on Friday. Besides Navalny's death, the conference has also been overshadowed by recent remarks made by former US president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who had made it clear during an election campaign appearance that he would not grant Washington's support to NATO allies with low defence spending in the event of a Russian attack. Another cause for concern for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the conference in person on Saturday, is a new US aid package for Kiev that is being stalled in US Congress. While Zelensky did his best to to convey to the US that further aid "is vital," meeting US Vice President Kamala Harris and even inviting Trump or any other lawmaker to the front lines, one of Trump's fiercest defenders in Congress on Sunday assured NATO allies they can count on the support of the US in the event of an attack - even if Trump wins a second term in November. "Obviously, we love our NATO allies and I think we value the NATO alliance, and that's true across the political spectrum," Republican Senator JD Vance said on the sidelines of the conference. But he said the message from Trump and his fellow right-wing Republicans was "that Europe has to be a little bit more self-sufficient" when it comes to their defence. He told journalists that if Europe truly believed Putin is "an existential threat" then economic powers like Germany "have to step up." There are more than 30 members of the US Congress attending this year's Munich Security Conference. After the meeting attended by some 50 world leaders had drawn to a close on Sunday, Munich police drew a positive balance, saying only four criminal charges had been filed in the vicinity of the event. On Saturday, several thousand people took to the streets of the southern German city to protest against the high-profile meeting. Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Territories, speaks during an interview with the German Press Agency at the 60th Munich Security Conference. Sven Hoppe/dpa Fragments of a Shahed-type drone were found in Moldova in a field two kilometers from the country's border with Ukraine, the Moldovan Border Police reported on Feb. 17. According to the border police, drone debris was found near the village of Etulia, a Moldovan border settlement some 15 kilometers northeast of the Ukrainian Danube port of Reni and almost 40 kilometers northwest of Izmail. Access to the area where the drone parts were located has been restricted, the police said. The discovery comes a week after Moldova found a warhead containing 50 kilograms of explosives near the crash site of a Russian Shahed drone. Chisinau suspected the drone was shot down by Ukrainian air defense during a Russian attack against Odesa Oblast overnight on Feb. 9-10. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said in a press conference on Feb. 14 that the radar systems Moldova received from France in December 2023 cannot detect Shahed drones. Previously, Russian drone strikes against Odesa Oblast led to drone debris being falling on Romanian soil in the autumn of 2023. In response, Bucharest implemented additional security measures in the border region, which included building shelters and air defense systems. Read also: Ukraine pins hopes on home-made drones to counter Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The EU's collective economic power is by far superior to Russia, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the Kyiv Independent on Feb. 17 in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, adding that European nations must invest more in defense and support for Ukraine. "It always takes time in a democracy to take those decisions," Rutte told a Kyiv Independent reporter, responding to a question whether there are regrets that allies did not provide key defense systems before Russia had a chance to dig in on the front line and mobilize its economy. As the full-scale Russian invasion nears its two-year mark, Ukraine finds itself in a precarious position. While the assistance from the U.S., a key military donor, remains blocked, Russia is increasing pressure on the front and ramping up its defense industry capacities. Rutte noted that Russia's economic potential should not be overestimated: "Russia's economy is not more than the Netherlands and Belgium combined. Nothing compared to Germany, nothing compared to France, nothing compared to the collective EU economy." Nevertheless, the allies must respond to recent developments in the war "and that means more spending on defense, more production of military capabilities," the prime minister added. While the relatively small Netherlands took a proactive role in supporting Ukraine, for example, by spearheading the fighter jet coalition, major players like Germany came under criticism for hesitancy in providing some crucial systems, namely long-range Taurus missiles. Rutte pointed out that Germany is providing massive aid to Ukraine, especially in comparison to other partners. This support also maintains the flow of air defenses and artillery shells to Ukraine, Rutte said, pointing out there is no controversy on supplying these two vital items. The prime minister also hinted that "things are moving" in regard to other military systems. Rutte further told the Kyiv Independent that the Netherlands is intensively discussing bilateral security guarantees with President Volodymyr Zelensky's team, voicing optimism that the "discussions should be closed fairly soon." Kyiv had already finalized similar deals, based on G7 commitments made last July, with Germany, France, and the U.K. Read also: Zelensky in Munich: If Ukraine left alone, Russia will destroy us Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The police sirens wailed. The marching bands danced. And more than 50 floats glowed in the Fort Myers night. The Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade finally arrived Saturday after two weeks of concerts, car shows and other events. And the crowd loved it. Members of the Fort Myers High School marching band take part in the 2024 Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. They cheered and clapped and grinned as more than 175 parade units passed by on Cleveland Avenue and through the streets of downtown Fort Myers: A giant lightbulb balloon wearing sunglasses. Fire engines with red lights flashing. And one colorful, illuminated float after another. Debbie Metcalf and her family watched the parade from their small tent on Llewellyn Drive off Edison Avenue. They got there at 1:30 p.m. Saturday a full 5 1/2 hours before show time just to get a good spot. Metcalf of Cape Coral said she looks forward to seeing the parade every year. Its one of the biggest night parades in the Southeastern United States and also the biggest and longest-running parade in Southwest Florida. Participants take part in the 2024 Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. "Weve been doing it since the kids were in high school, about 10-15 years," Metcalf said. "I love the community feel and how everybody comes together and just has a good time. And I become a nerd and I start waving and clapping (laughs)." Edison parade highlights: Mexican dancers, marching bands and more Thousands of people crowded the sidewalks to watch the annual parade travel from Fort Myers High School to downtown Fort Myers an 86-year-old tradition honoring former Fort Myers resident Thomas Edison. That's why all the floats and participants are illuminated every year with Christmas lights, glow sticks, TV screens, spotlights and more. It's all a nod to Edison's famous light bulb. The parade started at about 7 p.m. Saturday with police motorcycles and the kilt-wearing, bagpipe-playing members of Guns n Hoses Pipes n Drums band playing "God Bless America." Bystanders on Llewellyn Drive near Cleveland Avenue craned their necks to see the first units as they started rolling up the street. "Yay!" one kid shouted as he saw the blue lights of the police motorcycles appear. "Yay!" Emerson Carr, center, waves to the crowd during the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Fort Myers. From there, the sights kept coming down Cleveland Avenue and through the streets of downtown Fort Myers: Marching bands dancing and rocking out to songs like "Lowrider," antique military vehicles and police cars, lots of Lee County Sheriffs Office vehicles (including a bomb-disarming robot and several drones floating along the parade route), FPL line workers in hard hats and yellow vests, and a group of about 200 people walking or doing Mexican folk dances in feathered Aztec headdresses and other traditional Mexican costumes. The parade featured about 175 units in all 25 more than last year including 17 high-school marching bands and about 55 floats, parade co-chairman John Taylor said last week. Members of the Fort Myers Falcons dance team take part in the 2024 Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. This year's grand marshal, longtime parade chairman Mike Gill, waved from a pick-up truck near the start of the parade. And the crowd happily waved and cheered back, seeming to appreciate all his hard work keeping the parade going for more than four decades. "Mike Gill!" people shouted from the sidewalks. "Hey Mike!" Participants take part in the 2024 Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. Last week, the 74-year-old Gill said he was looking forward to a stress-free week and simply riding in the parade for once. "I'm just going to be riding and waving," he said. "And I'm not worried about timing and this, that and the other thing. I'm looking forward to it." The LCEC light bulb balloon comes down Cortez Boulevard at the start of the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Fort Myers. The Magic School Bus: One of many floats There was lots more to see in the parade, too: Various mayors, city managers and other leaders; the NBC2 news and weather team sporting matching, glowing umbrellas; skateboarders doing tricks and catching sparks on the pavement; and, of course, the many parade floats including a bright yellow Magic School Bus from Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School. Pottorf's teachers and students waved, smiled and danced to the "Cha Cha Slide" on a float painted to look like the bus from the popular kids book series "The Magic School Bus." Librarian Trish Haas stood at the front of the float dressed like the book's magical school teacher, Ms. Frizzle orange hair, red shoes, space-themed dress and all. Participants take part in the 2024 Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. This was her 13th year taking part in the parade, she said before the parade started. "I just love the excitement. I love that it keeps going year after year after year." Music teacher Libby O'Connor, along with a few other teachers, painted the bus-shaped float bright yellow with the slogan "A JOURNEY TO BRIGHTER FUTURES." O'Connor said she's loved the parade since she was a kid. "It really displays what's great about Fort Myers," she said. "I grew up here. I was born and raised here. And it's just a great experience to see the whole community come out." 86 years of the Edison Fest parade in Fort Myers The Grand Parade is the biggest event in Fort Myers' annual Edison Festival of Light, a two-week celebration that began in February 1938 as a way to honor Fort Myers' most famous winter resident, inventor Thomas Edison. The annual fest includes concerts, parades, car shows and more. But the biggest draw is always the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, which attracts thousands of spectators to downtown Fort Myers every year. Crowd estimates go as high as about 200,000. Tracy Thomas of Fort Myers has been coming to the parade for about 30 years. This year she brought her grandkids, too, and she hopes they love it as much as she does. "We've made a tradition out of it," she said. From left, Luke Ballard, Hayden Corey, Brighton Hawkins and Lucas and Caleb DeWard wait for start of the 2024 Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. They all sat on lawn chairs in the middle of Cleveland Avenue at about 5 p.m. Saturday, patiently waiting for the parade to start. The road was closed to traffic for the parade. "I like the bands and the floats," Thomas said. "And I just like to people watch." Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1). This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Edison Fest parade brings thousands to downtown Fort Myers Parents, educators and others gather for a rally outside Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in September over a proposed policy that could make more than 200 district campuses ineligible to share space with charter public schools, a practice commonly known as co-location. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Note to the Los Angeles Unified school board: Kids in local charter schools are your kids, too. They are, for the most part, students who would have been attending traditional L.A. public schools but whose parents chose to enroll them in one of the nearly 250 publicly funded but mostly privately managed schools. In an era of falling enrollment, the district is in a tough position when it loses students to charter schools. Each student brings in considerable state funding, which pays for instruction and a vast array of social and administrative services. So the districts concerns that fewer students will lead to budget cuts are understandable. But those concerns must come second to whats best for the public school students of L.A., whether they attend a charter or traditional district school. Read more: L.A. Times electoral endorsements for 2024 March primary On Tuesday, the school board narrowly voted to adopt a new policy restricting where charter schools can share campuses with traditional schools. The change goes too far toward protecting the districts interests while putting too low a priority on what works best for all students. The policy is too vague to know exactly what the ramifications are, but one estimate by an L.A. Unified staffer said some 350 of the districts 850 schools would be off-limits to charter schools. Surely thats unnecessary when only 50 campuses are shared with charter schools right now; most of the districts charter schools have their own, independent campuses. The new policy may well violate the state Education Code that says that public school facilities should be shared fairly among public school students and that charter schools are entitled to rent parts of district schools. Read more: Editorial: The thorny issue lurking behind the teachers strike: charter schools Of course, traditional schools should not have to squeeze themselves into a corner of campus to accommodate a charter school. But this policy isnt about protecting necessary space; its about squashing charter schools. Sharing of campuses would be discouraged at schools with special programs for Black students and those with low achievement levels. Only in the case of community schools, which do require more facilities because they provide an array of services to students and the neighborhood, does the rule seem to have any connection to the actual space needs of a school. But there are charter schools that also are community schools; will the district give them preference? And, if any further indication is needed that the intent is to shrink the influence of charter schools, the policy discourages allowing a charter on a campus if it could interrupt traditional feeder-school patterns. For example, if an elementary school shares its campus with a charter middle school, parents might be inclined to enroll their kids in the charter middle school to keep them on the same campus rather than having them attend the local district-run middle school. Read more: Op-Ed: It's a crucial charter-conventional school clash: Baldwin Hills Elementary wants its campus back Parents choose schools based on their perception of where their children will receive the best education, and for too long they had no choice but to accept whatever school the district gave them, which was often subpar. Theyll enroll their kids in the traditional middle school and high school if those offer a superior education, exciting programs and an inviting environment. Thats the appropriate way for the district to keep its feeder-school system humming. Its especially disturbing to hear board members Rocio Rivas and Scott Schmerelson implying that this is just the start of more policies to curb charter schools. Schmerelson won The Times' endorsement for a final term on the school board in part because he presented himself as a centrist who had supported various charter schools in the past. It is especially troubling to hear him say that he intends to continue this campaign against shared campuses. Charter schools arent the ultimate answer to low achievement, and theyre suffering their own enrollment setbacks. Highly regarded charter operator Kipp SoCal Public Schools is closing three of its 23 schools in the area because they are underenrolled. But many charter schools have given a significant boost to students, especially those most in need of help, and they give families more educational choices. There are shared campuses in L.A. Unified where traditional and charter schools get along well, exchange resources and learn from each other. Why doesnt the school district find out what makes them work and seek to emulate this at other campuses instead of setting schools against each other? Public school students should not be caught in the middle of this turf war. 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. Astute voters in the San Fernando Valley may notice that Carmenlina Minasova is on their March 5 primary ballot twice. The respiratory care practitioner is running for Los Angeles City Council against incumbent Imelda Padilla, and for an open seat in the California Assembly representing District 43. How is this legal? Because of a loophole in state law, one that Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) exposed last year when he fought the secretary of state for the right to run simultaneously for reelection and for the congressional seat recently vacated by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Read more: L.A. Times electoral endorsements for 2024 March primary Fong and Minasova aren't the only candidates double dipping this election season. Whittier City Councilmember Jessica Martinez is a candidate for Assembly District 56 in the March primary and also running for reelection to the City Council in the April 9 Whittier municipal election. And there could be more. In the San Joaquin Valley, several candidates for office including two running against Fong in the 20th Congressional District told a local news outlet that they are also considering running as write-ins for Fong's Assembly seat on the March 5 ballot. Even if candidates are running on different ballots, it's a problem when the terms they seek overlap. If a candidate were to win both contests, he or she would have to choose one to accept, forcing another election to fill the other seat. Read more: Editorial: Big decisions for L.A. and California voters on the March 5 primary ballot According to local election officials, double-dipping candidates aren't breaking any laws. Los Angeles, for example, bars people from running for more than one city position at the same time, but says nothing about running for city and state office at once, a spokesperson for the L.A. County registrar-recorder said. Secretary of State Shirley Weber, however, disagrees. In refusing to let Fong run for the congressional seat, she cited the state Elections Code, which says a person may not run for more than one office at the same election. Fong sued, and was backed by Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang, who said that language no longer applies since California changed the states primary system, eliminating party nominations in favor of the top-two system in which the two leading vote-getters regardless of party compete in the November runoff. Weber's office is appealing the ruling, in which Chang noted that it somewhat defies common sense to find the law permits a candidate to run for two offices during the same election. Read more: Voter guide to the 2024 California primary election It does defy common sense. Allowing people to run for multiple offices at once can confuse voters and undermine confidence in the electoral system. If a candidate wins in more than one race, the district would go without representation until a special election is held to fill the unoccupied seat. And special elections are expensive for taxpayers and tend to have very low voter turnout , which is not ideal for a healthy democracy. This isnt the first time someone has run for more than one seat at the same time, but its rare and generally used by fringe candidates who are unlikely to win any race. Its become an issue now because Fong stands a good chance of winning both elections. He is running unopposed for reelection to the Assembly and is considered a front-runner for the congressional seat. No matter what happens with Fong's race or lawsuit, state lawmakers should clarify the law so state and local candidates are explicitly prohibited from running for multiple offices at once. Two bills seek to fix this confusion for future elections. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz), a former county elections official, introduced Assembly Bill 1784 , which would prohibit a person from filing nomination papers for more than one office at the same election. Assembly Bill 1795 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) is similar, though it would allow a candidate to withdraw from one race to run for another office if the filing period for that office is extended because an incumbent doesnt run for reelection. This should be an easy one for legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Allowing candidates to game the system for their benefit is unfair to voters and bad for democracy. 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 gimmick of keyless car entry is the driving force behind a surge in vehicle thefts, with criminals targeting a host of manufacturers. Range Rovers have become notorious for being an easy target, and the reputation has hit owners pockets who now find it increasingly difficult to insure their 4x4s. The keyless car theft epidemic isnt just constrained to high-end vehicles, though. The Ford Fiesta holds the unwanted title of being the most stolen car, with almost 6,000 being taken last year, according to the DVLA. Telegraph Money delves into why keyless cars are an easy target, and the eight steps you can take to beef up security on your vehicle. How keyless cars are commonly stolen The most common type of theft in recent years has been through relays and repeaters, which thieves use to intercept the signal from a keyless fob and transmit it to another device which is used to open the car. Working in pairs, criminals will wander on to a driveway at night, with one getting as close to the house as possible, holding a box with an aerial. This box is a device listening for the faint signal emitted by a car key indoors, which could be in the pocket of a jacket or on a hook in the hallway. It picks up and then repeats this signal at full blast to the second thief, who is holding a related device next to the car, which can simply be unlocked. Within minutes, sometimes seconds, the thieves have some new wheels. Eight security measures to protect your keyless car Up against such high-tech thieves, it can be difficult to know what to do for the best but luckily there are several ways you can help keep your car safe. 1. Keep your key in a Faraday pouch or box Cocooning your keys in a metal-lined pocket, a Faraday pouch can be useful for any keyless car owner. They can be bought online for as little as 5, and are very effective at blocking the signal between the key and your car. You can also get stronger Faraday boxes, which tend to cost between 15 and 30. Beware that they do degrade over time, and should be replaced every couple of years. Over time you may begin to realise that the wing mirrors on your car are opening while it is locked, this is a sign that your pouch or box is weakening. Alternatively, an everyday metal container, such as a biscuit tin, will likely do the same job but purpose-made products are inexpensive and very effective. As an extra precaution, you could wrap the key in tin foil for an additional layer of signal-blocking protection. Its also advisable to keep your pouches and box as far away from your car as possible particularly, keep them away from the windows and doors of your house, making it harder for criminals to detect and amplify your key signal. Some drivers who cant park on their own property opt to park it a distance from their house. This, too, makes it harder to amplify the signal, and they also might not know which house contains the corresponding keys. 2. Secure a steering wheel lock Cumbersome yet very effective, the good old-fashioned steering wheel lock is increasing in popularity. Steffan George, managing director of the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA), said: Over the past three to four years, weve seen a significant increase in the number of people requesting mechanical devices like steering locks. A lot of the thieves are coming with electronic gubbins like laptops to hack into stealing your car, but not hand tools. So if they see a visible deterrent such as a steering wheel lock, they are going to move on. Its the classic and old-school way of securing your vehicle, but its the best. Theres hardly any faff for you as a driver. A good-quality steering lock will likely set you back around 120. Its also possible to get wheel clamps and pedal boxes that encase your cars accelerator, brake and clutch pedals, but they are less common methods of mechanical security. 3. Get a tracker fitted Fitting a tracking device wont prevent a vehicle from being stolen, but it will increase the chances of it being recovered and returned by the police. A tracker is a secondary security measure as its not going to stop thieves taking the car, its going to allow you to know where it is, Mr George said. But then most of the time, the car goes straight into a container and it cant be tracked from inside as it stops the signals. So while trackers can be good, you really want to have measures in place that stop thieves actually starting the engine. Some insurers will actually insist that you have a tracker fitted before they insure your vehicle. In some cases, they refuse to pay out for stolen cars that have been fitted with anti-theft hardware that is not activated. In one case, a customer was told that his stolen Range Rover Velar, which cost 65,000, was not eligible for a payout. Trackers can be bought for as little as 20, but a quality product will likely set you back around 50. 4. Disable keyless entry Most cars fitted with keyless entry will allow you to turn the system off. This may defeat the whole purpose of keyless entry, yet it can boost your security. How you do this will depend on the manufacturer and the model of the vehicle. Fobs provided by the likes of BMW and Mercedes come fitted with a motion sensor that deactivates the signal emitted from the key when it isnt in use. You get home, put the keys down somewhere, and if they are dormant for a period of time theyll stop emitting the signal, Mr George said. When you pick them back up the next day, they wake up and the signal is back. 5. Get your keys reprogrammed If you bought your car second-hand, you might not have been given all sets of keys that exist, which leaves your car vulnerable to a break in. Getting your keys reprogrammed either directly through the car manufacturer or with an auto locksmith can be a solid layer of defence, just like getting your locks on your front door changed at home. 6. Install a ghost immobiliser Most modern cars will come with a factory-fitted immobiliser, but after-market CAN-Bus immobilisers can be installed to bolster security. Ghost immobilisers are the most common in Britain, and they work by preventing your car starting unless certain buttons on your steering wheel/dashboard are pressed in a specific sequence, just like a passcode on your phone. Even if thieves break into the vehicle, and even if they have a key or key fob, they will not be able to start the car unless they also know the sequence of buttons. The sequence is completely customisable and is set by the owner of the car. Specialists can fit the immobiliser within roughly two hours for around 500. 7. Etch your windows Another secondary security measure is etching a cars windows with the logo of the International Security Register and a code unique to the vehicle. The code is recorded in a datafile used by the police, which can be useful if it gets targeted by thieves. Halfords says etched vehicles are 45pc less likely to be stolen and 50pc more likely to be recovered if stolen. Etching can cost around 20. Seeing an engraved window could be enough to deter a thief, as stolen cars identified in this way are harder to resell. 8. Park in your garage If youve got a garage, use it, Mr George said. Most people who have a garage dont actually use it for their car they put a load of rubbish in there but not the most expensive thing theyre likely buy. If you dont have a garage, installing CCTV, motion-activated lighting and gravel on the driveway can act as deterrents to criminals. Retractable bollards, which you can lift and lock once youve parked on your driveway, also ensure that a hotwired car cant be driven away without a fight. Recommended How cars went from the ticket to freedom to an unaffordable luxury Read more How bolstered security can reduce your insurance Paul Daly, director of InsureDaily, said improving your vehicles security can make insurers look more kindly upon your theft excess or even your renewal premium so dont keep them secret. The safer your car is, the less risk there is to them, he said. So make sure you inform your insurance company of any and all security features you have fitted. Ultimately, insurance companies are always driven by statistics. For this reason, many will not even insure Range Rovers. It takes time for vehicle manufacturers to change their reputation and regain trust in safety in the eyes of consumers and insurance companies alike. In response to the thefts, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has encouraged customers with cars made between 2018 and 2022 to go to their local garages to receive free security upgrades. Owners with older cars are also encouraged to come forward to see whether they can have extra measures fitted. JLR is also paying for a police crackdown on car thefts as part of a 15m rearguard action against gangs who are smuggling Range Rovers abroad. 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. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to the 37th African Union (AU) summit. Xi pointed out that the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and the Global South represented by China and Africa is booming, which has a profound impact on the course of world history. The AU brings African countries together to seek strength through unity, and promote integration as well as the building of free trade areas, Xi said. The AU's successful accession to the G20 has further enhanced Africa's representation and lifted its voice in global governance, and China extends heartfelt congratulations on that, he added. The Chinese president stressed that over the past year, China-Africa relations have grown deeper. As the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue was successfully held, the two sides decided to support each other in exploring their modernization paths and jointly create a favorable environment for realizing their development visions, Xi added. The new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is going to be held in 2024, Xi noted. He said that he stands ready to work with leaders of African countries, with a focus on the benefits of people from both sides, to draw up a new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation and promote the joint building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post with more information as it becomes available. WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A spokesperson with Snowbasin Resort said an elderly guest passed away after a personal medical emergency on Saturday. In a statement, Snowbasin said a 67-year-old guest experienced a personal medical emergency and passed away on Feb. 17. RELATED: Skier dead following backcountry accident at Snowbasin Ski patrol responded immediately to the scene to provide emergency medical aid and transport for the unresponsive guest, Snowbasin said in the statement. ABC4.com reached out to Snowbasin to learn more information about the incident. The Snowbasin team is heartbroken by this loss and offers their deepest condolences to the guests family and all involved, the ski resort said in its statement. There is no further information at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Cameron Elementary School in West Covina. A substitute teacher was removed from the classroom Friday pending an investigation. (Google Maps) A West Covina elementary school substitute teacher is under investigation after students alleged the educator viewed "inappropriate images" on his cellphone while on campus. The teacher, who was not identified, was immediately removed from the classroom Friday as the West Covina Unified School District conducts an investigation, the district said in a news release. School officials also alerted the West Covina Police Department and Los Angeles County Child Protective Services. In addition, Cameron Elementary School Principal Sylvia Fullerton sent an email to parents Friday night notifying them about what happened. "We are in full cooperation with law enforcement and child welfare authorities and are committed to implementing the necessary actions based on the outcomes of the investigation which remains ongoing," according to the district's news release. The West Covina Police Department could not immediately confirm what action was taken against the teacher. KTLA-TV Channel 5 reported the teacher was not arrested because of a lack of evidence. Outraged at the alleged incident, some parents are planning to protest outside the elementary school Tuesday morning. Parents can contact the district to request counseling services for any student who needs additional support. 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. Three days earlier, it had been sunny. An uncommonly warm February day seemingly foretold an equally warm celebration for the hometown team. Chiefs Kingdom came out en masse to celebrate their Super Bowl win together a victory for the city. Three days earlier, chilling gusts of wind didnt pierce the skin, as they would just a few days later. But on Saturday, Samuel Kim shivered as he spoke in below-freezing temperatures. A couple pieces of red and yellow confetti were stuck to the frosted grass. This city is a people and when one of us suffers, I know it hurts everybody, said Kim, a University of Missouri - Kansas City student representing Students Demand Action. Three days after a mass shooting at the Chiefs rally took one life and injured at least 39 others, 23 with gunshot wounds, advocacy groups took to Washington Square Park to mourn and rally for gun violence prevention. Missouri State Representative Emily Webber speaks to the crowd at the Kansas City Rally to End Gun Violence on Saturday at Washington Square Park. It shouldnt be that way A block away from a memorial that reads KC Strong, KC United in Union Station, advocacy group Moms Demand Action organized the rally with lawmakers, group volunteers and Mayor Quinton Lucas, who all spoke on gun violence prevention. Some, including Lucas, shared personal stories of when the Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally ended in screams and chaos. He urged lawmakers to take action following the deadly shooting. We never thought about the fact that by the end of the afternoon, wed be running, and running for our lives, Lucas said. My friends, it doesnt have to be this way. Lucas talked about the days after the shooting, when he visited the family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother and popular disc jockey who died on the grounds of Union Station after she was shot. He visited a high school the next day, he said, observing all the ways schools prepare for shootings. As I talked to those students, they didnt shrug. They were concerned, they were heartbroken, some of them were here, but they said, This is just the way of life, Lucas said. It shouldnt be that way. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (left) and Moms Demand Action Missouri leader Bety Godfroy embrace during the Kansas City Rally to End Gun Violence on Saturday at Washington Square Park. As the group listened to Lucas and other lawmakers, they held picket signs that read, Inaction costs lives and Protect kids not guns, among other phrases. Donning stocking hats and winter coats, people chanted enough is enough, and asked what could have been done to prevent the bloodshed. Advocating for change The group advocated for laws that would enforce universal background checks, require people to report when their gun is stolen, mandate safe storage laws, and require permits to conceal carry in Missouri. One champion of this platform was Missouri 14th District Rep. Ashley Aune. I believe that we can protect the second amendment and we can keep our families safe, Aune said. We have the freedom to be in our communities without the fear of gun violence or we should but we dont right now. Aune discussed Republican lawmakers move to quickly quash gun reform talk in the wake of the mass shooting, and vowed to talk with voters about the nuances of the issue. Soon after the shooting, it was discovered that at least nine children sustained gunshot wounds and were admitted to Childrens Mercy Hospital for treatment. Even as the last of those children had recovered enough to be discharged by Saturday, a large focus of the rally was on children. Jackson County legislator Manny Abarca brought his daughter to the rally, who was celebrating her birthday. She was too shy to take the microphone, though Abarca gave her the opportunity. First District Legislator of Jackson County Manuel Abarca IV speaks during the Kansas City Rally to End Gun Violence on Saturday at Washington Square Park. Abarca shared his experience during the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Rally. The group sang Happy Birthday to her as she kneeled on the ground by her dad. Like Aune, Abarca said he supports stronger gun laws in Missouri, appealing to a personal story from the day of the shooting. When the gunshots broke out, he ran for cover amid the chaos. His daughter was with him. When they got to a safe area, his daughter asked him a question. Daddy, this is a drill, right? she asked. All he could think to say in spite of the tumult and terror surrounding them was, Yes, sweetheart, its a drill. But now, days later, he and others saddened after this victory turned to violence hope Saturdays weather foreshadows something new that the winds of change are coming. People hold signs to show support during the Kansas City Rally to End Gun Violence on Saturday at Washington Square Park. Advocacy groups are pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen regulations over the fertilizer production industry with a new lawsuit that seeks action from the federal agency. A group of 11 environmental advocacy groups notified the EPA they intend to file a lawsuit against the agency that seeks a response to a rulemaking petition for stronger regulation of hazardous waste created by phosphate mining companies in the process of producing fertilizer. The issue stems back to February 2021, when 17 organizations filed the rulemaking petition asking the EPA to regulate phosphogypsum and wastewater created in the process of making fertilizer under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The waste is exempt from hazardous waste regulations because of a 1991 decision that exempted phosphoric acid production waste from federal hazardous waste regulations. From the archive: Environmentalists concerned about proposed phosphate mine in DeSoto County Update: Plans for Mosaic mine in DeSoto County delayed by at least 2 years Just weeks after the petition was filed, an emergency ensued at the former Piney Point fertilizer plant in Manatee County that forced state officials to authorize the emergency discharge of about 215 million gallons of wastewater from the facility into Tampa Bay. Three years later, the EPA has not responded to the environmental organizations. "This action is simply asking for a response to that petition," said Ragan Whitlock, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. "The EPA has been sitting on its hands for the last three years and has failed to respond to us. My guess is because this is a tricky ask, and it's going to be able to justify a 'no' if they are wanting to issue one." "They either need to state on the record that yes we agree we made a mistake, or to justify on the record why it's going to continue to cater to the phosphate industry," he said. Whitlock said the Piney Point incident is not alone. There was another breach at Piney Point in 2011, also forcing the disposal of 170 million gallons of wastewater into Gulf waters during that incident. About 215 million gallons of wastewater also got drained down a massive sinkhole in 2016 at a facility owned by The Mosaic Company in Mulberry. "It's something we have all seen firsthand," he said. "The Piney Point disaster was monstrous. It affected tourism. It affected endangered species. It was one of the worst instances of environmental contamination that I've ever seen, and the EPA did nothing in the wake of that disaster." Manatsota-88 Chairman Glen Compton said the lack of oversight has opened the door to alternative low-cost proposals for ways to dispose of fertilizer industry waste, such as use in road beds, agriculture, and as landfill cover. "The phosphate companies have for decades tried to come up with an alternative way to dispose of their waste product instead of putting it into a gypsum stack," Compton said. "What we're seeing are proposals to not contain a waste product, but spread it around so there is less oversight and less regulation." "We are simply asking the EPA to do their job, which is to protect the public's health and the environment from hazardous toxic waste material," Glenn Compton said. "They have been derelict in doing so for decades." The lawsuit was filed by organizations located across the nation, but Whitlock said Southwest Florida receives a disproportionate amount of impact because of the presence of fertilizer industry giant the Mosaic Company. "We have more than a billion tons of phosphogypsum stored in stack systems across Florida alone, with more than 30 million tons created in our state every single year. The Bone Valley of central and southwest Florida contains a lot of phosphate ore underground, and it is clearly the intention of Mosaic and others is to continue mining it." "Mosaic is a Fortune 500 company who reported a net revenue of $3.6 billion in 2022," he said. "It's our position that the company can stand to take a financial haircut in order to be better stewards of our environment." This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Environmental groups to sue EPA: Seek fertilizer mining oversight EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell has said that the Russian-Ukrainian war "would have been different" if the European Union had not wavered in its support for Ukraine. Source: Borrell at the Munich Security Conference, European Pravda reports, citing Ukrinform news agency Quote: "Supplying Leopard [tanks]? No, this could lead to an escalation. We will supply Leopard later. Delivery of Patriot [air defence systems]? No, this is a path to escalation. Later we delivered Patriots. If we had been less hesitant in our decisions, this war would probably have been different." Details: He added that the total amount of EU assistance to Ukraine, including economic, humanitarian and military, is already equal to 90 billion euros. "We can be criticised, but we should not forget what the EU has already done for Ukraine. We have provided direct military assistance worth 28 billion euros, for the first time in history, we have provided such assistance to a country at war... Remember, two years ago at this conference, we were talking about the supply of helmets. Today we are talking about the supply of combat aircraft," Borrell said. The EU diplomat added that the European Defence Agency has so far concluded 60 framework agreements with member states to order ammunition from their industries. So, Borrell stressed, there is no need to reinvent the wheel, and if someone wants to buy more ammunition for Ukraine, they can use one of these agreements. "If the member states really want to buy more ammunition for Ukraine, they have a way to do it: through cooperation, through the use of a joint order. Everyone is talking about it, but it already exists. The industry side says: we have the capabilities, but what we lack is orders," Borrell concluded. Background: Earlier, Czech President Petr Pavel said that his country had found a creative way to get shells for Ukraine, but it needed funding to do so. Earlier in Munich, Denmark called on other European countries not to hide behind production problems in supplying weapons to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Europe will have to double the current level and pace of arms assistance to fully replace US military aid to Ukraine in 2024. Source: The Ukraine Support Tracker by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IFW) Details: Europe's total aid has long since overtaken that of the United States, not only by commitments but also in terms of specific allocations to Ukraine. In addition, the approval of the EU's Support Programme for Ukraine guarantees further financial assistance. However, the gap between EU commitments and disbursements remains extensive (144 billion vs. 77 billion, respectively). The latest update indicates that US aid and supply commitments to Ukraine have effectively come to a halt, given that no new support package has passed the US Congress. European aid, on the other hand, continues to grow. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy analysis reveals that Estonia, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania and Latvia are the leaders in providing aid to Ukraine in relation to their GDP. As of 15 January, Estonia's total long-term and short-term commitments to assist Ukraine amounted to 3.5% of the country's GDP. Denmark ranks second with 2.41%. This is followed by Norway (1.72%), Lithuania (1.54%), Latvia (1.15%), Finland (0.71%), Poland (0.69%), and the Netherlands (0.67%). Germany's total aid and commitments to support Ukraine amount to 0.57% of its GDP, the United Kingdom's 0.55%, the United States' 0.32%, and France's 0.07%. Such neutral nations as Switzerland and Austria have allocated 0.33% and 0.18% to support Ukraine, respectively. Considering the financial, humanitarian and military assistance provided and promised to Ukraine in billions of euros, the European Union ranks first, having allocated a total of 84.99 billion (77.18 billion in financial assistance, 2.21 billion in humanitarian aid, and 5.6 billion in military aid). The second largest donor to Ukraine is the United States, which has a total of 67.71 billion in aid (24.03 billion in financial assistance, 1.45 billion in humanitarian aid, and 42.22 billion in military aid). Germany ranks third with 22.06 billion in aid and pledges as of 15 January this year (1.41 billion in financial assistance, 2.95 billion in humanitarian aid, and 17.70 billion in military aid). For reference: The Ukraine Support Tracker lists and quantifies the military, financial and humanitarian assistance that countries have pledged to Ukraine between 24 January 2022 and 15 January 2024. The tracker covers 41 nations, including EU member states and other G7 members, and countries such as Australia, South Korea, Turkiye, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, China, Taiwan, India, and Iceland. The database aims to support an evidence-based debate on support for Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! The man himself might be absent behind the microphone, but Steve Wrights presence still echoes down the airwaves. As the broadcasting community continued to reel from the trailblazing DJs death six days prior, Sundays programming was raw with emotional tributes from Radio 2 presenters and listeners alike. A tribute episode of Sunday Love Songs the Radio 2 show that became the 69-year-olds weekly calling card was presented by Liza Tarbuck and moved many listeners to tears. Tarbuck was once part of Wrights on-air posse and hails him as a broadcasting mentor. She proved the perfect choice for the special edition subtitled Remembering Steve, judging the tone just perfectly. Her voice cracking, Tarbuck opened by saying: This is Steve Wrights Sunday Love Songs, but without the chief, without our genius friend. I make no apologies if I get upset over the next two hours and I dont think you should either. Between songs, she shared tributes from loyal listeners, many of whom had their dedications read out over the years. Wright was an incredibly private man yet had a gift for getting people to open up about their love. He set up a fair few romances, too. One fan wrote: We listened to Steve while getting ready for our wedding and amazingly got a beautiful mention which my parents had sneakily sent in. Our videographers added this soundbite to the special memories reel theyd made, so Steve is always going to be part of the best day of our lives. He created magic with his show. Tarbuck became audibly emotional while reading another poignant message: On Sunday mornings, my husband also called Steve would dance in the kitchen while our two daughters cringed with embarrassment. When we were dancing last week, we never imagined it would be our last dance with the amazing Steve Wright. He was part of our family. It was all testament to the personal power of radio. Wrights passion for the medium shone through and the love he got back from his listeners was palpable. Tarbuck had a tough assignment but did her pal proud, striking a balance which was tender but never mawkish. It led to calls on social media for her to be made his permanent replacement. Liza Tarbuck doing an amazing job on Sunday Love Songs. The love for Steve from listeners is palpable. The loss of this great broadcaster is so huge and raw. Les Dennis (@LesDennis) February 18, 2024 The lunchtime programme Elaine Paige on Sunday continued the elegiac mood. Among her usual greasepaint-scented show tunes, the theatrical dame fondly described Wright as irreplaceable, admitting: News of his passing hit me like a ton of bricks. She said how kind and supportive he was, giving her tips as a relative radio novice. Steve used to say to me: Youre not in a theatre now, Elaine. You dont have to throw your voice to the back of the stalls. She concluded: He will be dearly missed by all of us and all of you. On Sunday afternoon, Johnnie Walker saluted one of the greatest jocks of all time and added: God bless, Steve. Have a great time up there with all those other radio legends. Youll probably be making some fabulous programmes together. Walker then played Charlie Dores Pilot of the Airwaves in dedication. It followed yesterdays news that Wrights son Thomas flew 5,000 miles from Los Angeles to care for his father in the days before his death. It meant the world to me that I was able to get to know my dad in a way I never had, he said. I will cherish every moment we shared. God rest your soul, Dad. Former nightclub promoter Tom, 38 whose middle name is Steven, after his famous father revealed that he had suddenly lost his mother, the DJs American ex-wife Cyndi, in 2020. Neighbours said Wright had become more withdrawn since the pandemic. Locals near his central London flat, a mere 10-minute walk from BBC Broadcasting House, said: He shut down and stopped going out. He was a different person, even before his radio show ended. All week, its been evident from the on-air reactions of his colleagues just how loved and respected Wright was, both as a broadcaster and as a man. Should BBC bigwigs have been more appreciative while he was still alive? Almost certainly. On BBC radio for 44 years, Wright mastered the craft and became part of the nations pop-cultural fabric. He was set to receive his MBE for services to radio in the coming weeks. Steve Wright with Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper and Paul Gambechinni after Wright won the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 - Chris Jackson There was outcry when Steve Wright in the Afternoon was axed in 2022. He was replaced by Scott Mills in a bid to attract a younger audience, but a million listeners instead tuned out a mistake the Corporation duly repeated with Ken Bruce. Celebrity publicist Gary Farrow, Wrights friend of 40 years, said the DJ was devastated to lose his slot after more than two decades. Others claimed Wright died of a broken heart. He was certainly highly valued by fellow professionals. Drivetime presenter Sara Cox fought back tears on Tuesday as she broke news to listeners of Wrights sudden death, confessing she was devastated and shattered. The following morning, Nicki Chapman standing in for Zoe Ball on the breakfast show shed tears as she read out tributes. Everyone seems to have such fond memories of our Wrighty, because thats how we viewed and listened to him, said Chapman. He was ours. He was our mate, talking to us in our homes, vehicles and offices, always in our hearts. Vernon Kays voice wavered and his eyes glistened at Maida Vale Studios when he introduced the BBC Concert Orchestras performance of The Steve Wright Theme. On Saturday, Gary Davies a contemporary of Wrights at Radio 1 during its 1980s pomp stood in for his friend on the first Pick of the Pops episode since his death. Davies choked up as he dedicated the show to a broadcasting giant and true radio pioneer. Its a measure of Wrights influence that the heartfelt tributes havent just come from fellow veterans. Theyve also come from the new generation. Greg James and Rylan Clark hailed him as an inspiration and guru. As his listener messages always began: Love the show, Steve. And keep on jockin, no G. 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. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has once again threatened the West with an all-out nuclear war if Russia is pushed back to its 1991 borders. In a Telegram post on Sunday, the current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council reiterated his well-known position that "nuclear powers never lose a war" as long as they defend their homeland. In a short thought experiment, he discussed the case of Ukraine's success in this war. In his opinion, the return of Ukraine to its old borders would contradict the Russian constitution, especially as the conquered territories in eastern Ukraine and Crimea had already been annexed as integral parts of Russia. "And now to the main question: Do these idiots [in the West] really believe that the Russian people would accept such a disintegration of their country?" wrote Medvedev. On the contrary, the Russian armed forces would deploy their entire arsenal and attack Washington, Berlin or London in addition to Kiev. He said that these and other "beautiful historical places were entered long ago as targets of [Russia's] nuclear triad," referring to the configuration of land-based intercontinental missiles, submarine-launched missiles and strategic bombers with nuclear bombs. Explosions rocked Poltava Oblast on the night of 17-18 February. Source: Suspilne, citing its correspondents; Ukraines Air Force Details: Ukraines Air Force said that attack drones were approaching Poltava from the northwest. Background: Air-raid warnings were issued in Poltava Oblast on the night of 17-18 February due to the threat of a Russian drone attack. Support UP or become our patron! New York City Mayor Eric Adams has done a U-turn on plans to convert an abandoned luxury apartment complex into a shelter for illegal migrants after the community in Harlem opposed the proposal. Adams turned up unannounced at a community meeting in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood Thursday where locals were gathering to discuss rumors the building on the corner of 130th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. was quietly being prepared for immigrants, according to CBS News. The building was first advertised as luxury housing with a swimming pool, but it has been empty for around a decade after its developers defaulted on loans, the outlet reports. It was built in 2007 and has 35 units, city records show. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reversed plans to convert an abandoned luxury apartment complex into a shelter for illegal migrants after the community in Harlem opposed the proposal. NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS BEGS STATE TO COVER 50% OF CITY'S MIGRANT CRISIS COSTS It was then leased to a nonprofit that had been working with the city Department of Social Services/Homeless Services to use it as a shelter for either migrants or the citys native homeless population, the New York Post reports. Residents saw boxes of bunk beds being loaded into the building. So, when they werent getting answers, they convened a meeting. They said they were angry over the lack of communication and about being kept in the dark. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "No, I don't agree with it turning into a sanctuary for asylum seekers knowing we have people right here that need the space," said Tiffany Fulton, executive director of Silent Voices United Inc., a local nonprofit that helps underserved communities. Central Harlem, where about 44 % of residents are Black, is generally a low-income neighborhood with a 28.4% poverty rate compared to 18.0% citywide, according to the 2020 census. Asylum seekers line up in front of the historic Roosevelt Hotel, which was converted into a city-run shelter for newly arrived migrant families in New York City Sept. 27, 2023. A sign at the meeting said, "Millions on migrants, what about youth programs?" Adams has said the illegal migrant crisis could cost the city as much as $12 billion through 2025. At least 170,000 illegal migrants have arrived in New York since the spring of 2022. As the meeting took place, Adams turned up and answered questions from residents. "You are the mayor. We do not want to hear excuses," one Harlem resident said. ERIC ADAMS WARNS NYC IS 'OUT OF ROOM' AMID SANCTUARY STRUGGLE: PEOPLE WILL SOON BE 'SLEEPING ON THE STREETS' But the mayor said that illegal migrants wouldnt be placed inside the building and that it instead would house local homeless New Yorkers. "I told the team, 'Find out what's going on here,'" Adams said. "We're not moving folks into a brand new building when you have long-term needs in a community. That's not going to happen. "You will not have migrants and asylum seekers in that property." Single migrant men, mostly from West Africa, congregate in Tompkins Square Park as volunteers give away food and clothing Jan. 27, 2024, in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The mayors office did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment on the matter. Harlem resident Regina Smith told CBS the neighborhood felt disrespected and that there are already too many homeless shelters in the community. "We're being priced out of the community," she said. Meanwhile, resident Leslie Johnson said the units should be used instead for affordable housing. "These apartments could be used for us to go into," Johnson told CBS. Original article source: Facing community pushback, NYC mayor reverses plan to house migrants in luxury building Flash At least 40 Palestinians were killed and many others injured on Saturday in Israeli airstrikes that targeted residential homes in the central Gaza Strip. Palestinian medical sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes launched a series of violent raids on several homes in the areas of Nuseirat, Al-Zawaida, and Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, killing dozens of people and wounding many others. The sources added that civil defense crews were able to recover 40 bodies, while dozens remained under the rubble, noting that the dead and wounded were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir el-Balah. Claim: U.S. President Joe Biden was a full professor at the University of Pennsylvania for four years. Rating: Rating: Mixture What's True: From 2017 to 2021, then-former Vice President Joe Biden was the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. During his time there, he collected more than $900,000. However What's False: this role was honorary. He gave lectures and talks to students on campus, but did not teach a full semesters course load during that time. In mid-to-late 2023, a number of posts on X and TikTok circulated showing U.S. President Joe Biden saying he taught "political theory" at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) for four years. The posts argued that Biden was lying, and that he "never taught a single class at UPenn." Questions about Biden's role at UPenn have circulated for years. In mid-April 2022, for instance, his critics latched on to a speech in which he claimed to have been a "full professor" for four years at the university. Biden: "For four years, I was a full professor at the University of Pennsylvania." FACT: Biden was paid $1 million, but never taught a single class. pic.twitter.com/tEUutgQjes RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 14, 2022 Biden once held an honorary professor position at UPenn, from 2017-2021, after being vice president in Barack Obama's administration. However, he did not teach a semester's worth of courses; he primarily gave talks and lectures to students, and he led the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington, D.C. As such we rate this claim a "Mixture." After his time as vice president, Biden became the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor, the first to hold such a job. Over the first few years of holding this position, Biden earned more than $900,000 from the university for speaking at various events. According to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer, he "collected $371,159 in 2017 plus $540,484 in 2018 and early 2019 for a vaguely defined role that involved no regular classes and around a dozen public appearances on campus, mostly in big, ticketed events." Biden's professorship did involve him delivering numerous talks and lectures. In 2017, soon after the position was announced, his spokesperson Kate Bedingfield told UPenn's newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian that he would not be teaching traditional classes. Alongside his professorship title, he officially held joint appointments in the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Arts and Sciences, with a secondary affiliation in the Wharton School. A February 2019 list compiled by the Daily Pennsylvanian detailed the more public-facing talks and lectures Biden did over roughly two years. During this time, he did deliver one lecture to Wharton Business School graduate students in a highly selective course run by the Lauder Institute that offers a joint International Studies degree with an MBA. This list did not include the work he may have done behind the scenes. In April 2019, when Biden became the candidate for the U.S. presidency, the university released the following statement: Joe Biden officially announced that he will be running for President of the United States. A number of people on campus have asked in recent days how this would impact his role at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. Now that he is officially a candidate, Vice President Biden, who serves as the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor, will be taking an unpaid leave of absence from his work at the Penn Biden Center. It should be noted that Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate, also held the title of presidential professor of practice at the university from 2018 to 2020, and participated in talks, lectures, and even made appearances with Biden. His compensation was private, according to the Inquirer. According to UPenn, Biden no longer holds the title. His time in the role lasted from 2017 to 2021. This was also not his first professor role. In 1991, Joe Biden became an adjunct professor at Widener University Delaware Law School and taught occasional courses on constitutional law for approximately 20 years. Given that Biden was an honorary professor for around four years, earning close to $1 million, but did not teach an actual full course during that time, we rate this claim as a "Mixture." Sources: A Message to the Penn Community Regarding Vice President Joe Biden. https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/a-message-to-the-penn-community-regarding-vice-president-joe-biden. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Coudriet, Rebecca Tan, Carter. Joe Biden Came to Penn for the Fourth Time in 2018. Here's His Role on Campus, Explained. The Daily Pennsylvanian. https://www.thedp.com/article/2017/12/joe-biden-year-in-review-upenn-philadelphia-faculty-politics. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Did Biden Teach Constitutional Law for 21 Years? Snopes.Com, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/biden-constitutional-law-teach/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Jeb Bush | The Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy. https://amc.sas.upenn.edu/about/professors-practice/jeb-bush. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Joe Biden | The Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy. https://amc.sas.upenn.edu/people/senior-fellow-joe-biden. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Kumar, Hari. No One Is Really Sure What Joe Biden Will Be Doing at Penn. The Daily Pennsylvanian. https://www.thedp.com/article/2017/02/what-is-biden-doing-at-penn. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Sousa, Tori. Biden's Claim of Being a "teacher" at Penn Drew Scrutiny. Here's What His Role Really Was. The Daily Pennsylvanian. https://www.thedp.com/article/2020/04/biden-penn-president-trump-wharton. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Tamari, Jonathan. "Penn Has Paid Joe Biden More than $900K since He Left the White House. What Did He Do to Earn the Money?" Philadelphia Inquirer, https://www.inquirer.com/news/joe-biden-penn-salary-lectures-20190712.html. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Vargas, Chase Sutton, Biruk Tibebe, Sophia Dai, Eliud. Photo Essay | A Look Back at Joe Biden's Visits to Penn since Becoming a Professor. The Daily Pennsylvanian. https://www.thedp.com/article/2019/02/joe-biden-upenn-philadelphia-2020-gutmann-photo-essay. Accessed 15 Apr. 2022. Claim: Pope Francis said or wrote a passage beginning with, "Eat whatever you want for Easter, the sacrifice is not in the stomach, but in the heart." Rating: Rating: Misattributed On Feb. 14, 2024, millions of Catholics around the world received a traditional ash cross on their foreheads to mark the beginning of Lent the 40-day period before Easter that, according to Catholic doctrine, represents Jesus Christ's trek through the desert, when he fasted and resisted the temptation of Satan. Holding with long-standing tradition, Pope Francis released a message commemorating the beginning of Lent. That statement is publicly available on the Vatican's official website. But on social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn, a different message, supposedly from the pope himself, spread to mark the religious observance: "Eat whatever you want for Easter, the sacrifice is not in the stomach, but in the heart. They refrain from eating meat, but don't talk to their siblings or relatives, don't visit their parents or bother them to attend to them. Don't share food with the needy, forbid children to see their father, forbid grandparents to see their grandchildren, criticize other people's lives, beat their wife, etc., A good barbeque or beef stew won't make you a bad person, just like a fish fillet won't turn you a saint. Better seek to have a deeper relationship with God through better treatment of others let's be less arrogant and more humble at heart." - Pope Francis Based on our research, this was not a real message from the pope. The first clue of the quote's illegitimacy: The text says "for Easter" people can supposedly "eat whatever [they] want." While Easter and Lent are certainly related, only the latter is associated with fasting. As part of Lent, Catholics refrain from certain activities or indulgences to symbolically replicate Jesus' supposed resistance against temptations. Such "sacrifices" vary from person to person and often involve food. An incredibly common practice is to refrain from eating meat on Fridays (this is actually why McDonalds' Filet-O-Fish exists). That said, some Catholics choose to give up other things instead of (or in addition to) meat on Fridays. In the Catholic calendar, an observance known as Holy Thursday, which is three days before Easter, marks the end of the fast. When we searched for the text, no credible source of the quote appeared. Because the Vatican releases transcripts of the Pope's writings and speeches online, we next looked through those materials. We did not find the passage there. Because there's no evidence of him writing, or saying, the passage in an official Vatican source or reliable news outlet, we rated this claim as "Miscaptioned." It's unknown who, or what, authored the passage with a rather innocuous message about doing good in the world. We've fact-checked many claims about things the pope has supposedly said or done, like comments about gay and transgender individuals or a misattributed message that spread on social media about what's important in life. Sources: Grinberg, Emanuella. "Mardi Gras: The Most Fun You'll Have with a History Lesson." CNN, 5 Mar. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/05/travel/mardi-gras-fat-tuesday-history/index.html. "Here Are 32 Ideas for What to Give up for Lent (And When to Start)." Country Living, 17 Feb. 2023, https://www.countryliving.com/life/g26473567/give-up-for-lent/. "Https://Twitter.Com/JimSichko/Status/1757761878153900292." X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/JimSichko/status/1757761878153900292. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. Kandra, Deacon Greg. "The Pope Said WHAT?!" Deacon Greg Kandra, 13 Feb. 2024, https://thedeaconsbench.com/the-pope-said-what/. Log in or Sign up to View. https://www.facebook.com/login/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. Magazine, Smithsonian, and K. Annabelle Smith. "The Fishy History of the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Sandwich." Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-fishy-history-of-the-mcdonalds-filet-o-fish-sandwich-2912/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/02/01/240201c.html. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. Pasion, Lorenz. "FACT CHECK: Pope Francis Quote on Eating 'whatever You Want' during Lent Is Fake." RAPPLER, 15 Feb. 2024, https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/pope-francis-quote-eat-whatever-you-want-during-lent-fake/. Pope at Ash Wednesday Mass: Jesus Calls Us to Return to Our Heart This Lent - Vatican News. 14 Feb. 2024, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-02/pope-at-beginning-of-lent-jesus-calls-us-to-return-to-our-heart.html. "Pope Urges Catholics to Swap Social Media for Reflection as Lent Begins." Reuters, 14 Feb. 2024. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/pope-urges-catholics-swap-social-media-reflection-lent-begins-2024-02-14/. Steve Hendricks on LinkedIn: "Eat Whatever You Want for LENT. Sacrifice Is Not in the Stomach, But. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/steve-hendricks-88622619_eat-whatever-you-want-for-lent-sacrifice-activity-7162699964471558145-54qd. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. "What Is Ash Wednesday? Here's What to Know about the Holy Day Marking the Beginning of Lent." USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/02/13/what-is-ash-wednesday/72573370007/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has urged American lawmakers to approve the additional aid for Ukraine that is currently stalled in Congress, warning that failure to support Kyiv could damage Americas economic interests. Source: European Pravda with reference to Bloomberg Details: Pistorius stated that if the Kremlins aggression is not stopped, it could not only hinder cooperation in the security sector and harm US defence contractors, but also weaken Europe as a whole and disrupt the EUs trading relationship with the worlds biggest economy. Quote: "One aspect among many others of our transatlantic cooperation is that we signed hundreds of contracts worth billions of dollars and we are about to prepare new contracts. Its obvious that the alliance for security brings many advantages for both sides." More details: Pistorius also warned of the consequences of Ukraines defeat not only for Europe but also for the US, stating that the Russian invasion is a threat to the "rules-based international order". "Geographically, Europe is far away from Iowa or Wisconsin, but still its very close in terms of security policy. Less security in Europe means less security for the United States," Pistorius said. He urged US lawmakers not to take freedom for granted, saying that it must be defended and fought for if necessary. Pistorius stressed that European countries should supply Ukraine with more weapons and noted that he sees the allies supporting Kyiv more and more. "The UK is also doing more and more, and also France is increasing its support. Im absolutely confident that we will be able to achieve a lot of support during the months and years to come. But of course its not easy. Money is not limitless," Pistorius said. Background: The US House of Representatives went on recess until the end of February without considering a package bill including funding for military aid for Ukraine that had already been approved by the Senate. The House of Representatives also introduced a bill with less aid for Ukraine than the amount suggested by US President Joe Biden. Support UP or become our patron! Two Riverside County brothers pleaded guilty last week to mail fraud after scamming the United States Postal Service out of more than $2.3 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's office of the Central District of California. Anwer Fareed Alam, 35, and Yousofzay Fahim Alam, 31, of Temecula filed thousands of falsified insurance claims on packages in order to make a profit, according to the details of their plea agreements, which were released by the U.S. Attorney's office Friday. They each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the release. From 2016 to 2019, the brothers used fake names and addresses to purchase USPS Priority Mail packages and postage that included insurance for lost or damaged contents. Then they submitted fraudulent insurance claims, alleging that the packages contained items of higher value that had been lost or damaged. They would sometimes include fake invoices and even photos of items that were not actually inside the packages. The pair cashed in thousands of insurance claim checks, the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General found, which investigated the case. Read more: L.A. firefighters critically injured in truck explosion are 'making progress' "Relying on the false information in the fraudulent insurance claim forms, USPS issued checks to the Alam brothers to cover their purported losses up to $100 in value plus the cost of shipping," Ciaran McEvoy, a public information officer for the U.S. Attorney's office, said in a statement Friday. Together, the brothers maintained about 15 different post office boxes in Temecula, according to the release. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1. 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 former commanding general of Fort Gregg-Adams has been cleared of misconduct four years after he was accused of groping the wife of a junior officer a quarter-century earlier. USA TODAY reported Saturday that Gen. Leon E. Salomon, who had been reprimanded for indecent assault for the incident, was exonerated Feb. 10 by a three-member Army group empaneled to correct military records. According to the report, there was insufficient probable cause that supported the allegations brought against Salomon by Camilla Vance Shadley. Gen. Leon E. Salomon was comanding general of then-Fort Lee from 1989 to 1991. Shadley claimed she was groped by Salomon during a reception at his Fort Belvoir home in 1994. She also claimed that Salomon also made lewd comments to her twin sister. Shadley, the daughter of former U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, waited 25 years to bring the accusations against Salomon. By that time, the statute of limitations for criminal charges had expired, but the Army still launched a civil investigation that resulted in a reprimand. Salomon, who died last year at 87, was commanding general of the Combined Arms Support Command [CASCOM] from 1989-91 when the post was still known as Fort Lee and he was a lieutenant general. He left in 1991 to become deputy director of logistics at the Pentagon and was awarded his fourth star three years later. He retired in 1996 and at the time of his death was living in Florida. In a statement to USA TODAY, Salomon's family said they were "relieved the Army has conducted a thorough review of the evidence and found the accusation to be, as we always knew, without merit or basis in fact." Shadley could not be reached for comment. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Former post commander cleared of indecent conduct Polish farmers have completely blocked truck traffic in both directions at the international checkpoint Dorohusk-Yahodyn and tried to disrupt train traffic with Ukraine. Source: European Pravda with reference to the State Customs Service of Ukraine Details: Truck traffic at the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint has been completely blocked in both directions by Polish farmers since 9:00 Kyiv time. The farmers hold a large-scale protest action at the driveways near the settlement of Dorohusk. Reportedly, despite the promises of the protesters to let perishable, dangerous or humanitarian cargoes pass, not a single heavy truck has crossed the border since then. Quote: "From 15:30 to 17:30, the protesters at the Dorohusk railway station tried to block train tracks, yet the police of the Polish Republic prevented it. As of now, train traffic is operating in normal mode." The State Customs Service of Ukraine noted that shuttle buses pass in normal mode with no queues. Background: Earlier, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine assumed that the delivery of humanitarian aid may be delayed due to the blockade by Polish farmers. As of 16 February, Polish farmers have blocked six checkpoints at the border with Ukraine. Earlier, Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, discussed the situation at the border in the phone conversation with Polish PM Donald Tusk. Czesaw Siekierski, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Development of Countryside, stated that the negotiations with Ukraine concerning the conditions of export of some agricultural products are at the final stage. Support UP or become our patron! Dozens of protesting farmers have pulled up at a Welsh Labour leadership debate in mid Wales. About 100 tractors and farm vehicles took part in a go-slow protest through Newtown, Powys, before arriving at a hustings at the town's football club. "I hope they are going to take heed and listen to us," said Aneurin Aston, a farmer from Llanbrynmair. The government said its proposals would support farmers and address the climate crisis. "We are here because of what [the Welsh government] is almost forcing us to do, which is to plant 10% of our land with trees and then put another 10% aside," Mr Ashton said. "There is nobody listening to us in the Labour cabinet." Mr Ashton said farmers were worried about the future of their businesses under the Welsh government's green scheme. "Our job is to provide food for the public and you can't eat trees," he said. "We're prepared to do our fair share for climate change but this is one ask too much." Farmers gathered in Newtown outside a hustings for first minister hopefuls Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles Meanwhile, the Welsh Conservative MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, James Evans, said the plans put 5,500 farming jobs at risk. The protest in Powys comes after more than 100 tractors and 4x4 vehicles disrupted traffic with a go-slow protest on the A48 near Carmarthen on Friday. In order to gain access to the scheme, farmers will have to commit to planting 10% of their land with trees and earmark another 10% as wildlife habitat. Farmers argue that this is not practical while keeping a farm business going, with many concerned that the other requirements of the scheme will overwhelm them with paperwork. Their position has been supported by former international rugby referee Nigel Owens, who said he would be prepared to drive a tractor to the Senedd if the plan goes ahead. The Welsh government insist its plans will address the climate crisis "It's going to be disastrous for our rural communities," Mr Evans said on the BBC Radio Wales Sunday Supplement programme. "[Farmers] don't see a future for their young people. "The Welsh government have made a lot of noise about Tata Steel's 2,000 jobs that have been lost there, and rightly so. We need to make sure we protect our steel making in Wales. "But then we have 5,500 jobs that the Welsh government scheme is going to implement and they don't seem to bat an eyelid about that." He said he "would quite happily" see farmers outside the Senedd protesting if the Welsh government does not listen. Farmers sounded their horns as they drove through Newtown in Powys to protest the scheme Another personality with an interest in agriculture, TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, also denounced the plans. He said: "I'm trying to see the Welsh farming policy from the government's point of view. And I just can't. It's completely daft." Im trying to see the Welsh farming policy from the governments point of view. And I just cant. Its completely daft. Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) February 17, 2024 The Welsh government insisted its plans will ensure safe food production systems, protect the environment and address the urgent call of the climate crisis and the nature crisis. A spokesperson said: "Working in partnership with the farming sector is the key, that is why the sustainable farming scheme has been jointly developed with farmers. "The scheme is currently out for consultation, we would like to thank thousands of farmers who have already responded and attended road show events across Wales. "No final decision on the scheme has been made and it won't be until the consultation has ended and we encourage everyone to relay their views by 6 March." MUNICH Four American senators recounted a story Ukrainian officials told them at the Munich Security Conference: A soldier in a muddy trench with Russian artillery exploding nearby, scrolling on his phone for signs the U.S. House would approve military aid. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), leader of one of the congressional delegations, said it was heartbreaking to hear the tale. For young Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, this is a persistent topic of conversation, the senator relayed, a somber tone in his voice. The episode highlighted the pall over this weekends gathering of transatlantic-minded officials and dignitaries in the Bavarian capital. Ukraines worsening prospects on the battlefield and questions about Americas commitment to Kyiv dominated the annual event. The gloom was amplified by news of Russian dissident Alexei Navalnys death, which hit just as leaders were arriving on the event's first day. Many politicians and officials used the moment to press that Ukraine would lose the war without the $60 billion more in U.S. military aid currently awaiting a vote in the House. But they also sounded far from certain about what a victory might look like for Ukraine even with that boost. The conference comes as confidence in whether President Joe Biden can deliver for Ukraine is particularly low and as former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, works to undermine the package. The plan now, as detailed or lamented in interviews with eight U.S. lawmakers and five foreign officials, is to just keep the Ukrainian military from collapsing. Many sidestepped the question of what a Ukrainian victory would look like, or when it might happen. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the aid package would be a game changer for Ukraine. But he declined to say that the support would ensure a Ukrainian triumph, simply stating American assistance was Kyivs last, best hope. I am not aware of any other way for, in the short term, the Ukrainians to get the arms and ammunition and tools they need, other than from the United States, added Warner one of 44 U.S. lawmakers at Munich. The range of battlefield possibilities remains enormous, with or without more weapons flowing to Ukraine. Somewhere between Afghanistan, driving the Russians out with essentially partisan guerrilla warfare, and great-armies conflict, like we have right now, is where it ends up, Whitehouse said. Ukraine is low on ammunition and infantry. The decade-long stronghold of Avdiivka fell to the Russians over the weekend, giving the Kremlin its first major conquest since May. Before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy changed leadership at the top of his country's military, generals insisted the president had to mobilize 500,000 more troops to keep pace with a larger, still-stronger Russian force that appears willing to take massive casualties to gain just a few yards of ground. When a citizen of Europe reads that Ukraine retreated from Avdiivka, he should realize one single fact: Russia has got a few kilometers closer to his own home, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview. Every advance Russia makes in Ukraine brings Russian weapons closer to the home of a middle-class European. Senior administration officials insist Americas commitment to Ukraines cause hasnt diminished. Putin is not going to stop unless he is stopped, said U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, who arrived in Munich fresh from watching U.S. troops train a new Ukrainian battalion at an American base in Germany. And for adversaries who are watching what's happening in Ukraine, and what it says about American will, I would not want them to draw the conclusion that we'll let a leader like Putin do whatever he wants. The best and only option to prevent that, they argue, is still the one on the table: Congress passing the military assistance. Pass the supplemental. Thats it. Lets destroy Putins army. The Ukrainians know how to do that, so lets help them do it, added Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo). Lawmakers from both parties in Munich assured ally after ally that the House would eventually greenlight the aid, with some predicting passage as soon as March. They insisted the majority of representatives would support the bill once on the House floor. But Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) feared an X factor: the Republican partys leader, former President Donald Trump. Former President Trump appears to be trying to derail support for the current bipartisan supplemental passed in the Senate, the House Armed Services Committee member said in an interview. Zelenskyy, clearly worried about that prospect, used public opportunities to plead his nations case. For us, this package is vital. We do not currently look into alternatives because we are counting on the United States as our strategic partner, he said at a news conference with Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday. Theres no Plan B if the lawmakers fail to greenlight the package, Harris confirmed. Theres only Plan A. Confidence in what Ukraine can accomplish and in President Joe Biden is seemingly at its lowest point in two years. The U.S. wants a photo op of happy allies working together, one NATO official, who like some others in this story was granted anonymity to offer candid views, said on the sidelines of the event. But without that real American support, without that leadership, this is going to be very difficult. Ukrainian officials arent talking about alternatives, insisting that they need the arms and ammunition particularly Taurus and the long-range Army Tactical Missile System to fend off Russia. One Ukrainian parliamentarian said theres worry in Kyiv about the lack of leadership shown by Washington both in passing the supplemental and in sending and nudging allies along to send more long-range munitions to Ukraine. The official had just come from the frontlines in the south and said that the lack of munitions are directly resulting in Ukraine losing ground, and losing soldiers. At the Munich Security Conference last year nerves were visible, but were not as all-consuming. The U.S. and its allies had rallied to Ukraines defense, taking back seized territory from Russia and preparing for a decisive counteroffensive. There was a long road ahead, but the fight trended in a positive direction. It was just days afterward that Biden stood in Warsaw, after a surprise visit with Zelenskyy in Ukraine, announcing that Kyiv stands proud, it stands tall, and most important, it stands free. But the counteroffensive failed and the ground campaign stalled, causing both Ukrainian and Russian forces to play a game of artillery ping pong across the 600-mile front. Kyiv has seen more success in the Black Sea, sinking several Russian ships in the strategic waterway, but it didnt do much to improve the optics of a war thats trudging along. No one on either side of the Atlantic and especially in Kyiv and Moscow can predict whats to come. We will have a Russia problem no matter how the war ends, said Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of NATOs Military Committee, who also warned that while the West might have been overly optimistic in 2023 about the war, but we have to guard against being overly pessimistic in 2024. The uncertainty has empowered Ukraine skeptics. They insist the U.S. cut off the tap and focus on the homefront instead. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who arrived in Munich to offer a countering viewpoint, said he was supportive of Kyivs fight but that America couldnt produce enough weapons to arm Ukraine and protect the U.S. at the same time. Europe has to be a little more self-sufficient in defending itself he insisted in a solo news conference outside the conference venue. You guys have to step up. There's going to be a pivot in American policy focused in East Asia. Given that reality, the Europeans have to take a more aggressive role. Most lawmakers, though, didnt want to leave Munich without offering hope. Time and again, they pushed back on the idea that Ukraine was irreversibly on the ropes. I don't see how Russia ever wins this war. Their definition of winning is taking over the country and occupying it. They are never going to occupy Ukraine, said Idaho Sen. Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Wars end when one or both sides have fought to the point of exhaustion, and then they sit down and talk. Neither side is there. And Whitehouse argued Ukraine would never stop resisting against Russia, even if it doesnt receive more support: There is literally zero chance that the Ukrainians will peacefully abide Russian occupation. Suzanne Lynch and Josh Posaner contributed to this report. When Aleisha Goodwin, an estate coordinator at the Clark County Public Administrator's Office, reached out to Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German in March 2022 to describe the problems she and her co-workers said they were experiencing with their boss, she said they were at their breaking point. "We were desperate," Goodwin told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant in "The Assassination of Jeff German" an all-new "48 Hours" now streaming on Paramount +. After German spoke with Goodwin and her colleagues Rita Reid, Jessica Coleman and Noraine Pagdanganan, they were relieved to find out that German would take on their story. "He did something, and he fought for us," Goodwin said. "And he is 100 percent our hero." The women could have never imagined that just five months after meeting him, their hero Jeff German would be dead. On Sept. 3, 2022, German's body was found on the side of his Las Vegas home by a concerned neighbor. According to investigators, German had been murdered 24 hours earlier, suffering seven stab wounds to the neck and torso. As the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department began its investigation, it discovered surveillance video from across the street that captured the attack. The video showed the alleged assailant walking into German's side yard and hiding behind the gate. Moments later, according to police, German opened his garage door, walked to the side of his house, and was ambushed by the assailant. "The attack seemed personal in nature," Rhonda Prast, the former assistant managing editor for Investigations at the Review-Journal, told "48 Hours." But who would have wanted to kill German? One of the names that came to the top of the list was the Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles. Based on the four women's accounts, German had written a series of stories describing a toxic workplace under Telles. Robert Telles / Credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc./Kevin Cannon According to the women, the trouble began almost immediately after Telles took office in January 2019. Reid, a supervisor, was Telles' second in command and a 12-year veteran of the office. She recalled a conversation she had with Telles. "He came in very abruptly into the office and he slammed his palms down on my desk," Reid told "48 Hours." "He leaned forward, and he said, 'we're ripping off the bandage. You no longer supervise anyone, no one reports to you They all report to me." The women said they were ordered not to speak to each other in the office. "It felt dangerous to even have a 'hello, good morning,' conversation with coworkers in passing," Coleman told "48 Hours." If caught, Goodwin said the consequences could be severe. She remembered getting called into Telles' office after he saw her and two other women talking. "We walked into his office, and he said, 'sit down and shut up. You're not gonna talk I'm gonna talk,'" said Goodwin. From left, Rita Reid, Jessica Coleman, Noraine Pagdanganan and Aleisha Goodwin. / Credit: CBS News Despite years of service, all the women said they were fearful of losing their jobs. Telles, they believed, had started an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate in the office named Roberta. According to Goodwin, Roberta used that relationship with Telles to assume power and privilege in the office. The women knew they needed proof of the alleged affair for the county to believe them, so they decided to follow Telles and Roberta. According to Goodwin, the pair would meet at the same place, a parking garage in a nearby mall. The women said the alleged lovers would park next to each other and would ultimately end up in the back seat of Roberta's car. The women documented the meet ups with pictures and videos. "You can see the shadows. And you can see those heads going together," said Goodwin. "It was so unbelievable, and it just took a minute to digest," said Reid. "At that moment, it was like so real." When German saw the videos, he reached out to Roberta for comment. She replied, "I have not had an inappropriate relationship with him." Telles also denied they were having an affair. The women followed and videotaped Robert Telles, pictured leaving the back seat of the car of an alleged lover - a subordinate - at a parking garage where the suspected trysts took place. Both Telles and his alleged lover denied they were having an affair. / Credit: Aleisha Goodwin In May 2022, the Review-Journal published German's article headlined, "County office in turmoil with secret video and claims of bullying, hostility." The article had a swift effect on the Public Administrator's Office and the county sent in an outside consultant. German went on to publish three more articles about Telles, which chronicled his loss for reelection in the primary, ironically, to his second in command, Rita Reid. German was working on another story about Telles, but he would not survive to write it. Five days after his murder, police arrested Telles after, they said, his DNA was discovered under German's fingernails. The story very quickly became national news, according to Review-Journal investigations editor Art Kane who has written a book about German's murder, "The Last Story: The Murder of an Investigative Journalist in Las Vegas," which is expected to be released in April. "A reporter killed by a politician for a story that he wrote," Kane told "48 Hours." "If he's the guy that's pretty unheard of." Telles was booked into the Clark County Detention Center. Six weeks later, he was indicted by a grand jury for murder with use of a deadly weapon. He pleaded not guilty and has since been in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled for March 18, 2024. Van Sant interviewed Telles at the Clark County Detention Center. Telles denied killing German and when he was asked about the evidence against him, including his DNA under German's fingernails, he said, "I say that evidence or so-called evidence was planted And we will go ahead and prove that at trial." Nikki Haley vows to continue campaign through Super Tuesday What Capital One buying Discover could mean for consumers Haley defies calls from Trump to drop out of 2024 race You are here: World Flash Ukraine has ordered the withdrawal of troops from the frontline eastern town of Avdiivka, Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said Saturday. "To avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines," Syrsky said on Facebook. He emphasized that the lives of military personnel are of the utmost importance to Ukraine. The Ukrainian forces are taking measures to stabilize the situation and maintain their positions in the area, Syrsky added. Earlier this week, local media reported that Russian forces advanced in Avdiivka, an industrial town in the Donetsk region, after fierce fighting with Ukrainian troops. Personal finance classes have become a requirement for high school graduation in dozens of states in the past few years, sparking hope for activists that financial literacy is finally receiving the support it deserves. A tracker from Next Gen Personal Finance shows that in 2020, only eight states had a stand-alone personal finance course available for all high schoolers. This year, 25 states will offer a financial literacy class in K-12. Eight of those states have fully implemented the class, while 17 are still in progress. All of a sudden, it does seem like states are sitting up and taking notice, and its really just happened in the past couple of years, said Jessica Pelletier, executive director of FitMoney. Experts say these classes are about more than writing checks and, despite COVID-19 giving a boost to the cause, that they will continue to grow for high schoolers and potentially middle school. Pelletier speculated the pandemic produced some urgency for educators and parents on financial literacy as the economy plummeted and households struggled with finances. I think those two things combined really made parents and educators together become a very cohesive voice for financial literacy, and so legislators are taking notice [of] what theyre hearing from their constituents, that this is what they want, she said. Lindsay Torrico, executive director of the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation, said they have doubled the number of individuals they have reached through financial education resources and programs since 2019. Last year, we launched a new effort in a new commitment to engage more banks in financial education. We have a new commitment for banks to sign on to with a goal to reach 5 million people with financial education in the next three years, Torrico said. And the response has been overwhelmingly positive. In that effort, we have about 816 banks that have signed on in about a year, and collectively were reaching 1.23 million people through financial education services and resources. Financial literacy has been steadily growing in schools in the past two decades, according to Laura Levine, president and CEO of Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, with the topic naturally getting a boost during periods of economic instability, such as during the 2008 recession and the 2020 pandemic. She said the coalition has had a National Standards for Personal Finance Education guide since 1999. The most recent version hits on six topics: earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit and managing risk. In school financial literacy lessons, Levine said, Were seeing if you look at the standard, it covers investing, insurance, savings, spending, budgeting, you know, its kind of a full spectrum. This includes K-12 schools in states with or without a requirement for finance education classes, with much of the movement coming from a voluntary interest in the topic. While legislative efforts are welcomed, many schools are beginning to recognize that relying on financial education at home is not feasible for many students who need it. Some kids dont have families, you know, foster kids [] or maybe your family is less advantaged and your parents dont know that much about the financial system, Levine said. Not only are the financial education courses becoming more comprehensive, but activists are also aiming for them to start earlier. The ABA Foundation has a program that directly targets kindergarten through eighth grade, where bankers go into elementary classrooms with PowerPoint presentations and lessons. This program is actively being used by close to 1,000 banks at this time, where different unique banks are using our materials to access kids those ages and try to push forward financial literacy, despite the fact that many states still do not have legislation supporting financial literacy in it. So the communities have taken it upon themselves to really step up and help out as much as they can with having bankers go into these classrooms and get these kids on the path to financial understanding, said Kelsey Havemann, senior manager of the ABA Foundations youth financial education program. The push for more financial literacy largely revolves around convincing adults to bring in the material, as experts say children are eager to dive in. This is one of the only classes Ive really heard of that almost every single student wants to take. You know the old adage, When am I ever going to need this? Every student recognizes very quickly, when theyre learning about budgets and credit scores and insurance, they all say, Oh, OK, I get it. I absolutely will need all of this information when I am an adult, Pelletier said. And so, its a very easy sell, so to speak, when youre talking to students. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ukraines NATO direction is clear and membership is just a question of timing, Finlands President-elect Alexander Stubb told the Kyiv Independent at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 18. Stubb said that he sees three steps for Ukraines European and transatlantic aspirations. The first is security agreements that are currently being signed by all G7 members and 31 countries, followed by EU membership, and finally NATO membership. Stubb emphasized that, since he hasn't been inaugurated yet, he was commenting on the issue in his personal professional capacity. In the long run, NATO membership for Ukraine is what we should strive for, he said. I'm sure that we'll see language in that direction as we start moving towards the Washington summit in July (...) I think the direction is quite clear. Its just a question of timing. Stubb said that President Vladimir Putin has failed to split Europe and NATO. Instead, Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine has brought NATO closer to Russias borders, he added. The president-elect believes Europe is fairly permanently divided, describing a new Iron Curtain with Belarus and Russia on one side and the rest of Europe on the other. EU membership is a hard power that actually functions as a protector, Stubb said. He confirmed that the Nordic states will join the G7 in signing security guarantees for Ukraine. So far, Finland has provided 1.8 billion euros ($1.94 billion) in military aid to Ukraine. Helsinki approved its 22nd defense aid package to Ukraine worth around 190 million euros ($205 million) on Feb. 9. Stubb, the former Finnish prime minister, won the presidential election on Feb. 11 in a race that focused on the country's new role as a NATO neighbor of Russia. He will be inaugurated on March 1. Throughout his campaign, Stubb promised unconditional support for Ukraine and called for greater NATO partnership among European allies. Finland became the 31st member of NATO in April 2023, citing the international alliance as being "the only effective security guarantee in the region" amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read also: Zelensky in Munich: If Ukraine left alone, Russia will destroy us Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Fire officials are investigating a 2nd alarm fire in Revere on Sunday morning. Fire crews received a call of a structure fire at a home on Cushman Ave around 10:45 a.m. Upon arrival, fire crews were greeted with heavy fire and smoke in the back of the building, according to Deputy Chief Glen Rich Fire crews were able to make access to the building, cut holes in the roof for ventilation, and put the fire out. There are no injuries to report. The Red Cross is assisting the family displaced and the cause of the fire is under investigation. 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 The first F-16 fighter jets will be in Ukrainian skies in June 2024. Source: Foreign Police magazine; European Pravda Details: "I think that in June we will see them in Ukraine," the magazine quoted Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas as saying. The same timeframe was mentioned by another European official, whose name was not disclosed. "The Ukrainian government expects that 12 pilots will be trained on the fighter jets by the end of the US fiscal year [September]," Foreign Police noted. Earlier, the first quarter of 2024 was the estimated date for the delivery of the fighter jets to Ukraine. Background: Support UP or become our patron! Michael Tomlinson, the minister for illegal migration, said that his intention is for the aircraft to depart 'as soon as possible' - Jeff Gilbert Photography Flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off as soon as the law is passed, the minister for illegal migration has said. The new Safety of Rwanda Bill returns to the House of Lords on Monday after a week-long recess. It passed unamended through the Commons last month, despite a revolt from several Tory MPs who wanted the legislation to go further. Sir Simon Clarke warned at the time that there was every reason to believe it would fail on contact with reality. But Michael Tomlinson, the minister for illegal migration, has insisted that as soon as the Bill passes through Parliament, planes will take off. Speaking on Sky News, Mr Tomlinson said: As soon as the treaty is ratified, and the Bill is through Parliament, its got to go through all of its stages; of course I mentioned the House, its got to come back and theres got to be ping-pong. When that happens, then the planes will take off. You can sense, I hope, my impatience When asked whether he could guarantee that flights will begin before the next election, he said: Yes, we need to get through the Bill first. Yes, we need to get the treaty ratified and then the planes will take off. I want that to happen as soon as possible. He added: You can sense, I hope, my impatience for that. That must happen as soon as possible. He also addressed scepticism of the Bill from fellow Conservative MPs, in particular the European Research Group (ERG), whose chairman, Mark Francois, said last year that the legislation provided an incomplete solution to illegal migration. Mr Tomlinson said: I was a member of the ERG, I know and understand their concerns, their concerns are my concerns. And thats why were bringing forward this legislation. Its not about just this one scheme, but Rwanda is a very important part. Its part of the deterrent effect. And when we see those planes taking off, thats when the deterrent effect will kick in, just as it did with Albania. If you vote for Reform, you get Labour His comments come after the Conservatives lost two by-elections, won by Labour, which saw a surge in support for the Reform UK Party. The rise in Reform support will be seen as a sign of dissatisfaction from some voters on the Governments handling of immigration, which is a key policy battleground for Richard Tices party. Responding to Reforms results in Wellingborough and Kingswood, Mr Tomlinson said: What people saw is if you vote for Reform, you get Labour and you go back to square one on immigration. Last week, it came to light that Mr Tomlinson had previously raised concerns that the legislation could breach international law when he was solicitor-general. Mr Tomlinson then advised the Government that plans to ignore injunctions by Strasbourg judges blocking deportation flights would mean the UK would be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has also pledged that flights will take off before the next election, having appeared to agree to a 1,000 bet with Piers Morgan on the question earlier this month. 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. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida man was arrested and charged after hitting another man in the head with a coral rock on Friday afternoon, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. Around 3:50 p.m., deputies responded to Warbler Lane on Big Pine Key where they found a 60-year-old victim with cuts on his arms and head. WATCH: Officers car flips while chasing stolen U-haul Authorities later located the suspect near the scene, identified as 33-year-old Newton Auer Brungart. Brungart was charged with aggravated battery and theft after an investigation revealed he attacked the victim, hit him with the rock, then stole his bag with his identification and other belongings. There were no life-threatening injuries. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The leader of a church-run school in Orlando was called into a fourth-grade classroom where more than a dozen children were allegedly acting out, and spanked them. Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain investigated his actions as possible child abuse but did not file charges. When the decision was announced last month, it begged a question: Florida still allows corporal punishment in its schools? In fact, the state is one of 18 that continue to permit the practice, although data show the number of incidents has declined each year over the last decade. Still, legislation to limit corporal punishment in public and charter schools is unlikely to move in the current session, underscoring the enduring nature of this controversial approach to discipline. I had the same reaction a lot of people had, which is that I assumed it had already been banned, said Rep. Katherine Waldron, D-Palm Beach, who explored the issue before introducing House Bill 439 this year. That bill would prohibit corporal punishment against students with disabilities, and require parents to buy into the practice before its used on their children. Florida law defines allowable corporal punishment as the moderate use of physical force or physical contact as may be necessary to maintain discipline or to enforce school rule. Fourteen other states, mostly in the south, also allow such punishment by law, while three states dont expressly condone or outlaw the practice. The rest prohibit it. Data collected by the Florida Department of Education and reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel shows corporal punishment statewide has gone down every school year since 2012-2013, when school districts reported using it on 2,757 students. The most recent school year saw only 509 students facing the punishment, as many of the states 67 public school districts including those in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake have abandoned the practice altogether while the 19 remaining holdouts use it far less than in previous years, including one which didnt report any this past year. But detailed data collected by a group of University of Florida students, which helped inform HB 439, shows even deeper disparities. In many counties, some students face corporal punishment more than once, and the punishment is disproportionately doled out against students with disabilities, which this years legislative effort seeks to address. State law says reasonable force for school corporal punishment, and look what they did with it they hit disabled kids disproportionately, Graham Bernstein, director of political affairs at UFs chapter of the Florida Student Policy Forum, told the Sentinel. [Schools] got the leeway to do what they wanted, and they did it improperly. It shouldnt belong to them anymore. The rules HB 439 sought to impose mirror the limitations that were in place at Lake County Public Schools more than a decade ago. In school year 2014-2015, schools there reported fewer than 10 students receiving corporal punishment before a proposal to abandon the practice altogether was adopted by the school board. In many Florida school districts, however, the controversy surrounding its existence persists. Most recently, the parents of a high schooler in Liberty County called out the school district after they were not notified before their child was paddled last December. All of this stems from a lack of a requirement of parental consent in state law, Bernstein said. All it [currently] gives parents is the right to ask for an explanation for the corporal punishment, so there are deficiencies here. Bernstein said many Florida school districts that allow corporal punishment do have rules in place requiring parental consent, but HB 439 would codify them into law. In Orange County, the latest debate over corporal punishment was sparked after Bain announced no charges will be filed against an unnamed senior leader of Alpha Learning Academy, the Orlando-based Christian school. The school, which had long allowed corporal punishment, had more recently prohibited it in the school handbook. However, a statement from Bains office said its unclear whether the school leader who admitted to the spankings was aware of the handbook revision. The statement also noted that Florida law allows for the practice within the scope of parental expectations. Further, while the senior leaders act of administering corporal punishment is not in question, the State cannot prove there was an intent to inflict physical injury or bodily harm to the children, the statement said. HB 439 would have no impact on private schools like Alpha Learning Academy. Yet it encountered resistance in the legislature, and a companion bill in the Senate has not moved along in the process at all. This late in the 2024 session, it is all but certain the issue is dead for the year. A Jan. 31 Education Quality Subcommittee hearing on HB 439 illustrated the debate. Rep. Ryan Chamberlain expressed concerns about the bill not offering alternatives to school discipline, pointing to what he said was a trend of the youth today [that] is not trending from a disciplinary standpoint in a positive direction. Waldron argued that schools have other disciplinary measures at their disposal, like detention and suspension. Advocates have long noted that corporal punishment is not only ineffective, but research on the practice suggests it may aggravate student behavior rather than correcting it. Data collected by Bernstein and his team show the Florida counties with corporal punishment tend to have higher youth arrest rates than the state average. Corporal punishment also tends to be used disproportionately against boys, students of color and those with disabilities. Federal officials have called on states to ban corporal punishment in school systems for years. As in Florida, corporal punishment in public schools has gone down nationwide, with the U.S. Department of Education estimating a nearly 35% decrease in its use from the 2013-2014 school year to 2017-2018, according to the latest available federal data. But the number of total instances may be underreported, said Esaa Mohammad Sabti Samarah, a Florida State University doctoral student who co-authored a recent report looking at corporal punishment nationwide. Data from public schools is likely incomplete while theres no repository of disciplinary data for private schools, he said. Only four states New Jersey, Iowa, Maryland and New York have outlawed corporal punishment outright for both public and private schools. We make the argument that that number of kids being hit in school should be zero, Samarah said. We should celebrate that year over year its going down, but its certainly not enough. Waldrons bill is not the first effort in Florida to curtail corporal punishment. A state lawmaker proposed a full ban in 2019 that died in committee. Should HB 439 meet the same fate, Waldron said she will try it again next legislative session. Im committed to putting it forward next year if it doesnt pass this year, she said. A Florida man, that authorities have dubbed a "serial bank robber," is headed back to the slammer after he committed the same crime just one day after he was released from prison. According to the Department of Justice, 60-year-old Timothy Jones is heading to prison, again, after he robbed two banks in the Orlando, Florida-area within days of being released from prison. According to court documents, on June 1, 2022, Jones was released from Putnam County Correctional Facility after he served an eight-year prison sentence for robbing a Wells Fargo bank in Orlando. The next day, old habits tempted Jones to return to a bank and continue his heist. FLORIDA WOMAN DISAPPEARS IN MADRID AFTER SUSPICIOUS TEXT, BLACKED-OUT SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS Timothy Jones, 60, a serial bank robber, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison following a daring spree of bank heists just one day after his release from an eight-year prison term. Authorities said that Jones, on June 2, 2022, walked into a Truist Bank on the same street as the bank he previously robbed and held up a bank employee. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The 60-year-old Florida man allegedly threatened the employee and said that he had a gun and would shoot everyone in the bank if they did not hand over $150,000. He warned the Truist Bank employees that there would be a "bloodbath" if they failed to comply with his demands. After employees provided $30,000, Jones took the keys to an employees car and escaped, the DOJ said. Timothy Jones' robbery spree ended on June 9, 2022. Jone's robbery spree was not over, authorities said. On June 9, 2022, Jones walked into a SouthState bank in Kissimmee, Florida, and threatened the employees that he was robbing the bank and had a gun. WATCH: FLORIDA DEPUTY SAVES TRAPPED, UNCONSCIOUS BABY'S LIFE AFTER CAR CRASHES WITH SPEEDING MOTORCYCLIST He then told the employee he did not want any "funny business" and demanded $50,000 that they gave him. He took one of the employee's car keys and escaped. Timothy Jones was previously convicted of robbery charges in 1995, 2006, and 2013, and spent the last 18 years in prison for his crimes. Later on June 9, Jones was apprehended by local police. Authorities found $1,815 in cash on Jones' person and $47,200 in the stolen vehicle. After being detained, Jones claimed to be mentally incompetent and claimed he was unable to stand trial. About a year later, in May 2023, Jones wrote a letter to a relative where he said that he was pretending to be incompetent in order to "manipulate," "trick," and "fool" doctors and the court system, so he could get leniency in his sentencing. Jones was sentenced to 25 years in prison on one count of bank robbery and must forfeit $30,000 of unrecovered proceeds from his robberies. He was previously convicted of robbery charges in 1995, 2006, and 2013 and spent the last 18 years in prison for his crimes. Original article source: Florida serial bank robber hits series of banks in single day after prison release for same crime: DOJ CLARK COUNTY, Ill. A Florissant woman faces criminal charges after a crash with an Illinois State Police car Friday along Interstate 70. Prosecutors have charged Tiffany Henderson, 32, with a violation of Illinois move-over law (failure to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle), failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and driving while suspended. Chesterfield Mall tenants told to vacate shopping center by August 31 The crash happened around 5:40 p.m. Friday in the eastbound lanes of I-70. Henderson is accused of striking an Illinois State Police car near exit 151 in Clark County, not too far from Illinois state line with Indiana. Illinois State Police say the troopers car was parked on the right shoulder of the highway with its emergency lights activated. The trooper was outside the vehicle to investigate a weather-related crash. During that investigation, a red Ford approached the area and struck the back of the ISP squad car. No one was hurt in that collision, but it caused significant damage to both vehicles. Authorities later identified Henderson as the driver of the Ford. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Illinois State Police say the crash could serve as a reminder of the states move-over law, also known as Scotts Law. When approaching an emergency vehicle or any vehicle using emergency or hazard lights, drivers are required to slow down and move over. A person who violates Scotts Law could faces tens of thousands of dollars in fines and various jail terms, depending on the severity of the crash. Illinois State Police say there were 21 move-over law-related crashes last year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Flash Top international organizations and government officials called for a permanent settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the ongoing 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC), saying that only the two-state solution can make the region achieve lasting security. Addressing the conference at its opening ceremony on Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for peace and better global order, highlighting the two-state solution to the crisis. He said that the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a humanitarian ceasefire are the only way to massively scale up aid delivery in Gaza, and thus will lay the foundation for concrete and irreversible steps towards a two-state solution. Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, expressed strong concern over the humanitarian situation and the wider consequences for the region. He emphasized the need to lower regional tensions and promote international efforts towards a two-state solution. During a meeting with Guterres, Borrell also underlined the need for increased EU cooperation with the UN in striving towards a two-state solution. In his address at the conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also supported the two-state solution, saying that is the key for both Israel and Palestine to get out of the conflict and have a peaceful future. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said at a penal discussion that eventually, there has to be a permanent fix, a long-term fix to the conflict, otherwise "we're going to see a recurrence." "India has long believed in a two-state solution. We have maintained that position for many decades. And I think today many more countries in the world feel that not just the two-state solution is necessary, but it is more urgent than it was before," he said. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told the audience at the MSC that he was firmly convinced that the only pathway towards security and stability for everyone in the region is through a Palestinian state. Addressing a panel discussion on the Middle East situation, Faisal said that the greater the consensus in the international community on the two-state solution, the closer the world will get to it. "We agree that the two-state solution is the right solution. And it's now time to put all of our efforts into making that happen," he stressed, adding that "we cannot hold the future of our region, the future of our generations hostage to politics or ideology, and we must push to move forward." Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said at the panel discussion that part of the reasons behind the failure of talks on the two-state solution in the past was the lack of political will. "I think we are totally committed and convinced that this is the only solution, a viable solution that can bring the region out of this cycle of violence and create normal conditions for everyone to prosper and to live in peace," he said. Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that what's happening now represents "a wake-up call" that the situation was not sustainable and "we need to step up and to look at a better future for the people in the region." The two-state solution guarantees an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17 to discuss diplomatic efforts for peace in Ukraine. Kuleba emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukrainian-Chinese contacts at all levels, expressing the need for continued dialogue. Read also: Antony Blinken urges end to support for Russia's war on Ukraine in meeting with Chinese FM He noted that he had informed Wang Yi about Ukraines point of view for the Global Peace Summit that will be held by Switzerland. I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. I informed Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Ukraines vision for the upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, Kuleba wrote. In January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine and Switzerland would begin preparations for a peace summit at the level of the leaders of the states. Swiss President Viola Amherd noted that her country was ready to organize such a meeting. Read also: Ukraine wants China to participate in negotiations to end the war Yermak Amid the fourth round of talks on the Ukrainian peace formula in Switzerland, the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, said that Kyiv wants Beijing to participate in negotiations to end the war. Chinese FM spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked whether Beijing had received any such requests from Ukraine. She replied that since the beginning of the full escalation, China has been in contact with both Russia and Ukraine. The Chinese authorities missed a meeting of national security advisers in Malta in 2023. There, officials from more than 55 countries discussed Ukraines efforts to gain support for its peace formula. On Feb. 7, Switzerland asked China to participate in the Global Peace Summit. Swiss FM Ignazio Cassis increased pressure on China and called on it to influence the end of the war 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 PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A now-former Boy Scouts of America employee has pleaded guilty to attempted child sex abuse in Molalla, authorities announced Thursday. On Feb. 1, police arrested 28-year-old Peter Collin Simpson at a park after a Molalla police officer found a child in the back seat of his car, authorities said. In an interview, the child told police they had met over the online chat service Discord. Oregon Senate committee votes to end Daylight Saving Time Simpson pleaded guilty in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Thursday after being charged with attempted sexual abuse in the first degree. He was sentenced to 75 days in jail, 60 months of supervised probation, sex abuse treatment, and no contact with minors. He is also required to register as a sex offender every year. Authorities say Simpson may have had more victims in Oregon, Washington, and California due to his proximity to children. 14 arrested at East Portland homeless camp after neighbors complain of shootings, drug use Investigators say Simpson had been an adult volunteer with Boy Scouts of America from 2013 to 2016, when he became a full-time employee until this incident. The child was not involved in the Boy Scouts, but police say the organization is doing their own investigation. Anyone with information about Simpson can contact local law enforcement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Fabrice Leggeri, then Director of the EU border protection agency Frontex, attends the closed meeting of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag at Seeon Monastery in Seeon. Leggeri, is running for Marine Le Pen's French right-wing populist party in the European elections in June. Tobias Hase/dpa The former head of the European border protection agency Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, is running for Marine Le Pen's French right-wing populist party in the European elections in June. Leggeri said on Saturday evening that he had joined the National Rally party list. He put migration at the forefront of his candidacy announcement, saying he would fight for tougher EU immigrations rules if elected. Leggeri resigned as Frontex chief in 2022 after serious accusations were made against him and his staff over the treatment of migrants trying to reach the European Union. Under Leggeri, Frontex managers were said to have deliberately covered up the fact that Greek border guards were returning refugees to the open Mediterranean. Turning back people seeking protection at the EU's external borders - so-called "pushbacks" - is illegal. With under four months until elections are held across EU countries to choose the next European Parliament, surveys show Le Pen's party in the lead and significantly outperforming French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist camp. WATERFORD TWP., Mich (FOX 2) - In 19-degree weather, hundreds of supporters gathered outside a hanger in Waterford Township, waiting hours for former President Donald Trump to make his first campaign stop in Michigan in 2024. The line was hours long to get into the rally. Trump, once he took that stage, ridiculed President Joe Biden, and the judge who ruled against him in a $355-million civil fraud case on Friday. "This November the great state of Michigan is going to tell crooked Joe Biden your fired, get the hell out of here," Trump said to a sea of red hats. After blasting Biden, Trump pivoted to the judge. "The case is a complete and total sham. Its a sham case," he said. "There were no victims, no defaults, damages, no complaints, no nothing. There was nothing." Trump said it was all a distraction, to keep eyes off of his campaign as he seeks to become the second president to serve non-consecutive terms. "A third world country. We are going to be. We are already in many ways," Trump said. "If you look at our border, we are worse than a third-world country." Calling an auto worker to the stage, Trump said the Michigan autoworkers are part of his road back to the White House. "We got your back," the autoworker said. "The auto workers are going to support this guy like we did in 2016, and 2020, were going to do it again in 2024." Speaking for about an hour, Trump encouraged his supporters to get out and vote, both in the primary and again in November. "We will make America strong again," he said. "We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And will make America great again." The primary is set for Feb. 27. Former President Donald Trump talks at a rally in Waterford Township on Feb. 17, 2014. Before Trump took the stage, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement about his visit. Her statement said in part that Michigan is in a better place now than it was four years ago because Biden backed the workers, and she cut taxes by over a billion dollars. I recently had the privilege of participating in a gathering that brought together community members, elected officials and non-profit organizations to deliberate on offshore wind power, mainly focusing on the development in Morro Bay. As the former mayor of San Luis Obispo, I understand the significance of engaging in conversations about the impact of a burgeoning industry on our community, region and state. I take gratification in witnessing our picturesque community embrace a more environmentally conscious approach through innovative climate policies. Establishing a new industry brings inevitable challenges, and individuals must voice their concerns. I have consistently done so, and I urge you to follow suit. This signifies a substantial shift a revolutionary transformation that will usher in a clean energy economy. We must advance offshore wind to guarantee benefits for workers, habitats, Indigenous tribes and the community at large while adhering to labor and environmental protections. Opinion California is laying the foundation to supply clean electricity to 25 million homes through 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045. The project off the coast of Morro Bay will generate 2 gigawatts of power as part of this ambitious initiative. In the past year, the state implemented significant legislation to advance a cohesive strategy for development, accompanied by robust environmental safeguards. A pivotal environmental regulation mandates the Ocean Protection Council to establish a non-profit West Coast Offshore Wind Science Entity. This entity is tasked with continually monitoring the ocean ecosystem and ensuring that targeted research informs state and federal decisions. Moreover, at the federal level, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) evaluates environmental impact statements, mitigation strategies and methods for detecting marine life. BOEM is dedicated to close collaboration with commercial fishermen to guarantee that offshore wind development proceeds in environmentally sound and responsible ways. Although offshore wind is a new venture for California, the technology has been refined for over 30 years in northern Europe. The accumulated evidence demonstrates that offshore wind can be developed to safeguard wildlife, support fishing families and offer a sustainable energy source for future generations. The Offshore Wind and Jobs Act outlines a comprehensive strategy to enhance our ports for developing offshore wind energy and ensure seaport readiness for its infrastructure. The legislation includes provisions for a feasibility study to assess the viability of manufacturing and constructing 70%-85% of the projects within the state. This initiative promises to create jobs for our local community and contribute to the employment opportunities within our state. The Offshore Wind Expediting Act introduces a streamlined permitting approach for offshore wind projects within coastal zones. These areas are subject to multiple overlapping jurisdictions, agencies and regulations, and the new legislation aims to establish a consolidated process for expediting the permitting of such projects. The California Department of Water Resources will implement a central buyer mechanism to streamline power procurement from large-scale, long-lead-time projects such as offshore wind, battery storage and geothermal. This legislation empowers the state to directly engage in contracts with offshore wind developers, offering market assurance to developers and cost-effective advancement of the energy transition for ratepayers. Labor advocates have lauded this law as the inception of a new era in Californias clean energy economy. The California Energy Commission has introduced a preliminary Offshore Wind Strategic Plan. This comprehensive document comprises evaluations and suggestions concerning marine resources, sea-space planning, tribal and fishery relations, permitting, workforce development, port expansion and transmission. Representing the extensively researched roadmap for the state, this plan underscores offshore wind as the focal point for eliminating fossil fuels from the retail electric supply. Capitalizing on the constant strength of offshore winds in deep waters where floating turbine platforms will be positioned along our coast combined with battery storage, offshore wind emerges as a reliable source of uninterrupted electrical power. The Floating Offshore Wind Energy Shot initiative by the federal government aims to achieve a reduction of over 70% in the cost of floating offshore wind energy, especially for deep water sites far from the shore. The anticipated outcome is a decrease in electricity bills for consumers. While acknowledging that this transformation will require time, prioritizing a secure and cleaner future with reduced environmental risks over the inheritance of dirty fossil fuels is a conscious choice, and one that ensures a healthier environment for our children. Offshore wind clean energy is a crucial solution to mitigate the climate crisis. Our coastal communities have witnessed storms with massive waves that wreak havoc, and the proximity of oil rigs continues to pose health risks, sending children to hospitals for respiratory issues. Embracing offshore wind energy is paramount to achieving our states clean energy objectives and moving toward independence from fossil fuels. Supporting this sustainable energy source is a choice that aligns with securing our future. A responsible build-out of offshore wind has the potential to generate thousands of well-paying union jobs, accompanied by opportunities for job training that could be provided locally. While change can be challenging, the constant shifts in our weather patterns due to the climate crisis remind us of the urgency for transformation. Welcoming an industry that promotes clean energy is a step toward a healthier environment and a path to achieving 100% fossil-free independence. For our community to thrive, lets rally behind an initiative that ushers in sustainable energy and propels us toward a future free from fossil fuel dependence. Heidi Harmon served as mayor of San Luis Obispo from 2016 to 2021. A Santa Clarita man who was also a former Navy SEAL was sentenced to 20 years in prison for producing child sex abuse material. Robert Quido Stella, 51, of Canyon Country, was found guilty of secretly filming minor victims in the nude with hidden cameras, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. In 2021, Homeland Security Investigations received a tip that Stella had accessed a dark web child porn website. During a July 15, 2021, investigation, authorities found collections of child sex abuse material on Stellas computer and two external hard drives. Some of the files had been hidden in digital folders with fake labels such as federal contracts and tax returns, officials said. Investigators also found hidden cameras, including one disguised as a USB charging block. Prosecutors said Stella used those hidden cameras to film underage victims as they undressed to shower and used the bathroom. Agents later discovered 17 videos and over 100 screenshots taken from the hidden cameras that showed footage of underage victims naked and partially undressed. Those images were hidden under multi-level digital folder structures on a hard drive bearing misleading titles such as course work, prosecutors said. Riverside County men steal over $2.3 million from USPS Stella was arrested in July 2021 and has been in custody since. In April 2023, he pleaded guilty to charges of access with intent to view child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. After a four-day trial in May 2023, a jury found Stella guilty of three counts of production of child pornography. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. This case was a part of Project Safe Childhood which is a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Jailed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been freed on parole from a police prison, just six months after his dramatic return to the kingdom from 15 years of self-imposed exile. The controversial billionaire, twice elected premier and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was jailed for eight years on graft and abuse-of-power charges upon his return in August. But his sentence was cut to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn within days of his return and the government said last week the 74-year-old was eligible for early release because of his age and health. A homemade banner with the words Welcome home and Weve been waiting for this day for so so long was seen hanging at the front gate of Thaksins house in Bangkok on Sunday, the Australian Associated Press reported. Thaksin wore a neck brace and had his right arm in a sling as he was driven accompanied by his children from Bangkoks Police General Hospital, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The former Manchester City owners homecoming came on the same day his Pheu Thai party returned to government in alliance with pro-military parties, leading many to conclude that a backroom deal had been struck to cut his jail time. The rumours grew stronger when he was transferred to a police hospital within hours of being sentenced because of his poor health. He was reportedly suffering from chest tightness and high blood pressure when he was admitted to hospital, and his family have said he underwent two operations in the following months. The government has denied any deal and Srettha, of the Pheu Thai party, has insisted he already served his jail time - although it is not clear that Thaksin has spent any time in a prison cell. The exact details of his parole are not clear, but Thaksin may be subject to monitoring - possibly with an ankle tag - and restrictions on his right to travel. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was freed from detention on Sunday after the coalition government headed by a party backed by his family granted him a special parole citing his old age and illness. Most Read from Bloomberg Thaksin, 74, was released six months before the end of his shortened jail term. He left from a police hospital in Bangkok, and was received by his daughter and ruling Pheu Thai Party chief Paetongtarn Shinawatra before being taken to his family home in a suburb of the Thai capital. The two-time prime minister was sentenced to eight years in jail on corruption charges on his return from a 15-year self exile in August. He was moved to the police hospital within hours of being lodged in a Bangkok prison on Aug. 22 after complaining of chest pain and high blood pressure. King Maha Vajiralongkorn granted him a partial royal pardon in September that saw his sentence commuted to just one year. Earlier this month, the justice ministry included the billionaire politician in a list of more than 900 prisoners eligible for suspended jail terms, saying he met the criteria as he was older than 70 and had chronic illnesses. Thaksin was seen wearing a neck brace and mask, with his right arm in a sling. He had undergone two surgeries in the first few weeks of his hospital stay, Paetongtarn said in September. Read: Why Thaksin Made Peace With Thai Establishment Foes: QuickTake Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said that the suspension of the popular politicians sentence was in line with the law. He heads a coalition led by Pheu Thai effectively helmed by Thaksin. On Saturday, Srettha said he wont shy away from consulting Thaksin on issues where the former premier has expertise. He said it was too early to say if Thaksin would be appointed to any government committees as it would also depend on what the former leader wanted to do after his release. According to Thai laws, prisoners who have served at least two-thirds of their sentences may be released early under probation. Additionally, prisoners who are 70 years or older and suffer from severe illnesses may also be eligible for release after serving at least six months, or a third of their sentences. While jail authorities havent spelled out the terms of Thaksins release, he will need to adhere to parole terms that include a monthly reporting to the probation officer, according to the Bangkok Post. Deal With Establishment A controversial but enduring figure in Thai politics, Thaksin is the head of the Shinawatra clan that has dominated national elections only to be routinely unseated from power. His homecoming was seen as part of a deal with the military establishment that ousted him in 2006 and his sister Yingluck Shinawatras government in 2014. Hours after Thaksins return to Thailand, Srettha was elected as the new prime minister after months of political deadlock. Thaksins youngest daughter Paetongtarn took the helm of Pheu Thai last year, further strengthening the clans grip on power. The conservative establishment, with which Thaksin often clashed while in power, is likely to keep a tight leash over the politician who still remains popular among rural voters, according to analysts. Earlier this month, authorities said they were considering a petition to prosecute Thaksin for allegedly insulting the monarchy over comments he made almost a decade ago. Thaksins release comes days after a top court ordered the main opposition Move Forward Party to cease attempts to amend the stringent royal insult law a campaign promise that helped it sweep 40% of popular votes in the general election in May. There is a possibility the party could be dissolved, with its leaders including Pita Limjaroenrat facing the prospect of being banned from politics for 10 years. Economic Conditions The opposition party slammed the lack of transparency in the process related to Thaksins suspension of jail sentence, including his hospitalization and illness. Its natural for people to question the privileges extended to the former prime minister while others charged for politically motivated cases are languishing in jail, Move Forward said on X, adding the rule of law should apply equally to everyone. Thailands economic conditions are getting worse because of the political conflict, according to 39% participants in a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration. And more than 50% of the 1,310 survey respondents worry that the political unrest may worsen in coming days. Economists have scaled back growth projections for this year given the likely delay to a planned 500 billion baht ($14 billion) cash injection and a less than rosy outlook for tourist spending and exports. The $500 billion economy likely expanded 2.1% last year, slower than 2.6% a year earlier, according to a Bloomberg survey ahead of official data due for release on Monday. The political situation will remain noisy and needs close monitoring, Standard Chartered Bank Plc economist Tim Leelahaphan said in a note Friday. Visibility on the political landscape in the second half is unclear as it depends on developments including Thaksins release, he said. --With assistance from Jill Disis. (Updates with comments from opposition in 14th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, sits in a vehicle with his daughters Paetongtarn and Pinthongta after being released on parole Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thaksin was released from Police General Hospital where for the last six months he had been serving time for corruption-related offenses. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) BANGKOK (AP) Thailands former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Southeast Asian nations most controversial politician for more than two decades, was released on parole early Sunday from a Bangkok hospital where he spent six months serving time for corruption-related offenses. The telecoms billionaire was toppled in a 2006 coup but voluntarily returned from self-exile to Thailand in August last year and reported to prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence. Critics charged that the 74-year-old Thaksins early release reeked of a deal that short-circuited justice for political reasons. Current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a leading member of the ruling Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party, expressed congratulations to his predecessor. Thaksin was seen wearing a neck brace, a sling on his right arm and a surgical mask inside one of the cars in a convoy that left the Police General Hospital just before sunrise. He was accompanied by his two daughters on his way to his residence in western Bangkok. "Thaksin is still believed to wield huge influence, and will still maneuver for sure, he will conduct the music behind the scenes, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn University, said. But Pheu Thai has less power than they used to and well have to see how he does it. After his return from exile, Thaksin was moved almost immediately to the hospital on grounds of ill health and about a week later, King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his sentence to a single year. The former leader had won unprecedented electoral support but also influential enemies among Thailands traditional royalist ruling class during his time in office in 2001-2006. He was accused of corruption and abuse of power as well as disrespect for the monarchy when the military removed him from power in 2006. Thailands conservative elite, including the army, regarded his popularity and brash populist politics as a threat to the royal institution, which they see as a linchpin of Thai society. Even after his ouster, Thaksin's supporters and opponents had continued their struggle for power with violent street fighting, election battles, confrontations in the courts and another coup in 2014 that ousted a government that had been formed by Thaksins sister. Last year's elections brought change when the progressive Move Forward party unexpectedly finished first, the first time since 2001 that a Thaksin-backed party failed to top the polls. Move Forwards proposals for reforms to the monarchy and the military resonated with large numbers of younger voters, weary of the army-backed governments that had held power since a 2014 coup. Move Forward was stymied when the military-appointed Senate refused to approve its candidate for prime minister, paving the way for Pheu Thai to form a coalition government including parties linked with the military. Pheu Thai also softened its longstanding anti-military line and reform proposals it promised during the election campaign. Critics charged the deal included a soft landing for Thaksin upon his return last year. In one sense, Thaksin going home to his family is an end to a personal and political journey that began with the 2006 coup when Thailands most popular prime minister was ousted, Kevin Hewison, a professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina and a veteran Thai studies scholar, told The Associated Press. He said the deal to bring him home and allow his Pheu Thai Party to lead a coalition government with military-backed parties "shows how the progressive politics of Thailands younger generation and the electorally successful Move Forward Party have left Thaksin and Pheu Thai behind. Move Forward, which now leads the parliamentary opposition, issued a statement Sunday reflecting widespread suspicion that Thaksin had received a sweetheart deal because of the political influence he can still wield. The circumstances raised questions over whether he benefited from double standards in the justice system, it said. At the same time it acknowledged that Thaksins ouster was unfair and undemocratic. Thaksin has insisted that his prosecution in the courts was politically motivated. Thaksin will still have to report to parole officers every month for the remainder of his sentence and will have a travel restriction, but he is not required to wear an ankle monitor due to his age and health conditions, officials have said. He is not yet clear of all legal challenges. Thai officials said earlier this month that they have reopened an investigation into allegations of defaming the monarchy made against Thaksin almost nine years ago. If the Office of the Attorney General decides to indict him, Thaksin could be detained again. His youngest daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who recently became Pheu Thai party chief, on Sunday afternoon posted a photo on her Instagram account of Thaksin sitting in shorts by a swimming pool, still wearing a neck brace and a sling on his arm. After not breathing air and seeing the sun on the outside for 180 days, and not being back to this house for 17 years Dad came to sit outside like this. He sat there for quite some time. #finallyhome she wrote, adding a heart emoji at the end. ___ Associated Press writer Grant Peck contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific Tax money diverted from kids So the Fort Worth ISD is experiencing a budget shortage. (Feb. 15, 1A, Fort Worth ISD school board finalizes staff cuts) Why am I not surprised, when state funds are withheld to try to force lawmakers to create a school voucher program? I am against my tax dollars being diverted, leaving the public schools to cut educational opportunities to try to survive. No wonder our teachers are leaving in droves for better-paying, less-stressful jobs, even though teaching is their first love. - Cecelia Gilbreath, Fort Worth Lakewood Church shooting is why There could not be a more perfect example of why Texas needs a red flag law than the recent shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston. The New York Times reported that in 2016, the shooter had been involuntarily hospitalized for mental illness. She kept several guns, including one in her sons diaper bag. In 2022, her former mother-in-law, concerned for her grandson, asked for a welfare check. She had no way to request for the weapons to be removed. Now the woman is dead and the grandson is critically injured. - Philip Courtney Hogan, Dallas I like what I see in Nikki Haley As a mother and grandmother, I am deeply concerned about the future of our nation. I will vote for Nikki Haley for president because she had an outstanding record as governor in South Carolina, where she created jobs, got tough on illegal immigration, signed pro-life legislation and cut taxes. She is experienced in international affairs as a former ambassador to the United Nations. Most important, she is a positive person of high moral character and integrity. We need a president who is younger, who has the energy to carry the heavy burden of leadership and who is not embroiled in the results of his or her own personal lawlessness. We need a commander in chief who is wise and can work well with our allies. As an Army mom, I believe Nikki Haley fits the bill. - Carla Collier, Southlake RFK Jr. disgraces his family name Initially, I liked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but his campaign for president has shown him to be not only an anti-vaccine extremist but also willing to trade on the family name for political gains. He claims that a political committee didnt consult him about a new television commercial for his campaign that is basically plagiarism of a 1960 campaign ad for his uncle, President John F. Kennedy. (Feb. 13, Star-Telegram.com, Super Bowl ad for RFK Jr. stirs Democratic and family tension over his independent White House bid) All I can say is: Bobby Jr., you are slick, but youre no JFK. I am glad the Kennedy family has repudiated this. The family needs to come out regularly between now and Election Day to remind voters of RFK Jr.s unsuitability. - James A. Marples, Longview Border problems belong to the GOP The opinion expressed in your recent editorial Border security bill shows all the ways Congress is broken missed the mark. (Feb. 11, 4C) While Republican Sen. James Lankford called the proposed border legislation the most conservative immigration bill to come before Congress in years, your editorial board could only complain that it fell short. Why not call the Republicans opposition what it is: a cynical attempt to continue to blame Democrats for immigration laws that have failed us for three decades. From last week on, every immigrant crossing the border belongs to the Republicans. - Paul W. Hartman, Fort Worth Fuel cells are the energy future Andrea Hitt might be right about natural gas and renewables for now, (Feb. 4, 5C, Solar and wind didnt fuel Texas during cold snap) but when hydrogen is generated during the day by solar-powered electrolysis, well be able to use it at night as a fallback energy source through fuel cells. - Luke Reilly, Fort Worth The not-so-secret secret is finally out. A Democrat congressman laid out the Democrat plan for Bidens open-border policy. The not-so-secret secret is for Texas to be flooded with illegal immigrants, giving the immigrants amnesty so they can vote Democrat, and by 2035 turn Texas blue with its 40 electoral votes. Never mind that the Ds must control all three branches of government to do so. Eventually, they believe, they will have all three branches again. However, the Ds may have outsmarted themselves. As with many plans, they often go awry. Joe Biden (I apologize for blaming poor Joe, since he doesnt really know whats going on.) assumed that the immigrants would be from Mexico. I suppose such is true, except that all those coming from Mexico arent Mexicans. The entire world is flooding our southern border. Fowler Apparently, Joe doesnt care that the world is full of rapists, murderers, and criminals of all types. If the most important members of the Democrat conspiracy New York and California the most populated states could add Texas, the conspiracy would be successful in turning Texas blue and finish destroying our country and government. The replacement would be a Marxist government, a disastrous form of government which allows terrorists, sex traffickers, drug dealers, murderous gang members (MS 13), and other miscreants of all kinds to go unpunished so long as they advance the Marxist agenda. The party is all that mattersthat is, the Democrat Party. By turning Texas blue, the Democrats would control all elections forever. But wait! Are the immigrants staying in Texas? It appears that when given amnesty, if ever, the immigrants will no longer be in Texas. To them, Texas is just a waypoint to their destinations to other states. They want to live their American Dream elsewhere, an American Dream that includes free rent, free food, free health care, and, it seems, under Biden, free everything. To put it bluntly, their American Dream is Utopian A song of the hobos during the Great Depression pretty well states their dreama big-rock candy mountain with lemonade springs, cigarette trees, and where handouts grow on bushes (Author unknown. Sung by Burl Ives in a 1950s album). The immigrants can find their American Dream in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other Democrat controlled big cities, sanctuary cities, in the United States, places I may go after Joe and his accomplices take all my money. If the time comes when the Democrats are able to give amnesty to the millions of illegal migrants flooding Texas, how many will still be in Texas? It appears likely that most will be in sanctuary states where the Democrat vote is already dominate. When asked at the border where they want to go, Ive yet to hear a migrant say, Texas or to hear one say, Im here! The ones who do not state a preference have disappeared into the shadows of a shadow government and do not want to come out of the shadows to reveal themselves. They do not trust the government of the United States. Fair point! I dont trust our government either, at least as it is formed at present. My columns, as most of you who bother to read them know, are not favorable to the present administration. Should I trust a government that is working mightily to destroy it? Frankly, I keep expecting to see a couple of FBI agents at my front door to escort me to the nearest jail. Im not important enough to have the swat team accompanied with blaring lights and national TV stations filming me. Im no Donald Trump. If they can do it to Trump, they can do it to anybody. Weve heard this refrain over and over again after the raid by the FBI on Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, a lawless display of power by a corrupt administration. Those are frightening words and true words as well. The Gestapo method of creating absurd excuses for illegal raids portends events to come if the Democrats retain power in Washington. Anybody but Trump! goes the refrain. Anybody but a Biden Democrat is my refrain. A few Democrats have finally decided to stand against the insanity coming out of Washington. They deserve listening to. Another bromide: If not now, when? Now is never too late. I have a suggestion for the immigrants flooding our borders: go home, kick out the despots who control your countries, and make a United States out of your countries instead of trying to make the United States into the corruption of your countries. Review the Marshall Plan after World War II. With the help of the United States, a Marshall Plan can work for you as well. Otherwise, we could put Hippos in the Rio Grande River to discourage crossing. Carl Fowler is a retired professor of English at Amarillo College and lives in Amarillo. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Fowler commentary: What happens in Texas stays not in Texas An injured man lies on a bed in the Gaza European hospital in late December Doctors across Gaza have described operating on patients without anaesthetic, turning people with chronic conditions away, and treating rotting wounds with limited medical supplies. "Because of the shortage of painkillers we leave patients to scream for hours and hours," one told the BBC. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the state of healthcare in Gaza as being "beyond words". It said 23 hospitals in Gaza were not functioning at all as of Sunday - 12 were partially functioning and one minimally. The health agency said air strikes and a lack of supplies have "depleted an already under-resourced system". The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says Hamas "systematically uses hospitals and medical centres for its terror activities". In a statement to the BBC, it said the IDF "did not 'attack' hospitals, but rather entered specific areas [to] neutralise Hamas' infrastructure and equipment, and apprehend Hamas terrorists, while acting with great caution". It said it was allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, including medical supplies. Aid organisations, including the WHO, say there have been "repeated access restrictions and denials". Warning: This article contains details some readers may find upsetting Hospitals stretched Many of Gaza's hospitals are overcrowded and have limited equipment, healthcare workers say. There are reports that some hospitals in southern Gaza are operating at over 300% of their bed capacity. Four field hospitals have been set up in Gaza, with 305 beds combined, according to the WHO. On Sunday, it said the Nasser hospital in southern Gaza was the latest facility to become non-operational, following a raid by Israeli forces. The IDF has described its operation in Nasser as "precise and limited", adding it had intelligence that Hamas had held hostages there. "Hamas continues to put Gaza's most vulnerable citizens in serious danger by cynically using hospitals for terror," the IDF told the BBC. Staff at nearby hospitals say the operation at Nasser has put extra strain on them. Yousef al-Akkad, director of the Gaza European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, described the current situation there as the "worst we've faced since the beginning of the war". "This situation was severe before, so what do you think it's like after receiving thousands more who've been displaced and are now staying in the hallways and the public areas?" He said the hospital did not have enough beds for the patients needing treatment, so staff were laying sheets over metal frames and wood, and putting "a lot of patients on the floor with nothing at all". Other doctors from across the Gaza Strip described similar situations. "Even if there is somebody with cardiac arrest or cardiac problems, we put them on the floor and start to work on them," said Dr Marwan al-Hams, director of Rafah's Martyr Mohammed Yusuf al-Najjar Hospital. A Hamas political committee appoints directors of public hospitals in Gaza. In some cases, these directors were in place before Hamas took control of the Strip. Dr Marwan al-Hams says patients are being treated on the floor Medication and supplies Doctors say they are struggling to work with limited medical supplies. "We cannot find a drop of oxygen," one told the BBC. "We're missing anaesthetics, supplies for the ICU, antibiotics and lastly painkillers," said Dr al-Akkad. "There are a lot of people who were severely burnt we don't have any suitable painkillers for them." One doctor confirmed that operations were going ahead without anaesthetic. A WHO team said they recently met a seven-year-old girl at the European Gaza hospital who was suffering from 75% burns, but unable to receive pain relief because of short supplies. Dr Mohamed Salha, acting director of northern Gaza's Al-Awda hospital, said people had been transported for treatment there on donkeys and horses. "The catastrophe is when the patients' wounds are rotting, as the wounds have been open for more than two or three weeks," he said. He said doctors there had performed surgeries by the light of headtorches because of electricity shortages. Staff separated from families The WHO says there are around 20,000 healthcare workers in Gaza, but that most are not working "as they are struggling to survive and care for their families". Dr al-Akkad said the numbers of staff and volunteers at his hospital had grown, partly because of people displaced from other areas coming to help. But he said it was not enough to cope with the volume of patients and types of injuries they were receiving. Following bombings, he said injured people come to the hospital "looking like kofta" - a dish with ground meat. "The same person comes with brain injuries, broken ribs, broken limbs, and sometimes losing an eye every injury you can imagine, you can see it in our hospital." He said one patient could need five or more specialist doctors to deal with the range of injuries. A wounded man is rushed to a hospital in Rafah Some of the doctors who have continued working are separated from their families. "My family has been away from me for more than three months and I long to embrace them," said Dr Salha in northern Gaza, whose family have sought safety in the south. "My consolation is that I am here serving children, women and the elderly in receiving health care and saving their lives." No room for chronic patients Doctors told the BBC that people in Gaza with chronic conditions had "paid a big price". "Frankly we don't have any beds for them or any potential to follow up with them," said Dr al-Akkad. "For anybody who does dialysis four times a week, now he does it once a week. If this guy was doing 16 hours a week, it will be one hour now." Some women are giving birth in tents with no medical support, while hospitals that provide midwifery services say they have limited capacity. "In one department a person dies and in the other department a new life is born. Children are born and there is no milk for them. The hospital provides one box of milk for every child," Dr Salha said. People are coming to hospitals with diseases that have spread in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. "There are sicknesses and we can not find any cure," said 54-year-old Abu Khalil, who has been displaced to Rafah in southern Gaza. "We need to go out from dawn and get in a queue and maybe you will find 100 people in front of you. You go back empty handed." Additional reporting by Muath Al Khatib Opinion polls may be useless and even by-elections unreliable at forecasting the outcome of a general election still ten or so months away, but the growing evidence that the Conservative Party is facing a calamitous result is difficult to resist. Some Tories have given up: nearly sixty MPs have announced they are not seeking re-election. There will be more. And some of those remaining are simply shell-shocked and bewildered an understandable response from those of them who were persuaded that Rishi Sunak had great political leadership skills or that the adults would be in charge if only the man who had secured an historic Conservative election victory were pushed out of politics. But others hope there is still a path back to victory or at least to mitigating the calamity and so easing a rapid Conservative return to power after the inevitable disappointments Starmer will deliver in office. A poll published in this paper today indicates a possible path. The trouble is that the first step is being rid of Sunak and the second the adoption of policies that even now, with the flaming roof caving in, many Tory MPs wouldnt countenance. Its possible the first could be overcome by a voluntary withdrawal. What will a few more months in office mean to a young man of Sunaks charm and promise? But it may not be easy: there are many historical examples of a capo di tutti capi with satisfactory retirement plans held back by immediate subordinates possessed of less foresight. Our politicians are used to a simple schematic of political positions marked out along a line running from Left to Right. Politicians place themselves comfortably somewhere on the line and those clustering to the Right-of-centre become Conservatives and those to the Left join the Labour Party. The leadership of each party then maintains a polite and not very distant position just either side of centre. The mantra for electoral success has been: dont alienate the centre, but at the same time keep your supporters at the far end of the line thinking you may, while persuading them that anyway they have nowhere else to go. This only applies to relevant political positions, because those found along the Left-Right line are not by any means the only political views around. Its just that these other ideas live in a three-dimensional void some distance from the line of relevance, ignored by the public and the media and having few supporters amongst elected politicians. For much of the last fifty years that mainstream line has run from a Left focused on governmental and communal control of resources, both public and private, through to a Right supportive of free enterprise and rewards for risk. Mrs Thatcher pulled the centre somewhat to the Right, with great economic results. Blair followed her there and Cameron felt pretty comfortable where Blair and Thatcher had landed. But the line can shift dramatically from time to time and too many of our politicians have failed to notice that the populace is now clustered around sets of policies that Thatcher (and even Blair) would regard as hailing from the three-dimensional void. So our Left now is based on a nexus of issues such as climate change, animal welfare and gender and group identity ,while our Right beats the drum for national identity, governing in the interests of British residents first, keeping free of the EU and controlling immigration. Neither the Conservative Party nor the Labour Party is remotely comfortable in this discourse. The result is that the current Conservative strategy of having a plan, delivering it and then expecting a grateful electorate to reward them at the ballot box is doomed. The notion that things are going to get better for the Government has no basis in fact. Its time for the Prime Minister to call an early election and let the voters decide. Lord Moylan is a Conservative peer 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. GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WBTW) Georgetown city leaders are shuttering a bar with a history of violence thats forced police to respond more than 100 times just over the last two years. The city council on Thursday voted unanimously to revoke a business license for Mingz Bar and Grill, which opened in 2015 along North Merriman Road. Its a matter of time before someone gets killed, police chief William Pierce said during a public hearing ahead of the vote. Little River bar withdraws its appeal, consents to states suspension of alcohol license after deadly New Years Eve shooting Owner Monta Moores business was declared a public nuisance under city code on Oct. 9. Over the prior six months, police responded to 60 calls for incidents ranging from assaults and disorderly conduct to gunshots. Barfields Bar & Grille to forgo hearing on suspension of alcohol licenses And on Aug. 10 during a SLED compliance check, officers arrested two people on drug possession charges, according documents provided to city leaders. My experience with Mingz is little to no cooperation at all. Prior to Oct. 1, we have spoken to the owner several times about the need to mitigate or abate those issues and it went nowhere, Pierce said. For her part, Moore explained that the illegal activity mostly occurred in the Mingz parking lot. She also looked into hiring private security but couldnt afford it, Georgetown Police Staff Sgt. Blair Cribb testified. None of these fights happen inside my bar. It happens outside, and Im not trying to put no blame on nobody but I have no control over what people have in their car, Moore said. When I go out to clear the parking lot on my own, Im scared for my life. Cribb said authorities have tried to work with Moore to avoid closing down a local business. But seven different gun calls at this business? Thats unacceptable, and thats why were where we are now. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Investigators with the Towns County Sheriffs Office went back to the scene of a raid and found a much larger amount of fentanyl than they had originally discovered. Deputies with Towns County working with the Clay County Sheriffs Office raided the home of Gregory Thomas Breitenbach on Feb. 7. Breitenbach was arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute after 2.7 grams of the drug was found. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the sheriffs office, investigators and K-9 units were not satisfied with the results of the raid and continued their investigation by interviewing Breitenbach. They determined that he saw deputies entering his driveway and threw drugs out of his back window. Investigators returned to his home to search the area again and found heroin, Xanax, and a large 33-gram brick of pure fentanyl. A dose of only 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. The sheriffs office said a 33-gram brick of fentanyl is enough to kill the entire population of Towns County. TRENDING STORIES: In addition to the previous charges Breitenbach was facing, he has now been charged with felony trafficking of fentanyl and heroin, felony possession of heroin, felony possession of Schedule IV controlled substance, and felony possession with intent to distribute a Schedule IV controlled substance. The sheriffs office said this was the largest amount of fentanyl ever seized in Towns County. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A Cherokee County grand jury has indicted a woman who officials say is responsible for running a criminal enterprise that resulted in items being stolen from Targets in several different states. According to the indictment obtained by Channel 2 Action News, Claudia Hornea was indicted on two counts of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. TRENDING STORIES: Officials said between Sept. 1st and Oct. 17th, Hornea and several co-conspirators stole from Target locations in Georgia, Texas, Alabama and North Carolina. In total, the indictment said she stole from 24 Target stores. The indictment did not name her co-conspirators. Officials said that Hornea is accused of stealing over $100,000 worth of merchandise from Target. The indictment added that she took skin care products, televisions, clothing, gaming accessories, an Apple watch, toys, ink cartridges and baby products. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Court records said Hornea, along with her criminal enterprise, utilized the following steps when stealing from a Target: Obtain a driver to drop off and stage during theft Utilize children/teens and co-conspirators Obtain a box or tote to conceal stolen items Utilize a lookout to avoid law enforcement Employ counter-surveillance techniques to prevent apprehension Commit the crime of theft by shoplifting to support the enterprise Resell stolen merchandise for profit Hornea faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of a RICO violation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia, speaks on the last day of the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. Tobias Hase/dpa Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili believes that the timing of the announcement of the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was not a coincidence, but a message from Russia. "I think that it was no coincidence that the death of Navalny was announced a few hours or minutes before the start of the Munich conference," the 71-year-old told dpa in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. "That is the usual character trait of the Russian activity, to try to psychologically impress that Russia is doing whatever it wants, wherever it wants. And that was a message, I think, for the conference in Munich," she said. Navalny's team confirmed his death on Saturday, citing Navalny's mother Lyudmila Navalnaya. She had travelled to the prison camp in northern Russia and received the news of his death there, according to a post by Navalny's spokeswoman on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The death of the 47-year-old critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had been imprisoned since 2021, is said to have occurred on Friday at 2:17 pm (0917 GMT). The Russian prison service first announced Navalny's death shortly before the start of the Munich Security Conference on Friday. Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia, speaks during an interview with the German Press Agency at the 60th Munich Security Conference in the Rosewood Munich Hotel. Felix Horhager/dpa Germany's largest arms company, Rheinmetall, signed a memorandum of cooperation with Ukraine on 17 February and plans to open an ammunition plant in Ukraine. Source: Rheinmetall on Twitter Details: The memorandum was signed in the presence of Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries, and Oleksii Makeiev, Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The new plant will produce a six-figure number of 155-mm artillery shells annually. It will also manufacture projectile charges. Rheinmetall, Europes largest ammunition maker, plans to open a new ammo plant in #Ukraine . MoU to set up a JV has been signed in the presence of Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industries, and ambassador S.E. Oleksii Makeiev during Munich Security pic.twitter.com/lD5Qx9UOGT Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) February 17, 2024 The German company will own 51% of the joint venture, and a Ukrainian partner company will hold 49%. Background: On 12 February, reports indicated that construction of a new Rheinmetall plant in Germany was being launched to increase Germany's capacity to produce artillery shells and that Ukraine would receive several hundred thousand shells this year alone. Support UP or become our patron! Rescuers remove rubble from a school destroyed during an overnight missile attack on the town of Sloviansk, Donetsk region. Stock photo: Getty Images German authorities have spoken about their activities in investigating Russia's war crimes in Ukraine. Source: Bild; European Pravda Details: According to the Federal Ministry of Justice, Germany has already collected more than 500 pieces of evidence of war crimes in Ukraine and interrogated more than 160 witnesses. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said that if someone gives an order to deliberately violate international criminal law, then this government official is potentially a war criminal. Quote: "The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. I hope and wish that, at some point, he will have to stand before trial. I know that we will need a lot of patience for this," he said. The minister pointed out that if a Russian drone is deliberately guided by a soldier into a residential building where only civilians are present, it is a war crime. Quote: "Every photo and every video on mobile phones, for example, can help in the investigation. Anyone who deletes such materials is only helping Russian war criminals," Buschmann said. He added that the German authorities want to convince more victims or witnesses of traumatic experiences among Ukrainians who fled to Germany to share their experiences with the police. Background: Earlier, Germany announced that it had identified the Russians suspected of targeting civilians in the village of Hostomel, including a German citizen, during Berlin's first investigation into war crimes in Ukraine. On 19 December, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court confirmed that it had received an appeal from former Russian intelligence colonel Igor Salikov, who fled to the Netherlands and declared his readiness to testify about Russian war crimes. Earlier, reports emerged that Salikov, 60, had travelled to the Netherlands and expressed his desire to testify before the International Criminal Court. Salikov claimed to have served 25 years, first in the Russian army and then in the Wagner Private Military Company, on whose side he fought in Syria and several African countries. He was also involved in Russia's aggression against Ukraine, first in 2014 and later in 2022. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office later said that they had been investigating the information received from Salikov for more than six months. Support UP or become our patron! Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at Rheinmetall's future plant in Unterlusse, Germany, on February 12, 2024 Germanys Rheinmetall AG, Europes largest ammunition manufacturer, plans to open a new ammo plant in Ukraine, the company announced on X (Twitter) on Feb. 17. Six-digit number of 155mm calibre bullets to be produced per year, including propelling charges, their statement says. Read also: German Rheinmetall and Ukrainian defense industry establish joint venture The joint venture memorandum was signed in the presence of Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin and the Ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev during the Munich Security Conference. Rheinmetall will hold a 51% stake in the joint venture, with the Ukrainian partner holding the remaining 49%. On Feb. 13, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said that the Ukrainian military currently needs more than 2 million artillery rounds annually, and German domestic production cannot meet the demand. Earlier, Rheinmetall AG had initiated the construction of a new plant in Lower Saxony for manufacturing of artillery shells, explosives, and rocket artillery components. Rheinmetall and the state-owned Ukroboronprom have established a joint venture aimed at maintaining and repairing equipment supplied by Ukrainian partners, Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal said on Oct. 24. Read also: Rheinmetall AG to construct new artillery plant in Lower Saxony, boosting domestic production 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 WELLSBORO, Pa. (WETM) The Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center needs artwork from young artists in the area for its annual student art exhibit. The Gmeiner is asking students in grades 7 through 12 who live in the Northern Potter, Galeton, Northern Tioga, Wellsboro, Southern Tioga, Troy, or Canton school districts to consider submitting up to two pieces of artwork each for its upcoming exhibit. The artwork will be on display from March 10 through March 30. Students, their teachers, or their families can drop artwork off at the Gmeiner, located at 134 Main St. in Wellsboro, between noon and 6 p.m. on Friday, March 1, or from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, March 4. All pieces must be original to the student and cannot be copies of published works or anyone elses art. An entry form will need to be filled out for each piece. Pennsylvania holds Lyme disease awareness art contest for kids Artworks can be two-dimensional or sculptural; digital artwork is possible if discussed with the centers director. Two-dimensional pieces must be either framed or mounted on a board or construction paper and can be no more than 36 inches in any direction. Sculptural and ceramic pieces must weigh less than 70 pounds and be able to fit through a 6-foot by 8-foot doorway. Participants in the exhibit are asked not to submit incomplete, wet, or broken pieces. Student artists and their families are encouraged to attend a reception from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, to celebrate the opening day of the exhibit. Light refreshments will be served at the reception. The exhibit and reception will be open to the public as well. Knoxville Public Library taking donations for personalized bricks, nameplates All submitted works must be picked up after the exhibit ends. Students and teachers can pick up artwork from noon until 6 p.m. on Monday, April 1, or from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2. Anyone with questions should contact Gmeiner Director Carrie Heath by calling 570-724-1917 or emailing director@gmeinerartculturalcenter.org. Those who would like to fill out entry forms before drop off should contact Heath as well. More information about the Gmeiner and the student art exhibit can be found on the Gmeiners website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. The wife of an investor has launched a GoFundMe to help fund former President Trumps mounting legal expenses in the wake of Fridays verdict in the New York fraud case. The GoFundMe has a goal of $355 million the amount that Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay in penalties in a civil fraud case. As of Saturday night, the GoFundMe had already raised more than $185,000 from some 4,000 donors. With interest, Trump and his business could pay more than $450 million, according to the New York attorney generals office. The online fundraiser was started by Elena Cardone, the wife of investor Grant Cardone, an entrepreneur and investor. I stand unwaveringly with President Donald Trump in the face of what I see as unprecedented and unfair treatment by certain judicial elements in New York, Elena Cardone wrote on the GoFundMe page. She continued, The recent legal battles he faces are not just an attack on him, but an attack on the very ideals of fairness and due process that every American deserves. The Friday financial penalty comes shortly after Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million when a judge determined last month that Trump defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump was previously ordered to pay Carroll $5 million last year. Trumps attorneys slammed the Friday verdict, calling it a politically fueled witch hunt, and said the former president will appeal the ruling. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) responded to former President Trumps recent comments on NATO, saying that he supports the former presidents calls to get members of the alliance to contribute what would be considered their fair share. In recent days, Trump has doubled down on comments in which he claimed to have told a foreign leader while he was in office that if their country didnt contribute enough to NATO, then Russia can do whatever the hell they want. Graham said that he supports members of NATO paying a fair share to the alliance during an interview on CBSs Face the Nation. I want to have a system where if you dont pay, you get kicked out. But no, Im not inviting Russia to invade Ukraine, Graham said Sunday. President Trump is right to want NATO nations to meet their obligation of 2 percent. We need to turn it into an obligation that means something. Im a big fan of NATO, but theres $70-80 billion left on the table. If youre in NATO, pay the 2 percent, he said. Trumps calls for NATO members to contribute more largely centers on efforts to get all members to commit 2 percent of their gross domestic product to defense spending, a benchmark NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said at least half of the 31-member alliance is set to meet in 2024. I think whats appropriate is for everybody to meet the obligation of 2 percent, Graham said. Trumps comments prompted somewhat of a split in the Republican Party, with some pushing back on his remarks and others attempting to defend them. Trump has been critical of NATO in the past and frequently attacked the alliance while he was in office due to some members not contributing what he believed was enough. President Biden called Trumps remarks appalling and dangerous in a statement at the time. Donald Trumps admission that he intends to give [Russian President Vladimir Putin] a greenlight for more war and violence, to continue his brutal assault against a free Ukraine, and to expand his aggression to the people of Poland and the Baltic States are appalling and dangerous, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggested Sunday he would support the House-led proposal that would include funding for Ukraine, Israel and provisions on the southern border. Yes, Im saying that the House proposal, it depends on how its written, makes perfect sense to me. I think youll pick up six to eight Republicans who want to help Ukraine, but believed that the bipartisan bipartisan border bill was not sufficient enough, he said on CBSs Face the Nation when asked if he would support a bipartisan, House-led proposal on aid and border security. Why did I vote no? I want to help ourselves by securing our border. I want to help Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. The border provisions were were not adequate, he said. The Senate bipartisan bill that passed last week includes $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion in security assistance to Israel. It also includes $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine, as well as $4.8 billion to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has already rejected the Senate bill. Graham did not support the Senate bill last week but said Sunday he would support a proposal put forward by a bipartisan group of moderate House lawmakers. The House-led proposal includes $47 billion for Ukraine, $10 billion for Israel, $5 billion for the Indo-Pacific and $2 billion to support U.S. Central Command operations. However, it also includes stricter measures to be implemented at the border, including reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy for one year. It would also require that the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security suspend entry of inadmissible migrants at the border if they determine that it is necessary to achieve operational control of the border for one year. Graham said including the Remain in Mexico policy is the No. 1 game changer. Lets go back to Remain in Mexico as a border security policy. And that was the No. 1 request of the Border Patrol on our visit to Texas You have to wait in Mexico for your asylum claim, youre not released in the United States. And secondly, to reinstitute Title 42. Those two things on the border, I think, are simple [and] will work, he said. And they want to slim down the aid package to $60 billion, all lethal aid. And heres what I told them: I think thats the winning combination. I suggested making the lethal aid a loan, like President Trump has suggested, he said, adding that he believes the combination will make it though the House and will pick up votes in the Senate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In the wake of the recent shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade, Missouri gun laws are likely to be scrutinized again. Missouri has few regulations surrounding the sale, ownership or carrying of a firearm. State law also prohibits local officials from superseding its gun laws, although it does allow for cities to create local ordinances requiring permits to carry firearms. Kansas City and St. Louis require permits for open carry, with those not in compliance facing only a municipal ordinance violation, generally a fine or a ticket. Columbia and Springfield do not have such requirements. Missouri has few regulations surrounding the purchase or ownership of guns. In 2021, Missouri lawmakers passed and Gov. Mike Parson signed into law the Second Amendment Preservation Act, sponsored by now U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, which attempts to bar federal gun laws from being enforced in the state. Police who try to do so could face a $50,000 fine. The act is being challenged in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in October, and the law remains on hold while the appeal is active. Also in 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Missouri ranked ninth nationwide for its firearm death rate. In 2020, Missouri ranked fourth, but the reason it is now lower on that list is not because the states death rate improved but that the gun death rate in other states substantially increased. An annual report from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave Missouri an overall failing grade, ranking it 48th in the nation for the strength of its gun laws last year. The report cites more than 1,400 people died from gun violence in 2023. In February 2023, Saint Louis University and YouGov conducted a poll of 900 likely Missouri voters. Respondents were asked how they felt about requiring criminal background checks for all those buying guns, including at gun shows and private sales, finding 79% in favor of doing so with 16% opposed. The survey also asked if a mental health background check for all those buying guns, including at gun shows and private sales, should be conducted, to which 69% were in favor and 19% opposed. Results also showed 69% of respondents were in favor of raising the age limit to buy a gun to at least 21 years old, while 24% opposed the measure. There were 60% of respondents in favor of imposing a 72 hour wait time to purchase a gun, with 29% opposed. When asked if they would support the implementation of red flag laws that allow a court to temporarily remove guns from people that are believed to pose a danger to themselves or others, 60% again responded in favor, with 25% opposed. Guns for rent to shoot in the new indoor shooting range at Cherokee Firearms on the corner of West College Street and Kansas Expressway. Who can purchase a firearm or ammunition in Missouri? There is no permit required to purchase or own a firearm in Missouri. Owners are not required to register their firearms. The state doesnt have a minimum age requirement for buying a firearm. Instead, Missouri law forbids "recklessly" selling, loaning or otherwise giving a firearm to someone under the age of 18 without parental consent. The same stipulations apply to those not allowed to possess a firearm and intoxicated people. Federal law requires that a person must be 21 to purchase a handgun or handgun-caliber ammunition, or 18 to buy a rifle, shotgun or ammunition for those firearms. The federal Youth Handgun Safety Act prohibits anyone under 18 from possessing a handgun, except in certain limited circumstances. That prohibition does not apply if the minor is on premises owned or leased by the minor, a parent, a guardian or an immediate family member, or if the pistol is being used for farming, ranching, hunting, trapping, target shooting or gun safety instruction. Does Missouri require a background check to buy a firearm? No, the state does not require a background check. However, a federally-licensed dealer or gun store is required to conduct a background check. In the case of gun shows, which are popular in Missouri, sellers can conduct person-to-person sales of rifles, shotguns or handguns without conducting a background check. This private seller exemption is sometimes referred to as the gun show loophole, but it isnt exclusive to gun shows. Any private sale or gift involving a firearm between two people is not required to conduct a background check. The caveat to this is that a private sale can still potentially put the seller at risk of prosecution if the seller knows the firearm is being sold to someone who is not allowed to own one. A full list of persons excluded from legal firearm ownership is provided below. What disqualifies a Missouri resident from buying or owning a gun? According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the following persons are federally disqualified from owning a firearm: A person who has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year; A person who is a fugitive from justice; A person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; A person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; A person who is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States or an alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa; A person who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions; A person who having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his or her citizenship; A person who is subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of such intimate partner issued after a hearing at which notice was given to the person and at which the person had an opportunity to participate, and includes a finding that the person subject to the order represents a credible threat to the intimate partner or child or the intimate partner OR explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of force against the partner; A person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully receive, possess, ship, or transport a firearm or ammunition, and is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving firearms and ammunition; A person who is under indictment or information for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year cannot lawfully ship, transport, or receive a firearm or ammunition. Such persons may continue to lawfully possess firearms and ammunition obtained prior to the indictment or information, but cannot do so once the conviction becomes final. Who can openly carry a gun in Missouri, and where is it allowed? The state allows the open carry of a firearm anywhere that they are not expressly prohibited, provided that it is not done in a way that is angry or threatening. Generally, openly carrying a gun is not allowed in police stations, detention facilities, schools, places of worship, amusement parks, polling places, hospitals, stadiums, state or federal buildings. Private establishments also reserve the right to prohibit firearms on their premises, but they must clearly display those wishes by means of one or more signs displayed in a conspicuous place of a minimum size of eleven inches by fourteen inches with the writing thereon in letters of not less than one inch. More: Mark your calendar with these important 2024 Missouri election dates What about concealed carry in Missouri? Concealed carry is allowed in Missouri for those who are at least 19 years old, and no permit is required. However, permits are offered by local authorities and required to carry a firearm under some municipal ordinances in places such as Kansas City or St. Louis. Permits are also necessary to carry firearms into states recognizing Missouri concealed carry permits. All neighboring states allow this except for Illinois. To obtain a concealed carry permit, a person must be at least 19 years old, or at least 18 and a member of the United States Armed Forces or honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. A person must also be a U.S. citizen and a Missouri resident. They must also pass a background check showing that they have not committed a violent crime or serious criminal offense, be a fugitive from the law or deemed mentally incompetent. Who can sell firearms in Missouri? Missouri has no specific regulations on firearm retailers, although, under federal law, a Federal Firearms License is required "if you intend to engage in a business involving the dealing, manufacturing, or importing of firearms, or manufacturing or importing ammunition," according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Private sellers who make occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of his personal collection of firearms do not face the same requirement. Missouri law prohibits federal firearms dealers from refusing to sell any customer a gun who meets the federal requirements to purchase one. However, it does allow refusal of a sale if the retailer has articulable reasons based on individual judgment specific to that transaction that are not based on the race, gender, religion, creed of the buyer. Are there some guns or accessories that cannot be sold in Missouri? Machine guns, firearm silencers and short-barreled rifles or shotguns are illegal under federal law. Gas guns or a bullet or projectile which explodes or detonates upon impact because of an independent explosive charge after having been shot from a firearm are illegal under Missouri law. Missouri has no laws regulating assault weapons, large capacity ammunition magazines, .50-caliber firearms, or ghost guns, a term that refers to untraceable firearms constructed through individually purchased parts. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Here's what to know about Missouri gun laws after Kansas City shooting GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley alleged Sunday that Congress is "lying to the American people" by tying foreign aid to border security. "Congress is failing because theyre making this sound like you have to choose between Ukraine and Israel, or securing the border. They are lying to the American people. Thats a false premise. We can do both," Haley said during an appearance on ABC's This Week. "Securing our southern border is priority number one, but making sure that we help Ukraine and Israel is also about preventing war. If we just supported Ukraine and Israel, thats only 5% of our defense budget. If we supported Ukraine, Israel and secured the border, thats less than 20% of Bidens green subsidies. So this is not about the American people having to choose either/or. This is about Joe Biden and Congress understanding that they need to choose national security. They need to choose preventing war, and their job is to keep Americans safe, and they have to communicate that to the American people, and they are not doing that right now." ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl pressed Haley on a message to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who said he wouldn't be "rushed" into approving the $95.3 billion foreign aid package from the Senate that could come up for a vote in the lower chamber of Congress. But Haley said it was President Biden who needs to take a better approach. "Well first, I think you have to talk about what Joe Biden should be doing," Haley said. "First of all, the reason youre seeing America become more isolationist is that at no point has Joe Biden had a conversation with the American people about why Ukraine is important. At no point has he had a conversation with them with the American people about the terrorist activity thats happening with Israel and why Iran is so dangerous. At no point is he talking about the threat of China, and when you dont talk about those things with the American people, theyre going to distance themselves from it. And so, Joe Biden has failed on that front. That has emboldened our enemies." NATO CHIEF SAYS TRUMP CRITICISM 'DOES UNDERMINE THE SECURITY OF ALL OF US' Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event at Irmo Town Park on Feb. 17, 2024, in Irmo, South Carolina. As for former President Donald Trump, Haley contended he "doesnt worry about Putin invading Ukraine," so now the Russian president is putting soldiers around the Baltic region. "Hes moving in for the next era," Haley said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Lets remind the American people that Putin said once he takes Ukraine, Poland and the Baltics are next. Now he is putting soldiers around those countries just as he did Ukraine. And if that happens, those are NATO countries, that immediately puts America at war. That is what were trying to avoid, and thats why this aid package is so important. Ukraines not asking for troops. Theyre just asking for the equipment and ammunition to win this war. They have a great fighting force. We need to give them what they need so that they can win so that we can prevent having to send any of our military men and women to fight." House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., joined by House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and House Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes, D-Conn., on Feb. 15, 2024, following a briefing about Russia developing an anti-satellite weapon that the White House said is cause for concern. SENATE PASSES CONTROVERSIAL FOREIGN AID BILL SENDING BILLIONS TO UKRAINE, ISRAEL AND TAIWAN If the $95 billion aid package was put to a vote, Johnson would find overwhelming support in the House from a coalition of Democrats and Republicans. Anchoring the package is $61 billion for Ukraine, mainly in the form of military equipment from the U.S. It also sends foreign assistance and humanitarian aid to Israel, Gaza and allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Yet the reported death of Alexei Navalny, the most famous political prisoner in Russia and Putin's biggest rival, did not appear to move Johnson to commit on Friday. Former President Donald Trump speaks during a "Get Out The Vote" rally in Waterford Township, Michigan, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. "As Congress debates the best path forward to support Ukraine, the United States, and our partners, must be using every means available to cut off Putins ability to fund his unprovoked war in Ukraine and aggression against the Baltic states," Johnson said in a statement. Haley, Trump's former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina governor, will face off against Trump in the Feb. 24 South Carolina primary. On Sunday, she also tried to accuse Trump of siding "with a guy who kills his political opponents," referring to Putin as, "a thug who arrests American journalists and holds them hostage." Karl also asked Haley if she would endorse Trump if he becomes the Republican presidential nominee, but she deflected and stressed that if Trump is the nominee, that would ensure that current Vice President Kamala Harris is elected president in November. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Haley: Congress is lying to the American people by tying foreign aid to border security Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley declined Sunday to affirm that she would support Donald Trump if he were to become the GOP nominee for president again her latest dig at the former president as she steadily sharpens her attacks against him heading into her home states primary. Speaking to host Jonathan Karl on ABC's "This Week," the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador said multiple times that her sole concern is defeating Trump in the Republican primary. "I'm running against him because I don't think he should be president," she said. "The last thing on my mind is who I'm going to support. The only thing on my mind is how we're going to win this." When Karl tried to pin down Haley, she declined to say one way or the other. "I'm going to run and I'm going to win, and y'all can talk about support later. Right now you can ask him if he's going to support me when I'm the nominee," she said. While not a full-blown reversal, it does reflect changed rhetoric from the former South Carolina governor, the lone high-profile Republican still in the race, who previously said she would back Trump if he were to win the then-crowded primary. I would support him because I am not going to have a President Kamala Harris. We cant afford that. That is not going to happen, she said on CNBC in July 2023. At the first GOP debate in August, Haley was one of the contenders who raised their hands to say she would back Trump (who was not at the debate) if he emerged from the primary process as the nominee. Even as she has ratcheted up her criticism of Trump during the campaign season, she has not directly reversed her position on that matter. While she continues to attack the Biden administration on just about every issue, she has become more unsparing in her views on her GOP foe. During the interview with Karl, Haley was sharply critical of President Joe Biden for the state of the world today, but also aimed her fire at Trump, particularly for his recent remarks that were seen as undermining the NATO alliance as well as his attempts to stock the leadership of the Republican National Committee with close allies, including Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law. "It should be a wake-up call for Republicans all over this country," Haley told Karl. "I mean, you look at the fact that we saw in his campaign reports that he used $50 million of campaign contributions to pay for his personal court cases. Then he tried to get the RNC to name him the presumptive nominee. We don't anoint kings in America." The next Republican primary is to be held in South Carolina, Haley's home state, on Feb. 24. Sunday's interview was something of a greatest hits collection for Haley, featuring many of her current leading lines of attack against the former president, particularly when it comes to what Trump has said (or not said) about Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose leading foe Alexei Navalny unexpectedly died last week, a death that much of the world is assuming was ordered by Putin. "We need to remind the American people that Vladimir Putin is not our friend," she said. "Vladimir Putin is not cool. This is not someone we want to associate with. This is not someone that we want to be friends with. This is not someone that we can trust. And so when you hear Donald Trump say in South Carolina a week ago that he would encourage Putin to invade our allies if they werent pulling their weight, thats bone-chilling, because all he did in that one moment was empower Putin." She also noted that Trump has been silent on the matter of Navalny's death. "Either he sides with Putin and thinks its cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents or he just doesnt think its that big of a deal. Either one of those is concerning. Either one of those is a problem," she said. Later at a Fox News town hall in South Carolina, she pursued that line of attack about Navalny. Donald Trump needs to answer whether he thinks Putin is responsible for Navalny, she said. Haley and most of the GOP field, save for former Govs. Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson largely avoided landing direct blows on Trump in the early months of the primary, focusing instead on Biden (or bickering with each other), as Trump soared in the polls. But with only her and Trump remaining from the pool of well-known candidates, Haley has turned up the heat attempting to capitalize on Trumps behavior and legal woes. Donald Trump is in court today. There will be a verdict on another case tomorrow. And he has a trial starting March 25. Meanwhile, hes spending millions of campaign donations on legal fees, Haley posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, as a judge blocked Trumps attempt to toss some of the dozens of charges he is facing. All of this chaos will only lead to more losses for Republicans up and down the ticket. In a new ad out Tuesday, Haleys campaign warned of the chaos that will ensue if hes elected president again. And then she doubled down, telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday morning: An unhinged president is an unsafe president. Haley has gone after Trump for his age slamming him for confusing her with Democratic Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and trolling him and Biden with a billboard campaign stitching together clips of the two candidates trailing off and otherwise appearing confused during recent public remarks. When Trump told a crowd of supporters that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO allies who didnt meet defense spending requirements, Haley pounced: NATO has been a success story for the last 75 years. But what bothers me about this is, dont take the side of a thug, who kills his opponents. Dont take the side of someone who has gone in and invaded a country and half a million people have died or been wounded because of Putin, Haley said last week. After Trump endorsed two key allies Lara Trump and a senior campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita for leadership roles on the Republican National Committee, Haley tied the attempt to gain a tighter grip on the partys fundraising apparatus to Trumps mounting legal bills. I dont want the RNC to become his piggy bank for his personal court cases. Weve already seen him spend $50 million worth of campaign contributions toward his personal court cases, Haley told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Friday. The attacks have yet to reflect serious positive movement on the ballot for Haley she recently suffered a stinging blow in Nevada, where the option for none of these candidates, received the most votes in a primary that wouldnt have won her any delegates anyway. And they come with the threat of turning Trump into a long-term enemy, throwing Haleys chance of a future as a prominent member of the modern Republican Party into question. Haleys campaign has playfully acknowledged the risk that comes with being on Trumps proverbial hit list: The team is hawking shirts emblazoned with the words barred permanently, pulling from a Trump Truth Social post in which the former president warned Haley donors that they would be permanently barred from the MAGA camp. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Sunday would not say directly whether she would support former President Trump if hes the ultimate party nominee for president. During the first 2024 GOP primary debate, Haley was among the vast majority of candidates who raised their hands to signal theyd support Trump if he became the party nominee, even if hes a convicted felon. Candidates were required to sign a pledge to back the party nominee to participate in the debate. In the months since, however, Haley has emerged as the last standing GOP challenger to Trump and, as a result, has sharpened her attack on her primary opponent. In an interview with ABC Newss Jonathan Karl on Sunday, Haley was asked whether she stands by that pledge even though she had recently criticized Trumps NATO threats and called Trump unhinged and unfit for office. I mean, keep in mind, I am running against him for a reason. Im running against him because I dont think hes the right person at the right time. I dont think he should be president. The last thing on my mind is who Im going to support. The only thing on my mind is how were going to win this, Haley said before making the argument that she is the most electable candidate and the most likely to win in the general election. She added: If Donald Trump is the nominee for the Republican Party, he will not win. Every poll shows that. He will not win, and we will have a president Kamala Harris. Im not going to allow that to happen. Im not stopping. Im not going anywhere. Were going to do this for the long haul. And were going to finish it. Pressed whether that meant she would not back Trump if hes the Republican nominee, Haley dodged again. That means Im going to run and Im going to win, and yall can talk about support later, Haley responded. Right now, you can ask him if hes going to support me when Im the nominee. Do you think he would? Karl asked. Do you think he would? Haley said with a laugh. I highly doubt it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nikki Haley faces tough choices for her long-shot presidential bid as she trails former President Trump less than two weeks before the GOP primary in her home state of South Carolina. Amid growing calls for the former president to be treated as a presumptive Republican nominee, many in the party are questioning Haleys motives for staying in the race, with some speculating that the former United Nations ambassador is gearing up for 2028 or positioning herself as a backup in case Trump can no longer run. The former president told supporters this week that Haley would never be his vice presidential pick. But if she does get out of the race, she will also face pressure to decide whether to join several of Trumps former rivals in endorsing him. You want to campaign to win, and theres no path to victory for her. And so she must be running for some other reason, said Republican strategist Justin Sayfie, arguing Haleys putting forward more of a statement campaign at this point. Trump now leads by nearly 35 points in South Carolina, according to the latest polling averages from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, as some view the state as Haleys last stand to prove she can perform better than the polls predict. A Winthrop University survey released this week showed Trump up 36 points, and noted Haleys favorability has declined in her home state in recent months. Some strategists have suggested Haley could spin a second-place finish in the Palmetto State as a win if she comes within 10 or so points of Trump, while others think anything less than an outright win will heavily bruise her. If the polls are to be believed, shes about to take a terrible electoral beating in her home state. Its hard to imagine a more humiliating loss than that, and a more debilitating loss for future political prospects than that, Sayfie said. But while the odds seem stacked against her, Haleys team has signaled no intent to exit the race, charging forward to the first-in-the-South primary and turning attention toward states that vote on Super Tuesday, March 5. She announced a leadership team for California on Wednesday and rallied in Texas on Thursday. Our goal is to try and be anywhere and everywhere, Haley told CBS News Texas, insisting her campaign is closing the gap in South Carolina and getting ready for the races next month. Trump rallied in Charleston, S.C., this week alongside Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who was appointed by Haley to the Senate back in 2012 but who last year endorsed Trump after ending his own 2024 bid. Amid murmurs about whether Scott is a contender in Trumps veepstakes, the former president appeared to take the option off the table for Haley. Trump during the rally referred to an earlier comment hed made conflating Haley with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), arguing they both stink. Remember this, when I make a statement like that about Nikki, that means she will never be running for vice president. She will not be running with me for vice president, Trump said. Haley herself has said shes not interested in a vice presidential role. Some have speculated, though, that Haley knows her 2024 chances are slim but is sticking with her stalwart campaign to take advantage of the national spotlight and build her profile for a possible 2028 run. At the same time, strategists say suffering losses in the early states and opening herself up to a potential embarrassment on her home turf later this month isnt exactly helpful for Haleys record if she is looking toward a future presidential bid. GOP strategist Brendan Steinhauser contrasted Haley with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who entered the White House race last year as the favorite to become the top Trump alternative, but suspended his bid after a second-place Iowa finish and swiftly endorsed the former president. Hes keeping his powder dry, probably for the next cycle. He made a different calculation: that Trump is going to be the nominee, and Im just gonna wait until the next cycle, Steinhauser said. Haley could also be positioning herself in case Trump is derailed by one of his multiple legal battles and cant continue his own bid. Thats got to be part of the calculation at this point for her, because beating [Trump] outright without that doesnt seem likely at all, Steinhauser said. Haley called out Trumps legal battles during her Thursday rally in Dallas, saying hes going to spend most of this year in a courtroom, not on the campaign trail. Her campaign saw a notable cash influx in January, giving her the resources to keep her campaign machine rolling. But strategists say its still not clear what Haleys exact endgame is. Part of the problem is that shes not presented any sort of calculus, Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett said. She does not seem to be messaging that shes going to get the nomination. She does not seem to be messaging that she is a viable alternative if or when Trump were to face either serious legal or even political issues. Its unclear if shes looking to carry the torch beyond. Because it is such a mystery, and probably such a miserable experience right now, theres a question as to: Is she even doing further damage to herself by staying in? Bartlett said. After coming in third in Iowa, Haley scored a closer second-place finish in New Hampshire but then suffered an embarrassing defeat in the Nevada primary, losing to a none of these candidates option without Trump on the ballot. Her continued presence in the race has angered some in the party who are calling for her to drop out so support can consolidate behind Trump. If he snags that label, it would open up opportunities for joint fundraising between his campaign and the national party. By sticking it out as an obstacle between Trump and the Republican nomination, Haley runs the risk of leaving a very bad taste in the mouths of Republican primary voters, Bartlett said. Steinhauser expects the tenor of the race has also ruined Haleys chances of getting a Cabinet position in a possible second Trump administration, and put her past the point of no return on a Trump endorsement. Its gotten very personal, very vitriolic. Theres a lot of dislike between the two candidates, Steinhauser said of the Republican race. Haley this week called Trump unhinged and knocked him as a huge weight on GOP candidates after Democrats won a key special election in New York. And in the run-up to the Palmetto States Feb. 24 primary, her campaign has rolled out mobile billboards in South Carolina hitting Trump over his age and calling out his rhetoric on veterans after he made comments about her husband, who is currently deployed. Trump has also taken continued swipes at Haley. Both White House hopefuls have pointed toward the general election. While the race appears headed toward a Biden-Trump rematch, Haley has underscored her electability, highlighting polls that show her faring better than Trump in hypothetical match-ups with the incumbent Democrat. This is a very odd cycle, Bartlett said, noting the incredibly strange setup of a former president as the party front-runner while also facing several legal battles. For Haley, hanging on as Trumps last challenger, its just very unclear what her strategy is right now. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley unleashed criticism on the Republican National Committee (RNC), citing Lara Trumps assertion that every penny should go toward electing Donald Trump as president. On ABCs This Week, co-anchor Johnathan Karl asked Haley to respond to Lara Trumps comments. Haley lambasted former Trumps sway over the RNC, accusing him of using party funds for personal legal battles and attempting to control party leadership. I mean it should be a wake-up call for Republicans all over this country, Haley said on Sunday. I mean you look at the fact that we saw in his campaign reports that he used $50 million of campaign contributions to pay for his personal court cases. Then he tried to get the RNC to name him the presumptive nominee. We dont anoint kings in America. Lara Trumps pledge came just days after the former president threw his support behind his daughter-in-law to serve as co-chair of the RNC. Donald Trump called her an extremely talented communicator who is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for while also endorsing North Carolina GOP Party Chair Michael Whatley to serve as RNC chair. Karl then pressed Haley about her previous pledge to support Trump if he secured the Republican nomination. Haley reiterated that she does not believe Trump is the right person for the presidency. I dont think hes the right person at the right time. I dont think he should be president. The last thing on my mind is who Im going to support, Haley said. The only thing on my mind is how were going to win this. The only thing on my mind is how were going to make sure that we correct whats happening in America and we bring this country back together, allow her to heal and move in a strong way. Karl also asked Haley about the recent death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Haley went after Tumps recent remarks suggesting support for Russian President Vladimir Putins aggressive actions. Haley then criticized President Biden and congressional leaders for failing to prioritize national security, saying, Joe Biden has failed on that front. That has emboldened our enemies. Haley also emphasized her commitment to the presidency and defeating Trump. If Donald Trump is the nominee of the for the Republican Party, he will not win. Every poll shows that. He will not win. And we will have a president Kamala Harris, she said. Im not going to allow that to happen. Im not stopping. Im not going anywhere. Were going to do this for the long haul and were going to finish it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ensuring care-free NEV rides during Spring Festival travel rush Xinhua) 08:56, February 18, 2024 SHIJIAZHUANG, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- With an increasing number of new energy vehicles (NEVs) hitting the roads during the Spring Festival travel rush, China has sprung into action to ensure a care-free ride for NEV owners. The Spring Festival, which fell on Feb. 10 this year, is China's biggest traditional festival. This year's Spring Festival travel rush started on Jan. 26 and will end on March 5. In the Dingzhou expressway service zone in north China's Hebei Province, personnel from the State Grid Baoding Power Supply Company are examining the temporary charging poles. From Feb. 9 to Feb. 15, this busy NEV charging station recorded an average charging volume of 5,400 kWh per day, marking a rise of nearly 85 percent from the same period last year. Anticipating a surge of return traffic as the Spring Festival holiday draws to an end, State Grid Baoding Power Supply Company installed two more 120-kW chargers in the Dingzhou service zone at the side of the expressway leading to Beijing. "We have placed mobile charging pods on stand-by and increased charging spaces at high-demand electric vehicle charging stations along expressways, and we have also prepared sufficient charging cards for emergency use by drivers in need in order to reduce the queuing time for NEV owners," said Guo Zhanwu, head of State Grid Hebei Electric Vehicle Service Company. To guarantee access to NEV charging during the Spring Festival travel rush, east China's Jiangsu Province has increased the number of chargers installed at expressway service zones across the province to 1,690, a surge of 96 percent year on year. In addition, for the first time, these charging facilities have all been supplied with green electricity, namely electricity converted primarily from solar energy and wind power. The supply of green electricity is sufficient to charge at least 125,000 NEVs. Drivers of NEVs who used charging services within Jiangsu Province during the Spring Festival period received a text message expressing gratitude for adopting "green travel." One message reads: "You have charged 42.1 kWh of green electricity, equivalent to saving 36.7 kg of CO2." In east China's Anhui Province, State Grid Anqing Power Supply Company had expanded the capacity of 19 expressway charging stations in its service region by the end of last year, doubling the number of charging spaces to eight in each service zone, and adding two mobile charging robots at a high-demand service zone. Ensuring care-free NEV journeys means providing easy access to charging infrastructure not only throughout the journey, but also on arrival at the traveler's hometown, be it in a big city or a small village. "We came back for the Spring Festival reunion, and I find it astonishing that there are more and more charging stations, even in the county," said Zheng Xiaoning, a villager from Tiantangzhai Township, Jinzhai County in the city of Lu'an, Anhui Province. Jinzhai County boasts 208 charging poles across 36 different sites. Drivers like Zheng can easily find the closest one using a mobile phone app. Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that in 2023, the production and sales of NEVs in China exceeded 9.58 million and 9.49 million units, respectively, ranking first globally for nine consecutive years. The complete charging infrastructure also injects strong impetus into China's NEV industry. Data shows that in 2023, more than 3.38 million new units of charging infrastructure were built in China, which means that one was completed every 9.31 seconds, on average. By the end of last year, there were more than 8.59 million units of charging infrastructure in China, up 65 percent year on year. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Relatives of the Palestinians died in Israeli attacks, mourn as they receive the dead bodies from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Hospital for burial in Dair El-Balah, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. Ali Hamad/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa At least 127 Palestinians have been killed and 205 injured in the past 24 hours as a result of Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in the territory said on Sunday. By the ministry's count, this means that 28,985 Palestinians have died in the coastal strip since the beginning of the war on October 7. More than 68,880 others have suffered injuries. While the figures cannot be independently verified, the United Nations and other observers consider them reliable. According to UN estimates, the majority of those killed have been women and children. Herzi Halevi, the chief of general staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said recently that the army had "eliminated more than 10,000 terrorists in the Gaza Strip so far, including many commanders." The war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations. They murdered more than 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others to the Gaza Strip. The IDF said on Sunday that ground troops were still active in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, as well as in the central and northern parts of the Palestinian territory. Israeli forces remained at Khan Younis' Nasser Hospital, one of the last functioning hospitals in the strip, after raiding it on Thursday. The IDF has said it believes "terrorist" activity is taking place at the facility and that the bodies of Israeli hostages could be inside. TechCrunch To get a doctor's appointment in the U.K. these days, you have to entrust more of your data to private companies -- and there's not a great deal you can do about it. In part due to growing pressure from the government to meet a two-week limit for patient appointments, family doctors -- or general practitioners (GPs) as they're known in the U.K. -- are turning to third-party software to facilitate appointments and prioritize cases based on urgency, a shift that has left patients with no option but to give private companies access to their personal data. While the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) was once a bastion of state-funded care, where an individual's economic disposition had little bearing on their access to medical services, today it's a somewhat different matter -- a victim of chronic underfunding and understaffing with record waiting times for routine hospital treatments and working conditions that have led to doctors, nurses and other clinicians striking en masse. Joe Biden, now 81 years old, is facing criticism that he's too old to be president again. Some Democrats worry he'll repeat Ruth Bader Ginsburg's mistake and refuse to step aside. Whether Democrats would be better off with a different candidate remains unclear. At 81 years old, President Joe Biden is facing criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike that he's too old to be president again. Even some expected to be in Biden's corner from liberal comedian Jon Stewart to progressive journalist Ezra Klein have publicly worried the incumbent president will be unable to maintain the energy needed to face off against Donald Trump in this year's election. They argue that by staying in the race, Biden risks a total loss for Democrats rather than acknowledging a personal shortcoming and voluntarily passing the baton to a younger candidate. Many draw parallels between Biden and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who refused to step down from her lifetime appointment to the court while President Barack Obama was in office. Had then 81-year-old Ginsburg stepped down before Democrats lost control of the Senate in 2014, critics argue, Obama would have had the leverage to push through his nomination of Merrick Garland, shoring up the Democratic presence in the highest court of the land. Instead, Ginsburg, who had a long history of health problems, including multiple bouts with cancer, died in 2020, allowing Trump to nominate a third justice Amy Coney Barrett which solidified the conservative court majority and led to the rollback of abortion and voting rights across the country. The current Supreme Court is comprised of 6 conservative justices and 3 liberals, though Chief Justice John Roberts is often considered a swing vote. Even if Ginsburg had stepped down and been replaced with a liberal justice, the balance would still be 5-4, with democratic appointees in the minority. "It was, quite honestly, very predictable," Justin Buchler, an associate professor of political science at Case Western Reserve University, told Business Insider. "She was going to die, and she could have stepped down when President Obama might have named a successor she chose not to, even though there was a high risk of her dying, and the result was that President Trump then named a successor. So that was a stupid mistake on her part. Bluntly speaking, it was a very stupid mistake." Biden, then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, escorts Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Pres. Bill Clinton's choice for Supreme Court vacancy, on Capitol Hill, June 15, 1993. AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander Now, a growing faction of Democrats who previously supported Biden are worried he'll repeat Ginsburg's mistake and are urging him to reconsider his campaign for a second presidential term. Representatives for Biden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. 'The Biden calculus is a little different' Ginsburg's refusal to retire from her lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court differs from Biden's situation as he pushes through his reelection campaign. Supreme Court justices are appointed, not elected, and the confirmation of Obama's nomination of Garland was blocked by Republicans in the Senate in the wake of Antonin Scalia's death in 2016. Had Hillary Clinton won in 2016, Ginsburg would have been in the clear to retire, resting easy knowing anyone Clinton would have nominated would have upheld her liberal values rather than the conservative justice nominated by Trump. On the campaign trail, Clinton indicated she'd fill Supreme Court vacancies with justices who supported women's rights, as well as LGBTQ+ issues, and would defend Roe v. Wade, CNBC reported at the time. "The Biden calculus is a little different because it's not as obvious that another Democrat would do better than Biden," Christian Grose, professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California and editor of the journal "Research & Politics," told BI. "They might, but it's a lot more uncertain." Ginsburg with Biden and Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1993. CQ Archive Finding a replacement for Biden is no easy task. Democratic challenger Dean Phillips is hardly a household name, Grose and Buchler told BI. And other prominent Democrats from Vice President Kamala Harris to California Gov. Gavin Newsom have other hurdles to overcome: Harris is widely regarded as "unlikeable" (a criticism often levied against female politicians, The Washington Post noted years ago). At the same time, Newsom is frequently cast as a wealthy, coastal career politician out of touch with the rest of the country. Even if Biden were to pass the baton to the next generation, and even if a prominent Democrat were ready to take his place two very big "ifs" Buchler noted the current issues that exist for Biden would still be baked into the campaign of anybody who had stepped in to take his place. "The only time that an incumbent president stepped down rather than running for reelection in the modern era was Lyndon Johnson and there is no evidence that that helped Hubert Humphrey, who eventually lost to Richard Nixon anyway," Buchler said. "So the idea that Joe Biden stepping down would help a successor has no support in the historical data." Biden has fired back about claims that his age makes him unfit to hold the office of president, including a recent report by special counsel Robert Hur that called Biden "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." "I know what the hell I'm doing," The Hill reported Biden said after the report was released. "I've been president, I put this country back on its feet." 'Biden is senile, and Trump is insane' Some see the criticism of Biden's age as playing into a distraction campaign spearheaded by Republicans to distract from Trump's similar limitations on the campaign trail. Trump is 77 years old, and while Biden has been criticized for flubs like mistakenly referring to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as the "president of Mexico," Trump has made similar errors, such as conflating GOP challenger Nikki Haley for Rep. Nancy Pelosi. "It's worth noting that Trump is roughly the same age as Biden, and his verbal missteps more egregious," Peter Loge, the founding director of the Project on Ethics in Political Communication, told BI. "Republicans often complain about Biden's age, complaints echoed by the press. But Trump is as old as Biden is, and makes the same mistakes that Biden does, more often and more outrageously." Loge added: "Both Biden and Trump are being challenged by much younger candidates who are running, in part, on their youth. Both younger candidates are getting thumped." Younger GOP challengers Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, who challenged Trump, have dropped out and endorsed the former president. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, trails Trump in the polls even in her home state, per Politico. Similarly, the prospective Democratic alternative to Biden, Minnesota Rep. Phillips, has the backing of just 4% of the electorate, Time reported. But, according to the latest national NBC News poll, 76% of voters, including half of Democrats, are concerned about Biden's mental and physical health. And that can't all be a political trap. In the same poll, only 48% of voters see Trump's mental and physical fitness as cause for concern. Buchler believes the reason criticism of the two politicians resonates so disparately with voters is simple, saying: "Biden is senile, and Trump is insane." "If we are honest, Biden has demonstrated significant cognitive decline. And Trump has shown some memory problems, but his cognitive issues are less age-related and more like mental illness," Buchler said. "It's hard to diagnose everything that's wrong with Donald Trump, but he is deeply disturbed, and because he is subjected to delusions, and has been subjected to delusions unrelated to age for so long, there are other ways to explain his behavior whereas Biden's decline is clearly related to age." A no-win November It remains to be seen how significant the issue of Biden's age will be to voters as they head to the polls this November. Opinions vary wildly about its significance depending on who you ask. The amount of handwringing about the issue could also change in the months leading up to the election if, for example, Biden suffers a serious health issue, or alternatively, if he can rally his strength and deliver the powerful, candid speeches he was known for early in his career. Either way, voters appear poised to blame Biden if the election goes to Trump, Grose noted. "I think if Biden loses to Trump, there will be a lot of criticism of Biden for not stepping aside, but it's easy after an election to place blame," Grose said. "But let's say Biden does step aside, and one of these younger, lesser-known people run, and they lose. You could also say, 'Well, what if Biden would have run?' I think people will definitely make that case if he loses but I'm not sure if any of it is accurate because we'll never know what would have happened otherwise." Though Ginsburg never publicly stated that she regretted her choice not to step down, she repeatedly defended her decision to both conservatives and liberals who suggested she'd erred in her decision. "Tell me who the president could have nominated this spring that you would rather see on the court than me?" Reuters reported Ginsburg said in 2014. Biden and Ginsburg before her Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, July 20, 1993. Photo by Ron Sachs/CNP/Getty Images In response to questions about what Obama might think about her future, she added, "I think he would agree with me that it's a question for my own good judgment." Read the original article on Business Insider A man was fatally shot early Saturday morning in a busy bar and restaurant in Edgewood, according to the Harford County Sheriffs Office. Authorities responded at 12:08 a.m. to calls reporting a shooting at D&Ms Tiki Bar and Crab Deck on the 2200 block of Pulaski Highway, the sheriffs office said on social media. Sheriffs deputies found Dajuan Kyree Simmons, 24, in the restaurant suffering from gunshot wounds, the post said. The deputies began performing life-saving measures before medics took over. Simmons was taken to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where he was declared dead. Detectives from the sheriffs Criminal Investigations Division are investigating the shooting. Investigators are confident that Simmons was shot inside the restaurant, which was open at the time of the gunfire, a sheriffs office spokesperson said Sunday. There were several patrons and witnesses inside of the restaurant when Simmons was shot, said Robert Royster, the spokesperson. No arrests had been made as of Sunday morning, though Royster said investigators believe the shooting was targeted and there was no threat to the community. Detectives believe the shooting was carried out by a single suspect, he said. Early this morning we experienced an unfortunate incident that has resulted in the loss of a life, the restaurant said on social media, calling Simmons death a tragic loss. Our prayers and hearts go out to the family and friends of this individual, they said, noting they are fully cooperating with police and urging those with information on the shooting to contact detectives. Anyone with information or who may have video of the shooting is asked to call Detective Smith at 443-409-3576. Anonymous tips can be submitted via the Metro Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-866-7Lockup. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi speaks in the Cultural Leaders as a Catalyst of Change with Platon session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters. Grandi has called for payments to be resumed to the criticized Palestinian aid agency UNRWA. Sandra Blaser/World Economic Forum/dpa The head of the UN body for protecting refugees, the UNHCR, has called for payments to be resumed to the criticized Palestinian aid agency UNRWA. Israel has accused a dozen UNRWA employees of being involved in the terrorist acts committed by Hamas on October 7. The reports have led a number of Western countries to suspend funding to UNRWA, including major donors, the United States and Germany. UNHCR head Filippo Grandi said the situation was devastating for the people of Gaza. The sooner decisions are made about continuing or resuming financing, the better for the lives of millions of people, he told dpa on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. UNRWA fulfilled an important task that could not be taken on by anyone else, Grandi said. UNRWA has a very specific way of working, not only in the humanitarian field, but in running schools and health centres for millions of Palestinians. Set up in 1949, UNRWA provides relief to Palestinian refugees, operating educational and medical facilities. More than 30,000 people work for the organization, some 13,000 of them in the Gaza Strip alone. The agency is seen as irreplaceable in the area, where it provides aid to more than 2 million civilians currently suffering the effects of the Gaza War. Grandi also warned about a decline in financial support for humanitarian needs across the globe. Last year, in 2023, my organization received a billion dollars less from its donors than the year before. And we had many more crises than the year before, he said. Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week that are available only to our subscribers. With a subscription to the Pensacola News Journal, you will receive full access to the work done by our journalists and photographers as they head out every day to help inform and explain the important issues affecting your community. Pensacola woman feels burned after being stuck paying $160K for 2 sets of solar panels Beverly Janes, 77, has lived in the same Pensacola home for more than 40 years. Before her husband, Donald, passed away several ago, they decided to purchase solar panels for their home after a visit from a door-to-door salesman. They paid about $86,000 for solar panels they purchased from Meraki Solar, but Janes said the couple believed they werent installed properly and they wanted them fixed. Soon after, another salesman from a different company, Suncor Solar, offered to remove the first set of panels and replace them with a set installed by Suncor. The elderly couple agreed, mistakenly believing the cost of the second set of solar panels, which was around $80,000, would be covered by the first loan. Beverly Janes husband, who showed signs of early onset dementia, then passed away leaving the widow with not only less income but facing two different loans that together totaled well over $160,000. Full story: Pensacola woman feels burned after being stuck paying $160K for 2 sets of solar panels Falling acorn spooks Florida deputy who fired into his own car, then resigned. Watch the video An Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy has resigned after an investigation into exactly why he emptied his magazine into his own vehicle with a handcuffed suspect inside after mistaking a falling acorn as suppressed weapons fire. In the released video, Deputy Jesse Hernandez was walking toward the car where Marquis Jackson, 22, had been detained and handcuffed. Jackson had been driving around the neighborhood of his girlfriend, Celestiana Lopez, near Green Acres in Fort Walton Beach, for nearly six hours honking the horn. Lopez said he was refusing to return the vehicle and had threatened her by call and text. She also showed deputies a picture from inside the car that appeared to show a firearm suppressor. No suppressor was found on Jackson but one of the deputies already on the scene, Sgt. Beth Roberts, told Hernandez about the picture when he arrived. Hernandez told the other deputies to detain Jackson and he was put into Hernandez's vehicle. Full story: Falling acorn spooks Florida deputy who fired into his own car, then resigned. Watch the video A global burger franchise has secured Pensacola's first location. Find out what's coming If a long day of shopping at Pensacola's Cordova Mall calls for a juicy burger, a new food court kiosk may have just the right thing. Wayback Burgers, a global burger franchise that has been rapidly growing since opening in 1991, has signed a lease with Cordova Mall and is planning to open this April. Wayback Burgers will be going in the former 3D Eats mall location, which has since moved out of the mall and expanded. Wayback Pensacola franchisee Hank Gainer also has two other Florida locations in Lynn Haven and Panama City. The Cordova Mall location marks the 10th Wayback Burgers location in Florida. Full story: A global burger franchise has secured Pensacola's first location. Find out what's coming Twin tower, 14-story, 48-unit condo development proposed near Pensacola waterfront Renderings from SMP Architecture show the conceptual design for the proposed Bayview Condominiums at 920 E. Gregory St. A new twin-tower condo development may become the latest addition to change the Pensacola skyline. Bayview Condominiums is a 14-story, 48-unit condo development proposed for 920 E. Gregory St. near the landing of the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Bridge. Architect Philip Partington with SMP Architecture sought the feedback of the Pensacola Planning Board on an early conceptual idea for the project earlier this week. Full story: Twin tower, 14-story, 48-unit condo development proposed near Pensacola waterfront This Pensacola restaurant was once a church. Now it's named a best restaurant by USA TODAY What once brought the Pensacola community together to worship as Mount Olive Baptist Church, built in 1928, now draws friends and families together as the dining destination Brother Fox. This week, the Pensacola restaurant made national news: Along with 46 other establishments from across the country, it was included on the 2024 USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year list. Full story: This Pensacola restaurant was once a church. Now it's named a best restaurant by USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola top news stories: Feb. 12-16 acorn spooks Florida deputy Cruising up the Channel last week before docking in the Netherlands, was a Chinese vessel that carried 7,000 electric cars. All were manufactured in China, all will undercut rival products made in Europe, and all benefited from state subsidies and energy prices far lower than those in Britain. Nothing demonstrates better the absurdity of the myth of international free trade, the failure of the model of globalisation pursued by Western governments for more than two decades, and green policies that have driven industrial production from countries with higher environmental standards to those with little or none. In Britain, policy has deliberately increased the cost of energy. Yet expensive energy makes British goods less competitive. In foreign markets and at home, British companies lose out to foreign rivals, with cheaper inputs, lower labour market standards, and higher carbon emissions. Many consider this progress, but it will soon come to be seen as serious economic, social and geopolitical self-harm. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Britain generally had the third most competitive industrial electricity costs of the G7 economies. But since then we have performed far worse. In the five years before Tony Blair became prime minister, our industrial electricity costs were around 9 per cent higher than the average of the advanced economies comprising the International Energy Agency. By 2010, they were nearly 23 per cent higher, and for the past five years have risen to 52 per cent higher. Most European countries have seen prices rise dramatically since Russia invaded Ukraine. But compare British prices with specific countries and the difference is shocking. Our industrial electricity prices are three times higher than in America and Canada. They are more than twice as high as in Korea and New Zealand. They are about twice as high as those in European countries Finland, France and Sweden with a strong nuclear energy sector, and much higher than those like Germany and Poland still using coal to generate power. In China, responsible for 53 per cent of global coal consumption, and where coal generates 61 per cent of electricity, industrial electricity prices are around a quarter of those in Britain. Add to this low Chinese labour costs and the enormous subsidies provided through cheap loans and steel, and it is clear that this is not free or fair trade at all. Meanwhile, emissions associated with imports to Britain from China have risen 62 per cent since the late 1990s. We can blame China for abusing the world trading system it joined almost a quarter of a century ago and indeed the European Union is threatening to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles but the real problem is with Western naivety. China was always going to flout the rules and use the system to its own advantage, and for years Western governments turned a blind eye as it did so: stealing industrial secrets, subsidising whole sectors and dumping surplus goods. These electric cars are really only a more visible example of what has been going on across industry for at least two decades. One result has been the empowerment of China a strategic threat and a hostile state to the extent that it openly backs Russia in Ukraine, undermines international institutions, such as the World Health Organisation, corrupts and sets debt traps for foreign governments, threatens Taiwan and even India, and talks up confrontation in the Pacific with America. Another result has been the enfeeblement of our own industry. Not all global free traders are content to watch China abuse the system in the way it does, but most are at best neutral in response to the decline of industrial production in Britain and elsewhere. Their response is to cite economic theory, and explain that comparative advantage means we should be relaxed about other countries dominating manufacturing, because we will dominate other sectors, such as financial and professional services. Nobody sane argues for national self-sufficiency, and trade does make us richer. But it is a simplification and a case of putting theory before reality to say we should not care about what is made or done where. The pandemic demonstrated the danger of stretched supply chains that include hostile states. But in slower, less visible fashion, the transfer of industry from Britain to the East has caused our trade deficit to widen further with all the consequences that follow our productivity problems to deepen and our regional disparities to worsen. It has also caused our labour market to bifurcate, with fewer mid-skilled, mid-paid jobs than before. Despite everything, Britain remains a stronger manufacturing force than many recognise. We are the eighth-biggest manufacturer in the world and investment is growing at the second-highest rate in the G7 since the introduction of the super-deduction tax nearly three years ago. But to really change our economy to export more, improve productivity, rebalance across regions and sectors, and increase the number of good, well-paid jobs we need to do more. This must mean reform right across the economy. The super-deduction is an example of how tax reform can aid rebalancing, but there is so much more to do. British industrial strategy cannot involve the fiscal firepower provided by American subsidies, but it can focus investment, join up decision-making, and protect strategic industries. It can reshape supply chains and move first with regulatory frameworks for developing industries in life sciences and tech. It can invest in secure energy through new nuclear and our own oil and gas. And it can reform post-18 education to provide the technical education and training the country and millions of our people need to thrive. But we must also overcome our greatest blind spots. We do need to reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels not least because we should not rely on autocracies for energy but policy must never run ahead of technology, and our net-zero targets are simply unrealistic and self-destructive. And so too must we get real about trade. It is time to junk the dogma about globalisation and free trade and return to the real world. Unless we do so, economic decline and political instability awaits. 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 man has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder a woman. Thames Valley Police said it was called to reports a woman had been assaulted in Melbourne Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, at about 01:20 GMT. The victim, in her 40s, was taken to hospital where she remains in a critical condition. Officers, who said the 38-year-old man arrested was from High Wycombe and remained in custody, are appealing for witnesses. Det Insp Tracey Smyth said: "This was a serious incident that we are investigating thoroughly, with a suspect currently in police custody. "We are in the very early stages of our investigation and are still trying to establish the full circumstances. "It's really important that if you have any information at all that could help our investigation that you get in touch as soon as possible." Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 A pedestrian was struck and killed in a highway crash in Sutton Saturday night. Massachusetts State Police troopers responded to Route 146 North at Exit 13 around 6:35 p.m. an MSP spokesperson told Boston 25. Responding officers found the woman, 34-year-old Nicole Young of Thompson, Connecticut, suffering from life-threatening injuries. Young was rushed to UMass Memorial Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased. The operator and passengers of the vehicle involved were not injured. MSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section and State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County DAs Office assisted with the investigation. The right two lanes of the highway were closed while the investigation took place, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation posted on social media just after 7:00 p.m. Crash with pedestrian in #Sutton on RT-146-NB at Exit 13. Two left lanes closed. Expect delays. Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) February 18, 2024 MassDOT alerted drivers all lanes had reopened at 9:00 p.m. 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 Of the dozen or so history writers of Exeter, Benjamin Franklin Swasey is probably the least known or cited. Its a shame because his writing is filled with delightful tidbits not generally found in most historical works. Benjamin Swasey was born in Exeter in 1837 and, except for only a few years, lived his life in town. Swasey grew up on his fathers farm on the west side of the Squamscott River. One of five surviving children, his most notable sibling was his younger brother, Ambrose Swasey, who is known for his generous gifts to the town (the Swasey Pavilion and Swasey Parkway). Swasey wrote of his father, he was a great reader of ancient history and of the standard works on astronomy. He took much interest in the affairs of his native town and was elected on the Board of Selectmen in 1847-48. In a period when a great deal of civic life included passing around the rum jug, Nathaniel Swasey refused to partake. Benjamin Franklin Swasey (1837-1914), teacher, newsman, historian, brother of Ambrose Swasey. Benjamin attended local schools before entering Phillips Exeter Academy in 1852 at age 15. From there, he studied at Brown. His first choice for an occupation was teaching. Returning to town after his education was complete, he taught at the Kingston Road school. He later taught schools in Rochester and Strafford, followed by Limerick, Maine before spending five years in Macon, Illinois. Returning east, he changed course and became a newspaperman at the Exeter Gazette and the Haverhill Bulletin. He also found the time to write a history of the Baptist Church in Exeter and the Swasey family genealogy. Historically Speaking: The rise and fall of Exeter Footwear From 1907 until just before his death in 1914, Swasey wrote a series of articles for the Exeter News-Letter called Notes on Early Exeter. They are mostly filled with genealogy and land ownership, but within those confines, he inserts the tidbits of history that can be absolutely gold to later researchers. Some of his tales are things he heard as a boy. A gentleman, now passed away, who lived to the age of 90 years, he wrote, used to say he had lived twice the number of years his age indicated. Upon being questioned to explain, he said: My memory runs over the whole period of my life, and the information I gathered from my father and mother and from my grandparents is so lucid and clear in my memory that I feel I have lived contemporary with them. Swasey must have felt a kinship with that old mans memory. He wrote about old burying grounds and pondered the location of Exeters first meetinghouse. As he drafted his pieces, he often inserted reminiscences of the people who lived on the adjoining lands people who were not necessarily the founding fathers of Exeter. From Swasey, we often get some of our best knowledge of Exeters early Black population. I well remember the Mainjoy family, he inserted while writing about the Green Street cemetery, The father was brought to this country from Africa, a slave, by one of the Emery family. The children were Abbie, Henry, Mary, John, and Charles, who I am told is the only surviving child, a barber in Chelsea, Mass. A granddaughter, a graduate at Robinson Seminary in 1879, married Rev. W.C. Jason, a minister and president of the State College at Dover, Delaware. Historically Speaking: How Exeter experienced the roaring twenties in 1923 Swaseys frequent reminders that Black people lived in Exeter and often thrived belied the common belief that Exeter was always exclusively white. Mrs. Husoe may be well remembered by many families in Exeter as a kindly old lady whose services in their household were always appreciated. At leisure time, in the fall of the year, she could periodically be seen picking barberries in the pastures of which years ago there was an abundance. They had eight children. His offerings include stories about women in town, whereas Charles Bell (a more formal history writer) rarely mentions women except to say they were dutiful wives and mothers. Of Deborah Dutch, a spinster woman who owned her own home through inheritance and purchase, he wrote, She had many characteristics in common with people now-a-days. She was not a survival of the fittest, which is not always an indication that the fittest in every sense always survive. She knew just the exact way to bring up children, how they should be clothed, how fed, and how educated, and was a great help to mothers who were in the business. She knew what best methods to adopt in the management of a household and how to deal with an unruly husband. Church fairs and church sociable were her delight, in which she always held an official position and, knowing the dignity attached to it, she could exercise a good degree of authority. Of this class of personages, nothing can be said in their disfavor. They are cheerful, hopeful, and their hope never wanes, down to advancing years. Deborah Dutch died in 1848, after admitting to the deacon that she could not recall exactly when shed been born (she was 77). Swasey was 11 at the time of her death, yet he remembered her clearly as an old man. Trying to track down Exeters built landscape can be quite difficult. For time periods before photographs, we must depend on the towns maps which often leave decades undocumented. Swasey helpfully fills in these details. The Hutchins tavern was located where the post office stands today. The place was sold several times after its first appearance on the 1802 Phineas Merrill map. Swasey tells us that for a while before 1826 Benjamin Leavitt owned it. Leavitt had a large family comprised of four daughters and four sons. The daughters were frequently placed in charge of the tavern. It is related that on one occasion under this management the Leavitt girls put their heads together to play a joke upon the company gathered there, which generally consisted of the Odlins, the Gilmans, the Folsoms and others. They carried the joke out successfully by cutting up bits of flannel of different colors and inserting them into skins for sausages and frying them, which to all appearances were the real article. When the food was served for the table and the guests seated, the sausages were passed around with other viands. Quite soon there was a smile on the face of Capt. Nathaniel Gilman, whose knife refused to sever his portion of the sausage whose different colors came into view. Quietly and silently, he watched the other guests when they, too, soberly scanned each others faces, when suddenly a roar of laughter burst forth from all present, and the meal was finished with a due appreciation of the skill of the landlords daughters. Most of the history we read tends to linger with desert dryness. Benjamin Franklin Swasey managed, somehow, to continually write a balance of verifiable facts along with clever and entertaining vignettes of earlier days. Barbara Rimkunas is the curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member. Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Historically Speaking: The history of Benjamin Franklin Swasey New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) apologized on Saturday for her poor choice of words over the Canada-Hamas analogy she made during her keynote address at a Jewish philanthropy event in New York City this week. Hochul apologized for the inappropriate analogy she made on Thursday when she that Israel has the right to destroy Gaza in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attack. If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, Im sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, right, right? Hochul said at the UJA Federation of New York Lawyers division annual event. But think about that, that is a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure it never happens again, and that is Israels right. Hochul apologized late Saturday for her Thursday remarks, saying they could be hurtful to members of her community. She added that Palestinian civilian casualties should be minimized and advocated for increased humanitarian aid. She expressed regret for her poor choice of words and for the use of an inappropriate analogy that I now realize could be hurtful to members of our community, according to a statement obtained by CNN. While I have been clear in my support of Israels right to self-defense, I have also repeatedly said and continue to believe that Palestinian civilian casualties should be avoided and that more humanitarian aid must go to the people of Gaza, Hochul said. Her speech on Thursday drew a rebuke from several lawmakers and groups in the state of New York, including New York City Council member Shahana Hanif. I need to see changed behavior. I will not be forgiving you at this time, Hanif wrote on Saturday. New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani said on Friday that Hochul is justifying genocide. The UJA Federation of New York thanked Hochul for standing with the Jewish community. Thank you, @GovKathyHochul for joining us this evening at our Lawyers Division Annual Event and for always standing with the Jewish community and against antisemitism and hate in New York, the organization said on Thursday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) addressed New York business owners in a new interview and told them there was nothing to worry about after former President Trump was hit with a $355 million fine and a ban on conducting business in New York for three years. Hochul joined John Catsimatidis on The Cats Roundtable on WABC 770 AM, where she was asked if other New York businesspeople should be worried that if they can do that to the former president, they can do that to anybody. I think that this is really an extraordinary, unusual circumstance that the law-abiding and rule-following New Yorkers who are business people have nothing to worry about, because theyre very different than Donald Trump and his behavior, Hochul responded. A New York judge on Friday ordered Trump to pay the massive sum in penalties in a civil fraud case. The decision came just weeks after closing arguments wrapped up a months-long trial based on a suit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) alleging Trump falsely altered his net worth to receive tax and insurance benefits. The judge, Arthur Engoron, found Trump, the Trump Organization, top executives and his adult sons liable for fraud. Hochul said there was no way she would overrule Engorons decision because we need a clear separation of powers. She added that thats what was envisioned by our Founding Fathers. The governor provided reassurance to New York businesses after the ruling. By and large, they are honest people and theyre not trying to hide their assets and theyre following the rules, she said of the people who own and conduct business in the New York City area. And so this judge determined that Donald Trump did not follow the rules. He was prosecuted and truly, the governor of the state of New York does not have a say in the size of a fine, and we want to make sure that we dont have that level of interference, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Home workers are more prone to snacking, but some research suggests they could eat more healthily - ISTOCKPHOTO People who work from home are more likely to smoke, snack and gain weight, a study has found. Research from Kings College London and funded by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reviewed 1,930 academic papers on experiences of home and hybrid working. It presented mixed findings regarding healthy habits and stress levels among home workers, but found a link to higher rates of smoking and drinking. Lockdown restrictions during the Covid pandemic forced many people into remote working, but data from last October show full-time office workers outnumbering hybrid staff for the first time since the pandemic. One study highlighted a rise in tobacco and alcohol use among people working from home, while other papers suggested they became more sedentary. Almost half of home workers put on weight Another paper cited by researchers found that 46.9 per cent of people who moved to home working during the pandemic had gained weight. A further study put this figure at 41 per cent. The study, published in the Journal of Occupational Health, found people working from home were more prone to snacking, although they were also more likely to eat healthier food such as fruit, vegetables and home-made meals. Blood pressure was also recorded as higher among office workers compared with their homeworking counterparts, according to one review. Other citations suggested that women, people on low incomes, and those who live alone could be more likely to experience stress when working from home. When examining working relationships, one study cited suggested those working from home were prone to fearing their office-based colleagues would doubt their commitment and contribution in the workplace. Another reported that people working from home believe they would experience computer-related health issues within the next five years. World needs to adapt Prof Neil Greenberg, the professor of defence mental health at Kings College London, told The Telegraph: There definitely are physical aspects to working from home, but the key to all of this is that this is an umbrella review. The main thing to highlight is that home working is neither good or bad. Our world needs to adapt to the fact that more people are working from home. Prof Greenberg added that the option for homeworking could be a means for employers to be prepared for disruption such as rail strikes or employee sickness. A good, forward-thinking organisation sees it as an opportunity to be prepared, he said. It allows organisations to be more adaptable. It provides an element of organisational resilience. 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. It has been 16 days since a 14-year-old girl was last seen in Miami County. Even though it has been more than two weeks since anything new has been found in the search for Ellie Carder, community members are not giving up. >>RELATED: 14-year-old Troy girl missing for almost 2 weeks; Police continue their search Troy community members gathered Saturday to search for Carder, despite the recent snow and cold temperatures. Just wanted to come out and help, Carder family friend Carissa Vombaur said. People across Miami County agree with Vombaur, they just want to help. More than 50 people showed up for Saturdays community-driven search. >>RELATED: Theres no answers; Family of missing Troy girl pleading for publics help Its awesome. Its, I think thats very good that everybody is together in this, Vombaur said. Thats why were here and hope that somebody will do that for us, Carder family friend Kurie Drummond said. Drummond and Vombaur are family friends. They have known Carder since she was little. These past few weeks have been hard for them, but they are still holding out hope that Carder will be found safe. I would say the same just stay positive, its its tough, Vombaur said. >>RELATED: Search resumes after missing 14-year-old girls backpack found in river, screaming heard Even though nothing was found during Saturdays search, Drummond and Vombaur are trying to not think the worst and continue to rely on their community. We can just hope for the best you know, Drummond said. People are here for anybody, Vombaur said. News Center 7 has reached out to the Troy Police Department for the latest update on the search for Carder. Scott Miklosz (center) is officially commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marines. HOLLAND Like many high schoolers transitioning to college, Scott Miklosz wasnt 100% sure about his future. Miklosz graduated in Illinois in 2020, then prepared a move to Hope College with aspirations of acquiring a psychology degree. Equally, though, he felt a strong pull to join the military. Instead of choosing one, Miklosz decided to do both. "A lot of my buddies joined the Marines after high school and I heard about the officer program," he said. "Three or four weeks into my first semester at Hope, I knew that's what I wanted to do. He signed the paperwork in October 2020, then continued his classes at Hope in pursuit of his degree. The following summer, he started Officer Candidate School, a twelve-week program similar to boot camp. During OCS, they're evaluating and screening everyone to be a leader," Miklosz said. "They split it up for me so I did six weeks the summer after my freshman year and six weeks the next summer. Pursuing both paths meant a lot of multi-tasking. He admits it was a challenge at times, trying to keep his grades up while staying physically fit for OCS. Miklosz graduated from Hope in December 2023, a semester early, earning his degree in psychology and philosophy. Only weeks later, surrounded by friends and family at Hope College's Dimnent Memorial Chapel, he became a Second Lieutenant an official active duty officer in the Marines. Every single person in that chapel helped me become the man I am today, Miklosz said. Its a debt that I cannot repay to any of them. Miklosz will spend the next few months in Lansing working at the recruitment center, assisting potential OCS students with physical training and coursewwork. In June, he'll ship out to Quantico, Virginia, for six months of basic training. While hes excited, he admits there are some nerves, too. His family has been helpful. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage My parents have been absolutely incredible, Miklosz said. The amount of support, the discipline they helped me achieve in middle school and high school, has helped me tremendously." Miklosz acknowledges we live in a time of civil unrest, but that doesn't deter him. If he's called upon, he'll be ready. "If my country needs me to go overseas and take care of business, that's something I signed up for." Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hope grad heads to Quantico to pursue a future in the Marines RAF Wethersfield in Essex may not provide value for money, according to Home Office documents - PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Housing migrants in an RAF camp may cost more than hotels, ministers were warned in internal memos. Senior officials said there was a significant risk that the plan to turn the former RAF base at Wethersfield, near Braintree in Essex, into a camp for asylum seekers would not provide value for money, according to Home Office documents. They estimated that the cost per migrant per night at the Wethersfield site was between 133 and 167, compared with the hotel rate for housing migrants of 142. This calculation was, however, based on high level initial estimates for occupancy in the first year. So far, only around 600 migrants have been moved on to the camp, which officials proposed should have a capacity of 1,700 asylum seekers with an 85 per cent occupancy rate at any one time. A large banner saying: 'Stop The Asylum Centre' in fields near the former air base on April 1 - Martin Pope/Getty The doubts about its value for money were revealed in documents released as part of a judicial review of the plans by local councils that oppose them. James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, is the local MP for Wethersfield and has previously criticised it as an unsuitable site due to the lack of road infrastructure and its remoteness. Wethersfield is one of three mass accommodation sites for migrants aimed at reducing the 8 million a day cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels. The other two are RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, which has yet to open, and the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset. The documents make clear that the argument for ensuring they offered value for money by reducing the reliance on and cost of hotels is dependent on the sites operating over a three-to-five year period. One warns that reduced hotel usage over that period could undermine the argument. There is a risk to VfM [value for money] if initiatives to exit hotels mean hotel use runs for significantly less than the five-year period, said officials. The Home Office has started to reduce the number of hotels, with 50 of the 400 currently in use closed by the end of January, and a further 50 due to shut by the spring. The backlog of asylum seekers has also been cut to below 100,000 from 140,000, reducing the pressure on accommodation. The gate at Wethersfield, a former RAF base - David Rose for the Telegraph/David Rose for the Telegraph On 24 March last year, days before the Government announced its plan to use ex-military sites, one Home Office memo on Wethersfield said: The Accounting Officer will need to accept that there is a risk the site could not meet VfM [value for money]. The memo, written for a senior official and described as final advice, said: I would advise ministers that the value for money case is marginal and the risks to delivery are significant. A Home Office spokesman maintained the cost estimates were significantly overestimated, outdated and pre-contractual. Although the Home Office declined to say whether it was offering value for money, the spokesman said: Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites provides more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats while reducing the use of hotels which cost more than 8 million a day. The documents also revealed that officials admitted there would be concerns over the location, as Wethersfield had limited road access with only B roads providing access to the site and the surrounding villages already acting as significant traffic choke points. We are assuming this will increase the local opposition and potentially increase legal challenges, they 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) About 100 kids received their vaccinations in Multnomah County Saturday at the 3rd of 4 pop-up vaccine clinics just days before unvaccinated students wont be allowed to attend school. The Oregon Immunization Exclusion Day is this coming Wednesday, February 21. State law requires Oregon families to ensure their children are vaccinated or have an exemption before theyre unenrolled from schools or childcare facilities. According to Multnomah County, 108,000 children and students in the area are expected to meet the school immunization requirements by the deadline. Senators Wyden, Merkley announce $70K quadruple win for the Oregon Food Bank Officials have already notified parents of the looming date. On Feb. 7, the county health department sent exclusion orders to about 5,600 families. We want to make sure our communities are protected and have very low-barrier access to the vaccines that are needed, Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Richard Bruno told KOIN 6 News on Saturday. So we dont check for insurance. We have a great supply of vaccines for anybody who needs it and its a free event for anybody who needs to get caught up on vaccines. Vaccination doses at a Multnomah County vaccination clinic, February 17, 2024 (KOIN) At the pop-up clinics, there are resource tables set up for anyone whos interested in getting food stamps or enrolling in SNAP programs as well as navigators to help people on the Oregon Health Plan sign up for insurance. We have half-a-dozen language interpreters here to make sure people can get through this vaccine process, Bruno said. We have written explanations of what the vaccines are and what to look out for, and many are in different languages. The county also mailed about 5,600 notices in February 2023, but that number has increased by about 12% in recent years. Officials sent almost 5,000 notices in 2020, prior to the pandemic. We just want parents to be able to get their kids vaccinated in communities are get their kids vaccinated to protect against a multitude of different diseases that are making their way through our community right now causing unnecessary harm to kids and their families, Bruno said. So I think its a really good idea for parents to come and get protected so their kids dont get sick and die from diseases like the flu, measles or pneumonia. So we have all those immunizations available. 2 storm-damaged Portland schools wont reopen this school year, frustrating parents The final pop-up clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21, on Exclusion Day. It will be held at CareOregons Boys & Girls Club at Rockwood on 454 SE 165th Ave. Only walk-ins are accepted for this event. Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Richard Bruno, February 17, 2024 (KOIN) The clinic will include vaccines against influenza, measles, hepatitis and more. The Oregon Health Authority has a full list of the immunizations required for the 2023-24 school year. Vaccine-preventable diseases can be highly contagious, with several cases of measles recently taking place in the Pacific Northwest and across the U.S., Stacy de Assis Matthews, school law coordinator in OHAs Public Health Division, said in a statement. Immunizations remain the best way to stop that spread, keeping kids and school communities healthy and safe. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The Ukrainian Presidents Office expects the European Union to approve the 13th package of anti-Russian sanctions next week, presidential advisor Vladyslav Vlasiuk said on national television on Feb. 17. There is still a small discussion about Chinese companies that helped the Wagner PMC receive satellite photos. Hungary and some other countries are cautious about adding them to the sanctions list. Read also: The EU adds Belarusian child-abductors to the sanctions list But, in my opinion, this discussion does not carry fundamental categorical positions, he said. I think this package will be adopted in the near future. On Feb. 15, Hungary blocked the 13th package of EU sanctions against Russia due to the presence of measures against China. Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU would enforce the 13th package of sanctions against Russia on the symbolic date of Feb. 24 - the two-year anniversary of Russias full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. Read also: Beijing warns Kyiv over designating Chinese firms as 'sponsors of war' The mini-sanctions, according to EUobserver, do not include any major items, such as new EU embargoes on Russian metals, liquefied natural gas or nuclear companies, because they need to be agreed quickly after the 12th round of Russia sanctions on Dec. 19 and in time for the anniversary. On Feb. 8, Bloomberg wrote that the EU would sanction more than 60 individuals and some 55 companies, including shipping companies involved in moving North Korean ammunition to Russia. RFE/RL journalist Rikard Jozwiak commented on Feb. 4 that the upcoming EU sanctions package might be the weakest so far. Chinas assistance in Russias war on Ukraine - what is known On Feb. 16, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the Munich Security Conference. Blinken raised concerns about Chinas backing of Russias actions in Ukraine, including support for the Russian military-industrial base. Ukraine has listed 48 companies, including 14 from China, as international sponsors of war whose business activities it says indirectly contribute to the Russian war effort, Reuters reported on Feb. 1. Beijing warned Kyiv that the move could damage the bilateral relations. Read also: Iran, China and Russia to hold joint navy wargames in Indian Ocean Earlier, a Pentagon report on Chinas policy, citing information from Russian customs, revealed that Russia had been procuring dual-use products and secondary military items from China. These acquisitions included small arms, spare parts, navigation equipment, and protective gear. According to an investigation by UK newspaper the Telegraph, Russian companies have received tens of thousands of military items from China since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, these items are produced by companies manufacturing missile systems, armored vehicles, and strategic bombers. The report highlighted that, aside from direct military equipment and material supply, China may also be providing raw materials to Russia through intermediary nations. China has increased its supply of high-precision machine tools to Russia tenfold and is massively exporting computer numerical control (CNC) devices, which are vital for Moscows military industry, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 3. 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 Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, speaks to media ahead of an EU Summit. The paedophilia scandal currently causing outrage in Hungary has run its course, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said during a traditional annual address to the nation. -/EU COUNCIL/dpa The paedophilia scandal currently causing outrage in Hungary has run its course, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said during a traditional annual address to the nation. While the case was "a nightmare" that affected all of Hungary, the resignation on February 10 of Katalin Novak as president and the withdrawal from public life of former justice minister Judit Varga had restored the country's unity, Orban said. The right-wing prime minister said that the two women had greater dignity in their little fingers than all the leaders on the left. "Even good people can take poor decisions," he said. On Friday evening, tens of thousands gathered in Budapest to protest at the government's handling of the scandal, caused when both women signed a pardon for an orphanage director who had covered up child sex abuse at his institution. The demonstrations have widened into a general protest against Orban's Fidesz party, which together with an ally holds a two-thirds majority in the Budapest parliament. Novak resigned after it became known that she had pardoned the orphanage official in April 2023. Varga, who was justice minister at the time, stood down from parliament and withdrew from leading Fidesz into this year's elections to the European Parliament. On Friday, the head of the Hungarian Reformed Church, Bishop Zoltan Balog, resigned after acknowledging that he had pushed for the pardon. Balog, a long-term associate of Orban, had served as an advisor and mentor to Novak. In his address, Orban said that the Hungarian parliament would soon ratify Sweden's accession to NATO, becoming the last NATO member to do so. He had promised this to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last month, he said. Parliament meets again on February 26. A Ring doorbell on a home in Cottonwood Heights is pictured on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Home security systems come in a variety of packages, from DIY security systems to professionally installed security systems. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Home security systems come in a variety of packages, from DIY security systems to professionally installed security systems. When you have so many to choose from, theres a lot to consider: Do you need a camera to watch the outside of your house? Or do you want sensors inside that can detect burglaries? To help with your hunt for the right home security system for your home and your family weve compiled some of the best options on the market, with reviews from The New York Times, CBS News and CNN to help you in your research. Professionally installed home security systems Professionally installed home security systems are just what they sound like you buy a package from a home security company (such as ADT or Vivint) and they send professionals to install the security system in your home. These professional home security systems can come with live monitoring by their employees, but some do have contracts you would have to agree to if you want to use their services. CBS News detailed two professional home security systems and highlighted their pros and cons based on the following factors: reviews, costs, expert recommendations and consumer needs. ADT CBS News says that ADT sets itself apart from other professional home security companies due to its customer service and constant monitoring. According to ADTs website, the company has over 140 years of experience in security, an award-winning monitoring system and a Better Business Bureau rating of A+. ADT also offers the option of letting professionals install the home security system or you can buy a DIY package and install it yourself. The only drawback is that this company is more expensive than your average home security system and requires a contract, per CBS News. SimpliSafe SimpliSafe is a home security system that promotes itself as a home security option that can fit within any budget. CBS News notes that SimpliSafe is more affordable than other companies due to its wide variety of packages and options to choose from and that there is no contract. According to SimpliSafes website, it has won the 2023 CNET Editors Choice Award and has professional monitoring plans that cost less than a dollar a day. And new customers can try its monitoring system free the first month. DIY home security systems DIY home security systems are packages you can buy from your local store or online at your convenience and you install it yourself. But there are three categories DIY home security systems fall under, according to Home Depot: DIY home security: You can opt to buy a self-install home security system that you yourself monitor or you can install one but subscribe to a monitoring service to do it for you. DIY security cameras: These can come in kits (which are cheaper) or you can buy them individually over time, but Home Depot suggests you look at the power source, connectivity to Wi-Fi, design and video quality when making a decision. DIY alarm systems: Many alarm systems come in kits with instructions to help you successfully install it, but you can choose between wireless or hard-wired alarm systems and their features vary depending on what you buy. Ring Alarm Pro Both CNN and The New York Times highly suggest the Ring Alarm Pro, a kit that costs $300 on Amazon. According to CNN, the Ring Alarm Pro was the quickest to set up compared to Vivint, Abode, Blue by ADT and SimpliSafe. Editors at CNN tested it for functionality, security, installation, design and warranty. They found it had a quick monitor response time of under 30 seconds, an internet backup for blackouts and multiple options to connect to third-party devices. The New York Times found that the Ring Alarm Pro had some of the best sensors and system performances among the DIY home security systems. It comes with a cheap monitoring plan of $20 per month that includes video storage for 180 days, backup internet and backup data. The Times called it the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to professional monitoring. SimpliSafe and Abode Both CNN and The New York Times noted that SimpliSafe and Abode offered good home security options if you dont want to buy from Ring. The New York Times suggests The Essentials Kit from Simplisafe due to its easy installation and affordability. You can also buy a similar kit from Best Buy. CNN doesnt specify a certain kit from SimpliSafe, but says that overall its a great DIY product with a simple setup and the ability to connect to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Security cameras Security cameras can be installed outside or inside your home, or can be limited to your doorbell. Most DIY kits and professional kits come with motion sensors, but not cameras, so if youd rather have a live feed of whats happening around your house, you can invest in one. Indoor security cameras There are a lot of indoor cameras options out there, all with good features. CNN recommends the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera because of its easy setup, privacy features and its $60 price on Amazon. The New York Times, on the other hand, prefers the Eufy Indoor Cam C120 for its top-quality image retention, four different storage options and its price of just $29. Outdoor security cameras Outdoor cameras can come with lights, motion sensors and video storage. If you want cheap cameras with good video quality, CNN suggests the battery-powered Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera for $69 or you can go with the corded Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-in suggested by The New York Times for $69. If youd like an outdoor camera with lights, CNN recommends either the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus or the Eufy Floodlight Camera 2. Eufy does not require a subscription for video storage and Ring does require a bit of knowledge of electrical wiring to set it up. Doorbell cameras If you dont want a doorbell camera that requires a subscription, both CNN and The New York Times suggest Googles Nest Doorbell. It starts at $140 depending on if you buy the wired or wireless version, but its features are relatively the same. Youll get clear footage and audio while also giving accurate notifications as to what it sees. It does offer multiple plans if youd like to upgrade it. Ian Blackford and Kim Lyon were pictured holding hands in January after he introduced her to colleagues at New Year - STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA Ian Blackfords lover used to say he looked like a weeble, her estranged husband has revealed. Eric Boyle accused the former SNP Westminster leader of stealing his wife Kim Lyons and said he was unfit to be a politician. He claimed she used to compare the politician to the egg-shaped 1970s toy, which would wobble before always returning upright. Mr Boyle, 64, has been married to Ms Lyons, 63, for almost 14 years but she is believed to have begun a relationship with Mr Blackford late last year. Mr Boyle said his estranged wife would say there he is, the weeble every time Mr Blackford appeared on television. She used to compare him to a round, wobbly childrens toy, a Weeble, when he was on TV, Mr Boyle told the Scottish Mail on Sunday. Now he has stolen her from me. Eric Boyle said: 'It is not love, it cant be love. She calls him a weeble' Its important Ian is exposed for who he is. He should not be in the position he is. How can you be an MP when youre stealing some other mans wife? It makes him a hypocrite. It is not love, it cant be love. She calls him a weeble Why would she say things like that and then go and be with him if not for the money? The toys were once a worldwide hit and were marketed under the slogan: Weebles wobble, but they dont fall down! Mr Blackford left his wife, Ann, and is said to have introduced Ms Lyons to other MPs on the House of Commons terrace on New Years Eve. His colleagues found out that he had left the croft on the Isle of Skye that he shared with his wife around New Year. Mr Boyle said he became concerned towards the end of last year that Ms Lyons was having an affair. He said he discovered his wife had left a review for a property in Hawick, when he believed she had been staying with friends in Edinburgh for a Bay City Rollers concert. He now believes she was having a liaison with Mr Blackford and was unconvinced by her explanation. She said she just wanted to go to Hawick to see what it was like as theyve done new flood defences there, he said. I wasnt satisfied with the answer but I let it go because she would fly off the handle. The jilted husband claimed he had been left absolutely devastated by the breakdown in his marriage, saying he had lost four stone in weight. Mr Blackford, 62, and Ms Lyons are said to have first met in their teens, before they reconnected in later life. The couple were pictured in January grinning and strolling hand in hand outside BBC studios in London. Mrs Blackford is also said to have been left distraught by the separation. Mr Blackford was approached for 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. INDIANAPOLIS An IMPD officer was injured in a serious crash Sunday on the southwest side of Indianapolis. According to IMPD, the incident occurred around Mooresville and Kentucky Ave around 1:07 p.m. The officer was transported to an area hospital. FOX59 crews are heading to the scene and hospital. Information will be updated as it becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTTV CBS4Indy. Candles and flowers are brought to a makeshift memorial in Helsinki, following the death of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva/dpa Alexei Navalny's body is lying in the district hospital in the northern Siberian town of Salekhard directly on the Arctic Circle, the independent Russian-language newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on Sunday. No autopsy had been conducted on the dissident up to Saturday, the anti-government newspaper currently being published from Latvia reported. Navalny's unexpected death at the age of 47 in the Polar Wolf penal colony, which was reported two days ago, has generated international outrage. Novaya Gazeta said its informant, an anonymous emergency services worker, had reported blue marks on the body. Navalny's relatives have not yet been granted access to his body. Polar Wolf lies some 50 kilometres due north of Salekhard. According to the Russian authorities, Navalny collapsed while exercising in freezing conditions. Attempts to revive him failed. Human rights activists have termed his death a murder, and Navalny's death has drawn condemnation from leaders of several countries, including US President Joe Biden. Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, has been attempting without success to collect the body. According to Novaya Gazeta's informant, the blue marks show where he was held by penal colony staff after suffering cramp. A bruise on his chest was evidence of attempts at resuscitation, the informant said. The report makes clear that the informant did not see Navalny's body after death, but gained the information from a colleague. Flowers lie in front of a picture of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in prison while serving a 19-year sentence, during a prayer service at Schillerplatz in Stuttgart. Christoph Schmidt/dpa People stand in front of flowers outside the Russian embassy in Berlin-Mitte after the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Fabian Sommer/dpa Flowers lie in front of a picture of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in prison while serving a 19-year sentence, during a prayer service at Schillerplatz in Stuttgart. Christoph Schmidt/dpa Alexei Navalny's body is lying in the district hospital in the northern Siberian town of Salekhard directly on the Arctic Circle, the independent Russian-language newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on Sunday. No autopsy had been conducted on the dissident up to Saturday, the anti-government newspaper currently being published from Latvia reported. Navalny's unexpected death at the age of 47 in the Polar Wolf penal colony, which was reported two days ago, has generated international outrage. Novaya Gazeta said its informant, an anonymous emergency services worker, had reported blue marks on the body. Navalny's relatives have not yet been granted access to his body. Polar Wolf lies some 50 kilometres due north of Salekhard. According to the Russian authorities, Navalny collapsed while exercising in freezing conditions. Attempts to revive him failed. Human rights activists have termed his death a murder, and Navalny's death has drawn condemnation from leaders of several countries, including US President Joe Biden. Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, has been attempting without success to collect the body. According to Novaya Gazeta's informant, the blue marks show where he was held by penal colony staff after suffering cramp. A bruise on his chest was evidence of attempts at resuscitation, the informant said. The report makes clear that the informant did not see Navalny's body after death, but gained the information from a colleague. The OVD-Info Russian human rights media organization reported on Sunday that more than 12,000 people had supported an appeal to the investigating commission for Navalny's body to be released. OVD-Info launched the appeal on Saturday afternoon, calling for the body to be released to the deceased dissident's relatives "as quickly as possible." Events commemorating Navalny and his opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin's rule have been held all round the world, frequently in front of Russian embassies. More than 400 people have been detained in Russia while marking his death. Candles and flowers are brought to a makeshift memorial in Helsinki, following the death of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva/dpa People demonstrate against the Russian government in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin-Mitte following the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Fabian Sommer/dpa The GOP was dealt a blow in its effort to impeach President Biden after a former FBI informant was arrested on charges that he simply made up the bribery allegations that have become central to the case. Alexander Smirnov was arrested at the airport upon entering the country and charged with making false statements, including that then-Vice President Biden and his son each accepted a $5 million bribe. The Thursday indictment pierces the bribery claim, alleging Smirnov fabricated the whole story because of his opposition to President Bidens candidacy. GOP investigations have put the bribery allegations front and center of the impeachment push, and Republican leaders have pointed to the claims to convince colleagues to back the investigation. The impeachable offense is I think, the key thing is in Burisma, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told reporters in December ahead of a House vote to authorize an impeachment inquiry. And House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) last year called the tip a very crucial piece of our investigation. Democrats are now delighting in the revelation and what it means for the GOP inquiry. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), ranking member of the Oversight panel, said the information in the indictment is so damaging that Republicans should simply call off their impeachment inquiry. The Republicans on the Senate side in 2020 did their own investigation and said they couldnt find anything to it. So were not that surprised that this has happened, but it is an amazing turn of events. And I do think its an opportunity for a reset on the Republican side, Raskin said during a conversation with Chris Hayes on MSNBC. This really is the heart of it. I think its an opportunity for them to say, You know what, we gave it our best shot, but were gonna give up the ghost. Theres nothing there. Comer, however, is defending his probe, saying Thursday that the investigation has interests well beyond the bribery component. The impeachment inquiry is not reliant on the FBIs FD-1023, he said, referring to the form used to document conversations with informants. It is based on a large record of evidence, including bank records and witness testimony, revealing that Joe Biden knew of and participated in his familys business dealings. Smirnov relayed to the FBI a conversation he allegedly had with Mykola Zlochevsky, who ran Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company Hunter Biden served on the board of. According to Smirnov, Zlochevsky said he paid father and son $5 million each in an effort to avoid scrutiny of his company. Its a detail Zlochevsky would later appear to refute in information supplied to Congress during Trumps impeachment through an exchange captured with Vitaly Pruss, an associate of Rudy Giuliani. Republicans have sought to connect that to Bidens action as vice president to oust the Ukrainian state prosecutor, who was accused by the international community of failing to address corruption. Then-Vice President Biden conditioned a $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine on the firing of state prosecutor Viktor Shokin. The GOP argues that benefited Burisma and by extension Hunter Biden, a largely disproven claim, given that a prior investigation into Burisma had gone dormant, and changing prosecutors risks further scrutiny. While Smirnov had been an FBI informant for years, he did not mention the alleged call in 2017, instead raising the detail in 2020. The indictment alleges that the defendant transformed his routine and unextraordinary business contacts with Burisma in 2017 and later into bribery allegations against Public Official 1 after expressing bias against Public Official 1 and his presidential candidacy, the Justice Department wrote in a press release announcing Smirnovs arrest. The events the Defendant first reported to the Handler in June 2020 were fabrications. In truth and fact, the Defendant had contact with executives from Burisma in 2017, after the end of the Obama-Biden Administration and after the then-Ukrainian Prosecutor General had been fired in February 2016, in other words, when Public Official 1 had no ability to influence U.S. policy and when the Prosecutor General was no longer in office. Smirnov faces charges both for making a false statement and creating a false and fictitious record. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), a member of the House Oversight Committee, described the allegations from Smirnov as the birth of this whole fake impeachment. Thoughts and prayers to James Comer and the fake, frivolous, faux Biden impeachment that theyve been trying to run. Now what do we find out? What weve known all along, that this 1023 form that they cried over for months and months was all a lie. It was all a lie. And the guy who made it up has been indicted. The GOP fixation on the bribery allegations was a pathway that also came with pitfalls, as it added pressure on the party to back allegations that have been swirling for years and have been scrutinized and debunked by fact-checkers. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) acknowledged ahead of the GOPs impeachment vote last year that it would be tough to prove the bribery allegations, saying the party would instead have to point to broader claims of influence peddling to make its case. The political problem we have is that politically, it would be very nice if you had what everybody calls the smoking gun. The reality is, in a lot of these large-scale cases, there never is. Theres a totality of evidence and a totality of circumstances that says there is no rational explanation for all of it, Armstrong told The Hill. But its been tricky for Republicans to connect the business activities of Hunter Biden with anything President Biden did while in office. Comer has sought to show that President Biden met with associates of his son, but hes faced criticism from Raskin, who has said hes yet to show any wrongdoing on the part of the president. Its those details that form the base of what Comer describes as an influence peddling operation by the Biden family, adding Thursday that Joe Biden was the brand being sold by the Bidens around the world. We will continue to follow the facts to propose legislation to reform federal ethics laws and to determine whether articles of impeachment are warranted, Comer said. The GOP has also raised other questions about revelations in the document, mainly why the FBI described Smirnov to lawmakers as a highly credible source. The Oversight Committee on Friday shared a clip of Raskin confirming that description in summer 2023. And the indictment raises questions about the FBIs continued reliance on the source, given repeated admonishments that he must provide truthful information to the FBI. The FBIs actions in this matter are very concerning, Comer said Thursday. The FBI had this form for years and it appears they did nothing to verify the troubling claims contained within the record until Congress became aware of and demanded access to them. But Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said the overall picture painted by the indictment is so damaging that Jordan and Comer should apologize to Biden Its hard to fathom what a spectacular failure this Comer/Jordan impeachment is, he tweeted. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German was found stabbed to death outside his home, police quickly zeroed in on Robert Telles the subject of a series of articles German had written. Take a look at the events leading to Telles' arrest. Jeff German's murder Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German. / Credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc./Kevin Cannon On Sept. 3, 2022, Jeff German's body was found outside his home by a concerned neighbor. The neighbor immediately called 911, but it was too late. German had already been dead for approximately 24 hours, according to authorities. He had suffered seven stab wounds to the neck and chest. Surveillance video captures the attack The suspect is captured on a neighbor's surveillance camera. / Credit: Clark County District Court As the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department began its investigation, it discovered surveillance video from across the street that captured the attack. The video showed the alleged assailant walking into German's side yard and hiding behind the gate. Moments later, according to police, German opened his garage door, walked to the side of his house, and was ambushed by the assailant. Who wanted Jeff German dead? Jeff German had written four articles about Clark County public administrator Robert Telles' alleged hostile behavior at the office. / Credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc/Kevin Cannon German's colleagues at the Las Vegas Review-Journal were eager to get to the bottom of who killed him. And when they looked at who to consider, Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles quickly came to mind. Telles had been the subject of German's recent reporting. After four employees at the Clark County Public Administrator's Office reached out to German with their claims of a toxic workplace under Telles, German took on their story. After his investigation, German wrote a series of articles about Telles' alleged "bullying" and "hostility" in his office. Telles would later lose his bid for re-election in the primary. Robert Telles' tweets A series of tweets Robert Telles posted in response to Jeff German's reporting. / Credit: X In response to German's reporting, Telles posted a series of tweets. Robert Telles' prior arrest Robert Telles seen on police bodycam during his arrest in March 2020 for domestic battery and resisting arrest. / Credit: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department As the Review-Journal reporters began digging into Telles' past, they learned that he had been arrested in March 2020, while he was the public administrator, for domestic battery and resisting arrest. He was caught on police body camera video slurring his words and yelling, "You just want to take me down because I'm a public official." He received a suspended 90-day sentence on the resisting charge and was ordered to attend a corrective thinking class. The battery charge was dismissed. Photo of the suspect revealed The suspect was wearing long sleeves, a reflective vest and a straw sun hat. / Credit: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department On Sept. 4, 2022 two days after German's murder authorities released this surveillance photo of the suspect walking in German's neighborhood wearing an orange reflective shirt and a large straw sun hat. Police urged the public to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section for any identifying tips. The identical gait? When the police released a surveillance video, Review-Journal photographer Kevin Cannon immediately noticed something the big hat and orange reflective shirt couldn't hide: the man's walk; his gait. Cannon found a walking shot he had taken of Telles when German interviewed him at his office. The staff compared both videos side by side. / Credit: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/ Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc./Kevin Cannon Two days later, on Sept. 6, 2022, police released surveillance video of the suspect. Review-Journal photographer Kevin Cannon said he was immediately reminded of a walking shot he had taken of Telles when German interviewed him at his office. "It was definitely the identical gait in my mind," Cannon told "48 Hours." Photo of suspect's car released The suspect's car a maroon Yukon Denali. / Credit: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Then, police released this photo of the suspect's car a maroon Yukon Denali. Investigators quickly began to receive tips that Telles also had a car that looked like this, which was registered to his wife. Later that day, German's colleagues at the Review-Journal went to Telles' home. Robert Telles is photographed washing his car Robert Telles photographed washing his SUV in his driveway. / Credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc./Benjamin Hager When Review-Journal staffers got to Telles' home, they witnessed Telles walk out to his driveway where a maroon Yukon Denali was parked and began washing it. One of the Review-Journal photographers crouched behind his steering wheel and captured this photo. Robert Telles brought in for questioning Robert Telles returned home after questioning and after police searched his home and cars. They also took a DNA sample. / Credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc./Benjamin Hager In the early morning of Sept. 7, 2022 just five days after German's murder Telles was brought in for questioning as police searched his home and cars. They also collected a DNA sample from Telles and took the jeans he was wearing into evidence. He was then brought back to his home wearing this white paper suit. Evidence in Robert Telles' home Inside Robert Telles' home, investigators say they found gym shoes and a duffel bag similar to what was seen in the surveillance video. / Credit: Clark County District Court A gym shoe and duffle bag were collected from Telles' home. According to investigators, the items resembled what was seen in the surveillance video of the suspect. Sun hat found in Robert Telles' garage When they looked in the garage, detectives say they discovered a straw sun hat or what was left of it. / Credit: Clark County District Court Investigators also searched Telles' garage and found pieces of a cut-up sun hat that was similar to the straw sun hat the suspect was seen wearing. Robert Telles' DNA found under Jeff German's fingernails Jeff German, left, and Robert Telles / Credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc./Kevin Cannon Police said the most crucial piece of evidence came from the DNA sample that was taken from Telles earlier that day. Authorities said they received positive DNA results that showed Telles' DNA was found under German's fingernails. Police go in for the arrest Police descend on Robert Telles' home before his arrest. / Credit: KLAS-TV With a DNA match apparently secured, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police descended on Telles' home once again and began clearing the area for an arrest. However, Telles refused to leave his home. Robert Telles taken into custody Review-Journal photographer Kevin Cannon was the only photographer that day to capture Robert Telles' dramatic arrest. / Credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc./Kevin Cannon According to police radio communication, Telles had made some "405 comments" a code Las Vegas police use to indicate comments associated with self-harm. Based on those comments, police requested SWAT to move into Telles' home. Moments later, Telles was rolled out of his house on a stretcher and taken to the hospital for self-inflicted injuries. Robert Telles indicted After Robert Telles was treated at the hospital for his self-inflicted injuries, he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center. Six weeks later, Telles was indicted by a grand jury for murder with use of a deadly weapon. / Credit: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Six weeks after he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, Telles was indicted by a grand jury for murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He has pleaded not guilty. Robert Telles' denials "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant interviewed Telles at the Clark County Detention Center. Telles denied killing German and when he was asked about the evidence against him, including the cut-up sun hat, the maroon Yukon Denali and his DNA that was under German's fingernails, he said, "I say that evidence or so-called evidence was planted along with the other items allegedly found in my home as well. And we will go ahead and prove that at trial." Telles' trial is scheduled for March 18, 2024. Judge in Trump's New York civil fraud case expected to issue long-awaited ruling Crawfish shortage impacts Louisiana's economy Volunteers in a California "fix it clinic" help neighbors salvage broken electronics Gov. Kim Reynolds priorities on education, health care and gender identity are among the high-profile bills that have survived a key legislative deadline while other bills to let cities override local library boards and remove gender identity protections from the civil rights act will not advance. Friday's first legislative funnel deadline helps winnow the hundreds of proposed bills each year that haven't passed out of committee. Lawmakers will move into the next phase of the legislative session with a narrower but still expansive list of priorities to complete. One of the thorniest issues this year is Reynolds controversial proposal to overhaul Iowas Area Education Agencies. House and Senate Republicans have each proposed their own extensive rewrites of Reynolds bill reimagining special education services, while Democrats oppose wholesale changes to the AEAs. Reynolds issued a statement saying her priorities would move Iowa forward. As the legislative process continues, so will conversations on how we deliver results for Iowans, Reynolds said. Iowa has cemented itself as a national leader, and these priorities take us another step further. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the annual Condition of the State address at the Iowa State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Democrats criticized Republicans for not acting on their agenda to protect abortion rights and provide affordable housing and child care aid. We are pretty frustrated, as you can imagine, with the focus on politics this legislative session so far. Frustrated but not surprised, said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights. We know Iowans want us to act, we know Iowans want us to do things that the majority of Iowans want. Republicans continue to play politics, and Iowans are going to notice. Not every bill is subject to the funnel deadline. Tax and spending-related legislation is exempt, so discussion of Republicans competing income tax cut proposals can wait until later in the session. Legislative leaders also have ways to revive supposedly dead bills, including by attaching them to other bills as amendments. Heres where major pieces of Iowa legislation stand after the first funnel. EDUCATION Bills still alive House and Senate Republicans have each proposed their own rewrite of Reynolds controversial bill to overhaul the states Area Education Agencies and change the way students receive special education services. Both bills would establish a Division of Special Education within the Iowa Department of Education to oversee services. House Study Bill 713 would leave the AEAs as the sole provider of K12 special education services, while allowing school districts to contract with other providers for media services in 2025 and general education services in 2026. The plan would continue sending federal special education money directly to the AEAs, while state aid and property tax dollars that currently go to AEAs would be sent to school districts. Senate Study Bill 3073 would send 90% of funding dedicated to special education to individual school districts, while 10% would remain with the AEAs. Districts would receive 60% of the money AEAs currently receive for media and general education services, while AEAs would get the other 40%. School districts would not have to continue using AEAs for special education services, media services or general education services and could decide to contract with another provider. School districts with 8,000 or more students would be required to have at least one security officer or school resource officer in schools where ninth through 12th-grade students regularly attend classes, unless that districts school board votes against it. Private schools and public schools with fewer than 8,000 students would be 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. House Study Bill 675. Indianola resident Richele Loftus sent her son Asher off to his first day of school at Irving Elementary Friday with the friendly escort of Indianola School District School Resource Officer Jay Hackett. He was a little nervous, Loftus said about Ashers first day of kindergarten. The officer was just so nice and supportive. He waved at Asher and got right down on eye level with him. It was a nice gesture to offer to walk him into school. Iowas three public universities would be required to eliminate all staff positions focused on diversity, equity and inclusion that are not necessary for the schools' accreditation or to comply with state or federal law under a House bill that advanced. The bill would codify directives adopted by the Iowa Board of Regents last fall. It would also require two Iowa lawmakers to serve as nonvoting members of the Board of Regents. House File 2558. House Republicans have proposed their own bill to raise starting teacher pay to $50,000 per year, as Reynolds has proposed. The House bill would first raise minimum teacher pay to $47,500 for the coming school year, then to $50,000 the next year. The House proposal also includes $14 million for schools to raise non-salaried school staff pay to $15 per hour. It does not include a provision in Reynolds bill that would provide teachers with at least 12 years of experience with a minimum salary of $62,000. House Study Bill 714. North Polk High School teacher Bruce Bennett assists students during his last class of the day on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Alleman. Social studies curriculum would be required to include such topics as the "history and meaning of the United States flag and national anthem," the "culture heritage of western civilization, the United States and the state of Iowa," and "the study of and devotion to the United States' exceptional and praiseworthy history." A separate bill that would have required students to sing the national anthem in class every day did not advance. House File 2544. The Valley cheer squad stand for the national anthem Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at Valley High School. This House bill would commission a full review of Iowas K-12 curriculum, graduation requirements and academic standards, and require eliminating critical race theory and social emotional learning. House File 2545. Parents whose students are not proficient in reading at the end of third grade would be given the option to have their student repeat the grade under a bill proposed by Reynolds. The measure would also require teachers to be trained in evidence-based instruction on the science of reading and would provide personalized lesson plans to students in third through sixth grade who are not proficient in reading. House lawmakers advanced the bill but described it as a major work in progress. A separate Senate bill would implement a reading curriculum more focused on phonics, or sounding out letters as a way to teach reading. House Study Bill 650/Senate File 2195. First grade teacher Jody Dvorak read "Thelma the Unicorn" to the kindergarten students at the library makeover reveal. Bills that are dead A proposal that would have allowed school districts to hire unlicensed, religious chaplains advanced out of subcommittee but was not passed by committee. Religious groups favoring the bill called it a new resource to address mental health needs, while faith and school groups criticized it as vaguely written and an ill-fitting solution. House File 2073/Senate Study Bill 3092. This Senate bill would have provided each new teacher a $500 spending account to be used to buy classroom supplies, while other teachers would each receive a fund of $200 to use on classroom supplies. It did not receive a committee hearing. Senate File 2009. Partisan school board, city elections Iowa lawmakers did not advance a bill that would have changed the states nonpartisan school board and city elections into partisan contests with Democratic and Republican primaries. House Study Bill 633. HEALTH CARE Bills still alive Ban on closing places of worship The governor could not close or place mandates or requirements on any place of worship for any reason, including for a public health emergency, under this House bill. House File 2532. Birth control expansion Iowans 18 and older could get birth control, including pills, birth control patches and vaginal rings, from a pharmacist without first seeing a doctor, under a bill from Reynolds that would expand access to contraceptives. The bill, which Reynolds proposed last year without success, would allow pharmacists to dispense an initial three-month supply of birth control, and a 12-month supply after that. Patients would have to see a doctor within 27 months after a pharmacist dispensed the birth control. House Study Bill 642. A one-month dosage of hormonal birth control pills. Death of an unborn person A House bill would increase the penalties for terminating a pregnancy without of the consent of the pregnant person. The bill also changes the language in the law from someone who terminates a human pregnancy to someone who causes the death of an unborn person. The bill defines unborn person as an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization to live birth. It does not apply to abortions performed with the consent of the pregnant person. Another bill would allow Iowans to bring lawsuits over the wrongful death of an unborn child. House Study Bill 621/House File 2518. The state of Iowa would not have to hire a third-party administrator to oversee the More Options for Maternal Support, or MOMS, program, under bills that advanced in the House and Senate. Instead, the Department of Health and Human Services could directly oversee the program, which was established to provide state dollars to pregnancy resource centers that counsel women against abortion and offer items like cribs and baby clothes to pregnant women and new moms. House File 2267/Senate File 2252. A patient room at Women's Choice Center, a pregnancy resource center in Bettendorf that would qualify for state dollars under the MOMS program. Iowa nursing home staff would have to train twice a year with the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing to go over at least three of the 10 most frequent complaints from the preceding calendar year, under a bill in the Iowa House. House Study Bill 691. Reynolds bill would reshape mental health and substance use treatment services in Iowa by merging the states 13 Mental Health and Disability Service regions and 19 Integrated Provider Networks that manage substance use and problem gambling services into seven behavioral health districts. The Department of Health and Human Services would take over management of disability services. House File 2509/Senate File 2354. A bill from Reynolds would make low-income mothers eligible for a full year of Medicaid coverage after giving birth, up from 60 days under current law. Coverage would only be available to those whose family income is up to 215% of the federal poverty level ($64,500 annually for a family of four). Thats down from a maximum family income of 375% of the federal poverty level (about $117,000 for a family of four) under current law. House Study Bill 643/Senate File 2251. Iowas human growth and development classes would be required to show students a computer-generated video detailing the stages of pregnancy, similar to a video developed by an anti-abortion group, under bills in the Iowa House and Senate. The video would be shown from seventh grade through high school. House File 2031/Senate File 2150. Paid parental leave for state employees State employees who give birth would receive up to four weeks of paid leave under a bill proposed by Reynolds. A state employee who did not give birth would get one week of paid parental leave. State employees who adopt would get four weeks of paid leave. House File 2557. Iowans under age 18 would no longer be able to receive a vaccine for HPV or other sexually transmitted diseases and infections without their parent's consent. Senate File 2064. Health care providers and workers would be allowed to opt out services that violate their personal or religious beliefs. The bill would also protect them from legal action or termination due to their refusal. Senate File 2286. STATE GOVERNMENT Bills still alive Programs that provide guaranteed income payments, like the pilot program UpLift operating in Polk County, would be banned. Existing programs, which in Iowa includes just UpLift, could remain in effect until 2025. The attorney general would be granted the power to sue cities or counties and halt any new program. House File 2319. A program for central Iowans offers $500 a month for the next two years. Materials promoting the new program, UpLift the Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, were on display in different languages at a launch event Feb. 15 at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center. House and Senate Republicans are taking two different approaches to Reynolds goal of reducing the number of boards and commissions in Iowa. The Senate is advancing Reynolds bill, which would cut 111 boards and commissions. The House is moving a narrower bill that would cut 49 boards and commissions, largely those that one lawmaker described as defunct or duplicative. House Study Bill 710/Senate Study Bill 3172. Reynolds bill, which passed the House Education Committee, would add new definitions of man, woman and sex in state law, as well as require new birth certificates for transgender Iowans that reflect their sex assigned at birth as well as their current identity. Lawmakers removed a provision from an earlier draft that would have required transgender Iowans to have additional markings on their drivers licenses. House File 2389. State agencies would be allowed to seek out their own certified CPA to perform its annual audit, rather than the state auditors office. Auditor Rob Sands office has called the proposal a political ploy to undermine Iowas only statewide elected Democrat. Senate File 2311. It would become more difficult for Iowans to challenge Donald Trumps place on the 2024 general election ballot under a bill that passed through committees in the Iowa House and Senate. The measure would also allow federal candidates convicted of felonies to appear on Iowas ballot, ban ballot drop boxes, ban ranked choice voting and require absentee ballots to be returned the day before Election Day to be counted. House Study Bill 697/Senate File 2380. The government could not substantially burden someones exercise of religion except in furtherance of a compelling government interest under bills in the Iowa House and Senate. A person whose exercise of religion has been burdened would have the power to go to court to seek damages or other means of redressing the harm against them. House File 2454/Senate File 2095. Iowa would no longer mandate a balance of men and women serving on state and local boards and commissions, under House and Senate bills that would eliminate a decades-old requirement. The push comes as part of Reynolds effort to shrink state government by eliminating more than 100 boards and commissions. House File 2540/Senate File 2096. Public employers would be required to provide the state with a list of employees in a public union within 10 days of receiving notice that the union is seeking to hold a recertification election. If the employer fails to provide the list, the Public Employee Relations Board would issue a written notification of the failure. If the employer does not provide the list within another five days, PERB must immediately decertify the union. Senate File 2374. Bills that are dead Lawmakers filed multiple proposals to strip away local library boards control of spending decisions and hiring of a director, placing authority instead with city councils and removing the current referendum process required to make any changes to library boards (used in Pella last year). Bills in the House and Senate were approved by subcommittees but did not see action in full committees. House Study Bill 678, Senate Study Bill 3168. Amber Lewis, left, and Amanda Murphy talk to man about filling out a survey as part of the point in time (PIT) count of individuals facing homelessness on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at the Central Library in Des Moines. Lawmakers did not act to remove gender identity protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. A House bill would have removed protections against discrimination for transgender Iowans in housing, employment, wages, public accommodations and education from the civil rights law. The bill would have added gender dysphoria as a disability requiring protection under the law. House lawmakers did not advance the measure. House File 2082. BUSINESS Bills still alive Banning bots for online ticket purchases Creating a bot, or automated software program, to purchase excessive online tickets would be banned under this Senate bill, allowing the attorney general to sue to block further violations or seek up to $10,000 in penalties. Senate File 2322. Country singer Mitchell Tenpenny performs after the Iowa Wild hockey game as part of the Wilds postgame concert series at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, July 27, 2024. This bill would replace a 2020 law that relates to competitive bidding requirements for electric transmission lines, giving the "right of first refusal" for new projects to companies with existing infrastructure. The 2020 law is tied up in court and Republicans see the Iowa Supreme Courts ruling as overreaching into legislative branch business. House File 2551/Senate File 2372. This proposal from Reynolds would grant Iowa's attorney general more power when investigating foreign owners of Iowa farmland. The attorney general would have subpoena power for financial information, purchase agreements and other documents. The bill would also raise penalties for foreign companies or individuals that fail to register their purchases or holdings and require the secretary of state to compile an annual report of foreign land ownership. House File 2483/Senate File 2204. Parental permission for social media Minors could not create social media accounts unless their parent provides the social media company with permission, under this House bill. The Iowa attorney general could sue companies to enforce the law. House File 2523. A smartphone screen of logos of online platforms including Google, Facebook, Linkedin, Amazon and Tiktok Pornographic site age verification Pornographic websites would have to verify the ages of their users to ensure children arent accessing pornography under this House bill. The measure would also require schools to teach students about healthy social media habits and the negative effects of social media on mental health and privacy in sixth through 12th grades. House File 2546. Iowa's watershed management authorities would add soil health to their missions under this House bill, which would also make changes to some water quality and flood control programs. House Study Bill 674. LAW ENFORCEMENT & COURTS Bills still alive Two bills would criminalize pornography using someones likeness that is created or altered using artificial intelligence. House File 2240 would criminalize the distribution of pornographic images of adults that are created or altered using artificial intelligence or other means. House File 2241 would make clear that using the likeness of an identifiable minor to create an altered pornographic image is covered by Iowa's current law prohibiting the sexual exploitation of a minor, including the possession or purchase of pornographic images of children. Banning traffic cameras, handheld devices while driving Traffic enforcement cameras would be banned, and Iowans would be barred from using electronic devices while driving, except to answer the phone, under a bill combining two long-standing issues in the Legislature. House Study Bill 707/Senate File 2337. Landowners who would be subjected to eminent domain and companies seeking to exercise eminent domain powers would be able to go to court more quickly to seek review of whether eminent domain is proper under a bill in the Iowa House. The House Judiciary Committee advanced the measure but removed a provision that would have allowed one-fifth of House or Senate members to halt eminent domain proceedings on a project. House File 2522. Iowans attend a rally against carbon capture pipelines and the use of eminent domain Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol. Filing false reports to law enforcement, known as swatting, would be subject to increased penalties under a bill that advanced through House and Senate committees. Lawmakers are considering the new penalties after an increase in swatting calls at school buildings, prompting lockdowns, cancelled classes and large law enforcement responses. House File 2165/Senate File 2161. Police responded to Fort Madison High School at about 10 a.m. Tuesday on reports of an active shooter that turned out to be false. Local law enforcement monitored the school until just past noon before an all-clear was given. The so-called swatting calls were made to about 30 schools across the state. Bills that are dead Iowa lawmakers will not bring back the death penalty in the state this year. A Senate bill would have reinstated capital punishment for people convicted of first-degree murder of police or correctional officers. It advanced out of a subcommittee but did not receive a committee hearing. Senate Study Bill 3085. Making homeless camping on public land illegal The bill would prohibit "unauthorized sleeping, camping or long-term shelter" on public property. Anyone found camping under the bill would be warned and directed to a shelter for services; if they refuse to comply, they will be charged with a misdemeanor. It failed to get a vote in committee. Senate Study Bill 3175. A man holds a Quick Trip gift card given to him for being part of the part of the point in time (PIT) count of individuals facing homelessness on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Des Moines. Knowingly exposing anyone under 18 to an "obscene performance" would be a serious misdemeanor, as well as knowingly selling a ticket or admitting a minor to a venue where such a performance is held. The bill defines "obscene performance" as invoking sexual acts or "appeals to the prurient interest and is patently offensive." It advanced through subcommittee but did not receive a full committee hearing. Senate File 2176. Drag entertainer Majesty Diamond of Des Moines performs during a youth drag show at The Garden in the East Village in Des Moines on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. IMMIGRATION Bills still alive Any person who has been previously deported or denied entry to the U.S. would be barred from entering, attempting to enter or being in Iowa under this House bill. The felony charge would be increased if the persons deportation came after a conviction for a past felony. House Republicans have acknowledged their version of the bill may not move forward, citing likely constitutional issues with implementing it. House Study Bill 703/Senate File 2340. A bill would prohibit employers from knowingly contracting with or employing undocumented immigrants, allowing county attorneys or members of the public to seek court orders to terminate the persons employment and, on second violation, have licenses permanently revoked. Businesses would use the federal E-Verify program to screen candidates. Senate File 108. Iowa's regents universities and community colleges would have to adopt rules specifying that students must be either U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country to receive in-state tuition, under a bill that passed the House Judiciary Committee. House File 2320. Hector Salamanca Arroyo testifies Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at the Iowa Capitol against a bill that would prevent undocumented students at Iowa's state universities and community colleges from receiving in-state tuition. Under this House bill, a person could be found guilty of smuggling if they transport a person to conceal them from a police officer or flee an officer who is trying to make an arrest. They could also be found guilty if they were to knowingly encourage or induce a person to enter or remain in the U.S. unlawfully by concealing, harboring, or shielding that person from detection. The bill would also state that undocumented immigrants cannot access public assistance programs. Federal law already prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving most public assistance. House File 2112. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a group of undocumented migrants found inside storm drain tunnels during a border-crossing attempt in South El Paso on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller. Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Legislature: Which bills are alive and dead after 'funnel week'? Ceremony marking the anniversary of the death of senior Iranian military commander Mohammad Hejazi, in Tehran By Ahmed Rasheed, Parisa Hafezi and Timour Azhari BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A visit by the commander of Iran's elite Quds Force to Baghdad has led to a pause in attacks on U.S. troops by Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, multiple Iranian and Iraqi sources told Reuters, saying it was a sign Tehran wants to prevent a broader conflict. Esmail Qaani met representatives of several of the armed groups in Baghdad airport on Jan. 29, less than 48 hours after Washington blamed the groups for the killing of three U.S. soldiers at the Tower 22 outpost in Jordan, the sources said. Qaani, whose predecessor was killed by a U.S. drone near the same airport four years ago, told the factions that drawing American blood risked a heavy U.S. response, 10 of the sources said. He said the militias should lie low, to avoid U.S. strikes on their senior commanders, destruction of key infrastructure or even a direct retaliation against Iran, the sources said. While one faction did not initially agree to Qaani's request, most others did. The next day, elite Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah announced it was suspending attacks. Since Feb. 4 there have been no attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, compared to more than 20 in the two weeks before Qaani's visit, part of a surge in violence from the groups in opposition to Israel's war in Gaza. "Without Qaani's direct intervention it would have been impossible to convince Kataib Hezbollah to halt its military operations to deescalate the tension", a senior commander in one of the Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups said. Qaani and the Quds Force, the arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards that works with allied armed groups from Lebanon to Yemen, did not immediately reply to requests for comment for this story. Kataib Hezbollah and one other group could not be reached for comment. The U.S. White House and Pentagon also did not immediately respond. Qaani's visit has been mentioned in Iraqi media but the details of his message and the impact on reducing attacks have not been previously reported. For this account, Reuters talked to three Iranian officials, a senior Iraqi security official, three Iraqi Shi'ite politicians, four sources in Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups and four Iraq-focused diplomats. IRAQ-U.S. TALKS RESUME The apparent success of the visit highlights the influence Iran wields with Iraqi armed groups, who alternate between building pressure and cooling tensions to further their goal of pushing U.S. forces out of Iraq. The government in Baghdad, a rare ally of both Tehran and Washington, is trying to prevent the country again becoming a battlefield for foreign powers and asked Iran to help rein in the groups after the Jordan attack, five of the sources said. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani "has worked with all relevant parties both inside and outside Iraq, warning them," that escalation "will destabilise Iraq and the region," Sudani's foreign affairs advisor Farhad Alaadin told Reuters when asked to confirm Qaani's visit and the request for help to rein in armed groups. The attack "played into the hand of the Iraqi government." a Shi'ite politician from the ruling coalition said. Following the subsequent lull in hostilities, on Feb. 6 talks resumed with the United States about ending the U.S. presence in Iraq. Several Iran-aligned parties and armed groups in Iraq also prefer talks rather than attacks to end the U.S. troop presence. Washington has been unwilling to negotiate a change to its military posture under fire, concerned it would embolden Iran. The United States currently has some 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria on an advise and assist mission. They are part of an international coalition deployed in 2014 to fight Islamic State, mainly in the west of the country and eastern Syria. A U.S. State Department spokesperson, who declined to comment on Qaanis visit to Baghdad, said the U.S. presence in Iraq would transition to "an enduring bilateral security relationship." The United States asserts that Iran has a high level of control over what it calls Iranian "proxies" in the region. Tehran says it has funded, advised and trained allies but they decide operations on their own. Another U.S. official recognised Iran's role in reducing attacks but said it was not clear if the lull would hold. "We need to see more work done on the ground," by Iraq to control the militias, a separate, senior, U.S. official said, noting just a few arrests were made after a December mortar attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. AIRPORT SECURITY With Iran bracing for a U.S. response to the Jordan attack, Qaani made the visit quick and did not leave the airport, "for strict security reasons and fearing for his safety," the senior Iraqi security source said. The strike in 2020 that killed former Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani outside the airport followed an attack Washington also blamed on Kataib Hezbollah that killed a U.S. contractor, and at the time sparked fears of a regional war. Along with Soleimani, the drone killed former Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Both Tehran and Baghdad wanted to avoid a similar escalation this time round, nine sources said. "The Iranians learned their lesson from the liquidation of Soleimani and did not want this to be repeated," the senior Iraqi security source said. A high-ranking Iranian security official said: "Commander Qaani's visit was successful, though not entirely, as not all Iraqi groups consented to de-escalate." One smaller but very active group, Nujaba, said it would continue attacks, arguing that U.S. forces would only leave by force. It remains to be seen how long the pause holds. An umbrella group representing hardline factions vowed to resume operations in the wake of the U.S. killing of senior Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Baqir al-Saadi in Baghdad on Feb. 7. Saadi was also a member of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a state security agency that started out as mostly-Shi'ite armed groups close to Iran that fought against Islamic State, highlighting just how intertwined the Iran-backed armed groups are with the Iraqi state. U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq and toppled former leader Saddam Hussein in 2003, before withdrawing in 2011. Shi'ite armed groups who spent years attacking U.S. forces in the wake of the 2003 invasion went on to fight on the same side as, though not in direct partnership with, U.S. soldiers against Islamic State until it was territorially defeated. In the subsequent years, rounds of tit-for-tat fighting with the remaining U.S. troops escalated until the U.S. killing of Soleimani and Muhandis. Those killings prompted Iraq's parliament to vote for the exit of foreign forces. Prime Minister Sudani's government came to power in October 2022 on a promise to implement that decision, though it was not seen as a priority, government officials have said. The situation changed again with the onset of the Gaza war. Dozens of attacks and several rounds of U.S. responses, including the killing of a senior Nujaba leader in Baghdad on Jan. 5, led Sudani to declare that the coalition had become a magnet for instability and to initiate talks for its end. He has kept the door open to continued U.S. presence in a different format via a bilateral deal. Iraqi officials have said they hope the current lull will hold so the talks, expected to take months if not longer, can reach a conclusion. At a funeral service for Saadi, senior Kataib Hezbollah official and PMF military chief Abdul Aziz al-Mohammedawi vowed a response for the latest killing, but stopped short of announcing a return to violence. The response would be based on consensus, he said, including with the government. "Revenge for the martyr Abu Baqir al-Saadi means the exit of all foreign forces from Iraq. We wont accept anything less than that," he said. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed and Timour Azhari in Baghdad and Parisa Hafezi in Dubai; Additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Writing by Timour Azhari; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) Whats happening Americans love meat. And despite a whole range of new plant-based alternatives that have hit the market, our appetite for pork, beef and poultry only seems to be growing. Producing all that meat, of course, means killing a lot of animals. Modern livestock farming also contributes to some of the worlds most pressing problems, including climate change, environmental destruction, drought and infectious diseases. In the past few years, however, scientists have made breakthroughs on products that promise to allow Americans to keep eating the food they love without any of these negative consequences: lab-grown meat. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Unlike some of the innovative new plant-based substitutes that have recently hit the market, lab-grown meat often called cultivated meat is exactly what it sounds like. Its actual meat thats cellularly identical to meat at the grocery store, but it comes from a lab rather than from an animal thats been raised and slaughtered. Billions of dollars have been invested into developing lab-grown meat over the past several years, and the industry reached a major milestone last year, when regulators gave two companies approval to sell lab-grown chicken to the public for the first time. Still, the vision of cultivated meat filling up restaurant menus and grocery store shelves is a long way off. Several companies can produce it in small quantities, but none of them have figured out how to grow it at larger volumes in a cost-effective way. At the moment, lab-grown meat isnt available for purchase anywhere in the U.S. Some conservatives are hoping to keep it that way. Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he supports pending legislation that would ban the production or sale of what he called fake meat in the state. Similar bills have been proposed in Arizona and Tennessee. Some Republicans have also pushed laws that will limit how cultivated meat can be marketed. Lawmakers in Italy voted to ban lab-grown meat throughout their country late last year, though theres some uncertainty whether that ban will be enacted. Why theres debate Proponents of lab-grown meat envision a future where the world can enjoy all of the same foods theyve always loved in a climate-friendly, cruelty-free way. But at this point its still not clear whether the companies that make it will ever solve the technical problems standing in the way of mass production nor whether anyone will want to eat it even if they do. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Even some of the people who were hopeful about lab-grown meat in its earlier development have come to believe theres very little hope that it will ever be possible to produce it at scale, let alone earn a profit while doing so. New research also suggests that theres a long way to go before cultivated meat can actually be considered better for the climate than traditional farming. But optimists say its far too early to make any sweeping judgements about the feasibility of lab-grown meat, especially given the progress thats been made in just a few years and promising recent discoveries that could radically lower the costs of making it. For all of the practical challenges the cultivated meat industry is up against, it also faces serious cultural barriers that could stand in its way. Outside of an emerging push among conservatives to ban it, polls suggest that a lot of Americans arent open to trying meat that comes from a laboratory. Others argue, though, that we have no choice but to try to overcome all of these obstacles because cultivated meat may be the only way to meaningfully reduce the damage caused by livestock farming in a world where the global appetite is only expected to grow. Perspectives Lab-grown meat was always an empty fantasy Despite nearly a decade of work and a great many messianic pronouncements, it is increasingly clear that a broader cultivated meat revolution was never a real prospect, and definitely not within the few years we have left to avert climate catastrophe. Joe Fassler, New York Times ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Its hard to look at the progress being made and argue that the next steps are impossible The scientific process has worked. Crappy prototypes have become good prototypes. And good prototypes are becoming better. Annie Lowery, Atlantic The ick factor is a huge problem that wont be easily solved Before cultivated meat can find a regular home on Americans plates, producers will need to answer one pretty basic question: How can they get consumers to bite? Abbey Stone, Daily Beast The appeal of slaughter-free meat shouldnt be underestimated Animals don't have to die for these products, which is a huge plus for consumers with ethical concerns about traditional meat production. Fiona Harrigan, Reason We cant just keep eating meat the same way we always have The only thing we can guarantee about the future is that big change is coming. Impetus for a major rethink of our relationship with meat is going to build, and quickly. Yet, our global appetite for meat continues to increase; as it stands, we are effectively mortgaging the future without an ability to pay. Philip Lymbery, Time ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Whatever happens with lab-grown meat, the government shouldnt stand in its way Anyone who truly believes in freedom wouldnt want the government to trample on the free market and overrule peoples individual decision-making on something as simple as what they want to eat for dinner. Brad Polumbo, Washington Examiner The climate benefits are still unproven We can't just take it as a given that cultured meat is good for the environment. Ned Spang, professor of food technology at UC Davis, to PBS NewHour The economics of cultivated meat just dont work Lab-grown meat may never make money. The cost structure is expected to be out of whack for years, if not decades, and many of the folks trying lab-grown meat now for the first time may never see a time when the products are profitable. Chloe Sorvino, Forbes ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement If people care about the climate, they should just stop eating meat altogether Its very unlikely you can design a product that can be more environmentally friendly than legumes. Marco Springmann, a senior researcher at the University of Oxfords Environmental Change Institute, to Grist Lula said the conflict in Gaza was not a war of soldiers against soldiers - RICARDO STUCKERT/Brazilian Presidency/AFP/Getty Israel accused Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president, of trivialising the Holocaust and causing offence to the Jewish people on Sunday after he likened the war against Hamas militants in Gaza to the Nazi genocide during the Second World War. Lula told reporters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, where he was attending an African Union summit, that what was happening in the Gaza Strip isnt a war, its a genocide. Its not a war of soldiers against soldiers. Its a war between a highly prepared army and women and children, added the veteran Leftist. Whats happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasnt happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews. In response, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, called his 78-year-old counterparts comments shameful and grave and said his government had called in Brazils ambassador in protest. Benjamin Netanyahu called Lulas remarks an attempt to harm the Jewish people and the right of Israel to defend itself - Marc Israel Sellem/JINI/Xinhua News Agency/eyevine Lula, a prominent voice for the global south, and whose country holds the rotating presidency of the G20, has condemned Hamass Oct 7 attack on Israel as a terrorist act. But he has since grown critical of Israels military campaign. Israels assault on Gaza has killed at least 28,858 people, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry - Israel Defense Forces/REUTERS Mr Netanyahu, 74, called Lulas remarks Holocaust trivialisation and an attempt to harm the Jewish people and the right of Israel to defend itself. The comparison between Israel to the Holocaust of the Nazis and Hitler is crossing a red line, he said. Israel is fighting to defend itself and ensure its future until total victory and it is doing that while upholding international law. I have decided with foreign minister [Israel] Katz to summon the Brazilian ambassador in Israel for an immediate reproach. Mr Katz wrote on X, previously known as Twitter, that the meeting would take place on Monday. Hamass attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Palestinians recover the body of a young girl among the rubble of a house destroyed after an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza - MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Militants also took about 250 people hostage, 130 of whom are still in Gaza, including 30 who are presumed dead, according to Israeli figures. Israels assault on Gaza has killed at least 28,858 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry. Lula criticised Western countries recent decisions to halt aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, after Israel accused some of its employees of involvement in the Oct 7 attack. Lula, who met Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinian prime minister on the sidelines of the summit on Saturday, has said Brazil will increase its own contribution to the agency, and urged other countries to do the same. He reiterated his call for a two-state solution to the conflict, with Palestine definitively recognised as a full and sovereign state. 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. FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gives a speech during his visit to the Arab League headquarters, in Cairo JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel accused Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of trivialising the Holocaust and causing offence to the Jewish people on Sunday after he likened the Israeli war against Hamas militants in Gaza to the Nazi genocide during World War Two. "What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments. In fact, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews," Lula told reporters during the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said it would summon the Brazilian ambassador for a reprimand over the remarks, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as "disgraceful and grave". "This is a trivialisation of the Holocaust and an attempt to attack the Jewish people and the right of Israel to self-defence. Drawing comparisons between Israel and the Nazis and Hitler is to cross a red line," Netanyahu said in a statement. Brazil's presidential palace and the foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement, the Brazilian Israelite Confederation said Lula's remarks were a "perverse distortion of reality" and "offend the memory of Holocaust victims and their descendants" and accused his government of an "extreme and unbalanced" stance on the conflict. Earlier on Sunday, Lula also condemned the suspension of humanitarian aid to the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), urging an investigation into errors without cutting off funding to help those affected by what he called a "genocide." "It's not a war between soldiers and soldiers, it's a war between a highly prepared army and women and children," he said. UNRWA is facing a financial strain following Israel's assertion that 12 out of its 13,000 staff members in Gaza were implicated in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel. (Writing by Dan Williams and Marcela Ayres in Brasilia; Editing by David Holmes and Deepa Babington) A woman walks between dead bodies of Palestinians killed in the Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip, in front of the morgue at Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday brushed off growing calls to halt the military offensive in Gaza, vowing to finish the job as a member of his War Cabinet threatened to invade the southern city of Rafah if remaining Israeli hostages are not freed by the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israels government has not publicly discussed a timeline for a ground offensive on Rafah, where more than half the enclaves 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Retired general Benny Gantz, part of Netanyahus three-member War Cabinet, represents an influential voice but not the final word on what might lie ahead. If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area, Gantz told a conference of Jewish American leaders. Ramadan, expected to begin March 10, is historically a tense time in the region. As cease-fire negotiations struggle after signs of progress in recent weeks, Netanyahu has called demands by Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group delusional. The United States, Israel's top ally, says it still hopes to broker a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement, and envisions a wider resolution of the war sparked by Hamas' deadly Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel. The U.S. also says it will veto another draft U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire, with its U.N. ambassador warning against measures that could jeopardize the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities. But Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood, which the U.S. calls a key element in a broader vision for normalization of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. His Cabinet adopted a declaration Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. The international community overwhelmingly supports an independent Palestinian state as part of a future peace agreement. Netanyahu's government is filled with hard-liners who oppose Palestinian independence. Netanyahu wants Israel to achieve total victory over Hamas. In response to international concern over a Rafah offensive, he has said Palestinian civilians will be evacuated. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. The suggested timing for the offensive came as the World Health Organization chief said southern Gaza's main medical center, Nasser Hospital, is not functional anymore after Israeli forces raided it in Khan Younis last week. Israeli strikes across Gaza continued, killing at least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses. A strike in Rafah killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another killed five in Khan Younis, the main target of the southern Gaza offensive in recent weeks. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies. All those who were martyred were those whom the Jews asked to move to safe places, said a bystander after the Rafah strike, Ahmad Abu Rezeq. In Gaza City, which suffered widespread destruction early in the war, an airstrike flattened a home, killing seven people, including three women, according to relative Sayed al-Afifi. Israels military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. UN SAYS RAIDED HOSPITAL NO LONGER FUNCTIONS WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday. In a post on X, he said about 200 patients remain, including 20 who need urgent referrals elsewhere. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said at least 200 militants surrendered at the hospital. He also claimed that Hamas in Khan Younis is defeated, and that Hamas is largely leaderless in Gaza. He gave no evidence to support the claims. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel were among those arrested, along with patients, leaving 150 patients without medical care. It said Israel refused to allow patients, including newborns, to be evacuated to other hospitals. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside Nasser Hospital and does not target doctors or patients. The Oct. 7 attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of them believed to be dead. Most of the others were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. On Sunday it said 127 bodies were brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours. Around 80% of Gaza's population have been displaced, and a quarter face starvation. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 123 aid trucks entered Gaza through Israel's Kerem Shalom border crossing Sunday and four trucks of cooking gas entered through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. That's well below the 500 trucks entering daily before the war. In the occupied West Bank, a shootout erupted when Israeli forces went to arrest an armed suspect in the town of Tulkarem. The military said the suspect was killed, and a member of Israels paramilitary Border Police was severely wounded. It described the target of the raid as a senior militant. The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed. The war in Gaza has threatened to ignite wider conflict in the region. The U.S. Central Command said it conducted five self-defense strikes Saturday against cruise missiles and drones in area of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group. US OPPOSES A NEW CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION Algeria, the Arab representative on the U.N. Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, and rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the draft will not be adopted" and runs counter to Washingtons efforts to end the fighting. The U.S. vetoed previous resolutions that had wide international support. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release, but Qatar said Saturday the talks have not been progressing as expected. Hamas has said it will not release all remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It also demands the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top militants. ___ Lidman reported from Jerusalem and Chehayeb from Beirut. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war RAFAH, Gaza Strip Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 18 people overnight and into Sunday, according to medics and witnesses, as the United States said it would veto another draft U.N. cease-fire resolution. The U.S., Israels top ally, instead hopes to broker a cease-fire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas, and envisions a wider resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back, calling Hamas demands delusional and rejecting U.S. and international calls for a pathway to Palestinian statehood. His Cabinet adopted a declaration Sunday saying Israel categorically rejects international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it said would grant a major prize to terror after the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until total victory over Hamas and to expand it to Gazas southernmost town of Rafah, where more than half the enclaves population of 2.3 million Palestinians has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. The head of the World Health Organization, meanwhile, said Nasser Hospital, the main medical center serving southern Gaza, is not functional anymore after Israeli forces raided the facility in the southern city of Khan Younis last week. An airstrike in Rafah overnight killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another strike killed five men in Khan Younis, the main target of the offensive over the past two months. Associated Press journalists saw the bodies arrive at a hospital in Rafah. In Gaza City, which was isolated, largely evacuated and suffered widespread destruction in the initial weeks of the war, an airstrike flattened a family home, killing seven people, including three women, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a relative of the deceased. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants operate in dense residential areas. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the U.N. health agency, said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital on Friday or Saturday to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said there are still about 200 patients in the hospital, including 20 who need urgent referrals to other hospitals. Israel says it has arrested over 100 suspected militants, including 20 who it says participated in Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, without providing evidence. The military says it is looking for the remains of hostages inside the facility and does not target doctors or patients. The Gaza Health Ministry said 70 medical personnel were among those arrested, as well as patients in hospital beds who were taken away in trucks. Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the ministry, said soldiers beat detainees and stripped them of their clothes. There was no immediate comment from the military on those allegations. The war erupted after Hamas burst through Israels defenses and attacked communities across southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Militants still hold around 130 hostages, a fourth of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the others were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The war has killed at least 28,985 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records. The toll includes 127 bodies brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours, it said Sunday. Around 80% of Gazas population have been driven from their homes and a quarter face starvation. David Satterfield, the U.S. Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues, said Friday that Israeli strikes on Hamas-run police guarding aid convoys had caused them to halt the escorts, making it virtually impossible to deliver desperately-needed aid because of the threat of criminal gangs. He also said Israel has not presented specific evidence for its claims that Hamas is diverting U.N. aid. Algeria, the Arab representative on the U.N. Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washingtons own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted. It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities in jeopardy, she said. The U.S. has used its veto on similar previous resolutions with wide international support, and President Joe Biden has bypassed Congress to rush arms to Israel while urging it to take greater measures to spare civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release, but theres a wide gap between Israel and Hamas demands and Qatar said Saturday that the talks have not been progressing as expected. Hamas has said it will not release all of the remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. It is also demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including top militants. Netanyahu has publicly rejected both demands and any scenario in which Hamas would be able to rebuild its military and governing capabilities. He said he sent a delegation to cease-fire talks in Cairo last week at Bidens request but doesnt see the point in sending them again. In an interview with Israels Kan public broadcaster on Saturday, Netanyahus national security adviser said that military pressure and sticking to a strict line in the negotiations could lead Hamas to drop its absurd demands that nobody could accept. Tzachi Hanegbi said the U.S. supports Israels campaign to destroy Hamas capabilities and has not pressured Israel to end the war or withdraw troops from Gaza. Netanyahu has pushed back against international concern about a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, saying residents will be evacuated to safer areas. Where they will go in largely devastated Gaza is not clear. The Israeli leader is also opposed to Palestinian statehood, which the U.S. says is a key element in its broader vision for normalization of relations between Israel and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, as well as Arab investment in Gazas postwar reconstruction and governance. Israel launched strikes across Gaza Saturday night that killed at least 18 people as the United States said it would veto an additional United Nations cease-fire resolution. The Associated Press reported that an airstrike in Rafah killed six people overnight including a woman and three children while another strike in Khan Younis killed five men. The AP reported another airstrike in Gaza City killed seven people in a family home, according to Sayed al-Afifi, a family member of the deceased. The airstrikes come as the U.S. has said it will veto a draft resolution circulated by Algeria calling for an immediate cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian assistance. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, at least 28,985 Palestinians have been killed in the war so far, the AP noted. Instead, the U.S. is aiming to help broker a hostage deal between Israel and militant group Hamas. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement Saturday that the draft resolution will not be adopted. The United States will continue to engage in the diplomacy necessary to get a hostage deal over the finish line, and will be candid with Israeli and regional leaders regarding our expectations for the protection of more than one million civilians in Rafah, Thomas-Greenfield said. It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities in jeopardy, she continued. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have been attempting to negotiate a temporary cease-fire agreement and a hostage release. However, the AP reported that Qatar said Saturday that the talks have not been progressing as expected. The Oct. 7 attacks on Israel left about 1,200 people dead while about another 250 were taken as hostages. A temporary cease-fire agreement last year released dozens of hostages, but a large number still remain in Gaza. The Associated Press contributed For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Israel summoned Brazils ambassador for a reprimand after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva compared its war on Hamas with Adolf Hitlers extermination of Jews during the Holocaust. Most Read from Bloomberg The words of the Brazilian president are shameful and serious, Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. No one will harm Israels right to defend itself. Lula helps set the tone for the Global South as the current rotating president of the Group of 20 nations. South Africa has also challenged Israels war tactics, bringing allegations of genocide to the International Court of Justice. Several Latin American countries have pulled their ambassadors and reevaluated their relations with Israel over the conflict. Read more: Leftist Leaders Pull Israel Ambassadors in Latin American Rebuke Israel has rejected the accusations, saying its heeding international law and seeking to minimize civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip while it fights Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union. Israel has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel, during which some 1,200 people were killed by Palestinian militants and more than 200 were taken hostage. Since the fighting began, more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. Whats happening now hasnt happened in any other time in history, but when Hitler decided to murder Jews, Lula said, speaking with reporters in Ethiopia as he wrapped up an official visit to African countries. He said Brazil will defend the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state before the United Nations and asked for humanitarian aid not to be suspended. He has also called Israels prosecution of the war genocide. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with Katz in seeking to summon Brazils ambassador. Comparing Israel to the Nazi Holocaust and Hitler is crossing a red line, he said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (R) speaks with Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman (L) during an operational situation assessment at the IDFs Southern Command HQ. Ariel Hermoni/GPO/dpa Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Galant says Palestinian extremist organization Hamas in Gaza has lost its fighting spirit after more than four months of war. "Two hundred fighters surrendered [in Khan Younis] in the Nasser hospital, dozens more in the Amal hospital," Galant told army commanders on Sunday. "This shows that they [Hamas] have lost their fighting spirit." The information could not initially be independently verified. The Hamas leadership in Gaza under Yehya al-Sinwar, hiding from Israeli security forces, has lost contact with the outside world, the Israeli minister said. "The Hamas-Gaza branch is unresponsive," Galant said. "There is nobody to talk to on the ground." Now, Hamas only has organized armed forces in the central Gaza Strip and in Rafah, the southern border town with Egypt. If the army decides to take action there, "there will be no one to help them - no Iranians and no international support," he said. Galant was meeting the commanders of the units fighting in the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been fighting Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis for several weeks and are preparing an operation in Rafah, despite widespread concern that this could lead to mass civilian casualties due to the tens of thousands of people sheltering there. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (C) speaks with Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman (R) during an operational situation assessment at the IDFs Southern Command HQ. Ariel Hermoni/GPO/dpa Israel's government has rejected a permanent peace settlement with the Palestinians imposed by "international diktats," with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet unanimously approving a declaration to this effect on Sunday. "A settlement, if it is to be reached, will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions," the declaration read. "Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state," the government decision also stated. "Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism and would prevent any future peace settlement." The government's decision was in line with the prime minister's instructions. Netanyahu was responding to media reports that the United States and other allies could recognize a Palestinian state without Israel's consent. Before the vote, Netanyahu spoke of "remarks that have been heard recently in the international community about an attempt to unilaterally force a Palestinian state on Israel." Israel took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. Today, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live there among 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The United Nations granted Palestine observer status in 2012. Of the 193 UN member states, 139 have so far recognized Palestine as an independent state. Germany and the US are not among them. They have always emphasized that a Palestinian state would have to be agreed as part of peace negotiations with Israel. However, these have been stalled for a decade. Israel's government has rejected a permanent peace settlement with the Palestinians imposed by "international diktats," with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet unanimously approving a declaration to this effect on Sunday. "A settlement, if it is to be reached, will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions," the declaration read. "Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state," the government decision also stated. "Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism and would prevent any future peace settlement." The statement was referring to the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations in southern Israel in October. They murdered more than 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others to the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel's ground and air offensive in Gaza has lead to the deaths of 28,985 Palestinians and more than 68,880 people injured. The Israeli government's insistence on direct negotiations as the only way to peace on Sunday was in line with the prime minister's instructions. Netanyahu was responding to media reports that the United States and other allies could recognize a Palestinian state without Israel's consent. Israel took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. Today, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live there among 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The United Nations granted Palestine observer status in 2012. Of the 193 UN member states, 139 have so far recognized Palestine as an independent state. Germany and the US are not among them. They have always emphasized that a Palestinian state would have to be agreed as part of peace negotiations with Israel. However, these have been stalled for a decade. In Gaza, meanwhile, the Israeli army continued its attempt to wipe out Hamas in the strip and Herzi Halevi, the chief of general staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said recently that the army had "eliminated more than 10,000 terrorists in the Gaza Strip so far, including many commanders." The IDF said ground troops were still active in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, as well as in the central and northern parts of the Palestinian territory. Israeli forces remained at Khan Younis' Nasser Hospital, previously one of the last functioning hospitals in the strip, after raiding it on Thursday. The IDF has said it believes "terrorist" activity is taking place at the facility and that the bodies of Israeli hostages could be inside. Nasser Hospital is no longer operational due to the Israeli operation, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. A WHO team that wanted to check the condition of the patients and bring fuel had been denied access, he added. "There are still around 200 patients in the hospital," and some 20 of them urgently need to be transferred to other hospitals, Tedros wrote on Sunday. International criticism of Israel's operations in Gaza continues to grow epecially amid rising fears that Israel is preparing to launch a full-scale ground offensive into Rafah. Leaders continue to warn against such a step given the possibility of mass civilian casualties. More than 1 million Palestinians are currently sheltering in Rafah, in the very southernmost part of the strip. It has become a sprawling tent city on the border with Egypt, with most of the people there refugees displaced from other parts of Gaza. Many of Israel's allies, including the US, Britain and Germany, have expressed fears that a ground invasion could dramatically worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the area. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva compared Israel's military operation in Gaza to the mass murder of European Jews ordered by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Israel's actions were tantamount to genocide against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, he told an African Union summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa during the weekend. "What is happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza has never happened at any other time in history. Or rather, it has already happened: When Hitler decided to kill the Jews," Lula said during a press conference. Brazil has been calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for some time and Lula has become increasingly critical of Israel in recent weeks. Israel's Foreign Ministry summoned the Brazilian ambassador in response. Netanyahu described the Brazilian president's words as "disgraceful and serious." His comments were "a disparagement of the significance of the Holocaust and an attempt to harm the Jewish people and Israel's right to self-defence," he said in a statement issued by the prime minister's Office. A red line had been crossed with the comparison, he added. Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani signed an agreement with Ukrainian and European officials on Feb. 17 offering support to Ukraine's energy sector, according to a press release from the Italian government. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russian attacks regularly damage or destroy equipment and facilities associated with Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The agreement lays out the terms of a subsidized loan worth 100 million euros ($107.8 million) to the state-owned energy company Ukrhydroenergo. Tajani signed the agreement with Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Italy's loan is part of a larger EBRD support program for Ukraine's hydroelectric power company worth 200 million euros. The other half of the loan will come directly from the EBRD. Italy has stood by Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian aggression and today we reaffirm our willingness to help our Ukrainian friends also in the strategic sector of energy infrastructure," Tajani said. Tajani also said that Italy's Group of Seven (G7) presidency will focus on supporting Ukraine, and that Italy will host a Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2025. Kyiv and the EBRD signed an agreement in June 2023 for a 600 million euro ($654 million) financing package to bolster energy security in Ukraine. The deal allocates 200 million euros to Naftogaz, 200 million euros to Ukrenergo, and 200 million euros to Ukrhydroenergo. The EBRD announced its loan to Naftogaz in November 2023. Russia launched mass attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the autumn and winter of 2022-2023, resulting in blackouts across the country amid freezing temperatures. The current winter brought yet another wave of massive strikes, but Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 30 that the energy sector remains stable despite Russia's onslaught. Ukraine's hydroelectric infrastructure suffered a massive blow in June 2023, when Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. Ukrhydroenergo representatives said that building a new dam and hydroelectric station would take at least five years and cost at least $1 billion. Read also: Italy will allocate 500,000 euros to reconstruct downtown Odesa damaged by Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Japan's "Sominsai" festival is the latest tradition impacted by the country's ageing population crisis (Philip FONG) A steam of sweat rose as hundreds of naked men tussled over a bag of wooden talismans, performing a dramatic end to a thousand-year-old ritual in Japan that took place for the last time. Their passionate chants of "jasso, joyasa" (meaning "evil, be gone") echoed through a ceder forest of the northern Japan's Iwate region, where the secluded Kokuseki Temple has decided to end the popular annual rite. Organising the event, which draws hundreds of participants and thousands of tourists every year, has become a heavy burden for the ageing local faithful, who find it hard to keep up with the rigours of the ritual. The "Sominsai" festival, regarded as one of the strangest festivals in Japan, is the latest tradition impacted by the country's ageing population crisis that has hit rural communities hard. "It is very difficult to organise a festival of this scale," said Daigo Fujinami, a resident monk of the temple that opened in 729. "You can see what happened today --so many people are here and it's all exciting. But behind the scenes, there are many rituals and so much work that have to be done," he said. "I cannot be blind to the difficult reality." - Ageing population - Japan's society has aged more rapidly than most other countries'. The trend has forced countless schools, shops and services to close, particularly in small or rural communities. Kokuseki Temple's Sominsai festival used to take place from the seventh day of Lunar New Year through to the following morning. But during the Covid pandemic, it was scaled down to prayer ceremonies and smaller rituals. The final festival was a shortened version, ending around 11:00 pm, but it drew the biggest crowd in recent memory, local residents said. As the sun set, men in white loincloths came to the mountainous temple, bathed in a creek and marched around temple's ground. They clenched their fists against the chill of a winter breeze, all the while chanting "jasso joyasa". Some held small cameras to record their experience, while dozens of television crews followed the men through the temple's stone steps and dirt pathways. As the festival reached its climax, hundreds of men packed inside the wooden temple shouting, chanting and aggressively jostling over a bag of talismans. - Changing norms - Toshiaki Kikuchi, a local resident who claimed the talismans and who helped organise the festival for years, said he hoped the ritual will return in the future. "Even under a different format, I hope to maintain this tradition," he said after the festival. "There are many things that you can appreciate only if you take part." Many participants and visitors voiced both sadness and understanding about the festival's ending. "This is the last of this great festival that has lasted 1,000 years. I really wanted to participate in this festival," Yasuo Nishimura, 49, a caregiver from Osaka, told AFP. Other temples across Japan continue to host similar festivals where men wear loincloths and bathe in freezing water or fight over talismans. Some festivals are adjusting their rules in line with changing democraphics and social norms so that they can continue to exist -- such as letting women take part in previously male-only ceremonies. From next year, Kokuseki Temple will replace the festival with prayer ceremonies and other ways to continue its spiritual practices. "Japan is facing a falling birthrate, ageing population, and lack of young people to continue various things," Nishimura said. "Perhaps it is difficult to continue the same way as in the past." hih/dhw A campaigner says a new help-to-buy scheme on Jersey will not help solve the island's "housing crisis". The Government of Jersey unveiled plans to put up 10m to help people buy their first home on the island. Peter Seymour, the director of a Jersey-based loan firm, said the money would help by up to 70 homes. But Michael Van Neste, who established the Jersey Homes Trust, said helping some families buy a home would stop others getting on the property ladder. Mr Van Neste, who chaired the trust until his retirement in 2022, said the government should focus on building more homes. "If you help one family, you must be excluding another family - you're leapfrogging some at the expense of others," he said. "Yes it is good to help people, but I'm afraid that's not the way to solve the housing crisis." The BBC has approached Deputy Sam Mezec, Jersey's Housing Minister, for a response. Shared equity scheme Discussing the plans earlier this week, Mr Mezec said he wanted to help as many people looking to buy their first home as possible. He said: "In the next few weeks we're going to be launching a scheme of 10m to support first time buyers to help those people who have saved a little bit of money and could convince a mortgage lender to lend the money but for whom it's just not enough. "It's a shared equity scheme, it's going to be run by Andium Homes, and it will be for homes out there in the open market and those people who now with a bit of extra support from the government will be able to buy them and will own them outright." Follow BBC Jersey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Former President Jimmy Carter has now been in hospice care for one year. The 39th president, who turned 99 in October, entered hospice care on Feb. 18, 2023. The Carter Center said America's longest living president would spend his "remaining time" at his Georgia home in hospice care instead of continuing cancer treatments. "After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention," the center said at the time. "He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers." JIMMY CARTER, LONGEST LIVING US PRESIDENT, TURNS 99 Fomer President Jimmy Carter On Saturday, his family told USA Today in a statement about the 99-year-old: "The Carter family is grateful for the many expressions of love they have received and the continued respect for their privacy during this time. The family is pleased that his decision last year to enter hospice care has sparked so many family discussions across the country on an important subject." Fox News Digital has reached out to the Carter Center for comment. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The vast majority of patients spend fewer than three months in hospice, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Carter was diagnosed with cancer in early 2015, after doctors performed liver surgery, according to a statement from the Carter Center, which made it clear that his cancer had spread to other parts of his body. JIMMY CARTER HAD ONE OF THE 'GREATEST SECOND ACTS' IN AMERICAN HISTORY, CONSERVATIVE HISTORIAN SAYS In December 2015, Carter told his Sunday School class that he no longer had cancer. By May, Carters grandson Jason said his grandfather was still receiving updates on the Carter Centers humanitarian work and enjoying treats like ice cream. "Theyre just meeting with family right now, but theyre doing it in the best possible way: the two of them together at home," Jason Carter told The Associated Press of his grandfather and grandmother, Rosalynn Carter, who was still alive at the time. Rosalynn Carter died last November at 96 years old after being admitted to hospice care. She was at their Georgia home at the time. Carter attended Rosalynn's funeral. "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished," Carter said in a statement at the time. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me." They had been married for 77 years. Original article source: Jimmy Carter, 99, marks one year in home hospice care JK Rowling made the donation as soon as permission for the appeal was granted - SAMIR HUSSEIN/WIREIMAGE JK Rowling has donated 70,000 to a feminist group to help its bid to obtain a historic Supreme Court ruling stating that men cannot become women. The Harry Potter author pledged the cash to For Women Scotland, which is going to the UKs highest court in a long-running legal battle with the Scottish Government over whether biological men can legally become female under UK law. The group won an earlier case in which it was found that the SNPs position that anyone who identified as a woman should be counted as one, for the purposes of gender quotas introduced for public boards, was unlawful. However, it has lost a case which challenged rewritten guidance, which stated that biological men counted as women if they had acquired a gender recognition certificate (GRC) reflecting a female identity. While the issue centres around Holyrood legislation intended to boost the number of women on public boards, the case will have wider ramifications for the legal status of trans people in Britain. Supporters of For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network demonstrate outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh - LESLEY MARTIN/PA Rowling donated the 70,000 sum within hours of the Scottish courts granting permission for the Supreme Court appeal. So far, more than 125,000 has been raised towards the groups estimated costs of 200,000 in an online crowdfunder. You know how proud I am to know you, Rowling wrote to the group in a message after she made the donation. Thank you for all your hard work and perseverance. This is truly a historic case. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, she mocked trans activists who had criticised her for making the donation. Some attacked her for not spending that cash on something else, and argued that if For Women Scotland succeeded the case would drastically erode the legal rights of trans people. After one X user sarcastically said she bet Rowling hadnt asked her husbands permission first, she joked that he had told her that the money was coming out of next weeks housekeeping allowance. Strong grounds for an appeal In a controversial ruling in December 2022, the Scottish courts found that biological men can legally become women and share in their legal protections, if they obtain a GRC. This is mainly because the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, UK-wide legislation, states that the documents mean a person becomes a member of their acquired sex for all purposes. However, For Women Scotland argues this was superseded by the 2010 Equality Act, in which trans women and women are treated as two protected, but distinct, groups. The later legislation allows even trans women with GRCs to be excluded from some womens spaces and activities, if certain conditions are met. For Women Scotland said it had obtained legal advice indicating that it had strong grounds for an appeal to the Supreme Court. The Scottish Government did not oppose the application to appeal, conceding there were arguable points of law of general public importance. 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. Joe Biden with his brother James, who has been the target of allegations over business ventures - NBC NEWSWIRE/NBC UNIVERSAL Joe Bidens name was used by his younger brother James in his dealings with a hospital chain that later collapsed, it has been alleged. Republicans in Congress have been pursuing the Biden familys business dealings, and James Biden, 74, is due to appear before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Wednesday, a week before the presidents son, Hunter. Already facing questions about his involvement with Chinese state-linked CEFC China Energy, James Biden is also under scrutiny over Americore, a hospital chain providing health care in rural areas in states including Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The Politico website claims James Biden used his links to his brother, then the vice-president, as part of his pitch for consulting work for the company. One former Americore executive told Politico James Biden spoke of plans to give his brother a stake in the company and a place on the board. Joe Biden drives a golf cart with his brother James on board last year - DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO The younger Biden, who allegedly described himself as an adviser to Joe Biden, said that if Americore proved successful in providing rural healthcare, it could be promoted in a future presidential campaign. He also offered to secure Middle Eastern funding for Americore, Politico alleged. When the money did not arrive, it allegedly added to Americores financial problems, culminating in its eventual bankruptcy and affecting the care of patients. Americore has since been the subject of several investigations. Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused one of Jim Bidens business partners of fraud related to loans to the company. The allegations have been denied. And the Justice Department has alleged Americores hospital in Pennsylvania paid kickbacks in a scheme which saw Medicare billed for unnecessary lab tests. According to Politico, Joe Biden never involved himself in Americore. However, on the day James Biden was paid $200,000 by Americore, he wrote a cheque to his brother. The White House says the cheque was in repayment of a loan. James Biden, whose lawyer says he acted 'ethically and honorably', pictured at a White House dinner during his brother's vice-presidency - HARAZ N GHANBARI/AP Paul Fishman, James Bidens lawyer, said the presidents brother, who is not accused of criminal wrongdoing, had conducted himself ethically and honorably in all his business dealings. It is not the first time that James Biden has been accused of exploiting his family connections for business purposes. Last year, court documents emerged that alleged he was hired by a US construction company to help business negotiations in Saudi Arabia. According to affidavits, he claimed that the country would not dare stiff the brother of the vice-president, who would be instrumental to the deal. The US president has insisted that he never discussed the business affairs of either his son Hunter or his brother. But James Comer, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, has accused the Biden family of using the presidents name to enrich themselves. The Telegraph has approached the White House and James Bidens attorney for 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. HOUSTON Joel Osteen preached about living without fear in the first Sunday service at his Lakewood Church since a shooting last week that left a child in critical condition and a man injured. The alleged shooter, identified as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno, walked into the church accompanied by her 7-year-old son on Feb. 11 and started shooting, according to officials. Her son was struck in the head during the incident and was in critical condition. A 47-year-old man was injured and has since been released from the hospital. Police previously said he was 57. Osteen took to the stage during the churchs 8:30 a.m. service to greet an auditorium full of people. He started off with a prayer. Lord, we think of your faithfulness, especially this week, Lord, what you brought us through, Osteen said. We dont take it for granted. Your angels were watching over each one of us. Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen participate in a press conference at Lakewood Church on Feb. 11, 2024. (Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) Osteen prayed for a 7-year-old boy whom he identified as Samuel and asked God to show him your mercy. The 47-year-old man who was also injured in the shooting attended service at the church Sunday, according to police. Osteen also prayed for the alleged shooter and her family, as he broke out in tears. I just ask you, Lord, to heal the hurts in that family, he said. Osteen said he never dreamed something like this would happen. He was finishing up a meeting and was walking to his office when he saw people who mentioned there had been some kind of incident at the church, he said. After getting back into his office, he got a text from Houston Police Chief Troy Finner asking if he was OK. And I text back I said, Im OK, but I dont know whats going on, Osteen said, adding that the church is lucky to have law enforcement. Demiya Henry and Danyelle Judie were at the church last week when they were told that someone was shooting and were instructed to get down. At first I didnt think it was happening, Henry told NBC News. But we didnt think anything of it but then it took seriously when everyone started running. Henry and Judie ran to a room for children in the church and started praying. We were just in there [with the children] praying, Judie said. My mindset was to get as many people to pray as possible. It was traumatic, you know, for a lot of people that were here and even people that werent here, because this is our church and this is what God has given us, Osteen said. For somebody to come in and kind of, not kind of, but to violate and do something crazy but you know what? Like we singing in all these songs, we trust in God. Osteen also honored the churchs security team during his remarks, calling them heroes. He cried as he instructed everyone to hold hands in prayer. Lord, we thank you again for what youve done. We dont take for granted, Lord, it could have been a different story this Sunday, he said. During the service, Osteen preached about defining moments that can make someone decide to live in fear. Thats where we are at Lakewood, Osteen said. This troubled woman came in and tried to do harm. This is a critical moment. As a church we can shrink back, Its dangerous, lets hide our life. Lets just go under the radar. But this is a time to shine brighter than ever, to share more hope, to dig down deep and say, We will not fear, for our God is stronger, our God is greater. Jared and Elizabeth Schaefer, who regularly attend the Lakewood Church, had left the building shortly before the shooting happened. They felt safe coming back to the church Sunday for 11 a.m. service. When it happened I was shocked, Elizabeth said. Ever since that, just seeing how well the church and the city handled the situation, we felt safe coming back. Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Finner, the police chief, joined Osteen onstage in the 11 a.m. service. Whitmire thanked first responders during his remarks and said the shooting had brought the community together. You know, you never question Gods will, but certainly after the tragedy of last week, he had a purpose in bringing us together to show how united our city is, Whitmire said. Finner said the police department will be releasing video of the incident in a few days, adding that it shows the heroism of first responders. When God put men and women in place to protect people, thats what happened last Sunday, he said. Finner said when he first got a call about a shooting at the Lakewood Church, he knew this one was for real. And I was grabbing my stuff trying to get together and I said, Let me pause, let me call to check on our pastor, but my brother, Finner said. And also, I thought about my mother, and this entire congregation. Finner said if it werent for first responders, the shooting could have been much worse. In almost 34 years Ive seen so much. If that person wouldve gotten into the sanctuary it wouldve been a mass, he said. Finner also thanked the off-duty Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agent and Houston police officer who were at the church when shots were fired and opened fire. A motive is still not clear, but police said they believe Moreno acted alone. A dispute between Moreno and her ex-husbands family, some of whom are Jewish, may be related to the shooting, Houston Police Cmdr. Chris Hassig said in a news briefing last week. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A suspended Pennsylvania judge was arrested on Thursday and accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend in the head after he asked her to move out several times. Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge Sonya M. McKnight, 57, is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault of her ex, Michael McCoy, who was shot while in bed of his Harrisburg home on Feb. 10, according to an affidavit obtained by HuffPost. According to the Associated Press, McKnight had been suspended in November for unrelated misconduct. The affidavit states that McKnight called 911 to report her ex-boyfriend, McCoy, couldnt see and asked if an ambulance could come and get him. Police said McKnight did not tell 911 dispatchers what happened and claimed she was sleeping and heard him scream. Suspended District Judge Sonya McKnight leaves the Susquehanna Twp. Police department on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Suspended District Judge Sonya McKnight leaves the Susquehanna Twp. Police department on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Responding officers arrived on the scene and found McCoy was alive, but had sustained a gunshot wound to the face next to his right eye, the affidavit read. According to the document, neither McCoy nor McKnight told officers what exactly happened, besides McCoy stating, I did not shoot myself. Investigators soon discovered that McCoy had recently broken up with McKnight, ending a one-year relationship. According to the affidavit, McKnight was living with McCoy full-time while they were together. Police said McCoy removed his house keys from McKnights key ring on Feb. 4 after he attempted numerous times to get her to leave, but she refused. The next day, McCoy was surprised when he found McKnight inside his home after returning from work. He immediately yells at her asking: What is she doing there? How did she get into the home? Why is she there? the affidavit read. McKnight told McCoy that she took his spare keys, according to the affidavit. According to the affidavit, McCoy returned home from work again on Feb. 9 to find his ex sitting on his couch wearing pajamas. The two began to argue, and McCoy then left. McKnight called McCoy to ask where he was going, but he ignored most of her calls and texts because they were broke up and he didnt need to respond, the affidavit read. AfterMcCoy rejected one attempt McKnight made to talk, she responded Oh, youre serious? It was at this point, McCoy told police, it was like she finally understood that it was over. McKnight went to bed. McCoy told police he never heard a gunshot or noise, but woke up with massive head pain and was unable to see. According to the document, McCoy began screaming and only heard McKnight say,Mike, what did you do to yourself? McKnight then escorted McCoy to the bathroom because he could not see and he told her to call an ambulance, police said in the affidavit. McCoy was shocked when emergency medical services informed him that he suffered a single gunshot wound, from a bullet that entered the right temple and exited the left temple, the affidavit read. Forensic evidence later determined that McCoy sustained a gunshot wound to the head from a foot away and that gunshot residue was later found on McKnights hand. An attorney listed as McKnights representation did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for a statement. McCoy is not the first partner McKnight has been accused of shooting. In 2019, she shot her then-husband Enoch McKnight in the groin in 2019 after she asked him to move furniture, PennLive reported at the time. No criminal charges were filed against McKnight in that case, after she said she was acting in self-defense. Related... Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, center, leaves the 185th District Court after a hearing in his securities fraud case, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the Harris County criminal courthouse in Houston. A judge on Friday rejected Paxtons attempts to throw out felony securities fraud charges that have shadowed the Republican for nearly a decade. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP) HOUSTON (AP) A judge on Friday rejected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton s attempts to throw out felony securities fraud charges that have shadowed the Republican for nearly a decade. The decision by state District Judge Andrea Beall, an elected Democrat, keeps Paxton on track for an April 15 trial on charges that he duped investors in a tech startup. If convicted, Paxton faces up to 99 years in prison. Paxton, who has pleaded not guilty, appeared in the Houston courtroom for the hearing, sitting at the defense table with his attorneys. Hes ready for trial This thing has been pending for eight years. (The special prosecutors) want to dance. Put on your shoes. Its time to go. Lets dance, Dan Cogdell, one of Paxtons attorneys, told reporters after Fridays court hearing. Brian Wice, one of the special prosecutors handling the case, said it was important that Paxtons case go to trial because no one is above the law. And that includes Ken Paxton. And thats why this case matters. During Fridays hearing, the other special prosecutor in the case, Kent Schaffer, announced he was withdrawing ahead of the trial. After the hearing, Wice said the two prosecutors parted ways after disagreeing over Schaffers push to avoid a trial and instead settle the case through pre-trial intervention. Wice said Schaffer had recently reached out to Cogdell with the offer for pretrial intervention, which is like probation and would ultimately lead to the dismissal of charges if a defendant stays out of legal trouble. Wice said he doesnt believe pretrial intervention would have been appropriate because there would be no admission of guilt and no jail time. And without an acknowledgment of guilt, to me, that was worse than a slap on the wrist. That was, gee, lets get you a cocktail, a hot meal, and breath mint. And that wasnt going to happen on my watch, Wice said. Cogdell said Schaffer had reached out to him about the proposal and he would have been happy to resolve the case without a trial and a dismissal of the charges. Schaffer did not immediately reply to a call seeking comment on Friday. Wice said another Houston lawyer, Jed Silverman, will take Schaffers place. Paxton did not address the court as his legal team argued that a long trial delay since he was first indicted in 2015 violated his right to a speedy trial. Paxton is charged with defrauding investors in a Dallas-area tech company called Servergy by not disclosing that he was being paid by the company to recruit them. The case has been delayed for years with pretrial disputes over whether to hold the trial in the Dallas area or Houston, and payment for the states special prosecutors, who have contended they have not been consistently paid in the case. During the hearing, Cogdell argued Paxton should not have his rights violated because of the payment dispute. He added Wice and Schaffer were not suffering financially, pointing out that Wice drives a Mercedes and Schaffer drives a Rolls Royce. Its a Bentley, Schaffer responded. Wice argued most of the delays were caused by Paxtons side and that his attorneys had never previously raised the issue of a speedy trial violation. Wice said that since the 2015 indictment, Paxton has been living his best life as hes twice been reelected and has bought millions of dollars in real estate. The criminal charges are among the myriad legal troubles that have long dogged Paxton over his three terms as one of the nations highest-profile state attorneys general. He was acquitted last year during a historic impeachment trial in the Texas Senate over accusations that he misused his office to help a wealthy donor. The 61-year-old Paxton has shown remarkable political resilience, maintaining and growing strong support among GOP activists on the state and national level, including from former President Donald Trump. Paxton still faces legal troubles. A federal investigation has been probing some of the same charges presented in his impeachment. He is also fighting efforts by former top aides to make him testify in a whistleblower civil lawsuit that also includes allegations central to the impeachment. __ Associated Press writer Jim Vertuno contributed to this report from Austin. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X, formerly known as Twitter: twitter.com/juanlozano70 Duke Ellington was known for his sartorial and musical elegance as a celebrated pianist, composer and orchestra leader. But when a young Ulysses Whittaker Boykin met Ellington, the stylish, musical genius came to the door wearing a bathrobe, pajamas and a stocking cap. And while the poetry and other writings of Langston Hughes a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance have been enjoyed by readers across the globe, it is unlikely that many people can say they received Hughes books in the mail, sent by the famous author himself, which was the case for Boykin, who began receiving the books after a face-to-face encounter with Hughes before Boykins 10th birthday. Judge Ulysses Boykin sits underneath photos of himself, left, from 1963 and his son Peter Boykin's, right, 1994 graduating photos from Cass Tech in a room at his home in Detroit on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Even the 1956 Republican National Convention was not out of the reach for a young Boykin, who that summer soaked up all of the convention action that took place within the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Having close and sometimes intimate contact with important people long before he became a judge of the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County, was a common experience for Boykin. That was due to the time he spent as a young man on business trips with his father, Ulysses Wilhelm Boykin, who was pretty important in his own right as a Republican National Convention delegate; public relations and media trailblazer; and one of the driving forces behind the launch of Detroits WGPR-TV 62, the nations first Black-owned TV station. I had exposure, the now 78-year-old Judge Boykin said when describing what he received from his father, who, as vice president of civic affairs and public relations, continued contributing to WGPR-TV 62 after the station went on the air on Sept. 29, 1975. My father knew everybody. He could be sitting in an after-hour establishment tonight and be at the White House tomorrow. That was his range. Judge Boykin now serves as a visiting judge for the Oakland County Courthouse after retiring from the Wayne County Circuit Court, where he was a judge from 1999 through 2020. On consecutive days beginning Monday evening Feb. 12, Boykin spoke from his home in the historic Palmer Woods neighborhood. And during those conversations he explained how his fathers connections helped the future Judge Boykin make history in Detroit's legal community. We didnt call it that then, but it was networking, " Judge Boykin said, while recalling how an approach from two different angles helped to bring him to the attention of some of the most prestigious law firms in the city. It was the Thomas family, a prominent Black family in Detroit, and my fathers political presence. Sam Thomas Sr. provided the list, and during spring break of 1969 I called the hiring departments and said: Im a second-year law student at Harvard Law School and Im interested in summer employment. I received offers to be what was called then a summer clerk from Dykema Gossett, Dickinson Wright and GM. I chose Dickinson Wright, which had been looking to find qualified Black attorneys and Richard Van Dusen (former Dickinson Wright chairman) knew thorough Republican politics. The important exposure that Boykin one of the founders of Harvard Law Schools Black Law Student Association received as a summer clerk led Dickinson Wright to extend an offer to him in 1970 after Boykins graduation from Harvard Law School, which made him the first African American attorney to practice at the firm. But while holding a place in Detroit history is no doubt a source of pride for Boykin, who also practiced at the prestigious Lewis, White & Clay law firm in Detroit before becoming a judge, some of his personal motivation for entering the legal profession, along with his lifelong commitment to excellence, can be gleaned from a small photo Boykin held delicately in his den on the afternoon of Feb. 13. The picture shows 1st Lt. Johnson C. Whittaker Jr., the maternal grandfather of Judge Boykin, as he appeared during World War I while serving in the U.S. Army. He would rise to the rank of captain. Later, the decorated war veteran would come to Michigan and, as a civil engineer, he was a part of a surveying crew that constructed the Detroit Willow Run Expressway (Interstate 94) from Detroit to Ypsilanti. In addition, he is credited with being a part of a project which widened a stretch of Gratiot Avenue, along with leading an all-African American surveying crew involved in the construction of U.S.-10 from Claire to Reed City. Capt. Whittaker also was the son of Johnson Chesnut Whittaker, who was among the first Black cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. Johnson Chesnut Whittakers tumultuous cadet experience was the subject of the Showtime movie Assault at West Point: The Court Martial of Johnson Whittaker based on a book by John Marszalek about Whittaker, who in 1880 was left unconscious and tied to his bed after a late-night attack by three fellow cadets while he was sleeping. In a trial afterward, where Whittaker sought justice, he was accused of faking the crime. It would take until 1995 for Johnson Chesnut Whittaker to receive a degree of justice from the country he sought to serve and protect, when President Bill Clinton awarded him a posthumous U.S. Army commission during a White House ceremony. Lt. Johnson C. Whittaker Jr., maternal grandfather of Judge Ulysses Whittaker Boykin, as he appeared during World War I. He rose to the rank of captain and later would come to Michigan and be a part of a surveying crew that constructed the Detroit Willow Run Expressway (Interstate 94) from Detroit to Ypsilanti. In addition, he is credited with being a part of a project which widened a stretch of Gratiot Avenue, along with leading an all-African American surveying crew involved in the construction of U.S.-10 from Claire to Reed City. However, as Judge Boykin explained, there was a resilient side to Johnson Chesnut Whittakers story that was never extinguished. In fact, after being discharged from the academy, Johnson Chesnut Whittaker returned to South Carolina, where he practiced law and later taught at what is now South Carolina State University. The same institution where his oldest son, Miller Whittaker, also a commissioned Army officer, would serve as president. And decades later, the familys connection to the university can still bring out excitement in Judge Boykins voice when he replays the time he spent living near South Carolina State University as a young child before returning to Detroit in 1952. When I was 5 years old, I knew I was going to college, because thats what I saw, said Judge Boykin, a 1963 graduate of Cass Technical High School, who returned to the South to further his education at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in Virginia. Listening to Judge Boykin vividly describe scenes from decades and even more than a century ago about other members of his family that defended their country; operated businesses; educated students, including here in Detroit, and more is to be in the company of someone with a deep reverence for history, which was his major as an undergraduate. Not surprisingly, while in his den surrounded by books and photos he pulled out, Judge Boykin revealed that he seriously considered becoming a history professor. Still, if Judge Boykin ever wonders what it feels like to teach history for a living, he doesn't have to look far given that for the past 20 years his son, Peter, has been a history instructor for Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD). And, like his father, who is a past recipient of the Champion of Justice Award from the State Bar of Michigan, Peter Boykin believes his work and the institution where he teaches have an important role to play in the community. Its been a very awesome ride, said Peter Boykin, whose 1994 Cass Tech graduation portrait hanging in his parents (Judge Ulysses and Pamela Boykin) den is almost the spitting image of his fathers high school graduation picture that hangs nearby, with the exception of a mustache worn only by Peter. As a history instructor, I have met so many great students. And I want them all to know that every culture has made significant contributions to civilization everyone in the world matters. Peter Boykin poses for a photo after teaching his world civilization course at Wayne County Community College District in Detroit on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Boykin is connected to rich Detroit history, as well as profound Black History. His great grandfather, worked with a surveying crew that constructed the Detroit Willow Run expressway, and as part of an all-African American surveying crew, he was involved in the construction of U.S.-10 from Claire to Reed City, Michigan. Peter's grandfather helped to establish WGPR, the nation's first Black-owned television station. And Peter's father, who still works as a visiting judge, was a trailblazing attorney earlier in his career who integrated one of Detroit's most prominent law firms. Peter Boykin had an opportunity to bring that statement to life on Valentines Day afternoon in a classroom on WCCCDs Northwest Campus, within the General Arts Building, as he taught a class titled World Civilization Part 1. The main agenda item for the 12 students present was the viewing of a video from Henry Louis Gates Wonders of the African World PBS series. Quiet attentiveness best described the atmosphere in the classroom while the video aired. But there were other signs, such as the way many students asked about Peter Boykin's father while entering the class and how students and the instructor seemed to naturally work together to come up with answers during a Q&A session, that suggested other human needs were being met while the students were learning about Nubia. I love the class, I love history and Im learning a lot of things, were the words spoken after class by 52-year-old Detroiter Equeilla Sledge, who was even more exuberant when she explained how she hopes to apply her education as an aspiring teacher. I definitely want to teach in Detroit because I was born and raised here (on the east side) and I attended Detroit Public Schools. I feel that teachers are needed so badly in Detroit right now and if I can help catch those kids when theyre really, really small and give them what they need I feel it will make it better for them and our future. If volunteering to work with a fellow classmate on an upcoming research paper about Egyptian history reflects that a student is into a class, then Michelle Barnett must be loving Peter Boykins course as well. I was ready to get back into the swing of things, said Barnett, a mother of two teenage boys and a 1990 graduate of Redford High School, who had not been a student since 2008 before this year. I had gotten older and I was wondering if I still had the patience to teach. But everyone keeps telling me, Michelle, you are meant to be a teacher. So I was thinking that maybe this is still my calling and in due time we will see. After class on Valentines Day, Peter Boykin had limited time to talk because he had more students to teach at WCCCDs Downriver Campus. But two days earlier, Peter Boykin had a chance to tell the story of his familys history his way, which invoked the term knocked it out the park, when he proudly described his fathers interview when he was seeking the opportunity to make history at Dickinson Wright. And later in the conversation, Peter Boykin made it known that he would like to make a similar impression in his own way with the students he teaches at WCCCD. Peter Boykin, center, talks with students in his world civilization course while teaching at Wayne County Community College District in Detroit on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Boykin is connected to rich Detroit history, as well as profound Black History. His great grandfather, worked with a surveying crew that constructed the Detroit Willow Run expressway, and as part of an all-African American surveying crew, he was involved in the construction of U.S.-10 from Claire to Reed City, Michigan. Peter's grandfather helped to establish WGPR, the nation's first Black-owned television station. And Peter's father, who still works as a visiting judge, was a trailblazing attorney earlier in his career who integrated one of Detroit's most prominent law firms. Being a HBCU graduate (Hampton University) I want to reciprocate what I received, explained Peter Boykin, who, like his dad, provided passionate, colorful accounts about historical people he has been close to in Detroit, including Rosa "Mother Parks" and Betty Shabazz. Im more than an instructor. Im a mentor and guidance counselor, too, and the first thing I ask a student is What are your goals? I let the students know that they will get an extra helping hand here and that there is nothing they cant achieve. Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and lifelong lover of Detroit culture in all of its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the citys neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at: stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ulysses Whittaker Boykin made history in Detroit's legal community The anniversary of Julius Nyerere's death, 14 October, is a public holiday in Tanzania Tanzania's founding father Julius Nyerere has been honoured with a statue outside the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Nyerere led what is now Tanzania from independence in 1961 until 1985. Known as Mwalimu, Swahili for teacher, he was a committed pan-Africanist and hosted independence fighters opposed to white minority rule in southern Africa. He played a key role in the creation of the Organisation of African Unity, which later became the African Union. Unveiling the statue at a ceremony attended by numerous African heads of state, AU Commission leader Moussa Faki Mahamat said: "The legacy of this remarkable leader encapsulates the essence of Pan Africanism, profound wisdom, and service to Africa." He recalled Nyerere's own comments at the inaugural OAU summit in 1963. "Our continent is one, and we are all Africans." But when he became prime minister of what was then Tanganyika in 1961, his first task was to unite the new country, made up of more than 120 different ethnic groups, including Arab, Asian and European minorities. He managed to do this, by promoting the use of Swahili as a common language and through his vision of "African Socialism" or ujamaa (familyhood). In 1964, Tanganyika united with the Zanzibar archipelago to form Tanzania. It later became a one-party state. Nyerere defended the absence of multi-party elections by declaring that Tanzanians had far more freedom under him than they had ever had under British rule, and that the one-party system was vital for stability. Nyerere, seen here with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1975, lobbied Western governments over white-minority rule in southern Africa Known for his modest lifestyle, Nyerere tried to create an egalitarian society based on co-operative agriculture - meaning farmers no longer worked their individual fields but instead worked together on communally-owned land. He wanted Tanzania to be self-reliant, rather than depending on foreign aid and investment. However, this largely failed and Tanzania's economy was in dire straits when he stepped down in 1985. Yet he oversaw a huge improvement in healthcare and literacy and remains widely revered in Tanzania. The country's main international airport is named after him, as are many roads, bridges and stadiums. During the 1970s, Nyerere lobbied Western governments to take a stronger stance against white-minority rule in Rhodesia, later Zimbabwe, and South Africa, and backed armed groups fighting those regimes. Paying her tribute to Nyerere, Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan said: "To him, Africa's wellbeing came first, before popular approval, personal fortune or country wellbeing." Nyerere was strongly opposed to the expulsion of Asians in neighbouring Uganda under Idi Amin in 1972. Relations continued to deteriorate and seven years later, Nyerere sent his army into Uganda to oust Amin. In a post on X, Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema described the unveiling of the statue to "one of our continent's iconic figures" as a "proud day". He was a trained teacher and became the first person from Tanganyika to study at a British university, when he went to study in Edinburgh in 1949, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. He died in 1999, aged 77, and the anniversary of his death, 14 October, is a public holiday. Nyerere is the third leader to be honoured with a statue outside the AU headquarters, after Ghana's founding father and pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah, and Ethiopia's emperor Haile Selassie, who became a symbol of African nationalism for resisting Italy's attempts to colonise the country in the 1930s, and later agreed to host the OAU. Nyerere was known for his modest lifestyle Haile Selassie became a symbol of African nationalism for resisting Italy's attempts to colonise the country in the 1930s Under Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana became the first former British colony to achieve independence, in 1957 You may also be interested in: Susan, a retired nurse in her 60s, is tired of being what she calls a bandit whenever she crosses into Kansas carrying what the state classifies as cannabis contraband. But the gummies have been the only thing that has helped her get nighttime relief from the rheumatoid arthritis shes lived with for the past 30 years or so. Her husband recalls her saying the morning after she tried gummies for the first time that it was the best sleep shed had in years. Shes also found relief by using a cannabis lotion shes purchased out of state. Ken, a 66-year-old retired businessman, said hed rather take gummies than the more addictive opioids hes been prescribed in the past for chronic back pain. I dont have the side effects that the normal painkillers would give me (like constipation), and its a natural product, he said. He also suffers from neuropathy in his feet. Taking half of a 25-milligram gummy each night, when the nerve pain is at its worst, helps him sleep. When he cant travel out of state to get his supply, he makes do with hemp-derived gummies available from CBD shops locally, but they arent as effective, he said. Both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants, but the levels of THC, the psychoactive compound, are significantly lower in hemp plants compared to marijuana. Hemp-derived cannabis products can be bought in Kansas, thanks to a federal loophole created with the 2018 farm bill that legalized hemp. For Ken and Susan, who live in Sedgwick County, consuming cannabis products isnt about getting high. Its about getting relief from chronic medical conditions, even if it means breaking the law in Kansas where the Legislature has resisted efforts to legalize medical marijuana or decriminalize any form of marijuana use. (The Active Age is not using Ken and Susans real names for their legal protection.) Seniors are fastest-growing group of cannabis users Susan and Ken arent alone when it comes to embracing cannabis use as they age. Americans over the age of 65 are now the fastest-growing demographic of cannabis users, according to the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a federal study that has been gathering data for more than half a century on the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. Usage among seniors has tripled since 2009, when 11% were using, to 32% in 2019, according to the survey numbers released in fall 2023. The attitudes and legal status of marijuana are changing across much of America. As of 2023, 38 states had legalized medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 24 of those states, including Kansas neighbors Colorado and Missouri, recreational use is also legal. There might even be some federal government changes regarding marijuana. A Food and Drug Administration medical review, released in mid-January, supports reclassifying marijuana as a less-risky drug. Right now, its a Schedule I drug, which is the Drug Enforcement Administrations category for the most dangerous controlled substances that have no medical value and a higher potential for abuse. The FDA is recommending to the DEA that marijuana be classified as a Schedule III drug. That classification is for drugs with lower or moderate potential for abuse and addiction, like Tylenol with codeine. The review also found that there is credible evidence of some therapeutic uses of marijuana. Medical value of cannabis It wasnt news to Cheryl Kumberg, a registered nurse for more than 45 years, that cannabis has medicinal value. A member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association, Kumberg is the current president of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition, which is an advisory group for cannabis reform in Kansas. Its advisory board includes doctors, nurses, a hemp grower, a legislator and Barry Grissom, a former U.S. attorney. Theres been so much success with healing and symptom relief and a lot of advances made in research. Theres a lot of data that is just so supportive of cannabis and its uses, she said. She and fellow registered nurse Amy Reid, the past president of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition, created Green Healing Solutions in 2019 to be an education source about the medical use of marijuana for patients, health care professionals, caregivers and others. Part of their education is to remind anyone who decides to use cannabis products to do so low and slow. One of the things Ken finds useful when he shops at an out-of-state dispensary is that staff will visit with customers about the strength and usage of products. Many advocates for legalizing medical marijuana have been either impacted personally or have seen the benefits of allowing medical use themselves. Reid said she became an advocate when she saw how using cannabis dramatically changed her aunts final days as she dealt with a terminal illness. She went (from) being in extreme pain, nauseous and very anxious to her old self. She was able to tell stories, enjoy meals and relax again, Reid said in an interview posted on the coalitions website. Chuck Schmidt, a former representative for Kansas 88th District and the current speaker pro tem for the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature, said hes heard similar stories. One man told him that his cancer-stricken daughter, who had been able to get a cannabis product under Texas strict medical use program, had to live out her final days in extreme pain when she returned home to Kansas to be with family. Taking steps to legalize medical marijuana is one of the resolutions that the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature forwarded to the Kansas Legislature for its current session. Little appetite in Kansas Legislature So far, the Kansas Legislature has shot down efforts to legalize any form of marijuana. While the Kansas House passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana in 2021, the Kansas Senate didnt take action, which killed the bill. In 2022, it convened a special committee on medical marijuana. The biggest problem that I see in Topeka is that theyre not able to separate creating a medical program from recreational, Kumberg said. A lot of (legislative) testimony has dealt with recreational issues and not about having a controlled program. They dont understand that little old people need this law passed, said Susan. Some people cant even hold a cup of coffee without their hands hurting. People dont realize that it can help with those kinds of things, and were not using it to get stoned. Susan understands that marijuana use has long carried a stigma. When her husband initially suggested she try cannabis for her pain, she resisted, remembering how as a teenager shed believed marijuana users tended to be high school dropouts. Whenever Ken wears his Legalize It sweatshirt with the image of a marijuana leaf, its a conversation starter. He said many people tell him they want to see the same action. So, I tell them, Its up to you. You have the opportunity to make this happen. I just dont know why we cant get the right people in power to make medical marijuana legalized. From his experience dealing with the Legislature, Schmidt said he doubts that medical marijuana will be legalized in Kansas this year. Weve been on this for quite some time. What weve done is our resolution (from the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature) asks for them to form a medical cannabis advisory board to study the legalization of medical cannabis. Meantime, Susan and Ken say theyll continue to import their own supply, legal or not. Contact Amy Geiszler-Jones at algj64@sbcglobal.net. This story was originally published by The Active Age as part of the Wichita Journalism Collaborative, a partnership of 11 media and community organizations, including The Wichita Eagle. Contact Amy Geiszler-Jones at algj64@sbcglobal.net. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) KOIN 6 News Ken Boddie received an award Saturday for his decades of dedication on and off the air. Boddie, currently the morning co-anchor and host of Eye On Northwest Politics, received the award during the 39th annual Keep Alive the Dream event at the Highland Christian Center. The celebration combines music and performances, along with a tribute to Black History Month and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. KOIN 6 News Ken Boddie received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Arts Foundation on Feb. 17, 2024. (KOIN) It was hosted by the World Arts Foundation, the organization who gave Boddie the community Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, Boddie is also celebrating 39 years of service at KOIN. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the Munich Security Conference, Kuleba said on social media on Feb. 17. The world's security and political elite have gathered in Munich for the annual conference, where President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an urgent appeal for support as Ukrainian troops withdraw from the Russian onslaught at Avdiivka. Kuleba said he and Yi discussed Chinese-Ukrainian relations and a path towards peace. "I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," he said. "I informed Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Ukraines vision for the upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland." Ukraine invited China in January to participate in the upcoming summit, aimed at building support for the Ukrainian peace formula. Switzerland has agreed to host the talks, though no date or venue has been set. China confirmed the invitation, but has not yet committed to joining the summit. Previously, China participated in international talks supporting Ukraine's peace plan in August 2023. Russia was not invited to join those talks, which were held in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia. Russia and China have strengthened their economic and political ties amid a Western push to isolate Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Ukrainian and European officials have urged Beijing to use its influence over Moscow to help end the war. Kuleba said Beijing and Kyiv were committed to ongoing dialogue. "We agreed on the need to maintain Ukraine-China contacts at all levels and continue our dialogue," he said. Kuleba said he met with other world leaders during the conference, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel. He also signed an agreement with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani providing financial support to Ukraine's energy sector. Read also: French minister: Chinas cooperation essential in ending Russia-Ukraine war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. F-16s may appear in Ukraine in June Ukraine is on track to get ahold of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in June, the American Foreign Policy reported on Feb. 17, citing two European officials. I think that in June we will see them in Ukraine, said Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, citing a timeline that was confirmed by another European official present at the Munich Security Conference. Read also: Kyiv urgently seeks F-16 jets and missiles from international allies for territorial liberation top commander The Ukrainian government expects that 12 pilots will be trained on the fighter jets by the end of the U.S. fiscal year (September). On Feb. 15, Ukraines Defense Ministry spokesman Illarion Pavlyuk said that the F-16 fighter jet transfer to Ukraine was progressing as planned, but the exact delivery date would not be announced. Kyiv has an understanding of the deadlines and the need to prepare pilots, engineers, and infrastructure within certain timelines. Read also: F-16 Coalition working to increase the number of F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine Earlier, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said, that Ukraines partners were ready to provide the country with F-16 fighter jets, but Ukraine still needed time to finish preparations. The United States has authorized Denmark and the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. This was confirmed when the Netherlands and Denmark announced that they would provide Ukraine with 61 F-16 aircrafts - 42 and 19, respectively, on Aug. 20. On Jan. 5, the Pentagon reported that Ukrainian F-16 pilots will be ready to undertake missions in 2024. On Jan. 10, Ukraines Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian pilots are still being trained on F-16 fighters in different programs worldwide. Read also: Kyiv to receive substantial number of air defense missiles, as allied F-16s wait in the wings 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 Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators were at the scene of a truck explosion that injured nine firefighters in Wilmington on Thursday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Two members of the Los Angeles Fire Department are "making progress" after sustaining critical injuries while fighting a semi-truck fire that led to an explosion on Thursday, according to a department spokesperson. Nine firefighters were injured in Wilmington by the catastrophic explosion of a tank of compressed natural gas used to power the truck, including two who were hospitalized, fire officials said. One of those firefighters was discharged Friday night, and another is "critical but stable" and remains in the intensive care unit at Los Angeles General Medical Center, which operates a burn unit, Los Angeles Fire Department Public Information Officer Erik Scott said in a statement Saturday. The latter firefighter has been taken off a ventilator, Scott said. "With a happy heart and a sense of relief, we are pleased to report that our most injured #LAFD #Firefighter was successfully extubated this morning. He is awake, alert and talking. Next steps will be to introduce food as tolerated," Scott posted to X. The other seven firefighters "have various medical appointments and remain off duty due to their injuries," Scott said. Some of the firefighters sustained burns, blunt-force trauma, injuries from shrapnel and hearing problems from the explosion, he said. The cause of the explosion, which shot 30-foot flames into the air early Thursday morning at 1120 Alameda St., is still under investigation. Firefighters responded after receiving a call that the truck had caught fire. The driver was unharmed and told officials she stopped driving after noticing "abnormalities" with the vehicle. 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. Dr. Molly Deane with Harbor-UCLA Medical said it best on Thursday, after a compressed natural gas tank exploded on a big rig in Wilmington, critically injuring two firefighters and hurting seven others. Frankly, its remarkable that none of them were more severely injured, she said. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Fire Department shared a positive update about each of the injured firefighters. Los Angeles Truck Explosion In a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, Captain Erik Scott said one of the critically injured firefighters was discharged from the hospital on Friday night. The other critically injured victim, who Scott called the most injured, from the incident, successfully had his ventilator removed Saturday morning. He is awake, alert and talking, Scott said. Next steps will be to introduce food as tolerated. As for the other seven injured firefighters, theyre all discharged and will continue with various medical appointments as needed. Scott said they all remain off duty due to their injuries. Dramatic video obtained by KTLA captured Thursdays destructive explosion. In the video, firefighters are seen covered by fire and heavy smoke as the tanker blows up seemingly out of nowhere. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Lara Trump on Sunday expressed optimism for the prospect of becoming the next co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and emphasized the importance of Novembers election to reverse what she called the nations bad leadership. Asked on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures for her expectations when it comes to leadership in the RNC, Lara Trump said, Well, the committee has to ultimately vote me in. If thats what they decide to do, I would be honored to have this position, because I think theres no time to waste. We have 10 months to go really before what I think we can all feel right now in this country is the most important election any of us have ever seen, she continued. Speculation swirled last week about Lara Trump vying for a role in the RNC after Trump threw his support behind her for the co-chair position of the committee. In his endorsement, he described her as an extremely talented communicator who is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for. Trump also endorsed North Carolina Republican Party Chair Michael Whatley to serve as RNC chair. Lara Trump is married to the former presidents son Eric Trump and has been involved with the RNC and party donors since her father-in-laws time in the Oval Office. If she and Whatley are elected by RNC members, it would suggest a full takeover of the committee by the former president. Lara Trump on Sunday underscored the importance of getting her father-in-law back in the White House and argued we are poised to lose the country. The world is destabilized right now because you have bad leadership at the top, she said. And you dont win a presidential campaign without the aid of the Republican National Committee. And so if I am chosen as co-chair, what I can tell you is that we really do have a lot of work to get done. She pledged to make election integrity a central focus of her work if elected to the RNC, to ensure that nothing is left to chance. The RNC needs to raise a lot of money and to reaffirm people can feel good about donating to the committee, she added. She also reiterated her pledge from last week, in which she vowed to spend every single penny of RNC funds to reelect Trump to the White House. And we really have to hit this thing head-on, she said. We have a lot of work to do. Theres a little time to go between now and November 5. And, look, were going to hit the ground running as soon as and if I am elected as co-chair of the RNC. Lara Trump dismissed any impact the four criminal indictments could have on the former presidents prospects of winning in November. Trump faces a total of 91 criminal charges spread among four state and federal criminal indictments. He is also facing more than a half-dozen civil lawsuits. He probably has the most energy of any person I have ever seen in my life. Hes incredible. Nothing will stop him, she said. And, look, these are designed to make him rethink what hes doing. Obviously, all of these indictments, well, Donald Trumps going to say, I cant do it Absolutely not. Hes going forward because I think he knows he is truly the only person who can do the job that we need to bring this country back, to put us back on the right track, to stabilize the world. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A morning protest over an international issue evolved into a violent day-long standoff in southeast Charlotte on Saturday. Throughout the afternoon, the scene grew more violent after an officer was hit and several protestors were arrested. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers went to the 4300 block of Monroe Road around 11:30 a.m. They remained out there for 10 hours -- They say there was a crowd of nearly 200 people protesting an Eritrean cultural festival. Protestors flooded the street, according to CMPD. Monroe Road had to be shut down between McAlway Drive and Alliance Drive while police gave orders to disperse. Through the afternoon, CMPD updated the public through social media, stating they gave multiple orders in English and Spanish, ordering the crowd to leave. ALSO READ: CMPD investigating shooting near large gathering in north Charlotte Shortly after 3 p.m., police said protesters who remained in the area were pepper sprayed for blocking the street. The pepper spray hit a few protesters, as well as a few officers, according to police. They were refusing to disperse and became increasingly more hostile towards officers, CMPD Major Michael Ford told veteran crime reporter Glenn Counts. They began to throw things, sticks, rocks, bottles of water. Counts spoke with participants who said there were two groups present. One of those groups was those who supported the government of the tiny African nation of Eritrea. The other consisted of those who claimed the president of that nation was a brutal dictator. A lot of Eritreans, when they come to America, you see them in two groups: they either become law-abiding citizens who are pro-American, pro-justice, and pro-democracy, or they turn into extremists who support a dictator who are anti-American, anti-peace, anti-democracy, and anti-justice, spokeswoman Helen. We love our president; we love our country. We die for our country. ALSO READ: 3 years later, Charlotte refuses to release protest closed session records Police said eight arrests have been made in connection with this incident, and two guns were seized. The protest was deemed unlawful because it took place on private property and impacted traffic, according to police. All of the arrested people face charges for Impeding Traffic and Failure to Disperse. One woman was additionally charged with inciting a riot and Injury to Personal Property and Assault on a Government Official. Police say she had one of the guns that were taken. Just after 8 p.m., CMPD announced firefighters had to be called in after protestors set a tractor-trailer on fire, luckily no one was hurt. Police announced all lanes of Monroe Road had reopened just before 9:30 p.m. This is a developing story with constant updates; check this article for developments. (WATCH: Crowd gathers in Uptown Charlotte for emergency rally protesting Israeli airstrikes) A bill that would impact the offering of natural gas service in Western Washington cleared another hurdle Friday, with the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology approving it in an executive session. House Bill 1589, if passed by both chambers, would change the legal requirement of Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to provide natural gas service to customers when requested. It would impact nearly 800,000 households across six counties in Washington. (A PDF of the engrossed substitute bill can be viewed here.) One part of the bill is particularly contentious, spurring intense debate in Olympia in recent weeks: (PSEs) obligation to serve may be met by providing a customer with non-emitting energy including, but not limited to, renewable natural gas, green hydrogen, thermal energy networks, electricity or other sources. In other words, PSE does not have to offer natural gas service to new and existing customers if it determines it is no longer financially beneficial for the company to do so. PSE can instead offer alternative options in the place of natural gas. Right now, the company cannot do that under the current law, passed more than a century ago. The Senate version of the bill, ESHB 1589, does contain significant changes from the version that has already passed the House floor. Namely, it removes the ban on natural gas line hookups in new construction. (A PDF of the Senate Bill report for ESHB 1589 can be viewed here.) Rep. Beth Doglio, D-Olympia, first introduced a version of this bill during last years session. She called this amended version an improvement, and she believes it will help PSE plan for a greener energy future. (A PDF of the bill analysis from the 2023 bill can be viewed here.) This bill doesnt remove that obligation to provide natural gas, she told lawmakers. But it does include newer energy resources like RNG and green hydrogen. And it lets the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission evaluate and approve the utilities use of these technologies to meet customers energy needs. Critics fighting changes to natural gas service Republican lawmakers and some builders and developers fiercely oppose the idea. House Republican leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, said earlier this week the legislation would, effectively ban natural gas for for Washingtonians. I think that is the wrong direction, Stokesbary added during a GOP conference. We need to make life better for Washingtonians, not worse. The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), one of the bills most vocal critics, said the change could mean an increase of up to $206 per month above current electrical and natural gas rates for homeowners. The rate increases from this bill would be financially devastating to working families, especially those on fixed incomes, BIAW Executive Vice President Greg Lane said. Many would be forced to choose between paying for heat or paying for groceries. BIAW claimed the legislation also burdens homeowners with natural gas stoves, fireplaces, dryers, hot water heaters and furnaces with costly upgrades to all electric appliances. Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, warned of potential hidden costs as the bill passed during Fridays executive session. Its not looking at what the cost is going to be when this bill becomes fully implemented with our state owned facilities and buildings, he said. Not only to private institutions, but also public institutions as well. And that is a significant cost that will be borne by taxpayers across the state. Supporters argue change is necessary Committee chair Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, disagreed. He pointed out the transition away from natural gas is necessary as Washington moves to meet its climate goals, which are already enshrined in state law. We need to have the flexibility and authority to thoughtfully plan as we make this transition thats happening with or without these policies in the bill, he said. The states legal mandates are not just limited to the controversial Climate Commitment Act (CCA) that took effect last year and which faces a citizen-backed repeal initiative in November. The separate Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), passed two years before the CCA, requires Washingtons electric utilities like PSE to create an electricity supply free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The CCA additionally requires the state become carbon-neutral by 2050. Those ambitious goals have PSE under pressure put changes in place for the future as quickly as possible including electrification. Natural gas changes already moving forward The Senate amendments include language prohibiting PSE from offering customers rebates to purchase any natural gas appliance or equipment starting in 2025. Commercial and industrial gas customers can still get rebates until 2031. Additionally, companies may offer rebates and incentives for electric heat pumps, including natural gas backups until January 1, 2031. Some of these restrictions are already being implemented outside the legislature. BIAW has been in a legal fight with the State Building Code Council (SBCC) for more than a year over natural gas regulations. Last February, BIAW and other trade associations, union representatives, businesses and homeowners filed a lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court. The suit argues the SBCC violated rulemaking laws in approving energy codes restricting natural gas and propane in new construction. (A PDF of the lawsuit can be viewed here.) The rules effectively eliminate all but electric heating for both residential interiors and water due to the lack of commercially available natural gas heat pumps, according to the court filing. The SBCCs rules also face a separate federal legal challenge. Because of that, the council voted to delay the codes implementation, originally scheduled for last October. It now starts March 15, unless a court ruling alters it yet again. Puget Sound Energy weighs in PSE has repeatedly emphasized it does not plan to leave existing natural gas customers out in the cold. We think the gas business is vital to meeting our customers current energy needs, a spokesperson told KIRO Newsradio. Were approaching decarbonization of our system in a measured, thoughtful way. One that considers the impact to our customers and our energy delivery systems. PSE said the most important part of this legislation is being buried amid the heated debate. The bill removes some red tape to allow the company to combine its plan for electrical service and natural gas service into one cohesive utility strategy. This bill will allow us to figure out how to plan for a future, Matt Steuerwalt, PSEs senior vice president for external affairs, said. We have these really ambitious climate targets. And we have customers who want safe, affordable, reliable and green energy supplies. What happens now ESHB 1589 has a few more steps to go before potentially landing on Gov. Jay Inslees desk. It now heads to the Senate Rules committee. If passed through there, the bill would be eligible for a vote on the Senate floor. If a majority approves it there, it will be kicked back to the House to reconcile the two versions. House leadership will then decide if the measure deserves a vote in that chamber the final step in the process. And time is ticking away. There are now less than three weeks left in the legislative session, which ends March 7. This story was originally published by MyNorthwest. Just say NO to initiatives Washingtons initiative process is incredibly valuable. I have gathered signatures over the years to enshrine reproductive rights and to create comprehensive police reforms both issues the legislature refused to act upon until we forced them via initiative to do so. Washingtons initiative process is also dangerous. Any random billionaire can zero in on policies he detests, pay folks to gather signatures and, for example, overturn the capital gains tax which currently forces him to pay his fair share. (And which has zero impact on most of the rest of us.) Its a cheap trick to tap into general anti-tax sentiment, and con us into making sure he gets to keep every penny of his billions, while we subsidize him with the taxes we pay. A random billionaire did, in fact, pay signature gatherers for an overwhelming SIX hot-button initiatives on issues that offended him. Random guy failed to notice that our duly elected legislators spent years hammering out compromises and laws to deal with complex policies on climate, police, elder care, taxes, and parental rights. The silver lining is that billionaire (Im sure accidentally) made it easy for us. In November, vote no, no, no, no, no and no. And send a message to all random billionaires that we are rather fond of our messy democracy and if they are pissed off about a law, they can get in line with the rest of us in the legislative hearing room and have their say. Tyra J Lindquist, Olympia Labor unions should not hinder free speech Why are labor unions increasingly relying on silencing debate when the union seeks to organize a workplace? Perhaps its because union membership is at an all-time low. Union organizers are desperate, leading them to implement neutrality agreements which prohibit employers and employees from expressing their points of view during a union organizing election. Because of this gag order, workers are given only one side of the story prior to an election that will impact these workers throughout their careers. Neutrality agreements often prevent secret ballot elections, and instead use a card-check system whereby union organizers can harass and intimidate workers to sign union cards or else suffer the consequences. The biggest threat to employers is not their workers, and the biggest threat to workers is not the owner of the business where they work. The biggest threat to both workers and employers are dishonest, desperate labor unions that limit free speech rights. Tom McCabe, Olympia Kudos for the cleanup I live on the fourth floor of a local condo and have a wonderful view of the city, sound and sky. Because I dont get out often, I spend time every day watching the world from my high windows. Recently I notices just across the road in the grassy area above the tree line a large mass of something dark. After asking around, I found out it was a discarded large dark jacket. My adult children who visit often wouldnt touch it, and eventually I called the city of Olympia. They have a city clean-up truck and were out my window within the hour. They took it all away. I waved my thank you, but want to commend the department and the city clean-up crew. No body or baby inside, or other untoward things just a discarded jacket and some other clothes. I am resting easy now and grateful for our city services. Thanks for putting an old ladys active imagination to rest. Good job and quick response. Wish I had called sooner. Billie Mazzei, Olympia It can now take up to four weeks to get a GP appointment in the UK - Anthony Devlin/PA Wire SIR Georgina Stanger (Letters, February 11) says that the Kings cancer diagnosis throws the parlous state of the NHS into stark relief, and I can only agree. Pre-Covid, our village had a doctors practice staffed by one doctor, who was supported by several nurses and receptionists. One could ring up in the morning and usually get an appointment with the doctor the same day. Sadly, he retired, so we had to transfer to another surgery further away. This practice lists at least 10 doctors, supported by various healthcare assistants, yet, post-Covid, we find it difficult to get an appointment without a wait of three weeks or more (report, February 16). Why is this? Jill Smith Stalbridge, Dorset SIR I am glad to say that your headline, Four-week waits for GP appointments at record high (report, February 16), does not match up with my experience. Where I live there is no waiting time, and we often get a face-to-face appointment with our chosen GP the same day. If we call reception on a weekday morning, we are put on a waiting list and receive a reply about 20 minutes later; we then ask for an appointment. If we think a conversation with the GP is sufficient, we receive a call in the evening. As my wife and I are both very old, we have to see a GP fairly often for various complaints and every time our experience is the same. Perhaps we are just lucky. Colin Dawson Canterbury, Kent SIR The oncologist Professor Karol Sikora rightly congratulated King Charles for speaking out about his cancer (Comment, February 6) and said that he hoped it would lead others to seek early treatment. However, in his review of the book Why Cant I See my GP? (January 27), Professor Sikora also stated that: The key problem for GPs is that the demand for appointments far outstrips their supply. As a recent patient of two different surgeries in the Aylesbury area, my experience is that there is no shortage of GPs, just a shortage of GP-days worked. One surgery had 16 doctors on the register, but none worked full time and most worked three days a week. The other surgery had only five doctors but again, most worked a three-day week. If this situation is typical, surely the excess demand for GPs could be solved by encouraging them away from part-time working. Given the tremendous time and cost expended in training them on behalf of the taxpayer, surely it is not unreasonable to ask them to work more days to pay back this investment. Perhaps it is time to change GP contracts to reflect this requirement or, like our Armed Forces, introduce minimum fixed-term contracts with buy-out options if an individual wants to leave or work reduced hours. Graham Kemp Haddenham, Buckinghamshire SIR The possibility of there being a urine test for ovarian cancer (report, February 11) is excellent news. More than 7,000 cases are detected each year across the United Kingdom, but many women are still being diagnosed too late. We already have a good screen for this cancer by means of a simple blood test for cancer antigen 125 in women over the age of 50. In addition, the results from the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening, which took place between April 2001 and September 2005, and involved more than 200,000 women, are still being published. We know that annual CA 125 testing improves the detection of early stage ovarian cancers. Bizarrely, however, although the NHS recommends it for women attending their GP with symptoms such as bladder problems and tummy discomfort, there is little encouragement to offer it to asymptomatic women. This means that whether an individual gets screened can depend entirely on their GP. This is no way to run an early detection service for a life-threatening condition. We need to do better. Dr Nick Summerton Welton, East Yorkshire Pricey potholes SIR Purely because of pothole damage, in the past year I have had to replace two tyres and a wheel on my Volvo. I do not understand how Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, can even contemplate reducing public spending further (Letters, February 16). Dr Richard Soper Great Saxham, Suffolk Anti-Semitic attacks SIR It is disturbing to read that anti-Semitism is persistent and growing (Letters, February 15). The former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks equated antisemitism to a virus that mutates. Whereas it was religion-based and came from the Church in the Middle Ages, it evolved into a race-based doctrine under the Nazis. The third mutation of anti-Semitism, in contemporary times, is fixated on the Jewish nation-state Israel and Zionism. Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza and Israel last October, we have seen and heard calls for the eradication of Israel, alongside physical, verbal and online attacks on Jews in Britain. We have also witnessed the virus infect a number of public-facing institutions. We need the Government and the police to continue to be supportive, and the vast majority of the British public to extend a hand of solidarity to the Jewish community. The message to the zealots and bigots should be clear: anti-Semitism is not just an attack on the Jewish community, but an attack on Britain and the values we stand for. Zaki Cooper London NW4 Slavery reparations SIR Craig Simpson reports (February 11) that Grenada has called for the Trevelyan slave deal which saw the family set up a charity to pay reparations to the island nation to atone for their ancestors slave profiteering to be replicated by other slave-owning families and organisations. However, while there is a moral duty to fund reparations to former colonies from wealth gained from the slave trade and plantations, surely there is also a moral duty to pay reparations to British taxpayers, from the vast sums of money given for loss of (human) property, which funded great houses and dynasties. After passing the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act, the British government was pressured into compensating owners. This cost it 20 million, nearly half the entire national revenue. The government had to negotiate a loan to raise this money, which according to the Treasury was finally paid off by British taxpayers in 2015. We have spent decades paying the owners of stately homes to walk round their properties. Learning that many were funded not only on the profits of slavery, but also by taxpayers money to compensate them for giving up that trade, troubles me. Canon Alan Hughes Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland Hurdles to volunteering SIR Denis Fuller (Letters, February 11) refers to the administrative cost of supporting a volunteer. When I was a volunteer, in the youth sector, I was surprised by the level of bureaucracy and administration that I encountered, which resulted in higher than necessary costs to the charity. It almost felt as though there was an assumption of guilt towards anyone volunteering, and that numerous unnecessary procedures had been put in place to put them off. Obviously there is a need for a robust series of checks before a volunteer is assigned to a sector, but, once that process is completed satisfactorily, perhaps less administration and more trust afforded to volunteers would be beneficial to all. It would certainly reduce the charitys costs, while maintaining a safe and secure environment. Paul Vince Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire Safer houses SIR I am sorry that Richard Rodgers was burgled (Letters, February 11). His experience underscores, yet again, the importance of having a burglar alarm installed, ensuring it covers all entry points and that it is set every night. The same applies when leaving the house unoccupied. An alarm may not prevent an attempted break-in, but triggering it will cause a would-be intruder to flee. However, CCTV as a crime-prevention measure is a waste of money. This is proven by the countless video clips on television and the internet showing vehicles being stolen from driveways, shops and homes being raided, and people being attacked in the street. Kevin Duffy Manchester First-war fervour SIR Reading about the difficulty in obtaining volunteers for the Army at this dangerous time (Letters, February 11) reminded me of my father, who, in 1914 aged 12, tried to enlist unsuccessfully, I am glad to say. Such was the patriotic fervour back then that his elder brothers, who did enlist, sadly never returned. Times have certainly changed, particularly now that so many reside here but feel no allegiance to the country. Tony Manning Barton on Sea, Hampshire Why British wool is no longer the worlds best Wild things: Herdwick sheep on the Cumbrian fells in the Lake District - Alamy SIR I was dismayed to read the headline: Farmer sets fire to fleeces after wool prices tumble (report, February 14). I was in my local independent carpet shop last week, seeking a British-wool carpet. Sadly, the salesman advised me that pure-wool British carpets were hard to come by, as the wool is mixed with other fibres and the quality of British wool is lower than that of New Zealands. British wool is also apparently dirtier than New Zealands, which adds to the production costs. I try to buy British when possible. Whichever government we end up with urgently needs to address the support given to farmers, so that the public can support them. Suzanne Willson Banbury, Oxfordshire Outdated names SIR The marvellously monikered John Bunyan says that though has been ordained for 65 years, he has christened only one John (Letters, February 11). A couple of years ago, realising that I had known or been associated with many Brians in my life, I decided to count them. It came to 28. I then felt that I should list Johns, and, at 69, they comfortably outnumbered the Brians. Incidentally, my wife of 63 years is called Margaret (Letters, February 11), so that shows how dated we are. John Weaver Melton, Suffolk SIR I once called out John to a colleague I wanted to talk to, and five men turned around and answered. Lyn Hopkin Horsford, Norfolk SIR I could not help being rather amused by the letters relating to once-popular Christian names. My three lifelong friends are called Janet, Margaret and Joan, which rather gives our age away. I would like to know where all the young Wendys are does nobody read Peter Pan anymore? Wendy Aitken Bovingdon Green, Buckinghamshire SIR Alan Hunt (Letters, February 11) says young Janets are an extinct species, as are the young Alans. But at least their forebears are growing old together. Janet and Alan Solomon Pinner, Middlesex SIR When I was in the sixth form at my (all girls) convent school in the late 1950s, at least 25 per cent of the class were called Margaret. Even now, if we ever meet any of them, my husband will invariably ask: Who was that? To which I always reply: Oh, just one of the other Margarets. Margaret Moore Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire SIR I know several Janets but not a single Hilda (my own name, which I have always hated). The only time I hear it now is on The Archers, as it is the name of Peggy Archers annoying cat. Hilda Ball Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire Letters to the Editor We accept letters by email and post. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers. ADDRESS: 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT EMAIL: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk FOLLOW: Telegraph Letters on Twitter @LettersDesk NEWSLETTER: sign up to receive Letters to the Editor here Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. President Biden speaks about aid to Ukraine at the White House on Tuesday. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) To the editor: As one who is about a year older than former President Trump and two years younger than President Biden, I feel qualified to informally assess their respective degrees of cognitive decline. ("Biden's polls aren't great. How much is the media's fault?" Opinion, Feb. 14) Like them both, I occasionally misspeak some prominent person's name or forget an exact date. But I try to maintain my mental acuity, which leads me to read quality periodicals (such as The Times) and to converse with learned, levelheaded friends. I strongly suspect that Biden is far more inclined than Trump to strive to maintain his mental faculties. With Trump infamously disinclined to read and given to befriending unhinged demagogues, I have to doubt his presence of mind. In contrast, I view Biden's studious, measured adherence to democratic norms as qualities to be preferred in a president. As is said, age is just a number. Frank Hochfeld, Albany, Calif. .. To the editor: Fifty years ago, then-Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater led a delegation to the Oval Office, which resulted in President Nixon's resignation, thereby expediting the nation's recovery from the Watergate scandal. Similarly, a delegation consisting of Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and former President Obama should conduct a White House intervention. The message: "Not just for the good of the party but for the survival of our democracy, you must step aside." Biden has been a transitional leader who will likely be regarded favorably by historians in the future. However, nominating a vibrant candidate who maximizes the likelihood of defeating Trump in November is the most important job right now. Dave Sanderson, La Canada Flintridge .. To the editor: Thanks to columnist Jackie Calmes for focusing on what is important in the election and not treating it like some sporting event, which is what we get from hyperventilating cable network news, social media and dubious pollsters. The only poll that matters is the ballot box, and voters are looking not just at the candidates' ages, but seriously considering the people they appoint to work in Cabinet positions. Perhaps the media should stop insulting our intelligence for once with polling and realize that we take a lot more into consideration when we exercise our freedom to vote. Michael J. Harley, Laguna Niguel .. To the editor: Never have I agreed with anyone as much as I do with Calmes in her column on Biden's poll numbers. Of course the media are responsible for the president's low approval ratings. Considering the reprehensible actions and words of the former president, Biden is a man of integrity and strength. Shame on The Times too for keeping on with this prejudice. He and we deserve better. Shelley Keith, Sherman Oaks This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. To the editor: The Times' Feb. 9 editorial on the coastal rail line between San Diego and Los Angeles raises an essential Southern California policy issue as we decide how to spend scarce infrastructure dollars. However, we feel that the options currently being considered by the transportation agencies and implicitly endorsed by your editorial are based on questionable assumptions. The recurring closures of the rail corridor due to crumbling bluffs in Del Mar and San Clemente underscore the imperative for action. However, is it wise to spend 11 years and $20 billion ($4 million per average daily round-trip rider) to sustain the southernmost 60-mile segment from San Clemente to San Diego? In this stretch, passenger use is in decline, limited cargo is hauled (only 0.04% of California's total), and alternatives for point-to-point transport via smart technology-enabled entities like Uber and electric buses are growing. Moreover, a rails-to-trails conversion along this span could offer exciting possibilities for sustainable, efficient, healthy and equitable recreation and transportation for many more people than the train will likely serve. We have world-class universities in our region that can help study transportation alternatives to find the most cost-effective and sustainable ways to serve our needs. Let's seize this opportunity to redefine coastal mobility in a holistic and evidence-based manner that safeguards our environment, promotes public health, encourages tourism and ensures the resilience of our transportation infrastructure for generations to come. Peter Cramton and Kevin Patrick, Del Mar Cramton is a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Maryland, and Patrick is a professor emeritus of public health at UC San Diego. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Liz Cheney says Donald Trumps recent threats against NATO allies demonstrate a dangerous misunderstanding of Americas foreign diplomacy. In a Sunday interview on CNNs State of the Union, the former congresswoman told Jake Tapper she was outraged by Trump, who earlier this month said he would encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack NATO signatories that arent spending enough on defense funding. Its dangerous, it shows a complete lack of understanding of Americas role in the world, Cheney said. Its disgraceful. Liz Cheney speaks in New York on June 26, 2023. She tore into Donald Trump for his recent NATO comments during a Sunday appearance on CNN. Liz Cheney speaks in New York on June 26, 2023. She tore into Donald Trump for his recent NATO comments during a Sunday appearance on CNN. While Trump has repeatedly complained about NATO countries being behind on their bills, the alliance doesnt exactly work that way. NATO is anchored in the principle of mutual defense, meaning each member country must commit to enough defense spending to ensure their nations militaries are prepared to step in if another member of the alliance is attacked. The agreements Article 5 says signatories must treat an attack on one as an attack against them all. Furthermore, the U.S. president does not have the power to unilaterally withdraw the country from NATO. I cant imagine any other American president of either party since the establishment of NATO saying such a thing, Cheney continued. Its completely uninformed and ignorant and dangerous. During her interview, the retired Republican legislator also told Tapper she was worried by where Trumps sympathy to Russia may lead the Republican Party as a whole. We have to take seriously the extent to which youve now got a Putin wing of the Republican Party, she said, calling it critical to keep that faction out of the West Wing. See Cheneys full interview below: Related... Former Republican conference chair Liz Cheney has argued that former president Donald Trump has created the Putin wing of the Republican Party, a section backing the Russian president. Ms Cheney, 57, was on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday warning of the Putin wing possibly coming back to the White House in the form of former president Donald Trump. She slammed the ex-president for his recent comments saying that he wouldnt protect Nato countries who dont pay their fair share, recounting how he told a fellow world leader that he would urge Russia to do whatever the hell they want. Ms Cheney also criticised Mr Trump for his silence after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison camp. I think that we have to take Donald Trump very seriously, Ms Cheney said. We have to take seriously the extent to which you have now got a Putin wing of the Republican Party. I believe the issue this election cycle is making sure the Putin wing of the Republican Party does not take over the West Wing of the White House, she added. Speaking to anchor Jake Tapper, Ms Cheney said: Donald Trump, as you pointed out, said just a few days ago that he had told a Nato ally that he would encourage [Russian President Vladimir Putin] to do whatever he needed to do, whatever he wanted to do. Hes basically made clear that under a Trump administration, the United States is unlikely to keep its Nato commitments. And I think that Republicans who understand the importance of the national security situation who continue to support him are similarly going to be held to account, she added. Calling Mr Trumps comments on Nato disgraceful, Ms Cheney said, I cant imagine any other American president of either party since the establishment of Nato saying such a thing. And its completely uninformed and ignorant and dangerous. When you think about Donald Trump, for example, pledging retribution, what Vladimir Putin did to Navalny is what retribution looks like in a country where the leader is not subject to the rule of law, she noted. She also tore into speaker Mike Johnson over the Republican leaders refusal to put supplemental funding for Ukraine and Israel up for a vote in the House. Its widely thought that, with support from many centre-left Democrats and some progressives, the legislation passed with bipartisan support last week in the Senate would pass the lower chamber. But speaker Mike Johnson has refused to bring the legislation to the floor, citing the demand from right-wing members of his caucus for border security to be addressed before the House passes further funding for other national security priorities. That position has infuriated Republicans in the Senate, especially since the same faction of the House GOP is responsible for walking away from a bipartisan deal reached on border security by Senate negotiators. Ms Cheney implored Mr Johnson to find his conscience and bring the legislation up for a vote as Ukraines military situation begins to look increasingly desperate. The White House this week directly blamed Congresss inaction for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from a city that they had been defending from a Russian advance for months. Addressing CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday, she said: One thing thats really important, Jake, for the viewers to recognise and understand is, one man, one man has the power to get that done. And thats Mike Johnson. Former Republican Congresswoman @Liz_Cheney calls out @SpeakerJohnson for blocking Ukraine aid: Mike Johnson ought to search his conscience and not go down the path of cowardice and doing what Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin want him to do. pic.twitter.com/7NneB9f7hh State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 18, 2024 Mike Johnson ought to search deep in his conscience, understanding exactly whats happening, the slaughter thats happening, she said. History will look back on this moment, and ask: What did Mike Johnson do? His current resistance to bringing the legislation up for a vote, Ms Cheney continued, was the path of cowardice and doing what Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin want him to do. The rhetoric was strong, but not particularly surprising to hear from Ms Cheney, who is no longer a member of the House of Representatives after being ousted in a primary election due to her opposition to Donald Trump in 2022. She has since remained one of Mr Trump and the right wings most vocal critics among the national GOP. Ms Cheney soared to prominence in that regard after agreeing to serve as vice chair of the select committee formed to investigate the January 6 attack on Congress. Just one other Republican, former Rep Adam Kinzinger, served on the panel after then-minority leader Kevin McCarthy pulled his support from the investigation in the course of his journey to mend ties with Donald Trump. The supplemental legislation passed by the Senate for Ukraine and Israel aid is controversial with the wings of both parties. Left-leaning Democrats oppose the legislations funding for Israels military given the ongoing bloody siege of Gaza. Hardline Republicans, meanwhile, oppose further aid to Ukraines military. President Joe Biden has pledged to sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. The White House has gone to a full-court press against congressional Republicans, seizing on the image of dysfunction and chaos plaguing the lower chamber, which has now ousted one speaker after less than a year in office and ground to a halt due to GOP infighting. Complicating the issue for Mr Johnson is that despite grumblings about the rule change and its complicity in the downfall of Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House can still be ousted by a discharge petition brought by just one member. His party holds just a two-vote majority in the chamber, meaning just a pair of GOP rebels could bring down his speakership with the support of a unified Democratic caucus. MONROE Monroe County people affected by the opioid epidemic can share their stories Tuesday. The Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission will offer a Community Voices session Feb. 20 at Recovery Advocacy Warriors (RAW), 554 Rambow Road. Community members can attend from 1 to 3 p.m. The forum in designed for community members to share their experiences or provide input, especially individuals and families who are have directly impacted by substance use disorders, mental health conditions, co-occurring disorders and/or involvement in the criminal-legal system, the commission said. Community Voices is part of the national opioid settlements. Monroe County is expected to receive $5.5 million over 18 years from the settlements. Funds are being received by state and local governments throughout the country. These dollars are being awarded for alleged harms, caused by the companies that marketed, manufactured, distributed and sold, pharmaceutical opioids, the commission said. "Given the nature of the opioid settlements and an understanding that nearly all families in Michigan have in some way or another been impacted by substance use, mental health or involvement in the criminal-legal system, the Opioid Advisory Commission (OAC) believes there is a responsibility to include community voices in conversations around planning and use of state opioid settlement funds." Monroe addiction physician Dr. Arun Gupta is shown in his Monroe office holding copy of his 2022 book and a recent issue of "Rotary Magazine." Gupta was featured in a story about the opioid crisis. Dr. Arun Gupta, Monroes only addiction medicine provider, will speak at Community Voices. Gupta, a member of Monroe Rotary Club, is encouraging Rotary International to take up the fight against opioid addiction. He wrote the book "The Preventable Epidemic: A Frontline Doctors Experience and Recommendations to Resolve Americas Opioid Crisis. "Despite the wide use of naloxone in America, overdose deaths have consistently been more than 100,000 per year in the last four years and topped 112,000 in 2023," Gupta said. "We all know fentanyl is responsible for virtually all OD deaths in the four years, and naloxone is ineffective in the vast majority of these cases in preventing OD deaths. We must slow down and stop the OD deaths in America. The war on drugs has failed. We keep on putting more money into failed policies." Subscribe Now: Read up on local news and sports. At Community Voices, he'll share his ideas for a strategic reset in the opioid crisis. His plans includes changing medical school curriculum to include addiction courses, changing the laws regarding prescription medicine, decriminalizing of the treatment arm, ending the criminalization of doctors in America, banning street fentanyl and mandating education to reduce stigma. OAC encourages people to fill out the Michigan Opioid Settlement Funds Community Impact Survey. To learn more and to find the survey, visit council.legislature.mi.gov/Council/OAC or email oac@legislature.mi.gov. Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local opioid stories sought at Tuesday's Community Voices session A graduate's decorated cap during spring commencement on May 5, 2019 at Ohio State University. Between the ever-increasing cost of college tuition, changes to this year's federal financial aid formulas and the anxiety caused by a much-delayed Free Application for Federal Student Aid rollout, paying for higher education might feel a little more stressful this year. While there is so much outside of families' control, there's one big way that students can lower that sticker price: external scholarships. Applying for external scholarships meaning financial aid given by outside donors like high schools, clubs, nonprofits or religious organizations can help give students "more buying power," said Kirsten Crotte, senior associate director of financial aid at Otterbein University. "Students should be investing time in applying for external scholarships," Crotte said. Searching for and applying to external scholarships can be time consuming, but Crotte said every little bit helps. "If a student spent 10 hours applying to 10 scholarships and only got one for $1,000, that could feel discouraging," she said. "But that's still $100 an hour for your time spent." Typically, many external scholarships have February application deadlines. But a number of organizations have adjusted their deadlines to match the pushed-back FAFSA rollout and give families more time to apply. There are plenty of external scholarships available for Greater Columbus students. Here is a non-exhaustive list of where you can apply. The Columbus Foundation Not only does The Columbus Foundation have a database of more than 200 college scholarships, but it also has its own Universal Scholarship Application. High school and college students who fill out the Universal Scholarship Application can automatically apply for more than 100 scholarships listed in the Foundation's online scholarship directory. The Columbus Foundation extended its deadline for the Universal Scholarship Application to March 22 to better align with the FAFSA rollout. According to its website, applicants can upload a PDF of their confirmation email that includes their estimated Student Aid Index in lieu of the FAFSA submission summary. If the SAI cannot be calculated, applicants can also upload a screenshot of the page on the FAFSA website showing that the form has been submitted and that their SAI cannot be calculated. Applicants are also required to provide a short description of their financial need in the application. Alumni funds Already committed to a university? Congrats! Your fellow insert-school-mascot-here alumni might have a scholarship fund to help you get through school. The Ohio State Alumni Club of Franklin County, for instance, has a scholarship funded by club members for local students who got accepted at any Ohio State campus and are committed to attend. (That deadline is March 1.) Search your city or home county plus the name of your college into a search engine and see what is out there. Your high school's alumni association is also a good place to look for external scholarships. High school and college students can search for high school-specific alumni scholarships through organizations like The Delaware County Foundation, The Muskingum County Community Foundation, The Pickaway County Community Foundation and The Union County Foundation. Eligible Columbus City Schools seniors with continuous enrollment in the district who are enrolling full-time at an accredited U.S. university or college can apply for I Know I Can's Founder's Scholarship. Program-specific scholarships If you've committed to a certain major or are interested in pursuing a field of study, there is likely a scholarship for you. The Career & Technology Education Centers of Licking County has a roundup of outside scholarships for trade fields including, but not limited to, cosmetology, cybersecurity, massage therapy and HVAC. The Ohio Farm Bureau has a number of scholarships available to students interested in studying agriculture and related fields. Franklin County's Farm Bureau, for instance, awards multiple scholarships totaling nearly $15,000 each year to students studying at accredited colleges and universities. The Nationwide Foundation Scholarship Program is awarding 24 scholarships averaging $3,000 each this year to Franklin County who have attended Columbus State Community College and are enrolled full-time in a bachelor's degree program at one of five Ohio colleges. Applicants must be business majors. State grants and scholarships The Ohio Department of Higher Education invests in a number of scholarship programs to keep students in-state and lower the cost of attendance for Ohioans. The Choose Ohio First Scholarship is designed to support Ohio students interested in STEM-related fields and to increase the number of STEM teachers. The Department of Higher Education provides funding to participating colleges and universities, which direct the money to students. Interested students can reach out to the point-person at their specific institution to apply. The Grow Your Own Teacher Scholarship Program is designed to help school districts recruit their own students and staff to become teachers within the district. Scholarship recipients agree to teach for a minimum of four years at their home school district in exchange for a scholarship of up to $7,500/year for four years of college. The Department of Higher Education also has several scholarships for caregivers of disabled Ohio veterans; children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio veterans; and the kin of peace officers, firefighters and certain other safety officers who are killed in the line-of-duty. 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: Looking for college scholarships? Here are some places you can apply When the bird feeder is empty, it falls to me to fill it. The birds never express gratitude. They just eat and eat and eat. I walk across my yard to the feeder. About ten feet away, I stop because there is a house finch on the feeder enjoying his lunch of sunflower seeds. There he sits on the perch by one of the feeders holes, eating one seed after another. I wait for him to finish, but he lingers. Taking a couple of steps forward, I assume hell fly away. He doesnt. He eats. Two more steps. Two more. Still, he eats. Now my nose is just a foot away from my reddish little friend. He keeps eating. I hold very still as Im enjoying seeing the glutton from such a short distance. Jim Whitehouse Suddenly, a chickadee comes to the feeder, landing on a perch only 8 from my eyes. She grabs a seed and flits off to crack it and eat it in a nearby tree. This lasts 10 seconds and then she is back. The finch is not bothered by the chickadee, and Im enjoying the show. Alas, it is cold outside and Im not wearing a jacket or gloves. My friends and family wont believe this, but Im getting cold. Here I am, starting to shiver while I watch two tiny birds eat seeds. Come to think of it, not only am I cold, but Im also hungry. My gustatory preferences do not run to raw sunflower seeds from a bag of bird seed. Nor do they run to little songbirds. Sorry, I say out loud and the two birds take off. I take the feeder down and put it on the ground between my feet, then fill it with a fresh load of seeds. Back inside, I quickly warm up and peel a clementine, which goes down the hatch quickly, followed by a toasted English muffin. As I prepare and eat my simple lunch I look out the window at the bird feeder. Lots of birds are coming and going. Cardinals, blue jays, a downy woodpecker, plenty of house finches, and chickadees. House finches are fairly new to this part of the country. Southwestern birds, they were trapped and sold as pets in New York, which was illegal. The pet shop owners, sensing a crackdown on the illegal trade, released the house finches, which did just fine in the northeast. That was in 1940, according to the Audubon Society. The pretty little birds thrived and began spreading westward, year after year, eventually getting to Michigan and beyond until they met up with their kin in the middle of the country. Now they are everywhere. Thats OK with me, particularly if they are going to let me join them for lunch at the feeder. One other condition: Theyre going to have to get used to me eschewing sunflower seeds in favor of English muffins and clementines. Jim Whitehouse lives in Albion. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Looking Out: Taking a moment to appreciate the birds WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it arrested a man who shot and killed another man overnight. Police said that on Sunday at about 3 a.m., they responded to the 1600 block of Rosedale St. for the report of a shooting. When police arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot inside a home. 10-year-old boy shot in Southeast DC The victim was identified as 35-year-old Darius Robinson, of Northwest, D.C. The suspect left the scene after the shooting but officers were able to find him. Police arrested and charged 25-year-old Charles Demarco Best, of Clinton, Md. with Second Degree Murder. Officers said the victim and suspect were known to each other. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A man was convicted on Thursday, Feb. 15, after leading police on a high-speed pursuit and carrying a concealed carry without a license, officials said. On July 4, 36-year-old Teron Danzell Young was spotted by Virginia State Police speeding on his motorcycle on I-264. Young ignored police attempting to pull him over and continued weaving in and out of lanes reaching up to 104 mph. Teron Danzell Young Young exited the highway, ran a red light and pulled over in a nearby apartment complex. Before he was detained, Young told the troopers that he had a gun on him, officials said. Young was convicted of felony eluding and felony carrying of a concealed firearm without a permit in a second or subsequent offense. He was previously convicted of that charge in 2014. Hes scheduled for sentencing on April 14. Young is going to prison because he endangered himself, other drivers, and the trooper who rightly wanted him to stop, said Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. Mr. Youngs illegal concealment of a gun made matters even more dangerous, and, having committed the crime before, he should have known better. Check with WAVY.com for updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man is dead after a shooting in the Hollywood neighborhood in Northeast Portland early Sunday morning, authorities say. Just after 2:30 a.m., Portland police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 4200 block of North Halsey Street. When they arrived, they found the man dead at the scene. Detectives from PPBs Homicide unit are currently investigating. PPB says no arrests have been made at this time and the identity of the victim has not yet been released. If anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to contact Portland police. This is a developing story. Stay with KOIN 6 for updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Caldwell police are searching for a man accused of shooting at a family through their car window, wounding one woman, during a road rage incident, authorities said. A man driving a red Volkswagen Passat fired several gunshots into a car with two adults and a young child inside on Saturday night near the intersection of Indiana Avenue and Ustick Road, the Caldwell Police Department said in a Sunday news release. A woman in the car was struck in the upper torso by the gunfire, police said. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening, and she is expected to survive, according to police. Officers responded to the incident at about 10:30 p.m. Police said they believe the shooting stemm(ed) from a possible road rage incident. Detectives identified Anthony Erasmo Madrid, 25, as a suspect. They said Madrid lives in the 3400 block of Park View Way in Nampa. There is an active search underway for Madrid, and he is considered armed and dangerous, Caldwell police said. Police then said Madrid shot at Nampa police officers who attempted to stop him, the release said. Police said officers did not return fire, and no one was injured. Officers searched the area but did not find Madrid. Police described Madrid as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 180 pounds with brown hair and eyes, and has a tattoo on his lower left arm that says, EST 1998. He was last seen on foot in the area of the 1800 block of 3rd Street North in Nampa, wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and armed with a handgun, according to police. The coward responsible for these attacks does not warrant a mention of his name. He is just that, a coward who chose to shoot at a woman with a child then shoot at police officers as he was running away, like the coward that he is, Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram said in the release. Police asked anyone who has seen Madrid or with information on the shooting to call 911, the non-emergency dispatch line at 208-454-7531 or Crime Stoppers, which allows callers to remain anonymous at 208-343-2677. Despite all the coin-operated fortune tellers at Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum, unanswered questions remain. We know that on Monday, the Farmington Hills City Council high-fived developers who plan to bulldoze the northern chunk of the Hunter's Square shopping center to make room for a Meijer grocery store. We know that the owner of the 32-year-old collection of vintage and modern arcade games and other curiosities has said he'll try to find a new place for them. What no one knows is where, and what nobody can even imagine is how to make that happen which means it might not. "I don't know what the odds are" that the plug will be pulled, said general manager Andrew Rosenfeld. "But it's possible." Moving stinks, but what if you had all this stuff? He and owner Jeremy Yagoda and the children of all ages who've been packing the place since the possibility of closing arose in November would much prefer to keep the lights flashing, and the likes of Zelda the Mysterious, Louie the Love Shrink, Ask the Brain and the old Mandarin in the Happy Good Fortune machine dispensing their wisdom at 50 cents per pearl. But Marvin's is 5,500 square feet of pinball machines and oddities and giant posters. It has more than 1,000 electrical outlets and a repurposed dry cleaning carousel 20 feet off the ground that carries tin replicas of World War II fighter planes and the Goodyear blimp in an erratic loop. Movie posters, a U.S. flag, a giant fish and a three-dimensional clown face cling to or hang from the ceiling. Andrew Rosenfeld, the general manager of Marvins Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. How do you take it all out, let alone put it up someplace else? That's the conundrum, and the reason Rosenfeld even lets himself consider the notion that when the lease expires in January, Marvin's will expire with it. 'It's still cool' When you spend your workdays in a place jam-packed with smiles, though, you're inclined to be an optimist. Rosenfeld said he fended off the reality of the situation all the way to Monday night, when the council vote was unanimous. He's still trying to keep positive thoughts zapping the negative ones as though they were aliens in "Space Invaders," which, of course, Marvin's owns in a collection that seems to touch on every era. Andrew Rosenfeld, the general manager of Marvins Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills, works on a game on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The arcade that has been popular in the area going back to the late 1980s is facing a vote on Thursday with the city of Farmington Hills along with other businesses in the shopping area at Orchard Lake and 14 Mile that depending on how the vote goes could turn the location into a Meijer. "We're going to move forward," he said. "A bigger place, a better place." The 52,747 people who signed an online petition to save Marvin's would like that. The three generations of Kelly Pauley's family who drove in from St. Clair County on Friday afternoon would like it, too: 20 years after she first brought her kids, she said, "It's still cool." Yes. That we know, without question. No shortage of food One thing Rosenfeld still isn't clear on is why Meijer wants to put a grocery store at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake Road. There's a Whole Foods, he noted, directly across 14 Mile. A Busch's to the west and Johnny Pomodoro's to the east along the same road. A full-size Meijer 5 miles away in Southfield, and another one 5.7 miles away in Commerce Township. A couple of Kroger stores, closer yet. Meijer did not grow from one store in Greenville in 1934 to 259 now by being foolhardy, so we will assume it has its reasons, even if it did not return calls from the Free Press to divulge them. "In a perfect world, I'd like a rebuilt mall. This one is getting a little tired," Rosenfeld said. One map the landlord showed Marvin's a while back even had the arcade's building spared, he said, but a sketch doesn't count as getting something in writing. He's stuck with the imperfect world where Marshall's and Home Goods have migrated across to the east side of Orchard Lake, California Pizza Kitchen closed and Five Below will be moving to the south end of the center where a Gap gave up years ago. With no animatronics or antique neon to move, it should be easy. Reassurance from within There was a point, Rosenfeld said, where the actual Marvelous Marvin could have sat down with the local family that owned the shopping center and hashed things out. Marvin Yagoda was a second-generation pharmacy owner in Detroit who started his arcade-and-more with a couple of coin-op rides in a massive food court called Tally Hall that gave way to Hunter's Square. He died of a heart attack at 78 in 2017, at which point his son, Jeremy, took over. Jeremy is the brother-in-law of Rosenfeld, who has been a manager as well as a human resources officer, accountant, repair guy, scheduler and inventory chief for 17 years. Marvin was a charmer, Rosenfeld said, "who used to get mad at me because I tried to bring some sense to it all." Marvin Yagoda, the founder of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills, with Andrew Rosenfeld, 42, the general manager, in a photo taken in one of their photo booths at the museum in 2013. When crews of workers came in, he'd tell them a few jokes, give them free hot dogs and have them busting their tails and laughing while they did. He went way back with many of his customers and with his landlord, who sold out to a big company that sold out to a bigger one that can't exactly sit down for a Coke. Across the past few months, Rosenfeld said, he has heard from building owners as far south as downtown Detroit and as far north as White Lake Township, suggesting their space. The preference is something close to where Marvin's is now, and larger maybe 10,000 square feet. They've been getting by with a tiny area, six long tables and 20 seats, to accommodate birthday parties or simply sitting down for a mini-pizza between games. If there's an upside to getting uprooted, that's it. The downside includes finding a building, an architect and a contractor, pulling permits and getting one-of-a-kind machines and decorations from one point to the other without catastrophic damage. It's daunting, but there's encouragement from beneath Marvin's own roof. Two shiny quarters bought a consultation with Ask the Brain, which features a wizened old man with a monocle and a lab coat encased in a tall wooden cabinet. It was actually too crowded and loud to hear what he said, but he dispensed a fortune-telling card that put the soothe in soothsayer. "This will be your lucky year," it said, "enter business without fear." Fire up the moving vans. Neal Rubin's college graduation present from his family was a pinball machine, which tells you something about his academic priorities. Reach him at NARubin@freepress.com. To subscribe to the Free Press at discount rates, click here This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Marvin's Marvelous finding new location for arcade will be hard Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has once again threatened the West with an all-out nuclear war if Russia is pushed back to its internationally recognized 1991 borders after the war in Ukraine. In a Telegram post on Sunday, the current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council reiterated his well-known position that "nuclear powers never lose a war" as long as they defend their homeland. In a short thought experiment, he discussed the case of Ukraine's success in this war. In his opinion, the return of Ukraine to its old borders would contradict the Russian constitution, especially as the conquered territories in eastern Ukraine and Crimea had already been annexed as integral parts of Russia. The 1991 borders are the common, internationally recognized border lines of Russia and Ukraine before the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Moscow in 2014 and before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "And now to the main question: Do these idiots [in the West] really believe that the Russian people would accept such a disintegration of their country?" wrote Medvedev. On the contrary, the Russian armed forces would deploy their entire arsenal and attack Washington, Berlin or London in addition to Kiev. He said that these and other "beautiful historical places were entered long ago as targets of [Russia's] nuclear triad," referring to the configuration of land-based intercontinental missiles, submarine-launched missiles and strategic bombers with nuclear bombs. During his time in office as president from 2008 to 2012, Medvedev was regarded as a liberal, moderate politician. Since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine almost two years ago, he has turned into an extremist and is now one of the West's harshest critics. There are no concrete indications that Russia's leadership is actually planning to use nuclear weapons. Despite several setbacks during the war ordered by President Vladimir Putin, Russia continues to occupy around a fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula, and currently sees itself on the path to victory. Putin on Sunday also commented on the war, Russia considers the situation in Ukraine to be "vital." For the West, on the other hand, it is just a question of tactics, Putin said on Sunday in an interview on state television, quoted by the state-run news agency TASS. While the West was taking tactical positions on Ukraine, for his country it was "a matter of fate, a matter of life or death." If the West had not intervened, "the war would have ended a year and a half ago." "We switched from initially peaceful measures to military instruments and tried to end this conflict peacefully," Putin claimed. Further, Russia is still prepared to negotiate a peaceful solution. Moscow's and Kiev's positions on a possible peace solution are far apart. While Kiev insists on the return of all occupied territories, including the Crimean peninsula, Russia wants to keep the conquered territories that it has already integrated into its national territory. On the ground in Ukraine, at least three people have been killed in Russian drone and missile attacks in eastern Ukraine, local leaders said on Sunday. Two bodies have been recovered so far from the rubble of a residential building in the city of Kramatorsk that was struck by a missile overnight, said Vadym Filashkin, the military governor of the Donetsk region, on Telegram. The rescue operation is continuing and further victims are suspected to be under the debris, he said. Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the military administration in the neighbouring Kharkiv region, reported one dead and five injured in an attack on a two-storey residential building in the front-line city of Kupiansk. Russia attacked its neighbour overnight with six S-300 anti-aircraft missiles that were converted to strike land targets, three Ch-22 cruise missiles and a Ch-59 air-to-surface missile, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The Russian military launched 14 Shahed combat drones, 12 of which were destroyed before reaching their target. The air-to-surface missile was also intercepted and a Russian fighter jet was shot down, the air force said. British intelligence officials believe that Russia could have replaced the head of its Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, likely because of "Ukraine's success in sinking various ships under his command." In its daily intelligence update on the war published by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in London on Sunday, said various "Russian pro-war commentators" had reported on Sokolov's removal from his post, which has so far not been confirmed by the Russian Defence Ministry. One such report had been published on the Rybar Telegram channel, considered to be close to the ministry in Moscow. According to the MoD update on X, "Sokolov has likely been replaced by his now former deputy, Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk as acting commander until an internal investigation of the 15 February 2024 sinking of the Ropucha-class Caesar Kunikov landing ship is concluded." The MoD in London has been publishing daily intelligence reports on the war since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow accuses London of spreading misinformation. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation's Security Council, has threatened the United States and Europe with nuclear war if Russia is returned to its recognised borders from 1991. Source: Medvedev on Telegram Details: Medvedev wondered what would happen if Russia lost the war against "neo-Nazis along with their Western sponsors" and returned to its 1991 borders. He speaks to this outcome as "the irreversible collapse of present-day Russia, which under the Constitution includes new territories". Medvedev believes that after that, a "civil war with tens of millions of victims" and "the death of the future of Russia" will begin. Quote: "And now for the main question: do these idiots truly believe that the Russian people will simply swallow such a consequential partitioning of their country? That we will all think: Unfortunately, it happened. They won. Russia as we know it today no longer exists. It is unfortunate, of course, but we must continue to live in a country that is collapsing and dying, because a nuclear war is far worse for us than the death of our loved ones, children, Russia? And that the state's leadership, led by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, would be hesitant to make difficult decisions in this case? Hear me out. It will be totally different. The collapse of Russia will have far worse consequences than the outcome of a conventional, even long-term war. Because attempting to return Russia to its 1991 borders will only lead to one outcome. To a global war with Western countries, utilising our entire strategic arsenal. In Kyiv, Berlin, London, and Washington. For all other beautiful historical sites, which have long been included in our nuclear triad's attack goals. Will we have enough guts for this if a thousand-year-old country, our great homeland, is on the verge of extinction, and the sacrifices made by the Russian people over the centuries are in vain? The answer is obvious." Support UP or become our patron! Theres a new officer in town, and this ones got four legs. The Austell Police Department is announcing that Oz, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois, is joining their ranks. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] K9 Oz was donated by Hurricane Creek K9, a training facility in the Carroll County town of Roopville. Oz and his handler, Officer Johnson, are currently spending a couple of weeks bonding with one another before heading off to handler school. TRENDING STORIES: The Georgia Police K9 Foundation has also outfitted Oz with a bulletproof vest. Police say Oz and Officer Johnson are ready to start patrolling the streets and keeping the people of Austell safe. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Rob Roland is senior counsel at Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. His father was a well-known doctor and his grandfather was a successful attorney. Roland's high school and college years were dedicated to studying science. Rob Roland is senior counsel at Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. His father was a well-known doctor and his grandfather was a successful attorney. His high school and college years were dedicated to studying science. "I completed the pre-med program at Miami University and was first in my major," he said. "However, in the last semester of my senior year, I did some soul-searching and concluded that I dont have the patience or empathy necessary to be a good doctor or at least a happy one." He was in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at the time and he complained about his situation to his fraternity brothers. "Without hesitating, they said something to the effect that 'Heck thats easy, we always thought you were a lawyer, not a doctor,'" Roland recalled. He applied and was accepted into the Ohio State University law school. "When looking for a law clerk position, Day Ketterer, one of the oldest law firms in the state, made me an offer," Roland said. "I had never been to Canton and remember having to look it up on a map to make it to my first interview. That was in 1983." He lives in Canton with his wife, Debbie. The two have owned and renovated two Tudor revival houses in Ridgewood, which they believe is the best place to live in Stark County because of its beautiful historic atmosphere and association. Debbie is an attorney and just retired from the 5th District Court of Appeals after 30 years as a judicial clerk. They have a Bernedoodle dog named Becket and a cat named Olive. "We are both avid readers and maintain a library with about 1,000 volumes," Roland said. "We enjoy traveling. I spend a lot of time cultivating our yard, and we attend festivals and antiques shows. I am a jazz piano player and somewhat of an audiophile, which seems to make all my extra money mysteriously disappear. I am also very into wine and maintain a modest cellar of mostly Bordeaux and Southern Rhones. I write poetry under another name." Rob Roland is senior counsel at Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. His father was a well-known doctor and his grandfather was a successful attorney. Roland's high school and college years were dedicated to studying science. 5 questions with Maiharriese Wooden: Founder of the Stark Blessing Box Initiative What is your typical workday like? A successful attorney is in a constant state of evolution professionally because each year he or she gains a little more knowledge and experience; every five years or so you become a different attorney and what you do therefore tends to change. I am now in my 39th year of practice and limit my practice to the representation of larger businesses. My day is spent consulting with the president or CEO about business matters, in context of the law. I still draft contracts, work through business disputes, deal with corporate governance issues, recapitalizations, and structure transactions, but on very large matters I try to work with and oversee younger attorneys who have the stamina to regularly put in 12- to 14-hour days. Luckily, at Buckingham I am surrounded by very talented younger attorneys. Do you specialize in a certain type of law? In my first 10 years of practice, I did a little bit of everything, including handling jury trials. Slowly, my practice became centered on commercial real estate, banking and corporate law. I represented a number of real estate developers, mall owners, national and regional banks, and business owners. Now I limit my practice exclusively to corporate law. I gravitated to corporate law because I am completely convinced that capitalism is the single most important factor that has contributed to the success of America, and businesses (often starting out with only a few employees, or in someones basement) are the engine of capitalism. In my mind, a great and powerful democracy cannot succeed without also being a great economic power. We wouldnt have the electric light, airplanes, or the cellphone, all of which are products of capitalism. In my small way, I gain real fulfillment from helping businesses to succeed. Often the first thing I ask a client when kicking off a telephone call is Hows business? and it makes my day if Im part of the team and were beating the competition. What are your thoughts on being involved with the community? I was taught by my grandfather, my father and by senior attorneys who have been my mentors, that lawyers must be leaders. They are required by the privilege of their education and profession to give back as much as they can to the city or town that allowed them to succeed. Most nonprofit boards benefit from having an attorney at the table who can spot problems before they happen, and who can help guide the organization through rough waters. What does it mean to you to be recognized for your work? I realized a long time ago that if you do something just for the applause, youre bound to be disappointed, and a sad person. You have to do something because you are driven to make something happen, or it adds meaning to your otherwise limited existence. Im embarrassed to admit that all of my plaques are buried underneath a messy pile of shoes on the floor of my closet. What advice can you offer those thinking of making law their profession? Law can provide a jumping off point for many vocations. Dont go into law because you like to argue. Law is much more nuanced than that. Law is about achieving your clients goals. It takes about 10 years to figure out how to be a decent lawyer and even more time to build a practice that will allow you to buy a nice car and go on vacations. I have canceled vacations and lost plane tickets because a client needed something right away. Once when I was in Paris on a vacation we planned for two years, I spent three days holed up in the hotel working to save a bank deal that ran into trouble. Being successful in private practice takes some combination of intellectual ability, people skills, marketing sense, management skills, street smarts, communication ability and a good sense of humor doesnt hurt. Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com. This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 questions with Rob Roland, senior counsel with Buckingham, Doolittle Taylor Byas never cared much about The Wizard of Oz, but she has always loved The Wiz. Still, it took awhile for the poet from Chicago to realize that the celebrated 1978 musical was a perfect theme for her new collection, I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times (Soft Skull, $16.95). The images were long embedded: Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow and Diana Ross as Dorothy easing on down the Yellow Brick Road together. As she worked with her editor, Byas began connecting her books coming of age story with the classic tale, lending it structure, but also shoring up the poems collective themes. We realized that this was a story about not only home but of what happens when youre whisked away from home, Byas says. What does finding home and making the new home away from home look like? Her book won the 2023 Maya Angelou Book Award and is the latest selection of the FYI Book Club. Byas was in transition between a masters program in Alabama and a Ph.D. program in Ohio while she wrote many of the poems in the collection not quite being picked up by a tornado and had begun to see that the answers she sought werent going to come to her from an external source but from inside. As Byas worked to shape the book, she puzzled over realizations about her childhood and tried to fight off the imposter syndrome that had seized her as she began publishing her work and winning awards, first smaller ones like the 2020 Poetry Super Highway Contest, then larger ones. Just like the characters in The Wiz, in ways, she felt shed been gaslit, maybe even by herself. (They had been) gaslit to believe that they didnt have the things that they were looking for and were just so convinced that they didnt have intelligence, that they didnt have courage, Byas says. And all along throughout the movie, you just see them behaving in ways that constantly confirm that they are obviously in possession of these things. Taylor Byas won the 2023 Maya Angelou Book Award for I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times. Its the latest selection of the FYI Book Club. The parallels between her story and The Wiz were clear enough that she named the books seven sections after the shows songs: Can I Go On?, Ease on Down the Road, and Is This What Feeling Gets? among them. But Byas narrator isnt plagued by psychedelic witches and toothy trashcans, rather by untrustworthy men and erroneous assumptions. And she does make a sharp distinction between her own experiences and feelings and those of the voice of the collection. With good reason. The poems are very personal, sometimes about sexual relationships gone very wrong or intimate family details. I think sometimes people might feel a sort of increased familiarity with you suddenly that is uncomfortable to deal with at times, she explains. Im also very open about sharing the poems and the experiences that are shaped by my personal experiences. For instance, she says that her father is an alcoholic, and the poem Drunken Monologue from an Alcoholic Fathers Oldest Daughter is a version of me thinking about his addiction and wondering why hes choosing it over family. The first stanza reads: My friends say I should have been a therapist and it aint funny no more. I aint seen a dollar of pay for this labor, all my pretending who do I see about my check? My father says, I just need somebody to talk to when he calls. Hes sitting in our house alone looking at old pictures and drinking. I still love my wife, I still love my wife. And if I answer the phone, I gotta be the mother. Taylor Byas I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times. She also talks about the very physical poem, Wreckage. The narrator is a child in a bathtub repeatedly sinking a toy boat with her mother. But in the remembering, the details change. What color is the boat? Are there people on it? Is her mother close to her, across the room washing her face, or cross-legged on the toilet seat? What doesnt shift is the clear feeling that her parents relationship isnt right. The mothers wedding ring hits the bottom of the tub with a muted clink as she forces the ship down herself and tells the girl to leave it where it fell. The poem includes relatable details that likely already live in many readers memories: splashed water on the parents neck, clear freckles across her glasses. And arms wet to the elbows as she kneels and leans over the tubs edge playing with the child. Connecting to the reader through a near-universal memory makes the experiences described in other poems that are not as universal easier to slip into that alcoholic father, for example, or the painful feeling of having her scalp greased and every hair on her head tightly braided as she bites her tongue so she wont mewl. Byas says that Wreckage acts as a hinge in another way, too. Its the first poem that suggests trouble in the parents relationship. It helps the reader then kind of step into that as well. It kind of prepares the reader for the ways that the book is going to probe their relationship and the ways that it falls apart, Byas explains. And its also one shell admit to identifying more closely with the narrator than in others. But I think there are also ways that some of these poems do take a step away from my personal experience as well, in their thinking, she says. There is some fiction, right, in some places. Even her hometown is a little fictionalized, but shes glad to have some control over the narrative. When she left the South Side of Chicago to pursue an English degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, she gained a new perspective and was a little taken aback by classmates comments. They sort of made some sort of joke or comment about me being like a thug or me being rough or something of that nature, she explains. They called it Chiraq and asked about Chicago being this violent place that has very obviously shaped me to be someone who has really had to just, like, adjust to this violence in a very particular way. That wasnt the home she knew, but its also what she saw from national news outlets. It is dangerous sometimes, but its way more complex than anyone who isnt from Chicago, I think, can maybe understand, Byas says. She explains that Chicago becomes a character in the collection just as much as the narrator does. Another Wiz-like move: Dorothys longed-for home becomes a character, too, one that, over the course of her journey, she eventually understands differently. So, you have these two things or these two characters, you could say, that are changing alongside one another, she says. Byas illustrates the perspective shifts through analogies and metaphors, often with flick-of-the-wrist moves like in her poem South Side (I): The handshake half-hug/sacred enough to make a man feel whole/again. The shapeshifting, how what looks like a thug/in darkness softens into a boy in the gold-/glow of a bedside lamp. Toward the end of the collection, Byas narrator has gotten to a sort of home, another shifting, and subtler internal change of light. She moves from corner store scenes in which shes called baby girl by older men causing fear that flowers in my belly, to a self-assured woman seeing a therapist and reaching the conclusion that shes still learning about love. Shes done clicked her heels three times. I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times won the 2023 Maya Angelou Book Award. The Kansas City Public Library, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and five other Missouri universities established the national award, which recognizes literary merit, how a writer and the writers work reflect a commitment to social justice, and how the work serves to enrich the diversity of American literature. Anne Kniggendorf is a writer and editor for the Kansas City Public Library and is the author of Secret Kansas City and Kansas City Scavenger. Follow her @AnneKniggendorf. Join the club The Kansas City Star partners with the Kansas City Public Library to present a book-of-the-moment selection. We invite the community to read along. Kaite Mediatore Stover, the librarys director of readers services, will lead a discussion of I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times by Taylor Byas. Email Stover at kaitestover@kclibrary.org to join in. An excerpt South Side (II) So theres nowhere to run, nowhere for us to cry when the neighbors know your business the women cooking on their balconies and patios to side- eye all the young folks slinking past Just looking how they look. But this is a form of love as well, the way they judge the length of your daisy dukes and feed you, send you home with a plate, say, Tell your momma I said hello. Theyll put extra scoops of macaroni and cheese and greens with juice that will spill into the plastic bag no matter which way you hold it because the tin foils loose. As you tote it home, the juice will leak and splatter on your leg, drip down your calves, get sticky, dry a spidered map beginning at the top of your thigh. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Diversus Health is taking the opportunity to reach out to the community after tragic incidents at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) this week shook the city. In a statement Friday, Feb. 16, the Diversus team said they were shocked and heartbroken following another act of gun violence in the Colorado Springs community. Diversus focuses on mental and emotional health and wellness and offers a wide variety of services that can be accessed by the public in times of distress. They are encouraging anyone experiencing a mental or emotional health crisis to please take advantage of their 24/7 walk-in crisis services. The address for the walk-in center is 115 S. Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910. Diversus also encourages anyone who needs to talk to call their crisis hotline (number below). Diversus Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 844-493-8255 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Five-year-old Mercy Cuthbertson has endured brain surgery and 28 radiotherapy sessions since her diagnosis six months ago A five-year-old girl with a brain tumour has begun treatment with a drug from abroad after her family raised 107,000. Mercy Cuthbertson's condition is inoperable but she is not eligible for two drug trials in Newcastle because of the location of her tumour. The Brain Tumour Research charity said more research investment was needed. The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for a comment. Her parents Lorraine and Paul raised the money through crowdfunding to buy the drug ONC201, which has had some success prolonging the lives of patients. They said they were "deeply moved" by people's generosity and are hoping to reach a fundraising target of 120,000 for supplies of the drug which costs 50,000 a year. Mercy's parents said they were determined to be positive and give their daughter a "fighting chance" Since being diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) six months ago, Mercy, from North Tyneside, has endured surgery and 28 radiotherapy sessions. Around 20 to 30 children are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. It affects the part of the brain that controls essential functions like heartbeat, breathing, swallowing and eyesight. There is currently no cure and children with DIPG do not generally live longer than 12 months after diagnosis, according to Brain Tumour Research. Mercy has so far had four doses of ONC201 which has been imported from abroad Mrs Cuthbertson, 42, a chief inspector and her 52-year-old husband, a constable, both with Northumbria Police, said they were determined to stay positive. "When we got the diagnosis, our life as we knew it was turned on its head," Mrs Cuthbertson said. "Our hope is to stabilise the tumour and prolong Mercy's mobility to keep things normal for as long as possible. "There are cases, we know of, of people who have taken this medication and the tumour has actually shrunk. "We are just grateful for every single day, but from the start we've had two choices, me and her dad. "We can either get up on a morning and say, 'why has this happened to us?' "But it's not just us, it's happened to lots of families and we don't want to make it about how we feel and how it's affecting us. "We try and get up every single morning and think, 'we are going to be positive, we are going to fight this for Mercy and this is the option we are taking'." Mercy has so far had four doses of the drug and her parents hope she will one day be eligible to take part in a clinical trial. Mercy has diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) which affects about 20 to 30 children in the UK every year 'Unbearable distress' Hugh Adams, spokesman for Brain Tumour Research, said more investment was needed into research to give families like Mercy's hope. "We have to do better for all brain tumour patients in the UK, " he said. "It is the stories of children like Mercy and the unbearable distress and pressure felt by her family that bring home to all of us how important it is that we invest in this area. "If the government steps up to the mark and joins with research funding charities like ours we will progress from the scientist's bench to the patient's bedside and there will be UK access to clinical trials for all of those diagnosed with this devastating disease. "If we don't have that investment, then families like Mercy's will search for hope elsewhere and that hope will need to be found, accessed and funded by families and friends. "That isn't the way it should be - we must fund research that brings hope. "Mercy, and others like her, provide the inspiration and motivation for the brain tumour community to make a difference." Mercy's parents have thanked people who have donated to the fund for giving her "the best fighting chance" Amanda Mifsud, trustee for child brain tumour research charity, Abbie's Army, said that almost a third of patients who took part in recent clinical studies of ONC201 lived longer than two years. She added, however, that the treatment was to "prolong life" rather than "being curative as a single therapy." Mrs Cuthbertson added: "To everyone who has donated, thank you, you are giving Mercy the best fighting chance." Follow BBC Newcastle on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Browards high school students may have to walk through a new layer of security this fall. The school district plans to install walk-through metal detectors at 10 yet-to-be-named high schools for the start of the 2024-25 school year, Superintendent Peter Licata said. But students neednt worry about a stressful TSA-like experience where students have to remove every piece of metal on them and face pat-downs, district officials say. These devices are designed to use artificial intelligence to distinguish between routine items, such as cellphones and keys, and forbidden items, such as guns and knives. Students dont have to take off their backpacks. Its a quick walk-through. We compare it to walking out of a library with a book thats not the checked out, Broward Superintendent Peter Licata told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The district is reviewing bids, and the School Board is expected to vote on a contract at a meeting in April, district administrator Judith Marte said. The idea of metal detectors has been debated in the district for years, especially after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, where a former student walked unfettered onto campus and killed 17 students and staff. The district has made a number of security changes since then, such as increasing the number of armed officers, limiting visitor access to the front office and requiring all students to wear ID badges. While the district has experimented with the use of metal-detection wands to randomly search bags, officials had previously been resistant to the idea of requiring all students to walk through metal detectors, saying it could be expensive and lead to long lines and a false sense of security. A proposed plan to install metal detectors at Stoneman Douglas was scrapped in 2018 after a former security consultant advised against it, saying its difficult to conduct reliable metal detection without patting people down, which could create liability issues. Its an idea thats still not embraced by a number of school security experts, who question their reliability and often described the use of school metal detectors as security theater. But Licata, who started in August, said hes optimistic the plan will work after seeing a successful pilot in Palm Beach County schools, where he spent most of his career. Palm Beach County installed metal detectors in four high schools last summer and added another four on Feb. 5. That district plans to install them in all high schools by the end of the school year. If you look at the data from some of the pilot programs, its clear, Licata said. None of those (Palm Beach County) schools that have those detectors have had an incident this year. Palm Beach County Schools Police Chief Sarah Mooney confirmed no weapons have been discovered so far at any of the schools that use the devices. The program in Palm Beach County has also not been overly intrusive, students say. They can keep their cellphones and keys with them without getting stopped. There are a few items students have to take out because they will set off the alarms including laptops, electronic tablets, large three-ring binders, umbrellas and certain metal water bottles. Those are given to a staff person at the school who quickly hands it back after the student passes through the metal detector. Boynton Beach High got metal detectors as part of the second wave of schools on Feb. 5. The devices are located at three locations: the front entrance, at the bus loop and at parent drop-off. On Thursday, students entry onto campus looked like a smooth assembly line, with each student getting through in about a second. Only about a half-dozen of about 200 students entering from the bus loop set the alarm off. An administrator searched those bags and found no problematic items. We all thought that it was going to be a big deal, that there would be long lines, but it goes by pretty quick, said Stephania Emmanuel, 17, a junior at Boynton Beach High. Kristy Michel, who is also a 17-year-old junior at the school, said shes changed her mind about metal detectors since theyve been installed. When I first heard about them, I said, thats too much. We dont need it. There hasnt been a shooting at our school,' Michel said. Then I realized it could happen to our school too, so I decided it might be a good thing. With about 1,500 students, Boynton Beach High is less than half the size of some of Browards largest high schools. Cypress Bay High in Weston has about 4,700 students, while Stoneman Douglas has 3,300. Aisha Hashmi, a senior at Stoneman Douglas, said shes skeptical metal detectors would work efficiently at Stoneman Douglas, with a large number of affluent students who bring tablets and laptops every day. Just the sheer volume. My school has over 3,000 students, she said. Thats an insane amount of people every single morning having to go through that. I dont think we have the staff. However, Palm Beach County successfully piloted metal detectors last year at John I. Leonard High, its largest high school with about 3,600 students. Although traditional metal detectors have been used in some schools for decades, districts started buying the new artificial intelligence-based systems in the last few years, said Nikita Ermolaev, a research engineer with IPVM, a Pennsylvania-based company that tests security technology. There have been some problems at other districts, Ermolaev said with school stabbings at schools in Utica, N.Y., and Columbus, Ohio, that had metal detectors. Despite questions about how effective they are, the devices continue to grow in popularity, security experts say. School boards and superintendents often turn to AI weapons-detection systems to solve political and public relations problems as much, if not more than, school safety problems, said Kenneth Trump, president of the Cleveland-based National School Safety and Security Services. School leaders are feeling pressure from parents and their school community to strengthen security so they are turning to shiny objects that they can point to and tell parents they have made schools safer, Trump said. At a Broward School Board meeting Jan. 30, before Licata had announced the metal detector plan, Broward School Board member Brenda Fam questioned why the district was making a technology purchase when she saw metal detectors as a greater need. My constituents have contacted me and want to know why there hasnt been [money] allocated or put to use for metal detectors, Fam told Licata. Theres a disconnect between the board and parents of this community because they want safety first. After Licata told her the district was indeed buying metal detectors, Fam thanked him and added, I think a lot of parents are going to sleep better tonight. Michael Cohen who long served as former President Trumps personal lawyer and fixer warned Sunday of the potential risk of sending Trump back to the White House with mounting legal fees and financial liabilities. We need to be very careful about him as a potential president because he is for sale, Cohen, now an outspoken critic of the former president, said in an interview on MSNBCs The Weekend on Sunday. He needs to figure out where he is going to raise $500-plus million over a short period of time, Cohen continued. Cohens warning comes as Trump, the leading 2024 GOP presidential candidate, was found liable Friday for nearly $355 million in penalties in a civil fraud case in New York that delivered a severe blow to his family business. New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) sued Trump and his business in 2022, alleging the former president falsely altered his net worth on key financial statements to receive tax and insurance benefits. James also alleged that Trump sometimes adjusted his assets value to obtain more favorable loans and deals, which the state points to as evidence of fraud. Last month, a federal jury in a different civil case ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million for defaming E. Jean Carroll, adding to the $5 million verdict in an earlier trial that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her in separate comments. When MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend suggested Trump is open to the highest bidder at this point because the tab keeps being run up, floating the Saudis, the Russians, as options, Cohen agreed. Thoroughly compromised, yes, Cohen said. Trump was also indicted in four criminal cases, two of which were brought by special counsel Jack Smith, with another each in Georgia and New York. The New York hush money case will be the first to go to trial, and jury selection is slated to start next month. Cohen has been a witness in that case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. North Carolina Republican Party Chair Michael Whatley has been thrust into the national spotlight after former President Trump backed him to serve as the next leader of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Whatley is a Trump ally who has echoed the former presidents rhetoric about election integrity in the wake of the 2020 election, which Trump has falsely claimed was fraudulent and stolen. If elected RNC chair, Whatley would face different challenges in overseeing the party. He would have to grapple with the organizations fundraising struggles, ensure various state party chairs are happy, make sure the partys ground and data operations are humming for the general election, and appease Trump, whose relationship with Chair Ronna McDaniel soured over the past year. I think wed be hard pressed to see the committee not ratify the person [Trump] wants, said Doug Heye, a former RNC spokesperson who has known Whatley for 20 years. There may be some work that has to be done on that It may not be a unanimous vote. But it seems pretty clear that hell be there. A lengthy GOP resume Whatley has spent decades in GOP politics, having served in the George W. Bush administration, as a top aide to former Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and on the Trump-Pence transition team. He has served as chair of the North Carolina GOP since 2019, and he has served as general counsel of the RNC since last year. Taken together, those two positions give him a familiarity with the inner workings of the committee and with many of the 168 members whose votes hell need to become chair. During Whatleys time as North Carolina GOP chair, Republicans flipped the state Supreme Court and solidified supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature. Republicans were unable to win back the governors mansion in 2020. Whatleys critics have pointed to his previous work in the Bush administration to paint him as the kind of Beltway insider Trump frequently rails against. And his win in last years North Carolina GOP elections prompted a legal challenge from his opponent, who alleged some ballots were improperly cast. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. A focus on election integrity Much of the focus around Whatley since his name first emerged as a possible successor to McDaniel has been on his efforts on election integrity, an issue the RNC zeroed in on as Trump pushed the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Michael has been with me from the beginning, has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina, and is committed to election integrity, which we must have to keep fraud out of our election so it cant be stolen, Trump said in a statement endorsing Whatley. In a 2021 appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference panel on protecting elections, Whatley spoke at length about his efforts to recruit hundreds of attorneys and volunteer poll watchers in North Carolina. He echoed some of Trumps rhetoric about mail-in voting, saying absentee balloting can be done effectively when paired with voter ID requirements and pushing back on mass mailing ballots to residents. Whatley noted roughly 75 percent of the state GOPs annual operating budget was dedicated to legal costs, something he suggested the party as a whole should mirror. This is going to have to be part of the Republican establishment going forward, he said. This is going to be lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit. Trump would likely exert pressure on the RNC to pursue legal challenges if Novembers election doesnt go his way, just as he did in 2020. And while Whatleys rhetoric around the legitimacy of elections will likely be closely watched, Heye argued it would be impractical to think Trump would back someone who does not share his views. Its Donald Trumps RNC. Do we expect hed back somebody whos disagreeing with him publicly? No, Heye said. The reality is the party chair is going to be a reflection of the nominee. Trump putting his stamp on RNC Whatleys election as chair would be one piece of a broader effort by Trump to shape the RNC to his liking ahead of the upcoming general election cycle. In addition to endorsing Whatley, Trump backed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, for RNC co-chair. He also announced Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, would move to the RNC in what would effectively be the role of chief operating officer. Trump is on track to be the partys nominee atop the ticket in November, and Republicans predicted he would receive deference to put his preferred people in charge, as many nominees do. I have never had an issue with any nominee putting their imprint on the committee, said Bill Palatucci, a New Jersey RNC member who has at times been critical of Trump. The important factor is senior staff, and Chris in my experience is a pro and understands the role of the RNC in the presidential cycle, he added. From there, it is the responsibility of the Executive Committee and the Budget Committee to ensure that the spending is appropriate. Its unclear when exactly the RNC would take a vote on appointing Whatley. McDaniel is expected to remain on as chair through the South Carolina primary Feb. 24, and the committee would have to call a meeting to vote on her replacement if they are to do it before a scheduled summer gathering. LaCivitas installation gives Trump a trusted aide to oversee operations at the RNC in the meantime. Whatleys most immediate challenge will likely be revamping the partys fundraising efforts, which lagged far behind the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in recent months. Federal Election Commission filings showed the DNC had nearly three times as much cash on hand at the end of 2023 compared to the RNC, with the Republican committee posting its worst fundraising year in a decade. Hell hit the ground running, and this sort of lead up time allows him to do that, but you still have the larger issue of Trump, Heye said Weve learned you serve at the pleasure of Trump. And Trump is a very enthusiastic backer until hes not. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Delegates during a Republican Party gathering, which turned contentious as Kristina Karamo sought to address her leadership status, in Novi, Mich., Feb. 15, 2043. (Emily Elconin/The New York Times) As early in-person voting began on Saturday in Michigan, a fight for control of the GOP in the crucial battleground state plunged Republicans there deeper into a political maelstrom, with rival factions potentially barreling toward hosting dueling nominating conventions. As if things werent already confusing. In a little over a week, the state will host a traditional primary on one day, and then a caucus-style convention a few days later. Now, it seems, there could actually be two conventions, in different parts of the state, each claiming legitimacy. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Former President Donald Trump is headed to Michigan on Saturday night, with a campaign rally in Waterford Township, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit. While he has made it clear which faction he is supporting, and so has the national party, that has done little to dissuade the Trump-styled election denier attempting to hold on to power. The feud, being waged in state court, appears to be only gaining intensity. Pete Hoekstra, whom the Republican National Committee recognized Wednesday as the state partys rightful chair after his election last month, said he was moving forward with plans to hold a statewide nominating convention on March 2 in western Michigan. But Kristina Karamo, defying the RNCs determination that she had properly been removed as party chair earlier in January and Trumps endorsement of Hoekstra, has also indicated that she will continue hosting a convention on the same day, for the same purpose, but in Detroit. At stake at the convention will be 39 of Michigans 55 Republican presidential delegates. The other 16 will be decided during the states Feb. 27 primary, which includes at least nine days of early voting. The hybrid process, new this year, was adopted by Republicans in order to comply with RNC rules after Michigans Democratic governor moved up the primary date. We are the Michigan GOP, Hoekstra said in an interview Friday. Kristina Karamo is not. Hoekstra, a former House member who was Trumps ambassador to the Netherlands, referred to Karamos gathering on March 2 as a meeting. Theyre not running a convention, he said. Karamo, who gained notoriety for her claims of fraud in the 2020 election, was elected party chair last year, after losing her 2022 bid for secretary of state. She did not respond to several requests for comment on Friday, but on social media and in a recent statement from the state partys email account, she has insisted that she is still in charge. The Grey Poupon Good Ole boys club hate that they cant control me, and that weve disrupted their corruption club, Karamo wrote on Friday on X, formerly Twitter. Our movement isnt going away. We are bringing a Righteous Renaissance to the Republican Party. Critics of Karamo said the Michigan party had been shrouded in secrecy under her leadership and was struggling with money. On Thursday night, Karamo sought to address her leadership status at a Republican gathering in Oakland County near Detroit. A video recorded by The Detroit News showed her being heckled as party leaders elected delegates for next months state convention. Some shouted that she was out of order and was no longer the partys chair. The clash was playing out in the western part of the state too, where rival Republican factions in Kalamazoo County held dueling party conventions at the same time Thursday. Inside a community center in Scotts, Michigan, a small town near Kalamazoo, a faction aligned with Karamo elected 44 delegates to send to the March 2 convention in Detroit. About 15 miles away at the 12th Street Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, the other faction elected 44 delegates to send to the convention that Hoekstra is organizing. Its crazy, Fred Krymis said in the churchs lobby. At the Karamo-aligned event, a projector displayed a logo for the countys Republican Party. A sign advised that outside observers were not allowed to record the proceedings because of intraparty lawsuits. A county sheriffs deputy was on guard, watching for violators. In a brief interview outside the event, Rod Halcomb, the groups chair, described Karamo as the legitimate leader of the Michigan Republicans and said he believed the RNCs recognition of Hoekstra was an incorrect decision. But at the other gathering, Kelly Sackett, that groups chair, said that it was time for the party to unite behind Hoekstra. Thats the only way were going to take our state back, she said of Republicans, who do not control any statewide offices. The division at the state level is being mirrored by the two Kalamazoo groups, which are embroiled in a series of lawsuits accusing each other of defamation and of hijacking the partys name and likeness. Matthew DePerno, whom Karamo defeated for party chair last year, is part of the Kalamazoo faction that has coalesced around Hoekstra. An unsuccessful candidate for state attorney general in 2022, he was charged last year in an election equipment breach in 2020, one intended to help Trump reverse his loss in Michigan. He mused Thursday night that the party turmoil could boil over at the Republican National Convention this summer. I believe there will be probably two sets of delegates sent, he said of Michigans representation. The RNC did not immediately respond to requests for comment about what would happen if rival slates of Michigan delegates showed up at the convention. Hoekstra said that he had no illusions about the party he is seeking to lead. I understand and I know that these divisions exist, he said. I am not going to let them dominate, you know, our activities and our process over the next eight months. Our job is to win elections. c.2024 The New York Times Company Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos archipelago and site of a major United States military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean - STR NEW/REUTERS/REUTERS Asylum seekers on a remote British military base island say they are being subjected to sexual assaults and harassment, according to UN investigators. Dozens of Sri Lanka Tamils who say they are fleeing persecution at home are on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean that is also a US military base. They told UN investigators they felt unsafe and forgotten. They also reported sexual assaults and harassment of children by other asylum seekers. The claims were documented in a draft report by the UN refugee agency, which was released to the BBC by the British Indian Ocean Territorys supreme court. Some asylum seekers have previously harmed themselves and attempted suicide. The draft report says that conditions there amounted to arbitrary detention, and calls for the asylum seekers to be urgently relocated, according to the BBC. The Tamils arrived on Diego Garcia in 2021 and 2022, when their boats ran into trouble and they were rescued by British forces. They reportedly said they were fleeing persecution by Sri Lankan and Indian authorities, some for alleged links to a separatist group that fought against the Sri Lankan government in a civil war that ended in 2009. Some have since returned home, leaving 61 Tamils on Diego Garcia waiting for their asylum claims to be processed. The British Indian Ocean Territory or Chagos Islands is an overseas territory of the UK in the Indian Ocean. The largest island is Diego Garcia, the site of a joint military facility of the UK and the US - PICTURES FROM HISTORY/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP EDITORIAL VIA GETTY The visit by the inspectors from UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, was the first time an external party had gained access to the island to monitor conditions since the arrival of the Tamils, according to the BBC report. UNHCR considers that the 61 Tamils on Diego Garcia reside in a closed place with no possibility to leave at will, which amounts to detention under international law, according to the BBC. Adults and children are held in a fenced area and are barred from leaving unless with a security escort, the report says. Inspectors saw signs of clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Living here is like living in hell, the report quotes a mother as saying. Children go to bed late and in [the] night do not sleep because they do not feel at peace. And that is because the children feel that we as parents are not at peace. The Foreign Office responded to the draft UNHCR report by saying: [British Indian Ocean Territory, or BIOT] is not a suitable location for migrants, which is why we have been working tirelessly to process the migrants claims for protection and to find a suitable third country for those whose claims are upheld. At all times, the welfare and safety of migrants on BIOT has been our top priority. There was no immediate response from UNHCR to a request for comment on Sunday evening. Diego Garcia is home to thousands of troops, but no civilian population since islanders were removed in the 1970s to make way for the military base. 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. Russian troops tried to storm Ukrainian positions on the west bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast 14 times on Feb. 18, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces reported. The attacks came a day after the announced tactical withdrawal from Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. Avdiivka is Russias first major capture in nine months. The General Staff statement noted that Ukrainian troops repelled three attacks in the Avdiivka direction near Lastochkyne and Pervomaiske. The statement also noted that Ukrainian troops repelled seven attacks in the Robotyne region of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Earlier on Feb. 18, Ukraine announced that it had successfully countered a Russian offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast the day before, killing 70 troops and injuring 80, as well as destroying 18 pieces of Russian equipment. The oblast remains partially occupied by Russian forces, which have resumed an offensive in the western area. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) recently reported that if the West continued to delay aid, Russia could repeat the tactics it used to capture Avdiivka in other areas. U.S. President Joe Biden said in a White House statement released on Feb. 17 that Congressional inaction on approving Ukraine aid is responsible for Ukrainian forces' withdrawal from Avdiivka. Avdiivka, a town with a pre-war population of 35,000, is located just north of occupied Donetsk. It has been on the front-line of Russia's war since 2014. Read also: Ukrainian military reports defeating Russian offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Alfie Oakes knows how to grow. The Naples farmer-turned-grocer-turned-restaurateurs flagship Seed to Table is a $30 million produce-centric destination he calls a "culinary universe." Behind it is the muscle of Oakes Farms, one of the biggest agribusinesses in south Florida, started when its namesake was a 15-year-old selling watermelons from the back of a pickup. He's grown it into a 3,500-employee empire that ranges from supplying military cafeterias to selling linen sundresses. Oakes, 55, also has grown a reputation as one of the region's most powerful political influencers. In this deep red region, Seed to Table has become the clubhouse for a rising group of Make America Great Again Republicans. United under a pro-Trump, anti-vax, America First banner, all seven of Alfies Freedom Picks handily won their seats in Collier County's 2022 elections. He footed the bill for two busloads of Trump supporters headed to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021 to what Oakes called "the most peaceful beautiful demonstration from well over one million people that I've ever witnessed." In Collier, hes found fertile ground for his anti-establishment views: Oakes recently lent his cred to the successful push to get Collier County to stop fluoridating its water. Tight black T-shirt setting off his megawatt grin Forty years I havent had a cavity he told commissioners mass administration of the mineral, which the CDC says protects teeth from decay, is part of a globalist movement to medicate the population into submission. If you dont think this is intentional to dumb us down, to keep control of the people in this country, then I dont think youre paying attention We don't trust the white coats anymore. 'Local boy done good' Oakes Farms Seed to Table Market owner Alfie Oakes, left, speaks to his supporters during a counter protest at his store on Saturday, June 13, 2020. A protest was sparked by an incendiary Facebook post by Oakes about COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement, and was met by a counter protest organized by Oakes. Though some of Oakes' sentiments may make old-guard establishment Republicans wince, their respect for his passion is plain. The big picture for Alfie is local boy done good, said fellow Republican and former Florida Rep. Matt Caldwell. When all is said and done, he has been incredibly successful because hes willing to work hard and do what it takes. It's not as common these days as it used to be. Though Oakes hasn't yet run for a government position, he holds elected office: Collier's Republican State Committeeman. If his political aspirations extend beyond that, he hasn't told the Naples Daily News, which tried multiple times and ways to reach him for this story. That didn't surprise Caldwell, now Lee County's property appraiser. Fairly or unfairly, traditional media is highly distrusted by a wide swath of political figures these days, Caldwell said. Some Alfie-watchers are expecting more from him. "I think hes going to become active on a bigger stage, said Michael Thompson, former state director for the America Project's Florida for America First and now chair of Lee County's Republican Executive Committee. Alfies got a lot of support, a lot of followers, a great understanding of what our country needs, so I fully expect him to do something in the next few years. What? Thats the million-dollar question. Others wonder at what appears to a retreat from the public eye: "Alfie seems to have kind have gone underground or off the radar screen in the past year or so, says Peter Bergerson, Florida Gulf Coast University political science professor emeritus. Freezes, failures and a father's organic dream Francis Alfred Oakes III was born in Delaware City, Del., on June 16, 1968, according to his Facebook profile. When he was 5, his family pulled up stakes and moved to Florida, settling into an east Fort Myers duplex after his father Frank Jr.s produce business had failed. He grew up working at his fathers small store in east Fort Myers before starting his own enterprises as a teenager. Weekends, while North Fort Myers High School friends were hunting or fishing, Oakes was commuting to Immokalee to buy produce, then sell it at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge or the corner of Pine Island and Pondella roads in North Fort Myers. When he was 18, he opened Hancock Farm Market on Hancock Bridge Parkway. He hired a cashier named Deanne, then he married her. They had three children: Dain, Kyle and Hannah. In 1989, Oakes leased 40 acres to grow zucchini. That Christmas Eve there was a killing freeze, one of the worst of the last century. It wiped him out. After a friend told him tomatoes were cheap in Honduras, he gathered his $20,000 life savings, borrowed $25,000 more and flew down with his friend to check it out. Five years later, Oakes had a dream that he should plant cucumbers. "I never had had a dream like that, but I decided to do it," he later told the Naples Daily News. He leased 40 acres in Punta Gorda, planted the cukes and wound up getting some of the highest prices anyone had seen in years. It was 1994. With the profits, father and son created the Oakes Farms store at 2205 Davis Blvd. in Naples. Frank was committed to organics, but the pricey-to-grow veggies were a money loser, and his father gave up, leaving Oakes to cover $300,000 in bad checks and keep the store running, he later told the paper. "Until 2005, I was working seven days a week," Oakes said at the time. "Sometimes trucks which were delivering produce had to wait for hours until we had enough in our cash registers to pay them." But father and son continued to make plans. On Feb. 2, 2013, they sat down to a dinner of mashed potatoes and gravy and worked out details for an expansion. The next day, Frank Oakes had a heart attack and died. He was 66. "What hit me is that about 2,000 people came to his funeral," Oakes later told the Daily News. "Several people told me that they felt closer to him than they did to their own parents. That was life-changing for me." Caldwell doffs his hat to Oakes' success. Cut-throat doesnt begin to describe vegetable sales, he said. "He dove in head-first and earned it the old-fashioned way he was buying at the seconds market in Immokalee and selling it from the back of his truck. Like an old-fashioned American story, he just kept working harder and harder, building it up and looking for opportunities." In 2016, Oakes said, My wife asks me, Where does it stop? I dont know. Things keep popping into place. Its not planned; its wherever it guides you. One thing he was sure about: His father would be really happy with what were doing here. I dont know if its my dad looking down at me, but we keep doing amazing things. Viruses and vegetables Oakes and COVID-19 have had an uneasy relationship, by turns productive and destructive. The same week China announced the outbreak of the virus in the city of Wuhan, Seed to Table opened, points out David Silverberg, Naples political pundit, and former managing editor of The Hill. In short order, Oakes drew both praise and fire after he told columnist Phil Fernandez the disease was bogus, then took Collier County to court for its mask mandate. (That Oakes business depends on farmworkers, among those hardest-hit by the disease, was a point emphasized by the protestors who soon turned up to picket.) He was not a public figure prior to COVID," Caldwell notes. "I think like a lot of people, he was affected financially by the COVID policies; he felt strongly on a political level and felt compelled to speak out and thats only grown in terms of his engagement in political issues. In June of 2020, Oakes posted on Facebook that COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement were hoaxes. He called George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis the previous month, a "disgraceful career criminal." Some rallied to Oakes' defense, but Lee and Collier school districts, who'd bought his produce, faced fierce backlash. Petitions circulated. Protestors gathered. Lee County cut ties with Oakes Farms. Oakes lawyered up, claiming that severing the three-year, $6 million deal was breach of contract, plus an infringement of his First Amendment right to free speech. Two months later, Oakes ran for and won Collier County's Republican state committeeman office, defeating Naples attorney Doug Rankin, whod served since 2008.In April of 2021, part time resident, rocker, gun-lover and COVID skeptic Ted Nugent visited Seed to Table. The Motor City Madman played a little, talked some politics and a week later, tested positive for COVID. "I thought I was dying," he told a Facebook live audience. In March of 2022 Oakes was arrested at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. He was trying to cash in his chips, but he refused to provide identification, a Seminole Police Department spokesperson said. "(Oakes) allegedly attempted to approach security staff in an aggressive manner," Seminole Police spokesperson Gary Bitner told the Naples Daily News. "While being handcuffed, he allegedly tensed and pulled away from officers." Oakes was booked into Broward County Jail, then was released on a $25 bond. Tell me you're a kingmaker without telling me you're a kingmaker School board district 3 candidate Kelly Lichter reacts after seeing the results of her race. She defeated Jen Mitchell. Republican candidates in Collier County were in attendance At Seed to Table in Naples Tuesday November 8, 2022 for an election results watch party. Several speakers addressed the crowd including Alfie Oakes and Gen. Michael Flynn. Later that year, Oakes was in high campaign gear, hosting fundraisers and events for his hand-picked Collier candidates for offices ranging from the school board to county commission to get them before voters. His investments paid off. Every Collier candidate hed backed won. Clean sweep for Oakes in 22 primaries, his website announced. Kelly Lichter, Jerry Rutherford, Timothy Moshier reaped the benefits of the endorsement of Alfie Oakes and his loyal supporters who backed America First candidates, the post underneath the headline began. "Kingmaker" is the first word Kari Lerner, Lee County Democratic party chair-turned Congressional district 19 candidate settles on when asked about Oakes. And of course, he did fund two buses to what became an insurrection attempt. As far as Alfie Oakes personally, I have not met him (but) I would be interested in sitting down with him and having a conversation, she said. We need to stop the divisiveness Division is weak and unity is strength. Calling our fellow Americans vermin and enemies that is not the America that has been great, she said. Caldwell takes the kingmaker label with a grain of salt. Having been either lauded or accused of being a kingmaker myself at times, its like most things, he said. When you step out and put yourself in a position of leadership, you get credit and blame mostly for things you have nothing to do with. What happens when one of Oakes' annointed goes against him? It can get nasty, Silverberg says. It earned Collier school board chair, Kelly Lichter, one of "Alfie's picks" the "traitor" label after she backed a superintendent Oakes opposed. She'd just voted for who she thought was the most qualified person, Silverberg said. "And Alfie sued the school board." Oakes claimed the school board violated the Sunshine Law by letting a search firm select 10 candidates from 45 applicants privately, without public notice, public comment or minutes."All I want is a fair process," Oakes told the Daily News at the time. The board argued the search firm only had power to fact-find and advise Collier Circuit Judge Joseph Foster denied Oakes' motion and the board approved Leslie Ricciardelli's contract, which left Oakes fuming, Silverberg said. The episode reminds him of the 45th president, who also hurls vitriol at those who disagree with him. "He's our mini-Trump," he said, a point he made in a 2022 Mother Jones piece, "The MAGA Grocery King of Southwest Florida." That's just fine with area Republicans, like John Meo, chair of Collier's Republican executive committee: "He and Trump are motivated, driven to accomplish goals and by love of country." Bergerson sees the resemblance too. Like Trump, he says Oakes "represents a different vein within the Republican party." Though the region has long been a GOP stronghold, "it's tended to be much more staid. (Oakes) has really turned it into a very vocal and in some ways vitriolic strain ... I think he sees the government and the deep state as the problem, so its us versus them. 'Good Republicans and not-so good Republicans' The polarization has seeped into Collier County from outside, believes longtime County Commissioner Burt Saunders. "I think a lot of that can be attributed to national politics where there are perceived to be good Republicans and not-so good Republicans," he said. "You see that in Washington all the time, but its my hope we dont see that in Collier County." "I think in the long run, people are a little bit tired of Republicans denigrating other Republicans just because they happen to disagree on a particular issue," he said. Saunders is quick to say he doesn't know Oakes at all. "Hes brought political issues before the board hes been very passionate about, but in terms of him personally, I dont know anything about him." He does know running afoul of Oakes can have consequences. "I have not, on occasion, voted the way hed have liked me to have voted and hes even indicated at a board meeting that if I didnt vote the way he wanted me to on a particular issue, then I would not be able to count on any support," he said. "Of course, that did not change my vote." The difference between Oakes' passionate crusading and his own pragmatism is philosophical, Saunders says. "For me, the Collier County commission has a certain jurisdiction, a certain power, a certain authority, and I like to stick to what our mission is, Saunders said. That mission basically is zoning, water service, sewer service, garbage collection, roads, police protection, emergency medical services theres a list of things that are really in our jurisdiction and I dont like getting outside of that. So, there are going to be issues that perhaps Alfie and some other folks are going to promote that I just dont think should be in front of the county commission. So thats where we have our disagreement, but theres nothing personal." He also knows Oakes may be gunning for him come next election. "I anticipate that and respect his ability and right to engage that way," he said. When you go into the voting booth, you vote for the Republican you think is best suited for the position youre voting for, but that doesnt make the other guy necessarily a bad Republican you just happen to have different views." This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Alfie Oakes: How a farmer became powerful GOP influencer in SW Florida Ukraine has conducted initial tests of combat drones resembling the Russian Lancet drones, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported on Feb. 18. The drones will soon be tested in combat, he said. Ukraine has intensified its efforts to ramp up domestic production of combat drones, a critical tool on the battlefield, aiming to manufacture one million drones this year. Russia's Lancet kamikaze drones have a range of 40 kilometers. They are produced by ZALA Aero Group, a subsidiary of Russian arms giant Kalashnikov. Since Russia started using the Lancet in large numbers on the battlefield in late 2022, it has proved to be one of Russia's most effective weapons against high-value targets located dozens of kilometers behind the front line. Fedorov said that the Ukrainian equivalents of the Lancet drones produced by four contractors underwent testing, with two drones successfully completing the tests. Within a few months, it will be feasible to establish production capacity for approximately 100 of these drones per month, the minister said. This is a technological product, so we couldn't launch it immediately, we had to launch the market and now we have the result, Fedorov told the Diia YouTube channel. There will be two or three products on the market that compete with each other, and in a year there will be a dozen such companies. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Feb. 6 to create a separate branch of Ukraine's Armed Forces dedicated to drones. The Unmanned Systems Forces will focus on improving Ukraine's work with drones, creating special drone-specific units, ramping up training, increasing production, and pushing innovation. Read also: Deadly drone arms race intensifies as Ukraine, Russia embrace the future of war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Two Minnesota police officers and a paramedic were killed Sunday morning while responding to a domestic incident at a home, according to local reports. The fatal shooting happened at a home in Burnsville, where law enforcement and emergency vehicles were seen staged near the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue South, FOX9 Minneapolis reported. Several children were reportedly inside the home. Police officials did not immediately release any details about the reported shooting. Local media reported that three Burnsville officers were shot, at least two fatally, and a paramedic was also shot and killed. Images from the scene show a SWAT vehicle with what appeared to be at least six bullet holes in its windshield. PENNSYLVANIA POLICE OFFICER SHOT ATTEMPTING TRAFFIC STOP, SUSPECT FATALLY SHOT FROM RETURNED FIRE The incident happened near the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue South in Burnsville, Minnesota, on Sunday morning. Gov. Tim Walz wrote on Facebook that the officers were responding to protect a family that was in danger when the shooting happened. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Horrific news from Burnsville," the Democrat wrote. "While responding to a call of a family in danger, two police officers and one firefighter lost their lives, and other officers were injured." At least two Burnsville police officers and one paramedic were shot and killed, according to local reports. A SWAT vehicle appeared to have at least six bullet holes in its windshield. Walz added, "We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day." Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara asked the public in a post on social media to "keep Burnsville Police Dept in your prayers this morning." Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., wrote on X that she is praying for the families of the officers. "Learned from police this morning that three officers have been shot in Burnsville," she wrote. "They were doing their jobs. They were protecting our community." The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association wrote on X that it is "heartbroken" and "devastated at the horrific loss." "These heroes leave behind loved ones and a community who will forever remember their bravery and dedication to keeping Minnesotans safe," it said. Officials were expected to release more details at a press conference later Sunday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported. City officials did not immediately provide any information about the incident. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Burnsville is located about 15 miles south of downtown Minneapolis. This is a developing story; check back for updates. Original article source:Minnesota police officers, paramedic killed while responding to domestic incident: reports Quinyeta Walker, 37, was last seen Feb. 9. CHICAGO - Update (Feb. 24): Quinyeta Walker, 37, has been found, according to Chicago police. Further details on the case are limited. Original: Chicago police are asking for the public's help in locating a 37-year-old man who was reported missing nearly a week ago on the West Side. Quinyeta Walker was last seen at 10 a.m., Feb. 9 in the area of 1200 S. Central Park Avenue. Police say his last address was in Forest Park, but Walker is currently unhoused. He's described as being 6-foot-1 with black hair, brown eyes and has several tattoos on his lower right arm. Walker also has a history of substance abuse, according to CPD. Anyone with more information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Chicago Police Area 4 SVU Detectives at 312-746-8251. Do you or someone you know prefer pink over the traditional blaze orange thats used for safety while deer hunting? Well, this may be your year. A bill in the Mississippi Legislature to allow pink as an alternative to blaze orange has passed in the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate. I had a constituent that came to me with that proposal, so I didnt come up with it, said Rep. Randy Rushing, R-Decatur. I listen to my constituents. I consider that a part of my job to listen to my constituents. I did some research and found about 13 other states have also passed that legislation. Making hunting more inviting to women House Bill 526 calls for allowing deer hunters to wear 500 square inches of unbroken fluorescent pink and its geared toward female hunters that may prefer it and making hunting more inviting to women. I think its an option for them and may be an incentive to welcome them and encourage them to get into sports, Rushing said. Rushing said there arent any downsides to the bill. He said pink is no more visible to game animals than the traditional orange. From a safety standpoint, he said pink is considered a safety color just like orange and chartreuse green that are used for other applications. Rushing said reactions have varied, but none have been against it. Some thought it was a good idea and others didnt see the need, Rushing said. Its been mixed, but there hasnt been any pushback on it. Mississippi hunter says pink is positive For hunter Stephanie McGarrh of Merigold, allowing pink is a positive change even if she doesnt choose to wear it.. McGarrh is an avid bowhunter and has a buck to her credit that made it into the Pope & Young Club. She was recognized by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks with its Outstanding Sportsman Award in 2020. She also made headlines in 2020 when she video-taped a scary encounter with a black bear that was in a tree with her while she was hunting deer. McGarrh said shes traditional when it comes to hunting, but supports the measure. Im not going to wear it, but if it gets more women hunting, I think its great, McGarrh said. I never had a choice, so Ill stick with orange because Im old school. If they want to wear pink, thats fantastic. Its definitely not going to have a negative effect. I only see positive coming from it. Hunter thrilled by possible change Katy Rizzo of Cleveland, an avid hunter and Mississippi State University student, said shes looking forward to the possible change and said she feels others will welcome it, too. Ive never understood why we only had one fluorescent color and not others, Rizzo said. Im really thrilled were taking a step in the right direction. Theres truly no reason not to do it if the reason is to warn others that you are nearby. Im just glad the Mississippi Legislature took notice and are doing something about it. When asked if she would wear pink instead of blaze orange Rizzo responded, Absolutely, and pink isnt even my favorite color. The bill passed with 110 votes in favor and four against it with four abstaining or absent and four responding present. It has been transferred to the Senate where it will need a majority vote before getting final approval from the Governor. If passed, the bill will take effect July 1, 2024. The raw sewage discharge lasted for seven months, between June 1, 2019, and Jan. 4, 2020. (Google Streetview - image credit) The Town of Trenton, N.S., has been fined $100,000 and must abide by certain conditions after raw sewage was discharged into a brook. A news release issued Friday by Environment and Climate Change Canada says the town pleaded guilty at Pictou provincial court to one count of violating the Fisheries Act. An Environment and Climate Change Canada investigation found that raw sewage was discharged into Lowden Brook for roughly seven months, beginning in June 2019 and ending in early January 2020. The brook is a tributary to the East River, which supports populations of speckled trout, brown trout and Atlantic salmon, according to the release. An inspection by enforcement officers on Nov. 13, 2019, located an outfall releasing what they believed to be raw sewage. This outfall was connected to the town's municipal infrastructure, says the news release. Lab results found high levels of E. coli at the outfall and culvert. The effluent was also toxic to fish, the release states. "It was a mistake and we learned from it," Mayor Donald Hussher said in an interview. "And that's the biggest thing about mistakes, that you learn from it and you move forward." He said the incident stemmed from a leak, rather than someone intentionally dumping raw sewage. Sentencing conditions Because of the conviction, the town will be added to the federal environmental offenders registry. Other sentencing conditions include: Training on the Fisheries Act and its requirements. Training on effluent sampling protocol for town employees and contractors. Publishing information about the incident and sentencing on the town's website. Hussher said the town is preparing information to distribute about the incident through a newsletter and will be posting information to its website soon. 'It's a lot of money to absorb,' says mayor According to financial statements posted on the town's website, its annual expenditures are about $5 million, meaning the fine will work out to about two per cent of their spending. "It's a lot of money to absorb," said Hussher. He said the town is working to ensure the fine doesn't affect citizens in a negative way and said they have three years to pay it. MORE TOP STORIES Flory Industries has added a robot-aided model to the nut harvesters it makes in Salida. The company teamed with Bonsai Robotics on what appears to be the first such machine in California. The technology uses cameras and artificial intelligence to guide the rig down the orchard rows. It will save labor and reduce dust, President Todd Wille said in a Feb. 13 phone interview. The machine is a sweeper, the second of the three harvest steps. The first shakes the nuts off the trees. The second spreads the crop to dry for a few days. The third loads it onto trucks bound for processing plants. Bonsai is based in San Jose and has a test farm in Davis. The partners unveiled the sweeper at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, which ran Feb. 13 to 15. The price was not announced. At Bonsai, we are thrilled to partner with Flory, a company that shares our vision for the future of agriculture, CEO Tyler Niday said in a news release. Flory workforce has boomed Flory is one of the leading manufacturers of equipment for almonds, walnut and pistachios. Most buyers are in California. The company exports machines to numerous nations around the world. Flory reached about 570 employees with its acquisition last year of Custom Orchard Equipment, based in Sutter County. The deal allowed the Salida company to expand into fruit picking. Valley residents contended for decades with dust from nut harvesting. It has been reduced though efforts by Flory and other industry leaders, including Exact Corp. and Jackrabbit Equipment in Stanislaus County. The latter two do not show robot-aided devices on their websites. State stops short of driverless rigs Florys new sweeper has a driverless option, but it is not yet allowed by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. Monarch Tractor of Livermore has petitioned to lift the ban. The agency slowed the approval process at the behest of groups concerned about farmworker injuries if tractors go out of control. Wille said that even without the autonomous feature, the robot-aided sweeper will save time during the hectic harvests and enhance the crop quality. Partnering with Bonsai Robotics aligns perfectly with Florys commitment to innovation in agriculture, he said in the release. Chinese FM calls for sound, steady, sustainable development of China-U.S. ties Xinhua) 09:12, February 18, 2024 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called for a sound, steady and sustainable development of China-U.S. ties. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting here with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference. During the meeting, the two sides had candid, substantive and constructive discussions. Wang said President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a successful meeting at the end of last year, where they exchanged in-depth views on strategic, overall, and directional issues in the China-U.S. relations and reached important consensus. Wang said the most important task for both sides currently is to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state to make the "San Francisco vision" a reality, so as to promote a sound, steady and sustainable development of bilateral relations. To this end, the two sides should adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation and actively explore the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other, Wang noted. The U.S. side should view China's development objectively and rationally, and adopt a positive and pragmatic policy towards China, and implement President Biden's commitments into concrete actions, Wang added. The top Chinese diplomat also stressed that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China's territory, which is the true status quo of the Taiwan question. He added that what is trying to change the status quo is the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the connivance and support of external forces. If the United States genuinely hopes for stability across the Taiwan Strait, it should abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and carry out its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence", he said. Wang said that the pursuit of turning "de-risking" into "de-sinicization," building "small yard, high fence" and "decoupling from China" will eventually backfire on the United States itself. He called on Washington to lift illegal unilateral sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals and not undermine China's legitimate rights to develop. The two sides also exchanged views on people-to-people exchanges and on facilitating personnel exchanges. Wang urged the U.S. side to stop unwarranted harassment and interrogation of Chinese citizens and to promote activities that enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples. "An act of kindness, no matter how trivial, is worth performing, while an act of evil, no matter how small, must be shunned," Wang noted. The two sides discussed exchanges at all levels between the two countries in the next stage, and agreed to maintain dialogue and communication in various fields and continue to carry out the "San Francisco vision." Speaking highly of the work of the China-U.S. counter-narcotics cooperation working group, the two diplomats expressed the hope that the coming high-level meeting between the law enforcement departments of the two countries will achieve positive results. In addition, they agreed to continue to promote dialogue and consultation on foreign policy, Asia-Pacific affairs, maritime affairs and artificial intelligence, and maintain communication between the two militaries. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukrainian crisis, the Palestine-Israel conflict, the Korean Peninsula and other regional hotspot issues, and agreed to maintain contact between the two sides' special envoys for Peninsula affairs. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Feb 17, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; A cyclist rides through the snow at Franklin Park. Several inches fell overnight blanketing the Greater Columbus Area. After the Columbus area was blanketed with several inches of snow Friday, the region may avoid more winter weather for now at least. Temperatures will remain cool in the Columbus area on Sunday, with a predicted high of 37 degrees. But, a cooler start to the week will give way to warmer weather, forecasts from the National Weather Service show. Although parts of central Ohio received 4.5 inches or more of snow to end the week, they won't likely get any in the next several days. Read More: Can the psychedelic in magic mushrooms treat depression? Ohio State professor weighs in Temperatures are expected to steadily climb for most of the week, reaching 41 degrees Monday and 47 degrees on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Then on Wednesday, central Ohioans will be treated to a return of spring-like weather, as temperatures are forecast to reach 54 degrees. The temperature will hit a high of 53 degrees on Thursday, though rain could dampen any outdoor plans with the chance of precipitation reaching 50% in Columbus on Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service. High temperatures are forecast to dip back down into 40s to end the week in central Ohio. Despite the warm February weather, Columbus will still be several degrees away from reaching its record warmest day of 73 degrees set on Feb. 23, 2023, according to the National Weather Service. mfilby@dispatch.com @MaxFilby This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Will Columbus get more snow? What NWS forecast says to expect When Benny Ivey, co-founder of Strong Arms of Mississippi, went to prison for the first time in the 1998, losing his right to vote wasnt among his chief concerns. Fourteen years since his final day in prison, Ivey turned his life away from crime and has been running a program to steer minors in the Jackson metro area from his past life. Yet, he still cannot vote in local, county, statewide or national elections because of the crimes he committed years ago. Now, more than 26 years after his first stint of incarceration, he cares very much. My last conviction was almost 20 years ago, said Ivey, who acknowledges he was convicted on burglary and drug-related charges. I help run a youth program. We get referrals from courts; they trust me with children, and they trust me to mentor these kids and get them on the right path. I'm a licensed plumber with a business. I own my own home, all these things, but my voice doesn't matter when it comes to who I want to vote for, and it is frustrating. He isnt the only one frustrated. Over the last three years, according to the Mississippi Legislature website, more than 42 suffrage bills have been filed in both the Mississippi House and Senate, but all died in committee before a proper debate on the subject could be had. There were also 47 individual requests for suffrage from people seeking their voting rights back, but only seven were approved, and they were not signed by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. According to several sources that spoke with the Clarion Ledger, new Republican leadership in several committees is now open to the idea of expanding suffrage back to previously convicted felons, and some, such as new Republican House Speaker Jason White, are also positive about the legislation, House Constitution Committee Chair Price Wallace, R, said. I actually did talk with some folks before session ever started one day over lunch, and once I got up here and then became chairman of the Constitution Committee and started seeing these bills come out, I sat down with Speaker White about it and he's like, Yeah, let's look at that. See other bills in the House Abortion off table as MS House passes ballot initiative reform. See what else is restricted Benny Ivey, 47, gives Trevor Taylor, 15, advice for the water shut-off valve for a toilet at a client's house in Terry, Miss., on Tuesday, Feb. 13. "While I have them on job sites the whole time we're pouring love into them, we're talking to them, we're doing the same things that we would do at our youth group session, which is mentoring," Ivey said. Ivey is now seeking to have his suffrage restored, and he is optimistic about several laws Mississippi House members are working on to do just that. Wallace told the Clarion Ledger that of the nine bills filed in the House, he is working with Lowndes County Rep. Kabir Karriem, D, on a bill that would remove disenfranchisement for only some nonviolent offenders once sentences are complete, as well as provide the chance for some crimes to be removed from a persons record after five years. He plans to introduce that bill to his committee next week. I know some folks that don't have their rights and wish they could have, and this bill is just the way that we hope to get to do this, Wallace said. Judiciary B Committee Chair Kevin Horan, R, also said he is open to returning suffrage to nonviolent offenders, but would also look at some low level violent crimes as well, with the exception of people convicted of embezzling public money. Eight of the nine filed bills on suffrage were also sent to Horans committee, including Karriems, meaning both groups of House members will need to agree on the legislation before it hits the House floor. You are disengaging someone from being involved in what's going on in their community, engaged in issues, so, if you are going to tax somebody, those individuals that I would say are qualified, nonviolent offenders ought to have some say so, Horan said. When contacted for comment Feb. 8, Speaker White told the Clarion Ledger to speak with Wallace, but he did not respond to several requests for further comments after Wallace said White supported the proposed legislation, which has yet to have been filed as of Friday morning. What is disenfranchisement? In 1890, Mississippi lawmakers rewrote the state constitution, and it included new laws such as disenfranchisement. At the time, then future Gov. James K. Vardaman said those laws were to reassert white supremacy in the state. Some of those laws included stripping suffrage from criminals for several felonies. Legislators at the time wrote in 10 crimes they believed Black people were more likely to commit, but have since added 12 more offenses, thanks to a Mississippi Attorney Generals opinion in 2009. As of 2022, The Sentencing Project, a national research and advocacy organization, reported that about 9% of the states eligible voting population is currently disenfranchised, or about 235,000, which includes disenfranchisement from both in state and federal elections. It also found a large portion of those people are Black. For those seeking to regain suffrage, there are currently only two options. People can petition a legislator to file a bill on their behalf to restore suffrage, which must pass both chambers by a two thirds majority, or they can ask the governor for an official pardon. The last gubernatorial pardon came in 2011 by former Republican Gov. Haley Barbour. Ivey was hoping to be a rare individual to receive a pardon. Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, introduced a bill in 2021 to have Ivey's voting rights reinstated. In that process, the Legislative Services Office had to verity all of Ivey's background. That bill died in committee. Wallace said the bill he is working on with Karriem aims to eliminate much of the individual petitions, while also giving any previous felon with certain nonviolent offenses the chance to regain voting rights. This isnt a white or Black issue, Wallace said. This is about giving suffrage back to those who have served their time. Karriem told the Clarion Ledger in an interview Wednesday that this represents the first big push he has seen in recent years to restore suffrage to a large number of people, and he is happy to tackle several issues for people wanting to restore their rights, as well as clear their criminal record. It's a pretty mammoth bill because you're combining two phases in it, Karriem said. That's the expungement part and voting rights part that have a lot of intricate details so far that that we've been putting inside the bill. It won't cover all nonviolent offenses, but for the most part it will. Other bills for suffrage and efforts to remove disenfranchisement Democratic Senators David Blount and Bradford Blackmon also filed bills earlier this month that would eliminate disenfranchisement statewide, nonviolent or not. When they're discharged from the Department of Corrections, we asked that person to go out and and become a productive citizen and get a job and pay taxes, and that person should have the right to vote when they've completed the terms of their sentence, Blount said. Senate Elections Committee Chair Jeremy England, where both those bill have been sent, told the Clarion Ledger he is open to at least considering those bills. But lawmakers in the Mississippi State Capitol arent the only ones fighting to give suffrage. Over the last several years, two civil rights organizations have filed federal lawsuits over the states constitutional provision on disenfranchisement. One group of disenfranchised people argued the list of disenfranchising crimes violated the U.S. Constitutions equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment, but federal courts rejected that argument. Another group argued the lifetime voting ban violates the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. A panel of judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit initially agreed with the plaintiffs, but the full circuit is reconsidering the panels ruling. That case is still pending, and it could still possibly be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. See more about this case Mississippi voting rights case is argued at US appeals court Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS lawmakers hope to restore felon voting rights MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities took three young Nashvillians into custody including a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old, both of whom are on probation after a stolen vehicle was spotted in Mt. Juliet Saturday afternoon. Just before 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, the Mt. Juliet Police Department announced on social media that its Guardian Shield program alerted officers about a 2018 Hyundai Tucson that had been stolen from Hendersonville on Thursday, Feb. 15. 4 people extricated, brought to hospital after serious crash in Mt. Juliet Police said they intercepted the car, which was parked at Cracker Barrel, and quickly apprehended three suspects described as an 18-year-old, a 14-year-old, and a 12-year-old boy from Nashville as they tried to enter the stolen vehicle. According to officials, the 12-year-old is currently on juvenile probation for armed robbery while the 14-year-old is on juvenile probation for car theft. Both of those prior incidents reportedly took place in Nashville. Handguns, drugs allegedly uncovered during traffic stop in Mt. Juliet This news comes less than two hours after the department posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Police activity at Cracker Barrel is related to the apprehension of suspects and a stolen vehicle from Nashville. They also walked out without paying. No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding the arrests or the potential charges against the suspects. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. - Nine luxury cars were stolen from a Waukesha car dealership Sunday morning, Feb. 18, prompting a multi-county police chase. The chase shut down southbound lanes on I-94 for more than two hours and a teenager was arrested. Waukesha police believe an organized crime group of teenagers from the Chicago area were behind the burglary. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. One of the vehicles, with a blown out tire, riding on the rim Waukesha police said Sunday morning, a maintenance worker at the Fields Auto Group car dealership noticed damage to a garage at approximately 6 a.m. Investigators said one customers car and eight other vehicles were stolen. This started a chase into West Allis. Someone called the police, saying they noticed the vehicles had dealership plates, and the people inside them had their faces covered. West Allis police started to chase the suspects south onto I-94 and that continued through Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News During the chase, the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department said one of the vehicles was stopped with stop sticks. The driver crashed on I-94 near Pleasant Prairie. Dozens of police vehicles chased the vehicle down I-94 Law enforcement said one other vehicle that was not related to the burglary was hit, and that person is expected to be okay. The Illinois State Police found an additional fleeing vehicle abandoned at a business in Deerfield, Il. All lanes reopened by 8:40 a.m. Police said they believed it was an isolated incident A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three children were found dead at a house in Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police made the discovery when officers attended a concern for welfare call in Blaise Walk, Sea Mills, at about 00:40 GMT. A statement from the force said the young children were pronounced dead at the scene. The arrested woman, 42, is in police custody at a hospital. The force said the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had been informed due to "prior police contact". Ch Insp Vicks Hayward-Melen said: "This is an incredibly tragic and heartbreaking incident in which three children have sadly died. "My sincere condolences go to the children's loved ones, and we will be ensuring they are offered support through our family liaison unit. "We believe this to be an isolated incident and there is no further risk to the wider community." The IOPC said it had been notified of the incident by Avon and Somerset Police, with the force saying there had been prior police contact earlier this month. A spokesperson added: "We have requested a paper referral with further information about the prior contact and once received, we will assess it to determine whether further action is required from us." The force said residents could expect to see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days Mark Shelford, Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, said questions needed to be asked about how "such an appalling event has occurred". "I am deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of three children today in Sea Mills," he said. "The deaths of these children is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with all those who knew and cared for these children and with the local community, who I know will be impacted. "The police have made an arrest and believe this to be an isolated incident. They have assessed that there is no further risk to the wider community. "There are questions to be asked about how such an appalling event has occurred and what could have been done to prevent it, but for now, I ask that people allow the police to investigate." 'Impossible to find words' Bristol North West MP Darren Jones said he was "deeply saddened by the tragic news from Sea Mills today". He added: "My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the children, and my thanks go to our emergency services who responded." The city's mayor Marvin Rees said: "It's almost impossible to find the words to describe this afternoon's devastating news. "My thoughts are with all who knew these three young children. "We will be working with schools, the community, and Avon and Somerset Police to support people." West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said the news was "tragic and heartbreaking". "My thoughts are very much with those who knew and loved these children," he said. "I cannot image the pain and shock they are feeling." Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk Betrayed by Tillis Senator Thom Tillis has turned his back on one of the most important issues facing our country, the border. We must get our own border in order before sending money to help others. Yet, Tillis and 21 other Republicans joined with Democrats to approve a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. I used to think Tillis looked out for us and made decisions in the best interest of his N.C. constituents. I used to think North Carolinians were his primary focus, putting their needs first before trying to save the rest of the world. But my eyes have been opened. I have to face the facts. When it comes to us little people, Tillis has proven by his vote we are not at the top of his priority list. Renee Coates Scheidt, Salisbury Camp death The writer is a retired Rutgers University Psychiatric Nursing professor. The death of a child at a N.C. wilderness camp is one of a decades-long litany of stories that include child maltreatment and exploitation of families who send children to these programs when they think theyve exhausted other alternatives. In many states, they operate without regulation, licensing or accreditation, despite charging exorbitant prices for treatment. That many years of investigative journalism and advocacy have not resulted in more stringent regulation testifies to the power of a profit driven mental health industry and our lack of community-based mental health support. Children are our most valuable resource and our future. How many more vulnerable young people must die or be scarred for life by people who care more about profit than therapeutics? It is past time that we stopped warehousing kids out of sight in abusive programs. We must find the political will to provide them appropriate, evidence based behavioral health services they need when in crisis. Wanda Mohr, Durham Student protest The Feb. 16 article on the peaceful walk-out against genocide by students at two Chapel Hill-Carrboro high schools described a coordinated email campaign by people who opposed the walkout and its associated materials, which they portrayed as hateful and antisemitic. They demanded punitive measures, including firing teachers. It is truly enlightening to see people enraged not by the horrors of the massive killing, destruction and displacement in Gaza, but by students peacefully protesting it and calling for a ceasefire. This is but one of countless efforts in the U.S. since Oct. 7 to silence free speech opposing the slaughter in Gaza. I applaud the districts measured response, which showed sensitivity to any potential bigotry (antisemitism and Islamophobia) while recognizing students rights to free speech and protest. Laura Gibney, Durham Duke Energy All of us should review the 25 year energy resource plan that Duke Energy presented to the N.C. Utilities Commission in 2023 and then compare it to the revised plan Duke just presented to the commission. Duke recognizes that its proposed gas-fired plants will have to be decommissioned to meet the 2050 carbon neutral commitment our state made, but they still want them since were paying for them producing or not. Duke is also proposing to build more solar farms, further develop offshore wind generation, and initiate using untested mini-nuclear reactors without a single mention of rooftop solar. Environmental groups have produced irrefutable data showing that rooftop solar is one of the most economical ways to reduce our carbon footprint and meet our 2050 commitment. It would also significantly reduce the expense of the planned transmission grid Duke included in its 2023 plan. The utilities commission must compare the two plans and decide on behalf of ratepayers. The commission has NC WARNs data which makes Dukes new proposal indefensible. David Bland, Raleigh GOP hypocrisy In his Feb. 12 Opinion piece, Republican consultant Matt Wylie says Lets send people to Congress who share our fundamental belief in limited government and a dedication to protecting our rights, liberties and freedoms. How is it limited government to pass and support laws that take away our freedoms and control womens bodies? That is an obvious hypocrisy. Betty Jane Lazo, Raleigh About two dozen neo-Nazis marched through Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, chanting and wielding giant swastika flags while spewing hatred at a man who trailed and recorded them, calling them cowards for disguising their identities with masks. What are you ashamed of? the heckler, Ruwan Karu, shouted in an interaction that he shared on Twitter/X, adding, Show me your fucking faces! You dont belong here, one of the extremists replied. Go to your third-world country! The white supremacists, dressed in red shirts and apparently part of the Blood Tribe fascist group, chose Black History Month to trek past a row of downtown restaurants and retail stores. Seeing Nazis rally in broad daylight on a lovely Saturday afternoon in downtown Nashville should make us all angry, Karu told The Daily Beast. Families enjoying chicken and BBQ were subject to hate our grandparents fought against. We need more people to let them know to their faces that they are in fact the minority, he said. State Rep. Justin Jones also captured the sickening scene. Just left an event honoring a Black sorority and spoke of the need to unite against the rising tide of white supremacy, only to be confronted by Nazis marching through downtown Nashville, Jones tweeted. This is exactly what my Republican colleagues hate speech is fostering and inviting. In a phone call Saturday, Jones told The Daily Beast it was jarring to leave an event that discussed racial justice only to encounter neo-Nazis hurling slurs about immigrantsjust blocks from the state Capitol and the heart of Music City. Its just a disturbing situation, he said, adding that racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric from his Republican colleagues was helping to normalize hate groups. Theyre normalizing this, so that these types of extreme manifestations of white supremacy feel comfortable coming out into the streets, Jones said. I didnt want to run away and hide from it, he continued, because I think we have to let people know that this is our community, and that were not going to be intimidated. Last year, Jones and another Black member of the Tennessee House of Representatives were expelled after attending a gun control protest in the wake of a massacre at a private Christian elementary school. A third legislator, who is white, joined them at the rally but didnt face the same discipline. The expulsion made national news. Its not the only time the House chamber has made headlines. This week, Jones introduced resolutions to honor musical artists Paramore and Allison Russell for their Grammy wins, but a Republican lawmaker objected to the latter moving forward; Rep. Jeremy Faison claimed he received questions about Russell (a Black queer woman) and decided to pause her resolution. As a result, Paramores Hayley Williams released a statement condemning the blatant racism of our state leadership. Just left an event honoring a Black sorority and spoke of the need to unite against the rising tide of white supremacy, only to be confronted by Nazis marching through downtown Nashville. This is exactly what my Republican colleagues hate speech is fostering and inviting. pic.twitter.com/ZaK5kUQDYP Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) February 17, 2024 Meanwhile, a House committee passed a bill banning pride flags in schools and any other flags that represent a political or ideological viewpoint. Critics have pointed out that the legislation does not specifically prohibit the Confederate flag. Jones said that in August, far-right group the Proud Boys appeared outside the Capitol with banners and weapons, trying to intimidate legislators while the House held a special session around gun violence. Last year, Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell apologized after suggesting that hanging on a tree could become a new execution method in the state, apparently ignoring the states shameful history of lynchings. I dont want people to think, Oh, these neo-Nazis, like this is disconnected from the more subtle and sophisticated policies of racism that were seeing, Jone said. These groups are being given a green light by people in suits, Jones added. There are people who dont have a neo-Nazi flag, but who espouse the same ideology, through their rhetoric and through their policies. So I think you have to draw a direct correlation between the march of these neo-Nazis and the actions in places like our state houses where they are attacking immigrants. Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn tweeted a similar sentiment: These groups once relegated to the dark corners now feel empowered to spew their noxious ideology out in the open due to our states leadership REFUSING to condemn their speech and actions. 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. Despite international warnings, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Saturday that an Israeli military offensive would be launched in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. "Of course, only after we make it possible for civilians in the combat zones to move to safe areas," Netanyahu told journalists in Jerusalem. He emphasized that they would not bow to international pressure on this issue. "Anyone who wants to prevent us from operating in Rafah is ultimately telling us 'lose the war'." He would not allow this to happen. Netanyahu said that "the score will be settled" with the Hamas leadership. This was only a matter of time. A future peace settlement with the Palestinians would not be dictated to by international parties, he said. "A settlement can only be reached through direct negotiations between the two sides without preconditions," he said. Netanyahu, reacting to media reports that the United States and other allies could recognize a Palestinian state without Israel's consent, said Israel under his leadership would vehemently oppose such "unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state." He warned against awarding the Palestinians with a state after "this unprecedented terror." Four men in dark suits stand in front of a table with microphones and small flags on it. Uruguay has joined the United States' effort to establish widespread principles to guide space exploration. Uruguay's foreign minister Omar Paganini signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the South American country during the annual U.S.-Uruguay bilateral inter-ministerial dialogue on Feb. 15 in Washington, D.C. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson participated in the signing ceremony for the agency. "NASA welcomes Uruguay as the newest member of the Artemis Accords family," Nelson said in a NASA statement . "The United States and Uruguay share a commitment to democracy and peace, and now, we expand these principles in the cosmos to commit to the safe and transparent exploration of space." Related: What are the Artemis Accords? The Accords set out principles for guiding peaceful and responsible exploration, most immediately for the NASA-led lunar Artemis program . Uruguay's signing of the Accords follows just a week after Greece became the 35th country to join. "We are honored to have the opportunity to introduce space cooperation as a new chapter in the robust bilateral agenda between Uruguay and the U.S.," said Paganini. "We are sure that this signing ceremony is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new bilateral track based on knowledge-intensive activities and new opportunities for our people." 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 Uruguay's space endeavors are modest compared with those of major spacefaring nations. The country has just one satellite in orbit the 2-unit cubesat AntelSat, launched in 2014 but the signing indicates a willingness to deepen its involvement in space. The country moved to begin establishing a national space agency in 2021. 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. The United States established the Artemis Accords in 2020. Uruguay joins fellow South American signatories Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. The Accords are represented on six of the world's seven continents. Major signatories include Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the United Kingdom. China, meanwhile, is leading an alternative lunar exploration project named the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). So far Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa and Venezuela have signed up to help establish the initially robotic ILRS in the 2030s. Official data shows 150,000 patients have been waiting more than 13 weeks for a diagnostic test, including 90,000 patients waiting for tests and scans used to detect cancer - PHIL BOORMAN/IMAGE SOURCE NHS spending on scans by the private sector has tripled - while the number carried out has fallen, official figures show. Labour said the NHS spent 1.1bn on outsourced radiology in the past five years, while the number of scans carried out fell by 200,000 in 2022/23, compared with 2018/19. Meanwhile the cost per scan went from 31 to 100, the analysis found. The figures, disclosed in a parliamentary answer, show 368,858 spent in 2022/23 on around 3,7 million outsourced diagnostic scans. In 2018/19 spending on such activity amounted to 123,817 on around 3.9 million scans. Labour has pledged to double NHS scanning capacity, with use of services on a seven-day basis, in order to cut backlogs. Official figures show there are currently 1.6 million people waiting for diagnostic scans and tests in England, three times the number in 2010. The data shows 150,000 patients have been waiting more than 13 weeks for a diagnostic test, including 90,000 patients waiting for tests and scans used to detect cancer. Diagnostic test The NHS target is for 99 per cent of patients to wait less than six weeks for a diagnostic test, but this has not been met in England since February 2017. Wes Streeting, shadow health secretary, said: Under the Tories, were paying more but getting less. The NHS cant afford money to be wasted as the Conservatives have it needs every penny spent wisely. Having gone through kidney cancer, I know that an early diagnosis can be the difference between life and death. The Conservatives have failed to arm our NHS with the tools to do its job, and patients are paying the price. He said Labour would double the number of scanners, with AI used in every hospital, funding the expansion by abolishing the non-dom status. The Conservatives have repeatedly questioned whether abolition of the non-dom status would be sufficient to fund a raft of NHS policies Labour has proposed. Both parties have said they intend to expand use of the private sector to help cut waiting lists. Analysis by the Kings Fund think tank has shown that diagnostic capacity in the UK is falling behind that of other comparable countries. The UK ranks 25th out of 28 OECD countries for CT scanners, with fewer scanners per person than in Greece. Cancer patients It comes as the Liberal Democrats highlighted waits for cancer patients, with just one in four cancer patients starting treatment within 62 days. Official NHS figures show more than 100,000 patients with cancer waited at least two months to start treatment last year. The partys analysis shows that at some trusts, just one in four cancer patients start treatment within 62 days. At Liverpool Womens NHS Trust just 23 per cent of patients were treated within 62 days. At Royal Papworth it was 38 per cent and at Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust it was just 44 per cent, the analysis found. The Liberal Democrats are calling for a legal right for cancer patients to start receiving treatment within two months. Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP, said: It is heart-wrenching to see such a stark postcode lottery of cancer care across the country. We know how important it is to find and treat cancer early to give people the best chance of survival. Sadly, under this Conservative government, this is happening far too little. Behind every single one of these numbers is a story of fear, discomfort and anxiety for thousands of families up and down the country. This Conservative government has failed to prioritise cancer treatment times so people are simply not getting the care they need in time. It is a shameful indictment of their neglect of our health service. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley assailed Donald Trumps foreign policy, condemning the former president for his silence on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Most Read from Bloomberg Either he sides with Putin and thinks its cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents, or he just doesnt think its that big of a deal, Haley said Sunday on ABCs This Week. I think its important to stand with the Russian people who believe Navalny was really talking for them. Haley, who was Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, has targeted her former boss on foreign policy in recent days as she fights to stave off a defeat in her home state in the Feb. 24 Republican primary. Polls show Haley, Trumps only remaining opponent for the GOP presidential nomination, trailing by double digits. Haley blamed Navalnys death on Russian President Vladimir Putin, joining accusations by other Western leaders including President Joe Biden. Russias prison service said Navalny fell sick at a maximum-security camp where he was imprisoned and medical staff were unable to revive him. You look at this hero, he was fighting corruption, she said. He was fighting what Putin does and what did Putin do? He killed him just like he does all his political opponents. Read more: Putin Seeks Revenge on a World Order He Once Wanted to Join Navalny, 47, was a leading voice against Putin, drawing his ire by investigations that exposed corruption at state companies and videos on the lavish lives of senior officials. Haley has made her foreign policy chops a centerpiece of her presidential bid, vowing to get tough with China and other US adversaries abroad. She has criticized Trumps threats to NATO member countries that fall short of defense-spending commitments and his obstruction of further US aid to Ukraine. Haley doubled-down on her criticism of Trump at a town hall on Sunday evening, while adding that she would be tough on NATO allies behind the scenes rather than in public if they werent meeting their commitments. I will absolutely put the hammer on our NATO countries that they do have to carry their weight, but you do that behind closed doors, Haley said at the forum hosted by Fox News. You do that and let them know that the United States is not gonna carry the burden, but you dont do it in the eyes of our enemies. Her views make her an outlier in her party, where the base has largely embraced Trumps more isolationist views. But it could bolster her among Democrats and independent voters. (Updates to include Haley comments in the 8th and 9th paragraphs. An earlier version of this story corrected Navalnys first name.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands will not be up for discussion as long as they want to remain a British territory, Lord Cameron has said. The foreign secretary is preparing to make the first visit to the islands by a cabinet minister since 2016. Last month Argentina's President Javier Milei called for the islands in the South Atlantic Ocean to be handed over. The trip comes ahead of a summit of the foreign ministers of the G20 countries, which include Argentina and the UK. Lord Cameron reiterated the UK government's longstanding position the islands' sovereignty is non-negotiable while its residents wish it to be British. Speaking ahead of the trip, he said: "The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion. "The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built." The Falkand Islands are 300 miles off the coast of Argentina The foreign secretary's visit is against a backdrop of continued calls by Argentina for the self-governed territory to be handed to Buenos Aires. After his meeting with President Milei last month, who believes his country has non-negotiable sovereignty over the islands Argentina calls Islas Malvinas, the Foreign Office said "they would agree to disagree, and do so politely". The islands, 8,000 miles from the UK and 300 miles off the coast of Argentina, were the subject of war in 1982 claiming the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel. In 2013, when Lord Cameron was prime minister, islanders voted in a 90% turnout referendum in which 1,513 were in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory while just three votes were against. Mr Milei has previously suggested a Hong-Kong style handover and has stressed war "is not a solution". During his visit, Lord Cameron is expected to pay his respects to those who lost their lives during the conflict, meet leaders of the Falkland Islands government in a visit to capital Stanley, as well as greet the Islands' penguins. The last cabinet minister to visit the islands was then-Defence Secretary Michael Fallon in 2016. Lord Cameron is then set to visit Paraguay - the first time a British foreign secretary has visited the South American nation. Afterwards he will attend a meeting of G20 nations - including Russia's Sergei Lavrov - in Brazil on Wednesday. A Fayette County Public School system bus monitor was killed in a car accident Saturday morning, her older sister Amanda Edwards confirmed. Mary Perry, a member of the districts transportation department and mother of two was killed in a crash that occurred in Grant County and involved three vehicles. She leaves behind twin 8-year-old boys. Perrys sister, Edwards, said her sister was someone who loved her friends, family and two sons dearly. I want people to know how good of a person she was, Edwards said. There was no one that didnt love her. The boys were the light of her life. Edwards said her sister had worked as a bus monitor since November 2023. The superintendent and FCPS family was made aware of the tragic loss of Ms. Perry, district spokesperson Dia Davidson said in a Sunday text message. We ask that all respect the privacy of the family at this time. In addition to spending time with family, Perry loved to cook and was incredibly generous to those who were struggling. Edwards said Perrys death comes just four months after the death of their older sister, who passed away from health issues. The thought of losing my sisters in such a short amount of time is like being lost, Edwards said. All of them, just both of them, it was a freak accident and sudden. You are here one minute and now you are gone. According to Kentucky State Police, the initial investigation into Mary Perrys accident discovered two people died and two others were transported to local hospitals for their injuries. Authorities have not released the names of other individuals involved in the crash. No other details related to the crash were released Sunday. Edwards said the Grant County coroner informed her the vehicle Perry was in rolled a couple of times, and she was ejected from it. Edwards is accepting donations through Venmo and Cashapp to cover expenses related to Perrys boys. Venmo donations can be made to @Amanda-Edwards-38803 or Cashapp to $AmandaPerry82. Mitchell Ward said it "feels unnatural" after installing a serving hatch and getting customers' items A shop that has suffered a spate of shoplifting says a ban on customers going inside will continue for "as long as it takes". DIY store Nuneaton Toolbox built a shopfront serving hatch, meaning staff get people's items. The business has complained that police have not been bothered to respond to reports of crime. Warwickshire Police said it had been taking "decisive action" against shoplifters for six months. It denied suggestions it had not supported the store. Mitchell Ward, who has worked at the shop for a decade, had told Coventry Live that at one point it was "having between 10 to 15 shoplifters a day". Speaking to the BBC about the serving hatch, Mr Ward said: "So that's going to stay as long as it takes for the police to patrol the town properly. So they have started? Yes. But is that temporary?" Mitchell Ward, from Nuneaton Toolbox, appealed to police to be more proactive Mr Ward said crime over the last six months had been "a little bit better perhaps, because the police have shown a presence". But he added: "Previous to that there was no police. That's up until a good five years... it took... many, many hours to come out." In an open letter the force published, Insp Kris Shore said: "Over the past six months, we have been taking decisive action across the county against shoplifters, leading to twice as many thieves ending up in court and doubling our positive actions as a result of investigations." Insp Shore added officers were also aware of issues with anti-social behaviour in Nuneaton town centre and had been actively identifying and targeting suspects. He said the force had seen comments made by the store that officers had not supported it when it had been the target of robbery and shoplifting. "This is not the position of Warwickshire Police," Insp Shore said. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban declined to discipline a high-ranking deputy chief accused of pulling a female protesters hair and shoving her face into the ground in downtown Manhattan in 2020, records show. Cabans decision came in October in the case of Deputy Chief Gerard Dowling of the NYPDs Special Operations Bureau. Cabans decision was included near the bottom of an oversight report made public last week by the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Caban elected to remove Dowlings case from CCRB jurisdiction and decide on his own whether to discipline him. It was one of 11 cases Caban retained in the last three months of 2023. Under a 2012 memorandum of understanding between the Police Department and the Civilian Complaint Review Board, police commissioners are allowed to retain cases if submitting them to CCRB examination would be detrimental to the NYPDs disciplinary process, or if the officer has no disciplinary history or prior substantiated complaints. Of the 11 cases Cabain retained late in 2023, he issued no discipline in four and minor discipline ranging from training to one lost vacation day in the other seven. Advocates for police accountability scored Cabans decision in the Dowling case. We long have objected to the NYPDs authority to unilaterally close cases where the CCRB has found misconduct, and this case perfectly illustrates that concern, said Christopher Dunn, legal director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. When disciplinary cases of high-level officers simply disappear, that destroys the notion of police accountability, Dunn said. Dowling was cleared of punishment in the case, which began with a protest June 2, 2020, outside 17 Battery Place in the Financial District, across from Battery Park. NYPD officers and supervisors including Dowling, Inspector James McGeown and Capt. Ronald Ramos tried to disperse the group with kicks and baton strikes, the CCRB found. The encounter generated a series of civilian complaints. When a woman tried to intervene in the melee, Dowling grabbed her hair by the braid and with two other officers pulled her down, according the CCRBs findings and a video of the incident. The woman landed face down on the ground, the CCRB findings say. Other officers placed flex cuffs on her wrist, the findings show. In an interview with CCRB after he viewed the video, Dowling acknowledged he had grabbed the womans hair but said it was unintentional. The CCRB substantiated the two improper use of force allegations against Dowling. Substantiated means the CCRB found sufficient credible evidence to believe that the subject officer committed the alleged act without legal justification. Deputy Chief Anthony Marino, an aide to Caban, wrote CCRB Director Jonathan Darche on Oct. 31 that the force Dowling used in the situation was reasonable and necessary to overcome resistance to arrest. Marino noted that Dowling has never been disciplined in 28 years on the job. The police commissioner intends to take no disciplinary action against (Dowling), Marino wrote. Darche replied Nov. 9, arguing the CCRB should be allowed to pursue charges against Dowling. (The woman) was in custody, on the ground surrounded by officers, and posed no physical threat to the officers nor was she a threat to escape custody, he wrote. Dowling was not justified in using force against her and should be held accountable for this misconduct. Marino was unmoved in his reply Nov. 16, repeating that Dowling would not be disciplined for the incident. Dowling was one of two dozen police supervisors named as defendants in a landmark class action lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society over the NYPDs handling of the 2020 George Floyd protests. The city settled the case in July for $13.6 million. Dowling was also named as a defendant in at least five other civil rights lawsuits since 2019 related to actions during protests. The city settled three of those lawsuits for a total of $276,501, records show. In one of those settled cases, Alyssa Sukhana named Dowling in her 2021 suit over a May 25, 2020, Bronx protest where people were kettled, or violently hemmed in by hundreds of cops. Dowling, the lawsuit alleged, had a key role in planning the police response to the protest. The lawsuit settled for $78,500, records show. Christophe Bensmaine named Dowling in his lawsuit over a May 30, 2020, protest in Times Square as a commander of cops who injured him during the event. The city settled that case for $167,500. In the third settled case, Christina Gavin named Dowling in her 2020 lawsuit as one of the cops who grabbed her and kicked her legs out from under her during a protest on 125th Street in Harlem on Nov 22, 2019. She alleged Dowling made false statements in the case. That case settled for $30,501. Records show Dowling has been named in 14 CCRB complaints, including seven involving use of force. The only two cases substantiated involved the June 2, 2020, incident. Dowling joined the NYPD in 1995. He was promoted from inspector to deputy chief by then Commissioner Dermot Shea in October 2021 after those lawsuits had been filed. The CCRB has objected to the practice of letting a police commissioner retain some disciplinary cases. The CCRB stands by all its disciplinary recommendations and believes that due process is best served by the disciplinary process, said CCRB spokeswoman Clio Calvo-Platero. When the commissioner retains a case, we lay out the facts and explain the boards reasoning as clearly as possible. Under the current disciplinary system, this is all that the CCRB can do in these matters. As the No. 2 in Special Operations to Chief Wilson Aramboles, Dowling helps oversee the emergency services, aviation, harbor, and mounted units and the Strategic Response Group, which responds to large scale events. On Monday, the CCRB issued its annual report for 2023, which showed that 5,550 complaints were filed in the year, a 50% jump over 2022 and the highest total in a decade. Complaints containing an allegation of an improper stop and frisk rose from 522 to 940, an 80% spike. _____ US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Russia's possible development of has nuclear space weapons in a conversation with his Chinese and Indian counterparts on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Source: European Pravda with reference to The New York Times Details: As the newspaper writes, Blinken's message was unambiguous: any nuclear explosion in space would destroy not only American satellites but also those of Beijing and New Delhi. According to the article, the secretary of state also said that since Russian President Vladimir Putin has clearly expressed his contempt for the United States, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian President Narendra Modi should dissuade him from what could turn into a disaster. As the unnamed U.S. officials and independent analysts said, a hypothetical nuclear explosion in space would disrupt global communications systems, causing disruptions in everything from emergency services to mobile communications to the regulation of generators and pumps. In addition, they argue, debris from the explosion would be scattered throughout low Earth orbit and make navigation difficult, if not impossible, for all satellites from Starlink satellites used for Internet communications to spy satellites. Even if Russia were to put a nuclear weapon into orbit, U.S. officials spoken to by The New York Times agree that it would not be detonated. Instead, they say, it will remain in low orbit as a time bomb, reminding Putin that if he is pressured too hard by sanctions or military resistance to his ambitions in Ukraine or beyond, he can destroy economies without affecting the world's population physically. A senior intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the newspaper that he believes Russia is developing space-based nuclear weapons because Putin believes that none of his adversaries, including the United States, would risk a direct confrontation with Russia over the deployment of a nuclear-armed satellite. Another intelligence official said that Putin may be betting that the threat of a nuclear explosion in space is different from the threat of destroying Los Angeles or London, as Putin would threaten equipment rather than people, which he believes gives him more leeway in deploying the new satellite. Background: Earlier, CNN reported, citing sources, that Russia's activities, which in recent days have caused concern about the threat to US national security, are related to the creation of nuclear space weapons capable of generating a power surge and disabling a significant number of satellites. Officially, the United States informed Congress and its allies in Europe of new intelligence related to Russia's nuclear capabilities, which could pose an international threat. Later, sources said that the warning concerned Russia's space and satellite capabilities. Moscow sees the US statements about the national security threat as an attempt to persuade Republicans in Congress to approve an aid project for Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) The bronze cast letters written by fallen soldiers on Norfolks Armed Forces Memorial will now be set to music. Composer Michael Rickeltons new work Norfolk Letters is presented by ODUs Diehn Concert Series. Composer Lori Laitman described Rickelton as having a great and clear gift for writing for the voice, He is joined by sought-after baritone Ross Tamaccio and collaborative pianist Hsiao-Ying Lin. The concert takes place Monday, Feb. 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Chandler Recital Hall Diehn Center on the campus of Old Dominion University. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. A man is facing charges after police say he took off during a traffic stop in Allegheny County. According to a criminal complaint, an officer was checking vehicle registration at the 2700 block of Brownsville Road when he saw Drevon Woodson, 26, driving the black Lexus sedan that is registered in his name. Police say Woodson has a DUI-related license suspension so he should not have been driving. The officer began following the sedan which quickly turned into a parking spot on the side of the road. Police say this is a common tactic for people who want to avoid contact with the police. The officer said he tried to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle in front of the Fine Wine and Good Spirits store on Brownsville Road. The criminal complaint says the sedan began to turn left onto the roadway and began to pass the officer as soon as they turned their lights on. The sedan did a full U-turn and took off in the opposite direction. The officer said he rolled down his window and told Woodson to pull over as he was making the turn. The officer attempted to catch up to the sedan on Sanky Avenue but was told to end his pursuit because of poor visibility and snowy weather conditions. Woodson was last seen heading towards Brentwood. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Chinese restaurant in Pittsburghs Greenfield neighborhood shut down over health code violations Pittsburgh indoor bike park closing after nearly 11 years in business Local woman warns others about potentially fraudulent tax refund checks from U.S. Treasury VIDEO: Bat used by Roberto Clemente in 1971 World Series up for auction DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Ohio Senate candidate Frank LaRose (R) said that President Bidens recent trip to East Palestine, Ohio, where a 2023 train derailment caused a toxic chemical spill, is a day late and a dollar short. LaRose, who is running in the Ohio Senate Republican primary, does not think that Bidens visit to East Palestine has changed any minds of the locals who suffered health and environmental effects following last years derailment. No, I dont think so, LaRose said during his Saturday appearance on Fox News. He was a day late and dollar short, it was well-known liberal, Woody Allen, that said 80 percent of success is showing up. So I guess on the Woody Allen grading scale, Biden gets an F. The Ohio Secretary of State is another GOP member who has gone after Biden for visiting the site, for the first time, one year after the train derailment. Biden visited East Palestine on Friday. During his remarks, Biden praised the local community for their perseverance in light of the incident and railed against corporate negligence that led to the derailment. Listen, the president needs to be there to help coordinate responses, LaRose said. When I was there in East Palestine just a few weeks ago, I was hearing from people that are still living with the ramifications of this. LaRose is running in a competitive Republican primary up against state Sen. Matt Dolan (R) and Trump-endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno. The winner will face Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in the November contest. Former President Trump, Bidens likely rival in the November election, has repeatedly criticized Biden for not visiting East Palestine. Trump visited the town last February. Biden should have gone there a long time ago for him to go now is an insult to those who live and work in East Palestine, and the Great State of Ohio, itself. I cant believe anyone wants him there? Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. The White House has mentioned repeatedly that the Environmental Protection Agency officials were on the ground hours after the Norfolk Southern train derailed and that members performed door-knocking initiates to check in on locals. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly fire at Arrive Apartment in Silver Spring that took the life of 25-year-old Melanie Diaz. A year later, Maryland lawmakers are still working to create new laws to keep tenants safe while honoring Diazs life. The fire happened on Feb. 18, 2023, killing Diaz also forcing hundreds of others to evacuate and condemning nearly 90 units. In a report released a few months after the fire, that report showed investigators could not determine the cause of the fire but investigators did not believe it involved criminal activity. That fire last year sparked a debate about fire safety and sprinklers with Maryland lawmakers. A fire safety bill known as the Melanie Diaz Sprinklers Save Lives Act bill did not make it out of the Maryland 2023 legislative session. Report on deadly Silver Spring apartment fire released The bill would have done a few things including requiring smoke alarms in public corridors in high-rise buildings, prohibiting landlords from requesting reimbursement from tenants for the cost of installing certain smoke alarms and would have required sprinkler systems in certain high-rise buildings by 2033. A similar bill named after Melanie Diaz is working its way through this years Maryland legislative session. But this new bill; Melanie Nicholle Diaz Fire Safety Act would establish requirements regarding installing certain fire safety equipment in residential rental high-rise buildings, also requires buildings without a sprinkler system to clearly say so in the lease agreement. The bill also says to create a group to develop fire safety best practices for high-rise buildings built before 1974. The Senate version of the Melanie Nicholle Diaz Fire Safety Act bill looks to be scheduled for a hearing on March 1. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Research sounding the alarm over microplastics from cutting boards have experts divided. A popular kitchen item could be wreaking havoc on your health and its one you may use every single day. Plastic cutting boards are likely releasing microplastics into your food, according to a recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology. In that academic article, scholars theorized that plastic cutting board users could be exposed to millions of plastic particles due to the repeated strike of the knife. Such microplastics are a known health hazard and have been linked to reproductive issues, digestive problems and cancer, per Harvard researchers. We unknowingly consume as much as a credit cards worth of plastic every week, retired industrial chemist and chemistry consultant Mark Jones told Yahoo News. Research sounding the alarm over microplastics from cutting boards have experts divided. knelson20 stock.adobe.com Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, told Yahoo News that she doesnt use plastic cutting boards out of an abundance of caution. Angelica Parisi stock.adobe.com In fact, if youre drinking from plastic water bottles, eating food in plastic packaging, or even just eating meat, youre likely consuming microplastics. Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, told Yahoo News that she doesnt use plastic cutting boards out of an abundance of caution. Anything that you can do to reduce your plastic exposure is a good thing, Stoiber said. And what you use in the kitchen is a good place to start. In addition to avoiding microplastics, Stoiber personally prefers wood or metal cutting boards because theyre more durable, easy to clean and more sustainable. Likewise, she recommends using a stainless steel reusable water bottle with filtered water to reduce microplastic consumption, and would avoid using plastic containers to store food. While Stoiber claimed the grooves of the plastic board could prove harder to disinfect and thoroughly clean, food safety experts have been divided over the cleanliness of plastic versus wooden. Although wood cutting boards are naturally antimicrobial and aesthetically pleasing on your countertop, Stevie Cheape, a professional chef, previously told Woman & Home that they can harbor bacteria in the porous surface where food can get stuck. The research suggested that microplastics were sloughed from the boards into food. Chananthorn stock.adobe.com While Stoiber argues that the same is true for textured plastic boards, the key to food safety is to keep raw meat separate from raw vegetables, meaning youll need more than one board to prevent food poisoning. A separate board for raw meat or seafood keeps bacteria from contaminating your veggies, fruit, or other foods that require no further cooking, Britanny Saunier, the executive director at the Partnership for Food Safety Education, told Southern Living. Instead, she recommends bamboo cutting boards, as theyre harder and not as porous as typical wooden ones. Britains King Charles III and Queen Camilla leave The London Clinic in central London, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. King Charles was in the hospital to receive treatment for an enlarged prostate. | Alberto Pezzali, Associated Press King Charles III of Britain is undergoing treatment for cancer. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added to the public announcement that the health challenge had been caught early. Britains royal family is strongly connected to Americans, shown in extensive media coverage. This reflects the distinctive partnership that began in World War II. Predecessors Charles I and Charles II reigned in the revolutionary 1600s. The first was beheaded. The second restored monarchy after bloody civil war, then dictatorship under Oliver Cromwell. National institutions since that era have enjoyed remarkable stability. Britain played a pivotal role in World War II, when the Anglo-American Special Relationship was truly forged. The relationship between President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill was central. At home, Churchill and King George VI were vital to national unity in a desperate struggle. The monarch has residual ruling powers, including the authority of actually appointing the government following a general election or other, sometimes unanticipated, political shakeup. In the 1960s, Queen Elizabeths husband, Prince Philip, spoke at UCLA, greeted by an Army ROTC student honor guard that included me. Philip paused, shook hands and talked with each of us, a classy gesture. The public role of the queen or king may be primarily symbolic. Nonetheless, that can become important in a time of national crisis or tragedy, especially war. Britains government, after the 2016 referendum vote to leave the European Union, embarked on a complicated, painful effort to do so. In contrast to the heroic, historic stand against Nazi Germany, this bizarre ordeal seemed more like Alice in Wonderland. Over four centuries ago, namesake Queen Elizabeth I was forcefully in charge of the British Isles. Those were brutal times, when losing a power struggle could cost your life. That Elizabeth modernized Britain, managing Parliament with prudent skill. She stabilized politics following the tumultuous reign of her father Henry VIII. She confirmed influence in Europe, effectively balancing the nations of that continent. Today, the Crown and Parliament have subtly complementary roles. Walter Bagehot, long-time editor of the influential weekly magazine The Economist, described the situation brilliantly, with enduring insight. The world has changed greatly since Bagehots analysis appeared in 1867. However, his fundamental insight remains very valid today. Parliament handles the practical efficient functions of governing while the monarchy handles the largely ceremonial dignified functions. Americans can envy the lack of an imperial presidency there. Fundamentally important is that the British, unlike the Americans, have no written constitution. Parliament is effectively supreme, though the nation in October 2009 did formally establish an American-style Supreme Court. The important ceremonial functions address the collective emotions of the people at large regarding government. In the 1930s, King Edward VIII generated great controversy when he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an expatriate American. In that different, earlier time, the fact that she was not British generated extensive public attention and debate. She also had been divorced twice. In general, notoriety followed her. Vastly more important, Edward was sympathetic to Nazi Germany, as well as being personally extremely eccentric and unstable. Adolf Hitler and others at the top of the Nazi regime in Germany considered him a strategic asset, eventually to help control Britain in a conquered Europe. Finally, Edward abdicated to marry his American. History underscores the importance of Britains Royal Family. Russias invasion of Ukraine reinforces our important Special Relationship. Nothing fake about these realities. Learn more: Walter Bagehot, The English Constitution, and the film The Darkest Hour. Arthur I. Cyr is author of After the Cold War. Contact acyr@carthage.edu Wax figures of American presidents at Madame Tussauds in Washington. Scholars rated Trump even worse than Andrew Johnson, front row, right, William Henry Harrison and James Buchanan, back row, fourth and fifth from left, respectively. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) Presidents Day occurs at a crucial moment this year, with the presidency on the cusp of crisis as we inexorably shuffle toward a rematch between the incumbent and his predecessor. Its the sort of contest we havent seen since the 19th century, and judging by public opinion of President Biden and former President Trump, most Americans would have preferred to keep it that way. But the third installment of our Presidential Greatness Project , a poll of presidential experts released this weekend, shows that scholars dont share American voters roughly equal distaste for both candidates. Biden, in fact, makes his debut in our rankings at No. 14, putting him in the top third of American presidents. Trump, meanwhile, maintains the position he held six years ago: dead last, trailing such historically calamitous chief executives as James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson. In that and other respects, Trumps radical departure from political, institutional and legal norms has affected knowledgeable assessments not just of him but also of Biden and several other presidents. Read more: Opinion: Panicking over polls showing Donald Trump ahead of President Biden? Please stop The overall survey results reveal stability as well as change in the way scholars assess our nations most important and controversial political office. Great presidents have traditionally been viewed as those who presided over moments of national transformation, led the country through major crises and expanded the institution of the presidency. Military victories, economic growth, assassinations and scandals also affect expert assessments of presidential performance. The presidents at the top of our rankings, and others like ours, reflect this. Hallowed leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and George Washington consistently lead the list. Our latest rankings also show that the experts assessments are driven not only by traditional notions of greatness but also by the evolving values of our time. Read more: Op-Ed: Worst. President. Ever. One example is the continuing decline in esteem for two important presidents, Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson. Their reputations have consistently suffered in recent years as modern politics lead scholars to assess their early 19th and 20th century presidencies ever more harshly, especially their unacceptable treatment of marginalized people. More acutely, this survey has seen a pronounced partisan dynamic emerge, arguably in response to the Trump presidency and the Trumpification of presidential politics. Proponents of the Biden presidency have strong arguments in their arsenal, but his high placement within the top 15 suggests a powerful anti-Trump factor at work. So far, Bidens record does not include the military victories or institutional expansion that have typically driven higher rankings, and a family scandal such as the one involving his son Hunter normally diminishes a presidents ranking. Bidens most important achievements may be that he rescued the presidency from Trump, resumed a more traditional style of presidential leadership and is gearing up to keep the office out of his predecessors hands this fall. Trumps position at the bottom of our rankings, meanwhile, puts him behind not only Buchanan and Johnson but also such lowlights as Franklin Pierce, Warren Harding and William Henry Harrison, who died a mere 31 days after taking office. Trumps impact goes well beyond his own ranking and Bidens. Every contemporary Democratic president has moved up in the ranks Barack Obama (No. 7), Bill Clinton (No. 12) and even Jimmy Carter (No. 22). Yes, these presidents had great accomplishments such as expanding healthcare access and working to end conflict in the Middle East, and they have two Nobel Prizes among them. But given their shortcomings and failures, their rise seems to be less about reassessments of their administrations than it is a bonus for being neither Trump nor a member of his party. Indeed, every modern Republican president has dropped in the survey, including the transformational Ronald Reagan (No. 16) and George H.W. Bush (No. 19), who led the nations last decisive military victory. Academics do lean left, but that hasnt changed since our previous surveys. What these results suggest is not just an added emphasis on a presidents political affiliation, but also the emergence of a presidents fealty to political and institutional norms as a criterion for what makes a president great to the scholars who study them. As for the Americans casting a ballot for the next president, they are in the historically rare position of knowing how both candidates have performed in the job. Whether they will consider each presidents commitment to the norms of presidential leadership, and come to rate them as differently as our experts, remains to be seen. Justin Vaughn is an associate professor of political science at Coastal Carolina University. Brandon Rottinghaus is a professor of political science at the University of Houston. 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. It was an awards show of few surprises this year as heavily-tipped films such as Oppenheimer and Poor Things dominated the top categories at the 2024 Baftas. Christopher Nolans epic atomic bomb picture Oppenhimer led the night with nominations in 13 categories of which the film won seven, including Best Picture and Best Director. See the full list of winners here... The films stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr also triumphed in the Best Leading Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories respectively. Murphy beat out The Holdovers star Paul Giamatti in what was considered a very tight race between the two actors. It is Nolans first ever Bafta win despite having been previously nominated for eight awards. Accepting the prize on stage, Nolan, 54, thanked those who have fought long and hard to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world. Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan (AP) Cillian Murphy beat out Paul Giamatti in the Best Leading Actor category for his performance in Oppenheimer (AP) It came as a surprise to no one when Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimoss spectacular feast for the eyes, was feted with the award for Best Production in its first of five wins that night. Poor Things star Emma Stone took home Best Actress for her performance as Bella, an adult woman implanted with a childs brain. In her acceptance speech, Stone, 35, thanked her mother, telling the crowd: Shes the best person in the world. Without her, none of this would exist, including my life. So thank you, mum! Emma Stone takes home the prize for Best Actress thanks to Poor Things (AP) The 77th British academy film awards took place at Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday night, with Hollywood stars including Margot Robbie, Robert Downey Jr and Ryan Gosling in attendance. Prince William was also present, spotted warmly embracing last years Bafta Leading Actress winner Cate Blanchett. Kate Middleton missed the occasion due to an abdominal surgery she underwent in January, from which she is still recovering. Following on from Richard E Grant last year, David Tennant, 52, took on hosting duties. The Doctor Who star charmed his way through the ceremony with a couple jokes in a mostly dry opening monologue. DaVine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Holdovers (Getty Images) Alexander Paynes comedy-drama film, The Holdovers, about a curmudgeonly teacher at a New England boarding school, also fared relatively well on the night, taking home two of its seven nominations. DaVine Joy Randolph, 37, received a standing ovation after winning Best Supporting Actress for her part in the role, beating out Emily Blunt, Danielle Brooks, Claire Foy, Sandra Huller, and Rosamund Pike in the competitive category. Collecting the award from presenter Chiwetel Ejiofor, Randolph appeared overwhelmed in the moment, telling him: You are so handsome! before she went on to thank her co-star Giamatti, who was spotted in the crowd holding back tears. Jonathan Glazers The Zone of Interest was awarded three prizes: Best Sound, Outstanding British Film, and Best Film Not in the English language. Although it was shot entirely in Poland and with a German cast, the harrowing drama, about a Nazi commandant building a home next to Auschwitz, was made by Film4 and with a British production team. Prince William and Cate Blanchett seated at the 2024 Baftas (Getty) Accepting the prize, the films producer James Wilson said: Walls arent new from before or since the Holocaust and it seems stark right now that we should care about innocent people being killed in Gaza or Yemen or Mariupol or Israel. He added: Thank your for recognising a film that asks us to think in those spaces. Earlier on the red carpet, Ken Loach, director of the refugee film The Old Oak, stood next to a sign reading Gaza: Stop the Massacre held by the films writer Paul Laverty. Ken Loach, centre, stands next to a sign reading Gaza: Stop the Massacre on the red carpet (Getty Images) Elsewhere during the evening, 20 Days in Mariupol won the award for Best Documentary. In it, Ukrainian photojournalist Mstyslav Chernov chronicles life inside the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. This is not about us this is about Ukraine, about the people of Mariupol, said Chernov. I want to keep focus on that. The day before yesterday another Ukrainian city has fallen Russia has occupied it, and many cities before that, so the story of Mariupol is a symbol of everything that happened, and a symbol of struggle and a symbol of faith. Thank you for empowering our voice. Lets just keep fighting. Mstyslav Chernov gave an emotional speech accepting Best Documentary for 20 Days in Mariupol (AFP) It was at last years Bafta that Navalny, which revolved around the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, won the same prize. Other nominees such as Greta Gerwigs blockbuster Barbie, Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, Celine Songs Past Lives, and Bradley Coopers Maestro went home empty-handed. Mia McKenna-Bruce wins Rising Star award for How to Have Sex (Invision) Others winners of the night include former GB volleyball player Savanah Leaf, who took home Best Debut for her film Earth Mama, about a pregnant single mother fighting to reconnect with her family. Meanwhile, Mia McKenna-Bruce, 26, beat the likes of Jacob Elordi and Ayo Edebiri to win the EE Bafta Rising Star award for her performance as a teenage girl on a rites-of-passage Greek holiday with friends in Molly Manning Walkers debut film How to Have Sex. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) More than 70 friends, family, concerned citizens and members of the Sikh community gathered at the St. Paul community hall on Thursday evening, Feb. 15, to hear updates in the search for Gurjinder Gary Singh Grewal, owner of the popular St. Paul Market, who went missing Feb. 8 after leaving the market at approximately 10 a.m. Oregon State Police Lt. Christopher Zohner and Lt. Matt Wilkinson from the Marion County Sheriffs Office, who runs that countys search and rescue operations, briefed the crowd on the search efforts for the Woodburn resident. During the roughly 90-minute meeting, Zohner and Wilkinson presented a timeline of the day when Grewal went missing, including summarizing the enforcement effort to date, which included interviews of witnesses in the area at the time of the disappearance, forensic analysis of some security camera from Hazenberg Dairy on the east side of the (Willamette River) bridge and the next phase of the operation, said former St. Paul Mayor Kim Wallis. Heartbreaking: Portland community mourns for 2 teens who died in fiery crash Grewals family shared about the $10,000 reward for information leading to locating the man, as well as their search efforts, which included following on tips and possible sightings in the Portland area that turned out to be unfounded, Wallis said. Community members talked about their efforts to assist in the search, which included searching the river by boat, riverbank on foot and drone searches covering the St. Paul bridge to east of Butteville, Wallis said. Read more at PortlandTribune.com. The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. "If you are killed, if this does happen, what message do you leave behind to the Russian people?" This is the first question posed to Alexei Navalny by Canadian director Daniel Roher in the 2022 Oscar-winning documentary Navalny. "Come on Daniel, no," Navalny responds, smiling. "No way. It's like you're making a movie for the case of my death." Those words have now taken on a new poignancy with the news that the 47-year-old Russian political activist died in an Arctic Circle jail on Friday. Russian prison authorities said that the Kremlin critic had become unwell following a walk. Navalny's team says his body is purposely being withheld by the Russian authorities so they can "cover traces". Despite the clear dangers Navalny was facing back in Russia, Mr Roher told the BBC he was still in complete shock when he heard the news of his friend's death. "In this moment we're occupying now - this cloud of sadness and grief which I'm struck by - it's shocking to me," Mr Roher told the BBC. "I was shocked when I heard the news, in spite of the fact that anyone who watches the film should not be shocked, it should not be such of a surprise." Mr Roher described how his friendship with Navalny developed during the film project. "I think our mutual respect for one another was predicated on a shared sense of humour - he's a very funny man, he likes to laugh. Within about 10 seconds of meeting he was making fun of me and cracking jokes at my expense, which is my love language, so I was giving it right back," Mr Roher said. The film follows Navalny as he and his team unravel a plot to poison him with deadly nerve agent Novichok. In August 2020, he had collapsed on a flight over Siberia and was rushed to hospital in Omsk - an emergency landing that saved his life. Russian officials eventually allowed him to be airlifted to Berlin for treatment. The German government revealed that tests carried out by the military found "unequivocal proof of a chemical nerve warfare agent of the Novichok group". The Kremlin denied any involvement and rejected the Novichok finding. Many were sceptical, including Navalny himself, who embarked on his own investigation with a team of journalists. In one extraordinary scene in the film, Navalny dupes an FSB agent into admitting over the phone that the chemical weapon had been doused on Navalny's underwear at a hotel in Tomsk. The agent, Konstantin Kudryavtsev, said that had the plane not made an emergency landing, Navalny would have died. The fate of the agent is not known. "We were all completely stunned," said Shane Boris, a producer on the film. "When the team started that interview I don't think anyone expected the calls to yield any sort of result like that." The film follows Navalny as he recovers from the poisoning and spends time with his family. It documents his return to Russia, where he is arrested on arrival. He would never walk free again. Mr Roher says he and Navalny became close during the two months of filming, but the subject matter meant it was not all plain sailing. "There were moments that were quite tense, where I had to ask him uncomfortable things. Even the first question in the movie that's a very uncomfortable line of questioning, but I'm there first and foremost to make a movie," he said. Mr Roher said he and Navalny exchanged letters after he was imprisoned upon returning to Russia. "I'm very pleased to have them to this day. I put them in my office and I'll cherish those forever," he said. Daniel Roher and Yulia Navalnaya embrace at the 2023 Oscars The prospect of Navalny's mortality is a thread that runs throughout the film. In one scene, between interviews, one of Navalny's team asks him if he's getting irritated by questions about his past. Navalny says he is not, but adds: "It's just that I realise that he's filming it all for the movie he's going to release if I get whacked." In reality, the film was released before his death and won widespread international acclaim. The Guardian said it was "one of the most jaw-dropping things you'll ever witness", while the Times called it "undoubtedly one of the most thrilling documentaries to be released this, or any, year". Many are now watching the film in a new light. "Alexei, if you are arrested and thrown in prison, or the unthinkable happens and you are killed, what message do you leave behind for the Russian people?" Mr Roher asks in the final scene. Navalny briefly responds in English, before the director suggests he revert to his native tongue. He finishes in Russian: "We don't realise how strong we actually are. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. "So don't be inactive," he says, before giving a knowing look to the camera. Mr Roher says that making the film has changed his life. "It had such a profound impact on me as a human being," he said. "When I think about his life, it will remind me that no matter what situation life throws at you ... if you have levity and you do not lose your humanity - keep laughing, keep writing your wife's Valentines Day messages - everything will be better. "Everything isn't going to be okay for Alexei as we know, but his life is a masterclass in courage and resilience, and light in dark." Alexei Navalny: More coverage More than 284 people have been detained during rallies honouring the memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny across 31 Russian cities. Source: Meduza, a Latvian-based Russian media outlet Details: As of the evening of Saturday, 17 February, 143 people have been detained in St Petersburg and 49 in Moscow. Moscow police detain people who bring flowers to the Wall of Grief, a monument to the victims of political persecution by Joseph Stalin, to honour the memory of Navalny. People brought along posters that said "Killer" and chanted "Shame on you!" when law enforcement officers started to detain some of those who gathered. Police detained around 15 people in 10 minutes, after which only Ministry of Internal Affairs forces and journalists remained on the square. Another two people were detained near the Solovetsky Stone, a monument on Lubyanka Square in Moscow to the victims of political repression. Russian police also detained several people during a rally in St Petersburg after the memorial service for Navalny held near the Solovetsky Stone. The police pushed the protesters out of the square, and at least seven people were detained. Also in St Petersburg, law enforcement officers detained a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church, Grigory Mikhnov-Vaytenko, who was preparing to hold a memorial service for Navalny. Mikhnov-Vaytenko was detained on his way out of his house. The memorial service was conducted by another priest. Protesters were also detained during rallies in memory of Navalny that were held in Novosibirsk, Samara, Tomsk, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, and Ulan-Ude. Background: On the afternoon of 16 February, Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at Correctional Facility No. 3 in Kharp, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, in northwestern Siberia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Navalny was killed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian authorities have not released Navalnys body to his family for burial, and the cause of his death remains unclear. Support UP or become our patron! Over 300 people were detained in Russia while paying tribute to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died at a remote Arctic penal colony, a prominent rights group reported Sunday. The sudden death of Navalny, 47, was a crushing blow to many Russians, who had pinned their hopes for the future on President Vladimir Putins fiercest foe. Navalny remained vocal in his unrelenting criticism of the Kremlin even after surviving a nerve agent poisoning and receiving multiple prison terms. The news reverberated across the globe, with many world leaders blaming the death on Putin and his government. In an exchange with reporters shortly after leaving a Saturday church service, President Joe Biden reiterated his stance that Putin was ultimately to blame for Navalnys death. The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible. Whether he ordered it, hes responsible for the circumstance, Biden said. Its a reflection of who he is. It cannot be tolerated. Other politicians took a more cautious stance. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Sunday that he wouldnt jump to conclusions over Navalnys death. If the death is under suspicion, we must first carry out an investigation to find out what the citizen (Navalny) died of, Lula said in a press conference after returning from an African Union summit in Ethiopia on Sunday. Meanwhile, Navalnys wife, Yulia Navalnaya, published a picture of the couple on Instagram Sunday in her first social media post since her husbands death. The caption read simply: I love you. Hundreds of people in dozens of Russian cities streamed to ad-hoc memorials and monuments to victims of political repression with flowers and candles on Friday and Saturday to pay tribute to the politician. In 39 cities, police detained 366 people by Sunday evening, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. Earlier in the weekend, the group reported 401 detentions in two days, but later updated the number and said that their count may change both up and down over the next few days as information is being verified. More than 200 arrests were made in St. Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, the group said. By Sunday evening, court officials in St. Petersburg reported rulings ordering 154 of those detained to serve from one to 14 days in jail. Among those detained there was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church a religious group independent of the Russian Orthodox Church who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Navalny and was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home. He was charged with organizing a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct, but was later hospitalized with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Memorial events also took place in cities across the world. In Berlin, members of the Russian activist group Pussy Riot held a demonstration outside of the Russian Embassy, holding banners that read murderers in English and Russian. The group, which included Pussy Riot members Nadya Tolokonnikova and Lusya Shtein, as well as longtime Navalny ally Lyubov Sobol and former Russian state media journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, planned to march with the banner to the citys Brandenburg Gate but were ultimately stopped by police. Tolokonnikova told The Associated Press after the demonstration that such actions were meant to show that we exist. We show ourselves to each other and support each other, and show with this action that Russia still has a future, and the idea of a beautiful Russia of the future hasnt died, she said, using a term Navalny has famously coined. Right now (some are) saying that hope died together with Navalny. But it seems to me that with (the death of) Navalny it wasnt the hope that died, but rather responsibility was born. Dozens of people in Romanias capital of Bucharest also gathered outside the Russian Embassy on Sunday to pay tribute to the opposition leader. Many lit candles and placed flowers next to a memorial portrait of Navalny, while several people brandished placards that read: You dont win free elections by murdering the opposition. In Finland, a group of Russian residents gathered signatures for a petition proposing a name change for a park adjacent to the Russian Embassy in the capital, Helsinki, to Navalny Park in honor of the deceased opposition figure. The news of Navalnys death came a month before a presidential election in Russia that is widely expected to give Putin another six years in power. Questions about the cause of death lingered, and it remained unclear when the authorities would release Navalnys body. More than 29,000 people have submitted requests to the Russian government asking for the politicians remains to be handed over to his relatives, OVD-Info said Sunday. Navalnys team said Saturday that the politician was murdered and accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the release of the body. Navalnys mother and lawyers received contradictory information from various institutions they visited in their quest to retrieve the body. Everything there is covered with cameras in the colony. Every step he took was filmed from all angles all these years. Each employee has a video recorder. In two days, there has been not a single video leaked or published. There is no room for uncertainty here, Navalnys closest ally and strategist, Leonid Volkov, said Sunday. Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Navalny felt sick after a walk Friday and became unconscious at the penal colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow. An ambulance arrived, but he couldnt be revived, the service said, adding that the cause of death is still being established. Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He received three prison terms since his arrest, on a number of charges he has rejected as politically motivated. More than 400 people have been detained in Russia while mourning opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who officials said died in prison last week, according to a rights group that monitors political arrests. Russian officials announced on Friday that Navalny who was serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges died in the prison facility above the Arctic Circle on the Yamal Peninsula, where he was transferred in December. News of his death sparked demonstrations around the world and in Russia, where many hoped that the longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin could take him on in the future. The OVD-Info rights group, which monitors political arrests and hands out legal aid, said 401 people have been detained across three dozen cities in Russia by Saturday night, according to a tracker on its website. The group said more than 200 of those arrests were made in Russias second-largest city, St. Petersburg, according to AP. Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church, was among those arrested in St. Petersburg, according to the group. He had previously announced plans to hold a memorial service for Navalny and was arrested Saturday morning outside his home, The Associated Press reported. The group noted the priest had a stroke and was later hospitalized after his arrest. The AP reported that 42 of those detained on Friday in St. Petersburg were ordered to serve one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, according to court officials. Questions remain around the cause of Navalnys death, with the opposition leaders team saying he was murdered, according to AP. It remains unclear when Russian authorities would release Navalnys body to his family. President Biden on Friday blamed Putin for the death of Navalny, which comes about a month before a presidential election in Russia that will likely hand Putin another term. Biden said while he does not know what happened to Navalny, his death was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did. But make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalnys death. Putin is responsible. What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putins brutality. No one should be fooled, he said. The Associated Press contributed For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Every day begins the same for Jessie Wooden. Before I do anything, I go in and talk to mom and I say a prayer, Wooden said seated underneath a tree that casts a wavering shadow over his face. And thats how I start my day. And it really, really, really has tremendously just done great for me, you know? And so I actually feel as though I have a conversation with her. For a son who spent his life without his mother, those morning moments mean more than anyone can imagine. Its a time of reflection. Meditation. Peace. The result: this is actually the closest Wooden has ever been to her even though Vivian Ann Wooden passed in 1965. I think its more personal closure for me, Wooden said, from someone who never knew her, never visited her, never seen a picture, and just find out about her whereabouts three and a half years ago. Jessie Wooden stands over his mothers grave in prayer - a ritual practiced upon every time he comes to Lincoln Memorial Park, which he purchased after finding his mother in the neglected cemetery. In 2019, Wooden found his mother in Lincoln Memorial Park in Miami, the neglected cemetery home to upwards of 30,000 Black Americans including lynching victims, veterans and even a few millionaires. The sprawling cemetery, filled with thousands of faded white above-ground sarcophagi and grayish headstones closely arranged in haphazard rows, sits on a plot of land on Northwest 46th Street in the historic neighborhood of Brownsville. He had originally intended to move her Lincoln Memorials condition was nothing less than decrepit and he lived in South Carolina yet his Miami family convinced him otherwise. So instead Wooden did something surprising: he bought the cemetery. Now nearly four years later, he wants to transform Lincoln Memorial into a museum of sorts, complete with historical tours that offer the truth about the segregated cemetery itself but also its inhabitants. A balloon is attached to the tombstone of Vivian Wooden in celebration of her birthday (Dec. 12, 1932). She was the mother of the current owner of Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Miami-Dades Brownsville neighborhood. Jessie Wooden found his mothers final resting place in the neglected but once beautiful cemetery. We not only need this as a cemetery, Wooden said, we need it as a place to come and recognize this is where our community and the ones who built that community is at. We need to honor them and we need to piggyback and build off of that. Because, you know, our history is getting erased. And this is our history out here. After his morning discussion with his mother, Wooden often continues to beautify the landscape. Cutting the grass. Cleaning headstones. Picking up trash. He only pauses when a visitor comes by in search of a loved one. Thanks to a detailed record, Wooden can nine times out of 10 help them find their relative even if they are buried underneath someone else. Jessie Wooden, center, assists his staff in positioning a casket as loved ones gather for a burial at Lincoln Memorial Park. Wooden estimates he has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into Lincoln Memorial since becoming owner. And the signs of resurrection have begun to show. The sidewalk out front just got repaved. Lights and an eight-foot black fence are supposed to be up by the end of February. And, arguably most important, burials are actually happening again. In about another month this will be a whole different place, said Jessies brother Frank Wooden, who helps maintain Lincoln Memorial. We want the kids to come out, like schools, so they can learn about our history. Lincoln was born out of segregation Founded by Kelsey Pharr, South Floridas first Black mortician, in the early 1920s, Lincoln Memorial Cemetery was created so deceased Miamians of African descent could have a place to call their own. Black Miamians used to be buried at the back of the Miami City Cemetery, home to Mother of Miami Julia Tuttle among others, yet Pharr was asked to move the bodies after it began to fill. You didnt bury Black and white people in the same place, said Florida historian Marvin Dunn. Lincoln was born out of segregation. Mourners grieve and lay flowers on the casket of Nickolas Amos Calderon, who was buried at Lincoln Memorial Park. Over the years, Lincoln became a bastion of Black Miami history as the final resting place for D.A. Dorsey (Miamis first Black millionaire), Fla. Rep. Gwen Cherry (the first Black woman to serve in the Florida legislature) and H.E.S. Reeves (founder of Miamis first Black newspaper, The Miami Times). Once deemed the finest colored cemetery in the south, Lincoln still has remnants of its former glory: the arched stone gateway, Dorseys mausoleum with two large doors and the graves of veterans, which Wooden distinguishes with tiny American flags. Lincoln got to be the prominent cemetery, said Enid Pinkney, a Black Miami historian, particularly on the neighborhood of Brownsville. By the 1990s, however, Lincoln Memorial had fallen into disrepair. Thick, overgrown weeds began to swallow weathered headstones. Discarded beer bottles began to replace the flowers that tend to line graves. A passing truck damaged the arched stone gateway. Grave robbers would soon make Lincoln Memorial their playground. At first people would come and paint their loved ones graves and clean up the area, Lincoln Memorials former manager Ellen Johnson told the Miami Herald in 1995. The goddaughter of Pharr, Johnson received the cemetery after his passing in 1964. She later passed it on to her niece, Jessica Williams. Now the attitude is, Youre dead, youre gone. A white hearse exits Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in the Brownsville neighborhood. The trend continued into the 2010s when Lincoln Memorial became the subject of the Miami Heralds Caretakers series and an exhibit at the Coral Gables Museum. A three-part dive into the Lincoln Memorial of past and present, the series detailed the struggles of Williams and Arthur Kennedy, the groundskeeper, as they tried to restore the cemetery to its former glory. As previously reported, the scarce burials meant that the cemetery generated minimal income. It was physically hard to maintain, said Kennedy, who used to work 60-hour weeks under Williams. Kennedy started because he too wanted to find the missing grave belonging to a loved one, his grandfather. I even got shot out there one night in 2019. They wanted to take the bodies out. Out of eight months, 240 days, I had at least 160 fights. People were having sex in the graveyard. People doing drugs, getting high in the graveyard. Added Dunn: My heart broke every time I drove by it. And not just because of the luminaries buried in there but its the so-called common folks. The custodians, the teachers, the workers, the maids, the bus drivers and not to mention the Black veterans. The condition of their graves was so embarrassing. Lincoln Memorials previous condition unfortunately mirrors that of many Black cemeteries across the country. In Tampa, a public housing complex and warehouse now occupy the land where Zion Cemetery used to reside. In Hillsdale, Mo., Greenwood Cemetery had transformed into an overgrown dumping ground. And in Houston, flooding has washed away many of Olivewood Cemeterys gravesites. And while public funding helps keep many primarily White burial grounds like the Miami City Cemetery well-manicured, Black cemeteries are often left to fight on their own, though it was institutional segregation that necessitated places like Lincoln Memorial in the first place. Jessie has done a lot but its a heavy lift for a single owner of a cemetery, Dunn said. Miami-Dade County has a responsibility for these dead citizens to protect their place of burial. This is not charity, Dunn added. This is a debt to the dead. These people built Miami. For the first time in my life, I knew where she was at Born in Miami, Wooden stayed with various family members following the passing of his mother shortly after his birth. He graduated from Miami High before eventually moving to South Carolina where he found a career in real estate. Still, Wooden felt something was missing. It was tough to the point I blocked it out, Wooden said. Relationships were tough not having a mother figure. Sometimes you feel like youre not loved, nobody cares. Wooden discovered his mothers 98-year-old sister in 2019 and began to pick her brain. His newfound aunt filled in all the blanks she told him when his mother met his dad, where she was buried, how beautiful she was and even showed him pictures for the first time. Shortly before her 99th birthday, Woodens aunt passed and he made the decision to come to Miami to move his mother to a family plot in South Carolina due to the poor conditions at Lincoln Memorial. His siblings objected so he decided to purchase the cemetery not knowing anything about the cemetery business or anything about Lincoln Memorial, Wooden said. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, auntie & friend. We love you- youre forever in our hearts, reads the plaque that marks Jessie Woodens mothers grave. All I knew was that my mother was here and for the first time in my life, I knew where she was at, Wooden continued. As Wooden began to learn the history of Lincoln Memorial, he became enamored. And a rumor he heard that the land would have been cleared for high rises confirmed in his mind that he was doing the right thing. The beautification process, however, wasnt easy. He had to hire contractors to remove the trees, bees and snakes. I had like 40 to 50 people out here one time, Wooden said. The investment even took a toll on his marriage. Im not gonna say it caused a divorce but all that is worth it for me to find my mom and be able to have a relationship with her, to be her gatekeeper, Wooden said. Despite the challenges, its his mother who keeps him going. In my heart, I know Im making her proud. Jessie Wooden stands underneath the shade of one of the many large trees at Lincoln Memorial Park. Wooden says he has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to restore the cemetery. He recently received $500,000 from Miami-Dade County to make further improvements to the landmark. Only recently has Miami-Dade County begun to help. In late 2023, Wooden received $500,000 from the County courtesy of Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon to help build the fence and install the lights. For that, hes thankful, especially given the current state of his finances. I cant go on another five years or Ill be completely broke, Wooden said. In a statement, Hardemon applauded Woodens vision for positioning the cemetery as a beacon of light and historical significance to Miami-Dade and vowed to continue to support Lincolns journey to becoming a cultural destination for the Brownsville community. It is vitally important that the cemetery is not an eyesore, Hardemon wrote. Besides being a final resting place for many of the Black communitys pioneers, it is positioned near the gateway of the Brownsville neighborhood. Therefore, its historically poor condition has harmed the property values and reputation of the community. But the future is still uncertain for Lincoln Memorial Park, said Dunn. One of his worst fears is that it will be in ruins just as soon as Jessie is no longer present or able to take of it. The onus, Dunn continued, now lies on the County. These are citizens of Dade County who are buried out there, who paid taxes to Dade County, Dunn explained. Dade County owes them. A new report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says efforts to restore oyster populations could have benefits beyond just survival of the species. The report, released last week, outlines strategies for reaping the most benefits from oyster restoration. Allison Colden, Maryland executive director for the foundation, said oysters are a powerful tool to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its challenges. The bay is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives from casual conversation over crab feasts to those who make their living working on the water each and every day, Colden said. The social, cultural and economic benefits of the bay are increasingly at risk from the threats of climate change, increased precipitation, storm intensity and sea-level rise, threaten homes and critical infrastructure. Sunny-day or nuisance flooding renders our roads impassable, cutting off businesses and emergency services. Shoreline properties are eroding at increasing rates as well as increasing temperatures challenging the electrical grid on our summers hottest days. According to the report, furthering restoration of oysters would help coastal communities vulnerable to sea-level rise. Specifically, living shorelines that include oyster shell reefs are a natural approach to protecting them from erosion. Healthy oyster reefs can also help protect the habitats that capture and store carbon. The report states that strong policies reduce shoreline hardening and incorporating oyster habitat can recreate continuous, interconnected natural systems that protect coastal areas against storms and erosion. Currently, the foundation estimates roughly 14% of Chesapeake Bay shorelines in Maryland and 11% in Virginia are considered hardened, by using shoreline protections such as bulkheads and revetments. Doing so will also provide additional benefits for other coastal species, habitats and economies, the report continues. Oysters also filter sediment and algae from the water, the report states, increasing the clarity that is needed for Chesapeake Bay vegetation to receive enough sunlight. At the same time, they deposit nutrient-rich organic matter on the bottom that supports growth. We want to make sure that with the scientific tools we have available now, we can manage the oyster population to increase our harvest to levels that actually are sustainable in the future and not be in a situation where we follow good reproduction with unsustainable harvest, and therefore (oysters) experience drops in populations, said Chris Moore, CBF director for Virginia. Weve all seen how exciting the increase of oyster harvested in the last couple of years is. But we want to make sure that remains in an upward trajectory and, like I say, not somewhat of a bust cycle like weve seen over the last 20-25 years or so. The report also outlines transparency and accountability recommendations for states along the bay. In Virginia, the foundation recommends better accounting and data-sharing about how many oyster-lease acres, and allowing the public to participate in recommending how oyster fishery operates. Currently, the foundation reports that under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, federal-state efforts are on track to fully restore 11 Chesapeake Bay tributaries for oyster habitat by 2025. Don Boesch, president emeritus for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, said reaching the full potential for oysters involvement in resiliency. We can celebrate that and accept that as a success, but this accomplishment should be seen just as the beginning not the end, for recovery of the bays oyster population, Boesch said. We must continue to get an even smarter way, learning from what weve been able to do (and) building on what weve learned, to take the next steps recommended in this report by CBF in a way that is now also aligned with mitigating and adapting to climate change. While bold, these recommendations are entirely feasible in my opinion. Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has called on the Israeli authorities to allow the population crammed into the south of the Gaza Strip to return to their homes further north. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Shtayyeh issued a warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attempt to force Palestinians across the border into Egypt. "I know, and we know, that it has been an Israeli programme to push people out of Gaza. We and the Egyptians have been working hard not to allow this to happen," he said. "Egypt is not going to allow anybody to cross the border," Shtayyeh said. There have been reports in the international press that Egypt is constructing a reception camp on its side of the border to accommodate Palestinian refugees. Shtayyeh also said that the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA), which is based in Ramallah in the West Bank, does not maintain contacts with Hamas, which has run the Gaza Strip since 2007. He noted that various Palestinian groups, including Fatah and Hamas, are to meet in Moscow on Thursday at Russia's invitation. The PA prime minister described the situation following the October 7 attacks as a catastrophe for everyone, but noted that the history of Palestinian suffering had begin in 1948. Shtayyeh said the PA government did not aim at killing civilians, and he called for the spiral of violence to be broken. The Palestinian issue had to be resolved, and now was the time to do this, he said. FORT LAUDERDALE Theres no laughter on this playground. No chats between friends. No breaking of bread at the picnic tables. Locks went up on Fort Lauderdales Dottie Mancini Park on Dec. 7. More than two months later, the park still remains closed. Nearby residents who have grown to love their little park are fuming. With patience wearing thin, they want to know when Dottie Mancini Park is going to reopen, if ever. City Manager Chavarria told the South Florida Sun Sentinel he is doing all he can to get the park open as soon as possible. But fans of the park fear it has become a bargaining chip in a proposed land swap between Fort Lauderdale and Broward Health that could take months to resolve. Broward Health, also known as the North Broward Hospital District, owns the land beneath the park, a 1.2-acre parcel Broward Health Imperial Point at 6520 NE 22nd Ave. The city wants to buy the land, but has been told its not for sale, Mayor Dean Trantalis says. John Herbst, the district commissioner for the neighborhood, says hes taken it on the chin on social media platforms from angry residents ever since the park closed. The residents are extremely displeased, he said. They understand we are doing everything we possibly can to get the park opened back up. But its really up to Broward Health. They own the land. If they dont agree to what weve offered, we cant force it. Herbst says the city requested Broward Health sign off on a temporary lease agreement so the city could keep the park open for the next six months. They said no, Herbst said. They did not say why. They just said no. For the past 25 years, Fort Lauderdale has been leasing the land for $1 a year from Broward Health. The lease expired in November. The locks went up less than a month after the lease expired. Every effort is being made to open the park but we have to be cognizant of the cost to the taxpayers, Trantalis said. What would a new lease deal cost the taxpayers? We dont know yet, Trantalis said. We have not settled on an agreement. Chavarria told the Sun Sentinel he has had several conversations regarding the closed park and the hospital districts expansion plans over the past two months with Broward Health CEO Shane Strum, former chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Chavarria says he is now working on a new agreement that would allow the city to lease the park space from Broward Health for one year for $24,203 a month. The total bill would approach $300,000. Chavarria can approve the agreement for up to one year without getting commission approval, he says. In the meantime, Chavarria says hes trying to find the hospital district another piece of taxpayer-owned land to help aid the districts expansion efforts and get a better lease deal for Dottie Mancini Park long term. If there is no such land, the city would buy a parcel and swap it for a better lease deal with Broward Health, Chavarria said. Were looking to find another plot of land that would enable us to broker a deal so that Dottie Mancini Park can be available to the public, Chavarria said. Once we find that space we can renegotiate the lease, hopefully back to $1 a year. Once a new lease is signed, Fort Lauderdale can move forward with making $1 million in upgrades to the park. The upgrades were promised under a $200 million parks bond approved by voters more than five years ago. As of Friday, the proposed one-year lease deal was still under review by the hospital districts legal team, said Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for Broward Health. Both the city and Broward Health are happy with the state of the agreement and hope to have exciting news for the residents soon, Smith said. But the mayor thinks paying nearly $25,000 per month to lease space for Dottie Mancini Park is too high a price to pay. Its a high number and I think the people of the community deserve a better price, Trantalis told the Sun Sentinel. Broward Health has tasked the city with finding the district a parcel of land for a proposed 24-hour emergency medical center, city officials say. How does that benefit Fort Lauderdale? Heres what the hospital district had to say in response to that question. Broward Health is always engaging with municipalities to consider opportunities that could create convenient access points of care for our community, Smith said. We are always open to partnerships that create meaningful benefits to our community, such as Broward Health sharing its privately owned property with the city for a park. Another plan floated last year by Herbst to build an ER center on the parking lot at Fort Lauderdales Beach Community Center died a quick death after an outcry from condo residents along Galt Ocean Mile. An overflow crowd showed up en masse in May to protest the idea at a town hall meeting hosted by Herbst, who represents the neighborhood on the northern end of Fort Lauderdales barrier island. More than 250 seniors, some in wheelchairs and toting canes, crowded into the community center to blast the proposal, saying they didnt want to endure more traffic or the howl of emergency sirens day and night. Broward Health is still interested in building a free-standing ER center that was proposed near the Galt, Herbst said. They want to do that somewhere east of Federal Highway. Were looking for something we already own or something we can acquire. If we can do that they are willing to let us use Dottie Mancini Park. Nearby residents still hold out hope that the park will open soon. That includes Betty Shelley, president of the Imperial Point Civic Association and chief organizer of the many holiday parties hosted at the park over the years. People are so upset about the park being closed, Shelley said. We have a Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt there on March 23. Ive been told they will have the park open by then. Jeanne Milot, a Fort Lauderdale mom with three young children, is trying not to lose hope. Were trying to keep up the pressure, she said. But it seems like its falling under the radar and being forgotten about. This park is right in our backyard. My children miss their park tremendously. They ask me, Mommy, why cant we go to our park? Now we have to drive so far away. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan Allegheny General Hospital held an event to shed light on heart disease in women and celebrate their caretakers. The Go Red for Women luncheon was held at the Magovern event space at Allegheny General Hospital on Friday. Two women shared their stories during the event. Amber Michael from Carnegie talked about her experience with caretakers as she struggled with cardiomyopathy while she was pregnant with her son, Brody. The disease causes heart muscles to constrict blood flow. Laura Miller from Johnstown was also a featured speaker. She is 40 years old and struggles with congestive heart failure, which caused her to have five heart attacks in her lifetime. Miller is one of the few people to receive an implantable device designed to treat heart failure. Doctors Indu Poornima and Mahathi Indaram from AHN Womens Heart Center spoke about the importance of treatments like that and other ways to practice keeping a healthy heart. A spokesperson from Allegheny Health Network said the event was well-attended by clinicians, patients and hospital administration. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Chinese restaurant in Pittsburghs Greenfield neighborhood shut down over health code violations Pittsburgh indoor bike park closing after nearly 11 years in business Local woman warns others about potentially fraudulent tax refund checks from U.S. Treasury VIDEO: Bat used by Roberto Clemente in 1971 World Series up for auction DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Editors note: This story includes descriptions of sexual abuse and assault. When a woman came to the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute complaining of hip and groin pain, X-ray technician Karol Ruszczyk put his hand between her legs, touching her vaginal area over her clothes. At Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, nurse David Giurgiu had a heavily medicated, 76-year-old patient perform oral sex on him from her hospital bed. At Chicagos Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, a patient reported that worker Titus Snelling had rolled her wheelchair into an elevator and, when they were alone, began kissing her up and down her neck. All three of the victims complained to the hospitals and health care systems that employed the workers. All three of those systems allowed the employees to continue working. And all three workers were later charged with abusing additional patients. Over the course of a yearlong investigation, the Tribune found that well-known Illinois health systems have allowed workers accused of abusing patients to keep providing care. The failures to respond adequately to abuse allegations had devastating consequences for the victims, who felt betrayed by medical systems they had trusted with their health and safety. While some medical systems in other states have reckoned publicly with their failures, Illinois health care providers have quietly settled lawsuits, entered into confidentiality agreements with patients and often refused to acknowledge wrongdoing. Efforts by state government to hold providers accountable have fallen short, largely leaving hospital systems to decide on their own how to balance patient safety with their reputations and financial interests. Loopholes in state laws leave many providers without meaningful oversight, other laws lack teeth, and one law that would help document and track adverse events at hospitals has yet to be implemented 16 years later. Illinois law does require hospitals to report allegations of patient abuse to state health officials, but those that fail to do so face few consequences, even in cases where the health care worker went on to face abuse allegations from additional patients. In many cases, the only real consequences health systems appeared to face came from lawsuits filed by victims. Tribune reporters identified allegations of patient sexual abuse in Illinois by obtaining and reviewing thousands of pages of medical board disciplinary findings, arrest records, police reports, Illinois Department of Public Health investigations, civil and criminal court documents and by analyzing state data. The Tribune filed 50 Freedom of Information Act requests and conducted more than three dozen interviews. In all, the Tribune identified 52 health care workers accused of sexual misconduct with patients in Illinois over the last decade. At least 27 of those workers faced allegations from multiple patients in recent years, the Tribune found. The true numbers are almost certainly higher, since many allegations are not reported to law enforcement or to the state. In one of the most egregious cases, dozens of women have alleged that former NorthShore University HealthSystem gynecologist Dr. Fabio Ortega sexually assaulted them during exams over three decades. According to police and court records, NorthShore now known as Endeavor Health allowed him to continue working after receiving complaints from patients and even after it knew police were investigating him. Ortega eventually pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two patients, and he has been sued along with Endeavor and his former employer, Swedish Hospital in Chicago by at least 30 women. The hospital, formerly known as Swedish Covenant, is now part of Endeavor. Women told the Tribune they suffered for years after they were abused by medical providers. The patient who was assaulted by emergency department nurse Giurgiu at Glenbrook Hospital also part of Endeavor Health was afraid of being in any room alone after the abuse, according to her daughter. She wouldnt sleep in her own bed. The Tribune is using the pseudonyms Mary and Susan for the two women because the Tribune generally does not identify victims of sexual abuse or assault without their permission. She was a very strong-willed person who just started crumbling, Susan said of her mother. Mary, who died in 2022, was devastated again when she learned that Giurgiu had allegedly abused another patient about nine months later. It wasnt until the second allegation that Glenbrook fired him. That made everything worse, Susan said. She was like, If they just would have believed me, this wouldnt have happened to another woman. Representatives of Endeavor Health, the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute and Jackson Park Hospital would not answer questions from the Tribune about their handling of patients specific allegations. Endeavor and Illinois Bone & Joint both stressed their commitment to patient safety. The past events you discuss are incredibly upsetting and heartbreaking, Endeavor said in a statement, adding that the hospital system continues to improve its processes to support the reporting of abuse allegations. We acknowledge trust is earned and will always look for opportunities to demonstrate our commitment to the highest standards of safety and quality in our care. I just want to die, I just want to die Marys nightmare began on Thanksgiving night in 2018, when she took a spill that landed her in the Glenbrook Hospital emergency department with a broken femur, court and medical records show. Susan stayed with Mary until early the next day, when her mother finally persuaded her to go home and rest, Susan said. Between 4:30 and 5:50 a.m., according to a state investigation, the injured woman was visited three times by Giurgiu, a 25-year-old registered nurse. The visits ranged in length from eight to 20 minutes. Later that day, Mary was transferred to Skokie Hospital for surgery. Susan said she noticed a change in her mother after the operation; Mary was refusing to eat and crying uncontrollably, she said. The nurses at the hospital noticed too. Days after the surgery, a nurse wrote in Marys chart that the patient began shaking and crying when talking about an earlier incident. Several hours later another nurse wrote that Mary was weepy throughout the day and that the elderly woman had reported an alleged event at Glenbrook Hospital. In a later police interview, Mary recalled telling hospital staff, I just want to die, I just want to die, and I dont want to live anymore, court records show. The hospital put her on suicide watch. Susan would soon learn what was causing her mother such agony: The nurse had assaulted Mary while she was alone and in pain, engaging her in oral sex when she was unable to consent. Glenbrook Hospital officials launched a brief internal investigation into Marys allegation, led by the hospitals vice president of nursing and clinical operations, according to the states investigation. Susan also went to the police. Endeavor Health did not answer Tribune questions about what its investigation into Giurgiu consisted of, nor whether Giurgiu worked with patients during that time. But state records show that two days after Mary reported the abuse, hospital officials told Mary and her family that the hospital had found the allegation was not substantiated. The hospital found that no other patient had ever complained about Giurgiu, and other staff had not witnessed anything inappropriate, according to state records. Police also suspended their investigation after running out of leads, police records show. With the police investigation at a dead end, and Glenbrook Hospital moving on from Marys allegation, Giurgiu continued working with patients. About nine months later, another woman came forward with a disturbingly similar account of being sexually abused by the nurse after receiving pain medication in the emergency department, according to police and court records. This time, the hospital fired Giurgiu, a police report states. Hospital officials also alerted the police and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Giurgiu initially denied the allegations to police. Then police told Giurgiu they had taken clothing samples from the patient and planned to test them for Giurgius semen, according to a police report. At that point, police noticed a change in Giurgius demeanor. He soon admitted to both incidents, the report states, and said hed engaged in sexual activity with a third patient, also after the interaction with Mary. He told police the activity was all consensual. In September 2019, Giurgiu was charged in the incident involving Mary and the one that occurred nine months later. He was convicted in September 2022 on one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in the attack on Mary. Prosecutors dismissed the charges involving the other known victim after Giurgiu was convicted and sentenced. Giurgiu is now in prison, sentenced to decades behind bars. Giurgiu did not respond to a request for comment. The state health department investigated Endeavors response to the allegations and found the hospital had failed to report Marys allegations to the state within 24 hours and had not adequately investigated Marys claims, according to a state report the Tribune obtained through a public records request. The agency noted in its findings that the hospital investigation had focused on one interaction between Mary and the nurse when others were present a catheter insertion but failed to take into account the three times Giurgiu was seen on hallway surveillance video entering and exiting Marys room alone. It also found the hospital had not offered Mary the opportunity for a sexual assault examination. Maria Knecht, who was vice president of nursing and clinical operations at the time of the investigation, has since been promoted and took over as Glenbrook Hospital president this year. Endeavor Health did not make Knecht available for an interview and would not answer questions about Giurgiu, including whether the hospital ever put him on leave or restricted his duties after the allegations by Mary. In a plan of correction submitted to the state, Endeavor detailed measures it planned to take at Glenbrook, such as updating processes to ensure compliance with reporting of sexual abuse allegations to the state, addressing gaps in the investigation process by establishing an oversight committee, and developing a checklist for reviewing patient assault allegations. But the corrective plan does not constitute an admission that a deficiency exists or that one was cited correctly, Endeavor wrote. Responding to Tribune questions, Endeavor said in a January statement that it thoroughly reviews sexual abuse allegations and that providers are required to have a chaperone present or be removed from care if an investigation is underway. Endeavor did not answer questions about when the chaperone policy started and whether a chaperone accompanied Giurgiu while the hospital was investigating Marys allegations. The providers alleged conduct is a fundamental betrayal of our mission and our patients trust, Endeavor said. After allegations, more harm When a patient reports sexual abuse by a hospital employee or medical staff member, several things are supposed to happen under Illinois law. For one, the hospital should report the allegation to the Illinois Department of Public Health within 24 hours so state officials can investigate. It should also take prompt action to ensure the patients safety, which can include removing suspected violators from further patient contact while hospital officials conduct an internal review. Yet the Tribune identified at least 10 instances in the last decade where a patient had alleged sexual misconduct at a hospital but the incident does not appear in the states database for abuse allegations reported by hospitals. For example, when Rush University Medical Center fired nurse Thomas Trunk in 2016 after a patient alleged sexually inappropriate conduct, it notified the state agency that had the power to take action against the nurses license. But the hospital did not notify the Illinois Department of Public Health, the agency that could have investigated Rushs response to the allegations. Trunk was later convicted of battery after a home health care patient accused him of sexual abuse, in a separate incident. A Rush spokesperson would not say why the hospital did not contact the health department, saying Rush could not speak to details that led to a decision in a personnel matter. Trunk did not respond to requests for comment sent to his attorneys. In the case of nurse technician Titus Snelling, court records show that a female patient alleged in October 2016 that he began flirting with her and kissing her neck while he was supposed to be wheeling her to her room. The patient immediately told other hospital workers what had happened, Cook County prosecutors later said. But Jackson Park did not report the allegation to the Department of Public Health, state officials confirmed, and Snelling continued to work with patients. About four months after that incident, in February 2017, Snelling was supposed to transport another patient to her room. Instead, he rolled her to a dark room in an unused part of the hospital, inappropriately touched her under her gown and put his mouth on her toes, prosecutors said. Only after receiving that complaint did Jackson Park Hospital fire Snelling. As Chicago police investigated, hospital officials acknowledged that another patient had also previously made an allegation against Snelling. Snelling later received a 10-year prison sentence related to the most recent incident after a Cook County judge found him guilty of aggravated kidnapping in 2019 following a bench trial. From the Western Illinois Correctional Center, Snelling told the Tribune that Jackson Park Hospital investigated the October patients complaint and cleared him to return to work about three days later. After the February complaint, the hospitals nursing director spoke with Snelling again, referenced some security video, and fired him, according to Snelling. He denied he abused any patients and said he is working to overturn his conviction. Jackson Park Hospital, which also did not report the February incident to the state, did not answer the Tribunes questions about its failures to report, whether it changed Snellings duties after the first patient spoke out, and whether and how it investigated Snelling. Margo Brooks, the hospitals vice president of development, said the hospital would not comment due to patient privacy and hospital policy against commenting on pending or past litigation. The patient from the February incident reached a settlement in 2021 for an undisclosed amount after filing a lawsuit contending the hospital had failed to protect her from abuse by Snelling. In most cases, theres no reason a hospital cant fire a worker after a single complaint as long as the worker is an at-will employee, said Bill Tarnow, a Chicago-based partner and chair of the labor and employment group at law firm Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg. Thats the case even if the hospital cant prove definitively that the worker acted inappropriately, he said. The hospital also is free to change a workers duties in almost all cases, such as by requiring them to work with a chaperone or prohibiting them from working with female patients, pending further investigation and review. Illinois Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said patients at hospital-based practices in particular have an expectation that the infrastructure is designed to help and support them and that hospitals operate with strong oversight. When that accountability is lacking, she said, it is doubly disappointing. You would hope that a hospital organization or health care provider organization would be more invested in rooting out bad apples, Cassidy said. As weve seen in the priesthood and school systems and police departments, its easier to just hide bad behavior and hope it goes away. In response to the Tribunes investigation, the state health department said it is now working with Cassidy on legislation that would create financial penalties for hospitals that fail to report sexual abuse cases by staff to the department. The legislation would also require doctors offices and satellite clinics to report abuse allegations involving health care workers to the state under the same rules that now apply to hospitals. The department has also said it will review hospitals abuse reporting policies to ensure they align with state regulations, and is following up with the hospitals that did not report allegations, as identified by the Tribune, to seek more information regarding the allegations of patient abuse occurring in those facilities. Poor transparency, little accountability In 2005, Illinois legislators handily passed a bill meant to improve the health care system by addressing so-called never events: unthinkable incidents such as leaving an item inside the body during surgery or the sexual abuse of a patient. The law directed the Illinois Department of Public Health to create a reporting system in which hospitals and surgery centers would report these events, discuss the root causes of the incidents and outline how they would be prevented in the future. The system was supposed to be operational by 2008 and accompanied by annual reports summarizing the events, causes and solutions. Facilities that didnt comply could be sanctioned. But this important attempt to improve transparency has floundered for nearly two decades. The state hasnt created the reporting system, and has not published any of the required reports. By contrast, the Minnesota Department of Health has been publishing an annual public report on adverse events, including sexual assaults, in hospitals since 2005. Members of the public can also look up adverse events, by hospital, on the departments website. Mike Claffey, a state health department spokesperson, said a lack of funding initially delayed the laws implementation, followed by unsuccessful requests for proposals to build the reporting system. The COVID-19 pandemic also delayed the process, he said, but the department is now preparing a new request for proposals to establish the online reporting system and database. Sen. Karina Villa, who leads the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee, called it devastating to hear that the 2005 law has yet to be implemented. This is a top priority, said Villa, D-West Chicago. We need to make sure were protecting people in the state when theyre going in for care. We need to make sure were addressing this issue with the department and if funds are needed the General Assembly needs to have a clear understanding as to what kinds of funds theyre needing. Even when the state found a hospital had failed to protect patients, Tribune reporting showed there was sometimes little required beyond a promise from the hospital that it would do better next time. Early last year, the Illinois Department of Public Health found that Ascension Mercy hospital in Aurora had failed to protect its patients from abuse. The agencys investigation involved a case in which three adolescent girls reported to hospital staff that a doctor had touched them inappropriately. A hospital committee quickly held a hearing and decided to take the doctor out of the behavioral health unit, where the girls were being treated, and put him into the hospitals nursery to care for younger patients, state records show. The doctor went on a leave of absence roughly a month after the hospital learned of the first patients allegations, according to the health departments investigation. The hospitals vice president of patient safety and quality later told the state health department: Retrospectively, (the doctor) shouldve been removed from service at the hospital, including the nursery, during the investigation. Yet the hospital faced few significant consequences for the error. Although the state health department placed Ascension Mercy hospital in immediate jeopardy, a distinction that had the potential to cost the hospital millions in lost Medicare dollars, the sanction lasted only one day. The agency dropped the jeopardy ruling after the hospital developed a plan to promptly remove providers from patient care following allegations in the future. Ascension Illinois spokesperson Tim Nelson said in a statement that Ascension takes all allegations seriously, following state and regulatory guidelines to address and investigate. Nelson would not answer specific questions about the hospitals response to the patient allegations. We can assure the patients and communities we serve they can expect the safest and highest quality care possible, the Ascension statement said. The Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement that if a hospitals plan of correction did not include removing alleged abusers from patient care, the plan would not be accepted and the hospital could lose federal funding. To be clear: no health care worker who is accused of sexually abusing a patient should be allowed near patients unless and until they have been cleared of such allegations, the department said in a statement. Less oversight outside hospitals Health care systems and providers that are not hospitals are subject to even less state oversight. A woman had been a patient for two decades at the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, a large orthopedic group practice, when she went to an institute facility in Morton Grove to be seen for a knee injury in March 2018. During her appointment, X-ray technician Karol Ruszczyk began rubbing the inside of her thigh and touched the outside of her vagina, she told police. While Morton Grove police were investigating, they discovered from Ruszczyks personnel file that he had been accused of a similar incident 16 days earlier. Police contacted the previous patient, who said she had gone to an Illinois Bone & Joint Institute office in Des Plaines for help with hip and groin pain when Ruszczyk began touching her inappropriately. Ruszczyk would go on to plead guilty in 2019 to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of both patients and was sentenced to 24 months of probation. Efforts to reach Ruszczyk for comment were unsuccessful. The Illinois Bone & Joint Institute and Ruszczyk reached a settlement with the second patient, who contended in a lawsuit that the institute had failed to prevent her abuse because it took no action in response to the earlier allegation other than making a note in Ruszczyks file. But the state health department never investigated the institutes handling of these incidents it is not responsible for doing so. The institute is not a hospital, so it was not required to report either patients allegation to the state health department, a loophole that also applies to places such as independent clinics and doctors offices. An attorney for Illinois Bone & Joint would not answer any questions about the incidents involving Ruszczyk, citing patient privacy laws and a need to preserve confidentiality. IBJI is committed to provide an environment safe for its patients and its staff, the attorney said in an October statement. Owners of medical corporations and other types of health care companies can theoretically lose their ability to operate if they fail to quickly remove an employee who has engaged in unethical professional conduct. But if an employee is fired for abusing a patient, there is no requirement that they work to understand how the misconduct was able to occur or how to prevent similar situations in the future, according to the laws that govern those businesses. In 2016, a longtime patient of Dr. Sheldon Levine arrived at the MedPlus S.C. clinic offices in Hazel Crest for an appointment. The doctor began conducting a breast exam where he aggressively rubbed the patients nipples and exposed his penis to the patient before she fled from the exam room, according to court records. A day later, records show, the patient told police what happened. The doctor was charged, he was indefinitely suspended from the practice, and he then resigned. A Cook County judge later found Levine guilty of battery and public indecency. The patient also sued the medical practice, alleging it failed to protect her from the abuse. Testimony showed that another patient had reported to police that Levine had touched her inappropriately about six months earlier. MedPlus administrator John Saldanha acknowledged in a deposition that the clinic made little effort to understand how the incidents were able to happen, aside from asking staff whether anyone else had been in the room during the appointment that led to the criminal conviction and whether the patient had complained. Whatever happened is not my problem, Saldanha testified after being asked whether he had questioned the doctor about the allegations. He said he did not contact the victim either, stating that there was no reason for me to interfere, to call after what happened. Its not my duty, its not my job to do. Saldhana died in early 2023, and his wife the owner of the medical corporation did not respond to a request for comment. Levine reached a settlement with the patient and has also since died. As employers, we have a responsibility to respond to sexual assault in our workplaces, said Carrie Ward, CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. If that doesnt happen, how are we protecting the future survivors of sexual violence? We want reporting mechanisms, internal policies and procedures about who someone goes to when something has happened to them, Ward said. We want intervention to happen at the earliest possible level, and we want investigations to be serious and sincere. Irreparable damage Mary, who was assaulted by Giurgiu at Glenbrook Hospital, didnt live to see him sentenced to prison time for assault and abuse. But two months before her death in 2022, Mary was able to testify in court about what happened to her. She was a brave soul and she did what she needed to do, Susan said. That day, Susan told her mom she was a superhero. Her mom requested a strawberry milkshake after leaving court. Testifying felt like a small victory amid years of torment. In some ways, Mary blamed herself for the second assault, Susan said. If only she had been able to convince hospital officials and police that shed been attacked, maybe the second incident wouldnt have happened, Mary thought. Knowing what she was living with, she couldnt bear the thought of anyone else experiencing the same fate. This reality caused her to withdraw from life even further, Susan wrote in a statement she read at Giurgius sentencing. The damage caused by her abuser and the struggle to be believed, was irreparable. She was gone. Meanwhile, though Glenbrook Hospital submitted a plan of correction to the state that detailed new processes for handling abuse allegations, its unclear whether the other seven traditional hospitals under Endeavor implemented similar systems. In 2022 a patient at a different Endeavor facility, Highland Park Hospital, alleged that a male nurse had touched her inappropriately following a breast reduction surgery, according to police records. That patient reported the incident to police and the hospital, police records show. But the hospital did not report the complaint to the state health department within 24 hours, or at all, state officials confirmed. According to a police report, Highland Park Hospital conducted a 24-hour investigation on the nurses day off before determining the allegations were unsubstantiated. A hospital official told police the nurse was doing a head-to-toe skin assessment and the nurse had said that if he made contact near her vaginal area, it was accidental, according to the police report. Police forwarded the case to the Lake County states attorneys office. In January 2023, the office told police they had decided not to pursue charges because of insufficient evidence. Endeavor Health did not answer the Tribunes questions about how the hospital handled this specific allegation, including why Highland Park didnt report the allegation to the state health department. According to police records, hospital officials determined the incident did not meet the definition of abuse in the Hospital Licensing Act, the law that requires the disclosure of patient abuse allegations to the state. In an emailed statement, Endeavor said it is required to report only substantiated reasonable allegations of abuse to the states health department and it relies on police investigators determinations of whether allegations are unfounded. Under state law, a hospital employee who has reasonable cause to believe that any patient with whom he or she has direct contact has been subjected to abuse in the hospital must report those allegations to a designated administrator, who then is required to notify the state. The law does not require that allegations first be substantiated. The patient who came forward about the Highland Park Hospital nurse said she remains haunted by the incident. Is this how my life is going to be for the rest of my life, that I dont trust anyone? she wonders. Shes also frustrated that Endeavor didnt do more to protect her and other patients. Its sad and ridiculous that it has to take so many victims before theyll believe them, she said. DePaul University student Samantha Moilanen contributed to this report. Help the Chicago Tribune report on medical misconduct The Tribune hopes to continue reporting on how hospitals and other medical institutions respond when patients report instances of sexual misconduct by health care providers. If you have information to share, please fill out this form. Responses will not be published without your permission. Name(required) Email(required) Are you reaching out as a patient or a provider? (required) Patient Provider Please summarize the incident that was reported, including the hospital system or medical office where it occurred. Be as detailed or as general as you are comfortable.(required) To whom did you report the incident? Please describe the response you received. (required) Have you kept any records related to the incident, such as a written complaint, medical records or emails with hospital officials?(required) Are you comfortable with a Tribune reporter reaching out to you? (required) Yes No Is there anything else you think we should know? Submit ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A fatal collision occurred Friday night in north Abilene, claiming the life of a pedestrian. On February 16 at 9:40 p.m., crews responded to the 3100 block of Pine Street for a major vehicle collision. The pedestrian was dead on police arrival, and next of kin has been notified. The pedestrian has been identified as 58-year-old Brenda Ann Janiszewski Jodoin of Virginia. Pedestrian fatally struck in north Abilene crash The vehicle traveling on Pine Street struck the woman who was in the roadway and continued without stopping, according to the Abilene Police Department (APD). The investigation continues as investigators search for the identity of the vehicle and driver that left the scene. If you have information, please get in touch with APD at (325) 673-8331 or the Abilene Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward at (325) 676-8477. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Just as scientists feared might happen after it ripped through South America, the deadly H5N1 bird flu has spread to the Antarctic region, where a king penguin on South Georgia island likely died from the virus, as the Guardian reported. If the suspected case is confirmed by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, it will mark the first death caused by H5N1 in the beloved species. Whats happening? Since penguins gather in large, tightly packed colonies that can reach up to 10,000 members, scientists worry that the highly contagious virus could cause a devastating loss of life among the birds. As the New York Times explained, Antarctic penguins are particularly vulnerable to the virus since they have little, if any, immunity to it. Researchers first began detecting H5N1 in the Antarctic region in the fall of 2023, and since then, its suspected to have killed at least three penguins. As per the New York Times, scientists confirmed that two gentoo penguins on Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands 900 miles west of South Georgia also died from the highly lethal virus. Sadly, many other gentoos in the Falklands are mysteriously dying, with bird flu the suspected culprit. As of Jan. 30, there are over 200 chicks dead alongside a handful of adults, a government spokesperson for the Falkland Islands, Sally Heathman, told Reuters. Since 2020, H5N1 outbreaks have killed millions of domestic and wild birds worldwide, including over 500,000 seabirds many of which were penguins in South America, according to the Guardian. Ed Hutchinson, a molecular virologist at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told the Guardian: The arrival of this H5N1 virus in the Antarctic towards the end of last year rang alarm bells because of the risk it posed to wildlife in this fragile ecosystem. And while it is very sad to hear reports of penguins dying it is unfortunately not at all surprising. Why is the spread of H5N1 among Antarctic penguins concerning? As scientists have explained, since penguins form large colonies, the virus can spread quickly among the group. The Guardian reported that, while no cases have been recorded on the Antarctic mainland, the virus could already be spreading there unnoticed by researchers. Even without H5N1 in the picture, penguins already face mounting pressures from rising temperatures, pollution, and overfishing. A 2018 study found that king penguins could be pushed to the edge of extinction by 2100 if actions arent taken to protect the delicate Antarctic ecosystem. Whats being done to protect penguins from H5N1? According to professor Craig Cary from The University of Waikato in New Zealand, researchers are exploring several mitigation strategies, such as vaccine development and colony monitoring and sampling. In addition, many scientists and environmental organizations are calling for an end to factory farming since the cramped conditions in industrial chicken farms are a breeding ground for viruses that can easily spill over into wildlife, according to Thijs Kuiken, a professor in the department of viroscience at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. State College had more than 4 inches of new snow by Saturday morning, but it didnt stop Penn State alumnae and community members from filling the Bryce Jordan Center on the first full day of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Students and families came with costumes, lights and signs in support of the 708 student dancers who began their 46 hours of standing for the kids at 6 p.m. on Friday. Thon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, strives to provide emotional and financial support to children and families impacted by childhood cancer, raising millions of dollars each year for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Health Childrens Hospital in Hershey. From a live performance by Walk the Moon on Friday night to the highly-anticipated Saturday night pep rally, Thon 2024 continues the legacy of the annual weekend of activities and fundraising. For 1986 alumnae Patrick and Beth Slater, who came to the Bryce Jordan Center as spectators Saturday, Thon 2024 was a completely different experience from what they remembered as students. The first Thon was organized in 1973 by a group of students looking to give back to the community, according to the Thon website. Patrick recalled the annual event taking place in the White Building while he was a Penn State student. It was much more low-key. It wasnt as university-wide, Patrick said. I knew a couple people that were actually participating in it, fundraising for it. ... It was very much just Panhellenic. The crowd learns the line dance for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The line dance is performed once an hour through the 46 hours. The Slaters have been able to reconnect with Thon as teachers at Tulpehocken High School in Berks County, which hosts a Mini-Thon. The two and their colleague Eileen Moore, whose daughter is a Penn Stater, are all advisors for the high school event and attended a Mini-Thon appreciation breakfast before arriving at the BJC on Saturday afternoon. The fun part about going to the breakfast and then coming over (to the BJC) is, it reminds you of your why, Beth said. Over the weekend, the three were looking forward to reconnecting with former students who have become Penn Staters and currently participate as captains, committee members, dancers and spectators. Fifth-year special education major Katherine Weller also said she was seeing a different side of Thon 2024. This year, shes a dancer representing the Student Pennsylvania State Teaching Association (SPSEA), after previously working in Family Relations. Shes spending the weekend dancing alongside Carmen Guzman, who is one of SPSEAs Thon kids of several years and a senior at Penn State representing Penn State Figure Skating as a dancer at Thon 2024. Getting to see her have this super full-circle moment and support her in any way possible has really been an absolute joy, Weller said. Her and I have kind of gotten to grow up together in college and really get to share a special bond that not many people get to have with families. SPSEA has spent the year hosting creative fundraisers in support of the Guzman family as well as the Smith family through DIY projects, like making and selling cheerleading bows inspired by Morgan Smith. Weller said incorporating fun and personalization into fundraising efforts throughout the year contributes to the loving experience and reminds SPSEA why they Thon leading to the end of the weekend. Being able to experience the final four on the floor with Carmen and our other families is going to be a really emotional experience that I dont think Ill ever forget, Weller said. Fourth-year chemical engineering student Jade Thomas is representing Penn State Cheerleading as a dancer in Thon 2024, alongside several other members of the team. Dancing (with) other cheerleaders who are also my best friends and my roommates has been so wholesome and amazing, she said. The team was paired with a third family in the fall and spent the year putting on fundraisers like open gyms for aspiring cheerleaders and Lift for Thon. Thomas and the rest of the team were set to kick off the Thon 2024 pep rally on Saturday night. Penn State Thons 2024 final four hours will begin at noon on Sunday and conclude 4 p.m., when the final 2024 fundraising total will be revealed. To watch the livestream of the weekends events, visit thon.org/livestream. The crowd learns the line dance for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The line dance is performed once an hour through the 46 hours. A Pennsylvania police officer was shot by a suspect during a traffic stop, which led to the officer returning gunfire and killing the suspect. The incident happened at West 14th Street and Arbor Drive in Chester, Pennsylvania, Saturday at around 4:30 p.m. as an officer was attempting to conduct a traffic stop, officials said. The suspect refused to comply with the officer's demands, so he exited his vehicle and shot at the officer. The officer returned fire, striking and killing the suspect, according to Fox 29. PENNSYLVANIA MAGISTRATE JUDGE CHARGED WITH SHOOTING ESTRANGED BOYFRIEND IN HEAD "The driver got out of the car, started shooting his gun, firing at the police officer. The police officer returned fire and the officer was wounded," Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a briefing. The officer was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in critical condition. Stollsteimer said that the injured officer is expected to survive. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Chester Police Department Commissioner Steven Gretsky said the officer is "one of our senior detectives. And out here, he's doing his job, attempting to stop a vehicle, and he's shot." SUSPECT SHOT DEAD AFTER PINNING PHILADELPHIA OFFICER AGAINST WALL WITH VEHICLE The officer was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in critical condition Mayor Stefan Roots said, "This is a sad day for the city of Chester. We do not like this type of crime." "I will say this to anyone who wants to challenge our police officers when theyre in the line of duty: don't. Don't. It turns out in a tragedy like weve seen today," Roots added. Original article source: Pennsylvania cop shot attempting traffic stop, suspect fatally shot from returned fire A Pennsylvania judge who allegedly shot her ex-boyfriend in the head and then tried to convince him that he shot himself was charged with first-degree attempted murder and aggravated assault. The shooting happened Feb. 10 at a home in Harrisburg after the victim, Michael McCoy, attempted to end his one-year relationship with Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight, according to a probable cause affidavit. Susquehanna Township Police said McKnight called 911 to report that her boyfriend could not see and requested an ambulance come to the home. McKnight told the dispatcher that she did not know what happened because she was sleeping and woke up to him screaming, the affidavit states. During an investigation, police say they learned that McCoy had tried numerous times to break up with McKnight. The affidavit states that at one point he took his key from McKnight but she used a spare to enter his home while he was at work. On the evening of Feb. 9, McCoy told detectives that he came home from work and found McKnight sitting on his couch in pajamas. McCoy left the home to go to a local bar, the affidavit states. Things were tense when McCoy returned home, according to the affidavit, and McKnight asked if they could talk but McCoy did not want to. McCoy told McKnight that he would enlist the help of her mother to get her out of his home. At this point Sonya McKnight responds, Oh, Youre serious? Michael McCoy stated that it was like she finally understood that it was over, the affidavit says. McCoy then went to bed. He told detectives that he was asleep for about an hour or two when he woke up with massive head pain and could not see. He begins screaming and he hears Sonya McKnight say, Mike what did you do to yourself, the affidavit says. Authorities said that McKnight allegedly tried to convince her ex-boyfriend that he had shot himself. McCoy repeatedly stated to police that he did not shoot himself, according to the document. Detectives determined that McKnights interview with them was found to be deceptive and the gun used was registered to her, the affidavit alleges. A test conducted within an hour after the shooting also found gun residue on her hands, according to the affidavit. McCoy, 54, suffered a single gunshot wound that entered near his right temple and exited near the left temple. Authorities said McCoy is now blind in his right eye, The Associated Press reported. McKnight, 57, an elected judge in Dauphin County since 2016, was suspended without pay in mid-November by the Court of Judicial Discipline after she allegedly violated judicial probation from a previous misconduct case stemming from her alleged interference with the 2020 arrest of her son following a traffic stop, the AP reported. She was acquitted of criminal charges in that incident. McKnight was also previously charged with shooting her estranged husband in 2019 after she allegedly invited him over to her home to help her move furniture, according to Pennlive.com. She was not charged in the case after it was ruled to be self-defense. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Investors enthusiasm for weight loss drugs has turbocharged the share prices of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, leaving many other big pharmaceutical companies looking like also-rans. Shareholders in some of the pharma giants have suffered years of sub-par returns as management teams struggled to keep them happy. The chief problem is that many are too reliant on blockbuster drugs that are coming to the end of their period of exclusivity, otherwise known as the patent cliff. Finding new drugs to replace them is both difficult and expensive as companies plough billions of dollars into research and development. Some have resorted to buying other firms to acquire new drugs, with mixed success. One drug giant that seems to be making a decent fist of things is the Swiss company Novartis. Its shares have been the best of the rest in the sector over the past year thanks to a rise of 22pc in sterling terms. The company has an AAA rating from Citywire Elite Companies, which rates companies on the basis of their backing by the worlds best fund managers. One such manager who is heavily backing Novartis is Samantha Gleave, who runs the Liontrust European Dynamic fund with James Inglis-Jones. Novartis is a top-10 holding and accounts for 3.1pc of the funds assets. The fund has served its investors very well with total returns of 97pc over the past five years, against 59pc from the market. The managers adopt a concentrated approach, holding 33 shares, and place a strong emphasis on companies with very strong cash flows. Gleaves attraction to Novartis is based around the chief executives strategy of taking out costs, simplifying the business and creating a more focused drug portfolio. She points to last years spin-off of its generics division Sandoz. When you look at historical evidence, spin-offs can be a good indicator of future value creation. We also like the chief executives commentary about drug portfolio optimisation, she says. Like many rivals, Novartis faces the runoff of patents and increased generics competition for some of its most profitable drugs, such as its heart failure treatment Entresto, which accounted for more than 13pc of its sales last year. Revenues from other big earners such as blood platelet drug Promacta and cancer treatments Tasigna and Sandostatin are also expected to decline significantly over the next few years. Fortunately, there are some promising drugs in place that can deliver growth in the years ahead. There are big hopes for the breast cancer treatment Kisqali, along with Cosentyx (psoriasis), Pluvicto (prostate cancer), Kesimpta (multiple sclerosis) and Scemblix (leukaemia). Even Leqvio, a hitherto underwhelming cholesterol drug that came with the 2019 acquisition of The Medicines Company, is expected to come good. Novartis is also looking to spend up to 5bn (4.3bn) on bolt-on acquisitions to beef up its drug pipeline. It recently paid $2.7bn to buy the German company MorphoSys. This acquisition divided opinion among analysts as its bone marrow cancer drug Pelabresib has had mixed test results. If all goes well Novartis should be able to grow its revenues by 5pc a year at constant exchange rates until 2028. At the same time it expects to take its profit margins to more than 40pc, cementing its position as one of the most profitable global pharmaceutical companies. More importantly, Novartis will have a much more balanced drug portfolio, with Kesimpta, Cosentyx and Kisqali each accounting for more than 10pc of revenues. Gleaves focus on cash flow underpins her faith in Novartis. The company has consistently converted around a quarter of its revenues into free cash flow over the past five years, which makes it a standout performer in the sector. The piles of surplus cash have allowed Novartis to increase its dividend for 27 consecutive years while shrinking its share count by nearly 12pc over the past five years via share buybacks. The companys shareholder yield the sum of the last years dividends and buybacks as a percentage of its market value is an attractive 7.8pc. On more traditional measures of valuation, Novartis shares trade on 14 times the next years forecast earnings per share while offering a dividend yield of 3.7pc on the basis of forecasts for the next 12 months. With the prospect of further buybacks, the shares offer decent value. Questor says: buy Ticker: SWX:NOVN Share price at close: Sfr88.44 Phil Oakley is a contributing journalist for Citywire Elite Companies Read the latest Questor column on telegraph.co.uk every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 6am Read Questors rules of investment before you follow our tips 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. An estate that perfectly blends into the picturesque backdrop of the California desert has landed on the market for $4.2 million. The estate blends into its surroundings The two-bedroom, three-bathroom house sits on Roadrunner Rut Road in the scenic Pioneertown and truly captures the desert essence both inside and outside. View Blending into the boulders, this custom off-grid home is nothing short of rustic paradise on 10 acres. Newly constructed with utmost sensitivity for land and views, it borders the preserved Sand to Snow National Monument in coveted Pipes Canyon and rewards from every stunning angle, the listing on Compass describes. Road to the estate Restrained minimal architecture and honest craftsmanship show reverence for a timeless region the Serrano people called Rocky Place. Interior Features in and around the 2,280-square-foot residence include: Salvaged beams Cedar-plank walls Steal-framed windows Wood stove Flex space Two car garage Porch Septic well Dining area The home was designed for those looking to escape city life and live a peaceful desert existence, former owner Paul Hadley told Mansion Global. Bedroom It just brings you back to the old days, Hadley said. You cant rely on anyone. Living room area The listing is held by Keith Markovitz. Pioneertown is about 30 miles north of Palm Springs. Ultimate man cave with a go-kart track lists in Minnesota. Take a peek at the fun zone This secret house comes with a hidden pool underground. See London home for sale Despite some falling snowflakes, runners took to the streets of Pittsburgh without a lot of clothes on to raise money for a good cause during the annual Cupids Undie Run. The event raises awareness for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease that causes tumors that can affect the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Organizers from the event say they encourage people to dress in the unusual attire so that more people will notice and pay attention to the cause. All of us running in our underwear, we do it as a way to draw attention to the cause, event director Brooke Bissell said. What better way to attract attention than to have over 300 people running in your underwear in the city of Pittsburgh on a freezing cold February day? The proceeds from the run go towards the Childrens Tumor Foundation, which helps fund research into finding a cure for the disease. The Clemente Bridge was closed from 1:45 to 3 p.m. for the event. The run began at McFaddens on North Shore Drive. Anyone interested in donating can visit Cupids Undie Runs website. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Chinese restaurant in Pittsburghs Greenfield neighborhood shut down over health code violations Pittsburgh indoor bike park closing after nearly 11 years in business Local woman warns others about potentially fraudulent tax refund checks from U.S. Treasury VIDEO: Bat used by Roberto Clemente in 1971 World Series up for auction DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A Wisconsin man is accused of killing his manager over a $7,000 inheritance check, news outlets report. On Feb. 7, a garbage truck driver discovered a body in a trash bin behind a Milwaukee Pizza Hut, WISN reported, citing police. The Milwaukee medical examiner identified the victim as 55-year-old Cudahy resident Alexander Stengel, manager of the Pizza Hut location, the station reported. Police said officers called to the scene discovered a trail of blood leading from the Pizza Hut kitchen to a dumpster area behind the restaurant, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Stengels death was ruled a homicide after medical examiners determined he had a gunshot wound to his head and puncture wounds to his neck, according to WISN. Kavonn Ingram, a 31-year-old Milwaukee resident and Pizza Hut employee, was arrested Feb. 11 in connection with the crime, according to WTMJ. Ingram was charged Feb. 16, according to Milwaukee County Circuit Court records. Ingrams attorney did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on Feb. 18. On Feb. 3, Stengel cashed a $7,000 inheritance check and showed a large roll of cash to several employees that day, including Ingram, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, citing a criminal complaint. Police interviews with Ingrams girlfriend on Feb. 5 reveal he spoke of Stengels money and discussed shooting him in the head, telling her the head works as a silencer and no one is gonna hear if he were shot, WISN reported, referencing the complaint. Surveillance footage and cell phone records place Ingram at the scene during the time of Stengels death, WTMJ reported, citing court documents. While executing a search warrant, investigators also discovered a loaded gun and Pizza Hut paychecks made out to Ingram covered in blood stains inside his home, according to the station. Charges against Ingram include first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, hiding a corpse, armed robbery with use of force and possession of a firearm as a convicted felony, according to court records. Ingram is being held on a $200,000 bond and is due back in court Feb. 23. Dominos driver shot, left to die in street as teens run off with pizza, WI cops say Spearfishermen find body of kayaker missing since November in icy lake, officials say Pregnant woman killed in Wisconsin shooting, cops say. She wanted to be a mommy Spent Fuel In many ways, nuclear power remains a perfectly reasonable stopgap as the world attempts to wean itself off environmentally harmful fossil fuels: it's pretty safe overall, it generates a steady supply of power around the clock, and it's well understood. Of course, there are also those pesky disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima, which are rare but horrifying. And maybe even messier are the constant debates over where to store the spent fuel that's left over after nuclear plants use it to generate electricity. To see just how convoluted that issue can become, look no further than this fascinating Wall Street Journal story about a much-resisted plan to store nuclear waste in America's most active oil field a fascinating collision between fossil and post-fossil energy that underscores an undeniable truth at the heart of the nuclear debate: nobody wants this stuff in their backyard. Wasted Youth The plan, in which Florida energy company Holtec International intends to store up to 170,000 metric tons of nuclear waste in the Permian Basin oil field in Texas, would make the location the largest spent fuel facility in the world. Unfortunately, the people who are already there are none too pleased. "Im not antinuclear," Fasken Oil and Ranch assistant general manager Tommy Taylor told the WSJ. "We just dont feel like siting all the nuclear waste in the middle of our biggest oil and gas resource is a good idea." Taylor told the newspaper that he's worried about threats ranging from terrorism to nuclear contamination. But advocates say the waste has to go somewhere, since plans to centralize storage for the horrible stuff at locations like Yucca Mountain keep falling through. Instead, the waste tends to pile up at the site of reactors, leaving it vulnerable to spillage, theft by terrorists, or other grim eventualities. "The U.S. has to gird its loins and actually deal with the problem of what theyre going to do with this material in the long run," former US Nuclear Regulatory Commission chair Allison Macfarlane told the WSJ. More on nuclear power: AI Data Centers Need So Much Power They May Need Built-In Nuclear Reactors (BCN) Pleasant Hill police arrested a Sacramento resident on Friday night for allegedly having a handgun while attempting to rob Dicks Sporting Goods. 1 person arrested with gun charges after traffic stop in Santa Rosa Police said they pursued the suspect, identified as Lamont Beamon, into the Geraldine neighborhood before taking him into custody in a backyard. In retracing the foot pursuit, officers located a Glock 19 handgun with a loaded drum magazine. Beamon was arrested and booked into Martinez Detention Facility. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. (FOX40.COM) A man has been arrested by Modesto police officers for his role in a homicide that happened on Friday night, according to the Modesto Police Department. The man, a 32-year-old from Ceres, turned himself in to police in the downtown area of the city around 3 p.m., the agency said. Modesto woman fatally hit by car during assault, police say On Friday night around 9 p.m., police responded to the area of 6th Street at the Highway 99 offramp to assist California Highway Patrol officers with a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. Police said that upon arrival, the involved vehicle fled the scene while the pedestrian was taken to a local hospital. The woman would later be declared dead by medical personnel. Detectives began to investigate and learned that an assault had taken place, police said. As the investigation continued, detectives were able to identify a suspect. This is still an active investigation. The victim was known to [the suspect], and it appears they had been involved in a relationship. The details of the relationship are still being investigated, police said on Facebook. Three people found dead in Sacramento County The man was booked into a Stanislaus County jail for homicide and domestic violence charges, police added. No other information has been released, but police say that anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Bolinger at 209-342-9162. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Poll workers are the backbone of any election day. They are the people who keep things running smoothly so everyone can exercise their right to vote. Not just anyone can be a poll worker, though. The role is a paid position, and there are strict rules and regulations. With the primary elections coming up, Madison County is seeking ways to enforce those rules. A Madison County poll worker reaches for voter identification prior to allowing a person to vote during the primary election at the precinct in the Highland Colony Baptist Church in Madison on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Who can be a poll worker in Mississippi? In Mississippi, poll workers must be a qualified elector, meaning they must be on their respective county's voting rolls. This rule cuts out former convicts, who are ineligible to vote. Mississippi's rules explicitly state that disqualifying crimes regarding serving as a poll worker, include "arson, armed robbery, bigamy, bribery, embezzlement, extortion, felony bad check, felony shoplifting, forgery, larceny, murder, obtaining money or goods under false pretenses, perjury, rape, receiving stolen property, robbery, theft, timber larceny, unlawful taking of motor vehicle, statutory rape, carjacking and larceny under lease or rental agreement." Mark your calendars: Check out these key dates for 2024 elections that include races for senate and president How to register to vote: Mississippi voters: Here's how and when to register to vote in the 2024 elections Approval process for Madison County In a Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 18, Spence Flatgard, lawyer for the Madison County Elections Commission, addressed the board to make sure everybody was on the same page regarding the poll worker approval process in light of the upcoming primaries. Flatgard said he and the elections commission had already met with the state's Republican and Democratic parties to plan the upcoming elections. The parties themselves run the primary elections. Preparation was well underway, he said, but there was one sticking point: the poll workers. Flatgard told the board that there had been an incident in the previous election cycle where a poll worker had been approved, worked the polls and had been paid. In Madison County, poll workers are paid $200 for working an election day. Later, the commission discovered the poll worker was an ex-felon and had been purged from the voter roll, a clear violation of the state's rules. For this upcoming election cycle, Flatgard asked the board members whether they wanted him to stick strictly to the rules when hiring poll workers in Madison County. "For me, yes," said Board of Supervisors President Gerald Steen. "We definitely need to hold to that standard." In order to carry out adherence, the election commission created a contract requiring the Republican and Democratic parties to provide a list of poll worker candidates to the election commission by Feb. 20. That deadline gives the commission about three weeks to conduct thorough background checks on the poll workers before the March 12 primary elections. The reasoning behind this contract stems from the desire to make sure every poll worker paid is legally able to be a poll worker. The elections commission is privy to a database under the Statewide Elections Management System. The Board of Supervisors does not have access to that database. So, when the Republican and Democratic parties present the board with a list of poll workers, the board has no way of knowing if the workers adhere to the state's guidelines. Thus, when the board pays the poll workers using county treasury funds, a disqualified poll worker could easily slip through the cracks. As of Feb. 16, Flatgard said the Republican Party had signed the contract, but the Democratic Party had not. The Republican Party had not yet submitted the list of names as of Feb. 16. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Who can be a poll worker in Madison County MS primary elections? It is difficult to imagine residents of the beautiful Lowcountry living under threat of war and desolation. Native Americans who inhabited the islands and forests of the region first felt it when French and then Spanish outposts came and went. Then English settlements began to take root. These early colonists labored with a wary eye cast for war parties in the surrounding dark forests and to the horizon of the glittering Atlantic where marauding pirates or a Spanish fleet might appear. As Europeans gained a foothold in Beaufort, the crown moved to protect its precarious holdings there. In 1732, Fort Frederick, named in honor of Prince Frederick Louis, son of King George II of England, was constructed on the banks of the Beaufort River. Built of earth and local oyster shell, this tabby structure was designed to protect the citizens of Beaufort and Port Royal from threats at sea or on land. Garrisoned with a small force of British soldiers, Fort Frederick gave the appearance of authority but was quickly rendered obsolete. It was poorly-sited, and this deficiency led to the establishment of Fort Lyttleton on nearby Spanish Point. Fort Frederick fell into disuse and was all but abandoned until a century later, when it found new purpose in a war for freedom. Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve in Port Royal is home to the oldest known tabby-constructed feature in Beaufort County, and the oldest visible tabby fort in South Carolina. Built by the British colonial government in 1733 to protect Beaufort and the Beaufort River from Spanish invasion, it held cannon and a small garrison of British soldiers. It was roughly square in shape, with a pronounced bastion on the southwest corner. Soon deemed obsolete and poorly sited, the fort was replaced by nearby Fort Lyttleton and fell into disuse until the Civil War. In 1862, Camp Saxton was established near the crumbling walls of Fort Frederick. This encampment of occupying federal troops soon filled with African slaves who had been abandoned by fleeing owners, escaped from bondage or been freed by the Army. Troops from Camp Saxton, including U.S. Colored Infantry, went on forays to capture the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and accompanied Harriet Tubman on her famous Combahee Raid to free even more people from slavery. As the camp spread out on the former plantation land between Beaufort and Port Royal, it became a place of hope. On Jan. 1, 1863, Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation was read to hundreds of former slaves and freedmen beneath an oak near the walls of old Fort Frederick, once again an Army depot. Fort Frederick was built in 1733 by Britain to guard the Beaufort and the Beaufort River. It was used for roughly five years before the troops of the British garrison were transferred to Fort Prince George on the mountainous South Carolina frontier. The fort was later abandoned for Fort Lyttleton. This bronze plaque marks the site at Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve in Port Royal. Today, Fort Frederick is a county-maintained passive park and open to visitors year-round. Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve is located off a quiet street in Port Royal adjacent to the U.S. Naval Hospital. It is included on tours by the National Park Service as part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park. When you visit, you will find easy access by a short trail beneath stately live oaks that guides you past several interpretive signs explaining the history of the fort and Camp Saxton. When you view the fort, you will quickly see the shape and features as well as discover the effects of time, tide and erosion, for part of the fort has crumbled into the Beaufort River. There, along the muddy shoreline, glimpses of the past can be seen in the form of colorful bits of glass and other tiny debris left from hundreds of years of human activity. Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve is a nice place to visit for a picnic lunch, a coffee break during work hours, or to get a breath of fresh Lowcountry air. The once-threatening horizon now features happy boaters, and the primeval forest has given way to cozy homes and bustling city life. Perhaps if you listen closely to the sea breeze through the trees, you can still hear the sounds of freedom from long ago now echoed in the jet engines of Marine Corps aircraft above. Live oaks, oyster shell and the sea: Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve in Port Royal combines all of the elements of history, culture and nature in one easily-accessible site. Open to visitors year-round and managed as a passive park, the preserve is home to the ruins of a British fort built in 1733, and the site of Camp Saxton, a Civil War-era encampment that was home to federal troops and hundreds of formerly enslaved African Americans freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. Modern visitors can explore the historic site while observing nature. Getting there Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve is located at 601 Old Fort Road in Port Royal. It is open to visitors year-round daily from dawn to dusk. There are no facilities at the preserve, but there is ample parking, and visitors can enjoy lunch under a covered pavilion. Fort Frederick is the oldest surviving tabby fort in South Carolina and the oldest tabby structure in Beaufort County. Collection of historical artifacts and damaging the walls is forbidden, but as a passive park you have free-reign of the grounds to explore. For information or to plan a visit call (843) 255-2152 and visit www.beaufortsc.org/listing/fort-frederick-heritage-reserve/254 to discover more. For tours by the National Park Service, go to www.nps.gov/reer/planyourvisit/camp-saxton.htm. A sliver of glass from an old bottle forms a prism of sunlight through which shines the colors of history. Part of the litter of small debris on the muddy beach along the Beaufort River, it is a reminder of hundreds of years of European settlement in Beaufort and Port Royal. FALL RIVER Celebrating 20 years of leaving people in stitches with their sold-out shows and viral videos, The Portuguese Kids are about to bring their humorous portrayals of growing up first generation Portuguese-American to their biggest audience yet up to 20-plus million homes across the globe and millions of other viewers via their mobile devices. Founded by Fall River natives Brian Martins and Derrick DeMelo, the mixed improv comedy group has stricken a first-of-a-kind deal with Portugals RTP International broadcasting service and their new TV series Portuguese Problems will be broadcast worldwide starting Monday, March 18. Its really something new and creative, said DeMelo. We wanted to try something different and do something we never did before. But at the same time, we wanted to stay true to our comedy because our fans know what to expect from us. So, we did that but on a much bigger, more creative scale. Maria Lawton cooks up top honor from Taste Awards with Marias Portuguese Table series What is The Portuguese Kids new TV show about? The six-episode series highlighting the funnier aspects of growing up with immigrant parents will air on Mondays on primetime (the exact time is yet to be revealed). Its like a mini sitcom, where you get a beginning, a middle and an end, and in between that you do more sketches, explained DeMelo, who honed his comedic skills at Bostons famed Improv Asylum and attended classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City. Each 30-minute episode features a colorful cast of characters that explore family dynamics, culture clashes and everyday life through laugh out loud moments. Its all new material, said Martins, who has more than 20 years of experience with sketch writing and improv and trained at Improv Asylum and New Yorks UCB Theater. A lot of it was inspired on stuff that weve done on stage that we rewrote to put on videos. So, now its properly filmed, and you can really see the big picture. 'Portuguese Problems' is a milestone for RTP Portuguese Problems will be the first American produced English spoken program RTP has ever aired. Featuring Portuguese subtitles, it will also be RTPs first original fiction show produced outside of Portugal. The Portuguese Kids have been on an extraordinary journey with Portuguese communities all over the globe for 20 years now, producing high level comedy with rigor, and where good disposition is always a guarantee, said Jose Fragoso, the director of RTP1 and RTP International, in a prepared statement. Its time to bring their humor and irreverence to television. We believe Portuguese Problems will be a big success. To their knowledge, the last Fall River personality to secure their own major network TV deal was Chef Emeril Lagasse over 30 years ago. If this show becomes this big hit that we are all hoping for the possibilities are endless, DeMelo said. It feels like a dream come true, but it also feels like its about time because weve been paying our dues for a long time. Im ready for this next step and to show people this new creative side. Who directed The Portuguese Kids TV series? Martins co-directed the series with two-time Emmy Award Winning cinematographer Dean Camara. Proprietor of Cineasta Digital Productions, Camara has worked with NFL Films, Dana White/UFC, Shaquille ONeil, Snoop Dogg and countless other personalities. His films credits include Maria Lawtons PBS culinary series Marias Portuguese Table, Hard Knocks, UFCs Fight Island: Declassified and Shaq Life. He has also been a contributing cinematographer on 10 Super Bowl crews for NFL films. Director Dean Camara. The California resident who traces his roots to Santa Maria, Azores, said he met The Portuguese Kids about seven years ago and they clicked right away. When I met the Portuguese Kids, I felt I had met kindred spirits and we both realized that if we combined our complimentary talents, we could create something that was truly a first of its kind, he said. We cant wait to share this project with the world because its relatable to many children of immigrants, whether they grew up in a Portuguese American household or not. Im excited to see what happens next and how the world perceives this show when its seen. Whos is the cast of Portuguese Problems? The cast of Portuguese Problems features Martins, DeMelo, Mike Rita, Vanessa Medeiros, Taylor Amarante, Chantell Arrial and Graca Pinhancos. They hail from New England, California, and Canada. They are Portuguese, they have opened for us, and they write a lot, explained DeMelo. Im very happy that were able to bring on these talented people with us and show their talents to our fans too. Rita and Amarante are stand-up comedians, while the ladies have performed with The Portuguese Kids on different occasions. It was just a fun set, Martins said with a laugh. Everybody doing what they love to do and doing what they know. It made it easy for everyone. For Camara, the chemistry between the cast was the best thing about the series. The cast was really what made it all work; they all bring something to the table, he said. The way they came together and were able to translate what they have been doing on stage for many years onto the screen was very special. It was an awesome experience. We had a lot of fun on set, maybe too much fun. Whats Portuguese Problems all about? Each episode of Portuguese Problems will revolve around a different theme. One episode feels like a mockumentary, like a A&E wedding show, but its behind the scenes with a Portuguese family, Martins revealed. Another episode will be a Portuguese funeral. DeMelo said it was great to see some cast members come out of their comfort zone. Mike Rita is really going to surprise people, especially with our version of the Housewives, which we called Real Portuguese Housewives, he said. Mike plays an old Portuguese vovo (grandma), the viuva (the widow) to see him play a woman on the screen is such a treat. And if you happen to enjoy The Portuguese Kids song parodies, youll be in for a treat, DeMelo said. We were like, What if a Portuguese guy started a Country dance? So, we wrote a Country song, called it Stubborn Portuguese Men and filmed it in California, he said. We knew this guy that had a mini cowboy ranch in his backyard so we kind of went crazy there. Where was The Portuguese Kids TV series filmed? Portuguese Problems was filmed between 2021 and 2023 in the East Coast, California and Sao Miguel, Azores. We tried to keep it as close as possible to the budget. Were Portuguese so we always ask for favors from friends and family, Martins said. A lot of the filming we did was either at my moms house or we went to Derricks mothers house. We had a film crew coming in, so it was like 15 people inside the house, and our moms are trying to feed everybody. It was such an experience for our families as well. According to Camara, the crew got very creative with some of the locations. We were able to turn The Portuguese Kids office in Fall River into a little sound stage. When we didnt have a real location to use, we just did a little bit of magic with the camera, Camara said. Youd be surprised what you see right outside the frame. But in the frame, if we needed a hospital, we made a hospital. And it worked. One of DeMelos favorite sketches was filmed in Sao Miguel in the summer of 2022, when Camara asked him to improvise a scene with Martins, portraying an interaction between a father and son. Brian and I have been performing for so long together that it does come natural to us, he said. Dean just picked up all these great little bits and created something I think its magical and it just looks beautiful. We filmed it in Furnas, and it almost looks like its CGI (computer-generated imagery). It almost didnt look real because it was so beautiful, bright, and green. Its a fun sketch because Im walking through the fields with cow manure. During the series, viewers will be treated to plenty of local sights and references. Theyll be getting a good dose of Fall River, Martins said with a smile. We try to represent where we grew up and also our fans. In a way, the series also serves to show appreciation towards their family, friends, and fans for their continuous support. We did try to pay our tribute to Fall River because it is where the Portuguese Kids was born and bred, DeMelo said. I dont think they would have been created had we not been raised in this city. Theyre all on this journey with us, added Martins. Its really a special moment. Where can you watch Portuguese Problems? Portuguese Problems will air across Portugal on RTPs Channel 1 and globally on RTPi, which spans out to homes across Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Locally, RTPi may be viewed through Comcast, Cox or satellite TV. The episodes will also be available on the RTP Play app at no charge the day after they air. 'Portuguese Problems' red carpet premieres Three red-carpet premieres are being planned for Portuguese Problems. Were doing one in Fall River, one in Toronto and one in San Jose, DeMelo said. We wanted to give that love to those three communities because thats really where we have grown so much. The big one is going to be in Fall River. The invitation-only event will take place March 1 at Bristol Community College. I think were going to have a packed house, DeMelo said. Its going to be at least 400, 500 people. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: The Portuguese Kids hope to take the world by storm with new TV series Welcome to the Future is the theme for this years National Engineers Week, which will run from Feb. 18-24. Thinking about the future of engineering probably conjures images of robots, spaceships and self-driving cars. Exciting stuff to be sure, and these are only a few of the technological advances that engineering will enable. The possibilities for technical innovation are almost limitless, but the reality of whether we can achieve them is less so. We are not training and educating enough new engineers to create the future wed all like to have. The demand for engineers is high and consistently increasing. Boston Consulting Group recently noted that we need 400,000 new engineers each year to keep pace with demand, and that one in three engineering roles will go unfilled annually over the next decade. Engineering provides the technical problem-solving, design and manufacturing skills that drive innovation, and there is a lot we should be excited about provided we can keep pace with the need for more students to enter this profession. For example, engineering is shaping the future of health and medicine through the development of transformative drug delivery systems, the design of new medical devices and materials, improved medical imaging and diagnosis tools, and the biomanufacturing of novel drugs and vaccines. Our portfolio of energy sources is being transformed through the invention of more efficient and faster-charging energy storage devices, new techniques for capturing and storing gigatons of carbon dioxide, novel processes for hydrogen generation and storage, and in innovations with nuclear energy both fusion and fission. We can expect that many cities should eventually be powered by their own specially designed small modular nuclear reactors. And advancements in hypersonic materials, rockets, engines, robotics and manufacturing are driving space exploration forward such that some of us will see a future where living and working in space will be a reality. Engineering talent will be fundamental to the advancement of these initiatives. Because of the ever-increasing demand for engineers and the value of their skillsets, a U.S. Census Bureau report shows that engineering majors dominate the top 10 highest-paying college degrees. Anecdotally, the students in my engineering college alone are getting 6.5 full-time job offers by the time they graduate. Even with the tremendous payoff, we are not close to meeting the workforce demands. At our current rate of graduating engineers in the U.S., we will continue to fall far short of meeting the annual demand for new engineers. The situation will only get worse if we do nothing. Economist Nathan Grawe predicts that the U.S. will have around 15% fewer high school graduates between 2025-2029 and therefore 15% fewer students who will potentially go to college. Given the strong demand and high wages, it is vital to ask why arent we attracting more students into engineering? A variety of thoughts have been posited on this topic, and most include the idea of lost faith in higher education in general, which has led to a significant drop in the number of high school graduates attending four-year colleges and universities over the past decade. The return on investment (ROI) of a four-year college degree isnt all that attractive for many majors outside of engineering and other STEM fields. Whether we want to admit it or not, the recent push by the federal government to forgive student loan debt is a direct reflection of this lack of ROI. We are making a terrible mistake, however, if we paint engineering degrees with the same brush. Engineering majors regularly top the list for having the highest ROI and remain an outstanding lifetime investment. Throughout the nation, we must spend time and develop a dedicated effort to get the word out about engineering to middle school and high school students, their teachers and parents. We need to make sure people know not only about the ROI for engineering and that it is a great financial investment, but why engineering careers are so important, exciting and rewarding. Lets help paint the picture by talking about a future of innovation driven by engineering. Students getting interested in engineering now will have a chance to shape the future later. Lets convince them to do it so we can create a bright future. Dr. David Borrok is vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Engineers drive innovation, and we need more of them to meet demand Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has hit back at claims made by former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton about the reasons for his departure. Mr Staunton told the Sunday Times that when he was sacked Ms Badenoch had told him: "Someone's got to take the rap." But Ms Badenoch said the comments were a "disgraceful misrepresentation" of their conversation. Mr Staunton also said he was told to delay payouts to Post Office scandal victims, which the government denies. Hundreds of subpostmasters were prosecuted because of glitches in the Horizon IT system between 1999 and 2015 in what has been called the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history. Mr Staunton was appointed Post Office chairman in December 2022, but left the post last month after Ms Badenoch said "new leadership" was needed to tackle the scandal. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Mr Staunton said he first heard about his sacking when he was called by Sky News. He then spoke to Ms Badenoch on the phone. Mr Staunton also told the paper that shortly after joining the Post Office he was told by a senior civil servant to slow down the rate of compensation payments, apparently to help the government's finances. "Early on, I was told by a fairly senior person to stall on spend on compensation and on the replacement of Horizon, and to limp, in quotation marks - I did a file note on it - limp into the election," he told the paper. "It was not an anti-postmaster thing, it was just straight financials. I didn't ask, because I said: 'I'm having no part of it - I'm not here to limp into the election, it's not the right thing to do by postmasters'." In a lengthy post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Badenoch said Mr Staunton's comments were a "disgraceful misrepresentation of my conversation with him and the reasons for his dismissal". "Far from 'taking the rap', I dismissed Staunton due to very serious allegations about his conduct while chair of the Post Office, including blocking an investigation into that conduct. "Henry Staunton had a lack of grip getting justice for postmasters. The serious concerns over his conduct were the reasons I asked him to step down," she added. She said that her conversation with him was carried out with officials and they took a "complete record". A statement will be made on Monday "telling the truth", she added. Earlier a spokesman for the government had said it "utterly" refuted the claims made by Mr Staunton over stalling compensation payments. "The government has sped up compensation to victims, and consistently encouraged postmasters to come forward with their claims," the spokesman said. "To suggest any actions or conversations happened to the contrary is incorrect. In fact, upon appointment, Mr Staunton was set concrete objectives, in writing, to focus on reaching settlements with claimants - clear evidence of the government's intent." A spokesperson for Mr Staunton told the BBC his client would be making no further comment but that he stood by the accusations made in the Sunday Times. They also said there was no investigation into Mr Staunton. Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "The Horizon scandal is widely accepted to be one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history. "Under no circumstances should compensation to victims be delayed and to do so for party political purposes would be a further insult to subpostmasters. "The Labour Party has called for all subpostmasters to be exonerated and compensation paid swiftly so that victims can begin to draw this awful chapter to a close." Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Mr Staunton's claims were "deeply disturbing" and called for ministers to explain to Parliament "exactly what has happened at the earliest opportunity". The slow pace of overturning convictions and making compensation payments has led some to call for a mass exoneration of those affected. Mr Staunton told the Sunday Times that Post Office chief executive Nick Read had written to the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk with legal opinion from the Post Office's solicitors, Peters & Peters, that in more than 300 cases convictions were supported by evidence not related to the Horizon software. "Basically it was trying to undermine the exoneration argument," Mr Staunton said. "It was 'most people haven't come forward because they are guilty as charged' - i.e. think very carefully about exoneration." A spokesperson for the Post Office said it was "very aware of the terrible impact from this appalling scandal and miscarriage of justice". "We refute both the assertions put to us and the words and phrases allegedly used, and are focused on supporting the government's plans for faster justice and redress for victims, as well as helping the Inquiry get to the truth of what happened," they said. The spokesperson added: "In no sense did the Post Office seek to persuade government against mass exoneration. We remain firmly committed to supporting faster justice and redress for victims". LISTEN: The extraordinary story of a decade-long battle with the Post Office, fought by their own sub-postmasters, on BBC Sounds. Banner saying 'Get in touch' Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Our hearts are heavy as we ask for your prayers and support for our brave K-9 Leo. stated the Marion County Sheriffs Office in a news release on Saturday. K9 Leo was shot In the line of duty while serving to protect the community. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Reports state that Saturday at approximately 9 a.m., MCSO deputies responded to a call in the 900 block of NE 144th Court in Silver Springs. It was in response to a situation involving a suspect accused of strangling somebody. The suspect was located in the backyard, where he initiated gunfire towards our deputies, injuring K-9 Leo in the exchange. Deputies returned fire, resulting in the arrest of the suspect, who was transported to the hospital where he later died. Leo was rushed to UF Veterinary Hospital, where their dedicated team is doing everything possible to save him. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Leo isnt just a member of our force; hes family. His loyalty, courage, and unwavering dedication to his duty embody the very essence of what it means to serve and protect. His sacrifice today reminds us of the dangers our deputies face each day to keep our community safe, said MCSO. At this time, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has also responded to investigate the shooting. [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. What is Presidents Day and how is it celebrated? What to know about the federal holiday Presidents Day is fast approaching, which may signal to many a relaxing three-day weekend and plenty of holiday sales and bargains. But next to Independence Day, there may not exist another American holiday that is quite so patriotic. While Presidents Day has come to be a commemoration of all the nation's 46 chief executives, both past and present, it wasn't always so broad. When it first came into existence long before it was even federally recognized the holiday was meant to celebrate just one man: George Washington. How has the day grown from a simple celebration of the birthday of the first president of the United States? And why are we seeing all these ads for car and furniture sales on TV? Here's what to know about Presidents Day and how it came to be: Bearing the likenesses of four United States chief executives, Mount Rushmore is pictured in 2019 in Keystone, South Dakota. Presidents Day, which is Monday, serves as a day off for federal workers and typically signals the start of many retails sales and deals. When is Presidents Day 2024? This year, Presidents Day is on Monday, Feb. 19. The holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of every February because of a bill signed into law in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Taking effect three years later, the Uniform Holiday Bill mandated that three holidays Memorial Day, Presidents Day and Veterans Day occur on Mondays to prevent midweek shutdowns and add long weekends to the federal calendar, according to Britannica. Other holidays, including Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, were also established to be celebrated on Mondays when they were first observed. However, Veterans Day was returned to Nov. 11 in 1978 and continues to be commemorated on that day. What does Presidents Day commemorate? Presidents Day was initially established in 1879 to celebrate the birthday of the nation's first president, George Washington. In fact, the holiday was simply called Washington's Birthday, which is still how the federal government refers to it, the Department of State explains. Following the death of the venerated American Revolution leader in 1799, Feb. 22, widely believed to be Washington's date of birth, became a perennial day of remembrance, according to History.com. The day remained an unofficial observance for much of the 1800s until Sen. Stephen Wallace Dorsey of Arkansas proposed that it become a federal holiday. In 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law, according to History.com. While initially being recognized only in Washington D.C., Washington's Birthday became a nationwide holiday in 1885. The first to celebrate the life of an individual American, Washington's Birthday was at the time one of only five federally-recognized holidays the others being Christmas, New Year's, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. However, most Americans today likely don't view the federal holiday as a commemoration of just one specific president. Presidents Day has since come to represent a day to recognize and celebrate all of the United States' commanders-in-chief, according to the U.S. Department of State. A woman from Louisville, Colorado, looks at a portrait of former President Jimmy Carter on Feb. 20, 2023 at the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas. The museum offered free admission in celebration of Presidents Day. When the Uniform Holiday Bill took effect in 1971, a provision was included to combine the celebration of Washingtons birthday with Abraham Lincoln's on Feb. 12, according to History.com. Because the new annual date always fell between Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, Americans believed the day was intended to honor both presidents. Interestingly, advertisers may have played a part in the shift to "Presidents Day." Many businesses jumped at the opportunity to use the three-day weekend as a means to draw customers with Presidents Day sales and bargain at stores across the country, according to History.com. A man dresses like George Washington during Presidents Day in 2022 in an effort to bring in customers to a Toyota dealer in Massechusetts. Many businesses offer sales and deals on the federal holiday. How is the holiday celebrated? Because Presidents Day is a federal holiday, most federal workers will have the day off. Part of the reason Johnson made the day a uniform holiday was so Americans had a long weekend "to travel farther and see more of this beautiful land of ours," he wrote. As such, places like the Washington Monument in D.C. and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota which bears the likenesses of Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt are bound to attract plenty of tourists. Similar to Independence Day, the holiday is also viewed as a patriotic celebration. As opposed to July, February might not be the best time for backyard barbecues and fireworks, but reenactments, parades and other ceremonies are sure to take place in cities across the U.S. Presidential places abound across the U.S. Opinions on current and recent presidents may leave Americans divided, but we apparently love our leaders of old enough to name a lot of places after them. In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau pulled information from its databases showcasing presidential geographic facts about the nation's cities and states. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the census data shows that as of 2020, the U.S. is home to plenty of cities, counties and towns bearing presidential names. Specifically: 94 places are named "Washington." 72 places are named "Lincoln." 67 places are named for Andrew Jackson, a controversial figure who owned slaves and forced thousands of Native Americans to march along the infamous Trail of Tears. Contributing: Clare Mulroy Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Presidents Day? Is it a federal holiday? Everything to know QUINCY Presidents Day is a big deal in Quincy. The city is home to the second and sixth U.S. presidents. It calls itself the City of Presidents. Quincy High School's nickname is The Presidents. Even one of its three golf courses is called Presidents Golf Course. Quincy doesn't merely boast two presidents, but two of the most remarkable: John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams. Both participated in the most pressing political and social questions of their day independence from Great Britain and independence of America's enslaved population. Here are 10 fascinating and perhaps less known facts about John Adams and John Quincy Adams. A statue of John Adams, second President of the United States, at the Hancock Adams Common in Quincy. Quincy's Winterfest: February vacation: Life-size dinosaurs, igloos, U2 cover band at Quincy's Winterfest John Adams, 2nd President and coauthor of the Declaration of Independence He didn't like the title "president": For Adams, the word president lacked the grandeur that would command respect in European capitals. "There are presidents of fire companies and cricket clubs," he quipped. According to History.com, Adams suggested His Majesty the President, or His Highness, the President of the United States of America, and Protector of the Rights to the Same. Mocking his plump physique, critics suggested His Rotundity as a fitting title for the nations second president. Was the primary author of the oldest democratic constitution still in use: The Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 was drafted by Adams, along with Samuel Adams and James Bowdoin, in the John Quincy Adams birthplace, which still stands today on Franklin Street. Though a celebrated political philosopher in his day, Adams influence on the U.S. Constitution of 1787 was indirect. According to Mass.gov, Adams was serving as ambassador to England during the Constitutional Convention. His reelection campaign was among the nastiest in American history: In his failed reelection bid, Adams was the target of a smear campaign that makes today's mudslinging seem tame. A supporter of his opponent, Thomas Jefferson, wrote in a pamphlet that Adams was a hermaphrodite because of his short stature and high voice. Adams and his supporters reciprocated by depicting Jefferson as a French radical and an atheist who would steal everyone's Bible if elected, according to History.com. Clamped down on civil liberties under threat of French invasion: Adams passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts came when many thought war with France was unavoidable, according to historian of Gordon S. Wood. Federalist like Adams feared a fifth column of pro-French Jeffersonians with a popular base among new immigrants would invite an invasion. Adams implemented repressive laws that made anyone who criticized Adams or his Federalist government liable to arrest and prosecution. Wood compared the violation of civil rights to the interment of Japanese Americans. Died on July 4: Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson died on the same day. Despite earlier animosity, Adams and Jefferson grew friendly over the course of a long correspondence. According to WhiteHouse.gov, Adams last words were, Thomas Jefferson survives. Unfortunately he was wrong. Jefferson died just a few hours earlier in Monticello. John Quincy Adams, 6th President and tireless opponent of slavery John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States. Fell head over heels with a Parisian stage actress : In his boyhood, Quincy Adams accompanied his father on diplomatic missions to Europe and attended private school in Paris. According to Britannica.com, the 13-year-old Adams fell in love with an actress he saw in a Paris theater, and was so smitten that he confessed to dreaming of her. Quincy Adams later married Louisa Catherine Johnson, the daughter of a U.S. Consul and English mother. Hated Andrew Jackson: Like his father, Quincy Adams failed to win a second term and was defeated by a southerner, Andrew Jackson, in a bitter campaign. The Massachusetts Historical Society quotes the following excerpt from his voluminous diary expressing disgust at Harvard University's bestowing an honorary degree upon his hated rival: "I would not be present to witness (Harvard's) disgrace in conferring her highest Literary honours upon a barbarian, who could not write a sentence of Grammar, and hardly could spell his own name. Defeated southern "gag rule": Returning to congress after his presidency, Quincy Adams proposed legislation granting freedom to anyone born in the United States, including slaves, and barring slavery in newly admitted states. The southern slave power responded by passing a "gag rule" that tabled petitions to ban or mitigate slavery. Quincy Adams fought the rule tirelessly and won its repeal eight years later. Represented Mende Africans taken captive on Amistad slave ship: In 1841, Quincy Adams successfully defended the Amistad captives, who two years prior mutinied on board a Spanish ship, escaped their captors, and landed near Long Island, New York. The liberated Africans thanked Quincy Adams by giving him the Bible they read while waiting trial in prison, according to the National Parks Service. Died in the House of Representatives: Quincy Adams suffered a cerebral stroke while delivering a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives opposing the bestowal of honorary swords to victorious generals in the Mexican American War. Quincy Adams saw the war as "unrighteous" and intended to extend slavery into newly annexed territory, the Massachusetts Historical Society says. History for sale: How much historical document written by John Quincy Adams is selling for History vs. modernity: Is development crowding out Quincy's historical landmarks? Adams parks chief says yes This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 10 fun facts about John Adams and John Quincy Adams on Presidents Day Donald Trump's 30-plus visits to Mar-a-Lago during his White House term are far from the only presidential history in Florida. The Sunshine State, which has not seen a favorite son ever elected to the Oval Office, nonetheless has a robust connection to White House administrations over the years. "There is more than people realize. Some presidents have used Florida for vacation. Others came for vacation but also working," said Robert Watson, a professor at Lynn University who has published more than 40 books on history and politics, plus hundreds of journal articles and chapters. "And, of course, not now, but over a period of several election cycles, Florida was the swing state. As Florida goes, so went the country Florida was the bellwether." Many times, the notable presidential visits, defined as more than a stop for a policy or campaign speech, were for rest and relaxation. President George H.W. Bush enjoyed fishing off Jupiter Island and in the Florida Keys, for example. But like Trump's, many other presidential stays included significant moments in U.S. and state history, and at least one could have changed the course of the presidency, the Great Depression and World War II. Let's start with that moment in our Presidents Day tour of some landmarks in Florida. Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak is held moments after being shot during an assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin Roosevelt on Feb, 15, 1933, in Miami. Cermak died March 6, and his assassin, Giuseppe Zangara, was executed later that month. FDR's close call Before President Franklin D. Roosevelt discovered Warm Springs, Ga., he found soothing relief from polio in the warm waters off the Florida Keys. Roosevelt was paralyzed by the since-eradicated disease in 1921, when he was 39 and a rising star in New York state politics. In hopes of comfort, if not healing, the future president spent winter months during the 1920s in the archipelago off the mainland Florida peninsula. He lived aboard a rented houseboat, the Weona, fishing and bobbing in the calming waters, where he was able to relax and entertain guests. One of his final stays in Florida was 91 years ago this month when President-elect Roosevelt spoke in downtown Miami on Feb. 15, 1933 17 days before his scheduled inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. One of the onlookers listening to FDR as he spoke standing on the back of an automobile was Giuseppe Zangara, a local who proceeded to fire a .32-caliber revolver in FDR's direction. Zangara missed FDR, but struck Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak and four others. FDR cradled the mortally wounded Cermak as the car sped to a hospital, and the mayor subsequently died from the wounds. Zangara pleaded guilty and was executed on March 20, 1933. Sixteen days before, FDR indeed took the presidential oath of office and reassured the country that there "is nothing to fear but fear itself." "FDR almost shot. Think of the timing," Watson said. "Had FDR had been killed there, that whole era would have been different. He came within a foot of being shot there." Truman's Little White House in the Keys In the late 1940s, Harry S. Truman became a virtual citizen of the Conch Republic. The 33rd president made 11 visits, totaling 178 days, to a retreat in Key West, which today is the Harry S. Truman Little White House historic site. Historian Watson, who has studied Truman's time here, said the visits were far from relaxing sojourns under the sun and poker games late into the night. President Harry S. Truman did important work as well vacationed in Key West during his visits. It was during his time in Key West, Watson said, that Truman "listened to experts and the science" on the importance of protecting South Florida's wetlands and hydrological ecosystems and agreed to establish Everglades National Park in 1947. Among those who spent time talking and debating policy with Truman in Key West was top national security aide George Elsey, a former Navy intelligence officer who ran the map room during World War II. Another guest was U.S. Sen. Arthur Vandenberg, the powerful Michigan Republican who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Little White House visits were pivotal in building support for NATO, the Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift. And, Watson said, a consequential political move was made in Key West: Truman's decision to not run for re-election in 1952. Watson notes that other presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, visited and spent time at the Little White House, too. "You could argue it's the most important presidential location in the state of Florida, easily, because of the sheer number of presidents that have been there, and the sheer amount of time Truman spent there and the type of decisions that were made there," said Watson. JFK's bunker Before Trump, it was John F. Kennedy who was most associated with Palm Beach. The Kennedy family had owned a seaside mansion, at 1095 N. Ocean Blvd., since 1933. The 35th president worked on his 1961 inaugural address, where he called on Americans to "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," on the property. But the mansion is not the only relic of the Kennedy years in the county. Farther north, on Peanut Island, is a nuclear bomb shelter built for JFK. Known as the "Kennedy bunker," it was established to protect Kennedy and allow the commander-in-chief to conduct defense and other government operations in the event of a nuclear conflict with the Soviet Union. An inside look of the Cold War-era John F. Kennedy bunker on Peanut Island , which was built in 1961. At the time, entry and exit to the bunker was through a narrow torpedo tube-like access point, raising questions about whether the structure's designers knew about JFK's severe back pain and injuries. The Palm Beach mansion, by the way, is no longer among the Kennedy family's holdings. It was sold for $70 million in June 2020. Rare Photos: JFK's last Easter in Palm Beach Nixon mulled Mar-a-Lago Before Trump bought the estate in Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago was a possession of the U.S. government. General Foods heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post bequeathed the property to the feds in hopes the sprawling compound would become another presidential retreat, a sort of southern Camp David. On July 7, 1974, President Richard Nixon boarded Marine One from his own home in Key Biscayne and flew to Mar-a-Lago to survey the property and, presumably, decide its future role. In this historical photograph from the Palm Beach Post archives, President Richard Nixon appears at an event in West Palm Beach. Or more precisely, as the entry in Nixon's diary for that date described, the president "looked over the property" during his 31-minute tour "to determine its potential for possible use by U.S. presidents for visiting foreign dignitaries." Nixon ultimately did not make a decision about Mar-a-Lago's use. Later that July, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered him to release the so-called Watergate tapes and then, on Aug. 9, the 37th president resigned. There was an interesting footnote to the Nixon visit to Mar-a-Lago that day. Along for the ride was Nixon close friend Charles "Bebe" Rebozo, a Miami banker. Nixon's home at 500 Bay Lane, which he bought in 1969, was just a short walk from Rebozo's place and the latter later claimed Nixon was swimming in his pool when he learned of the arrests of the burglars at the Watergate complex in June 1972. The break-in led to Nixon's role in the cover-up, for which he lost the White House, and Rebozo was with Nixon when the president arrived at the decision to step down. Presidential history: President Nixon toured Mar-a-Lago. Then he resigned a month later. Trump's Southern White House Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club and, since 2019, his official residence, too, is to date the state's most ubiquitous connection to the American presidency. As president, Trump visited over dozens of weekends and holidays, principally during Palm Beach's winter society season, and brought global figures with him, such as Chinese leader Xi Jingping and the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Then-President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago in 2017. Trump and Abe made for an early and one of the most iconic moments of Trump's Palm Beach presidential stays. In February 2017, barely a month after his inauguration, the president and Abe huddled with key aides in the middle of the private club's opulent dining hall, surrounded by onlookers, as they discussed a response to a North Korean ballistic missile test. Five years later, the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol revealed how Trump spent much of his 2020 Christmas holiday at Mar-a-Lago promoting baseless theories of election fraud and seeking to undo that November's presidential voting results. Trump in Palm Beach: A look back at president's Thanksgiving visits to Palm Beach County ... and other memorable highlights Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Presidents Day: From Truman to Trump, Florida has presidential landmarks Services, including a Mass led by Bishop John Noonan of the Orlando Diocese, are set for this week in honor of a long-serving priest and his sister, both of whom were killed in a January triple homicide in Palm Bay. On Monday, St. Joseph Catholic Church parishioners in Palm Bay will gather in a prayer service for Father Bob Hoeffner, who led the church from 1998 until his retirement in 2016, and his sister, Sally Hoeffner. On Tuesday, Bishop Noonan, who leads the diocese's 400,000 Catholics, will oversee a Mass celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community church, centrally located in Viera and with a larger seating capacity. The St. Joseph service begins at 6 p.m. Monday, with visitation at 5 p.m. The funeral Mass at St. John the Evangelist begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Celebration turned to tragedy The killings of the Hoeffner siblings came to light after a Jan. 28 birthday party at a Palm Bay home erupted in gunfire. Brandon Kapas, 24, shot and killed his grandfather, William Kapas Sr., during a family celebration that Sunday afternoon. Two Palm Bay police officers, Stephen Ball and Nicholas Franze, were shot and wounded as Kapas tried to flee, and police returned fire, killing him. When Palm Bay police tracked the car Kapas drove to his family's house, they found it registered to Father Robert "Bob" Hoeffner, 76, who retired from St. Joseph's Church in 2016. The priest and his sister, Sally Hoeffner, 69, were found shot to death in their shared home by officers conducting a welfare check about 6 p.m., just hours after Palm Bay police confronted Kapas. Brandon Kapas is pictured with his grandfather, William Kapas Sr. Palm Bay Police Chief Mariano Augello, who early in the investigation described the priest as a "pillar of the community," said that his patrol officers may have prevented an even larger scale shooting incident from taking place following the initial confrontation in the northwest neighborhood. The two wounded officers, who remain on administrative leave, are recovering, the chief said. Our officers are doing as well as can be expected. They are still recovering both physically and mentally," said Augello. "They are going to be out for a while and should be able to make a full recovery and return to work. They wont be the same, but they will recover." Father Robert 'Bob' Hoeffner Two investigations are underway. One involves the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is providing an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting that ended with Kapas dead and the two officers wounded. The other homicide investigation involves the priest and his sister. More: Families, parishioners left with questions after Palm Bay shootings leave 4 dead including priest The state attorneys office will review FDLEs findings in the case, including the autopsy report and ballistics. Family members say Kapas, who police said was on the ground refusing to drop his weapon, was struck multiple times by gunfire, including in the head, chest and back. Police have not confirmed those injuries. Detectives are also compiling information on Kapas, who left few social media footprints. We are trying to determine what led the suspect to how he ended up doing this," said Augello. "We are talking to a lot of people and we are getting somewhere. I can say with certainty that had our officers not intervened, this was going to be worse. Everybody in that area was at risk." Both Brandon Kapas and his grandfather were cremated, family members said. William Kapas Sr. was interred at the St. Joseph Catholic Church cemetery, while the cremains of his grandson remain with the family. A legacy of service A Catholic priest who touched the lives of thousands of the faithful, parishioners said, Hoeffner mentored Kapas after the young man's mother was left paralyzed following a single-car crash over a decade before. The gunman and his family were known to the priest for years, with Hoeffner purchasing a vehicle for Kapas in December. Family members said Kapas had struggled with the faith in recent months. Hoeffner served at St. Josephs Church for 18 years, arriving in 1998. Last year, Hoeffner was honored for his 50th year in the priesthood. Neighbors had last seen the priest and his sister the Saturday before the shootings, as they headed to church for Mass. "I probably talked to her more than I did him. I would see (Father Hoeffner) out getting mail from time to time," said David Little, a retired law enforcement officer who lived near the brother and sister. More: Shootings in Palm Bay: How many mass shootings have happened in Florida so far in 2024? Kapas, a one-time dollar store manager who according to family members had a passion for guns and compared himself to fictional war veteran Rambo on his Snapchat account, often practiced at area shooting ranges. Sometime the weekend of the shootings, Kapas turned up at the priests residence in northwest Palm Bay, police said. Police records detail what happened next. Kapas, dressed in a black shirt and pants, showed up at his family's home about 2 p.m. His conversation, police records show, dealt with trying to convince his family that their Roman Catholic faith had brainwashed" them. He also began to pass out rocks and was asked to leave the home by his relatives. Kapas hugged his niece as other relatives called 9-1-1 for help. Officers arrived by 2:19 p.m. and were met by an uncle who told them Kapas was usually armed with a handgun. Officers then tried to stop Kapas, who was walking away from the home quickly away. An officer tased Kapas and got into a brief struggle before Kapas reached for his handgun and fired at police, the chief said. Officers Stephen Ball and Nicholas Franze were shot, one in the arm and the other in the leg. Palm Bay Police Chief Mariano Augello, at a Monday afternoon press conference, held up a photo of the weapons that Brandon Kapas had in his car. The gunman's grandfather attempted to intervene but was shot and killed by the suspect, Augello said. Kapas, who fell to the ground and sat clutching his gun, was fatally wounded during the shootout and never reached his car where multiple firearms, including a helmet and other equipment, were found, police said. Police are working to solidify other elements of the investigation, along with autopsy and toxicology reports that could shed more light into Kapas' state of being. Gerald Hoeffner, 63, of Fort Pierce is the brother of the Hoeffner siblings. Father Hoeffner, he said, had an impact on Catholics across Central Florida during his ministry. My brother told me that (Kapas) was a lost soul since his mother had passed away, he said. (Bob) told me that he bought him a car and was working with him and said he was trying to get him a job. He bought the car, but he helped a lot of kids and worked on their resumes. He loved what he did. He connected with so many people. Everybody's got a loss here," J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Bishop Noonan to lead Mass for priest, sister as homicide case unfolds The Prince of Wales revealed that he has watched fewer films ahead of the British Academy Film Awards this year as his wife recovers from major abdominal surgery. Prince William, 41, apologised to Elaine Bedell, chief executive of the Southbank Centre, for his last minute decision to attend the ceremony alone amid the health scares in his family. When asked if he had been able to watch many of the 38 feature films nominated at the awards, he said: Ive done the fewest Ive ever done before, with my wife its been a bit hopefully well catch up. Ill make my list tonight, he added. The Prince, who has been president of the Baftas since 2010, also told Charlotte Moore, the BBC executive, that he was a big fan of Christopher Nolan and that he would be pleased if Oppenheimer received an award. The Prince of Wales meets EE Rising Stars Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Sophie Wilde and Mia McKenna Bruce at the awards - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire The Prince of Wales said he would be be 'pleased' if Oppenheimer received an award at the Baftas - Paul Grover for The Telegraph The biographical thriller about the father of the nuclear bomb which the Prince said he loved marks a crowning achievement for British filmmaker Nolan, who has never won a directing Bafta. The Prince added that he had not watched Barbie yet, but he wanted to, telling Ms Bedell that there were lots of opinionated fans outside the Royal Festival Hall venue. The Princess of Wales, who usually attends the ceremony with her husband, has been convalescing at the couples home in Windsor following major abdominal surgery last month. He told Bafta executives that she was sorry not to be attending this year, saying: She does love the Baftas. The Prince took his seat next to Cate Blanchett, who stood up to give him a hug, once the celebrities and other attendees had been seated. Prince William arrives at the Baftas without his wife Catherine who is convalescing following major abdominal surgery - Scott Garfitt/BAFTA The Prince of Wales sits next to Cate Blanchett at the awards ceremony - Scott Garfitt/BAFTA David Beckham, who attended the ceremony to present the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer award, made his way over to William to say hello. The pair have previously worked together on numerous charities. The Prince also hailed all the good British films and good female directors nominated this year. Some of the nominations include British film Poor Things for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay and Outstanding British Film as well as female director Justine Triet for Best Director for Anatomy of a Fall. Speaking with the Bafta, Southbank and BBC executives ahead of the ceremony, Prince William also revealed that there was more coming after he was congratulated on the announcement of the first Duchy of Cornwall housing project to tackle homelessness. It was revealed by The Sunday Times the Prince will forge ahead with a 3 million social housing plan of 24 new homes for the Cornwall estate in the next year. Opening the ceremony, Sara Putt, Bafta chair, said the awards are here to champion talent, exceptional storytelling, and make our industries a more equitable place. She also welcomed Prince William to the event and gave her very best wishes to the King and the Princess of Wales after their recently disclosed health issues. 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. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- One soldier and nine terrorists were killed on Saturday in two separate counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the military said. The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the South Waziristan district of KP, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a late-night statement on Saturday. During the operation, seven terrorists and a soldier were killed, following an intense exchange of fire, said the ISPR. "Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area against the security forces as well as extortion and target killing of innocent civilians," it added. Separately, two terrorists were killed in another operation conducted by the security forces in Tank district of the province, according to the statement. People demonstrate against the Russian government with a banner reading "Putin is a killer" in Berlin-Mitte following the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Fabian Sommer/dpa Some 250 demonstrators gathered near the Russian embassy in Berlin on Sunday to protest at the death of jailed dissident Alexei Navalny, police in the German capital reported. The organizers had registered a protest by 450 people. Shortly before the protest called for the early afternoon, the Pussy Riot protest group announced its own demonstration. A police spokesman said that a number of people with pink hoods and banners had arrived at the embassy and left shortly afterwards. Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist protest and performance art group, issued a statement saying that the situation was dangerous for members of its group as well. "We call on the international community to show solidarity and to work for justice," the group said. "Alexei Navalny's murder and threats to Pussy Riot members are attacks on the fundamental values of freedom, justice and human dignity that we have to defend with determination," it said. Members of the group, which was set up in 2011, have been sentenced to lengthy terms in prison in Russia. Protests have been held all round the world to mark the death of the 47-year-old activist in a Siberian penal colony since it was announced on Friday. People demonstrate against the Russian government in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin-Mitte following the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Fabian Sommer/dpa A person demonstrates against the Russian government with a sign reading "stop Putin" in Berlin-Mitte following the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Fabian Sommer/dpa People demonstrate against the Russian government in central Berlin following the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Fabian Sommer/dpa Participants at a rally critical of Russia hold up posters to commemorate the deceased Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny on the fence of the Russian Consulate General. Helmut Fricke/dpa Several hundred demonstrators gathered near the Russian embassy in Berlin on Sunday to protest at the death of jailed dissident Alexei Navalny, police in the German capital reported. People carried placards with slogans like "Putin is a killer" and "Stopp Putin," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The organizers had registered a protest by 450 people. Shortly before the protest called for the early afternoon, the Pussy Riot protest group announced its own demonstration. A police spokesman said that a number of people with pink hoods and banners had arrived at the embassy and left shortly afterwards. Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist protest and performance art group, issued a statement saying that the situation was dangerous for members of its group as well. "We call on the international community to show solidarity and to work for justice," the group said. "Alexei Navalny's murder and threats to Pussy Riot members are attacks on the fundamental values of freedom, justice and human dignity that we have to defend with determination," it said. Members of the group, which was set up in 2011, have been sentenced to lengthy terms in prison in Russia. Protests have been held all round the world to mark the death of the 47-year-old activist in a Siberian penal colony since it was announced on Friday. Navalny's team and human rights activists have termed Navalny's death a murder and hold the Kremlin responsible. According to the Russian authorities, Navalny collapsed while exercising in freezing conditions. Attempts to revive him failed. Participants at a rally critical of Russia hold up posters to commemorate the deceased Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny on the fence of the Russian Consulate General. Helmut Fricke/dpa Numerous flowers and candles can be seen alongside photos in memory of the deceased Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny on the fence of the Russian Consulate General. Helmut Fricke/dpa (Bloomberg) -- Qatars foreign minister said negotiations aimed at securing an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and the release of hostages havent progressed as hoped, with issues such as how to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza still to be resolved. Most Read from Bloomberg The US signaled over the weekend that it would oppose a potential vote in the UN Security Council calling for a humanitarian cease-fire, saying a proposed resolution may run counter to a sustainable end to the conflict. Qatar is among a group of countries mediating efforts to secure a pause in the war, together with Egypt and the US. Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu last week opted not to send a delegation for a fresh round of talks in Cairo, dismissing demands by Hamas as delusional. The pattern of last few days is not very positive, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Saturday during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference. We still see some difficulties on the humanitarian part of these negotiations. Separately, on Sunday, Israels cabinet unanimously approved a declaration submitted by Netanyahu rejecting any international diktat regarding a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians. Any arrangement will be achieved only by direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions, and Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, according to the declaration. The declaration echoed comments made by Netanyahu following a call with US President Joe Biden on Friday. The standstill comes as international fears grow that Israel is poised to launch a military assault on Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge from fighting further north. Biden and other world leaders have urged Netanyahu to hold off on an attack until a plan is in place to ensure the safety of civilians. Read more: Israel Quits Cease-fire Talks Over Delusional Hamas Demands Israels campaign in Gaza has killed more than 28,000 people since the start of the war more than four months ago, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Much of the enclave has been devastated by air strikes and ground fighting. The conflict was triggered when the militant group attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, leaving about 1,200 dead and abducting hundreds. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza after some were released during a brief cease-fire and prisoner exchange in late November. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the US and European Union. Read More: Why Rafah Is Raising Fears in Israel-Hamas War: QuickTake The humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially when it comes to Rafah, when we see the population there, is a dire situation, al-Thani said. We are seeing some threatening moments. He added that time is not in our favor due to the start of Ramadan in mid-March, while the ongoing crisis is dangerous for the entire region. The US said Saturday it didnt back a draft resolution proposed by Algeria that calls for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. The United States does not support action on this draft resolution, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the UN, said in a statement. Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted. --With assistance from Alisa Odenheimer. (Updates with US statement, Israeli cabinet declaration from second paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A conversation about race and gender is beginning to brew as Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis attempts to maintain her post as the lead prosecutor in the election racketeering case against former President Trump. Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, previously said the allegations brought against her of having an "improper" romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade were made because she is Black. Now, a little more than a month after making that claim, a handful of Willis' proponents are echoing her position. Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, the presiding prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, told the New York Times he believes Willis wouldn't be facing the allegations of misconduct if she were "not a woman and Black." BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS AFTER WILD 2-DAY HEARING ON FANI WILLIS AFFAIR: 'WHAT'S DONE IS DONE' Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, previously said the allegations brought against her of having an "improper" romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade were made because she is Black. "If she was not a woman and Black, I dont think she would have gone through this," said Jackson, whom the outlet noted has prayed with and counseled Willis in private in recent weeks. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "What this was all about was distraction and delay," he added. "I think its time to move on." Kamina Pinder, a law professor at Emory University, told the outlet she knows Black women face "unique challenges" when holding positions of power. "Everything she does is going to be scrutinized, so for her to do this is just bizarre," Pinder told the outlet. "As a Black woman, I know there are unique challenges when youre in a position of power, but that doesnt excuse behavior that was dubious and unethical." Similarly, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, a Democrat who was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, suggested Willis is a "bigger target" for opponents because she is a "high-profile Black woman." FANI WILLIS RAISES EYEBROWS WITH WINK ON THE STAND, LABELS FORMER LOVER NATHAN WADE A 'SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN' "Obviously, it was in somebodys interest to bring her down," Braun told the Times earlier this week. "The fact that shes a high-profile Black woman just means that shes a bigger target." "The fact that shes a high-profile Black woman just means that shes a bigger target," former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Ill., said of Willis. An article from the Associated Press this week also pointed out the narrative that Willis is facing political turmoil due to her race. "It absolutely feels familiar. There is no secret that the common sentiment among Black women in positions of power (is that they) must over-perform to be seen as equals to their counterparts," Jessica T. Ornsby, a family litigation attorney in the Washington, D.C., area, told the outlet. "Here, Ms. Willis is being scrutinized for things that are not directly related to her job performance, in ways we see other Black women regularly picked apart." Court documents filed last month claimed Willis hired Wade, her alleged partner, to prosecute Trump and benefited financially from the relationship in the form of lavish vacations the two went on using funds his firm received for working the case. After the allegations were made, Willis spoke on the matter at the Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta, where she said the claims against her were based on her race. "They only attacked one," she said at the time. "First thing they say, Oh, shes gonna play the race card now. But no, God, isnt it them thats playing the race card when they only question one?" Fulton County records show Wade has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022, an amount authorized by the district attorney, or Willis in this case. The filing also calls for the entire district attorney's office, including Willis and Wade, to be disqualified from prosecuting the case. FANI WILLIS HEARING TESTIMONY 'JARRING,' 'PURE COMEDY GOLD,' SOCIAL MEDIA DECLARES Willis said last month that John Floyd and Anna Green Cross, both prosecutors assigned to the case, are both white and were not targeted. "Isnt it them playing the race card when they constantly think I need someone from some other jurisdiction in some other state to tell me how to do a job Ive been doing almost 30 years," Willis questioned. Earlier this week, Willis took to the witness stand at an evidentiary hearing regarding her relationship with Wade. Fani Willis testifies at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta Feb. 15, 2024. Willis' testimony was marked with notable hostility on Thursday, with the prosecutor calling some of the allegations "dishonest" and "extremely offensive." At one point, Willis held up a printed copy of the allegations against her in both hands and turned to the judge, yelling, "This is a lie!" Willis also called defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant's interests "contrary to democracy." Trump was indicted by Willis in August and pleaded not guilty to charges related to allegedly attempting to subvert the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, including violation of Georgia's anti-racketeering law. Fox News' Lindsay Kornick, Brianna Herlihy and Greg Wehner contributed to this report. Original article source: Race, gender debate brewing after Fani Willis' hearing testimony: 'High-profile Black woman' An F-35A Lightning II, which can carry nuclear weapons, landing at RAF Lakenheath Nuclear weapons could be making a return to a United States Air Force base in Suffolk 15 years after it reportedly removed its last ones. Documents indicate RAF Lakenheath is preparing facilities to house and guard bombs with an explosive power many times greater than the one dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War Two. What do we know about these plans? RAF Lakenheath is currently home to the 48th Fighter Wing, also known as the Liberty Wing, with the latest generation F-35A Lightning II aircraft stationed there. According to the USAF these fighter jets have successfully been flight tested to carry the short-range B61-12 thermonuclear bomb, a tactical weapon designed for the battlefield. Documents detailing a contract awarded to build defensive shelters for RAF Lakenheath's "upcoming nuclear mission" were published, and then withdrawn, by the US Department of Defense. These mobile units would protect the troops assigned to defend the base, the 48th Security Forces Squadron. In addition, millions of dollars have been earmarked to build a facility known as a "surety dormitory" at the base, which is understood to be storage facilities for nuclear weapons, according to a US Department of Defense budget document. The RAF base opened in Lakenheath in 1941 and was operational during World War Two. As the Cold War between Nato and the Soviet bloc intensified, the USAF assumed administrative control of the base in 1951. There are 4,000 US military personnel and a further 1,500 British and US civilian staff at the site. Will these bombs arrive in Suffolk? Prof Sir Lawrence Freedman said reports that nuclear weapons were coming to Suffolk should be treated with caution Sir Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College London, said there were "some suggestions" the plans were precautionary. The shelters could just be extra capacity in the event other weapons had to be removed from storage sites in Europe, he added. "It is one thing to build storage facility, it's another thing to hide the fact that American weapons are going to be based in Britain, so it may have quite a relatively mundane explanation rather than be some sort of dramatic escalation in the arms race," he said. The UK and Nato have a long-standing policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location. Why is this happening now? Sir Lawrence said he did not think the plans were specifically related to the situation in Ukraine. "It is part of, I think, a general increasing of tension with Russia," he said. "It also reflects the high priority given to short-range systems in Russian doctrine." But William Alberque, a former senior NATO official now with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said it was a "response to an increasingly dangerous threat environment across Europe because of Russia's actions". He cited the stationing of Russian nuclear forces in Belarus, the invasion of Ukraine and "wildly increased threats of nuclear weapons use by Vladimir Putin". What does this mean for the base? Hans Kristensen, from the Federation of American Scientists, was among the first people to raise the possibility nuclear weapons could be returning to RAF Lakenheath. "There is no doubt that if you have nuclear weapons on a base, that base is more likely to be targeted in a nuclear conflict with Russia," he said. "There's no doubt that once you have nuclear weapons in, it's a different ball game." Mr Alberque said it was "highly likely" the base was already a Russian target. "If I'm a Russian military planner, I'm already going to hit it. If you watch Russian television, they talk about the UK a lot; they talk about nuking the UK a lot." Mr Alberque believes Russian President Vladimir Putin would authorise the use of these weapons. "To say he is capable of it would be an understatement. If he sees a lack of resolve and a lack of consequences I think he would," he said. What has been the reaction? The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has already protested outside the base. CND general secretary Kate Hudson said: "If they're here, we're going to get rid of them." The group has instructed law firm Leigh Day to look into whether building of the surety dormitory is lawful. Lawyer Ricardo Gama said: "The [UK] Ministry of Defence says that the Lakenheath development won't lead to significant environmental effects, but in coming to that conclusion our client argues they have ignored the potential environmental effects of stationing nuclear weapons at the airbase, including the potential for nuclear accidents". Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 In fall 2023, Katie Scott came home after work and saw that her black Labrador mix Chowder had broken out of her crate and gotten into a bottle of childrens liquid ibuprofen. Shes a 1-year-old Lab, so naturally shes a little mischievous, Scott told The Daily Beast. Scott, who is a veterinary technician, says that human medication like Advil and Tylenol can be harmful to internal organs in dogs, causing gastrointestinal, kidney, and liver issues. She knew she was working against the clock to get Chowder the care she needed. Before she called her local veterinary hospital, though, Scott reached for ReadyRESCUE, an at-home animal detoxifier that works to absorb toxins before a pets body does, buying pet owners time to get to a veterinarian. As a veterinary technician, I have experience administering traditional charcoal and its very messy, Scott said, adding that most pet parents dont have the activated charcoal producta common antidote used in veterinary hospitals to rid animals of toxinsthat veterinarians administer. Chowder the dog. Katie Scott Scott said for her, ReadyRESCUEs most valuable asset is being able to give it at home, because every minute matters after pets have ingested toxins, and gives pet owners a minute to breathe before calling poison control or the vet clinic. ReadyRESCUE, manufactured by the brand Dr. Cuddles, is made of activated carbon spheres which can be mixed with another ingredient, such as peanut butter, to give to pets who have ingested toxins at home. This can include human medications, chocolate, and recreational drugs like THC. The charcoal absorbs the toxin, binding harmful ingredients to the spheres instead of your pets bloodstream, and then is safely eliminated in a cat or dogs feces without causing damage to internal organs or the gastrointestinal tract. One box costs $134 and contains three vialsand dosage is based on the size of the animal. Scott says she administered Chowders dosage very easily using peanut butter and her dog gladly ate the whole thing. I still got in touch with an emergency doctor from the hospital to check the dose of ibuprofen she ingested to make sure Chowder wouldnt require any hospitalization, Scott said. How AI Can Help Treat (and Cure) Your Dogs Cancer While charcoal administration for pets who have ingested a toxin isnt new (activated charcoal is a common protocol used in pet hospitals) ReadyRESCUEs charcoal spheres provide pet owners a first-of-its kind tool that can be used at home. Its a concept that excites founder, Mat Glassman, a board-certified veterinary surgeon in Washington, D.C. who spent three years developing the product. I know that it will save lives and make veterinarians jobs easier, Glassman told The Daily Beast. Its meant to be administered when we have the window to be most effectiveat home as soon as a toxin ingestion is suspected. Though intended for accidental toxin ingestion, Glassman noted that there are some toxins ReadyRESCUE will not be effective against, including xylitol, which is a sweetener found in products like gum; and ethylene glycol, or antifreeze. For pet owners like Scott, though, the product is a comforting tool to have on hand. The nice thing about ReadyRESCUE is it is safe to give even if you arent sure what or how much your pet got into, she said. If they didnt ingest a toxin, the charcoal beads will just run through the intestines without causing any damage. Dr. Cuddles Benjamin Brainard, professor of small animal emergency and critical care at University of Georgias College of Veterinary Medicine, told The Daily Beast that he has not used ReadyRESCUE in his practice, but is familiar with the product and offered a recent scenario where it may have been useful. A patient of his was on an island in South Carolina and their dog got into human medication. The nearest vet was a couple hours away, so she called me asking for help, the Athens, Georgia-based specialist said. If she had been able to administer the activated charcoal at home, it probably would have been a beneficial way to prevent absorption of this toxin while she was en route to the veterinarian. In this case, Brainard said that the alternate option was to induce vomiting using hydrogen peroxide. This means first you have to have hydrogen peroxide in the houseand hydrogen peroxide turns into water after about six months, so it has to be a new bottle, he explained, adding that administering hydrogen peroxide comes with its own risks, such as mouth irritation, and is best done under the supervision of a veterinarian. Vomiting also does not always bring up the toxin in its entirety, he added. Brainard emphasized that giving a product like ReadyRESCUE at home can help, not hurt, animals. I think the best way to think of ReadyRESCUE is a bridge, Brainard told The Daily Beast. The animal is still going to need to see a veterinarian. Barking Up the Wrong Tree While some emergency veterinarians support the product and see the value, others are not convinced. Lauren Darwin, an emergency veterinarian in Tucson, Arizona called ReadyRESCUE a dangerous product for consumers and told The Daily Beast that after a pet ingests any toxin, the first step should be contacting ASPCAs Pet Poison Control Center, a 24/7/365 helpline available by calling (888) 426-4435, followed by taking them to the nearest emergency room for treatment. As an emergency veterinarian, I see toxin ingestion quite often, and especially common ones that ReadyRESCUE claims to be effective against, such as chocolate intoxication, grapes, and prescription medication overdoses, Darwin said. The Arizona-based veterinarian emphasized that charcoal alone is not enough to decontaminate toxins from pets bodies. I worry that this product falsely gives the impression that you can give this at home and can deter people from seeking out veterinary care because they believe this product will be enough, she said. Dr. Glassman and his dog. Dr. Cuddles Darwin added that while charcoal may be recommended for some types of toxin ingestions, there are life-threatening issues that can arise by giving charcoal at home. Pets often vomit if they have ingested a toxin, Darwin said. Giving charcoal at home poses a huge risk for them to vomit at home and then aspirate and become ill with aspiration pneumonia, which is life threatening. Glassman admitted that vomiting is a valid concern when pets ingest toxinsbut one that is faced regardless of if charcoal is given at home or at a hospital. He cited medical studies, including one on the use of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, that underscore the importance of time when treating animals that have ingested toxins. The fact that ReadyRESCUE could be given at home well before puking or gastric lavage at a hospital would suggest that prevention of absorption would be that much better, he said. While Glassman accepts the concern regarding vomiting, he is adamant the product is not intended to be a replacement for professional veterinary care, but a solution for time-critical emergencies, such as toxin ingestion. I think about ReadyRESCUE like CPR, he explained. If youre giving someone CPR, youre not saying, Give them CPR, and dont call 911 or go to the hospital. Youre saying, Give them CPR while you call or until you get to the hospital. 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. PORTSMOUTH Portsmouth is reining in the horses. City Council voted unanimously last week to pass an ordinance prohibiting horse riding on the citys public roads and property with some exceptions. Interim City Manager Mimi Terry said the move was prompted by a recent event where individuals from Smithfield and as far as Winchester rode their horses on city streets and left a mess. They mount their horses and they ride their horses down our city streets with no permit, no anything, Terry said. The last instance, they actually rode their horses on city streets and they left a mess for our citizens to clean up. Terry said when reviewing city code to figure out why riders were choosing Portsmouth, she discovered the city didnt have any ordinances prohibiting it or requiring riders to clean up after themselves. Portsmouth city code does generally prohibit riding horseback in city parks and on city-owned land adjoining city lakes and shores. For comparison, Norfolk city code bans horseback riding on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, in parks unless on a specified bridle path and in cemeteries unless for a ceremonial occasion. The new Portsmouth ordinance doesnt apply to police officers, individuals with permits to ride horses for city-sponsored events, and those within designated locations in a public park. It also prohibits the hitching of horses on public rights-of-way or public property and leaving behind waste. Violating the ordinance could result in a class 4 misdemeanor, according to the city code. Virginia state code allows animals to be led, ridden or driven on public roads unless it is specifically prohibited. State code also puts some stipulations on horse riders, particularly between sunset and sunrise, by requiring them to wear reflective materials. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com There's an old saying among doctors: if you've seen one 80-year-old, you've seen one 80-year-old. Some will act like they're 60 or 70, while others seem a lot older. So, instead of asking How old is too old?, shouldn't the question be, How old is too old for what function? "Absolutely. I could not agree more," said Dr. Louise Aronson, a geriatrician and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Her bestselling book "Elderhood" is about redefining old age. "I honestly think anybody who's lived past their 40s knows age matters," she said. "Your body changes, your brain changes. What I would like to see is a conversation where we actually discuss the things that matter." / Credit: Bloomsbury But it get tricky, when you have wisdom brushing up against decreasing cognitive function. A healthy human brain has up to 100 billion nerve cells making trillions of connections with each other. Recent research suggests a normal part of aging involves forgetting less important memories to help make room for new ones. The problem comes when normal forgetting is coupled with an abnormal process causing dementia. Dr. LaPook said, "I would say by far the biggest fear my patients have is that they're losing it. And very often it'll start with, 'I couldn't think of the name. I mean, it was somebody who I know so well.' How important is that? How worried should they?" "I would say they should not be worried," Aronson replied. And what about misplacing objects? "Sometimes it's a matter of attention," Aronson said. "So, what may be happening in situations where people said, 'I couldn't find my keys,' is that they weren't paying enough attention to the keys. Maybe they were talking to someone when they put them down and consequently that memory isn't within their grasp in the way they would hope." But if they find the keys and don't know what the keys do? "Oh, that's a bigger problem!" Aronson said. Dr. Sanjay Gupta's prescription for fighting off dementia ("Sunday Morning") That distinction between normal and abnormal aging is increasingly important as the number of older workers continues to grow. In most cases, mandatory retirement at a certain age is illegal, but there are exceptions when public safety is at stake: for example, FBI agents must retire at 57, commercial airline pilots at 65. But there are no age limits for surgeons. Dr. Mark Katlic, a thoracic surgeon and chief of surgery for LifeBridge Health in Baltimore, said, "When I lecture about this subject of older surgeons around the country, I ask my audience who in the audience has encountered the surgeon who should have stopped operating before he or she did, and the majority of hands go up." In 2015, Katlic created the Aging Surgeon Program, a two-day physical and cognitive evaluation open to older surgeons from anywhere in the world. His multidisciplinary team of doctors including geriatricians and neurologists, physical and occupational therapists, ethicists and lawyers built a comprehensive, objective evaluation of the surgeon's physical and cognitive faculty. Asked what the initial response was of the surgeons who were going to be subjected to this, Katlic replied, "Almost everyone comes kicking and screaming and not wanting to come." And what precipitates them being sent there in the first place? "Something has been identified as being problematic," Katlic said. Aside from evaluating surgeons flagged with a possible problem, LifeBridge is one of the few hospital systems in the country where all doctors and nurses over the age of 75 receive a neurocognitive assessment every two years. Dr. Katlic, 72, says tests like these actually help fight ageism by focusing on function rather than on chronological age. He said, "I think you can make a very strong case for anybody who's in a high-impact profession doctors, airline pilots, high government officials they should have some sort of screening at some age. In fact, I would take away the mandatory retirement for airline pilots and others. If you're okay, the test will show you're okay." Aronson said, "We've added a couple of decades, essentially an entire generation, onto our lives, and we haven't kind of socio-culturally figured out how to handle that." More Americans are working into old ageIt's never too late to be a late bloomer ("Sunday Morning") Figuring out how to handle that, says Aronson, might just mean embracing the realities of getting older while realizing the end of working doesn't have to mean the end of a meaningful life. "We need ways of letting people work when they still can, and of helping them to stop working when that's in their interest and the interest of the common good," she said. LaPook said, "But the problem is that we really haven't figured out a way of giving people a gentle off-ramp to whatever it is that they're doing, that preserves their dignity and their sense of who they are?" "Yeah, almost all of us will live to that phase of life," Aronson said. "And so, if nothing but the most selfish of reasons, we should be doing that right now." For more info: Louise Aronson, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University"Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life" by Louise Aronson (Bloomsbury), in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org Mark Katlic, chief of surgery, LifeBridge Health Systems, BaltimoreThe Aging Surgeon Program Story produced by Mark Hudspeth. Editor: Remington Korper. / Credit: CBS News See also: Fighting back against ageism ("Sunday Morning")More Americans are working into old age"Sunday Morning" special: "Forever Young: Searching for the Fountain of Youth" The authentic Ashley McBryde Redefining old age Crawfish shortage impacts Louisiana's economy Relatives of some seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers who were taken prisoner after Russian forces captured the Zenit position in Avdiivka have recognised their loved ones bodies in a video circulating on Russian social media. Source: Slidstvo Info, an independent Ukrainian investigative reporting outlet; journalist Yurii Butusov on Facebook Details: Slidstvo Info journalists spoke to the relatives of three seriously injured Ukrainian soldiers who were left behind at the Zenit positions after Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka. Ivan "Django" Zhytnyk had spent two years in Avdiivka with the 110th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His sister Kateryna told Slidstvo Info that a few days ago she got a call from Ivan, who told her that he was wounded and in a hideout with four other wounded soldiers from his brigade, as well as one soldier who was not wounded but decided to stay behind to keep them company. "[The wounded soldiers] were told to wait for a vehicle [that would evacuate them] while everyone who wasnt wounded left. They waited for that vehicle for a day and a half. When they realised no one was coming to get them, they started calling everyone they knew. When [Ivan] called me, he was in so much pain. Theyd given him every painkiller they had, but they were running out of medicine and food," Kateryna says. Katerynas conversation with Ivan was leaked to social media, though she says she did not share the recording with anyone other than some of her relatives. Katerynas brother-in-law video-called Ivan that afternoon. "My brother said their commanders had agreed that the Russians would take them away, because [Ukrainian forces] would no longer be able to get to them," Kateryna says. During his video call with Ivan, Katerynas brother-in-law saw Russians enter the hideout and tell everyone to get out. He told Kateryna: "I saw the Russians come in and say: Get up and get out, were not going to carry you." Kateryna says her brother-in-law tried to keep talking to Ivan, but Ivan was told to switch off his phone. The Slidstvo Info journalists came across a video circulating on Russian social media which shows dead soldiers wearing Ukrainian Armed Forces uniforms. The video was recorded at the Zenit position. One of the dead Ukrainian soldiers had his head bandaged and another one had a cross tattoo on his arm. Viktor Biliak, who served in the 110th Brigade and had remained at the Zenit position with the wounded soldiers up until he was evacuated, identified the man with the tattoo as Andrii "Bairaktar" Dubnytskyi from the 110th Brigade. Andrii was among the soldiers who had remained at the Zenit position on 14 February. Andriis wife Liudmyla says she last heard from her husband at 12:00 on the day he was taken prisoner; he had told her he would be. On 16 February, Liudmyla went to a military enlistment office to find out what had happened to her husband, but they didnt tell her much: "I was told theyd get in touch with me again, but they didnt, and I fell asleep." When Liudmyla woke up in the evening, she started looking for information about her husband on Russian social media and recognised his body in the video seen by Slidstvo Info. Andrii had served in Avdiivka since March 2022. His daughter was only four when he was mobilised. The Russian video also shows the body of Heorhii "Panda" Pavlov. His mother Inna recognised his body. "They were waiting for an [evacuation] vehicle for three whole days. He wasnt injured at the beginning, but then on the 14th he got an injury too, shrapnel wounds to his back I begged him to surrender, I told him I needed him to stay alive he has a son, Andriusha, whos only five but he said: Mum, Im a soldier. Id like to believe theyre still alive. I want to find my son more than anything in the world. I want to see my son. Hell be 30 this year," Inna said. Several hours later, she told Slidstvo Info she had identified her sons body in the Russian video. Kateryna, like Inna, had hoped that her loved one would be given medical treatment and returned to Ukraine in a prisoner swap, but she recognised her brother in the video by his clothes and the water bottle he was holding when the Russians escorted him and the others out of the hideout. Journalist Yurii Butusov shared the names of all six Ukrainian soldiers who had remained at the Zenit position and were captured by Russian forces. The surnames of the other three soldiers are Baranovskyi, Savosik and Zinchuk. Quote from Butusov: "These are the names of six seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the 110th Mechanised Brigade who were left behind during the evacuation from the Zenit position near Avdiivka on 14 February. These wounded soldiers could not walk and there was no way to evacuate them. Zenit was fully encircled, which made it impossible for any sort of vehicles to break through to evacuate them. On 16 February, the Russians posted a video that shows five dead Ukrainian soldiers at the Zenit position. Their bodies had been dumped into some water. Relatives have identified three wounded soldiers who had remained at the Zenit position: Heorhii Pavlov, Andrii Dubnytskyi and Ivan Zhytnyk. The Russian forces shot unarmed and helpless wounded soldiers who couldnt even walk and who had been taken prisoner. We still dont know what happened to the other three wounded soldiers who were taken prisoner at the Zenit position. It is not possible to identify all the bodies in the Russian video." Support UP or become our patron! SINGAPORE, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese passenger jet C919 made a trial flight Sunday in Singapore to prepare for the upcoming airshow. Five aircraft developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., including C919, will meet the public at the airshow, said China Eastern Airlines Singapore Branch. C919 will perform flight demonstrations at the Singapore Airshow 2024, which will last from Feb. 20 to Feb. 25. The Rev. Stanley E. Lynton, pictured in 1966, served as pastor of Second Baptist Church in Akron. The Rev. Stanley E. Lynton was born to be a minister. It was as clear as the bumps on his head. For nearly 50 years, the Akron pastor was a respected leader, a thoughtful theologian and a reassuring presence in town. His warm smile and friendly demeanor lifted the spirits of friends and strangers alike. When he met people he felt could use a little boost, he gave them peppermint sticks. Such a sweet gesture. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lynton was born Oct. 12, 1906, in Cincinnati. He was 6 months old when his father died, so his widowed mother took him to Cleveland to live with her sister. Aunt Carrie Gentile owned a rooming house in a red-light district on the eastern edge of downtown. She was a religious woman and a positive influence, encouraging him to read books and learn as much as possible. Be anything you want, but be the best, she always told him. When Lynton was a young child, a phrenologist happened to visit the aunts home. The old soothsayer carefully studied the shape of the boys head and gingerly felt the bumps on his skull, hoping to ascertain personality traits. This boy will either preach or teach, the phrenologist announced. Lynton joined the Old Stone Church when he was 4 years old. His faith kept him strong at age 12 when he lost his mother, and again at age 13 when he lost his aunt. Young Stanley moved west to live with another aunt, Lemora Warrick, and her husband, George, in Rocky River. It was a culture shock to leave Cleveland for the western suburbs. I saw the two extremes of life as a youngster, the worst and the best, he later recalled. Lynton was the only Black student in his school. The new kid was so popular that his ninth grade class elected him president. In 1925, he became the first Black graduate of Rocky River High School. He furthered his education at Lincoln University, a historically Black school in Pennsylvania, where he studied literature, language and theology, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1930. The next year proved to be pivotal. He studied at Oberlin Colleges School of Theology, got ordained at Triedstone Baptist Church in Cleveland and married Remonia Z. Moss, a Georgia native who had moved to Ohio after graduating from Spelman College in Atlanta. Georgia native Remonia Z. Lynton, pictured in 1960, was the first lady of Second Baptist Church in Akron. Akron waiter becomes pastor A former busboy at the Hollenden House in Cleveland, Lynton moved to Akron in 1931 to work as a waiter at the opulent Mayflower Hotel, a new 16-story building on South Main Street. He and his wife joined Second Baptist Church at 188 E. Center St., a site that today is part of the University of Akron. The Rev. Royal Allen Jones, who had led the congregation since 1893, was its beloved pastor. Jones welcomed Lynton as associate pastor in 1933 and served as his mentor. The young preacher continued to work at the Mayflower, indulging appetites during the week and nourishing souls on Sundays. He stayed at the hotel for 10 years. When Jones died in 1941 at age 81, the grieving church named Lynton as acting minister. He was promoted to pastor a year later. Although Lynton had big shoes to fill, the 500-member congregation embraced Stanley, Remonia and their daughters Winifred and Gwendolyn. The family lived at 203 E. Buchtel Ave. near present-day E.J. Thomas Hall. The minister spoke in a soft voice, but delivered strong messages. The Beacon Journal often reprinted his well-crafted, poetic sermons during the 1940s and 1950s. How often the soul of man cries out for revival, for strength the kind that can come only through meditation with God, Lynton once sermonized about Psalm 121. We need God. We need to look unto the hills, standing as sublime, silent guardians over valleys where men live, strive and toil; pointing upwards as mute representatives or symbols of their creator and eternal God. We need to know God. In 1950, he was elected president of the Akron Ministerial Association, the first Black pastor to lead the group. He participated in Race Relations Sundays, exchanging pulpits with the pastors of white congregations. During one Lenten season, he proclaimed: Ultimate victory in the crises of life can be won only by living the Jesus way. Our lives must be motivated and measured daily by his two simple formulas. First: Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you. Second: Not my will be thy will be done. Lynton was active in the community, serving leadership roles in the NAACP, Akron Community Service Center, Interfaith Committee of the Council of Churches, Akron Municipal Parole Board and Mayors Civic Unity Committee. I see life as a chance to be a servant, rather than a slave, Lynton said. Studying a 1965 Akron revival plan are Robert W. Fischer, a Minneapolis banker; Gilbert V. Kullgren, co-founder of Hale and Kullgren; the Rev. Stanley E. Lynton, pastor of Second Baptist Church; and Vincent H. Johnson, president of Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad. Civic leaders welcome minister In 1961, he was named one of 21 charter trustees of Citizens for Progress, a nonprofit group established to revitalize Akron. His colleagues were some of the most prominent men in town, including Russell DeYoung, president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; Raymond C. Firestone, president of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.; Lincoln H. Gries, president of the M. ONeil Co., J. Ward Keener, president of B.F. Goodrich Co., M.G. ONeil, president of General Tire & Rubber Co., E.J. Thomas, chairman of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., and John S. Knight, editor of the Beacon Journal. The group met at the Mayflower, where Lynton had worked two decades earlier. In 20 years, he had moved from the waitstaff to sit at the table with other civic leaders. Lynton appreciated how his adopted hometown had made strides in racial relations. There is still a lot of prejudice, but you can get what youre willing to fight for here, he said. Only two pastors served Second Baptist Church during an 85-year span, a remarkable example of stability at a time when most ministers averaged five years with congregations. A church can get itself organized to the point where its constitution means more than its people, Lynton explained to the Beacon Journal in 1971. Preachers can become so sophisticated that theyll preach their doubts rather than their convictions. Either way, youre in trouble. Get a warm church with a preacher with convictions, however, and the mans liable to stay in the pulpit. Lynton shepherded the congregation to a new home after the University of Akron acquired the old church in 1973. He supervised the 1975 dedication of a $500,000 building at 690 S. Main St., where the church stands today. The Rev. Stanley E. Lynton, counselor Norma Routson and the Rev. Ralph Lamb congratulate STRIDE program scholarship winner Eula Thomas in 1969. Good, bad or indifferent The pastor retired in 1978 after devoting his ministerial career to one church. This has been my only pastorate: Good, bad or indifferent, he said with characteristic humility. He spent nearly 45 years at Second Baptist, including 36 as pastor, conducting thousands of baptisms, weddings and funerals, and dispensing zillions of peppermint sticks. More than 700 people attended Lyntons retirement dinner at Tangier, including U.S. Rep. John Seiberling, Ohio Sen. Oliver Ocasek, Akron Municipal Judge Joseph Rouhlac and Mayor John S. Ballard. Lynton said his goal had always been to help folks. Some men major in one thing, such as evangelism or pastoral work, Lynton said. Ive enjoyed loving folks in good times and bad times. You see, if folks love each other, theyll work together. Then theres no limit to what they can do. Four months after retiring, the pastor lost his wife. Remonia Lynton died at age 70 on Sept. 17, 1978. The widowed minister moved to Cuyahoga County to live closer to his daughters, who taught in Cleveland. The Rev. Stanley E. Lynton, 76, passed away July 16, 1985, in Shaker Heights. He was buried next to Remonia at Glendale Cemetery in Akron. No matter what help is needed by mankind, be it physical or mental, in temptation, in sorrow, in doubts and perplexities, God is our ever-present and available refuge, Lynton once sermonized. For his vigilance is unwearied, his defense invisible and his power unlimited. Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com Local history: 101 trailblazers who achieved famous firsts in Akron Black history Local history: Akron landmarks in Black history This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: The Rev. Stanley Lynton was influential leader in Akron The replica consists of 6ft sections made from pine and was assembled by a team of around 30 volunteers - Charlotte Graham The upcoming 80th anniversary of the Great Escape has been marked with the unveiling of an 80ft replica tunnel at a former prisoner-of-war camp in North Yorkshire. The Great Escape saw 76 British, US and Commonwealth prisoners of war carry out a mass breakout from captivity at a camp in modern-day Poland. It was the single-largest escape from a prison camp during the Second World War, passing into legend after being immortalised in a 1963 film starring Richard Attenborough and Steve McQueen. The breakout on March 24 1944 has now been commemorated with a replica of the tunnel used during the escape. It was set up at Eden Camp ahead of anniversary celebrations scheduled to take place in Poland at the site of the original escape. The escape plan was masterminded by South African RAF Sqd Ldr Roger Joyce Bushell but he was recaptured and later killed. His direct descendant Patrick Flint attended the camp to see the replica tunnel. Mike Jackson, 60, the historical re-enactor behind the replica tunnel project, said: Its one foot for every year, which we thought was quite apt for the 80th anniversary. He added: We decided to push the boat out and do something special. It was my suggestion without actually realising how long 80ft was when I started! The team of historical re-enactors behind the replica tunnel project - Charlotte Graham Around a thousand visitors saw the replica tunnel over the weekend, with children able to clamber inside a special section to enable them to experience how claustrophobic the original was. The replica consists of 6ft sections made from pine and was assembled by a team of around 30 volunteers. Summer OBrien, the former PoW camps collections and engagement manager, said: Eden Camp is incredibly honoured and excited to host such an interactive event, that not only brings history to life but helps to commemorate all those involved in the Great Escape. The Great Escape is synonymous with the struggle of the 170,000 British officers and soldiers taken prisoner during the Second World War. Under the leadership of Sqd Ldr Bushell, 76 inmates of the Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp secretly dug a 344ft tunnel beneath its barbed-wire surrounds and made a break for freedom. Two similar tunnels had to be abandoned, one because it was discovered by guards and the other because its planned exit point was left exposed after the Germans cleared the area to expand the camp. Just three of those who broke out of Stalag Luft III made it back to the UK. The remaining 73 were all recaptured. Of those, 50 were shot by the Gestapo, Nazi Germanys notorious paramilitary police force, on the personal orders of Adolf Hitler. What people need to realise is that the story of the Great Escape is far darker than the film makes out, historian Guy Walters said last year. At its heart, its a story of recklessness and murder. 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. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., went to bat for President Joe Biden last week after a special counsel report called into question his memory and, therefore, his ability to lead the country. It was a change of pace for the Democrat who has criticized Biden and his administration's policies. As recently as last month, Ocasio-Cortez has gone after Biden for his handling of the conflict in Gaza and the need for universal health care in the United States. In spite of these critiques and her own political ideology, she used her platform to make it clear that Biden, the presumptive nominee and incumbent, deserves the support of the countrys progressives. I know who Im going to choose, Ocasio-Cortez said on CNN on Tuesday. Its going to be one of the most successful presidents in modern American history that passed the Inflation Reduction Act, that got us the American Rescue Plan, that ensured that we could pass one of the largest federal investments in climate change in U.S. history. Her defense of the president is exactly the kind of energy other Democrats should be embodying ahead of the election. In spite of her disagreements on certain aspects of the Biden administration, she knows what some Democrats with similar celebrity are ignoring that showing outward support for the president is the best way to ensure his reelection come November. Presidential election has started: Somebody tell Biden 2024 is here and he needs to step up his election campaign game Republicans model the loyalty Biden needs from Democrats The Republican Party has consistently fallen in line behind Trump and his Make America Great Again movement over the past eight years. There have been plenty of reasons not to from the 91 criminal charges against him to recent election losses to his own verbal slip-ups that would be a death knell for any other candidate. Those who have disagreed with Trump have learned to keep their opinions to themselves, lest they follow the path of former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who lost her election after criticizing Trump. Members of the GOP know that going against Trump is one of the surefire ways to lose a bid for reelection or lose status within the party. Republicans seldom say negative things about the former president, even when theres a long list of things they should be saying to preserve the legitimacy of the institution. Instead, they offer a level of loyalty Biden should envy. Take Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., as an example. Stefanik was elected to the House of Representatives in 2015, the year before Trump won the presidency. You would think speaking out against the former president might fare well for her, seeing as her district was represented by a Democrat prior to her election. Stefanik was even known as a moderate as recently as 2020. She has since thrown her support behind Trump, calling herself ultra-MAGA in 2022 and campaigning for the former president during this years New Hampshire primary. What about Haley? Biden's toast. Trump's unhinged. How about a third-party ticket led by Nikki Haley? Others, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., were elected almost entirely because of their outward adoration of Trump. Since Greene was elected in 2020, she has essentially acted as another manager of Trumps image. Not only has she campaigned for him in 2024, she has used any airtime she receives to double down on her support of the former president. The Republican loyalty for Trump is only strengthening during this election year, regardless of what has come his way. Democrats have often chosen to publicly question Biden While the Republican Party has been remade in the image of Trump, Democrats dont necessarily rally behind Biden in the same way. Last month, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said that he and others who helped Biden win in 2020 are not real comfortable at this point with what were seeing because the presidents current campaign strays from his messaging four years ago. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on a $95 billion Ukraine Israel aid package being debated in Congress, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has criticized Biden over immigration policy, even though the blame for the influx of migrants in the city would be better placed on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Even when their names arent publicly attached to criticism, senators have shared their concerns anonymously with reporters on Capitol Hill. This isnt to say that Democrats should forgo their personal morals, or that its even wrong to bring these concerns to the public. Disagreement breeds a healthy democracy, and doesn't necessarily mean these Democrats will lose their next election by disagreeing with the president. 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. But Republicans know there is an election to win. Democrats would be wise to rally behind Biden in their own states and in the media ahead of November. It isn't like he has completely forgone the ambitions he had during the 2020 election, and he has been able to move the needle on the economy and the country's infrastructure. Democrats should remember that another four years of Biden is better for their agenda than another four years battling Trump. Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeno on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno and Facebook facebook.com/PequenoWrites 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: Democrats must rally behind Biden. Criticism may cost him reelection A decades-old tree came crashing through a home in western North Carolina, trapping someone in a web of large branches and broken timbers, rescuers say. It happened on Lockhart Road in Tryon, and the victim survived, the Tryon Fire Department said in a Feb. 17 news release. The initial 911 was vague and reported only a person down, and it wasnt until firefighters arrived that they discovered a large tree was inside a two-level home. Photos show it was rooted in the backyard and sliced the home from front to back. At least one bedroom was destroyed. Crews forced entry to make way to locate the subject. The subject was located and pinned by tree limbs and debris, fire officials said in a news release. Engine 2 requested Town of Columbus Fire Department and Saluda Fire & Rescue. Crews worked quickly to free the subject. The victim was transferred to Polk County EMS for medical care, officials said. Details of their injuries were not released. The incident happened during a period when the National Weather Service had forecast wind gusts of up to 30 mph in the region. Tryon is about 90 miles west of Charlotte, near the South Carolina state line. Truck dangling off 200-foot cliff slips each time driver eases up on brake, cops say Hunters find human remains in NC national forest, feds say. FBI is now investigating SUV and train collide, leaving 2 people trapped in wreckage, Matthews rescuers say The Department of Defense is looking for a new home for SpaceXs Starship, launching the process to determine what the environmental impact would be to allow the worlds most powerful rocket to launch from Florida's Space Coast. Led by the U.S. Air Force, which includes the Space Force, but working with NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, what is officially called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has the most rigorous requirements when weighing the detriments a project might have on its surroundings. The Air Force detailed its plans for the EIS on a new website: spaceforcestarshipeis.com. For now SpaceX continues to attempt test launches of the Starship and Super Heavy rocket from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The company had two launches in 2023 in which the rocket generating more than 16 million pounds of thrust made it off the launch pad, but ultimately ended with the hardware exploding minutes after takeoff both times. The first of the two launches created so much power on liftoff that it destroyed the launch pad, prompting major changes that ultimately paid off for the second launch, with the pad sustaining little damage. A third attempt to get Starship to complete its suborbital test flight could come before the end of next month. The sheer power of Starship, though, had NASA raising flags as SpaceX has been constructing a tower at Kennedy Space Centers Launch Pad 39-A to support future Starship flights. This is the same pad where it launches Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches, but more importantly for NASA the only SpaceX launch pad at the time that could support human spaceflight. That led to SpaceX constructing a second support tower at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 that could support human launches, although it has yet to complete it. And while SpaceX may one day use KSC for Starship launches, the Space Force is keen to make sure theres no delay in its ability to use the massive rocket for its own purposes. So the EIC is considering three options. One is to transition Space Launch Complex 37 after it supports the final United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket mission, expected to fly this summer. The second is to construct a new launch pad called Space Launch Complex 50 that would be located between SLC 40 and SLC 37 on currently undeveloped land. The final option is to do nothing. An EIC process can take years sometimes. It was one of the processes SpaceX officials feared would be required when it was pursuing the rights to launch from Texas at the end of the less rigorous Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act. The next steps in the process are a series of public meetings. The first is on Tuesday, March 5, from 4-7 p.m. at the Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Cocoa Library, followed Wednesday, March 6, from 4-7 p.m. at the Titusville Civic Center and Thursday, March 7 from 4-7 p.m. at the Radisson Resort at The Port in Cape Canaveral. A virtual meeting on Tuesday, March 12, at 6 p.m. Eastern is also planned, according to the website. Starship is SpaceXs planned fully reusable rocket to eventually replace its Falcon family of rockets. Elon Musks goal with the vessel is to enable settlement of Mars eventually, and the rocket has the capacity to fly up to 100 passengers or up to 500,000 pounds of cargo to space, which is more than three times the payload capacity of Falcon Heavy. The capacity of potential point-to-point flights on Earth, though, that could rapidly deploy cargo or even troops also has the Department of Defense interested in Starships success. The purpose of pursuing the EIC is to advance U.S. space capabilities and provide launch and landing infrastructure in furtherance of U.S. policy to ensure capabilities necessary to launch and insert (Department of the Air Force) payloads into space, according to the website. Among the needs listed for finding a new launch site are to ensure access to space without compromising current launch capability, maximize DOD space transportation infrastructure by the private sector, maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of that infrastructure, reduce costs to the DOD and encourage commercial space activities. The notion that government regulation was hampering SpaceX and other commercial companies progress was the subject of discussion at last months Space Mobility Conference in Orlando hosted by the Space Force. I really dont get the sense that at this moment in time, were ready that our government is ready and we need to encourage the appropriate investment and appropriate attention at the national level to enable whats coming, said SpaceX senior advisor Gary Henry, who advised the companys goals to launch hundreds of Starships from several launch pads in the coming years once its up and running. The call to action was echoed by military members of the panel, including Air Force Col. Gabe Arrington, chief of disruptive technology. We need to look within ourselves and within our organizations that we represent, and figure out how we can enable this critical capability to be expedited, he said. _____ (WJW) A beloved ice cream treat that was discontinued in 2022, is making a comeback. Just not with the same company. The Choco Taco, invented in 1983 and made by Klondike, was retired after the company had to make very tough decisions to ensure availability of our full portfolio nationwide, a spokesperson told Nexstar at the time. Now an ice cream company out of Portland, Oregon, is teaming up with Taco Bell to recreate the dessert and bring it back to the public once more. Handels ice cream places in top 100 most iconic in world Starting this summer, Salt & Straw is offering a little bit of an elevated version of the Choco Taco, featuring cinnamon ancho ice cream, hardened chocolate and toasted brown rice. Its also paired with custom dipping sauces. Salt & Straw, which has locations throughout out West Coast, Las Vegas and Miami, took to social media last week to unveil the new collaboration. Could have killed him: 150 live bugs reportedly pulled from mans nose This is the most delicious thing you will eat in your entire life, co-founder Tyler Malek said in a video post. The dessert tacos are going to be available at Salt & Straw stores and nationwide on their website. Taco Bell has not announced when they plan to start selling them. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. ROME (Reuters) - Italy's top appeals court has established that sending sea migrants back to Libya is unlawful, a ruling hailed by charities and human rights groups. The Court of Cassation upheld the conviction of the captain of an Italian towboat, Asso 28, who in 2018 rescued 101 migrants from a rubber dinghy and returned them to Libya. The rescue took place in international waters about 105 km off Libya, the court said. Pregnant women and children were among the migrants, it added. The captain - whose name was blacked out in the ruling for privacy reasons - was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for the crimes of abandoning minors or incapacitated persons, and arbitrary disembarkation and abandonment of persons. He is unlikely to go to prison, however, as in the Italian system jail terms of under four years are not normally served behind bars. The ruling is final, upholding earlier decisions by two lower courts. It was filed on Feb. 1, but was publicised by Italian media over the weekend. Reuters obtained a copy of it on Sunday. Italy and other European governments have taken an increasingly hard line on immigration in recent years, amid a swell in support for right-wing parties that want strict curbs on sea arrivals from North Africa. The Libya to Italy crossing is one of the most-used sea migration routes. "Now there is also a judicial precedent that confirms what we have been saying for years: Libya is not a safe country", the Mediterranea Saving Humans migrant rescue group said on X. The Italian office of Amnesty International also hailed the verdict, and criticised the government for cooperating with Libyan authorities on migration. "Pushing people back to Libya and collaborating with the so-called (Libyan) coast guard conflicts with the duty to bring rescued people to a safe place", it said. Under international humanitarian law, migrants cannot be forcibly returned to countries where they risk serious ill-treatment, and widespread migrant abuse has been extensively documented in Libya. Back in 2018, the conduct the Asso 28 had attracted the attention of U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, which expressed concern for a possible "violation of international law". (Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Angus MacSwan) UPDATE | February 19, 2024 Per the RCSO, Jonathan was located and returned home. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) The Richmond County Sheriffs Office is requesting the publics help in locating a missing teenager. 15-year-old Jonathan Christin Davis was last seen wearing all black on February 16th at 3239 Kevin Drive when he left his residence on foot. Davis has been in contact with his mother via Instagram and has made comments to make his family believe he will harm himself. If anyone has any information concerning Daviss whereabouts, please contact the Richmond County Sheriffs Office at (706) 821-1020 or (706) 821-1080. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. A photo of a smiling Ridge Alkonis sitting with his family in a car after his release When the story of Ridge Alkonis first broke on 29 May 2021, it did not initially attract much attention in Japan. The US Navy officer had killed two Japanese citizens in a car accident during a trip to Mount Fuji - the victims were an 85-year-old woman and her son-in-law, aged 54. After pleading guilty to negligent driving, Alkonis was sentenced to three years jail in October 2021. In his defence, US Navy doctors said he had been suffering from acute mountain sickness at the time of the accident. He was transferred to US custody last December. Alkonis, stationed at the Yokosuka naval base south of Tokyo, was just the latest American serviceman to run into legal troubles. Since the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was inked in 1960 - enabling the deployment of US military forces in the country - there have been hundreds of criminal cases involving US military personnel. Then on 13 January, a celebratory tweet by CNN anchor Jake Tapper - accompanied by a photo of a smiling Alkonis, 36, with his wife and three children - about "great and breaking news" jolted the Japanese public. Tapper wrote: "This morning the US parole commission ordered the full parole and immediate release with no supervision of Navy Lt Ridge Alkonis." Supporters of Ridge Alkonis, led by his wife ran a successful pressure campaign in the US for his release Few in Japan knew that Alkonis' wife Brittany and his advocates had led a successful pressure campaign in the United States for his release. US President Joe Biden embraced Brittany Alkonis at the 2022 State of the Union address, while Vice-President Kamala Harris raised the case with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Utah senator Mike Lee also actively lobbied for Alkonis, tagging Mr Kishida in multiple tweets. Upon his release, he even tweeted: "Japan owes the family - and the US - an apology." The online outrage in Japan was pronounced. "Why are you celebrating?" asked one. Another wrote in response to Mr Lee's tweet: "Did he and his family apologise (to) the families of those Japanese victims in the first place?" Despite the public anger and some coverage in Japanese media, neither government has commented publicly on the case. Prof James D Brown of Temple University told the BBC that there is little incentive for Japanese politicians or mainstream media to amplify the case. "To do so would be to aggravate the damage to US-Japan relations at a time when there is widespread recognition in Japan that, despite its iniquities, the alliance with the United States remains essential to Japan's security," he said, adding that such cases are "unquestionably damaging". Despite the "clear frustration" over the outcome of the Alkonis case, Jeffrey Hall of the Kanda University of International Studies added: "There is a sense of resignation among many Japanese that their powerful American allies do not treat them as equals and never will. The Alkonis incident underlines that even when parties and presidents change in the United States, this sense of inequality persists." An unequal relationship Protests demanding the withdrawal of US bases are a common sight in Okinawa The simmering resentment over the American military presence in Japan is a long-running theme that dates back to the post-World War Two military occupation of Japan. At the end of the war, the American occupiers rewrote Japan's constitution to a pacifist one and reduced the Emperor to a symbolic figurehead. There are roughly 54,000 US servicemen stationed at 120 bases across Japan, 32 of which are in Okinawa alone. The prefecture also hosts almost 30,000 troops, while its proximity to Taiwan makes it vital in terms of the US being able to respond to any Chinese invasion of the self-ruling island. Nowhere in Japan is the discontent over the US military presence clearer than in Okinawa, where the American occupation only ended in 1972 - two decades after the rest of Japan. The 1970 Koza riot, in which thousands of Okinawans clashed with military police, is even commemorated in a museum. Retiree Takashi Asato, 70, has vivid memories of life as a child in 1960s Okinawa, with fighter jets constantly flying overhead and tanks and military trucks blocking the road. "Most of the beautiful sandy beaches were for the exclusive use of the US military - no entry permitted to locals. Foreign residences were surrounded by fences and had large grassy yards for the families of US military personnel." Mr Asato, who often ferried US troops to bases as a bus driver, added: "There were many complicated economic and cultural relationships between Okinawans and US troops, but it was a mutually beneficial relationship." The anger in Okinawa A public opinion poll conducted last year revealed that 70% of Okinawan residents feel the concentration of US bases there is "unfair". And despite a vocal anti-base movement, which often stages protests asking for their removal, that same poll indicates that more young people are resigned to the US military presence. However, many are concerned about the noise and environmental pollution caused by military deployments. Drunken incidents involving US servicemen are common, while sexual violence against women has also occurred. Few have forgotten the infamous 1995 incident where three servicemen raped a 12-year-old Okinawan girl, sparking months-long protests. When such incidents occur, US bases are often temporarily shut down to prevent contact with locals, so as not to further aggravate tensions. Senior US military leaders will also meet the governor to apologise. The American military presence in Japan is accepted by many as inevitable When asked about the Alkonis case, university student Yui Tamura, 24, told the BBC that she found Tapper's tweet "extremely shocking". But she shares Mr Asato's view that the bases are "inevitable". She added: "However, when fighter jets fly by with such loud noise that the air shakes, and when the precious ocean is reclaimed to build new bases, I feel like the people of Okinawa are being ignored." Geopolitical needs The perennial threat of North Korea, together with an increasingly assertive China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, means the US bases are not going away. It has also resulted in what was once unthinkable: Japan's largest military build-up since World War Two, with a two-fold increase in defence spending. Its pacifist constitution has even been reinterpreted to allow its Self Defence Forces (SDF) to assist the forces of a foreign country in situations where either the survival and security of Japan or that of its citizens is at risk. Notwithstanding the unhappiness of many Japanese, the US therefore remains "irreplaceable" as Japan's core ally, said Prof Brown. Prof Hall reckons that the US-Japan alliance is stronger than ever. "The security situation surrounding Japan is so serious that Japan's leaders would prefer to ignore (issues like Alkonis) and keep moving forward with plans to increase military co-operation with the United States and other like-minded states. " But Prof Brown warns that such cases may eventually take a toll. "Those opposed to the Japan-US alliance, including North Korea, China, and Russia, must be delighted whenever the United States acts with such arrogant indifference to their ally's concerns. It's a gift to the US's and Japan's adversaries." COLOMBO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has made record earnings from tourism in the first 45 days of this year, amounting to 7 billion rupees (about 22.4 million U.S. dollars) from 306,708 tourists, state media reported on Sunday. There is a surge in tourism in Sri Lanka and the country is witnessing the arrival of around 9,000 visitors daily, according to Sunday Observer. India, Australia, China, India and Russia are among the biggest groups of tourists to Sri Lanka, the state media said, quoting the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. According to official data, over 1.48 million tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2023, marking a two-fold increase from the previous year. Building on this momentum, Sri Lanka aims to surpass the peak of 2.5 million tourists recorded in 2017, with plans underway to achieve this milestone by 2024. Robert Irwin and Rorie Buckey have split. In a joint statement shared on Irwins Instagram story, the former couple announced that they had broken up after more than a year together. We wanted to share that we have decided to go our seperate ways but profoundly appreciate all of the time spent together and wish one another all the very best into the future, the statement read in part. They added, We wish to express the gratitude and respect we have for one another as we continue our journeys on different paths. To conclude their statement, Robert Irwin, 20, and Buckey, 19, said that they would not comment further on the split and really appreciate your respect and privacy at this time. Robert Irwin, a wildlife photographer and the son of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, and Buckey, Heath Ledger's niece, made their red carpet debut in July 2023 at the Sydney premiere of Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One. At the time, it was reported that they had been dating since 2022, but the couple hadnt publicly confirmed their relationship. They were first linked in November 2022 after they were spotted on a date in Queensland. Weeks later on Robert Irwin's birthday in December 2022, they were photographed again at the Australia Zoo. Robert Irwin and his mother, Terri, performed a show while Buckey watched in the stands. Buckey was featured in several of his sister Bindis posts on social media. In October 2023, Bindi Irwin posted a photo on her Instagram of her younger brother and mother, as well as her husband, Chandler Powell, and their daughter, Grace. She also included her brothers gorgeous girlfriend, Buckey, praising her in the caption. Sweetest soul, beautiful friend, I love her dearly and youll usually see Grace just following her around because she adores her, Bindi Irwin wrote. Buckey also participated in a silly family video from November 2023 taken at the annual Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane. During their relationship, Robert Irwin and Buckey made several public appearances as a couple, including at the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards in Singapore and the GQ Australia Men Of The Year Awards back in December. They were most recently photographed in the stands at the 2024 Australian Open on Jan. 25 in Melbourne. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz was confronted by a raucous crowd of anti-Israel protesters Saturday outside his Houston home for a second time in one week. In a post to social media Saturday morning, Cruz, who has been vocal about his support of Israel amid its war with Hamas militants, wrote, "For the [2nd] time this week, anti-Israel protestors have come to my house early in the morning, waking up the neighbors & harassing my family. None expressed concern about Hamas Oct 7 murder of over 1200 or mass rapes of women & children." The senator added, "Im proud to stand with Israel." Though it is not immediately clear whether Cruz was at his home when the protesters arrived, the footage shared online, which was captured from Cruz's front door, showed a little more than a dozen protesters holding signs and shouting anti-Israel chants. CRUZ DEMANDS DOJ LAUNCH CRIMINAL PROBE OF US NONPROFIT ALLEGEDLY HELPING TERRORISTS Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz was confronted by a raucous crowd of anti-Israel protesters outside his Houston home this weekend for a second time. One sign featured an image of Cruz's head above a red heart and the words "dead kids" listed below, while another individual held a sign that read, "STOP FUNDING GENOCIDE." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Ted Cruz, you will see, Palestine will be free. Ted Cruz, what do you say? How many kids have you killed today," the protesters, almost all of whom rattled bells back and forth, shouted from the sidewalk running along the front side of Cruz's home. "Ted Cruz, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide," the group also chanted. Another chant by the group insisted Cruz "should be in jail" over his support for Israel. In a followup post to X, Cruz shared a Jewish solidarity anthem, writing, "Am Yisrael Chai!" Am Yisrael Chai, a centuries-old Hebrew phrase, translates to "The people of Israel live." Cruz's office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the protesters had previously gathered outside the senator's Texas residence. Destroyed homes and buildings of central Gaza smolder as the Israeli Defense Forces continue their bombing campaign against Hamas militants on December 11, 2023, outside of Sderot, Israel. SEN. TED CRUZ 'ENTHUSIASTICALLY' ENDORSES DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT: 'THIS RACE IS OVER' Since the Oct. 7 outbreak of the war between Israel-Hamas, which was kickstarted after Iran-backed Hamas militants invaded southern Israel and slaughtered more than 1,000 innocent Israelis, Cruz has been an ardent supporter of Israel's efforts. In a letter sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland this week, Cruz led his Republican colleagues in outlining concerns about a U.S.-based nonprofit that raises money for UNRWA, the United Nations refugee agency for Palestinians that critics have long said promoted an anti-Israel agenda in the Middle East and recently came under scrutiny for its alleged ties to Hamas. The senators urged the DOJ to open a criminal investigation into the nonprofit, "it's principals, and its leadership for knowingly providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas." Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz will send a letter to AG Merrick Garland this week calling on the DOJ to open a criminal investigation into UNRWA USA. In a statement to Fox News Digital at the time, Cruz said, "UNRWA has been providing material support to Hamas terrorists for decades, and UNRWA USA has been bankrolling that support. Foreigners who knowingly funded UNRWA would normally be subject to sanctions, but the Biden administration provided exemptions for those activities. However, the administration did not and indeed cannot exempt American citizens from criminal statutes prohibiting material support for terrorism." He added, "Hamas's October 7 atrocities have underlined the need to robustly enforce American anti-terrorism laws, and AG Garland should open a criminal investigation into UNRWA USA for potential violations of those laws." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP UNRWA USA did not comment specifically on the letter being sent to Garland, but pointed Fox News Digital to its Jan. 29 statement that noted the nonprofit was "horrified by the recent allegations against twelve UNRWA staff members." Original article source: Rowdy anti-Israel group gathers outside Ted Cruz's home for early morning protest: 'Harassing my family' Moscow will host an inter-Palestinian meeting at the end of February, to which Russia has invited all Palestinian organisations, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in Munich; The Insider, citing Mikhail Bogdanov, Putin's special representative for the Middle East and Africa Quote from Shtayyeh: "Russia has invited all Palestinian factions to meet in Moscow on 26 February. So we will see: if Hamas is ready to reach an understanding with us, then we will be willing to cooperate. Should Hamas not be ready, it will be a different story... Although the situation as of 7 October was catastrophic for everyone, we do not accept the fact that civilians had been killed. This is something we cannot accept. But we cannot allow the cycle of violence to unfold again and again. The Palestinian issue must be resolved. Now is the time to find a solution..." Details: Bogdanov claimed that "all Palestinian representatives who have their positions in different countries, including Syria and Lebanon, and other countries in the region, were invited to the event in Moscow". For reference: The Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine is an Islamic Arab paramilitary group headquartered in Damascus, Syria, with the official goal of waging a religious war, destroying Israel and creating a Palestinian Islamic state throughout Palestine. Most Western countries, primarily the United States and the EU, as well as Israel, recognise this organisation as a terrorist one. Islamic Jihad, in turn, proclaims Israel, the United States and pro-Western Arab regimes to be the "embodiment of imperialism" and considers them the targets of its struggle. Support UP or become our patron! More than 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed capturing Avdiivka in Ukraines eastern Donbas region, Ukraines military has said. The capture of the city on Saturday was the Kremlins first major battlefield victory since its conquest of Bakhmut in May but analysts have said that it came at a terrible cost. The losses of Russians around Avdiivka are colossal. My colleagues and I did the calculations and pulled up our archival records from the beginning of the year, said Dmitry Likhovy, Ukrainian military spokesman. He also said that at least 30,000 Russian soldiers had been injured in the battle. Russian forces planted their victory flags over the ruins of Avdiivka on Saturday. Video from the destroyed city showed almost every apartment block in ruins and rubble blocking every street. Buildings are destroyed in Avdiivka after the Russian attack - Libkos Ukrainian forces said that they had retreated from the city but had used it to pull the Russian army into a killing zone. On Sunday, Russian media reported that Sergei Shoigu, Russias defence minister, had confirmed to Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had captured the city, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The minister of defence and the Chief of the General Staff are reporting to the president that our units are developing an offensive and are not allowing the enemy to gain a foothold on new lines, he said. In the West, the loss of Avdiivka touched off a row over a shortage of ammunition. The US-based Institute for the Study of War said that Russian air superiority was a significant reason for its success in Avdiivka. F-16 fighter jets are due to arrive in Ukraine in June. A Ukrainian soldier receives medical attention after fighting in Avdiivka - 3RD ASSAULT BRIGADE/via REUTERS At an international security conference in Munich, Volodymyr Zelensky blamed a shortage of ammunition from the West for the fall of Avdiivka. In a speech on Saturday, he also invited Donald Trump, likely to be the Republican candidate in this years US presidential election, to see the front lines. If Trump (comes) to Ukraine, I am ready to go with him to the front line, he said. Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks prime minister, also said that she would increase the number of artillery shells being sent to 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. By John Irish MUNICH (Reuters) - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Sunday dismissed a warrant issued by Russia for her arrest, saying it was just an attempt to intimidate her amid speculation she could get a top European Union post. Once ruled by Moscow but now a member of both the European Union and NATO, Estonia has been a supporter of Kyiv and Kallas has been one of Moscow's most vocal critics since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. Russian police placed her and several other Baltic politicians on a wanted list on Feb. 13 for destroying Soviet-era monuments. "It is meant to intimidate and make me refrain from the decisions that I would otherwise make," Kallas told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. "But it's Russia's playbook. It's nothing surprising and we are not afraid." The Baltic politicians risk being arrested only if they cross the Russian border, otherwise declaring them wanted has no real consequences. Kallas's high profile in pushing the EU to do more to support Ukraine has led to speculation in Brussels that she could take on a senior role after the next EU parliamentary elections in June, possibly as foreign policy chief. She said that speculation was also contributing to Russia's aggression towards her. "It's hard to be popular," she said ironically. "The Russians have also seen that, and that's why they issued the arrest warrant to really emphasise the biggest argument against me, that I am a provocation to Russia. When asked whether she was interested in any future European role she said: "We are not there yet. I'm the prime minister of Estonia." MUNITIONS AND BONDS Estonia last year initiated talks to boost European munitions' supplies to Ukraine that led to the 27 EU members agreeing to send Kyiv 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition by March this year. The bloc is expected to only meet half the target. "What it revealed was that we don't have enough, we don't produce enough, and we are not fast enough," she said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged allies at the global security conference on Saturday to plug a shortage of weapons that is giving Russian forces the upper hand on the battlefield. Czech President Petr Pavel said his country had identified hundreds of thousands of rounds that could be sourced from outside the bloc quickly, but needed funding to do it. It is unclear how much support there would be among other EU members for such a move, which could be complicated by export licences and a reluctance among some to buy outside Europe. "It is definitely a viable option. We all have to realise that we have to do everything to stop the aggressor there," Kallas said. "What we learned from 1930s is that the price will be higher for everybody with every hesitation, with every delay." Kallas has also floated the idea of special EU bonds to help fund higher defence spending, a proposal that would need to convince those traditionally sceptical of EU joint borrowing such as Germany, the Netherlands and Nordic nations. "I know what the counter argument is of some countries that are really against this type of approach, but then I ask: What is the alternative?" she said, adding that a concrete proposal still needed to be put together. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Angus MacSwan) The Russian flag has been raised in several parts of the eastern town of Avdiivka in Donetsk, hours after Ukrainian forces beat a hasty retreat from the ruins of a town theyve been defending for a decade. But Ukraines army is under pressure at several other points along the frontline that meanders for some 1,000 kilometers from the border with Russia in the north to the Black Sea. The Russian military may have sensed a window of vulnerability in its adversary. Ukraines better units are exhausted after two years of combat; there is a new commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi; and Ukrainian troops are short of shells and vulnerable to relentless air strikes. While the goal of President Volodymyr Zelensky and the armed forces is to recover all illegally occupied territory, the Ukrainians are now struggling to prevent the Russians from adding to the approximately 18% of Ukrainian territory they already hold. President Vladimir Putins declared aim is to seize all of the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, but few believe he will stop there if there are further opportunities. The Russians launched a determined drive to seize Avdiivka in October. But they are also on the attack near Bakhmut and Mariinka (also in Donetsk), and towards Kupiansk in the north. On the southern front, in Zaporizhzhia, Russian and Ukrainian sources speak of a massive Russian build-up in the area where the Ukrainians tried to launch their counter-offensive last summer. According to some analysts a force of 50,000 men has been assembled. The daily update from the Ukrainian military provides a glimpse of the firepower now being brought to bear by the Russians. On Saturday alone, according to the General Staff, there were 82 combat engagements. The enemy launched a total of 13 missile and 104 air strikes, firing 169 times from multiple launch rocket systems at Ukrainian military positions and residential areas. The update is full of words like repelled and held back, as Ukrainian units in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions cling to their defensive positions. Ivan Tymochko, Chairman of the Reservists Council of Ukrainian Land Forces, said Saturday that despite the fact that our attention is focused on Avdiivka, in fact, very intense fighting is ongoing in the Lyman-Kupiansk sector, [and] near Bakhmut. The enemy has sharply amassed forces in the area of Robotyne, another flashpoint area on the southern front. The Ukrainians are trying to establish new defensive positions north of Avdiivka on higher ground. Analysts do not expect an immediate Russian assault on these lines, as troops regroup, but they may take some outlying villages. The destruction caused by Russian artillery and air strikes over several months in Avdiivka essentially left the Ukrainians with no cover. The same Russian approach to obliterate everything in the way eventually worked in 2022 in the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. One soldier in the area, Yehor Firsov, told Ukrainian TV on Saturday: Just think: what is our [small] FPV drone against a 500 kg or a huge 1-tonne bomb that hits a building and destroys it? This is how the enemy gained the advantage, destroying everything and advancing in the city. Ukrainian servicemen build a temporary fortification near Avdiivka. - Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images Having taken what remains of the town, the Russians may release some units to reinforce attacks on the ruins of nearby Mariinka. In recent days they have made ground to the south of the town, and Ukrainian defenses in the direction of Vuhledar are now under intense pressure. The Ukrainian military reported Sunday that over the previous day, the Russians made 23 attempts to break through our defenses. The Russian goal to the west and north-west of Bakhmut is the small town of Chasiv Yar, which sits on commanding heights within artillery range of the towns of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka. Last week, the spokesman for the Ukrainian military in that area, Illia Yevlash, said that on one day, the Russians had shelled Ukrainian positions more than 600 times. We need more shells, thousands and thousands of shells, especially 155 mm ones, Yevlash said. The enemy is trying to attack from the flanks. They are using small assault groups, as heavy equipment cannot move across the fields due to icy conditions and impassable roads. Ukraine still holds nearly half of the Donetsk region, whose seizure has been a consistent goal of President Vladimir Putins invasion. It took the Russians months to capture just 30 square kilometers in and around Avdiivka. Ukraine still hopes to recapture the territory it lost to Russia but is under pressure across the frontlines. - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu/Getty Images In the south, the first Russian probing of Ukrainian lines has already begun. According to the Ukrainian military, three Russian tanks were destroyed Saturday and dozens of soldiers killed amid a Russian offensive that involved 30 pieces of equipment and a fairly large number of enemy personnel, in more than a dozen attempts to break through Ukrainian lines. There were no losses of positions in the Zaporizhzhia sector. The enemy suffered significant losses. We are holding back the enemys offensive. But Russian military bloggers had a different take, saying that Russian 42nd and 76th divisions had advanced some two kilometers near the village Robotyne, which the Ukrainians took last summer, and had pummelled Ukrainian defensive positions with artillery and air strikes. Here as elsewhere, the Russians have vastly increased their use of 500-kilogram glide bombs from aircraft against which Ukrainian front-line troops have little protection. One Russian blogger, Archangel Special Forces Z, claimed that airborne troops are conducting a powerful artillery preparation in Zaporizhzhia direction! There are already assault operations underway in some areas. Amid what is a tough outlook for Ukrainian troops on the frontlines, the Russians are losing an extraordinary number of men killed or wounded. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that in Avdiivka, seven Russians were being killed for every Ukrainian soldier lost. The Ukrainian military command claimed that it had inflicted losses of 20,018 personnel, 199 tanks, and 481 armored combat vehicles in the region from Avdiivka through western Zaporizhzhia between January 1 and February 15. While that cannot be confirmed, US officials have previously said that the Russians were suffering heavy losses because of poor tactics. But the Russian way of war has long been to send thousands more into battle, regardless of losses, and their reservoir of military manpower is much greater than the Ukrainians. At present, with Ukraine short of weapons and munitions because of the US Congress not passing a $60 billion package of aid, the Russians are also making their very substantial advantage in artillery, armor and airpower felt. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast 81 times in 12 separate attacks throughout the day, firing at five communities along the border on Feb. 18, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported. The Russian military fired on the communities of Mykolaiv, Khotin, Bilopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Seredyna-Buda. Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, and grenade launcher attacks. The village of Velyka Pysarivka, with a pre-war population of about 4,000 residents, experienced the bulk of the attacks reported on Sunday with 40 explosions recorded in the area. The community is located just seven kilometers west of the Ukraine-Russia border. Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia, with residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day. One person was reportedly killed as a result of the shelling in Bilopillia on Feb. 17. Read also: Ukrainian army says Russian troops killed 2 Ukrainian POWs Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces appear to have temporarily established limited and localized air superiority and were able to provide ground troops with close air support during the final days of their offensive operation to capture Avdiivka, the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Feb. 17. It is likely the first time that Russian forces have done so in Ukraine. Read also: 50% officer loss, 750 wounded: Avdiivka assault cripples Russian brigade ATESH The spokesperson for a Ukrainian brigade operating near Avdiivka stated on Feb. 17 that Russian forces launched 60 KAB guided aerial bombs at Ukrainian positions in Avdiivka over the past day, and a Ukrainian soldier operating in the area stated that Russian forces launched up to 500 glide bombs in recent days. Russian sources widely credited the Russian use of glide bombs with allowing Russian forces to overcome Ukrainian defenses in Avdiivka, and some Russian military bloggers asserted that Russian forces have air superiority in the area. Russian forces have gradually increased their use of glide bombs throughout the theater since early 2023, but the recent mass use of glide bombs in Avdiivka is the first time that Russian aviation has used these bombs at scale to provide close air support to advancing infantry troops. Read also: Delayed withdrawal from Avdiivka is not Syrskys fault, states political expert The Russian ability to conduct these mass strikes for several days in the most active part of the frontline suggests that Ukrainian forces were not able to deny them access to the airspace around Avdiivka, and Russian forces likely leveraged this temporary localized air superiority to facilitate the capture of much of the settlement. Delays in Western security assistance may lead to further significant constraints on Ukrainian air defenses that could allow Russian forces to replicate the close air support that facilitated Russian advances in Avdiivka at scale in Ukraine. Limited effective air defense systems, dwindling air defense missiles stocks, and continued Russian missile and drone strikes against rear population centers are likely forcing Ukraine to make difficult choices about what areas of the frontline receive air defense coverage. Recurring temporary localized and limited Russian air superiority would likely allow Russian forces to more aggressively pursue operational advances along the frontline. Widespread interrupted air superiority would allow Russian forces to conduct routine large-scale aviation operations and bomb Ukrainian cities beyond the frontline to devastating effect. Read also: Russia deploys massive forces in Avdiivka, over 12 separate enemy formations fight in the sector Ukrainian forces reportedly shot down three Russian fighter aircraft two Su-34s and one Su-35 over Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 17, likely having committed scarce air defense assets to help cover the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Avdiivka. On Feb. 17, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had withdrawn from Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. He said that the decision was made to avoid encirclement and to save the lives and health of the soldiers. During the withdrawal of units from Avdiivka, a small number of Ukrainian soldiers were taken prisoner, the Tavria Operational-Strategic Group Commander Oleksandr Tarnavskyi reported on Feb. 17. The withdrawal from Avdiivka was the correct decision to safeguard the lives of Ukrainian defenders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17. 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 Russia attacked Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast with aerial bombs on the afternoon of Feb. 17, killing one woman and injuring at least five people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Kupiansk, a crucial logistics juncture that was temporarily occupied by Russia in 2022, is coming under renewed pressure by Moscow's troops. Syniehubov said that rescuers retrieved the body of a woman, aged 47, from the rubble after the attack. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, Russian forces carried out the attack at 1:20 p.m. local time, targeting residential areas of the city. One bomb hit a two-story apartment building, reportedly injuring two women aged 88 and 67. Several people have been trapped under another house hit by a Russian projectile. Prosecutors said at around 5 p.m. that one woman was rescued from the building's debris, suffering injuries. Authorities reported later that two men, aged 69 and 44, were also confirmed as injured. According to a local police chief, Russian forces dropped at least 12 bombs on the city. Russia launched air strikes against Kupiansk also at 2 a.m., injuring a 75-year-old man and 71-year-old woman. Read also: Air Force commander: Ukraine downs 3 Russian warplanes Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SHANGHAI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai's two airports saw surging numbers of inbound and outbound passengers around the Spring Festival this year, Shanghai Customs said on Sunday. In the nine days from Chinese New Year's Eve to Saturday, the city's Pudong and Hongqiao airports handled about 860,000 inbound and outbound passengers, 5.5 times more than during the Spring Festival holiday last year, according to the customs office. Shanghai Pudong International Airport handled about 90,000 inbound and outbound passengers each day, experiencing a peak of 94,000 on Friday. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport handled approximately 77,000 inbound and outbound air travelers in the first Spring Festival travel rush since it resumed international flights and flights to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Boosted by a visa-free travel agreement between China and Singapore, Shanghai Pudong International Airport handled a total of 29,000 inbound Singaporean passengers and outbound Chinese passengers heading for Singapore, 12.4 times more than in the same period last year. The aftermath of the Russian attack. Photo: Ukraines State Emergency Service Search and rescue operations are underway at the sites of the evening Russian strikes on the towns of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk (Donetsk Oblast) as of the morning of 18 February. Source: Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES) Details: Russian forces hit a three-storey school building in Sloviansk, causing a fire. Early reports indicate that one person may be trapped under the rubble. Emergency workers are currently conducting search and rescue operations. The fire, which extended over an area of 100 square metres, has been put out. Ukrainian emergency workers. Photo: Ukraines State Emergency Service Emergency workers reported that the dead bodies of two people a woman, 46, and a man, 23 had been pulled out of the rubble in Kramatorsk. Two fires were extinguished. A psychologist of the State Emergency Service is working at the scene, and the search and rescue operation is ongoing. Ukrainian emergency workers. Photo: Ukraines State Emergency Service Support UP or become our patron! The Russian authorities have so far refused to give the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's family access to his body or transfer the body to them, according to Navalny's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh. Navalny, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's main opponent, died on Feb. 16 in a penal colony in the town of Kharp, Yamal Nenets Autonomous District. He had been convicted in several fabricated criminal cases as part of the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent. Leaders around the world have blamed Putin for his death. Opinions differ on whether his death was caused by the harsh prison conditions or intentional murder. The prison administration told his mother that Navalnys body had been transferred to a nearby morgue in Salekhard, the capital of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Yarmysh said on Feb. 17. Navalny's mother went to the morgue but she was told that they did not have the body, according to Yarmysh. She said on X that the authorities had initially claimed that the probe into Navalny's death had been completed, and no crime had been established. But later the Investigative Committee said that Navalny's body would not be handed over to his relatives until the investigation into his death is complete, she added. "They lie every time and cover up their tracks," Yarmysh said. Read also: Alexei Navalnys life and death as main opponent to Putin regime Ivan Zhdanov, head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said on X on Feb. 17 that the prison administration told his mother that Navalny had died of "a sudden death syndrome." It was not clear what exactly the prison administration meant. Russian independent publication Meduza reported that it is not a genuine diagnosis, and it means that the cause of Navalny's death has not been determined. Meanwhile, Novaya Gazeta Europe, an independent Russian media outlet, reported on Feb. 18 that Navalny's body was in the Salekhard City Hospital. The publication cited an anonymous source. As of late Feb. 17, there had been no autopsy, the source said. Novaya Gazeta Europe also reported on Feb. 18, citing a prison administration source, that representatives of the Investigative Committee and central prison authorities had arrived in Salekhard from Moscow. Navalny was poisoned in Russia in 2020 and flown for treatment in Germany. German doctors said he had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent a chemical weapon produced by the Russian government. The Insider, Bellingcat, CNN, and Der Spiegel published an investigation according to which Navalny had been poisoned by agents of Russias Federal Security Service. They also identified the agents' names. Read also: Navalnys death preceded by long list of Putin critics murders Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. An aerial view of Avdiivka. Photo: Libkos on Instagram Russias extensive infantry losses during the assault of Avdiivka had pushed it to deploy elite special forces units of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in what Ukraines National Resistance Center called "meat assaults". Source: Ukraines National Resistance Center (NRC) Details: Involving well-trained special forces personnel in combat operations they were largely unprepared for has meant that "the best Russian units actually partially lost their combat capabilities," the NRC said. These elite Russian units were met with active resistance from the Ukrainian defence forces, who defeated the Russian special forces. Support UP or become our patron! Stock photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ukrainian and Russian forces have clashed 82 times over the past 24 hours. The Russian army has launched a total of 13 missile strikes and 104 airstrikes and attacked Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas 169 times with multiple launch rocket systems. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 18 February Details: Russian attacks have left civilians injured and killed. High-rise and private buildings, as well as critical infrastructure facilities, suffered damage of varying severity. Russian Shahed-136/131 UAVs targeted Ukraine once again overnight. Information about this attack is being gathered. The following regions suffered from Russian airstrikes: Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Russian artillery targeted over 100 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, the Russians mounted no offensive operations. On the Lyman front, Ukrainian troops repelled 12 Russian attacks near the settlements of Terny, Yampolivka, Torske (Donetsk Oblast) and Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast). On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian Defence Forces repelled 14 Russian attacks near Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk Oblast). In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 Russian attacks near Lastochkyne (Donetsk Oblast). On the Marinka front, Ukrainian Defence Forces are continuing to hold back the Russians near Heorhiivka, Pobieda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk Oblast), where the Russians attempted to break through Ukrainian defences 23 times. On the Novopavlivka front, Ukrainian defenders repelled two Russian attacks south of the settlement of Prechystivka and west of the village of Staromaiorske (Donetsk Oblast). On the Zaporizhzhia front, the Russians mounted 13 unsuccessful attempts to assault Ukrainian positions west of the settlement of Verbove and the village of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia Oblast). In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, Ukrainian Defence Forces are continuing to hold their positions and repel the assaults of the Russian occupying army. Regardless of heavy losses, the Russians persist in their attempts to drive Ukrainian troops from their positions. The Russians made two unsuccessful assaults over the past 24 hours. At the same time, Ukrainian troops are taking active measures to inflict losses in military personnel and equipment on the Russian occupying forces, exhausting them along the entire front line. Ukraine's Air Force struck 14 clusters of Russian military personnel and three anti-aircraft missile systems over the past 24 hours. Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery targeted one cluster of Russian military personnel, two command posts, four artillery pieces, four ammunition storage points and one electronic warfare station belonging to the Russians. Support UP or become our patron! The village of Vesele in Donetsk Oblast (with the red underline in the middle-right part of the image). Screenshot: Deepstatemap Russian occupation forces shot two Ukrainian prisoners of war near the village of Vesele in Donetsk Oblast on Sunday, 18 February. Source: Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Illia Yevlash, spokesman for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces, in a comment for Ukrainska Pravda Quote from the Ground Forces: "This morning, the Russians once again proved their disregard for International Humanitarian Law when they shot two Ukrainian prisoners of war in an area overseen by the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces." Details: The Ground Forces posted a video of the Ukrainian prisoners being executed. Illia Yevlash, spokesman for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces, told Ukrainska Pravda that the Ukrainian soldiers were shot near the village of Vesele in Donetsk Oblast, not far from the village of Rozdolivka. Support UP or become our patron! A high-level Russian military commander died in a Sevastopol hospital in Russia-occupied Crimea on Feb. 14 after being wounded, according to a statement by the local government of Dagestan, a republic of Russia. The report doesn't specify where and when the injury occurred. Colonel Magomedali Magomedzhanov, from Dagestan, was reportedly the deputy commander of the 18th Army and commander of the 61st separate Kirkenes Red Banner Marine Brigade of the Northern Fleet. He died on Feb. 14 during his fourth military operation. Magomedzhanov previously served in Russias campaigns in the North Caucasus and Dagestan, before carrying out missions in Syria, according to the Head of the Republic of Dagestan Sergey Melikov. The Russian 18th Combined Arms Army was formed in August last year to free up more experienced units to fight on key axes" in Ukraine, according to the U.K. defense ministry. The formation is likely "an amalgamation and uplift" of other units operating in Kherson Oblast, including the 22nd Army Corps, which normally forms the Russian garrison in occupied Crimea, the ministry said. Read also: Ukrainian military reports defeating Russian offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian missiles have hit an industrial district and a private residential neighbourhood in Kramatorsk, likely trapping a family of four, including two teenagers, under the rubble. Source: Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, on Telegram 17 , : Quote from Kuleba: "In Kramatorsk, Russian missiles hit the industrial district and a private residential neighbourhood, likely trapping a family of four, including two teenagers, under the rubble of one of the buildings. Two buildings were destroyed and another 23 damaged. In Sloviansk, a missile hit a school, possibly leaving one person trapped under the rubble. Representatives of the authorities, police and rescue workers are at the sites of the attacks." Update: Kramatorsk City Council later said that rescue workers have recovered the body of a woman aged about 46 from under the rubble. Two more people are likely trapped under the rubble. The rescue operation is ongoing. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces shelled seven communities along the Sumy Oblast border on Feb. 17, killing one person and injuring another, the regional military administration reported. Shelling in the community of Khotin killed one resident and left another injured, the authorities said. The attacks also damaged homes and a farm building. The Russian military launched 53 attacks throughout the day, targeting the communities of Khotin, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Yunakivka, Seredyna-Buda, and Myropillia. The attacks caused 253 explosions in the area. Shelling is a constant reality for the residents along Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. An attack on Feb. 16 killed a man in Bilopillia, a frequent target of Russian attacks. Read also: Alone: Photo project shows wives of fallen soldiers coping with loss, shattered dreams Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. China to enhance synergy of development strategies with Mongolia: FM Xinhua) 09:22, February 18, 2024 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with his Mongolian counterpart Batmunkh Battsetseg on the sidelines of the ongoing 60th Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to enhance synergy of development strategies with Mongolia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with his Mongolian counterpart Batmunkh Battsetseg on the sidelines of the ongoing 60th Munich Security Conference. Noting that China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors and partners linked by mountains and rivers, Wang said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mongolian counterpart Ukhnaa Khurelsukh have reached an important consensus on laying a solid foundation for a community of shared future between the two countries and jointly building the Belt and Road with high quality, which charts the course for further development of bilateral relations. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Mongolia diplomatic ties, the 30th anniversary of the revision of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty between China and Mongolia, and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of their comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said, adding that the two sides should take this opportunity to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, understand and support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, consolidate mutual political trust and expand exchanges in various fields. China appreciates that Mongolia has placed its relations with China as a priority in its diplomacy, Wang said. China is ready to synergize development strategies, deepen exchanges of experience on governance, and fully tap the potential for cooperation with Mongolia, so as to elevate the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level and achieve common development and prosperity, he added. For her part, Battsetseg said that Mongolia cherishes the friendship with China and is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance mutual political trust, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and push for more achievements in bilateral relations. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Those who uphold the one-China principle should also support China's peaceful reunification, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday at the 60th Munich Security Conference. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when responding to a Taiwan-related question after delivering a keynote speech at the "China in the World" session at the conference. He stressed that Taiwan has always been part of China. In 1943, the governments of China, the United States and Britain jointly issued the Cairo Declaration, which stipulates clearly that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan, shall be restored to China, Wang noted, adding that Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation issued in 1945 stipulates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. The UN documents have also clearly described Taiwan as a province of China, he added. All these facts have fully demonstrated that the Taiwan question is one hundred percent China's internal matter, he stressed. Taiwan has never been and will never be a country, Wang said, noting that this is a basic historical fact and a consensus of the international community. As an unsettled question since the Chinese civil war, Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland and the two sides of the Taiwan Straits will surely achieve reunification, Wang said. It is the firm will of the 1.4 billion Chinese people and an inevitable trend of history, he added. It serves the interests of all to maintain stability across the Straits, Wang said, stressing that it is the "Taiwan independence" forces on the island that undermine peace and stability in the region. "Taiwan independence" is as incompatible with cross-Straits peace as fire with water, he said. To uphold the one-China principle, one should support China's peaceful reunification, and to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, one must oppose "Taiwan independence," he said. Russian forces targeted Poltava Oblast with attack drones on the night of 17-18 February and hit an infrastructure facility. Source: Filip Pronin, Head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Details: Pronin noted that Russian troops had struck an infrastructure facility in the Poltava district. The hit caused a fire, which has been put out. No casualties occurred. Background: Explosions rocked Poltava Oblast on the night of 17-18 February. At the same time, the Air Force reported that attack drones were approaching the city of Poltava from the northwest. Support UP or become our patron! Michael Tomlinson says 22,000 asylum seekers claims will be dealt with by new legislation The illegal immigration minister has denied suggestions the government is hamstrung over how to manage the claims of tens of thousands of asylum seekers. Legislation bans the government from granting asylum to anyone arriving illegally on or after 7 March last year. But new laws requiring their deportation only became effective from 20 July. It leaves the claims of more than 22,400 people in apparent legal limbo. Minister Michael Tomlinson said the Rwanda plan, which the Supreme Court ruled unlawful in November, will give the government a way to deal with the claims. "The bill, when it comes in... means that we can get planes off the ground, so we need to get that bill to come through," he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Mr Tomlinson said the bill, which is making its way through parliament, would apply to asylum seekers already in the UK. In a separate interview on Sky News, he gave a full-throated defence of the government's Rwanda plan. Asked whether he would guarantee planes carrying asylum seekers would take-off for Rwanda, Mr Tomlinson replied "yes". "Yes, we need to get through the bill first, yes we need to get the treaty ratified, and then the planes will take-off." Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week shook hands on a 1000 bet with TV host Piers Morgan that flights would depart before the next election. But a report in the iPaper claimed a contradiction in the government's small boats policy left the Home Office powerless to deport or grant asylum to 22,448 asylum seekers who arrived between March and July. The government is legally required to house and support the asylum seekers while their claims are being processed, costing taxpayers millions of pounds each day. Mr Tomlinson said a "decision to pause" was taken while the government mulled over how to respond to the Supreme Court ruling. Home Secretary James Cleverly said a new treaty with Rwanda signed in December addressed the court's concerns. Labour has sharpened its line of attack on migration, laying the blame for a third of all boat arrivals since January 2018 at the feet of Rishi Sunak. More than 38,000 small boats have crossed the English Channel since he became prime minister, according to figures circulated by Labour. "By focusing solely on getting off a few symbolic flights to Rwanda at massive cost to the taxpayer, he has taken his eye off the vital task of stopping the criminal smuggler gangs," shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said. Mr Tomlinson's appearance on the BBC followed Conservative defeats at two by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood. The overturning of big Conservative majorities in those seats came against a "difficult backdrop", the minister said. "Governments don't traditionally win by-elections," he added. "We saw the turnout in the by-elections very different from the turnout that you get in a general election." Just when the rocky relationship between the town of Port Royal and Safe Harbor Marinas over the towns waterfront development appeared to be improving, the partnership took a wrong turn this week. Shortly before a council vote to approve a deal, the Dallas-based marina operator submitted a list of eleventh hour demands before it would agree to the towns ongoing request for an easement. Town leaders were counting on that easement to allow the popular Spanish Moss Trail to be extended, but Safe Harbors new, unrelated conditions have thrown a wrench into the works. This latest road block has town officials so frustrated they are now investigating condemnation proceedings to extend the Spanish Moss Trail. At Wednesdays town council meeting, local leaders were prepared to celebrate the approval of an agreement thats been in progress for two years. The deal would have allowed the completion of a section of the trail across Safe Harbor land along a former railroad bed, allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to reach downtown Port Royal and Battery Creek. They thought they had everything worked out, Mayor Kevin Phillips said. But just hours before the meeting, Phillips said, the town received an email from Safe Harbor hitting us with a list of demands we just cannot accommodate at this time, before it [Safe Harbor] would agree to the 20-foot easement needed to advance the trail. We continue to be met with obstacles, further demands, further concessions, Phillips said. Frustrated by the new contingencies, town council members voted 5-0 to remove the approval of the easement from the agenda. Instead, town staff was told to investigate and potentially initiate condemnation proceedings to, in the words of Phillips, see if we cant get it across that way. Whats especially frustrating, said Phillips, is most of the Safe Harbors demands have nothing to do with the trail easement. Safe Harbors new demands For example, Safe Harbor wants the town to give Harbormasters International a one-year temporary-use exception with an option for a 6-month extension to continue building docks that are being shipped to Charleston.. That type of dock assembly work has angered residents. Another Safe Harbor demand: the placement of shipping containers, which are currently prohibited in the boat yard, be allowed. Safe Harbor also wants the town to agree that any future extensions of Spanish Moss Trail through other areas of the waterfront development be less than 20 feet, particularly the Bluff Area, where residential housing is planned. Safe Harbor also asked that a bathroom trailer on the worksite be permanently connected to the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority system. Two years of rancor, two weeks of hope. Whats next? Over the past two years, the town has had a litany of concerns with Safe Harbors development along two miles of Battery Creek waterfront. Things got so bad that the town fired off a letter earlier this year demanding changes and more transparency surrounding the 150-200 slip marina project, which also includes a housing component. All was looking up in the wake of the Feb. 1 meeting when town and Safe Harbor officials met face-to-face to iron out the differences. At the conclusion of that meeting, both Phillips and Peter Clark, Safe Harbors chief development officer, described the results as positive and indicated a deal on the easement in particular was imminent. Then came Wednesdays email with the list of demands regarding the easement. Every time we think were about to get it done, Phillips said, we get one more demand, one more tweak. Councilman Jerry Ashmore said Safe Harbor agreed at the Feb. 1 meeting that they would have a representative at Wednesdays meeting to talk to the town residents. No Safe Harbor official addressed the residents or town council at the meeting. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) All Saints Parish, located on Chadduck Avenue in Buffalo, is set to close when an offer is made to purchase the property, according to a letter sent to the parish community. Parishioners were informed of the decision by the Buffalo Diocese on Sunday morning. The decision was made due to challenges of the property, particularly of the school building located in the citys Riverside neighborhood. Sunday mass at the church will continue until an offer is made to purchase the property. When that happens, the church will merge with an undetermined parish. All Saints is a member of Family No. 20 within the diocese, which also includes St. Rose of Lima on Parker Avenue, St. Mark on Woodward Avenue, St. Margaret on Hertel Avenue, Holy Spirit Roman Catholic on Dakota Street and Assumption of the Blessed on Amherst Street. This is now the second church in the area to announce its closure in recent days. On Friday, the diocese announced that St. Andrews, located in Tonawanda, will close in June, citing financial challenges. In November, the diocese called on parishes to financially assist to help resolve nearly 900 child sexual abuse claims. It was estimated by the diocese that roughly $100 million would be needed to settle the claims. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. The World Health Organization has said Gaza's Nasser hospital has ceased to function following an Israeli raid. Israel Defense Force (IDF) troops entered the complex on Thursday, saying intelligence indicated hostages taken by Hamas were being held there. The WHO said it had not been allowed to enter the site to assess the situation. The IDF has described its operation in Nasser as "precise and limited" and accused Hamas of "cynically using hospitals for terror". Writing on X, formerly Twitter, WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Nasser hospital in Gaza is not functional anymore, after a week-long siege followed by the ongoing raid." "Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners," he said. "There are still about 200 patients in the hospital. At least 20 need to be urgently referred to other hospitals to receive health care; medical referral is every patient's right." The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says only four medical staff were left in the hospital trying to care for the remaining patients. The BBC has not been able to access the hospital and has been unable to independently verify the situation there. One source inside the hospital, who did not want to be named, told BBC News that 11 patients had died due to interruptions in the supply of electricity and oxygen, and that several doctors had been arrested. The Israeli military said no-one died as a result of its actions, adding that its troops had been told to keep the hospital running. It said diesel and oxygen supplies had been taken to the facility, and that a temporary generator was operating. Without painkillers, we leave patients to scream for hours Fighting has raged around the Nasser site for weeks. Israel has repeatedly claimed Hamas is using hospitals, along with schools, as operational bases. The Israeli military says it has killed about 20 Hamas fighters and seized numerous weapons in the area of the hospital. "Over the past day, dozens of terrorists were eliminated and large quantities of weapons were seized," the IDF said. At least 1,200 people were killed during attacks in Israel by Hamas-led gunmen on 7 October last year. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. More than 28,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and more than 68,000 wounded since the war began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. It added that at least 127 Palestinians have been killed and 205 others injured in the past 24 hours. Map showing Israeli ground operations in southern Gaza (4 February 2023) Despite the continued fighting in Gaza, efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have been taking place in Cairo in recent days - although Qatari mediators said recent progress was "not very promising". "The pattern in the last few days [is] not really very promising but, as I always repeat, we will always remain optimistic and will always remain pushing," said Sheik Mohammed, speaking at a meeting of world leaders at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he sent negotiators following a request from US President Joe Biden, but added they did not return for further discussions because Hamas's demands were "delusional". Hamas has blamed Israel for a lack of progress in achieving a ceasefire deal. The group has laid out a series of conditions, including the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, full withdrawal of Israel's forces and an end to the war after a 135-day pause in fighting, broken into three phases. Mr Netanyahu has also reiterated the Israeli government is continuing to push its ground invasion of Gaza further south, taking in the area of Rafah, despite international pressure not to do so without first having a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians who fled there during the early days of the war. Some 1.5 million people are in Rafah, close to the border with Egypt, after being told by Israeli forces to seek safety there while Hamas targets were attacked in northern, then central, Gaza. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday reiterated his opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians into Egypt's Sinai desert. In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, both leaders agreed instead on the "necessity of the swift advancement of a ceasefire", according to a summary. Mr Sisi has long maintained that the only solution is an independent state for Palestinians. The British Broadcasting Corporation However, on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu announced that his government had unanimously voted to formally oppose what it called the "unilateral recognition" of Palestinian statehood. He said any such agreement must be reached through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. "Israel rejects outright international dictates regarding a permanent accord with the Palestinians. An accord, should it be reached, will only come through direct negotiations between the sides, without preconditions," a government statement said. Scientists are warning that a global health catastrophe could be around the corner after an uptick in certain types of fungal attacks. Whats happening? The Guardian reported that the spread of crop-destroying fungal diseases is projected to get even worse as rising global temperatures allow the infections to thrive in traditionally colder northern climates, while more frequent extreme weather may increase the range of the resilient pathogens. This could lead to a worldwide food shortage. We are warning that we could see a global health catastrophe caused by the rapid global spread of fungal infections. The imminent threat here is not about zombies, but about global starvation, said Sarah Gurr, a professor at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, referring to the Emmy-winning show The Last of Us. Fungal pathogens have reportedly been migrating north at a rate of 4.5 miles each year since the 1990s. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature. Why is this concerning? While elements of fungi and certain fungi are beneficial, fungal infections are the biggest destroyer of crops by a wide margin, as reported by The Guardian, which noted that around 10 to 23% were ruined by such types of disease. Were already seeing massive crop losses to fungal infection. This worrying trend may only worsen with a warming world, Eva Stukenbrock, a co-author of the study and professor at Germanys University of Kiel, told the news outlet. The overheating of our planet has already led to the disruption of other major food sources, including seafood which more than three billion people depend on for essential sustenance. In addition to hunger, a further shake-up to the supply chain could lead to increased conflicts and displacement. There are 7.6 billion people in the world, according to the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, but that number is expected to grow to 11.2 billion by 2100. Whats being done about fungi pathogens? Scientists have been working on a variety of solutions to make crops more resilient, though they told The Guardian that their fungal pathogen research needed significantly more funding. The news outlet wrote that scientists have experimented with planting seed mixtures that carry a range of genes that are resistant to fungal infection, while one unrelated study stated that the superfood quinoa could be modified to protect against certain pests and diseases, which could help prevent widespread hunger. Other possibilities cited by The Guardian include the use of technology, such as drones and artificial intelligence, to find and halt fungal infections more quickly. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. Pa Cheng Vang always seemed happy in pictures with his family. Whether it was Christmas, Halloween or a visit to the aquarium, Vang's smile beamed in photos with his wife and six children. But Vang's face was somber Saturday as he and hundreds of others said goodbye to Muaj Tshav Ntuj, Pa Cheng's 4-year-old son who died in a fire that killed three other children and hospitalized the rest of Vang's family. More than 200 people from across the country attended the toddler's weekend-long service at the Legacy Funeral Home in St. Paul. White flowers and blue ribbons filled the chapel. Pictures of Muaj playing with siblings and posing with family surrounded a portrait of him smiling in orange overalls. Many stopped to gaze at the pictures. Some paused over Muaj's casket, holding each other in support. All the while, a man sang the Taw Kev prayer meant to help guide the boy's spirit to the afterlife. His voice bounced from the walls as more than a dozen family members cooked nearby to support those who had traveled from as far as California for the funeral. Pa Cheng greeted visitors, thanking and embracing them, and sometimes rocked back and forth near the his son's casket at the front of the chapel. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter was among the mourners who embraced Pa Cheng during the second day of services. "Even in the midst of such horror, even in the midst of such sadness as brings us into the room today, I also feel a sense of blessing to be in a space with people like all of you," Carter said, "who know that now is a time for community to be community." Carter turned to face a photo of Muaj, looking at the little boy's delighted face as he stood on a lawn in orange snow pants. "Young baby, God rest your soul," Carter said. "We love you, and we miss you." St. Paul Fire Chief Butch Inks said the entire fire department will carry the weight of the loss of the four children but said their memory will bring light to those who loved them. "Even though life is short, it is not in any way insignificant, because significance isn't measured in years," Inks said. State Sen. Foung Hawj mourned the loss of potential. The four children could have become firefighters themselves, he said, or teachers or leaders in their communities. "The possibility is limitless," he said. The losses are anguishing, Hawj said, but the memory of the children brought people together. "They brought our community together of all race and creed, to care, comfort and hope that incidents like this can be prevented in the future," Hawj said. "This entire community grieves with you," state Sen. Susan Pha said. On Monday, people chosen by the family will hold ceremonial rods and serve as final guides for Muaj's journey to the afterlife. Family say that his ancestors, as well as his 5-year-old sisters and 1-year-old brother, will join him. Funeral services for the other three children are scheduled in the weeks to come. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) dodged a question Sunday on whether the Republican National Committee (RNC) should pay for former President Trumps mounting legal fees. Robert Costa on Face the Nation asked Scott whether he believed the RNC should pay for Trumps legal fees which are mounting after a judge ordered the former president to pay nearly $355 million in a New York fraud verdict on Friday. This latest fine comes on top of a jury ordering Trump to pay $83.3 million for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll in a separate New York civil case. Scott did not answer the question and instead sharply pivoted, arguing that voters do not care as much about Trumps past. I can only tell you that without any question, when you look at the two-tiered justice system that we have that I just re reinforced, I think its important for us to note that without any question, the American people are very concerned about how that would impact their lives, Scott replied. Their issues are very clear by the way. The American people are more focused on their future than Donald Trumps past. He said Americans arent asking the questions about legal challenges, adding they are talking about their challenges across a kitchen table. The back-to-back financial penalties imposed on Trump in recent weeks will total to about $438.1 million. Interest on the fraud case could even bring that total to above $500 million, meaning Trumps personal wealth will likely take a hit from the staggering total. A potential financial lifeline for the former president could come if he is declared the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, which could come as early as mid-March if he secures victories in each of the GOP primary races. If Trump becomes the presumptive nominee, his campaign would be able to join forces with the RNC for combined fundraising efforts. This would give his campaigns war chest a significant boost in what will likely be a long general election cycle. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. AMMAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A military source at the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) said on Sunday that the JAF has thwarted an attempt to infiltrate and smuggle large quantities of narcotics coming from Syrian territories into Jordan. The operation, conducted in cooperation with the Anti-Narcotics Department, resulted in the killing of 5 smugglers and the injury of 4 others, along with the seizure of large quantities of narcotics, the state-run Petra news agency reported. The seized drugs have been transferred to the relevant authorities, according to the report. The source said the JAF is determined to utilize all available capabilities and resources to deal firmly with anyone who dares to jeopardize Jordan's national security. On Saturday, Jordan announced the formation of a joint "communication cell" including Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to combat drug trafficking. The group will include liaison officers from all countries involved to track information and monitor shipments to their final destination to combat drug trafficking. Jordan has been involved in armed clashes with drug smugglers over the past few months as they made more attempts to smuggle drugs and weapons into the Kingdom. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Two people were shot in University City Saturday night and one of them died from their injuries, authorities said. San Diego Police responded to reports of two people down in the street at Nobel Drive and Lombard Place, near the Westfield UTC mall, around 8:40 p.m. Responding officers found one victim in the street and another near a car stopped in front of the entrance to an apartment parking garage. Oceanside police turn law enforcement vehicle into lowrider Both victims were suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and were transported to a local hospital. One victim, described by police as a Hispanic man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Detectives are still working to confirm his identity. The other victim, described by police as a 39-year-old Hispanic man, was reported to be in stable condition at the hospital. He has been identified but his name is being withheld at this time, police said. SDPD homicide detectives were called to the scene and are handling the investigation. Based on information gathered so far, authorities said it appears the two victims were in a car together and were entering an apartment parking garage when they were approached by a suspect who was on foot. That person reportedly began firing into the car, striking both victims. Little suspect information is known at this time, however, police said the individual was seen wearing a light-colored jacket and dark pants. The suspect was last seen fleeing westbound from the area right after the double shooting. According to detectives, it does appear that this was a targeted attack. On Saturday night, police informed the public that this was not an active shooter situation and the mall was not affected. Nonetheless, a heavy police presence was seen in the area and a helicopter was circling overhead. Newly released bodycam footage shows fatal police shooting in Escondido SDPD roped off portions of Nobel Drive to conduct their investigation. Nobel Drive was closed between Genesee Avenue and Towne Centre Drive for several hours. deadly shooting in University City The suspect was still on the loose as of Sunday morning. Nearby residents were still shocked of the incident Sunday. To hear about a shooting literally right down the road from where you live is obviously very terrifying, nearby resident Kunal Ahuja said. I walk this road probably like 4 or 5 times a week, so I just imagine it could happen at pretty much any place, especially a place that seems like a very safe area, its just sad and terrifying. Another nearby resident, Clive Essakow, as he walked with his dog Sunday afternoon, near where the shooting happened said, We live very close by and its unusual for this sort of an area to have something like this happen, but you never know what happens these days. Essakow said he heard the helicopter flying around and listened to the police scanner Saturday night after the shooting. Its a horrible feeling we are standing in a spot where somebody was killed and somebody else was in hospital today. Thats very eerie, Essakow added. Anyone with information on this incident can call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Christelle Koumoue and Zara Barker contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) on Sunday took a swipe at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus leadership, claiming he is motivated by his own domestic political interest. Bennets remarks were in response to Netanyahus latest rejection last week of a two-state solution, in which he said, Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. He has called the establishment of a Palestinian state a huge reward following Hamass Oct. 7 assault on Israel that left about 1,200 people dead, including hundreds of civilians. Asked on Fox News Sunday about the issue, Bennet said, Well, I completely disagree with what Prime Minister Netanyahu said. Im not sure he would care to hear me say that, but I do completely disagree with it. I think he is animated by his own domestic political interest. He wants to stay in charge, and hes and thats why he is pursuing the policies that hes pursuing, I think, Bennet said. And its important for the United States to continue to stand as Democratic and Republican administrations had over generations for a two-state solution, because that will be the only solution that will endure. There is no way for there to be an independent, democratic Israel [a] Jewish-only state in the region without also there being a Palestinian state. More than 28,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since early October, per The Associated Press, citing the Health Ministry in Gaza. This climbing death toll has prompted increased calls for at least a temporary pause in fighting to allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. The Washington Post reported last week the U.S., along with other Arab nations, is working on a long-term plan for peace that includes a firm timeline for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Biden administration has been working with Qatar and Egypt in recent weeks to broker such a plan that also would see both a pause in fighting and the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. People in Palestine deserve to live a decent life. People in Israel deserve to live a decent life, and I hope America can be a stalwart ally as we move into a world with that two-state solution, Bennet said Sunday. Pressed on swirling concerns about Bidens ability to handle the Israel-Hamas war, Bennet criticized former President Trumps approach to matters in the Middle East. Well, what I say on that is that the president is President Bidens going to have to go out and litigate this election, Bennet said. Obviously, you know, the situation in the Middle East is a grave one at the moment, and the American people, I think, are reacting quite understandably to the chaos thats there. The question I would ask if I were and I will ask when Im voting in November is which of these presidents is more likely to bring more chaos? Which is more likely to be able to work with allies around the world to bring a more enduring if not peace, a path forward in the Middle East? Thats eluded all of us for the last 70 years, and we need to do better than weve done, he continued. Bennet further argued Iran became more dangerous during Trumps presidency than in former President Obamas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet (Colo.) on Sunday joined the growing chorus of politicians pinning the blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last week. Bennet, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream there is no doubt Putin did this. And he did it during the Munich security conference just to tell the world that he doesnt care what anybody thinks and that he can do anything he wants to do, he said Sunday. Navalny died in prison last Friday at the age of 47. He was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism and had recently moved from a different prison to the highest-security level facility in Russia. President Biden has blamed Putin for the death of Navalny, calling his death more proof of Putins brutality. The death of the Russian opposition leader comes as Russias war with Ukraine approaches its second anniversary as Putin signals growing confidence in the conflict. U.S. support for Ukraine has become increasingly divided, with lawmakers unable to come to a majority agreement on sending more aid to the war-torn country. The Senate last week approved an emergency defense spending package that includes $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. That bill, however, faces an uncertain future in the GOP-majority House, where House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has poured cold water over bringing the package to the floor, citing its lack of border security provisions demanded by GOP members months ago. On Sunday, Bennet renewed his call for more aid to Ukraine. The most significant thing we could do right now to push back on this is to continue to fund Ukraine, to push back on the illegal invasion that Putin has led the first incursion into a free country in Europe since the World War II order since the new order after World War II was established and thats what we should do. Bream then brought up Bidens pausing of approvals for some liquified natural gas exports and how some have argued this will empower Putin to seek elsewhere in Europe for exports they would typically get from America. Bennet called the pause a short-sighted decision. I actually dont support what President Biden is doing there, Bennet said. I think its been very important for American liquified natural gas to replace the natural gas that Russia was sending to Europe. I think its important for us to have the benefit of selling the natural gas versus other countries like Qatar in this world. And so, I believe one of the United Statess massive strategic strength is our energy, our clean energy and our fossil fuels. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Who among us has not written an angry email? Whether were letting an ex know how theyve done us wrong or complaining to the dry cleaner about ruining our favorite shirt, most of us have found ourselves rushing to our keyboards at one time or another to give someone a piece of our minds. But firing off a strongly worded screed isnt always the best course of action, and theres one thing you should ask yourself before you hit send. Think about the intent. Why are you sending it? Whats the goal? Ryan Martin, better know as the Anger Professor, recently told us Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the co-hosts of HuffPosts Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast. If the goal is literally just to tell someone how angry you are or to make them feel bad in some way, think about whether or not thats going to get you where you want to go in the long run. Once you know what your intent is, you should make sure that everything youre writing is framed around this goal, according to Martin, a psychology professor and an associate dean for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. A lot of times, making [the email recipient] angry as part of that angry email is probably not going to help you get to that goal, he said. He also advised giving yourself a little time to decide if you want to send your draft ... to the trash. One of the best parts about email versus an in-person interaction is that youve got time, said Martin, the author of How To Deal With Angry People and Why We Get Mad: How To Use Your Anger for Positive Change. So you can give yourself 10 minutes to sort of let yourself cool down, and then reread it and decide if you want to send it still, he said. You can also ask a friend to read it and say: Hey, will you take a look at this? Tell me how youd react to it. You also want to think about everything that youre including in the email not just the words. Think about the nonwords elements the use of emojis, the use of all-caps, Martin told us. Do those things help you make your point? Do they actually hurt your point? Think about that, again, in the context of the broader goal of why youre sending this. Finally, ask yourself if the message should be sent via email in the first place. Dont be afraid to take it offline, Martin said. It might be better to just have the conversation than to have the back-and-forth over email. We also discussed the two words you should never say to an angry person, why exercise and rage rooms might not actually help alleviate your anger, and much more. After youve had a listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts, subscribe to Am I Doing It Wrong? so you dont miss a single episode, including our investigations of the ins and outs of tipping, how to score the best deals on airline tickets, how to apologize or vanquish your credit card debt, how to find love online or overcome anxiety, online shopping, tips for taking care of your teeth, pooping like a pro, the shocking truth about doing your laundry, and secrets to booking and staying in a hotel. Need some help with something youve been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com, and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode. Related... Several powerful explosions were heard in Kharkiv during the air raid alert in the oblast, reported by local Telegram channels on Feb. 17. Prior to that, the Ukrainian Air Force warned of the use of ballistic weapons in the eastern regions. Read also: Woman killed after Russian missile buries her under her home in Kharkiv Oblast On Feb. 10, the Russians launched a drone strike on Kharkiv. Three drones hit an oil depot, causing a fuel leak that spread along the street with private houses, the houses ablaze. The fire completely destroyed more than ten residential buildings. Also, a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv killed 35-year-old Olha Putyatina, her husband and three of their sons. The woman worked as a prosecutor in the Vovchansk department of the Chuhuiv District Prosecutors Office and was on maternity leave at the time of her death. Another married couple also reportedly died. Two women, aged 61 and 39, and a 45-year-old man were injured. Read also: Russian drones target Kharkiv oil depot in massive night attack, fuel leak risk persists. 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 ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) has called for augmenting Africa's voice on the global stage, supported by structural reforms to address inequalities in the current international system. The two-day meeting, which opened Saturday and brings together African leaders from AU members at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, called for a major shift in the international system. The summit, in particular, highlighted the growing trend of hegemonism, injustice, and inequality as a manifestation of the current international system. Participants of the summit noted that such realities often disproportionately affect countries in the developing world, especially in Africa. Noting that the African continent is bearing the brunt of malfunctions in the current international order, Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat said the reality is further exacerbating the incessant challenges the African continent is currently facing. According to him, these challenges include political and institutional instability, poverty, climate change, and weak economic governance. "Not only have social inequalities widened and injustices multiplied, but hegemony and the absurd desire to resolve our differences through brutal and futile violence have prevailed in the eyes of all," the AU Commission chief said. For his part, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, Mauritanian president and chairperson of the AU for 2024, emphasized the imperative for reform within the international system on the basis of equality and inclusiveness. "In its current state, the international system is characterized by significant inequities and uneven standards, often to the detriment of the most vulnerable and least developed countries," Ghazouani told the AU summit. He called on African leaders to join hands to create "a more balanced, equitable, and inclusive multilateral international order for the least developed countries, ensuring that our continent has a voice and effective influence." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, addressing the AU Summit, echoed this sentiment when he emphasized that attempts to restore a global system based on ideological blocs are not applicable in the real world. The Brazilian president underscored the positive contribution of major emerging international institutions, such as the BRICS, in enhancing the participation of developing countries in shaping the international system. Lula emphasized the active participation of developing countries as a requisite for the creation of a global bloc that combines growth, environmental protection, and the reduction of inequalities with increased freedoms. The summit also acknowledged Africa's growing prominence on the global stage, as evidenced recently by the AU's permanent membership in the Group of 20 (G20) and the increasing participation of individual African countries in key multilateral institutions. According to Faki, the AU's accession to the G20 "urges us to succeed by effectively making our irreplaceable contribution to the solution of global challenges, while intensifying our advocacy in favor of the continental priorities". Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, meanwhile, stressed the critical need to tap into the recent gains in Africa's increased presence and voice on the international stage toward ensuring the continent's deserved place in the global arena. "While we celebrate the AU's permanent membership in the G20 and the opportunity it gives the continent to be heard on global issues, there are still important questions we need to address. What role do we, Africans, want to play in this evolving global power structure?" the Ethiopian prime minister asked African leaders attending the 37th AU Summit. Relatives have identified the dead bodies of three Ukrainian soldiers allegedly captured as prisoners of war in the town of Avdiivka in a Russian propaganda video, Slidstvo.Info, a Ukrainian investigative media outlet, reported on Feb. 18. Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi announced the decision to withdraw Ukrainian units from Avdiivka, an embattled city just north of Russian-occupied Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, on the night of Feb. 17. According to the report, the relatives identified soldiers of Ukraines 110th Brigade - Andrii Dubnytskyi with the call sign Bayraktar, Ivan Zhyntnyk with the call sign Django, and Heorhii Pavlov with the call sign Panda. All three served at the Zenit strongpoint in Avdiivka. The relatives said the soldiers were left behind heavily wounded while the rest of the forces retreated from the Zenit strongpoint. Ukraines 110th Brigade neither confirmed nor denied the claim as the verification continues, according to the report. General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi reported on Feb. 16 that Russia was throwing all reserves in assaults against Avdiivka and redeploying troops from other sectors. The same day, Tarnavskyi announced that Ukrainian troops had pulled back from Zenit, a position on Avdiivka's southeastern outskirts that had served as Ukraine's strongpoint since 2014. Despite Russian advances, the Avdiivka campaign has been extremely costly to Russia in terms of manpower and equipment. Tarnavskyi said that Moscow had lost over 20,000 troops, 199 tanks, and 481 armored fighting vehicles since Jan. 1. Ukraine's National Resistance Center reported that due to high casualties, Russia is using abandoned schools as morgues for its soldiers. Russian forces have been trying to capture Avdiivka since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine. Following the Russian recent assault on the city, which started in October last year, most of Avdiivka has been destroyed by urban warfare, artillery barrages, and airstrikes. Ukraines military admitted on Feb. 8 that Russian forces had entered Avdiivka. Read also: Biden: US Congress to blame for fall of Avdiivka Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Snake gets tangled around tailwheel of Coast Guard helicopter in Clearwater Related video: Three massive snakes removed from French Quarter streets ahead of Mardi Gras CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) Youve heard of Snakes on a Plane, but have you ever heard of a snake being on a helicopter? Well, that was the case for Coast Guard crews in Clearwater. Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater found a snake had trespassed onto its chopper. This unexpected stowaway was found napping on a Jayhawk tailwheel, USCG Clearwater wrote in a Facebook post. He reluctantly departed the scene when confronted . Photo courtesy Petty Officer 2nd Class Cole Lindvall According to the Miami Herald, the red-colored reptile was found on Feb. 9 while Petty Officer 2nd Class Cole Lindvall was doing a post-flight inspection of the MH60 helicopter. The snake was later identified as a 2-foot-long corn snake. The snake species, which are native to Florida, can grow up to be 4 feet in length and are also referred to as chicken snakes and red ratsnake. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 42-year-old man is dead following a crash involving three vehicles Saturday evening, Feb. 17 in East El Paso, according to the El Paso Police. Police investigate 2 crashes in East El Paso in same area At 6:48 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 the Special Traffic Investigators responded to a crash at the 7700 block of Gateway East and the 1200 block of Giles involving three vehicles. Police say that the preliminary investigation revealed that a VW Beetle was eastbound on the 7700 block of Gateway East on the left-turn-only lane. The driver of the VW Beetle, Adrian Dominguez, 42, from Socorro, entered the intersection while having a red traffic light as southbound traffic on Giles had a green light. A vehicle was traveling southbound, and a T-bone-type crash occurred, according to police. Police say an SUV was at a complete stop on the northbound lanes of Giles at a red light when the VW Beetle slid after the crash and struck the SUV. Dominguez was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries sustained in the crash, according to police. The main contributing factor is in this collision is disregarding a red traffic light, according to police. Police say this is the 10th fatality this year compared to 12 in 2023. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., encouraged residents in her district to vote "uncommitted" instead of for President Biden in the upcoming Democratic primary. In a video shared by the Listen to Michigan campaign, Tlaib stood outside the Ford Civic Center in the city of Dearborn, reminding residents that early voting would be open until Saturday. "It is important as you all know to not only march against the genocide, not only make sure that we're calling our members of Congress and local electeds and passing city resolutions all throughout our country it is also important to create a voting block, something that is a bullhorn to say enough is enough. We dont want a country that supports wars, and bombs and destruction, we want to support life," Tlaib said. "We want to stand up for every single life killed in Gaza." "I want you to think of all of the amazing young children and the people, again, lives were lost in Gaza. This is the way you can raise our voices. Dont make us even more invisible. Right now, we feel completely neglected and just unseen by our government. If you want us to be louder, then come here and vote uncommitted," she said. RASHIDA TLAIB CALLS ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU 'GENOCIDAL MANIAC,' TAKES SHOT AT FELLOW DEMS WHO BACK HIM Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., poses for selfies with Code Pink for Peace demonstrators at the Capitol demanding cease fire in Gaza on Feb. 15, 2024. Tlaib, the only Palestinian serving in Congress, was censured by the House in November over her use of the phrase, "from the river to the sea," an antisemitic slogan calling for the erasure of Israel. Nonetheless, Tlaib has raised nearly $3.7 million since the start of the war in Gaza as of earlier this month, record fundraising for the third-term congresswoman who has faced attacks from both sides of the aisle for her criticism of Israel, according to the Associated Press. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Dearborn was dubbed "Americas Jihad Capital" by an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month, with the piece describing protesters, many with kaffiyehs covering their faces, shouting "Intifada, intifada," "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," and "America is a terrorist state," as well as local imams delivering antisemitic sermons in the Detroit suburb. Democratic Mayor Abdullah Hammoud claimed the WSJ opinion piece "led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city of Dearborn." President Biden speaks to the media as he leaves St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, Del., Feb. 17, 2024. DEARBORN MAYOR SAYS BIDEN CAMP'S TRIP TO MICHIGAN WAS 'DEHUMANIZING,' PURELY FOR 'POLITICAL MEANS' "Stay vigilant," he wrote on X. "Effective immediately - Dearborn police will ramp up its presence across all places of worship and major infrastructure points." In late January, Hammoud told CNN he felt it was "dehumanizing" of Biden to send a delegation of campaign staff to meet with Arab-American and Muslim leadership in Dearborn, arguing that the president should be sending "policymakers" instead amid the war in Gaza. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., during a House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Biden himself came to Michigan in February, though the focus of the trip was to meet with autoworkers and Black community leaders. He was endorsed by the United Auto Workers. Biden won Michigan by just three percentage points in 2020 and the state is considered a battleground again in 2024. Tlaib's call to vote "uncommitted" was viewed as a challenge to the president accede to the demands of progressives on Palestine or lose support from that faction of the Democratic Party come November. The Michigan Democratic primary is Feb. 27. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Squad member Tlaib urges Michigan residents to vote 'uncommitted' in Democratic primary, snubbing Biden The Scoop The State Departments Inspector General has opened an internal investigation into the steps leading up to and after the suspension of the Biden administrations special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley. On January 23, the Inspector Generals office informed members of Congress about the probe in response to growing questions from U.S. lawmakers about Malleys status and the reasons behind the Diplomatic Security Services decision to revoke his security clearance last April, according to correspondence seen by Semafor. Malley continued to perform some of the duties of the special envoy for nearly three months before the State Department officially placed him on unpaid leave in late June. The scope of the special review of the suspension of Robert Malleys clearance will include the procedures the Department used in suspending the clearance as well as actions taken by the Department following the suspension, Ryan Holden, the Inspector Generals director of congressional and public affairs, wrote in the letter. This will include whether the Department followed proper procedures in suspending his clearance, determining what access to information he could maintain, and deciding the status of his employment. Holden added in his letter: The special review will also examine which officials were involved in these decisions and how the process compares to that used for other types of employees. The Inspector General is interviewing State Department staff and reviewing documents and emails as part of the investigation, he said. A report will eventually be made public. The State Department informed Malley last April 21 that it had received information regarding you that raises serious security concerns and can be disqualifying under National Security Adjudicative Guidelines. Semafor reported in July that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also investigating Malley for potentially mishandling classified information. The State Department on Saturday told Semafor that it couldnt comment on the Inspector Generals investigation into Malley but that, in general, it always cooperates. Jays view Malleys suspension is one of Washingtons great mysteries and is emerging as an election year issue. Republicans sharply criticized the diplomats efforts to engage with Iran after he became special envoy in 2021. But his suspension has made him an even greater lightning rod for attacks from the right. Semfor reported earlier this month that the NGO Malley headed before becoming special envoy, the International Crisis Group, had forged a formal research agreement with Irans Foreign Ministry in 2016, which it had not publicly disclosed. Semafor also reported in September that senior aides to Malley, both inside the U.S. government and at Crisis Group, had been part of the Iran Experts Initiative, a network of academics and researchers that Iranian officials used to promote Tehrans positions on its nuclear program during the Obama Administration. This was also not disclosed. Crisis Group disputes the characterization of IEI, calling it an informal network of researchers funded in part by a Western government. Congressional staffers told Semafor this week that the Inspector Generals probe into Malleys suspension only further muddies the picture. Many lawmakers voiced alarm that Malley kept working at the State Department for months following his suspension, and hoped the new investigation could explain why. Theyre also fixated on learning the specific infractions he may have committed that led to the revoking of his security clearance. But Republican staffers also told Semafor that the wide scope of the investigation could mean that its not completed or made public until after the November presidential election. And they fear this could allow the White House to bury the details behind Malleys suspension until after the vote. The View From Washington The Biden administration has been almost totally silent about Malleys status since his departure last June. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a high school classmate of Malleys in Paris, initially praised his diplomatic work. So did National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. A new special envoy has taken Malleys place, though diplomacy with Iran has ground to a halt following the October terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, a militant Palestinian group thats armed and funded by Tehran. Malley himself issued a short statement to Axios after his suspension saying he expected the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon. But he has declined requests for comment from Semafor since then. The diplomat and academic is now a scholar-in-residence at both Yale and Princeton universities. He told Yale News last month that hes teaching a course this semester on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, something which he said is even more important to study due to the current war in the Gaza Strip. In the wake of Oct. 7, I questioned whether it still made sense or whether it would be best to wait, he said. Ultimately, I concluded, in coordination with the School, that it had become even more important to try to create an environment where students could learn more about this topic and engage with others in thoughtful, respectful conversations. Notable Princeton University announced in August its hiring of Malley as a visiting professor and lecturer. One race on everyones ballot in this primary is the battle to replace Dale Folwell as North Carolina State Treasurer. ALSO READ: Blue Cross NC appeals loss of state worker contract to Aetna That person will be in charge of overseeing the state health plan, and right now, a trial is underway. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is suing, claiming a decision to switch the plan to Aetna was made due to errors and unfair scoring. The Political Beat Team asked all of the candidates whether or not they agreed with the state treasurers decision to switch. Republican Candidate- A.J. Daoud (Left) Democratic Candidate: Wesley Harris (Center) Democratic Candidate: Gabe Esparza (Right) We heard back from three candidates: two from the Democratic Party and one from the Republican Party. Democratic candidate Gabe Esparza says expressing a bias towards one health plan over the other may stop state employees and teachers from getting the best coverage. I dont think its proper to express a preference for Blue Cross vs. Aetna given that the next Treasurer will have to oversee the contract, but I dont think Treasurer Folwells bid process passes the smell test on what is best for the state employees and teachers, Esparza said. How does a more expensive bid with inferior network coverage win the day? Representative Wesley Harris, a primary Democratic opponent of Esparza, says he hopes the treasurers office is making the right decision. BCBS has a long history and network in North Carolina, and I dont love that Aetna wasnt the lowest bidder, which gives me some reservations about the decisionsbut at the same time, this was unanimous from the S-H-P board, so they had their reasons, and this hearing will bring those out in clearer terms, Harris said. Republican candidate A.J. Daoud expressed his support of Folwells decision. I feel Treasurer Folwell made a great call in making the switch, Daoud said. As a former government employee, it was critical to me and my family to know our expenses. The Treasurers ongoing battle with Blue Cross during his tenure is unreasonable and unfair to state employees and retirees. (WATCH BELOW: Candidates attend reception with voters in hopes of increasing engagement in March primaries) Steve Wright had heart surgery in the years before his death and was more ill than he let on, it has been claimed. Police and paramedics were called to the BBC Radio DJs London home last week after reports of an incident. The 69-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and his death was described as unexpected. Mark Wells, a friend of Wright, said the DJ had undergone heart surgery soon after his Radio 2 show was axed. Speaking on the Behind The Scenes with Colin Edmonds podcast, he said: Steve told me he had a heart operation about 14 or 15 months ago after he finished Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 2. He had a bypass operation which had gone well but I think he had been more ill than he had been letting on to that point. The recovery from that had gone pretty well, though obviously the events of the last couple of days would suggest thats what in the end came for him. Wells described the BBC star as a hypochondriac with a fondness for unhealthy food and cigars who was the first and only person Ive ever seen do their own dentistry. Last week, Wrights brother Laurence said the DJ wouldnt talk about health problems if something was wrong with him. He was the kind of guy who would just carry on, take care of it, not talk about it, not make a big thing, that kind of stoic sort of attitude, he said. I will cherish every moment Wrights son, Tom, who lives in Los Angeles, said he had returned to the UK to care for his father before his death. In an emotional post on social media, he wrote: It meant the world to me that I was able to get to know my Dad in a way I never had in the months before he died. I will cherish every moment we shared and every memory we made. I only hope to make him proud and build on his legacy with kindness and love. This made every struggle worthwhile to have had this time with him before we lost him. The broadcaster had pre-recorded a pre-Valentines Day Special of his Sunday Love Songs, which aired just a day before his death. On Sunday, a special episode of Steve Wrights Love Songs aired with tributes to the presenter. Presenting the show, Liza Tarbuck said the show was going on but without the chief. She also read out tributes from listeners to the DJ. In a career that spanned more than four decades, Wright amassed millions of loyal listeners with programmes that aired on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2. The broadcaster joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980 to host a Saturday evening show before moving on to host Steve Wright In The Afternoon a year later until 1993. Wright then fronted the Radio 1 Breakfast show for a year until 1995, and completed a stint at commercial radio stations before returning to BBC Radio 2 in 1996 to host Steve Wrights Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs. In 1999, he recreated Steve Wright In The Afternoon every weekday on Radio 2, with celebrity interviews and entertaining trivia featured in his Factoids segment, before stepping down in September 2022 but he continued to present Sunday Love Songs on BBC Radio 2. Former BBC Radio 1 host Scott Mills took over the afternoon slot as part of the stations schedule shake-up. Wright was made an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to radio. 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. COLOMBO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's state-owned electricity producer and distributor the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on Sunday urged people to use electricity sparingly as demand for power has grown due to the dry weather, a senior official told the media on Sunday. CEB spokesman Noel Priyantha told the media that electricity demand has increased by between three and four gigawatt hours in the past month. Usually, electricity consumption increases during dry periods in Sri Lanka as people use electric fans and air conditioning to keep cool, energy experts say. Priyantha said the percentage of electricity produced by hydropower has dropped to 21 percent in recent days due to dry weather, and 4.5 percent of electricity is generated from solar and 5 percent from wind farms. The CEB spokesman said earlier that they are generating over 60 percent of the electricity using thermal power. The cost of generating electricity using thermal power is high and this is one of the main reasons why the cost of electricity production is among the highest in Asia, Narendra De Silva, general manager of CEB, has said. When Lincoln University administrator Antoinette Bonnie Candia-Bailey took her own life last month, the news broke the internet, a family friend said in a eulogy during homegoing services in Joliet. People had a lot to say about the death of the 49-year-old Chicago native who was the Missouri schools vice president of student affairs: She was a conduit, a convenor and, most passionately, an advocate, said her friends, family and colleagues. The abundance of national headlines, social media posts, essays, tributes and video conferences that ensued created a torrent of emotion, ultimately shining a light on the struggles Black women bear not just in the workplace but specifically as scholars and administrators in higher education. Many Black women in leadership roles say they face bullying, racism and misogyny as they strive for success in and outside the academic community. Candia-Baileys death brought to the fore how consistent mistreatment and marginalization can chip away at their mental health, resulting in devastating consequences. Inger Burnett-Zeigler, a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said now is an opportunity for supervisors and colleagues to examine how they are paying attention to colleagues mental health and what steps theyre taking to help them get critical resources. Theres been this narrative that Black women are not vulnerable to suicide, but trends are showing that there is an increased risk of suicide among Black women and this is an unfortunate example of the ways in which Black women are suffering that are not often recognized, said Burnett-Zeigler, a Black woman who authored Nobody Knows the Trouble Ive Seen: The Emotional Lives of Black Women in 2021. We should use it as a wake-up call to better pay attention to our own needs and to better advocate for the resources that we need. A lot of people connected with Candia-Baileys story for a number of reasons, said Laura Morgan Roberts, an author and tenured professor at the University of Virginias Darden School of Business. Morgan Roberts, who is Black, said she has heard countless stories about the toll being Black in academia or positions of power takes on their physical and mental health. Its a constant dance between being told were too much, and were not enough all at the same time, said Morgan Roberts, who has spent the past 20 years studying Black women in leadership. We give our bodies over to this work, and then we get blamed for the shortcomings, she said. Data found in a number of publications, including Bloomberg, Forbes and The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, show that this experience of not being supported, of being unable to take off the cape is a pattern. We dont often get the credit that we deserve or the support that we need, Morgan Roberts said. Just living in that fraught space, there are health consequences. Less than a year ago, Lincoln University of Missouri, a historically Black school, was celebrating Candia-Baileys return to her alma mater as a top administrator. In an April 2023 news release, the president of the Jefferson City-based university, John Moseley, wrote that she brought a wealth of experience to move the entire university forward, and that she was the right leader. By January, she was fired. A few days later she was dead. Following Candia-Baileys death, numerous reports and emails shared with friends revealed she was allegedly harassed by Moseley, a white man. In 2023 prior to her dismissal, Candia-Bailey requested time off through the Family and Medical Leave Act to deal with her severe depression and anxiety. A statement from the university, posted on Facebook on Jan. 11, had hundreds of comments, conveying feelings of sorrow for Candia-Bailey and anger toward the school and Moseley. Hashtags of #JusticeforBonnie and #firemoseley are prevalent. Protests continue in her name on campus demanding change. Moseley is on paid leave while an outside review is taking place of personnel issues regarding compliance with the universitys policies. LaDonna Candia-Flanagan, Candia-Baileys aunt, said her family doesnt want Bonnies life and what she endured to be in vain. Were hoping that the Lincoln University investigation provides an opportunity to send a message that bullying in the workplace will not be tolerated, she said. From this, I hope employers learn to listen to their employees when they have an outcry of needing accommodations for their well-being. Candia-Baileys story is not just one womans story that can be explained away by her unique circumstances, researchers and advocates say. Black people are 20% more likely to experience serious psychological distress than white Americans, and yet, Black women are about half as likely to seek mental health care, according to a 2023 report on Black women and mental health. The irony is that Candia-Bailey herself addressed the hurdles Black women have to overcome to excel in the workplace in her 2016 dissertation, My Sister, Myself: The Identification of Sociocultural Factors that Affect the Advancement of African-American Women into Senior-Level Administrative Positions. The work detailed the obstacles Black women face in academia; struggles that Candia-Bailey herself would endure. Shes not the only one who wrote about the topic either. Researchers and advocates note the negative attitudes, public smear campaigns, pressures and lack of support Black women in leadership roles in academia and other industries are wrestling with regularly: They include nationally targeted attacks against initiatives that help Blacks get into leadership positions and the lack of quality support to help them remain in those positions in a healthy and meaningful way. Morgan Roberts pointed to the former president of Harvard University, Claudine Gay, the first Black female president in the institutions history, as an example. In January, Gay resigned when she was accused of plagiarism following her testimony before Congress last year about Harvards response to antisemitic speech on campus. Claudine Gay lost institutional support from Harvard, who just months before had been quite happy to publicly tout her historic leadership and presidency, Morgan Roberts said. What I see in the story of Candia-Bailey is another leader who happened to be Black, happened to be a woman, happened to need a certain level of support and did not receive that support institutionally. To help chip away at the problem, Black women need to create networks where they support and look out for each other, essentially be each others keepers, said Judith Allen, chief operating officer of Communities in Schools of Chicago, a nonprofit working to increase high school graduation rates. These networks provide safe spaces where Black women support one another, validate their experiences and ultimately, speak their truth, Allen said. Allen is a Black woman who created an affinity group for other Black women and people of color at her organization to come together to discuss the stresses of their work. If you work in a space where theres a lot of you that look alike, create that bond, have those conversations off the record, Allen said. For Black women in leadership roles, camaraderie and support can be particularly difficult, as their numbers are fewer, Allen said. The higher we go, the less we have a network, the less we feel we can be honest, she said. Thats why support and safety nets are so critical; such efforts could save lives. We have this natural affinity toward being the caregiver, no matter what role were in, Allen said. There has to be a safety net in place for the individuals who are doing the looking out, the ones in these leadership spaces, who are caring for populations that are marginalized or dont have an advocate. Candia-Bailey wrote a letter to Moseley before she died accusing him of bullying and mistreating her. As of press time, the findings from a third-party independent review of the situation have not been released. ] Workplace bullies are particularly harmful to women of color, according to a 2022 Harvard Business Review article about toxicity in the workplace. The article references a nationwide 2021 survey from PrismWork in partnership with nFormation CQ and the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative indicating that out of 1,500 women, 70% of women of color felt they had to prove themselves over and over again just to be rewarded fairly and almost 20% were less likely to feel supported by their managers and feel their skills and experience are valued and leveraged. Burnett-Zeigler said she often guides Black women to support groups such as The National Alliance on Mental Illness and the podcast, Therapy for Black Girls hosted by Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta. The podcast serves as a community of Black women sharing their challenges and exchanging resources. Organizations should focus on how all employees experience four key freedoms to thrive at work, said Morgan Roberts, who has written several papers on the topic. Employees from historically marginalized groups are often given less access to these freedoms, she wrote last year in the Harvard Business Review. Morgan Roberts explains the freedoms as: The freedom to be your authentic self. This means existing in your work environment with your personality, values, ideals and actions all aligned, regardless of outside pressures. Morgan Roberts references how dress codes for hair, makeup and clothing are put in place for the workplace to ensure Black people dont appear too ethnic. We have to get state and federal legislation in the form of CROWN Acts to permit us to wear our hair to work the way that it naturally grows out of our head. This is all extra labor thats required just to show up, she said. The CROWN Act (an acronym for Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair), bans race-related hair discrimination in the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodations. Illinois CROWN Act went into effect Jan. 1, 2023. The freedom to become. Specifically, the freedom to become ones best self. For women who want to lead at the highest levels in the workplace, it means to aspire and to grow and not to have a ceiling that is constantly creating barriers and obstacles. Morgan Roberts added that as they advance in their careers, its experiencing fulfillment and gratification. The freedom to fade. To periodically step back from the spotlight and performance pressure for their mental health. Candia-Bailey wasnt afforded that, Morgan Roberts said. The opportunity to take off the (superhero) cape, she said. The mindset is, Once I get the job, then I have to work so hard just to prove that I deserve it. I just gotta keep going, going, going until theres absolutely nothing left in the tank. You can only imagine what all of the physical and mental health costs are of that. The freedom to fail. To have the opportunity for a second chance after a mistake. The conversation about support for Black women has been an ongoing one, where terms such as #BlackGirlMagic and words, including resilient and strong, are no longer seen as positive to ones mental health, advocates say. Instead, they add superhuman connotations to humans already trying to cope with an inordinate amount of stressors. For some, the option to walk away, if they are able, might be the best path. Many Black women dont want to endure the battle and fight to prove their worth, because so many have done so already and yet, societal or professional change has been minimal, Burnett-Zeigler said. She aims to help women recognize their own vulnerabilities and empower them to do what they need to do to better take care of themselves. Acknowledge that youre suffering, she said. Dont push it down, ignore it or push through it. Instead, advocate for what you need. Twenty leading technology companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, TikTok, X, Amazon and Adobe vowed Friday to help prevent deceptive uses of artificial intelligence from interfering with global elections. In 2024, 4 billion people in over 40 countries around the world are expected to vote. Experts said easily accessible generative AI tools falling in the hands of bad actors could potentially impact those elections and sway votes. Generative AI tools allow users to create images, videos, or audio from simple text prompts. Some do not have the necessary safeguards in place to prevent users from creating content of politicians or celebrities saying things they've never said or doing things they've never done. MORE: Amid spread of AI tools, new digital standard would help users tell fact from fiction Just last month, a fake robocall impersonating President Joe Biden's voice discouraged individuals from voting in the New Hampshire primary. Taiwan saw its fair share of deepfakes circulating on social media ahead of its presidential election on Jan. 13. At the Munich Security Conference, these companies announced the "Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections," which is a voluntary agreement with a set of eight specific commitments to deploy technology countering harmful AI content. "Democracy rests on safe and secure elections," said Kent Walker, president of global affairs at Google at the Munich conference. "Google has been supporting election integrity for years, and today's accord reflects an industry-side commitment against AI-generated election misinformation that erodes trust. We can't let digital abuse threaten AI's generational opportunity to improve our economies, create new jobs, and drive progress in health and science." PHOTO: The OpenAI logo is displayed on a cell phone with an image on a computer monitor generated by ChatGPT's Dall-E text-to-image model, Dec. 8, 2023, in Boston. (Michael Dwyer/AP) Some of those commitments include detecting the distribution of this content on their platforms along with developing and implementing technology to mitigate risks related to deceptive AI content. "We are happy to see these companies taking steps to voluntarily rein in what are likely to be some of the worst abuses. Committing to self-police will help, but it's not enough," Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of Public Citizen, a non profit that's been advocating for the legislation of political and explicit deepfakes, said in a press release. "The AI companies must commit to hold back technology especially text-to-video that presents major election risks until there are substantial and adequate safeguards in place to help us avert many potential problems," she added. MORE: Fake explicit Taylor Swift images: White House is 'alarmed' This comes on the heels of Open AI touting its new text-to-video tool Sora, which is not yet available to the general public and is being tested by safety experts against potential risks. "This is a constructive step forward. We appreciate the companies involved for stepping up to the plate. Time will tell how effective these steps are and if further action is needed. We all have a role to play in protecting the integrity of our elections and upholding the democratic process, and we welcome this critical step by technology companies," said U.S. Senators Mark Warner, D-Va., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in a joint statement in support for the accord. PHOTO: A photograph taken during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 18, 2024. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) As of today, the signatories of the accord are: Adobe, Amazon, Anthropic, Arm, ElevenLabs, Google, IBM, Inflection AI, LinkedIn, McAfee, Meta, Microsoft, Nota, OpenAI, Snap Inc., Stability AI, TikTok, Trend Micro, Truepic, and X. The companies said they hope they might see more come onboard, as well as encourage governments to take meaningful action to legislate harmful uses of AI. Tech giants come together to combat deceptive deepfakes ahead of 2024 elections originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Symone Berry made over $225k working as an overseas US government tech contractor. While in Taiwan, she took a week off every month and received "rest and relaxation" pay to travel. Berry sometimes worked 90+ hour weeks the benefits were worth it to her but it's not for everyone. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Symone Berry, a 31-year-old government contractor living in Atlanta. Her jobs and income have been verified by BI. It's been edited for length and clarity. I always knew I wanted a government contracting job. My mom was a mortgage underwriter and we lived in the DC area. She would always tell me about these overseas government contractors who lived in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they would buy $500,000 houses in all cash. I didn't know how I was going to do it and I didn't know anything about it but I knew that's what I wanted to do. At 16, I started to build my career in government tech and went to vocational school. From there, I went to Christopher Newport University on a basketball scholarship and eventually transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University. I graduated with my bachelor's degree in computer science with a minor in math. I had seven job offers by the time I graduated I graduated in the fall of 2014 with seven job offers, a mix of federal and government contract roles. I accepted an offer as a level one embedded engineer for $72,500 a year at Raytheon, a defense contractor. I started on the first Monday of January 2015 in their Fort Meade office. Over the next two years, I wrote code for Raytheon's radars and started looking at internal positions abroad. I figured out that I needed to get a CompTIA Security Plus authorization to work in many of the overseas positions. It took me about a month to get the certification and then another three months of interviewing and training before I started my first job overseas. I lived in the snowiest city in the world, making $140,000 a year As a radar systems engineer in Japan, I made just over $140,000 a year and had all of my living expenses and food paid for. I lived in a spacious one-bedroom apartment that was provided for me in Aomori Prefecture, a few minutes away from the site. My job was to make sure that the radar system was up and running 24/7. At the time, North Korea was shooting missiles over Japan and our job was to monitor them. Most of the time, we were sitting ducks. But there were times when something did go wrong and I had to go to site at four in the morning. Me at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo in 2018. Symone Berry In Aomori, I worked 12-hour days about four days a week and then I had off from Thursday night until Monday morning. On the weekends, I would usually travel with my coworkers. You make a lot of friends on the job because you're all living in the same place. I went to Tokyo almost every weekend. Me on my way to work in Aomori. Symone Berry Aomori is the snowiest place in the world. It gets 26 feet of snow every year. I would walk to work in a blizzard with ski goggles and a face mask on. I don't like the cold and after that first winter, I didn't ever want to go through another winter there again. I worked 90+ hour weeks in Taiwan, but the money and time off made it worth it Me outside of my apartment in Taiwan. Symone Berry After a year and a half in Japan, I started a new job in Taiwan as a senior testing engineer. At this point, I was 27 making about $225,000 a year. My housing was paid for and there was an on-site chef to cook staff meals but the hours were crazy. When I started, I only had two days off every 10 days and I worked about 92 hours a week. After a few months, I negotiated my contract so that I worked three weeks straight and then got a full week off every month. During that week, I would usually visit my girlfriend in California. I also received a quarterly pay of $2,500 for "rest and relaxation" pay, referred to as R&R. This is money that compensates for the long hours so that staff can travel during their time off. It varies in each job. In Japan, I only received $1,500 annually for R&R. Me and my friends in Bali in 2018. Symone Berry South Korea was hands down the best overseas role I had After Taiwan, I deployed to South Korea as a senior system administrator for about $220,000 a year. That was hands down the best living situation I had. I had a really nice three-bedroom apartment and a car rental. Plus, the surrounding area was great. We were close to Osan Air Force Base and there were a ton of Americans in the area. I worked 50 hours a week in that role and was able to work from home sometimes there because if we weren't flying we really didn't need to be there. During my weekends in South Korea, I didn't travel much because of Covid but I went to Seoul a few times. This career path isn't for everyone This lifestyle is all I know and I have no regrets. But it's not for everyone. Doing years of long-distance took a toll on my relationship and for people who have a family or struggle to be alone, this job would be very difficult. Also, most of the places I worked were remote and in isolated areas. If that's a problem for you, this job path isn't the right one. If you don't like to work long hours, I also don't suggest entering this field. Overseas government contract work requires at least 50 hours a week. It also often comes with a long commute to site in Taiwan, it took us an hour to get down the mountain every day. While this is covered by the contractor, it still takes time out of your already long day. But I love traveling and experiencing different cultures. Plus, this career path allowed me to save money and get into investing since I had no living expenses for years. I've saved up enough money now that I can take time off for myself and start my own business. Over the last year, I stopped working and started building my online presence and a nonprofit called GovTech Foundation, which provides career guidance for government jobs. I might do a short-term contract to make quick money, but right now, I'm 31 and enjoying the time off to travel and focus on personal projects. Do you work in a government job? We'd like to hear from you. Email the reporter from a non-work email at aaltchek@insider.com . Read the original article on Business Insider Brevard County Commission Vice Chair Rita Pritchett has submitted a proposal allowing voters to establish term limits for the county's constitutional officers the clerk of courts, property appraiser, sheriff, supervisor of elections and tax collector. Under the proposal, there would be a limit of three consecutive four-year terms. Terms that started before 2024 would not be counted. The proposal would have to be approved by 60% of voters in the Nov. 5 election. Brevard County Commission Vice Chair has proposed term limits for five county elected constitutional officers, including the sheriff and property appraiser. Commissioners will consider Pritchett's proposal at their meeting on Tuesday. County Attorney Morris Richardson said they initially are voting Tuesday on whether to send the proposal to a three-person Attorney Review Panel. That panel would need to review of the proposed amendment to the Brevard County Charter to be sure the proposal is consistent with the Florida Constitution, general law and the charter, and that it contains a single subject. If the panel says the proposal is OK, commissioners then must vote on whether to put the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot. At least four of the five commissioners would need to approve putting the proposal on the ballot. Pritchett said moving forward with putting term limits on the ballot is in response to comments heard during the Brevard County Charter Review Commission in 2022, which is held every six years to seek public input on how the county can update its charter to better reflect voter priorities. "We got information during those meetings that the voters wanted this. There was an overwhelming consensus from all the voters that they want term limits on all the elected officials," Pritchett said. "Everybody in office right now wouldnt be affected, but its just a good check and balance moving forward," Pritchett added. "Its our job to discuss these things and approach it because were the ones who have that ability."Pritchett insisted that the decision should be left up to voters in November, and that there are "pros and cons" to term limits on constitutional officers, but that it may be good to ensure there are "fresh eyes" in those offices in the future. Cocoa resident Nick Tomboulides, executive director of U.S. Term Limits, supports having term limits for the countywide elected offices. But he believes the limits should be for eight years, not 12. "I don't know why a tax collector needs more than the leader of the free world," said Tomboulides, referring to the two-term term limit for the president of the United States. Among elected officials with term limits of eight years in Florida are the governor, other statewide elected officials, members of the Florida Senate and House, and members of school boards. The Florida Legislature approved the eight-year limit for school board members last year. Brevard commissioners are limited to two terms. Only 11 counties in Florida have commission term limits. Pritchett and Commissioner John Tobia are in their eighth year on the County Commission, so they cannot seek reelection in November. Tobia instead is running for Brevard County supervisor of elections in a Republican primary against the current office-holder, Tim Bobanic. Pritchett has not indicated that she will seek another office. The Florida Legislature is considering a bill to put eight-year term limits on county commissions in all 67 Florida counties. The bill provides for a voter referendum in three counties with 12-year limits to see if voters want to reduce the limit to eight. However, Tomboulides said, term limits are rare in Florida for the countywide offices like sheriff and property appraiser. Brevard County Property Appraiser Dana Blickley and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey are completing their third four-year terms, but those terms would not count toward Pritchett's proposed limits, since their elections were in 2012, 2016 and 2020. Both Blickley and Ivey are seeking reelection this year. Lisa Cullen, who serves as the Brevard County tax collector, was first elected in 2008, and has been reelected three times since in unopposed elections, said she would oppose a term limits for public officials like herself, saying that the job of a constitutional officer is substantively different from that of someone who creates policy, like a county commissioner. "If you look at the five officers, we have either worked in our profession throughout our careers or directly in our offices," Cullen said. "I have been with the tax collector's office for 40 years. That background is invaluable when it comes to the work we do." To her, the job requires an administrator who is a subject-matter expert related to the work of the office, rather than a politician. "I don't think any of our commissioners really understand the full extent of any of what we do," she added. Bobanic said he could not comment on the proposal, because, as supervisor of elections, he did not want to create the appearance that he was trying to influence voters related to something that could be on the ballot in November. Tyler Vazquez is the North Brevard and Brevard County government watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54 This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Voters could decide term limits proposed Brevard constitutional officers A car carrying Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves a police hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 18, 2024. Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, six months after his return to the country from self-exile. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) BANGKOK, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, six months after his return to the country from self-exile. Xinhua reporters observed that a car carrying Thaksin left a police hospital in Bangkok at 6:06 a.m. local time (2306 GMT) on Sunday, where he received medical treatment and served six months of his one-year prison sentence. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin previously said that the release on parole of Thaksin was in line with the law. According to the country's Justice Ministry, the 74-year-old former prime minister is among the 930 inmates approved for parole this month. He is eligible for parole as he is over 70 years old and suffers from a serious illness. Thaksin ended his exile of over 15 years and returned to Thailand in August last year, but was soon detained and faced an eight-year prison sentence on several charges. However, shortly after his return, he was transferred from a Bangkok prison to a hospital due to health concerns. Last September, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced Thaksin's eight-year prison sentence 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. A car carrying Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves a police hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 18, 2024. Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, six months after his return to the country from self-exile. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) The love of lemons in Italy has gone back as far as ancient Roman times, which is why recent harvest estimates have left a sour taste in peoples mouths. What is happening? Global food sourcing and data hub Tridge reported in Sept. 2023 that adverse weather conditions raised concerns about the upcoming 2023/24 harvest. Italys lemon yield is expected to drop by 25% to 30% compared to the previous season. The drastic drop in production is due to extreme weather conditions from May to August of 2023. May and June saw an abnormal amount of heavy rain and high humidity, while temperatures soared in July and August. The adverse conditions impacted flowering and fruit sets at the beginning of the growing season, and extreme heat in the summer slowed the swelling of the lemons and increased premature fruit drop and sunburn percentages, per Tridge. Why is the extreme weather so concerning? Lemons are a significant part of Italian culture. For centuries, lemons have been used in soaps and lotions, food and drinks, and depicted on home decor and in art, which is why this news is so unsettling. Extreme weather on the European peninsula is becoming more and more common. The Local Italy news site reports that 2023 was the third hottest year in the past 200 years, making the top seven hottest years all from the past decade. Its not just Italy, extreme weather events are increasing around the globe, impacting crops, wildlife, and human health. The extreme weather is directly related to the overheating of our planet, primarily caused by the burning of dirty energy sources like coal, oil, and gas. Toxic gases like carbon dioxide and methane act like a blanket wrapped around Earth, resulting in increased wildfires, heat waves, intense hurricanes, flooding, and drought. What can we do to cool down Earth? Its not all sour news, though. We can make a difference. Reducing our pollution is vital, and we can achieve that in a plethora of ways. From something as big as making your next car an EV or investing in solar panels to small choices like unplugging energy vampires or getting yourself a reusable water bottle instead of buying single-use plastic bottles, every little bit helps. We can all take steps every day to limit our impact on the environment. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Putin has referenced the UK several times in recent years, with reports of threats against the west. (AP) Russia has reportedly threatened to unleash its "entire arsenal" on London if it loses the war in Ukraine, also threatening to launch nuclear weapons at the US and Germany. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who is a close ally of Vladimir Putin, reportedly warned of "total war" if Russia was forced to return to its 1991 borders established at the collapse of the Soviet Union. He is said to have written on Telegram that attempts to return Russia to the "borders of 1991" would "only lead to one thing", adding: "Towards a global war with Western countries using the entire strategic arsenal of our state. In Kyiv, Berlin, London, Washington." The latest threat is not the first time the UK has been referred to by Putin, or Russia, with several reports of threats against the west in recent years. The escalating situation involving Russia - which most recently saw the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny - saw the UK government last month warn of a more than one in four chance that Russia will attack another British ally within the next two years. A National Risk Register, which analyses the biggest threats facing the UK over the next two years, ranked the likelihood of a Russian attack on a non-Nato ally, with which Britain has a mutual security pact, at more than 25%. Yahoo News UK looks at some of the key times Russia has referenced the UK or suggested an attack on the west in recent years. Recommended reading February 2024 In a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson, Putin blamed Boris Johnson for the war in Ukraine, accusing him of encouraging ongoing fighting. The Russian president said: "It's very sad to me... we could have stopped these hostilities with war a year and a half ago already." During the interview, he said: "Prime Minister Johnson came to talk us out of it and we missed that chance. Well, you missed it". He added: "The fact that they obey the demand or persuasion of Mr Johnson, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, seems ridiculous. Where is Mr Johnson now? And the war continues." Putin has hit out at the West for helping Ukraine. (Getty) September 2023 Putin delivered a long rant over Western help to Ukraine, threatening Rishi Sunak as he accused the UK of being behind a failed plot on a Russian atomic facility. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he said his countrys forces had apprehended Ukrainian 'saboteurs' planning to damage power lines at the facility, adding that they were instructed by British secret services. He said: "Do [the British] understand what they are playing with, or not? Are they provoking our response at Ukrainian nuclear sites, nuclear stations, or what? Does the British leadership, or the Prime Minister [of the United Kingdom. Rishi Sunak] know what their special services are engaged with in Ukraine?" May 2023 The UK was threatened with a "military response" by Russia after pledging to send long-range missiles to Ukraine. Following the announcement by defence secretary Ben Wallace that Storm Shadow missiles would be provided to Ukraine's military, Moscow said the move would require an "adequate response from our military". Boris Johnson said Putin threatened him in a phone call weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Getty) January 2023 Boris Johnson said Putin threatened him with a missile strike in an "extraordinary" phone call in February 2022, just weeks before the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying the Russian president told him it "would only take a minute". Johnson told the BBC that he warned Putin that invading Ukraine would lead to Western sanctions and more Nato troops on Russia's borders, and also tried to deter him by saying Ukraine would not join Nato "for the foreseeable future". The former PM said: "He threatened me at one point, and he said, 'Boris, I don't want to hurt you but, with a missile, it would only take a minute' or something like that. Jolly. But I think from the very relaxed tone that he was taking, the sort of air of detachment that he seemed to have, he was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate." The Kremlin denied the comments, calling them either a "deliberate falsehood" or a misunderstanding by Johnson. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) on Saturday called on Michigan residents to vote uncommitted in the upcoming Democratic primary. Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, mentioned her dissatisfaction with the way the Biden administration is playing a part in the Israel-Hamas war as the reason she is urging Dearborn, Mich., Democrats to vote uncommitted in the Feb. 27 primary instead of backing Biden. If you want us to be louder, then come here and vote uncommitted, Tlaib said in a video posted by the Listen to Michigan campaign on Saturday. The group hopes to pressure the administration into reshaping its approach to the war in Gaza. Tlaib is one of the groups most prominent backers. This is the way you can raise our voices, to make us even more visible, Tlaib said. Right now, we feel completely neglected neglected and just unseen by our government. Tlaib joins progressive activists in Michigan who have been critical of Biden and his approach to foreign policy. Tlaib has called for a cease-fire in Gaza and has been critical of the administration since the war started in October. She was censured in November for her criticism of Israel and the use of the phrase from the river to the sea, which has been condemned by Jewish groups as antisemitic. Muslim and Arab American activists leading the effort in the Listen to Michigan campaign want to show the Biden campaign that their lack of support for the president in the upcoming election could cost him the state that he won by three points in 2020. Michigan is expected to be a battleground in November. Something that is a bullhorn to say enough is enough, Tlaib said. We dont want a country that supports wars and bombs and destruction. We want to support life. We want to stand up for every single life killed in Gaza. Top White House officials traveled to Michigan this month to speak with community leaders in Michigan amid their anger at the way the administration has handled the ongoing war. Earlier in February, Biden went to Michigan himself, but the intention was to meet with autoworkers and Black community leaders, right before he secured the endorsement of United Auto Workers (UAW). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. I traveled to Greece with three of my best friends to see Athens , Santorini, Mykonos, and Naxos. Our Airbnb host gave us the best local food and activity recommendations. Next time, we'd avoid renting a car two flat tires were enough to scar us for life. Following our college graduation last May, three of my best friends and I traveled to Greece for eight days. We flew to Athens and took a ferry between Mykonos, Santorini, and Naxos. Although there were many highlights, there are also things we'd do differently next time. I'm glad we went to Santorini. Jordana Comiter A daytime boat ride had swimming opportunities and the best views. We weren't sure when to do the boat ride, but swimming was a great daytime perk. Jordana Comiter We were torn between morning and sunset when deciding when to book a boat ride. I was grateful that we took the daytime cruise because it allowed us to see the island in broad daylight and swim while it was still nice and sunny. Befriending our Airbnb host was key. Antonis ended up giving up so many winning recommendations. Jordana Comiter I'll admit it, when our Airbnb host wouldn't stop messaging me in the days leading up to Santorini, I thought it was a red flag. But befriending our host, Antonis, was the best thing we could've done. As four girls who always wait until the last minute to plan, having someone point us in the direction of the best boat tours, wine tastings, and restaurants was a big advantage. Trusting local food recommendations led to delicious meals. Antonis showed us his favorite place to get lunch on the island. Jordana Comiter Our favorite meal of the entire trip was when we took Antonis to his favorite lunch spot and gave him full ordering responsibility. Had we been alone, we probably would've ordered the basics, but he encouraged us to try new foods and gave us the local experience. One of the best things Antonis introduced us to was a traditional dessert made from Greek yogurt and mastic (dried tree resin). We've been on the hunt for it in the US ever since. Greece has underrated wine tastings. I didn't originally think to go wine tasting in Greece. Jordana Comiter We didn't plan on going wine tasting in Greece, but when Antonis insisted we do it, we couldn't resist. It gave us a unique view of the vineyards that we didn't even know were right in our Airbnb's backyard. And after a few jam-packed days, this was the perfect activity to pause and take it all in. Roaming around led to us discovering some hidden gems, too. I loved following the winding roads in Naxos. Jordana Comiter We set aside a day to explore Naxos with no itinerary, and we got to take our time shopping in markets, sitting by the ocean, and discovering new food spots. It was nice to be spontaneous and stumble upon hidden gems that day instead of stressing about making it to another activity on time. Next time, we won't rent a car. We got two flat tires during our trip. Jordana Comiter We thought we were being smart by renting a car to explore Naxos, but it turned out to be the biggest mistake of the trip. Our GPS service wasn't always great, and it often took us down smaller roads full of sharp rocks. We ended up with not one but two flat tires. When we returned the car, we split the bill for the tire repair. But as we were boarding the ferry to leave the island, the owners came down on their motorcycle demanding more money for more damages. There went our budget and our dignity. I wish we'd packed some reusable water bottles. It was hot during the day, especially if we were walking around. Jordana Comiter Athens was extremely hot in the middle of May, and walking around the Acropolis was a challenging feat. We had to take many breaks, and I think I nearly passed out from dehydration. Plastic water bottles were expensive, so it would've been nice if we'd packed our own to fill up. The popular Mykonos beach clubs weren't worth it. Mykonos is known for its beach clubs. Jordana Comiter We felt pressure to go to a beach club in Mykonos because it's famously a party island. But the club wasn't worth it for us. We went in the daytime, only to find out the real party starts at night. Our entrance fee included access to a daybed but not food and beverages, which added up quickly. The following day, we went to a public beach, paid a fraction of the price for lounge chairs, and enjoyed ourselves just as much. I wish we'd taken the accommodation reviews more seriously. We had to walk up and down the hill in front of our Airbnb in Mykonos. Jordana Comiter When booking our Airbnb in Mykonos, we saw a few comments about it being a bit of a walk to get to. As young, relatively in-shape people, we ignored the warnings. But our accommodation was right on top of a massive hill and walking home (often in dresses and sandals) wasn't ideal. It would've been better to splurge on nicer ferry rides. All of our ferries were crowded. Jordana Comiter We optimized our time by booking early ferry rides on travel days. But the ferries were crowded, so I wish we paid a little more to upgrade to bigger, more nap-friendly seats. Read the original article on Business Insider LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Chocolate lovers in Lansing were in luck this Saturday. People came to Old Town to take a walk a Chocolate Walk, that is. People buy their tickets, they get their box, and they go around to all these 22 stores this year. And pick up their chocolates, said Samantha Benson, Executive Director of the Old Town Commercial Association. Each participant in the Chocolate Walk had a map showing all the stores with free chocolate. And just see the inside of the stores, and go shopping, Benson went on to say. And just have a good day in Old Town. Benson said its a great way to show people what Old Town has to offer. Essentially, its Trick-or-Treating for adults, in February, which is super fun, she said. And people were busy making sure to go to all 22 stores that were involved. Because, who doesnt love chocolate, especially when its free. Tickets were sold out for the Old Town Chocolate Walk on Feb. 17. (WLNS) So far, so good, said Jennifer Kukla. Weve gotten coffee, hit a couple of stores. Everybody has been really friendly and nice. And the stores are really great down here. Kukla said the Chocolate Walk is a great event to attend soon after Valentines Day. And you just cant beat free chocolate, she added. We always love doing something for Valentines Day, and being close to home, so romantic, Kukla said. All the stores, shopping. It was a great day for it. Not only does the event get the community members outside during the colder monthsbut it also brings more business to local shops, like Cravings Gourmet Popcorn, whose owner said the store has been bustling. I think it brings fresh faces to Old Town, said Cravings owner Chad Jordan. But if youre a fan of Old Town, you already know, and so this just gives you an opportunity, with fresh eyes, to see the whole neighborhood. After the holidays, business can get slow. But this 10-year-running event brought some momentum during what can be a tough time for the local stores. If we can create an event that everybody loves, and its fun, Jordan said. People get some enjoyment out of it. We all need some happiness in our lives. The event sold out all of its tickets. Organizers say all proceeds will go back into the community. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. BANGKOK, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, six months after his return to the country from self-exile. Xinhua reporters observed that a car carrying Thaksin leaving a police hospital in Bangkok at 6:06 a.m. local time on Sunday, where he received medical treatment and served six months of his one-year prison sentence. According to the country's Justice Ministry, the 74-year-old former prime minister is among the 930 inmates approved for parole this month. He is eligible for parole as he is over 70 years old and suffers from a serious illness. Truck drivers who support former president Donald Trump have voiced that they wont be driving to New York City to underscore their disappointment with the civil fraud judgment that fined Mr Trump more than $350m. On 16 February, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Mr Trump, his two sons, Trump Organization associates and Trump properties were liable for tens of millions of dollars. While Mr Trump and his companies and his trust were ordered to pay over $350m plus interest, his sons were also ordered to pay roughly $4m. Many truck drivers across the country have seemingly taken issue with the ruling. A man known online as Chicago Ray posted a video on X following the decision: Ive been on the radio talking to drivers for about the past hour and Ive talked to about 10 drivers He added that truckers are going to stop refusing loads starting on Monday. I dont know how far across the country this is or how many truckers are going to start denying loads going to New York City, but Ill tell you what you f*** around and find out, he said. Were tired of you f***ing leftists f***ing with Trump, he continued, while wearing a Trump-branded cap. Our bosses aint going to care if we deny the loads. Well just go somewhere else, alright? You know how f***ing hard it is to get into New York City in one of these [vehicles]? Truckers out for Trump, he said, before reciting one of Mr Trumps lines, calling the ruling election interference. The video seemed to gain some traction. As of Sunday morning, the phrase Boycott NYC was trending on X, with more than 13,000 posts mentioning the term. Its unclear whether the boycott will actually manifest. But Chicago Ray isnt the only one who has voiced opposition to the civil fraud ruling. Elena Cardone, the wife of wealthy real estate investor Grant Cardone, created a GoFundMe page called Stand with Trump; Fund the $355M Unjust Judgment. Her husband explained on X that 100% of funds will be forwarded to Trump Org for his defense of this ridiculous judgement. On the page, she wrote: I stand unwaveringly with President Donald Trump in the face of what I see as unprecedented and unfair treatment by certain judicial elements in New York. Since Ms Cardone launched the fundraiser, it has already raked in over $240,000. The strong reaction to the civil fraud judgment could serve as a bellwether of how America will respond to the outcomes of the now-ongoing court cases that Mr Trump is facing in federal and state courts. WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) Former President Donald Trump railed against the judge who slapped him with a $355 million fine in his New York civil fraud trial and went after the long list of prosecutors with cases against him as he campaigned in Michigan Saturday night while facing penalties that, with interest, could exceed half-a-billion dollars. Trump was making his pitch in a state that is expected to be critical in November as he pivots toward a likely general election rematch against President Joe Biden. While Biden narrowly beat Trump here in 2020, the president is facing deep skepticism in the state, especially from Arab-American voters angry over his support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas war as the Palestinian death toll has climbed. Trump, meanwhile, has been working to appeal to the blue-collar and union voters who were critical to his victory in 2016. On Saturday, he again made his pitch to auto workers, railing against electric vehicle mandates that he argues will ultimately lead to lost jobs and touted tariffs he put in place. We have to let them know a freight train is coming in November, Trump told more than 2,000 supporters gathered in a freezing plane hangar in Waterford Township, in the suburbs of Detroit. But Trump was again most focused on his grievances, opening with a 15-minute screed about the criminal and civil cases against him. On Friday, a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay $355 million after concluding he had lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements. Trump has vowed to appeal. That penalty came days after Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. With interest payments, Trumps legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars an amount it is unclear whether or not Trump can afford to pay. Trump cast Fridays decision as a lawless and unconstitutional atrocity that sets fire to our laws like no one has ever seen in this country before. He called the judge in the case, Arthur Engoron, crooked, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, a lunatic. He called special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against him an animal, while mocking the pronunciation of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis name. Trump has succeeded in the GOP primary by casting the charges which include state and federal criminal indictments across four separate jurisdictions as part of a coordinated effort by Biden and other Democrats to damage his electoral prosects. He has also repeatedly cast them as an attack on his supporters. These repulsive abuses of power are not just an attack on me, theyre really an attack on you and all Americans, Trump said Saturday. Were all in this mess together! But its unclear whether those appeals will work in a general election, particularly among suburban voters in key swing-state metro areas in places like Oakland County, where Trump was speaking Saturday. An affluent Detroit suburb and the states second-largest county, Oakland County was once a GOP stronghold, but has trended more Democratic in recent elections, in part due to women voters. Trump lost the county to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020, both times by eight percentage points. While Michigan will hold its primary next after South Carolina, only 16 out of 55 Republican presidential delegates will be determined by the Feb. 27 vote. The remaining 39 will be distributed by precinct delegates at a Michigan GOP state convention on March 2. Trumps visit came as the states GOP has been in turmoil, amid competing claims on the chairmanship and financial crisis. Trump waded carefully into the chaos by offering a shoutout to the newly elected state GOP Chairman Pete Hoekstra, a former longtime U.S. House member and Trump loyalist who served as Trumps ambassador to the Netherlands. Hoekstra was elected after then-Chair Kristina Karamo was ousted after racking up hundreds of thousands in debt. A great congressman, and a great ambassador, Trump said. A lone man in the crowd still loyal to Karamo, who has said she wont cede the position, booed and called Hoekstra a RINO. The term is intended as an insult and an acronym for Republican In Name Only. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Trump receives mixed reception as he launches $400 gold sneakers day after $355 million court ruling Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at "Sneaker Con" in Philadelphia on Saturday. The former president took the stage to launch a new line of $400 gold high-top sneakers. On Friday, a New York judge ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties. Former President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at "Sneaker Con" in Philadelphia on Saturday. Trump took to the stage at the event, which describes itself as "the greatest sneaker show on Earth," to launch a new line of $399 gold high-top sneakers. The shiny gold "Never Surrender High-Tops" features an American flag on the back and a capital "T" on the side. They are available on a website selling Trump cologne and other Trump-branded shoes. The site says that only 1,000 pairs of the high-top sneakers will be made. The website says it "is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign." The "Never Surrender High-Tops." AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta But the younger, more diverse crowd met Trump with a distinctly mixed reaction as he introduced the shoes, with both boos and cheers ringing out around the Philadelphia Convention Center. The distinct odor of weed wafted through the room on occasion as the former president launched into his sales pitch, The Associated Press reported. "Wow," Trump said to the audience. "There's a lot of emotion in this room." "This is something that I've been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. And I think it's going to be a big success," he continued, AP reported. Trump getting booed at Sneaker Con while trying to sell Trump Shoes for $399.00. pic.twitter.com/ieMjb7FCVp Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 17, 2024 The move came just a day after a New York judge ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties after finding he had committed fraud and manipulated his net worth. In the verdict, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron criticized Trump and other defendants: "Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological." The ruling could be a catastrophic blow to Trump's finances as he seeks reelection to the White House. Trump claimed last year that he had more than $400 million in cash at his disposal. But that money could be in danger of running out, considering Trump is facing the $355 million civil-fraud case ruling, interest, and a further $83.3 million penalty that a federal jury ordered he must pay E. Jean Carroll for defamation. Read the original article on Business Insider Former President Donald Trump traveled over the weekend to Pennsylvania, where he was greeted at Sneaker Con with mixed and emotional reactions from those in attendance. Trump's surprise appearance at the event known as "The Greatest Sneaker Show On Earth," according to the organizer's website came shortly before the former president travels to Michigan for a campaign rally. Taking the stage at the event in Philadelphia, Trump appeared before a crowd of emotional attendees, some of whom cheered on the president as others booed him during his speech. Trump spoke for roughly 10 minutes, appearing alongside a pair of gold, custom Trump-branded sneakers that are now being sold in limited supply for $399 a pair. TRUMP BLASTS 'CLUBHOUSE POLITICIAN' JUDGE AFTER BEING FINED $350M, DEFENDS THE 'GREAT COMPANY' HE BUILT Former President Donald Trump holds a pair of Trump signature shoes after taking the stage at Sneaker Con at the Philadelphia Convention Center on February 17, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "A lot of emotion. There's a lot of emotion in this room," Trump said shortly after taking the podium. "They have lines going all around the block. They've never seen anything like this one." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I just want to tell you, you know, I've wanted to do this for a long time. I have some incredible people that work with me on things and they came up with this," Trump continued. "This is something I've been talking about for 12 years, 13 years and I think it's going to be a big success." Trump also noted that the "influencers" have been "very positive" about the new shoes, which are available for pre-order and are being created by CIC Ventures, the same company that made the Trump trading cards. "They love it, and they love what we've done," Trump said as he flashed the shoes to those in the audience. "That's the real deal." BIDEN ADMIN BRACES FOR POSSIBLE TRUMP WIN, INSTALLS 'ROADBLOCKS' TO STOP HIM FROM RESHAPING GOVERNMENT: REPORT Trump takes the stage to introduce a new line of signature shoes at Sneaker Con at the Philadelphia Convention Center on February 17, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Trump told those in the audience that the most important thing they can do is vote and vowed to "turn this country around fast." At one point, several of those in the crowd began chanting, "USA, USA, USA." Prior to Trump's appearance at the annual event, which gathers "sneakerheads" from all different corners of the world and has been taking place since 2009, Sneaker Con faced backlash from Trump critics for allowing the former president a venue to offer remarks. Sneaker Con later addressed the backlash it had received through a statement shared on social media. Notably, organizers turned off the comments for the post on social media. "Sneaker Cons mission is to support and promote sneaker culture through our worldwide live events and digital platforms. We are thankful and appreciative of the sneaker community, and recognize individuals who generate awareness and authentic sneaker related engagement towards our community. #sneakercon," the statement read. Former President Donald Trump autographs a shoe during an event at Sneaker Con at the Philadelphia Convention Center on February 17, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. President Biden's campaign mocked Trump's attendance at the event. "Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg Off-Whites is the closest hell get to any Air Force Ones ever again for the rest of his life," said Biden-Harris 2024 communications director Michael Tyler in a statement. Trump's appearance in the battleground state of Pennsylvania comes one day after he was barred from operating his business in New York for three years and was found liable for more than $350 million in damages in the civil fraud case brought against him, his family and the Trump Organization by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Original article source: Trump sparks emotional reactions from crowd in surprise visit to sneaker convention Mrs. Annie Louise Potts Robinson, a dedicated and phenomenal educator, peacefully took flight from her earthly life bound for her eternal home at the age of I03 on Jan. 1, 2024, at the Gastonia Health and Rehab Center in Gastonia. She was born Aug. 21, 1920, in Winston-Salem, to James L. Potts, Sr. and Annie Mae Carter Potts. For 12 years, she was an only child until her brother, James L. Potts Jr., was born. A celebration of life service was held on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at St. Stephens AME. Zion Church in Gastonia officiated by Rev. Dr. Carolyn Dewberry. As Mrs. Robinson first-grade student, I am humbled and honored to reflect on the life and legacy of a woman who was a self-motivating intellectual who embodied unwavering faith, never accepted defeat of her dreams and legacy. As an education titan, Mrs. Robinson completed high school at the age of 14 in the public school system in her hometown of Winston-Salem. She earned and received her B.S Degree in Education from Winston Salem Teachers College (now Winston-Salem State University). After teaching 2 years in Bladenboro, N.C., she received her M.A Degree in Education from Penn State University in Pennsylvania. In 1942, Mrs. Robinson came to Gastonia for an interview with Thebaud Jeffers, the principal of Highland High and Highland Elementary Schools. She was hired to teach at Highland Elementary where she remained for 25 years. During this time, she met and married her co-worker, Jefferson Trof Robinson, who taught English and he was an assistant principal. He passed on to eternal life in 1994 after 47 years of marriage. Mrs. Robinson also taught at Grier Elementary (now Grier Middle School) and Sherwood Elementary expanding her teaching career to 39 years. After her retirement, she enjoyed cruises and traveling with her husband and friends throughout 43 states in the United States. As a spiritual woman, Mrs. Robinson was blessed and her life has spanned 10 decades plus 3 years and serves as an inspiration as to what God can do in our lives when we accept His will and not our own way. She was a dedicated life-long member of Saint Stephens A.M.E. Zion Church where she served on various boards, the education department and choirs. As for community service, she served as a member and officer of the Gaston County Organization for Community Concerns, and she was a 60-year plus member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and served as president of the local chapter from 1981-1983, chaired numerous committees, and she was a delegate to regional and national conventions. She was instrumental in establishing the Delta House, a beacon in the community that presented cultural activities for youth. She often shared her artwork and beautiful handwritten letters and notes uplifting the spirit of so many families and friends. She was always grateful and thankful to her goddaughter, Joyce Fisher, for being her leaning post overseeing her healthcare and affairs. Mrs. Robinson embraced life, empowered her students and her legacy will continue improving the quality of life for humanity. Throughout her life she imparted nuggets of wisdom and her labor of love for her students and friends has not been in vain. She was and still is a guiding light that shines bright like a diamond, and her desire to give back, motivate, uplift, inspire and to aspire a positive change in our schools and communities will forever be noted. Vicky Clinton is a local evangelist. This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: YOUR TURN: Honoring the life and legacy of Annie Louise Potts Robinson House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) claimed Sunday that the verdict in former President Trumps New York civil fraud case is a threat to all businesses after the former president and real estate mogul was ordered to pay millions after being found liable for fraud. A judge ordered Trump on Friday to pay nearly $355 million in a case involving the conduct of his business empire, in which he was found liable for inflating the value of his properties to secure better terms on financial loans. Turner blasted the verdict on NBCs Meet the Press, saying that it would threaten all businesses if the case stands after planned appeals. Actually, I dont trust this court decision. You know, being a practicing lawyer in commercial transactions, I think the whole premise of the case, which all legal analysts have said is unusual, is not really justifiable, Turner said. Well have to see ultimately how the appeals run in this case. But I think if this case stands, its going to be a threat to really just all businesses, including those who are currently operating in New York. Trumps legal team has already said they will appeal the decision. When NBCs Kristen Welker pressed Turner on whether the recent penalty will undercut Trumps trustworthiness as a leader, Turner dismissed the question. You know, all of those issues were taken into consideration as the as the country elected him to president last time. And his record as president is what we really need to look at. Our country was stronger. Our economy was stronger. And and I think our border certainly being secured is probably the most important issue that Americans are going to look at, he said. The 8 million people who have gone across the border during the Biden administration is absolutely an invasion. This is something that President Trump had addressed. And the fact that President Biden reversed by executive orders that those issues that had been put in place to protect our country are going to be important to voters, he added. Trump railed against Judge Arthur Engoron, who issued the penalty, during his rally in Michigan on Saturday, his first public remarks on the matter. Our court system is a mess, he told supporters at a rally in Waterford Township, Mich., on Saturday night. Whats happening in our country, they have to straighten it out. All you see is bitterness and revenge and hatred. Judge Engoron just fined me $355 million for doing everything right. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Police are investing the deaths of two officers and a firefighter after they responded to a domestic incident in suburban Minneapolis Sunday. Image by Simaah from Pixabay Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Two police officers and a paramedic-firefighter were killed and additional officers were wounded Sunday after they responded to a domestic incident in Burnsville, Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz said. Officials reported late Sunday that the paramedic was killed while trying to administer first aid to the police officers who had been shot. "Horrific news from Burnsville. While responding to a call of a family in danger, two police officers and one firefighter lost their lives, and other officers were injured," Walz said in a social media post. "We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville," Walz wrote. The governor added that flags would be flown at half-staff across the state Monday and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is "coordinating with local law enforcement to conduct an investigation." Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene after reports of local police officers involved in a "domestic-related shooting," the agency said earlier. There "is an active scene," Burnsville Communications and Community Engagement Director Carissa Larsen told CNN on Sunday morning "Please keep Burnsville Police Dept in your prayers this morning," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said online. Burnsville is about 15 miles south of Minneapolis. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement that she and her husband are praying for the officers. "They were doing their jobs," Klobuchar wrote on the social media platform X. "They were protecting our community. John and I are praying for them and their families and the Burnsville P.D. this morning." Local news media showed a large police presence in the area and officials continue to investigate. When he announced his campaign for attorney general in October, it didnt take long for much of the Democratic Party establishment to rally around Jeff Jackson. The first-term congressman had only been serving in the U.S. House for 10 months, but in that brief amount of time, Jackson emerged as one of the most visible new members of Congress. On nearly every platform out there, Jackson amassed a significant social media following. And he developed a national profile for his outreach to constituents, and the strong response it was eliciting. Endorsements from several prominent Democrats including every Democratic member of North Carolinas congressional delegation and many members of the state House and Senate started to roll in. Jackson quickly raised a lot of money as well, ending last year with a sizable advantage over the opponent hell face in November if he wins the primary, U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, the outspoken member of the House Freedom Caucus who quickly secured the backing of GOP leaders after announcing his campaign in August. But Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry, Jacksons main opponent in the Democratic primary, has predicated her campaign on the idea that fundraising and social media prowess doesnt necessarily translate into support from voters, and that grassroots support can overcome those advantages. Jacksons savvy use of social media has helped enhance his name recognition and reach across the state, but he says the response also shows that voters want more straightforward, direct communication from politicians. I agree that trust in our political leadership probably has never been lower, Jackson told The News & Observer. My sense is that you cant respond to that by telling people that theyre wrong, you have to respond with a higher level of transparency. It can be as simple as saying, heres what I did today, heres what Im going to do tomorrow. To a whole lot of people, nothing I say will matter until I can address their lack of trust, so I better address that first, he said. And the way I believe in doing that is by reaching people directly. Not many people want to hear from a political party, they want to hear from a person. So, my thinking is to be a person who speaks directly to them with respect. And over time, youll earn that respect back. State Sen. Jeff Jackson greets his supporters at Lenny Boy Brewing Co. in Charlotte on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. We have won. Jackson declares victory in 14th Congressional District Khadejeh Nikouyeh/knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com Jacksons main opponent, Satana Deberry, says system is rigged Deberry, who won a second term as Durham district attorney in 2022, isnt fazed by Jacksons considerable edge in fundraising or name recognition. First elected in 2018, Deberry previously worked as general counsel for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, and served as executive director of the N.C. Housing Coalition, a nonprofit. Deberry says her wide-ranging experience as an attorney, and most recently as a prosecutor, makes her the most qualified candidate on either side of the aisle. Over the course of her career, Deberry says, shes also demonstrated the political courage she says the next attorney general will need, with Republicans potentially maintaining or expanding supermajorities in the General Assembly. The proposition was never that I was going to raise as much money as a sitting congressman in a primary, Deberry said in an interview. This system is rigged, and it is certainly rigged towards people who have been running all their lives. I dont have a victory fund; I dont have any of that. Deberry says what she does have is everything she needs: an outstanding education and an unbelievable career, and a great story. And the actual ability and experience to help North Carolinians. Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry Another candidate, attorney and Marine Corps veteran Tim Dunn of Fayetteville, launched his campaign in April. Dunn, who primarily represents juveniles and members of the military community, has run unsuccessfully for Congress twice. Jackson, Deberry, and Dunn mention some of the same things when asked what issues are most important to the voters they meet on the campaign trail. One of those issues is how common scams, robocalls, and fraud have become. Many people also bring up the high cost of health care, Deberry says, and especially in rural parts of the state, fears about hospitals closing, or the drive to go and see a doctor or a specialist becoming longer and longer. Other top issues Jackson mentions are the number of horror stories hes heard about drug overdoses, particularly those involving fentanyl and methamphetamine, and concerns about gerrymandering in the redistricting process. With GOP lawmakers enacting a stricter abortion law in May barring the procedure after 12 weeks, abortion rights remain a key issue for Democrats as well. Deberry has emphasized protecting access to abortion would be a top priority for her. Demonstrators hold signs outside the legislature auditorium where a House Rules meeting was underway, May 3, 2023 at the Legislative Building. Republican state lawmakers announced their plan to limit abortion rights across the state. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com One of the top abortion rights advocacy groups in the state, however, has endorsed Jackson. In announcing its slate of endorsements on Wednesday, Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic said it was backing proven leaders who we are confident will protect the fundamental freedoms of North Carolinians while in office. We endorsed Congressman Jeff Jackson based on his voting record and prior leadership to protect reproductive freedom, the groups executive director, Alison Kiser, told The N&O. The attorney general is our last line of defense when it comes to protecting abortion access in North Carolina, and we need a strong champion to win this election and defend our rights. Jackson has been endorsed by other major organizations as well, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the N.C. AFL-CIO, and the N.C. Association of Educators. In addition to the six other Democrats currently in Congress, Jackson also has endorsements from more than half of the sitting Democrats in the state Senate, and more than a dozen House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Robert Reives. Deberry has received endorsements from, among others, state Sen. Graig Meyer, state Rep. Kelly Alexander, former Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils, the N.C. Democratic Partys Progressive Caucus, the Young Democrats of North Carolina, Lillians List another major abortion rights group in the state and two highly influential political groups in Durham, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and the Peoples Alliance PAC. Deberry and Jackson make their case for who can win Meyer, who has known Deberry for nearly 20 years and is one of her strongest supporters, says the difference between Jackson and Deberry is that he is an amazing political communicator and has a well established political machine, but she is an amazing attorney, and has a careers worth of experience as one. When it comes to serving as the states top law enforcement official, Meyer said in an interview, its more important to have a bold vision and experience that is extensive, rather than fit an idea some people may have for who is electable. Jeff is a great communicator from the middle, but he doesnt take strong stances on our core issues, and he doesnt have deep relationships with many of our core constituencies, Meyer told The N&O. And the last year that hes been in Congress, where hes had phenomenal success with his videos and messaging, I dont think hes ever said hes a Democrat once. And if youre running away from our brand, youre damaging our brand. We need leaders to help us convince people to vote for Democrats, because were in a world where people are highly polarized, and the Democratic brand is more important than who you are as an individual candidate, Meyer said. Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry speaks with supporters in Wilmington, N.C. on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Deberry is running in the Democratic primary for attorney general. Courtesy of Satana Deberry campaign Deberry has also argued that as a Black, queer woman who grew up in small-town North Carolina, and has had electoral success in Durham, shell be able to engage more African Americans, more women, more young people, more LGBTQ+ people, and more infrequent voters. And if Democrats seek higher turnout among those constituencies, theyll have to give them something to vote for, not just against, Deberry said. Theyre not going to vote for Trump, but they might not come at all, Deberry said of African American voters shes spoken to while campaigning. And a top of the ballot that is Joe Biden, Josh Stein, and Jeff Jackson is not appealing to them. Thats three white guys in a blue shirt. Meyer points to the success Democrats had in Pennsylvania in 2022 as a model for what could work well in North Carolina. Josh Shapiro, who won the governors race, was more of a centrist, Meyer said, while John Fetterman, who won the U.S. Senate race, was running as a progressive, although he claims not to now, but at the very least, he was running in a bold way. That showed voters that Democrats arent as narrow as what Republicans say they are, Democrats are actually a bunch of interesting things, Meyer said. Jackson pushed back on the notion that his campaign wouldnt energize the same constituencies Deberry said she would connect with better, citing his endorsements as evidence of the diverse coalition supporting his campaign. I think it would be a major risk nominating someone whos never beaten a Republican, Jackson said. Dan Bishop will be the most well-funded Republican candidate for attorney general in the history of our state. Im the only one in this primary who has the experience of winning tough races. I think that weve got broader support in this primary, I think were in a stronger position to compete, win, and lead the way people deserve. Jackson also said that in addition to making himself accessible as a candidate through TikToks and Substack newsletters, voters have gotten to know him through the regular events and town halls hes made a priority in the past, and is continuing to do in this campaign, where anyone could come and ask any question they have. N.C. state senator Jeff Jackson, running for U.S. Senate as a democrat, speaks at a town hall gathering at Rock Creek Park in Albemarle, N.C., Thursday, June 17, 2021. NELL REDMOND In 2021, while running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Richard Burr, Jackson held 100 town halls in each county in the state in 100 days. I dont think its a coincidence that the people who criticize me for being transparent and keeping my constituents posted through social media, are the ones who are running against me, Jackson said. I think they realize that the vast majority of our constituents appreciate direct communication, and they probably wish they had that reach. Strategies for the last few weeks of the campaign Early voting began on Thursday, which leaves the candidates with just 20 days until the March 5 primary to connect with voters and get their message out. Deberry said her strategy in the final month of the campaign was to continue running a real grassroots campaign and hold more meet and greets and similar events across the state. Her goal is to hit all of the counties Stein won in 2020, and make further inroads with voters in eastern and southeastern North Carolina. In particular, Deberry is targeting Democrats in those parts of the state who might not have much to vote for on their primary ballots, and probably dont get visits from statewide candidates too often. Jackson said part of his strategy is to continue elevating the issues that are affecting voters right now, and will face the next attorney general, like the fentanyl crisis, organized crime, and scammers using more sophisticated technologies to swindle people. People can go their whole lives and never really stop and think about how the person serving as attorney general can impact them, Jackson said. So, an effective campaign has to be about educating people about the importance of that position. Candidate for NC attorney general, Democrat Jeff Jackson, answers our questions Candidate for NC attorney general, Democrat Satana Deberry, answers our questions Candidate for NC attorney general, Democrat Tim Dunn, answers our questions KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday they had opened an investigation into alleged shootings by Russian forces of six unarmed Ukrainian soldiers in the city of Avdiivka, and two at a village in the same region, after Russia claimed full control of the city. "An investigation into the shootings of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war in Avdiivka and Vesele has been launched," the prosecutor's office in Donetsk region said on its Telegram channel. The prosecutors referred to information about "the execution of six prisoners" at a position in Avdiivka, adding that they were "seriously injured and awaiting evacuation." It said the information had been shared on Telegram but did not name the source. Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne quoted Ukrainian military spokesperson Dmytro Lykhoviy as saying: "There is still no possibility to confirm or refute" the killings at Avdiivka, as an investigation was ongoing. However, he added it would not be the first time Russia had committed war crimes. The Donetsk prosecutor's office said a video fragment taken by a drone showed a Russian soldier shooting two captured Ukrainian soldiers at close range at the village of Vesele. "Not wanting to leave the prisoners alive, the occupier kills them with automatic weapons," the office added, without saying when the incident had occurred. Earlier on Sunday, the official Telegram channel of Ukraine's land forces shared video apparently shot from a drone of people in uniform in a narrow trench. An armed person the post identifies as Russian is seen approaching two uniformed people identified as Ukrainian and then discharging his weapon and apparently shooting them both. The Ukrainians in the footage do not appear to be attempting to defend themselves and are in a narrow trench in single file as the other soldier approaches and appears to grab them both. After initial confrontations, the two injured people are seen collapsing on to their sides in the trench, twitching. The other person is then seen standing back briefly, before appearing to shoot them both again. Russia's defence ministry did not respond to a Reuters email sent outside regular business hours seeking comment on the allegations, the latest in a series of accusations leveled by Ukrainian prosecutors that it has killed prisoners of war. Russia has denied such claims. Reuters could not immediately verify the video or other details of the account by the Ukrainian prosecutors and military. (Reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv and Elaine Monaghan in Washington; Writing by Elaine Monaghan; Editing by David Holmes and Lisa Shumaker) Soldiers of the 1st Presidential Brigade of the Ukraine National Guard fire from the Kreminna Forest at Russian positions on February 17 - Scott Peterson/Getty Images Ukraines army has accused Russian forces of shooting two prisoners of war and posted a grainy video shot from the air that they said showed the incident. In the video, two soldiers labelled as Ukrainians run towards another labelled as Russian in a trench. The Russian soldier then grabs them and shoots numerous times until they stop moving, before turning back. The two men do not appear to have resisted capture. This morning... the Russians once again showed their attitude to international humanitarian law by shooting two Ukrainian prisoners of war, the ground forces wrote on Telegram and said the incident happened in the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia group of troops, which operates on the eastern front. Russia and Ukraine have several times accused each other of violating international humanitarian law by killing prisoners-of-war since Russia invaded. The Telegraph could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video or the location. Follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section 04:56 PM GMT Thats all for today Thank you for following our coverage. The key developments from the day were: The bruised body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been found in a hospital morgue in the Arctic, two days after he died in a nearby prison. Denmarks prime minister announced her country is handing over all of its shells to Ukraine as she urged other European states to provide more weapons. Volodymyr Zelensky invited Donald Trump to tour the front lines as the former US presidents supporters stalled on signing off a vital aid package. Ukraines army accused Russian forces of shooting two prisoners of war and posted a grainy video shot from the air that they said showed the incident. Chinas foreign minister insisted to his Ukrainian counterpart that his country does not sell lethal weapons to Russia for its ongoing war. Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas dismissed a warrant issued by Russia for her arrest, saying it was just an attempt to intimidate her amid speculation she could get a top European Union post. Russian troops have established full control over the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka and have advanced 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in that part of the front line, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing the defence ministry. A prominent rights group says more than 400 people have been detained in Russia while paying tribute to Alexei Navalny. 04:51 PM GMT Denmark handing over all its shells to Ukraine Denmarks prime minister has announced her country is handing over all of its shells to Ukraine as she urged other European states to provide more weapons. We decided to donate our entire artillery, said Mette Frederiksen at the Munich Security Conference, suggesting that other European nations should follow suit. Im sorry to say friends, there is still ammunition in stock in Europe. This is not only a question about production because we have weapons, we have ammunition, we have our defences that we dont have to use at the moment, that we should deliver to Ukraine, she said. We have to do more. Earlier this month, Denmark also said it is reviewing its existing military funding due to the increasing threat of the Kremlin. Russias invasion of Ukraine has rattled nerves throughout the Nordics. Sweden and Finland applied for Nato membership in May 2022, swiftly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. 04:47 PM GMT Navalny's wife to attend EU foreign affairs council on Monday The wife of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony on Friday, will attend the European Union foreign affairs council on Monday, the blocs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday. On Monday, I will welcome Yulia Navalnaya at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. EU Ministers will send a strong message of support to freedom fighters in Russia and honour the memory of Alexi @navalny, Borrell said in a statement on X. 04:29 PM GMT Pictured: School destroyed in Donetsk region Rescuers remove rubble from a school destroyed during an overnight missile attack on the town of Slviansk - ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images 03:55 PM GMT More on Ukraine's claims that Russian forces shot two POWs Ukraines army on Sunday accused Russian forces of shooting two prisoners of war and posted a grainy video shot from the air that they said showed the incident. In the video, two soldiers labelled as Ukrainians run towards another labelled as Russian in a trench. The Russian soldier then grabs them and shoots numerous times until they stop moving, before turning back. The two men do not appear to have resisted capture. AFP reported the news but could not verify the authenticity of the video or the location. This morning... the Russians once again showed their attitude to international humanitarian law by shooting two Ukrainian prisoners of war, the ground forces wrote on Telegram. They said the incident happened in the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia group of troops, which operates on the eastern front, without giving a more precise location. Ukrainian media reported it happened northeast of the village of Vesele in the Donetsk region, citing the Khortytsia groups press service. Khortytsias troops were not involved in the withdrawal from the town of Avdiivka in the region, which Russia claimed Saturday to fully control. Russia and Ukraine have several times accused each other of violating international humanitarian law by killing prisoners-of-war since Russia invaded. 03:08 PM GMT Russia will not intimidate me, Estonia's Kallas says Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas on Sunday dismissed a warrant issued by Russia for her arrest, saying it was just an attempt to intimidate her amid speculation she could get a top European Union post. Once ruled by Moscow but now a member of both the European Union and NATO, Estonia has been a supporter of Kyiv and Ms Kallas has been one of Moscows most vocal critics since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. Russian police placed her and several other Baltic politicians on a wanted list on Feb 13 for destroying Soviet-era monuments. It is meant to intimidate and make me refrain from the decisions that I would otherwise make, Ms Kallas told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. But its Russias playbook. Its nothing surprising and we are not afraid. Estonia's prime minister Kaja Kallas - Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTERS//File Photo The Baltic politicians risk being arrested only if they cross the Russian border, otherwise declaring them wanted has no real consequences. Ms Kallass high profile in pushing the EU to do more to support Ukraine has led to speculation in Brussels that she could take on a senior role after the next EU parliamentary elections in June, possibly as foreign policy chief. She said that speculation was also contributing to Russias aggression towards her. Its hard to be popular, she said ironically. The Russians have also seen that, and thats why they issued the arrest warrant to really emphasise the biggest argument against me, that I am a provocation to Russia. When asked whether she was interested in any future European role she said: We are not there yet. Im the prime minister of Estonia. 03:00 PM GMT Wife of jailed British-Russian dissident fears for husbands life The wife of jailed British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza has said she fears for her husbands life following the death of Alexei Navalny. Mr Kara-Murza, 42, has been a long-term critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has survived two poisonings since 2015, which have left him with a form of nerve damage called polyneuropathy. He was jailed by a Moscow court in April 2023, leading the UK to sanction 11 individuals involved in his case. His wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, has called on the international community to take further action to free political prisoners in Russia who she says are the only alternative to Mr Putins regime. A police officer puts handcuffs on jailed Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza - REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/ She told BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that she had feared for her husbands life since he was first poisoned in 2015 and now sleeps with her phone by her bed dreading a call with similar news. She said: I believe that my husbands life is in danger, as are lives of many other political prisoners in Russian prisons, because these people are kept behind bars, very often with serious medical conditions with no proper medical treatment, and they are kept in such conditions in order to make their state of health deteriorate. 02:35 PM GMT Yulia Navalnaya posts photo of her late husband Yulia Navalnaya has published a picture of her and Alexei Navalny on her Instagram account in what is her first social media post since her husbands death. The caption read: I love you. Yulia Navalnaya's Instagram post 02:17 PM GMT Ukraine army accuses Russia of shooting two POWs Ukraines army on Sunday accused Russian forces of shooting two prisoners of war, posting a grainy video showing a soldier shooting them numerous times after they run towards him in a trench, which was reported by AFP. The ground forces said the incident took place Sunday morning, with Ukrainian media reporting it happened near the village of Vesele in the Donetsk region. 01:45 PM GMT Pictures from February 18 A Ukrainian serviceman installs shells for a Vampire combat drone - REUTERS/Inna Varenytsia A mural of a Russian serviceman holding a child in Crimea - REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak Ukrainian soldiers prepare a mortar in a forest in Donetsk - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images 01:33 PM GMT Ukraine downs 12 Russian drones, air force chief says Ukraines forces destroyed 12 Russia-launched attack drones overnight as well as one Kh-59 cruise missile and one SU-34 fighter-bomber, Ukraines Air Force chief said on Sunday. I want to thank Air Force units for their successful combat work! Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Have a nice day everyone! Reuters could not independently verify the report. 01:15 PM GMT Navalnys body found bruised in Arctic morgue The bruised body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been found in a hospital morgue in the Arctic, two days after he died in a nearby prison. A paramedic told Russian opposition media that there were bruises on Navalnys head and chest when his body was brought into the Salekhard District Clinical Hospital. Such injuries, described by those that saw them, appear from seizures, the unnamed paramedic told the exiled Novaya Gazeta newspaper. The person convulses, they try to restrain him, and bruises appear. They also said that he also had a bruise on his chest. That is, they still tried to resuscitate him, and he died, most likely, from cardiac arrest. Russian prison officials said that Navalny died on Friday after feeling ill during a short walk at IK-3, a notoriously brutal prison in the Russian Arctic. Navalnys mother failed to find his body at the morgue in Salekhard on Saturday and his colleagues at the Anti-Corruption Foundation accused the Russian authorities of a cover-up. Read more here 01:01 PM GMT Zelensky invites Trump to front lines Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Donald Trump to tour the front lines as the former US presidents supporters stall on signing off a vital aid package. If Mr Trump will come, I am ready to go with him to the front line. What does it mean, the real war, not Instagram, the real war, the Ukrainian president said. Ukraine is critically dependent on weapons supplies from the US and other Western allies to keep fighting Russia. President Joe Biden assured Mr Zelensky on Saturday that the US was committed to supporting Ukraines fight against Russias brutal invasion, to which Mr Zelensky said he was grateful. But the $95bn foreign aid package approved by the US Senate earlier this week which includes $60bn for Ukraine still faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives, where Republican members seem unwilling to pass the measure. Mr Zelenskys statement comes after Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw from the besieged eastern stronghold of Avdiivka due to ammunition shortages. 12:36 PM GMT China tells Ukraine it 'does not sell lethal weapons' to Russia Chinas foreign minister has insisted to his Ukrainian counterpart that his country does not sell lethal weapons to Russia for its ongoing war, a statement said Sunday. During a meeting on the sidelines of a major security conference in Munich on Saturday, Wang Yi told Dmytro Kuleba that China does not take any advantage of the situation, and does not sell lethal weapons to conflict areas or parties to the conflict, according to a foreign ministry readout. 12:12 PM GMT Ukrainian foreign minister discusses peace prospects with China's Wang Yi The Ukrainian foreign minister said on Saturday he had discussed the prospects for peace in Kyivs nearly two-year-old war against Russia with his Chinese counterpart, part of a long-running bid to bolster relations with Beijing. I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X. Mr Kuleba said he had discussed Ukraines plans for a global peace summit, which Switzerland has agreed to host. The two men, he said, agreed on the need to maintain Ukraine-China contacts at all levels and continue our dialogue. China has attended at least one of the preparatory meetings that have taken place in anticipation of such a summit. I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. I informed Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Ukraines vision for the upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. We agreed on the need pic.twitter.com/O6ZZOgjUVK Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 17, 2024 Mr Wang told Kuleba that China will continue to push for a political resolution through dialogue, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement on Sunday. China will not add fuel to the fire, take advantage of opportunities to reap gains, or sell lethal weapons in conflict zones or parties, Mr Wang said. Ukraine has sought to bring China onside for Kyivs 10-point peace plan which focuses on a withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territory, the restoration of 1991 post-Soviet borders and a framework to bring Moscow to account for its actions. China, which has been pursuing a strategic partnership with Russia, proposed a peace plan of its own last year calling for a ceasefire, negotiations and an end to sanctions against Russia. But the plan made little headway. 11:59 AM GMT Republican opponent of US aid to Ukraine brings his case to an international conference A Republican opponent of new US funding for Ukraine argued at an international security conference Sunday that the package stuck in Congress would not fundamentally change the reality on the ground. A $95bn foreign aid package was approved by the US Senate earlier this week and includes $60bn for Ukraine but faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives, where Republican members seem unwilling to pass the measure. Senator J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican and ally of Donald Trump, said the problem in Ukraine is that theres no clear end point and that the US doesnt make enough weapons to support wars in eastern Europe, the Middle East and potentially a contingency in East Asia. Sen. J.D. Vance talks to reporters on February 12 - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images House speaker Mike Johnson insists he wont be rushed into approving the foreign aid package, despite overwhelming support from most Democrats and almost half the Republicans. If the package goes through, that is not going to fundamentally change the reality on the battlefield, Mr Vance argued, pointing to limited American manufacturing capacity. Can we send the level of weaponry weve sent for the last 18 months? he asked. We simply cannot. No matter how many checks the US Congress writes, we are limited there. 11:38 AM GMT Russia says Avdiivka under its full control Russian troops have established full control over the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka and have advanced 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in that part of the front line, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing the defence ministry. Russia claimed the capture of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka after Ukraine withdrew, but Moscow said that some Ukrainian troops were still holed up in a vast Soviet-era coke plant after one of the most intense battles of the war. 11:21 AM GMT Ukraine military says it repelled Russian offensive on southern front Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian offensive on the southern front following the withdrawal of Kyivs troops from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. Defence forces in the Zaporizhzhia sector defeated yesterdays Russian offensive, Ukrainian military said on Telegram messaging app. The military said 18 armoured vehicles including three tanks were destroyed and that the Russians retreated to their previous positions. There has been no comment from the Russian side. 11:12 AM GMT Ministry of Defence update In its daily update on the Ukraine-Russia war, the Ministry of Defence said it appears that Russias commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, has been removed from his post. On February 15, Russian pro-war commentators reported that the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, had been removed from his post, the MoD wrote. Drawing similarities with his predecessor, Igor Osipov, this is highly likely to be a result of Ukraines success in sinking various ships under his command. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 18 February 2024. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/Q2s6G013UQ #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/c6szUh8Fgy Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) February 18, 2024 11:05 AM GMT More than 400 people detained in Russia as they paid tribute to Navalny A prominent rights group says more than 400 people have been detained in Russia while paying tribute to Alexei Navalny. By Saturday night police has detained 401 people across 12 cities, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. Among those detained was Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic orthodox church a religious group independent of the Russian orthodox church who announced plans on social media to hold a memorial service for Mr Navalny. He was arrested on Saturday morning outside his home, charged with organising a rally and placed in a holding cell in a police precinct. He was later hospitalised with a stroke, OVD-Info reported. Moscow: Thousands of people across Russia have laid flowers at memorials of Stalin's political repressions in memory of Navalny - /Getty Images Police officers detain a man during a gathering in memory of Navalny near the Wall of Grief monument - REUTERS According to AP, courts in St Petersburg have ordered 42 of those detained on Friday to serve from one to six days in jail, while nine others were fined, court officials said late on Saturday. In Moscow, at least six people were ordered to serve 15 days in jail, according to OVD-Info. One person was also jailed in the southern city of Krasnodar and two more in the city of Bryansk, the group said. 10:54 AM GMT Listen to the latest podcast: Alexei Navalny 'murdered' in prison 10:46 AM GMT UK weighs up response in wake of Navalny death Lord Cameron signalled that there could be fresh sanctions against Russian officials following the death of Alexei Navalny. The Foreign Secretary joined other G7 ministers at the Munich Security Conference in calling on Russia to fully clarify how the jailed opposition leader died, amid pressure on Western leaders to respond. According to the Times, Lord Cameron repeated the UKs call for countries to seize Russian central bank assets currently held in the West as one way of financing the reconstruction of Ukraine. There should be consequences, the Foreign Secretary told broadcasters on Saturday. When appalling human rights outrages like this take place, what we do is we look at whether there are individual people that are responsible and whether there are individual measures and actions we can take. We dont announce them in advance, so I cant say anymore than that. But that is what we will be looking at. Mr Navalnys spokesperson confirmed that the Russian opposition leader died at a remote Arctic penal colony and said he was murdered. It remains unclear where his body is. 10:37 AM GMT Ukrainian military says situation has stabilised on Avdiivka front after withdrawal The situation has somewhat stabilised on Ukraines eastern Avdiivka front after the withdrawal of Kyivs forces on Saturday, a Ukrainian military spokesman said on Sunday. I can state ... that on the day after leaving Avdiivka we perceive the situation as having stabilised somewhat, Ukrainian military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy said in televised comments. He also said that Ukrainian forces took casualties during the withdrawal, but they were minimal given circumstances. 10:12 AM GMT Putin says Ukraine matter of life and death for Russia Events on the battlefield in Ukraine are a matter of life and death for Russia that could determine its fate, president Vladimir Putin said in remarks aired Sunday. The Kremlin has repeatedly framed the almost two-year conflict as a battle for Russias survival in a bid to rally patriotic sentiment among its population, many apathetic toward the offensive. I think it is still important for us ourselves, and even more so for our listeners and viewers abroad, to understand our way of thinking, Mr Putin said in an interview with state TV. Everything that is happening on the Ukraine front: For them it is an improvement of their tactical position, but for us it is our fate, it is a matter of life and death, he said. Mr Putin was responding to a question about a two-hour long interview he gave to US talk show host Tucker Carlson, which the Kremlin used to promote its narratives on the conflict. In that interview, Putin talked at length about Russian history and continuously questioned Ukraines statehood, drawing ire in both Kyiv and the West. For the Western listener, the viewer, it was not easy. Even more so for Americans, Mr Putin said when asked about his long, historical musings in the Carlson interview. The history of the United States is 300-odd years, and I started in 862. So I think it was not easy for American audiences to understand, he said. 09:55 AM GMT In pictures: Trenches and rescue operations Russia launched missile attacks on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk oblast overnight, killing at least two people and trapping others under rubble, Governor Vadym Filashkin said - Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images A Ukrainian infantryman walk towards a trench - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images 09:45 AM GMT Putin should be called before crimes against humanity tribunal, says shadow foreign secretary Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has called for Russian president Vladimir Putin to be put before an international tribunal on crimes against humanity following the death of Alexei Navalny. He told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: Weve been calling for a special tribunal for crimes of aggression and against humanity. Id like to see Putin in front of that special tribunal, held to account for all of his crimes, not just in Ukraine, but as we are seeing just in the last 48 hours in Russia as well. And of course as Russia holds elections this year, its important that the international community is able to verify that they are free and fair elections. 09:44 AM GMT Moscow says some Ukrainian troops still holed up in a vast Soviet-era coke plant in Avdiivka Moscow has said that some Ukrainian troops were still holed up in a vast Soviet-era coke plant after Ukrainian troops withdrew yesterday. Ukraine said it had withdrawn its soldiers to save troops from being fully surrounded after months of fierce fighting. But Russia said some Ukrainian forces were still holed up at the Soviet-era coke plant, once one of Europes biggest, in Avdiivka, which is key to Russias aim of securing full control of the industrial Donbas region. Measures are being taken to completely clear the town of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the town and are entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. There was no public comment yet by Ukrainian authorities on this. 09:38 AM GMT Putin congratulates Russian troops on taking Avdiivka Vladimir Putin has hailed the fall of Avdiivka as an important victory and congratulated Russian troops. The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory, the Kremlin said in a statement on its website. Ukrainian servicemen pile up earthbags to build a fortification not far from town of Avdiivka - ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images The Russian defence ministry said Russia had taken about 32 square kilometres (12 square miles) of territory in the advance amid heavy losses for Ukraine. It gave no figures for Russian losses, which Ukraine says are huge. Avdiivka, which had a pre-war population of around 32,000 and is called Avdeyevka by Russians, was briefly taken in 2014 by Moscow-backed separatists who seized a swathe of eastern Ukraine but was recaptured by Ukrainian troops who built extensive fortifications. 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. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani believes that Ukraine should become a NATO member in the future, though he says such a move is too risky and, therefore, impossible before the war ends. Source: Reuters, citing Tajani on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, as reported by European Pravda Details: "The message to Russia is very clear: Ukraine will be a member of the European Union, and then we are working to have Ukraine as a member of NATO," Tajani stated. However, he added, it is too early to consider Ukraine's membership in the Alliance until the war is over. "We need to be very prudent," Tajani said, adding that a situation where a fully-fledged NATO member is at war with Russia "means World War III". A working group on Ukraines Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration also met on the sidelines of the Munich conference. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces killed two Ukrainian prisoners of war in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 18, Ukraine's Ground Forces reported. In a video published by the Ground Forces, Ukrainian soldiers approached a group of Russian troops in a trench. One of them started to shoot and killed two Ukrainian soldiers. The Russians once again showed their attitude to international humanitarian law by shooting two Ukrainian prisoners of war, the Ground Forces said in a Telegram post. Read also: I want to go home: Inside a Russian prisoner of war camp in Ukraine The killing of POWs violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime. The Ground Forces did not specify the unit where the Ukrainian soldiers served. This is not the first time Ukrainian officials have come across evidence of Russian servicemen torturing or executing Ukrainian POWs in violation of the Geneva Conventions. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Hello and welcome to your Under the Dome newsletter. Kyle Ingram here. A handful of major political lawsuits are scheduled to go to trial this spring, potentially upending sweeping legislation passed by Republican lawmakers. Heres more on each of them. Abortion restrictions North Carolinas new 12-week abortion ban could go to trial as early as May 6. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic challenged the restrictions shortly after Republicans passed them last year. In September, U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles agreed to throw out two parts of the law but left the broad strokes of the legislation intact. Now, Eagles is asking both sides to get their filings in by the end of April for a trial to begin shortly after. The case is listed as a bench trial, meaning there wont be a jury. Voter ID While voter ID went into effect for the municipal election in 2023, a lawsuit has been attempting to strike down the requirement since 2018. Now that challenge will go to trial on May 6, U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs announced. Like the abortion case, this will also be a nonjury trial. That lawsuit, filed by the NAACP, argues that the requirement discriminates against minority voters. Voters will need to show ID for the March 5 primary, but depending on how the trial goes, the ID requirement could potentially be thrown out before the general election. Biggs blocked the law once before, in 2019, but her order was overturned by a higher court. Felon voting A legal battle about the voting rights of North Carolinians with felony convictions could also go to trial in the spring. The state prohibits people with felony convictions from voting until their sentences have been fully completed. The lawsuit argues that this restriction discriminates against racial minorities. Biggs, also the judge in this case, scheduled a trial for the courts April 1 session, though the actual date could be later. Earlier this month, a magistrate judge issued a nonbinding recommendation saying that Biggs should dismiss the case as moot. Biggs scheduled oral arguments on that recommendation for Feb. 28. Thats all for today. Check your inbox on Tuesday for more #ncpol news. You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters . Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up here . We want to know what you would like to see in the Under the Dome newsletter . Do you like highlights from the legislature? Political analysis? Do you have a question youd like The News & Observer team to answer? Tell us here. You can also email us at dome@newsobserver.com Dont forget to follow our tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast for more developments.